(1). OVERVIEW:
Chola is an authentic Indian restaurant, which also serves all-you-can-eat buffet lunch everyday (just as several of its competitors in the area that I reviewed here in yelp). This casual and medium size restaurant is conveniently located by the Lexington Avenue / 59th Street subway station (N, Q, R lines) in the Midtown of Manhattan New York.
This review is solely based on my dining at their Indian AYCE buffet lunch on September 19, 2018.
(2). FOODS: ABOVE AVERAGE/GOOD
When I dined for their AYCE buffet lunch, there were what they served at the buffet station: (from the front to the back): Sambar, Medhu vada, Tomato rice, Basmati rice, Chicken tikka masala, Chilli chicken, Lamb rogan gosh, Aloo mushroom, Kadai paneer, Channa saag, Tadka dal, and Kheer (dessert). The 4 sources were (reversed clock direction) Coconut chutney, mango chutney, Raita (yogurt), Mint chutney.
These popular Indian AYCE buffet foods were served hot, except Kheer (dessert) here. Just as its competitors, their AYCE buffet foods' varieties seemed quite "limited" (read the section 5 of this review) and they all fitted into my just one dish. Also, instead of the goat curry, the lamb curry was included. Sadly, no seafood was served. Additional compremental foods were also served for me by the generous restaurant manager. The Tandoori Chicken was juicy (not dried) and delicious. (see my attached photos)
(3). AMBIANCE / MOOD: CASUAL
This is a casual Indian restaurant with the simple, clean, and generic interior. They had no eye-catching Indian statues or wall reliefs to admire or selfie. There were no linen-covered tables or linen table napkins here (unlike its competitors nearby).
(4). SERVICES: EXCELLENT! SOLID 5 STAR!
I really enjoyed the additional different popular Indian foods served for me from the kitchen by the server. The same can be said to the glass of ice served for me on my request. This is the excellent place for receiving the real heart-warming and welcoming Indian hospitality. See my attached photos.
BATHROOMS: Very small but separate clean and well-lit bathrooms in the back.
(5). MY THOUGHTS FOR THE AYCE BUFFET LOVERS AND THE JAPANESE CURRY LOVERS:
I really love big and festive dinings, thus I love AYCE buffet dining more than any other types of dining. I even fast over 25 hours to fully prepare for that always. Nevertheless, sadly, I could not find any foods worthy for my own third combination plate here at Chola Indian restaurant. (I usually have about 5 combination plates at the Chinese AYCE buffet lunch and about 10 combination plates at the Chinese AYCE buffet dinner.) I was still so unsatisfied after the Chola's AYCE buffet, so, I had to visit the Matsunichi Japanese restaurant for their Japanese AYCE buffet dinner for the very next day! At Matsunichi I enjoyed 3 varieties of salads, 17 varieties of sushi (16 different species of fish), 3 varieties of fried foods, and 2 kinds of ice creams for $18.72 including tax and 15% tip. It was a satisfying orchestra of the festive dining at Matsunichi.
The Chinese AYCE buffet restaurants and the Japanese AYCE buffet restaurants with the equivalent price usually serve over a dozen (lunch) or a few dozens (dinner) of variety of foods. When you compare the Indian AYCE buffet (lunch) to them, the number & variety of foods served are "limited". This is especially true to the seafood dishes.
I understand that Chola's chefs did their very best and all the foods served here at the Chola were all compatible to its competitors'. I also know how extremely difficult for running the AYCE buffet business. Therefore, it always gives me the sadness, grief, and pains, when I dine at the Indian AYCE buffet (lunch) because they can never beat the Japanese and Chinese AYCE buffet dishes for me.
I also love the Japanese Beef Curry Rice far more than any Indian curry dishes I know of. (Indians usually never eat the beef.) The Japanese curry rice was evolved from the Indian curry long time ago. Nevertheless, today, the Japanese curry rice is one of the most popular foods in Japan. I also cook the Japanese curry rice almost every month at my kitchen. In America, the business of the Japanese curry rice has been booming. Today, there are many Japanese restaurants that serve the Japanese style curry rice dishes. There are even Japanese curry specialized restaurants. Examples of them are the Go! Go! Curry! (a major Japanese curry restaurant chain), Curry-ya, and Goemon Curry here in New York City. Especially, the Go! Go! Curry! has been expanding their business (franchising) very aggressively now.
I believe there are a lot of great potential in Indian foods, especially the curry dishes and the desserts. I really hope Indian dishes keep evolving and creating even more delicious dishes for satisfying today's taste palettes of the wide audience.
Dr. Takeshi Yamada and Seara (Coney Island sea rabbit)
My gorgeous 29 photographs were posted here. read more