I love Indian food. As I've told you before though, I have very few friends who appreciate it as much as I do. Today, I had the office to myself. No one around at all. Got tons of work done and when lunchtime rolled around, I remembered that Spice Junction was near my office. I've been dying to go because every review that I've read has been off the hook. So, me, myself and I headed on over.
Like most Indian restaurants in our area, they serve a buffet with a wide variety. I don't mind this because even though I've been eating Indian food for years and years, I know that I've only scratched the surface of all the wonderful dishes that exist. Just as I'd read on Urbanspoon, the owner was behind the line and offered to help me or answer any questions. She then went out onto the floor and talked to some of her customers. That's the way a restaurant owner insures a loyal following. That, and having kick ass food.
Spice Junction delivers! Today, I sampled channa masala, butter chicken, vegetable and chicken samosas, veggie fritters, spinach and corn curry, sweet lime pickle and a cauliflower dish (I can't remember the name.) Butter chicken is one of my all-time favorites and I really liked Spice Junction's version. The chicken was wonderfully tender and the sauce was spicy, but not so much that it would hurt people. Neil and I like it spicier, but that's something that can be adjusted. The spinach and corn curry was interesting too. I've never run across that dish before. I loved the veggie fritters and of the two samosas, I preferred the chicken one. The chickpea dish (channa) was packed with flavor and with chickpeas! The best part of it all? After I sat down, a nice man brought a basket of naan to me, fresh and hot out of the oven. And, this was beautifully bubbled and tasty naan...just perfect!
The restaurant is tucked into the corner of that shopping center at the corner of Dreher Rd. and Hwy. 1 in West Columbia (the one with the BiLo). I recently heard somewhere that some of the most surprising restaurants tend to be in these unassuming strip malls. Maybe Guy Fieri said it on "Triple D." It's certainly true of this place. I left there happy with my meal and that indescribable warmness and satiety that you get inside when you eat Indian food. Maybe it's the spices? I don't know. It doesn't matter really. I just love it.
**Sorry I didn't take any photos today. I was so ready to dive in that it just slipped my mind! You'll have to see it for yourself!** 
Today I find myself alone. Since I walked the little one to school this morning, I've been essentially without people. Don't get me wrong. I like some alone time. I can think. I can plan. I can write. I can do things that no one else wants to do. Like eat Indian food.
Neil is about the only person who will engage in Indian cuisine with me, but since it's few and far between that we get to have lunch together or even go out at night these days, I usually only get Indian when I'm by myself. Days like today. There is an Indian restaurant near my office called Bombay Grill. It's been there awhile, but I haven't found the time to go there. All of my Indian friends tell me this is the best place in town. That's where they go. So, today that's where I went.
I'm sitting here typing to you with a very happy demeanor. My lunch was fantastic. Like so many ethnic restaurants anymore, they serve a lunch buffet. Which is fine with me actually because it allows you to try things you haven't had and get adventurous. Today I chose lentils and chicken tikka masala which I put over basmati rice. I had one vegetable pakora and something I've never seen before...it was a vegetable pancake. This is probably meant to be eaten with a chutney (which I finally learned more about today.) Another new dish for me was green beans tossed with a spicy tomato-based mixture. It was a sauce I guess, but not in a liquid sauce sense. The spices were subtle but definitely had some kick. And of course, I had a piece of naan. Theirs was just the way I like it too. Crisp edges but soft texture inside. Yum with a capital Y.
Then came the question: "You like dosai?"
A nice gentleman approached my table and posed this question to me. I looked at him thoughtfully and replied "I don't know." To this he replied "You don't know?" So, I said, "No, think I should try it?" and he smiled, gave me a subtle nod and off he went. This is the kind of thing that gets me pumped. I had no idea what was going to arrive at my table and I could hardly contain myself. When he came back, he placed a plate on the table with a folded, thin, crispy rice crepe that was as long as the plate was wide. I peeked inside to see that it was filled with a vegetable puree. I stared at it. Hmmm. Do I pick it up? Do I cut it with a fork? Do I fold it up and stuff it in my mouth? I opted for the fork. (Sorry I didn't think to snap a photo as I was deep in thought over how to approach this thing.)
Wow! This was really good. I learned later from the nice lady at the front desk that I had the dosai masala, which is mashed potatoes and onions and (I assume) flavored with garam masala. She gave me lots of pointers for how to couple the dosai with different sauces, chutneys and sambar next time I come in. I also learned that the chutneys are meant to be eaten with the "finger foods" such as pakora.
So for a modest $8.95 I had a very satisfying lunch, tried 3 new dishes, learned more about Indian food and got all this accomplished in under a half hour. Like my Indian friends, I can say that I recommend Bombay Grill as well. And, do I like dosai? Yes. Yes I do.
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