Samosa Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

[FelafelBoy]

There seem to be only two Indian restaurants in the Philadelphia metro area that offer a dinner buffet - Sitar in West Philly and Samosa.

Has anyone been to Samosa recently?

Previous posts about this restaurant mentioned that the dishes were not just Indian, but Caribbean, I believe.

Anyone been to Samosa for the dinner buffet? I prefer traditional Indian! If I go for a buffet, I want to make sure there are at least a few of the traditional Indian dishes like dals, curried dishes (like chana masala, rajma, alu ghobi, etc.).

[Bride of the Juggler]

Don't the other West Philly places (New Dhelhi, Tandoor India) do dinner buffets too? They used to. Thank you.

[PhillyA]

Yes, New Dheli & Tandoor India do dinner (and lunch) buffets too. Also, Karma in Old City has a lunch buffet, but I'm not positive if they do dinner.

[FelafelBoy]

I had forgotten about Tandoor India offering a dinner buffet since I stopped eating there years ago. I had thought New Delhi only offered a lunch buffet.

Prior posts on Samosa, particularly after it had acquired new owners , and having renamed itself DID mention dishes that were multicultural and "international ethnic."

Not having eaten there since the new management took over, I was only going by what I had read, which is why I am asking again.

No, I have no problem with all vegetarian. Quite the contrary. I expect that an all vegetarian restaurant is forced to be more creative, and offers me more exposure to interesting dishes that I am unaware of. (That is why I went to Devi in Exton with so much eagerness. On my second visit, I discovered that some closer non-vegetarian restaurants actually offered MORE vegetarian dishes, although Devi offered a few that I would have never had at these other restaurants. Bawarchi comes closest to offering more of the "exotic vegetarian" dishes than the other Indian restaruants offering more north Indian cuisine.)

If New Samosa does, indeed, offer traditional Indian dishes, I look forward to sampling the buffet offering.

I wonder if anyone who has been to New Samosa has also been to any of the Indian restaurants in the King of Prussia/Wayne/Malvern/Exton area and could compare the quality of the food. (I haven't been to the West Philly Indian restaurants in years ever since I encountered the quality of food served at some of the western suburban located Indian restaurants, which impressed me as different and better, in my opinion. I would like to explore the offerings at New Samosa, Sitar India, and in time, the more elegant Indian restaurants west of center city, like Karma, and Cafe Spice. I just like being able to sample various dishes at the same sitting which is why I love buffets. It's a more generous version of a "thali.")

[Bride of the Juggler]

Well, Cafe Spice does a pretty generous Thali (veg and non-veg).
New Delhi food quality has really improved since they reopened. We joke that they threw out all the old spices and got all new, so it's great now but will slowly get less good. I have been to I think it's called Jaipur in K of P and I would say it's much better than Samosa or the West Philly places, although New Delhi is now pretty close. Thank you.

[FelafelBoy]

Guess that people who go to this restaurant don't read Chowhound.
I went to New Samosa a month ago or so. Nice selection of food at the buffet, but the place isn't decored like the former space. The ambience and presentation of food at the buffet station impressed me as a place for people "on the go," rather than a "finer dining establishment."

I can't comment on the taste and quality of the food since I wasn't in the mood for what I saw, but it impressed me as "fast food." Maybe someone else who has eaten there can comment on the quality of food as it compares with other similar restaurants in the area or even Sitar India across town with its dinner buffet. What's nice about New Samosa, is that if you are roaming around Center City and want a variety of Indian food, this place offers you that in its dinner buffet.

I couldn't get in to Minar Palace due to it being closed the day I was there, but it looks like its interior is fixed up for "fine dining."

[barryg]

Are you talking about the one on Walnut between 12th and 13th? That's actually called New Samosa now (new owners).

There is a buffet for dinner, but I've only been for lunch, No idea what you mean by Caribbean dishes. It is traditional Indian food, and it's pretty good. However, it is vegetarian only. If you can get down with that, it's a good deal because it's cheaper than other buffets since there is no meat.

[barryg]

Just went back to New Samosa today. They just started serving meat! Only one dish today but I think they will be offering more. The owner said she will probably raise take-out prices a dollar but not eat in prices.

Food there is definitely good, and definitely 100% Indian. They do have Ice Cream, though.