142651 Thu Jul 25 13:13:09 -0700 2002 6 12 Boston Area 0 763258 Well, thinking of this board I just FORCED myself to go to the above-named restaurants yesterday and today so I could compare them with Bollywood Cafe (see link). I ordered the same things at each: vegetable korma and chicken tikka masala--plus naan. I did takeout, in part because it felt too piggy to get two lunch specials for myself (even if I did eat only half of the food). First let me say that it strikes even ME as odd to be evaluating CTM, because that is, after all, not a dish one would find in India. I was going to say it was not an authentic Indian dish, but then I wonder about that. Seems to me that Indians in the UK, here, etc. can create dishes that fit into the authentic category even if they are created after they are in other countries, but where do you draw the line? What do you think? Okay, first Khushboo. Murgh Tikka Masala--the first time I had this dish at Khushboo, it was excellent, with an intriguing fruity undertone, but thereafter, the inability to calibrate the level of spiciness has been a problem. Yesterday, after not having had it for a while, I tried this again. I ordered it mild, and it arrived somewhat spicy, with cumin being the prominent flavor. It was also noticeably salty. The fruity undertone was gone, alas--in fact this was entirely different from the dish I had there when the restaurant first opened. I hate to say this, but Bollywood Cafe's was better--and Bollywood's contained much more chicken. Sabji (vegetable) korma--identifiable veggies were potato, carrot, peas, eggplant (at least there was what looked like eggplant skin), green beans, and corn. There were also cashews, almonds, and raisins. The creamy sauce was a bit sour, and although ordered mild, was fairly spicy. There were tiny specks of some as-yet unidentified herb. I think Bollywood Cafe's korma tasted better, although Khushboo's has a nicer selection of veggies. Gosht (lamb) naan--not the least bit worthwhile. Very little lamb and no lamb flavor. At first I thought the green specks were, dare I say it, methi, but at least some of them are cilantro. Anyway, if you want lamby flatbread, go to Eastern Lamejun and get lamejun. Note that I tried this instead of the plain naan merely because I am already familiar with Khushboo's naan, which I like the best of all I have tried. Other notes: the orders came with a large container of rice and three containers of condiments. I struck me that at least I would dare eat these condiments. I am afraid to use the ones at the restaurant, because they are obvioulsy recycled and someone could very well have licked the spoon, etc. Now on to Punjab. The first thing I noticed when I got home was that the entrees were a lot smaller than those at either Khushboo or Bollywood--the containers were half the size! This was compensated for a bit by the fact that Khushboo's lunches also come with soup. Also included were rice and two small containers of condiments. Chicken Tikka Masala--I had a number of thoughts after my first bite of this: that it might be somewhat more interesting than Khushboo's (I am still looking for that slight fruity undertone and this came closer), that it was a bit salty, and, dare I say it, that it tasted like it could have contained Campbell's Tomato Soup. (Now, this is not a unique thought, because someone on uk.food+drink.indian said he had the perfect recipe for CTM, and that recipe, to the horror of all, contained said soup. I honestly don't know if that would have occurred to me otherwise, but I sure wasn't thinking about it before I tasted it.) Now let me go on to say that, nonetheless, this CTM might have been a tad tastier, and simultaneously more comforting, than Khushboo's rendition. I do think I liked Bollywood Cafe's the best though. Vegetable Korma--although this was, again, half the amount of Khushboo's and also only a fraction of what one got at Bollywood Cafe, the thicker sauce was more populated with veggies. The selection included chickpeas, carrots, cauliflower, peas, summer squash, and zucchini. There were also almonds, cashews, and raisins. Ordered at the regular level of spiciness, this was slightly less spicy than Khushboo's mild and had a better flavor than Khushboo's. It is not clear to me whether I like Punjab's or Bollywood Cafe's better, although Punjab's was more flavorful. Khushboo's veggies were the most to my liking, but the somewhat sour sauce was offputting in this dish. Naan--good. I prefer Khushboo's which seems to be brushed with ghee. Punjab's was brushed with something oily, but it did not taste buttery.... Dal Soup--this soup was rather thin (perhaps just from my western standpoint), but what it lacked in bulk, it made up for in flavor. It tasted like an Indian spice shops smells. Okay, now a question. While I was in Arlington Center, I also picked up a menu for Bombay. There are some interesting things listed. Does anyone have any comments on this place? ErstwhileEditor Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/142635#763172 Thu Jul 25 13:13:09 -0700 2002 0 ErstwhileEditor 1 763272 Thanks for your comprehensive reviews, EE. I've never been to any of these places as they're not on my beaten track but will seek them out when I'm in the neighbourhood (besides I have Rangoli to satsify my CTM urges - I like CTM even though it may not be found-on-the-subcontinent authentic). BTW, have you been to Bangalore in Winchester ? It was recommended by some Indian friends (who live on the Subcontinent and were here on a training stint for a couple of mths). They do a decent CTM but what did it for me was their goat curry which had more 'lamb' flavor than lamb without being too game-y (the manager says the goatmeat is freshly delivered to them from a farm in NH), and the Peshwari naan (again, not 'authentic') which had a crackly yet buttery top and was light yet satisfying. Strangely though, the 2nd P-naan we ordered wasn't as good. Finally, I have a question for you : how did you attach a link to your post ? Have looked unsuccessfully for instructions on home page. thanks. Thu Jul 25 16:52:29 -0700 2002 763258 0 ju 2 763274 I'll have to try the CTM at Rangoli and the goat curry at Bangalore. I've never had goat--not because I have avoided it, but because it has never been on a menu where I have been. As for adding the link, if you scroll farther down from where you type your comments on the page, you will see a slot where you can paste (or type) the url, and right under that a slot where you type whatever you want to call that page/site/whatever. Too many restaurant to try! I thought I might sneak to Brookline tomorrow, but now I gather I won't be able to. Maybe next week. ErstwhileEditor Thu Jul 25 17:54:24 -0700 2002 763272 0 ErstwhileEditor 3 763275 You are right, goat is not found on most Indian menus so it was a thrill to see it on Bangalore's (it was a special, so may not be available all the time). Thanks for the info re: links. If you're in the neighbourhood (Brookline) and want to maximise the carpet-bomb experience (try as many dishes as possible) and don't mind the company, I'd be glad to join you. Thu Jul 25 18:12:57 -0700 2002 763274 0 ju 4 764778 Goat is available, believe it or not, at the Indian place in the food court at the Square One Mall on Route 1 in Saugus. I haven't tried it, but their other food is excellent, very cheap, and huge portions. The lassi is excellent as well, and they give you a lot! There is also a similar restaurant in the Cambridgeside Galleria food court.. I think they're owned by the same company, perhaps. Wed Sep 04 17:02:06 -0700 2002 763275 0 Art 5 764780 Hey Art! Good to see you around here. Ditto on the place at Square One food court. I ate there (not goat though) and was really surprised at how good it was. The proprietors were very nice and the food was tasty and cheap. Given the dearth of decent Indian places up north of Boston, it's worth a go, if you don't mind the mall food ambiance. Wed Sep 04 18:49:28 -0700 2002 764778 0 Chris VR 5 764791 I've eaten at the place in the Cambridgeside Galleria several times (when you work in that area there's not a lot of options). It's called Aladdin's but it is Indian food. It is better than expected from a mall. Aside from the usual buffet choices (which often includes goat and always some vegetarian choices), they have a good selection of breads and some chaat dishes. The naan is made fresh to order (you can usually see the cook making it through the little window into the back. David "Zeb" Cook Thu Sep 05 06:53:28 -0700 2002 764778 0 David "Zeb" Cook