Austin Food Bytes – Get out of your lunchtime rut and try something new!

Bombay Bistro

10710 Research Blvd. #126
(512) 342-2290
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5:30-10:30 p.m.

There’s a new game in town for Indian food, and it's just a hop – not even a skip or a jump – from NI. It's called Bombay Bistro, and it's in the HEB shopping center at Braker and 183. It's been open for three months, and it's already jam-packed during peak hours. For that reason, I suggest you try your luck before 11:30 a.m. or after 12:45 p.m. Because of the high demand and recent opening, service is still not completely off the ground, but the management is highly attentive and willing to do anything they can to make your meal more enjoyable.

I forayed out with two colleagues after reading a review in the Austin Chronicle two weeks ago. The review covers a great many items on the dinner menu that I have not yet tried. We had the opportunity to try Bombay Bistro's excellent lunch buffet. The dishes are all in individual chafing dishes, which makes for an elegant display. Your journey along the generous and meandering buffet also takes you past a window into their spotless kitchen, from which items are constantly replenished. One of the highlights of our meal was the Papadam with Chutneys. Papadam is a large, crunchy chip made from lentil flour, and chutneys are relishes – in this case a sweet, dark red, tamarind-based relish that was lovely, and a spicy chili and turmeric chutney that was unusual and highly flavorful. The chutneys are also good for dipping pakoras, assorted vegetables fried in a tasty, spicy batter flavored with cumin. The Chicken Tikka was one of the best I've had – tender pieces of chicken in a tomato-coconut milk curry, infused with cardamom and other spices. While you're there, be sure to sample their excellent Nan, a flavorful, grilled Indian flatbread. The buffet also featured a small dessert table displaying Kheer (Indian rice pudding) and fresh fruit.

Bombay Bistro is a welcome addition to the North Austin area. If you're in the mood for something tasty and authentic, be sure to give it a try.