If this week has taught us anything, it has taught us that Forrest Gump had it right when he said, “you never know what you’re gonna get.” We eat at recommended, trendy restaurants that are not as good as the hole in the wall, family run places we tend to frequent. Yet, while in Denton, a friend recommended Rasoi, the Indian Kitchen, for a quick dinner before a meeting, then drove to a gas station and got out of the car.
A gas station! Needless to say, skepticism ran high. We noticed the cars at the pump area were actually parked and not filling up their tanks, so that helped. As we walked in to what appeared to be a convenience store, we saw bags of dahl in various colors, a cigarette rack and a small buffet. A friendly woman came from the back and asked what we wanted. Nothing was labeled, so we asked for whatever was vegetarian. While the woman loaded our plates with rice and what seemed like everything from the buffet (which was not, in fact, serve yourself), we noticed a menu with specials of the day that included one main dish and rice for $4.99.
Cheap food at any place can be scary. Cheap food out of what still registered as a gas station in our minds prompted a strong fear response, but we soldiered through. It was a good thing we did, too, because this place proved to be a great find! We are pretty sure there was a saag and potatoes dish, and maybe chana and some dahl on the plate, but honestly we didn’t ask and she didn’t tell. She plopped one scoop of everything vegetarian atop the rice, asked if we wanted salad, which she centered on top of the pile, and we went around the corner. The space where the merchandise shelves once stood now houses maybe a dozen tables. The reach-in coolers stay stocked with drinks, but there is also a soda fountain if that’s more your speed.
We sat down and dug in to find nothing was overly spicy, and everything tasted great. The potatoes seemed like new potatoes rather than the large Idaho variety and all of the vegetables stood out on their own merit. The “everything vegetarian” option was only about $7, so definitely not expensive and we left so stuffed we almost opted out of the meeting for which we were in Denton in the first place. And we couldn’t even finish! Two vegetarians could split this plate and have plenty of nutrition to keep them going from lunch to dinner.
From the time we pulled up to the time we drove away, we went from skeptical, to curious, to a little fearful, and finally landed on genuinely pleased. Overall, this place is a great find. Bollywood movies on a large screen television and comfy couches between the dining area and convenience store add to Rasoi’s atmosphere that you really just have to experience to understand.
Until next we meet, enjoy great food and keep a happy heart.
Come back next Sunday for another ride through cattle country.
Vegetarian in Cattle Country 