Indian restaurant near Miami campus has new name, new menu items

Samantha Grier/Staff photographer Chicken Tendur at Taj Mahal II in Oxford.

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By Sue Perine O’Reilly, Contributing Writer 8:07 AM Friday, August 27, 2010

OXFORD — More than a month ago, the Oxford Indian restaurant Rohan India changed hands, getting new owners, a new name, new management and a new menu with three additional pages of food items.

The new name: Taj Mahal II. The new owners: The Singh family.

“We call it the Taj Mahal II because we have another one in Springdale,” said Harkinder (A.J.) Singh, one of the family restaurant owners. “We’re trying to start a chain — my father, Paramjeet Singh, and my brothers, Chef Amarjeet Singh and Surjit Singh, and me. And we wanted to give a new name to the restaurant that everyone would know and associate with India. “

Thus, Taj Mahal II was opened.

The new manager is Liz Wicks, who grew up in Oxford, according to Harkinder.

Many new food items have been added to the daily buffet — making around 30 selections available during the week, Harkinder said.

“On weekends, in the evening, we’re going to have even more — 40 to 50 food items in the buffet,” Harkinder said.

In addition to authentic Indian dishes, the Singh family is adding Indo-Chinese food items and grilled kabobs to the new menu.

“Indo-Chinese is when Chinese food is cooked with Indian spices,” said Harkinder. “We will be serving that out on our new patio soon.”

Server Anna Featherstone could bring a patron one of several Indian beverages, including the well-known mango lassi, among others, if ordered.

“We also have a full-service bar with international beer, wine, hard liquor and mixed drinks,” Harkinder said.

But let’s get back to the buffet. The buffet is wonderful, and it includes dal (lentil) soup seasoned with herbs and spices such as cardamom.

Many items in the buffet may also be purchased as a single food item on the new menu, such as egg curry.

Vegetable pakora, assorted fresh fritters in a lightly spiced, fried batter, is one of the more popular appetizers on the menu.

Favorite breads on the menu, according to Harkinder, are garlic-stuffed nan and kashmiri nan.

“Kashmiri nan is (Indian) bread stuffed with cashews, pistachios, raisins and cherries.”

Other customer favorite dishes include chicken biryani, served with raita, and a vegetarian entree called saag paneer.

“Saag paneer is very good. It’s homemade cheese cooked with spinach and aromatic spices,” said Harkinder. “And everything is made fresh in-house here every day — even the cheese.”

According to Chef Amarjeet Singh, the signature dish of the restaurant — the one that most reflects India — is the vegetarian Thai specialty. It’s three veggie dishes with dal, rice, nan, raita and dessert.

In India, the state of Punjabi serves a very popular dish called Punjabi-style chili chicken. And yes, it’s on the new menu with the chicken dishes. This dish, which contains chicken, onions, green peppers and spices in a dry sauce, is very popular in the United States, too.

Goat, lamb, shrimp and fish dishes also comprise much of the new menu.

Butter chicken and tandoori chicken are also favorite dishes. Tandoori chicken is a half chicken, marinated in spiced yogurt and cooked in a clay oven.

“Carlos Rodriquez (another cook) makes all of our tandoori dishes,” said Harkinder. “He’s made them for a long time.”

Another fact about this blossoming restaurant is that college students in Oxford can go to the website CampusSpecial.com and order their food for pick-up or delivery with a fee.

Taj Mahal II

Where: 339 Foxfire Drive, Oxford (across from McDonald’s)

When: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; also 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Sun.

Info: (513) 523-4444; carry-out, delivery with a fee, soon.

Critic’s choice: Buffet with 30-50 food items

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