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| - Coriander is a relatively new Indian restaurant that opened in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh (where Rhoda's used to be, for long timers in the area.) I got a lot of ads in the mail about them, so as a buffet sampler, I went there for a lunch visit.
Overall, it is a small buffet, but eclectic. On buffet mechanics: everything was well marked (I saw only one mislabeled sign -- switched tamarind sauce/mint chutney labels), the food seemed reasonably fresh, not dried out, well/continuously stocked. Plenty of plates and utensils, dirty dishes removed and drinks refreshed often. I estimate the place was about 1/2 full on a weekday lunch. Getting the check was slow (I saw several other diners walk up to the cash register rather than wait.)
The food was very good, but not the superlatives that I see in other reviews. What struck me was the presence of so many dishes that I never see on buffets. To start, they had two excellent soups: Rasam (spicy tomato/lentil) and mulligatawny (veg). They were the highlights in my opinion. I also very much liked the Idli, which I think were appetizers -- I never had them before and I was told they were made from rice powder. Like a nicely seasoned, lightly fried, fluffly biscuit. There was a nice daal dish that was well seasoned and not "soupy". The spinach/cheese (paneer) was good. There was a peas/mushroom/other veggie dish that was different but ok. They also had an interesting ocra in cream sauce. The aloo gobi (potato/cauliflower) was unremarkable, well, one good remark: it's wasn't greasy (sometimes this dish comes out smothered in oil). For meats, there was a curried chicken, tandori chicken and tikka masala chicken. All pretty bland (but the tandori did not look dried out, which was good.) The curried chicken had bones in it -- I know there are two thoughts, with bones cooks better, without bones eats easier, so I simply observe. The desert was labeled Gajar Halwa but tasted to me like soggy shredded carrots.
The buffet had the usual condiments, including mixed pickles with a real mix in them: citrus, garlic, carrots and other stuff. There was some cut melon, lettuce pieces, some flavored cut up mango that was new to me, some raita, and some cold flavorless chickpea/onion dish. White rice and plain naan were also present.
I noticed that the buffet stations had small stacks of labels at each spot. I infer that the dishes on the buffet rotate among quite a selection (it's a big regular menu), so you may very likely see something entirely different when you go. But if your experience is like mine, there will be a handful of really outstanding dishes among the collection, which will result in a nice meal.
PS: I saw a claim somewhere that there is parking behind the restaurant. What that means is that there is a public, metered lot next to the place, for $1/hr (likely to go up by the time you read this if the Pittsburgh mayor gets his way).
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