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!

What a beautiful venue! Arriving on a weekday, it was pretty empty so no reservations were…read morerequired. The service was super friendly throughout the meal. Cuisine Style: This is an upscale, modern, and progressive take on Indian cuisine (drawing from both North and South Indian regional flavors, as well as coastal dishes) elevated with innovative molecular gastronomy techniques like dry ice presentations. * Naan ($4.00 - $6.00): Pretty good overall, though I personally wish it was a bit softer and puffier. * Guava Chaat / Crunchy Bean Salad ($16.00): Packed with lots of great contrasting textures and very filling due to all the beans and crunchy elements. It reminded me of a Burmese tea leaf salad! (Though for a super crunchy salad, my absolute gold standard is still the quinoa salad at Valley Goat). * Paneer Parche / Cloud Saag Paneer ($26.00): The flavors on this paneer dish were really good. * Paneer Trilogy ($20.00): A plain, pressed paneer dish served without a heavy gravy/sauce--it was just ok to me. * Dry Ice Starter / Snack Presentation: An interesting, theatrical presentation with dry ice! I really liked the cool ice cream element you could dip into, but the cracker itself was a bit too oily for my taste. * Flame-Grilled Chicken / Andhra Chicken ($18.00 - $20.00): Simple and tender, but nothing too special or memorable. * Complimentary Birthday Dessert: They brought out a beautiful, multi-layered milk dessert for the birthday girl (like tres leches?) - a lovely gesture! However, it wasn't quite my preference as it was a bit too sweet.

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!

The avocado and paneer galotii was amazing! Our server, Priya, was pleasant and gave good…read morerecommendations for dishes when asked. Overall great food and great atmosphere, would highly recommend!

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

I've driven past Punjab Cafe in downtown San Jose several times and always wondered how good their…read moreIndian buffet was. A friend of mine who's Indian mentioned that this place was pretty good, so I figured I'd give it a try. I'm used to eating at Indian buffets closer to home, but sometimes it's worth driving a little farther to try something different. I'm glad I did! Don't judge a book by its cover because some of their dishes don't look very appetizing, but man do they taste good! We arrived close to 2pm, near the end of their lunch buffet. There weren't too many selections, maybe 6 or so entrees, but EVERY SINGLE DISH was good to very good! I thought maybe I was just hungry, but my wife agreed. That's pretty impressive for a buffet! Here is my take: Food (4.5 stars) * Chana chicken (or some variation of chana with garbanzo beans) was surprisingly one of my favorites! My wife doesn't like garbanzo beans, and I'm not particularly crazy about them either. Since most of the other dishes were chicken and goat curry, she decided to give it a try. To our surprise, it was delicious! So good that I saved it for my last few bites. That's usually when I eat my favorite dishes! (5 stars) * Goat curry was another favorite. The curry sauce was excellent with a very slight hint of gaminess from the goat meat. Not overpowering at all. In fact, that's how I like my goat curry. It was flavorful enough that I saved it alongside the chana dish for my final bites. (4.5 stars) * Tandoori chicken doesn't look particularly appealing. It actually looks a little dry from sitting in the buffet tray, but it tastes very good! Dip it into their green chutney and it becomes even better. Another example of why appearances can be deceiving. (4.5 stars) * Green chutney was excellent! It has a minty flavor with a slight hint of sweetness. I found myself adding it to just about everything, especially the tandoori chicken. (5 stars) * Palak paneer is another dish that doesn't look very appetizing. But again, it tastes good! I'm beginning to see a pattern here. (4 stars) * Naan bread was fresh, hot, and very buttery. Pretty good naan, and they bring it directly to your table. We couldn't finish ours and the gentleman working there told us we could take the leftovers home. Nice! (4.5 stars) * The buffet is around $19 and change per person, which is a pretty good value considering the quality of the food. Sometimes I'd rather have 6 good dishes than 15 mediocre ones! ~ The buffet presentation could definitely use some improvement. Several dishes looked like they'd been sitting there for a while. We did arrive near the end of lunch, so perhaps that's why. Regardless, everything tasted much better than it looked. ~ One large piece of goat meat was a little tougher than I would've liked. The flavor was excellent, but the meat could've been more tender. Service (5 stars) * One thing that really stood out wasn't even related to our meal. While we were eating, a gentleman came by who appeared to be someone in need. The man working there, who I believe might be the owner, asked him how many naan breads he wanted. One or two? The gentleman said two. He handed him two naan breads and said, "God bless you." From what I observed, it appeared he gave them to him for free. I thought that was a genuinely kind gesture. You don't see that every day, and it left a lasting impression on me. * When we were paying, the same gentleman suggested that my wife sign up for their loyalty program. All she had to do was provide her email, and we received $5 off our meal! He didn't have to mention it, especially when we were already ready to pay. That's another example of someone going out of his way to take care of customers. * He also allowed us to take home our leftover naan. Small gesture, but it's these little things that make a restaurant memorable. Ambiance (4.5 stars) * Restaurant is clean and comfortable. Nothing overly fancy, but a nice place to enjoy an Indian buffet. * We arrived around 1-1:30pm and there were only a couple of other customers. It was quiet, and we had a relaxing lunch. * Their bathroom was SPOTLESS! I mean, for a restaurant in downtown San Jose, I was genuinely impressed. I've been to plenty of downtown establishments where the bathrooms leave a lot to be desired. This one was so clean that I joked I might stop by just to use their restroom if I'm ever in the area! (5 stars) Overall, I'm giving Punjab Cafe 5 stars! It's not because they have the biggest buffet or the fanciest presentation. It's because every dish we tried was good to very good, the price was reasonable, and most importantly, the people running this place seem genuinely kind. Sometimes the best restaurants aren't the ones with the prettiest food. Punjab Cafe is a perfect example. Don't judge a book by its cover!

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.

loved every bit of their food, the bangali fish and chicken popcorn is to die for. Very decent…read moresitting and friendly staff. My kids love their butter chicken. My fav spot to spend a weekend night with family.

This is a very good Bengali place (hidden gem). To clarify, I don't mean Bengali food as in…read moreBangladeshi, I meant Bengali as in from Calcutta. To give some context to non-Bengali-speaking folks who may be reading this, Bangla or Bengali is a language that's used in Calcutta, India and Bangladesh. Now both of these regions have excellent cuisine but surprisingly (or not so), both of them are called "Bengali cuisine"! But they are very different. Anyway, this is as good as it can get pretty much in all dishes I have tried here. The luchi (I call it balloon-bread for my non-Indian wife) is excellent, almost feels like made by my mom . Yeah it's that good! Now, the fish fry which is a very good appetizer, comes with mustard and ketchup. Any respectable Bengali will use mustard and keep ketchup untouched. Anyway, the two fish fries are full of fish and extremely good! The aloo dum which is a very traditional dish made with asafetida (look it up if you don't know this spice) and potatoes. I love this dish normally, but here it's a little bland. The potatoes are cooked and the gravy is nice, but it just didn't hit the spot I guess, that's why I gave it 4 stars! The chicken dak-bungalow is a dish originally created for English people. It comes with chicken (with bone) and a whole egg. This dish is definitely the best dak-bungalow I have ever had. Everything is perfect, the chicken is perfectly cooked, and the gravy tastes heavenly. We will visit again, and folks who want to try Indian food and moreover want to try something other than "naan, butter chicken or chicken tikka masala" come here and give it a shot! I promise you won't be disappointed.