Mtn View Indian

RE: Pasand, etc.

Sure, there are lots of Indian restaurants in the South Bay.  And lots of Indians too.  I find that if one keeps in touch with local Indians who enjoy good food that there are usually a couple of favorite south bay Indian joints.  They tend to change every year or so.  The once trendy places, seem to be able to continue on -- having generated a name for themselves.

One explanation that I heard is that there are a small number of top Indian chefs in the area.  A new place will open, attract one of the better chefs and build up a rep of those in the know.  After a couple of years, the chef moves on, to another new place with a better offer.

Don't know if that is the complete truth, but I do know that if one heads to one of the current top places. than you can usually enjoy a good meal, and the places will usually be quite full.

Perhaps Pasand was at one time such a place.   I don't tend to be as plugged into the South Bay Indian places as I once was, but I do understand that a recent hot place is actually a buffet place, Sneha ... at least as of 6 months ago.

Past hots spots included both Shilpa and Sarovar.

Of course, Berkeley tends to have good places as well -- and a bit more variety, such as Vik's Chat house which draws folks from all over the bay area.

j