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Cafe Mamtaz
Categories: Restaurants Indian Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Caterers, Pakistani [Edit]
87 L St(between Emerson St & 5th St)
Boston, MA 02127
Neighborhood: South Boston
(617) 464-4800
- Nearest Transit:
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E 4th St @ L St (10, 5, 7, 9)
E Broadway @ L St (10, 5, 9)
L St @ Broadway (7, 9)
- Hours:
Mon 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
49 reviews for Cafe Mamtaz
Review Highlights
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"The chicken tikka masala was perfect and was spiced just..." In 7 reviews -
"Palak Panir - spinach & cheese cube goodness." In 4 reviews -
"...samosas, meat and vegetable and the garlic naan to die for." In 10 reviews
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Ross S.
Sudbury, MA
3/5/2012
I see some pretty recent poor reviews of this place, and I cannot think why. I have had nothing but pleasant experiences with them. Sure, the delivery takes a while, but as I am ordering delivery I can plan around when I want my food to arrive. The food always arrives hot and fresh, and most obviously DELICIOUS. I generally order the Gosht Saag with Goat, very spicy, plain naan, and basmati rice. The rice is always cooked perfectly, naan delicious, and entree fantastic.
Can't recommend a place more. -
Review from Maureen D.
Boston, MA
5/21/2012
I love Indian food. I have ordered from Cafe Mamtaz at least 6 times; always take-out. In the past I have enjoyed the vegetable samosas, garlic naan, cauliflower, spinach and chana masala. BUT, on my most recent experience, the dishes have now been watered down, and they seem to be skimping on the tasty ingredients. Chana masala is supposed to be a thick flavorful stew, not a thin runny soup, which is what it was this time.
It will be a long time until l order again, since there are much better places to go :( -
Review from Darienka H.
Boston, MA
4/28/2012
For what it is, it is very pricey.
When we crave Indian food, we get it from Cafe Mamtaz because of the convenience. We always get the lunchbox special which has an assortment of rice, sauces, chicken curry (you can specify) and one of those fried potato things.
We also order a naan to go with it. I have a sweet tooth and my favorite one is the Peshiwary Naan which comes with raisins, coconut and pistacchio and is best served hot. I love it!
I deducted one star because of the high cost.
I deducted one more star for customer service:
a) I went to order in person once and I was hit on by one of the employees. Since they ask for name and phone number for each order, he had my phone number and he kept calling our house 4 times asking for me! So unprofessional!!
b) After that experience, we would call in the order. They have poor English and went to the wrong street...even after we repeated the number and street they didn't get it. It was a cluster...
So the only choice is pretty much to call it in and then have someone else go pick it up...
A friend introduced me to Shanti restaurant in Dorchester which has comparable food items and is much cheaper, however, we were there to dine in, not to order take out/delivery. -
Review from Christina G.
Boston, MA
5/16/2012
I ordered take out from here for the first time the other day and tried the Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan and Raita. It wasn't bad, and I would probably order from there again in a pinch if I was really craving Indian. On the other hand, it didn't blow me away, and I wouldn't say it's the best Indian food I've had in Boston.
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Review from Brigid M.
5/5/2011
Cafe Mamtaz can be hit or miss. As much as I like having an outpost for Indian Food in Southie, I'm not going to sugarcoat their inconsistencies.
First, their food is much pricier than it should be. And what I am referring to is the quality. Their Palaak Paneer, rices and naan are standard: flavorful, right consistency and quite delish. But another dish I've tried, Aloo Gobi, was the complete opposite. As other reviewers noted, it was oily and bland. Same goes for their veggie samosas and poori. Second, EVERY order, be it pick up or delivery, has been missing items. This may not sound like too big a deal but imagine that you just got home, settled in, popped in a movie and opened dinner to find the main component absent. Swearing is involved. Lesson: explicitly check your order.
Because of lack of competition, Cafe Mamtaz will be (unfortunately) my go-to Indian place in SB. Good luck to others doing the same. -
Review from Jim S.
Boston, MA
4/17/2011
One of my favorite places for delivery in Fort Point/Southie.
The Tandoori Chicken is pretty darn good and the vegetarian entrees I've tried are even better. Make sure to get the naan, it's really good.
Delivery has usually been quicker than they promised and the food arrives hot and not over cooked. -
Review from Gillian S.
Boston, MA
11/28/2011
I was so excited to receive their menu on my doorstep about a year ago. The neighborhood could use more food delivery options.
However, I am ALWAYS disappointed by the service and yet I keep trying to give them a chance. Not after this last time. I will no longer order from here again. They're always forgetting items you order and take forever in getting the forgotten items to you. The last time I ordered, i ordered vegetable samosas- the time before they forgot the various sauces/ chutney (the sauces and chutney are the reason I order veg samosas.) This time I asked if they were still included or if they had to be ordered seperately, because I wanted to be sure to have them included in my order. When I received my order, the sauce/ chutney was missing and a regular Coke was included in my order instead of the Diet Coke I ordered.
I called them, discussed the items missing and they began to make excuses, saying they wrote it down, they didn't know why it wouldn't be in my order and that they would get it to me in an hour. RIDICULOUS! I asked them to make a special trip because while I waited, the rest of my food would be cold and that I ALWAYS have this experience ordering from them. They quickly redelivered the sauce, chutney, etc., giving me extras (didn't replace my regular Coke for Diet Coke), but I was happy they quickly tried to remedy the situation. And then, I bit into my vegetable samosa, labeled vegetable samosa on the container and got a mouthful of meat samosa.
Cafe Mamtaz, never again.... -
Review from Nicole V.
4/6/2010
Last week we realized that we didn't get Cafe Mamtaz yet. A call was immediately placed and 30 minutes later we were enjoying way too much delicious Indian food for two people.
It's not incredibly cheap at face value, but when you get two dinners (minimum) from each entree you're doing good. The little plastic dishes don't look huge, but once you divide it all up with the mounds of rice you won't be disappointed for meals to come.
Our favorites so far (and this is where you have to excuse my spelling) have been:
- Chicken tiki masala - amazing. it would be so much better if I hadn't just read an article in Women's Health about how it's one of the worst things you can order. But we still order it often and love it
- Vindaloo- same article said it was one of the best so we tried it. I have a new favorite.
- Onion Kulchi - we've had better luck with this being delivered than naan
- Begun Bharta - delicious mashed eggplant glorious-ness (it deserves it's own words)
I could keep going but Yelp will limit me soon...
Long story short- it's all delicious. You can't go wrong. Try it.Listed in: I pick favorites - Boston…, I almost miss Southie...
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Review from Billie M.
Boston, MA
11/10/2010
This teeny tiny hole in the wall can sure put out some really big flavor! Tucked along L St, this beyond basic counter service gem manages to pump out some Indian delights that trump most of the area's "fancier" kitchens. Offering either takeout or delivery, the order to eating time is on par with any local pizza joint, but often much more rewarding. The staff here is exceedingly friendly without being chatty which is perfect, because really, I'm just there to pick up dinner. And the best part is they actually listen when you ask for it to be spicy. None of this questioning your tolerance, or assuring you it will be hot while silently laughing at your dismal American heat standards, they just set about making it deliciously, deliriously HOT!
The vindaloo here is amazing, smooth and spicy, the thin layer of oil on top breaking through to showcase large chunks of meat and potatoes, although I do wish it came with a little bit more meat. While I appreciate all the extra sauce to dump on my rice, my naan, and my face, I always end up with the dreaded leftover conundrum. Do I just go for the fatty gold and eat the whole thing, or save those 2 remaining pieces for tomorrow?
For appetizers, the vegetable pakoras are tops, huge golden globs of fried vegetable delights. Seriously, these are huge. Like palm sized big. The samosas are good, but if attempting to choose between those and the pakoras, the pakoras win EVERY time. For the price point, the mixed appetizer platter is actually a really good deal, a lot more food than the slight monetary increase from the rest of the appetizers would suggest.
The garlic naan is delicious, but truth be told, doesn't show much of a difference from the Trader Joe's frozen version that is in my freezer. The onion kulchi on the other hand is worthy of being treated as a meal all on its own.
For entrees beyond the much beloved vindaloo, the bindhi masala is a worthy rendition of the stewed okra favorite, if not quite on par with Shanti's version. Also, the chicken tikka masala is the perfect starting off point for that friend who slides you the side eye when you suggest an Indian takeaway. Chicken in a creamy sauce my friend! You'll love it! -
Review from Joe B.
Boston, MA
1/1/2010
So, I'm a relatively new arrival to Southie, but my family has been here since the 1920's. I've been visiting my entire life, so I had a good idea of what to expect.
Needless to say, I was NOT expecting an Indian restaurant in the neighborhood. I drove by the place on my way to work every day, and every day I thought "Hm. That looks like an Indian restaurant... but it couldn't be." Sure enough, it was!
I got an even bigger surprise when I finally tried it tonight and it turned out to be really, really good. REALLY good.
Full disclosure: I'm a vegetarian, and I'm used to life in the suburbs, so I'm pretty much psyched any time there are more than two choices for me on the menu. I don't often find myself disappointed with Indian restaurants.
That being said, this is definitely up there on my list of Indian restaurants I've been to around the Boston area (and I've been to quite a few). The peshawary naan was so good that I inhaled it in about a minute; I couldn't even stop myself long enough to unpack the rest of the food. That was the definite highlight of the meal.
I also got the veggie appetizer platter and shahi paneer korma. The paneer was DELISH, but the (fried) app platter was a teensy bit on the greasy and bland side. That could have been because the apps sat around for a bit and cooled off before I got to them. I was so drawn in by the naan and paneer that I couldn't stop eating them long enough to try anything else.
Delivery was super quick for a Friday night (about 20-25 minutes), and I had no problem communicating with the person who took my order.
I'm sure I'll be eating here on a regular basis. -
Review from Danny N.
Boston, MA
9/23/2010
These guys make REALLY good food. I actually live 3 blocks away so I either get take-out or delivery. So I get delivery 4 out of 5 times, of course.
The portions are fresh and generous. When I say fresh I mean fresh. If they are a bit late for delivery I know it's because they make the naan per order and they cook each order to taste.
I suggest their tikka masala and everything off the vegetable menu.
The pakoras are faaaabulous and don't need any dipping sauces or such. Go for the mango chutney as a side to rice and appetizums. It's good enough to make with a PB&Hayyy sandwich the next day. -
Review from mary d.
Cambridge, MA
10/4/2010
I've only ever had this food delivered, but I gather that's the only way to go, anyway. Of the food I've had, I'd give it three stars for being pretty standard-fare Indian, but it gets bumped to a solid four stars for A) being one of very few options for Indian in its area, but still being competitive with other Indian food restaurants in the city, and B) the breads. This place has got the best coconut poori and onion kulcha that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing delivered to my house -- they're most of the reason I'm writing this review. Often, delivered naan is pretty much burned in multiple places and on its way to getting stiff and tough, in my experience...not so much, with this. It has arrived fluffy and moist and piping hot every time I've placed an order. I'd probably even give this place the fourth star based on point B alone; it's that good.
The rest of the dishes are quite good, but not amazing enough to stand out in some way from the Indian I'm able to get elsewhere. The chicken curry didn't impress me, but the chicken korma was decent. You get a hefty amount of food if you order the mixed appetizer platter, with a good selection, so if you're in the mood for a fried-food gut-bomb Indian-style, you probaby can't go wrong there.
If you get the mango chutney side order, they give you a pretty big helping of that, too -- probably half of one of those little to-go soup containers. I've had better chutney, but it was tasty and I definitely ate it all over the course of a couple of days. Shame my breads didn't last that long! -
Review from susan t.
Boston, MA
11/7/2009
Indian food on L Street!
I ventured in tonight and ordered a vegetarian dinner box. It came similarly packaged to a Chinese take-out meal: basmati rice: nice and fluffy, a veggie samosa-crispy outside with a flavorful stuffing, a handful of veggie pakoras- nicely spicy, vegetable curry- a little on the mild side and nabaraton korma- excellent.
Based on the previous review I also ordered raita- a bit on the salty side and garlic naan- agreed, delicious!
Grabbed chai for the walk home which was very very good...not your Dunkin Donut's chai- very rich and creamy.
I look forward to trying more items from the extensive menu. So nice to have more options to avoid cooking at home, LOL! -
Review from Laura G.
Boston, MA
Updated - 2/21/2010 1 photo
Still loving Cafe Mamtaz! We are getting take out WAY too often, but with this great place right around the corner, who can help it?
We continue to try new things on the menu, and have not yet tried anything we do not like. The guys at the Cafe always make sure that the food was to our liking, and ask for feedback of any kind.
Family came into town a few weeks ago from NYC, and we did take out, and guess what? They LOVED it, and thought that it compared very well to their fav NYC Indian restaurants.
Lastly, I have been loving this food so much, that I have been inspired to start cooking more Indian food at home.
Yay Cafe Mamtaz!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2009
Yes, Southie is coming up!
This is the first "ethnic" restaurant (wait, other than Italian… Read more »
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Review from Naima Z.
Boston, MA
8/11/2011
We had a great time at this comfy little high taste place at South
Boston. We had the lamb and fish curry . Both fantastic dishes especially the sauce.To die for!
We also tried the hous especial Biryani and that was YUM!
Don't miss this place. Its Bangladeshi food with the subcontinental inspiration. Bon apetit .Listed in: Bangladeshi
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Review from Jac N.
Boston, MA
2/20/2010
What a welcome addition to South Boston this hole-in-the-wall takeout is.
I've sampled a good part of the menu and I love the samosas, meat and vegetable and the garlic naan to die for. The coconut soup is heaven in a bowl. Everything is well prepared from quality ingredients. The chutney and sauces are close to perfect. My only complaint is that they are close enough to my house that I smell the wonderful aromas from their kitchen wafting across my backyard and it makes me constantly hungry. -
Review from Liz L.
Boston, MA
Updated - 1/9/2011
Happy New Year to everyone! We ordered food from Mamtez on an unexpected afternoon off in the middle of the week, what a treat! We enjoyed the food so much, we ordered more this weekend. The first order was delivered (in less than 30 mins) and the second was picked up. The food was for three vegetarians, so no reviews on meat dishes. Here goes:
Aloo Gobi [Fresh cauliflower, tender potatoes, green peas in an onion, tomato sauce]. Palak Panir [homemade cheese with spinach, cream and spices]. Chana Masala; [whole chickpeas cooked in a mild tomato sauce]. We also ordered Vegetable Samosas & 2 types of bread; Garlic Naan & Coconut Poori. I don't know why we never order extra bread, we know we never have enough. It is so good and so fresh that it goes quick. The bread only costs a couple of bucks, well worth the modest cost.
The Samosas came with 3 tiny containers of "dips" Mango Chutney {a bit fiery], a green, herbal dip and a purplish, plum-like dip.. All the dishes were amazing & the portions are generous. The Palak Panir was my favorite; creamy tender spinach with pieces of soft homemade cheese in it. Chana Masala & the Aloo Gobi were perfectly cooked, really good. Everything goes over rice, which comes with certain menu choices. I believe it was saffron rice. It had the tell-tale orange flecks and it is perfect for any of the dishes we ordered. The rice is delicious on its own. As for Samosas; I personally don't care for Samosas but the other diners reported that they were very good and they went quick..
I like not having to drive out of town for Indian take out; kind of defeats the purpose so I hope Cafe Mamtez is successful. Every neighborhood needs an Indian Restaurant that serves fresh, delicious food at reasonable prices...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/1/2010
Our family enjoys the food at Cafe Mamtaz, it's fresh and cooked to order. There's no restaurant to… Read more »
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Review from Jeff M.
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I just hit Mamtaz on an off night but everything was just a big greasy oily mess without much flavor. Sounds weird for Indian food but curry and tikka masala was bland. Mango lassie was heavy on the mango, too heavy.
Listed in: Indian
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Review from Katy F.
Boston, MA
6/8/2010
Really small inside so take-out's the way to go here. The food is exceptional, everything else is ok.
A few cons: $25 minimum for delivery - which is a pretty hefty price tag when dining solo. If you go in thinking you'll have food for a couple days, it's easy to get over. They're also VERY strict about the 10% for $30 deal. I know, rules are rules, but you can't budge an eensy bit when I'm at $28.95? How about including tax? No? Ok, fine, I'll order anyway because you're so delicious.
For whatever reason they always ask me multiple times if I want appetizers too. Maybe I sound like an app lover? I'll take that as a compliment, but really, I'm all set.
My favorite? The Begun Bharta. Holy smokes. I could eat this by the gallon. A little oily, but I'll happily soak it up with naan.
Final verdict: A bit pricey, but totally worth it. -
Review from Seanne F.
Boston, MA
3/27/2010
Delish. Fast delivery. 10% off coupon available on Cafe Mamtaz's website (on orders $30+)
Veggie samosas - crisp, even with delivery
Palak Panir - spinach & cheese cube goodness
Shahi Pulau - savory rice with peas and something sweet (mango?)
Peshwary Naan - just sweet enough w/coconut
Aloo Parata - mmm potato-y bready goodness
Tandoori Mixed Grill - a little bit of everything, tandoori shrimp & chicken were standouts
Yup. Just found our new go-to -
Review from Claire B.
Boston, MA
7/11/2011
so convenient, so good! No inside dining but the food is great! I really like the Murg Shaag. I'm really glad to have an Indian restaurant so close with such great food.
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Review from Jill G.
Boston, MA
10/8/2011
Hair in my food and over 2 hrs. for delivery to arrive...enough said...
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Review from John L.
Wakefield, MA
10/6/2011
This was my first (and last) time trying this place (take out), and I'm just amazed at the discrepancy between the quality of the food I received and the ratings by so many others here on Yelp! The only passable dish was the Peshawary Naan, but the Coconut Poori was so filled with oil that it was repulsive. The Lamb Tikka Masala was also loaded with oil and didn't taste or look like any Tikka Masala I've ever had--very little flavor, plus the lamb was very dry and overcooked. But the Palak Paneer was even worse! Really, canned spinach would probably have been an improvement. Quite possibly the worst Indian food I've ever had.
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Review from Mcslimj B.
Boston, MA
8/6/2010
Southie finally gets a takeaway curry joint, mostly Northern Indian with some Bengali, Southern, and Bangladeshi dishes, and it's very good. Here's hoping the locals keep it in business.
You have to admire pioneers in the restaurant business like Pho Republique, which took a big risk in 1999 by opening in a half-gentrified corner of the South End. Cafe Mamtaz, an Indian take-out-only restaurant, seems similarly brave, opening last year in residential South Boston, an area dotted with modest pubs serving boiled dinner and fried seafood, like the nearby Original Kelly's Landing. While the Franklin Cafe and St. Alphonzo's hint at gentrification, many locals still seem to prefer debased American-Chinese greasy-egg-roll joints when they want something, ahem, exotic -- next to which Indian food must seem like it's from Mars.
Actually, Cafe Mamtaz mostly works the cuisine of Northern India, including Persian-influenced Mughal dishes, plus the odd vindaloo and tikka masala. Excellent fried starters include irregularly shaped, crunchy vegetable pakoras ($5), served with the classic onion, tamarind, and cilantro chutneys, and meat samosas ($5), pyramidal turnovers of ground spiced lamb. The tandoor, a charcoal-fired clay oven, produces naan ($2), a leavened flatbread and staple starch, and meats marinated in spiced yogurt and roasted on skewers, like lamb shish kebab ($12), which taste like flattened, sweetly spiced lamb meatballs. Vegetable entrées include malai kofta ($11), crisp-coated potato/vegetable/paneer fritters in a golden, creamy sauce studded with raisins and cashews. Dal makhani ($11) is a rich, buttery, herb-accented stew of soft-cooked spiced lentils. Some entrées venture into Pakistani territory, as in murg kadai ($11), with large chunks of boneless chicken, onion, tomato, green peppers, and fresh ginger; others venture toward the owners' native Bangladesh, as in shrimp curry ($13), sauced in a complex mixture of aromatics and spices in the mild Bengali style.
By default, most dishes are served quite mild: you must speak up if you favor the heat of chilies. All are accompanied by rather plain basmati. Additional heat and depth can also be added with mango chutney ($2), while raita ($2), the tangy yogurt/cucumber/mint condiment, can cool capsicum fire. Beverage options include yogurt-based lassi ($2/sweet or salty; $3/mango) and masala chai ($1.50), spiced milk tea. The lone two-seat table seems more a lounge for customers awaiting take-out than dining. Beyond its intrepid spirit, this restaurant deserves credit for turning out a lovely variety of fresh-tasting dishes from a fairly tiny kitchen. If they're smart and bold enough, Southie denizens will rip another page from British Isles pub culture and start making Cafe Mamtaz's outstanding takeaway curries a regular feature of their evening rounds. -
Review from Rick S.
Manchester, NH
Updated - 1/6/2010
I ate again at Cafe Mamtaz (my 2nd time) as they have now been open for a while and I wanted to try it again. Wow! Their chef's truly know Indian Cuisine!
I had the Mango Shrimp (a special) and I also had the Tiki Masala. Both were superior to just about any Indian food I've eaten. The sauces were out of this world. They weren't overly powering and I could really tasted the delicate blend of spices and flavors. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
The only drawback to this place is it is take-out and delivery only (they also cater). There is one table that can hold about 4 people, but that is it. Regardless - you gotta try this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/5/2009 First to Review
Cafe Mamtaz just opened. It is a small place with take-out, delivery and catering only. The serve… Read more »
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Review from Jenny A.
South Boston, MA
4/14/2010
Yay for Indian cuisine coming to Southie! The group of people that work here are so wonderful and helpful. If you're not real familiar with their food, they will gladly describe it to you and suggest options catered to your taste.
I've had my fair share of Indian food over the years, and I must say, Cafe Mamtaz does it right. Everything tastes fresh, it's quick, flavorful, and inexpensive. I personally love their veggie samosas, but their garlic naan topped with fresh cilantro is just to die for. My boyfriend and I are also big fans of their palak panir and malai kofta.
We've been about 6 times since they opened just a few months ago and can honestly say that we will certainly be back soon. It's hard not to when you walk by and it smells so good! -
Review from Jim S.
Boston, MA
9/19/2011
so far, i have ordered the lamb curry, vindaloo, kadai, bhuni, and rogan josh all with garlic naan. my only complaint is that theyre somewhat greasy. but I have been fairly pleased with all that i have ordered so far. On the other hand, I ordered lamb curry tonight extra spicy and it was absolutely fantastic. driver got there in half the time quoted. I will definitely be ordering from mamtaz again soon. This is the best tasting indian food I have had in the US.
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Review from Maria P.
3/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I moved to southie a while ago but I haven't really had the chance to explore any of the restaurants in the area. I was looking on yelp for a decent takeout option and I came across Cafe Mamtaz. I'm glad I picked this one! It's a tiny unpretentious hole in the wall but the food was great, some of the best indian kabob in boston. The chicken tikka masala was perfect and was spiced just right. The only disappointing dish was the dal makhani, it was definitely not dal makhani, it was more like they decided to mix some dal tadka and makhani together. It was a very very odd combination and felt like such a let down after all the great kabob and tikka masala. The naan was decent, I probably left it waiting too long on the countertop which is why it was soggy by the time I got around to eating. I'm definitely going to give it another try, you can't pry me away from good indian take out!
Listed in: Take out options in Southie
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Review from Andrea K.
Boston, MA
8/12/2011
So good! Best Indian food around!
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Review from Jennifer H.
Boston, MA
7/19/2010
Absolutely delicious! I had my first experience with Cafe Mamtaz at lunch today. I ordered online and requested it be ready for 11:45am. When I got there at 11:43 they were just packaging up my order! Perfect timing and delicous food smells, I knew my day was getting better... I got back to the office and unwrapped my Aloo Parata- a potato and wheat bread- very hot and the perfect balance of savory and sweet when I tore off pieces and dipped it in my Coconut Soup. I also ordered the Nabaraton Korma- 9 veggies in a creamy, mildly spicy and very fragrant sauce. This comes with a side of Basmati rice. I am now STUFFED and still have enough of each item left over to create at least two more meals. I have to say, I can't wait to try everything else on the menu. This was a fantastic first taste.
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Review from Kelly C.
11/16/2009
I noticed this tiny place a week or two ago, and kept meaning to look it up, but kept forgetting the name.I finally went by again and looked it up online and I can't say enough about how happy I am to have them down the street! Believe it or not, I've lived in downtown Boston for 8 yrs, and never really had an Indian restaurant nearby! They are definitely working out kinks, and probably overwhelmed by the interest, but the food did not suffer! We got the Lamb shisk kebab, palak paneer, appetizer platter, and the raita. It was a bit salty for me, but everything else was so good. Looking forward to trying something else soon!!!
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Review from Steve C.
Boston, MA
11/15/2009
The food: Wonderful! I was pretty psyched to see an Indian place open up on the next street over. My apartment sees a lot of takeout action and we were getting tired of the same ol, same ol places. So I ordered up some chicken tikka masala (unbelievable), naan (great), and veggie pakoras (outstanding) and mango chutney. Everything was delicious, fresh and tender, even the rice, which can sometimes turn crappy in a matter of minutes when you're ordering delivery.
Service: The aforementioned food was so good, we tried to order again the next night, try out some different stuff (they have goat on the menu, never had it, felt adventurous). The guy who answered the phone couldn't understand my roommate (a native English speaker with perfect annunciation). They went around and around trying to get on the same page arranging the delivery and payment, and my roommate eventually had to give up. Obviously ESL takeout places offer a certain challenge when placing phone orders, but they should make an effort to have someone answer the phone who can take orders efficiently and clearly.
Also, the first time I called for delivery, I tried to pay with credit, the guy said they have a $15 minimum and wouldn't take my card number, I pointed out that I ordered over $20 worth of food and drinks, and he counted item-by-item to confirm this total before he'd accept the card.
Third service issue: I called last night (Saturday) with a quick takeout order. At 9:35. The menu states they close at 10. The guy wouldn't take my order, said they had shut everything off in the kitchen. I can understand that they have set hours, but I just wanted a quick order of tikka masala and some naan, and was willing to run down and pick it up in person, before their stated closing time. If you're shutting everything down at 9:30, put that on the menu.
All in all I hope this place makes it, the food is outstanding, the delivery guy was very nice, and we need more options in the area. But I'd like to see their service improve before I can justify 4 or 5 stars. Since they've only been open a week or two, I'm sure they'll get the hang of it, and I'll come back and update with a better rating if/when they do. -
Review from Mark S.
Boston, MA
1/7/2010
5 stars? It's good, but not that good. Try Shanti in Dorchester. It's better and they deliver to Southie: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I've had both and we go back to Shanti. I'm glad we're getting more variety in Southie (though I don't know if you can get more variety than a Mexican restaurant run by Chinese), but I go to what I like... -
Review from Chris C.
Boston, MA
11/18/2009
Finally some flavor in Southie!!!
The food was pretty good and the dishes I tried were not loaded with cream as is often the case with Americanized Indian food.
Not that meat wrapped in dough, deep fried and smothered in a spicy sauce can ever be bad, but I found the lamb samosas here to be especially good. The Palak Panir was a little heavy but good as well. We also tried a baked eggplant dish that was exquiste. Heavily seasoned - as indian food should be, but still easy to eat.
The menu is extensive and interesting and the guy behind the counter was very nice. I would definitely rec. you give this place a try. -
Review from Julia G.
Boston, MA
7/15/2011
This hole in the wall place is great. Everything I've had so far is good. A friend who knows good goat says their goat is pretty awesome. No dine in, but they're pretty quick for takeout.
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Review from bill c.
Boston, MA
12/15/2011
didnt like it at all,i got sick the next day!!!
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Review from Rad G.
Boston, MA
4/17/2011
Not bad as the only Indian option in southie, but when I ordered from them the chicken tikka masala was excessively oily and fairly bland. I hope it was an off night and based on other positive reviews here I am willing to give them another chance, but my first impression wasn't great.
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Review from Jascha F.
Boston, MA
5/10/2010
Great Indian food, in a neighborhood with *ahem* limited choices for good ethnic cuisine. Not the best Indian restaurant in the greater Boston area, but way better than your average Central Square joint and a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Don't go looking to sit down though. This is strictly a take-out place. -
Review from Brendan S.
Boston, MA
4/17/2011
Fantastic. Bangladeshi flair to traditional and modern dishes. They have a large menu and cook quickly. Taste is fantastic. Right on L Street in South Boston. Whoddathunkit.
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Review from Hillary M.
Boston, MA
1/5/2010
This place might actually have really sucky Indian food but I honestly wouldn't care because it is so nice to have a decent ethnic food with take out/delivery in my neighborhood that my standards are pretty low. As it is, I find their food pretty fine on nights I don't have to cook. I wish it was consistently great, thus the use of the word 'fine' (I also wish it were a little cheaper). Sometimes it is ready much sooner than they say it will be, and sometimes they forget stuff or the food looks reheated - if you order a combo, make sure they give you the little sauces for the samosa. I've had the mango lassi enough times to say that one should just avoid it - I think it must not be terribly popular because a few times now it has tasted like it might have turned. I realize this sounds like not such a great place, but really, everything else about it is awesome for Indian take out. The menu selection is good, website is easy to read, delivery is fast, and the food tastes great. Love the naan and the murg chicken. The samosas are divine. I hope they stay in business, I seriously eat here weekly!!!
