Is this Nirvana? (Restaurant)

The wait area at Nirvana, near the entrance.

Not sure if Nirvana Vegetarian Restaurant qualifies as nirvana, but it's a nice spot for lunch. It's practically mandatory to visit an Indian buffet, just to see what's available, and because it's a pretty inexpensive way to get tasty, nutritious food, as much as you can handle--it also makes it easy to eat enough that you don't have to worry about dinner. (Or at least I tried to eat that much. Says a lot about me, I know.)

The decor is warm and inviting, in the waiting area and in the restaurant itself. In addition to tables, there's also a bar, a nice option for singles. However, the buffet is the main event, so I got a table nearby, close to the action. I should first say that though the place was close to full (this was between 12:30 and 1 pm), it wasn't packed, so the tone of the place was civil. (I'm surprised there wasn't a tv at the bar with World Cup coverage, so perhaps that helped keep the vibe calm.) The attentive service, from the wait staff to the owner, helps keep the ambience friendly, as well.

In the midst of this Old World atmosphere is the $11.95 buffet, which was vegan except for a lentil-yogurt dish at one end. (It didn't look as appetizing as the other dishes, so I stayed away). As it is a Thursday, today's buffet featured savories. I think the rice was a biryani, but I also had the chole, a chickpea dish infused with flavorful coriander, so I went for seconds. Also making an appearance was one of my favorite breads, the puffy puri. There were also potato patties, a bit too soft for my liking, as well as a nice bagda, another bean dish, slightly spicy. There was a different potato dish, an aloo, with many peas and other vegetables. There was also a dish made with chickpeas and papadi, which had an odd (but not bad) texture and good flavor, just took getting used to. The spiciness snuck up on me, but a nice glass of the $1.00 (during lunch) iced tea helped tame it. (Not that the spiciness really bothered me, as I like it spicy.) My plate was full, and refilled...
If you're in the 18th and K area, and need a place to go for lunch, keep Nirvana in mind, as the buffet menu differs depending on the day of the week--Monday is North Indian food, Tuesday, the food represents the Gujrati region, Wednesday, it's South Indian, Thursday it's savories (whatever that means), and Friday is food of the Rajasthani region. Which means you'll probably never be bored no matter which day you decide to go. (Oh, Nirvana also serves dinner, so I may have to try it sometime.)

Comfort food, Indian style, at the Taj Mahal Restaurant

When the weather's up and down (especially on chillier days), I can get a hankerin' for Indian food (aka, the other soul food), as it's tasty, spicy, fatty, nutritious, and starchy. In other words, it hits all the comfort zones.

Even more comforting is that the above establishment, Taj Mahal Restaurant, has a weekday lunch buffet of $8.95. Its unpretentious exterior is appropriate for the neighborhood, as it's on a street with lots of small, semi-industrial businesses, but is a close drive from the Smithsonian "attic" and the Census Bureau. You see lots of these employees come in for the buffet, so it's good to get there early, before noon, before the rush is on. The interior has a number of tables, and a casual, colorful vibe. Often, the large screen tv has some Bollywood musical or soap opera running.

Buffet area before the lunch stampede.

I've been there a few times, twice for the buffet, once to get an entree. Always, the service is friendly and fast. Even buffet attendees get a basket of warm naan sent to the table. On warmer days, the mango lassi is a nice accompaniment to the food; on cooler days, I ask for hot tea.

As to the food, it's tasty enough with a good selection, from the menu and at the buffet (which sometimes has an item or two that's not on the menu, such as goat vindoloo). I've enjoyed the begun bartha (eggplant with onions and peas, I think), samosas, and lentil soup from the menu. The menu has plenty of chicken, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian entrees, with a special section for tandoori specials.

The buffet has many vegetarian options, and the others are mostly chicken dishes, including tandoor chicken (often, but not always). Buffet side mainstays include pappadum (yum!), basmati rice, vege pakoras (but I prefer the samosas), sauces like raita, tamarind, and mint, and typical desserts such as rice pudding (nothing to write home about; I heard there's chocolate cake served some days, but I haven't seen it). Then again, usually I'm too stuffed to even consider dessert when I'm done with lunch.

This place doesn't stint on its ingredients--if the sign says an item is, say, an okra curry (a "dry" curry which I'd eat again), there's a ton of okra in it. The Channa saag is drowned in spinach as well as chickpeas. The only vegetable dish that failed to impress was the navratian korma, as it wasn't as chockful of goodies as the other vegetarian dishes (and the sauce seemed blander, although none of them are scorching hot).

All in all, it's a good option in an area that doesn't have many sit-down establishments. (And does a brisk delivery business for those in that area.) As the Governator would say, I'll be back.