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India Samraat
Categories: Restaurants Indian Food Food Delivery Services Indian, Food Delivery Services [Edit]
51A Massachusetts Ave(between Marlborough St & Commonwealth Ave)
Boston, MA 02115
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 247-0718
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Commonwealth Ave (1, 193)
Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St (1, CT1)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 3 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Kelly A. said: "I stopped here for the second time this evening, and had the most amazing dinner. Seriously. My belly is so darn happy right now. First, let me state for the record that I adore dosas. Any kind. Love 'em. But they're kind of hard…" read more »
109 reviews for India Samraat
Review Highlights
"I love the Chicken Tikka Masala."
(in 13 reviews)
"...chicken saag, Samraat's special naan, raita and kheer."
(in 3 reviews)
"I've tried the saag paneer at many places and this may just..."
(in 7 reviews)
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109 reviews in English
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Review from Alexis W.
Boston, MA
12/10/2011
Most authentic India food I have had in Boston. I had the veggie combo and it was amazing! Everything we had was so good and the service was attentive and friendly. I can't wait to take others here.
so yummy i want some now!!! -
Review from Alex S.
Boston, MA
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I ordered the chicken baryani. Unlike the place I tried in Berkeley, CA, it was not as spicy. For me, this wasn't neceessarily a bad thing (I don't like crying when I'm eating.) However, it would have been nice to have a little spiciness apart from the general mildness of the dish. The dried fruit in the dish had a kick to it and it was overall very tasty. I also tried the naan; I like these fatty Indian tortillas!
In regards to portions, you probably shouldn't come by yourself like I did. You could definitely get away with ordering what I did and sharing it with your petite lady friend, after a small appetizer :) I had to get a take-out bag afterwards. I also dropped a 20 spot! Definitely a once-in-a-while type of thing because of the price. -
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
7/30/2011
I got delivery from here twice and was in the area recently so I decided to go in for dinner. Every time the food has been very good, though I confess to having a pathetic but delicious standard order at most Indian restaurants: samosas, saag paneer, chicken or lamb [vindaloo/jalfrezi/aloo/biryani], naan, large beer. It's a rut, but a tasty rut at least. So I heartily endorse those dishes, however the naan is not the best I've ever had.
The service was fine, though it wasn't swarming with customers. If it was I could see it maybe getting slow-ish, but such are the charms of family-run businesses which are dwindling in number.
I also want to make special mention of their pay-in-cash discount -- if you pay in cash you get 10% off your meal. This is a better way to handle the outrageous fees foisted on merchants than insisting on cash only. -
Review from Jason B.
Updated - 10/12/2011
Here are the magic words: When ordering, either on Foodler or over the phone tell them very clearly: "I WANT TO SWEAT AND CRY WHEN I EAT". You may not be getting "authentic" Indian food (at least according to most of the Indian folks I've spoken with - but at least you'll be able to perspire like one! For those of us who like it painful, India Samraat is willing to give you what you want!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/7/2010
Still our go-to spot for Indian take-out/delivery in our area, it needs to be mentioned that the… Read more »
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Review from John A.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/13/2011
I've worked right around the block from India Samraat for about 6 years now - but It was a Groupon that brought me in for the first time. Unlike many other Groupon purchases - it won't be my last visit.
The service was excellent and the food was exceptional. I've had my fair share of the same old indian in Boston - and this set a new standard. From appetizers to main courses - everything was above expectations ( the naan wasn't the best i've ever had - but maybe it was an off order..)
The service was fast and prompt to order, no hovering around the table throughout the meal. Food and drinks both came out promptly. There was a little lag time waiting for the check at the end of the night - but they were getting a wave of customers at that point so i'll cut them some slack.
Glad I found India Samraat - I'll be back! -
Review from Amy B.
4/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
My go-to Indian delivery joint.
We order through Foodler and are always impressed by how quickly our food arrives. Everything comes hot and seems fresh. I agree with Alexandra S. that the saag dishes are especially good at India Samraat--the spinach flavor really comes through. Spice levels are also good, though I find they err on the side of less spice rather than more. My only complaint so far about the food is that I wish an order of naan contained more than 2 pieces.
Prices are competitive for the neighborhood, and quite a bit less than Kashmir. For 2 entrees and a side of naan, plus delivery fees and tips, we usually end up paying about $30. I'd say that's a fair price for the ability to keep my butt glued to the couch and have deliciousness come to my door. -
Review from Marissa P.
Boston, MA
9/17/2011
The food is always good and very consistent. 10% discount if you pay with cash. Malai kofta is creamy and delicious, sweet and savory at the same time. I take out from here often, but usually don't eat here as the decor is sub par and the place itself is kind of dark.
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Review from New Y.
New York, NY
10/12/2011
Authentic flavors...inconsistent performance!!!
I've ordered from from here a few time. The first few times I was impressed with the flavorful food that pretty much came close to my grandmother's cooking. The next couple of tries, I was pretty disappointed. The food was somewhat uncooked and just not what I expected.
Their samosas have been the most consistent and incredibly satiating. It will continue to my go to spot for samosas. Note that you have to ask for the accompnaying sauces...which is pretty annoying.
Additionally, their desserts just plain suck!!!! Rice pudding was the absolute worst I've had in years.
All in all, some of the dishes are authentic and delicious...consistency is something the chef needs to strive for...it's 3 star at best. -
Review from Cassie H.
1/7/2011
Our go to Indian restaurant was closed yesterday when we wanted takeout, so we picked this place since it had the best reviews on Foodler...
The food came super fast and was still piping hot. The naan was decent (despite some negative reviews on Yelp), and the rice was very fragrant... but the chicken tikka masala was underwhelming. I can't think of another word to describe it. It didn't stand out as wonderful, but it wasn't that bad either.
Overall, not bad for the price and for the service when our go-to was closed... not sure it'd be top of my list though. -
Review from Pete J.
11/22/2010
Foodler + India Samraat = Score!
Ordered the meat samosas, chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo, naan bread and mango lassi. Arrived in about 30 minutes, much faster than expected. Had to rush to put some clothes on, but that's another story :)
Everything was top notch, but I was a little disappointed with the naan bread, a little soggy, but still very much edible. CTM was fantastic, just the right blend of flavour/spice. The vindaloo (ordered extra hot) was fantastic! Great for the sinuses. Love the lassi too.
Portions large enough to make a meal the next day. -
Review from Clara L.
2/17/2011
I've passed this place multiple times, and each time I think "I should try this place". Well I finally did. I was not that impressed. My curry sauce broke and was really watery by the time it came to the table, which is a big no no for me. The portions were somewhat small in my opinion. Only one small plate of rice came with two entrees. The naan was actually alot bigger than other Indian restaurants in the area and tasted pretty good, which made up for some of the unfortunate aspects of this restaurant and the lack of rice.
It wasn't that busy on a Sunday night (maybe 4-5 tables with two staff), but the service was terribly slow. It took almost 15 minutes to get someone to take our order, and almost 25 minutes to get our check long after we were done eating. We watched Indian music videos throughout the hour long meal (we thought we could be in and out), so at least we were entertained. However, it was not entertaining enough to warrant another trip back probably. -
Review from Stacy K.
Boston, MA
8/31/2011
Our go-to for Indian delivery. I am not an Indian food expert by any means, so I can't speak to the authenticity at all, but I've always enjoyed the food I've gotten from India Samraat. We tend to get the same thing every time: Chicken Saag, Chicken Tikka Masala, an extra container of Basmati Rice, Cheese Pakora, and Naan. And sometimes, as a treat, we get Mango Lassies. We've also occasionally ordered the Veggie Samosas and/or Veggie Pakora. This is usually enough for at least two meals for the two of us, and it tastes just as good reheated later in the week. We've become such regulars that they've actually started giving us a little discount every now and then. One of these days we'll actually have to go in and check out the restaurant we've been ordering all this food from for so long.
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Review from Christine D.
New Orleans, LA
8/20/2010
I found this place way too long after I had lived in Boston. It's right on Mass Ave before the bridge into Cambridge.
It looks small and not very interesting from the outside.
But, trust me, just go in and try some of the great things they have cooking up at India Samraat. I'm still thinking about their cheese naan daily. They have whatever you want and it is all made to such a high quality. Fresh ingredients. Cooked just right. I've tried the saag paneer at many places and this may just be my favorite. The portions are a little small but that's the way i like them- why should we pay a lot to take leftovers home and have them not be as good the next day?Listed in: My Favorite Foods
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Review from Katherine R.
Sacramento, CA
9/20/2010
Just received my delivery order (Foodler, you arrived in less than 20 minutes, you rock!) of chicken tikka masala, cheese nan and the veggie appetizer mix. Of the appetizers, the vegetable pakora was great, the cheese pakora was like a breaded eraser and the aloo bada was just alright. I haven't tried the samosa yet because I'm already full. The onion chutney is good with all the apps. The CTM is delicious and the rice is plain, buttery and normal. The nan is the hugest disappointment though. It's dry and crunchy and weirdly sweet. I don't think it's cheese nan, I'm pretty sure it's garlic which is (A) not what I wanted and (B) the worst nan I've ever tasted. After this I think I'll go back to India Quality, because at least their nan is perfect.
*Update* Decided to chuck everything except the tikka masala, and although it tastes good, finding a large chunk of bark in it has left me chucking that too. Never going here again.
*Update 2.0* I emailed Foodler about my complaints and they called the restaurant on my behalf. They said the bark was a cinnamon stick (which is fine, it was still a chunk of something inedible in my food though that should not have been there) and Foodler offered to reimburse me for the restaurant sending the wrong naan. Foodler, I wish I could yelp you for being so awesome! I'll be using them again to order, just not from here!Comment from Pardeep S. of India Samraat 10/5/2010
India Samraat does not use another company for delivery… More » -
Review from Mariam A.
Boston, MA
5/12/2010
Being Indian, I am used to having great home cooked Indian food, and so when I moved to Boston almost two years ago, every time I missed a good home cooked meal, I used to order Indian food and never found anything half as good at a reasonable price.
That is until I ordered from here. I ordered online from Foodler, and the delivery was prompt, way before the scheduled time.
The food was a whole different story. It was way more than I expected it to be. I ordered the Dal and Chicken Makhni and the Sampler. Everything was delicious and piping hot. Their portions are pretty huge, so I saved some and ate the next day - it was still as yummy. Definitely going to keep on ordering from here.
Anyone thinking about eating here must - if you enjoy a good Indian meal. -
Review from Alexandra S.
Boston, MA
12/14/2010
I ordered chicken saag, medium spicy and an order of cheese nan for dinner last night. the chicken saag was awesome, easily the best I've had in Boston but the nan was such a disappointment.
I didn't have a chance to devour my delivery immediately after it arrived, so perhaps that had something to do with the dysfunctional nan. It lacked cheese entirely and occupied several seemingly contradictory textural states as it was greasy, dry, gummy, and stale.
despite the horrid nan, I'm fiending for more saag and will have it again soon. the portions are huge, and I recommend sharing with a friend because leftovers from India Samaat are somehow eerily justifiable as a "necessary second dinner" when you're alone on a cold Boston winters eve. -
Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
10/15/2010
This place is the best and most reliable Indian delivery place in Boston (and I've tried more than a few).
My favorites: Special Naan (w/ mango, raisins, coconut, and nuts); Chicken Madras (outstanding), Rogan Gosh, and Lamb Vindaloo.
Their delivery is also fast and reliable.Listed in: Indian in Boston
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Review from Kunal P.
North Wales, PA
6/6/2011
During my our recent trip to Boston, we stumbled upon this place while we were looking for parking to go to another restaurant. But, we were tired and didn't want to walk extra 2block to our intended place and settled for this one just steps from where we got a parking spot.
We saw the sign for the platters at the door. So, we went straight for that. 2 veg & 2 nonveg. Large mango lassi (which was deceiving cause they adapted starbuck's unit of measurements). Papdi chat and some variety of fritters.
The service was pretty poor. Sure they came to fill our glasses with water on time. But, they kept taking our plates away before we had finished eating. I found that to be outright rude. Talking about plates, our food came in stainless steel dishes (for nonveg - rectangular dish with multiple compartments)(for veg - a round dish with multiple small steel cups with the different items).
The food was not that impressive. Good. Just not impressive.
For nonveg platter, you get 3 different meat items, 1 or 2 veg item, raita, few leaves of iceberg lettuce, rice, paratha/naan, 1 desert. The meats weren't overcooked. So, that was good. But, taste was pretty bland.
Raita was watery and not at all zesty as it should have been.
For Veg platter, its pretty similar except you get more veg dishes. The portions were a lot smaller in the veg platter than the nonveg platter.
We got paratha instead of naan for our platter. And boy were we happy about that decision. I think the paratha was the best part of the meal. Considering, there wasn't really anything that was amazing.
For deserts, 3 of us got gulab jambu and 1 kheer. The gulab jambu wasn't bad - didn't seem stale, but didn't seem it wasn't out of a can either. Kheer was yuk - they used the cheapest rice they could find. Even the ground pistachio couldn't do any justice to the felony this desert had committed.
They were pretty quick to take our plates away even as we hadn't finish eating. But, they kept us waiting a good 10min for our check.
I can't speak for their other menu items. But, would I recommend the platters? Sure, if you are looking to fulfill hunger - like we were after being touristy all day long in the city. If you are looking for some tasty meal however, find something else or perhaps somewhere else. -
Review from Wonder W.
Torrance, CA
6/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Yelp you did not steer me wrong!!
This place is awesome with a capital "A", especially in Boston, MA. I am not normally a proponent of rating a place because of it's location (too often it is an excuse), but admittedly there IS some validity. However, I am pleased to report that the food was just that great here at India Samraat.
A friend and I were visiting MIT and on the way back to Fenway, I was struck by the sudden urge for Indian food and noticed India Samraat from the bus. Probably the luckiest incident of the day...
When we walked in we were seated right away and immediately the service won me over. Both of our waiters were very prompt, polite, and subtle- a hallmark of excellent service... We ordered vegetarian samosas, chicken tikki masala, aloo naan, and garlic naan. The samosas came with an onion chutney that was delightfully spicy... definitely one of the best combination of samosas and sauces that I have had at any Indian restaurant. The individual servings of chicken tikki masala were certainly enough for each of us, especially coupled with the samosas, naan, and free basimati rice... in fact it might have been a little too much for us. But neither my friend nor I regretted the order....
....... up until we realized that we each had the others order. Mine: spicy, his: mild... oops! It was the only blemish to an otherwise wonderful dinner. The total was approximately $41, not bad for the amount of food and its quality.
Not bad at all... certainly I'd go back anytime I'm in Boston. Oh one other thing... the resto offers a 10% discount if you pay the bill in cash...Listed in: Trippin' Food
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Review from S. C.
Salem, MA
9/19/2011
I am not a big fan of Indian food. I don't go try out Indian restaurants and try to find my favorite dish there. When I have a craving for peshwari paratha, chicken khandari, and mango lasse, this is the only place that I would go to. Friendly service, consistency, and I love the artwork.
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Review from Vanessa C.
Boston, MA
5/15/2008
after reading the many great reviews here, I came with high expectations. perhaps that was my first mistake. I came with a few other girls & we were really effing hungry. we ordered lots of different things to sample from the menu, veggie & meatie.
I cant even be bothered to distinguish the various dishes from each other, because none of them were memorable. the food was served luke warm. not very spicy or flavorful.
maybe I have been spoiled by the superior curries in england, or having home cooked 5 course meals from my indian ex-bf's family. but I have yet to find any indian food that impresses me here in boston.
Unless you are really desparate, dont waste your money here.
(* Bukhara in JP is my favorite so far) -
Review from Camron G.
West Roxbury, MA
7/29/2008
You're telling me there's a restaurant that was voted Best of Boston only fifteen minutes away from Kashmir on Newbury that has the same quality of food for around half the price? Lead me to the promise land, Yelpers.
The authentic feel to Samraat is pretty evident once you step inside. You immediately recognize the friendliness of the staff and the traces of culture splashed on and along the walls of the interior. Nothing overly impressive, but a good first impression.
As for the food: the chicken tandoori was steaming hot and accompanied by some tasty onions and peppers. At some restaurants, the chicken breast has little to no meat - this was not the case at Samraat. The tandoori inside some warm na'an was quite a combination. My friend who ordered a lamb stew also had decent sized portions. Reasonable prices for such a great location and good food.
The restaurant is nice and cozy inside. The wait staff was very attentive and nice (if not a little bit nervous). I'd recommend Samraat to anyone who loves Indian food, but especially couples looking for a nice night out away from some of the chaos to be found on Newbury or Boylston.
Four stars for sure. -
Review from Y. K.
Boston, MA
4/22/2011
This place is frankly disappointing, bordering shocking as to what they serve. We tried their chicken dhansak (shocking), rogan josh (bad), tandoori shrimp (bland and badly done), garlic nan (nothing garlicy about it and v dry) & mango lassi (average).
I was horrified at what they called chicken dhansak. Dhansak is a very unique dish prepared by blending together a mix of 7 different types of lentils and using specific sambar masala. Their dhansak was a nightmare. Basically a shoddy mixture of whole chickpea lentil with chicken cubes! It must be served with fried rice that has been boiled in chicken broth and caramelised with sugar thus brown (but we got plain white boiled rice). Eww.
The Rogan josh was a bland concoction of cream and colour. Avoid.
There was nothing tandoori about their tandoori shrimp.
I would not waste my money here. Go elsewhere. -
Review from Kirs P.
Jamaica Plain, MA
10/2/2006
I've never actually eaten at the restaurant itself, but I regularly order for delivery, and it's always really good. It's pretty easy to end up paying more than you expected- all those naan choices get me- I want to try all of them. But, for the most part, the food is reasonably priced for decent sized portions.
I also like that I don't have to call to order- I can use foodler and do it online. It also keeps track of what I ordered last so I don't have to remember what it was that I liked so much :-) The service is fast and dependable. The food always arrives within an hour (I don't think that's too bad for an Indian delivery place) and it's always hot and ready to go. -
Review from Kiwi H.
1/8/2008
I have a confession: I've never actually eaten inside the restaurant.
Ok, now that that's out of the way, I can get down to business - the food. Like Daniel S., I developed my food-relationship with this place through http://Foodler.com. It's pretty cool that of the numerous Indian options they have available on the site, India Samraat is usually one of the ones with a special offer of some sort - always welcome.
Still, regardless of deals and goodies, the food is excellent. The price leans towards those of the nicer Indian places in the city rather than the hole-in-the-wall type, but that's just fine because you get what you pay for and it's still great. It's still not always as satisfying as my favourite, Kashmir, but Kashmir comes along with elegance and atmosphere. For me, this place is all about the food only.
The people that I've spoken to from the restaurant itself have always been very polite and friendly, the delivery is efficient and the stuff always arrives still hot. Yay! It's full of flavour and very tasty, and the curry sauces are not too watery yet not too thick. The naan is never too dry and never has had that cardboardey feel. Portion sizes are good, and overall, I really enjoy eating from here. Maybe I'll make it inside the actual restaurant someday, when I can roll myself off my sofa and into their doors (ok I'm really quite healthy and decently fit. Really.) Mmm, I'd like some now though. -
Review from Heather G.
Boston, MA
3/12/2010
This is my favorite indian takeout place in Boston. The food is cheap, it comes quickly, and it is big enough for two modestly-sized meals (or one meal that leaves you packed to the gills).
My food has almost always arrived piping hot.
The Aloo Chole is my favorite - they cook the chickpeas long enough that they're not hard or mealy, but rather they have a great consistency. This dish is overrepresented by chickpeas and underrepresented by potatoes, which, for someone who tries to limit potato intake (once I start, I just can't stop!), is a good thing. Sauce isn't heavy at all, but you will discover it is a bit on the oily side as you empty the container - the remnants leave an orange oily film on the container, which is worrisome but I suppose not entirely uncharacteristic for indian food.
We also order the lamb vindaloo a lot, which is flavorful and packed with seasoned, minced lamb. It is a favorite in our household.
I would steer clear of any of the "vegetable" dishes....as they state on the menu that they're an assortment of mixed veggies (when some of us are trying to go for the healthier option when getting takeout), they're actually very overcooked, and the entire plate comes as a mushy, brown, stewy mess. Disappointing.
The naan is a bit chewy, but part of that could be from steaming in the foil as it's being delivered. The naan with coconut and raisins, however, is very tasty, albeit a bit crumbly as the coconut shavings crumble out when you bit into it.
appetizers are standard - I would recommend staying away from the deep fried cheese squares, as the cheese is really dense and flavorless, so why waste the calories and/or stomach space?
Management is always great about letting us order an order of samosas (they come in two-per-order) and getting one meat and one veggie.
Side note: the quantity of rice they give you with your entrees is very small - not nearly enough rice for the two-entrees we always order, so we have to get an additional order to have a good rice-to-sauce ratio. It's cheap enough that it's not a big deal, but keep this in mind as you're ordering! -
Review from Mindy M.
Gainesville, FL
8/16/2009
I made a reservation for 10 for a Friday night at 7 p.m., and when we arrived, the table was set up and ready for us. Service was great, surprisingly prompt. The mango lassi, naan, saag paneer, lamb vindaloo, curry chicken, and vegetable korma were all first-rate. I forget what else we had -- everything was excellent. Not greasy, not all tasting the same -- very good stuff.
Prices were low, the atmosphere nice. This is not a 5-star place as in "the Ritz," but for a neighborhood Indian restaurant, it was definitely 5-star! We also had four people lay out credit cards (splitting the bill) while everyone else laid out cash, and the waiter never blinked.
I would say I have had fancier Indian food, with more subtlety -- but I certainly paid a lot more for it. I have also eaten Indian food of this quality in restaurants that aspired to be snooty, paid much more for it, and enjoyed it less. So I was impressed with India Samraat as a whole package, and that's why I say -- 5 stars.Listed in: Boston Eating
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Review from Anna B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
7/20/2010
What are people raving about?!
This place is TOTALLY OH-SO-MEDIOCRE.
Perhaps it's because my fellow brown people have taken me around the city to taste what "Real" Indian food tastes like that this place makes me cringe...but here are my reviews about the food:
Last night, hubby and I ordered Chicken Tikka Masala (hot hot hot), and Lamb Vindaloo (also hot hot hot) with the naan. My masala was totally too yogurt-y and milky, with not enough tomato paste. It ended up being more like soupy mush rather than chunky, meaty flavorful stuff. The chicken chunks were in very different shapes and sizes (don't know why, but I recently found out that I am very annoyed by this), and it just reeked of bad quality.
As for the Lamb Vindaloo (ordered due to the reviews it got), I swear something was rotten in the sauce because it was bitter! I'm not a big fan of lamb, so I dipped the naan in the vindaloo, ate the small pieces of potatoes, but grimaced with each bite.
Naan was the only thing to remember, but that's REALLY not saying much. Holy cow.
Anyway, they got the spices right, but the flavoring and quality are overall very, very disappointing and low.
I'll be sticking to my favorite, reliable India Quality for the time being. -
Review from Nick H.
3/13/2009
FOOD: Vindaloo will kick your ass with spices, yet Saag was more bland than I'm accustomed to. Rice was perfect, naan was OK, kheer (rice pudding) was very good as well.
SERVICE: Smiley, attentive, friendly.
AMBIANCE: Quiet, cozy, and the standard Bollywood-style stuff playing on TV in one corner. There was a cool break-dancer on what looked like an "Indian-Idol" style show going on when we were in there.
TIPS: Bail-out special is currently being served: $20 for 2 people includes naan, copious amounts of rice, two entrees and (one) kheer. Nice!
THE NET: Solid spot for Indian fare in the Back Bay. Being accustomed to great eats from Guru, Punjabi Dhaba and Punjab (Arlington) though, I am a difficult customer to please. Overall, well done India Samraat. -
Review from Heather H.
Somerville, MA
4/30/2007
I want to give India Samraat 5 stars, but I'll wait until I've had their food again. I ordered from them for delivery through Foodler on a whim last night. I was extremely pleased with everything we ordered.
The lentil soup was fantastic, with a nice amount of heat and good texture. The coconut soup was strange but good. Sweet with cardamom and coconut meat and milk, I preferred this after my meal (and in between to cool the heat of the other dishes). The vegetable samosas were great- not to greasy and actually having good flavor and spice instead of the insipid potato filled globs you get at most places.
The rogan josh and aloo matar were both fantastic. We ordered "medium" heat for both and were really happy with the results- definitely no getting white-personed! The medium at India Samraat was hotter than some places hot (I'm looking at you, Desi Dhaba). And the rice! The rice! I don't think I've ever gotten such beautifully aromatic basmati from delivery in the Boston area.
Finally, the speed of delivery and temperature of food was fantastic. We got our order delivered to Cambridge in just 45 minutes (most Foodler orders from within Cambridge can take an hour or more), and the food was fresh and hot! I'm really looking forward to ordering again, or even stopping by the restaurant. -
Review from Morgan F.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2006
My favorite Indian in Boston! As mentioned the take-out is great, but eating there is GREAT too! Its got a great atmosphere, they have cute little red booths, fun Indian decorations, sometimes during lunch you can catch Indian daytime drama on the TV.
Again, like mentioned its family run, so they are very friendly! They will recognize you and start to say hi if you go in nearly as often as I do!
In my opinion, this place is much better than India Quality! The prices are just as good, and I think the potions are bigger! -
Review from Heather S.
Boston, MA
5/27/2009
You want good indian food? call india samraat.
You want expensive indian food? call india samraat.
now you know, and knowing is half the battle. -
Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
7/14/2008
I went here because Indian food is my favorite cuisine and they were voted Best Indian in 2007 by Improper/Boston Magazine/something reputable.
The interior isn't anything fancy, but is clean and fine. The service was pleasant. We started with an Indian beer and wine. I believe the wine was actually an Indian wine, which I was impressed with.
I had the Chicken Tikka Masala as an entree. Very good. My boyfriend had the tandoori platter which he enjoyed. The only two things I didn't really like- the portions seemed smaller in comparison to most Indian places (I love bringing home tons of leftovers), and the bread portion was especially tiny. We ended up ordering two orders. The bread wasn't even that good.
To be voted the Best Indian in Boston is a big deal, but my meal definetly wasn't the best Indian food I've had in the city. Yes, I'd go back if I were in the area, but would choose many other places before here. -
Review from Stephanie B.
Boston, MA
9/7/2010
I've only gotten delivery from this place, so I can't comment on the restaurant experience. They have very yummy and inexpensive Indian food! I love the Fish Masala and the onion naan (full of cilantro, so it's perfect for cilantro lovers like me!).
If you live within delivering distance of India Samraat, I definitely recommend ordering from them! -
Review from Jessica R.
Boston, MA
7/16/2008
A lot of people on here seem to be disappointed with the portion sizes, but I found them to be average. I still ended up taking home leftovers and I have a fairly large appetite. I do agree that the naan was on the skimpy side though. We had three pieces of naan for two people. Most places I have been to give you a full basket.
Vegetable samosas were delicious. I had the Chicken Dhansak as an entree and I was warned by the waiter that it would be very spicy. I told him that wasn't a problem since I was hoping it would be very spicy (sometimes items are advertised as spicy and end up being fairly mild) and it did not disappoint!
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Sarah F.
8/28/2008
Ordered from here last night via http://Foodler.com, spurred on by free delivery and a 15% off first order offer. Even without the discount, it's a good value and they beat the estimated delivery time by a good 15 minutes (not sure if that's kudos for Foodler or India Samraat or both).
Both my husband and I ordered Chicken Tikka Saag--mine mild and his hot. My mild version still had a nice flavor and enough spice to make it interesting. He actually would have preferred his hot version as little spicer, so maybe we could write-in "extra hot" on the order comments next time. It had a nice consistency as well and good, tender chunks of chicken.
I can't say it was my favorite Indian meal of all time (or favorite version of Chicken Tikka Saag), but for a delivery meal, it exceeded my expectations. -
Review from Jamie S.
1/14/2009
Taste = 5 stars
Price/Portion = 2 stars
It's so close by, yet I've only gone here once. I got slammed on a chicken dish. I picked up a tiny tot of a tupperware full of chicken and sauce - delicious mind you- with some rice and na'an. Na'an was extra, ok fine. $10 for a wee tub o'chicken? Homey don't play that.
Make your own, or come here as a dainty treat where you're full but may feel bamboozled. -
Review from Michelle B.
Roxbury, MA
2/20/2008
A surprisingly great delivery choice; like everyone else, I'm a devotee of Foodler [I work in a call center and try to avoid the phone at all costs while at home]. We decided to order from here tonight with some friends, when I got home from work too late to cook.
The selection had something for everyone, and it actually took a few everyone saying "Oh, I want that! ... or maybe that?" before we actually ordered. I tried a few different things: chicken saag, Samraat's special naan, raita and kheer. The chicken saag (mild!) was really well seasoned and the chicken was really tender. The rice that came with it was perfectly cooked and smelled/tasted great. The special naan was worth the $5.25 - it was stuffed with mango, coconut, raisins and nuts, and it was such a tasty combination, a much better dessert-like item than the kheer, which I felt had much too grainy a texture to really be enjoyable.
The food here was good enough that my boyfriend, who only semi-enjoyed his first foray into Indian food, ordered the Samraat Special [basically every friend appetizer], kept tasting everything I got and saying "Why didn't I get THIS?" It was very cute, though it was a sad moment when he ate half of my naan.
The prices are a bit higher than I'd normally pay for delivery, but the quality of food is definitely worth it. It's nice that there's a coupon for delivery via Foodler, though even with that, we ended up paying about $15 per person.
I've already got my eye on some of the other naan for next time we order! -
Review from Mick T.
Boston, MA
3/15/2006 7 Check-ins Here
Good inexpensive India food.
The food is good, if your not sure what to order I'd recommend this:
Starter: Veggie Pakoras
Main Course: Chicken Saag or Chicken Tika Masala.
Desert: Kheer (Rice Pudding)
Drinks: Flying Horse Beer (22oz bottle, big enough for 2)
This is a medium sized family run restaurant. The prices are reasonable and the food is usually very good. Most nights you won't need a reservation.
Probably not a great place for a 1st date as the atmosphere is a bit sterile, but the grub is good and I eat here about once a week.
Update: Voted "Best of Boston" and all you peeps are sitting in my table! Seriously, it's gotten busy there at the weekends food is still good. -
Review from Chirag P.
Boston, MA
2/12/2009
To anyone thinking of going to an Indian Restaurant: Almost always only worth it to go for lunch buffets. Other than that, severely overpriced as usual for dinner.
I've had a struggle in my 4 years in Boston trying to find the ultimate Indian restaurant. So far this is it, but I feel there is more out there somewhere.
Also fellow neu students: Do not mistake the Indian Restaurant on mass ave closer to the Dunkin Donuts for this place. This place is 10 times better! Pass that place near Dunkin Donuts, and take a small walk over the bridge and you'll see this place.
