Back in Jersey - Baadshah, Parsippany

Baadshah: 3079 Route 46 East, Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973) 331-1616
Website: http://www.baadshahrestaurant.com

Another week in Jersey. Monday, Mr. Chu again (not as good as previous time, Shrimp in Spicy Sauce tasted like ketchup, but Hot & Sour Soup was pretty darn good). Last night I was eating with folks with limited palates, so ended up at Outback (sigh). Actually, the steak salad was pretty tasty.

Tonight, ended up away from the group, and went to Baadshah, probably one of the closer restaurants to the hotel. Very plain decor in a strip mall -- who cares, the food was good. They also had a buffet, but I don't know what the price was. The 'usual' on there, from pakoras to carrot halwa, with lots of veggie dishes, chicken tikka masala, etc. If it had samosas, I'd have been on it like white on basmati rice.

Aloo papri chaat, $4.95 was a big bowl of sticky sweet flavorful crunchies. Sort of chex mix with potatoes and chutney. Mmmm. Didn't finish it to leave room for the main course (and it would not travel well at all).

Mysore Masala Dosa $8.95 was a huge, potato filled spicy crepe folded in a triangle. The waiter (probably owner) asked, "Spicy?" I said, "oh, yeah," and was not disappointed. The inside of the crepe was smeared with a very spicy chile-flecked paste, and more spices in the potato mixture.

The condiments are very different from those on the dosa at Udupi Palace on Devon in Chicago: The coconut chutney was almost chunky, grated coconut, and the sambal was thick, almost stew-like. Probably some of the veggies were pureed, rather than the thin broth of Udupi.

Although less expensive than Saffron on Rte 10, this still isn't the cheap eats of hometown Indian cuisine, but it's less expensive than most of the Parsippany restaurants. About the same tastiness as Saffron: go there for "entertaining", here for a casual meal.

All food is halal.