Favourites in Little India (a.k.a southern parc-ex)

[Moosemeat]

I'm looking for any places between Acadie and Parc metros. This stretch is so packed with restaurants that it's hard to keep track, and I'm sure there are great places that I've missed simply because I already have a full roster of favourites.

My personal must go to places are:

Afrodiziac
Pushap
Halal 786
Momoi

What is missing form this list? I must know!

[vanierstudent]

Just a heads up. Curry and Naan got Chicken 65, Indian fried chicken. It was delicious.

[Tiny Iota]

Wow, everyone's raving about Curry & Naan. I was there shortly after it opened and wasn't impressed, maybe they needed some time to work out the kinks.

I live in Parc-Ex so I've tried every South Asian place on Jean Talon and my favourite is still Maison India Curry but mt favourite take-out lunch, because it's so close but also delicious, is the naan sandwich from Nouveau Sana. More than I can eat for about $4-5.

[sweettoothMTL]

How about the best one that delivers (I also live in Parc-Ex)? None that I went to seem to, but maybe it just wasnt't obvious and I didn't ask. The Indian options I get from TopMenu look disgusting.

[BLM]

How's Chicken 65 suppose to taste like? Describe the dish?

[vanierstudent]

Looks like general taoish sized chicken, sauce looks like general tao flashy red, but a little darker in colour, the main flavour that comes out of it is an earthy flavour, i personally think it could be curry leaves. There's a lot of chili in it, so it packs a heat.

[SnackHappy]

Sorry for highjacking the thread, but do any of you know if there's any relation between Sana on Jarry and Nouveau Sana (formerly Restaurant Al Safa) on Jean-Talon? I'm just curious.

[hungryann]

I wondered the same thing...

[Tiny Iota]

Nouveau Sana is not related in any way to Sana on Jarry. I asked last time I picked up a sandwich.

[sweettoothMTL]

Interesting thread as I am looking at a go-to India in that area to try, and I notice most of this discussion dates back to 2009.

What are the current Indian/Pakistani favorites? Any that should be avoided? I like Moti Mehal over a year ago when they first open, but I hear the quality has really gone down, so I'm looking for alternative.

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Moti Mehal
1024 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal, QC H3N, CA

[hungryann]

My favorites in the area are:
1. Curry & Naan
2. Sana
3. Bombay Mahal
4. Maison Indian Curry
I did not like Moti Mehal and India Beau Village and I haven't gone in years to Punjab Palace because of the incredibly slow service. Also, I used to like Malhi Sweetes but haven't been back just because so many newer places opened up and I wanted to try them. If anyone has been recently, please pipe in. Lastly, has anyone tried the Delhi Bombay buffet, nest to Moti Mehal?

[kpzoo]

> I hear the quality has really gone down

I've been going regularly since they opened and I have not experienced a decline in quality at all - if anything, it just keeps getting better and better. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would say the quality has declined. I've introduced several people to it recently and everyone thinks it's top notch.

[sweettoothMTL]

Well, as I said, I can't judge for myself as I haven't been in a while, but just the Moti Mehal thread on this board, which for a year had only positive review, most recently only got negative reviews, and no new positive reviews to balance it out:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/576287

So I'm happy to hear it may not have gone done, as I liked it when I went.:

Still interested in trying some new ones

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Moti Mehal
1024 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal, QC H3N, CA

[kpzoo]

Well, I've never had an experience anything like those on that thread but I do tend to order the same dishes because I like them so much - as I just said on another thread, they are the channa samosa, balti chicken, and cholay (rich chick-pea stew). The nan is also superlative.

[cherylmtl]

I was concerend after reading the negative reviews, and had avoided going there for quite a while as a result, but we went a few weeks back, and our experience was the same as kpzoo's - if anything, it's better than before (although the spinach is definitely canned...that was the only thing I noticed that seemed different)

[Professional_Amateur]

what people think is canned spinach is spinach that has been put through the blender or a food processor until its completely smooth. the same is for onions, garlic, ginger etc. this is the real way of making certain sauces in India-PK cooking.

[cherylmtl]

It's not the texture any of us are referring to - it's the taste. It's not that difficult to tell the difference, and there's no way this was fresh spinach put through a blender. It just had that long-canned taste...

[Professional_Amateur]

I'm aware of what you're talking about. Its then put in hot fat and cooked completely to death and it becomes something else. My only comment about Moti Mahal was that the Paneer wasn't made on the premise, its mass produced.

[karela]

Have been in the mood for Pakistani of late and wanted to know if anyone has been to Sana or Halal 786 recently. The google street view of Halal 786 seems to show a store, not a restaurant. Updates would be much appreciated since ideally I would try to get several friends together and don't want to drag everyone across town for a sketchy dining experience.

And now that I read about Momoi, I know I will simply have to pay them a visit too!

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Halal 786 Restaurant
768 Jean Talon, Montreal, QC H2R1V1, CA

[chickenbruiser]

Went to Sana about a month ago and it was great, but a bit tame on the spice heat side.

[hungryann]

Sana has amazing food but the atmosphere is sub zero. It's very much a sparse cafeteria-style dining hall. I usually do take-out or a quick bite; I don't know if your friends would enjoy that.

[chickenbruiser]

True... it's nothing special but it seems like they did some cosmetic renos in the last several months (recessed lighting, fresh paint)... it's has about the same atmosphere as say Bombay Mehal.

[kpzoo]

> The google street view of Halal 786 seems to show a store, not a restaurant.

Halal 786 is upstairs from the store. I went there once a while ago - it was good, but didn't blow my mind so I haven't been back. Prefer Moti Mehal on the corner of l'Acadie & Jean-Talon - never disappoints. Cholay, balti chicken, and channa samosa are my faves.

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Moti Mehal
1024 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal, QC H3N, CA

Halal 786 Restaurant
768 Jean Talon, Montreal, QC H2R1V1, CA

[TheSnowpea]

mmmm I think I'm due for a visit to Moti Mehal... thanks for reminding me!

-----
Moti Mehal
1024 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal, QC H3N, CA

[heliotrope]

Definitely worth a visit. It's great comfort food:

Malhi
880 rue Jarry Ouest (cross street: Wiseman, a couple blocks east of Boulevard de L’Acadie), [phone], http://www.malhisweets.ca/

Googlemaps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&s...

[hungryann]

A second vote for Maison indian Curry and Bombay mahal. The channa battura at MIC is phenomenal. I also tried Delhi Bombay (previous Hermes) that has opened a short while ago and it had a very good thali with a great lamb curry; the butter chicken was also good though less creamy than others. Mango lassis were excellent. Other "unusual" items on the menu were lemon rice, curd rice and chicken 65, that I plan to sample in the near future. A little further down, on Jarry and Wiseman is Malhi Sweet which is also very good and Tabaq (pakistani) on jean-talon east of Park. I don`t know if anyone has tried India Beau Village (2 locations;one on Park near Beaumont and the other on Jarry) and the recently opened India`s oven on JT near Durocher. I would appreciate any feedback on these. There are other places also which I never got around to trying (Ideale, Zam Zam, Kareem and Shalimar to name a few) since they look a bit iffy from the outside so if anyone has good/bad experiences to report , they are welcome as well. The worst in my opinion is Punjab Palace because of the extremely slow service and so-so food.
Is Afrodiziac indian?

[moh]

Afrodiziac is Ghanaian! It is on my shortlist of places to try, as i haven't had Ghanaian cuisine since I was there 14 years ago! Groundnut stew and fufu, here I come!

[killedwithkarate]

Yet another vote for Maison Indian Curry. The food is astonishingly good and plentiful and reasonably priced.

[Moosemeat]

Afrodiziac is definitely a place that "looks a bit iffy" on the outside, but serves up great food. You can read my review here: www.chowhound.com/topics/443121
It looks like Dehli Bombay will be the next place I'll try. Chicken 65 and curd rice are both southern Indian dishes ( Tamil I think.), which makes me hopeful that we're starting to see some regional diversity from the indian restos in town. (Now if someone would just open a Goan resto...) Thanks for reminding me about Tabaq, I've been meaning to check that place out forever.

[hungryann]

Sadly, I never made it back to Delhi Bombay and last week when I passed by it was closed for good :(
What a shame...

[lagatta]

Tabaq seems to have changed owners and regions, no longer Pakistani - Sri Lankan and South Indian. Same phone number.

I haven't tried India's Oven yet; I went past there (when shopping for spices, nuts etc at the big grocery at the corner of Jean-Talon and de l'Épée - you know, the one that used to be a Greek supermarket (Delta) before Loblaws arrived) to pick up a business card/menu.

India's oven is also a byow (or beer) - the owners are Punjabi. Fairly standard menu except for a few specialities (goat curry) and, as their name indicates, several homemade breads, as well as Tandoori dishes from the oven. Inexpensive. They told me it was closed Wednesdays now, although the sign and flyer still say 7 days a week. Unlike Punjab Palace, spotlessly clean inside, and pleasant if simple décor. Very close to Parc métro station as well as to both 92 and 93 buses, and to 80 bus north-south.
454, Jean-Talon West. 514.509.8678 / 514.772.5767

[chililala]

DO TRY INDIA'S OVEN!!! It's great, and I don't think the word's gotten out yet...Their thalis are amazing and taste super-fresh. The owner is really sweet and generous and the atmosphere is clean and pleasant. I still love Maison India Curry, but India's Oven is a great alternative. India Beau Village is also surprisingly good, but the atmosphere is a bit lacking...the space is enormous and you feel a little as though you have been invited to a poorly attended banquet/event.

[hungryann]

There is another location of India Beau Village on Jarry (the original one) and that one is a true hole-in-the-wall. Too big or too small...you choose!

[chililala]

I love love the little India Beau Village on Jarry. It might be my favourite..although I really can't choose...

[riboflavinjoe]

indian curry house shahi paneer is excellent. channa samosas are also really good. recently, due to popularity, the wait has become exceedingly long, and the service has gone downhill a bit too, not enough wait staff! great food though.

[kpzoo]

Bombay Mahal - amazing Southern Indian specialties including masala dosa. Some friends and I recently took a visiting scholar from Southern India here to see what she thought and she was very impressed with the dosas in particular. Other faves of mine include channa samosa (chickpea & tamarind-curry smothered samosas) and a creamy spinach chicken. Plus, it's a BYOB.

It can get maddeningly busy during peak hours and service can slow accordingly, so the earlier you go, the better, or go during non-peak hours.

1001, rue Jean-Talon Ouest - [phone]

[Moosemeat]

I've had their thali plate (veg) for lunch, I wasn't blown away, but I wasn't dissapointed. Maybe I'll take a second look with dosas in mind.

[kpzoo]

Yeah, I'd forget the thalis and instead go for the Southern specialties that you don't find at too many other Indian restos in the city - that's what they do best.

[morebubbles]

Their dosas are good, as are their masala samosas.

[carswell]

Momoi? Connais pas. Please elucidate.

Assuming you aren't banning western European cuisines, the doner (gyros) at Village Grec is worth a special trip.

[Moosemeat]

Momoi (395 Beaumont) is a great Sri Lankan bakery / snack bar. They have great stuffed roti, desserts, and various snacks. Once in a while they seem to serve a curry, or kottu roti. You can find many of their products at Indian / Sri Lankan / Pakistani grocery stores, but as with all baked goods you're better off to get them fresh at the source. I knew I was hooked the first time I had their coconut-raisin naan for breakfast.

The atmosphere is non existent, however the owner is super friendly and as a take out place it kicks serious butt.

P.S. I wouldn't dream of banning cuisines, Western European or otherwise.