Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Darbar Indian Cuisine in Palo Alto

4.1 (199) 129 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States

Categories

Indian restaurant
Asian restaurant
South Asian restaurant
Vegan restaurant
Vegetarian restaurant

Location on the map

Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-321-6688
Site: https://order.online/business/da...

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–2:30 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–2:30 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–2:30 PM
Thursday:11 AM–2:30 PM
Friday:11 AM–2:30 PM
Saturday:5–10 PM
Sunday:5–9:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.1

199 Reviews for Darbar Indian Cuisine 2024:

Review №1

2023-07-05 03:37:05

They had really good food here! Our server was very kind and appropriately present, not overbearing in the least. We didnt get to try the buffet, but they clearly have one. Im guessing during lunch the place can feel a bit crowded, but that wouldnt stop us from visiting. We are looking forward to visiting Darbar again!

Review №2

2023-07-02 04:32:55

Its been nice to be at Darbar Indian cuisine. They have bunch of varieties . I got lamb curry and garlic naan that was so delicious. I love it . Everyone have to try…👌🏻

Review №3

2023-11-26 17:03:33

I ordered biriyani from here and I got this plastic or old rusted paint in my food. Its so dangerous for your health and the whole reason I stopped ordering from here was I got hair in my food last time and now this .....this is a joke I guess they are literally playing with peoples health. The only reason I ordered from here is because its a little reasonable price but of course I dont wanna get killed by their chef or whoever. Will never ever come back even if they give it for free. Shame on you guys.

Review №4

2023-06-11 06:19:36

This is one of the best (authentic) Indian food I have had in bay area. A very underrated place! I always get vegetarian thali from Darbar, its perfectly sufficient for 2 people.Whole wheat tandoori roti is difficult to find by in bay area, but this place surprised me!

Review №5

2023-07-30 00:34:55

Food coma time. Order the Naan with garlic and butter and it comes with pieces of silantro that make it perfect. Use that to dip into butter chicken and you find yourself on the door steps of heaven.The mango Lasse unlocks that door. Order 2 of those.

Review №6

2023-11-29 03:21:12

For the price and overall service its amazing. Restraunt in the heart of Palo Alto. Ive been here so many times and their lunch buffet has wide variety of options. Today was dinner and food and service was amazing as usual

Review №7

2023-09-01 04:30:11

We accidentally found this place, we really love it. We have been in so many Indian restaurants around Bay Area and this place was by far the best.

Review №8

2022-11-10 03:54:01

Great place for Indian food at a good price. Lunch times tend to be busy but the waits are not long. Great tandoori chicken and lamb.update Nov 2022: went back after a long time- still super delicious food and great service. Love the mango lassi. Highly recommend this place

Review №9

2023-11-10 16:52:20

Arrived early for buffet brunch. All food was great - well, truthfully, the tandoori chicken was a little dry. But everything else very flavorful. The naan was excellent. Very light and crispy. Expertly cooked. More often than not I find Naan to be a little to doughy for my taste. Service was excellent. Atmosphere fine.

Review №10

2023-12-05 07:23:46

I went there on Saturday to get the food I ordered and waited there for 15 minutes just to get my drink(mango lassi) which took this long. Two hostesses were there and one of them taking orders she told one of the boys to get it and they were standing and talking for ten minutes. This is ridiculous I mean they need to do the work first and they can chit chat i dont care. There were two more people standing one girl was taking orders over the phone and tried to call one of the guys but all three of them were still talking and the other girl was still at the tables taking orders. Like have some decency at least. The food is good but I think guys need to do their jobs

Review №11

2023-10-16 01:07:43

Love this place!!! I don’t live in Palo Alto anymore but if I’m ever in the area this is my first choice for food. I usually come here for dinner, haven’t tried the buffet. But the chicken curry and vegetable korma are both amazing. The sauces are incredible, can’t stop eating!! Great service and atmosphere.

Review №12

2023-02-03 02:53:43

This place was good! I was thrilled to open up the menu straight to a page filled with vegetarian options. We tried the aloo palak, which was creamed more than others I’ve had, and the Mattar paneer, which was quite flavorful if a little too spicy for my poor tongue. Also the rice and naan were included in the price of the curry - a lovely surprise.

Review №13

2022-07-31 05:00:56

Went with a few friends, probably the most authentic taste in Indian food I have had in bay. Their mango lassi was bomb. Ordered chicken tikka masala, fish curry and a spinach chicken curry. Loved the food. Again, dont forget their lassi.

Review №14

2023-07-16 23:54:38

My friends and I have been going to Darbar for 5 years now. Darbar is hands down our favorite restaurant out of all restaurants in a 30 mile radius of Stanford. All their dishes are made with passion and love, and the taste is pure ecstasy. The portions are wonderful too.There was this time when I was away from the US for over a year because of COVID, and the thing I missed most was Darbar. When I came back to the US, my first meal was the spicy butter chicken from Darbar. I teared up, and I was overwhelmed with happiness.My friends and I have a saying when it comes to Darbar, and it’s “Darbar always hits.”If you are craving Indian food in the Bay Area, this is the place to come. Darbar always hits.

Review №15

2023-02-02 01:26:31

Excellent lunch buffet.good spicy level, very aromatic. A lot of vegetarian and non vegetarian options are available.

Review №16

2023-09-12 22:33:54

Every time i try a new indian restaurant, i’m always comparing it to darbar, and so far, nowhere else comes close! high quality and delicious curries — love the tikka masala, chana masala, vindaloo! it’s also really nice that they include rice and naan in the order (i think they used to include the raita and daal, unfortunately it doesn’t come with the entrees anymore but do order!)

Review №17

2023-09-17 01:49:03

Arrived just before closing, but they let us take to go boxes filled from buffet. Made us fresh Naan bread. All was good, food was Delicious!!!

Review №18

2023-07-13 02:04:23

Awesome! They served authentic Indian food, we felt like we were in India! The service was excellent. And the food quality too. Recommended!

Review №19

2023-10-14 20:22:42

The Indian restaurant was amazing! The chicken tikka masala was flavorful and the service was great. Highly recommend! 🌟🍛

Review №20

2018-11-10 03:02:53

Darbar gives Neetas in Houston a run for its money.This is quite frankly one of the finest Indian meals Ive had on this side of the Atlantic.Its great ambiance, traditional music playing in the background, and exceedingly friendly staff provide an ideal complement to the fabulous food served by this restaurant.Quite simply full marks across the board. Ill be coming back here next time Im in this part of the world.

Review №21

2023-11-26 19:36:01

The food is so delicious, naans are super soft and hot, had wonderful dessert. I recommend this restaurant to everyone!

Review №22

2023-06-19 23:52:40

It is a small and cozy place, the service is quick and the servers are very warm and welcoming. We had a buffet lunch, which has quality menu with different taste not same sauce types .Try the Dahi Vada, super soft moist and fresh too .

Review №23

2022-07-06 04:08:12

Authentic Indian cuisine with great dine in experience.Ordered Chicken Tikka Masala, chicken cooked in tandoor with creamy sauce.

Review №24

2021-10-07 23:59:21

As someone had mentioned in their review, I dont understand the hype. I ordered prawn biriyani and it was terrible.They have no idea about biriyani is my take after this order. At best, you can say they attempted to make tomato rice and have failed miserably with poor meat in there. I definitely DO NOT recommend this place, at least for biriyani.Never again.

Review №25

2023-05-02 01:17:44

Not the best spread, but decent North Indian buffet for lunch. Many vegetarian choices but no paneer entree. Dessert is meh. Naans are served fresh and are nice. Service is basic - but not bad. Price can’t be beat, especially considering the premium location.

Review №26

2022-10-02 14:41:49

Updating my review: Reluctantly gave Darbar a second chance and they completely changed my mind for the better. Had take-out this time rather than the buffet and had a very positive experience. Food was absolutely delicious.Old review: A little bit disappointing. Didn’t have some of the classics I was hoping for like mattar paneer (or anything paneer!). & the zucchini masala was too spicy, even for my husband—who usually loves spice!

Review №27

2023-08-10 00:46:34

The food here is really good. Large portion, everything was fresh and tons of flavor!

Review №28

2018-07-12 23:53:58

Always excellent. Service is decent, but the food is always delicious, and worth every penny. The lunch buffet is also a great value, and I highly recommend it.

Review №29

2022-11-30 15:55:12

Darbar Indian cuisine is a well-run operation. The staff is pleasant and knowledgeable and very quick to fill my water glass or ask if everything is okay and if we needed anything. The vegetable Biryani is off the hook. This is one of those places that I would highly recommend for anyone to enjoy a good Indian meal. Although I am disappointed that they dont have the buffet yet I anxiously await the return of their Buffet.

Review №30

2023-09-15 05:35:43

Great service, decent north indian food, south indian food is average

Review №31

2023-10-22 05:17:04

Loved their mushroom peas dish. The service was excellent.

Review №32

2023-09-07 02:18:36

Very good food, taste is realy good and good service friendly nature I am realy happy to come here

Review №33

2019-05-02 03:42:13

Good South Indian food restaurant in Palo Alto attracting trendy crowd items such as idli, dosa, pongal, parata are famous

Review №34

2023-03-13 06:15:53

Authentic Indian food, we loved our thalis! The malai kofta and mixed vegetable sabji was so tasty! One small gripe is that they called a fried piece of potato a tikki while serving. Sir, that is not a aloo tikki! Fulfilling food, I so badly wanted to finish my kheer but stomach full!

Review №35

2022-10-08 19:07:48

Went to dine in with friends here and was surprised with the below-par quality given the rating on google maps. Mango lassi was spoilt and tasted weird. Fish masala curry taste was okay but fish did not taste fresh. Appetizers were very average. While waiting in line for toilet in front of kitchen, I could smell a stinking odor which immediately put me off.

Review №36

2023-10-15 01:30:55

Great family owned restaurant with authentic Indian food. Especially love the butter chicken and garlic naan is always fluffy and delicious! Craving it as I write this!

Review №37

2023-06-21 18:45:15

I went there for single item they offer me a Buffet which was not hot all items was totally cold even colder than warm and not a enough tastey...

Review №38

2017-09-20 02:20:38

Courtesy of staffs seating you... worst... i had planned dinner with 4-5 friends... i came in early and i was told there is no reservation.... i took a table that takes 6 as there is none for 5... when i called them to order some drink and snack i was asked to get up and sit in wait area as my friends did not turn in... they did not care when i said to them i need to start the order... 75 miles into the driving... did not expected this..... never again... who cares food when you plan for meeting friend after years or you plan a business meeting....After 20 mins... the picture speaks..Calling it off with an alternate choice

Review №39

2022-10-21 06:10:33

I started going to Darbar right before Covid started, my go to dish has always been the non vegetarian thali. I love that I’m able to try out different items from the menu with just one dish. The malai kofta is wonderful, it’s subtly sweet and savory with the lamb. I’m so glad they started doing dine in again! The staff is always kind and asks me how I’m doing. When it’s not so busy they’ll chat with me if I’m waiting for my take out. Rather than just ignoring me like other restaurants I go to. Darbar is my go to Indian restaurant, I’ve tried many Indian restaurants in the Bay Area. They can’t beat Darbar’s quality and price for what you get!

Review №40

2022-08-31 08:26:35

Great food! Paneer do pyaza, veg vindaloo (super spicy 🔥) among other dishes is a must try. Love that they give roti and rice with the curry. Very few places do that, making the price very reasonable compared to other Indian restaurants in the area. Its my go to place for great food at a great price. I actually shifted away from the area, but many a times still drive 20-25 min for their food.

Review №41

2022-09-05 19:16:34

Darbar deserves a 5-star rating. I’ve been coming here for over a decade, and it is the comfort food I always crave whenever I’m out of the Bay Area. The chicken korma and shahi paneer are the stuff dreams are made of. Their sauces can’t be matched anywhere else! Staff are kind and attentive too.

Review №42

2023-02-03 04:05:14

Darbar is a court where an emperor projects powers as he greets guests; but this restaurant’s service is friendly and not imperious ; they don’t mind that I visit for appetizers before my class at Stanford - their aloo paratha with dahi wada is sumptuous because it’s a mix of flavorful bread with cooling yogurt. My hunger is satiated and I can pay attention in class. They once made me parathas at 930 pm as it was about to close and I needed to eat during the long train to SF.

Review №43

2021-06-16 16:49:41

Best Indian food on the Peninsula! I love this place so so much. Delicious food, excellent service, and a great atmosphere. Weve loved having their fantastic take out throughout the pandemic and really look forward to enjoying their food in the restaurant again, too. So much food comes with each order: Its excellent value. Could not love this place more! Yum!

Review №44

2016-08-12 19:15:07

Consistently good food. Very unique take on some classic dishes. Well known in the area for their very good lunch buffet but I think their ala carte option s are even better. Most dishes cone with rice and naan.

Review №45

2023-02-02 21:22:51

Lunch buffet was fire! I was craving Indian food and this hit the spot. Wish I could have stuffed my face more but was too full. Will definitely return!

Review №46

2022-06-17 16:36:38

Was on business trip for couple of days and wanted to grab some Indian food. Ordered -Lamb Kebab- 99% sure this was a frozen kebab that was reheated and boxed for takeaway.Chicken Curry- Tasty, but chicken was a bit rubbery and not very softFish Fry- Worst of all. Bland-tasteless and full of bones.

Review №47

2023-02-23 15:06:59

My favorite indian place in palo alto ! Service was friendly and food came out surprisingly quick The food is delicious and testes so fresh .The mango lassi is great as well . Come again..

Review №48

2022-10-21 06:04:43

Hope they will bring back lunch buffet soon. We ordered lunch entrees. Fish curry, chicken tikka marsala and spinach vegetarian dish that I can never pronounce correctly. LOL. They are all delicious as usual!

Review №49

2022-10-17 02:09:55

Someone recommended this place. But oh man! They served aloo pakoda as aloo tiki !! 🤦‍♀️ there was a garbanzo bean in paneer do pyaza. Dish lacked spices. And honestly it wasn’t paneer do pyaza. It was some paneer onion curry in coconut oil. Service was so poor. Never come here if you are looking for “good” Indian food

Review №50

2023-08-15 01:05:53

I’m in love and will be driving here from Santa Cruz often. OMG.

Review №51

2022-07-19 20:49:23

Food is delicious.we had non veg thali and kabab . While coming the street is full of fragrance(of non veg)make me think about Non-veg and mouthwatering. They start serving with aloo tikki and chintu which is very tasteful . After having your meal we fighter out that veg is very much more flavourful and tasty . Next time we will try some vegetarian food . As we did not like lamb samosa and kabab as compared to aloo, daal,samji in thali!!! Butter chicken is better!!

Review №52

2022-08-02 13:43:02

Loved the service food and hospitality. The taste of the usual touristy food - butter chicken and Shahi paneer was comparable to other establishments - however the Kofta stood out. The Thali idea was fulfilling the quest for variety and the quantity was adequately bountiful.

Review №53

2022-09-29 17:44:43

Service and people around were nice and humble. But the food is typical commercial north Indian food. I would cut marks for authenticity. We ordered dàal tadka and we were served daal makhni daal (that too without salt).

Review №54

2021-04-04 16:48:07

I’m not sure how this restaurant doesn’t have a higher rating. This is some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had. The serving sizes are pretty big, the vegetables were cooked perfectly, the spices are deep and complex, and the food wasn’t overly oily which I often find is the case for cheaper Indian places. I would highly, highly recommend Darbar!

Review №55

2019-03-07 21:23:44

This place is authentic the flavor, how the place is set up atmosphere everything and great price definitely coming back soon

Review №56

2019-11-18 04:24:23

For all the negative reviews talking about customer service, I was expecting to have a bad experience here, but I ended up being really impressed. The waiters and hosts were polite, prompt, and generous with their service, and we actually overheard a waitress gushing over a neighboring tables baby, who she offered a snack, a little potato pancake. It was a really sweet thing to witness, and the baby seemed pretty happy about it too.The food was very good as well. We got poori, a deep fried Indian bread, lamb curry, and butter chicken. All were very good, although the chicken did not taste very fresh. No stars docked because my expectations were exceeded :)

Review №57

2023-05-02 01:27:38

Our favorite Indian food restaurant in Palo Alto, everything are yummy 😋 Service always good.

Review №58

2022-08-07 03:32:38

Darbar is my go-to Indian restaurant in Palo Alto. The spicy paneer with onions is the absolute best. Also, the staff here are so friendly and welcoming.

Review №59

2016-10-06 22:17:52

Really excellent Indian food with generous quantities! There was no wait on a Sunday, and the service was mostly good. My vegan friend also had plenty of options, and they were very good about swapping the complementary naan for something else for him. Ill definitely go again!

Review №60

2023-05-04 06:13:49

This was our regular hangout place when i was working in EY palo alto! never board with their same lunch Buffett :)

Review №61

2018-10-31 05:14:40

Fantastic meal, the best Indian food I have eaten in America.The meal was a little creamy compared to the other versions of the dish I have had before. The spice balance was great the heat of the meal was just right. The rice was fluffy and the nan bread was fresh light.You could not go wrong eating here.

Review №62

2018-01-26 19:57:12

A place to go for a terrific buffet lunch! Dinner gets crowded. Families & Stanford students like the cuisine. Centrally located. Parking not too bad. The music drives me out sooner than I may want to stay & chat. Its a good place for a meal w/reasonable pricing if you like Indian food.

Review №63

2019-06-08 03:03:29

The food here is a solid 3/5. While it is not the worst Indian food, it certainly is not the best and is mediocre. The only benefit is location for this place, but I’m not missing the food.Our bad review comes from customer service. I came here with my wife to eat with my friend. We are Afro-Caribbean and he is European. We didn’t know that our friend has already arrived so my wife ran in to get a table while I looked for parking. The hostess told my wife to sit in the waiting area after asking for a table for three. When she sat at the table she noticed our friend sitting at the table for three by himself. Their were many open tables that night. Let’s just say we felt unwelcome.

Review №64

2021-09-26 02:21:26

The best Indian food in the neighborhood. Lots of delicious vegetarian options along with non-veg dishes. The staff is friendly. Its one of my go-to places for ordering takeout and the food never disappoints. Highly recommend!

Review №65

2020-02-11 18:42:22

I couldn’t tell if this place just had very fast and efficient service or they were just trying to get us out as soon as possible. Either way I was happy with how quickly they took our order and got our food. I went here with my mother, which was ideal for me because I didn’t have to pay and we have decent conversations from time to time. While my mother and I were having our decent conversation, the waiter brought us out complimentary food. I wanted to give him a compliment for bringing us complimentary food, but I wasn’t fast enough. He quickly brought it to our table table and then left. I didn’t even know what he brought us, but it sure was delicious. The only problem I had with this place was their food was too good, it was so good that it was distracting me from the decent conversation I was having with my mother. If the food was bad I could have focused all my attention to the convo. The incredible food outweighed the decent convo at times. I either have to have the best or worst conversations when I go here or this place needs to starting making food that isn’t that good so I can focus on the conversation. I guess if they made food that wasn’t that good, I wouldn’t go here in the first place. The best solution is probably that I eat here by myself or I go with someone and we eat in complete silence. Next time I go here I’ll have a better game plan.

Review №66

2020-01-07 10:16:45

I had a good experience here with friends. Enjoyed all the food, although not immensely. Butter chicken is better at Amber Santana Row. Vindaloo was great. Couple friends got sick but I and most were fine.

Review №67

2022-06-25 04:25:37

One of the best cuisine in Palo Alto as I am vegetarian there are really good options to try.. Shahi paneer,mix veg curry and malai kofta really good things to try you can also smell the freshness from the food love this place always happy to come..:

Review №68

2019-08-22 07:31:11

Overall, recommended. Pros: good food at a good price time after time, conveniently placed, usually no wait. Cons: hostess is rude, ambience could be better. Attire casual or smart casual. Not recommended for a date, but nice for a casual night out. Even though many disagree, I find their food way tastier than the more popular Zareens.

Review №69

2019-05-19 16:12:56

Darbar is an institution in Palo Alto. I recommend the butter chicken and tandoori chicken. All the process are also very reasonable for Palo Alto and they used to have discounts in Stanford publications (not sure if they still do this or not). The service is usually very fast. This place is very good for groups as well. You can reserve if you have more than 10 people in your party, otherwise they do not take reservations.

Review №70

2023-01-16 10:51:12

Came here in July 2022 very good people and manager was so kind! Thank you ❤️ Swaad food always got Chole Poori! From Bakersfield!

Review №71

2019-09-13 19:49:11

Food wasn’t bad but not as authentic as the other Indian cuisines. Also, the cashier hostess was very rude! Flat out rude! And not making a direct eye contact while answering my Q. It looked like he was forced to answer me! when someone is asking you questions as a courtesy of respect, you look straight in the eye and address your costumer politely! I am light brown skin and while I waited for my food, a white person came in and he was totally different! He addressed the person with a direct eye contact completely different from my experience just minutes ago! He was extra nice and helpful, I was like.... speechless really! I never felt this kind of rudeness/racism from white people but this guy??? ! Never coming back!

Review №72

2022-10-31 00:36:11

I would start with biryani. Even pulao is better than their biryani. The price for the quality that they serve is too high. From wait time to taste of food, everything sucks.

Review №73

2012-05-26 01:45:40

Pretty good Indian food. Its a good deal with the Stanford buy one get one coupon, if they still do those. The staff was pretty friendly and the inside is nice. I think theres slightly better Indian food in the area, but Darbar is probably above average.

Review №74

2015-11-30 22:44:45

Best Indian food in Palo Alto! Their chicken tikka masala is excellent. They have a lunch time buffet that is a great way to introduce Indian food to newbies. Service is just average but is good enough to not leave you upset. Make a reservation if you are going in a group because it fills up quickly.

Review №75

2023-07-03 04:36:11

I tried the chicken pakora at Darbar Indian Cuisine and it was amazing!!!!

Review №76

2017-12-13 07:15:10

Absolutely delicious food awaits you at Darbar Indian Cuisine, also a fantastic atmosphere with quick service. They played pretty good music in the restaurant and parking wasnt even that bad, for downtown Palo Alto. The menu was large and includes a huge variety of food and beverages.

Review №77

2017-11-07 05:27:10

The food was absolutely amazing. We ordered the Butter Chicken and Lamb Saag. They were both divine. We couldnt stop ordering more naan to keep going. The Saag was mind-blowing. It tastes how traditional well made Saag should. You rarely find that in a restaurant. The Butter Chicken was definitely tastier than the typical butter chicken. The service was kinda slow and not smart. They forgot our additional requests multiple times, and got offended when we had to correct them. Thats the only negative from this place! Otherwise its great food!

Review №78

2023-12-07 03:48:38

Very Good service by boys♥️

Review №79

2018-06-16 21:50:33

The food quality is ok and the prices are not worth it. I tried the non vegetarian thali. It was ok

Review №80

2018-09-03 02:48:52

Amazing food!! The service is a little hit or miss (rushing you to order, terse comments, etc) but I can overlook it for the amazing food. For dinner you a small appetizer of a potato slice with their lovely red and green sauces (one is much spicier than the other!) Every time Ive gotten malai kofta its been absolutely amazing. They serve the dishes as if it was family/sharing style, in the middle of the table, but you can also just eat your own entree. Naan bread is also served with the food and rice.

Review №81

2022-10-09 04:05:11

Had dinner last night with friends. Very nice paneer tikka, fish curry was amazing too and very good palak paneer…very nice service too. Thank you darbar

Review №82

2023-03-13 12:54:38

Amazingly delicious vegetable vindaloo you can have in bay area....yummy appetizer too. Really flavorful food. Thank you Darbar(my go to Indian restaurant at all times)

Review №83

2019-09-16 03:27:30

We went for dinner and experienced one of the worst dining experience. The food was not good, the staff was rude to us when we pointed out about the authenticity of the food served. Would recommend Indians to skip this place as neither the food is as per the expectations and staff do not take any effort to address the queries.We ordered Dahi Bhalla, Paneer Pakora some combination Parathas (Stuffed Indian Bread) and Lassi. Only this worth mentioning was the Lassi.Definitely would be skip list.

Review №84

2020-02-18 17:30:47

Darbar has delicious, quick service in a casual, cozy setting. The samosas are particularly delicious. All the curries are flavorful and the portions are very generous; always enough to bring home an extra meal or two.

Review №85

2020-11-15 03:51:29

Worst ever takeout experience. Ordered online for pickup - estimate was 20-45 minutes. Showed up at the restaurant after 40 minutes and told food wasn’t ready yet (understandably). I’ve now been standing outside for an hour and the food still isn’t ready! Can’t comment on the quality of the food because I’M STILL WAITING FOR IT!!! Absolutely miserable. Ate here pre-COVID and the food was great, but can’t believe how horrible their take-out act is

Review №86

2016-03-28 01:33:22

Best Indian food in the area. A bit expensive (about $36 + tip for 2) but in par with the area and we really enjoy the food. Weve been coming here for about twice a month in the last 5 mths. They are always busy but weve never had to wait more than 10 min for a table and food is never late. Definitely recommend it.

Review №87

2018-01-20 03:43:03

The food is good but the service is lacking. The take out service is not very good. Our order is frequently wrong. You should check your bag before you leave and check your receipt too. Make sure you were charged correctly. I’ve been overcharged on several occasions. The worst part is the fact that they don’t smile or respond friendly to you. It’s almost as if they are disgusted by your presence. They never smile or say come again. The people at the register who are dealing with pick up orders are downright rude. If you don’t practically tap them on the shoulder they won’t even acknowledge your existence. I don’t think that even customer service training or orientation would help. They’re all just angry to be there. I honestly am baffled by the fact that it’s a problem that has gone unrecognised.

Review №88

2017-02-19 13:11:43

I doubt I would visit or recommend Darbar for dinner, but the lunch buffet is another matter entirely. Its not Amber India Los Altos, but you can go in and exit with a large portion of tasty takeout (enough for leftovers) in 5 minutes for well under $20. When Im in a hurry to get back to my desk (as much as I dislike eating in the office), this is a go-to option.

Review №89

2022-04-12 01:21:40

Their butter chicken is the ultimate comfort food of my dreams. I order takeout from here all of the time and the food is always hot and fresh.

Review №90

2017-11-03 06:27:12

The food was very tasty. Unfortunately what would cause me not to go back is the poor customer service. The only person who was somewhat responsive was the nice man pouring our water. The hostess was less than eager to help us and barely gave a response, if any when asked a question. The individual cleaning our table knocked into my hand while I was signing the check and threw silverware into a dish a few inches from my face also as I was signing the check. When I looked up and said something, he could care less and did not acknowledge what he did. I would rather take my money to an establishment that at least tries to provide a moderate level of customer service.

Review №91

2020-10-07 05:21:48

4 stars because they accommodated Jain food ( no potatoes, onion, garlic) request. They made me Dry Okra sabji + Roti + Rice.Service is very good too and staff was very friendly. Definitely going to come here frequently now.Wish they add more Jain options

Review №92

2019-06-12 02:43:47

Food did not taste fresh. They could do with some better air ventilation to get rid the room of the spices odors that stick to your clothes. The lasso was so salty that I had to leave it.No one came to even ask how the food was.

Review №93

2018-04-09 20:11:45

I would give this restaurant negative stars if I had the option too. Quality of food is the worst ever I have seen among all restaurants I have visited in the US. Food is so old, over cooked, too dry. Thr taste is so bad your mouth pains estig the food. Thr staff also arent friendly at all. Very sad to see such a place in Palo Alto. I would ask ppl to not even look at the place if u pass by.

Review №94

2018-08-30 19:33:02

Good food, place was packed during lunch. Staff was helpful and friendly.

Review №95

2023-01-27 22:09:02

A+Respectful and caring staff, great food, and generous portion sizes. I would highly recommend it.

Review №96

2019-11-10 07:37:07

Pathetic food pathetic service. Chicken tikka was half cooked. Lamb kabab was not fresh. Chicken curry was even worse, tasteless. Idli was ok But sambhar was bad. Moreover they don’t let you finish your food and push you to Leave the table rudely. This happened with us and one other guests next to us even when half of the tables were free.

Review №97

2023-10-29 03:00:14

Love this place, food is great!

Review №98

2019-02-17 21:29:28

Their all you can eat buffets on the lunch is very good. It has lot of options. I love their Indian snack items on the buffet. One should definitely try their desserts which are authentic Indian kheer and gulab jamoon. Though its not as good as Indian gulab jamoons, butt definitely worth a try. I like the main course of the spread too, but didnt relish as much I relished the starters and the dessert. But the cost of buffet is sensible. For such a spread, the cost is less.

Review №99

2020-01-21 00:52:57

Darbar for the lunch buffet is always a tasty Indian treat thats easy on the wallet/good on a budget. It would be nice if they could post which items were allergen free (e.g. dairy free, egg free, gluten free, but free), but currently items are just listed as vegetarian/not vegetarian.

Review №100

2019-10-30 00:42:21

Go eat at Zareens it costs half the price and tastes much better. I could write that first sentence again to emphasize that I prefer (and this is just my opinion) Zareens on CA AVE to this place. My Girlfriend (she does not live in Canada) also thinks this but she might just say that to be agreeable... But MY opinion is that this place is not as good as the place that I said in the first sentence. Also if you eat at that place, the one in the first sentence order ahead cause there is a line that wraps around the block. Your time is precious so dont waste it on lines or on food that I, a person you dont know, didnt like to eat.Also they deleted my review from Yelp.

Review №101

2022-10-26 00:50:18

Love the food and the service. Very happy when they open back for dine-in. The food is great. A must try.

Review №102

2019-01-20 18:01:47

Very good Indian restaurant. I went several times with my work colleagues and family. During the day they have a self service choices with different plates from meat, chicken, fish and vegetarian off course. They serve Indian bread at the table and at the end the traditional seeds to complete our meal. At the night they have a la carte menu, no self service.

Review №103

2018-11-01 08:18:31

Not bad! Great value ($13 lunch buffet) and all of the choices were flavorful. Dessert wasn’t shabby and consisted of Gulub jamun and rice pudding, both were great! Wait staff were attentive. I will def return!

Review №104

2018-03-21 18:01:58

This is the worst restaurant that I have ever gone. I went to a buffet and did not like the taste of few items. So, I left few in the plate and walked out. A person came out with my plate and asked me if everything thing is good. I don’t want to hurt his feelings so I said everything is fine. But that idiot did not understand and yelled at me shouting “ then why did u waste this much of food?” Stupid people with zero customer concern. Never going to go to this place again.

Review №105

2017-02-05 01:36:24

The food is really good here, with certain caveats. Vegetarian biriyani could be spicier. Brad selection is limited because every entree cukes comes with rice and naan. Wait times could be long. If the place is busy, the staff might keep bothering you to order to get more people into the restaurant.

Review №106

2023-01-13 07:43:44

The best authentic place to eat Indian food. Would definitely recommend!!

Review №107

2022-05-02 01:14:12

Fantastic place for dinner or takeout - staff is very friendly and range of options is impressive. Would highly recommend their palak paneer, dosa, korma, samosa, etc etc.

Review №108

2011-01-07 17:27:49

This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Palo Alto. The prices may seem steep, but rice, naan, dal, and raita are included. The food is great. Ive never had bad service, and Ive never had a disappointed friend.

Review №109

2018-05-27 07:38:47

Went for the lunch buffet. I loved the spicy curry (dont remember which one it was, since I took a bit of everything). Knocked one star off because their curries were not hot enough for me, but for that price, its all good.

Review №110

2017-04-26 21:53:18

Great food, great location & really great crowd.This restaurant looks like a favorite of large numbers of non-Indians in the locality, no wonders!Food quantity is also quite good - 1 curry should be good enough for 2 people.

Review №111

2016-11-18 01:22:29

Loved the authentic Indian food served in the lunch buffet here with all the kebabs and curries. They had decent number of vegetarian options as well. Only that the restaurant feels a little cramped with a lingering smell of curry.

Review №112

2012-05-18 23:24:54

The Aloo Gobhi (Fresh cauliflower and potatoes cooked with herbs and spices) was amazing! BUT we live like 3 min from that restaurant and we ordered here the 3rd time. I always have the Aloo Gobhi and my husband always has the buttered chicken NOT spicy for take out. Every time it was super spicy. The last 2 times we extra ordered NOOOT spicy and they said ok but again it was super spicy so we called and complained this time. Theyre not good with complaints at all. The lady just said they cant make it not spicy/mild. We asked her why she never tells us on the phone when we order it not spicy!?! But no answer just that they cant make it mild. Not cool! No money back no Im sorry. That was the last time we ordered here! Although my food was very good. The prices are ok but not the cheapest.

Review №113

2022-06-25 04:20:03

Yummy food love to visit this place we were on a short trip and we visited darbar… Tried paneer do pyaza,Chana masala,Butter chicken and lamb curry… highly recommended… must try

Review №114

2013-07-22 03:16:20

Lamb vindaloo is awesomely spicy and its so good. Totally recommend if you like hot n spicy. Chicken biryani sucks!!!! No good. Overall, great ambience with good attentive server. Little expensive. Will visit again, not for the biryani but definitely Vindaloo.

Review №115

2023-01-11 03:19:38

The food was really tasty and the service was excellent. I will visit again soon for sure!!!

Review №116

2017-08-14 02:16:44

The food is okay,but too spicy. It helped that I was with coworkers that know about the cuisine. I would like to have more information on the dishes to help with people unfamiliar with the dishes. Price is just right for lunch.

Review №117

2016-06-20 17:40:13

Their lunch buffet has wonderful food and so does their dinner. The atmosphere is pleasing, and the service is spot on. Dinner is usually a big wait, so get there early. They also do take out!

Review №118

2017-10-15 19:05:15

The prices are higher than average, but...absolutely the best Palak Paneer Ive ever had. Superbly creamy and delicious. Naan bread was crispy and toasty, too...this place is on another level.

Review №119

2022-12-18 23:38:56

Excellent flavors from a traditional Indian menu. Basic but worth a visit.

Review №120

2013-10-13 20:06:07

This restaurant provides tasty Indian food at a very reasonable price. All of the main entrees come with daal, raita, naan, and heaping portion of rice. All of the curries that I have tried there have been first-rate (chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, malai kofta) and even the plain rice is quite tasty.The only dish I didnt particularly enjoy was the vegetable biriyani. I would prefer the large vegetables (e.g. carrots and potatoes) to be sliced into smaller chunks and for the overall dish to be spicier.Overall, this is a great place to eat!

Review №121

2016-07-08 01:16:15

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali specials are great flavor and value. Easily can be shared by two people. Theres never a wait to get in here and they are open pretty late. Masala chai is good.

Review №122

2017-07-06 20:06:59

I ordered chicken biryani to go for lunch and it was one of worst biryanis Ive eaten. The rice was very dry and didnt have much flavor. I feel they might have given me the buffet biryani even though I payed A la Carte price.Im not sure Im going back to this place in a hurry.

Review №123

2020-01-25 04:34:31

Great food. Fast and promt service. Atmosphere real Indian casual restaurant. It felt a bit like in an ambience if the 60s in its style of interior decorations.

Review №124

2018-05-14 03:22:17

Excellent vegetarian food! They accommodated our allergy needs and were very friendly. We especially liked the Saag Paneer and the Bhindi dishes. The quantities were very generous as well.

Review №125

2023-08-07 23:12:00

Best Tikka masala ever!

Review №126

2019-08-21 02:56:39

The food is ok but ordering delivery always has issues. It seems they never have the order ready when the driver gets to the restaurant and this causes a bunch of issues with the driver leaving, then another one coming. Its always a pain to order so Ive given up.

Review №127

2018-11-07 05:49:29

Food was amazing. Service was great too!! Ambience not special occasion worthy but not too bad. Would definitely go back or do take out for the quality of food!

Review №128

2017-07-18 04:24:29

Hardly any options for vegetarian and whatever is available it is crappy. Never ever order vegetarian vindaloo, if you end up ordering it will surely test the strength of your stomach. Only thing good about this place is decor.

Review №129

2022-06-08 20:52:43

Ordered Chicken tikka, Fish curry, Chole and Naan. Chicken tikka was too dry, Fish Curry was ok, chole was good and Naan was ok .

Review №130

2017-06-09 14:17:08

Food is good, service is fast, price is on the higher side but ok for the location, staff could be a little more welcoming. Staff was very attentive though, refilling water as soon as my glass was empty.

Review №131

2020-06-29 22:07:18

One of my favorite Indian places of all time! The food is delicious and the service is very good, the staff is very efficient and the place is well run.

Review №132

2020-11-28 19:45:16

Worst south Asian food I’ve ever eaten. Meat is poorly cooked and not tasty. Legit don’t understand the hype/positive reviews about this place.

Review №133

2013-03-25 23:52:44

One of my favorite restaurants in downtown palo alto. Gets pretty busy during Stanford breaks. I would recomend almost everything on the menu, however the masala vada is a personal favorite

Review №134

2016-10-23 16:46:00

Really good indian food with plenty of options to chose from. Nice atmosphere. The place is really popular, so sometimes you have to wait for a table, but its worth it.

Review №135

2022-11-04 01:03:45

Everything tastes great. Just our go to place in the vicinity. Vindaloo is my favorite.

Review №136

2018-06-18 03:58:28

Unidentified female and a great team growing in the morning and will I close my mouth to my mom and dad to help him get to know if he is the only way that your order is going on in your room for the next day and you have to tell you that the dasher and his room are going extinct and the girl who was in redwood county in a favian main station in a bit at a time when he is a man of a family of people that I can fast forward into and the place up there and the dad would be appropriate to be class and not be a problem for me trying

Review №137

2020-06-16 19:48:49

No utensils. $60 worth of takeaway lunch and not a single spoon, fork or napkin. We like the food (3x visit during June) but prices are high and inconsistent takeaway experiences so far.

Review №138

2016-02-13 05:07:52

I disagree on some posts saying that the food is inexpensive. I rarely spend less than $50 on two people ordering average priced plates. The food is great though, and the portions are pretty big. Great service.

Review №139

2018-07-11 17:38:20

The food is delicious, but the staff is weird. I am a women and they rarely talk to me directly. They usually just focus solely on the man I am with. This might be a cultural difference, but it’s not a pleasant experience.

Review №140

2017-09-23 03:08:16

Very good Indian food at a great price in a casual and low key setting. They are not afraid to serve up more traditional and spicy dishes.

Review №141

2018-02-17 02:53:32

Worst experience at this place.Food is average but if you are an Indian I would not recommend you to go to this place. Poor Customer service.They will not serve free starters to Indians but anyone else next to you will get it (because they are not Indian)This happened with us 4 times.Finally we stopped going there.There will be two women at the front desk their reactions are weird very rude.I will never go to this place again.

Review №142

2016-03-01 04:20:27

I have been here twice, and both times really loved the dishes. The menu is quite large and affordable, so I would definitely recommend this for dinner at Palo Alto.

Review №143

2019-04-03 18:42:56

One of the best Indian food places in the area. Althoug its not a fancy place, the food is always great, quick and friendly service, clean.

Review №144

2018-06-24 04:02:23

The best Indian food I have had in two years of living in USA. The naan was so light and crispy.. it breaks with three fingers. The best naan ever!

Review №145

2017-12-26 17:03:36

Ive gone to several Indian restaurant and this is hands down the best one. The service is good, the waiters are quick and attentive, and the food is delicious.

Review №146

2023-02-07 06:18:32

Delicious as always, and so friendly and nice! Highly recommended!

Review №147

2016-10-08 19:50:54

Best Indian restaurant in the Bay Area. Classic thali for serving wonderfully tasting food.If you go, make sure you try their kheer -- its heavenly!

Review №148

2018-12-02 03:52:03

Dont bother with veg biryani. Theyll bring out veg pulao with 4 spoons of raita, dhal and naan. Dhal and naan were welcome additions, but everything else was just meh.

Review №149

2012-07-20 05:07:54

Good food, inexpensive, good service, generous portions. Its a simple place - one room, no fancy decor, not pretentious. Seems popular with Stanford students.

Review №150

2017-02-18 06:04:07

The food was decent. The onion pakora had besan flavor. Paneer pakoda was raw. The veggies tasted decent. Rice also didnt taste that good.

Review №151

2018-04-29 00:31:39

We went the third day after they opening and we were impressed with everything. The food, the service, and.the decor was all great! We will need eating there again!

Review №152

2022-09-12 01:30:18

Tasty food (I liked the Mushroom Bhajee), very friendly staff.

Review №153

2016-04-30 02:11:43

Delicious food at a very reasonable price. Had food catered for about 35 people, after a brief initial confusion with ordering the food, the manager was helpful with suggestions and delivered on time, hot, and delicious!

Review №154

2014-06-08 18:33:24

My wife and I went for dinner it was very nicely decorated, the staff was very friendly and attentive. Food was very delicious and fairly priced, will definitely return to try the lunch Buffet.

Review №155

2015-02-02 09:07:44

I particularly recommend this restaurant.The waiters were competent and the place nicely decorated.Most importantly, they served the best Palak Paneer Ive had so far.

Review №156

2015-11-16 22:33:36

Ive been in Darbar with some friends from work for a couple times. The food is good, but not great. They are a buffet and the price per person is $16.

Review №157

2017-06-19 03:57:20

Amazing butter chicken and Lamb saaag. Creamy buttery and delicious. Would get those again. Tried to order the rice kheer but that got lost in the order somehow.

Review №158

2018-12-12 17:57:15

Disappointing..1st mango lassi yummy- smooth and creamy, 2nd was lumpy. Aloo ghobi.. no potatoes only cauliflower.. very blah. No potatoes in lamb vindaloo either.. has gone down hill..

Review №159

2015-07-02 22:54:56

The lunch buffet is good but you get bored after some number of visits since its the same set of items every time (everyday rather). Lamb and Chicken were good.

Review №160

2020-10-19 05:58:52

I went here for lunch. The buffet was great. I liked the butter chicken. The waiters were friendly and helpful.

Review №161

2012-06-03 16:09:47

Ive been stubbornly ordering the vindaloo here on every visit for over a decade. I always end up all sweaty, but it is so good that I am powerless to resist it.

Review №162

2017-07-14 15:33:22

The best Indian food in the area, possibly on the peninsula. Gets a little crowded at dinner time. Call ahead and they can accommodate large groups.

Review №163

2018-07-15 05:12:19

Delicious food, great experience. Probably the best Indian food I have had in the area so far.

Review №164

2023-01-07 17:41:07

The best tasting north Indian food and excellent customer service in the Bay Area. Looking forward to my next visit soon.

Review №165

2019-02-22 02:10:39

Pretty close to authentic Indian food that anyone can have and enjoy, even young kids. Very nice wait staff and food.

Review №166

2019-11-29 11:01:03

Open later than most and have good sized servings of tasty food. The Thali meal is really enough for 2 to share.

Review №167

2019-10-10 22:30:07

Tried Veg Biryani and Kheer, Kheer was ok but Biryani was no near the mark. It was basically bad mix of rice water and vegetables.

Review №168

2019-02-05 11:13:46

Pretty good dining! Tasty, generous portions, and the vindaloo is pretty potent: a rare example of US ’spicy’ living up to the threat!

Review №169

2013-09-25 01:34:47

Get the Thali so you can try out different dishes in small servings. Doesnt really get much crowded. Reasonably priced too.

Review №170

2018-01-13 04:08:20

I love two things here, the vindaloo and the dosas. lots of the other food is a bit blame and oily, but is you stuck in that side you can have a good meal.

Review №171

2016-05-18 07:50:49

Good food, nice enough workers, parking is tricky but they need to step their take out/to go packaging up. Often times spills all over the place.

Review №172

2022-07-22 18:07:56

One of the best Indian restaurants in the Bay Area with options for all.

Review №173

2018-08-05 00:15:14

One of the better indian buffets in the area. Lot of variety with both veg and non vegetarian options. Its average price is a plus.

Review №174

2020-01-30 22:17:44

Went to the restaurant at 02:10pm (20mins before closing) The guy at the register was so hard stressing on the time that I can have the food if I can eat and leave by 02:30 as they close at the mark.Just don’t look at Stanford, look at companies around that too!!!

Review №175

2017-08-30 03:24:39

I have NEVER had a bad meal here. Plenty of vegetarian options as well as carnivorous. The staff is ever-helpful.

Review №176

2020-12-18 21:24:38

Best place i had ever seen best food best service.. I ordered ct masala,butter chicken and chicken vinadaloo everything was good will be back sooner ..

Review №177

2015-10-10 21:54:02

Really enjoyed the lunch buffet here! Would like a bit more variety, but overall very tasty.

Review №178

2016-10-28 00:25:44

I liked the food. Portions are very large and curries are served with bread and rice. They did provided me with a complementary starter with curries.

Review №179

2018-07-28 04:54:12

Friendly service and excellent food.

Review №180

2017-01-27 05:06:38

Good Indian at decent prices.

Review №181

2017-07-03 00:38:43

I love Indian food, but I never tried your restaurant yet. I will be dining in really soon hopefully sometime this month.

Review №182

2016-12-28 03:42:56

Nothing special, all food seems pre-prepared. Sauces taste flat. Standard touristic Indian food menu (vindaloo, tandoori, etc).

Review №183

2020-01-18 03:19:14

Great, fresh Indian food in a convenient location. Our go to for classic Indian fare in Palo Alto.

Review №184

2021-01-22 03:00:14

Great place great food great prices for the amount of food they give you.More than enough food it lasted for 3 meals

Review №185

2018-02-04 05:52:25

Awesome authentic Indian food. Cosy and nice. Taste reminded me of Ohris Metro from Hyderabad.

Review №186

2013-10-02 20:32:40

Delicious! Their portions are generous - an order of fish masala was enough for two meals.

Review №187

2017-06-12 04:26:47

The food does take awhile to come out but that just shows its fresh, and always amazing!! My favorite in Palo Alto.

Review №188

2019-10-11 22:45:12

Ordered takeout for a friend. Good service and reasonable prices but why add ice to the mango lassi?

Review №189

2021-09-28 06:19:41

Getting stingy with their accompaniments e.g. v. v. small portion of daal. Cmon guys, be more generous - youll still make a profit~!

Review №190

2023-02-08 21:30:50

Nice buffet 😄

Review №191

2015-11-19 08:00:58

Went for lunch buffet. Found food was sweet. All curries feel like they have sugar in it.

Review №192

2015-06-01 18:48:17

Lunch buffet is delicious with many options depending on the day. Its pretty warm and usually crowded inside but well worth the short wait.

Review №193

2018-05-05 03:19:21

I dont think I will go there again. The restaurant was not clean and flys are all over the dinning area.The staff asked me to sit on a table which covers my flys.

Review №194

2020-10-04 05:03:19

Great veggie samosas and garlic naan, Ill definitely come back to try their lamb

Review №195

2018-10-05 23:18:41

Very good Darbar Indian Cuisine really Indian food good taste one thing important every items of food are fresh highRecommendations

Review №196

2021-06-19 17:30:32

Always good, easy parking n pickup. Friendly too. Prices going up but what isnt.

Review №197

2018-05-27 02:36:35

Darbar continues to satisfy. Excellent fish curry and paneer. Generous portions. Excellent service.

Review №198

2022-07-08 23:52:24

Food is excellent, wonderful friendly serviceEverything fresh and delicious

Review №199

2018-05-21 02:41:48

I like this place, was in the area for a work event and stopped in during the buffet.Overall I’d go again and recommend others to go