Planet Bollywood

I’m in town for work so it was nice to find this place close at hand. It was a slow night and the staff was courteous and friendly. I had the vegetable Samosa, Chana Masala and naan. The Samosa were wonderfully crispy and flaky on the outside as they should be, and the filling was spot on, albeit a tad sweet, but I am nit picking. The Chana was good as was the basamati. Both featured a nice balance of flavor. I asked for a Seven out of 10 heat for my Chana and could have gone to eight. In any case, it was delicious. I’m looking forward to the Korma and Vindaloo!
I’d recommend anyone to stop in. I’d write more, but you don’t have time for my scribbling.
Enjoy

I feel sad writing this review because a) the place was so dark, empty, and silent when we went that we thought for a moment it might be closed, which is too bad because b) it was absolutely scrumptious.
The naan was soft yet flaky, the lassis were thick and creamy. My kebab was juicy and nicely spiced and all our leftovers were still delicious the next day. Definitely a step above your run-​of-​the-​mill Indian joint. Still, it was awkward because we went on a weeknight and it was obvious they turned on some music and came out from the back just for us.
Go now, because who knows how much longer this place will be around!

Delicious food, great location and sweet woman who runs the place! They seem to do a lot of lunch business but are never very busy in the evenings, don’t let that scare you, the food has always been fantastic for me!

So far the best Indian restaurant I’ve found in downtown Silver Spring. Get the mulaguttawney (sp?) soup. I like the spinach dish, my wife loves the Chana masala.
I don’t understand the last review. This place is good! My wife and I love it, and took a party of 8 there, and they all loved it too! Prices are reasonable, and you get a lot of food. I think I’m going there tonight!
Enjoy.

they need to hire more staff ASAP. appetizers that will melt your face off. after the appetizer i was eating my channa masala and wondering why my mouth was still on fire.
on fire with delicious!
my indian friend was very surprised i loved that spicy hot

Fantastic and innovative place! I ordered their Bollywood kebab… I’m a fan of cilantro. When the chicken came out, it was green, and also the most delicious chicken that I’ve ever had at an Indian restaurant. The staff were friendly and willing to tell me how they did that. The mint-​and-​cilantro chicken was tender and juicy, and contrasted well with the julienned vegetables and Basmati rice that the dish came with. I’ll definitely be back to try their other offerings.

Right across the street from the AFI, this restaurant is good for a quick bite before a movie there or at the Majestic. Both times I visited, the entrees arrived within 5 minutes. Once, though, the naan didn’t arrive until halfway through the meal, and the sambosa appetizer didn’t until the end. There were no delays on the second visit, however.
The entrees have a lot of food; expect to be stuffed or take some home.
They seem to aim for Americans’ milder tastes. With the Chicken Korma, they asked how spicy I wanted it, and «medium» was only a little. With the Tandoori, they didn’t ask, and it was as mild as milk. They were still tasty, but if you want spicy, make sure you emphasize that when ordering.
Their mango lassi is the best I’ve had. It has a thicker, almost milkshake –like consistency, tasting like there’s real whipped mango in there, not just some juice. The amount of ice is modest, so you get plenty to drink and it doesn’t get watered down when it melts.

Ordered from Takeout Taxi. The food was delicious, but the amount of food in the entrees containers was a bit light; there could have been a bit more inside for the $. Way more than enough rice. We got the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma, saag makhani, some veg samosas. Naan and roti were good not great. I’m willing to give them another shot to get to 4 stars.

This is a fantastic find of a local restaurant. It is not a fancy restaurant, but the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, cloth tables and napkins, low, romantice lighting at night. This is a great place to come with friends, family, your significant other, or by yourself. The service was quick and friendly. I ate there by myself tonight, so I’m afraid that I cannot review that many dishes. I ordered a mango lassi, the chicken korma (which comes with rice), naan, and lastly a slice of coconut cake. The mango lassi was sweet and creamy and cold. The chicken korma was the best I’ve ever had. The sauce was creamy but not oily. It was also very smooth in texture (most other places have a very lumpy korma sauce). The chicken meat was so incredibly tender and flavorful that it melts in your mouth. The rice was cooked perfectly. This may seem like a no-​brainer but sometimes I find rice in restaurants to be a little dry, or wet and covered in oil or butter. The rice at Planet Bollywood was moist and clean tasting. The dinner portions were huge (my doggie bag has enough for another meal). The naan was outstanding. It is very very lightly brushed with what I’m fairly sure is Ghee. It has a very nice slightly sweet flavor to it. The naan had parts that were thicker and chewier and parts that were thinner and crispy. It was nice to have both textures. It was not greasy at all. The coconut cake was so delicious I had to ask it it was made by Planet Bollywood or if they bought it from a bakery. Rosemary said it was made there at Planet Bollywood. I was impressed because this cake was so perfect, moist, with coconut creamy frosting in the middle and the top. It is a perfect blend of creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. The flavor is so good and intense that just a few bites is very satisfying.
This dinner ran me a little over $ 25.00 before tip. It was well worth it, and I’m looking forward to eating my leftovers for another meal.

I love this restaurant! It is quaint and cozy, and the service is great (especially if Sanjay is your server).
The food here is fantastic: the lamb dopiaza is consistent, flavorful, and the cuts of meat are lean. The chicken tikka masala is the best I have had in the area, and the sides of rice are always tasty and well-​prepared.
Past reviewers have said that the naan is lacking, but I disagree. I am pleased with it every time I come, and have even had the bread-​basket, which is also very satisfying.
I suggest trying the masala chai, as well. It is a great, hot beverage to have with your meal, and the happy hour specials are also very good.
In the winter months, request a booth toward the back of the restaurant.

We love this place, and just wish more people would see how great it really is. It’s a shame when the Red Lobster across the street is packed, and a real gem like this place doesn’t get the same traffic. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for about a year now, and we love it. We bring friends as often as we can. I didn’t think I liked Indian food until I came here. The butter chicken is so nomular, and my boyfriend pretty much always gets the chicken jalfrezi.
THIS IS A MOM AND POP SHOP. The owner is likely to be your server, and he is terrific (Stanley) and down to earth. This place is not snobby and does not to be something it’s not. It’s just trying to make delicious Indian food, and get patrons. Anyone who says the service isn’t good… get over yourselves. This place is a fantastic joint, and in fact I’m going there this Friday to enjoy a pleasant dinner in the company of friends in a lovely restaurant.

It was an ordinary day in Silver Spring, Maryland… and yet it wasn’t. A lunch mob of us traveled in a caravan of energy efficient autos from our place of underemployment to the magical destination known as «Planet Bollywood». Thoughts of curry and masala dosa filled our heads as we drove into the public garage off Spring Street…(«The Next Stop is Spring Street») .But…Alas. we caught the purveyors of the South Indian savories unaware… If this was a confrontational situation instead of a gastronomic one — they would have called it an ambush… we all felt for the unfortunate sad eyed restauranteurs… but once the menus were in hand we knew there was no turning back. …we were there for the duration. All present performed their role in the ordering ritual…“the expert”, «the novice», «the one who normally doesn’t eat in ethnic restaurants».. The food was served and unlike the reviews before and hence the food itself fell short of our stratospheric expectations… we were offered a part of a coconut cake due to a nativity celebration… both the birthday girl and the cake were a little old… To be fair this visit occurred in the distant past, August 2010. My curiosity was rewarded when I discovered ratings are rising since then — So I will not judge too harshly and I will try again…
update to follow…

Delicious! My husband and I decided to try this place despite mixed reviews on the web, and I was pleasantly surprised.
We got the assorted appetizer, Lamb Vindaloo, and the Bollywood Kabob. The samosas were huge and delicious — definitely my favorite of the appetizers, which were all quite tasty. The lamb vindaloo was savory and very spicy, and everything I hoped it would be. (I always feel let down when a menu claims an item to be spicy, and once you get the food it barely even tingles.) My husband had the Bollywood Kabob, which was odd looking but great tasting. The assortment of sauces on the side that came with our appetizers and meals were also delicious, and we had fun playing around with sauce/​food combinations as we explored our dishes. I really enjoyed their rice too, which was surprisingly flavorful. We followed up our meal with the rice pudding, which was the only disappointment of the evening. It was OK, but nothing spectacular or particularly well done — a little too gelatinous.
In addition to the yummy food, the service was fantastic. Our waitress turned out to be the co-​owner of the restaurant, and she was pleasant, efficient, and helped us make some smart food choices that night.
I’m not an expert on Indian cuisine, but I am pretty picky about my food. I can’t tell you if my meal matched up in terms of authentic Indian recipes and traditional Indian cuisine, but i can say that I was blown away by the strong, interesting and cohesive flavors I enjoyed at Planet Bollywood.

I was happy when this place opened – Silver Spring is sorely lacking good Indian food. And then I ate there. I am happy no more. It’s a first — day old naan then likely microwaved? So chewy (or barely so). Chix Tikka so salty it seemed to be coated with a paste from trader joes. Oh well.

We had 30 mins before our film at the AFI — our first choice for a drink was Ray’s the Classics– but it was a mob scene there, so we came here and propped up the bar. The menu looked good — especially the lunch menu — but we just stared at the diners and had a couple of drinks.
One diner sent back his mussels — he did not like them
Two diners looked incredibly happy together and made us go «Awwww»
One big happy family table had kids with face paint on.
This place is one of those places which is either going to be just OK or a sleeper hit — we will go back and try the food ourselves. The Bollywood posters are blue –tacked onto the wall, which is my bedroom w. Che Guevara circa 1980 or my office circa w/​kids paintings 2010, the their interior designer chose paint colors which are a wee bit too dark for my taste — but other than that — a decent spot.

Raj walked along the concrete sidewalks dolefully missing the dirt his once bare feet had traversed, time and time again, as young boy back in his country village home.
Home, he called it always, and even though it had been a number of years, for those who keep track of time, since he had been back to his village, it was always with him no matter where the oceans of the Earth would cast him aside, like a tiny fishing boat caught in a storm.
«What now?» he thought to himself as he perambulated along the city streets. He was very careful to side step the ants for fear of inflicting any more damage to his Karma. What could he have done so wrong in his past lives to merit such an existence now? Perhaps he had been an ant many lifetimes ago and done something horribly wrong, like accidentally kill the queen, sending the entire colony into perdition.
Such are the ways of the universe.
«Why did I come here?» he thought to himself. «I should have just stayed at home. There would nothing for me there, but it would be my nothing.» Raj reflected on crossing the Oceans and starting his career as taxi cab driver, even though he barely knew how to drive, but somehow managed to earn enough money over the years to open up a liquor store with his cousin. They lost the liquor store when a developer bought the building they were renting and gave them a six month notice to vacate.
«What will I do now?»
He began to sweat. A dull blackness began to drip down his spine. Just as he felt completely absent from himself, Raj noticed a wild flower sprouting up in between the cracks of the concrete. It reminded him of the time when Vishnu commanded Brahma to create the universe. He tried to imagine what it looked like all the way back when time was created by the breaking of the lotus flower and suddenly felt hungry. Hunger was something he had not felt in days.
Without thought, he turned around and read the sign on the window.
Planet Bollywood.
It was instantly familiar and yet strange.
He entered into the nicely decorated restaurant and began to order dish upon dish, that would feed a family of three, as he was inspired and famished. The kebab platter contained a satisfying sampling of tandoori shrimp, chicken tikka, seekh, malai, and bollywood kebabs, all painted in green, orange, and yellow. Another part of the feast was a tangy chicken saag. The samosas and garlic naan were most satisfactory.
Raj wiped his mouth clean, and then felt a pang of deja vu. Yes, yes, yes this was the Across the Street Café. He thought it had died, but it lives now as the Planet Bollywood.
Throwing his napkin on his empty plate, Raj left filled with thoughts of the eclectic menu of mussels, burgers, masala, and kebabs and of flowers that grow between the cracks of sidewalks and that no matter what Shiva may destroy — Vishnu and Brahma will create again
and again
and…

Just ok. Has potential for more.
The owners are very nice and accommodating. Had the saag paneer. Wasn’t bad, but I felt the paneer chucks were too big for my taste. My dining companion had the korma. She said it was just ok.
We also had samosas at the start of the meal. The dough/​breading was way too thick, but the inside was not bad. The naan needs to be worked on, it was not good naan at all.
One thing these owners need to do is revamp the menu. It’s called Planet Bollywood, but the menu reminds you of a ghetto Chinese carryout with a bit of everything. Grilled Salmon? Saag Paneer? Mussel pots? Gyro platter? Fettucine Alfredo? Yes, the place calls themself «Indian cuisine w/​and international twist,» but there are far too many «twists» to convince me they do anything really good. The focus should be quality, not quantity, and some simple good Indian will suffice in downtown Silver Spring where it is lacking.
It could come off a bit cleaner as well.
So for the recap:
1. Redo the menu w/​Indian focus
2. Improve the naan and samosas
3. Look into head Indian cook. I would suggest trying to find the guy that cooked at Kitchen India in Beltsville. He was really good, but the business was not in a good area.

Friendliest staff, enthusiastic willingness to serve, and delicious food!
We found this place quite accidentally and decided to try it out. My mother, friend, and I were greeted immediately and warmly by one of Planet Bollywood’s smiling staff as soon as we walked in. As only one other table was occupied at the moment, we were given our choice of seating and furnished with menus, ice water, and Indian food’s equivalent of a basket of bread or «Chinese noodles» — a flat, warm, thin and light, crispy texture, served with a spicy dipping sauce — right away.
My friend and I both enjoyed our (very tasty) food: a vegetarian dish for me, and a lamb-​with-​spinach dish for him. My mother and I ordered tea; our waitress brought out a wide selection of herbal and regular teas from which to choose, and an individual pot of hot water for each of us. Though I prefer loose-​leaf teas, this was a great selection for a restaurant. When my mother asked for more hot water in her teapot, our waitress was happy to fulfill that request unhesitatingly! Meanwhile, my friend ordered a bottle of wine from their full bar selection, which they presented very professionally.
My father joined us a little later and ordered a lentil-​based soup that he liked quite a lot. (I tasted it; it was good!) We lingered, chatted with the staff, enjoyed spending time together… and then the owner brought us rice pudding as a complimentary welcome to their restaurant!
By this point, it was getting quite late; they were ready to close the kitchen, yet made no indication whatsoever that they were ready for us to leave. My sister called to say she was nearby with a couple friends and that they wanted to join us and order some rice pudding. I checked with the owner (who was chatting with a customer by the bar) to ask how late they would remain open; and, although they were closing the kitchen and had flipped the sign to «closed,» the owner and staff warmly greeted my sister and friends and were happy to serve them the rice pudding they were craving.
Update:
I visited the website to find their hours on Thursday nights — I am in a choir that rehearses Th. evenings, after which a group of 10 – 15 of us goes out to a local bar /​restaurant, a different one each week (though we repeat often). I wrote them to ask if they are ever open later, for we would like to come by; they wrote back a very nice message saying that they will be happy to stay open later for us, if we will just call or e-​mail a little ahead of time to inform them we’re coming by, and that they will be happy to arrange something special for the group.
Well, I’m impressed. :) What a great community addition! I am quite a fan and wish Planet Bollywood the very best in success in Downtown Silver Spring.

It’s not your average person that would venture into an Indian restaurant for an American brunch on a Sunday, but that’s what my neighbor and I did.
We arrived ten minutes before 11:00 am to find the place not yet open. We almost decided to try somewhere else, but instead we just walked up the street looking in windows and back to find they had opened and two other tables had been occupied. So, at least we wouldn’t be brunching alone.
We were given the regular lunch menu as were the other tables and everyone called out to the sole waitress to bring the brunch menu. The selections are typical breakfast foods, but decently priced. Pancakes or French toast will only set you back $ 5.99. For $ 1.00 more you’ll get a generous portion of bacon (six pieces although rather small after frying).
My friend had the pancakes and I had the French toast made with «Texas toast». My meal was good, but pretty average. My friend didn’t like her pancakes, mainly because they were cold. It did take a long time to receive our food after we ordered, and mind you there were only seven other people in the place. A nice touch was that they offered a free glass of champagne, orange juice or mimosa with your meal. I enjoyed my mimosa, but finished it long before the food came.
The décor is exactly as it was when this place was its former incarnation, Across the Street Café, only maybe a new shade of paint on the walls. (I actually think it may be the same owners because their websites are very similar in their design.) Also, it was really chilly in there, so dress warmly if you come. I’m not sure if I’ll be back, but the brunch prices are reasonable, even for their Crab Benedict ($ 12.99). Let’s just hope it’s served warm.

Well i regret going here! It was cold, dark and even as the only customer the service was poor… My chicken vindaloo was ok, but not spicy at all and clearly it lacked passion.
I was enticed by the $ 4.99 lunch specials only to find nothing under $ 7.99. The place failed.