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Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Jamaica PlainGreen Street (Orange)
Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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You ever happen upon a place, and it turns into your favorite spot? That could be Ghazal for me.
Met up with friends from my girlfriend's hometown on Centre St in JP, without a destination for dinner. After a fail at getting one of a selective few down the street, a local friend we came across suggested Ghazal. Said it was better than Bhukara - not that I'd been there before.
We walked in and were seated right away. The servers were all very friend and attentive. A+ for service.
The menu is extensive, too extensive for one of our party. We started with a Chicken Tikka, tender chicken in a yogurt-spice marinade over a mini salad. Delicious.
Our entrees were a mix of lamb and chicken dishes with varying degrees of heat. All super fresh, with plenty of rice and Naan to go around.
All-in-all, an awesome experience, and a great reason to go back to JP.
Ok, I am going to preface this with saying my son insisted we order our dinner spicy. (It was his birthday, so I indulged him) I have to say, although I like things medium spicy, it was barely edible with the amount of spice. My mouth was totally burning and there was an unpleasant aftertaste. The appetizers platter we had was excellent, though. The restaurant was clean and very accommodating. I will definitely give this restaurant another chance and I will not order my food spicy next time. I found the portion size was a bit on the small size, save the appetizer platter. We ordered four dishes, rice and the appetizer platter and it barely fed 5 of us. (I am a very light eater)
It was a Monday night and it was pretty busy at 7pm. I will definitely give this place another shot. I would definitely love to try the lunch buffet too!
My guy and I were headed out to meet my Vancouver landlords, who happened to be visiting New England at the same time I was. They were staying at a B & B in Jamaica Plain, so we set out from Charlestown to join them for dinner.
Orange Line Represent!
We weren't sure where we were going to go, though we did some Yelp research on his Android on the way there. We ended up aiming for Ten Tables, but they were full (justifiably so.)
Ghazal was our second choice, since Yelpers reviewed it as the best of the two Indian joints on the same block beyond Burroughs and Centre.
Ambience was lovely -- nicely lit, nice dishes, linen napkins, the whole bit. Our friend found weird, pearly white residue on her menu, however, so we can only assume someone REALLY enjoyed the ambience.
Service was attentive and immediate and consistent ALL night. I really appreciated all the water glass filling and the concern for our well-being.
Food? Awesome. I shared Chicken Tikka with my boyfriend, and had Lamb Vindaloo for my main dish. We all shared a TON of garlic naan, which ended up being much more naan than we needed (one order is plenty for four people unless you are a total naan head.)
The wine of choice was Malbec, and actually suited the flavours of the meal beautifully.
A great night, though a bit of a ways out for us from Charlestown.
If you end up in JP, however, this is a reliable and tasty destination.
I give this place 2 stars because they're food is definately good. Yes, way better than Bukhara.
So why only 2 stars you ask?
I moved to JP two months ago. The first day i moved in i ate at Ghazal and loved the food. I went back with family, and liked it yet again. The third time was supposed to be the charm, but it wasnt.
Before i ordered the Desi chicken, i asked if it was with white meat or dark. The waiter said it was white meat, so i ordered it. The sauce was very good, but my chicken was NOT white meat. I figured i'd let it slide given that i've been there twice before and had good service and food both times. The food was good this time, but i just tend to steer away from dark meat.
So anyway, it gets worse. When I get the check, i look at it. There's a printed reciept that you sign and another type of receipt the waiter used to handwrite our orders w/ the price next to each order. I noticed my dinner was overpriced by at least 3.50. I told my husband, and he said that I must've been mistaken, and it made me doubt myself.
Once we left the restaurant we looked at the menu outside the window and realized that i was correct. Once i got home i decided to give the restaurant a call. First, the manager tries to tell me that they will take care of it next time I come in. I kindly asked that they fix it now. So then someone else gets on the p hone (i assume the waiter) saying he made a mistake, thinking I ordered the special. Unfortunately, I can't tell if desi chicken is one of the specials b/c their website is down, but at the same time I know that desi chicken is part of their main chicken dishes.
I don't want to make accusations, but I found it suspicious that the incorrect price was also written on the handwritten receipt the waiter used when taking our order. For the manager to try to get out of refunding me the 3.50 over the phone by saying "ill take care of it next time you come" is like saying "whatever, i'm not doing anything about it". They claim they refunded me the difference, and I will be checking my credit card statement, but I will say that there was something definately shady going on. If you are going to go to this place, triple check your bill.
My husband and I just started getting takeout from them, and are huge fans! They automatically include rice, naan, papad, and sauces with a curry meal, which can add at least $5 to your bill when not included at other restaurants.
I've been getting some yummy bean curries, and my husband, who is west african, loved the spicy goat curry, a real treat for him. He ordered it extra spicy and after being asked if he really wanted it that way, it turned out spicy enough to make him sweat! The samosa I got was not the best, but the pakora did not disappoint and I will stick to that for appetizers.
We'll be back!
One word: YUM
Other word: FUN
Ghazal is one of those restaurants that always makes you smile. The food is excellent...and fresh (the latter an elusive trait in many Indian restaurants). The look and feel of the place is cool. And the staff are some of the happiest, nicest I've ever experienced (you actually feel like they WANT you to eat there as opposed to the place a few doors down). Oh yeah, and it's pretty cheap.
Get thee to Ghazal...and have some fun! (You've earned it!)
Bukhara's food blows and its service sucks. Ghazal's food is very good, as is its service. When you want Indian food in JP, you should probably choose Ghazal. That is my review.
My overall experience at Ghazal was sad. Especially after reading all these other reviews that seemed to like it!
To their credit: The service was very nice. We went in late during the dinner rush and only wanted appetizers. Normal restaurants would not be too enthused, but our waiter took the news like a champ.
To my demise: I ordered the Samosa with shrimp and potatoes in it. One of my samosas was still frozen in the middle (shows that they freeze their samosas AND that their chef has not mastered the fry-a-lator [a device I could operate effectively after 4 40s of St. Ides AND HAVE]). The other samosa was cooked perfectly but did not have a single shrimp in it. NO BUENO.
To their credit: If I was less of a pussy, I am sure they would have given me another samosa if I had asked. But the deed had been done...and I am no less of a pussy.
The naan was decent, but only one piece for like $3-$4 (I think).
I am sure I caught them on an off day, but I am trying Bukhara the next time I want Indian.
I'm officially hopping on the Ghazal bandwagon now. While I have enjoyed Bhukara in the past (they have a mighty-tasty Malai Kofta and their mullagatawny is good) most of Ghazal's dishes blow Bhukara's out of the water.
Ghazal: tasty Palak Paneer. Even better the second day once the spices have really mingled. Incredible Navrattan Korma (best I've had, I think). The papadam that comes with it is delicious, and the sauces are amazing. The naan is hands down better than Bhukara's. In other words, most of the food I go for at Indian restaurants is great at Ghazal.
I haven't experienced bad service there ever. The food takes a little bit longer than Bhukara, but I attribute that to the fact that they appear to actually cook it in their kitchen rather than pull it out of the freezer and heat it up, which is what it tastes like they do at Bhukara.
I didn't mean for this to turn into a show-down, but they're two doors away from each other, so it's a little inevitable. That all said, I think Ghazal now settles into place as my second favorite Indian restaurant in the Boston area.
The service here is impeccable here. We were seated and had water with in 1 minute, and 5 minutes after ordering an appetizer it came out to us. The waiter we had showed good humor and helped us decide on how spicy our food should be. We decided on 3, it was so spicy! The food was amazing! The waiters are constantly checking on your drink supply and are refilling before your water is even gone, a huge plus for me!! The inside was really pretty, and they had indian music playing in the back round. All together I love this place and the prices are reasonable considering the amount of service you get.
After reading the reviews for Ghazal, I was totally stoked & had extremely high expectations for the food. I wanted more than a meal ... I wanted an "experience." So I walked to Ghazal happily expecting to be surprised and awed. But that's my problem ... I shouldn't "expect" anything.
I entered the restaurant in the early afternoon "expecting" to have to fight off crowds; however, aside from the great waiters, I was alone for the first 20 min. with a trickling of patrons throughout the next two hours. I opted for the buffet ($7.95! =)). Grabbed a white plate from a stack (so glad they were all clean; I hate when there's black unknown specks) and scoped out the food. Chicken tikka masala, fried pakoras, tandoori chicken, and an assortment of other curries with peas, chickpeas, and chicken. The waiter asked if I wanted regular naan or garlic naan ... and I of course opted for the garlic naan. There was corn soup and hot tea with milk.
I brought my plate back to the table and began eating. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelmingly unspicy ... which I can understand and forgive especially since the majority of the population prefers "mild" which to me constitutes "bland." I like my food to be spicy to the point where my nose sweats. So I asked the waiter if he had any chili sauce. He told me that he did not, but that he would mix some for me. =) props. I was very happy. The chili sauce was creamy, as if it had been part of a curry and did not initially taste "hot"; however, I suspect that it provides the gradual sort of hot where suddenly the heat hits and is heart stopping.
I had high "expectations" that the food would be amazing with the addition of the chili sauce ... but no, it was not. Even with the hot sauce, the food did not leave me clamouring for just "another plateful" nor even for one more "bite." I was full but not ravenous to eat more. I didn't even want to box the left-overs to take home.
Don't get me wrong, the food is very high quality. The chicken pieces are tender and very good cuts. The chick peas and green peas are not mushy. The naan bread is a large size but lacked the somewhat chewy and stretchy depth that I'm used to. The poori was good and fresh, but lacked flavour and needed a more defined crispness. The palak paneer had real paneer (not ricotta cheese thank goodness!) and a thick consistency but was more salty than spiced (as in flavour not "hot" factor).
The service was awesome. The two waiters were very friendly. I tipped them over 20%.
I love Ghazal! It definitely gives Bukhara a run for its money. The service is better here. We frequently have brunch at both and they are both great. I'd say that if you're with a larger group and want to order from the menu and be waited on go to Ghazal but otherwise Bukhara is the shizzznit!
Great, very attentive service. Waiter made me feel comfortable helping me find vegan choices; he made several trips to the kitchen to verify ingredients. I really appreciate this care when dining out.
Got the okra dish for dinner (sub roti bread for buttery rice) and some fried potato and spinach pancakes for an appetizer. Food came out fast, great spicy flavors, very good value. Waiters refilled our waters numerous times - it makes me so mad if servers don't do this, it's such an easy thing to do, but it ruins my experience if ignored.
My only disappointment is that the food is a little oily for my taste.
Stopped here when I took a break from work to get lunch. I'm not from boston, I don't live here, and I've never heard of the place before.
I was pretty damn surprised for a random pick.
Even made it for the buffet and to of us ate for like less than 20 bucks. Can't beat it, and it is was fucking good.
I've been here three times. Twice they made mistakes with my order, but the staff has always been incredibly friendly (and tried to fix any mistakes once I pointed them out). A tip: if you want to take some of your food home, you might want to say something like, "I want to take this home with me, please," because once I said, "I'd like all of this to go," and the waiter took all of the food off the table and threw it away! When I realized what had happened, they prepared another full entree for my husband and me to take home. (I felt really bad about all the food that was wasted, though.)
Despite the mistakes, I've gone back, because the food had been good and the staff friendly. And after Friday night, I am now convinced that I really like the food, because when I said I wanted my order (Chicken Sabzi) "Really hot, you know, Indian Hot," they actually prepared it that way! I feel like some waiters and chefs are dubious when customers try to order really spicy food -- like they're trying to watch out for you, but really you just end up with something that is not hot enough. Well, that's not what happened here. It was super hot!
Wow, Could there possibly be a better Indian food restaurant in Boston than Bukhara? Dare I say... yes? I feel like such a traitor, but I **kind of** liked Ghazal a little bit more. Strange that the two best Indian restaurant in Boston (in my opinion at least) are two doors down from each other. Apparently, you gotta go to JP if you want good Indian food.
I went there tonight with a fellow veggie lover and we were both very impressed with our dishes. Everything tasted so fresh! Indian is absolutely my favorite type of food, but I do think it can be a bit heavy sometimes... oily, creamy sauces and if something is vegetarian, it's usually a few sprigs of broccoli simmered all day in a thick sauce. But Ghazal was far from it. We had the vegetable biryani, fresh peas with mushrooms and an okra dish. They were all so perfectly seasoned and sprinkled with fresh parsley and or cilantro. All of the dishes were delicious, but the okra was especially tasty!
So, I still love Bukhara... but I think there is room enough in my heart for both restaurants.
service was excellent---plenty of attentive and courteous wait staff. we had a 10 minute wait for a table, and the host gave us an appetizer in the meantime. The food was high quality and delivered steaming hot. Lamb in the briyani was so tender. the prices are reasonable. I would go again in a heartbeat and encourage others to give them your business as well!
Should mention that Indian restaurants are generally more expensive so make sure you do have some money at hand. Here in Jamaica Plain there are about two good Indian restaurants one slightly more accomodating than the other.
Ghazal is a relatively new Indian Cuisine restaurant started up a few blocks next to the Bukhara. While Bukhara does have its share of good food I find Ghazal to be more welcoming.
The food is great and the prices are modest compared to the Bukhara. Although I must warn those that have a low tolerance for spice to watch out for their "Indian spicey' option to their food. Being a massive spice eater, this is one of the few restaurants that can satisfy my spice cravings.
The service is quite good and the establishment has a pseudo sophistication to it. Also the mini bar and the wifi makes it an ideal place to work and enjoy good food.
Almost all the servers will break into a warm welcoming smile as you enter and the scintillating spicey aroma that wafts from the kitchen will definitely make your mouth water.
They also have daily lunch buffet specials that has almost all the items on the menu which, if you are sure, is a great chance to sample the various dishes that are available.
So if you are in a mood to go out with your friends and have a good indian meal and have money to spend this could very well be the place for you. I should warn potential customers to be on the look out in the evening during the weekends as the table tends to fill up pretty quick. Since this is just the blog, go ahead and give it a shot and find out for your self. It is definitely worth checking out.
The only complaints I have is to increase their selection a tad more.
I am a avid fan of Indian food and I love this place.
One thing I have to say beyond anything else is the customer service at Ghazal. I was seated down with my girlfriend on Monday (5-11-09) and immediately the waiter mentioned about the sky and asked my opinion about the clarity for the day. That is first class customer service beyond anything else. Someone who cares about the feelings and the emotions of their customers.
He presumes his job by asking the usual, what I would like to drink, what kind of Nana bread I prefer (plain or garlic) and he then asks you if you would like a Southern Indian egg roll (not really an egg roll, I apologize for not actually remembering the name of this item).
Food wise has been different then the other buffets that I have been to. Rice is fresh and the curry selection has been plentiful. The salad is great, due to the fact that I can actually customize my own salad dish, as appose to a mixed batch. There are two kinds of soups two choose from (big soup person) and are always fresh. The only thing missing is the Samosa, instead they serve the Pakoras, but this is not as important to me compared to the service and the overall selection of the foods.
The Masala Tea is a great blend and ALWAYS readily available. I had a nice conversation with a waiter and he explained to me about the process in making this special blend and where I can obtain the ingredients if i so choose to make my own at home.
Young as they maybe to the veteran Bukhara right next door, but you can't compare to their price and service. I've yet to try their weekend special, but I look forward to trying it out this weekend!
Great buffet!! for $8 you CANNOT beat it!
and they stay open after 3 if you get there late and don't rush you like they do at bukhara - which is also very very good.
PROS/CONS Ghazal V Bukhara
Ghazal - PRO keeps the buffet up as long as someone is there - they have slightly better meat dishes, they are fresher/more moist - they also give you a free yummy potato app. in a rolled up nan bread. CON - the salad is sadly forgettable iceberg with sliced tomatoes cafeteria style
Bukhara PRO - nice large dining area - food is pretty good but it is a bit more dried out than Ghazals - VERY good salad - far superior to ghazals woefully disappointing salad!!
CONS - altho super nice about it - they break down the buffet as close to exactly 3PM as possible - they tell you of course - but it feels rushed - of course there are very few there at 3pm - so not a big deal but it would be nicer if it stayed up more past 3.
BOTH are very good - I do lean a bit toward Ghazal - their food is more moist and tastier AND that additional free rolled appetizer is delish!!
Solid, friendly Indian cuisine in JP with some regional breadth but strongest on the Northern stuff.
Years ago, I brought a date to Boston's oldest Indian restaurant (the bygone Kebab-n-Kurry), promising, "The food's great, but the servers are the surliest bunch you've ever seen -- so sullen it's hilarious!" Then we got a sweet, solicitous waiter, spoiling our fun. I took this as a sign that Boston's Indian restaurants were becoming so mainstream that they actually had to compete on service. Still, not every Indian restaurant has gotten that memo. So the anxious-to-please staff at the new Ghazal -- an independent, family-run place in Jamaica Plain -- sets a very welcoming tone.
The lunch buffet ($8 weekdays; $10 for the deluxe weekend spread) shows Ghazal's Punjabi roots with classics like saag paneer, vegetable curry, tandoori chicken, and that ever-popular UK hit, chicken tikka masala. This all-you-can-eat spread is an exemplary cheap-eats bargain. (It helps that long-cooked Indian dishes don't suffer on steam tables.) The evening menu is extensively Punjabi, too, with smoky, subtly seasoned roast veggies, meats, and seafood from the tandoor (charcoal-fired clay oven) like seekh kebab (skewered lamb meatballs, $12); various casseroles of spinach, legumes, potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, and/or farmer cheese, like jalandhari chhole (a piquant chickpea stew, $12); and Indo-Persian Mughal dishes with rich nut-and-raisin-based sauces, like lamb korma ($14).
Ghazal also ranges across the subcontinent: to the South with the savory stuffed crêpes and pancakes that are dosas and uttapams ($6-$9), to Bengal with jhinga chaat (a cold shrimp-and-cucumber salad, $7), and to Goa with vindaloos of chicken, lamb, beef, or swordfish ($13-$16). (The chef has a restrained hand with chilies -- be insistent if you like yours Indian-hot.) Novel curries include surprisingly sweet vegetable xacuti ($16) and the wonderful Pakistani-English chicken balti ($13), served in a cunning copper pot. Excellent breads emerge from the tandoor, like buttery naan ($3); from the griddle-like tava, including unleavened whole-wheat roti ($3); and from the fryer, like airy, oily poori ($3.50). Desserts feature lovely versions of kheer (a loose rice pudding, $3.75) and kulfi (saffron ice cream, $3.50).
In addition to lassi ($3) and tea ($1.50-$2.50), a few Indian lagers and under-$8 wines by the glass are served. The attractive room, given a light Indian redecoration from its prior incarnation as Cafe D, is dimly lit and often loud. But overall, Ghazal represents a welcome addition to JP's admirable assortment of nicely priced restaurants, and puts its competitors (looking at you, Bukhara) on notice that they'd better be pleasant to their customers.
When I first moved to JP I was seriously bummed about the lack of Indian delivery places. When you live in the South End there are several places that will make the trek to your abode. When you live in JP, however, delivery services and taxi cabs think you live in a leprosy colony and won't come anywhere near you for fear of catching JP disease.
Now our little leprosy colony, filled with hippies and lesbians and yuppies, has our very own Indian delivery place. No need to pay outlandish delivery fees or try to get Bukhura to deliver to you through Dining In (which won't delivery to those of us in the 02130 even though Bukhara is in the 02130). Ghazal provided quick and easy delivery while maintaining the high quality of food you'd get in the restaurant. Ghazal goodness delivered right to your door. In well under an hour. While not screwing up my order. That, my dears, is pure happiness.
Yes, I thought competing with Bukhara might be suicide (they are a restaurant conglomerate- the… Read more »
Went here for dinner on saturday (valentine's day night). It was really busy, but our experience was still great! We made a reservation for 7:00pm and ended up having to wait about 10 minutes at the "bar" (not really a good place to sit as it is also the bus station for servers). The possible manager was there and he poured me a glass of champagne on the house and wished me a happy valentines day, so unexpected and nice!
The staff were a little more frazzled than during the laid back lunch buffet time, but they had extra servers on and all in all everything went smoothly. We were not served our naan but as soon as I mentioned it to our server, he brought it out, hot and fresh, from the oven immediately.
Three cheers to our new JP neighbor, Ghazal!!
I've only experienced weekend buffet at Ghazal, and not a sit down dinner service, but the food and… Read more »
Ordered takeout last night (Wed) from Ghazal and although usually decent (see my original review) this was a "phone it in" performance. The jhinga chat appetizer, normally fantastic, was both dry and soggy (!?!) and basically disgusting.
Not sure if this was a one time issue, but I noticed that the usual manager wasn't around, so perhaps the mice are doing crap work while the cat's away.
You can't open an Indian restaurant in JP center without knowing you're going head to head, dhosa to… Read more »
Ghazal is absolutely fantastic, and I hope it soon skyrockets to Boston-area Indian restaurant fame, where it belongs. The prices are on par with pretty much every other local Indian place (save for the dirt cheap dumps in Cambridge that are only useful if your car runs on veggie oil), but the quality of the food is what puts Ghazal ahead of the compeition. The portions are quite generous as well.
The Shahi Bhindi (okra/$11.50) is wonderfully prepared, with the full range of spices shining through. The fresh, chopped cilantro sprinkled on top was very nice too, and really enhanced the dish. Aside from the outstanding flavor, I was also pleased that the proper amount of oil was used--just right. I highly recommend this dish, especially if you're a fan of okra done right.
The highlight of the meal was definitely the Mix Vegetable Biryani ($11.95), which consists of basmati rice cooked with fresh vegetables, herbs, nuts, and "exotic spices" (you know it means a mix of cumin, coriander, curry, garam masala, and the usual suspects, but the phrasing is awesome). The biryani was truly delightful--full of well-cooked potatoes, carrots, onions, califlour, and broccoli...oh my. It shouldn't be missed.
Their menu is on Boston menu pages, so check it out!
Needless to say, finding good Indian food in Boston can be a challenge. The market is largely dominated by the 'One World Cuisine' group ("OWC" - think Bukhara, Kashmir, Mantra, Mela, Diva, Cafe of India). And I won't lie, I've had some good dishes at those places (on the right night, the Shahi Paneer Korma can be particularly good). But since I traveled to Northern India last year, my standards have changed, and I haven't found myself satisfied with any of the Indian cuisine options in Boston. I think what it comes down to is that the OWC food is so heavily based in cream and butter that the spices, which are the heart of Indian cuisine, get left behind. I found that in India, most people and restaurants don't use so much of cream and butter (probably because of cost) - and thus proper spicing is paramount.
That being said, Ghazal is the first place in the Boston area that actually reminded me of the food I ate in India. So far I've had the Navratan Korma, the Malai Kofta, and the Chicken Makhini, along with vegetable pakoras, garlic and plain naan, and kheer. Although the dishes are not as rich as those of Bukhara, they are more "accurately" spiced, in that you can actually taste the particular spices that make each dish. Is the food as indulgent as Bukhara? No, assuming that by indulgent you mean full of creamy goodness. But are they more authentic, less food-coma inducing, and altogether more tasty? Absolutely.
I have only been here once so it's not been a "real" experience. Even though they have some beers listed on TAP whatever I ordered came in bottle. Strike 1.
The food was pretty decent. They screwed up our order (well my friend's entree really) so they left the one they mistakenly brought out and gave us a new one at no extra charge. Good service I'd say. I had a good experience here and I would go back probably. Let's see what the experience is next time.
I am excited about this place.
Actual visit was: November or December 2008.
We had appetizer, bread basket, 2 entrees, 2 drinks and sparkling water (of course) and I think it was about 40 dollars a person, w/ tip.
While we were as mystified as everyone else as to why a new Indian place would open just a few doors down from Bukhara, you can't really have too much Indian food - and hey, we thought, maybe the service will be better than Bukhara's.
And it was! And honestly, the food is noticeably better too. I'm not trying to talk shit about Bukhara, that place is perfectly fine, but Ghazal is winning so far.
(We've only been once; I usually don't like to review places on first impressions, but what the hell, this place is new. I'll update after we've been back a couple of times.)
The naan was fresh out of the oven and delicious; my entree, Lamb Rogan Josh, was a good level of spiciness. (I got hot but not Indian person hot - figured I'd take it easy for my first time. I love that they actually have a category called "Indian person hot." I could handle spicier, but this wasn't total sissy shit, so that's pretty cool.) We got the vegetarian sampler appetizer, and everything on it was excellent.
And wow, it was pretty cool to be in an Indian place where the service was actually decent.
These guys are definitely off to a great start.
Love this place. fyi...It has been open for less than 2 months...
For $40.00, we got the "dinner for 2" which came with seemingly never-ending food! It came with soups, naan, rice, entrees and dessert (rice pudding with crumbled pistachios on top).
I got the white wine from India which was very good.
Service and atmosphere were excellent as well.
Believe the hype. There's a new contender in town aiming for the JPBI (JP's Best Indian) heavyweight belt and there's likely going to be an upset. The old champ is tired and stuck in his ways and this upstart has what it takes.
In a tale of the tape, Ghazal has tastier food, comparable to slightly better service, and a similar price point, though it contends with a smaller sometimes cramped space.
This suits me well because I eat Indian for the taste above everything else. Other reviewers have it right, Ghazal spices their food tremendously well. The Chicken Tikka Masala from the weekday buffet woke my palate like smelling salts would a woozy pugilist. The heat grabs your attention without overpowering and yields to a sweet finish. I took a small dish and ladled the masala sauce in a small dish for naan dipping despite strange looks from the waitstaff and patrons. They're just jealous they didn't think of it first.
Round one goes to Ghazal. Not a knockout but a solid 10 - 9 on the cards. We'll see what round two brings.
This is top quality Mughlai food. Everyone seems to be comparing Ghazal with Bukhara, most likely because they are 2 doors down from each other. I will compare them too... my assessment is that it's the little things that make Ghazal stand out. Read on-
First, Ghazal's menu is quite authentic as Mughlai restaurants in the US go. They have some hard to find dishes that are really closer to Indian home cooking, like jeera aloo and paneer burji. Also, sir ka pyaz! I have never seen these delicious vinegar marinated onions on a menu in the US and have tried and failed to just get them to bring me some at almost every other Indian restaurant in Boston. But there they are, just waiting to be ordered and munched on. This is for me an essential accompaniment to Indian food, but I think most restaurants don't offer it because to many Americans, eating raw onions topped with vinegar is not very appealing. So I salute them for this simple but so authentic addition.
Another excellent set of menu items is the cold appetizers, or chaats. Chaat is a kind of Indian snack food that comes in many varieties, made with puffed rice, other crunchy items, chickpeas, condiments, chopped veggies, etc. It is based on really amazing combinations of flavor like hot and sweet, savory and sour, and really must be experienced. Ghazal is the second Indian restaurant I have been to in Boston offering chaat, and frankly, doing it better than the other one.
The quality of the food is consistently excellent, very fresh tasting and obviously made with very good ingredients. The service is wonderful also, with attentive waitstaff keeping everything together for you, which is especially helpful when you realize you have ordered more food than you can physically fit on your table! Topping this off, every time I have ordered delivery, the delivery guy shows up in a suit! Very professional.
Loved everything !! Service, food, and nice atmosphere. I've been to many Indian places around town and really enjoyed this one.
Check it out.
I feel really guilty writing this review, since I've been a fan of next-door neighbor Bukhara for a long time.... but I have to say, I think I have to buckle down and give Ghazal top marks.
I've eaten here twice now, once for takeout and once in the restaurant, and both times I've finished my meal with a VERY happy tummy. What I like the most about the food is that it tastes fresh and homemade. It is spiced very nicely, and doesn't have the air of prepackaged curries or prediced chicken pieces that a lot of other Indian restaurants have.
The restaurant's interior is very cute and romantic, with dim lighting, chocolate brown walls, intricate lamps, and classic Indian wall hangings. Definitely a good place to bring a date. The service is also fantastic, as everyone else has already posted. There is a veritable army of waiters and waitresses ready to help you out, and they are soooo nice! When a friend and I wandered in on a chilly Thursday night for some spicy food, we were seated by the door in one of the cute window nooks. I wondered out loud if we would be too cold sitting there, and before I knew it the manager had brought us our own personal space heater! Toasty!
All of the dishes I've tried here so far have been divine. I am usually not a fan of mulligatawny soup, but when I had some recently as part of the Veg Dinner for Two, I practically licked the bowl clean. The Chicken Makhani's tomato-based sauce was flavorful and did not suffer from the common practice of drowning the sauce in cream. The saag paneer was delicious, as was the malai kofta. Naan, lassi, rice pudding-- yum. I could go on and on.
Leaving the restaurant, I strolled by Bukhara and had to avert my eyes as a feeling of guilt came over me. But guilt aside, I think Ghazal is my new favorite Indian restaurant. Eat here! You won't be disappointed.
You have to love that we now have an Indian place next to a Thai place all of 100 feet from another Indian place next to another Thai place. Still... I think Ghazal might have what it takes to hang around a while.
I've been twice, once for the lunch buffet and once for dinner. The lunch buffet was pretty good; nothing jaw-dropping but really solid for the (very) cheap price. It's got all the usual suspects like chicken tikka; I especially liked the veggie khorma. Dinner was alu ghobi and freaking delicious.
It's hard to put into words, but I think I can taste the spices in Ghazal's food more than I can in Bukhara's. It's only a touch spicier, so it's not a spice *level* thing. It's more like a "oh, there's spice X and spice Y working together" sort of thing.
Up next, the "special" weekend lunch buffet!
I was a loyal customer of Bukhara for 3 years and one day my boyfriend gave it a try...
We've never gone back to Bukhara since (a little guilty). Why?
Ghazal offers fresh and amazing food + unbelievable nice service.
Every time we come here the staffs are extremely polite and nice. The food is so fresh that I often wonder if they have their own chicken in the backyard. Every time we come here we order 3 courses, and pack 2 home with a happy stomach. Because next day we got to enjoy them again and we know the food would be just as good from the microwave/oven.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Boston and I've tried many!
So I liked Cafe d, and when I saw this place was open, I was curious because I thought the place was Middle Eastern (The front door just says Ghazal)--I didn't thinki an Indian restaurant would have the gulab jamuns to open a few doors down from Bukhara ( I should really get around to reviewing that place one of these days, but let's just say for now I've always been disappointed by it).
So my friend and I weren't particularly hungry, but we grabbed some apps. The pakoras were different than what I was used to, but still tasty. The samosas hit their marks, and I daresay, had a better crisper crust than most. And the peshwari naan was moist and delicious, though nary a raisin was to be found. And my dining companion, who doesn't like coconut called it "the best stuff ever." All three apps came to a ridiculously cheap $12. Hot damn. Entrees weren't particularly expensive--in the $7 to $12 range mostly.
Re service: it was a little slow to take our order, but the food arrived in fairly short order. Ad the waiter, a shy quiet sort, was kind enough to ask if we were ready for the check instead of just popping it on the table. Pappadums were served as we sat down, but the basket contained only two halves, and we weren't offered refills.
Atmosphere-wise, the room looks half-assed. While Cafe d was dark and cozy, there was at least some semblance of thought and design. Now, it seems like they painted one wall a brighter color, left the rest of the dark brown walls, and put up some Ganesh pictures to make it look like an Indian restaurant.
And to whomever decreed EVERY restaurant has have to have a plasma TV set to a sporting event, make it stop. Please.
Other than that, definitely worth another shot, and definitely better than Bukhara, based on my limited sampling.
Much like everybody else here I am astonished by the fact that someone would open an Indian restaurant right next to an already established Indian restaurant, and I was curious how they compare to their neighbors.
Ghazal's menu is very similar to Bukhara's in terms of content as well as prices, but based on a first impression, their food is actually better. I found my Alu Ghobi (my standard order) spiced much more interestingly yet more delicately than Bukhara's, and it was cooked just right. The pappadums as well as the naan and the rice were also pretty good. I think my husband was pretty happy with his food, too. Overall, they really succeeded in giving a very nice, nuanced flavoring to their dishes.
The service was very slow initially (despite the fact that only two tables were occupied at the time), and it seemed as though they still had a few kinks to sort out, but they were quite gracious about it and apologized for the flaws (hence four rather than three stars).
Although I'm still mourning the loss of the much-beloved Café D (whose decor, by the way, I liked much better), I will be back and I am curious to see how they'll fare in the longterm in comparison to Bukhara.
Oh so good!!!! I stopped in for their lunch buffet. For $10 you get an awesome spread of meat and veggie food, including soup and amazing samosas (I've been dreaming about them they were so good). They made us dousas (sp?) when we sat down and offered garlic or plain naan that was brought right to the table. All in all a very tasty lunch! I am not much for spice and LOVED it. Others may find it a bit bland. The bathrooms were very clean and the restaurant is well laid out with good sunlight and a light breeze between the front and back entrances. The service was very good.
After a couple of days pondering why another Indian restaurant would open just a few doors down from Bukhara, plus two Thai restaurants, my roommate and I arrived for Saturday night dinner, impressed by their cockiness and boldness.
Arriving critical and expecting the best, we were warmly greeted and offered our choice of table.
The atmosphere was pleasant and sophisticated.
For an appetizer we ordered the Non-Veg Platter consisting of a lamb samosa, chicken tikka, biti kabab and chicken pakoras. A great meat sampler and impressive start to our Ghazal experience.
For dinner we ordered the Lamb Tikka Saagwala and the Half Tandoor Murga. Both were cooked perfectly with great flavor and tenderness. I preferred the lamb/spinach wrapped up in the naan served on the side.
We skipped dessert, but the table next to us offered a sample of their Badam Kulfi, an exotic ice cream from India made with saffron, almonds and other nuts. It was subtle in flavor, but a great palate cleanser, plus unique.
By the time we left, Ghazal was full of life with eager patrons wanting a taste of JP's newest restaurant.
Overall I was impressed. The service was surprisingly excellent and much more friendly compared to Bukhara. I look forward to going back and trying more of their extensive menu. It would also be nice to go sit at the bar for a drink and app.
Congratulations and Good Luck.
Very attentive service from a very kind and helpful staff - and they deliver! They have the best chicken saag, made with thigh meat instead of breast which is more flavorful and tender than Bukhura. What's more, is they have some South Indian things on the menu, which is a surprise.
But here is the rub: you get less stuff, for more money, in their feast for one than you do from Bukhura!
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Indian
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Jamaica Plain
Category: Japanese
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