I've been here a few times over the years. I'm not completely sold on the place, but it definitely hits the Indian Curry/Naan spot in an emergency situation. One of the main reasons I don't come here more often, is that anytime I take anyone here (an ex-gf, ex-roommate (great cook/foodie), best friend, wife), they are always unimpressed/grossed out by something and never want to go back.
It is pretty 'hole in the wall,' but I mean, its run by a sole proprietor who literally works every day of the week. I can't imagine that he's making bucket loads of cash everyday with which he can renovate the place from top to bottom or move to a 'nicer' location. I say that because every time I go there, it's usually pretty empty, especially during the evenings. During lunch when the buffet is served, it tends to be a bit busier.
As for the decor, I definitely think it wouldn't hurt to have a little revamp; but again, he either doesn't have the extra money, has the money but doesn't care/ or doesn't see anything wrong with the decor. It's pretty tacky. I'm a guy and not like, into interior decorating or anything, but dingy, aqua blue walls with one of those shiny, gold Indian garbs as the main thing to catch your eye- - - even I can tell that's not the hippest motif around.
Another atmospheric issue with the place is kind of an awkward silence that dwells, lingers, and permeates the place. It kinda makes you sad inside. I don't want to be sad.
The food.
Most importantly, the food.
I think the naan is really good. I haven't exactly traveled the world and had all the naan out there, but this is pretty good for sure.
It's been so long since I've been there, before tonight, that I won't try to retroactively speak to anything about the entrees, except that anytime I get a chicken curry, the cut of chicken is really weird. There's all this gristle or connective cartilage and somehow individual chucks seem to have both white and dark meat. I have no clue. I've cooked many-a whole chicken, and cannot conceive of what part of the chicken this is coming from. And tonight, it didn't taste very fresh. Gristly, freezer tasting chicken-bad. Everything else about the curry was really good. Intense flavor, good texture and consistency.
Price - another reason I don't go too often. If you're gonna charge me $12 for a little tin dish of curry, it better have damn decent, recognizable chunks of chicken. Add $1.50 for naan and that's pretty high priced dinner for Lubbock. I expect to be fed accordingly.
But maybe chicken isn't the thing to get there, I don't know. Knowing the chicken quality, I'm hesitant to to try the beef or lamb... or the shrimp or fish for that matter. But I'm not a vegetarian and have a bit of a psychological hang up with eating a meatless meal. I can and do eat vegetarian meals, but not too often.
In summation, the price-to-quality ratio isn't good enough to keep me coming back. As with any small, ethnic food, local business, I wish it well. But I can't justify regular/continued patronage, sadly. The atmosphere is pretty 'off' on top of that, which to me isn't really important, but a heads up to those of you for whom it is (I wouldn't take a high-maintenance date here). I think the lunch buffet is better value, with better selection - if you don't mind going back to the office smellin' like curry. read more