[Whatnext]

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

[La lamy]

Thanks for the review. I love Indian food.

[Berwin]

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.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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.

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.

[Shadowrider]

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.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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.

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

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

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.

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.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Whatnext

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

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

[DaddyD]

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.