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| - Yum-o! Visited for a weekend lunch recently. We were the only people in the restaurant when we first arrived, but as we dined a few more tables came in too. The restaurant itself is pretty small (definitely not for large groups!) so "a few more tables" actually left the restaurant pretty full.
Raj Palace serves up South Indian food, like I used to binge on at the buffet at Southern Spice and Mysore Palace. But with no buffet in sight, I am limited to ordering appropriate quantities of food (and thus feeling less like a blimp as I leave the restaurant). The menu features lots of vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices, including a few dishes that start with the word "fire"- "fire vegetables", "fire chicken", etc... finishing one of these spicy dishes supposedly gets your name on a wall of fame, though I didn't see anything like a wall of fame in the restaurant- perhaps nobody has ever finished it?
My friend and I shared a couple of dishes for a light lunch. We went with a palak paneer dosa and vegetable korma on basmati rice. I couldn't resist a mango lassi, and she wanted even more carbs so she got some extra naan. It took about thirty minutes for our food to arrive, which was fine as it was obviously made fresh to order, and from the freshest ingredients. As we were waiting we were given a complimentary basket of what I think were lentil crisps- feather-light "chips" with a mild flavour. Our food, upon arrival, was perfect. The dosa was larger than my pregnant friend's as-yet-unborn baby will likely be, and it was full of creamy spinach and homemade paneer. The korma was unlike any I've had before (I've been missing out)- full of not only vegetables but fresh fruit like apples, pineapple and grapes, all in a creamy cashew sauce. Creamy cashew-covered grapes popping in your mouth? To die for!
For great south Indian food, for Indian takeout fanatics, for dosa addicts, for people who like fruit in their savoury dishes, for budget diners... Raj Palace in the northeast would be a great stop. I will definitely be going back to sample many more of their dishes.
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