Indian buffet? (Columbia: restaurants, price, shopping center)

[lisake]

I have some vegetarian family members coming for a visit this weekend, and their lone request was that we go to an Indian buffet. Is Delhi Palace (at I-20 and Broad River Road) good, or is there another Indian buffet you'd recommend?

I read a few online reviews of Delhi Palace and basically got the impression that while the outside of the building is a bit run-down, the inside is very nice and, more importantly, the food and service are very good.

Thanks!

[jlboney]

There is also an Indian place with a buffet on Devine Street in 5 Points.

[lisake]

I thought about going to that one (India Pavilion, right?) It's closer to home, but I saw a few bad reviews online. Someone mentioned in one review that the competition might be posting the bad reviews.

Have you been there personally? How was it?

Thanks so much.

[newbee2010]

Sometimes people get mad for a particular incident and put a bad review. So, you can ignore odd bad ones and look at the general trend. But take it from me, as for my personal experience here are the top two Indian restaurant in columbia:
Punjabi Dhaba
1201 Bush River Rd
Columbia, SC 29210-7533
(803) 798-8011

bombay grill
boozer shopping center
245 bush river road, Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 772-5121

They are on opposite sides of dutch square mall.

Here is my review of both of them:
Panjabi Dhaba has greatest variety and the food is great. There are frequent parties there for indian community of about 100 people. So you can trust that people will not go there such a big investment if they are bad.
The Bombay grill is new and the quality of the food on the menu is slightly better than Panjabi Dhaba. But their buffet does not have the variety like Panjabi dhaba. Sometimes a little pricey and qulity is little inferior to their menu items. The Bombay Grille is Charlotte and Atlanta is superb and they are probably trying to get one here. If you order menu items, this one is great.
So without getting confused by different views, it is better to give either of those a shot.
By the way, the india pavilion or whatever that is in the downtown five points is probably the worst indian restaurant I have seen all over us(I travela lot and always look for indian restaurants in different cities).
Hoe it helps.

[jlboney]

I've been to the India Pavilian a few times and it was good everytime I was there. I have not been to the other spot you mentioned, but that's not to say it's not good, I just haven't been.

[waccamatt]

I've been to both India Pavilion and Delhi Palace and both have been good, but it has been awhile. I don't know if either has a buffet, though. I prefer ordering off the menu.