Breads of India & Gourmet Curries
Category: Indian/Pakistani [Edit]
2448 Sacramento St(between Channing Way & Dwight Way)
Berkeley, CA 94702 (510) 848-7684
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
105 reviews
Albany, CA
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64 Reviews for Breads of India & Gourmet Curries
i knew it was going to be good the first time i went there. a long line was forming out front before they opened. delicious, fresh, friendly and a different printed menu everyday. and, their meat is free range. bring cash - they don't accept anything else.
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I've been to my share of Indian restaurants, seeing as how my craving for the food started in college and four years later I'm still craving it.
This place is one of the coziest Indian restaurants around with a feeling of home and with the friendliest people taking our order and making sure we're taken care of. So service wise they get five stars.
Unfortunately everything else seemed either extremely bland or extremely salty. The rice of course was bland. But the garlic naan was blander than I expected. I thought there would be more garlic-taste but it really came up short. Though I have to admit that it was fluffy and had a great amount of chewiness. The chicken tikka masala was extremely salty and the chicken was on the dry side despite the curry it was swimming in. And portion-wise it was on the disappointing side.
For two entrees and one naan the bill came out to be about $35 including tip -- more expensive than I like to pay for okay Indian food. But maybe I'll give it another shot another time just because of the service.
Btw I paid with a Visa card so they do accept credit card now.
This place might be the most overrated Indian restaurant in the Bay Area. It shows up on the radar of lots of critics but I only know one person who really loves it (he lives 2 blocks away).
The best part of this place is the menu descriptions. The entrees always have lavish descriptions recounting what part of India they're from, the ingredients composing the dish, and what breads with which they should be paired. The breads all have similar descriptions. Unfortunately the food (even surprisingly the namesake breads) are never as good as the descriptions.
I remember coming here when they first opened and the only available table was a communal one that we had to share with another group. I don't think it's as busy any more. My husband and I never had a problem in subsequent visits although then it was just the two of us. Briefly my husband included this on a list of his favorite 20 restaurants in the world... I'm not sure what happened to him that day. I mean it's good... but not that good.
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I have always enjoyed my meals here. The breads (naan) are wonderful. The changing menus keep me coming. However, now that he has 3 restaurants I hope the one in Berkeley will keep its standard.
I went recently to see if the restaurant in Berkeley is still good, the chef was there, so the food was good. I had the goat curry and the naan. It is now even better since they have abandoned their earlier cash only policy.
This has to be my favorite Indian restaurant of the whole bay area. Not only is the atmosphere cozy and friendly, but the food is almost undiscscribibly delicious. Yes it is almost better than sex- almost! To start with, the food is made of fresh ingredients, and I do mean fresh, as they make their curries, naans and chutneys daily with farmer's market veggies, and free range chicken. Mmm... The menu changes daily, and has a variety of curries, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. I am not usually one for lamb, but they have perfected the lamb curry so well, that it not only melts in your mouth with each savor-ful bite, but escapes the usual and all too familiar flavor of "greasy sock" that overruns most dishes. Yes I have heard that its all in the way you cook lamb that brings out the flavor or rather hides it, and the breads of India has perfected it. I seriously did not believe I was eating lamb. Their curries in general are filling but escape the all too familiar overly greasy and slimy texture that most restaurants achieve. This is an absolutely new adventure for your taste buds. Each curry has its own allure, the tomato and coconut being my favorites. Aside from the delicious curry, Dahl, and rice that make up the entre, wonderful mint chutney accompanies the colorfully fresh garnish. I am so addicted to the fresh mint flavor that I often try to steal another globful from my hubby's plate. No you just can't buy this mint chutney anywhere, nor will they sell you a small globful to take home , but enjoy it while you can because there is nothing like it. Make sure to try the salmon tandoori, as this is my absolute favorite dish, yes this is almost better than sex... It's soft, and tender, the flavors are aromatic and seductive. One bite and you are sure to come back for more. You will just have to order it to enjoy the whole experience. Prices are fair for the quality of food. Be sure to dine in, as the quality seems far better in person than at home. They only use free range chicken so not only is your stomach feeling satisfied but so is your conscience. Make sure to be prepared to wait in line, although the wait isn't anymore than 20 minutes at most.
With thorough consideration, and also if ever asked in the future, I would have to say that Breads of India is my favorite restaurant in the bay. Their food is tasty, the spices are used really well, and the food isn't oily or heartburn-in-the-waiting, as some Indian food can be.
The bonus is that they have a different menu everyday - including the naan bread. The vegetarian selections are varied, and you can order a combo of the menu items.
Don't forget to try the rice pudding for dessert, which although it doesn't look/taste like traditional rice pudding, is pretty freeking tasty, (personally, I like it better). The added pistachios, a few toppings of saffron petals, and an edible metal flake make it quite a surprising and unique dinner treat that you won't find anywhere else.
I haven't been in a couple of years since they're all the way in the East Bay, otherwise I'd be a more frequent customer.
I've been here twice and haven't been very impressed either time. They gave my mom an unedible piece of pork the first time around, and were happy to correct it. But I was just looking forward to eating the leftovers for lunch, and found my chicken totally undercooked, almost raw on the inside. Undercooked meat grosses me out and I can say I'll probably never visit this restaurant again.
Love love love breads of india...Garlic Naan...mango lassi....fresh ingredients....servers will always bring you extra tamarind if you ask nicely. And it is consistent!
If you are craving Indian I highly recommend Breads of India. Instead of wine pairings they have naan pairings. Brilliant. The naan is awesome (definitely love the Garlic Nann). We went for a late dinner and ordered theTikka Anaari (Tandoori chicken kababs) and the Rara Gosht Masala (Leg of Napa Valley lamb cubes). The menu changes daily and each entree has a story about the origin of the recipe. The restaurant is simple and clean and the prices are very affordable.
Wow, there sure are a lot of negative reviews for Breads of India. I had lunch a B.O.I. over the weekend and really enjoyed my meal. Even though I am a Berkeley native (I've lived in SF since the 80's, though), I had never gotten around to eating at B.O.I. and it looks like I have missed the hay day for this place according to all the other Yelp reviews. On a Saturday for lunch, it wasn't crowded at all.
I have deducted 1 star because of the limited menu selections, the lack of spiciness (I like it hot), and how cold the restaurant was. Otherwise, I thought the food and the service was very good.
We had a pork chop/spareribs dish (don't remember the name) that was basically tandoori, although I don't think that's how the menu described it. It was delicious.
My GF had a vegetarian dish (don't remember the name) that was some kind of dumplings in sauce. She really liked it, but I only had one bite and didn't get much of an impression.
We also shared a vegetable curry of mixed vegetables that was pretty standard stuff for an Indian restaurant.
And we shared garlic naan and another bread. Both were very good.
The bill was under $40.00 with the tip, which seemed very reasonable to me. I would be happy to eat at Breads of India again. It's not my favorite, but very good.
LOVE it. Good, affordable food. Nice atmosphere. Love the garlic naan. Good beer. My boyfriend and I can eat well for about $20! What's not to like?
Michael and I arrived here about 5.30 p.m. after walking the dogs and had no problem with parking. There were already three tables filled. The waiter was super courteous and seated us immediately.
Michael ordered the garlic naan first and it was fresh and piping hot and soooo good. I ended up ordering the chicken masala (sp?). I cannot remember what Michael got since it was my first time at an Indian restaurant. When the food arrived, it was all I could do to stop myself from shoveling the food in my mouth. I didn't eat the chicken but ate the sauce with the rice.
The feeling I had when eating this food was that I had somehow missed eating this food-without ever eating it in this lifetime.
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Mom and I thought this place was great. Such beautiful desserts. the only downer was that there wasn't much on the menu... you kind of have to eat what they have which is sad for someone who has a favorite and hopes to judge the place by that.
Indian food is all about how spicy (hot) the lamb curry tastes. I had the Kolhapuri Gosht here and it was spiced just right. When I go to Indian restaurants I tell the waiter I like it just a little hotter than Tabasco sauce. Some waiters understand, some don't. The first time I ate here I had a lamb dish that was heavenly (do subcontinental Indians believe in heaven?). As mentioned by other Yelpers they have a rotating menu so I can't remember the name of what I ate. I wound up eating two orders of that entree that night.
It's changed.
I was there last weekend and the one thing that shocked me is that it is was not crowded; the place was EMPTY.
I ordered the lamb and a garlic with mint naan. The curry tasted the same, although they claim that they change the menu on a "daily" basis, and the naan was flavorless. My bill with a dish, one bread, and a soda was over $15 just for MYSELF. This place needs some serious work if it wants to get back to its good reputation it had in the past.
For the price I paid, I could go to an Indian buffet so that I can get a variety.
Great food and competent friendly service.
I love that the menu changes every day and there is always something new to try. The menu descriptions of what part of India each dish is from, any foreign influences on the way the dish is prepared, and what ingredients go into the dish is a wonderful touch. I've yet to try a dish I didn't like. And all at a reasonable price.
I also really appreciate that each dish is served with a fresh mixed green salad with carrots and cooling cucumber, beautiful golden saffron rice, and the tastiest tomato chutney I've ever had.
Being allergic to wheat I was originally skeptical of a place with Bread in the name, but it has quickly turned into my favorite place to dine. My boyfriend tells me the numerous selections of breads are delightful. The wheat-free gulub jamun and the richly aromatic and pre-sweetened chai are my favorite end to a satisfying meal.
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I'm beginning to wonder if we ate at the same restaurant as is described in these reviews. We got here at about 7 and had no trouble parking right across the street. Mehak was completely deserted, while BofI was busy-ish. A telltale sign that we were headed in the right direction. When we entered we were seated promptly at a table. I won't say that the hostess and staff were pleasant because...well, they weren't. But. They certainly weren't mean, snooty, and/or abrasive. It was just sort of neutral. Which is fine by me as long as the food is good.
It was.
Taken straight from their business card: "Dedicated to serve classic and traditional cuisine from all over India. Gourmet Indian breads. Authentically prepared curries from regional India with naturally grown, free range poultry, meats & vegetables. Extra virgin olive oil used as cooking medium".
Sounds pretty darn good to me.
The menu supposedly rotates daily, although how much each dish varies remains to be seen. For four of us we ordered three dishes with the recommended naan pairing. Each dish came with the same side of rice, dal, and cucumber/carrot salad. Not much variety there. The naan all tasted more or less the same, despite variations in ingredients such as garlic, onion, basil, cracked pepper, etc.
By far the best dish was the braised lamb. The others were pretty good but I kept coming back to the lamb for more. Mmm. braised meat does a happy Bradley make. Anyway, I thought the food was pretty good here, and reasonably priced, as far as Indian food goes.
I'd come back, and probably order another lamb dish. yum.
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You either love it or hate it. I'm in the former category.
I have a feeling I feel the same way about Indian that I do about Japanese food -- I like the Americanized version. The fully authentic versions are a bit too much for me. But give me a plate of chicken tikka masala (of, if at Japanese, a California roll and some shrimp tempura), and I'm a happy gal.
Love the sauces -- they have a perfect blend of spices, never too hot, even the vindaloos. The salmon was excellent, and we always order a chicken tikka masala.
Breads are good -- I favor the plain naan, but we've tried several of the others and they're all delicious -- piping hot, lovely.
They don't get five stars because of the following downsides:
-- Bathroom was filthy -- I shudder to think of the waitstaff and cooks using this and perhaps not washing their hands. (Note to manager: hire a janitorial firm to steam clean this place, then keep it at least tidy.)
-- Parking -- is a true pain in the ass unless your parking karma is owing you. The neighborhood isn't bad, but I always see a lot of broken glass on the street, implying that cars are frequently broken into, hence, I'd recommend looping until you get a place within hearing distance so you can at least hear your alarm when they break your window.
-- Unless we're already in Berkeley, I favor "My Favorite Indian" in Hayward. The prices are about half what Breads charges, and the quality is the same or better. Plus, no parking hassles.
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Where oh where to begin?? This place used to be amazing and luckily for us located around the corner...a true "go to" spot when cooking was not an option. Things seem to have gone down hill and just last week we experienced a "worst ever" moment. The chicken tikka masala was dry, over cooked, and waaayyyy too spicy for even a spicy lovin' household. Saffron rice was over cooked and actually crunchy (and not in that good bottom of the pan sort of crunch), chutney was bland...Thankfully we make our own chutney which saved the day, and also thankfully, our kids were so hungry by the time the food was ready they would have eaten anything. Needless to say, we are seeking another East Bay Indian food fix...The nan here remains tasty tho' which allows me to give 2 stars, but things need to improve before we will return.
Listen... if you can't get a simple Chicken Tikka Masala right, who cares if the bread you are going to mop it up with is any good.
( T' was burned, btw)
The C.T.M. tasted like sweetened cinnamon chai and was absolutely disgusting.
Inept, bumbling wait staff too.
Based on a positive experience I had had almost a decade earlier I brought my British wife, who is also well-versed in Indian cuisine.
Her reaction to her choice; a basic Biryani?
A less than polite grimace.
If you just want some simple, edible Indian food -nothing fancy- go to Naan and Curry on Telegraph. It isn't London, but hey, neither is New York's East 6th Street.
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Unique in their "suggested bread pairings" with each dish.
Awesome use of fresh organic produce and sustainable meats, etc.
Food's a bit bland though... The fresh veggies were so tasty and vibrant, but the cooked veggies were so overcooked they had no texture at all whatsoever.
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[short version]
Just go to Mehak across the street.
[long version]
This awesome front desk guy at a hotel in Firenze knew what to do when the food at a place is bad, and the staff is even worse. He told me to "throw the food on the floor, and tell them to call the police!"
If he ever visits, I'm taking him to Breads of India to teach them lessons in humility, manners, and customer service.
BOI's menu doesn't really change, it just cycles through the same old dishes. A couple of things are tasty and the ingredients are good, but there's nothing that justifies the snooty, snobby, and snotty disposition of the pushy owners.
The daal always has a funny texture and is forever as bland as the salad and the rice. Good if you don't like spicy (maybe).
Attitude is the real problem at Breads! When you walk in, the mean old lady sizes you up and directs the maitre de to seat you, by means of the evil eye. Dripping with distain, she'll ask how you are, if you're lucky.
It's like customers are supposed to be grateful for being tolerated (or at least put up with) and rushed out. Expected ritual compliments keep the jerks neutral, but any dissent gets you on the bad side.
You told the waiter "No butter, no dairy, no ghee," but your bread has it anyway? That's a black mark on your record; how dare you send it back! Don't you know how lucky and privileged diners are to be squished in at the great, glorious, and Zagat rated legendary Breads of India!?
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One of my pet peeves in any place (office, restaurant or cafe) is getting a table that wobbles. Ooooh I hate that so much. So we come to Breads of India and get a "wobble" table. And this wasn't just a mild one, you put your elbows on the table and you risk your table water splashing out from the glass. So the waiter and I spent a few minutes trying to stick wads of paper under the table to no success. We ended up switching table. I had Aviyal (yummy) but the rice was too dry or not cooked fully. The naan wasn't bad. Overall, nothing great in terms of taste.
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5 stars for the delicious food, many vegetarian options and reasonable prices. -1 star for turning my ass into the exhaust pipe of a 66 Cadillac.
Serious. It's crazy.
My girlfriend now insists on only going here when she will be spending that night, and the next day away from me. It's bad. But it tastes so good. Don't get me wrong, the gas doesn't bother me too much, but Breads of India might not be the place to take a date, unless you fart in front of each other.
As for the food, the menu is ever-changing (different every day). That said, many of the dishes taste similar, which is good, because they are all pretty tasty. For vegetarians, the offer at least 1 of the 5 or so entrees as veggie options. Most nights there are 2 to choose from.
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Nope, nope, nope. I live in this neighborhood and came to this place frequently before Mehak arrived across the street, mostly out of boredom because I didn't feel like cooking. The handful of times I have sat down to eat inside, I felt like the serving staff had me on a damn egg timer.
The dal is always the same bland stuff. The 'pickles' is always the same vaguely spicy stuff. The rice is bland. The undressed salad got old the second time I got takeout... Hmm. The veggie dishes are usually good, but nothing really to yodel about. There was a time when I was cooking a lot of recipes out of my Julia Sahni books and I'd come here for the naan to go with, and find that even if you're only ordering a couple slabs of plain naan, nothing fancy, it still takes 15 minutes to get it.
Ah well.
Mehak across the street lacks greatly in ambience, but it's not like Breads is the equivalent of being entertained as royalty either, ya know? So I go to Mehak and eat better food served by friendlier staff who don't pressure me to leave post-haste. Better yet, I get takeout.
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My God, I can't believe so many of you have had such a horrible experience at Breads, I personally have never had such an experience. I love this place and everything about it. My boyfriend and I have never been hurried out the door, regardless of how busy they might have been or how many people were waiting outside. The veggie Samosa and the Tamarind Chutney they come with are to die for. I also love the fact they have iced Chai, which not a lot of Indian places do and they look at you strange when you ask for iced Chai. And the Naan and Curries are also stellar! I haven't been to the one in Oakland, just the one in Berkeley and honestly there isn't a damn thing wrong with the place. And as far as it being "Americanized," that is a load of crap!
The only bummer is they only except cash.
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My standby for Indian food.
Admittedly it is a muted version of Indian food where the food is a little less foreign, less spicy, and less greasy. I don't feel that it's catered to the Western palette--just that it is a healthier alternative to some of the other kinds of Indian food you can get.
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I can't believe so many people don't like this place...but then again I'm a veggie and have never tried any of their meat dishes. I do however appreciate their rotating menu that always includes two different veggie plates and I also love their wheat based naans. I've been to a bajillion indian restaurants and for some reason this is one of the few places where I don't feel like I just ate a big brick upon leaving. Take-out is awesome too and the price is definitely right.
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The days where you used to have to wait outside this tiny little establishment are gone. I don't know what happened, maybe the boom in the popularity of Indian food, or perhaps the quality of the food/service has just gone down.
I used to go to Breads of India often, and it was always a packed house. Well, it wasn't the case last night. I didn't give it much thought at the time, I was just stoked that we could walk in and be seated because my stomach was begging to be fed.
They ran out of samosas. Huge bummer because they don't really have any other appetizers/starters. So the server suggested that we get one of our naans as a starter, good idea. But the naan didn't make it out early. It came with our entrees. A little miscommunication? Maybe. My chicken was a bit on the dry side, but flavorful. My gf's vegetable curry dish was very good. The naan was also delicious, thick and chewy.
I don't know what it is, but something about Breads is gone. That certain spark about them is now lackluster. But hey, at least they take credit cards now.
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India is a pretty big country which one could say is as diverse as Europe. There are like 25 or something regional languages and as many different "ethnicities". So, when it comes to identifying "authentic Indian" food, it's not so easy. What's authentic in Bengal may not be authentic in Mumbai. That being said, I think this place is pretty good for a tasty dinner. Definitely north indian style and definitely on the more simplistic scale in terms of flavors, it reminds me more of a home cooked meal rather than a festive feast. Although I would stick to their specials and not get their prawns or fish....i've been kind of disappointed each time I ventured off the specials.
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Love them! Yummiest Indian food using organic meats and fragrant spices. I try not to have more than one Mango lassi. Garlic naan with masala sauce rocks-have you seen their oven?? Fun. Chicken masala rocks. The owner is a super warm kind man. They just opened on on Clay Street in Oakland near Le Cheval.
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They have lots of different naans but I swear they all end up tasting the same and they're not even very fluffy. I like my naans fluffy and delicious. Theirs are far too dense. Don't even get me started on their curries. They sound like the greatest thing ever made by mortals on their fancily worded menus but end up being spectacularly disappointing upon actual consumption.
Super bland. Plus it's mad expensive.
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Breads of India is a bit bipolar. When its good it is phenomenal! but when it is off, well my stomach pays me back for it. Their naans are soooo good, and their lamb is always a sure thing. Did you here me? Order the lamb.
Yet, their "salad" is left untouched by me (and i love salad-- but no vinaigrette with it? why bother?), the daal is kinda boring, and the food is never quite as spicy as I would like it. The lack of heat, though, is more than made up for by the awesome spicing of the food. I really enjoy their menu, and like that it changes almost daily.
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I wasn't that impressed. I've heard for sooo long what an amazing place this was also to get shot down by long waits everytime I attempted to dine there. Finally, we drove by yesterday...A SATURDAY night and there was no wait! had to do it. Their menu is certainly more different than i'm used to. Only a few daily items to choose from....they serve say the Chicken Tikka already w/ rice and a small salad, no need to order extras but darn I wanted some DAAL! ugh. Anyway, the mint chutney was the best i've had probably ever but the food was just ok. I'll take Khana Kazana in Emeryville or Naan 'n Curry any day but if someone really wanted to dine here, I wouldn't turn it down.
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They're good. The thing is, they're not "great!" So why have I been there twice? Why have I cross the Bay Bridge to travel to a restaurant that offers up much of the same food I can get a mile away from where I live? Simple answer: friends love it. I like it, but friends love it.
Here's a plus, though. Their menu constantly changes, which might be cooler in concept than execution, but I'll still give them a bonus point for that.
A minus? I don't really dig their tikka masala, which is like an Indian food staple for me. It's the standby. And if you can't count on the standby, what can you count on?
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Why the hate? I've been eating here for years and I always love the suprise of a different menu. They added some standard items recently too. Being a word lover, the paragraph descriptions of the dishes suit my fancy. I've never been disappointed.
Thoughtfully prepared, tasty Indian cuisine in a more pleasant setting than the crowded Naan N Curry's. Small-ish menu has limited items but daily specials are fresh and delicious and staples like chicken tikka masala and grilled lamb can always be ordered. Different breads are recommended for each dish and go beyond the basic naan most places offer.
Pleasant atmosphere and very friendly service, although tables are packed pretty close together. One of my favorite Bay Area Indian restaurants- I'm so exited that they are opening a new one near me in Oakland.
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They hurried us out at the end of our meal before we finished our chai. Albeit it was a Friday night, but we had a group of about 6 and we ordered lots of appetizers, drinks, and desserts so I don't see any reason we weren't worth the time. The food was okay, but the service was enough to make me not want to return.
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Wow, how does this place not have a higher rating? The food here is so delicious and fresh. I feel like every bite I take was made with tender-loving-care. It brings Indian food to a new level, like grandma's homemade noodles. The menu rotates so there is always something new (and always 2 vegetarian dishes). The Naan is always delicious. Yum to everything I've ever eaten here.
I've been eating at Breads of India for almost 7 years and I have never had a bad meal. The menu changes almost daily and it's always been good. The service is fast and friendly. The place is small and some times you might have to wait for a table. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it's a bit on the pricy side and the portions are a bit small but this has never stopped me. Pretty close to being the best Indian in Berkeley
