tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-294504542024-02-09T02:23:19.604+05:30Indian Restaurants And Cuisine Worldwide.Honest (& sometimes opinionated) bloggings of my experiences with Indian food and Indian Restaurants in the US and other place. Positive, negative & accessibility issues provided restaurant wise.yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-24314636909183443892008-12-15T05:40:00.002+05:302008-12-15T05:42:17.382+05:30Rice Boat. Indian Restaurant (Kerala Cuisine)<p> <span class="adr"><span class="street-address">Anderson Court Newnham Road</span>, <span class="locality"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="adr"><span class="locality">Cambridge</span> <span class="postal-code">CB3 9EZ</span></span> <br /><strong class="tel">01223302800</strong></p><p><span class="adr"><span class="locality">Loved the food here. Reasonably priced & delicious. Also, I was so pleased to eat authentic, regional Indian cuisine (almost unheard of in the US of A). This is real Kerala food, people. Great fish, prawns and everything else from "God's own country".</span></span></p><p><span class="adr"><span class="locality">The servive was alright (British style). But they did rig up a large table for a large number of unreserved folks on a weekend. Points for that. The food took FOREVER to arrive but was well worth the wait.</span></span></p>Accessibility: call in advance for help.<br />The place is clean with a pleasant ambiance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 Stars out of 5.</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-61168058717751284672008-12-15T05:39:00.001+05:302008-12-15T05:39:57.850+05:30Dojo noodle bar.2 Millers Yard<br />Cambridge, CB2<br />01223 363471<br /><span class="a">www.<b>dojo</b>noodlebar.co.<b>uk<br /><br />Warning: the seating inside is cramped. You may be seated on 1 table (for 4) with 3 other complete strangers with the waiter passing dishes, forks etc from over your food to whoever is sitting on the inside. No place to take a date.<br /><br /></b></span>The food was alright. Large bowls full of watery soups with large pieces of meat with next to no flavor. It was also expensive. I tried 3 different dishes (2 of my own) and some from my husband. NOTHING impressed me.<br />When I asked for a box to take my food away in, I was handed a tiny plastic box that barely contained my ample left overs. The noodle bowls were too heavy to lift & I ended up splattering myself & my neighbor with soup. I think they were pleased to see me leave & scooted promptly over to where we were seated so they would have to make way for all the dishes to be passed from under their noses.<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility</span>: very narrow entrance. I doubt a wheelchair would make it through. But they have seating outside.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 STARS out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-59619519784272657152008-12-15T05:38:00.000+05:302008-12-15T05:39:20.881+05:30Sesame restaurant & bar.<div class="adr"><span dir="ltr" style=""><span class="street-address">17 Hills Road</span></span><br /><span dir="ltr" style=""><span class="locality">Cambridge</span>, <span class="postal-code">CB2 1NW</span></span><br /></div><span style=""><div><span><nobr class="tel">01223 358 899</nobr></span></div></span><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/local_url?q=http://www.sesame-restaurant.com/&dq=sesame+restaurant+cambridge+UK&client=firefox-a&channel=s&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&fb=1&view=text&latlng=13646419791712258630&dtab=2&oi=miwd&sa=X&ct=miw_link&cd=1&cad=homepage&ei=PpVFScvQBJ2OogON65CwAw&s=ANYYN7mFS_kvD_Wg6g9yseGHu8eKD0NcNA" target="_blank" class="lurl url" dir="ltr">sesame-restaurant.com</a><br /><br />OK. This one's in the other (smaller, older) Cambridge in <span style="font-weight: bold;">England</span>, folks. If you're still reading then you're either in the UK, or in the US & have a lot of time to kill.<br /><br />The one time I visited this Chinese restaurant, I was blown away by the quality & flavor of every single dish brought to the table. We were lucky to go there for dinner with friends, so could sample about 5 things. I shall now proceed to describe what I remember -<br />1. There was the white fish curry. Spicy, with tiny red peppers and the most delicious brothy flavor. It had slices of bamboo in it.<br />2. The lamb in cumin powder was great.<br />3. The aubergines in the spicy sauce were great.<br />4. The veggie tofu was brilliant.<br />I'm drooling just thinking about them.<br />5. A kind of DIY tortilla wrap with lamb, lettuce & cucumber stuffing & a red sauce. Very nice.<br /><br />Most non-English food in the UK (be it Chinese or Indian) tends to be better prepared, more flavorful & more expensive than that found in the US. I kid you not. I'd go back to Sesame if my husband foots the tab anytime!<br />The price of our meals (2) came out to GBP 26 with a small tip (the Pound's still riding high & 20% tips are out of the question on our grad student budget).<br /> <br />Service was prompt and helpful. I haven't seen anyone in the UK work too hard to please their customers (seems like poor service policy - nation wide). Hopefully, we wont be here long enough to complain louder.<br /><br /> Accessibility: It's off the side walk, but call in advance for help.<br />Neither the kitchen nor the toilets are visible from where we sat. Don't know how accessible the toilets are.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4.5 STARS out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-9202782327494375822007-06-23T06:58:00.000+05:302007-08-31T01:55:36.845+05:30Bombay Club<span id="RestaurantProfileUS_lblAddress1">815 Connecticut Ave, NW</span><br /><span id="RestaurantProfileUS_lblCity">Washington</span>, <span id="RestaurantProfileUS_lblState">DC</span> <span id="RestaurantProfileUS_lblZip">20006</span><span style="font-size:+0;"><br /><a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" href="http://www.bombayclubdc.com/">Website</a><br /></span><strong><br />The good things:</strong><br />I had the non-vegetarian club thali. It had samplers of rogan josh (meat in gravy), chicken, fish, okra, red lentil soup, rice & dahi wada. It came with naan.<br />The quality of food was excellent.<br />We sat in the patio outside & the weather was beautiful.<br />The waitress was prompt & polite.<br />This place is definitely worth going to once.<br /><br /><strong>The not so good things:</strong><br />We didn't know we needed reservations for lunch so a somewhat uptight & pissy host seated us outside. Which was a blessing because the inside was full of a bunch of stuffed shirts & brown sahibs that looked like they'd been picked fresh out of British colonial India. I cannot see myself being cool in a place that glorifies the Raj. If it wasn't for this I'd be going back more often.<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong> Bathroom unexplored. Dinner came to about $21/head. There were 2 of us.<br /><br /><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Accessible - call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">4 STARS out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-85258694795163866482007-06-04T01:51:00.000+05:302007-06-04T02:09:58.644+05:30Raaga Restaurant - Falls Church, VA<span style="">5872 Leesburg Pike<br />VA 22041<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.raagarestaurant.com/pages/1/index.htm">Website</a><br /></span><strong><br />The good things:</strong><br />There was a LOT of variety. The "rogan josh" or lamb in gravy was delicious. So was the "bhindi masala" (okra) & the vegetable "kofta" (mashed veggies rolled up in balls & cooked in a sauce). The "kadi pakoda" (fritters in gram dal sauce) weren't that great. The veg "biryani" had a nice home-cooked flavor.<br />There was a good selections on <span style="font-style: italic;">naans </span>& the food came with accompanying condiments of raw sliced onions & raw green chilles. I've missed the raw chillie-onion combo since I grew up in Maharashtra where it frequently accompanied regular food.<br />The ambience was low lit but comfortable. The bar is at the entrance & plenty or parking is available in the lot (even on the weeekends). The "gaajar ka halwa" was very well made. Not greasy at all.<br />Will definitely recommend this place to all!<br /><br /><strong>The not so good things:</strong><br />I don't know if it was my over eating or the spice (not hot - the actual spice) content in the food that made me feel a little uncomfortable later on. Some of the dishes had onions in them & it may have been those (red oninons do not go down well with me but not so with everyone.)<br />One of my friends ordered "kulfi" & got a very small portion of a half melted kulfi. She was disappointed.<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong> Bathroom unexplored. Dinner came to about $17/head. There were 5 of us.<br /><br /><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Accessible - call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-21324862813901310302007-05-29T22:56:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:47:57.839+05:30Curry House4032 Cox RdGlen Allen, VA 23060<br />(804) 762-4411<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The good things:</strong><br />The Indian lunch buffets here are good. The "mirchi ka saalan" here was my favorite. Screaming hot Indian peppers in a sauce. The 'vegetarian thaali' was good too.<br />Dinners are good too but don't be surprised if the quality of service is choppy. I was once hung up on. Haven't been back since. The place is packed on Saturday evenings. Ambience is good to average.<br /><br /><strong>The not so good things:</strong><br />If you're a Desi, don't be surprised if some of the waiters appear to be rude (this happens occassionally). Most of the times service was OK. Waits aren't very long but the host/hostess answering phone calls for reservations tend to be rude or abrupt at peak hours.<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong> Bathroom is large & fairly clean - except on weekends.<br /><br /><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Accessible - call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">3.5 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-20600299104324357952007-05-27T01:01:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:48:45.175+05:30Haandi<address> 1222 W Broad St <br /> Falls Church, VA 22046 </address> <span id="bizPhone">(703) 533-3501</span> <br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.haandi.com/">Website</a><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />The good things:</span></strong><br />I called here on a friday evening to reserve 2 places & was answered by a polite hostess - first good sign! They don't take reservations on the weekends but the waits aren't long at all.<br />The food was great! Served in copper <span style="font-style: italic;">haandis</span>. We had <span style="font-style: italic;">aloo saag</span> & <span style="font-style: italic;">kadhai paneer</span>. The <span style="font-style: italic;">bhel </span>was good to - fresh & authentic. They have a wide selection of Indian breads & naans and a pretty big selection of <span style="font-style: italic;">tandoori </span>meats.<br /><br />Service was quick & courteous. No 'anti-desi' attitude here. I really liked that. The management is very polite too.<br /><br />The restaurant was large, well lit, tastefully decorated & clean. It looked like they could easily accomodate reservations for large parties.<br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Other stats:</span></strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span>Dinner for 2 is likely to be between $35-40. Well worth it. I think there was a bar at the far end of the restaurant (didn't get a close look).<br /><br />This place is wheel chair accessible. Call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-47680528432482178802007-05-16T00:48:00.000+05:302007-05-23T04:10:16.514+05:30Java Green1020 19th. Street N.W.<br />Washington D.C. 20036<br />Phone: (202) 775-8899<br />Fax: (202) 775-1103<br />Webiste: <a href="http://www.javagreen.net/">http://www.javagreen.net/</a><br /><strong></strong><br />Note: This is not an Indian restaurant, but has great 100% vegetarian & vegan food.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The good things:</strong><br />Great all-vegetarian Indonesian restaurant. My favorites are the spicy Seoul chicken salad & the spicy noodle soup.<br />From the sandwiches, I really like the Chicken Boolgogi. (All the meat is fake soy & tastes very nice).<br />The restaurant has a lot of organic menu options to choose from. You can also use the compost-able non-plastic cutlery & drink from the corn non-plastic cups.<br />The ambience is packed but charming. Most of the patrons are young.<br />Service is polite & courteous.<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong><br />If you get here later than 12:05 on a weekeday, they may be out of seating space. This place is VERY polular! Often carry out is not a bad option.<br />This place is accessible. Call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-12384101523257889382007-04-01T01:05:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:49:00.522+05:30WOODLANDS - Fairfax4078 Jermantown Road Virginia (VA)<br />Phone: (703) 385 1996<br /><a href="http://www.woodlandsrestaurants.com/"><strong>Website </strong><br /></a><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><br />The good things:</span></strong><br />We visited here on a Saturday afternoon. The buffet was laden with absolutely first class, authentic Indian food (from various states). AND THERE WAS <span style="font-style: italic;">CHAAT</span>! I hadn't had <span style="font-style: italic;">chaat </span>in such a long time that I really filled up on <span style="font-style: italic;">bhel</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">pani puri</span> & <span style="font-style: italic;">pav bhaji</span>. The <span style="font-style: italic;">ghobhi manchurian</span> was really good too & the <span style="font-style: italic;">gaajar ka halwa</span> was d e l i c i o u s. The <span style="font-style: italic;">payasam </span>or <span style="font-style: italic;">kheer </span>was A grade.<br />The were some south Indian dishes on the buffet but I only had the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rasam </span>(which was spicy & fantastic - watery to the right consistency).<br />The service was courteous - waiters clear your table quickly & are polite. The dining area is large & can accomodate large parties.<br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Other stats:</span></strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span>Be prepared to be seated next to a family tagging screaming children if you eat here on a weekend.<br />Bathroom unexplored.<br /><br />This place is accessible. Call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-53655616860114756122007-03-27T20:13:00.000+05:302007-05-23T04:10:35.076+05:30Kabob Palace2315 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202<br />703-486-3535<br /><a href="http://www.kabobpalace.net/"><strong>Website<br /></strong></a><br /><strong>Note: this is an Afghan restaurant that serves excellent Indian food.</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The good things:</span></strong><br />The <em>dal makhani</em> here is better than many I've had! Very north Indian - the dal is smooth & delicious with naan. The Okra & spinach here are great too & so are the mango & salted lassis.<br />The indian food here is authentic, dhaba style Indian food. LOVE it! Oh & the <em>gaajar ka halwa</em>!<br />Their meat options are delicious too - plently of tandoori & lamb.<br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Other stats:<br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The lunch & dinner menus are different.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The food does tend to be greasy & very filling. However, I have nothing against that if it's this good! </span><br />The service is courteous.<br />Afghans love Bollywood flicks, so expect to see 2 TVs in there constantly featuring Indian movies & songs. I prefer to turn my back on the TVs.<br />I've noticed large Indian crowds frequenting this place.<br />They have a pick up place right next doors - owned by the same folks.<br /><br />Bathroom unexplored.<br /><br />This place is accessible. Call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-22940487744041442242007-03-24T20:05:00.000+05:302007-05-23T04:10:43.452+05:30Julia's Empanadas1221 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 <div class="header_address" style="float: left;">202-861-8828<br /><br /></div><br /><strong><br /><br />Note: this place does not serve Indian food - I order from here often, hence the review.<br /><br />The good things:</strong> The emapanadas are handmade & baked. They're delicious & fresh. The vegetarian empanadas remind me a lot of samosas without the grease! Julia's emapanadas stays open till late in the night. Stuffings vary from beef, Spanish sausage, hard-boiled eggs, black beans, onions, raisins, green peas, spinach, chicken, turkey, and potatoes. I often pick up a couple of empanadas when I'm heading out to eat at Dupont Circle on a spring or fall day.<br /><br /><strong>The not so good things: </strong>The place is small & can get cramped at peak lunch hour.<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong> You can call in advance. It's fairly clean but don't expect complete sterility. There is no place to sit & eat - it's pick up only.<br /><br /><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Accessible - call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 Stars out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1163513564279519012006-11-14T19:41:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:49:40.084+05:30Bombay Curry Co.3110 Mount Vernon Ave.<br />Calvert Building Alexandria,<br />VA 703-836-6363<br /><a href="http://www.bombaycurrycompany.com/"><strong>Website </strong><br /></a><br /><strong>The good things:</strong> The Indian snack foods here are great, fairly authentic & reasonably priced. I love the Dahi Bhallas & lassi. The dinner & lunch items are reasonably priced. We mostly get our food to go. Order <em>well</em> in advance on a Saturday evening if you don't want to wait for over an hour. The place is <em>packed</em> on Saturday evenings. Ambience is warm & charming.<br /><br /><strong>The not so good things:</strong><br />If you're an Indian, don't be surprised if some of the waiters appear to be rude. Be assertive when asking questions about the menu & if the service rendered is poor, rake up a fuss!<br />Not enough place to wait for a seat on a crowded day -especially since so many people are waiting - makes for a bottle-neck at the entrance. Parking lot is really tight. Be careful if you have a large car!<br /><br /><strong>Other stats:</strong> If you like spicy food, make sure you specify that. The food here is tailored to spice-averse American palates. Bathroom unexplored.<br /><br /><strong>Accessibility:</strong> Accessible - call in advance for assistance.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 STARS OUT OF 5</span></strong>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823327573981482006-06-09T08:51:00.001+05:302007-06-04T01:49:53.151+05:30Naan & beyond1710 L St. NW<br />Washington, DC 20036<br />(202/466-6404)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The good things:</span><br />The Indian snack foods here are reasonably priced & fairly authentic. A meal can be had under $5. They have a small hot food bar & have speacials for the day.<br />The samaosas were pretty good & so was the chutney.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The not so good things:</span><br />Unsmiling faces behind the counter. You need to know what you want & move quickly. The place isn't the cleanest in the world. The food tends to be greasy. A friend who once bought samosas from here took them home to find out that half of them had gone bad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other stats:</span><br />Don't go in expecting a great ambience. I'd rather bring my food back to work than sit there & eat.<br />Couple of tables on the outside.<br />Bathroom unexplored.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOT accessible</span> - there are a couple of steps at the entrance. If you're on a wheel-chair, call ahead for your order & have money ready to pay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 STARS OUT OF 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823300964174132006-06-09T08:51:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:50:07.082+05:30Taj Palace<span style="font-size:85%;">719 King St Alexandria, </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">VA 22314</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(703) 548-1739</span><br /><a href="http://www.tajpalacealexandria.com/"><strong>Website</strong></a><br /><br />The good things: The restaurant is on King Street. Great if you're out shopping in that vicinity. A good variety of dishes.<br /><br />The not so good things: Each time I've eaten at this place, I've had tummy trouble. That may be attributed to the food having 'soda' in it or being greasier than normal.<br /><br />Other stats: Nice ambience. Bathroom unexplored. Courteous hostess.<br /><br />Accessibility:Not sure - call in advance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 STARS OUT OF 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823249781700072006-06-09T08:50:00.001+05:302007-06-04T01:50:23.210+05:30Indique<span style="font-size:130%;"><span id="RestaurantProfile_lblAddress1">3512 Connecticut Ave. NW</span><br /><span id="RestaurantProfile_lblCity">Washington</span>, <span id="RestaurantProfile_lblState">DC</span> <span id="RestaurantProfile_lblZip">20008 </span><br />(Cleveland Park on the Red line) </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.indique.com/">Website<br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The good things:</span><br />The 2 things I'll never forget about this place are:<br />1. They're open both Christmas Eve & New Years Day.<br />2. They have a drink called "Indique Mary" that I couldn't get over. A variation of the Bloody Mary touched with Chaat Masala at the rim. DEEElicious.<br /><br />Their cuisine & decor are both very well above average & extremely charming! And the service is excellent. The 3 of us wandered in at New year's eve & were seated in the lovely, cosy bar without much ado - in a crowded restaurant - without reservations (although they do require reservations for parties over 4). The bar tender was couteous & talented - she also served us food.<br />I would go back there at the drop of a hat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The not so good things:</span><br />I can't remember any.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other stats:</span><br />The ambience in the evening was sufficiently low lit & cosy. Bathroom was clean & bright.<br />Dinner is normally $30 per head if you order a drink.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility:</span><br />A vestibule needs to be navigated but otherwise completely accessible. The bathroom's on the ground floor & large.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4.5 STARS out of 5</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823225806606902006-06-09T08:49:00.002+05:302007-06-04T01:50:37.351+05:30Heritage India<i>Dupont Circle</i><br />1337 Connecticut Ave., NW<br />Washington, DC<br />202-331-1414<br /><a href="http://www.heritageindiadupont.com/"><strong>Website<br /></strong></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The good things:</span><br />I've eaten here frequently. My favorite is the"Dhingri Matar" - a spicy mix of mushrroms & peas. I've also had the tapas or indian snacks here & they've always been good, though a little pricey.<br />The ambience is delightful - warm, without being glaringly bright - high end furniture & beautiful portraits of nawabs & indian royalty. The bar is at an upper level. Happy hours see this place get pretty packed.<br />The 'Thali" or combo contains substantial amounts of variety & good food - as I've discovered.<br />Tapas/snacks/<em>chaat</em> at happy hour (4pm) are half price. The lunch portions are very substantial, although they just come with rice. Ask for naan separately if you intend to finish the main serving.<br /><br />Very courteous waiters in the dining area!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The not so good things:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">A word about the bar: </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">it is manned by a foul mouthed drama queen called 'Rafi' who's rude to both his customers & subordinates. An A-grade jackas*. The bar at Heritage is not seeing my money till Rafi's still behind it. His drinks aren't that hot either. The half price tapas were great though (all credit to the chef).</span> The samosas & pav-bhaji were really good!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other stats:</span><br />Restrooms unexplored. Kitchen door not very visible from dining area- YAY!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility: </span>The bar may not be accessible but the dining area is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">4 STARS out of 5 (</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">on probation after the happy hour. One more such incident & it goes to 3.5</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">)<br /></span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823197829159992006-06-09T08:49:00.001+05:302007-06-04T01:50:51.043+05:30Amma's Kitchen - Vienna<h3 style="font-weight: normal;" align="left"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >Amma's Vegetarian Kitchen<br />344-A Maple Ave East, Vienna VA 22180<br />Tel: 703-938-5328</span></h3><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Good things:</span><br />LOVE the South Indian food here - very authentic (I grew up in Maharashtra - so take that with a pinch of salt - or Sambhar powder). Even the chutneys are spicy & great. I always pig out. Don't miss the Mango Lassi. The Idli-wada is my favorite as is the <em>sada rava dosa</em>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The not-so-good things:</span><br />The system of placing orders is in shambles - especially on the weekends - even when it's not crowded. The guy taking your order will interrupt you a dozen times to hand over food to someone else. I've nearly popped a blood vessel a couple of times over this! That kind of interruption invariably messes up my order & even though they'll fix it later, they're not gracious about it.<br /><br />I've asked the snacks to be warmed a couple of times & each time been turned away with a "it's from the hot case" which means your snacks have been warmed by a weak heat lamp & they shall invariably be dry & hard. Despite my whining & moaning about the service, I never miss a chance to go here. They'd have to be pretty rude to me to change that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Stats:</span><br />Calling up in advance may not be a bad idea at all. At least you have hopes of the man taking your entire order over the phone.<br />Rest rooms unexplored. The place is reasonably clean.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility:</span><br />There is an accessible entrance from the side facing the parking lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3.5 Stars out of 5</span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823180350388542006-06-09T08:49:00.000+05:302007-06-04T01:51:01.884+05:30Aroma<span style="font-size:130%;">1919 I (Eye) St. NW<br />Washington, <b>DC</b><br />(202) 833-4700 </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.aromarestaurant.com/">Website<br /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The good things:</span><br />The food is good, the restaurant has 2 levels & even though it's busy during peak hours finding place to sit may not be a problem. The menu is affordable. There are no buffets on weekdays.<br /><br />The ambience is charming, bright & light hearted.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The not-so-good things:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">I noticed that other than taking your order, the waiters don't seem to pay much attention to you, ESPECIALLY if you're a Desi (Indian) who doesn't look like they have money pouring out of their ears. I've eaten there a couple of times but will take my money somewhere else (unless a friend insists on eating there) because that attitude just pi**es me off! The senior waiters are more guilty of this than the younger ones.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;">A friend once found a bug in her food & the waiters didn't take to the idea of getting her fresh food - the man picked out the bug & handed her back the plate. There goes another customer & anyone else she's told this to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other stats:</span><br />Restrooms unexplored. The kitchen door opens constantly, so if you're wise you'll get a reservation far from it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accessibility</span>: the entrance is narrow to navigate - there's a vestibule. A handicapped person may need assistance getting in. I'm not sure if there's a restroom on the ground floor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3 Stars out of 5</span><br /><br /></span></p>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149823094694931292006-06-09T08:35:00.000+05:302007-06-21T20:25:11.387+05:30Nirvana<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#000000;" >1810 K St. NW (18th St. NW)<br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#000000;" >Washington, DC 20006<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">202-223-5043<br /></span><br /></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The good things:</span><br />An all <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">vegetarian </span>restaurant with an absolutely delicious - highly recommended - Rajasthani buffet on Fridays. And South Indian buffet on Wednesday - mirchi ka saalan, wada, idli, tamarind rice, upama etc.<br />I always surprise myself at the amount I can wolf down as I'm sure many people do.<br />A gracious, lovely hostess who actually cooks herself! Yep. That's why the buffets taste like home cooked Indian food.<br />The desserts are just the right level of sweetness.<br />A must go for all home-sick Indians! <strong>Courteous service</strong>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Other Stats:</span><br />It's on the darker side inside - illumination wise (a blessing in the summer). Walls are adorned with large picture frame with images & such from India. Not the place to go to for bright, chandelier-lit meals. Clean furniture & floors. Avoid looking at the kitchen door - it may not do much for a weak stomach. Restrooms unexplored. Dinner menu unexplored.<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Buffets are in the range of $10-$12</span><br /></span>Get in 15 minutes before 12 noon to avoid long waits.<br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Accessibility:</span><br /></span></span><span style="color:#000000;">Call ahead for handicap accessibility-there's a <strong>flight of stairs</strong> to be navigated.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">4 STARS out of 5</span><br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" ></span>yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29450454.post-1149822011267535722006-06-09T08:27:00.000+05:302006-11-15T00:45:16.623+05:30Not just another food blog!This blog was born from my reactions to customer service offered in Indian restaurants.<br />Here's where you shall hear about my adventures with Indian food & Indian restaurants - mostly in & around the DC area - especially the quality of service available in Indian restaurants in the DC area.yarnahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717039151425795235noreply@blogger.com0