The Scene
IndiJoe provides the much-needed backdoor entry to eating on the 5th floor at City Center Mall. In the afternoons, at least. On weekdays, at least. If you ask for anything more, you are trying to sabotage the Hyderabadi economy.

Rubbing shoulders with the distinguished trioka of Sahib Sindh Sultan, Aromas of China and Firangi Paani on the same floor, IndiJoe serves as the most affordable option for lunch among all with its 30+ item buffet for (in Nov 2007) Rs. 169 (and Rs. 259 on weekends). The outcome is obvious - white-collars queueing up gracefully.

It is usually a 15-minute wait before you are let into the characterless interiors bustling with the noise of a capacity-packed restaurant of shuffling people - this is almost the Shadab of Banjara Hills. You find the corporate types, and you find families discussing in Telangana dialect the ingredients of an Italian dish. A huge wall-mount TV provides muted entertainment for those that seek company.

The Food
IndiJoe offers only buffet for lunch, and only a la carte for dinner. It presents itself as a "global cuisine" dine-in, which mostly means Italian and some Mexican. The lunch buffet froths over with a vast spread that includes some Chinese and Indian too, but tasting Italian anyway - bland is the leitmotif.

The lunch menu comprises a couple of soups, bread rolls and sticks, Chinese/Indian appetizers (Mixed Veg Croquets, Kali Mirchi Chaat, Okra Potato Chilli Garlic Dry, Chicken Wings Assorted Pepper Dry being examples), 2 flavors of rice and noodles, sauces / gravy dishes to go along, some pasta and spaghetti, and salads. Like we said, the food can taste best for those who do not believe in the concept of salt and spice.

As in most buffets, the best part is the desserts. Almost 10 different items spread out can be a persuasive sight, compelling enough to make you almost forgo the main course. Souffle, jelly, hot gulab jamoon, darsaan, cake and ice cream make even the toughest of men break down and go on their knees.

Evenings at IndiJoe see a conventional menu featuring primarily Italian and Mexican cuisine, and prices more par for the course on this level of the mall - a range of appetizers featuring your favorite seafood items, and several vegetarian salads make for the entrees, while the main course consists of a wide variety of Mexican platters including favorites Texmex Tower and Salmon Steak, an equally impressive roster of veg and non-veg pizzas and pastas, and a whopping 42 listings under sizzlers, featuring the popular Steak Shaslik, Toridango, Mushroom Satellite and Pomfret Sizzler.

An array of 30+ desserts rounds off the comprehensive menu, and a full meal can easily set a couple back by Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000, excluding liquor.

The Verdict
IndiJoe's buffet is a hit in this part of town, and it has its reasons - namely the price. If like us at fullhyd.com you always say that price is everything, head here for your next lunch.