Better Buffet: Shalimar, Kashmir, or India Palace

OK, I'm trying to decide which one to go to? Give me your opinions, which one is the best Indian buffet?

[Robin Garr]

OK, I'm trying to decide which one to go to? Give me your opinions, which one is the best Indian buffet?

The best way I can answer this is to say that when I want Indian buffet for my own enjoyment, I almost invariably go to India Palace for good selection, well maintained dishes and hospitable staff. Shalimar has good selections and frankly has greater potential, but in my experience that potential is rarely realized because they tend to do a much more careless job of maintaining the pans, and the help often seems sullen. I haven't been to Kashmir lately, but stopped going mostly because I had a couple of lackluster experiences there.

So make it India Palace for me, with Shalimar in second place.

Ooh, what a timely topic! I've been a long-time devotee of Shalimar's lunch buffet, but given a couple comments about India Palace I've seen here recently, I've decided to give it a try this afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing how it compares.

Kashmir is good for entrees, but I've never found their buffet to be worth bothering with.

Definitely India Palace for the buffet.

If you were going for entrees my choice would be Kashmir, but their buffet is edible at best.

I agree generally about the India Palace having better quality, but Shalimar beats it hands down in terms of variety of dishes. And, as I've said here elsewhere, the curried goat is wonderful and not something you'll find many places in the 'ville!

I agree generally about the India Palace having better quality, but Shalimar beats it hands down in terms of variety of dishes. And, as I've said here elsewhere, the curried goat is wonderful and not something you'll find many places in the 'ville!

Where is 'elsewhere'? Is there another forum I'm missing out on?

I agree generally about the India Palace having better quality, but Shalimar beats it hands down in terms of variety of dishes. And, as I've said here elsewhere, the curried goat is wonderful and not something you'll find many places in the 'ville!

Where is 'elsewhere'? Is there another forum I'm missing out on?

Different thread on this forum ...

First post so go easy on me.

I think India Palace's buffet (and most of their other items) are much better than Shalimar or Kashmir. Their food and preparation are much more authentic than Shalimar. The buffet is replenished more often and their waitstaff are much friendlier and helpful than at Shalimar. Kashmir and Shalimar do have a few items that are sometimes better than at India Palace, but overall I'd have to say India Palace is the best of the three.

My only qualifications in judging the three are the fact that I'm Indian, I've lived in India, my mom is an amazing cook, and I'm exceptionally picky!

[Robin Garr]

First post so go easy on me.

Welcome, Sanjay! We try not to beat up on newbies - or old-timers either!

What's more, since I already expressed the opinion that India Palace is the most authentic and has the friendliest servers, what would I have to argue with you about?

Now that you've broken the ice, I hope you'll hang around and join in our conversations often.

First post so go easy on me.

I think India Palace's buffet (and most of their other items) are much better than Shalimar or Kashmir. Their food and preparation are much more authentic than Shalimar. The buffet is replenished more often and their waitstaff are much friendlier and helpful than at Shalimar. Kashmir and Shalimar do have a few items that are sometimes better than at India Palace, but overall I'd have to say India Palace is the best of the three.

My only qualifications in judging the three are the fact that I'm Indian, I've lived in India, my mom is an amazing cook, and I'm exceptionally picky!

Sounds like good qualifications to me. Haven't tried India Palace in their present location. Shalimar is a little closer, but seems most prefer India Palace, so I will have to try them. Especially when you recommend it.

The people on this forum usually wait till about your third post to pick on you. Welcome.

OK, I asked the original question, so here's my answer. I've eaten at Shalimar a couple of times. The buffet was pretty good, although a little limited, and the service was definitely lacking. We walked into Kashmir just yesterday, took a look at the buffet, and turned around. The buffet as Kashmir was very limited and the restaurant was very quiet. We then drove to India Palace. The selection was great, the staff was very helpful, and all of the food was really good. Its an easy choice for me, India Palace is the best of the three.

We like India Palace too, but Kashmir is closer, so we frequently wind up there. I haven't been a Shalimar fan for some time now.

So here's my observation, and before you start the snark, no I don't weigh an enormous amount. I wear regular sized clothing and my BMI is still in the OK range.

When you walk on the floor of India Palace, does it sort of give? Even if you're seated and there are people walking up to the buffet, doesn't the floor sort of bounce a little? Is that disconcerting? Is it really just me and DH?

[Robin Garr]

When you walk on the floor of India Palace, does it sort of give? Even if you're seated and there are people walking up to the buffet, doesn't the floor sort of bounce a little? Is that disconcerting? Is it really just me and DH?

No snark here, but I have never noticed this. Bear in mind that the building is a sort of odd "split-level" two-story, where you go up quite a few stairs to get to the main dining room, and down a similar flight to get to the basement room.

It's been operating as a restaurant for at least 25 years or more and housed the very popular New Orleans East for quite a while, so it seems to have stood the test of time for at least as long as the I-35 bridge in Minnea ... uh, never mind!

When you walk on the floor of India Palace, does it sort of give?

It does, Leah and it is disconcerting. That being said, I always hope it holds out as I head towards the buffet line.

[Robin Garr]

When you walk on the floor of India Palace, does it sort of give?

It does, Leah and it is disconcerting. That being said, I always hope it holds out as I head towards the buffet line.

I wonder if they have "manufactured" or "engineered" flooring, that new high-tech stuff that's made of wood but wears a lot better - it's very common in both commercial and home applications nowadays, and it's installed "floating" over the old surface, so it does have a slight give to it, so subtle that you don't actually see it but can feel it under your feet.