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New Ganges Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Vegetarian Indian, Vegetarian [Edit]
775 Frederick St(between Willard St & Arguello Blvd)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
(415) 681-4355
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Sun 11 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
196 reviews for New Ganges Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Saag Paneer (homemade cheese cubes w/ spinach."
(in 12 reviews)
"AND THE VEGAN DESSERT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS AND..."
(in 6 reviews)
"The chana masala was elegant and perfumey and not oily at..."
(in 8 reviews)
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196 reviews in English
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Review from Russell H.
Pacifica, CA
1/26/2012
WOW. That was vegetarian? I think I just found my favorite Indian restaurant in the City.
My boyfriend and I had just walked over from doing a one-mile training run at Kezar Stadium (we saw the restaurant as we were parking--and we both love Indian food so we decided to give it a try). Were a bit apprehensive at first since we were the only diners at 8:00 p.m.
That fear quickly subsided when the kind gentleman (got to be the same guy others have mentioned here) promised that "If we didn't like something--send it back and order something different... anything you don't want becomes my dinner").
BUT EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! We weren't about to send anything back.
The samosas are light, flaky, and very fresh. And the man showed us how to eat them properly (i.e., without a knife and fork, and alternating between the mint and sweet and sour dipping sauces). The best thing was that neither of us were full after having one--it was the perfect appetizer!
We ordered the Paneer Tikka Masala: AMAZING. Perfect sauce! Zesty, tomato-y, creamy (but not too thick), and wonderfully spiced. We also ordered the Aloo Saag: Very good. Wonderful fresh chopped spinach. Yummm! And we had two wheat chapati (their only bread).
I'm a serious omnivore (I usually feel cheated if I don't get a meat in a dish), but I didn't notice (or care) at New Ganges.
And believe it or not they've been around for 36 years! (The kind man walked us around and showed us framed reviews dating back to 1976.) This is the kind of attention I like in a dining experience. -
Review from Liberty B.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
Words fail me... We put in an order for delivery on a Tuesday night. It said that it would be her in 45-60 minutes. In the end we waited 2 hours 10 minutes to receive cold congealed food. We ordered at 7.30Pm and it arrived just after 9.45pm. Much later than I like to eat.
We called up four times every time we were told it will be there shortly. They did not once apologize on the phone for the amount of time we were waiting or offer a discount.
This business has now lost our business. -
Review from Ann S.
Cottonwood, CA
1/3/2012
The one star is for the food which is quite good. But that alone is not a good enough reason to visit this restaurant.
We had a "groupon now" which is why we were eating here for our first time but it was not honored. We presented the groupon mid meal but the waiter/owner insisted it was too late. He said that we were supposed to inform him of the groupon before we ordered and he could not honor it unless he knew in advance. He could provide no reasonable explanation for this. This sure makes me wonder if groupon customers get "special" preparation of their food. Thankfully, groupon refuded the groupon to us.
The waiter/owner was also very pushy when it came to ordering our meal, practically forcing us to order more than we wanted to. Not only that, but he actually picked up my fork and tried to put some of the spicy pickle (that he forced us to order) on my food. I had to tell him no 3 times before he let go. VERY odd and uncomfortable. I'm always up for a friendly chat with anyone, but I just wanted this annoying man to shut up and leave me alone! Not only was he obnoxious but I feel like he scammed us out of our groupon.
We will DEFINITELY not be back!!! -
Review from Kelly M.
Daly City, CA
2/7/2012
New Ganges Restaurant is one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Tasty, homestyle cooking in a comfortable atmosphere. The dishes are vegetarian, but so rich in flavor that non-vegetarians won't miss the meat at all. The service is very attentive and friendly, they will make you feel at home! This place is in a great location -- just a few minutes of walking from the UCSF medical center, and the Haight. Check out the Lunch buffet, too!
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Review from Greg D.
Daly City, CA
2/7/2012
Great food, with a home-like atmosphere. Good customer service, average price range. Their menu has a good variety of Vegan and Vegetarian dishes. Some of the Best Indian food I have tasted in San Francisco! Great place to bring a date, or group of friends for dinner. I also highly recommend the Lunch Buffet!
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Review from Greg G.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011
I don't know what was better...the amazing food or the wonderful, kind, funny and helpful man working there. With every plate, out came a sample of something different.
"Would you like to make that bite better?" he would ask, as he suggested combinations that I hadn't even thought of after spending nearly 4 months in India!
My mouth is watering writing this review. I'm ready to go back RIGHT NOW! -
Review from Darcy B.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
This is a real mom & pop place. The owner is adorable. Every time we have been there he is warm and sweet. He asks if you know how to order and hooks it up! Even if it's too much food, it's very inexpensive and great to take leftovers home with you. Yes, he spoon feeds you perfect little bites, but I find it absolutely charming. I told him I couldn't handle spicy food, and he was respectful of that. Last time we were there he even gave a rose to my BF on the way out. Funny and cute!
The food is as fresh as it comes. It's truly Indian home cooking at it's best.
Must orders:
Chapati - this warm buttery flat bread goodness
Bengan Bharta - Eggplant nom-ness
Mixed Platter - Fried veggies, similar to a tempura
If you are up for a real Indian meal experience, do this! It's nothing fancy, but great food, cheap eats, and an overall pleasant experience. It's nice to see local small businesses like this in our city. Let's help them stick around! -
Review from Kylie S.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
I have been a big fan of this little spot for several years now and am always pleasantly surprised at how consistently good the food is. It goes without saying that the owners are beyond friendly and would do anything to assure you like your meal. In addition to the great service, I love how tasty and fresh the food is every time, and I really like that my vegetarian meal comes from an entirely vegetarian kitchen. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Kitchen Nightmares, but it really is an added bonus. I always order delivery and it always arrives hot and in the time frame they promised...ok, sometimes a few minutes more but it's worth it. Nobody is perfect, but I think New Ganges is pretty darn close.
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Review from P A U L.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011
Ordered from this place 2 hours ago. The food still hasn't arrived.
...
Food finally arrived after almost 2 and a half hours of waiting. Unsurprisingly, the food was bland and luke-warm. It was a lot like something you'd get from a sleazy cafeteria or food court, possibly even worse, except we paid about $40 for it. The daal was watery and flavorless and the naan was tiny, limp, and looked like it came out of a pack.
Apparently the delivery guy was apologetic (I didn't pick up the order) and even offered to refund our money if we weren't happy, so I guess that deserves mention. They can keep our money; it's the last of it they'll ever get.
As a vegan and lover of Indian food, I'm really sad and disappointed that I have to write this review. Believe me, I wish the Sunset had better options when it came to getting good Indian food, but Tasty Curry was our favorite place and it's been closed for months :(
I can't wait to move to Berkeley... -
Review from Tiffany T.
Oakland, CA
11/21/2011
Unlike some reviewers here, I actually got my food. But it was after waiting 2 hours for it to be delivered.
We called in once to check on things, and "Ten more minutes!" was the word - but in reality it timed out to be forty. When it did arrive, it was lukewarm. By that point we were furious, but starved, so we ate it - angrily.
The pakora were decent, if cold and rubbery - but that was made up for with the pungent sauces.
The mains we ordered - bhaingan bharta, daal, and saag aloo - were sad and flavorless - particularly the daal, which was like a sloppy soup in consistency. The saag aloo had a strange tang about it, almost like chlorine. All of them were pooling with grease.
The naan has to be one of the most sickening pathetic attempts at naan I've yet encountered - it had a slightly moldy, chemical tinge to the smell and flavor, and was thinner than most storebought pitas - with a similar dry, unseasoned texture. It flopped and tore through, and the liquid daal got all over my fingers. The rice was no better - bland, unimpressive, and tinged with the same signature chemical smell.
All in all, it could be that this place has some decent dishes, but they weren't what we ordered. At most, they'll top out at mediocre. At worst... well I'm not sure you want to see what that tastes like. -
Review from Dao C.
San Francisco, CA
11/6/2011
I don't know about some of the other reviews below, but I thought that the waiter, Aftab (The Owner?) was quite amusing and he definitely brought customer service to a very very different level.
Where else would you get a waiter that actually takes the time to teach you how to eat and explain the sauces and create food combinations out of your food? He told me that if I didn't like any of his food, he would refund it or let me choose another dish until I was happy. Of course who is going to take advantage of that?
Aftab did spoon food me, let me poke his stomach and punched me in my arm for no reason at all, but he did it all with good intentions. I can see how some people can find it a bit intrusive, but he takes great pride in his food and his food is pretty damn good.
I would highly recommend this place for anyone that likes to interact with others. The food is probably one of the best in San Francisco and very fresh. I would definitely come back here.
He also gave us words of wisdom: Eat with your hands if you don't want to burn your mouth.
PS: I'm a bit sad that I can't give them a 5 star review because Aftab does try very very hard. I think a lot of people would give them the 5 star, but I'm such a picky eater with a very difficult appetite to please. I'm sorry Aftab, 4 stars for you.
PSS: Ah-Chaa = Pretty Girl in Punjabi -
Review from samantha l.
Sacramento, CA
My friends and I (group of 10) went to New Ganges Restaurant around 11:30 a.m. on a Thursday for their buffet. Unfortunately, the food was not ready at this point, even though the restaurant opened at 11:00 a.m. The owner whoever was working in the kitchen started to quickly prepare the food and we just took this time to chit chat. Although I was a bit disappointed that the food wasn't ready yet (and that we didn't get any water this whole time), it was okay- at least we knew that it was being prepared, fresh.
When the food was ready, the owner invited us over and handed us our plates. He was very helpful and eager to make recommendations of how to eat the food,with which sauces to use. The first round of food got us going but we were all waiting for samosas, and some naan. The samosas came out 10-15 minutes after we started eating and were pretty tasty. But not everyone in our group was able to get one with the first batch. We waited for a bit but the naan never came out, oh well. The food that we did have was pretty decent, especially since it was vegetarian (not usually what I'm into).
Food options included: salad, white rice, other-not-white rice, lentils, garbanzo beans, samosas, potatoes, curry-like-sauce with cheese (which I thought was tofu initially), fresh fruit, and a variety of sauces (yogurt, cilantro, mango chutney). At $8.95/person, the price is okay, but I was hoping for a little bit more variety. The owner is really genuine though and takes a lot of pride in his food.
Sidestory: the table next to us was really upset about the lack of food and one lady just stood next to the buffet, eating what was there until the samosas came out. It was kind of comical, but also a kind of awkward and intense situation.
Notes:
-Broken/shattered window with paintball stains.
-Completely vegetarian. -
Review from Sarah H.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
Nice people, quick delivery and super tasty food.
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Review from Whitney W.
San Francisco, CA
10/17/2011
I came here for the first time with a bunch of classmates after class for their lunch buffet around 11:20am. The restaurant opens at 11am but the food was not ready when we got there. The owner greeted us warmly, but after that...we sat there for about 15-20 minutes before the food were all out at the buffet table (I didn't really care too much about the wait since I was there with a group of friends, but I can see how the wait can be annoying...)
For a vegetarian buffet, the food was decent. There weren't too many choices (4-5 different sauce/dish), and one of the trays was just sauce (can't even really tell how it tastes since it was kinda masked by the other curry stuff mixed in my plate). There was potato, beans and paneer, but no cauliflower :( The only dessert we got was an assortment of fruit but nothing special. The samosas are the highlight since it came out fresh and warm. I only had one Somoza because it was huge (for a little Asian girl anyways). They bring it out in batches so make sure you go get one as soon as you see them come out.
One major complaint that I have is the price ($8.95). For what they have to offer, the price was on the high end and food was not ready when we got there (Chai tea was not out, samosas were not out, and no ice cream/fruit even after most of the food were out).
I don't love it, I don't hate it. Not sure if I'd come back for the food though.
ps There are red paintball marks on the window that you'll see as you walk into the restaurant...don't think those were intended as part of the restaurant decor though... -
Review from Manish J.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2011
This is one of the very few reviews I've written. But, this one got me so pissed that I had to.
The first time I went to this place, I took my girlfriend on a date. It was a horrible idea. We weren't that hungry, so ordered one curry, and the owner shouted at us to "look at the back of the menu and then talk to me." And he just left the table! Looking at the back, we realized that the restaurant had a at least 2 dish policy. We weren't that hungry, but anyways.. we ordered. But, not without the owner making racist comment about "people who only order one dish" (it was too ugly for an open international community that is SF to be put here). I was literally called "cheap" by the owner in front of my date.. There are better ways to tell customers about restaurants rules. I was totally taken aback. Anyways, I let it go, the food was good.
We decided not to frequent the restaurant, but still liked the food. So, we started ordering it at home, approximately like once in 2 weeks at least. They have a minimum of 25 dollars for delivery, and their quantities of food are the lowest I've seen in the entire SF bay area. Anws.. they're close to our house.
Why I'm writing this review? We ordered food today, and during delivery my girlfriend was told on the face to "either give bigger tip or order from somewhere else." (She gave 15% tip, and the owner wanted more like 30%). He also continued to say that "they took 2 hrs to deliver previously because _nobody_ wants to deliver at our place because we give low tips". WTF!!!! They're deliberately delaying our food!! Who f***ing does that! This is sick!
Here's a tip for the owner: If you have a minimum limit on the food, stick to it. Don't go around asking for money. Tip is given when the customer is pleased with you. Act better, and you'll get better tip.
The owner has a huge attitude problem. I've never seen anybody being that rude to their regular customers. Avoid this place at any cost. There're way better restaurants in SF. Both food wise and service wise. -
Review from Andrea S.
Portland, OR
5/18/2011
Oh geez. I am so torn about writing this review. Let's start with the good.
FOOD! Probably the BEST Indian food in SF. No Joke. Delicious! The owner takes pride in what comes out of the kitchen and it is lovely, lovely, lovely. Flavors are very balanced and not just overwhelming as in some places. Just as spicy as it needs to be without going overboard. Beautiful homemade curd and chutneys..yum.
So, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Actually, I almost gave it less, but i did not have the heart. The Owner is just too desperate. More so than needed. His food could stand on it's own. When we dined in, at first it seemed like he was just being very friendly....up to the point when he actually took my friends fork and started feeding her. Would have been funny at just one bite, but he kept doing it until she got really uncomfortable... overkill.
I have ordered delivery from here (again, food amazing)..Owner delivers himself, which shows great entrepreneurial spirit...but both times her forgot the raita...probably because he kept me on the phone for 20 minutes trying to order. After we ate (Almost 10pm!!!) he CALLED me to ask me to write a 5 start yelp review! Not kidding! Called me at almost 10pm! I was flabberghasted!
Note to Owner: Chill out. Your food is great. Work on the decor and lighting of the restaurant and the atmosphere. HIRE A WAITER and don't be so desperate. No one likes it.
If you do this, and PROMISE ME you will stop calling people to solicit reviews, I will do a review for the food. The food is 5-star...the salesmanship is WAY over the top. I will update this review...I swear it! You are hurting your own business with this craziness. Don't kill a good thing! -
Review from Zoe S.
San Francisco, CA
11/6/2011
My husband and I headed to New Ganges on Sunday at 12:00PM for their lunch buffet. We were disappointed to see that they had still done nothing to fix their vandalized windows - it was frightening from the outside. Even though their hours state they were open, the restaurant was not open. I did not want to call the owner to inquire because I did not want to wait for them to prepare "buffet" menu items, and I did not want the extra attention from someone already mentioned as being "pushy" in other reviews. We left hungry.
Disappointing. -
Review from Jules R.
San Francisco, CA
5/29/2011
The restaurant has a very intimate setting; the tables are about a person away from each other (a little too close for my comfortability) but it didn't bother me too much! The table set up was very nice; folded napkins, nice glasses, candles, and there was even a sign that had my name on it (since I called in for a reservation).
The waiter is extremely gregarious and humorous! I've been to restaurants where they give you no attention at all, and since this restaurant is small, each table gets the same amount of attention.
The food was very good and filling! The mixed vegetables is a must! My family really enjoyed the food!
We never had to raise a finger to ask for more water or anything of that sort because he was on top of it!
If you order something and don't like it (or don't think that it's spicy enough) they'll take it back and give you another one! He even gave us dessert on the house!
Overall, we received the best service and amazing food!
New Ganges is a tad on the pricey side, so Naan N Curry fulfills my Indian food cravings if I'm low on the cash... which is most of the time.Listed in: Options for the starving…
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Review from CHRISTINE B.
Westminster, CA
5/28/2011
Complete surprise! I did not expect going into this restaurant that it would be SO delicious. the way the buffet is displayed really had me thinking wow....this is going to be a really medicore and bland meal and now that i've entered I can't get out without being rude!
It was DELICIOUS. The spinach dish was the best I've had in the city so far. I'm a huge meat lover and my curry usually feels lonely without the meat....nope...didn't miss the meat AT ALL!! I highly recommend that you give it a try and see how deliciously flavored everything is.
I recommend this over curry village and nan and curry in the area. -
Review from Brian K.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2011
I've had the food and it is decent.
However, I went on a Monday and it was closed despite the hours saying it was open (I've since edited the yelp profile).
The next day, I called to order pick-up looking forward to a delicious lunch, they have a ridiculous $25 minimum order (and not for delivery). Two fails in a row. Seems like it's just too difficult to try to eat here. -
Review from Sirina K.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2011
You will find good food here, but there is a cost. Actually I would say that this is the best indian food in the area, especially because it is really fresh. I have been here three times, twice for lunch and once for dinner. The lunch experiences were great, but dinner was a nightmare. Heres what went down:
1. Personal space violation and car-salesmen like behavior: Manager was completely intrusive in the meal. He used our forks to mix our food. Commented on every bite that we took. This felt very invasive and ruined the dinner experience. It was really bizarre and I felt violated.
Also, when he was taking our order, he asked us about every individual piece of the meal that we could possibly order, including pressuring us to get the more expensive rice and more chapatis when we were finished with the first.
2. Portion size- TINY dishes for $10. Its ridiculous.. no other indian restaurant makes it this small.
3. Unknown charges- He insisted on bringing us extra ingredients to make the dishes spicier and then he charged us for them in the end! we didnt even asked for it.
If these things changed this place would be my go-to indian dinner place.
The LUNCH BUFFET is a different story. No pressure, they leave you alone, theres lots of food. Its really cheap.
moral of the story = come here for lunch, not dinner. -
Review from John B.
Redwood City, CA
5/5/2011
Definitely one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to but with much more personal attention and help than anything I have experienced.
A wonderful selection of vegetarian items and even some vegan fare. I ended up having the eggplant appetizer with this delicious mango sauce. I was surprised to learn that the batter was made out of chickpeas and not something greasy..
The main course was this delicious spinach dish and I continued to heap the mango sauce onto that as well. Yum.
Then came desert, which turned out to be made of potatoes... But it tasted like a combination of pastry and cake or something. I was again surprised to learn there was no sugar in it. I'm definitely coming back for more of this delicious, unique experience. -
Review from Carlos R.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2011
This place has some of the best Indian food I've EVER had.
Samosa's are the highlight and everything else compliments them.
Food is prepared fresh, u can tell the dishes are not grease and veggies but spices and veggies.
Have gotten take out once and ate the lunch buffet twice. I intend to go back.
The owner is personable and u can tell he aims for customer satisfaction. I prefer this over an owner who just says hi and bye without caring if you enjoyed your meal. -
Review from Tommy R.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2011
This place is on my way to work. I tried it once many years ago, but wasn't very impressed. I think the cook was the only person there at the time. She was nice, but the food was bland. I chalked it up to a bad day for the restaurant and thought I might give it another try later on. The other day I noticed that the place had been vandalized, with three large cracks in the main window. This gave me the push I needed. I emailed some friends, told them about what happened, and urged them to join me for a meal. Even though they aren't vegetarians, they love Indian food and believe in supporting local, mom & pop restaurants.
Early on there were warning signs. I arrived at 5:30pm, but the place looked closed, despite the sign that said "Open at 5pm." I called and was told that the place was open. I tried the door, but it was locked. Finally, one of the workers came over and opened the door, but apparently, there was some confusion over the opening time. He called the owner and left me standing there instead of offering me a seat. I was finally seated, but no menu was given to me until I requested one.
The owner arrived later around the time my friends did. At first, everything was fine. He was friendly and attentive, took our orders, and made us feel welcome, even though he was a little pushy on the upsell. However, once the food arrived, it all went downhill. The owner extolled the virtues of his food, then proceeded to mix my friend's food and feed him. It was funny and eccentric... the first time. However, this happened over and over, which also interrupted our conversation repeatedly. Had the owner given us more breathing room, I would've given this place higher marks. -
Review from Sarah H.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2011
Ok, the food here was DELICIOUS!
Yes, the portions are a bit on the smaller side. This is different from most Indian places, but I think it is due to the high quality ingredients and freshness. 2 people, very hungry, 1 appetizer, 3 entrees $40.
Yes, the service is ...interesting. You may have you napkin draped across your lap for you, but heh, this is actually common in nice restaurants. No big deal.
They do ask thuroughly if you want any drinks or dessert.
The place is a hole in the wall, quaint place a little on the funky side.
So, go there if you are in the area. Go for the lunch buffet.
Just have appropriate expectations and you will be very happy! -
Review from Soup N.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2011
Its the worst restaurant I have ever ordered food from. The owner literally told me today after the delivery that I should give him more tips like 30%, I had given him 15%. C'mon first of all the owner himself is always delivering food and then he has a ridiculous 25$ minimum order on food delivery. And his dish sizes are the tiniest I have ever seen! This is the worst Indian food restaurant in Sf.
No body behaves so rudely with their regular customers!
I have been to better places then this, where both food and service were good.
A note to owner" you should be happy that wife is a decent cook, as you are the most intrusive and rude service provider."
I will never ever order food again from this restaurant. Avoid it at any cost, if you don't want to get insulted! -
Review from Janelle V.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2011
Super ghetto-looking. Broken windows, stained seats, etc... not the ideal impressive date, by any means.
We got there for dinner around 5, and no one was there. Service was quick/friendly. The samosas were fresh and yummy! I didn't particularly like my chana masala- dry and not flavorful. The Saj Bhajji was very, very good. I didn't like the chapati; it tasted a little bit like paper... not typical naan-like bread at all.
The prices were really reasonable, but I'd try to come during their buffet hours. -
Review from Chelsey G.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2010
The BEST Vegetarian Indian I have ever had. Not greasy, and the meat and fish is not missed. The ingredients are fresh and it is clear that soul and individual attention was put into each dish. AND THEY DELIVER!
Here are some of my favorites:
*Daal of the day
*Saag Paneer
*Peas and Mushroom dish
The service is pretty incredible, run by a husband and wife who do it all, greet, answer phones, serve, cook, deliver, clean and even literally feed you by hand. -
Review from claire l.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 9/14/2010
All I wanted to do in this update is respond to Bill P., who claims in his review that the owner "only [provides his particular brand of service] to women and he throws off weird energy the whole time he's doing it."
Patently untrue. I've seen this unique gentleman go through his patter with people of assorted genders. I understand if it made you, personally, feel uncomfortable, but to claim that it is some sort of creepy harassing thing seems like a pretty cheap shot, buddy.Listed in: The Tastiest Places in the Bay
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/24/2010
Look, if you're an introvert or not so open to new experiences, order takeout. Otherwise, sit down… Read more »
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Review from Mia P.
10/28/2010
The food is fantastic here. Its kind of a 'hole in the wall' place but the quality is still great.
Try the samosas with mango chutney and spicy pickles. Yum!
OK - I know you're wondering.... and the answer is YES.
When the owner found out it was my first time there, he picked up my spoon, made a 'perfect' bite with my food and FED me. It was a little endearing and a little awkward - but not enough to deter me from indulging! -
Review from David L.
San Francisco, CA
6/10/2011
I am a carnivore. I just love meat without apologies. As a result, I normally leave vegetarian restaurants feeling underfed or unfulfilled. Not here. Not at New Ganges. This Indian cuisine was excellent and its service even better. While its décor was plain, this restaurant was quiet, unpretentious and friendly. It is also a good place for a long conversation which I enjoyed with my brother. It is also a good place for a vegetarian to bring a non vegetarian friend. I recommend it.
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Review from David S.
Ashland, OR
7/9/2010
Ate here on a Thurs. night. The owner is very boisterous and sociable, though I must say that boundaries do not exist for this guy. At one point I was definitely uncomfortable with his feeding my wife with a spoon, but hey, I thought, live a little.
Communicating with him was slightly challenging only because I am used to being served in a restaurant verses actually having social interaction with the waiter. No big deal, I am quick on the feet and adept at finding ways to convey my desires. Though, I do need to say that the owner is heavy on the up-sell. So much so that I was not too happy about that. That said, he knows his food and makes excellent recommendations.
The reason for the two stars is because of a few inconsistencies that I feel are essential for an overall pleasant dining experience:
1. Seats are too close, you can't have a private conversation with your dining partner (even if you whisper).
2. Owner/Waiter is too "in-your-face" for my taste.
3. I don't do the up-sell.
4. No Naan, WTF? (prob b/c they don't have the oven?).
5. I was the witness of what can only be called self-racism. Let me explain. The restaurant was filled with white people, and the Owner was very attentive to all of us (so much I was uncomfortable), but next to us was a nice Indian couple which he seemed to be ignoring. It was weird.
6. The food was good, but I have had better, much better, here in the states, so...I will not return. -
Review from Vien N.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2011
Pretty much everything is good if you go during dinner. The owner has a knack for detail, especially when it comes to his food. One thing that really stands out is the Samosas appetizer: it is so-o-o good!
If you don't like it (which is pretty difficult, as everything is yummy), tell him; he guarantees you he'll change it to make it better. In fact, his presence and antics alone will make your meal better :) -
Review from Diego B.
San Francisco, CA
6/10/2010
Let's preface this with the fact that I normally dislike going out to eat indian food. I love to cook it and have picked up some good tips from my parents (Indian natives). I am "conjus" when it comes to spending money on dining out for indian.
This place is totally legit, though. The food is deliciously flavorful and rich yet doesn't leave you feeling like your insides are coated with grease--a problem I have with most other Indian restaurants.
The service is awesome and the owner is super friendly. He knows his food and is excited to share any recommendations!
Next time I want to try the rasgulla! -
Review from Julie S.
San Francisco, CA
10/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
It pains me to say this because I'm all for helping my peeps, but I didn't really like this place. It was just ok in every way. The people who run the restaurant are really nice, but I thought the food, for the most part, lacked flavor. Maybe we ordered all the wrong things, but I don't think I will be going back anytime soon to confirm. Maybe I'm just a snot because my mom makes really tasty and healthy Indian food, but I think I've had much tastier food at most of the Indian restaurants I've been to.
We ordered the following:
Daal: Ick... I did NOT like this dish. It was completely flavorless and completely not what I was expecting. I was expecting thick yellow lentils, but what we got was a soup (for the other Indians out there who were terrorized by the stuff when you were little, it was like Daar or Rasum). It should not have been in the entree section since it's hard to eat with chapati or rice.
Saag Paneer: This is always hit or miss, no matter where you go. Usually a miss. I liked it much better than the Daal, but I still wasn't scraping my plate. It was ok.
Chapati: It was your standard chapati. Which is totally fine! It's difficult to make unique chapati, and I think New Ganges' chapati was wonderfully fluffy and exactly as it should have tasted. Oh, for those who were disappointed by the lack of naan on the menu, New Ganges is not a northern Indian/Pakistani restaurant. A large part of India doesn't eat naan. If you want naan, I would go elsewhere.
Raita: I love raita and it was fine here. I would order it again.
Mango ice cream: DELICIOUS. We loved it! It was perfectly creamy and very light and refreshing. I'm glad we got to end strong.
If you have friends who have been here and loved it, don't take my word for it and by all means, try it! I really may have just gotten all of the wrong things. Also, my dinner companion said he would have given it a 3 (he liked the pickle, which he ate with everything to enhance the flavor). It was also pretty authentic and I've had comparable food at relatives' homes.
All in all, though, New Ganges was a disappointment. I've been waiting to try it for a long time and had high expectations that New Ganges just didn't meet. -
Review from Leo B.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2010
Everything here is delicious - dal, chana masala, naan, matar paneer, mango lassi, you name it. Some of the best Indian I've had, in a quiet, unpretentious setting.
Go for the lunch buffet -- it's cheap, ALL YOU CAN EAT, and delicious.
The owner is super friendly, and absolutely adores my kids. He gives them free mango ice cream if they clean their plates! -
Review from shane s.
Oakland, CA
3/21/2010
Quite an experience!
Eating here is more than just a meal. I could see how the invasive friendliness of the host (owner?) could annoy people but I took it as dude just being really welcoming and trying to be helpful. I like friendly people.
As soon as host/owner was alerted to my being vegan, he assured us that only vegan food would be placed on our table. He pointed out what was not vegan on the menu and basically went above and beyond securing only vegan goodness for us.
I am not the biggest fan of Indian food but this is probably some of the best I have had. We ordered a ton of food- some of which we let the host/owner choose. (The mango and carrot achar blew my mind. Wow!)
Dude even concocted the perfect bite and hand fed us... A bit much but I rolled with it.
The (vegan) dessert was also top notch... although I don't know what it was and the host/owner insisted we just enjoy it rather than figure out what it was.
If you want vegan Indian food in SF, I would go here just for the service alone. -
Review from Sani S.
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2007
With the lack of vegetarian food joints in San Francisco, New Ganges is one that serves delicious vegi cuisine. The business has been around for for several years. Telling by looking at the interior, which looks pretty much like a dim haunted hallway turned into a restaurant, this place needs an interior decorator. Bunch of plain tables spread down all the way to the back. A V.I.P. section in the back of the restaurant is served for those on special occasions. Suprises me, because it looks like a small sitting area with a dirty carpet and a bunch of balloons that say happy birthday. What's this a bootleg Chucky Cheese?
The Owner/Waiter of the restaurant is friendly, but has a repetitive use of words, I know this because I've been to the establishment more than twice. Words like, "Here's a tip on life..." and the robust "offcourse!" Feels like De Ja Vu, except I know it's not. Well I guess it's not too bad, he is a man eager to please. "Do ya thang" like Keke would say.
My last experience, I came with two of my close compadres and my lovely mother in hopes for delicious vegi dishes. Mr. "Offcourse" was the waiter, he talked his magic and served us with magic. The food was delicious. We had the delicious "Naan" (bread) "Bajhi" (Spinach) the "Paneer" (A dish made of Cheese) and the "Mango Lassi" (Soft drink) that we all enjoyed, as well as other dishes I can't remember, all were quite satisfying. The meals were clearly incredible, as we enjoyed, laughed and chewed.
Now this is were the fun stopped, while I took my last scoops of the Baajhi, I noticed two black spots moving in my meal. Two ants crawled out with big smiles on their faces, like "yes we have survived being eaten!" I was speechless. My mother complained to our waiter. Once again his words of wisdom came out. "Ants are actually good for your dijestive system." But his tone didn't sound too sarcastic.
Food= good. 2 thumbs up.
Waiter= good, but too many words. 1 thumb down.
Environment= Work on it. 1 thumb up. -
Review from Quinn S.
11/24/2008
I have this vegetarian friend who lived in India. We'll just call her Janna (since that is her real name), and Janna incessantly complains about the lack of good Indian food in San Francisco, so I took her to New Ganges a few weeks ago.
Thankfully, she's just a friend, because this is not the place to go for intimacy. The service is doting, to the point that the owner will hang out at your table all night and chat your ear off if he isn't busy, but he's a nice guy, and he will bring you little samples of things you didn't know you wanted, in our case lassi, pickles and mango ice cream. He will also take your fork, make you the perfect bite and hand-feed you, literally holding your fork and putting it in your mouth for you.
The food is amazing, well worth the price and plentiful, but the five stars are for getting her to finally shut up already. -
Review from Justin N.
8/1/2009
The owner of this joint is so "all over you" that I had an internal debate on whether it was 5 star service for being so attentive or 2 stars for being so over the top that he went into the obnoxious zone. Example: every time he brought food out he'd say "If you don't like it, give it back, we'll get you something else". He said that every time. For everything he brought out. Then he'd stand there, waiting for you to try it, so he could get the final answer.
He skillfully handled a group of about 40 that I was with and I'm going to err on the side of "not obnoxious" because he just wanted to make sure we had a good time which we all did.
So yea, he handled a group of 40+ pretty well in my opinion, whipping up vegan chapati on the fly, keeping the mango juice flowing, and making damn sure every one of us was full to the point of exploding.
We had our very own buffet set up with both veg and vegan dishes and I was impressed at how well they kept it stocked throughout our gorging. A few dishes ran out at times, but we also initially told them we'd have about 30 which turned into 40+ so that's our bad.
The food is a solid 3 star for me, I really love me some Indian food and I'd had better of each dish from other establishments. I'll probably be back with one or two folks to give it a shot fresh off the menu though, not buffet style where things are often made with moderate spice to suite everyone's tastes. All in all I'm glad we came here, I'll be back some day to give it another whirl.Listed in: SF: Vegan spots
