Not a lot of people outside of the Indian community know about India Cafe, but it's been around for…read morea few years. Since 2011, I believe? It started out of as a culinary endeavor from two people, but has since become a one-man operation. Maybe as a result, this is largely a "Catering Only" experience. Which is great for us Indians, because we have a variety of events where catered Indian food is the norm. It almost feels like we make stuff up just to get together and eat. Fatties...
The man can cook. And he's versatile, so whether you want North or South Indian food, he's capable of both. Most people I know opt for his South Indian food, because South Indians love what they know I guess... One time I asked him if he ever got bored of cooking the same stuff over and over, and he replied that he was comfortable with Chinese-Indian fusion food as well, and wished that people were more inclined to order that.
Food Items to Consider:
+ Chicken, or Mutton Biryani. Request "Extra Spicy." It's not the nonsense that you find at buffets, which is usually just rice, minimal spice, and dried-out breast meat. It's legit. I would say that it's perhaps too legit to quit. I'm sorry. Throw in an order of cutlets as well. At approximately $1/piece, they're not cheap, but considering the work involved, it's reasonable.
+ If you want to try something new, request "Paalappam & Chicken Curry." This is basically the Indian equivalent to a pancake, except it's made out of fermented rice. It probably sounds weird, but it's quite delicious. A soft, slightly sweet, flat, white cake that you then drench in some salty/spicy chicken & potato curry. It hits pretty much every taste receptor on your tongue.
+ His South Indian food is not quite grandmother or mother-level, but it's satisfying. His stir-fried beef is hearty, and his fish curry is quite good; a spicy, sour, flavorful curry that punches you in the taste-buds.
+ His North Indian food is not bad either, so if you want to play it safe and order what you may already know, then have yourself some Chicken Curry, Vegetarian Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan, etc. But you may as well just go to a buffet then...
+ He makes what is possibly the best Indian Fruit Cake I've tasted on God's green Earth. Get a whole order of that (it's like $90 or something), then slice the cake into several pieces, and freeze whatever you don't plan to devour immediately (it freezes unbelievably well). Then take more as needed from the freezer, let the slice(s) come to room temperature (alternatively, nuke the slice(s) in the microwave for a few seconds), and enjoy this cake for the next year. Or next two weeks depending on your (lack of) self-control. ::chef's kiss emoji::
+ If all else fails, ask him what he knows to make, and he'll give you a list to choose from. As previously mentioned, his Asian fusion food is something to consider.
Understand that he's one man doing everything. If your expectations for catering services include dressed-up servers and warming stations, you're better off looking elsewhere. Also, if he says he isn't able to meet your deadline, he's not being rude, he's probably slammed from other orders. So don't be a butt and take it out on him on Yelp. I'm looking at you, crotchety Yelpers who only use Yelp to write one-star reviews.
I've noticed that his food may not be as flavorful if your order is placed for the same weekend that he has to cater for other major Indian events. This doesn't surprise me; mass production almost always guarantees a dip in quality regardless of where you eat.
Pricing is quite reasonable. I've priced out what we've ordered from him, and I think it came to something like... $3.00-7.00 per person (different events, different food items, hence the range). Even the more expensive stuff is not priced terribly. I've only had better prices for catering from Himalayas.
