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J
Citizen
Username: Vfxguy
Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 7:21 pm: | 
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Found the old posts about Begum, Taj Palace, Star of India, and Raagini
Are these still reccomended? Anything new out there? And is Neelam worth trying? Thx. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1748
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 11:10 pm: |
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Neelam is the place (similar to Gaslight) that everyone LOVES TO HATE. Its not the best you'll have, but it's totally edible and it's local. Everyone is ANXIOUSLY waiting to find out if a new Indian restaurant is going to open (or if it's just a rumor) in Maplewood where Dastis used to be. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 161
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 7:09 am: |
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If You REALLY want a good Indian, then the only place to go is Saffron on Route 10 (opposed Dicks/Marshalls etc)
We missed the indian restaurants in Manhattan, and the local ones are pretty lame, so it was a joy when we came across Saffron. Yes, you need to drive either to eat in or get a take-out, but I assure you it's well worth the trip....
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mantram
Citizen
Username: Mantram
Post Number: 232
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
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My husband heard about the new Indian place in town through one of the investing partners. So the news was from the horse's mouth. Unless the deal fell through since, I think we can expect an Indian place to open in the Dasti's site.
I'm actually posting to tell you about a great new South Indian Restaurant called Moksha that just opened up in Edison. It is definitely worth the 20 minute drive down there for what is real South Indian food that is not just vegetarian. The very tasteful decor and atmosphere will make it a really nice night out.
Moksha, 1655-200 Oak Tree Rd, Edison (732-947-3010). BYO |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 502
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 7:57 am: |
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Am I the only one who digs Neelam? I've seen it bashed numerous times here and someone said it even had a health code violation and was shut down for a time. I don't go often, but when I have take out or eat in with friends, it's always good and the staff always a delight. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 165
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 8:39 am: |
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I know nothing about the health code violation whether it be true or false, but I do know that when we moved in, we were delighted to find a "local" indian. We had friends round who also love indian and ordered up a takeout storm... it was awful. We ended up throwing it out and taking our friends out for dinner somewhere else....then we found Saffron about a year later.
3 years is admittedly a long time, but bad food is a memory that is hard to make go away. We also have friends who feel the same way about Neelam.
If I see repeated posts that something is great, I will try it, and I hope one day to see that about Neelam. I am trying very hard indeed to use all our local businesses whenever I can.
Kibbegirl, let me know more! |
mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:27 am: |
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I used to love Neelam's when it first opened -- that is, more than 10 years ago. But I have been disappointed several times in more recent years that I stopped going. I have never been to Saffron; I will try it.
My favorite Indian restaurant in NJ is Moghul's in Morristown. See http://www.indianj.com/restaurant/moghulm.asp. We often go there for lunch, from work, on special occasions. They have a great lunch buffet. I also like their mango lassie [non-alcoholic drink]. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 166
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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Mango lassis are the best! Saffron does a great one... They also have a superb buffet...
Anyone out there know (locally) where I can buy mango pulp? Wholefoods used to do it and then stopped... mango lassi is just mango pulp and plain yoghurt (2 parts to 1 part, or adjust to taste)
If Neelam EVER gets to the quality of Saffron they will have my business... |
mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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Have you tried Trader Joe's, in Florham Park, for mango pulp? They carry several mango products. They are on Columbia Tpk, westbound side, the same shopping area as CVS. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 168
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 11:39 am: |
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Thanks! I haven't been there for ages - the mango seems like a good excuse! (I make a superb mango lassi and unlike the indian I don't add extra sugar...!!) |
mbb
Citizen
Username: Mbb
Post Number: 14
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 11:50 am: |
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Thank you for sharing your mango lassie recipe. I will try making it. What kind of yogurt should I use. I have both lowfat Dannon's plain and Greek yogurt in my fridge. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 171
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 3:51 pm: |
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Just plain "Dannon etc" yoghurt, I tend to use fat free (the pulp is normally sweetened so I figure I will cut the calories on the fat!!)
The indian restaurant add a lot of sugar - or at least that is what they told me they do, but I found the sweetened pulp gives you all the sugar rush you need!!
Also if you make up a batch, it will keep until the next day in the fridge...great in the morning in place of breakfast..
Enjoy!! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3747
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 4:23 pm: |
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Another nice thing about Neelam: They're always there with tasty, reasonably-priced Indian eats at Arts In The Park's Free July Concerts on Flood's Hill. The owners of Neelam are staunch boosters of our Village (like the folks at Reservoir Restaurant, etc.)
-s.
BTW: I'm not too knowledgable about Indian cuisine, so maybe I'm just easy to please, but it's nice to stop by there for the lunch buffet once in a while... |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 172
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 4:37 pm: |
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Soda,
Then it might just have to be that I will give them a try again .... |
Projects Dude
Citizen
Username: Quakes
Post Number: 110
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 5:18 pm: |
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Second Saffron. Food quality is excellent and the buffet is always top notch. That said, we are actually not sooooo far from top notch Indian in Edison. OK, so it's not neighborhoody but there's a large area in Edison (about 20 min away) which is truly Little India and has rows upon rows of Indian restaurants, stores, supermarkets, etc. I bet if you walk into any random restaurant there you'll find really amazing and authentic Indian food. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1822
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 6:04 pm: |
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Can someone give directions? |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1179
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 6:17 pm: |
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Soon we will have a very cool new Indian place in Summit. I am completely blanking out on the name, but it will be something like " dabba walla" or the name of the lunch box carriers in India. If I am not mistaken, it wil be "northern" Indian cooking. The sign is already up a few doors South of the stationer (Segals?). |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1396
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 7:19 pm: |
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Quote:What most symbolises Bombay? Not the historic Gateway of India immortalised on a million postcards or even the Gothic, gargoyled Victoria Terminus (now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). For me, Bombay is the dabbawalla, the daughty little man in distinctive white Gandhi cap, who delivers thousands of hungry lunches to officer-goers every afternoon. The dabbawalla gets his name from the dabba, the aluminium containers fitted one above the other, held in place by a wire grip and lowered into an outer tin case, which serves the double purpose of keeping the food warm and preventing it from splashing out during the dabbawala's rushed and jostling journey.
He carries about 39 of these dabbas on an unwieldy, long tray, a combined weight of more than 50 kilograms, on his head as he moves speedily through sweaty miles and cramped trains. His world is one of rush, rush, run, propelled only by a single thought: whatever happens, get the lunches delivered in time.
The fact that makes Bombay's dabbawalla system unique and incredible is the complexity of the task and the simplicity of its operation. It is not a set-up where an individual man delivers one or even five lunches. It is a gargantuan service in which some 2,000 men carry over a hundred thousand dabbas every day across the city's 60-kilometre sprawl in an inter-woven relay with each dabba changing hands at least four times.
Yet, for all its intricacy and size, it is unerringly run by a group of simple, illiterate, one-time peasants using nothing more than a handful of symbols crudely painted on the lunch boxes — that, and their own intuition and team work.
Eight out of ten white-collar workers in Bombay live too far from their office to go home for lunch. A restaurant meal costs five to fifteen times more than home-food. To them, the dabbawalla brings the security of a cheap, clean, tasty and often still-warm, home-cooked meal.
Come rain or shine, the dabbawala service does not stop. The doughty little men deliver on time.
http://www.uppercrustindia.com/11crust/eleven/mumbai3.htm |
GSP142
Citizen
Username: Gsp142
Post Number: 101
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 9:05 pm: |
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Begum Palace in Madison still has wonderful food. |
Rose1
Citizen
Username: Rose1
Post Number: 14
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 9:14 pm: |
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We just went to dinner last night at Moghul, in Edison. It is in the same shopping center on Oak Tree Road that Moksha is in, where the Pathmark is located. It was fantastic! Absoultely worth the drive. It was packed on a Saturday night, with people waiting to sit down. Go check it out. :-) |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1668
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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There's also a Moghul in Morristown that is excellent. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1754
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 9:55 pm: |
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Do a search on the word "indian" on MOL and I am sure you will find the directions I typed up to get to Edison indian row. Or just mapquest "Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ". |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1764
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 1:13 pm: |
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There are a number of very good Indian restaurants in the Edison area in general and on Oak Tree Road in particular. You probably can't go wrong with any of them.
Moghul in both Edison and Morristown is an excellent choice.
I have eaten at Neelam several times, and have ordered take-out several times, and I have never been disappointed. I have found the food to be quite good, in fact. Granted, it is not the same as going to Oak Tree Road or Manhattan, but for local Indian fare, it does just fine. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 210
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 12:44 pm: |
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ok, what's the difference between Northern and Southern Indian food? I know how different Northern and Southern Italian food is, but am clueless as to Indian.
As for places I like, Moghul in Morristown is excellent, and Raagini on Route 22 is good too. Where is Saffron? |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 183
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
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Saffron is on route 10 - if you come up to the strip where Dicks sporting goods, Marshalls etc is on your right, look to the left (other side of route 10) and there is Saffron. I THINK it is beside a phone shop. Parking is behind the restaurant.. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 268
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 8:44 pm: |
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I have just ordered from Neelam... After all the positive posts, we had to give it a go again! Glad we did, Husband loved it, so much so that he would probably prefer to order from there as a take out over Saffron on Route 10 as it is so much closer.
Thanks to all those who recommended it.. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1803
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 12:17 am: |
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We ordered Neelam Friday night (after many months of not having it) and it was exactly as I remember it being, totally acceptable. Not a single dish was stellar but all of them were edible. At the prices they charge I wouldn't call the food a bargain considering that "acceptable" and "edible" are the adjectives I use for the place. I'll take Raagini over Neelam any day but for local Indian it is the only game in town...for now. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 574
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 9:14 am: |
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Update on Dabawalla (sp?) -- they're supposed to be open by mid-May. If you're interested in a small sampling of their offerings, they will be among restaurants offering cuisine from Fair Trade countries at Ten Thousand Villages in Springfield Ave., Summit this Saturday, 5/06.
Apparently, May is a popular month for celebrations among the Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade stores. I believe the affair starts at noon, but you can call the store to check.
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.location.php?store _id=599
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catch22
Citizen
Username: Catch22
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 11:05 pm: |
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Neelam qualifies as "barely adequate" in my book. I spend a fair amount of time in India on business, so I've had a chance to sample home-cooked and restaraunt food many times in both South and North Indian settings. My gripe with Neelam:
- Anything with a sauce is just swimming in Ghee or Cream. For instance, last time I had Muttar Paneer it was basically 90% sauce and few grayish peas. Since I ordered takeout, I just added an entire bag of frozen peas to the container and stuck it in the nuker to get to reasonable ratio of sauce to core ingredients. Chicken Tikka Masala is basically the same; a couple of ounces of meat swimming in fat (very yummy fat, but still...)
- Breads (eg. Naan) are ridiculously pricey for the quantity you get. By comparison, you can pick up a pound of frozen Naan at an increasing number of local Indian groceries for about what you pay for two pieces at Neelam.
- Dining in, the staff is generally nice, but not especially creative or helpful. For instance, if you ask "what's fresh today" you get the typical "everything sir." Well, it's pretty obvious that a lot of the entrees have been around the steam table several times for lunch.
If all of this sounds unduly harsh... maybe it is. I've never had an inedible meal, but given the prices (hard to get out for under $35 for takeout with just 2 entrees and two pieces of Naan) you can do much, much better by either a) driving to Parsippany or Edison or b) learning to cook Indian. There are a bunch of great cookbooks out there (e.g. "30 minute Indian" ) that will let you get a taste of Indian food without a lot of fuss. All of the typical ingredients ( things like ginger, green chiles, tumeric, cumin, cardamom, etc.) are available at Kings.
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davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 613
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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Hey Catch...where do you go in Edison and Parsippany for what types of cuisine?
I.e., where for northern, southern, Andhra, etc.. in each locale?
Thanks,
Eat well, all.
PS Right on re Neelam in my experience. |
shasta
Citizen
Username: Shashalagoumba
Post Number: 94
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:06 am: |
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Any word on what the name of the Indian restaurant will be (at the former Dasti's site?) Rumor is that it is still happening! |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 324
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:23 am: |
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Sadly, I now have to agree with Davidbuckley and Catch22...... it's a real shame.
We were delighted to have such a great meal at Neelam a few weeks ago... since then we have had 5 more, each one less impressive than the last. The breads are soggy, and yes, more sauce than anything. We ordered again from Saffron last night, and WHAT a difference, the flavors were amazing, the breads fresh, it was wonderful. It was also cheaper than Neelam....
I will also be waiting for the new one to open and will happy try them out. |
davidbuckley
Citizen
Username: Davidbuckley
Post Number: 614
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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Soparents:
Where is the Saffron that delivered to you and are you in South Orange?
Thye only Saffron I know is on Rte. 10 and if they delivered to S.O. I'll be amazed...!
Dine well, all.
David |
Boomie
Citizen
Username: Boomie
Post Number: 321
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
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My friends are opening a brand new Indian restaurant in Summit at the sight of the old Trosts Bakery. It is called Dabba Walla and will feature both southern and northern cuisine. I have sampled many of the dishes and they are delicious. They should be open by next week. Just an FYI |
Boomie
Citizen
Username: Boomie
Post Number: 322
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 10:02 am: |
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Oops I see this was covered. Sorry |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 330
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 9:00 pm: |
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Sorry davidbuckley - I didn't make myself clear (the indian went to my head!!) We ordered from Saffron on Route 10 and Mr SOParents went and picked it up..
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cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1005
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 11:12 pm: |
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I can't wait to try Dabba Walla - I've been waiting to hear when it was going to open! Thanks for the head's-up! |
Holly
Citizen
Username: Holly
Post Number: 19
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 8:11 pm: |
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Restaurant in Dasti's location will be northern Indian. They are from Princeton and own a restaurant in Metuchen. Had a very brief, quick exchange with a guy standing outside on Friday. 'Don't know anything else. |
Madison Ave
Citizen
Username: Madison_ave
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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My favourites are Moghul in Morristown & Saffron on Rt 10 in Livingston.
For south indian food - Swagat Gourmet (1700 Oak Tree rd) in Edison is very authentic right down to the stainless steel plates & tumblers.
I haven't tried the other South Indian place - Moksha - that was mentioned above.
Oak tree road makes a good outing. You can buy fresh, potent spices at a fraction of the price you'd pay in a supermarket, shop for indian textiles & garments and dine on authentic Indian food. It is very busy on weekends, but will give you a slight taste of what it is like to live in an Indian city.
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Hamandeggs
Citizen
Username: Hamandeggs
Post Number: 307
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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I was in Edison this weekend. Does anyone have a suggestion about where in Edison I can buy kitchen tools (spoons, etc)? Thanks! |
Scalia
Citizen
Username: Scalia
Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 10:41 am: |
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Had Neelam's buffet this past weekend and must admit that it was quite nice. Was not impressed the previous two times I was there, but will now certainly go again. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2231
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
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OK, after so much talk about Saffron, we finally went. Someone said this place was reasonably priced??? What crack are you smoking? Pass the pipe wouldja. My vegetarian chickpea dish was something like $13 and it was fairly well seasoned but not stellar at the price. TS bought a standard chicken dish and thought it tasted pretty good but at $16 she expected more than two little measly pieces of white meat. All of the rest of the meat was dark and grisly to the point of being inedible. We sent it back it was so bad. They were gracious enough to remove it from the bill but it was most certainly a bad first impression. Then there was the fact that you pay extra for rice. I haven't seen this on the east coast. It irritated me, since I felt we paid a generous sum already. The bread was fine and the samosas were acceptable. Overall, I could see how people would rave because the place has more integrity and flavor than a place like Neelam but overall...the place left me FLAT. Would I go back? Yeah, if I was on Rt 10, it was late, I had some money burning a hole in my pocket and I just HAD TO HAVE Indian. I might go back to be generous and give it another try. But I don't really want to. I'd rather go to Ragini or wait until the Dasti's location opens. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 592
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:14 am: |
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Alley --
We've only ever been to the lunchtime weekly buffet there. At about $10 per person, it was pretty good value. The food is definitely much better than Neelam's, though.
Mr. W's Indian colleagues like to go to Raagini on Rt. 22, but he wasn't impressed. http://www.raagini.com/
If you find something else reasonable in the area, please post!
W |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 607
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:45 am: |
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Palki on Route 10 was enthusiastically recommended to me by an Indian acquaintance. We've been there only a couple of times, but enjoyed it thoroughly. (It's in the same plaza as Marshall's.)
Begum Palace in Madison is nice too.
I also love to go exploring on Oak Tree Road in Edison! |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2242
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 12:08 pm: |
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I agree, Oak Tree Road is a MUCH better option and it really isn't that far (driving time wise). I've got to try Palki. Thanks for the heads up. |
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