One of the things I love about living in a city are all the interesting food mash-ups. I live around the corner from a place that serves cheese steaks, osso buco, and pho. Down the street is a place that dishes up Italian-style ox tail stew and Chinese saimin. And we all know that New York is famous for "Chinese and fries."
But nearest and dearest to my heart are the places in San Francisco that serve Indian food and pizza and "Indian pizza." What is Indian pizza? In a word? Delicious. It's pizza crust (basically a giant naan, right?) topped with tandoori chicken and cilantro and yogurt-y sauce and it's tastiest when enjoyed just after closing time.
At Golden Gate Indian Cuisine and pizza you can get just that. Bengan Bharta and a pepperoni pizza. Lamb vindaloo and spaghetti and meatballs. Do you want a side of garlic bread or onion kulcha? There's something for everyone.
Got any good mash-up restaurants where you live?
3-31-2006 @2:26PM alice radley said... Years ago, when I lived in vegas ... 1987 or so, there was a place just off The Strip called Luigi & Wong's! It was a chinese italian place. I don't remember the food being great, but the name of the place has stuck we me for a long time.
Reply
3-31-2006 @2:32PM Goob said... There's an Indian place in Pittsburgh that used to do a mixed lunch buffet of norther Indian and Soul Food: tikka marsala, turnip greens, dal, fried chicken, mutter paneer, black eyed peas. That sort of thing. I don't know if they still do this.
In the suburbs of Hartford, there use to be a Meican place by the name of Poncho McGee's. They were a pretty good Tex-Mex place, and every St. Patricks day they would only serve boiled dinner and stout. They're lamentably gone, now.
Reply
3-31-2006 @3:04PM J.Ho said... I've been to the GG Indian Pizza place before. Obnoxious yellow paint job on the building? Very, very good curries. Pizza made with naan is awesome.
Another good pizza mash-up is the Greco-Romana Pizza Cafe on Clement Street. A Greek/Pizza joint. I used to live three blocks away from there. It's right near the India Clay Oven which is my favorite Indian restaurant of all time. Greco-Romana is closed right now due to a fire but is slated to re-open soon.
Have you tried Kennedy's in North Beach? What better idea than an Irish pub/Indian restaurant? I'd usually order a $5 pitcher of PBR, garlic naan and chicken kebabs. I miss it!
I live in Boston now. Once I stop my gluttonous behavior at the local north shore clam shacks, I'll look for some cool mash-up restaurants.
Reply
3-31-2006 @3:08PM J.Ho said... Also ... what is it with California and it's chinese restaurant/donut shops? I've a few of them in San Francisco when I lived there. I also lived in Newport Beach. Saw a few down that way as well.
Reply
3-31-2006 @3:21PM Robyn said... This sounds awesome!
Reply
3-31-2006 @3:23PM claireB said... Down here in Texas, Mexican is king. But regular Mexican is a dime a dozen. Why not mash it up? I had some great Mexican lasagna the other night and some places serve Mexican ravioli. Mexican-Italian mix is my favorite!
Reply
3-31-2006 @4:31PM a.j said... in toronto i've got a place that does Bangladeshi, Burgers and Greek; all of them really well. Kebabs, stews, salads, rice, souvlaki, plus all the greasy-spoon goodness you could ever want. And its open pretty much 23 hours a day.
Reply
3-31-2006 @4:31PM Ari said... If I remember correctly, the Little Chef down in San Diego's Ocean Beach neighborhood serves (served?) American, Greek, and Chinese.
Reply
3-31-2006 @4:44PM a.j said... in toronto i've got a place that does Bangladeshi, Burgers and Greek; all of them really well. Kebabs, stews, salads, rice, souvlaki, plus all the greasy-spoon goodness you could ever want. And its open pretty much 23 hours a day.
Reply
3-31-2006 @6:19PM josh said... My parents live in a small town in upstate New York, and there is a combination sushi/barbecue place. It isn't bad!
Reply
4-01-2006 @12:44AM extramsg said... You'd love this then:
http://www.supersizedmeals.com/food/article.php/2006033100413626
Largest Indian Pizza ever.
Reply
1-18-2009 @11:44PM mickster said... You MUST try Zante's in the Mission--and they deliver ANYWHERE (including hotels) in San Francisco with a minimum order of $15.
Reply
1-26-2009 @3:43PM josh said... Zante's is OK, but I was disappointed when I went there. I'd had Indian Pizza in Vancouver, where the toppings were an Aloo Matar and Aloo Gobi with some paneer. Zante's was too much just middling Indian on middling dough—not enough spices by far.
Reply