Ashoke Patel strolls up and down between the tables and booths of his crowded Ashoka Restaurant in Glendale Heights on Friday night, when he serves up a vegetarian buffet of Indian-style food for $5.50 for all you can eat.
He stops at the table of some retired missionaries who eat here regularly, just to make sure everything is just right, spiced not too hot, or too mild.
Indian people can be seen eating with their hands, (God`s utensils, explains Patel), scooping up their food with naan, the flat bread that comes with most meals. Silverware is available for newcomers who want to sample the authentic Indian fare.
A good place to start is with bhal puri, a sweet but tangy saladlike appetizer made with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions and crowned with a crunchy puffed rice topping and a zingy sauce ($3.50 for a serving large enough to share).
For those new to Indian cuisine, Patel offers combination plates with an assortment of items from the menu. Or, they can try something cooked in the tandoori, or clay oven, such as tandoori chicken or chicken tikka (both $5.50); shish kabob; or vegetables ground with chick peas and coriander, shaped into a log and cooked on a rotisserie until crunchy, then served on a sizzling platter (also $5.50).
A refreshing drink to end a meal is lassi, yogurt blended with rose water and honey.
Patel came from India in 1978 and began catering parties out of his home. His customers liked his cuisine so much they asked him to open a restaurant. But the secret to his success, he says, is that he grinds his spices himself and serves up his own blend of curry.
”People who say they don`t like curry have only tasted what they bought off the shelf in the grocery store. They haven`t tasted real curry,” says Patel.
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Ashoka Restaurant, 2204 Bloomingdale Rd., Plaza West Lake, Glendale Heights, is open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, noon to 9 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Call 708-529-5583.
