06/04/08

Great Lunch Buffet - Update: CLOSED

by chefzen

Working in the RTP area I make it out to a lot of the area restaurants, and had noticed this place a few times before trying it out. I'm glad I did! The lunch buffet was comparable to other Indian restaurants in size and selection, but the flavors and execution here are a notch above the rest. The naan was excellent, as were the vegetarian dishes on the buffet. The buffet price is also reasonable for lunch at $7.95. The menu has a lot of interesting items, which I will be back to check out another time. I would recommend giving this place a try.

Update - Went by Durbar 84 today, and the signs were down. Looks like they closed.

• Pros: Excellent Food, good selection, reasonable prices
• Cons: None so far.

05/13/08

Fantastic!

by archaeopteryx

My wife and I tried Durbar out this weekend and really enjoyed it. Though it was Saturday and the buffet looked good, we opted to order just Nepalese dishes from the menu after reading all the great reviews. Everything was delicious! We started off with some roti and aloo ka achaar, which is a potato salad with a hot tumeric dressing, onions, and peppers. The aloo tama is a earthy, pungent, and aromatic dish of chickpeas and bamboo shoots. Be sure to try the absolutely delicious momos- savory steamed dumplings served with a tangy and spicy sauce. The rice pudding is far superior to any we've had elsewhere in the triangle. Shyam, the host, was very friendly and and fun to talk to. We talked about several of the reviews here and elsewhere as well as the pictures on flickr. Durbar does not have a liquor license at this point so there was not beer or wine, but it sounds like they may someday get one. The goat curry mentioned in several reviews is not a menu item but is always served on the Saturday buffet. Other regular Saturday buffet items include aloo tama, the rice pudding, and many Indian favorites. My wife and I are big fans of Indian (we've been regulars at Sitar since Kashmir closed, and enjoy the nearby Spice & Curry and Tandoor) and were happy to see dishes such as malai kofta, matar panir, and rogan josh among the 84 items on the menu. We will definitely be back!!!

Durbar doesn't have a liquor license yet, so no beer or wine.

• Pros: Excellent Nepalese dishes and a great variety of Indian on the menu, best rice pudding around
• Cons: No Liquor license, the only improvement would be if the menu designated which items are Nepalese

03/23/08

Tasty Indian and Nepali food in a friendly atmosphere

by HeidrunErwin

If you want a taste of Nepal along with your Indian food, Durbar 84 is the place to go -- especially if you get the buffet. Not only do they serve tasty North Indian cuisine, but the addition of Nepali dishes makes this an extra special dining experience (ask the owners - they are extremely helpful and informative about the Nepali dishes). We especially enjoyed the goat curry, the rice pudding (best we've ever had) and the Nepali potato salad in the garnish and dessert section. You'll also appreciate the sounds of authentic music from Nepal, making the experience all the more pleasant. We liked the relaxed, family atmosphere and the owners' genuine hospitality -- too rare among Indian restaurants in the Triangle in our experience. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to taste the Tibetan momos, but we will next time. If you're curious about what "Durbar" means, it's a square in Kathmandu. There's probably more of a story about that -- ask Sam or Hari.

• Pros: Variety, flavor, authenticity, hospitality
• Cons: Need more variety of desserts on the buffet