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India Palace Edison Review
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Address: India Palace
1691 Oak Tree RoadEdison, NJ 08820 Other Oak Tree Road Restaurants |
Closed
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India Palace Edison Review: $6.99 Lunch Bargain
India Palace is one of those countless Indian restaurants that litter Oak Tree Road in Edison.
We'd seen it several times while driving down Oak Tree Road toward the Patel Brothers grocery store. But given the restaurant's dingy external appearance we never felt the temptation to step in.
Finally, the other day we took the plunge and walked into India Palace.
Since it was lunch time the buffet was laid out on the table near the cash counter. So we did not feel the urge to order a la carte although that option was also available to us.
Plus the lunch buffet was a mere $6.99, mighty cheap compared to the other buffet destinations like Moghul or Rasoi in the Edison/Iselin neighborhood.
India Palace Edison - Looks like a Dump
Like its next-door neighbor Dakshin Express, India Palace's exterior and interior has the look of a dump.When we walked in around 1:30PM there was a sparse crowd inside with just one other table occupied. An Indian guy came in a little later for a take out of the vegetarian items on the buffet table.
India Palace Oak Tree Road - Good Spread
For $6.99, India Palace offers a decent buffet spread.Three non-vegetarian items and three vegetarian items besides Naan, Dal, White Rice, Salad, Raita and Pickles.
Plus, fresh Naan/Roti are brought to the table and not dumped on the buffet table the way a lot of Indian restaurants do.
India Palace Edison - Chicken Triad
During our visit, all three Non-Vegetarian items were chicken dishes - Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Curry and Chicken Makhani.We wouldn't classify any of the Chicken items in the excellent category but they were all adequate.
 Tandoori Chicken (top) Chicken Makhani (right) |
 Dal Makhani (left), Chicken Curry (right) |
Tandoori Chicken was a bit hard but the flavor and decent marination were ample compensations.
Chicken Curry was flavorful but could have definitely been spicier.
It's a shame that most Indian restaurants dumb down on the spices to pander to Americans. But to see Indian restaurants on Oak Tree Road do it is more disappointing since they cater mostly to Indians, Pakis and Bangladeshis.
Chicken Makhani, another staple at Indian restaurants in New Jersey, was alright. Creamy and flavorful, it gave no cause for complaint.
India Palace - Vegetarian Items
In addition to the standard buffet fixture of Dal Makhani, our Vegetarian items included Alu Baingan, Paneer Makhani and Channa Masala.Not oily, as it often turns out at most Indian restaurants, Alu Baingan at India Palace was a flavorful item that went well with both the Rice and Naan bread.
 Channa Masala, Alu Baingan (top) |
 Paneer Makhani with Plain Rice |
If we had to pick the best item of our meal, it'd be Paneer Makhani.
With the Paneer cubes set in a reddish creamy sauce, the dish was a flavorful delight. If we return to India Palace, it'll be for the Paneer Makhani.
Channa Masala could have done with a little less salt and a little more spice. But as a saving grace it was at least hot (temperature-wise).
India Palace - Naan Bread
Naan bread came hot to the table.It was soft, tasty and of sufficient serving size with a total of six pieces.
 Fresh Naan Bread Served at the Table |
Shame, No Desserts
The big disappointment of our meal was that there were no desserts on the buffet table.Hey, what's an Indian meal without a dessert. How much does Rice Pudding or Gulab Jamun cost?
India Palace Edison - Polite Service
There were no major service snafus during our meal.Our finished plates were removed promptly and the Naan bread came quickly to the table.
And the lone waiter had a pleasant demeanor unlike the sourpusses you routinely encounter at Indian restaurants in New Jersey.
India Palace Rating - A Bargain
India Palace on Oak Tree Road in Edison is certainly not the finest Indian restaurant in Edison but it's not the worst either.At $6.99 for a lunch buffet offering both vegetarian and meat dishes, India Palace is definitely a great bargain on Oak Tree Road for aficionados of Indian food. - © OakTreeRoad.us