By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey
Craving curry? Salivating for a samosa? Longing for a lassi? Then your palate should be very pleased to know there are several options for authentic cuisine from all parts of India available right in downtown Harrisburg.
Although
Passage to India is located in a rather odd Place —next to the
Comfort Inn Riverfront — this longtime lunch and dinner landmark has been serving up spicy (but not too spicy if you don’t want to feel the burn) and sweet specialties. Some of these specialties include chicken, lamb or vegetable Xaccutti (pronounced sha-ku-tee) which is a spicy curry with meat or veggies, roasted ground coconut from Goa (India’s West Coast) and veggie charcoal-roasted eggplant, called Baigan Bhurta.
Prices are modest - most veggie entrees are $11.95, chicken entrees are $13.95 and lamb entrees are $15.95. You can try a combination for $17.95 to $18.95. But my absolute favorite is the super-economical and bountiful lunch buffet. It’s only $7.99 on weekdays and $9.99 Saturdays and Sundays.
For a quick meal or snack, you can also visit Passage to India’s
Curry in a Hurry in the
Broad Street Market. Most items are under $10.
Taj Palace (tajpalacepa.com), located right next to the
Strawberry Square shopping complex, specializes in Northern India tandoori- (clay pot) cooked chicken, lamb, goat, fish or shrimp; saucy shrimp Bagara Jheenga and Basmati rice-based meat, seafood and veggie Biryani. Don’t miss two of the delectably spicy starters- Samosas (spicy potato dumplings) or a bowl of tongue-tingling Coconut Shorba (a South Indian soup). The lunch buffet (available Tuesday through Friday) costs $8.49 for adults and $5.90 for kids. Saturday and Sunday brunch buffet cost $10.95 for adults and $6.95 for children. A la carte entrees begin at $9.95 with the majority under $15.You can download some
great coupons from Taj Palace’s web site.
Wherever you choose to dine, be sure to order a side of the leavened, oven-baked flat bread called Naan which is a staple at Indian Meals. (You can get it stuffed with spicy chicken at Passage to India and ground meat at Taj Palace). Don’t forget the traditional lassi, a refreshing yogurt shake sweetened and flavored with fruit (banana rosewater lassi at Passage -- yum!) or savory with salt and herbs (cumin, chopped chili and cilantro at Taj.) And don’t miss dessert! I get cravings for the Galub Jamun (donut-like balls soaked in warm honey and rose syrup) and Kheer (rice pudding with saffron and dried fruits).