During my first days in Philly, I was out alone and needed to eat.  I ended up at an Indian Buffet named Samosa.  The food was warm and delicious which was perfect since it was freezing outside.  There were only one or two other people in the place.  When I was done, I asked the blond water-girl if I needed to clear my place, and, from across the room, the older Indian man at the cash register laughed and asked me if it was my first time there.  When I said yes, he told me my dinner was free. I secretly vowed to eat there every day.

Sadly, the next week Samosa was closed because the owner had a heart attack.  It's been closed for two years.

Next, I tried Minar Palace.  YUM!  It's Zagat write-up mentioned that the staff were a little brusque.  That wasn't the half of it.  The exact same people worked there every day.  I picked up to-go from there a million times, and not once did anyone smile like they knew me.  But the food was totally yummy, so I didn't care that they were emotionless robots.

Sadly, Minar Palace was bulldozed several months ago to make way for an asphalt parking lot.

Last night I decided to try Passage To India. They have a buffet and a menu.  I love love love buffets because I get to eat a little bit of everything.  It's so much fun.  Everything was incredibly delicious.  Andrew discovered crazy-hot Kadai Chicken which he loves, and I crunched my way through a million Papadum.

I tried the desserts, too.  I discovered I don't like rice pudding.  I also discovered that hot mashed carrots cooked with milk and sugar tastes like hot mashed carrots cooked with milk and sugar.  I like carrots, so I thought it was pretty tasty, but it's not really my idea of a dessert.

When I went up to the counter to pay my bill, the older Indian proprietor asked me, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"  and I gave him a hearty, "Yes!"  He clapped his hands and laughed.  I love that kind of thing.

I've already started scoping out the next Indian restaurant on which I will bestow my curse, because I fully expect Passage to India to spontaneously combust tomorrow.

[photo taken 2005 in Philadelphia.  This was my favorite wall in Philly, and it just happens to be the outside wall of Minar Palace.  Sadly, it was bulldozed and is no longer there. ]