663389 Thu Oct 29 17:01:32 -0700 2009 17 19 Outer Boroughs 0 5141569 When I first began going it was fantastic. It might be my imagination, but it seems to be getting even better. Dishes have been added (see other posts) and old ones refined. I think the breads, in particular the onion kulcha, are the best I have ever had. The onions inside are voluminous and fresh, with tons of seeds and spices. The dum biryani seems to be tastier than ever, with exceptionally tender flavor saturated meat. Does anyone else notice this place just getting better all the time? Could it be an added concentration of attention now that Manny is closing the 2d ave spot? I think it is in prime form, and chowhounds are OBLIGED to go! Thu Oct 29 17:01:32 -0700 2009 94651 NYJewboy 1 5153979 I think that Chef is always looking to add new items and it gets better and better. The lunch buffet offers items not included on the menu. This past weekend we had an incredible dish of cabbage flavored with onions, mustard seeds, spices and coconut which added a surprisingly complimentary mellow accent. Of course I was happy to find bindi (okra) on the buffet table. Yummy! We also had a new chili naan (I'm not sure if it's on the menu) offered up by Lovie. Tue Nov 03 20:23:36 -0800 2009 5141569 96499 mushimushi427 2 5154451 Chili naan! I have to ask him about that... Wed Nov 04 05:49:08 -0800 2009 5153979 94651 NYJewboy 1 5154536 Does anyone know where I can view a menu? I have heard good things recently and would like to check it out. Ive read about the following, any more suggestions and ideas An appetizer of milagai bajji ($3), green hot pepper stuffed with potatoes and coated with chickpea and rice flours. Chicken 65 ($6) 65 ingredients?!?!?!?!? Sura puttu ($9), "scrambled shark," shredded shark meat with mustard and fennel seeds, cilantro, curry leaves, dried chilies and the occasional cardamom pod. karaikudi nandu varuval ($15), a slow-cooked crab made Chettinad style, which has to be ordered in advance. Wed Nov 04 06:30:30 -0800 2009 5141569 177720 Asumnuthin 2 5156658 My daughter LOVES the mint goat curry and I love the lamb sukka. Chicken 65 is always super and the Biryani is Southern Spice's specialty. I recommend the buffet lunch, you can try a small sample of several dishes and everything tastes fresh. Wed Nov 04 16:54:55 -0800 2009 5154536 96499 mushimushi427 2 5158568 I ordered takeout 2-3 weeks ago. The stuffed peppers were good, but the Chicken 65 and the Lamb Varuval were absolutely fantastic, flavorful, spicy. Plan on trying other things on the menu as well. Some photos of the menu courtesy of Eating in Translation's Dave Cook: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingintranslation/3582930767/sizes/l/in/set-72157618985180855/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingintranslation/3583739192/sizes/l/in/set-72157618985180855/ Thu Nov 05 11:30:07 -0800 2009 5154536 255500 csabi26 3 5165883 I tried the Lamb Varuval for the first time today. It was one of the best dishes I have had there. I love the dry spice coated style. Right up with chicken 65 and their excellent chana masala. Sun Nov 08 17:40:03 -0800 2009 5158568 94651 NYJewboy 4 5168647 Omigosh! I thought Manny put out a new dish. I didn't realize that there was another word after Lamb Sukka. This was one of the two first dishes we were served at Southern Spice. We walked in and asked Lovey and Chef Manny to select our meal for the evening. Mon Nov 09 17:19:05 -0800 2009 5165883 96499 mushimushi427 5 5168973 I spoke to him this evening and he was telling me about a goat brain dish he makes. I think it won't make it to the menu, but it sounds interesting. Brain is really pushing it for me, but if there is anywhere I would eat brain it would be here. I had the shark this evening and it was sublime. We have to be thankful for this place. Rare indeed! Mon Nov 09 19:39:49 -0800 2009 5168647 94651 NYJewboy 6 5169524 Off subject but we had a fab brain dish at Ali's Kabab Café. It was served hot and then scrambled table side with egg. We had to eat it quickly with pita, because after a while it began to congeal. It was a very tasty savory dish though. Tue Nov 10 05:34:59 -0800 2009 5168973 177720 Asumnuthin 6 5169538 The Gastronauts food club is going to Southern Spice and having the brain dish among others. It sold out in minutes (I missed it) but here is the menu for those who are interested. Watch the gastronauts.net web site for updates from the event. SOUTHERN SPICE Rabbit Masala Varutha Moolai (Goat Brain ) Crab masala Uthappam Sura Puttu (Shark Scrambled) Vowvaal Mean (pomfreet steamed in banana leaf) Tandoori spicy duck breast Tue Nov 10 05:42:55 -0800 2009 5168973 176294 dhs 7 5169578 Manny told me about this yesterday. It is tonight, isn't it? Tue Nov 10 06:11:42 -0800 2009 5169538 94651 NYJewboy 8 5169644 Yes I believe so. As mentioned, it is sold out and most likely a long waiting list for any openings from cancellations Tue Nov 10 06:44:17 -0800 2009 5169578 176294 dhs 6 5171515 Brain is pushing it for me too. Reminds me of my grandmother trying to push me to eat that stuff. I think we have to open a facebook group for Southern Spice. Tortilleria Nixtamal in Corona has one...it's rather amazing and useful. Tue Nov 10 18:25:52 -0800 2009 5168973 96499 mushimushi427 7 5184318 We just had our first taste of southern spice this week. I thought the goat biryani was the best of many years of Indian eating in NY. the scrambled shark dish was also delicious. The two vegetables we had were less outstanding - maybe I should have gone with an eggplant. Im eager to find an opportunity to eat there with a group of meateaters since the meat and fish dishes appear to shine. Sun Nov 15 18:57:44 -0800 2009 5171515 11130 jen kalb 2 5186767 God, I can't wait to eat here. Chicken 65 is a common dish in India, esp. in more rough-and-tumble restaurants. It doesn't have 65 ingredients, but I don't think anyone really knows why it's called that. Wikipedia has some fun theories -- I myself believe that is was once #65 on some menu somewhere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_65 Mon Nov 16 15:45:30 -0800 2009 5154536 1124965 Fresh Pond Road 1 5188132 After discovering all the glowing reports on CH, we made the trek last night! Woo-hoo it was awesome. Had chicken 65, fried pepper fritters, goat, crab cakes kerala style, and a special of tandoori duck, with garlic naan. My favorite was the goat and the pepper fritters. I think that garlic naan is a mistake with food so flavorful, the strong garlic flavor distracts from all the intense interplay of the spices (and I love garlic!). The entrees offered a wonderful array of different sauces: the goat was a dark, wonderful sauce, the crab had a bight, creamy, cilantro-laden sauce, and the duck had a nice tangy orange sauce (tamarind?). A side note, there's a big sign on the front saying no BYOB, but not knowing the policy, we had brought along a bottle of Deus beer. They let us drink it out of paper cups (maybe because we were the only customers?). Anyway, it was a nice pairing. Tue Nov 17 07:05:17 -0800 2009 5141569 15750 Mandymac 1 5203878 I tried Southern Spice the last time I was in Flushing recently. I ordered a chicken dish in a mint gravy, eggplant in a tamarind gravy and the onion kulcha. I don't see the chicken dish listed on the takeout menu in front of me. At first bite I wasn't too impressed, but by the time my chicken and kulcha were gone I was spooning up the last few spoonfuls of the gravy and just eating it like soup. I didn't like the eggplant dish as much and I'm usually a big fan of eggplant. Maybe the tamarind gravy just isn't for me, but I didn't think the eggplant itself was so hot. The spice level was perfect, until I went and bit into the chile pepper that was giving the dish its heat and turned it into a double vindaloo. My own fault, of course. The shark dish sounds interesting. And that cabbage dish that isn't on my takeout menu and don't recall from the restaurant. Mon Nov 23 17:56:52 -0800 2009 5141569 124719 JacksonH