It was a late night, and I was in the mood for something exotic for dine in. Alfah closed at 11PM, so I figure I'd give it a try. As I walked in, there was a buffet at the back of the restaurant, and it looked like I was crashing a family party. The two little ladies on staff confirmed it was a private event, so for me, it would be take-out only. The menu looked great, and I said I would be back some day. "What's wrong?," they asked, expecting me to order. I explained that if it had to be take-out at this hour, then I might as well just go home and fix a sandwich myself for free. Then they switched gears and insisted I dine in!
So, I snuggled into a booth as the other patrons gave me curious looks. I ordered dal tadka ($7.99) and butter nan ($2.49) X2. Although the dal tadka was not as thick as I usually like it, the spices exuded a delightful aroma, and the stew warmed me up inside. As I started to run low on the nan, I regretted not ordering the Chicken Dum Biryani instead ($12.99) because I could have gotten more food for about the same price of my total order. Then again, I didn't want a heavy meal that hour.
As the party around me wound down, I noticed the buffet still had trays half full of food. Not wanting anything to go to waste, it was my ethical duty to pull one of the little ladies aside and inquire whether I could sample some before they threw it all away. She clarified that they would divvy it up among themselves but still offered me a taste of mutton biryani. The biryani was fantastic, just like I've had before in Hyderabad! The rice was fluffy, steamy, aromatic, and loaded with spiced up meaty mutton goodness! As I finished the biryani, the little lady stopped by again and asked if I wanted more before they took the trays to the back. What a golden opportunity! But of course! I asked for a bit of the Chicken 65 this time. Even though their version was a tad saucier than usual, it was the best I've had in Atlanta! The spices were complex, abundant, and packed with zest...just like in India!
Under this new management since May 2023, they've pared down the menu. You won't find haleem, dosas, kababs, or chats anymore. Still, the new menu is enough to make it interesting, including Indo-Chinese food! I appreciate that the little ladies were so kind and generous with the samples. Maybe I'll try the Chicken Dum Biryani next time! read more