Update 2023-Nov-13 - Unfortunately Regency has permanently closed so won't be going back to AYCE.
Regency Restaurant is an Indian buffet located in Toronto's Little India at 1423 Gerrard St. E., a block or two west of Coxwell. There's a streetcar stop right outside, and the Coxwell bus is also near, so it's transit accessible. It's just west of The Famous which I recently reviewed.
Regency has a pleasant interior and even though it was the fullest I have ever seen on of the Little India AYCEs, it wasn't loud. I have been there a couple of times (including once with Mishy) and not sure why it wasn't written up before.
Vegetable pakoras were my first dish, and like The Famous they were moist, tender and flavourful as opposed to being dried out and crunchy as at so many other places. Naan bread arrived (it doesn't have to be ordered either... it's always provided) and was also neither too moist nor dry and full of flavour. Samosas were absolutely the best I had ever eaten and I knew why: the crust had such flavour compared to others that I knew they had to be freshly made on the premises as opposed to being bought frozen; I confirmed this with the waiter (who I think is also the owner.) Little details like this are important.
Aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) was also the most flavourful I can remember, spicy and delicious. Chana masala (chick peas) was fantastic with perfect spicing and the peas not over nor undercooked. Matar (peas) and mushroom was another delicious "wow" with a delicious flavour reminiscent of soup. Yellow lentils are a wonderful curry dish, sauce a little runny but that is what it is. Zucchini and potatoes had a nice spicy flavour and I tried to overcome not liking zucchini!
For the meat entrées, chicken tandoori was fantastic, smoky, moist and tender... just about perfect. I loved the bright curry flavour of chicken madrasi. Chicken tikka masala is one of the reasons to go to Regency; it's hard to find at other AYCEs and they do it so perfectly here. (Interestingly it's claimed that this dish was invented in Glasgow, Scotland of all places.) Chicken biryani was wonderfully rich in cinnamon and cardamom hints and delicious. And as with the Famous, I enjoyed the butter chicken very much so I am coming around to liking this dish that was never one of my favourites compared to chicken curry.
Some very good chutney was available to add zest to anything desired, and for dessert there are six flavours of ice cream (with no restrictions!) The ice cream was fresh and good. All in all it was a fantastic lunch and just about everything was top of the line. The competition fostered by Regency's proximity to The Famous and other Little India AYCEs has done it well.. it is actually noticeably getting better over time. It's a little more expensive than The Famous at $11.99 for lunch ($14.99 for dinner) but well worth it, and I am glad there were plenty of customers to reward its persistent quest for perfection.
Rating: 9.5-10/10
Regency has a pleasant interior and even though it was the fullest I have ever seen on of the Little India AYCEs, it wasn't loud. I have been there a couple of times (including once with Mishy) and not sure why it wasn't written up before.
Vegetable pakoras were my first dish, and like The Famous they were moist, tender and flavourful as opposed to being dried out and crunchy as at so many other places. Naan bread arrived (it doesn't have to be ordered either... it's always provided) and was also neither too moist nor dry and full of flavour. Samosas were absolutely the best I had ever eaten and I knew why: the crust had such flavour compared to others that I knew they had to be freshly made on the premises as opposed to being bought frozen; I confirmed this with the waiter (who I think is also the owner.) Little details like this are important.
Aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) was also the most flavourful I can remember, spicy and delicious. Chana masala (chick peas) was fantastic with perfect spicing and the peas not over nor undercooked. Matar (peas) and mushroom was another delicious "wow" with a delicious flavour reminiscent of soup. Yellow lentils are a wonderful curry dish, sauce a little runny but that is what it is. Zucchini and potatoes had a nice spicy flavour and I tried to overcome not liking zucchini!
For the meat entrées, chicken tandoori was fantastic, smoky, moist and tender... just about perfect. I loved the bright curry flavour of chicken madrasi. Chicken tikka masala is one of the reasons to go to Regency; it's hard to find at other AYCEs and they do it so perfectly here. (Interestingly it's claimed that this dish was invented in Glasgow, Scotland of all places.) Chicken biryani was wonderfully rich in cinnamon and cardamom hints and delicious. And as with the Famous, I enjoyed the butter chicken very much so I am coming around to liking this dish that was never one of my favourites compared to chicken curry.
Some very good chutney was available to add zest to anything desired, and for dessert there are six flavours of ice cream (with no restrictions!) The ice cream was fresh and good. All in all it was a fantastic lunch and just about everything was top of the line. The competition fostered by Regency's proximity to The Famous and other Little India AYCEs has done it well.. it is actually noticeably getting better over time. It's a little more expensive than The Famous at $11.99 for lunch ($14.99 for dinner) but well worth it, and I am glad there were plenty of customers to reward its persistent quest for perfection.
Rating: 9.5-10/10
