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Mon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"Now we are talking! Finally, an Indian restaurant close by that has reasonable atmosphere as well as excellent nosh. And while eating we…" read more »
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I am the luckiest girl in the world to be in walking distance to this haven of Indian deliciousness.
I know I mentioned my experience with Indian food having lived on the stuff in the UK ( and going to India helped)...but I never found a place that lives up to, and then essentially exceeds my fastidious standards for a brilliant curry.
ROGAN JOSH...a must!
The selection of Naan styles is exhilarating! I wasn't a fan of their new Lotus Naan. Stuffed with chicken, raisins and cashews...and bell pepper it looked like. It was a little too oily and too crunchy for me. I love the Keema or Garlic Naan...keeping it fluffy and simple to sop up all the curry goodness.
Also, I think the most important aspect for me, when you say you want your Jalfrezi "traditionally" hot...they will knock your socks off.
My boy and I have made it a point to become new regulars here. Next visit...Vindaloo, Tikka Marsala, and of course the sizzling hot plates of Tandoori chicken that kept passing our table all night, teasing us.
The wine list is small, but we found a gem that went perfectly with dinner. Gold medal winner Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir "Ancienne"...it was gorgeous.
They whole experience made me warm and fuzzy on the inside. I have a feeling that I will be walking a whole lot more to eat my dinner from now on.
I've been four years overdue with this lunch date with the two brits from my work. Every Friday, like clockwork, these gents ask me for quarters for the meter. After four years of quarter harassment, my quarters are gone from my work stash and my guilt kicks in. Today, ten minutes to noon, I'm digging in my car for some quarters after asking the brits out for lunch.
Now, I don't eat enough Indian food to name what I ate but for the most part, I tried almost all of the main courses, liked it, and went back for seconds just to make sure I could write an appropriate review *wink *wink. A moment later after finishing off the bread pudding I run back for more. My fourth trip up to the buffet resulted in snickers from my brits.
Eight dollars well spent. Reason for me to keep my quarters well supplied.
People thought this was:
We LOVE this restaurant. Having dined at many Indian restaurants not only in the Bay Area, but also in many different countries (I am originally from the UK where the number of Indian restaurants only narrowly trails the number of McDonalds joints), Lotus has become the benchmark.
Excellent menu with many vegetarian options. Vegetable Pakoras are a regular choice, along with the garlic or pesto naan. Consistent, high quality cooking and wonderful customer service. A very nice wine list with some real bargains, that pair perfectly with our regular choice of dishes.
We have enjoyed lunch, dinner and take-out many times over the past 8 years, and always enjoy going back. Great to be there on warm summer evenings when the restaurant roof slides back.
This restaurant is a multi-award winner and deserves to be.
People thought this was:
As far as north Indian food goes, this place is solid. It has all the basics, and does them well -- the butter chicken and saag paneer (fresh spinach?) are particularly good! Stay away from the pakoras if you're going to do takeout, just trust me, or you'll regret it. This is our fave place for takeout Indian (10% off if you order online, it's a seriously GENIUS idea to be able to tell them when you want to pick up your food), altho I realize there isn't a whole lot of competition in the area.
This place rocks!!!
Along with Amber in the Mountain View half of the bay area, this is one of the two very best indian restaurants you can find in CA.
It is pretty casual, nothing fancy. The food is very traditional, nothing shocking. But come here with the right attitude and perception, this will make your evening a good one.
Why why why?? Why does the best Indian buffet have to be miles from my hometown? Why?
I love buffetts for many reasons, first and foremost, I love to eat, love to eat lots, but there is also a method to my madness. I like the ability to grab a quick lunch in less than 10 mins. i like to try several things, as nothing is worse than ordering something off an ala carte menu and end up not liking it.
With my love of buffetts being explained, I have been to quite a few Indian ones in the Bay Area.....I like Lotus even better than Amber India in SF, yes Amber that pricey $16 buffet. At half the price, I found Lotus twice as good.
Lotus dishes had a complexity of spices in most every dish which is missing from most other Indian buffets I have tried.
Are there any downsides?, sure, it is located in Marin County, which I best describe as the Place with the most casually dressed snooty people in the world, plus the obligatory females who use Sex in the CIty as their life gameplan.
Is it worth the drive? You bet!
People thought this was:
Definitely the best Indian food in Marin county. So happy my friend recommended it as I'm not a a big fan of Indian Oven but need my Indian food fix. The place was crowded & everyone was enjoying huge quantities of food the first time I went so I was not surprised that I loved it. And the second time, there were even natives eating there. Always a good sign - I don't frequent bad Mexican restaurants so I figure Indians flock to the good places, too.
Had the channa masala & loved it along w/ samosas plus a lassi and was full. Husband had the chicken chili and the rest of my meal and we were all set. The group next to us last night ordered almost the whole menu so now I have more ideas of what to order. As long as I have no kitchen, this is going into rotation.
People thought this was:
For my first jump into San Rafael's Indian food options-- i am VERY pleased!
My friends and I ordered take out last night, and we were all impressed with the quality and taste of the food. We ordered:
1. veggie somasa
2. lamb stuffed naan
3. paneer stuffed naan
4. chicken vindaloo
5. chicken tikka masala
6. chicken tikka kabab
7. paneer tikka masla
8. aloo mattar
9. raita
Granted, we're ordering all of the most heavy, American-centric dishes-- but i can't say enough how fresh and tasty it all was! Also, the food was not greasy. I am DEFINITELY ordering those items again, plus a few other favorites i have yet to try here.
Overall, fantastic experience. A little pricier than I had liked-- it was more expensive than our favorite places in San Francisco, so hence-- minus 1 star. Overall, their staff was helpful and courteous and helped carry the bags out to my car out front. :]
People thought this was:
To appreciate Lotus, you have to look at the whole package.
First off, it's practically a San Rafael landmark. I doubt there's anyone who has lived in San Rafael longer than a month that hasn't been to Lotus. The "gotcha" moment when the roof is rolled back to let in the sun is always a crowd pleaser. And as you soak up the rays, the sounds of raga music coupled with the smells emanating from the kitchen will make you give pause and wonder if they didn't actually chip Lotus off the map in Delhi and ship it whole to San Rafael.
Second, this is one of the most kid-friendly and kid-tolerant establishments I've ever experienced. The servers go out of their way to greet children, and they dole out special kid meals, sippy cups, and all manner of things to keep the ankle biters tame. Our party of eight had four kids, all of whom carpet bombed the floor with jasmine rice - it was a mess of epic proportions. I swear the rice was taking root by the time we left, and after our 3 ft high demolition artists were finished with the floor, they made sure to spill mango lassi and vindaloo...on the walls. All the while, the servers smiled and practically cheered them on while I sat there dumbstruck and tried to make it look like I wasn't even part of the party.
Third, the food is quality North Indian cuisine. Their lamb vindaloo, saag aloo, lotus naan and tikka masala are staples in our household. This is authentic cooking, and it is consistently good. The buffet at lunchtime is plentiful and probably the best bargain, but the options are more limited. The a la carte menu at dinner will be pricier, but worth the effort (every time).
There are excellent Indian restaurants in San Francisco that would give Lotus a run for its money had they been located in Marin, but thankfully...they're not, so we'll keep this reliable neighborhood Indian oasis to ourselves.
People thought this was:
Quality over quantity. That's what I think of when I think of a buffet and Lotus delivers.
For $8.95 you get a some what medium selection of Indian favorites and great service. Lotus is clean and unique. They have a main seating area as well as the Lotus room that holds another 30 ppl or so. Simple Indian decor and music to enjoy while you eat.
I love the easy walk down the street from our home and the slow peaceful walk back with full full bellies. We enjoyed everything and anything, but had a bit too much today. I am horrible when it comes to buffets! I have no self control.
If you're in the mood for Indian, check out Lotus between 11:30 - 2:30 and try a little bit of everything. It's worth the money and the full tummy after.
People thought this was:
I really like this restaurant. The breads are excellent, Tikka and curries very good. From the vindaloo, Biriyiani, bhajis and masalas to the paneer and even the sweet desserts they deliver great quality. The wine list is well thought out (Navarro wines are a great match) I am off to India in a couple of weeks and not expecting the food to be as good!
Oh, in the summer when the roof slides back it is a wonderful ambiance.
Alright. I concede. This place is pretty good.
After Bombay Gardens raised the prices of their lunch buffet just enough to pull it from our weekly rotation of weekend lunches, Boyfriend and I decided to try the weekday lunch buffet and get a sampling of what Lotus has to offer.
Veggie Pakora was great, as was the palak paneer, chicken masala, rice, naan and the like. Nothing over-the-top "wowwed" me, but everything was done very well. Above average to note were the greenbeans and *especially* the Gulab Jamun-which I would probably excels as the best I have ever had-honey and sweet without being overwhelming, with the texture absolutely spot-on.
The decor was lovely and calming, and very suitable for a romantic afternoon lunch. I guarantee we will return for more.
People thought this was:
I just had dinner a few minutes ago! First impressions: nice decor - with "Indian-inspired" paintings and sculptures; fragrant place; and warm . . . as in temperature warm. But the roof opens up! It was a nice day today. With the open roof, the vibe was more of open air and relaxed.
The food. It was "as good as it gets." We had Paneer Naan, Tandoori Chicken, Cauliflower & Potatoes, Prawn curry, and Chicken Korma. All good!
People thought this was:
I am developing a new love for San Rafael in large part due to the excellent restaurants like Lotus that line 4th street. I was very impressed with the classy interior and attentive service. Skip the take-out and sit down! The dining experience is worth the time. I simply had to take a picture of the intricately decorated front door!
I ordered the veggie Biryani, basil-naan and a Lassi. The Biryani was large enough for 3 servings and included a plethora of all the veggies I was craving. The naan was a little on the dry side for my palate, but not bad. The Lassi cooled the burning in my mouth that always accompanies good Indian food!
Definitely check this place out for dinner!
People thought this was:
Out of like five Indian restaurants just in the downtown San Rafael area, this is the one I usually go to. I really like the service, I really like the decor, the roof opens up when its nice out, and I really like that when an item can be made vegan, they mark it as such on the menu.
Extra notes: You can get to-go, but that's wasting your money because you don't get the full experience. Also, I don't love the lunch buffet very much. I think this restaurant gets A++ for dinner. Sign up for their email list and they will give you some free stuff and they don't email too often.
People thought this was:
Meh.
The decor is a bit more upscale than an East Bay curry dive, or even most sit down Indian restaurants, but that's about it.
The food is very good, don't get me wrong, but what you're really paying for is the decor. You can get food pretty much just as tasty, for cheaper, at Bombay Garden down the street.
And I'm knocking off a star because I think the dining room is too crowded.
People thought this was:
Excellent food, albeit a little pricey. Definitely an excellent dinner location, and as far as I can tell the best Indian food in Marin country right now. Strongly recommend the Chicken Khorma.
People thought this was:
Lotus is a well known spot in Marin, so its hard not to try it, however its even harder not to compare it to it fellow Indian restaurant (albeit Southern Indian) down 4th- Om). While the comparison doesn't quite stack up (Om's food is higher quality in my opinion), Lotus is good Indian food option. The restaurant's decor sets the tone for a basic Indian dining experience- the wait staff is attentive and polite, however is someone they know walks in, you may be dropped like a hot stone.
The food is pricier, but speaks for itself- the quality is solid, starting with the garlic naan- its a good accompaniment to any of the dishes. The veggie samosas were excellent. The chicken vindaloo was deemed to be okay by my husband (a self-proclaimed connoisseur), the flavor was good, but not the best. We were impressed with the shrimp curry- you can hardly go wrong when coconut is involved, but this must have had crack in it since all of us were going back for seconds! We also enjoyed the lamb with peas.
All in all, its a good spot but a bit pricey (2 appetizers, naan and 5 dishes for 6 people was over $115 excluding drinks), but the gentlemen were quick to apply discounts (Marin/Sonoma supersaver cards do apply!). Take-out also has an automatic 10% discount, which makes the experience a bit less hard-hitting on the wallet and in the end, you stomach will be equally as happy!
People thought this was:
Best Indian restaurant in Marin. Excellent food, top notch service and a nice atmosphere with a convertible roof.
I've only been here once but I was very happy with the food. The curries we ordered were really flavorful and spiced just right. We got the Aloo Tikki as an appetizer and it was delicious. The potatoes and chickpeas were perfectly flavored for my pallet.
The service wasn't really anything to write home about; the waiter didn't seem to be interested in answering the questions about the menu but he was prompt.
LOVE the lunch buffet!!!!!! get there before 2:30pm and indulge in the all-you-can-eat goodness that makes you feel like your at the ashram!
yum! samosas....... yum! garlic naan........yum! basmati rice......yum! chai ......my favorite is the saag paneer, it is to die for!
and don't forget the mint chutney and raita on the side........
and for dessert, save room for the rice-pudding and galub jamon donut balls!
this is what they eat in vegetarian heaven!
Not only is the service divine, Lotus has a really nice ambiance.
The truth is though, even if it was served off the back of a truck, it would still hands down be my most favorite Indian Restaurant in the state. Honest.
People thought this was:
I came here last night with my best friends. We were a party of 7. Three straight couples and me. A usual saturday night out for myself.
Fairly dressed up I arrived with two of my friends and found that the others in our party had already been seated. We were quickly led to the table. The server was very attentive. Within a few minutes we had our drinks and orders in.
I got the chicken tikka masala medium. It was SPICY!! So good though. The sauce was rich and creamy. Among other things at our table the pesto Nan bread great.
The atmosphere here was also great. We each had enough room at the table to feel comfortable, not cramped. We sat and talked for nearly two hours. Laughing and enjoying our great meals. Water and drinks were continuously refilled and we got no bad vibes from the wait staff for staying so long. They actually invited us to stay longer.
I will definitely come back here. Everyone enjoyed the meal they had. The service was top notch. The set up is great!!
When in San Rafael go to Lotus!
People thought this was:
Good place to hit up for lunch if you're a hungry little boy like me. Great buffet with plenty of tasty options for both vegetarian and carnivores alike. Good soups, several curries, tandoori chicken, and the ubiquitous butter chicken (I don't know if this there EVERY day, but it seems to be whenever I show up!)
But see beyond the array of all-u-can-eat goodness, my little Yelper, and check out their menu too. The vindaloo is excellent - hot and spicy, with tons of flavour (and the guys are extremely happy to make it for you "Indian Hot", mwahahahaha). The saag is creamy and... um, spinachy (c'mon, it's saag!), the jasmine rice is fragrant and perfectly done. As some folks have pointed out, their naan isn't the greatest, but it does the job, letting me mop up every drop of ghee infused yumminess.
It's beaten out by Om, further down 4th, but if you're at that end of San Rafael, and are craving some spice, Lotus is a good bet.
People thought this was:
Eddy and I went here that rainy saturday...i didnt think he enjoyed it that much as he compared it to naan and curry downtown...that gessa, billy and i went to sometime last week...
the dessert is always great...
Im glad Neha brought me here one lunch break...'Malou why do you always go to lunch with Carlos? why… Read more »
A good value and a pleasant place for downtown San Rafael. The lunch buffet food is somewhat white, but that's to be expected in Marin. Notably, the atmosphere and indeed the service are comfortable and versatile. You can eat alone or with friends, bring your kid or your boss, wear a t-shirt or a suit, no problems anywhere.
Other than lack of spiciness, I find fault with only two things about the buffet; the rice is undercooked, and there doesn't seem to be any dal. Not sure if the lack of dal is a regional distinction or if Marin just doesn't like lentils. The really good saag paneer makes up for it.
People thought this was:
Lotus has some of the best Indian food I have ever eaten, in any American city. Luckily for me, it sits in my home town of San Rafael, enabling me to enjoy it several times throughout my life. The prices are not on the cheap side, yet understandable, and the service is excellent! I wouldn't recommend doing it, but a friend and I showed up fifteen minutes before closing and the staff kept the restaurant open for an extra twenty after their scheduled closing just so we and another table could finish eating unhurriedly. Combine such attentive and accommodating service with delicious food and a central location in San Rafael's downtown, and you have an Indian restaurant truly deserving of five stars.
One of my favorites.
5 stars based on the price-quality intersection. For the price, the food is awsome.
Regardless of price, I loved the buffet; all of it.
Honestly, I don't understand why people rave about this place so much... if you know anything about good Indian food, this is not the place to go.
If you want better food for a better price, I highly recommend India Village near E. Francisco Blvd. Friendlier staff, great food, great prices, and nicely tucked away.
Oh Man, I love Lotus.
Ok, it seems that everything in San Rafael is named Lotus this or that, but I will overlook this petty detail.
We would come to Lotus for every outing at the place I used to work - and no one, no one on the whole marketing team ever had a problem with that. This food is hot, fresh and good.
We always got the buffet and gorged on curries, pakoras, tandooris, naan (oh the naan) and everything you could hope for in your Indian palatte.
It is tasty, hot and fresh - 3 things I look for in any Guy. I mean restaurant.
People thought this was:
Went today for the first time. I've been told by several friends and also Yelp that this place is very good. Well I was impressed with the buffet. You can't beat the quality as well as the cost. I wish I could eat more. Nice selection of food... The rice pudding was to die for... (notice how I start with dessert first). The salad bar was really nice with a nice combination of American dressings and Indian sauces. Fresh fruit too. The entree selection was good and was just enough. Some time a buffet like the one up the street has so many selections it is hard to settle on something you really like. For the two of us, which also included a chi tea the bill was $15.00 and some change. Can't complain about that.
Yum, yum just yum! I like this place for everything. First it is pretty casual but still nice for dinner. The lamb is fantastic and my guilt at eating it has nothing to do with them. Service is always consistent and with two of us the bill was basically nothing and we were stuffed. Love it.
The waitstaff is totally all over the water, which is essential when you're slowly burning the taste buds off your tongue with the savory seasoning of Indian food, but what concerns me is that they're not so much all over the fire.
Literally, as our server was clearing our plates he moved the Naan basket just in reach of the flickering candle. As one of my dining mates began to to make ape noises and point frantically at the burning basket of bread, I saved the day and threw her water on it (because I still needed MY water).
Our server then naanchalantly (GA!) asked if we would like to take our water-logged bread, that was still floating, home with us.
"uh, no, we're good, thanks though."
The tikka masala, saag paneer and eggplant surprise (blanking on the name, and surprise makes everything sound like a treat. "Meat surprise!!!!" "Poop surprise!!!" "Hair surprise!!!") were delectable, filling and actually pretty reasonable for Marin dining fare.
I usually have to force my Dad to take my buddies to dinner in Marin because I'd like to see them be able to afford their own furniture and put some veggies in their ramen, some day.
The naan trio was naanaughty. Garlic naan, to assure the hotties at the Pop Inn would keep their distance, pesto naan, to make sure I had a nice layer of grease coating my lips to impress all my fans with, and regular naan, just to go with convention.
Lotus is delicious and makes you forget about grown men pooping in public in the streets of India.
People thought this was:
I've never been here for dinner.
Why bother? There's no buffet.
I would get lost starring at the menu and the prices.
However, I must come to this place
once or twice a week, otherwise I throw a tantrum.
The Buffet is priced pretty well,
and I think the service is excellent.
They are fast and effiiciant,
they smile at me, and sometimes
the head guy (who I'm assuming is the head guy)
wanders over and pokes fun at us.
I think people who say they have bad service
have attention issues, or maybe I'm just cute.
On beautiful days they move the roof so you can
"dine under the stars".
Which is a HUGE plus for me.
Fresh air, yet no annoying winds to make me
shiver up a storm.
Who can eat with a coat or jacket on?
It's UNCOMFORTABLE.
The tandori chicken is something I dream about.
The Nan sometimes comes burnt
WHICH I LOVE
and I can take my buffet to go,
load up as much as I want,
and have food for two days for under $9.00
BOOYAH.
When I introduce friends to Indian,
I take them here.
People thought this was:
after eating indian food in england for 15 years, nothing will ever quite live up to it. but lotus comes close. having gone to as many curry houses we dare, the husband and i keep coming back here and get take out about once a month.
both the chicken and lamp tikka massala are really nice, the lamb bhuna too. and if you ask for a vindaloo extra hot it actually is unlike most other places.
in england i would give this place 3-4, here i have to give it a 4-5 simply because we have yet to find a better curry in the bay area
Love Lotus! Amazing curries, great service and a nice upscale atmosphere that most Indian restaurants lack. I have tried almost all of their curries and these are by far my top selections: 1) Lamb Pasanda, 2)Prawn Saagwala, 3)Chicken Tikka Masala, 4)Chicken Korma. Their tandoori specialties are always delicious and the lamb samosas are some of the best I've had. Yum!
Thanks Lotus!
I am not an Indian food expert. But this place makes me feel like royalty and is always grubbin. I highly recommend everything. Great service. Wonderful atmosphere, and also very good as take-out. If you order online they may throw in a 10% online discount. This place is a staple of 4th st for a reason.
You won't be disappointed. Recommend the Fish Curry (ask them to Hurt you with the spice) and Lamb Saag. Wine list could be better on the high end, but that's bot what this place is about. Get a beer and stop whinning
Lotus Cuisine of India has been our favorite for a more than 5 years now and we know why. Every Indian restaurant we have been to in the US, Europe and Asia doesn't have the touch that Lotus has, quality ingredients, great sauces and great service.
We have tried many dishes, but time and again, we love Saag Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala, Bengan Bartha and their onion Naan.
To finish the meal, a Chai is always a welcome addition to great tastes.
People thought this was:
I grew up in San Rafael and consider myself a huge fan of ethnic cuisine, especially from Asia and the Pacific Rim. I had never been to Lotus before! Lotus surprised me. It was great. Service was professional and non-personal. Someone was always there to clear your plate and fill up your water glass. The servers there aim to please and to make your visit as clean and professional as possible. No small talk. The food was great. Presentation was neat and authentic with traditional silver serving dishes and "stick to the basics" ingredients. Not sure if they are using local, fresh, organic ingredients - but you forget about that as soon as you taste the naan and the to die for green curry. The Tikka Masala is perfectly seasoned and just enough. We opted for no rice and filled up on the yummy goodness of the entrees.
San Rafael, CA
Category: Indian
San Rafael, CA
Category: Indian
San Rafael, CA
Category: Indian
Fairfax, CA
Category: Indian
Woodacre, CA
Category: Grocery
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