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Mela Unique - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
102 Washington StSomerville, MA 02143
(617) 666-2500
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington St @ New Washington St (86, 91)
Washington St @ Tufts St (86, 91)
Washington St @ Franklin St (86, 91)
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
Sarooz D. said: "Just interesting. This tiny place serves the real Indian Taste. Don't forget to try KHATE MITHe BAINGAN and aalo gobi. My alarm rings @ 5:10 pm to remind me to place a take out order. Office to Bollywood, Bollywood to home....." read more »
14 reviews for Mela Unique
14 reviews in English
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Review from M M.
Somerville, MA
7/17/2010
I live 5 minutes from here, and we order at least once a month. The samosas are BIG and filling (so an order of 2 is perfect for us - one each!), and I adore the Malai Kofta. The food tastes just as good the day after as freshly ordered. Food is always ready in 10 minutes, and if we are REALLY lazy and get delivery, they say 30 minutes, but are here in 15.
Sometimes, the food is SO hot (which I think is a good thing!) that it does sometimes melt the plastic lid of the container. I think if they had a different containment system, everything would be peachy.
But definitely: 5 Stars for the food, service (free dessert!) and cool people behind the counter (they are always smiling). -
Review from Pete J.
1/3/2011
I just wasn't impressed by Mela Unique. I ordered via foodler, and their lunch prices are good. Although some definition of when lunch ends and dinner starts would be nice. I looked on foodler and the restaurant's own website and found nothing, so I ordered at 3pm and hoped for the best!
As other reviewers state, delivery is slow, but foodler says expect an hour and that's what I got. So no complaints there.
When I opened the bag I noticed the mango lassi was missing, but I had the delivery guy's phone number, so I called him and he said he would be right back, and he was. But wouldn't you notice you had a yellow drink in your car? Guess not.
On to the food -
Garlic Naan - fantastic! Full of garlicy goodness and massive
Vegetable Samosa - no fun here, stodgy and full of potato
Chicken Tikka Masala - while not bad, not at all like a CTM should taste like, not creamy, very thin
Lamb Rogan Josh - just ok
Papadums - If I literally took the grease from a deep-fat fryer and poured it into my mouth there would be less grease than what was on the papadums - yuck!
Mango Lassi - Not sure if the delivery driver had been sipping on it, but it wasn't full and was ever-so-thin
So to summarize, stick to the naan bread, but order about an hour before you're hungry. -
Review from A K.
Boston, MA
7/27/2009
Good home-cooked food, cheap.
I've been ordering take out from (Somerville's) Mela for years and I have not had one bad experience. I've also visited the restaurant a few times, in it's nonchalant strip-mall location. The other half of the establishment is a store selling Indian foods, dry goods, and spices.
The food is reliably good and the people who work there are super nice. This is not a fancy stylish date spot, so if that's what you are looking for, head to Diva in Davis Square. Mela is just good food, family style, inexpensive, and their delivery is reliable and free. My favorites are anything out of the Tandoor, Malai kofta, Saag paneer, tikka massala, and i usually get a dessert of their recommendation. The gulab jamur are good and they sometimes have these pretzel shaped sugary things that are amazing. They also have an extensive bread selection.
All in all, I've been to several local indian places, and by far this is my place. The delivery aspect makes it ideal for me in addition to the fair prices and excellent food. -
Review from Ren T.
Medford, MA
5/15/2009
I wanted to write something good about Mela. Their food seems to be pretty good however I agree with most reviewers that the place itself is sketchy looking. But why the low stars?
Once instead of bringing me chicken tikka masala like I ordered they delivered something that looked like chicken Tikka masala. Took my first bite and was horrified that it was some fish dish (hey that rhymed!) It was completely nasty and I didn't order there for 6 months.
Just went to order now..usually order via foodler so that there is NO mistaking my order and sending rank fish-in-disguise masala. I called this time and was quoted $30. I said hey hey hey (not fat albert) to the guy on the phone as I had checked the order online and the same items came to $21. The guy seemed to want to get off the phone and said why dont I call back.
I wanted to say "is it going to be 21 if I call back?".
So that's it Mela, there are now finally more restaurants to choose from and you completely suck.
ayup.
ps.. their masala gravy IS really good..I can't lie..plus they are super cheap. ($6.95 for good sized meal) in all fairness. -
Review from K T.
Saugus, MA
8/11/2009
5 stars for food. 1 star for delivery time.
I have ordered lunch here via a food delivery website a few times. Do NOT order when you're already hungry! You have been warned! Plan ahead and give them like 1.5 to 2 hours for delivery time.
The food is excellent however. I'm looking forward to eating their food when I play hooky and stay home again! And yes, I will make sure there are things in the house I can snack on in meanwhile... -
Review from Rose K.
Boston, MA
8/10/2009
Never order delivery from here. I placed an order at 3:55, and it arrived at 5:45.
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Review from A M.
Somerville, MA
3/24/2009
If I could give this place zero stars, I would.
They left something off my order, then I called to request it, and he said he would send the delivery guy back to my house after he finished another delivery. One and a half hours later, and 3 unanswered phone calls, I finally get an answer. I asked where the food was, and he said it wasn't coming. When I asked why, he just hung up on me.
Maybe this place is okay if you go to the restaurant, I don't know, but I will never order from here again. -
Review from Cassandra M.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 3/30/2009
Sorry, I was just really pissed off when I wrote this.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2009
I've been waiting for over an hour and forty minutes for my order. I called the first time and they… Read more »
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Review from Chris S.
Cambridge, MA
8/15/2008
I've been going to Mela for going on two years now, after discovering it from the brightly colored menu that appeared in our mailbox.
Definitely worth not only a try, but to make it your regular spot for indian. It's a bit out of the way which is why I think it's a bit less expensive than other places. The folks there are extremely friendly and make some amazing food. Chiken Mahkni, Malai Kofta are amazing. One true test of a great Indian place, for me, is how good the condiments are and their onion chutney is testament to the quality Mela serves up.
In addition to great takeout, they offer a seriously good lunch buffet most days and a great selection of Indian grocery items. One of the best places to get ready-to heat-n-serve indian food, they're even cheaper than trader joes for prepared, packaged foods! -
Review from L S.
Somerville, MA
4/17/2009
I was told the food here would be good and since India Palace was closed we gave it a try. Bad idea!
I didn't like the looks of it from the start. It's an eatery/market and there were giant buckets of pakoras and samosas sitting on the market shelves to cool, the shelves were the other items they sell are (gross!). Then there were more buckets of food sitting in the refrigerator (I wondered how old the food I was about to eat was).
Anyway, I got the chicken tikka masala, pakoras, naan, and samosas (just a note, I ordered before I saw all the stuff sitting around exposed). All of it was pretty nasty. The chicken tikka was inedible, I threw it away. The samosas and pakoras were stale tasting (no surprise there). Naan was decent.
Obviously I would never go back. -
Review from Devin C.
Charlestown, MA
11/7/2009
Arright, so I've been ordering from this place for a while now. Reasonably priced and good food.
I would give it a 4, EXCEPT the last two times I've called to order, they've asked me to call back in 5 or 10 minutes and order then. I mean come on people! Also, it takes them forever to bring the food. FOREVER. -
Review from chris t.
Cambridge, MA
5/2/2010
Best Indian takeout that delivers to Harvard Square. The food is great, though it is slightly more expensive than other Indian food delivery. Every once in a while, it seems like a new chef is in the kitchen, as my old favorites (Chicken Saagwala, Chicken Kebob) are made completely differently. I wanted to give it 5 stars, but due to the changing preparation and sometimes questionable chicken (fatty cuts, skin left on) made me drop to a 4.
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Review from Natasha D.
Oceanside, CA
11/11/2009
The food was EXCELLENT! The delivery driver though, was a total ass. Order came to $28, I only had 2 $20's and asked for $10 back. $2 tip, He didnt have change and he had to go to the store to get change. Come on now, its common sense to bring change. He came back with my $10, and proceed to tell me to keep his tip, if i was going to be so cheap to keep my money. He bitched that he drove up and down coming here and then having to get change as it was my fault. He even threw in "If you're not going to at least tip $5 don't ever order from us again." Thanks for the tip dude!
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Review from Scott R.
Somerville, MA
5/11/2008
friendly owners and great food. everything is very authentic and cooked to order. they deliver and they have a great lunch buffet on weekdays for the working crowd. i have eaten at alot of indian food places in somerville/cambridge and these guys are by far the best.
i would go in there for lunch and the owners would come out and explain what everything was and how it was cooked in the buffet.
they are hidden in the Cobble Hill Plaza near Sullivan Station in Somerville.
