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Shalimar (Indian cuisine)  $$

 6.5
JaT Rating

1146 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, 94087  (Directions)


408-530-0300


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High quality Indian and Pakistani food in this newly opened restaurant.


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1020
Reviewed: 5/30/2006
Rating: 7
My photo gallery 		Shalimar location is where Chaat Cafe used to be and oddly enough it was like a construction zone inside. You would think they could clean up a little before opening up the restaurant. In the computer world, I would consider this a 'Beta' restaurant. Seriously, I would log a bug and send it back as P1.

I can imagine the process of ordering is confusing for people who aren't familiar with Indian food. When you visit, grab the large newspaper looking menu and order a couple of items. The restaurant is kinda expensive with a la carte plates ranging up to $7. Not a smoking bargain considering buffets are at $8-12. Terry was buying so we ordered

Palak Paneer - spinach and cheese, picture #7, I eat this stuff everytime I visit Indian restaurants and this was just average, the cheese a bit harder than the norm and very oily. Spinach was fine nothing out of the ordinary. ($5.95)

Daal Masala - stewed lentil beans, another staple of mine, the lentils had more of a texture to them, a bit more firm and not minced up as much as other places I've had, spices were very good, nice oil slick on top in picture #9. I'd order this again.

Shalimar Chawal - basmati rice, picture #8, very dry and my least favorite of the meal. We paid $4 for 2 helpings of this stuff and did not finish it

Chicken Karahi - stewed spicy chicken #10, I have mixed feelings on this dish. I love the spices/flavoring but the choice of chicken is a new low for me. I love chicken and quite honestly, I don't have a problem sucking on chicken bones to get all the meat. All my pieces were the joints between the drumstick and thigh, and the portion under the breastplate. Those are the pieces with the least amount of meat and less desirable cuts. I felt like a food forensics team trying to deciper what part of the chicken I was eating. I understand the plate is only $5.95 but do me a favor next time, just give me 1 drumstick and 1 wing instead of 10 scraps of chicken parts. Spices were awesome, choices of meat sucked.

Overall the food was average and I think I'm being generous with the 7 (probably because I saw beautiful plates of tandoori bbq). People will whine when I compare a la carte plates with buffet but I have serious doubts that my plates where made to order instead of being pulled from large steel containers. I think we spent close to $18 each which is $6 more than we were expecting.

I'm not sure how long Shalimar location in Sunnyvale has been open but with tall grass and weeds in the front, you'd think they'd call the lawn wranglers to tame their out of control jungle. It's not a beautiful site to see considering it would cost less than $200 to clear it up. If anything, send 1 guy out there to at least pick up the trash and while he's out there, send him to the back parking lot near the trash and clean that up too. The place is a mess!
 


Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 738
Reviewed: 6/6/2006
Rating: 6
My photo gallery 		We went here because our Fremont Shalimar listing is very popular on our site, so thought it best to include a separate location for this one.

I think they had been open for a few months, and it still looked like they were in the process of opening. Its like Shalimar wanted to create a location in the Sunnyvale area, found this spot opened up, moved a kitchen in and just started serving stuff. The place had an unfinished feel to it. The grass in front (previously at the Chaat Cafe was well-cut and green - see our pix on this site) is now tall and yellow. If they treat their building and grounds this way, how would they treat their customers?

The food I had was good, close to Fremont Shalimar level, but I felt nervous eating here. Prices were super high like Fremont Shalimar. And for this level of safety, I don't think they are justified. I will not be returning.
 
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