It was with that attitude that I ventured into Kashmir Buffet on Tuesday, determined to finally try what is now the cheapest all you can eat buffet in Midtown.

If you are not familiar with Kashmir, here is a quick recap.  This basement buffet was been around forever, and developed a small following before opening a street level by the pound “Express” version upstairs. In October of 2008, the whole operation was shuttered by the DOH- and when it reopened, Kashmir had been replaced by The Cave Lounge, a renovated basement bar… with no buffet.

Fast forward to March 2009: the $8.95 all you can eat Indian/Pakistani buffet makes its triumphant return to “The Cave Lounge”. I’m still a little scared. In fact, I’ve always been scared of this place. The food in the “Express” location looks ok, but nobody is ever in there, which gives me the sneaking suspicion that the food sits out there for hours and hours and hours. Apparently I’m not the only one who is scared, because last week, I noticed that they had lowered the price of the buffet to $7.95.

Now, to some this would be a huge red flag. Why did they lower the price? Why doesn’t anybody eat there? Does this mean they’re using cheaper ingredients? WHY!?!?! I, on the other hand, interpreted this as a message from some sort of higher power. It was finally time to try the Kashmir Buffet.

To give myself the best chance of success, I decided to hit this place up at the perfect buffet time of 11:45am. In theory, everything should be untouched and at its freshest. The place was empty (obviously) save for one guy sitting at the bar, who didn’t appear to work there, couldn’t help me out, wasn’t eating… but never left. Very strange.

Finally the “waiter” came out, and took me to a table. Actually, waiter is a strong word for what this guy was. “Random guy who does everything” is more like it. In fact, save for a couple of guys taking trays of food to the upstairs by the pound buffet, he was the only seemingly “official” employee I saw for my entire lunch. It’s a real skeleton crew. I asked for water, and he brought me a bottled water (not included in the price of the buffet.) “Are you trying to tell me something about your tap water, buddy?” Not comforting.

When I went up for my first plate, he warned me that the metal covers were very very hot. They weren’t. (In fact, one was actually cold.) And, even though I’m skipping ahead a bit, neither was the food. That’s right. At Noon, the food at the Kashmir Buffet was already lukewarm. It wasn’t inedible, but if it wasn’t piping hot at Noon, I’m guessing it’s never piping hot. It probably had something to do with the little burners below not being lit. Oversight perhaps? Maybe the ONE employee was just having an off day. So… just to recap. Place is deserted, only one employee is there- who clearly has no idea what he’s doing, strange lurker in the front, food is not that warm, and they don’t want me to drink the tap water. This is a good start.

First plate should always be a “feeler” plate (a little bit of everything)

And then something happened. I tried the food.  Most Indian buffets in Midtown all serve the same dishes, so there’s only two things to concern yourself with: quality and price.  But this place was different.  Price is scary low, quality is questionable… but this food was not your average Indian buffet fare.  It was interesting.  And flavorful.  And spicy! (In a good way.)   Now I’ll admit that I don’t really know the difference between Pakistani food and Indian food. (I’m guess very few people in the United States do.) My best friend in junior high and high school was from Pakistan, and his family owned a restaurant called “House of India”, so that should give you a general idea about the state of Pakistani food in this country.

So, my hunch is that some of these dishes are more Pakistani than Indian, but I don’t know for sure.  Either way, despite the fact that they weren’t hot, and this was one of the odder places I had ever dined it- the food was really tasty. Sure, they had a version of chicken tikka masala on the buffet (which was fine). And there was a tender lamb dish (always a good thing.) But they also had this amazing ground chicken dish, which was kind of like the Pakistani version of a  pretty well known Thai dish. In other words, this is not your standard buffet.

In addition to ground meat kebabs (which probably would have been much tastier if they had been warm) they also had chicken makhani, which was chunks of chiken in a yellow cream sauce. For vegetable dishes they had a potato dish, a whole okra dish (not diced), a dish of cauliflower/broccoli, and a string bean dish. These were all fine… and I can’t say if I would definitely recommend this buffet to a vegetarian. It’s just not my area of expertise (and none of the veggie dishes were my favorite.)

The final bonus was the rice… they had a tasty chicken biriyani on the buffet (as well as a vegetarian version) which I was really into. It was on the dry side (which is exactly how I like my biriyani) and had big chunks of dark meat chicken in it. Really flavorful, and not something you see on too many under $11 Indian buffets in Midtown.

An Indian buffet is not complete without the bread, and they have naan- but I had to ask for them to bring it out, and when they did the one other guy eating at the buffet took 3 out of 4 of the pieces before I had a chance to get up there.  I asked for more, and when the second round came out- there was more of it, but it was a tad bit undercooked and doughy (not surprisingly.)  Let’s just say, this wasn’t the fresh cooked, slathered in butter, hot beautiful naan that you get at Spice Fusion (on 8th Ave. btw. 47+48th).

So, what’s the takeaway from this place?  Will everybody like it?  Definitely not.  It is as sketchy as you would expect, the service is terrible, and if more than 3 people showed up at the same time- I don’t know what would happen.  (There would definitely be a bread shortage, you’ll wait forever for your bill, and you might even get to see the solitary employee’s head explode.)  But, if all you care about is trying interesting food that tastes really good (even if it’s lukewarm) you will definitely enjoy this meal.  For all its faults, there is definitely somebody who knows how to cook in the back of Kashmir.  I’m just scared to see what happens if people start to actually eat there…

THE +

• It’s all you can eat for $7.95!
• Much more interesting food than your average Indian all you can eat buffet
• They’ve got lamb
• The ground chicken dish was really good (and different)
• Almost everything is mildly spicy (probably because every dish was topped with sliced green chilies)

THE -

• It’s all you can eat for $7.95! (There must be something weird going on at this place)
• It’s empty and sketchy (and the ambiance is terrible)
• The service is super slow
• The food was not hot on the day I was there (at Noon!)
• The naan is just ok
• It’s spicy (so if you don’t like your food spicy, you won’t be into this place.)
• Did I mention it’s sketchy?

Kashmir Kebab House, 601 8th Ave (btw. 39+40th), 212-594-3777

I’ve seen shops put “closed for renovation” signs over their DOH stickers… and I’m guessing that is illegal, or else everybody would do it.  But what if you open the door that the DOH sticker appears on and put your renovations sign over what is technically the back of the DOH sticker. To the passerby, the sticker is totally covered- but technically they didn’t put cover it up.  Well played Kashmir. 

I can’t say I’m entirely surprised about the DOH thing.  Even I have never been tempted by their by the lb buffet upstairs (there’s just something that seems weird about that place) and the downstairs all you can eat buffet has always had a weird vibe as well.  Let’s see if they even manage to reopen

Surprisingly the new location of Pick-A-Pita (on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th) did in fact open on Tuesday- before shutting down on Wednesday night, and all of Thursday to observe Yom Kippur. They’ll be back open for business today… and just in time too.  On Wednesday amNY named them one of the falafel places in New York City worth waiting in line for. As for the original Pick A Pita location, which is now closed, they owners still have the lease for another 6 months and haven’t decided what to do with the space yet. We shall see… but if you work in the area, and never knew about the semi-hidden Pick a Pita location on 38th, you should check out this new location. Especially if you like french fries stuffed in your shawarma sandwich.

The original Pick-a-Pita (on 38th btw. 7+8th), home of the french fry stuffed schwarma/falafel sandwich, has closed for the holidays (Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur) and will not re-open.  Instead the business will shift to their new location on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th (the former home of House of Pita.)  Originally they said they were going to keep both locations open, but that didn’t make any sense. The sign says they will be opening on October 7th, but the guy inside said it would open after the holidays. Considering that Yom Kippur starts at sundown on October 8th, it would make more sense if they opened on the 10th. I guess we’ll see.

The holidays may also explain why some of your favorite Kosher lunch spots were closed at the beginning of the week.  Most are back open, but expect Kosher Deluxe, Olympic Pita, Moshe’s Falafel and others to be closed on October 9th (and maybe even the 8th) for Yom Kippur.

Well that answers that question.  Pick A Pita, a tiny but righteous falafel and shawarma spot on 38th btw. 7+8th, will be opening a second outpost in the now closed House of Pita space on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th.  The tiny closet they currently operate will remain open, meaning you will now have two Pick-a-Pita options right around the corner from each other.  HOP fans could do a lot worse; I have a special place in my heart for Pick-a-Pita since it was where I discovered the beauty of french fries in a shawarma sandwich.  They say the new location will be open on October 1st.

Tomorrow is Jamaica’s Independence Day, and Golden Krust  is celebrating by selling their jerk chicken patties for 99 cents the entire month of August. With the Jamaican Dutchy (on 51st & 7th) readily available, I’ve never given GK their full +/-, but with 4 locations in Midtown- maybe it’s time. Thoughts?

4 Locations in Midtown:

• 33rd btw. Mad+5th
• 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th
• 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th
• Grand Central Terminal Food Court (although this is just a kiosk, so I’m not positive if they are participating in the August promotion)

The new location of Golden Krust on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th. has finally opened.  The Caribbean chain (which has multiple locations in NYC) will be offering a special grand opening lunch special price of $5.99 for fried chicken, stewed chicken or curry chicken served with rice & vegetables.  They have 3 other locations in Midtown…

• 33rd St. btw. 5th+Mad
• 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th
• A kiosk in Grand Central Terminal food court 

Golden Krust too much of a trek from your office?  Or maybe you’re just feeling lazy, but still want some jerk chicken?  The Jamaican Dutchy cart on 51st & 7th now offers delivery.  It’s a $15 minimum order, so you’ll need to get at least one other person in on the plan before calling (646-287-5004 or 347-213-2851).  Actually an afternoon office Jamaican beef patty party doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

Cupcake question, and El Sabroso hits the blogs, after the jump…

I’ve never actually had a cupcake from there, but I was surprised that nobody mentioned Crumbs (42nd btw. 5+6th) in the comments of Rachel’s profile on Tuesday.  I can’t imagine that it’s a hidden gem, so maybe it just sucks?  No need to state the obvious?  What’s the deal?  Thoughts?

After winning the Guardian UK’s NYC Blogger Lunch Challenge, El Sabroso, the latin lunch counter hidden inside the freight elevator hallway beneath a building on 37th btw. 7+8th, popped up on a couple of blogs this week.  Midtown Lunch’er Swan  checked it out on her blog “Lifestyle of a Yuppie“, after seeing the post here, while Young over at Cheap Ass Food seems to have stumbled onto it coincidentally. 

Thanks to Jed for posting the Golden Krust info on the Midtown Lunch Facebook Group (yes, one exists- and it’s very exciting!).  Got any bits and pieces to share with Midtown Lunch?  Email them to zach@midtownlunch.com 

Al Baraka, Midtown’s best only Turkish buffet, is now Kanaat Turkish Restaurant.  The chef, food and lunch buffet are exactly the same, but it is now $10.95 (up from $9.95 before).  The lamb shanks are still on the buffet, so it’s worth the extra buck, but the current trend of lunchtime price increases worries me that soon all buffets will need special exemptions to be included in the Midtown Lunch’ing price range.

Another popular buffet that has broken the $10 threshold, after the jump…

Curry Dream, the Indian Buffet on 39th St. btw. 5+6th has also raised the price of their all you can eat buffet from $9.95 to $10.95.  For Indian lunch buffets under $10, there’s still Kashmir on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th, and the West Tandoori Club on 37th btw. 7+8th both still sitting pretty at $9.95.

In the end, as long as the lunch buffet at Spice Fusion (8th Ave. btw. 47+48th) remains at $9.95 I won’t go into panic mode.  Hopefully winning best Indian Buffet in the 2007 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll won’t go to their head.

Normally they give away free topping coupons the day after Hideki Matsui hits a homerun, but why should we be punished because it is the Yankees’ offseason?  Problem solved.  Today is free topping coupon day at Go Go Curry on 38th St. btw. 7+8th. 

The new House of Pita on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th finally replaced the Mandler’s Sausage sign.  They smartly decided to keep the H.O.P. name, and only add the “Chicken Bar” part to the sign underneath.  I guess they “discovered” that Chicken Bar already exists.

Kashmir Express, the Indian take out place on 8th Ave. btw. 38+39th, has converted to a by the pound buffet.  Looked pretty good, although having to pay for my lunch by the amount it weighs is always a scary proposition.  The $4.99 price tag is not bad, but Indian food can get heavy!  And it forces you to break the #1 rule of eating at buffets by the pound… go easy on the rice and bread.

A shot of the buffet, plus Piece of Chicken’s shocking new menu changes, after the jump…

The New Inside of Kashmir Express

Not into the by the lb. buffets?  There is always the $9.95 Kashmir all you can eat buffet, in the proper restaurant next door (down the stairs).

Saw this sad sign hanging in “Out of Bounds”, Midtown Lunch favorite “Piece of Chicken” on 45th btw. 8+9th. 

“Due to the price increase of milk, eggs, cheese and butter, we have to raise the price of Macaroni & Cheese to $3.00.  Sorry.” 

Sorry indeed.  The chicken and waffles is now $3 as well (although that seems a little more worth it.  I mean you’re getting a piece of fried chicken AND a waffle.  Is there anything better?)  They make up for it a little by adding a whole bunch of new $2 options, including Bread Pudding, Spicy Jezebel Herbed Tea (from the original restaurant whose kitchen they now occupy), honey chicken, smothered chicken and Jamaican jerk chicken.  And of course each piece of fried chicken is still a buck.  They also have an entrance now, so you don’t have to wait in line in the freezing cold for your food to be put together.

Got any bits and pieces of your own?  Email them to zach@midtownlunch.com

House of Pita has become the little falafel stand that could, re-opening their operation on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th, in the space formerly occupied by Mandler’s Sausage Co.  This comes a little over a month after their 2nd location, on 46th btw. 5+6th closed after 6 months in business.  According to the owner, the 46th St. location was always only going to be a temporary location- they were just forced out a little earlier then they expected.

The new House of Pita on 8th has the same falafel, salads and pickled veggies you loved at the original 48th St. window, but they are now serving meat dishes, most notably- chicken shawarma.  Because House of Pita was always a dairy (no meat served), and the new location will serve meat, the owner felt it would be misleading to keep the original name, so he plans to change it to… Chicken Bar.

Why does that name sound familiar???

Oh… right.  And not only does it already exist, there’s a branch five blocks away (on 8th Ave. & 45th).  Ooops!  I let the owner know, and he said he would have his lawyer look into it.  Lucky for them, they didn’t put too much effort into signage before opening.  They still have the old Mandler’s sign up.

Regardless of the name issues (which I’m guessing will sort themselves out), it’s good to have House of Pita back on the Midtown Lunch’ing landscape.  I tried the Chicken Shawarma on a pita, and it was good- but only worth the trek for H.O.P’s most insane fans.   On the other hand, it’s a great new option for all the people who already work near there.  (New York Times employees… are you paying attention?)

Chicken Bar (aka The New House of Pita), 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th, 212-391-4242