Surya Fine Indian Cuisine

After last week's disappointing visit to the India Cafe, Syd and I were very pleasantly surprised with our first (but not our last) visit to Surya's Fine Indian Cuisine on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester after a recommendation from stART on the Street's Tina Zlody. And Surya's lived up to it's name. It is indeed Fine Indian Cuisine.

Syd and I had worked late last night so we were (or at least I was) undecided what I wanted for dinner. We were thinking about going to the Thai Place but we suddenly decided that maybe we should give Surya's a try. It was right on the way home, so it would be a good opportunity to see what this place is like.

We had arrived long after the dinner hour, so the place wasn't crowded. Which was very nice because it gave me an opporunity to really take the place in. Already I loved the atmosphere. Inside it reminded me a little bit of a more spacious version of the House of India which used ot be on Park Ave in the Woo. Very much like House of India, Surya's was playing music videos India on a television screen. The thing I loved about House of India is they would play movies from Bollywood.

I love Indian Music. Walking into an Indian Restaurant and hearing that music being played is always a very welcoming feeling.

Right from the start the person serving had us immediately seated us and not long after was taking both our drink and meal orders. Unlike our previous dining experience somewhere else, our server was very pleasant and actually existed.

What impressed me even more is this place had Flying Horse!! An Indian Beer I really enjoy!!

We got some Vegetable Pakora for appetizers. Which were excellent. As for our main course Syd got the Malai Kofta and I got the Chicken Saag. Malai Kofta is Syd's measuring stick on how good a restaurant is. And the one she got passed the test. I've wanted the Chicken Saag since our trip to India Cafe last week. Chicken and spinach just sounded really good that night and I was just feeling very disappointed I wasn't able to have it. Surya's made it worth the wait because the one I had there was really really good!!

And I haven't even gotten to their Nan. The Nan at Surya's is amazing. Best I've ever had!!

We did not leave Surya's hungry or unsatisfied. We left full and ready for bed. Like I said, this was our first but not our last visit. And we highly recommend you check out Surya's if you're passing through Worcester MA. You will not be disappointed.

The Sherlock Holmes Pub

When I went on a trip to England back in 2000, one of the places I really regret not getting the opportunity to check out while visiting London was the Sherlock Holmes Pub. I did get the opportunity to tour the Sherlock Holmes Museum. But not the pub.

I really didn't find out about the place until a couple years later when I picked up a copy of Sherlock Holmes's London used from That's Entertainment. I had to slap myself in the forehead for missing the opportunity to check it out.

Mostly because they have on the 221B Baker Street Study used in the Festival of Britain on permanent display behind glass in the pub. If you've seen the 1959 Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles starring Peter Cushing, then you have seen this display used as the set design for Baker Street.

I've actually used and continue to use it as reference for my version of the Baker Street Study. Actually, I combine it with the the one from the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

If and when Syd and I decide to go on a vacation across the Atlantic, I may have to make an effort to get a pint at the Sherlock Holmes Pub.

The latest Mel Gibson Tirade

There's nothing certain in life except for death, taxes and Mel Gibson having a meltdown. You've probably heard the latest one over and over again. There's about sixty-million Youtube videos. Both with and without subtitles. But now hear it... TO THE SIX FLAGS MUSIC!!

India Cafe you let me down... again!

India Cafe in Shrewsbury MA used to be a place I would recommend to every body.

Now I don't think I would recommend it to anyone.  And I'm sad to say this isn't the first time I've gone in there and got really bad service. But at least the first time we actually got our meals. Eventually. But we still got fed.

Like I said, I used to love going to India Cafe. The prices were reasonable and the food was excellent. Probably the best Lamb Curry I have ever had.

I decided to surprise Syd and take her out for dinner. We had both considered going to the India Cafe for our one year wedding anniversary but we had both mentioned having a hankering for Indian Food for a couple weeks now so we decided "Why not?" and headed out to India Cafe right after we got home to freshen up.

To be honest I'm glad we DID go there that night because I know exactly where we WON'T go for our anniversary.

When we get there there's probably only two or maybe three customers in the whole store. We sat down and are given menu's. We make up our minds and wait for someone to come over to take our order. A few minutes pass and no one has even come over to take a drink order. And the water we were served is terrible.

So Syd and I chat for a little bit trying to give this place the benefit of the doubt. In my mind I'm begging that they don't let me down again. Syd's timing it on her cell phone. I happen to see one of the wait staff walking by. I know I made eye contact with him but he doesn't come over.

Now we're starting to get annoyed.

FIFTEEN MINUTES PASS!! Syd finally looks down at her cellphone and quietly says to me "Okay, we're done!" I nod and we both get up and leave.
In the car we both agree this was the last time we are going to India Cafe. The mere fact that they didn't seem to take notice us getting up and leaving seemed a bit hard to believe seeing that we were the only people in the restaurant. If I were to make a judgement call, it just seemed like they really didn't want to serve us. It just seemed like they didn't want us to be in there whatsoever.

And judging by the lack of patrons in the restaurant, I'm not even sure if they want to stay in business.
If the place was busy then I might be more forgiving. Maybe. But there wasn't ANYONE there by the time we decided we had enough!! This was just poor service.

So we decided to go to Bauhinia's instead. Which I think in less than a half hour from when we left India Cafe it seemed like we were given our drinks and our order was taken within seconds we were seated. And the only reason it took a little longer to take our order had nothing to do with the wait staff. We just couldn't decide what we wanted.

Ever since The Chef of India (which I loved and miss) across the road became the Bollywood Grill, India Cafe has been my place to go for my fix for Indian cuisine. It was just really good and really affordable. I don't know if India Cafe under new management or what. But ever since they went under renovations it has not been the same place I used to enjoy several years ago. Which is a shame because the renovations they made were decent.

However, after the way we were treated we have given up on the India Cafe and that will be our last trip there. And that's disappointing.

Johnathan Frid: December 2, 1924 - April 14, 2012

I was very sorry to hear about the passing of Jonathan Frid. The man who originated the role of Barnabas Collins. He died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. Funny to think the show might have been been cancelled until Frid was cast in the role of 200 year old vampire Barnabas Collins.

A character that was supposed to only have a brief 13 episode run and Frid only took the role to earn money to become an acting teacher. But the character proved to be so popular that ratings went up and cemented the show's cult classic status.

With the exception of a couple films, Frid had primarily done stage work in Canada since the cancellation of the series. Although, he had reprised the role he made famous for a Big Finish audio The Night Whispers and is going to make a cameo in Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of the show.

I find certain parallels to the show Doctor Who. Not merely because of the production values, but also it seems like both shows acquired cult status with the introduction of a charasmatic actor. In Doctor Who's case, it was Tom Baker taking the role of the Doctor that Doctor Who didn't reach cult status in the States.

Funny thing is, both Jonathan Frid and Tom Baker were unknowns before taking their respective parts. Tom Baker had actually been working on a building site when he accepted the role.

Rest in Peace Jonathan Frid.

Beware of the NINNIES!!

It'll be available for purchase in May but you can preorder your copy of The Ninnies by Paul Magrs now!!

I've always enjoyed Paul's Doctor Who, Brenda and Effie and Iris Wildthyme work. So, I was thrilled to be able to supply the illustrations for The Ninnies!! It was a lot of fun to work on and to read!! It's one of those books intended for Young Adults but you can take it off your children's shelf and not feel embarrassed reading.

Click on the image below to preorder your copy today:

The House of Dark Shadows Illustration

Illustration of Barnabas Collins I did recently. The sepia tones are inspired by the restored version of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.