Khyber Cherry Hill Review – Hail the Chefs

To the bozos running fake New Jersey Indian restaurants like Aangan, Mirchi, Urban Tadkaa, Sankalp et al, here’s some pukkat advice for y’all:

If you dolts have even a single ounce of gray matter in your heads you’ll quickly fire your kitchen staff, cancel their H1B Visas and steal the two amazing chefs at Khyber Cherry Hill John (the Goan) and Amrik Singh (the Tandoori guy).

Man, these two guys John and Amrik Singh certainly know their way around an Indian kitchen. The duo make the Indian food sing.

Truth be said, when we walked into Khyber Cherry Hill (adjacent to Subzi Mandi in the Wood Crest shopping Center at 1400 Berlin Rd) we were a little apprehensive over seeing a solitary diner. But by the time we left the restaurant some 35-40 minutes later, we had counted 25 people in all! Go figure.

Pakoras, Tandoori Chicken, Aloo Baingan

No, we didn’t have any shuddering orgasms during our lunch at Khyber Cherry Hill (NJ) but sotto voce we’ll confess that we came close to one.

Who’d have thought an ugly-looking Indian restaurant in an ugly little strip mall in an ugly New Jersey town called Cherry Hill would serve such delicious food.

Appetizer or entrees, desserts or service, the talented folks at Khyber Cherry Hill know their onions, and their curries too.

Just thinking of our meal, we’re salivating so badly there’s water all over our keyboard. Just kidding!

During our recent visit, we, the perennially querulous sort, were hard pressed to find a single item that didn’t meet our demanding expectations. Well, we didn’t like the Mango Chutney (guess that came from a canned bottle).

But the other stuff ranging from Aloo Baingan to Tandoori Chicken to Palak Paneer and even the humble Dal Makhani played charming symphonies on our tastebuds without missing a beat.

Aishwarya Rai of Curries

Tandoori Chicken, a travesty at most New Jersey Indian restaurants, was a juicy treat here whose memories will linger long after you pay the credit card bill.

At Khyber Cherry Hill, Aloo Baingan Masala is the Aishwarya Rai of curries, the kinda stuff over which battles are fought.

Spicy, slightly oily and tasty beyond words.

After a few bites we felt our life had not been lived in vain. If ever an Indian vegetarian dish had a flamboyant personality, it was Khyber’s Aloo Baingan Masala. Easily, our favorite part of the meal.

Gosh, we almost forgot to tell you guys about appetizers. They had two varieties of Pakoras (Brinjal and Cauliflower) and hot Tomato Soup. All we can say is Yummy and Yummier.

Chicken Curry, White Rice, Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer, again a disaster at most Indian restaurants, turned out to be spicy delight here. The thin, shredded ginger pieces on top was a nice touch.

The boneless Chicken Curry could have been a trifle spicier but still spicy enough not to arouse our wrath.

Hey, even the Dal Makhani that nobody gives a damn about and invariably gets short shrift elsewhere proved to be cause for elation. Creamy and with a flavor of ginger, it was great with rice and greater with the superb Naan bread.

By the time, we hit Chicken Makhani we were so full we could barely do it, fine as it was, justice

Banana Custard was thick and hit the bull’s eye on milk and sugar.

Masala Chai should have definitely been hotter (temperature-wise) but it was not lukewarm.

Polite Service at Khyber Cherry Hill

There were no service snafus during our meal.

Our Bangladeshi waiter was polite, prompt and friendly. He got us our Naan bread, filled the water glasses and cleared the finished plates promptly. Our Indian waiters should be sent to him for training.

At $7.99, you’d be a blithering idiot not to visit Khyber Cherry Hill on Berlin Road in Cherry Hill (NJ) for the weekday lunch buffet.

SearchIndia.com recommends Khyber Cherry Hill.