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Ajanta Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
1888 Solano Ave(between Fresno Ave & The Alameda)
Berkeley, CA 94707
Neighborhoods: East Solano Ave, North Berkeley
(510) 526-4373
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Phuong V. said: "One word: Delicious!! This was my first time having Indian food in Alameda. The only times I had is when I was on the Berkeley campus. My co-workers and I tried many things too much for me to list. I don't I can even remember them if…" read more »
324 reviews for Ajanta Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The best Chicken Tikka Masala anywhere." In 32 reviews -
"The tandoori scallops appetizer was awesome." In 16 reviews -
"So far the best Indian food I had here in East Bay." In 22 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
324 reviews in English
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Review from milin b.
Houston, TX
5/9/2012
Took my family here last night. They came from another large US city with a big Indian population and lots of really high caliber Indian restaurants. I say this to preface my review, as we all expect a lot from Indian food. We were all EXTREMELY impressed with the food here.
We ordered chicken tikka masala, kind of a gold standard of Indian food. I usually judge a place by my enjoyment of this classic british-indian dish because of its popularity here and in India. The chicken was grilled really nicely, really moist and great texture. The sauce was perfect and lended itself well to being soaked up and whisked away by the perfect fluffy triangles of naan.
Their onion kulcha (onion naan) was great, but different than I've come to expect from onion kulcha. I'm used to the gujurati style of being hit in the face with onion flavor, but this was actually quite nice and the onions were nicely carmelized inside the naan, taking away some of the bite that onions tend to have.
The raita (yogurt with cucumber) usually used for toning down the spicyness actually held it's own here. I'm usually not a huge fan of the yogurt concotion but this was a great addition to mix in with the sauces and added yet another layer of depth to the flavor.
Lastly, i think of yellow dahl (lentils in a stew like sauce) as a down home comfort food. This was like eating a piece of childhood here, and reminded me of my time eating veg and soothed my stomach and it's rich flavor soothed my mind.
We tend to like our food spicy, but being that we all have different levels of tolerance we asked for medium spicy. If you like your food hot, it seems you're going to have to ask for it, as they have a permanent safety on for the gringos who complain about spicyness.
The rice comes with saag (spinach) so make sure you like this as much as I do.
They have a good selection of Indian beer. I have an odd relationship with Indian beer as a bit of a beer snob. They aren't great as a standalone beer, as they belong to the "fizzy wimpy yellow beer" category, but when presented with Indian food they do a lot to enhance and bring out flavor and spice in the Indian food.
I'd go again and again, but probably next time ask for my Chicken Tikka extra spicy. Disclaimer: My uncles and aunties practically put sriracha in freaking cereal, so most people should probably order medium spicy like we did. -
Review from Kim H.
Irvine, CA
5/21/2012
Really good. Lots of vegetarian options that even non-vegetarians will like.
They start you off with these cool crackers. I don't know what they're called because I'm white.
For our appetizer, we got the tandoori portabello mushrooms, which have a very meaty consistency and come with a great sauce (you'll taste the clove and cinnamon, for sure).
For my entree, I got the Daal Bahar, made with red lentils, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, onions, spices, and organic vegetables including green beans, cauliflower, and carrots. I asked for it mild/low-medium heat. It was spicy...for me. Because I'm white, remember?
The entrees come with rice and a delicious spinach and potato mix. There's also naan for the table. We got a side of the Badal Jaam because I love a good eggplant dish.
And, yes, we still had room for dessert. I tried the kulfi, which is kind of like pistachio ice cream.
I left very full. -
Review from Jayme P.
Petaluma, CA
5/1/2012
I feel that I am in the minority on this review, which is unusual for me. The food here was good but somehow a little flat. Here are some pros and cons.
Pros:
Lovely owner who really seems to care.
Really gorgeous interior
Food is beautifully presented. This is upscale Indian food!
Dishes from many different areas of India
Lots of vegetarian and vegan options
Mango pickle!!
Cons:
Service was extremely slow and not very attentive.
The food really all tasted the same to me. I'm used to lots of flavor and a big variety in flavor between Indian dishes.
While pretty, the servings were small (two samosas were not much for the price, very little chicken in the chicken dish).
The servings were not set up for sharing.
Go, you might like it. I've been to better for less money and much better for the same amount. -
Review from Vin F.
Albany, CA
5/23/2012
I really love coming to this Indian restaurant, it is one of my favorite spots for special occasions, or wanting to splurge on some excellent food. The samosas are fresh, and spiced just right. The chicken tikka masala is perfect, tender meat, just the right amount of heat in the sauce and the naan soaks up the sauce. Love the way the restaurant is decorated, and the staff is concientious and attentive without being down our throats.
-
Review from Crash A.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/6/2012
If spices are your thing, this is your place.
We travel 25 miles to enjoy this wonderful Indian cuisine. My husband bought me their cookbook and box of spices. Recently, I made a dish from Uttar Pradesh called Murgi Ka Saalan and was pretty impressed with myself. Wonderful dishes in that book, incredible spices in that box.
You have every day of the week to try this restaurant. Don't miss any opportunity. -
Review from Mara G.
San Rafael, CA
4/28/2012
I've never had Indian food this way before. It tasted like a traditional Indian grandma labored to produce their savory dishes. If you're a fan of the cuisine, you'll be blown away by their offerings. The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. Love this place!
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Review from Caitlin H.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow. This place was fantastic. We went here for a team lunch and everyone walked away full and happy! There are a lot of options, from vegetarian to carnivore, all will find something to consume at this fabulous establishment.
I love Indian food, and this is my favorite place that I have been to. Not only is the food great, service is actually pretty good, prices are affordable (especially with the lunch specials!) and the ambiance is quaint.
I highly recommend checking this place out! -
Review from Analisa S.
Berkeley, CA
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite Indian food in Berkeley. Its a little pricey - but as the saying goes, "You get what you pay for." For me, Indian food is either incredibly delicious or really really gross (I usually get really gross in restaurants). Ajanta is one of the closest I've found to home cooked goodness.
So the only thing I don't recommend is the Saag Paneer, (which I thought was Palak) and its really just me not liking the flavor of pureed spinach.
BUT, what you should order (maybe go for the set meal sampler -because we didn't and it did get pricey:
VEG. SAMOSA: Deep fried pastries filled with mildly spiced potatoes and peas
CRAB CAKES: Made with fresh Dungeness crab meat, potatoes, breadcrumbs, and spices, pan fried, served with yogurt-mint-cilantro sauce
DAKSHINI GOSHT: Boneless Colorado lamb pieces cooked in a sauce made with onions, tamarind, almonds, coconut milk, and spices, including coriander and fenugreek (South India)
Definitely going back - its perfect for a date night - the ambiance is really nice. -
Review from Chat H.
Berkeley, CA
4/25/2012
What's in a name? When it comes to Indian restaurants, we rarely ask such a question, as the vast majority of Berkeley's Indian haunts tend to be named after variations of "flavor," "palace," or "India." Ajanta Restaurant (AR), on the other hand, may be the exception. From http://allexperts.com: "Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are rock-cut cave monuments dating from the second century BCE, containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both 'Buddhist religious art' [why the quotes?] and 'universal pictorial art.' [huh?] The caves are located just outside the village of Ajantha in [sic] Aurangabad District in the Indian state of Maharashtra." While the actual meaning of "Ajanta" is not known, the addition of "cave" (or at least the idea thereof) to our list of eigenmeanings is most intriguing, and most unexpected.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by an elderly host who sprinkled menus upon the table as if they were handfuls of lotus petals. This, combined with the fresh flowers on each table and the overpowering scent of candles, reminded us of a Catholic church, which seemed at odds with the predominant Indian religions. However, this sacrilegious thought was quickly driven from our minds upon realizing that the ceiling was covered by a stimulating array of tissue-paper parallelepipeds--perhaps thirty or forty of them--all lit by lamps plugged into perhaps a third as many outlets. A fire hazard, to say the least, but visually impressive. Acutely aware of the imminent risk of conflagration, we quickly located the nearest exit (which may have been behind us), and then focused on other things, including various large, Sendak-inspired murals, and a number of mirrors adorning the walls, which had no sheen of grease, suggesting that this would indeed be a pricey experience.
We began by perusing the menu, more out of curiosity than out of need: the wine list was infinite, but was housed in a middle-schooler's translucent plastic sheet; and the adhesive that they used to attach the menu pages to the pleather folio was somehow very oily, resulting in unseemly stains in each corner of each page. After a few minutes of perusing, we decided upon the prix fixe "Chef's Tasting Menu," which, at $22/person for the vegetarian version, seemed too good to pass up. In spite of nebulous instructions regarding how to order, we managed to do so, and were quite pleased by the results. Note that the parenthetical prices quoted below refer to the price of each dish, and are not related to the price that we paid for the combined meal.
Chat began with a mango lassi ($3.5), the eigendrink, and was pleased: it was tangy, and clearly as good as the Udupi Palace version (high praise). The extensive appetizer barrage began with the singular meat substitution of the night--chicken samosas ($5.5)--which were pleasantly crispy, though they tasted strangely of BBQ sauce. The raita ($2.5), a creamy yogurt-based cucumber dish, was very tasty. The appetizers came to a close with a plate of myriad tastes ($3): a hot pickle that was excessively salty, a fantastic marmalade, and pickled carrots that, at least on Chat's palate, tasted exactly like beer! Very odd.
At some point the appetizers morphed into the main dishes, probably around the time when they delivered the rice with caramelized onion (excellent!) and the onion naan ($3), which, much to our dismay, tasted like pizza. The first main dish, the mixed-veggie kofta ($14.5), can be described in no other way than "veggie dust," though it wasn't unpleasant. The other mains, however, were stellar: the achari baingan ($14.5) had the correct amount of oil in the eggplant, and was well spiced; and the navrattan korma ($14.5) sported obviously fresh cauliflower and broccoli, both of which were appropriately cooked and covered in an impressive layer of spice.
Overall, AR affords the eater an excellent experience (though perhaps not quite a religious one). The ambiance is quiet, cultured, and pleasant, and the menu options--especially the multi-course prix fixe menu--fit nicely with the restaurant's higher-end target audience. While a few of the items were less than exquisite, we can't fault the cooks, as they served us nearly twenty (20!) different items. The high quality of the mains and several of the appetizers, and the commendable overall spice level, warrant four samosas. The single-dish prices require that we assign a 3+ rupee designation, though this is no surprise, considering the trendy North-Berkeley location. While the name "Ajanta" may come from caves, which few associate with gourmet food, we can only assume that their ancient inhabitants were well fed. And considering A's volatile lighting, we wouldn't be surprised if their cave-dwelling ancestors invented fire, too.
For more reviews of Indian restaurants in Berkeley by Yogi and Chat, visit our blog: http://masalachaat.wor... -
Review from Ashlee T.
Berkeley, CA
2/22/2012
This restaurant made me want re-calibrate my ratings.
I wish I could give 6+ stars. This was by and far the best meal I have ever eaten. -
Review from meshell c.
Oakland, CA
2/25/2012 1 photo
I use to get their email updates about their menu change and it always sounds so great. This place is one of the nicer Indian restaurants in this side of the Bay. It's big enough but not too massive and their decor on the ceiling is awesome. You need to take a peek!
Food is delicious and cooked just right. The only "meh" I had with them was that they had put in the wrong level of spiciness for one of our dishes, but they were more than happy to change it. I like that their menu describes where the food is from and what is exactly in it. It really makes a difference which region they are cooking from and so you know what you're putting in your mouth!
Bottom line: Do it! -
Review from Katherine P.
Berkeley, CA
5/14/2012
This place was nice, but I think you can get better value elsewhere. The portions are small relative to the prices (especially the appetizer we ordered--$6 for 5 small spears of asparagus?). The entrees (all vegetarian ones) were very tasty, but not spectacular. The interior of the restaurant is very pretty.
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Review from Thierry C.
El Cerrito, CA
1/28/2012
Dont go to this place!
I came in at 7:45 and the staff were very rude and unwelcoming. I asked for a table and the host said they didn't have anything until 9. There were several open tables, and no line so I found it really hard to believe. Additionally, I was able to jump on open table to verify that they really did have openings, and saw that I could indeed make a reservation for 8pm and there was plenty of availability.
The owner should fire the host and retrain staff to be more friendly. I went to the competing Indian restaurant across the street and had a great experience. Avoid Ajanta- they're horrible. -
Review from Aditya K.
Berkeley, CA
1/8/2012
** I am a native of India who has eaten at every single Indian restaurant in Berkeley at least 3 times each, read the bottom of the review for my complete ranking list or, for the most up-to-date rankings, look in my Yelp Lists for "Indian Restaurants Ranked" **
-- Entree Taste: 5/5
There's a new king in town! Flavors of India dethroned! Read all about i! Simply the best naan and non-veg cuisine I've had in the U.S., period. The chicken is cooked with the special care and love that it deserves, where it is left to simmer in the curry until it is soft and flavorful, unlike the general lowly practice of dumping solid pieces of chicken into a vat of curry and serving. When it is done that way, you can tell because the chicken pieces you get are usually huge with cube-wish dimensions, and when you bite into them you get no flavor, but instead get to see a large cross section of white, uncolored meat. All the flavor is on on the surface in this case and it doesn't lead to a very good taste.
High-quality Indian restaurants will instead divide the chicken into small strips or pieces and cooks them for hours+ in curry so that each piece fully absorbs the curry's flavor. The surface-area to volume ratio is much smaller in this case and leads to a flavor explosion with every bite. Thank you Ajanta for getting it right!
Recommendations for ordering:
- Aloo Tikki (done in a unique way with mushrooms and presented quite nicely)
- Chicken Makhani or a seasonal Chicken special
-- Naan: 5/5
The second-to-best naan I've had in the U.S., period (the first being Sitar Indian Cuisine in San Diego). Thick, soft, chewy, fluffy. What else could a foodie ask for?
For me, naan can make or break an Indian restaurant (it is the most important part of North Indian cuisine IMO). A good naan can redeem average dishes, while great dishes with bad naan is a ruined dining experience.
-- Price/Value: 3/5
Um, not that cheap, but for what it is, is it worth it? Hell yes. Many other Indian restaurants in the Bay (that shall remain unnamed..at least in this review) charge similar prices for subpar food.
-- Service: 3/5
Water was refilled periodically, but waiters were a bit loud in their personal conversations.
*********** RANKING LIST ********************************************
*The most updated rankings will be found in my Yelp List:
-- I will keep updating this ranking list as I get time --
Updated 1/7/2012, from order of best to worst (best is on top)
- Ajanta
- Flavors of India / Kabab and Karahi (tie)
- Himalaya
- Urbann Turbann ($5.50 Cholay wrap: best value for your money, period).
- Punjabi By Nature
- Chaat Cafe
- Priya
- Viks (yeah, I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for this one, but it's true folks, severely overrated due to bandwagoning)
- Breads of India (OK, but overpriced)
- Biryani House
- Khana Peena (the one on Solano, a little better than the other one)
- Pasand (OK, but severely overpriced)
- House of Curries (College)
- Kabana (Great food loses massive points for racially based treatment of customers)
- Tandoor Kitchen
- Khana Peena (the one on Shattuck, absolute trash, avoid)
- Indus Valley Restaurant (literally serves frozen vegetable curries)
**Now if I called Khana Peena Shattuck trash, then you can imagine how the following are...yeah...these don't deserve to even be ranked**
-House of Curries (Durant)
-Naan N CurryListed in: Indian Restaurant Rankings
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Review from Monica S.
1/14/2012
I'm grading Ajanta on a sliding scale: for delivery, it's a definite 5; for dine-in, its more of a 3. Now, to explain.
Ajanta uses great ingredients, and it shows. The flavors are fresh and bright, unusually noticeable compared to other Berkeley delivery and Indian options. I love that the delivery comes with house made chutneys - they are much milder than the imported chutneys we buy at the Indian grocery store but are a nice touch nonetheless. When I want Indian food delivered to my door, I will call Ajanta before anyone else.
What wowed me less about Ajanta is that the dishes seem heavily influenced by the Californian "let the vegetables sing" style. Indian dishes, on the other hand, typically draw their nuance from the seasonings employed. I'm not sure if these styles are by necessity in conflict, but at Ajanta, the result often feels more like fusion than ethnic fare. For some, this might be promising. However, last time we dined in, I ordered a curried fish that tasted more like fish braised in mild tomato soup to me than anything hailing from the Indian subcontinent. On its own, it was decent, but it failed to scratch my Indian food itch and I left feeling unsatisfied.
On the other hand, I would definitely recommend dining in at Ajanta for an introduction to Indian cuisine, particularly for friends who might find a more traditionally spicy and sparse restaurant to be intimidating. I also plan to return here for a more standard dine-in meal (e.g. tandoori chicken, saag paneer) that might compare more naturally to other Indian fare. -
Review from Sean T.
Waianae, HI
2/29/2012
The owner is a great man, always sending out monthly news letters to not only check up on his regulars, but explain is new and upcoming dishes. The menu is always changing with specials, along with additions to the standard appetizers and entrees!
Definitely a higher end dining spot in Berkley. Bring your parents to show off the place if your attended school there!
I feel as though indian dining shouldn't really be this fancy of a feel, to where i'm uncomfortable in casual clothing, but they don't complain, so neither should I.
Great selection of naans, vegetarian dishes, and lamb as well. Don't forget to take a look at the owners published book on the way out, or while you wait!! -
Review from Alice D.
Oakland, CA
4/5/2012
I may have reviewed Ajanta sometime in the past. It's my favorite restaurant. I was going to qualify that announcement with the phrase "in the Bay Area," but in fact, it IS my favorite restaurant. I followed the owner, Lachu Moorjani, from his little place on Telegraph Ave, New Delhi Junction, to Ajanta years ago. I am a true devotee of his cuisine.
Last night, I had dinner with a friend, who is my favorite person to enjoy Ajanta with, as she appreciates the food and ambiance as much as I do. No "mehs" from our table. We like the food (organic fresh, authentic, wholesome) the service (warm and friendly, and always professional), the ambiance ( who can't love the reproductions from the Ajanta caves?). It's one of the few places where the liveliness of the room does not impede conversation. It's our perfect out to dinner spot for an evening of great food and "catch up on our lives" conversation.
We ordered a new item on the menu, Sindhi Murgh, which was so delicious I've been thinking about it over and over since I scraped the last trace of the sauce from the serving dish! Good Indian food is always complex in flavor, but this dish was especially multilayered in spices.We shared this dish and the Badal Jam, and we both repeatedly commented on how exceptional our dinner was. I read the newsletter on Ajanta's website and discovered that Mr. Moorjani's mother used to make the Sindhi dish. I know her spirit has inspired Ajanta to create an especially satisfying and splendid offering for its customers. Don't miss this rich stew of pungent spices and mint. -
Review from Kay A.
Fremont, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have eaten here many times over the years and each time it seems to be even better than the last (if that is possible?). I am a huge fan!
I have tried a huge selection including:
Samosas- amazing, lightly fried and not greasy or over cooked. Great with both the chutneys.
Eggplant- out of this world! Even my dad, who does not generally like eggplant loved it! The flavor is so intriguing.
Lamb Lollipops- ...ummm, I think YES! (and I generally do not eat meat at all)
Naan- Super light and fluffy, and always served fresh and piping hot out of the tandoori.
Tandoori Chicken- Yum!
Tandoori Portabella's- UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE!!! I bought their cookbook, just so I could have this recipe!
Like I said, I am in love with this restaurant. I always get awesome service here. I even was eating here once when Rachael Ray came in to film her show Tasty Travels here....that just how good it is!!!
I recommend that everyone buy the cookbook and spice box as well, I did, and LOVE it!!! Since I live 40 minutes away, and cannot make it in as often as I wish I could, it is great to be able to try making some of the delicious dishes at home. -
Review from Sharon W.
Berkeley, CA
1/2/2012
I always enjoy coming here. Yummy Indian food, every dish well prepared. Had had tandori Quail that was just absolutely fantastic today.
Service is usually very attententive although when it gets really crowded the kitchen can get slightly backed up. Nice atmosphere and reasonable prices. All the Nans are fantastic and have not had a bad vegetable dish here either. -
Review from C. R.
Corvallis, OR
2/12/2012
Ajanta is my favorite restaurant anywhere. I don't just mean Indian restaurant; their food is simply the best.
My favorite dish is their remarkable Mixed Vegetable Kofta. The croquettes are perfectly cooked, never mushy, and the sauce is divinely spicy without being overbearing. With the kofta and a pile of naan, I just bliss out and ignore everything around me.
Too much? Okay, let's just say that everything here is good. The aloo saag, just a side dish to accompany the main entree, is delicious. This is not like your mom's creamed spinach, I promise. The poori bread is perfectly puffy and crisp. My husband loves the rai jhinga, a shrimp dish that hasn't been on the menu for a while. One time, they made it for him anyway. How can you not love that?
The service here has always been impeccable. The decor has become much more upscale than it used to be, but Ajanta is still not pretentious. The best part is that they are still quite reasonably priced. If I could move in next door and eat there every day, I probably would. I even bought the Ajanta cookbook, but it intimidates me completely. Rather than attempt to make that delicious food, I stare at the pictures and try to figure out when we can next make the 600-mile trek for a new vindaloo dish or any of the monthly specials.
That's right... I'm writing this review from 600 miles away. I used to live closer, but now have to wait until we come down to visit family. And by family, I mean those damned kofta. THEY HAUNT MY DREAMS.
Is this getting weird? Sorry, I just couldn't believe that I hadn't already raved about this place. Time to plan another trip... -
Review from Kathy W.
Berkeley, CA
12/18/2011
We've eaten here twice and every person in each party has been totally pleased.
The food is amazing.
It's often crowded, make a reservation.
It's also kinda expensive for us, but probably normal for most folks, for a place with tableclothes n all that. -
Review from Nique F.
Knowing that Ajanta is one of Alice Waters' favorite restaurants makes this review feel a bit frivolous. But after my dazzling lunch here (compliments of a kind industry friend), I can't help chiming in...
First, let's admit this one thing: ethnic eateries are rarely known for awe-inspiring ambiance, yet Ajanta has managed to create a space as opulent and intriguing as the menu itself. Glowing paper lanterns (made by a local artist), sheer white curtains, vibrant murals. Brilliance sets the tone and specialness is clearly in store.
We ordered up a flurry of chef-recommended dishes. To start: crunchy "Papadam" (lentil wafers) with mint-cilantro sauce, yogurt-marinated Tandoori Scallops (succulence!), and Tandoori Chicken Chaat, tossed with lime juice, red onions, and secret spices (zesty!). The appetizer portions are substantial, and may be enough for a smaller lunch appetite. Fortunately, our bellies came prepared for more. Much more...
The stand-out mains were the Green Fish Curry (tender chunks of cod in a creamy coconut sauce), and the veggie dishes: Baby Squash Medley with paneer, and Makai Aur Khumb (a corn + shitake melange). To say everything was expertly spiced would be the understatement of the century. The owner of Ajanta (Lachu) "wrote the book" on spices. Literally! He's famous for his spice savvy, and can make the dishes as mild or hot as you can handle. He is a charming man with an evident passion for sharing his culinary gifts, so chat him up... he's all about it!
If you can believe it, we had dessert too. And good Lord, it was worth the extra 5 hours on the treadmill. The homemade kulfi was a life-changer!!! Most places use condensed milk, but Ajanta makes their own "thickened" whole milk, which gives the Kulfi this heavenly creamy texture that you've never experienced before. Think panna cotta meets gelato, but with an exotic, fragrant twist, studded with bright pistachios. *Insert plate licking here*
Between the gracious service, majestic ambiance, and inspired (local, organic, sustainable!) cuisine, Ajanta has me totally smitten.Listed in: A for Ambience, Ethnic Eats - Berkeley
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Review from Hungry P.
Berkeley, CA
12/3/2011
I'm not an ethnic foodie so Ajanta fits my taste as a play it safe Indian restaurant. It's clean, the food's not greasy, and there's no MSG. However, it's pretty genteel and if you're looking for something authentic you'll be disappointed. When I was young and could tolerate greasy food, I'd eat anyplace and there were some definitely more exciting Indian places than this one. Every time I come here I try something new and it always tastes different and I've never gotten sick which I did in my younger years when I would go almost anyplace.
Try both the meat and vegetarian dishes as they're all terrific. I've only had one dessert, the mango mousse which they make on site. It was pretty good. Each month the menu changes so you can always order something you haven't tried. The servers are very attentive and will go out of their way to please you. The decor is artful and pleasing to look at though subdued, and quite frankly, not that exciting. However, that's why I'm coming to Ajanta and the reason it's five stars. -
Review from Jade R.
Berkeley, CA
11/29/2011
--Intro
Ajanta call themselves "distinctive indian cuisine" for a good reason. Any dish you order here, your tongue can tell you, was made with really high standards.
The quality of their samosas is of high caliber--the filling not relying overly on potatoes, using more spices and vegetables like peas than the usual samosa....flavorful, aromatic, and crunchy at the tips, this is samosa-perfection.
--Food
All their meats are organic, (which is a big plus for organic-oriented or natural or health-oriented individuals). The chicken taandori dish had GENEROUS amounts of chicken (finally! a restaurant that doesn't cheat on meat servings), and each piece was tender, moist, mouthwatering, soft, pleasant, palatable, delightful. The sauce they were in was savory, spicy, bright orange, delicious.
For dessert, they had super exotic things that made you realize this is totally the real deal, like Saffron-vanilla Gelato with bits of walnuts.
--Service
In my experience, I was made to feel welcome, the waiters didn't make any disappearing acts. The food takes about 20 or so minutes to prepare so this is not dining for those in hurry, but with appetizers and conversation it flies by.
The waiters were available, and....ok I know this is an extra, but their outfits were super cool-looking, and it really added in my opinion to the overall experience and ambiance of the restaurant, which was intimate, exotic, and had soft, nice overhead lighting. Paintings on the wall were a bit sensuous (barely!), which I personally thought was really cool and not prudish.
--Conclusion
Cool place, delicious, without a doubt will return. Totally worth the price. -
Review from Gregg L.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2012
Ajanta is by far the VERY BEST Indian restaurant I have ever been to EVER. Hands down, the unique dishes they serve and the exceptional environment will find you coming back again and again. It's perfect even for lunch. Vegetarian friendly. Even their restaurant email newsletter is polite and informative and written in a friendly way. HIGHLY recommend this place.
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Review from Alex H.
Berkeley, CA
4/16/2012
A very good restaurant, but I wouldn't do take out from them. Always better when we eat at the restaurant. We tried take out a few times and it turned us off from the place. Definitely one of the best Indian places around.
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Review from Chris E.
Albany, CA
7/31/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Healthy, delicious Indian food, with a rotating menu! They are the best Indian restaurant in the area along many dimensions, and among the best restaurants in the area, Indian or not.
I've had a variety of dishes here, pretty much all good. One of my favorites is the chicken chaat appetizer. My least favorite was dal makhani. -
Review from Theresa K.
Chandler, AZ
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place has great Indian food. I can't say I have been to a ton of Indian restaurants but I must say this place was awesome. I have no complaints. We had the prix fixe lunch menu and it was worth it. I was even able to substitute for the CHICKEN PISTACHIO KORMA which was not listed on the prix fixe menu. This is a place I will be back to. I was impressed with the service and food.
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Review from Leena T.
Oakland, CA
9/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I dig this place. The tandoori mushroom is inspired--it tastes like a nice piece of lamb to me (and the owner's wife calls it vegetarian foie gras). They smear a portabello with tandoori paste, cook it in a tandoor oven, and it comes out blackened on the outside, bright orange in the middle, and freaking delicious.
The rest of the food is ok, your standard Indian favorites
I also love that they carry Indian wines. Had a really good red, I think from Maharastra? Just a rare find, and something I appreciate at an Indian restaurant. Definitely worth checking out. -
Review from David O.
By far my favorite Indian restaurant. The best Chicken Tikka Masala anywhere. They rotate (on average) 4 menu items per month, so it's fun to try the new dishes. New this month was the Kashmiri Chicken, and if you love the Tikka Masala, you'll LOVE this.
Quaint atmosphere, semi-formal dining area and always an attentive staff ready to elucidate your questions on any unfamiliar dishes.Listed in: Solano Stroll
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Review from Erin M.
New York, NY
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Every time I go to Berkeley we eat here or get take-out. It's my soon-to-be-in-laws favorite place. I've never had a bad meal but I've never been excited by it. Most likely that's a result of my not being able to eat dairy. The best Indian food is usually simmered in some thick cream-type sauce and I can never have that stuff.
I recommend the Tandoori Asparagus as an appetizer. Lots of flavor from the roasty specks of garlic all over them. (Organic asparagus, marinated in garlic, lemon juice and spices including paprika, cumin, and cardamom, served with yogurt-cashew-sour cream sauce)
Also, the Tandoori Chicken Chaat was refreshing and tasty. Using a papadam as a vessel of transport was delicious. (Chicken pieces marinated, grilled in tandoor oven, shredded and then tossed with oil, lime juice, red onions, cilantro, ginger, and spices)
The two entrees I had this week (Ajanta was a staple of our dinner time food consumption):
GOA PRAWN CURRY: Prawns sautéed and then simmered in a sauce made with coconut milk, onions, ginger, garlic, tamarind and spices including dry red chiles and coriander (Goa)
MIXED VEGETABLE SAAGU: Organic vegetables (cauliflower, green beans, carrots, peas) cooked in a sauce made with onions, coconut milk, lemon juice, garlic, chiles, and spices (Mysore) (Vegan)
Both could have benefited from more coconut milk to make them slightly more rich and creamy. They bored me. I got the Saagu spicy and even that didn't make me excited.
What I didn't like about dining in this place is that the staff was weeeeeird. Very awkward and our main waiter seemed annoyed, abrupt, and like we were pissing him off by simply existing. I'd be annoyed having to deal with high maintenance ex-hippies all day in my restaurant also, but man...Sooooo-rry. -
Review from Brian J.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service is the best feature. There is always someone around filling up your water glass. In fact, I had to use the bathroom while I was there. The food is good and will likely go back if somone else pays. You will need a reservation as it was very busy.
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Review from Bobbie W.
Berkeley, CA
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Indian food -- one of the few places that offers upscale sauce-based Indian food with vegan options. Ajanta always has at least one vegan entree, which I very much appreciate. (On the menu, look for the entrees marked with a star -- these can be made in "non-dairy" versions.) The Navrattan Korma is great -- I always end up getting it. It's braised vegetables with a rich tomato-based sauce. This time I got the navrattan korma with the "special dinner" option, which comes with an appetizer, rice, bread, a side-dish, and a dessert -- the vegan appetizer choice was a "khumb aloo" something, which was a little potato patty which was quite good, the side dish was a chickpea dish, and the dessert was a mango sorbet. Ajanta subbed out my naan for some great vegan papadams. (I do wish they would make vegan naan though!)
The other vegan dish Ajanta offered the last time I was there was a vegetable kofta with the non-dairy sauce option -- I definitely mean to try it sometime in the future before they switch to a different one!
It's really nice having a good Indian restaurant like Ajanta that offers vegan dishes -- so many Indian restaurants only have ghee/cream-based dishes. It can be very frustrating to go to an Indian restaurant and only be able to order lentils. Not that there's anything wrong with lentils . . . -
Review from gwynnie p.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2011
We won't quibble about "it's not authentic" and "it's too expensive for Indian food", because that's been done.
Ajanta turns out reliably flavorful food, tho on a recent visit the lamb in the lamb korma was very tender, whereas the chicken in the tikka masala was pretty tough. The accompanying sauces for both were delicately delicious.
Seems very reasonably priced for a white tablecloth restaurant. Overall an excellent Solano dining option, where there are a ton of restos to choose from but most are not very good. -
Review from Kenneth R.
Berkeley, CA
4/22/2011
I've always liked Ajanta, but I get to go only very rarely because my crew prefers other cuisines. I agree with the yelp description of Ajanta as the high-end Indian restaurant of Berkeley.
I ordered "to go" for dinner last night and was very pleased to see a nearly-full dining room when I arrived for the pickup. I was delighted with my kozi milagu chettinad, a chicken dish that is listed as "new this month" on the online dinner menu. (This means that the dish has roughly the same age as the online menu.) The different components of the chicken dinner were all packaged separately -- a bad move for Earth Day, but a great move for the diner. Yum, chutney! My companion ordered onion naan (thereby getting some kulcha), veggie samosas and the daal soup. The soup seemed bland and thin to us, but what do we know?
This is clearly a very good place. I resolve to come more often. -
Review from Ben W.
Oakland, CA
3/24/2012
Delicious eats, an enjoyable atmosphere and very good service. One of the dishes wasn't in their cookbook so the server offered to email the recipe to us. How kind. Everything was quite tasty and the saffron pistachio gelato was supreme. Give it a try.
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Review from ML H.
Oakland, CA
3/21/2012
Read this was great food so we headed over to check it out. Long wait with a reservation. Minus one. Sitting directly under an industrial-sized vent blowing AC on a cold and rainy night. Minus two.
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Review from Alice A.
12/28/2010
This place rocks! It has been at the same location for many years, and I am a little embarrassed to admit I have not tried it until recently. As a cheap student I used to eat a lot of overly spiced curries at low low price, and did not even mind suffering from heartburn afterward....
Lucky for us I got an unexpected attack of Indian food craving right on Solano Ave. and Ajanta was there to save the day. First of all, I was mildly surprised to discover the place was bustling. I may have been surprised because the place has had the same ol' sign hanging outside for like 20 years and I imagined it would be a tired ol' place inside. I was wrong. We did not have a reservation and were told to wait 10 min. The interior decor was actually quite nice, white linen table cloth and little flower vases on the tables.
The menu lists several dishes from different regions. We ordered samosa and crab cake for appetizer, and GOSHT KHADA MASALA (a kind of lamb curry) and PALAK KOFTA (spinach and potato balls served in a curry sauce, bothfrom Uttar Pradesh) as the main entree, both as dinner but a la carte option is also available. Dinners are served with Basmati rice, a side dish of spinach and potatoes (with non-veg dinners) or chickpeas (with veg dinners), half of a naan bread, chutneys, and pickles. Wine list and beer are offered. The service was attentive and friendly.
The samosa was light and fluffy rather than heavy, like at many other places. The crab cake was patties of crab meat seasoned with Indian spices. The main entrees, the lamb curry and palak kofta were both great. What I really liked about the food here was that the dishes tasted very different from each other and the subtle flavors of all the ingredients were balanced and lively. The lamb was tender in the curry sauce that was not very greasy. The palak kofta was delicious with all the different spices and flavors of vegetables working harmoniously. At the end of the meal, even though I was completely stuffed, I did not feel overly bloated or have a heartburn, which made me think they used good quality ingredients and spices.
The price is a bit more than other Indian places in Berkeley but is a great place for company and great food. -
Review from Joon L.
CA
3/19/2012
Their chicken tikka masala was exceptional. Some cheap Indian restaurants use their left over tandoori chicken for CTM, and it is tasteless and dry. Their chicken was perfect, and had that springy texture and juiciness to it. I was almost shocked. Also, usually CTM is laden with cream and you can't really taste anything else. There was only a hint of cream to be found, really, just exceptional. Fully worth the higher cost. Be warned though, this is one of those places that likes to have an older crowd.
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Review from Doa M.
Berkeley, CA
2/4/2011
Love this place! My husband and I have enjoyed every dish we have had at this restaurant. We even bought the cook book and spice box. I made several dishes from the book that turned out really good. My friend who came over for dinner said "I think this is the best Indian food I have ever eaten". I was very surprised by that comment but it goes to say that there are a lot of mediocre food restaurants out there and Ajanta is not one of them.
I love the chutneys they make. Good thing my husband doesn't really care for chutneys because I get to eat all of it.
I enjoy the owners creativity with the menu and his recipes.
