There are few things in life better than a good Indian buffet. Lovers of Indian cuisine know exactly what I am talking about. Pitt students have a surprisingly limited number of options when it comes to affordable food near campus. You can only have fast food, pizza, or cheap Chinese food so many times when going out for a meal close by. Luckily Oakland has been endowed with a certain fortune when it comes to Indian food. Prince of India is the shining example of this phenomena.
Located at 3614 Fifth Avenue, Prince of India is just a short walk from the heart of campus. Discovering this authentic Indian eatery was one of the culinary highlights of my Pitt experience. When I am in the mood for Indian food (which seems to be all the time) and looking fora meal that is guaranteed to keep me stuffed for hours, Prince of India is my go-to. The food is unbeatable and worth every penny. The ambiance makes every experience enjoyable and has had me coming back for three years.
My mouth begins to water every time I enter the restaurant. The friendly servers point patrons to open tables and immediately fill glasses with ice water. Excitement mounts when I say “buffet”after they ask if I want to do the buffet or order off the menu. The choice is always obvious. Prince of India’s buffet is what dreams are made of.
Walking up to the buffet and filling my plate with delicious treats like chicken tikka masala, basmati rice,vegetable pakora, and chana masala is the highlight of every day I am lucky enough to enjoy a meal at Prince of India. The lunch buffet has naan at the ready, but for dinner customers are asked when they order what kind of naan they would like. It is freshly made in a matter of minutes and served piping hot at no extra charge. I always order the plain naan. It is soft but has a nice crisp near the edges and a beautiful buttery sheen.
Sitting down and digging into my plate is, as one would expect, the best part of the experience. My favorite dish on the buffet is the chicken tikka masala. It consists of pieces of boneless chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce seasoned to absolute perfection. The chicken melts in your mouth. The sauce is addictive. I always ladle it over a generous portion of perfectly cooked basmati rice. The naan is the ideal accompaniment to this meal. There is nothing like cleaning sauce off the plate with a piece of hot buttery naan. There are several other chicken dishes on the buffet,including chicken tandoori, but I only get the chicken tikka masala. The adage of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” sums up my loyalty to the dish. I do not think it is possible for anything to be as delicious.
The buffet is the best deal at Prince of India. Anyone with a Pitt or UPMC ID gets a small discount on the buffet. With tax, it comes out to $11.70. Though it might seem a bit pricey for students on a budget, the buffet is well worth the price if you plan on eating a lot. The regular menu is filled with literally hundreds of dishes that are not on the buffet, but I firmly believe the all you can eat benefits that come with the buffet outweigh any possible negatives.
A visit to Prince of India is one of the most satisfying experiences anyone who likes Indian food can have in Pittsburgh. The Indian music playing in the background of the restaurant adds an authenticity to the experience. The staff is always friendly, and the food is to die for. Prince of India truly is Oakland food royalty.
Panther Eats 