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Taste of India - Shanti
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian
1111 Dorchester Ave(between Savin Hill Ave & Melvinside Ter)
Dorchester, MA 02125
Neighborhood: Dorchester
(617) 929-3900
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dorchester Ave @ Savin Hill Ave (18)
Dorchester Ave @ Melvinside Ter (18)
Dorchester Ave @ Thornley Rd (18)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 11:30 am - 11 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
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
149 reviews for Taste of India - Shanti
Review Highlights
"Their lunch buffet was absolutely excellent."
(in 35 reviews)
"Best Chicken Tikka Masala I've ever had."
(in 9 reviews)
"Definitely a jewel of the Savin Hill area."
(in 13 reviews)
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149 reviews in English
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Review from Adam A.
Boston, MA
12/5/2011
Came for the lunch buffet. Everything was freshly prepared and they had a good variety of Chicken, Goat, and vegetarian dishes.
but $8.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's unheard of for this type of quality.
Definitely give it a try. -
Review from Vivian C.
12/1/2011 8 photos
In summary - Yummy food, and nice servers, but unfortunately slow service.
Dinner took nearly 2 hours and a half. Yes, we did enjoy 3 courses - appetizer, entrees, and dessert - but still, there were several rather long lulls as we waited for someone to come by to take our order, to bring our entrees, to offer the dessert menu, to take our credit card (they don't take American Express, by the way). And I never received the hot water I asked for. Okay, that's it for the griping. On to better things.
Their regulars are enthusiastic about the food and love to share it. As we were audibly mulling over the Lemon Lamb Kebab $18.95 (Cube pieces of lamb marinated with cream cheese, black peppers, lemon juices and spices for 24 hours and cooked in tandoor (clay oven) until tender, served with lemon butter sauce and bhatora (fried flour bread)) on the Chef's Specials sheet, our neighbors at the next table volunteered that they had selected two entrees off that sheet, and that they loved the lamb dish.
In addition to the lamb, we selected the Shrimp Malai Curry $12.99 (Fresh shrimp cooked in a mild coconut and onion sauce, tempered with curry leaves, carrots, ginger and raisins), and decided on the Mixed Vegetable Pakoras (6) $4.95 (Fresh cut vegetables deep fried in chick-pea batter) as a starter.
Two of the three sauces on the table were spicy, so I stuck to the tamarind sauce to accompany both the free Papadum (yummier than any of my past experiences) and the fried up balls of veggies (not greasy).
The lamb arrived as a nice heap of tender chunks with a bowl of the tasty lemon (but oddly orange in color) sauce and four beautiful pillows of poofy bread. The shrimp was tender as well, but were only perhaps 5-6 of the shellfish hiding in a generous pool of really yummy sauce. I also enjoyed the tender rice that arrived with the curry dish.
For dessert we elected to share the Gulab Jamun (2) $3.95 (Deep fried wheat and milk balls, soaked in sugar syrup) and the Kheer $3.95 (Rice pudding cooked with sweetened milk, garnished with raisins, almonds and saffron) since I knew my friend liked rice pudding.
The Kheer was aromatic and tasty without being too sweet. It was watery rather than creamy, and the rice grains stood alone, but it was a nice treat. The Galub Jamun was interesting since the fat balls were entirely soaked in the sweet liquid. I'm glad I tried both, but for me the stars of the meal was the mix of the sauces and the accompanying carbs.
Based on this, my initial experience at Shanti, I must say that if it wasn't for the inconvenient location (well, to me anyways), I'd be glad to come back when I had time for a leisurely meal... and soon. -
Review from Anouska B.
Boston, MA
11/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I'm an ex-pat British-Indian with a guilty penchant for ordering Indian food rather than making it (my mother tells me this is the reason I'll never get married). Having tried a few Indian restaurants in the Greater Boston area, Shanti is the only restaurant I've gone back to.
Far less salty than the sodium-soaked Punjabi Dhaba in Inman. More substantial than Haveli. Friendlier phone service than Cafe Mamtaz. Far more authentic than Harvard's Tanjore. Let's not disgrace Shanti by even beginning to compare it to the 'hip' bar-food of Om and Diva India.
I've never eaten *in* the restaurant -- I always like to eat Indian food at home :) I've always found their delivery service to be punctual and friendly, the food arrives hot and ready to eat. They've never accidentally forgotten the rice, roti or naan. And the food is... well, yummy!
My favourites are the Saag Paneer and Lamb Rogan Josh. Their naan is fluffy and flavourful. They also make a great (albeit less authentic) mango lassi.
Despite all this praise, Shanti loses one star: a good Indian restaurant has to -- HAS to -- make a good samosa. In its sleep. Alas, Shanti falls far short of 'good' samosas. The meat samosas are greasy and heavy, and the vegetable samosas are just bland, grainy potatoes in a casing. Even I can make good samosas (and, as my mother will tell you, I'm no cook).
If you want reasonably priced authentic Indian fare in Boston [key phrase: "in Boston"], Shanti's the place to come. Just don't order the samosas. -
Review from Alex V.
Boston, MA
2/3/2012
This restaurant is best described by blondy's #1 hit.. "when I think about you I touch myself"
Cheap, delicious, amazing service, super friendly, did I say the Tika Masala was great! Took my wife out for 3 drinks, app, 2 meals... paid less than 70, was worth $150 -
Review from Jennie P.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/13/2012
Got tired of paying insane prices for Indian cuisine in JP so I ventured to Dorchester to Shanti. Delicious, pleasant interior, timely service, and most importantly delicious, fresh food. Will definitely return!
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Review from Daisy O.
Boston, MA
1/11/2012
The food is delicious, the restaurant is beautiful and the service is super friendly. I highly recommend this place.
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Review from Bryan C.
Weymouth, MA
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food for the price. Service is a little lacking even with only two tables to wait on. Avoid the Okra in the buffet. All in all, you get what you paid for, but I'd probably go somewhere else for Indian.
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Review from Keith K.
Boston, MA
9/22/2011
Always great food and service. My favorite Indian food in all of Boston. I'm lucky that I live just up the street - but I'd travel for it. Additionally, it's one of the most reasonably priced Indian places in Boston.
Every dish I've had is flavorful on its own, but you can ask for spicy if you want the kick. I went "extra spicy" once, however, and it kicked my butt - a little too much even for someone who likes spicy food.
The lunch buffet is fine. It was great at $7.99 because then you could get out for $10 with tip. They recently went to $8.99, and that extra dollar sometimes makes me think twice about stopping there now.
Most weeknights, however, they usually close before their 11PM stated time - definitely call ahead if you're planning on 9:45 or later. -
Review from marie m.
Dorchester, MA
1/27/2012
Best Indian in the city and they deliver!
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Review from Daniel P.
Boston, MA
6/12/2011
To agree with Josh S., this indeed is one of the best Indian restaurants in the Boston area.
I've recently moved to the Ashmont area of Dorchester and have been on the hunt for all of the tasty cuisine they have to offer. This was the first place I tried (and have since tried again). Although I have not yet set foot into the establishment itself, they DELIVER, and pretty darn quick to boot.
I judge an Indian restaurant (most often) by their chicken tikka masala...and this was definitely at the top as far as quality. The sauce was just spicy enough, the chicken was in cubes that didn't shred or squish, and I ended up finishing it with a spoon after the amazing garlic naan (covered in garlic) and rice were finished. Their palak paneer is the same story. Their pakora...let's just say I might gain weight on those ALONE. Their samosas were also incredibly tasty.
Gimme about one or two months and they'll start calling me if they haven't heard from me in a couple weeks.Listed in: Welcome to Ashmont
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Review from Linda B.
Roslindale, MA
7/8/2011
For many years I've been searching for good Indian cuisine in Boston and have mostly walked away disappointed and with a queasy stomach. This little gem in Dorchester is a breath of fresh air.
Friendly, personable wait staff, unlike most Indian restaurants where I feel like a dog in a cage who gets his food thrown down in front of him wordlessly or with such mechanical movement and language that I might as well be eating at an automat.
Fresh, flavorful, beautiful dishes, and just the right amount. The waiter patiently answered our questions and suggested what might be a good combination of plates.
We got here early and the place was quiet, but slowly and steadily the regulars started arriving and the atmosphere became congenial and with a fun buzz of conversation.
I will be dining at Shanti again and again. -
Review from Taja R.
Boston, MA
8/3/2011
So I finally decided to eat here. It's a 10 minute walk down the street from my house. I got a Groupon deal and decided to use it. When I arrived, I placed my order for take-out and was told after I placed my order that I had to dine-in to redeem the Groupon. Ok. Fine. Why not? I'm in no rush. I just wish I knew that ahead of time. I didn't really mind. I decided to make a nice evening of it. Here is how it went:
Atmosphere: As I sat waiting for my food, I looked around, I made some observations on atmosphere. The restaurant was overall ambient, trance-like, dim (a bit too dim, but not bothersome, attractive, and generally quiet other than the light traditional music, which served as a nice touch.
Service: The restaurant was quiet and there were really only 4 tables (including mine) occupied. Normal for a Wednesday night. I sat by the window and was promptly given a glass of water, some thin/crispy wafer things that were spiced (please forgive me food world for not knowing the name of these things), and a mini selection of Indian spiced sauces (one of which I positively identified as tamarind...mmmm, my favorite!).
Here's the downside. I wasn't offered a drink menu or even asked if I had thought about getting anything other than water to drink. Oh well, sucks for them, because that would have increased their potential gratuity. (Yeah, I used to be a server.) On top of that, my water hadn't been refilled since the first glass, well after my entree was served. I had to flag down one of the only two servers working in the small restaurant to ask for what should have been standard.
The servers barely made eye contact and weren't very welcoming, and they were far from attentive. My server smiled more at the female server, flirting and chatting at the register. One of the chefs from the kitchen came out and he seemed very friendly. He made eye contact, smiled and waved. We had a friendly moment. I wish he was my server. At least I know the food was made with a smile. (I hope!)
I flagged one of the servers down to ask to pack up my food, and was obliged by the female waitress. She at least offered dessert. But still, the overall attitudes were just so ho-hum that I ended up almost feeling the same way! In all, service was awful! It's not like they were busy! No excuse!
Food: Pretty decent! The Vegetarian Samosas that I had as an appetizer were large and plump with sweet, crispy dough and tasty filing that paired well with the three sauces.
For an entree I ordered the vegetarian Nabaraton Korma ("Nine different kinds of vegetables cooked in a mild creamy sauce and garnished with nuts.) It was indeed creamy and slightly spicy. Flavorful (but could have been more) with a nice blend of veggies to balance the texture of the sauces. I will say that the rice seemed very dry and lacked the scent and essence of Basmati rice that I've had elsewhere with other traditional Indian fare. Presentation was nice, but there was not as much food as I expected at the price that was offered. I seriously could have gotten more for less elsewhere!
I also decided to try something new and ordered the Peshawary Naan ("Unleavened flour bread stuffed with raisins, almonds, coconuts and pistachio"), which was sweet, warm, flavorful, and a nice size. It wasn't over cooked, and was quite tender, not chewy. Only downside was that the only ingredient that I could actually taste or even FIND in the Nann was coconut! I didn't realize this until after the fact, when I really opened it up later. I had only taken a couple of pieces while I was eating.
To top it all off, the prices of the food items were higher on the physical menu than they had been on the website's menu by $1 each. It turns out that I ended up spending more than I expected. A few more dollars (before figuring in gratuity) than I expected. I've gotten more for less elsewhere.
I would give this place a 4 if they weren't so overpriced and lackadaisical about service, etc. However, they seriously dropped the ball. I doubt I'll be back again. I would have to have a real craving for Indian food in a hurry. -
Review from Joojoo R.
Quincy, MA
4/24/2011
I like to think that if you choose a beautiful, upscale restaurant, then the food won't be as good as a little crappier looking place. It's either looks or taste, but guess what - Shanti has both.
It's dark, red walls, beautifully decorated and the bathrooms even have REAL individual, one-time-use towels. Gorgeous. The bathroom is an experience on its own.
Anyways, the food is delicious. Portions are a tiny bit small but that's because I'm kind of piggy... but since it's so hearty (a.k.a. fattening, probably with ghee or oil) then you fill up even on the small portions.
I'm pretty sure anything you have here will not disappoint you. I'm a big fan of the eggplant thing (begins with a "B").
HOPE THAT HELPS. -
Review from Josh S.
Boston, MA
5/4/2011
One of the best Indian restaurants in Boston.
This great spot is located on Dorchester Ave @ Savin Hill. I've been here a number of times for dinner and the lunch buffet as well as having orders delivered. The food is always great, from the tandoori chicken to the tika masala, and the naan varieties are great. The staff is friendly and attentive as well.
Definitely worth the drive to Dot Ave. -
Review from Lindsey R.
Dorchester, Boston, MA
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best garlic naan and tikka masala I've ever had. Highly recommend. I'll be back for sure.
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Review from Richard S.
Boston, MA
3/11/2011
Incredible execution! Whether you're looking for a nice night of dining or a quick afternoon lunch fix, this seemingly little known restaurant can more than accommodate.
The chicken masala, lamb, onion chutney...the food here is absolutely delicious. The service is attentive, friendly, and informative if you're curious enough. They have pride in their culture and their product, and it shows. It's too bad that not enough people know about this place. There's great value here, and it would be sad to see it go because the community didn't take advantage of it. -
Review from Beeni M.
Jamaica Plain, MA
Went in for the lunch buffet. They had about 10 trays - including the aloo tikka as the starter and gulab jamun for dessert.
Not an extensive buffet, but all the dishes were fairly decent. I've never had great indian food outside of small places in Queens, NY. But compared to other indian food in Boston, this is at the better end.
The restaurant is well kept. The price for the buffet is great. And the service was quick and efficient. -
Review from Sereia C.
2/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got takeout for lunch. This is my second time there. Both times they weren't busy in the dining room, but still managed to take an eternity cooking my food. I got the veggie samosas, which were way too salty, the palak panir, which was made perfectly, and the garlic naan, which was a bit dry and blackened on one side. Meh.
Parking is to be expected on Dorchester Ave. Hell. The man behind the counter was very friendly and polite. They have a lunch buffet which may be worth checking out sometime. it's good to have an Indian restaurant in the area where there is generally nothing but Vietnamese restaurants around. -
Review from Cinful B.
Boston, MA
10/2/2011
Good food, great prices, nice appearance, and the staff was very attentive yet not bothersome... I have been there a few times with different friends and its always a hit if you like Indian food. Cant wait to go back :)
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Review from Ruth R.
Dorchester, MA
9/28/2011
Taste is important when you're eating! Weird huh? 5 stars for taste.
I've lived in the neighborhood for almost a year and have eaten Shanti more times than I can remember. We often order delivery or take out and unfortunately I'm not that adventurous so I almost always get the chicken masala because it's sooooooo gooooood! Everything else I've ever tried is good too, but that's my favorite. I've only eaten in for dinner once, but that was great too. Ambiance, and whole experience. If I were rich I would eat here twice a week.
I got to attend the Men of Boston Cook for Women's Health event last week at Codman, where there's about 50 of Boston's most delicious restaurants serving out samples of their dishes, and which one did I like best after 2 tasty hours? Shanti! -
Review from Jeremy K.
10/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Went to Shanti recently for a nice dinner with Ryan B.
After making my way to Dorchester and parking my car, we walked a couple of blocks, and had my Groupon to redeem. I was looking forward to the dinner having heard good things about this modest place; especially since I've always enjoyed Indian food.
After settling down at a table, we took a glance at the menu while nibbling at some Papadum (spicy lentil wafer) and dipping sauces, and decided to share the mixed appetizer plate and each get an entree. Considering it was $8.95, that como plate of appetizer was a real steal and boasted an interesting sample of noshables. There was some meat samosas, some Aloo Tikki ( spicy, fried potato patties topped w/ white peas), some veggie Pakoras (fresh cut veggies deep fried in chick-pea batter). There were a few other things and each one was pretty good. Our platter was cleared in just a few minutes; quickly enough to not feel any remorse about the fact that everything was deep fried.
While Ryan decided to order some Gosht Do-Piaza, a Bangladesh-style goat dish which features some spices, herbs, roasted onions and bell peppers, I decided to get something a bit more classic. I wasn't feeling adventurous and settled for chicken Saag, a chicken dish cooked with some spices and spinach.
Everything was very good and authentic and the service was very good. The prices themselves are also very good, especially since most Indian restaurant tend to be quite expensive at times. Most entrees don't go over $11 and they have enough of a variety of dishes to satisfy anyone; vegatarian, seafood, chicken, beef and goat. The portions are perfectly sized, the place is clean, and we left both happy and stuffed. As far as the redemption of the Groupon, we had no issues either; payment was quick and effortless. I shall be back. -
Review from Whitney R.
Roslindale, MA
12/23/2010
I'm used to traveling into Cambridge, Brookline, and Downtown Boston in search of decent Indian, but never thought to go to Dorchester. I was tipped off by Yelp (no surprise there), and headed over to Shanti last Sunday evening, for dinner.
It was still early (about 6:00pm) and there were only 2 other dining parties. The decor of the place was dimly lit with figurines of Buddah lining the window sills. I was most impressed by the restroom, which was very clean and decorated with various pots and jugs containing fresh cloths to dry your hands.
Now on to the food. I've been told that roughly 95% of the Indian restaurants in Boston primarily serve dishes from Northern India (more specifically, Punjab). Shanti is a minority in Boston, as they offer loads of Bengali-style dishes, which are also more common to "Asian" cuisine in Central London. I've been looking for this for years!
We started with an order of Vegetable Pakhora, followed by the Chicken Curry, Lamb Bhuna, and Vegetable Curry, with a side of garlic Naan and Raita. SO MUCH DELICIOUS FOOD. The sauces were flavorful, everything was extremely fresh, and the lamb was incredibly soft and moist. My only food-related complaint was that there weren't enough cucumber slices in the Raita. No big deal.
Now, the factors that make this a "4" instead of a "5":
Unfortunately, the service was very slow. Even though there were only a few other parties by the time we left, it was hard to get the server's attention, and it took while to get our drinks. It seemed as though they were short-staffed, and at times, it felt like we were imposing on them.
Luckily, the food was awesome, so I was still super content. -
Review from Mayo B.
Milton, MA
6/23/2011
I was really disappointed in this place, especially with all the rave reviews. Maybe I went on a bad day...but anyways, I went for the lunch buffet and found the food to be very bland. When I eat Indian food, I am expecting bold and strong flavors; Shanti fell short of that with every dish I tried on the buffet. The chicken curry was watery and the veggie curry was so blah. I was kinda disappoint with the appearance of the buffet, it kinda gave off a negative feeling. Also the tomato onion chutney was very oily...I've been to other Indian restaurants and I've never seen it oily. I was really hoping to find another good Indian restaurant in the area, but unfortunately I do not plan to return anytime soon.
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Review from Jeffrey M.
Quincy, MA
3/18/2011
The best of the best when it comes to Indian cusine.
First off, parking is on the street, not easy to find a spot, but not really too hard either. Dorchester Ave is what it is.
Atmosphere is cozy and warm.
Buffett offered for lunch, but have only been for dinner.
Food is stupendous...I love the Beef Piaza. My wife is a huge fan of the Chicken Masala, and my son loves the Chicken Tika Masala.
The service is always good. We've been to Shanti likely 25 times in the past year, and only had one "slow/off" service experience. I chaulk it up to a bad night.
If you like your Indian food spicy, ask for "Indian Spicy", and you'll be sweating as you eat. Literally. So good. The Onion Nan is superb, and the Vegetable Samosa appetizer is the best around.
Very friendly atmosphere, and the servers are polite, attentive, and ready to please.
The kicker with this restaurant is it is very reasonably priced,... dinner for three including appetizers, nan and entrees (+3 soft drinks) will only run you about 70 bucks, including tip. Wow.
Try Shanti as soon as you can. -
Review from Liz L.
Boston, MA
Updated - 8/3/2011
A second daughter took me to Shanti for dinner, scooping a parking space approximately ten feet away from the front door. Nice. Boston was in the grip of a heat wave and not having to hike five blocks down Dot Ave was a nice surprise. The restaurant opened at 5PM but there were already several other people waiting outside for the door to open. This is a repeat visit to Shanti and all I can say is, dinner was just OK, please allow me to explain.. Our waiter brought paper thin wafers and we used the red hot chutney and the bright green chutney as a dip. We ordered vegetable samosas, they were good, plenty of stuffing. Shahi Panir Korma was delicious, really good. It was vegetables in a creamy sauce and the flavors expertly blended; I'd order it again. Shanti's Palak Paneer was a disappointment though. I found it bland, lacking any of the wonderful spices you usually find in it, like big plump cardamon pods. We wanted Indian food without having to drive across the city. Cafe Mamtaz in South Boston does an outstanding job with this favorite of ours. Maybe I'm spoiled. The garlic naan was good but the basmati rice was also a huge disappointment. It had no flavor, just some browned onions on top of what appeared to be white rice. I asked if it was basmati and was told it was.
fyi: I noticed a sound from the kitchen and I'm afraid to say that I think it was the microwave. I hope I'm wrong and maybe it was a kitchen timer of some sort but I know the sound of the microwave when it signals it's finished. I heard it again and again while waiting for our food and really paid attention as our fellow diners got their food. They were definitely nuking food in the kitchen. That would explain the "just OK" level of satisfaction. I don't want microwaved food when I dine out, period. It was not awful but it wasn't great either. There's not a whole lot of choices when it comes to Indian cuisine this side of the city so I'm glad Dorchester has its own option but I think I'll stick with the guys on L Street. Thanks...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2009
My daughter and I wanted Indian food so we drove over to Dot Ave, where we found a parking spot… Read more »
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Review from Farrah K.
Shanti is a fairly good Indian restaurant. I live close by and as a result have ordered take out and dined in at this restaurant quite a few times. I think they deliver consistently good quality food.
The convenience of good Indian delivery is the biggest plus for me. I have had dinner and lunch buffet here. I think the lunch buffet is fairly good, the selection was a bit meager compared to other indian lunch buffets, but the chicken seekh kababs were SO good, that I was happy with them and didn't complain too much about lack of variety.
The interior of the restaurant is nice, and the service is prompt and polite, which makes for a good experience if you are there for lunch buffet or dinner.
If it is convenient for you location-wise, its a good choice to satisfy an Indian food craving, but not worth a long drive if you have other good places near you. -
Review from Aspen M.
Dorchester, MA
11/21/2010
I have been to Shanti many times, and experienced great service and food, until the last time.
I ordered Begun Bharta, a roasted eggplant dish, and the fried coconut naan for dessert. I ate a normal amount, started feeling nauseous. I then threw up several times about 2 hours later.
I don't feel comfortable going back to Shanti given the food poisoning. -
Review from Sean B.
Somerville, MA
12/5/2010
I just visited Shanti for the first time, and placed my order beforehand so that I could get take out. I ordered the Tandoori Salmon, and I was very pleased with the taste. Very juicy, and if you're a big fan of naan like I am, you'll appreciate the large side that accompanies your meal.
I don't visit Dorchester very often, but if I'm back in the area, I'd definitely consider trying a sit-down meal at Shanti. -
Review from Jen H.
Updated - 4/23/2010
Since my previous review I've had a number of indian food experiences at other establishments, and at Shanti. I still freaking love this place!
Come for the buffet, awesome deal!Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2009
Let me start by saying that I am highly... HIGHLY disappointed. Not in Shanti, but in myself. How in… Read more »
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Review from Caroline C.
Boston, MA
11/6/2010
I have never been to a South Indian restaurant where my party completely eviscerated every morsel on the table.
This says two things: 1.) it's pretty darn delicious (YAY!) and 2.) the portion are a bit on the small side (BOOO.). It's unfortunate, as leftovers are one of the huge benefits of Indian - they always taste even better the next day.
I appreciate their variety of dishes and styles - they even have several goat options. I think more restaurants should serve goat. When we ordered, they didn't ask about the spice -o-meter, which, when I realized the omission, I got a bit nervous that I just ordered a smorgasbord of bland food. Fortunately, it came out properly spicified. It could have been a bit hotter, but I could have remember to ask for it to be hot, too.
Another Shanti bonus - you can almost always get discounted meal here, with a little internet work. I've seen them advertise on several of the "groupon" type cites, and they are a member of Upromise. Hard to complain about a half priced meal. -
Review from Vanessa M.
Boston, MA
8/23/2010
My husband and I love Shanti! We've been eating here for years and have always had a wonderful experience. The lunch buffet is an amazing value; $7.95 per person gets you a great selection of starters, curries, tandoor-grilled meats, and a dessert selection.
The dinner menu is substantial with a wide variety of Indian favorites, along with some Pakistani and Bangladeshi dishes, and some fusion-y specials that the chefs dream up.
The dining room is very nicely decorated, dim and cozy, and they always have either traditional or contemporary Indian music playing.
The onion chutney is to die for, as another reviewer mentioned. We have sampled many items from the menu and have never been disappointed with the quality of the food. The wine and beer list leaves nothing to be desired.
The service is outstanding-- warm and friendly. Always a smile.
And they deliver! What more could you ask for? -
Review from Maria P.
4/20/2010
I was craving some indian food yesterday and realized that I had never tried this place in Dorchester. Luckily, they deliver to South Boston so I didn't have to go there myself.
I ordered the chicken tikka and lamb seekh kabob along with aloo paratha and chicken biryani. It was a lot of food but my roommate and I managed to polish off most of it. The chicken tikka was amazing, the best I've had in Boston so far. Perfectly cooked and spiced without being overly dry. The seekh kabob however was a disappointment, it was not cooked through and tasted a little raw. I don't know how this is even possible as the outside seemed pretty well done and grilled through.
The chicken biryani was fantastic, a little spicy but not too much and had just the right ingredients. They even put raisins (usually indian restaurants in boston don't put raisins in their biryani but they really should because biryani is meant to have raisins in it)! The aloo paratha was not good. It was meant to be stuffed but there was no potato in the paratha, it tasted just like plain paratha. Maybe they messed up the order? I don't know, but it was a let down after eating some of that mouthwatering biryani. I guess some dishes are a hit or miss here but overall it was awesome food and I am definitely going to eat here again (next time hopefully I'll go to the actual restaurant).Listed in: Take out options in Southie
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Review from Cee A.
Boston, MA
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is very good. The Sunday lunch buffet has a really nice beef dish. MMM we will be back again!
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Review from Billie M.
Boston, MA
2/26/2008 ROTD 5/12/2008
Is it hot in here? Maybe it's just me. No, really, is it warm in here? Oh, it's not the thermostat, it's the fire in my mouth. Thanks.
FINALLY! An Indian restaurant that will serve my pasty ass some spicy food! After hearing lots of praise for Shanti, and needing some sustenance without actually leaving my apt, I decided to give them a try for take out. Thirty minutes later I was handed a warm brown bag that smelled beyond delicious. Rushing upstairs I pulled out container after container of delights: warm pillowy naan, smothered in butter and garlic; soft rice studded with nutmeg and curry powder; okra sauted just long enough to maintain a slight crunch, then melt on your tongue in a tomatoy, oniony pool; and at last, the chicken vindaloo. I pulled this out with a bit of trepidation, hoping that I wouldn't be once again subjected to a mild masala flavored dish masquerading as my beloved. I was hopeful, seeing as the phone conversation during ordering went something like this:
Me: We'd also like an order of the chicken vindaloo. Spicy please.
Shanti: You know this dish is already spicy, right?
Me: Yes, but we'd like to make sure it's actually spicy.
Shanti: So you want it extra spicy, right?
Me: Yes, extra spicy please.
Shanti: Even though it's already spicy.
Me: Yup, even spicier than normal.
Shanti: Ok, one extra spicy vindaloo!
One forkful in, I knew Shanti had changed the Boston Indian food scene for me. The vindaloo was spicy, while still maintaining its flavor. As soon as my mouth cooled, I'd reach for another forkful (and another beer, thanks for getting me drunk Shanti). Finally, all the chunks of chicken were gone, leaving behind a container of sauce that then made its way to the naan and rice. I wasn't going to waste this stuff! The best part, the vindaloo was too spicy for my wimp friend, so it was mine. ALL MINE!!!
Ahem. Sorry, I just can't wait to go here again.Listed in: I just can't get enough...
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Review from K J.
Brookline, MA
4/2/2008 ROTD 7/26/2008
The little cup holders for the chutneys reminded me of the ones that grandma had on her dining table. Though the food they had on the menu was something my grandma never cooked, I would believe they would have come close on a lot of stuff. When I went there, not too many people were inside but the two guys who came later made sure everyone listened to what they had to say....it is more easier to find jackasses than Starbucks in this world.
But anyways food was great, was surprised to see a few choices in addition to the standard menu that you would find in most Indian restaurant. Service was really good and yes cool restroom.
...and what was with the many Buddha figures there, and to borrow Lewis Black,"I saw so many Buddha's that I almost believed he was true". Think it would be apt to say "Shanti (translated Peace) Out". -
Review from Linda E.
Great food. I had a http://restaurant.com coupon here for $10 off. The service was good and they were quick to refill water. They had a nice crunchy bread and sauces to snack on prior to the meal.
Sheila S and I ordered the eggplant dish, Begun Bharka, and the Gohst Lamb dish which was full of Bangladeshi flavors. i would recommend both of these. They came with rice and we ordered a Naan on the side which was delicious.
The bathrooms are clean and pretty. They use cloth towels to save the environment. I'm glad I went, it wasn't too packed on a Saturday night, so service is very speedy!! -
Review from Hana T.
Boston, MA
5/2/2008
(I'm so sure this is what the Spice Girls had in mind, really.)
This was what I was thinking when I left Shanti, stuffed with their delicious food:
...........................
Yo! You know what I want? What I really really want?
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want!
If you wanna be my Lover,
You gotta feed me samosas
If you wanna be my Lover,
You gotta feed me samosas
If you wanna
If you wanna
If you wanna
If you wanna be my LoVAH,
Then feed me some samosas
If you want a MUAH,
You gotta feed me SA-MO-SA!
'Cuz there will be no muah's
Without any samosas. Ah ha!
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really,
Really really wanna a damn good samosa ha.
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get me samosas
Because I really love these
Potatoes + spices- and here at Shanti's, they are gggggreat! -
Review from Sasha M.
Boston, MA
5/5/2010
During my Clubbing Phase me & the cousin would always stumble in here Saturday afternoon, reeking of booze still and with last nite's makeup still on, for the Lunch buffet lol.
It is very very very good and cheap too (the buffet that is) I've never tried to actually have dinner here...it was just the local Saturday Hangover Food place.
I live right down the street so its very convenient. -
Review from Tom E.
3/9/2008
I wouldn't call this 4 or even 5 star Indian food, so don't be too excited about this place, but it is worth a trip out to Dot Ave for, as it's that bit better than most (actually all) of the other Indian restaurants I've dined at in Boston.
At the time of writing this review Shanti is at number 2 in 'Best of Boston Restaurants' on Yelp between L'Espalier and Aujord Hui. That's a bit much in my opinion, but I guess that's how Yelp and all this stuff works.
The ambiance is nice, with Hindu Buddhas surrounding the dining area and cosy low lighting. The service is ok and the food is better than a lot of the terrible Indian in this city / country. They take pride in their Tandoori oven here, so try to keep your orders from that menu - the chicken tikka is exceptionally good. The rest of the curries are same-same and the vindaloo is not particularly spicy in anyway which is a shame. Goat and lamb are both offered as meats - pick the goat, it's more gamey and the lamb here isn't that great.
I did enjoy my meal here a lot after countless let-downs in this town with curries, but I was hovering between 3 and 4 stars when I left, especially with prices a little above normal and portion sizes a little below. The 4 stars were clinched, though, by a trip to the bathroom with a beautiful design and cool sink (second only to that in Gari). Often a real downfall of an Indian restaurant is a small and dirty bathroom (Tamarind Bay and Indian Pavilion - yuk), but Shanti pulls out all the stops and gets up to 4 stars because. Well done.Listed in: Travel for your tastebuds
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Review from L-Train A.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/14/2007
This is one of the best Indian places I have ever been to. You know how usually your stomach kind of hurts after Indian food? Not here. Nothing was greasy, everything was cooked to perfection, and at the end we felt all giddy and high from the food, and started thinking about all the people we need to bring there in the future.
The service was excellent, great wine for a great price.
