From: RAJA@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Newsgroups: ba.food
Subject: Re: Empress of India
Date: 10 Sep 92 00:01:26 GMT
 <1992Sep8.233349.20807@ads.com> <92252.221802RAJA@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
Distribution: ba
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

In article <92252.221802RAJA@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>,
<RAJA@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> says:
>
>In article <1992Sep8.233349.20807@ads.com>, charleen@ADS.COM (Charleen
>Bunjiovianna) says:
>>
>>In article <1992Sep8.222529.20590@adobe.com> sherwood@adobe.com (Geoffrey
>>Sherwood) writes:
>>>In article <135727@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> llittle@tis.llnl.gov (Larry Little)
>>writes:
>>>:
>>>:A poster, while describing E of I recently, mentioned the samosas that
>>>:are served with the buffet lunch.  That day there were no samosas, or
>>>:appetizers of any sort.  Is this another cost cutting measure?
>>>:
>>>
>>>Perhaps this was a reference to my posting.  I say this because I don't
>>>remember any other posting referring to samosas.  I was reviewing Passage
>>>to India, not Empress of India (though I believe I asked a question about
>>>E of I at the end of my posting).  P to I is the only buffet I have seen
>>>with samosas on it.
>>>       Geoff Sherwood
>>
>>I think it was a reference to one of mine.  I had mentioned something
>>about samosas in a description of my last buffet meal, but I also mentioned
>>that buffet ancillaries tend to vary, a reference which Mr. Little
>>apparently chose to disregard in favor of the contention that the buffet
>>menu must be graven in stone.  I have not always gotten samosas, or even nan;
>>I have sometimes gotten onion kulcha (I think) or chapatis.  Whatever, it
>>has always been hot, fresh and wonderful.
>>
>>At any rate, I do not speak for the Empress of India Restaurant, and for
>>Mr. Little to hold the Empress accountable for something I posted seems
>>a trifle foolish.  It would appear that Mr. Little went in looking for
>>things to complain about; it's no wonder that he found them.
>>
>>Charleen
>
>Good for you Charleen that you enjoyed the food so much! But saying Mr. Little
>went in looking to complain is a little too much. I may in fact have been
>there
> the same time Mr. Little was there. But nevertheless there were kids at thye
>n
>ext table and the hard looks they were getting for eating only the bananas was
>not very hospitable. I was not told that I must clean my plates but over heard
>Someone else getting this sage aDVICE. BELIEVE  me I would have walked
>straight
> out the door! This is supposed to be a restaurant not an English public
>school
>.
>
>As far  her nans being hot etc. this is not unique to E of I. Further the
>porti
>ons of Chutney(the greeen stuff) laid out were miniscule in the buffet.
>Overall
> the comment about paranoia on cost etc. is very pertinent. In my honest
>opinio
>n much as I appreciate the cooking I would say this place is over rated
>because
> of the lack of service and cordiality. There aRE  many excellent biffets
>avail
>able now in the S. Clara San Jose Sunnyvale area. Shilpa next door is a good
>ex
>ample. So good eating all but mabe not the cuisine of the Empress!
>
>rajahgopalan

Life gets more interesting! Since posting this I got a call from Mrs.Bonk! She
was evidently very upset at my article and felt very bad. I am posting this as
a clarification and an apology for the hurt I may have caused.

Regarding the Little incident( no pun intended) I said I may have been there no
t that I was there. If I was wrong about kids with bananas getting hard looks I
 apologize for misrepresenting the case.

About the remark on "cleaning your plate" Mrs. Bonk explained that her adult ch
ildren were the target and in that case it is no one's business, agreed. I allo
w room for the fact that I may have been mistaken about the target of a remark
about "clean your plates" though at the time, and since I talked to the gentlem
en in question, I would like some clarification. This would not be cordial when
 addressed to a customer and if noone can corraborate such behaviour I will gla
dly allow room fora mistake, not malicious, and apologize.

Finally, and this is not a left-handed compliment, I have no complaints about h
er food. It is excellent.The other place equally good is Kathmandu West.

So if anyone feels like going to E of I by all means do so and don't let maYBE
one voice of criticism put you off.

Rajagopalan..... My opinions are clearly my own!