Midtown Lunch

Found in the food court of Liberty Place, the smells from Cafe Spice Express practically waft down the elevators. I decided to break my usual rules by checking out this (gasp!) mall food court that is part of a (gasp!!) chain. After my meal at Bumblefish earlier this week, maybe I am a chain lover now?

There are several combo specials, the chicken entree and veggie entree plus naan and rice seemed perfect ($7.15). There are also combos with just veggie entrees and a 3 entree option. The entrees are laid out in a steam table for you to examine before you choose.

The board listed some South Indian specials: chaat, uttapan, and 2 types of dosas on the special menu, and I most assuredly would have ordered all of them, but they didn’t have them available. The very sweet staff explained there isn’t a big demand for those items.  But they did have some fried appetizers that I really couldn’t resist.

The lentil fritters, medhu wada, came as a duo for $2.95. They were light but a little greasy and came with a coconut chutney and a mildly spicy veggie sambal that was itself good enough to eat by the forkful.

Even spicier and less greasy were the potato patties, aloo tikki, that came a tangy plum dipping sauce and a soothing yogurt sauce. I can handle a bit of grease now and then; I think I preferred the lentil fritters.

The chicken tikka came in a buttery, medium spicy tikka sauce that definitely deserved to be served on something other than Styrofoam. The chicken pieces were a little dry, but it didn’t ruin it.

The vegetable vindaloo looked like a hot mess, but the chunks of peas, cauliflower, and green beans melted into -dare I say fragrant about mall food?- yes, the fragrant sauce they came in. The basamati rice and naan soaked up both sauces nicely.

A mango lassi for only $2.50? Sure, why not. It wasn’t too sweet, and it served to cut the heat a bit.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Quick, good tasting Indian food with some heat
• The combos are a good deal
• Snacky things available if you want to add some more to your lunch
• Helpful staff

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• Not quite authentic Indian fare over here
• Mall food courts turn me off
• Don’t tease me with the possibility of dosas!
• Some appetizers are a little greasy

Cafe Spice Express, Liberty Place 1625 Chestnut (btw 16th and 17th St), 215 496 9580