Himalayan Fusion

Himalayan Fusion
520 E. Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902

This recent addition to Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is gaining quite a following. The menu posted outside this restaurant plus the rave reviews it got from people who had been there lured me inside even though I generally don’t’ like Indian cuisine. Of course, this isn’t exactly Indian cuisine. Whatever the difference, it makes Himalayan Fusion much tastier.

Their buffets are pretty awesome. Go on weekends and get free soft drinks and some special dishes too (for a bit extra). The general buffet isn’t bad though. Still, I’m sold on the weekend meals. Their vegetable dishes can vary in taste. I can’t remember what I had the first time but it was pretty delicious. The broccoli with mushrooms (pictured here) aren’t special but they’ll do. The salad is a bit bland with lots of onions. But their strength is in what do they do with their meats and noodles. I don’t know what they put in these stir-fried noodles with vegetables but the taste has you wanting more even though you are completely stuffed.

The fish curry is pretty good although I think there was one with more coconut milk, which was a lot tastier. Still, the meat is nice and tender. The rich flavor can be a bit overwhelming but that’s where the nan comes in. The problem is that they often run out of nan and they don’t put it in the buffet as much. Sometimes they’ll tell you that they’ve run out or that the chef is working on making more. With a staple like nan, you should have tons on hand. Does it go bad if it is left out too long? Their nan, however, is worth the wait and it is tasty.

How much nan can a person eat though? The waiters will sometimes bring you a basket of nan when it’s not available in the buffet. But the deal with the buffet is that you can police how much nan you consume. Here, I had to waste a few wonderful pieces just because I was already stuffed. They should certainly reevaluate their nan policy.

(Since originally writing this review, I have gone back to there and they seem to have taken note of the waste of nan and so it seems to now be in the buffet line.)

In the past, service has been poor but recently they have made additions to their wait staff and I have no complaints about them. One last point, they should vary the dishes in the buffets. I love chicken but I’m sure there are other meats that these folks can make scrumptious.

(Images by AG)

Mantra - Entree

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

I had the Mongolian meatballs with lomein and enjoyed it thoroughly. There was nothing particularly special about the meatballs but the combination of lomein and vegetables in a light sweet sauce was pretty good. The taste was nice and not overpowering, plus the noodles were not too dry. Good dish to order.

(Image by AG)

Mantra

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

Willing to spend a little bit of money on lunch in downtown Philadelphia? This tasty spot is a great place to sit and relax at any time but especially when it’s over 80 degrees outside and you can’t stand being in the sun for another second. The restaurant is a bit dark on the first floor (looks like there is additional seating on the second floor) but nicely decorated. Its “pan-Asian” theme allows for a blend of decorative styles. Combining glass marbles, mirrors and paper umbrellas, they also use Japanese screens, martial arts clippings (someone is a Jet Li fan), and a few Buddha statues to spice up the place.

But I wouldn’t go there just for the décor. The place is too dark for my taste. Hey, I want to see what I’m about to put in my mouth. Even though I am seeking refuge from the sun, I still need some light. I wouldn’t mind sitting there to read but with the bits of light that make it in, I would get a headache pretty fast. Good coffee though.

The food is terrific but, as I said, a bit pricey. My dining companion and I started with the Kinki Rice Bowl Salad. This dish comes with some perfectly prepared tuna (Kinki?). The fish is almost raw in the center but well cooked and a bit crispy on the outside. The sticky rice was great and I thought they had lightly grilled it although I may have been mistaken. Rice and fish combined with seaweed and a light sweet sauce made this a great combo. There were also slices of pears, nectarines, and cucumbers to go along with the salad. Squeeze a bit of lime and you’re good to go.

(Images by AG)

Typhoon - Dessert

Typhoon
725 Boylston Street Lobby
Boston, MA

I ended the meal with a nice fried vanilla ice cream. The ice cream itself is not overpowering but they could use a bit less batter. The chocolate sauce mixes well and goes a long way towards making this a good solid dinner.

My dining companion had the same beef salad, tried one of their sushi rolls (very tasty) and ended with some friend bananas, which looked a bit small. He assured me though that they were just as good as the rest of the meal.

(Image by AG)

Typhoon

Typhoon
725 Boylston Street Lobby
Boston, MA
(Check out their website)

Looking for a tasty treat after walking about Newbury Street? Why not try Typhoon? This “Asian Bistro” has a delicious beef salad. I’ve never had the chance to try any of their entrees (which are not that expensive if you consider that you are in the middle of downtown Boston) as I’ve always been filled by the beef salad.

Tender slices of beef are served on a bed of lettuce topped with peanuts and a rich dressing which is both spicy and sour at the same time. I’m not sure what’s in the dressing besides some chilies and lime but it is an exquisite taste that will stay with you long after the meal is over.

My most recent visit was a bit disappointing. Was it my imagination or did the salad used to be larger? Did they also cut down on the beef? Let’s admit it, this is an expensive salad, coming in at $11 but I’ll still pay it for the flavor of that sauce and the nice people-watching location on Boylston.

(Image by AG)