I am really glad Rajbhog has opened. The reason why is because it will help expand my palate of Indian food. I'm already comfortable with typical restaurants of this cuisine. But because I'm caucasian & of european descent I don't have the familial or cultural context knowledge to say "not as good as what my mom makes" or to have a strong preference for one Indian restaurant over another. It's food, if it's delicious that's all I know.
Which is what makes this new grocery & cafe unique. Tandoori chicken, nan, and saag paneer is not what you will find here. Inside one side is the grocery about 10 rows of basics & snacks. The other side taking about 3/4 of the space is the cafe. Beyond the large counter there is a menu board offering lunch & dinners of items I've never heard about. Which is great because as a foodie means there's all new tastes to explore!
Vegetarian & meat dishes including lamb & chicken are offered and the possible combinations can be a bit mesmerizing. If you're indecisive opt for the lunch special. Today it was Chicken Briyani a dish I'd not had before.
It's a spiced chicken & rice dish, flavorful & tasty that isn't sweat inducing nor seeming like it was watered down for mass appeal. It was served with simple onions & cumin on the side and a small cup of yogurt & carrot slices mixed with spices. Meals are brought out to you by the owner, and served on styrofoam plates with plastic forks & spoons which helps to keep costs low.
One thing I did not try on this first visit was the large assortment of sweets & desserts next to the front counter. I think this could be a source of endless taste experiments.