Surabhi

517 W 98th St
Bloomington, MN 55420
(952) 746-3663
http://www.surabhicuisine.com/

Category: Indian

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 5
Service: 1
Ambience: 4

Recommendation: Average. Apart from a couple of stellar items, the preparations were disappointing and the food unimpressive.

We were eager to go back to Surabi after a multi-year hiatus and although a lunch buffet isn’t always a true indicator of a kitchen’s ability, we wanted the chance to try lots of dishes at an affordable price. We were happy to see that the restaurant has moved from its old location to a larger spot a couple of blocks down. The décor too, although in no way impressive, is a step up from the old location. There isn’t any distinct Indian (or any other) vibe to this restaurant, and if you’re in the mood for a romantic curry dinner under candle light, this isn’t the place for you.

We must say that we have become quite cynical of Indian restaurants in the Twin Cities. As much as we like Indian food and truly hope these restaurants succeed, we’ve been disappointed time and again with the dingy surroundings and below average food. In looking at the buffet at Surabhi we were excited because it had a combination of both North and South Indian cuisines. Alas, the enthusiasm was fleeting. The South Indian options had no business being on the buffet. This food (like most) is best served fresh and warm, and the South Indian entrees exhibited neither of these qualities. Both the Idli (lentil cake) and the Dosa (rice crepe) were cold and tough, probably a result of being prepared too far in advance. The only redeeming quality was the flavor of the Sambar (lentil soup) although it would have tasted immensely better if it weren’t served at a temperature equal to what it was outside in the midst of a Minneapolis winter!

Our two favorite North Indian dishes were the Chicken Biryani (spiced rice with chicken) and the Tandoori Chicken. If we had just stuffed our faces with the Biryani, we would have been on cloud nine. The chicken was spiced nicely and was juicy and the rice had great flavor – nicely done chef. Likewise, the Tandoori Chicken was nice – it’s a dish that is often butchered by the best of chefs. Unfortunately, the Midas touch didn’t carry over to the other dishes. The Chili Pakora should have never been served – the batter lacked basic seasoning and the green stuff inside tasted nothing like chili (that’s a scary thought). Similarly, the Paneer, Vegetable Korma and Chicken Manchurian were all very average and the Naan was undercooked. The splendor of Indian food is in its simplicity – one good North Indian curry dish and fresh Naan is all it takes to add a bright smile to our faces – too bad the restaurant couldn’t deliver even this much. To add insult to injury the service was apathetic. The restaurant was quite busy and the lines for food were long, not to mention that they ran out of food and cutlery on occasion.

$. Lunch buffet is under $10.