To an empty stomach and a thin wallet, nothing says satiation quite like an Indian buffet. No wait, no menu-ordering anxiety, no boredom waiting around for food to arrive. You come in, eat everything in sight, nap (strongly suggested), and eat some more. Pace yourself correctly, and one visit could take care of an entire day's meals.
Brave souls who stray a few blocks from the comforts of the Walk will discover that University City boasts of three such Indian buffets.
Cheap alternatives to the gastrointestinal nightmare of Penn's dining halls, these buffets may appear, to the uninitiated masses, to be indistinguishable from one another. They all cost $5.95 for lunch and $8.95 for dinner, not including the 20% off discount for students with ID. But don't be fooled: just because they cost the same, doesn't mean they taste the same.
Tandoor India
Tandoor India, located at 40th between Sansom and Chestnut Streets, provides a minimalist, sunny setting for a day of spicy chowdown. Offering a fruit and salad bar, several fried appetizers, an equal number of vegetarian and meat dishes, and a dessert of the day, the buffet is both extensive and tasty (when it's not cold from sitting out for too long). The naan bread and basmati rice are above average, though there is often a shortage of one or the other. Carnivores should try the Tandoori chicken and chicken korma, both of which are delectable. Vegetarians have a slightly less scrumptious selection of greasy veggie dishes from which to choose. Nothing is too spicy to handle, which is lucky, because the wait-staff never refill water glasses. Avoid the fruit.
New Delhi
Do yourself a favor, and walk the extra few steps from Tandoor India to its around-the-corner competitor, New Delhi, located at 40th and Chestnut streets. In ambience, service, and food quality, New Delhi reigns superior over the other buffets, and it is rarely empty of hungry patrons. The dimmed lights, glittery walls, and soft traditional music create a surreal, mellow atmosphere -- perfect for relaxation and Indian food consumption. Like the other buffets, it has a fruit and salad bar, ten or so meat and vegetarian dishes, and an ample supply of mouth-watering naan and basmati rice. The difference, however, is at once clear: the food here is always warm, fresh, and delicious. In particular, the addictive chicken tikka and vegetable samosas will keep you coming back for more.
The wait-staff are always attentive, refilling water and taking away plates every few minutes. Best of all, New Delhi offers the unique option of your choice of dessert and tea or coffee, free of charge. The pistachio kulfi and mango ice cream should not be missed. Go here: your stomach deserves it.
Sitar India
Your water glass will never be empty as the lone server hovers over your table practically begging for something to do. It'd be nice if he had any customers to attend to, but on an average night in Sitar India, he does not.
If the lack of clientele doesn't alert you that something is a little off, the brown lettuce in the salad bar should tell you something. The rest of the buffet is sub standard. There are both vegetarian and meat options, but the vegetarian dishes are all in appetizer form. The biggest disgrace at Sitar is the stale Naan. An integral part of any Indian dish,the Naan should be light and fresh, a compliment rather than a hindrance
The Tandoori chicken would be good if it were warm, but the warmers didn't seem to be working under the meat dishes. Its ok though because apparently stale Naan and cold meat taste really good to some poeple.
