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Amol Indian Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
354 Ludlow AveCincinnati, OH 45220
Neighborhood: Clifton
(513) 961-3600
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Amol Indian Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"If you want fancy Indian food, go to Ambar." In 12 reviews -
"Really nice people, not to mention a great lunch buffet." In 4 reviews -
"...they make a great, Chicken Tikka Masala, which is also a..." In 2 reviews
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Miguel S.
Henning, TN
4/26/2012
Amol serves my favorite Indian food in Cincinnati. Wait, scratch that--Serves the best Indian I've had! (Had Indian food across the Country.) Yes, the decor is a little dated but don't let that stop you from going and enjoying! I've tried to try everything on the menu and so far have never been disappointed. My absolute favorites include their Chicken Makhani, Saag Biriyani, (I add lamb to this), Amol Special, and of course their naan. I especially like the garlic and onion varieties. If you're hungry, start off with the mixed appetizer platter. It lets you have a bit of all the best appetizers.
Also, Amol has my FAVORITE white wine in the city--Sula Sauvignon Blanc. Goes great with spicy dishes. If you like eating lots of spice, take note-the scale isn't really 1-10. (This is the midwest after all.) Whenever I went I ordered a 25 to really get the spice level I craved.
Also, to those reviewers who thought the manager (Mr. Joshi) was a little gruff--he's a GREAT guy. I really think he simply doesn't show a great deal of emotion. He consistently made sure we were taken care of and never hesitated to offer his opinion when I couldn't decide what to get on the menu.
I just recently moved away and miss Amol terribly. -
Review from Emily R.
Cincinnati, OH
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is our favorite Indian restaurant in Cincinnati... and, well, ever. Having moved to DC for few years we searched and searched for an Indian restaurant there that would compare, and they all fell short. It's a quiet little restaurant that to me just ends up feeling like a mom & pop Indian restaurant. Needless to say, moving back to Cincinnati has been an excellent choice for our stomachs :)
We first happened upon Amol because Ambar had a ridiculously long wait, and we realized we preferred Amol. The food is amazing, probably superior, and there's never a wait. The staff is always very friendly and service is extremely fast. The prices are on par with other Indian restaurants
As far as food goes, it's one of the few Indian restaurants I go to that offers just mango juice (as opposed to mango lassi). I am a woman of habit, so I typically get the saag choley (spinach and chickpeas), but between my husband and I we've had most of the vegetarian options and we've never been disappointed. The samosas and pakora are also amazing and totally worth every stuffed bite. Also, two words: garlic naan.
Now the problem is just finding the time to go back! -
Review from Tania K.
New York, NY
7/23/2011
I've never had Indian before moving to Cincinnati. Now, especially in Clifton, this is somewhat of a crime. After trying Amma's (with more of a South Indian vibe), we went to Amol's for their lunch buffet one day for a meeting with a friend who swore by the place.
I was impressed with the food. A small, rotating lunch buffet of around 16 items for under $10. Win. Their chana marsala (chickpeas in yummy, slightly spicy tomato), vegetable fritters and aloo matar (peas and potato in a curry yummy paste). The food is quite good - especially for someone whose never tasted Indian.
Other perks include free parking in the Gaslight district and a large menu. Downfalls include that the location is somewhat dark, deep and depressing. Poorly lite and sometimes accompanied by slightly rude staff, the location is quite the solid option. -
Review from Colt Y.
Henning, TN
Updated - 2/12/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Revising to 5. Love the flavors. Tried the others and keep ended up here again and again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/16/2011
I agree with reviews that the place needs an update and some TLC. That said, we love the food and… Read more »
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Review from Jeffrey K.
Cincinnati, OH
3/11/2011
Even though the gf and I both liked Ambar very much, we decided to check out this Amol based on the yelp reviews and because we had an Entertainment Book coupon for it.
The food was fine, but the atmosphere was dead and there was a bit of a hassle with using the coupon. I don't think I'll be coming back here with Ambar located right next to it. -
Review from Jessica N.
Cincinnati, OH
2/26/2011
Amol is my favorite place to get Indian food in Cincinnati. My older brother brought me here when I was a wee gal at the age of 9, and I have enjoyed it ever since. I always get something different when I go, and have never gotten something I did not enjoy. Three things I would recommend are the kashmiri naan, the tandoori chicken, and the baingan bhartha.
Just a heads up, the atmosphere is not awesome. It's a little dark and ... well, odd. Service is always top notch, though. My friends and I come here often with large groups of up to 15 people, and they are accommodating and always get our orders right. Really nice people, not to mention a great lunch buffet. -
Review from Jessica K.
Cincinnati, OH
7/25/2010
I decided one day to show my friends the gaslight district, as they've never been before. I talked their ears off about Ambar India, which was where I was planning on taking them for dinner. When we got there, it was packed and had a 10-15 minute wait. We were hungry, so I decided to go to their neighbor down the street: Amol.
I should have known that the fact that only 4 or 5 tables were occupied (while at Ambar the whole place was standing room only) meant something. It wasn't that the food was bad, per se, but the quality did not match with the pricetag.
Upon seeing the menu, we all decided to try the buffet. It was lukewarm, though it did have some of my favorites: chicken tikka massala, aloo choley, and naan (plain and garlic). However, it wasn't hot, they couldn't keep the flow of naan up to speed with the patrons' need for it (and there weren't that many of us there!), and the atmosphere & decor inside was just way too strange.
Next time I'll wait 15 minutes to eat at Ambar instead of settling on this place.Listed in: Deceiving
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Review from Ana T.
8/31/2011
This place is in serious need of a cleaning. The restaurant is dark--and once inside, feels isolated from Ludlow. I tried the buffet, but could not seem to find a single dish that suited my taste buds. The curry was watery. The food in general, did not have much flavor. The owner stood angrily at the door for most of my visit. The bitter cook yelled loudly from the kitchen. Perhaps I went to Amol's on the wrong day... but I say, if it's Indian you're looking for, try another close-by, high-quality Indian restaurant.
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Review from Mike B.
11/9/2010
Food was great, we didn't go for the buffet since it was 3pm by the time we got lunch and there was nobody else in the restaurant (how long had that buffet been out?). The restaurant itself was pretty dim and under-decorated, but we were there for the food, not the atmosphere.
I got tandoori lamb and it was excellent, they cautioned me about spice, but I assured them to make it spicy and was not disappointed that they did not hold back (love spicy indian food).
My only complaint is the impossible parking arrangements in the area. We meter parked and I think it was $2 for an hour. -
Review from Adam B.
Cincinnati, OH
9/2/2009
Good Indian Food, but do yourself a favor and walk next door for some great Indian food.
Ambar FTW!
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from erin r.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2009
I have to disagree with Dan J. about Indian being in short supply in Cincinnati after living in other cities. There are three Indian restaurants (that are all great!) right across the street from each other here! I long for those options now that I am in Columbus.
Amol has a great lunch buffet with many options, both vegetarian and meat entrees. I have also eaten dinner here a million times independent of the buffet, Saag Paneer and plain Naan all the way, and it is delicious. The service is polite and they do not hesitate to refill your water glass 400 times which I LOVE, because any time I eat anything spicy I need to drink about 400 waters.
Many people are Ambar fans, but I am loyal to Amol. The prices are better, the atmosphere is more laid back to me, and I started out on the Amol lunch buffet and can't go back now. I miss it and am sure to go here every time I am in Cincinnati. I miss you Amol ! -
Review from Jenn M.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2009
i lived in Cincinnati for 10 years before moving to San Francisco in 2001, and Amol is a MUST visit for me when i am in Cincy!
For one thing, i travel both nationally and internationally and for some reason "Gajar Mattar" or "carrot and pea" is ONLY found at this Indian restaurant! I know because when i try to order "Gajar Mattar" at any other Indian restaurant, they look at me as if i ordered their grandma's head on a plate. Unfortunately for me, Gajar Mattar is absolutely my favorite!!
In addition, they make a great, Chicken Tikka Masala, which is also a staple. You MUST get this to dunk your garlic naan into!
I know Cincy is very divided as to which is the better Indian place (Amol versus Ambar) as much as they are divided as to which side of town is better (EAST side all the way!).
Amol, i heart you. I heart you alot. -
Review from Alex S.
7/2/2010
Here's the good things about Amol: The food is tasty and cheap. Here's the bad things about Amol: It is not the cleanest place you'll ever be in.
I don't want to say it's disgusting ... it just doesn't feel clean. It's dark, there's always something on the floor, the plates are often not thoroughly watched. It's just ...not that clean.
However, the food is great. Flavorful and varied with different daily specials. If you're looking for an Indian dish, most likely you can find it here.
They also have a decent lunch buffet which matches my earlier description nicely: cheap, delicious, not so clean.
There are a lot of people I know who love Amol and love eating here, despite the mess. Me? I'm just not one of them. I will do it occasionally when one of those people all-but-demands we go, but I'm just not going to go out of my way for it. Sorry Amol. -
Review from Stuart W.
Cincinnati, OH
9/14/2011
oh my goodness, amol is just the greatest. I really think it beats the competition, especially if you use the BEARCASH COUPON (7 off the second entree).
seriously, though, try to order something wrong, by accident. this is certianly the best strategy because, well, you only live once and your past preferences tend to betray the possibilities of the future. -
Review from Karan M.
Cincinnati, OH
7/27/2011
This place has been one of my favorites in cincy for a long time. It offers a great n cheap buffet as well as a menu full of tasty choices. Be sure to try the paneer makhni as it is some of the best I've had in a while.
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Review from Amy B.
5/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amol is a solid Indian option in Clifton. There are plenty of Indian food options in Clifton, so why pick Amol? Free off-street parking.
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Review from Trisha K.
4/28/2011
One of the best Indian buffets in town, not the biggest, but each item is very tasty. Love the meatballs!
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Review from Mitch P.
Cincinnati, OH
8/15/2010
There was a ROACH IN MY FOOD! I have visited amol's lunch buffet for years. I have ignored the roaches on the floor and wall up until now. Until the other day there was a nasty huge roach right in my chicken sag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT EAT HERE!!! Next door Ambar is soooo much better!!!!
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Review from Dan J.
College Hill, OH
10/11/2008
Amol is great. They offer an excellent lunch buffet that has some of the best Indian tomato soup in the city. The naan is fresh and the samosa's are delicious. Indian is in short supply in Cincinnati, so it's nice to see a place like Amol offer good fare for a fair price.
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Review from Gavin D.
8/28/2010
I have found that in Cincinnati there are 2 kinds of people: Amol people and Ambar people. If you eat Indian food and live in Cincinnati (and probably frequent Amol) you know exactly what I mean. If not, read on...
The Food: Sarah gets malai kofta (orange dish on the left). Every. Single. Time. And we go quite frequently. It is a tomato base with spices, then chickpea flour fried falafel-esque balls, almonds, raisins, and cilantro in it. And cream, lots of cream. It is delicious. I have a much more diverse and refined pallet at Amol - I get saag paneer (green dish in background on left) 90% of the time, and tandoori chicken 20% of the time. The saag is a spinach base with spices (garam masala, tumeric, etc.), then cubes of paneer (Indian cheese) in it. And yes, lots of cream too. Recently we were thinking of going for take out at Amol, Five Guys, or Chicago Gyros and we decided that with all the cream and white rice (it has about 7 green peas in it too), Amol is probably the least healthy of the bunch. But, the food is packed with flavor! I get a 4 or 5 out of 10 spicy level, which gives it a kick too.
On top of the main dishes, we typically get garlic naan - an Indian flatbread that is a bit crispy on the outside and then soft and chewy on the inside. This is actually one of the very few substantive reasons I recall appreciating Amol's food better than Ambar's - Ambar is all about the crispy naan (or at least they were 9 years ago). And finally, veggie pakora. Pakora are battered and fried fritters of vegetable (mostly spinach I think), and they bring you 3 chutneys to put on them. I usually load on the spicy onion, tangy/sweet tamarind, and refreshing coriander. They're all too good to pass on.
Amol has a great lunch buffet every day of the week, and plenty of other great dishes - but these are our regulars.
The Ingredients: Nothing notable on the ingredients in the restaurant. Jagdeep's, the grocery behind the restaurant has just about anything you might want so you can make what's on the menu. We've price checked many items on Jungle Jim's trips and they're comparable or better at Jagdeep's, without the drive to the burbs.
The Story, Setting, &Service: As I mentioned at the start of this post, there are Amol people and Ambar people. I have even been warned not to write this by friends because of the concern of starting a fight. You see, there is lore in town about the two warring Indian restaurant factions separated by only short fence posts. I have no idea if these rumors are true. I do know that the owner at Ambar was shot this past fall, and some immediately jumped to conclusions. For the purposes of this blog, let's just acknowledge there are at least widespread rumors.
In simple terms, the general Amol/Ambar split is this: Amol people tend to think of themselves as more down to earth (mostly, in my understanding, because they are going to restaurant that has nearly the same food for $1 less per entree and without a clean bathroom). I don't really know what Ambar people think, as I've never been one. As I mentioned above, I think it is mostly Amol people who believe a divide exists. Got a different opinion? Let me know.
Before I forget, you must know about the coupons. Near the back of Citybeat they have coupons for many of the Indian restaurants in town. I believe the current offer is a whopping $7 off your second entree at Amol. You must not miss this opportunity!
In other news, back when Jagdeep's grocery was still a laundromat that owned a much used Double Dragon arcade game, Amol India was an eclectic restaraunt called GJ's Gaslight. According to long time Clifton resident Dorothy Lauch, 90, GJ's "had a little of everything", as long as everything was hamburgers or Italian. When the restaurant became Amol, the booths remained, but the red brick wall was painted white and the signature faux gaslights were removed. A little history for all you foodies out there.
I believe I will be an Amol guy until the day I die. I've been to plenty of other places around town, and most of them are just fine. This is simply what I'm used to now, and I like being a regular. I know Sarah agrees, because when they picked up on who she was and started calling her by name, she told me with a very big smile.
If you enjoyed this review, there's more at Amateur Foodies. -
Review from Florian E.
Covington, KY
3/27/2008
Seriously. I have lived in Cincinnati forever, and I've been to every Indian place. Amol is by far the best. It sounds odd, but I think it's better than places I've had in London, too. Pretty standard dishes like korma and mater paneer. The samosas are the nice big pyramid-shaped ones. It all tastes great. There are now three(!) Indian places on the block, so be sure to choose this one. Also, the Sunday buffet is choice.
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Review from Cait P.
Cincinnati, OH
5/26/2011
I have been eating at Ambar for years, but ventured over to Amol just to compare. Initially I was very put off by the empty dining room and the struggle the waiters had over my ID and beer order. It was embarrassing and frustrating how many times I had to ask for a beer and had to show my ID. Food was great, I tried Amol's chicken....until leftover time the next day. I discovered a huge long brown hair (I have extremely short black hair) in the rice. Grossed out to say the least.
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Review from Becca E.
Bloomington, IL
9/6/2010
A good middle of the road Clifton Indian buffet. Not as nice as some places I have been but not as bad as others. The buffet always has a good selection and the staff is usually always on point. I also like the tomato soup they have. Major plus is the parking lot, because when you have stuffed yourself on buffet food, you really don't want to walk long distances to your car.
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Review from Matt T.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/27/2009 4 Check-ins Here
I love Amol India. It is my favorite Indian food restaurant in the city. The staff at Amol are always gracious and helpful. The owner, whose name escapes me now, is one of the nicest restaurant owners I have ever met. And their spice scale is true to its numbers. I love spicy things, my family is half-Texan (yes, it should be considers a nationality) and I grew up with spice. And when you order anything above an 8 prepare yourself for some sweating. But what wins my heart is that its super hot but its not painful hot. Your not in pain at all while eating a 9 or 10 vindaloo, but you feel the heat. But dont worry, it goes away quickly. And actually, when the owner came over to our table to check in on us, which is a nice touch, he asked me what level spice did I get. When he heard a 10 on a vindaloo, I swear he made this look like I need to be locked away. And he shook my hand, and said that I am the kind of eater he likes. Which made me laugh and enjoy my meal even more.
If you want fancy Indian food, go to Ambar. If you want really awesome Indian food go to Amol.
AMOL INDIA FTW!!! -
Review from Stephanie D.
Columbus, OH
8/15/2007
This place is amazing. Since I left Cincinnati I have searched for an Indian restaurant that could compare to Amol. It is one of the few places that I would go by myself on a regular basis. Everybody loves Ambar, but I just can't get into it as much as Amol. . . plus Amol has easier parking. The Aloo Chana is beyond incredible.
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Review from Aviva C.
Madison, WI
Updated - 6/2/2010
My favorite Indian food on Ludlow. Try the lunch buffet!
1 Previous Review:
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1/25/2010
Delicious food, great lunch buffet, good service as well.
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Review from Michael G.
Cincinnati, OH
1/7/2009
Amol is truly the best Indian restaurant in Cincinnati and quite a value too! Ask any Cincinnatian what they're favorite Indian restaurant is and they'll say either Ambar or Amol. Coincidentally, the restaurants are literally right next door to each other. Both places are great, but Amol gets the win because it's less crowded and a little bit cheaper. Their buffet is perfect for a business lunch.
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Review from Tony S.
Newport, KY
7/30/2010
I've just been there for the afternoon buffet, but it was delicious. Nice, big selection of meat, vegetarian and appetizer dishes,a great price, and the staff is friendly and attentive.
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Review from Jesse M.
Cincinnati, OH
2/16/2010
Amol is my favorite Indian restaurant in the city! I have tried many of the various Indian places around, but Amol has the best food. I like my Indian food very hot, and I have not yet been able to get them to make it hot enough for me, but the taste is still amazing! As with all Indian places, Amol has many great vegetarian options. The service is friendly and there is always plenty of parking. Also, look for coupons in the Entertainment Book or the UC coupon booklet.
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Review from Liz S.
Manhattan, NY
7/1/2010
Great Indian Buffet. Lots of good food. Mango lassi makes a great dessert. I went on Mother's Day and they had additional sweats and goodies as well. :)
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Review from Abi F.
Cincinnati, OH
2/11/2009
In Cincinnati the second most debated food establishment of choice behind Goldstar or Skyline is Amol or Ambar. If I have to choose I'm always going to go wtih Amol. Not only have they put up with six years of my friends and I coming in Sunday afternoon; varying degrees of hung-over and in general disarray but they have always had a warm buffet full of Indian comfort food. My only problem and why I'm leaving off one star is the samosa issue. For a while you could get as many samosas that you could stuff in your little cheeks but then they began tapering off and if you showed up after one you were out of luck, then... the samosas were gone all together. I'm not sure if they have returned but taking away samosas from a buffet is a crime. Now that I'm moving on to San Francisco I'm sure when I come back I'll have to go Sunday afternoon to get my fill and samosas or not, it will still be wonderful.
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Review from emily e.
Cincinnati, OH
8/30/2007
i hads some crap meals here but for the most part it rocks. best service ever and they know my order. awesome and mouth watering
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Review from T P.
Cincinnati, OH
Updated - 2/4/2010
i didn't think Amol could get worse. however, yesterday's buffet was foul. even the tomato soup was bad. all indian restaurants are not created equal. for those who know better & appreciate good indian try Krishna's on Clifton.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2009
Used to really enjoy their buffet. Buffet food was never exceptional but was good enough for the… Read more »
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