We made it to the "Eat Cheap" Best Bargain Restaurants

Well, the Washingtonian has finally conferred on one of my restaurants the Eat Cheap title. SpiceXing in Rockville is mentioned in their June '09 edition. Once again the Chicken Wings have been singled out for praise. In the present economic times these Best Bargains are really worth it. While it is great to go to the 100 Best for special occasions, it is these bargain restaurants that most people are wont to patronize on a day to day basis.

excerpt below:
Spice Xing
100 Gibbs Street Rockville MD 20850, phone: 301 610 0303

Why go: Sudhir Seth, chef/owner of the more traditional Passage to India in Bethesda, opened this storefront in Rockville Town Center to highlight the European and East Asian influences in Indian cuisine: Flavors of Portugal, China, France, and Spain find their way into food that is as vibrant as the Technicolor décor.

What to get: Tandoori chicken wings with a citrus tang; dahi papri chaat, a combination of seasoned yogurt and firm chickpeas, with a crackling garnish of sev, fried chicpea noodles; malbari chicken, a rust-orange curry with coconut, coriander, and tomato; aloo do piaza, cumin-scented potatoes with charred onions; paneer makhani, mild tofu-like cubes of Indian cheese in a barely sweet butter-and-tomato sauce.

Best for: Budget dining with the feel of a four-star restaurant.

Insider tip: At happy hour, Monday through Friday 2.30 to 6.30, nine appetizers, such as tandoori wings, are $3 or $4 each.


Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Khurmi Naan

It seems that Tim Carmen of Washington City Paper was not wowed by the Khurmi Naan which otherwise has developed quite a few lovers at SpiceXing restaurant. But at the same time he has made a few valid points. Guess I will have to start using the AMUL cheese which is imported from India and while I was growing up that was the only processed cheese available. Also some other guests have also expressed a desire to have the crust thinner and crispier.

"On Tap" magazine mention

Spice Xing, the newest addition to the Rockville Town Center, has a reserved elegance about it. From the outside, it looks like a quaint and inviting restaurant. When you walk through the doors, your eyes experience an explosion of color. From a ceiling draped in a rainbow of gentle hues of yellow, green, blue and pink fabrics to an outstanding turquoise wall embellished with a plastic Hindu Wishing Tree and amber colored beads, the vibrant atmosphere at Spice Xing appeals to your senses. The two men responsible for Spice Xing are Harry Sanotra and Chef Sudhir Seth. Both have extensive experience in the food and hospitality business. Hailing from two very different regions of India (Sanotra from Kolkata, while Seth is from New Delhi), the menu is a melting pot of food and spice combinations that can only be found within India’s diverse cultures. Including a creative drink list with selections ranging from a Lychee Mojito to a Tamarind Margarita, the Spice Xing menu urges customers to step outside of their comfort zone of Chicken Tikka Masala and Samosas (which are on the menu.) Menu items typed in red signify dishes influenced by other cultures, like the Persian-inspired Salli Boti Jardaloo and Portuguese-style Balchao shrimp. This automatically makes the curious palate want to take a leap into an Indian history lesson that just so happens to be a plate of beautifully choreographed food and flavors. This reasonably priced restaurant , with main dishes ranging from $10.95 to $14.95, deserves a visit. Go ahead…allow yourself to be enamored by the sensory experience. You can thank me later. -- A. Lexington
Spice Xing: 100 Unit B Gibbs St., Rockville, MD; 301-610-0303;