Hi,
My friend Helen and I went to the buffet lunch today of this newly opened restaurant. I was especially keen to go since I recall Zim commenting Indian buffets are always at their best when the restaurant just opened its doors for business. If you wait a few months or a year to try these buffets, they have usually shifted in quality over time and never in a positive direction.
I must admit I thought $8.95 was a stiff price for an Indian buffet as I am used to the neck-to-neck competitive pricing on Devon Avenue. Alas, I am on Sheridan Road in Highwood less than 10 minutes drive from my house. So I weighed convenience to home opposed to better prices and decided to give it a try.
Helen and I already discussed in the car, we would check the food visually first before sitting down. I hate getting my glass of water and feeling the need to leave, so I do read menus and look around before sitting down. Everything there looked fresh, appetizing and what really sealed the deal: fresh naan and Tandoori chicken would be brought to the table from the kitchen. When I asked if it could be onion naan instead, they guy said no problem for no extra price. I was willing to pay for onion naan, but that it was included was especially sweet.
In the salad bar, they had sweet preserved mango, spicy preserved mango, vegetables such as: cucumber slices, grated carrots, lettuce, onions; plus green chili, tamarind and raita (yogurt with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and cilantro) sauces. Under a heat lamp were samosas (cut in half), whole pakoras, pappad cracker bread and a tomato-based soup of the day.
The steam table had Paleek Paneer (spinach cooked with cottage cheese), Chana Masala (chickpeas), Chicken Makhani ("Butter Chicken" in a creamy tomato sauce), Peas Pulav (rice and peas flavored with saffron), Khasi Ko Maasu (Goat meat with bone in a "typical" Nepalese style with herbs and spices) and Zucchini Aloo.
Dessert: Russgulla (cold, unsweetened coconut in a heavy sugar syrup) and Gulab Jamun (warm, golden fried dumplings of milk pastry soaked in sweet saffron syrup).
When one of the hosts realized I was taking notes, he brought a take out menu and circled everything present. So if something is missing, well a best effort was made from both sides.
The Tandoori Chicken arrived noisily sizzling on a bed of slivered onions on a cast-iron plate. The onion naan was glistening with oil fresh from the griddle and smelling fragrant of onion. I didn't grab the onions fast enough from the grill, I was eating the samosas and pakoras waiting for the heat to dim, so my onions were somewhat charred, which added to their appeal. When we finished the chicken, they immediately inquired if we want more.
The staff was very willing to explain anything and everything about your meal. There were some military people there from Ft Sheridan. The host pulled out a copy of the military paper to show them his ad. The comedian counter postman was there and treated like a prince. Another group of guys showed up for their weekly lunch, and maybe they were there only once before, treated like old friends. I was genuinely pleased by the warmth this staff went out of their way to exude in this new establishment. Hold onto your silverware, they are so anxious to provide good service, they wisk some things away just a tad too fast ... though that beats sitting around a table of dirty plates.
For my area, it was a nice addition to the mix of restaurants available. This may be the first Indian restaurant in our area I am aware of.
Curry Hut
410 Sheridan Avenue
Highwood, IL 60040
Tel: 847/432-2889
Lunch: Mon-Fri: 11:30 AM - 3 PM, Weekends: 12 PM - 3 PM
Dinner: Sun-Thurs: 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM, Fri & Sat: 4:30 PM - 10 PM