Malabar Palace
206-12 Hillside Ave., Hollis
740-8022

Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 11:30 a.m. –10 p.m., Sat.-Sun.: Noon-10 p.m.

Featuring foods from north and south India, with a hint of American flare, Malabar Palace restaurant and catering hall is not only a place to eat. It is a cultural experience of the Asian persuasion.

It was the hard wood floors, strobe lights and beautiful place settings at Malabar Palace that first caught my attention.

As the sound from the streaming waterfall stroked my eardrums until I found peace, I could not resist the feeling of calm and relaxation I found at Malabar.

They’ve expanded a great deal over their years in the Hollis neighborhood, and are making minor finishing touches, according to the staff.

This link to India is an excellent choice when party planning, as the waiter said when explaining the variety offered at Malabar’s weekend buffets.

"We have 37 different dishes on Sunday buffets," he said. "You should not miss a Sunday buffet."

Knowing that many Indian dishes are extremely hot, I exercised caution although the Chicken Tikka and Chicken Makni he suggested sounded delightful.

"Forget about what it sounds like," the waiter said, "try it."

Chicken Tikka is baked in a traditional Indian clay oven and flavored with special secret spices and barbecued.

The Makni is also cooked in a clay oven but is made with sweet butter sauce with tomatoes and onions.

Wanting something light, I chose nan — fine bread similar to pita bread, yet lighter in weight — good with a curried sauce dish or sliced steak for a gyro.

In addition, I sampled a salad and chicken pakora that was lightly spicy, deep fried white meat only chicken, — very tasty.

One word of caution — the peppers and lemon are extremely spicy.

If you are bold enough to try them, nan and soda will serve you well.

In addition to chicken, beef, lamb and goat, seafood is a widely used staple for Malabar dishes.

When looking for a calming tea, forget about herbal teas and have Indian spiced tea. It is the best.