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Karma Kafe
30
November
(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)You need to be a registered member to rate this post.
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11/30/2006 Update:
Spoke with the owner, Mehernosh Daroowalla, and got the scoop on the quick renovations.
The painted the place. Much brighter now. New, lighter colored flooring. They pushed the back wall back, and added 8 extra tables to the interior. They’ll be open around 7 tonight for dinner!
He didn’t want me taking pictures till next week when the final finishing touches are in place.
Read more about the delivery problems, and see a recent lunch buffet review after the jump:
He also addressed the delivery issues many of you have mentioned. He said they will be “beefing it up”. Not sure specifically what that means, but he wanted to say delivery time is pretty standard at one hour (at least he tries to keep it that way). The reason things take so long is that the cooking process is much different than the flash-cooking method that most chinese places utilize. Also, each order is prepared fresh from scratch. There is nothing sitting around pre-made. He’s quite a stickler and a perfectionist when it comes to how the food is cooked. Also, the orders are prepared in the order they are received. Whether it’s in-room dining, takeout, or delivery. He also said Friday is a particularly insane day, especially between 7-9pm, when he gets slammed in all three areas. So keep that in mind when ordering during those hours. It’s definitely not just a takeout restaurant!
11/25/2006:
Despite the delivery problems they continue to have, Karma Kafe is our favorite Indian restaurant in town. I for one, find the seating kind of uncomfortable. But then again, I have issues with staying still.
Key thing to try: The daily lunch buffet from 12-3pm. For $9.95 you can feast on all the food you want. I happen to like to popular Chicken Tikka Masala dish, like most people. Very delicious and refreshing meal. Finish off with a little bowl of Kheer rice pudding, and you’re all set.
So if the delivery is punishing, take a trip outside and save yourself the stress!
Description – Stylish Indian bistro offering a daily lunch buffet. Contemporary menu with delicious specials, sandwiches and wraps. Subdued-Indian décor. Small bar area. Outdoor dining available. Entrée price range $9-$19.
Services – Indian cuisine, Lunch Buffet, Catering, Bar. Take Out, Delivery, Catering
Website – www.karmakafe.com
Address – 505 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey ( NJ ) 07030-4905
Telephone – (201) 610-0900
August 27th 2006 - 19:36:23 |
Don’t order takeout from this place without expecting to wait an hour or more for the food. This place is unbelievable slow to get you your order and no matter what day or time you call, the guy that answers will tell you 45 minutes. On 2 occassions I waited over an hour for food and most recently it took an unacceptable hour and a half (which Karma said was due to a “flat tire” that the driver had — likely story).
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November 21st 2006 - 15:26:29 |
I had the same experience. They take 90 minutes on average to deliver food no matter how early you call. I am pretty sure they get greedy and try to group like 15 orders in one delivery so people end up waiting. Whatever they are doing, they have no clue how to deliver food in a reasonable amount of time. The guy always tells me they only have one driver. HIRE ANOTHER ONE. Seriously, its too bad because the food is pretty good, but when a place routinely tells you 45 minutes to an hour and then no matter what you wait 1.5 hours….that’s just disrespecting the customer. If you can’t get it out in less than an hour, you really shouldn’t offer delivery.
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November 21st 2006 - 15:28:29 |
By the way, my experiences are not based on only 2 or 3 occasions. My wife and I love Indian, and I can say that we have ordered from Karma more than a dozen times in the last year plus and maybe once I got the food in less than an hour. I used to put up with it because I love Indian, but we can’t anymore.
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November 26th 2006 - 17:26:49 |
Thanks for the suggestion! Based solely on this post, my husband and I busted out of our apartment last night and went down to Karma Kafe for dinner. It was WONDERFUL! Thanks so much for your timely post!
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November 28th 2006 - 12:07:21 |
I have ordered delivery from here many times, and each time I ask myself “Why did I order from Karma Kafe AGAIN?” They take forever to deliver the food, and the last time it arrived the bill was all screwed up, and they tacked on a delivery charge to boot.
The portions are too small for the money they charge anyway. We have too many Japanese/Chinese food restaurants and not enough Indian. The eat-in lunch special is the only way to go, but how many of us are in Hoboken at lunchtime? If you want Cold Tikka Masala and Warm Kheer that gets to you in about 90 minutes, feel free to order from Karma Kafe.
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November 28th 2006 - 12:12:18 |
I forgot to ask them when we were there, but their website says “Daily Lunch Special”… I wonder if that’s 7 days a week?
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November 28th 2006 - 12:15:05 |
yes it actually is. my friends and i caught the tail end of it on hoboken fake st pattys day after some breakfast drinks in the spring and it was wonderful. i’ve been meaning to go back since for lunch on a weekend but haven’t had a chance
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November 28th 2006 - 12:33:19 |
Last time I ate there the food was pretty good – the samosas were excellent, my entree was decent, but they screwed up a couple of things with my friend and got nasty about it, so it kind of soured the food-side of the experience.
In terms of overall environment…agreed about the uncomfortable chairs. And it was pretty loud. Normally I don’t mind noise in a restaurant, but we were seated next to a big fat girl who insisted on sharing the details of her latest sexual encounter (that poor, poor – and obviously drunk – man) with the entire restaurant. What a pig.
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November 28th 2006 - 12:34:07 |
On my way to the PATH this morning I picked up my head long to notice that they seem to “renovating” this place now to. Anyone word on what the deal is?
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November 28th 2006 - 17:47:58 |
Thanks HHC. They’re renovating temporarily. Re-opening on Thursday. It seems as if they were doing some painting, etc.
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November 29th 2006 - 08:37:58 |
Red Haven is right about portions. They charge $11-14 for entrees and you are getting basically about a chicken breast worth of meat and enough sauce for 3x the amount of rice they give you. What are you supposed to do with all that sauce? Did I order soup? I enjoy their food very much, but its quite common after you eat Karma to delivery to think…”I really paid $13 for that little plastic container of sauce?” And waited more than an hour….
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November 29th 2006 - 10:02:21 |
I happen to like Karma Cafe, and do agree that this place is pricey. I ordered a Chana Kahcumber Salad ($5, delicious and healthy!), Lamb Korma ($14) and Naan bread ($2.50) for delivery and paid $26 total (with tax and tip).
I was satisfied at the end of the meal, but happen to agree with thebinatwork and Red Haven that it does seem that there could larger portions with the entrees. The Lamb Korma comes with about 6-8 cubes of lamb. But, the salad was plentiful and large. I love the Naan bread, but at $2.50 a pop, it sort of gets pricey if you order more than one.
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December 1st 2006 - 11:14:28 |
Been here a couple of times – foods OK. I still think the best place for a cuzza in Hoboken is Bombay West for eat in or take out.
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December 8th 2006 - 12:04:56 |
While the take out might take a while it taste great just like you are sitting at a table in the place. Though I think the portions are smaller than actually going there. The wait staff can be a bit slow but the weekend buffet is great. Especially for those who have not sampled much Indian cuisine.
If you choose to sample the food at the Hoboken fair I suggest you go INTO the the place itself. The food they have at the fair doesn’t taste as good as the food in the place.
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December 11th 2006 - 15:29:34 |
I’ve crossed Karma off my list — sad to say. I liked the food but over the past couple years the place got noticeably dirtier. Then late last summer while eating there, we saw three roaches one on the floor & two on the walls. If they’re in the dining room, I really wonder about the kitchen. After couple months of staying away, in early December (after their renovation) I ordered take out. The next day I found a roach in my living room (where I ate the take out). It’s the first roach I’ve seen in my apt since living there for three years. Can’t say 100% that it came from Karma but it sure seems likely. Anyway, Karma needs to clean up its act. (Tried Bombay as an alternative once but I was not very impressed — the spinach dish was awful).
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December 30th 2006 - 03:16:22 |
Absolutely HUGE fan of Karma Kafe, and have been since it opened. I’d have to say that my husband and I, who are admittedly “foodies”, sample their pretty authentic Indian fare (traveled there a few times) at least 2 x month! part of the charm of the place is the amiable staff.
Delivery is slow, but I expect that my food from Karma will be just as delicious as when it’s prepared in house. I recall the horror I experienced when Casual Thai delivered within 10 minutes of placing my order (I’m on the same street). As expected, food was awful, and after a sample I threw it away.
If you want “fast food”, go for McDonalds or the plethora of Chinese versions in town. Karma equates a good quality meal–well worth the wait!
I disagree that the portions are small. With the complimentary pompadoms and accompanying sauces, add an order of naan or an appetizer, and an entree, and I’d think that most people would be full! In fact, we usually take bits home for the next afternoon’s savoring!
Karma is ONE place that we always take our out-of-town visitors, and we’ve lived in Hoboken for 13 years.
True, it can be loud when the place is full, due to the lack of textiles on the walls, so we ALWAYS go early–before 8:00pm on weekends, and we often are lucky enough to get one of the nice window tables.
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December 30th 2006 - 08:57:48 |
I am really surprised by the previous post!
I am a foodie myself, and have not been impressed at all by Karma Kafe in any way….it is average at best.
After living in England for 6 years, my husband and I are constantly dissapointed by the flavors of Indian food prpared here..
Brooklyn has some amazing Indian places…but sadly, Hoboken does not!
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May 27th 2007 - 22:01:00 |
I have been eating at karma kafe for 5yrs and I love there food,drinks and service.I have brought all my friends and family here and every body loves karma kafe.
Thank you Karma Kafe for your excellent service.
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June 17th 2007 - 18:28:17 |
This place is unreal. Haven’t ordered from them in months even though I love Indian and its the best of the three in town. Why? Because the delivery service is so atrocious that it just isn’t worth the aggravation. But it had been too long so I ordered at 5 on a Sunday- hardly rush hour for delivery.
Ordered three dishes- all of them stews that are already made- so I don’t want to hear this song and dance about it not being “fast food.” Quoted 45 minutes for delivery. 60 minutes later, I call to see what’s up. The guy matter of factly tells me “give me another 15 minutes or so.” I just don’t get it. Not “food’s on the way” not “sorry about the delay.” Just some “explanation” that the delivery guy had another delivery to make. Well I can’t see how they could have possibly have expected that to happen. What in HELL is wrong with these people? You can’t routinely deliver in 90 minutes time (after quoting HALF that) and keep chalking it up to unexpected business crunches. HIRE ANOTHER DRIVER. But stop being dishonest about the delivery times. I love the food, but this is the last straw. Never again.
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July 7th 2008 - 20:28:24 |
Great food, definitely one of the best restaurants in Hoboken. But as others say, the delivery service is an abomination. For dining in only….
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