Update: 2021-Aug-20 - There is currently no buffet/AYCE at this location post-lockdown even though it is now permitted, and it is unknown if and when it will ever return. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.Little India is located at 255 Queen Street West, conveniently just west of University Ave.'s Osgoode subway station. (And the wonderful aromas of Little India can be smelled on Queen Street.) Although it appears to be a small place, near the back of the restaurant there is a partition door which leads to another seating area, so it is in fact twice the size it originally appears to be. It has a nice atmosphere and was quite full when I went in initially, with only two tables free, which quickly filled up. Lunch was $15.99 on a Friday, it's $16.99 on weekends and they don't jack it up for holidays.
Little India had chicken pakora, which is unique to the AYCEs I have been to and had a very nice flavor, somewhat like Chinese fried chicken. Shrimp vindaloo, another dish I haven't seen at AYCEs before, was properly for vindaloo very spicy with medium-high heat and delicious. Similarly unique was dal soup, and it was "dalicious" and fresh. I am surprised these very Indian dishes are not more common. Chicken tandoori was wonderfully smokey, moist and tender and there is plenty of it available and it is refilled when it runs out. Beef kadai gosht (another unique offering) has star anise in it and is super-delicious with tender savory beef (for obvious reasons, there are not many beef dishes I have seen at Indian AYCEs either.) Naan bread was delicious and slightly crisp, definitely freshly baked. Chicken curry was fantastic, the curry excellent, fragrant and spicy.
Palak paneer was good but I have actually had better. Chana masala was awesome, dark, rich and different than others but refreshingly so. Butter chicken was delicious and flavorful but the sauce was too sweet for my taste unfortunately. Yellow dal was almost as good as the soup, excellently spiced and flavorful. Aloo patiala (potato curry) was also excellent, fragrant and delicious. Onion bhaji resembles vegetable pakora in appearance, but tastes like pakora with onion (of course.) Pulao basmati rice was fragrant and excellent when paired with curry dishes. Potato salad was rather odd, with fried crunchy crouton-like pillows and a sweet orange sauce. Mango salad was excellent, with a bright flavor and very fresh.
For dessert rice pudding was delicious, a bit runny but that is the way it is supposed to be. Yogurt balls were delicious and in a sweet sauce. Vanilla, mango, strawberry and chocolate ice creams were all fresh and excellent. and no limits (happily they seem to be a thing of the past at Indian AYCEs now.) I had an excellent lunch at Little India. I must however balance out the value versus the other "Little India" in Toronto: the Indian district near Coxwell and Gerrard. There are a couple of places there with similar quality to Little India but significantly less expensive. This Little India, though, does have a few very good offerings to be found nowhere else, so I must factor this in as well. I would conclude then that Little India would be more of a "treat" than a "go-to" for Indian AYCE as definitely the quality is there, but you get what you pay for.
Rating: 8-8.5/10
Little India had chicken pakora, which is unique to the AYCEs I have been to and had a very nice flavor, somewhat like Chinese fried chicken. Shrimp vindaloo, another dish I haven't seen at AYCEs before, was properly for vindaloo very spicy with medium-high heat and delicious. Similarly unique was dal soup, and it was "dalicious" and fresh. I am surprised these very Indian dishes are not more common. Chicken tandoori was wonderfully smokey, moist and tender and there is plenty of it available and it is refilled when it runs out. Beef kadai gosht (another unique offering) has star anise in it and is super-delicious with tender savory beef (for obvious reasons, there are not many beef dishes I have seen at Indian AYCEs either.) Naan bread was delicious and slightly crisp, definitely freshly baked. Chicken curry was fantastic, the curry excellent, fragrant and spicy.
Palak paneer was good but I have actually had better. Chana masala was awesome, dark, rich and different than others but refreshingly so. Butter chicken was delicious and flavorful but the sauce was too sweet for my taste unfortunately. Yellow dal was almost as good as the soup, excellently spiced and flavorful. Aloo patiala (potato curry) was also excellent, fragrant and delicious. Onion bhaji resembles vegetable pakora in appearance, but tastes like pakora with onion (of course.) Pulao basmati rice was fragrant and excellent when paired with curry dishes. Potato salad was rather odd, with fried crunchy crouton-like pillows and a sweet orange sauce. Mango salad was excellent, with a bright flavor and very fresh.
For dessert rice pudding was delicious, a bit runny but that is the way it is supposed to be. Yogurt balls were delicious and in a sweet sauce. Vanilla, mango, strawberry and chocolate ice creams were all fresh and excellent. and no limits (happily they seem to be a thing of the past at Indian AYCEs now.) I had an excellent lunch at Little India. I must however balance out the value versus the other "Little India" in Toronto: the Indian district near Coxwell and Gerrard. There are a couple of places there with similar quality to Little India but significantly less expensive. This Little India, though, does have a few very good offerings to be found nowhere else, so I must factor this in as well. I would conclude then that Little India would be more of a "treat" than a "go-to" for Indian AYCE as definitely the quality is there, but you get what you pay for.Rating: 8-8.5/10
