new delhi indian

new delhi
4004 chestnut street
philadelphia, pa
(215) 386 1941
www.newdelhiweb.com

type of cuisine: indian
culinary excellence: 7
vegan friendliness: 7
*recommended*

i was rather surprised to discover that this indian place called new delhi that was listed at vegguide.org was the same place luca used to take me to when i would visit from brooklyn - way back when i rarely paid attention to where i was eating. they revamped the interior since then, but it was the same old buffet and good university city vibe that i remember. we decided to forgo the menu and dive into the vegan options laid out for us. this included samosas, channa masala, lentils and basmati rice. the waiter brought us whole wheat naan, since the naan at the buffet contained dairy. i find that when eating from a buffet i tend to eat more and faster, leaving me with an uncomfortable fullness rather than a clean, satisfied feeling. i think this may be true for a lot of people. the food itself was great. the samosas were thick, crisp and hearty with a nicely gingered filling and the well-prepared chick peas were delicious. the lentils were a bit soupy, but still tasty and the naan, despite my preference for flour of a less nutritional variety, was pleasant. i'm glad to have a reliable indian restaurant that knows from veganism to go to again when the mood strikes.