Indian Food in Slope?

camaysar

I never cared much about restaurants until I began reading the very interesting Brooklynian board. I suddenly find myself more critical. After taking a fellow-Sloper's advice and visiting Kinara on 5th, I ordered Alu Mattar Gobi, a veggie dish. The peas were hard as a Brahmaputra pebble. The seasoning was ok, a bit fiery for me (I asked for "mild", but for Bangla Desh, it was indeed mild). Maybe a one-time glitch. I'll try it again... I usually don't go to south 5th Ave. unless I'm looking for some 99 cent underwear.

Granted, I didn't go during prime-time dinner hours. But one expects a restaurant to fully cook the food at any hour. Serving absolutely uncooked peas tells the customer, "We don't care".

So far, Baluchi's is best for my taste (I know many here detest it. I agree about the bad pasta at Sotto Voce, but not about Baluchi's until now). At this point, I'd travel a bit to find a really good Indian place. Maybe South Indian?? Does anyone else like mildish full-tasting Indian, and have a suggestion? Thanks!

j0518

I had pretty good delivery from India Palace on Vanderbilt once. Worth checking out if you're in the north side of the nabe.

longtimesloper

Hmm, surprised to hear that about Kinara, maybe it was just an off day? They are my only suggestion for Indian food in this nabe.

camaysar

J0518 wrote: I had pretty good delivery from India Palace on Vanderbilt once. Worth checking out if you're in the north side of the nabe.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. By the way, when I say I like Baluchi's "until now", I really mean "so far". One hates to be imprecise...

camaysar

LongTimeSloper wrote: Hmm, surprised to hear that about Kinara, maybe it was just an off day? They are my only suggestion for Indian food in this nabe.

Well, I understand that this may happen now and then. Maybe the regular cook called in sick, or whatever. That's why I will definitely give Kinara another chance, as at least it was not bland... that is the real killer. By "not bland" I don't mean it was hot (which it was), but that it had flavor beyond the heat.

Thanks for the suggestion, LTS.

I hate to say this, but I can't take very hot food any more. I was in India/Pakistan for 2 years. When I first arrived, I could not hold "railway curry" in my mouth. After a time, it was child's play. I guess I'm just out of practice.

witch-king

I've yet to have an enjoyable experience with Indian food restaurants in NYC. Chicago is much better for this cuisine.

landlord

Like you, I like Baluchi's as well. My wife loves them. They make amazing soup

jamzer

Kinera hits much more often than it misses. The wife and I do not enjoy Baluchi's at all. Taste is a funny and unique thing I guess.

longtimesloper

I am with you Jamzer, i know I said this before, but, we ordered food from Baluchi's twice and it was bland, tasteless, etc.. I don't need heat for Indian food to be good, but, it should have flavor, character, right?

It was like saying i want a burger and going to McDonald's. Totally generic, bland Indian food IMO.

camaysar

LongTimeSloper wrote: I don't need heat for Indian food to be good, but, it should have flavor, character, right?

Now, Bombay Grill on 7th Ave. south of 9th St., and Bombay Dreams on Smith St. near Douglass, serve the blandest Indian food I've had in Brooklyn, utterly without character. Compared to them, Baluchi's is a godsend to this palate. But even those restaurants have their admirers. It's about personal taste, and visiting at an opportune time, when the food is freshly-made, using fresh ingredients, and the A-team is on the job. And, one supposes, ordering something they can cook well. So many variables, it's no wonder we see all the differing opinions on this board.

Maybe it's because I always order vegetarian that it's so hard to find great Indian here? Ahhh... the food in India! Taste, character, etc. etc. I used to have great brain masala in Bombay, and tasty veg food, served on a banana leaf, surrounded with a dozen chutneys, all over south India. *All* these restaurants in Brooklyn truly suck the huge one in comparison! Yeah, I know... India's way over there, and we're back here...

Well, I'm gonna go back to Kinara and Baluchi's and give a full report...

And speaking of Bombay, shouldn't that be "Mumbai Grill" and "Mumbai Dreams"?

willregistersoon

witch-king wrote: I've yet to have an enjoyable experience with Indian food restaurants in NYC. Chicago is much better for this cuisine.

Go to Jackson Heights. You will be pleased.

burns

the lack of good indian and ethiopian (sorry ghenet is not good IMO) is amazing when you consider how many incredible restaurants there are in the neighborhood. i keep trying to convince myself that kinara and baluchis are good, but im wrong

santa

Joy on flatbush isnt too bad.

also Ghenet is pretty run of the mill Ethiopian. My brother lived in Addis Ababa for awhile and said it was good enough. He said they often shitload more oil in Ethiopia which made him sick alot.

camaysar

camaysar wrote:
Well, I'm gonna go back to Kinara and Baluchi's and give a full report...

I went back (ordered delivery) to Kinara and it was much better than my first experience. I had a stuffed potato dish. It was very tasty, mildly spiced, and not too expensive at 11.95 with soup (could have had samosa), nan, dessert sweet, and chutneys... and a sizable serving. Since it seems to be a bit less expensive than Baluchi's, it may now be the Indian of choice in the nabe. It's not exactly Colaba, Chandri Chowk, or Jinnah Road, but it will do fine for Park Slope.

Thanks for the tip!