Panahar Bangladeshi Cuisine

09/27/09

Great food, wonderful service

by SQL11

From the moment you walk into Panahar, you are treated like a treasured guest. The waiters enthusiastically explain all items on the menu and make recommendations (which all proved to be excellent choices.) They do not offer alcohol for sale but you are welcome to BYOB which they will happily uncork (for free) and serve you. (A nice plus not having to pay $10 for a glass of wine like at so many other places.)

As I mentioned, the food was excellent. (I'm new to Bangladeshi & Indian food, so whether or not it was authentic, I can't say, but it was delicious.)

Prices are very reasonable -- my friend and I had appetizers, 2 main courses, an order of special rice and bread, and 2 desserts (one of which was on the house) all for $32!!!! I'll definitely be back soon.

• Pros: Food, service, BYOB
• Cons: tacky 1970's ambience, but, hey, it's part of the charm

07/21/09

Yummy but don't go if you have a deadline!

by aryeeka

I really enjoy dining at this restaurant, however over the numerous times I've been the service is consistently sloooww! That may be a positive -- perhaps if it's a date night when you'd prefer to not be rushed -- but I've learned that if I go it'll be a minimum of an hour and a half before I'm out the door.

• Pros: Delicious food, BYOB
• Cons: Sloooww service

12/29/08

Average cusine presented with loads of useless information

by Autobot1

First of all I would like to say that the place is not bad. Food is average to decent. Some dishes might be better. But I wouldn't go gaga over the editorial review. I really never liked any editorial reviews or ratings based on critiques being invited to taste their food. If you've invited a guest to your house wouldn't you keep your house tidy and clean, cook nice food? So if a food critique is invited to a restaurant, he/she will be treated with utmost care and the best quality food will be served. As a result a very positive review. But is it the case when you go to a restaurant on any given day? Food critiques should always go unannounced. Before writing a review let me state that I?m an Indian. I like to explore different cuisines. I have tried all sorts of regional cuisines in India and international cuisines here in US & UK.

I have read all the 57 reviews written so far. If you observe closely, users with Indian names didn't like it very much. But western reviewers have maximum praise for the owner. And it happened with me also. One reviewer raised this point. If you are from the Indian subcontinent you'll treated in a different way. We are used to this kind of "Hospitality". But if you happen to be a westerner then it might seem to be very polite overtly caring and genuinely inviting. After being received in such a way you might not like to complain about anything. Just ignore it. The hospitality makes the food taste better !! Yes it?s true. It's one of the inherent philosophies in the subcontinent. The owner was explaining me about the menu and there came some American guests. Drop everything !!! He ran towards them and offered them quick service. It happened twice during my stay.

Bottom line is food is average there. But if you are a westerner; because of the "Hospitality" you might like the food. Hence so many good reviews from westerners. But very few good reviews from Indians.

• Pros: Price
• Cons: Different skin color leads to different service