Queens Gazette

DELHI PALACE

37-33 74th Street Jackson Heights 718.507.0666



 

 

t his festive restaurant in Jackson Heights’ “Little India” will delight all your senses. The sunny yellow walls are decorated with brightly colored murals

depicting the diverse

people of India and the exotic aromas will tantalize you. The top floor of the restaurant provides an ideal spot for a private party of 50-60 people. Delhi Palace has been around for 35 years, serving delicious Indian cuisine from all regions of the sub-continent to the delight of Queens residents. Owner Nirmal D’Costa and his staff provide service with a smile and are happy to help you decide among all the tempting choices.

Enjoy a cold bottle of Taj Mahal beer or a glass of wine while you munch on crispy pappadam chips, made from lentils, and consider all the choices in appetizers. Vegetarians will delight in dozens of choices like samosa chat; light pastry filled with seasoned potatoes and peas, topped with mint sauce, yogurt and tamarind ($5.95). Plain potato samosas are just $2.95 each. Vegetable patties are made with minced veggies, mild spices and fried till golden brown. For two or more diners, Delhi Palace’s kebab platter features tender chicken tikka, marinated and cooked in the tandoor oven, seekh kebab, which is minced lamb that has been seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and fish, marinated in herbs and yogurt ($10.95). Shrimp sautéed in tomato, garlic and mustard is another excellent appetizer. Be sure to order some fluffy nan bread to soak up all the savory sauces. India’s famous mulligatawny soup is thick with lentils and mild spices, served with a wedge of lemon ($3.95).

While all Indian dishes are very flavorful, they are not all hot. Dishes are clearly described and the expert chef can adjust any dish to your liking. Delhi Palace features dishes from both the north and south of India. One southern dish you must try is masala dosa. This impressively large, thin crepe is filled with potatoes and onions, and comes with lentil stew and coconut chutney for dipping. Needless to say, this is a perfect dish to be shared, or for one hungry person ($7.95). These “dosa” crepes can be ordered with a number of savory fillings including vegetables, chicken and spicy chutney.

Popular Northern dishes include chicken tikka saagwala, sublimely tender chunks of boneless chicken baked in a clay oven with spinach, spices and a touch of cream for a unique dish ($11.95). Tender lamb (“gosht”) is prepared in a number of exotic ways such as nilgiri korma, prepared with coconut milk, coriander, fresh mint and spices. This dish can be adjusted for spiciness, but I like it hot! Chicken or lamb vindaloo is a particularly spicy dish, not for the faint-hearted, but so delicious. Gosht saag sautées lamb with fresh spinach and a blend of herbs ($12.95). All entrées are served with a generous platter of fluffy basmati rice to soak up all the delicious sauces.

Plump shrimp are prepared a half dozen ways, either in the clay tandoor oven, cooked with spicy vindaloo sauce, or with the chef’s special sauce. One of my favorite vegetarian dishes is paneer tikka masala, a stew with cubes of homemade cheese, cooked in tomato and herbs with a touch of cream ($12.95). There are also healthful chickpea, cauliflower and lentil dishes to choose among. A number of rice biryani dishes are made with either shrimp, lamb, goat, chicken or vegetables.

Delhi Palace is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. At lunchtime, from 11:30am to 4:00pm, there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet with at least a dozen of Delhi Palace’s most popular dishes for just $9.95 weekdays and $10.95 weekends. Dinner is served nightly till 10pm weeknights and 10:45pm weekends. For dessert, try one of their famous sweets from their own sweet shop where you can purchase traditional Indian sweets and pastries to take home. Delicate cubes of homemade cheese, similar to ricotta, are sweetened with condensed milk and carrots. Pastry soaked in honey, and light cheese balls in sweet condensed milk provide a sweet ending to your flavorful meal.

Delhi Palace is conveniently located half a block from the 74th St./ Jackson Heights train station. Orders can be called in for you to pick up or have it delivered to your home or office ($15 minimum). Don’t forget the private room on the upper level of the dining room for your next business lunch or private party. Dine like a king at Delhi Palace, in the heart of “Little India”, where the service is polite and the Indian cuisine is delicious.

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