What is an H but an I on steroids?

For years, we’ve watched the gradual decline of Smorga Bob’s and its transformation into India Garden without having ever set foot into either establishment. The Jell-O at Smorga Bob’s was the stuff of legend and I do carry the regret that I never gave myself the opportunity to partake of that legend.

The Process:

After a few days off cougaring around the countryside, our own Cougar was eager to be back on the Lunch Parade. I was happy to hand her the baton and invite her to lead us Music Man style to India Garden.

In Japan, buffet style eating is referred to as having a “Viking Meal. ” At the India Garden, I imagine the style is well more Mogul Mix than anything else. Cougar seemed right at home greeting the Buddha that sat guarding the entryway. Once inside, the friendly waiter, maitre’d, cashier, owner, and no doubt cook, too, handed us our to go trays to fill at the buffet. No fewer than 25 different dishes and tastes await the discriminating and not so discriminating diner. Likely your one big regret is that you have but a single serving to go container that you can fill a single time. Choose wisely! You wouldn’t regret taking the food to go, however. The large banquet room was portioned off by a screen divider to just the length of the buffet tables, leaving room for 15 or so tables. During our visit, there were three solitary diners, each eating alone with a large bottle of Lexapro in front of them, replacing the salt and pepper shakers.

The Chow:


The buffet is an eating style, that while adopted by many cultures, remains a uniquely American style of eating in its current incarnation. Buffet has replaced the earlier, coarser, “all you can eat” appellation. As well it should since you shouldn’t really eat all that much anyway, Fatass. Cougar and I were judicious and prudent in our selections and in our lunchtime dining, leaving enough behind for another meal. I liked the vegetable curry and the Chicken Tikka Masala, while Cougar liked the Channa Dal. The lamb curry was not a hit in the slightest. Tough, gamey and strong flavored would be putting it kindly.



The Wrap:
What happens in the buffet should stay in the buffet. That goes double for what’s cooked in the buffet.

The Rating: 3.75 out of 5.