Imagine eating as much food as humanly possible for a price that can't be beaten. When I visited Mughal Garden on Sunday afternoon, I was left with a full and satisfied stomach. This unpretentious Indian restaurant offers aromatic cuisine with an authentic feel. The restaurant attracts a diverse clientele, ranging from families with small children to college students. I also noticed a large number of Indians dining there - the best endorsement for an Indian restaurant that you can get.
Mughal Garden is located in the culturally rich Mount Vernon neighborhood along an entire block of amazing, trendy restaurants. Mughal Garden is just a few blocks up Charles Street from the Peabody JHMI shuttle stop too, so getting there is easy, convenient and best of all, free for Hopkins students.
Walking along N. Charles Street, I nearly walked past the green awning that read "Mughal Garden" - it's easy to miss. As my friend and I entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a large statue of what I could only assume was a figure of Ganesha, the Hindu elephant-god of success. The dining area was large and spacious, with high ceilings and a series of sparkling chandeliers. Booths and tables were scattered throughout the room as well. The lighting was low and dramatic, and the walls were decorated with various pieces of Indian-inspired artwork.
I was also thoroughly impressed with the service at Mughal Gardens. Someone came by our table at least every five minutes throughout the meal to refill our water glasses. The waiters were friendly, too and had a good sense of humor. One of them asked why I was furiously scribbling notes about my meal, showing enthusiasm for my interest in the restaurant.
Some may find the colorful - bordering on vibrant - appearance of Indian food intimidating, but it's important to approach it with an open mind. Indian food can range from mild to unbearably spicy, but the menu will usually warn you if a dish is too hot to handle. When in doubt, ask your server.
On my first visit to the buffet, I piled my plate high, eager to try everything.
I first tried the naan, an Indian bread that is comparable to the more-familiar flat pita. It was soft and warm in the middle, and crisp on the edges. Although I ate at the buffet, Mughal Garden offers several different types of stuffed naan on the dinner menu - naan filled with cheese, nuts or garlic and herbs. Don't skimp on the basmati rice, as it goes perfectly with just about everything in the buffet and can be considered somewhat of an Indian meal staple.
Next, I tried the chicken tikka masala. Usually this dish is quite mild, but I found Mughal Garden's version to be a bit too spicy for my taste. I was also a little confused by the balls of ground chicken, as the menu describes this dish as containing "succulent cubes of boneless chicken." Nevertheless, the tikka masala tomato-based sauce was deliciously creamy and paired wonderfully as a dipping sauce for the naan.
I was also impressed with the saag, or creamed spinach. The pakora, or fried vegetable dumplings, contained a little too much chickpea batter around them. I encountered a similar problem with the vegetable paneer, a dish that is similar to the pakora. In my opinion neither looked especially appetizing. The alu beans, which consisted of green beans and potatoes in a mild sauce, was quite tasty. I also liked the vegetable korma, or mixed vegetables in a saffron cream sauce. Also notable is the chicken tandoori, which is cooked in spices over an open fire.
The buffet also contained chicken wings, which I though seemed odd for an Indian restaurant. I avoided them, but my friend noted they were tender and juicy. Speaking of which, the meat in the goat curry was practically falling off the bone. Delicious!
Most of the options on the buffet were mild, which is comforting to those who fear spicy foods. One of the waiters actually warned my us against the "extra hot red sauce" in the buffet, which I decided to try anyway. The sauce created an intense burning sensation on my tongue which spread all over my mouth. It took several glasses of water to extinguish the flames.
Though Mughal Garden's dinner menu appears to be stronger than its buffet, overall, I was very much impressed with Mughal Garden's selection. I paid $10.95 for four large plates of food - an unbeatable value. Make sure to come hungry and prepared to eat a lot, because you most definitely will want to.
