Indian Food in Sunnyvale

Or close-by.

Michael and I have embarked on an adventure, to try all the Indian restaurants in Sunnyvale or near-by. This turns out to be a big undertaking as there are many new places.

So far:

Last week we started with Ganesha Indian Cuisine in Santa Clara. Located in the Kiely Plaza at the intersection of Kiely and Benton, this was certainly not the closest or the best known in our area. It WAS, however, the one featured in a Groupon coupon. We went for the lunch buffet. Because we don't have to do prime time, we were a little late and were the only customers in the restaurant. The decor was very very pleasant; nice blond wood chairs, very clean, soothing wall color, flat panel tv playing an Indian music channel. It suited a western aesthetic while still reflecting Indian culture.

The buffet had the standard choices. Stand outs were the very fresh salad ingredients: lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, with raita to use as a dressing; the butter chicken; the rice pudding and gulab; the tandoori chicken; and the very best garlic and plain naan, brought hot to the table. The server--possibly the owner--was preoccupied with working with a web designer (I think), but was very very friendly and prompt when we needed him. And it WAS way after the lunch hour.

We did notice that the food, while very flavorful, was NOT hot-spicy. We are accustomed to more heat, but the flavors were very good.

I think the combination of the pleasing decor, the naan, and the mild spices would make this an extremely accessible place to non-Indian customers. We will definitely return. This would be a good place to take newbies to Indian cuisine.

Week Two:

Tuesday night I went online and did some research into the Indian restaurants we pass by daily. They are a mix of north and south Indian cuisine. (More on that later). After reading recommendations I chose Taste Buds Indian Restaurant on Grape in Sunnyvale (across from Lozano's). We went there today, once again at the end of the lunch hour for the buffet. The reviews on Yelp were good, and indicated that it had expanded the seating area.

Good thing.

The original space had room for a small buffet counter and seating for maybe 16. They've added a big room with 2 long rows of tables for 4. There is NO decor. None. Nothing on walls. No TV. No music. They might have started as a take-out place, not sure.

But the food was good. Again, the buffet was a typical mix of curries or masalas, mostly vegetarian. The only meat dishes were butter chicken and tandoori chicken. The sauces were spicy, hot but not fiery, The butter chicken sauce was also used in a cauliflower dish and was super yummy. Again, freshly cooked naan was brought to the table. Maybe this has become a standard? I hadn't experienced it before. My personal favorite dish was the okra. I asked what it was called and told "okra". When I looked puzzled the woman on the counter added masala. So I will call it okra masala. Any good Okie would love it. Michael was less entranced.

The dessert, kheer, was extremely good. It was made with vermicelli, almonds, and lots of cardamom. I understand the name and the ingredients change from region to region in India. At Ganesha it was rice pudding, sweet, creamy, not spicy at all. At Taste Buds the experience was completely different. Of course I liked both, but I was enthralled with the one today.

Wrap-up: two good places, similar food, although spiced differently. Very different decor (or lack thereof). Taste Buds was closer to us and cheaper. I can see us making it a regular place for lunch.

Next week I think we will try someplace that specializes in south Indian cuisine--dosas and idly and such. When we have some comparison point we will brave Saravanaa Bhavan down the street.