(West Hartford) Cosmos International

[Bad Sneakers]

Cosmos International on Farmington Ave (inWest Hartford, just over the border from Hartford) is a wonderful source for a wide variety of Subcontinental and (to a lesser extent) Middle Eastern food items. In the back there's a small selection of prepared foods. I like to pick up a few vegetable samosas from there once a week or so. They have several sources and the ones I've tried vary quite a bit. Prices range from about 75-85c per samosa. Samosa mini-review:

Shaheen's: These are by far my favorite. Large, with good heat and a complex flavor (not just heat+salt like some samosas). These guys crisp up nicely when heated up in the oven. Fairly salty and a bit oily.

Rajbhog: Not bad at all, though the flavor isn't as complex as Shaheen's and the shell isn't as crispy. Slightly lower heat level. I believe these are their biggest sellers.

Kabab King: I was very disappointed in these. They looked promising from the outside - large, nice crispy shell, smelled great. My problem with these samosas was the inclusion of very large chunks of onion and pepper. Even though I fished them out they completely overwhelmed the other flavors. My declaration that "I've never met a samosa I didn't like" had finally been challenged.

Anyone have any favorites from Cosmos? Must try prepared or packaged foods?

[joaniebaby]

Cosmos has excellent humus and stuffed grape leaves. The phyllo and honey pastry with the whole pistachios in the center is phenomenal. (I can't remember the name) My daughter is a big fan of the gyros. It is all very very good.

[joaniebaby]

Sorry, I'm thinking of Tangiers International. love Cosmos too, but don't have a favorite dish.

[sprinklez]

i had some of their spicy cashews.. simply excellent

[Uncledave]

It's a great place. The dishes they make on premises are wonderful. They normally have about a dozen choices: saag paneer, okra, eggplant, chix tikka masala, goat curry, vindaloos, etc.

I get piles of it and fill up my freezer.

Recent thread on this place: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/34549...

[chefstu]

What's the address, I'd like to check it out?

[Bad Sneakers]

Sorry, I should have included that in my post.
770 Farmington Ave
West Hartford
[phone]