Spice Xing

There's not a thing wrong with the food at Spice Xing (pronounced Spice Crossing). The restaurant in Rockville Town Center offers the high-quality Indian cuisine one expects from Sudhir Seth. However, there's no reason to make the trek to Rockville when Passage to India, with its fuller and more interesting menu, is right in Bethesda.

The Rockville restaurant is billed as contemporary Indian fare, featuring dishes influenced by other cultures in India. That may be, but the bulk of the offerings in Spice Xing seemed remarkably similar to those at Passage or other Indian restaurants. Decor may be upscale by Rockville standards, but decidedly suburban (more so than the Bethesda restaurant). And service in Rockville was spotty and sloppy.

That said, the four of us on this trek had some very good food, including Lamb Ishtoo stew with cardamom and curry leaf and another lamb stew, Persian style, with apricots. Starters, except for the exotic Bhel Puri, were not that distinguished. Well worth the visit if you live in Rockville or find yourself there for some reason or another. Otherwise, go to Passage to India.