Sherman Chan,

Special to The Post

 

Every since my visit to Bombay Se restaurant, I have had a constant urge to visit another Indian buffet.As with any type of buffet, reasonable expectations should be observed, which means we should not compare it to an a la carte meal.With that in mind, I prepared to indulge in a colourful array of curries with naan and rice at Ashiana: Cuisine of India, now located in Surrey.

Naturally, I tried theButter Chickenfirst and it was fairly good.There was a nice balance between cream and tomato paste, and there was a hint of heat and spice.The consistency was thinner than usual, but that did not detract from the flavour. I particularly liked the chicken as it was very moist and soft.Another good item was the Goat Curry.It had a nice depth-of-flavour with an appealing gaminess.There was only a mild spice, but at the same time, I could taste the cumin and coriander.As for the goat hidden within the many bones, the meat was tender and gelatinous.I also tried thePaneer Masala. With an ample amount of onions, there was a noticeable sweetness to accompany the predominant tomato paste flavour. I found the paneer to have a nice firm exterior texture, giving way to a soft, somewhat moist interior.

For my second helping, I tried more goat curry as well asDal Tarka, Punjabi Curry, Veggie Masala, andChilli Fish. I enjoyed the dal as it was not overly watery.The flavours were familiar with the usual mix of cumin, coriander and turmeric and a touch of spice. I did not like the fish because it was dry and overdone.However, fish is rarely done right in any buffet due to the use of a warming tray to keep it warm.I found the flavours to be mostly sweet with only a touch of chili flakes.ThePunjabi Currywas thick and creamy with chunks of pakora and the familiar flavours of the usual spices.

For a buffet, the food and selection was above-average.The young woman who was working at the time was friendly and attentive.

 

Ashiana Restaurant: 8072 Scott Road  |  604-593-5458

 

The Good:

• Decent buffet selection  

• Above-average food  

• Friendly service

 

The Bad:

• As with any buffet, some of the items were off texturally (ie. fish, pakora)

• Limit to 2 plates only (I was full, but for some people this might be an issue)

 

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.