Caffe India: What Took Us So Long to Eat Here?

Once upon a time, Indian was my favorite ethnic option.

Growing up in a central New Jersey town with a low Indian population, however, brought a dearth of options for this spice-centric culinary avenue. There was one Indian restaurant. Briefly, a second had opened across the highway, but eventually they closed.

It was not until I was a teenager that I challenged my tastebuds with Tandoori Chicken, Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer and more. And, then, I wondered, "what took me so long?"

I asked myself the same question when I had lunchtime buffet earlier this week.

With all the culinary options available to Morristownians, Indian had for some reason fallen low on the list. Since living in other places, my options had grown considerably, and I have had both sublime, and substandard, Indian food.

Also, I discovered Korean food, which took its rightful place on the top of my ethnic dining dossier.

But, all of those thoughts went out the window this week as I sat down to a bevy of standards in the Indian stable: the aforementioned Tandoori Chicken, Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, as well as various other marinated vegetables, chicken, breads and, of course, my compass for any excellent Indian restaurant ... the mint chutney.

There are certain dishes I feel if a restaurant does well, can serve as a barometer for their overall menu. An Italian restaurant needs to have a decent slice of plain pizza. A Korean restaurant's kimchi needs to keep me wanting more. And, an Indian restaurant must have excellent mint chutney.

Caffe India's chutney did not disappoint. It had just the right amount of saltiness, mintiness and even a little bitterness, that it paired perfectly with my Naan bread (which my server put in a basket and sent to my table, as there had been none at the buffet station when I went up there) and basmati rice.

Flavors were consistent with what one might expect from Indian standards. The curries, the coconut, the coriander, it's all there. What got me most of all, though, was just how good the food was in a buffet. Even a great restaurant usually seems to skimp a little when it goes all-you-can-eat. And, usually, I'm fine with that. But, at least on the day I went in, Caffe India's buffet selections were just as good, if not better, than some meals I have paid much more for elsewhere.

Speaking of which, for just under $10, this lunchtime offering is incredible. And, as I sit here writing this, with a salad waiting for me as penance for such an indulgent meal, I cannot help but think, what took me so long to eat there?

And, I'm also thinking, how long will it be before I go back? Likely, it won't be long at all.