Royal India (Del Mar/CV): A nice surprise!

So I was a little bummed when I saw Star of India in Carmel Valley Piazza had closed. A sign said it would reopen as Royal India, but since those folks are responsible for the mess that was the UTC food court Royal India Express, that didn't seem promising.

Went in today during the "soft opening."

Happy surprise!

First, they've kept the existing staff. I've been probably one of their longest-time customers, and so I've seen a number of these waiters working since they were youngsters.  Glad to see they were kept on!


DECOR:  Much updated from the old place. Fancier, nice stone elements, more open.

BUFFET: Bigger than before! They had a very refreshing chaat salad (I think that's what you call it - cold marinated chickpeas with onions and herbs), plus samosas. And they have mango chutney in addition to tamarind sauce and mint chutney.  Seemed to have a few more curries too. Veg ones today were: dal, navrattan korma, palak paneer and a dry zucchini curry. They were all fine - nothing spectacular city-wide, but perfectly tasty and serviceable.

KITCHEN: I think it is in fact the same folks, and same recipes for now.  The waiter told me that it's a new owner, and that there will be more changes, but the owner is in the same family as the old owner.  In fact, the new owner and/or manager is someone I recognize from about 10 yrs ago - he used to be the host/manager at this location.  Maybe he grew up and bought the place from his family.

Bigger selection, same quality, same convenience.  I'm happy to have the new Royal India (that is, the revamped Star of India) back in the neighborhood!

KC's Tandoor (Encinitas)

I'm never mad at the palak paneer at KC's Tandoor. It's not the absolute best in SD, and doesn't make me do cartwheels, but it's very tasty and respectable. There are tons of interesting choices there (coconut curry; tofu as a protein option; south Indian, north Indian), but I seem to stick with the palak paneer plus a roti often. It's a perfectly good choice there.

And it makes for a great quick bite/errand if you need an oil change - the Arco gas station across Leucadia Blvd. does speedy, friendly and good quality work!

Passage to India (Encinitas)

I never remember to go here, and think of it as dark and the service as not that friendly. But I hadn't been for maybe 3 years. Found myself between errands/meetings in Encinitas last week and decided to pop in here to get a fast meal and satisfy my Indian craving.

They actually have one of the better standard-issue Northern-Indian buffets in the county. Very large, lots of choice. And it was tasty. Some of the highlights:

--very fresh pakora

--delicious carrot halva (I didn't want to overeat so didn't try their gulab jamun, the other choice)

--4 or 5 veg curries

Price was steep relative to other buffets - $12.95. I'd of course rather just go to Sitar if I was over there and there was no line. But this was very good for a fast, filling, quality Indian meal.

There was a big table nearby of moms and their toddler girls, so you could make a lunch party out of it if you had toddler-in-tow and your toddler ate Indian food (SB doesn't anymore - so sad since his spice tolerance lowered dramatically after he turned 13 mos or so!)

I love San Diego!!! (a post doped-up on veg Indian food)

I really need to get east of Scranton Road more often!!!

We are invited to a Diwali party tonight. Potluck Indian. No point cooking Indian - CH can't stand the smell of the spices. (this is why foodie mom snatches every possible opportunity to get her Indian food fix at lunch on the run). No problem, I thought: I'll head down during quiet time to grab some sweets at Surati Farsan market. It ain't home-cooked, but who's going to complain when I bring mango, coconut, rose, and pistachio sweets from Surati Farsan?

Got there - street fair in the Little India parking lot! They're just setting up, so there were still spots in the lot. But so much Diwali excitement in the air! Booths advertising veg Indian treat after veg Indian treat were set up, but not selling yet, which whetted my appetite.

Went in, got my sweets, headed to the car....but couldn't leave Little India without a savory Indian treat (too bad if I'm going to a potluck - I needed instant Indian gratification). So I headed right back into Surati Farsan for a snack.

SURATI FARSAN MARKET is so ridiculously tasty (I hate to say it, but even yummier than Sitar or Sher e Punjab). I never get savory stuff there, but I really should. Got a little bowl of dodhi chana curry, with one roti. Chana should be chickpeas, and they told me it was with kambocha squash; it was actually a kambocha-lentil combo. Ridiculously good - chemically ridiculously good. Good Indian food makes a happy-making reaction in my body (I'm not speaking figuratively - don't know exactly what causes it). A few bites and I was on a ridiculous Indian food high.

If you see this before the evening, head on down to Little India. How's that for an unexpected food adventure while on a short break from SuperBoy? I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!

Bawarchi!!! (Little India, Mira Mesa)

I was shocked to realize that, since I started this blog about 15 mos. ago, I have not been to Little India, formerly my most favorite place in San Diego! I think I was in the mode of wanting to try new places...and I probably had one tummy-ache too many from overeating at the yummy Cafe Madras buffet!

But it was a shocker to plan to try somewhere in Little India with NYUGirl, and to see that Ker, my fave of all favorites there, had closed in March 2010!! Boy used to go with me frequently when he was a baby and I was on maternity leave. Nan, rice, lentils, mangos, yogurt: ideal for a baby! But when he hit about one, his face turned red one day, as his newly developed taste buds decided that Indian food was "too ficy!!!" So I've been getting my Indian food craving on the run in Sorrento Valley, and just kind of forgot to head over to Little India.

But now I remember: OH BOY!! No disrespect to Sitar and Sher E Punjab: they're awesome. But there are dishes they just don't have there. I needed a South Indian fix!!!

Turns out, Ker has been replaced by Bawarchi. SUPER-YUM!!! the haters on Yelp (some love it, some hate on it) should safely be ignored, unless you're trying to recapture your mama's food in India.

Some of the highlights:

--a ridiculously tasty and light grated beetroot dish (not sure what was in it: coconut? peanuts?). Had 3 servings. Tasted really healthy, and honestly one of the best things I ever ate in my life.

--very respectable sambar

--some interesting little fritters (name unfamiliar to me, like gulab jamun but smaller and not sweet)

--eggplant masala: yum

I also liked their paneer tikka masala and other things. The only misfire for me: mango dal. It sounded so exciting when I saw it (love mangos! love dal!), but I'm not a fan. The mangos undercut what should be the intense earthiness of the dal and instead made it a soupy sweet thing. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good.

NYUGirl also ate the meat dishes, including a lamb one and a chicken one. I can't vouch for them, but she was very pleased.

I need excuses to go back!!

Oh - and I hit Surati Farsan Mart after, got some plain barfi and mango barfi to take home. ST loved both of them. Yum!!!