The quick and dirty, because this is going to be a long one - GO EAT AT DESI DISTRICT (Prosper). Staff are super friendly, restaurant is clean, food is delicious.
[Review is truncated b/c too long for Yelp - LOL]
They have a counter service restaurant area, bakery area, upstairs special events area, and store. There might be more beyond the market, but we didn't have time this trip to walk around. We'll be back to peruse the market aisles and see what else they have to offer. {Insert emoji of excited face and clapping hands }
I wanted to try and sample as much as possible on our first visit and being Saturday, I was lucky to be able to have the Vindhu Bhojanam (only offered Sat & Sun 12-3pm). It was being served upstairs in a loft-like area that looks like it is used for special events. I can't wait to tell you about it.... But first, hubby's meal:
Hubby ordered the Mutton-Dum Biryani and Bullet Naan with Thums Up cola (Indian Coca Cola --- I don't really like Coca Cola, but this was pretty good, less sweet). The staff member who was helping us was so friendly and helped explain the differences between the different styles of biryani. We have never had so many options/styles to choose from at one place!! When hubby saw 3 (or was it 4) different goat biryani his eyes got wide and he was smiling ear to ear. The biryani was excellent - the rice was flavorful and tender and the meat fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. The naan was buttery and spicy from the chilis [just the way we like it].
After waiting and receiving hubby's food we ventured upstairs where the VB was being served. VB translates to "festive/ceremonial lunch" and boy did I enjoy it!! Hubby and I (they let him take his food up there to eat with me) were the minority diners in this area but this didn't stop me - I LOVE Indian cuisine and I wanted to find something new to try.
You sit down, pay for the VB, and then they bring a platter and start filling it up with small portions of everything they are serving. I'm quite certain I did not receive everything in the flyer, but I had more than enough. Ok, let me see if I can remember it all ... Sorry, I don't know the names for everything and didn't think to take a photo of the flyer.
Here goes: (1) White/basmati rice; (2) Lemon rice (yellow, had peanuts and red chilies --- YUM); (3) Chicken biryani (after hearing the differences in the styles from downstairs, I think this was "Special" chicken biryani); (4) A goat curry (so good it made my eyes roll to the back of my head); (5) A chicken curry or pulao (again, eyes to the back of my head); (6) A fish pulusu (white fish, not sure what kind; one piece was dry which I thought was strange given it was a curry/soaked in sauce, but it was so Delicious!); (7) Pickled items - Indian pickles and pickled spinach (I think) helped 'cleanse' your palate between all the rich curries; (8) Fry bread - I wish they would have served naan or roti to give you a break from the greasy (not in a bad way) richness of the curries; (9) A batter-fried Serrano pepper appetizer; (10) 2 different dry spice blends that I sprinkled on the white rice; (11) A sweet orange rice (?) that had cashews (YUM - they gave you more of this when it was time for dessert); (12) Fryums (I think they make these from scratch!! They were way more buttery and light and crispy than I have had elsewhere. A surprising delight that I thought was going to just be a way for them to "pad" the platter with extra stuff); (13) Yogurt - it was just plain yogurt but was AMAZING. I could eat that yogurt all day! Another essential respite for the spiciness of the curries (my mouth and lips were on fire in the most pleasing way - I'm crazy I know - I truly enjoy the torture of insanely spicy foods!!! ).
Oh, I forgot the "Welcome drink" - (14) a fermented dairy/yogurt drink with cilantro. This was new to me and I really enjoyed it. They even gave one to my hubby even though he was not having the VB.
For dessert: I got more of the sweet orange rice (?) and cashew dish, (15) a tapioca pudding, and (16) a sweet paan. The sweet paan was new to me - very interesting - I would say it is not something everyone will like. Not sure how to describe the taste (it's going to come off bad - but it wasn't!!!) --- a minty herbaceous green leaf wrapped after dinner digestive aid that was topped with a maraschino cherry. It kind of tasted like mint soap (again, I know that sounds bad, but it wasn't - at least not to me). One of the servers said it had rosemary, that was probably the 'soap' I was picking up. After eating it, ALL the fire was gone. I kind of missed the heat, but was excited about learning of the unique powers the paan had. Everyone serving us (well, me) was so nice and answered my questions as they popped up through out the meal (I'm a very curious eater). read more