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India Quality Restaurant
- Nearest Transit:
-
Kenmore Station Busway (19, 193, 57, 57A, 60, 65, 8, 9)
Kenmore Station - Outbound (Green Line)
Kenmore Station - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Layla L. said: "It bothers me that this place has a lower rating than Punjab... so I'm trying to bump it. The food is really really good- I actually have always liked Punjab, but all around since I discovered the Bollywood Cafe... I like them more.…" read more »
230 reviews for India Quality Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Awesome dish of palak paneer meets chicken tikka masala." In 37 reviews -
"I often get the saag paneer (spinish and cottage cheese." In 21 reviews -
"The naan and the rice were fresh and yummy as well." In 65 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
230 reviews in English
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Review from Patrick M.
Boston, MA
2/29/2012
Easily my favorite Indian restaurant, I have been going here since at least 2000 and have yet to have a bad meal or experience in all that time.
I have went here individually, on dates, and with small and large groups.having tried everything on the menu I would eat. They have never failed to make a great impression (I have had several anti-Indian food friends to become addicted to this place).
I would highly recommend the Chicken Tikka Curry (all white meat from the tandoor in a delicious curry with onions and tomatoes) and Shrimp Korma. My only caveat as to the food is that one should be careful as to spice level, as some I know have found it spicier than many Indian restaurants in the area.
Possibly one of the less expensive Indian restaurants I know of (outside of buffets), it also has great deals for lunch, with several small plate salads (one a cucumber and the other cabbage, I believe) coming with many of the meals. Several times, I have even found them wiling to cook dinner dishes in smaller, lunch servings.
Extremely friendly and attentive service, with the owner often being on site. They constantly check on water glasses and guest satisfaction.
Pretty much one large room (usually with a few outdoor seats in the summer), its decorations are much the same as many Indian places, which may be the only downside I have yet to find with this restaurant. -
Review from Aadharsh R.
Hackensack, NJ
5/20/2012
At some point in time this restaurant may have been good - a time when there were not too many Indian restaurants in either Boston or even on the entire east coast. Vestiges of that past glory remain but the food is certainly not anything to write home about. Not over-priced or anything but certainly lacks the authenticity of many other Indian restaurants that I have eaten in. Lackluster samosa chaat, rotis and daal. Can do much better. Also Maaza/slice (bottled mango juices from India) should not be passed off a fresh fruit juices in a restaurant - that is just not right.
Will not go back. -
Review from Blake G.
Portsmouth, NH
3/25/2012
I don't understand why this restaurant has such a good reputation. I finally went there because of that and was very disappointed.
The menu was the standard paint-by-numbers north Indian menu. The vegetable cutlets were bit size and forgettable. The behel puri, which I love, was the worst I've ever had. The aloo chole was unremarkable. the garlic nan was burnt. The dal makhani was pretty good, certainly the best dish we tried. The spicing in everything we ate seemed toned down for American tastes.
I can make better Indian food than this at home, so I won't go back. Why do I have such trouble finding Indian restaurants in the Boston area worthy of a repeat visit? -
Review from Jonathan P.
Boston, MA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Never been disappointed with India Quality. Their service and staff are friendly, courteous and always remember us (though we do eat in, and take out way too much)!
Favorite dish: Chicken tikki masala, vegetable samosa and a side of naan. To die for.
The place is rather small, but cozy. Smells amazing every time you go in. Plus, they deliver. Awesome, love it. -
Review from Ahmad A.
Medford, MA
2/19/2012
One of the best Indian restaurants in Boston !
Tandoori chicken is perfect
The nan and roti are amazing
the aloo ghobi is really good
Chicken vindalo was perfectly done
Samosas are always delicious
I ordered a lot of stuff from this place and I am never dissapinted
Good for dine in or to go. -
Review from Ed H.
Boston, MA
4/4/2012
I like their extensive menu. Lots of choices many of which are not available in other Indian restaurants in Boston.
The food was flavorful but dry.
Chicken Pakora - Dry chicken with soggy coating. I didn't enjoy the too-sweet dipping sauce.
Chicken Tikka Curry - Didn't have enough sauce.
Fish Tikka - Poor quality thick skinned fish.
BAINGAN BHARTHA - This was good.
My personal favorite Indian restaurant in Boston is Kashmir. After comparing India Quality I'll return to Kashmir in the future. -
Review from Basia P.
Boston, MA
1/12/2012
Really good food at a reasonable price.
Nice staff. -
Review from Miranda M.
Cambridge, MA
9/15/2011
This is by far the best Indian food I've found in Boston, and trust me, we've tried a lot of places!
It's worth noting that I'm from England, where curry may as well be our national dish, so I'm pretty picky :) (I still think it's pretty funny when I hear people here make fun of "bland" British food, and yet Boston's take on Indian food - and any spicy food really - is about as bland as you can get - nothing like what you'd get in the UK... whine whine) -
Review from selina k.
Randolph, MA
12/5/2011
I am here to celebrate my birthday with my family.
we order two lamb curry lamb and another lamb and Chicken tikka masala and paneer with cheese and mushroom and corn dish and naan. and it come with rice.
i have been to a lot of indian restaurant over years.
this places was alright . THe CTM sauce was too thick. and the lamb has too much sauce.
I know this places been there for really long time. they are not up to my expectation The favor is there. just not how i like it. if though most india restaurant serve simpler food. I think it depend on the chef cooking.
Every places is different. Over all it was alright.
i saw don go here if there is more then 7 people. they have back area with seating for about 7 people and it was tight spaces -
Review from Benjamin O.
Fenway, Boston, MA
Updated - 12/12/2011
Aah India Quality. A delicious old favorite of mine. Reasonable prices, quality and delicious Indian food, speedy and great service, and fast delivery when I'm too lazy or unable to walk the couple of blocks to go there. Much better than even the higher priced hoity-toity Indian restaurants in Boston. My only wish would be that they had a lunch buffet.
This place is a very close second to punjabi dhaba in my Indian book, and it's right in the center of it all in Kenmore square.
Try the saag paneer, or the chicken and/or lamb vindaloo if you want to spice things up. Their tandoori (chicken or gut-busting mixed grill) is second to none and fit for even folks who find Indian cuisine "too exotic."1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/26/2011
One of the best indian restaurants in Boston. And, no, I'm not just saying that because I live a… Read more »
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Review from Kimberly T.
Boston, MA
11/26/2011
When the wait staff and owner know your face AND your order you know you're a frequent diner. If I had frequent diner miles that converted to frequent flyer miles, I think my boyfriend and I might have made it to India and back. This is a review years in the making, so apologies for my tardiness.
Chicken Tikka Masala. Vegetable Samosa. Garlic and Onion Naan. You are in business.
The seating area is warm and inviting and you can immediately smell the spices in the kitchen when you open the door. The beer and wine selection is a great range of the usual American hits and Indian beers as well. I've been here with small and large groups and has been accommodated just as well on any occasion.
Without a single doubt in my mind, my next India Quality meal is on my calendar. -
Review from Evan R.
Atlanta, GA
2/19/2012
Awesome food, good service. The place looks a little dumpy from outside, but inside isn't so bad. The food is just excellent.
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Review from Miranda B.
Boston, MA
12/3/2011
So i had a favorite Indian restaurant in Boston, but India Quality just became a contender.
Its exam week and by exam week I mean an excuse to be extra lazy and order delivery almost every night. Dinner just arrived and it is delicious! Having a vegetable samosa, garlic naan, and chicken tikka saag.
The vegetable samosa is great on its own. Not over cooked, really moist inside... but oh man the dipping sauce kicks it up another notch. So good.
How can you have Indian food without Garlic Naan... unknown to me, but unlike most places that throw the pre-minced garlic on top of their naan, India Quality mixes huge pieces of garlic cloves into their dough. Roasted garlic joy.
Decided to try something new with the chicken saag. Awesome dish of palak paneer meets chicken tikka masala.
Will definitely be ordering again soon.
Happy eating! -
Review from Katie W.
Boston, MA
9/21/2011
India Quality or Punjab Palace (same owner) are my go-to places for Indian food in Boston. Both restaurants offer savory and very spicy curry dishes for a reasonable price.
I recommend the chicken vindaloo. If you're looking for something less spicy, go with the chicken tikka masala. They definitely make the vindaloo spicy, but don't worry, the waiters are great about refilling your drink.
Plain Naan and royal naan are delicious.
India Quality gets busy, so make a reservation or get there early. -
Review from Ladyjane S.
Cambridge, MA
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This isn't the best Indian I've had. I would not recommend ordering delivery from here either because apparently it takes them an hour to DRIVE one block to deliver your meal.
I've eaten in the restaurant and that's a much better experience. But again, the food isn't amazing. It's decent overpriced Indian food. I was disappointed with the dal makani because it seems like they cook it with cornstarch to thicken it up. It was borderline tasteless. The lamb vindaloo has a really nice spice to it and it is tasty, but the lamb is so overcooked, it falls apart into strings. Basically, all of my experiences have been pretty blah. Maybe I'm not ordering the right things... -
Review from victoria c.
New York, NY
4/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
India Quality Restaurant, serving up some quality Indian food.
Yeah, I think this is the best Indian restaurant in Boston, and I'm tempted to say it's my favorite Indian restaurant of all time (why are all my favorites in Boston, and not here with me in New York?).
Everything I've had here has been simply top notch, from their samosas, to their curries (prawns vindaloo, so spicy and so good!), to their lassis, naans and desserts, I have simply never been let down by Quality India.Listed in: Beantown 2011
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Review from Marissa P.
Boston, MA
12/15/2011
Honestly, after I go here I find it hard to eat Indian food elsewhere in Boston. Everything is so, so good here. Their saag paneer, which usually I am not such a huge fan of, is DELICIOUS. Highly recommend the royal nan. The food here tastes fresh and flavorful. Outstanding Indian food at a reasonable price! I've never tasted truly authentic Indian food, but I imagine this is as close as it gets in Boston. My only complaint is that the service can be slow and the place itself could use some redecorating.
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Review from Kathleen F.
Somerville, MA
6/19/2011
Ohhh India Quality, little gem in porter, why did I not discover you sooner?? This is by far my favorite Indian joint in the area. Their food is delicious--and their price points are fabulous! The staff is friendly, really what is not to love?? My boyfriend and I usually go and share an app, get soups, and then share an entree. It is the perfect amount of food and you get to try different dishes and flavors. I love their lentil soup and samosas, they are great! The also have a really yummy iced chai that I enjoy a lot!!
Overall, this place is easy to miss but try it out, it's better than any of the other indian joints in the area, and now that I've discovered it I can't get enough! -
Review from Dave A.
Watertown, MA
11/20/2011
THIS REVIEW IS SO LONG OVERDUE... (SORRY GUYS!) India Quality isn't the best Indian food in the world. But it's the best Indian food restaurant in the Boston area--and the best I've ever had. I constantly ask my Indian friend for suggestions and they never have any in this area (because there aren't any.)
If you want value, the lunch menu is awesome. As a starter, all meals come with a small salad, papadum and their onion, tamarind and mint chutneys which are all delicious. My favorite entrees are the Chicken Methiwala (a chicken dish spiced with fenegreek and ginger, which comes with white meat but I ask for dark because white meat in sauces tends to be dry), the chicken vindaloo, Baingan Bartha (an eggplant dish) and Malai kofta (cheese and veggie balls) fried in a savory sauce. All are served with safron basmati rice and a small bowl of curried cabbage.
As for the breads, everything I've had here is amazing. My favorites are the chipati and garlic nan ( which is super garlicky!) The service is awesome and the prices are reasonable. A lunch entree (served until 3pm) is about $8 and the breads range... Garlic nan is $3.50 and Chipati is $2.25. Everything I've had there is good. Some of the mixed veggie dishes seem to be heavy on lima beans and (seemingly) canned veggies, but I find that to be standard in the Boston area. When I went to Brandies (2 decades ago), I had a friend rant about paying $5 for canned peas in sauce in New Mother India in Waltham, MA.
Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend this place! -
Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
5/25/2011
Excellent Indian food...one of the better delivery joints in the city.
Beware spicy hot = on fire! Their chicken vindaloo was delicious but downright dangerous as well...I felt like a fire-breathing dragon after I was done.Listed in: Indian in Boston
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Review from G T.
New York, NY
1/1/2012
Got delivery from them. They said it would take 45 minutes, food got here in thirty piping hot.
We had the mixed appetizer....pakora (both chicken and veggie) was amazing. The onion chutney was excellent too.
For dinner we got garlic naan; it was done just right and just the right amount of garlic. The chicken vindaloo was requested and given HOT and when they say hot they mean HOTTTTTTT......love it. The saag paneer was also excellent. Several roommates over the years have been Indian and the paneer at this place compares to paneer my friends' moms used to make by hand.
Overall an excellent dinner, delivered early, great flavor, and reasonable price. I'd recommend it. -
Review from Louise A.
Boston, MA
12/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Oh joyous India Quality!!!
I've been coming here for 4 years, have been getting the same thing almost every time and have had consistently awesome quality and service. The waiter always recognizes us and on this occasion remembered our order :D
Mixed platter includes samosas and other fried chickpea, chicken and veggie delights. Then the chicken korma, spicy lamb vindaloo, rice and garlic na'an (the royal is excellent as well!). Compared to other Indian dining experiences I've had the portions are great, the food is not too salty, the sauces have the right proportion of yogurt, and the staff is always attentive.
There is a beer and wine license as well, and all things included costs about $65 (1 app, 2 entrees, rice, naan, 1 gl wine, 2 beers).
Be prepared to get very full! -
Review from Angie C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/5/2011
One of the best Indian Restaurants in Boston
Experience:
The staff is friendly and there's hardly ever a wait. One time the staff made a very small mistake and treated us to two extra dishes.
Food:
The food is AMAZING and they give you a lot for a great price! I don't have specific recommendations, because I honestly believe everything I've ordered was tasty. It's really up to your preference.
Overall:
This is one place I always overeat. The one downside is you will come out smelling like Indian food, but honestly what do you expect. -
Review from Ankit N.
Boston, MA
12/18/2011
Good food, but considering its location it shouldn't come as a surprise that it is pricey. As a student, a $17 meal after taxes pinches. Perhaps the lunch special is more appropriate.
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Review from Charles T.
Boston, MA
7/5/2011
Been coming here for years and never been disappointed.
Gotta recommend the goat curry and taj mahal beer. -
Review from L F.
Allston, MA
1/31/2011
Tasty Indian food!
I like coming here -- it's close to work, and it almost feels kinda cozy tucked away in the basement of some building on Comm Ave...
I like to get the Saag Paneer, or anything Tandoori-related. The biryanis are good, too. Add some naan and samosas to that order, and dinner is perfect.
My friends and I used to go for the goat biryani, but last time we got it, there was mostly goat "bone" in there, not actual goat "meat"... I hear that bones are great for making soup stock, but in biryani, I prefer actual bits of meat that I can chew. Unfortunately, the bones were also sharp and pointy (my mouth felt raw the rest of the night, from trying to chew the negligible bits of meat off the bones).
As far as Indian restaurants go, I like India Quality. I might choose India Samraat over it, when given the choice. -
Review from Pankaj R.
Boston, MA
2/6/2011
I went there with a friend and we ordered for a Lamb Kebab and Chicken Tikka kebab. I asked our server if the kebabs are soft, and he said and I quote him here, "Of course." Mind you, Both of us are huge kebab fans and thats one thing i always get when i go out for Indian food, and not many places do it good.
Quantity was a lot, the kebabs looked tasty, and the naans served with it were very soft, but, oh my god, the lamb kebabs! HARD AS STONES. Complete turn-off. My friend and I shared the Chicken Tikka Kebabs (Since it was a lot anyway.)
One star if it was only me, but it gets another star for the naan and relatively good Chicken Tikka Kebab.
P.S. I am gonna try this place again. Has very good rating all over and will try something else this time. -
Review from Alexis K.
2/17/2011
Decent Indian food at an affordable price. India Quality is "garden-level" and on the smaller side but very cute. I went for the lunch special and had pretty good malai kofta, rice, and naan, with plenty food to take home.
The only issue with India Quality is that once noon rolled around, the restaurant was overflowing with people; There really is no room for them to wait and the waitstaff seemed overwhelmed. I had to ask for my bill and my leftovers to be boxed twice. -
Review from Kelly P.
Everett, MA
6/22/2011
I miss working in Kenmore Sq. mostly because of this place. I went every Friday. I've had all of their vegetarian plates for the most part and my favorite was Saag Paneer. I didn't realize how good their food was until I went back to some other places.
I am not a huge fan of spicy, and their mild is what SOME would say is spicy, but my Irish ass can handle their mild and I love it. I had mild at another establishment for takeout one night, and had to add my own curry powder because it was SO bland in comparison to what I was used to.
Everyone who works there is super nice, I've only dined in once but whenever I would wait for my take-out to be ready they would offer me water, etc. -
Review from Lisa P.
Waltham, MA
11/15/2010
Having walked past India Quality and smelled the intoxicating aroma's on several occasions on my trips to Lower Depths my boyfriend and I always said to each other "We should try that place". We are definitely people who like to try different restaurants all the time and don't like to stick to the typical American fare if possible. After walking to the Lower Depths and seeing that, sadly, our fave bar was filled to capacity with no room to spare we decided tonight was the night to FINALLY try India Quality. My boyfriends brother was with us, and he is not quite as adventurous when it comes to food as the two of us so we were hoping there would be something on the menu he would enjoy as well.
We walked in and we greeted right away. The waiter got a table ready for us and we were sat within 5 minutes which in a restaurant of this size was pretty good. Although the restaurant is small it did not feel claustrophobic or crowded which was nice.
We decided we were just going to push my boyfriend's brother a little and decided to give him a little taste of traditional Indian food and ordered the Paneer Nan. In my opinion you can't go wrong with homemade cheese and spices stuffed inside nan bread. Our waiter came over very quickly and we ordered our beer and nan bread without much of a wait at all. Another waiter brought over a selection of three dipping sauces but offered no explanation of what each was and their ingredients. Having a member of our table with a slight nut allergy that was not good! Tip to the staff, explain the dipping sauces...newbies to your restaurant do NOT know what they are and what are in them!
Our appetizer came over and the amazing smell that wafted to our table with it was truly spectacular. The nan was nice and soft and easy to pull apart and the inside was perfectly spiced and tasty very good. I was expecting or maybe should I say hoping for a bit of a stronger cheese taste but it was still very good.
We ordered our main meals. I got the Chicken Coconut Korma (mild), my boyfriend ordered the Lamb Methiwala (medium), and his brother stayed on the safe side and ordered the Beef Kebab.
My Chicken was moist and flavorful with just the right amount of spice and coconut flavor. I sometimes find that Indian restaurants are a little heavy handed on both accounts when ordering a dish like this, but this was not the case in this instance. My boyfriend must have loved his meal because he seemed to be eating his as if he had not seen food in a week and I heard mumbling of mmm's and this is really good coming from his full mouth from time to time. His brother was very impressed and equally surprised at how much he enjoyed his meal.
The worst part of our meal was probably how long it took once we were finished to finally get our check. I think I had my water glass filled at least 2x before we finally flagged down our waiter and we able to get everything wrapped up and our check.
Now a word to all restaurants...PIXI STIX will bring the customers back! They have a big thing of pixi stix and dum dum's. I mean seriously I felt like a little kid on halloween and I loved every second of it! I grabbed a sensible handful, as did the rest of my party, and walked out ripping open the pixi stix and walking down Comm Ave with my head held back and pixi stix in the air with the colored sugar pouring into my mouth happy as can be.
Thank you India Quality! -
Review from Rani P.
9/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Standing on the crammed green line on the eve of a Red Sox game makes traveling to Kenmore a very unpleasant experience. I sent a few apologetic texts to Simona S. who was also delayed in arriving... but I was pleasantly surprised to find India Quality not filled with red shirts, screaming children and loud families. It did have a little bit of a college crowd, but what can you expect in Boston in September?
I had been to this Indian restaurant before, and remember really enjoying the dishes. And again, it was very delicious- rich in flavor with friendly, attentive servers and an Andes chocolate to seal the deal.
Things in particular I really liked is the Chicken Saag and the basmati rice- it has great saffron flavor, comes in large portions and with any main dish (I hate when they charge me extra for rice I know that costs little to nothing.)
Overall great food, great company, great dinner!Listed in: All Time B-Town Favorites
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Review from Michael C.
Tampa, FL
11/17/2010
I flew into Boston this weekend and my friends promised us great Indian. They did not disappoint with India Quality Restaurant.
I did feel a bit sorry for our waiter due to our initial arrival. There were 6 of us in total, and almost all of us hadn't seen each other in almost a year, so we were too busy catching up to focus on the drink menu. Ultimately I went with a Taj Mahal and another got the 10000 Super Beer. Both were nice light tasting beers.
As we settled down to look at the real menu, we were told by our hosts that the food was to share: everyone get one dish, a few naan, and we'd pass the dishes around.
I ended up with Chicken Korma, which was good, but not as good as the Chicken Coconut Korma. Other dishes included the Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Mughlai and the Saag Paneer.
At first you see this medium-sized bowl of sauce and chicken appear before you and you think that this won't be enough to fill up on. But with the rice, and sharing, you quickly get stuffed.
And then there is the nan. You can't have an Indian meal without nan. I was conflicted between the Garlic Nan and the Royal Nan. So we got both, and they are both great - the Garlic Nan is better for sopping up extra sauce, while the Royal Nan, as described by friend, is better as a desert.
If I lived in Boston, I would eagerly return. -
Review from Lynn C.
9/25/2010
Mediocre restaurant with exceptional service.
We tried the Chicken Coconut Korma (one HOT and one mild), Chicken Briyani, spinach roti, and mango lassi.
When they say hot, they mean hot. Very very spicy and very very awesome. For the average joe who likes spicy but not overwhelming, get the mild, but even then, my boyfriend's chicken bryani left him sipping water like there's no tomorrow.
The spinach roti was dry and flavourless. In fact, I'd say most of the dishes left me wanting. The briyani was filled with everything but rice, which was odd. The korma was passable, though lacking in any other ingredients but the chicken. The mango lassi was too sweet with insufficient yogourt.
I've had better, but this wasn't so bad.
You know, I'd actually come back, because I loved the service here.Listed in: Indian in Boston and Area
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Review from Katie S.
Boston, MA
5/4/2011
I had the chicken tikka masala - definitely in my top 3 for Indian food. The prices are also very reasonable, especially for a restaurant in Kenmore. The one downfall? My friend and I were done eating and sat at our table for a long time before anyone came to see if we wanted out left-overs wrapped, despite walking past our table several times. And it wasn't even that busy!
But if you don't mind waiting for the servers to wrap your food/clear the table (my friend and I did have a lot of catching up to do) then it's definitely a great choice for Indian in Boston. -
Review from Anri d.
Chandler, AZ
11/20/2010
Maybe this love story starts with my latest addiction to and obsession with Indian food. I simply have to have Indian food whenever the option becomes available to me. Based out of Chandler, AZ I have to drive far to reach any Indian restaurant so usually I just go without.
Enter the happy traveler.
I frequently travel to Boston on business which presents me with a whole new world of wining and dining opportunities! Within a matter of a short public transit commute or brisk walk I have access to a multitude of restaurants waiting to be explored.
Which brings me to my next point.
India Quality is always a stop on my dining itinerary in Boston. I usually order takeout and dine in my hotel room. I have been to the restaurant for a sit down dinner and though it has been a while ago, I can still remember that I left very satisfied with food, service and prices.
The food here is rich in flavor and in my opinion cooked to perfection. The Navaratan Korma and Saag Paneer remains favorites when I feel vegetarian and the good old trusted Chicken Tikka Masala at this restaurant is as good as it is trusted.
When placing my order telephonically I always have a choice as to how spicy I want my food to be and though I have been disappointed at other Indian restaurants before (I am inclined to eat very spicy food at the best of times) India quality has served me with the 'just right' level of spiciness as my taste buds required.
It is my belief that any Indian food has to be enjoyed in combination of flavorful basmati rice and plain naan bread. The plain naan bread at India quality is exceptional!
If you are in the mood for Indian food make sure to check this one out! No disappointments to be had here. -
Review from Sherry L.
Boston, MA
11/19/2011
I love Indian food. Have tried almost every restaurant around the area and so far this is still the best.
Love their Chicken Tikki masala, Chai tea, naan bread and poori bread.
Their lunch menu is very reasonably priced. You can have a curry with side dishes and it comes with chai tea or coffee afterwards. I would recommend their chai -
Review from Manesh P.
Boston, MA
9/26/2010
It's a somewhat unfortunately named restaurant. "India Quality," it just conjures some sort of half rate take out indian joint, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. The prices may be half rate, but the food is quite good and the restaurant, though subterranean, is actually a reasonably nice spot to dine in." But, if you're in a group of four, I would suggest the Royal Dinner. It's a ton of food for less than $20 a person and when you see your table covered with a variety of curries in tin dishes, you'll definitely feel like royalty. I was told that the "hot" is quite hot, but we requested one of the dishes hot and it was rather mild. So, maybe they've toned down the spiciness. Either way, if you want things to be real spicy, I'd suggest being assertive with your request.
Oh, and because I always get tricked. Avoid the beers from India, yes even the one classified as "Super Beer." Should have just gotten the Dos Equis. -
Review from Liz G.
Cambridge, MA
1/15/2007
India Quality: A Story of Love and Hate
I lived a few doors down from India Quality for about 3 years. Basically everyone but me loves India Quality, so conversations liked this happened a lot:
Me: Let's grab dinner!
Friend: Heyyy...you live near India Quality.
Me: It's true.
Friend: Let's go to India Quality!
Me: Uhh...so I don't really like India Quality that much...
Friend: Really? Maybe you just didn't like what you got last time.
Me: No...I've been there a bunch. Don't like it. Anywhere else.
Friend: Okay...so ...no Indian food. How about Pizzeria Uno?
Me: I actually like Indian food a lot. We could go to the one on Mass Ave or...
Friend: What about Fridays?
Me: Or there's a bunch of good Indian food in Cambridge.
Friend: Well if you don't like India Quality we might as well just go to like Chilis or something*.
Me: FINE. We'll go to India Quality.
*I don't really understand the logic here either.
To be fair, India Quality isn't all that bad. I always felt the restaurant to be of questionable cleanliness, and something about the way most of the food was flavored didn't work for me. To this day I can't entirely pinpoint what the problem is, although I have an extreme taste aversion to cilantro that may come into play. The Royal Naan remains one of my favorite versions of naan ever (and usually when I got dragged to India Quality I just ordered that and a beer).
After about 3 years of being dragged there against my will, however, my feeling toward India Quality went from a general ambivalence to a profound hatred.
Eventually, I met a boy who felt the same way.
Me: I never really liked India Quality.
Boy: Me neither.
Me: AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Boy: What?
Me: YOU ARE THE GREATEST GUY IN THE WHOLE WORLD
Boy: Um
Me: WE SHOULD GET MARRIED RIGHT NOW AND HAVE LOTS OF BABIES WHO HATE INDIA QUALITY.
Boy: ...
Me: YOU ARE MY NEW DEITY
Boy: (backs slowly away)
Me: Oh crap...um...wait! I just mean that it's cool you don't like India Quality all that much because I kept getting dragged there by my friends, and as you can see it drove me a little crazy. But maybe we should start things off slow. Wanna grab some Indian food?
Boy: Well...I mean as long as we don't like Indian food I guess we should just go to Chilis or something.
Me: Um. Okay. Fine. Chilis. -
Review from Dara C.
4/26/2010 ROTD 6/7/2010
India Quality brings the heat. (It would be best if you said the preceding phrase in a basketball-announcer voice. If you remember the now-legendary SEGA Genesis game NBA Jam, you can use "Nothin' but net!" as your reference point.)
Thank God the waiters ask how hot you want it, because I like my Indian food like I like my women. Hot. With spinach.
This resto would be virtually indistinguishable from any other of the myriad northern Indian options in the city if not for two things: 1) fantastic service, and 2) Pixy Stix at the door. Regarding #1. The servers have always been exceedingly attentive, polite, and quick. Never is a water glass left unfilled. (Not to be guilty of broad generalizations, but I always love the service at Indian restaurants. Win, subcontinent. Win.) However, IQ is so gracious that they earn my Best Of award. Regarding #2. Any establishment that not only provides Andes mints with the check but also a large silver platter of various candies--including Pixy Stix and See's--at the door wins so hard and earns so many points that I simply cannot quantify.
Food I love at IQ: vegetable pakora, behel puri, naan (another possible candidate for best naan in Boston; heavy on the ghee but so stupidly delicious,) matar paneer, chana saag, fish coconut curry, and gulab jamun. Their dessert list is weird and Americanized; stick with the Indian classics and avoid such things as chocolate devil midnight murder meat cake, or whatever it is. Also, IQ has brilliant chai. (Don't call it "chai tea." Chai means "tea." Saying "tea tea" is like calling a bathroom at a French restaurant "the la toilette." Which I've done, but that's not important. I'm classless. I assume you already know this.) The food here isn't innovative or anything new; it's just really, really good, and if you'd like, really, really spicy.
Mmm. Millionth Indian food review complete. -
Review from Tom E.
6/24/2007
So Zagat and a whole bunch of Yelpers says that this is Boston's best Indian restaurant. You make me want to cry. Not because you're wrong, but because if you're right that makes me the typical Yelp PITA who says "Boston is terrible for ___, I should know I'm from ___"
But I'm not from India, and I've never been there, so what am I on about? Well, not Indian food but curries.... dopiaza, jalfrezi, tikka masala, rogan josh, madras, vindaloo, korma, balti et al. All served up with rice, naan and poppadoms, poppadoms, poppadoms. It's England's most popular meal, it's the one you and your mates have at 11pm after 5 pints on a Friday night. Heaven for the mouth, hell for the ass.
So I had high hopes for Indian quality, and to give it the true test I stuck firmly to my usuals:
# Poppadoms - these were not fresh enough and came with bland sauces. Worst of all, was only one small one between two people. Yes, they're free but curry houses normally give one big one per person
# Biriyani (meat and mixed rice with a spicy vegetable sauce) - the chicken and lamb meat were rubbery, the rice had peas in it (!), and the vege sauce sucked. It should've come separate too, not mixed in.
# Peshawari Naan - too small, very flat and not nice and puffy, no obvious raisins and coconut, just seemed like a naan spread with cheap honey.
So failures on all fronts? Well, nearly... the beer selection was awesome and there are plenty of cool candies to choose from when you leave. But really, for a good curry - this was bad. Come on Boston - don't make me be that PITA. Step it up!Listed in: Lunch at BU
