One of the first eateries to appear on the list was "Baba Sweets". Although the name made me skeptical at first as to whether the joint would serve solid food, I opened up the "reviews" section and chanced upon comments that raved about $4.99 savory entrees and $6.99 "combo meals", featuring Naan and Dessert.
The prices sounded like a kill and I hadn't eaten Indian food in an awfully long time. So after I finished up my shopping, I drove on over.
Baba Sweets' Exterior
I entered the restaurant and made my way toward the counter. Posted on the wall above an aromatic display of entrees, a spartan menu listed three "Combination" options. The menu priced "one dish" at $4.99. "Two dishes" at $5.99 and "three dishes and dessert" at $6.99, noting that each Combination came with naan and rice.
Awestruck, I asked the employee working behind the counter whether it was true, that you could get three entree items, rice, naan, and dessert, for just about the price of an In-n-Out Double-Double meal. He answered with a resounding "Yes."
With my menu choice now confirmed (by none other than my rumbling stomach), I let the employee guide me in selecting my three entrees. He recommended the Kadi Pakora (a yogurt-based, yellowish curry with onion patties), the Aloo Bengan (potato and eggplant) and the Mattar Paneer (Paneer cheese cooked with peas in a tomato sauce).
I first tried the Kadi Pakora. I should have been suspicious about the palatability of incorporating sour-ish yogurt into a spicy curry. Indeed, the pungent spiciness of the curry melded with the yogurt's lactic flavor to create an unpleasantly sharp and briney flavor. I cannot fault the restaurant for this though, as the sourness is supposedly a desired characteristic for the curry. By mixing raita (provided as an accompaniment) into the curry, I was able to temper the flavor somewhat.
As for the Aloo Bengan, the curried and roasted potato wedges were just as delicious as they are in an Aloo Gobi. The Eggplant was nicely seasoned, even though a little tough at times. The spice could frizzle my sensitive western palate at times, but this could be solved by adding a dallop of raita.
Finally, the Matar Paneer transformed my expectations. On previous visits to Indian restaurants, my dislike of cheese caused me to avoid Paneer dishes. Upon biting into Baba Sweets' version, I found the Paneer to be less like cheese than soy meat in consistency with a flavor that was rich and creamy but not excessively dairy-tasting.
In Baba Sweets' Matar Paneer, the Paneer's rich and creamy flavor complemented the zesty and piquant notes of the spiced tomato sauce quite well to make for an outstanding dish.
As for the sides, the rice was fluffy and the naan served warm (so that I could easily pull off pieces), obviously fresh from the oven. Though not listed on the menu, a side salad of cucumbers, lettuce and onions and a bowl of raita also accompanied the entrees.
For dessert, I received a resplendent Galub Jamun in syrup: the fried pastry was slightly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and brimming throughout with the (heavenly) flavors of saffron and rosewater.
Did I forget to mention that the restaurant offers all patrons complementary (self-serve) Masala Chai and marzipan-like candies to round out the feast?
I know for next time that a "two dish" combo will offer me more than enough to satisfy my stomach.
