Bombay Bistro
 

FINALLY an Indian Restaurant that's not almost an hour away! Bombay Bistro is on 441, across the street from Walmart in the strip mall behind McDonald's up in Summerfield. A couple of minutes north of the Spanish Plaines hospital and Publix, on the left. We can't get there legally by golf cart from The Villages but it's super close.

Prices - as expected, more than you'd want to pay, but not so much that you'd never go.
Service - attentive, polite, hospitable, accommodating. They were a bit hectic since they were serving a party of 15 for an old couple's 70th Anniversary. The entire party was Indian and I overheard them talking about how they enjoyed the food.

I ordered the chicken curry, medium-hot, and the buttered naan. All the people who worked in the restaurant are Indian. My server had lived in Connecticut and knew the New Haven area well, and even lived briefly in my home town. So he understood how I missed ethnic foods. He also totally got that we in New Haven were spoiled - a meal came with papadum and chutney, and regulars were -always- given a taste of dessert for free, if we weren't wanting to order a full size.

So I got my papadum and both a tamarind and a cilantro chutney. Both were delicious. The naan was wonderful, just a tiny hint of charring on a couple of the bubbles - which is expected when it's cooked in a clay tandoor. Maybe could've used a smidge more ghee brushed on the top than it came with but that'd be nitpicking.

The rice didn't have any herbs or spices in it. I was hoping for a surprise taste of fennel or cumin seed. It was tasty enough, just not particularly impressive.

The chicken in the curry dish was tender, with big chunks that were cooked just right - not overcooked as many places tend to do. The curry itself was missing an ingredient. I'm not sure which one though. It was definitely not the same curry I'm used to. It also had a hint of sweetness. I'm guessing it was low on cumin and tumeric, and they used a young ginger instead of a mature ginger, causing the sweeter aftertaste. It was very good, once I realized that it was different than expected.

The owner came out to ask how I enjoyed my meal. I hadn't really analyzed "what" exactly was different in the curry so I only told him it was different than what I'm used to, but that I enjoyed it. He told me to wait a moment, and he brought me two chunks of butter chicken to try. I'm not a big butter chicken fan but you never EVER turn down an Indian host when they offer you food, unless you're okay with them breaking down in tears and being deeply hurt. It wasn't bad. The chicken was even more tender than the chunks in the curry and the sauce was very creamy and buttery-tasting, without being greasy. Just very rich and smooth.

The server from New Haven brought me a small bit of kheer to top off my meal. It was okay - I've had kheer in every Indian joint I've ever been to and only one of them made it the way I like it best. The one here was a bit too watery - maybe they used a lower-fat milk? It tasted good though.

The naan and curry chicken came to around $20 after tax. The papadum, chutneys, taste of buttered chicken and kheer were complimentary. No idea if they do that for all their customers or not, but these folks definitely went out of their way to try and make me feel at home. Very typical of Indian restaurants, in my experience. They always want you to feel like a welcome and beloved guest.

This was after lunch hour, before dinner hour. Service was on high-end plastic plates with silver-colored high-end plastic utensils, something that seemed odd to me. It could be that they haven't gotten their ceramics in yet, or maybe this is how they always serve earlier meals? They also had half-pint bottles of water from Sam's that they gave to all the customers, instead of filling water glasses. They've only been open a week.

So there's my review of Bombay Bistro. The next time I go I'll be trying the tandoori chicken, and have the gulab jamun for dessert.

You can legally get there in a golf cart by crossing 441 at Spruce creek and coming in the back way. That's why there is golf cart parking right in front of the restaurant.

But not "from The Villages" as I said. You can't get to the driveway at Spruce Creek and 441 without going through their gate, which is an actual security gate and not just a "push the red button" gate.

Excellent news. We went to Urban Curry a few times when it was at Spanish Springs (became Urban Grill, then closed) so we must give this one a try.

Here is a link to the menus (seems rather long - hope it works!):

Bombay Bistro The Villages - Google Search

Thanks for the review. Gotta go.

By the way they had a buffet as well, but I always prefer to order off the menu. It's less expensive overall and I get to take home the leftovers.

I think you better check the law. Golf carts cannot cross a road with 45 or over speed limit. I know it is a Federal Law (I worked in the NEV industry for several years).

Unless the road divides a single community and a particular intersection has been authorized for cart crossing and marked appropriately.

You most certainly can, as I've done it multiple times. The gate is manned and the guard lets me right through.

I think you better check the signage as it is allowed.

Thank you for posting about this new restaurant. I've been wondering if there were any Indian restaurants in our area. I'll try it today!

There are a couple up in Ocala but I've never been to them. I always go to Shiva when I'm visiting Mt. Dora. They're very good. If they were closer to home they'd be my #1.

Thank you for posting this!

Thanks so much again for posting! I just got take out from Bombay Bistro this afternoon and it was really good! I'll definitely be going back.

I live in the south part of TV so it's about 20 minute drive. Which is probably a good thing because if I lived close by I'd ruin my budget by getting take out there a couple times per week. :thumbup:

I got the palak paneer which was excellent! I also ordered the aloo matar but instead of aloo they made it matar paneer. Also, excellent.

Oh and there is an Indian grocery in Ocala with a small, very causal restaurant attached called Bombay Cafe. Small menu but also very excellent! It's fun to shop around there after placing an order.

Love these posts. One very informative OP, then straight into an argument about golf cart access!

Thanks for the review. I love Indian food.

LOL, I wondered why I have seen people parking their golf carts next to 441 in the Walmart lot and walking across the street at the light.

Great to have a review from someone with experience, with Indian food. How would you compare it with Amrit Palace? I got from their website that they are open mostly for dinner most nights, but perhaps that’s for the buffet. I saw a photo of the buffet, and it looked limited, but the price was $19 to $24. That’s twice what I pay at Ichiban or Golden Corral. I love Amrit Palace, but I ate once at an Indian buffet in Ocala that was mediocre, though run by Indians.

Thanks for the great and through review.
 

I have been looking for a good Indian restaurant closer to TV. I am also glad to hear that they have a buffet. I do prefer a buffet at an Indian restaurant so that I can sample many of the wonderful dishes.

Wow, I had no idea.... thank you. It's about time!

Ichiban and Golden Corral are now in the upper teens for the buffet. Went to Golden Corral a few months ago and was shocked at how poorly made the food was including enough salt that the steaks were inedible. 10 of us went and we all felt the same way.

I've never been to Amrit Palace. The only Indian restaurant I've been to in Florida was Shiva in Mt. Dora, before trying Bombay Bistro last week. I've heard of it, and it was recommended to me by the woman who sold me my car at the dealership in Ocala. Perhaps when I bring my car back up for maintenance I'll go to Amrit for lunch while I wait for them to work on it. It's a 2-mile walk from the dealership. Great way to burn calories before and after a big meal!

Comparing it to my usual haunts from back home in New Haven County, CT:
Nothing really compares to Haveli India, in Middletown. They were my favorite.
There was a place in North Haven a few blocks from my house, and I wasn't fond of it. They didn't last long. Too much cinnamon in the curry, no advertising to speak of, not "in" the commercial district - just a block or two outside it so it didn't get much foot traffic. Bombay Bistro is much better than that one (whose name is lost to time). I'd put it almost on par with Cumin India, in Hamden/North Haven on Skiff Street. They were good, but service not nearly as attentive and atmosphere not as inviting. The building was the old IHOP. It didn't translate so well from a pancake house to a full-service Indian restaurant.

I've been to a couple of the restaurants in downtown New Haven area and they were okay, but not impressive. OTOH when I wanted to eat in New Haven it was usually because of Mamoun's Falafels or Claire's vegetarian cafe.

It's not an argument. It is people correcting misinformation. It is helpful for many to know if they can get there by cart.

One of my main complaints about TV is how few ethnic & non-franchise restaurants there are here, so I was happy to hear that an Indian restaurant opened in the area, even better that it was in Spanish Springs near me. I recently ate there, but sadly thought it was "meh".

It's too bad they don't offer the buffet at night, as I doubt most Villagers are going to be willing to pay $19 for lunch. Ditto for service workers / people who work in the Villages.

Amrite Palace in Ocala is very good (and pricy) but I'm not driving nearly an hour one way to eat.

I've been back to Bombay Bistro a few more times. Here's what I ordered...

Plain dosa was a lot more crispy than I'm used to but had nice flavor to it. The two chutney's served were the reddish tomato and ginger. Very good! Next time I'll try the stuffed dosa because it probably will be less crispy.

Curry (veggie) was good but agree with OB that it was lacking something.

Jalfrezi (chicken) was very good, and definitely would order it again!

Shahi Korma (veggie) was also another to put on repeat... very good.

Eggplant Bharta was okay, not very smooth but was a bit more...chunky?

Cilantro chutney and raita had a bit too much sweetness for my taste.

Achar (pickle) was good. Sometimes you have to dig around in the achar to avoid the inedible chunks. :loco: ...but I love the flavor of it.

Used to love extra spicy foods but recently have toned it all down to "medium". Not sure why I can't tolerate the over the top spicy anymore. It just seems to over power the food if the spiciness is "pain" level. :o

So overall a good choice in TV.

I do miss my places up north too. Both favs of mine were in Indian groceries, super casual diner style. India Bazaar in Minneapolis. Desi Foods in Eagan, MN. Me - *goes off to corner to cry* :cryin2:

I went and I must say it was good and not so good. Their chicken tikka masala was not what I was used to at all. All of the other restaurants but some kind of thickener (yogurt?) in there. And the chicken tasted as if it was frozen twice. But their aloo gobi was excellent and so was their naan.

I’m going back and this time I will order something different because the hub really liked what he got.

Thanks for the thoughtful review. We have been wanting an indian restaurant in TV for a while. Amrit Palace in Ocala is terrific but a long drive. Looking forward to trying Bombay Bistro.

Went there shortly after it opened. Perhaps it was because they weren’t ready for prime time, but was not impressed and we haven’t been back yet. Food was served on plastic plates with plastic utensils. For water we were given a couple plastic pony bottles (8 oz). The naan seemed, to me, like what you would get out of one of those packages you buy at the grocery store. The rice, as mentioned, was unseasoned. The curries were a little hit and miss, but not as bad as some other places we tried (I’m looking at you Amrit Palace). We are not in a hurry to go back, but will give it another try at some point. Our hope is they work out some of the kinks and start using real plates and utensils.

Two Indian restaurants we’ve tried down here that have impressed and I would definitely recommend: Indian Pavilion in Winter Garden. Persis Indian Grill in Clermont.

Thanks for recommending these two, I'll have to give it a try.

Seems to be a lot of foodies here on TOTV. We should have a recipe exchange if any of you all cook at home.

Has anyone made curry at home? I have over a dozen Indian cookbooks but nothing I've made is as good as the restaurants. Only thing I can do successfully is the cilantro chutney haha. Super easy...

I have a slow cooker version for making chicken to put into a curry... but then the curry sauce I make is just okay. Disappointing.

I'm definitely not a foodie, by any stretch of the imagination. Too many things I don't like (sushi, miso, avacados, eggplant, artichokes) or won't try (anything gelatinous that isn't actually jello), or think is ridiculous (braised fish heads with a seaweed and honey reduction, anyone)?

In fact it took me until I was around 35 before I ever dared to try khir, because the very thought of "rice pudding" churned my stomach. I've had non-Indian rice pudding since then but I still always get that instinctive nausea at the thought of it, even though it tastes good and doesn't have the "mouth-feel" my brain insists it will have.

Mostly I just really like normal mundane foods - from different cultures. Like carne asada on a soft fresh-made tortilla with onion and cilantro. And a greasy grilled not-too-lean pastrami and swiss on grilled buttered rye, with raw red onion under the top slice of bread. And my mother-in-law's sauce and meatballs over penne rigate and tons of parmesano reggiano cheese on top. And yes - curry chicken with saffroned basmati rice and naan brushed with ghee.

One we LOVED is Guru Indian Restaurant in Clermont. Fantastic!

If I ever have a reason or need to be in Clermont, and time available for lunch there on the same day, I'll take a peek for sure. But like Shiva in Mt. Dora, it's just too far to ever be on my regular rotation. Also I just checked their menu - $8 for papadam with chutney? That comes FREE with every Indian restaurant entree I've ever had, ever. And just plain old "chicken curry" isn't on the menu at all. The menu doesn't say if any of the entrees come with papadam or not. And $9 for khir (rice pudding)? That's insane. Also I've never been to any Indian restaurant that served beef. That seems pretty bizarre.

I just checked it as well. Insanely high prices. If you find yourself in Clermont, try Persis instead. Food is good. Not weak portions like some ther places around and prices a little closer to what I'd expect. I can't speak to the papadam (I don't recall getting any), because I'm not a big fan so it never enters my consciousness. My son, on the other hand, loves the stuff...but he's not here.

I don't see it on their menu, but because it's the equivalent of a hunk of italian bread served after the waiter takes your order in an italian restaurant, I would presume it just comes to the table with the obligatory two or three chutneys.

Many places do, many more do not from my experience.