Last weekend I visited Little Oscar's Restaurant in Hampton, Mn.
This is a great little diner located of highway 52. Its a small place, with all the accoutrements of any small town diner, PLUS, a little electric train that goes around the dining room. It also reminds me of the mom n' pop places of my childhood in Iowa, with those little wooden and peg brain teaser games on the tables, except now all those games have their website listed for purchase.
But I digress....
The food we has was spectacular. I ordered the crispy chicken wrap with a cup of chili. The chili was sweet and thick. Tomatoey and very tasty. The wrap was excellent too. Used chopped rather than shredded lettuce, and it had the right ratio of lettuce to the other ingredients. And a good price too, only 7.89 for all of that.
I cannot remember the sandwich my husband ordered, but it came with mashed potatoes. They were GOOD. Real mashed potatoes with the thick beef gravy that comes standard at any roadside diner.
This was a great experience! I will totally return here again when I am on the road.
Showing posts with label Restaurant review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Restaurant review. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque
http://www.smalleysbbq.com/
I visited Smalley's this evening and I enjoyed it very much. I have passed the place many times while visiting Stillwater, MN without giving it much thought. Then, I read this article in Minnesota monthly that made me give the place a try. This is a pirate themed bar with a 6 page rum menu. It's good fun.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the food and libations I had there. I started out with a drink called a "dark and stormy" which was made from ginger beer, lime and rum. VERY GOOD. I could drink these all night. Then, we got the plaintain and tortilla chip appetizer with queso and habanero salsa. Good! I love plantain chips, and these were good. The habanero salsa was hot, but tolerable.
Then came dinner. Mmmmmm. I ordered the coal fired pork shoulder plate, and my husband ordered the pulled pork sandwich. When you order meats here, you can have them made regular barbeque style, or jamaican jerk style. Go for the jerk. Its amazing. An interesting fact is that all the meats at Smalley's (and all true jerk meats) are smoked over pimento wood, which was banned from import to the U.S. until recently. Smalley's importer for the wood is a minnesota company!
My pork shoulder was very good, and an ample, but not overwhelming portion. The meat iself had a mild favor, and is served unsauced, with jerk and bbq sauces you can use at the table. The meat by itself was moist and spicy, with very little fat. The sides I chose were pork and beans and macaroni and cheese. The beans in this side were an afterthought! But still very good. The mac n' cheese was creamy and delicious. It also came with a piece of cornbread that contained some sort of mild green pepper or chile. It was good, but not spicy.
My husband got the pulled pork. It came with a pirate brand in the bun! (see above!) He got the close slaw. Very enjoyable he says.
For dessert we got a "drunken banana chocolate cake." WAY TOO RICH. Share this with 3-4 people if you get it.
I would definitely go back to this place if I was in the Stillwater area.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Tom Reid Hockey City Pub (St. Paul)
My mother and I went to this restaurant last week and had one of those most disgusting meals that I have had in a long time.
It was a busy night, so I think they had an abbreviated menu, of basic pub style fare for the most part. I ordered a buffalo chicken salad, and my mother ordered ribs, which came with fries.
My salad would have been good but for the sauce. The way it came out was all the greens on top, then a grilled chicken breast, which they then proceeded to DRENCH in buffalo sauce right on top of the salad. It ruined the salad because there was WAY too much of it.
My mother's ribs were "squishy" and the fries were so oversalted with seasoning salt that they were inedible.
I do not recommend this place. Stay home and eat a frozen pizza.
It was a busy night, so I think they had an abbreviated menu, of basic pub style fare for the most part. I ordered a buffalo chicken salad, and my mother ordered ribs, which came with fries.
My salad would have been good but for the sauce. The way it came out was all the greens on top, then a grilled chicken breast, which they then proceeded to DRENCH in buffalo sauce right on top of the salad. It ruined the salad because there was WAY too much of it.
My mother's ribs were "squishy" and the fries were so oversalted with seasoning salt that they were inedible.
I do not recommend this place. Stay home and eat a frozen pizza.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Campiello
Last week was restaurant week. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, one week every march has many of the top restaurants in the Twin Cities offering 3 course prix fixe menus for a low price. Its organized by Minneapolis-St. Paul magazine, to promote visiting a new restaurant.
We decided to visit Campiello, an Italian restaurant located in Eden Prairie.
What I had:
Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Roasted chicken with spinach and mushroom risotto
Black Walnut bread pudding with cinnamon gelato
Pat had:
Fried calamari with basil aioli
Hanger steak with yukon gold potatoes
Tiramisu.
The food was wonderful!! The soup I had was flavorful, yet simple. Rich, but not so much that you can't finish. Great with the fresh baked crusty bread they brought.
My entree was orgasmic. The chicken is roasted over a wood fire, so it has a smoky flavor along with the perfectly cooked, juicy chicken. And it was a whole half chicken, so a decent portion! The risotto was perfectly cooked, but a little too buttery for my taste. I like a little more cheese in my risotti, but it was still really good.
But the dessert was the capper. The bread pudding was good, but the cinnamon gelato.... omigod that just set it off so well. Gelato is a richer type of iced dessert that takes on the flavor of what its mixed with so much better than regular ice cream(IMHO), and it is softer than regular ice cream. That part was so good I could have been satisfied with just that!!
Pat enjoyed his meal as well. The calamari were crispy, but not tough, and the batter had a slight kick to it, likely a bit of cayenne pepper that tasted really good with the basil aioli. The steak was perfectly cooked, but what he really enjoyed were the potatoes, which were creamy and cheesy. Tiramisu was adequate.
For restaurant week, these meals were affordable. However, to go to this restaurant on a regular night will be a mite expensive. Perhaps save this for a nice evening out, but I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.
We decided to visit Campiello, an Italian restaurant located in Eden Prairie.
What I had:
Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Roasted chicken with spinach and mushroom risotto
Black Walnut bread pudding with cinnamon gelato
Pat had:
Fried calamari with basil aioli
Hanger steak with yukon gold potatoes
Tiramisu.
The food was wonderful!! The soup I had was flavorful, yet simple. Rich, but not so much that you can't finish. Great with the fresh baked crusty bread they brought.
My entree was orgasmic. The chicken is roasted over a wood fire, so it has a smoky flavor along with the perfectly cooked, juicy chicken. And it was a whole half chicken, so a decent portion! The risotto was perfectly cooked, but a little too buttery for my taste. I like a little more cheese in my risotti, but it was still really good.
But the dessert was the capper. The bread pudding was good, but the cinnamon gelato.... omigod that just set it off so well. Gelato is a richer type of iced dessert that takes on the flavor of what its mixed with so much better than regular ice cream(IMHO), and it is softer than regular ice cream. That part was so good I could have been satisfied with just that!!
Pat enjoyed his meal as well. The calamari were crispy, but not tough, and the batter had a slight kick to it, likely a bit of cayenne pepper that tasted really good with the basil aioli. The steak was perfectly cooked, but what he really enjoyed were the potatoes, which were creamy and cheesy. Tiramisu was adequate.
For restaurant week, these meals were affordable. However, to go to this restaurant on a regular night will be a mite expensive. Perhaps save this for a nice evening out, but I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Brasa!
http://www.brasa.us/
To begin this post, I must say:
GET YOUR SHOES ON AND GO HERE NOW.
Pat and I visited the Brasa located in Northeast Minneapolis this week, and it was AWESOME.
Brasa is a place that serves homestyle latin american food with barbqued meats. You can order individual plates, or larger portions served family style.
You have your choice of five different meats and a variety of excellent side dishes. I chose an individual plate with the pulled chicken, with fried plantains and a corn and cheese cake. NOM! The chicken was tnder and juicy and delicious, with a light sauce that didn't overpower, but just added a nice zing to the chicken. The fried plantains were a surprise. These were sweeter than other plantains I have had, closer to a banana. However, they are served with a green sauce that is sort of salty/creamy/vinergarey/herby that cuts the sweetness and gives a great tangy flavor. I could eat about 10 pounds of these! The corn-cheese cake is a flat corn disk that is covered with cheese, a hot sauce, and fresh cilantro. Very nice. I like the crunchy with the smoothness of the cheese.
Pat had the pulled pork and red beans & rice. The pulled pork was smoky with a citrus-chili marinade to enhance it. The beans and rice were also both perfectly cooked, but a tad bland.
Go here for food, but not atmosphere. This is not a place to go for a fancy dinner. Its a place to go for stick-to-your-ribs food that will leave you more than satisfied. Its a community style place that is great for people watching as well.
Finally, one of the best things about this is that they try to cook as much local food as they can. Its a way to enjoy great tasting nosh and to support local businesses as well. Everybody wins.
To begin this post, I must say:
GET YOUR SHOES ON AND GO HERE NOW.
Pat and I visited the Brasa located in Northeast Minneapolis this week, and it was AWESOME.
Brasa is a place that serves homestyle latin american food with barbqued meats. You can order individual plates, or larger portions served family style.
You have your choice of five different meats and a variety of excellent side dishes. I chose an individual plate with the pulled chicken, with fried plantains and a corn and cheese cake. NOM! The chicken was tnder and juicy and delicious, with a light sauce that didn't overpower, but just added a nice zing to the chicken. The fried plantains were a surprise. These were sweeter than other plantains I have had, closer to a banana. However, they are served with a green sauce that is sort of salty/creamy/vinergarey/herby that cuts the sweetness and gives a great tangy flavor. I could eat about 10 pounds of these! The corn-cheese cake is a flat corn disk that is covered with cheese, a hot sauce, and fresh cilantro. Very nice. I like the crunchy with the smoothness of the cheese.
Pat had the pulled pork and red beans & rice. The pulled pork was smoky with a citrus-chili marinade to enhance it. The beans and rice were also both perfectly cooked, but a tad bland.
Go here for food, but not atmosphere. This is not a place to go for a fancy dinner. Its a place to go for stick-to-your-ribs food that will leave you more than satisfied. Its a community style place that is great for people watching as well.
Finally, one of the best things about this is that they try to cook as much local food as they can. Its a way to enjoy great tasting nosh and to support local businesses as well. Everybody wins.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saji Ya
Tonight we went to Saji Ya to celebrate Pat's birthday. This is located on Grand avenue in St. Paul, next to Dixie's.
As I am sure you have figured out by the name, this is a Japanese restaurant. I have been to many of the Japanese restaurants here in the city, and overall I would place this one in the middle of the pack.
When you walk into the restaurant, the vestibule leaves much to be desired. The interior of the restaurant is also a bit too spare in my opinion, but they do have some neat detailing on the walls behind the sushi bar.
As for dining, you have two options here: you can for for the traditional experience of ordering food off the menu, or you can make reservations for Teppanyaki. Teppanyaki is a set up where a group of people sit around while a chef in the middle cooks and chops food in front of them. Its fast and a fun show. However, there tends to be a minimum number of people you need to have for that experience. We went for the traditional experience.
The menu here offers something for everyone, from sushi and sashimi to all sorts of appetizers and warm entrees. It was particularly good for us as we have people with us who are less adventurous when eating, and there were choices for them to enjoy as well.
For appetizers we ordered Gyoza (pork potstickers) and Harumaki (eggrolls). They were both very good, but I think the gyoza could have been drained before serving. The eggrolls were excellent. Flavorful and crunchy.
All the entrees come with soup and a salad to start. The egg drop soup and miso soup that we had was adequate, but nothing out of this world. However, the salads were really good! It has a orange dressing on it that has a really unique flavor that I loved. When paired with sunflower seeds, it was even better. I could eat that salad all day.
Around the table we ordered: chicken tempura, Pork Tonkatsu, New York Strip, and a sashimi plate.
* Chicken tempura is chicken and vegetables fried in a light batter. This came with steamed rice and soy dipping sauce. It was decent, but predictable. A safe choice for those who may not otherwise like Japanese food.
*Pork Tonkatsu is a port cutlet, breaded and fried. It is supposed to come with a sort of Japanese steak sauce on it, but mine did not come with the sauce. I was not pleased. In addition, it came with steamed rice, ginger broccoli, A chicken drummie, a bowl with sweet potato and pork chunks in it, and a small fried mackerel cake. This is served in what is called a Bento box.
This was really good, and a LOT of food. I liked everything except the fish cake, but that is because I don't like fish! The Broccoli was so good I think it would be a great way to get picky kids to eat it.
*The New York strip in this case was served with a ginger sauce on it. This also came with all the sides that the Tonkatsu had as a bento box. My companion really enjoyed the steak. This is another great choice for persons who may not be into the more traditional Japanese fare.
*Sashimi is raw fish that is sliced thinly, served cold with rice, pickled ginger, wasabi and garnish. My companion rated the Sashimi was good, but not the best compared to other places. In addition, the portion was a little small for the price that you pay for relatively inexpensive fish that was on the platter.
The dessert menu was odd. Other than the obligatory green tea ice cream, it wasn't very Japanese. They had mango cheesecake, death by chocolate cake, and Tiramisu. Yes, an italian dessert in a Japanese restaurant. So, of course my companion ordered the Tiramisu. Overall it was decent in flavor, and it was very nicely plated. However it isn't the best we have ever had.
Over all, this restaurant is good, but not great. This is a good choice if you have less adventurous eaters because they have more tame options than other Japanese restaurants in the city.
As I am sure you have figured out by the name, this is a Japanese restaurant. I have been to many of the Japanese restaurants here in the city, and overall I would place this one in the middle of the pack.
When you walk into the restaurant, the vestibule leaves much to be desired. The interior of the restaurant is also a bit too spare in my opinion, but they do have some neat detailing on the walls behind the sushi bar.
As for dining, you have two options here: you can for for the traditional experience of ordering food off the menu, or you can make reservations for Teppanyaki. Teppanyaki is a set up where a group of people sit around while a chef in the middle cooks and chops food in front of them. Its fast and a fun show. However, there tends to be a minimum number of people you need to have for that experience. We went for the traditional experience.
The menu here offers something for everyone, from sushi and sashimi to all sorts of appetizers and warm entrees. It was particularly good for us as we have people with us who are less adventurous when eating, and there were choices for them to enjoy as well.
For appetizers we ordered Gyoza (pork potstickers) and Harumaki (eggrolls). They were both very good, but I think the gyoza could have been drained before serving. The eggrolls were excellent. Flavorful and crunchy.
All the entrees come with soup and a salad to start. The egg drop soup and miso soup that we had was adequate, but nothing out of this world. However, the salads were really good! It has a orange dressing on it that has a really unique flavor that I loved. When paired with sunflower seeds, it was even better. I could eat that salad all day.
Around the table we ordered: chicken tempura, Pork Tonkatsu, New York Strip, and a sashimi plate.
* Chicken tempura is chicken and vegetables fried in a light batter. This came with steamed rice and soy dipping sauce. It was decent, but predictable. A safe choice for those who may not otherwise like Japanese food.
*Pork Tonkatsu is a port cutlet, breaded and fried. It is supposed to come with a sort of Japanese steak sauce on it, but mine did not come with the sauce. I was not pleased. In addition, it came with steamed rice, ginger broccoli, A chicken drummie, a bowl with sweet potato and pork chunks in it, and a small fried mackerel cake. This is served in what is called a Bento box.
This was really good, and a LOT of food. I liked everything except the fish cake, but that is because I don't like fish! The Broccoli was so good I think it would be a great way to get picky kids to eat it.
*The New York strip in this case was served with a ginger sauce on it. This also came with all the sides that the Tonkatsu had as a bento box. My companion really enjoyed the steak. This is another great choice for persons who may not be into the more traditional Japanese fare.
*Sashimi is raw fish that is sliced thinly, served cold with rice, pickled ginger, wasabi and garnish. My companion rated the Sashimi was good, but not the best compared to other places. In addition, the portion was a little small for the price that you pay for relatively inexpensive fish that was on the platter.
The dessert menu was odd. Other than the obligatory green tea ice cream, it wasn't very Japanese. They had mango cheesecake, death by chocolate cake, and Tiramisu. Yes, an italian dessert in a Japanese restaurant. So, of course my companion ordered the Tiramisu. Overall it was decent in flavor, and it was very nicely plated. However it isn't the best we have ever had.
Over all, this restaurant is good, but not great. This is a good choice if you have less adventurous eaters because they have more tame options than other Japanese restaurants in the city.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Citizen Cafe
Today I am reviewing a place called citizen Cafe
Citizen Cafe
2403 E 38th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
www.thecitizencafe.com
I visited this restaurant with two friends for breakfast recently, and I have to say, it is probably the best breakfast I have ever had out in a restaurant!
The restaurant is in the building that used to be a dive cafe that served italian food I think. However, the place is not a dive anymore! When you walk in, you enter a simplistic, french country style of decoration. Its a very calming a relaxing place to be!
The french country theme continues on to the food as well. The menu takes breakfast basics and puts a french twist on them that makes them all the better for it. In addition to the menu, there is a daily frittata on the menu as well. My friend had it that day and said it was excellent.
Our meal began with excellent coffee and free samples of banana and a chocolate chip bread while were waiting. The breads were moist, sweet and delicious. It was a nice surprise!
I had the brioche french toast, foster style. This is bananas foster french toast! Omigod it was the most wonderful thing EVAR! Go here NOW and get some. I also had the nitrate free bacon with my toast, and it was wonderful. Few restaurants are able to serve thick cut bacon that is also crisp without being burned. I was very impressed!
The service was really good as well. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. She was also always available when we needed her or a refill of coffee, without being overbearing. They also didn't try to rush us. I appreciate this in a restaurant.
Overall, my experience here was wonderful, and I plan to return many times!
Citizen Cafe
2403 E 38th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
www.thecitizencafe.com
I visited this restaurant with two friends for breakfast recently, and I have to say, it is probably the best breakfast I have ever had out in a restaurant!
The restaurant is in the building that used to be a dive cafe that served italian food I think. However, the place is not a dive anymore! When you walk in, you enter a simplistic, french country style of decoration. Its a very calming a relaxing place to be!
The french country theme continues on to the food as well. The menu takes breakfast basics and puts a french twist on them that makes them all the better for it. In addition to the menu, there is a daily frittata on the menu as well. My friend had it that day and said it was excellent.
Our meal began with excellent coffee and free samples of banana and a chocolate chip bread while were waiting. The breads were moist, sweet and delicious. It was a nice surprise!
I had the brioche french toast, foster style. This is bananas foster french toast! Omigod it was the most wonderful thing EVAR! Go here NOW and get some. I also had the nitrate free bacon with my toast, and it was wonderful. Few restaurants are able to serve thick cut bacon that is also crisp without being burned. I was very impressed!
The service was really good as well. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. She was also always available when we needed her or a refill of coffee, without being overbearing. They also didn't try to rush us. I appreciate this in a restaurant.
Overall, my experience here was wonderful, and I plan to return many times!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Gardens of Salonica
Gardens of Salonica
19 5th St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
http://www.gardensofsalonica.com/
I have been to this restaurant a couple of times now, and I must say... GO. DROP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AND GO IMMEDIATELY.
I mean, yea... it's good.
The vibe of this place is really cool. Its got a minimal decor with lots of iron sculptures inside and out by a greek artist. The dining room is warm with lots of light as well. Also, both times I went it wasn't crazy busy, so I was able to enjoy the place.
The food here is also top rate and very reasonably priced overall. Some of the entrees and specials can get a little pricey though. However, the menu prices are more than fair.
My favorite thing about this restaurant is the pita. I know what you are thinking, "th PITA?!?!" Yes. The pita. I think it is made fresh in house and it comes out warm and soft and a little buttery tasting. When you eat it, it just melts in your mouth. I have never had pita that tasted quite like that, and I get cravings for it just thinking about it.
Over my two visits, I also tried some great appetizers. I has the Tyro, which is soft feta cheese that is combined with spices and peppers. Its salty and spicy and wonderful on the warm pita. I also tried the Skordalia, which is a potato and garlic puree with lemon juice, olive oil, and spices. Its really good and a nice cool contrast to the Tyro. I also tried the pipperies, which are roasted red peppers in olive oil. Very light and nice.
On the two times I have visited, I tried several things. The first time I went, I had chicken Sovlaki. This is skewer cooked chicken, de-skewered and put in a pita with tzatziki sauce and vegetables. Theirs also comes with homemade potato wedges. YUMMY.
Also, the last time I tried three different Boughatsa. These are essentially phyllo pockets. I had the spinach-feta, which is also called spanakopita, I had the leek-lemon-garlic, and the Feta ric, which has feta, ricotta, and kefalotyri cheeses in it. All were very good, but I think the leek one was my favorite. Very nicely spiced and cooked. Even the phyllo was spiced a bit. I liked it.
Pat has the lamb sovlaki and liked it, and this last time, he has a vegetarian special with eggplant, potaoes and otehr veggies in a tomato sauce, served with feta on the side. It was fairly good.
Finally, there is dessert. This is also worthwhile. I recommend the baklava. Very nicely spiced and flavored without being too sweet. Pat also had something called Kataifi, which is a lot like baklava, but it is covered with shredded wheat and honey. Its pretty good too. This last time, Pat has the rice pudding. I was not as fond of this. It was lightly spiced and I thought it could be a little sweeter and spicier. But this could be a taste issue. Pat liked it very much.
A last little note. The wine list here is all Greek. On my first visit, I had one of the house whites and it was very good. Sweet, but not overly sweet. It was light and refreshing.
19 5th St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
http://www.gardensofsalonica.com/
I have been to this restaurant a couple of times now, and I must say... GO. DROP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AND GO IMMEDIATELY.
I mean, yea... it's good.
The vibe of this place is really cool. Its got a minimal decor with lots of iron sculptures inside and out by a greek artist. The dining room is warm with lots of light as well. Also, both times I went it wasn't crazy busy, so I was able to enjoy the place.
The food here is also top rate and very reasonably priced overall. Some of the entrees and specials can get a little pricey though. However, the menu prices are more than fair.
My favorite thing about this restaurant is the pita. I know what you are thinking, "th PITA?!?!" Yes. The pita. I think it is made fresh in house and it comes out warm and soft and a little buttery tasting. When you eat it, it just melts in your mouth. I have never had pita that tasted quite like that, and I get cravings for it just thinking about it.
Over my two visits, I also tried some great appetizers. I has the Tyro, which is soft feta cheese that is combined with spices and peppers. Its salty and spicy and wonderful on the warm pita. I also tried the Skordalia, which is a potato and garlic puree with lemon juice, olive oil, and spices. Its really good and a nice cool contrast to the Tyro. I also tried the pipperies, which are roasted red peppers in olive oil. Very light and nice.
On the two times I have visited, I tried several things. The first time I went, I had chicken Sovlaki. This is skewer cooked chicken, de-skewered and put in a pita with tzatziki sauce and vegetables. Theirs also comes with homemade potato wedges. YUMMY.
Also, the last time I tried three different Boughatsa. These are essentially phyllo pockets. I had the spinach-feta, which is also called spanakopita, I had the leek-lemon-garlic, and the Feta ric, which has feta, ricotta, and kefalotyri cheeses in it. All were very good, but I think the leek one was my favorite. Very nicely spiced and cooked. Even the phyllo was spiced a bit. I liked it.
Pat has the lamb sovlaki and liked it, and this last time, he has a vegetarian special with eggplant, potaoes and otehr veggies in a tomato sauce, served with feta on the side. It was fairly good.
Finally, there is dessert. This is also worthwhile. I recommend the baklava. Very nicely spiced and flavored without being too sweet. Pat also had something called Kataifi, which is a lot like baklava, but it is covered with shredded wheat and honey. Its pretty good too. This last time, Pat has the rice pudding. I was not as fond of this. It was lightly spiced and I thought it could be a little sweeter and spicier. But this could be a taste issue. Pat liked it very much.
A last little note. The wine list here is all Greek. On my first visit, I had one of the house whites and it was very good. Sweet, but not overly sweet. It was light and refreshing.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
India House
So apparently all I crave these days is Indian food! We tried a new place this week that is a little closer to the house. Here's the review!
India House Restaurant
765 53rd Ave. NE
Fridley, MN 55421
We went here today and sampled many items off of their buffet lunch. Because this is not a vegetarian restaurant, there were more choices to sample here. Overall, the food here was very good and the prices were quite reasonable. Its only $9.99 to have tho whole deal, and that is great when you consider that comprises appetizers, entrees, and desserts!
I tried the:
Vegetable samosa These were really good! Theirs are a little different in that the inside is many small cubes of potato rather than the mashed potato filling that most Indian restaurants use. Quite good with the tamarind sauce.
Chicken Makhani This is chunks of chicken cooked in a tomato cream sauce with spices. It was quite good, but more subtle in flavor. I added a bit of raita to punch up the flavor. I really liked the sauce on this!
Vegetable Curry This was also quite good with raita. One of my favorite things about Indian food is that it can take a simple dish of vegetables and make it extremely flavorful and filling! This definitely fit the bill and I enjoyed it with some basmati rice.
Paneer with vegetables I like Paneer. Its really good and this was no exception. Its got a mild cheesy flavor and then it takes on the spices of the sauce and the vegetables it was mixed with, mostly red onion in this case. Couple this with a little creamy raita and life is quite good.
Curried goat I tried a small piece of this and I have to say that I did not like it. The meat was very tough and hard to chew, like dried out roast beef. I am not sure if it was poorly made or I just don't like goat. But that's my opinion.
Finally Pat and I got small portions of three different desserts and tried them:
Kheer (rice pudding) This was creamy and good with a subtle pistachio flavor. However, the other spices in this version were very subtle. It was overall a milder version of this than I have had other places, but still good.
Mango Pudding This was good! It sort of tasted like vanilla pudding with mango juice mixed in. It also had pieces of fresh mango mixed in, but they were not very sweet. However, on a hot summer day, this was quite refershing.
Rasmalai This was the most intriguing of the desserts we tried. It was a chunk of homemade cheese in a sweetened and thickened milk sauce. It was good, but I spent most of the time trying to identify what the texture reminds me of. It takes a little effort to cut into the hunk of cheese with a spoon, and to take the first chew in your mouth. Then the cheese just crumbles on your tongue. The milk sauce is very nice, and the cheese itself has very little flavor. After some thinking, it occurred to me that it reminded me of the divinity that my grandfather used to make before he died in terms of texture. This is a very interesting and different dessert that I recommend everyone try!
Overall, our experience at this restaurant was very positive. The food was good, the service was polite and attentive without being obnoxious, and we enjoyed ourselves very much.
India House Restaurant
765 53rd Ave. NE
Fridley, MN 55421
We went here today and sampled many items off of their buffet lunch. Because this is not a vegetarian restaurant, there were more choices to sample here. Overall, the food here was very good and the prices were quite reasonable. Its only $9.99 to have tho whole deal, and that is great when you consider that comprises appetizers, entrees, and desserts!
I tried the:
Vegetable samosa These were really good! Theirs are a little different in that the inside is many small cubes of potato rather than the mashed potato filling that most Indian restaurants use. Quite good with the tamarind sauce.
Chicken Makhani This is chunks of chicken cooked in a tomato cream sauce with spices. It was quite good, but more subtle in flavor. I added a bit of raita to punch up the flavor. I really liked the sauce on this!
Vegetable Curry This was also quite good with raita. One of my favorite things about Indian food is that it can take a simple dish of vegetables and make it extremely flavorful and filling! This definitely fit the bill and I enjoyed it with some basmati rice.
Paneer with vegetables I like Paneer. Its really good and this was no exception. Its got a mild cheesy flavor and then it takes on the spices of the sauce and the vegetables it was mixed with, mostly red onion in this case. Couple this with a little creamy raita and life is quite good.
Curried goat I tried a small piece of this and I have to say that I did not like it. The meat was very tough and hard to chew, like dried out roast beef. I am not sure if it was poorly made or I just don't like goat. But that's my opinion.
Finally Pat and I got small portions of three different desserts and tried them:
Kheer (rice pudding) This was creamy and good with a subtle pistachio flavor. However, the other spices in this version were very subtle. It was overall a milder version of this than I have had other places, but still good.
Mango Pudding This was good! It sort of tasted like vanilla pudding with mango juice mixed in. It also had pieces of fresh mango mixed in, but they were not very sweet. However, on a hot summer day, this was quite refershing.
Rasmalai This was the most intriguing of the desserts we tried. It was a chunk of homemade cheese in a sweetened and thickened milk sauce. It was good, but I spent most of the time trying to identify what the texture reminds me of. It takes a little effort to cut into the hunk of cheese with a spoon, and to take the first chew in your mouth. Then the cheese just crumbles on your tongue. The milk sauce is very nice, and the cheese itself has very little flavor. After some thinking, it occurred to me that it reminded me of the divinity that my grandfather used to make before he died in terms of texture. This is a very interesting and different dessert that I recommend everyone try!
Overall, our experience at this restaurant was very positive. The food was good, the service was polite and attentive without being obnoxious, and we enjoyed ourselves very much.
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