Overall, I am looking forward to coming here again. The space itself is very nice with two dining…read morerooms and a bar area. The place is well lit, but still elegant. We had a reservation and there was no problem with seating us as we all arrived. The hostess and staff are friendly and eager to be of assistance. We had a reservation and our party of 5 was immediately seated. Of our party 4 are vegetarians (dairy ok) and I am the omnivore. During the course of the meal I tried the beet blush and vrindavan bloom cocktails. Neither can be said to pack a kick, but can be said to be well-balanced. Of the two I rate the beet blush more interesting as you get both the sweet and earthy tones of beets in the flavor profile. I had the goat chops which arrived on a sizzler with 4 small but meaty goat shops covered in a spice marinade. This was then set afire with spirits as a flourish. Very nice! For some reason, however, the flavor was just shy of next level. It's certainly good and I would order it again. It was enough meat for me that I joined my vegetarian companions ordering only vegetarian mains to share among us. The other appetizers were yogurt-soaked vegetable kebabs served on a walnut-based (muhamarra) paste that was quite good and an avocado tikki (mild flavor focused on the avocado). The latter comes with 4 pieces, but for a small additional charge they added a piece. I appreciate this. I don't know why all restaurants don't do this. Pleases the customer and ups the bill. We then had the bhindi which is essentially a large helping of very lightly battered okra pakoras cut in narrow strips, a kofta curry based on water chestnuts and asparagus (creative) and a well-flavored vegetable biryani that developed a nice heat in the background. The bread eaters enjoyed the plain rotis and chili naan. Plain raita and boondi raita cooled our mouths. For dessert we went with the rose kulfi. This is an impressive tableside preparation in which the kulfi preparation is cooled with liquid nitrogen in a glass bowl. As the server mixes the mixture actively to keep it from freezing solid, another server offers a frozen rose that members of our party were invited to crumble the brittle petals into the kulfi. Quite a sight! This had the attention of other diners throughout (and may have encouraged diners celebrating a birthday to order for themselves). Served out, the flavor was bland, without the expected rose flavor. Perhaps this was because it was just so cold. I don't know, but I encourage them to explore adding some additional rose flavor as they serve it out. No pictures this time as I didn't want our guests to be distracted, but we'll be back again for another special celebration!

Very limited vegan options. Unfortunately the kitchen could not even make any basic vegan items for…read moreme, mostly other restaurants even very small ones offer to make basic things like Dal or some basic vegetable entree like Aloo. Looks like the staff really tried but they didn't get much support from the kitchen or chef. Would not recommend if you have dietary restrictions. Otherwise, the place looks nice.

Food and service were good! Been there a couple of times and both times I was quite happy with the…read moremeals. It can get busy, depending on when you go, though I have never had to wait for a table, which is a plus. Tikka fish was delish, butter chicken, eggplant dish, nungu dessert, chili cauliflower. The restaurant is clean and prepped well for meals. Will definitely return- this maybe my new go to place!

Updated review post the name change after several take out orders and one dine in experience…read more Rusi has deals through DoorDash and we ended up trying several dishes because of that. Though they have a lot of BOGO offers, the quantities are very less making the deal far less attractive than what it seems. Coming to the food itself, it's pretty average, the dum biryani had tandoori style red color chicken topped with flavored rice. Not dum biryani from any angle. The mild chicken curry we ordered for take out was literal fire and burnt through my tummy. We then saw a post for unlimited Thursday night chaat and made our way there inspite of being a weekday. After getting seated we were told they decided not to have it due to lack of sufficient patrons. Needless to say we were disappointed but ending up ordering a few dishes. We got chowmein, parotta and some chaat. All the items were good and well made. They also gave us a Bangalore style peas chaat on the house, it tasted exactly like the version my grandma makes. So this was a very decent meal. Overall lot of inconsistency and mixed experiences.

Incredible food and very friendly service! Would definitely return. Went to the lunch buffet and…read morehad many great options

I wish I could give more than 5 !!…read more Love the ambience, love how they present their food and the variety of the buffet!!!! Not to mention that the taste is great as well. We wish we live closer! But we will definitely be back soon. FYI, the name is not what your think And gratuity was already included so no need to give more but I am pretty sure they wouldn't mind it if you add extra

Absolutely recommend this spot!! We were looking for a no frills restaurant with delicious food and…read morewe were not disappointed. The dishes we ordered were delightful and fresh. The butter chicken was so creamy and had just the right amount of kick. The service was very polite and present, making sure we had everything we needed. The garlic naan was perfectly crispy without being burnt. The lamb was super tender and aromatic (on the lighter side if you are looking for that). The only downside was the parking lot was a bit small, but right next to the restaurant. It might be worth carpooling. Will definitely be coming back!

Good service- the place is small, feels family run which is cool. Unfortunately the food didn't…read moreblow me away. The mango lassis were meh. I was excited to try this spot because I heard good things.

The food was amazing and the customer service was super good. I got the kebab and biriyani.read more

We've been ordering online from Karimi for quite a while now and we love to enjoy their malai…read morekebabs in the comfort of our home. We've been mostly picking up the order ourselves and their packaging is always good. Their chaat is really delicious. Alu tikki chole chaat is the best. Dahi and chutney are really good too. However, since the last two times, their tandoori chicken has been raw from the bone-in part. The tandoori chicken looks absolutely perfect and charred from the outisde but has been raw in the middle. I let it go the first time it happened but I ordered again a few days ago and the same thing happened. I had ordered 2 chicken breasts and 2 legs. One of the chicken tandoori legs tasted and smelled stale. I like their garlic naans but curries not so much. Their Indo-chinese is good if you request it spicy. Their chicken tikka kebab roll is doughy and okay. Their imli and green chutney are both good. Their chicken samosas are very good too! I am a regular customer and would love for them to resolve this issue with their tandoori chicken. I would love to go back and dine in like old times.

The food and service here was spectacular. We ordered a couple of things -- Tandoori Mix Grill…read more(10/10), Malai Soya Chaap (10/10), Lemon Chicken (11/10), and Amritsari Kulche (10/10 again) and Masala Soda. All tasted great, freshly made. Lemon chicken curry was the highlight, which we haven't seen at any of the nearby places. Service was impeccable. A huge shoutout to Amit who not only went above and beyond with the service, but also gave great recommendations to make it a great meal. Will visit again!

Butter Chicken definitely has a slight kick to it even with the mild spice level! It was delicious…read morebut I was a bit disappointed that it did not come with a portion of rice. (Totally minor thing, we are from out of state. Colorado restaurant usually serve it with rice) Overall, it is very authentic and I'd highly recommend!

I absolutely love Sam & Curry. It reminds me of a Chipotle style setup but for Indian and…read moreMediterranean food. The customization is great, the spices are balanced, and everything tastes fresh. I came back this year and Maria remembered me from before, which says a lot about the customer service. I tried the tacos this time, just like I said I would, and they did not disappoint. Every bite was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Five stars every time.

Would like to give it a second chance in the future, but the flavors and freshness of the food were…read morenot great. I tried a chicken curry burrito and a chicken tikka bowl, both of which came lukewarm and almost cold. The flavors left a sour aftertaste in my mouth which wasn't the most enjoyable. Samosas were stale with barely any filling. Mango Lassi was my favorite item. Workers were nice and patient! Very casual ambience: literally think chipotle!

Very nice ambiance!!! Food was flavorful and everyone was super sweet and hospitable.read more

Great food and even better service. Yahir was extremely kind and was always checking in to make…read moresure we had everything we needed!

Where have I been?! This place is a hidden gem! Really good Indian food that satisfy my cravings…read more What I order is butter chicken, mozzarella naan, and tandoori chicken. The tandoori chicken is to die for! So tender, juicy, and I know people hate this word but it's also so moist that it is overall delicious. My mozzarella naan is scrumptious but unfortunately there's not a cheese pull. Which is a bummer... Also the butter chicken is so creamy well balance of spices that goes perfectly well with my naan. I also order it mild. Would I come back? ABSOLUTELY of course! A hole in the wall. I'm not exaggerating... personal experience. This restaurant is not hard to miss. It a green building right next to Tostadas. I did a quick pick up through DoorDash for myself. There is a promotion of buy one get one free. Worth it! Also very clean restaurant.

Firstly, I have to give credit where it's due. I believe the owner was making a point of walking…read morethrough the small, quaint dining room, checking in on guests and making everyone feel welcome. That personal touch didn't go unnoticed--bravo, sir. I visited on a Saturday at lunchtime. When I arrived there was only one other guest, but the restaurant gradually filled with what appeared to be regulars. Many walked in, confidently chose their usual tables, and headed straight for the buffet. Throughout my meal, I also noticed a steady stream of takeout orders leaving the kitchen, which I took as another positive sign that the restaurant has built a loyal following. The one unavoidable downside has nothing to do with the food: parking. Downtown San Jose's parking situation is every bit as challenging as people say. There were a handful of metered spaces in front of the restaurant, but they looked questionable, and several nearby vehicles seemed to be taking their chances with the free grace period. The buffet selection is on the smaller side, but what it lacks in quantity it largely makes up for in quality. There were eight hot entrées, and each delivered satisfying flavor. The butter chicken featured tender pieces of chicken breast in a rich, mildly spiced gravy, and I was pleasantly surprised that every piece remained moist. The tandoori chicken, mostly thighs, was cooked exceptionally well--juicy, flavorful, and never dry. I also enjoyed the chili chicken. While it's more Indo-Chinese than traditionally Indian, Punjab Cafe executes this fusion classic very well. My only real disappointment was the naan. It was overly thick, chewy, tough, and somewhat brittle, with a texture that reminded me more of a pizza crust than fresh naan. The lone employee working the front of the house deserves recognition. She continuously refilled water glasses, cleared plates, replenished the buffet, and kept the dining room clean and organized--all while maintaining a smooth operation. The weekend buffet was $19.99 (plus tax) and included self-serve hot chai. On my visit, dessert options were rice pudding and semolina halwa. Overall, if I find myself in the area again, I would gladly return. It's a no-frills, very casual buffet that focuses on serving flavorful, satisfying food rather than putting on a show--and sometimes that's exactly what you're looking for.

I had a great experience with their special New Year's thali. All the dishes in the thali had such…read moregreat flavors and had just the right amount of salt, oil and spices to remind me of home cooked Bengali food. Standout dishes were the mustard (shorshe) Ilish and the jackfruit with shrimp. I also liked the shukto and aam chutney. Luchi and aloo sabji (not part of the thali) was also flavorful and light. I also tasted some of their veg chowmein and loved the smoky wok he taste. Service was attentive and my glass of water was kept filled at all times Ambiance was calming with the silent television and instrumental music with lovely bits of decorations such as the Bankura style terracota horses near the entrance. Parking was easy and cheap if you park in San Pedro square parking lot. I will certainly be back to try more items off their regular menu.

We were drawn in by the good reviews. Have to say, most of the food did not dissappoint apart from…read morethe fish chop and the nolengurer sandesh. My criticism is mainly the following: 1. Charged 20% gratuity (we had 5 people) without telling us upfront. While I am okay with charge itself, but telling us earlier would have softened the blow. Nowhere is it also mentioned while reserving that 5 or more people incur this charge. 2. When I pay that much gratuity, I expect MUCH better service. Delayed/slow orders, not providing water and napkins even after telling multiple times, had to beg multiple times to complete the payment since we had a baby and needed to get out quick. 3. They don't seem to be understaffed, but just plain incompetent. Its very well decorated, but average people running the place takes away all of that. 4. Overpriced food. That much basanti pulao, mutton kosha (with mostly bone in it) and nolengurer sandesh i get at half the price at other joints. In future, its not worth making the trip. Since the food is decent, i will stick to doordash orders.