Indian Hut (Plainsboro, New Jersey, USA)

Most years, my family would send Christmas Eve at a Chinese restaurant and then head to a movie. This year, we dined at Indian Hut.  The food was good (not great).  The decor was in need of improvement. Once was enough for Indian Hut.

Situl Indian Restaurant (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA)

After getting lost trying to find the restaurant, the meal turned into a fantastic birthday celebration with Drew Chin!  Not only was the Indian food some of the tastiest, but one of the owner/chef's is Nepali.  The momos brought me right back to Kathmandu!

Hot Breads (Woburn, Massachusetts, USA)

What masks as a bakery, is actually an amazing Indian restaurant!  I had the opportunity to visit with a great friend, Amrith.  The conversation was just a delicious as the food.

Tantric (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)

If you've read the blog, you know that Tantric was my local go-to for years while living in Boston.  It did not disappoint when visiting Boston and my friend Dee.  The lunch buffet stood strong with yellow rice, Chicken Tikka Masala and the most delicious tomato soup  - ever.

Curry House (Coolidge Corner, Boston, USA)

Curry House is structured similar to a cafeteria.  You walk up the the lunch lady (or in our case, the dinner man) and order your meal.  It is served on a sectioned plate and provided on a tray.  The food tasted like it.  I loved catching up with my friend Dave, but Curry House was not my favorite.  It was a great opportunity to try something new, but I am not sure I need to return.  (No picture necessary.)

Bukhara (Jamaica Plain, Boston, USA)

On the eve of my brother's wedding, he and I ventured to Bukhara to dive into a late lunch.  Bukhara, in the heart of JP did not disappoint.  This is where we go when in Jamaica Plaina and looking for a solid Indian meal.  The vegetarian sampler provided more than enough food and had a tremendous variety.  Done deal - I'll do it again...

India Grill and Bar (Wellington, Florida, USA)

Date night with Grandma!  We travelled within the neighborhood to a new restaurant - India Grill and Bar.  Thanks goodness for coupons.  We got tremendous bang-for-the-buck with regard to the price and quality and quantity of food.  A return visit is certainly in order for another date night with Grandma!

Copper (Charlotte, North Carolina,USA)

My friends know that I have a soft spot for Indian food.  While visiting Drew Chin, we ventured out to Copper - the most upscale Indian restaurant I've visited.  And the food was not only upscale, very tasty.  Not only was the meal solid, the conversation matched!

Blue Mango (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)

Blue Mango!  Chic!  Colorful lights all around this spot makes for a a vibrant atmosphere.  I had the amazing pleasure to dine with Pete and Lindsay - very close friends (featured int the pic).  The food was just ok.  Very expensive - the price certainly did not match the taste.  It was quite nice for the owner and chef to check-in and introduce himself.  I would certainly go again, but not before venturing out to the other Indian restaurants in and around Raleigh.

 

Saravanaa Bhavan (West Windsor, New Jersey, USA)

Saravanaa Bhavan, a vegetarian indian chain restaurant is probably one of the most authentic Indian spots I've been to in the USA.  Most of the other restaurants are located outside of The States.

I went in originally thinking this was a different Indian restaurant - one I frequented post-college when visiting my folks.  After years away, things change - including old Indian haunts.  Dining in Saravaaa Bhavan was a pleasure and the Dosa (potato filled crepe) was remarkable - not to mention one of the longest I've had to pleasure to devour.

Delhi 6 Spice Rave (East Windsor, New Jersey, USA)

While visiting my folks in New Jersey, we met at Delhi 6 Space Rave.  There is tremendous Indian food in New Jersey and Delhi 6 can be added to the list.  Great fresh and great as left-overs.  Although the food was quote tasty, my favorite part was drinking out of what seemed to be a metal chalice!  Very cool.

Tantric & The Maharaja (Boston & Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)

On a recent trip to Boston, I ventured back to Tantric and, for the first time experienced The Majara, a second-floor restaurant in the heart of Cambridge.  Both of them her visited during their lunch-time buffet and many, many plates were had.

I've already posted about (and shared my appreciation for what was my neighborhood Indian join - Tantric - see the first post of The Great Tikka Tour) so I'll add a few sentences about The Maharaja.  No doubt, some of the best mint chutney I've had!  I also appreciate their fearlessness in providing garlic naan in a buffet.  Every other buffet I've enjoyed only serves regular, plain naan.  Unfortunately, their tikka masala was very loose.  The sauce was far from rich.  It certainly left me wanting more...

Chandni (New York, New York, USA)

While visiting a great friend of mine in NYC from my college years, Mike Radparavar - cofounder of Holstee (www.holstee.com) we ventured off to Chandni.  I loved that our lunch meals were provided on silver pizza pans - a fantastic and creative way to serve a bunch of food. We had our fair share of samosas, naan, salad, and of course, chicken tikka masala for me.  (And as a conscious citizen Mike brought his own to-go container rather than utilize their throw-away containers...)

Flavor of India (Santa Barbara, California, USA)

While on a trip to Santa Barbara, CA for a PhD event, I visited Flavor of India for their lunch-time buffet.  The food was good, not great, but it was absolutely gorgeous sitting outside in the sweet California sunshine.