Mumbai Xpress - Resturant Review

Mumbai Xpress in Floral Park, Queens, serves delicious street food specialties from Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. The prices are reasonable (mostly $3-$7), the tastes unexpected, and the service and space friendly at this vegetarian restaurant on the edge of New York City in Floral Park, just blocks from Nassau County.

Mumbai Xpress is a hit. Opened in 2008, this small Indian cafe specializes in Mumbai chaat (street foods) served quick and at reasonable prices. Want to try a different taste of India? Bet you've never had a Mumbai-style grilled cheese sandwich ($6; paneer, coriander chutney, onion, potato, and three slices of bread). And you can't miss with the savory buttered bread and vegetable curry of a special pav bhaji ($7). There are also the dosas and idli of southern Indian cuisine, plus 70+ other vegetarian options unfamiliar to this eater.

New to Indian food? With an American-style grilled cheese, shakes, and fresh-squeezed juices on the menu, you might not even have to try. The space is small, but warm, welcoming -- much nicer than the Dunkin Donuts across the street. It's very popular with local Indian and desi families and teens.

Where is it? It's out, way out, about as far east as you can go and still be in New York City: Floral Park, a Queens-Nassau border neighborhood with a growing South Asian population. There's a strip of Indian and South Asian restaurants and stores on Hillside Avenue in Floral Park. While the economic recession has hit a number of these, Mumbai Xpress's low-cost menu and unique tastes of home have kept it busy.

My only regret is that our first visit didn't include sampling the milkshakes ($4). We spotted a strawberry concoction dusted with what my dining companion said was basil seed. It might even best the Carvel down the street for cold treats.