Desi Dhaba
401 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139
Desi Dhaba Menu
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Address :
401 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA, 02139 - Phone (617) 547-4121
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Joy C.
Food: Nothing super outstanding, but suppose I was famished so the chicken was pleasant to my pallet. Had lunch buffet. You really can't beat the $11 price Service: Average. At least they checked before removing a plate and they refilled my water. Vibe: For lunch buffet, I'm quite upset that they don't have AC on a 90-degree day. But since the food is decent, I refrained from throwing a fit.
(4)Kenneth R.
I was invited to dinner at Desi Dhaba by two friends who count themselves among the regulars. We started with an order of the vegetable pakora and then moved on to three dishes that were ordered from a page of "specials" that we found on the table: a bhindi dish that I think was lahsuni bhindi, a chicken dish and a shrimp dish. The orders came with a huge bowl of rice. Everything was delicious! I thought that Desi Dhaba was significantly better than a competitor in Central Square that I've been to for lunch a couple of times. The drink options are not glorious, but I ordered a large bottle of Kingfisher and was glad that I did!
(4)Damian W.
Food: 3.0/5.0 Service: 1.5/5.0 Value: 2.5/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 2.5/5.0 I've heard decent things about this place so decided to give it a try. All in all, I think the food was fine for a convenient joint in the neighborhood, but definitely not worth going out of your way for. I'm honestly a bit surprised by all the positive comments on the food, though keep in mind that I tend to be more carnivorous at South Asian joints than the typical clientele. The place seemed fine save for two fruit flies flying around the chutney at the beginning of the meal, and service was courteous until phone calls became more important than getting my credit card.
(3)B P.
Went to this place for lunch buffet on a weekday with a friend. Half the chafing dishes were empty and the rest had barely anything in them. Staff didn't seem in any rush to bring out any more food. Picked through whatever was available and ordered a couple of beers. Soon after more people start coming in and there is a line forming for the buffet. The waiter comes by, picks up the plates and drops off the check. I take the hint that they want us out even though we haven't been there that long (we were barely done with our first plate of food and hadn't even finished our drinks). I put the payment down which was quickly taken. Shortly after another waiter comes by asking if we can leave because people are waiting! As if mediocre Indian food was not bad enough, they had to add complementary incompetent and rude servers to the mix.
(1)Meg K.
Just had their great lunch buffet yesterday! There's something so satisfying about walking into a restaurant starving and just getting food immediately, so my review may be skewed... but I think the food was genuinely really good! I like that the lunch buffet has a bunch of vegetarian options (4 or 5, I think). Their dishes also had varying level of spiciness, so you can try everything to find the level you're looking for. I think the eggplant dish was my favorite, but the vegetable chole was great too. Naan is toasty and delicious. Yep, for $9, you couldn't ask for a more filling and tasty lunch.
(4)Jane L.
I love this place. My friend introduced this place to me as his favorite "indian" restaurant and since then, this place became my favorite indian restaurant. The Chicken curry is amazingly good and also the portion is generous. I usually split the dish into two so that I can eat for two dinners.
(5)I. H.
Great food! A little pricey, but the food is fresh and SO flavorful. The wait staff are very friendly and attentive. Waiting for your food can take awhile sometimes, but it's made to order not old food that just needs to be heated up. Overall, great atmosphere and the best authentic Indian Cuisine in or near Boston. Highly recommended!
(4)Ted J.
The food was good, just a little spicy. Service was good, but a little slow. Folks there are very kind. We were worried that the food wasn't going to be good because there was hardly anyone in the place, but it was excellent and they gave us plenty. would visit again
(4)Addie R.
What I love about this place is that it's open on holidays, like Christmas and New Year's Day, which happened to be the two days I went. The food is great and an excellent value - I paid something like $13 for the thali dinner (which included naan and dessert too) and $9 for the lunch buffet (which included dessert and chai too). Lunch buffet was exactly what I needed after a night of drinking to ring in 2014. Helps that it's right around the corner from my place! I see people eating by themselves here all the time, so don't feel like you need to rally up a group to go in - the seats by the windows are great spots to enjoy your meal and people watch. When it's nicer out, they put chairs and tables outside so you can eat outdoors. They offer brunch but I haven't been here for brunch. The service is friendly and attentive, and from their South Indian offerings (like dosa), you can tell they have a wide variety of menu options.
(5)Nisha K.
ordered chicken tikka kabob take out - portion size was amazing! pretty good in taste. i would order from here again.
(4)Maggie B.
We've been ordering from Desi Dhaba for years, it's our favorite Indian restaurant in the area. The naan, chicken korma, chicken tikka maslala, etc. is all great. My only complaint is they are slow. Whenever we order for pick up, not matter the circumstance, we have to wait 10mins when we get there. They always offer a glass of water while I wait, but it is a bit annoying.
(4)Jonny C.
I can say, with full confidence, that Desi Dhaba's lunch buffet has never caused me to shit myself in my office. That is 2 stars for them right out of the gates. The extent of my experience here is the bi-annual stop in for the buffet lunch, and as far as Indian buffets go, it does the trick. Decent variety, well priced, clean albeit simple environs and the aforementioned lack of immediate onset incontinence / and or wrenching gut pains. Decent outdoor seating when its nice. Really, what more do you want? You knew the idea of Indian buffet for lunch was questionable at best to begin with.
(3)M. J.
Just perfect. I have tried many Indian restaurants in recent months and found varying quality. This one was perfect for what it is. The sauces had just enough spice for me and everything from the naan to the chicken was prepared very well. I ordered the special Thali which I don't even think is on the menu. Someone at another table had it and I just pointed to his meal when ordering because it looked so good. I think it had lamb, tandoori chicken, butter chicken, rice, naan, yogurt sauce and samosa. I couldn't finish it all, but I really wanted to! Paired with Tiger beer, perfection. I can't wait to come back. Fast service, too which was very helpful.
(5)Vinita C.
I really feel that its just not enough to serve good food but to serve it and welcome customets with politeness, happy and welcoming face. My family and I went there today evening. First of all we were not greeted as one is used to at restaurants. We didn't mind that. The attendant took us to one table but we found another spot to be better and asked him whether we can sit there. He reluctantly said "ok". He had this " God knows who the hell are these people and why they are here and why I have to serve them". I know it sounds ridiculous but its real. Half of our interest in eating there was lost after looking at his expression. Somehow we made ourselves sit at the table. The man gave us the menu and he started putting napkins in front of us like he is being forced to do it and he does not want to do it. Then we just lost it and left the place without saying a word. And they didn't even bother to ask us why were we leaving! I don't know if it happened to others or people who wrote good reviews don't care about how they are treated at the restaurants but we found it very humiliating. I am never going back to this place again.
(1)Cassandra T.
Ok, I've changed my mind about Desi. I cam here the other day, and service was not very good. The buffet food was bland at best. For example, there was saag, without paneer or anything in it, that just tasted like mushed spinach. Obviously, it's good it tasted like spinach, but someone skimped on the spices. Finally, the dishes were wet and kind of dirty. One had a squashed bug on it. When I brought to the attending server, he just took it and said nothing. Yep, I had a hard time eating my meal. I should have left after seeing the bug.
(2)Sharon O.
The plain nan was among the best nan that I've had. Very tasty! Is that a weird comment to start off with? It's true. A few of us have walked by this place remarking that it didn't look that busy, but we decided to take a chance one evening- and everyone liked their food. A friend got biryani, another got lamb, and I got chicken. The portions for the lamb and chicken dishes were a lot smaller than the biryani (who was the only one with leftovers)- and a little expensive when you take the size into account. They have a lunch buffet seems like a good deal, so might have to check that out. I really hope nan is a part of it! The decor inside is simple- it's more somewhere you go with a group of friends than to go on a 1st date and the like. The staff was kind. One note to know ahead is that there is a two credit card maximum for splitting.
(3)Apoorva A.
The food is so good and reasonably priced. It also tastes just like home-cooked food and not greasily at all. So 5-star! :)
(5)Read W.
There for lunch buffet today. Somewhat small selection, but most of it was vegetarian which is my preference, so it worked fine for me. Mild spicing, which isn't what I would have chosen, but understandable for a buffet. Everything I had was at least good, and the baingen bartha was really outstanding. I do think the saag needed more flavor. They had "naan pakoras," which I think must be a trick for anglos--I've never seen it elsewhere & can't find reference to it online--naan (flatbread) dipped in batter and deep fried, cheap and filling. That said, it was actually kinda tasty--the batter must be nicely seasoned. Quite greasy, which I imagine most people wouldn't like; otoh, it meant I could taste the oil which tasted completely fresh, which is quite unusual and a really good sign for a restaurant.
(4)Xin Z.
Their naan is the best I've ever had!
(4)Kanu G.
One of the better Indian restaurants (I only use delivery) close to Cambridge/Allston. I am a pretty frequent customer and have only good things to say about the food. I love the dal makhani, goat curry and mint parantha.
(4)J J.
I just started eating here about 6 months ago and it was my first introduction to Indian cuisine. They're very patient with "newbies" like me, who are still learning what kind of spice tolerance I have. Their buffet is a *great* way to try several dishes inexpensively, though I'm a huge fan of their coconut soup and chicken coconut korma. I agree with some other folks that the service is slow, and I wouldn't go there if I was in a hurry, but that tells me that each dish is made to order instead of being kept in vats, waiting to be ordered. Also, the staff are very attentive and pleasant.
(4)Alex L.
I've gone here to try the thali special, which is a combination of different dishes as a meal, and the buffet. The thali was pretty good in my opinion with the kebab being the star of the show (honestly one of the best kebabs I've ever had), but the one criticism I would have is that everything was a little too salty and greasy, which can make you feel sick at the end of the meal. During the meal it was great though! The buffet on the other hand was probably the best I've had in Cambridge so far. It had a good selection of items including vegetarian items, and for some reason it was not as salty as the regular entrees. At any rate the buffet food was excellent, and the naan was fresh baked and definitely the best I have had in a long time. Make sure you get the naan when you go here!
(4)Alex L.
Central Square has many great Indian places, but Desi Dhaba is perhaps one of the tastiest. It is a little more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area, but is still reasonable. It costs around $20 per person (naan, tax, and tip included). I really like their chicken korma and lamb rogan josh. They also have pre-set dinners, which feature several meat dishes, a samosa, and naan, though I have been happier ordering individual dishes a la carte (and perhaps sharing a few with my friends). The place is fairly big, and I have never seen a big crowd here. Nevertheless, oftentimes the service can be slow. So, this place is recommended if you have time for a leisurely -- and pleasant -- dinner.
(4)Camille R.
Ew.
(1)Bhavika P.
We stopped by this place to have quick bites and ordered for a plain dosa and papdi chaat...it looked really nice but taste was literally below avg...d chutney were really tangy and yoghurt in papdi chaat was sour too. Though the positive is that it was a clean place and staff was attentive. Maybe we went at off time around 4 and that could be the reason for food not tasting that good. Probably they are good for north indian food.
(1)Ms. P S.
Landed here because alternative across street (Pu Pu Hot Platter) was a sad yucky option . This place was surprisingly yummy - mostly ordered veggie appetizers and they were pretty ok. The one main dish we ordered - the veggie kofta was delish. Servers were nice & polite .
(3)Peter K.
Food was nothing special. Lunch buffet had a few vegetarian dishes. The chana and dal makhani are made with vegetable oil, so they're vegan.
(2)Katie G.
Disappointing overall. The plates and silverware were caked with who knows what, bugs were flying around landing in the food, the coke I ordered was flat and the service was insanely slow, especially since my table was one of 4 total filled in the entire restaurant. The food was decent, the chicken coconut korma was tasty as was the paneer special. The two tandoori orders (combo meat and combo paneer/veggie) were ok, but the meat was pretty dried out. I would get the food again if the chef moved to a different restaurant, but the restaurant itself put a damper on the whole experience. Kind of felt the urge to run home and shower after leaving the joint. Oh well, there are plenty of other delicious Indian restaurants to choose from!
(2)Vai N.
Buffet is good option to try out considering price at which it is offered. Overall food is OK. I ordered Pakoda platter. I feel it is too much oily. After i ate few pieces I felt little sick.
(3)Lisa W.
Got (free!) delivery from Desi Dhaba last night.. mmmm! First of all, their delivery radius is really large! We're a good 3 miles away and still in their delivery zone (did I mention that delivery was free?). We got: meat samosa garlic naan chicken vindaloo lamb saag Everything was delicious. The curries were slightly spicy which I loved, and best of all, they came under the 45 min delivery time! I am impressed.
(4)Ziyan C.
Note: this review is based on going here 3-4 years ago, so the situation may have changed since then. In general, I love Indian buffets. Love, love, love. And I don't have very high standards.. been to the higher end ($15 buffet at Kashmir) and lower end ($7-$8 around Central), and both are great to me - I just love to eat. So it should be pretty hard to disappoint me, but Desi Dhaba has succeeded in that. I just remember the food looking old/stale, and being rather tasteless compared to other restaurants. Not downright bad - but probably one of the worst Indian buffets I've been to.
(1)Abishek C.
Disappointed with the bad quality of food, rudeness of the wait staff and extremely bad service. There are better options for good Indian food in Cambridge. If I had the option of rating half star, would have done that. Will not recommend this place to anyone!
(1)Josephine L.
I didn't have high expectations for Desi Dhaba since Boston, and esp. Central Sq. in Cambridge is known for having lots of middle-of-the-road, not bad but not good Indian restaurants. So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my dinner! The Tomato Soup truly hit the spot and was piping hot, flavorful, perfectly spiced and just plain delicious. I love soup, I love hot soup, I love hot, savory soup, I love hot, savory, spiced soup. So guess how I felt about this soup? If your answer includes "love", you get a piece of naan! My Chicken Vindaloo was appropriately spicy, but not spicy enough for me. Then I made the mistake of trying my boyfriend's Chicken Coconut Korma. Oh, wowee! I've tried the CCK at many places because my boyfriend always gets it and we have a lot of Indian food, but Desi Dhaba's is the best I've had. It was so good, actually, that I ended up finishing the Korma he couldn't finish--which made sense since I kept sneaking bites throughout the meal. :) The naan came fresh, hot and crisp. No complaints there. Dessert was a refreshing Kheer. One order was enough for the two of us because they give quite a huge portion. It was cold and sweet, exactly as Kheer should be, chock full of cardamon-y goodness. Yum! Surprised by how good this place is. Considering it's just a hop and a skip from my apt, I'll definitely be back!
(5)Wen-fai F.
This place really has the most craveable Shahi Paneer in the Boston area. Whether its authentic or not, I have no idea but god, it is delicious. I tasted my first Shahi Paneer 4 years ago and it was at Desi Dhaba. Since then, it has become my favorite dish (followed by Malai Kofta as a close second) to order at any Indian restaurant but no one does it quite like Desi. For those who have not been exposed to the wonder that is Shahi Paneer, I don't care if you're an avid meat-eater or grew up on a farm eating meat all day every day... TRY IT. It's nutty, creamy, slightly sweet, and the paneer is cooked so well. So unless you're lactose intolerant...no excuses. And I find myself writing this rampant review at 2 in the morning because I am craving it!
(4)Hiro T.
To start off I'd say walking into the restaurant was a nice experience. The decor is nice, but unfortunately it all kind of ends there. There really weren't that many choices available on the bar. The flavor was just okay. The tandoori chicken was a little dry and rubbery. The other items on the bar tasted very similar to each other. They did have something that looked like an empanada that was really good. Not good enough to give the place three starts. I probably wouldn't recommend the place to anyone unless they just had to eat Indian buffet in that area, and I probably won't be returning.
(2)Whitney K.
I would give them 0 if I could. I ordered a dinner for delivery over an hour and a half ago. It never came. He was extremely confused when I called him and said I wanted my money refunded and I didn't want the food. Apparently, a bridge was closed (what bridge?) and he said I should have told them. Absolutely ridiculous.
(1)Shaina P.
Although plagued by construction for years, Desi Dhaba has seriously benefited (like its neighbor, Luna Cafe) by the open patio out its front door. On a perfect night in June, the hot-but-not-too-hot food (this isn't a review for their buffet) here matched the delicious weather. I'm not claiming to be an expert on Indian fare, but for what is served in other Indian restaurants (and there are A LOT in Cambridge), I thought this place matched the rest well. Dave and I ordered a meat dish (lamb vindaloo) and a vegetarian dish (name, can't remember), garlic naan, and veggie pakoras. The entrees came with plenty of basmati rice and each entree was served in its own personal crock (hot hot hot!!). The pakoras tasted fresh and weren't overcooked and the naan was smoky from the tandoor oven. They also served your meal with the three condiments: minty stuff, tamarind sauce, and chutney: in clean glass servers. The beer was served in a frosted glass and everything was more than edible. And if you're lucky, your friend, MMC, might see you while traveling via the 1 on Mass Ave and tweet @ you.
(4)Andy V.
My business partner and I frequent Desi Dhaba during the week to enjoy excellent Indian food in relative peace and quiet. It is true that if you come to the restaurant expecting white-glove service you'll quickly realize that you're not going to get it here. But fortunately the food from the dinner menu is fresh, savory, and well-prepared. We've also found it to be fairly priced. I have not tried the lunch buffet. The atmosphere is relaxed, plenty of dark colors, Indian prints adorning the walls, and the seating area is large and spacious. This does not prevent the host staff from seating you nearly on top of another occupied table in a restaurant that is nearly empty (why do they do that??). But if you are looking for excellent Indian food at a reasonable price in a restaurant that is comfortable and spacious, and can also tolerate poky and sometimes indifferent service, then you'll find Desi Dhaba a worthwhile dining experience
(3)Hank R.
Ok Indian. Had the vegetarian desli. A little heavy, but ok taste.
(3)Sophie P.
Though I am not a fan of indian food, this place makes me fall in love with curry shrimp.
(5)T. Y.
I guess I've been spoiled by the nonstop stream of out-of-this-world Indian food provided by my Indian in-laws. I went last week for the lunch buffet, and it was by far the worst Indian food I've had in years. Bland and mushy, completely unremarkable. I couldn't find a single chunk of paneer in the spinach goop. There was only one stale piece of naan left when we arrived, and it wasn't replenished for the duration of our 40 minute stay. The chai was a nice touch though. I'd say I'd try them for a non-buffet meal before completely giving up on them, but really with all the good Indian food in my life I doubt I'll bother.
(2)Shannon M.
Look, if you're stuck in Cambridge and have a sudden craving for Chicken Vindaloo which you must satisfy RIGHT AWAY, then go to Desi Dhaba. It's a small step up from Dosa Factory (though also a bit more expensive); I've admittedly never been to Indian Pavilion in Central, so I can't compare to that. If I'm willing to travel any non-negligible distance for my Indian food, I'm going to India Quality in Kenmore instead. For take-out, Desi Dhaba is solid. The food is good, if a little on the oilier side. There's one guy that is always the waiter there, and you'll have to wait a minute or two for him to get around to printing your receipt and running your card. He'll get you a glass of water while you wait at the bar, though. When he gets you your receipt, there'll be a line for tip. Now, call me cheap or what have you, but I don't give a tip for take out. You've smiled at me and given me a glass of water. That doesn't deserve a few bucks. He'll legitimately stop being cheery with you, though, once you've handed back the receipt without a tip. This has actually happened more than once, so to the Internet as fact it goes. For dining in, have the expectation that your dinner will take at least an hour and a half (the lunch buffet is obviously a different story, and FYI, it's a steal and a solid lunch for the price). This is totally fine if you have the time and just want to chat with your dinnermates-- just know that the chance of you getting out in anything less than that is very slim. Again, cheerless man will be your waiter. There's been a new girl around recently who may also be sticking around. Desi Dhaba is my go to spot for Indian food when I'm lazy, but for what you pay for what you get and for the experience, just suck it up and go to Dosa Factory for cheaper food or India Quality for actually good Indian food.
(2)Nishant A.
Good Food. Good Service. Recommended dishes: Dal Fry and Paratha. Best Indian Food at Central Sq.
(4)Kevin H.
Best Indian lunch buffet in Cambridge (11:30a-3:00p). The food had sufficient spice, unlike a lot of other lunch buffets that apparently cater to clientele who are more flavor-averse. Chicken Tikka Masala is great, as others have pointed out, and the samosa and pakora are fresh, not overcooked and delicious. Plenty of hot naan. Buffet also features palak paneer, chana masala, dal makhani (I think), and maybe two other dishes that I'm forgetting. One of them was a curry. Lot of fresh veggies and sauces and such. I have three complaints, though they don't discount this being the best Indian lunch buffet in town: 1) the staff seem to hate working here, and even though they are very efficient and fast, they seem quite annoyed at you asking for anything special; 2) the chai always seems to be out, and you have to brave asking the annoyed staff to make more if you want any; and 3) they don't have kheer. Overall, very delicious. I highly recommend.
(4)Ben H.
I couldn't have been happier with this place. Excellent Indian food, including south Indian dishes (thalis & dosas). I loved the pani puri as well. A number of inexpensive beer options and a nice atmosphere. The dishes are reasonably priced and of the highest quality. I left immensely satisfied. The only possible criticism I could offer is that there was no alcohol-infused mango cocktail on the menu. Such cocktails are delicious. However, I firmly believe that given their ability to make mango lassis and the presence of hard liquor, they could produce such a beverage if so implored. This is my new favorite Indian restaurant in Boston.
(5)Jay M.
I frequent Desi Dhaba for the lunch buffet because it's conveniently located just a couple of blocks from work. This review is based solely off my experiences at the lunch buffet. It's a steal at $8, but the selection is minimal. There are about 6-8 options-- more than half being vegetarian(which are tasty, but I'm a meat eater). The food is good, but lacks a certain punch. Maybe it's better ordering off the menu because it's more cost-effective to dumb down the buffet? I don't know. The naan is brought out in batches which is fantastic because it's always a fresh product, but the downside to that is that you have to wait when they run out-- especially painful when it's busy. The dining room is cozy and clean, but the service leaves much to be desired. There's usually just one waiter during lunch service and it's easy to understand that you can become swamped, but it's not that difficult to take a second to stop by the table once between sitting us down and handing us the check. Water doesn't fill itself. Anywho, Desi Dhaba is a middle of the road experience as far as lunch buffets go. The price justifies the food quality, but convenience keeps me coming back.
(3)Mitz K.
I had been to the buffet here. The Tandoori Chicken was not at all close to Authentic or Dhaba style as per the name. It was very bland and cold. The Chicken tikka masala wasn't so good as well. The only think little ok were probably the Naans. I would be sorry to say that Chiken Tikka Masala is not the legit authentic Chiken tikka Masala. I could probably challenge and make a better one than what I ate there. A Dhaba style cuisine is supposed to be the most authentic North Indian Cuisine and this one did deflate my expectation completely. Sorry folks there is a lot to improve on if you really claim to have Dhaba style cuisine. I would recommend taking some tips from Singh's cafe. They are so awesome with their spice level and so much authentic. This reminds me I should definitely yelp about these guys as I love them so much they do deserve a 5 star from me. Sorry for this negative review but it was totally a disappointment for me.
(1)Ann G.
My issues are with their dishonest policies and poor service. If you print menus with coupons on them, you have to honor them... We tried to redeem the "Table for Two" coupon which is buy one get one half off an entree of equal or lesser value. We were told we couldn't use it this time, we had to use it NEXT TIME. The coupon says "only one per customer," and "cannot be combined with other coupons." Nowhere does it say it can't be used your first time eating at the restaurant (how would they even know it's our first time there?) or only for delivery or takeout. As sincerely as possible, I asked if they would remember my face so I could use the coupon next time, and they responded they would. How ridiculous. There won't be a next time, I'm not going back. We were told they had printed new menus with 'corrected' coupons on them. Ha! Scammers. We ended up with a $2.50 discount -- not the discount we intended to get. As for the service, the restaurant was not even close to full... the indoor seating was empty, outdoor seating (maybe 6 tables) was full. It took us 15 minutes to get water and utensils. I was beginning to wonder if anyone even worked there. The waiter moved at such a slow pace. I've never seen water poured so slowly. They need to splurge on fancy things like a bus boy or a second waiter. It took forever to order, then another forever to get our food. The lack of waiters, bus boys, mediocre food and failure to honor coupons tells me this place is on the way out. Good riddance!
(1)Nitya D.
They have a great $8 lunch buffet M-F and I think it's either $11 or $12 on the weekends. The buffet has about 8 items, of which half are vegetarian. It's a great place for a quick lunch as I got there around 12:15 and was out by 12:45. In terms of food, it's actually very decent Indian food, which is sometimes hard to come by in this area unless you're going to try a sit down place like Mela or Tantric in Boston. They make fresh naan and bring it out in batches so that it never gets cold or hard. But this can be annoying too if you're forced to wait around for the naan and the food on your plate starts to get a bit cold. I've been here 3 times now and today was the first time I actually noticed that they have a bar. I wouldn't say it's exceptional, but they do have 1 of everything (scotch, vodka, gin, beer, wine, etc.). My only frustration was that today since it is scorching out, turning up the AC would've been nice, especially since hot Indian food naturally induces sweating.
(3)Alex L.
Like many, I found Desi Dhaba though Seamless web so my experiences are all based upon their takeout food -- which, may I add, is very well done. Their food is simple, but always well done and delicious. The sauce they use with their Chicken Tikka Masala is for some reason the most delicious, and for some reason I can't put my fork down if I have any left... bad for my diet, but whatever. If you're looking for a decent Indian place close to Harvard Square, this will be your Mecca. I plan on going next week, so I'll see you then.
(4)Gal N.
One of my favorite Indian takeout/delivery places in the Cambridge area. Delicious food, not too spicy but very flavorful. Some favorites are the lamb curry, the samosas, and of course the mango lassi. I wasn't a huge fan of the plain naan, but the keema naan is pretty good (though not the best I've had).
(4)Genevieve B.
I want to state that I am new to Indian food so my review will be based simply on what I ate and my experience at the restaurant. I have been four times to Desi Dhaba and I get the same thing. I always get an order of the meat samosas, garlic naan and chicken Jalfrazi. It's sooooo good! The food always comes out piping hot and there is always enough to take home! Sometimes the service is a bit slow but it is always worth the wait! The prices are very reasonable and I always come back with someone new. I've even converted my boyfriend who is NOT a very adventurous eater :) The restaurant itself is located in a very convenient location in Central Square. It has outdoor seating and lucky for them there is a small gathering area built by the city which is right in front of their doorsteps. In the summer time, it is a great place to people watch! I'm also big on the decor of a restaurant and the Desi Dhaba gets my stamp of approval. The ceiling looks like a replica of a palace ceiling of what you would probably expect to find in that part of the world, the columns are a nice touch and I definitely appreciate the Indian music played. There is a small bar in the restaurant and they appear to have a wider variety of beer than I would expect. Definitely a place I enjoy going to!
(4)Ram K.
Bad Food. Worst Service. Steep Prices. I did not like this place at all.
(2)holly h.
My husband and I went here for dinner and we were confused as to what to say about the place. Very slow service, and the food came out bit by bit. My husband ordered some kind of meat platter. The waiter first brought a cafeteria tray with 4 out of the 6 portions full (well, not FULL full) of food, and said the rest would be out later. Then he brought my chicken tikka masala, which was delicious. Then he brought a small plate with two pieces of meat. Then he brought some naan. The food was good, but the portions were small, waaaay too small for the prices, for sure. Also, each of our dishes had a hair. So, overall - great food, slow service, high prices. Not sure if we'll be back...
(3)JJ G.
The only reason I am not giving up five stars in the service. I eat here so often, and still, so slow Soooooo slooooooowwwwwwwww....... On the plus side- Really excellent outdoor seating where you can drink beer Yummmmmy, if in a very American way, food Really reasonable prices Superconvenient, right down the street from my house location As long as you don't have a starving seven year old with you, who can't wait half an hour for a re-heated samosa, you'll be just fine.
(4)Jonathan W.
Very good food. Surprisingly good. Only complaint is that occasionally when I eat there, I've been bothered by flies/gnats flying around. Not many, but its happened often enough that I've noticed. But I return because I like it, and in my area it's the best Indian I can find.
(5)Ross G.
Great buffet lunch, I've gone in when it's been packed before and they've still found me a spare seat at the bar! Good stuff, thanks guys!
(4)John L.
They got the catering in on time this time, and it was again exquisite. I have to give them credit for doing that even the construction going on around where I work, so I'm increasing my stars. The food here is very good (I particularly recommend the lamb rogan josh, as the lamb is quite yummy). One particularly fun thing to do is get the rice/nan and dip it in the sauces... so good! MMMMMH!
(4)Lorna C.
I've been here twice and the food has been excellent each time. Most recently I went there on a Friday night, and the place was very busy although we got a table right away. There was also seating outside. The decor inside is typical of an Indian restaurant in this price range. I had the spiced potato patties as an appetizer, and they were very good. For main courses we had lamb karahi and a lamb curry special (mains are mostly between $12 and $15). Both were very good. They have four different Indian beers to compliment the food. Based on the food, I'd like to give this restaurant 4 stars, but based on service I have to knock one off. We got our appetizer pretty soon after we sat down, but we waited a LONG time to get our main courses. We were seated for an hour in total before we had a main course.
(3)Jeff M.
The lunch buffet is pretty good and is heavy on vegetarian options. Service is pretty quick to get you seated and give you the bill so you can get back to work quickly.
(3)Brittany H.
Went here on a whim with a friend one day and thought it was meh. Average, unimpressive. Prices were okay, but for such boring food I'd expect they'd be a little bit lower. After a really uninteresting meal, I was getting ready to pay the bill, until the waiter placed the bill clearly in front of my friend, who is a male. Like, not just on his side of the table, but directly in front of him, practically on his lap. I was rather offended by this gesture, especially since I was the one paying the bill, so there went his tip. I have no reason to return. There are much better places.
(3)Sesha P.
Been to the buffet a few times and it is just okay. Certainly not the best in Central Square - for that try India Cafe
(3)Tall C.
My favorite India Restaurant in the area. The food seems always super fresh, the waiting staff is very kind too. And I adore the over-the-top gold-leaf/bollywood/Indian palace decoration - surprisingly managing to be joyfully kitch and tasteful at the same time! :) Highlight: their Dal Makhani is A-MA-ZING (black lentils in a warm broth with plenty of fresh crushed ginger and fresh cilantro, spiced just the right way)
(5)Happy B.
I am a man from distant land in Boston and was in search of good Indian food. So, I walked down from Charlestown to this place ( a pretty long walk ) and enjoyed the Saturday buffet. It was okayish. For 8.50 I was pretty satisfied with the vegetarian Indian food I ate. So, my other friends from the same distant land were searching for a place to eat Indian food and I took them there. On a Friday afternoon buffet. The food was shite. The chicken wasn't washed properly and everything else tasted stale. I am a vegetarian, so all I can say is from what my colleagues told me. The rice was sprinkled with soda (that basically gives you a full-er feeling with very little rice eaten). You can just know it once you have eaten South Indian Meals for long. The table service is shite. You have to repeatedly ask for napkins and when you ask for it, you are given a 'look'. And the food aint spicy. I mean its bland. There is a little bit of aroma.. and thats it. When we asked our hotel reception for the T directions to this area and she called em up asking which is the nearest station, and this guy goes, Madam we are a hotel. Duh. Strongly avoid weekday buffets. Weekends may just be fine. Or may be I went on the day when they were cooking for the week. lol. I am never going there again... and am literally so pissed off that I am writing a review for them over here. My first one. Cheers,
(2)Hillary M.
I realize I have eaten here for dinner more than any other place in Boston this past year. It suits me in that it is never crowded, the food comes out fast and it is always really tasty (I am not a vegetarian). The first time I went, we thought the staff was really slow- now we know that you gesture to the staff when you want them to come to the table. Ah ha! I recommend the mango lassi, samosa, chicken korma and chicken masala. Friends have tried the fish dishes and the tandoori and all were good.
(5)Aboud Y.
D.D.D.D.D.D. That's more D's than you'll find in Pam Anderson's or Dolly Parton's pantie drawer! Ouch, cheesy. But Desi Dhaba Does Do Decent Delivery! Their vindaloo in particular is outstanding! They are also professional and offer free (and prompt) delivery. For me they are usually a good second delivery option to change things up when I'm tired of Samraat. As the Governator says...I'll be back!
(3)Melissa A.
Okay so one of the main reasons I will make a trip to Central Square is for my weekend Indian buffet. There's a good number of Indian restaurants in this area and a lot of them are decently priced. My bf and I ended up at this restaurant for a Sunday buffet only after finding that the place we normally go was under construction. A quick phone search later we end up here. It was clean and neatly laid out. Nothing super fancy. I was happy that they offered FOUR vegetarian options in the buffet. FOUR! I was a happy camper. Most buffets I have been to have usually two or potentially three veggie options. Finding a 4'er and paying $8 for the buffet is rare! With those 4 plus pakoras for an appetizer and naan on the side, all was well in the world. I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for when it comes to food. I'm not going to necessarily hold my standards as high for a $8 buffet a I would for a $16 buffet. For $8 each we left happy, overly full, and both agreed we would come back to Desi Dhaba. The food was good, not too spicy (though I do like spicy Indian food I know buffet dishes are rarely spicy), and had a good amount of flavor. Their spinach was quite good, too. The wait staff was attentive and though I drank my water frequently, I don't think my glass ever got less than half full before someone came to fill it back up. We were also sort of in a hurry and we were able to get our check quickly, too. Good stuff and for $8 you can't go wrong!
(4)Haley S.
Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum (insert me rubbing my tummy here) I had the Chicken Mushroom with garlic Naan and this wonderful paper thin crunchy bread thing (I didn't order it but man I ate it!). We sat outside and were served very quickly, water glasses never empty, waiters polite. I can't wait to go back! This is now my excuse to get to Central/Kendal Square more often!!
(4)Boston T.
I will edit this if I ever dine in, but I've ordered way too many times from Foodler. It is pretty decent food. I like their samosas as it reminds me of my dad's and they keep the potatoes into more bite size pieces rather than mashed. I once got a non-veg platter for appetizers, but some things were dried out, still didn't effect the taste and after the chutney, it was fine. Their entrees aren't too bad and you can easily split it with someone or save half for the next day's lunch/dinner. Wasn't a big fan of the Ras malai though. It's $5 for two pieces and they aren't that sweet.
(4)Kalimuthu C.
My first time to this restaurant. I have been to the other restaurants this group owns and wasn't expecting great Indian food. However, I was proven wrong. The service was good and was a time consumed wait. The food was really good and for the spice factor not surprised, it was good but I thought I could have been little more. We ordered some Roti's, kheema paratha, the chicken curry and the lamb curry were good. I would recommend this place for an unplanned dinner or lunch session and get surprised. I haven't tried their buffet. This review is good for a dine in.
(4)Michelle B.
My boyfriend and I were visiting the MIT Museum (we're from out of town) and were starving, so Desi Dhaba was one of the first places we came across. There's a great Indian lunch buffet in my town (Kansas City), but we thought we'd check it out anyway since it was close and we were hungry. When we were seated, the waiter tersely asked me what I wanted to drink and I just said water, then he walked away without asking my boyfriend anything. He came back without our water and asked (me again) if we wanted the buffet, and I said we'd like to look at a couple of menus. So he threw them down and walked away (no water still). We waited a couple minutes for our waters and nothing, so just went up to the buffet. The guy was standing there looking around, not helping anyone (wasn't busy in there). Finally, after we got our food, I flagged him down to ask him for water and he looked at me like I cursed his mother. When he brought it over, he slammed my glass down on the table. The buffet itself was very small compared to what I'm used to (maybe 6 main dishes total). The food was just okay. None of it was spicy, but I understand that a lot of places will dull their food down for mass buffet consumption. Most of it was bland, though. The saag paneer had almost no paneer in it. The chicken tikka masala wasn't as creamy as I like. The pakora curry was runny, soupy, and a little sour. The naan was tasty, though, and everything was bearable. Just not good. Meanwhile, this waiter never came to ask us how we were doing or anything of the sort. I had to flag him down to ask for a mango lassi, and he didn't even acknowledge that I had said anything, so I wasn't sure he took the order. A different, more pleasant waiter brought it out to us, though. The lassi was more sour than I enjoy, but mediocre and acceptable enough. The price was pretty affordable -- around $8 for buffet, which was the perfect price point for the variety you get. But unfortunately for me, I'm spoiled by over-the-top delicious food at the Indian restaurant in my town, so this place was completely dissatisfying. Even if it were good, though, I don't think I'd ever go back, even if I lived in the area. I've had pretty bad service before, but this guy acted like he hated people and he hated life more than any other server I've ever met. I was happy that we had eaten a buffet, though, because I'm convinced he would have spit in our food if given the opportunity. Then again, I didn't notice him being kind to anyone in the restaurant, so perhaps he did spit in it before it was put on the buffet. Who knows. Get a new line of work, buddy.
(1)Corey L.
Not bad. Typical. Buffet doesn't have many options, but the food is fine
(3)Kartikeya S.
My mother always told me, you can judge a chef by the quality of the rice they make. It may seem like a simple dish, but to unlock its true flavor is hard. I could tell you that the malai kofta here was good and that the naan basket was exquisite (with the lahori naan my favorite), but the most noticeable item was the plain rice. It was fragrant, fluffy, and something I'll never forget. Thank you desi dhaba!
(4)Jazzie F.
The menu is versatile and moderately priced. I have been going to this place on and off for a few years now. It's definitely not my "regular" place for anything but, they do have a clean bathroom =) The decor is definitely nice than any of the south Asian specialty restaurants in the neighborhood, I say "south Asian specialty" because really Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, it's all the same because they serve food from regions they don't specialize in and charge you a lot of money for mediocre food. Really a 'desi dhaba' should not be serving sambhar. Unless you hire someone who makes kick ass sambhar and I know my sambhar. But, I digress. I stopped in this place with a friend of mine just for a quick snack, couple appetizers and a drink. We weren't really hungry but needed to sit down. I ordered Pani Puri and "Punjabi Tikki," really there's any other kind? Because I know the "madrasi tikki" would be called a ragda patti... in any case, my friend also decided that she wanted something "to go" for dinner for her dad. Ordering a meal here was such a freakin ordeal. The waiter couldn't understand that what we ordered was "for here" and that we were going to order something later, "to take out." I was tempted to say something in Hindi/Punjabi to explain it to him but was afraid that he might take offense. The service is slow even though we were the only people there. I feel like all Indian restaurant staff NEEDS to go to hospitality school to learn not to have your dirty hands all over my glass of water. Seriously. And one of the other reviews I read here said the same thing about, really, slamming the glasses on your table. Calm down buddy, who are you mad at? The tikki was PHENOMENOL. Really. I mean I don't think you can go wrong with tikki, but it was really good. The Pani Puri on the other hand = BLAH. I mean you're looking at a girl who worked at a "chaat place" as a teenager, the "pani" (spicy water) part was too spicy and not the right flavor and the filling part was this gooey mess of potatoes and chick peas which was horrifying. It wasn't the "traditional" pani puri I am used to and whatever fusion they were trying to get at, they failed, miserably. My friend got the chicken soup which she said was average but enjoyed her Mango Juice. I would recommend going here and trying a few things out, the food isn't all that bad but I would hope that the service gets better. I also remember going here a few months ago (maybe sometime last year) when I went at night for dinner and sat down said I was waiting for my friend to show up and they just had me sitting there by myself for 15 minutes, no water, nothing "would you like to get a drink." Like really, I am still a full person if my party isn't there yet. All in all: Your average "Indian" (for lack of a better word) restaurant with Nice decor, moderate prices and horrific service. Story of my life.
(3)S S.
Decent indian food. They were very accomodating for a large order my puzzle hunt group made, and I didn't hear any complaints. To my taste, though, there are better options available.
(3)Lisa I.
$8.95 lunch buffet?! YES PLEASE! The food is good, especially for the price, but the buffet selection is small. They only have about 5 mains, a couple of sides, and a salad bar. Can't beat the price, but I just wish they had a few more options.
(3)Ravi P.
Desi is a pretty decent Indian restaurant in Central Square - I know its lunch buffet is very popular among Yelpers and college students. However, I find it to be lacking in variety compared to other Indian lunch buffets at similar prices. The food that they do serve is still delicious and definitely worth the $7.95 if you're looking for something basic and convenient. Still, the restaurant itself is well kept and does not look like a run-down mom and pop place like other Central Square Indian restaurants do. They have an excellent menu and the food is pretty good - I'm usually very happy with the food and order take-out from here ALL the time. My favorites are the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Vindaloo curries. Their naan is hit or miss - sometimes, you'll get a naan that is half charred / crispy. I'm definitely going there again and again... and again.
(4)Lisa C.
This place is decent. I ordered delivery for lunch one weekend and the food was ok. I got the non-vegetarian thali which is quite a bit of food for how much you pay. nothing was amazing, but everything was solid and delivery wasn't super late considering how terrible the weather was. i wouldnt go running back to this place, but i would considering ordering again.
(3)Rob G.
While it's not the best Indian food I've ever had, it's not bad either. It's quick, hot and an overall good value. The Nan is excellent, and they will make dishes spicy or mild upon request. Perfect for a quick lunch.
(4)Morgan T.
Surly waiters? Check. Terrible service? Check. Seriously below average food? Check. Expensive (for indian food)? Check. Zero atmosphere? Check. Throwing up all night? Check. After my last meal there, I'd rather eat whatever that is that gets expelled from the melting snow piles around Central.
(1)Rose K.
The best Indian food in Central Square! I really just had to share my experience from last night. I had had a scratchy throat all day, and I walked off the 70 over to Desi Dhaba to get a to-go order and walk home (it was nice out). Anyway, I walked in, and told them I was there to pick up an order, and they showed me to the bar, and had me sit down while they went and got my food. Then, the waiter poured me a glass of water. It totally hit the spot on my scratchy throat, and it was nice to have for the walk home. I'm not used to such attentive service for takeout from an affordable Indian joint! My food was all ready, but I thought that was such a nice touch! Also, the food itself turned out to be very impressive! Thanks, Desi Dhaba! Your attentive service earned you a positive Yelp.
(4)Ellen C.
I was at Desi Dhaba for lunch today with a large group during a conference. I honestly was really happy with the food- I love Indian food. I'm not too fussy about it (as far as I know) so this satisfied my desire for not bland food. Additionally, it was perfect for eating quickly with a group. We walked in, immediately got a table, set down our coats, and then could eat immediately. hooray for convenient lunch.
(3)Jungmin L.
The lamb saag stank of gaminess. I love lamb and prefer to have a bit of that smell there, but this was quite overwhelming. We got a scant three finger-sized pieces of chicken as the chicken tikka portion of a two-person plate; why in the world did they put three pieces for a two-portion menu? Beats me. Coconut soup was neither dessert nor appetizer. Tomato soup tasted way too acidic. The chicken masala didn't have enough spice. Most of all, the Chapati wasn't the flaky, chewy and slightly weightier-than-naan that I expect from quality Indian places I've been to in Central Asia and London suburbs. I've only been to Diva lounge and Punjabi Dhaba; both were preferable to Desi Dhaba. Avoid this place.
(1)Ryan L.
I really wanted this place to be da bomb of indian buffets because it's located 5 minutes walk from my work but alas, beggars can't be choosers. Desi Dhaba does provide one of the cheaper buffets in Central ($7.95) but compared to the multitude of Indian buffets I've gone to, it's really only middle of the pack. They tend to only serve chicken and the curry dishes could have been a bit more spicier. The chicken tikka masala could have used a little more zing and tomato tanginess. Small buffet selection as well. I'd rather pay a $1 more and go to India Pavilion further down the street.
(3)Lisa H.
Maybe a 3.5, but I really like this place for delivery. Chicken tikka masala, pakora's, lentil soup, saag paneer are all a go. It's not the priciest in the area, but it's not the cheapest either.
(4)Adam L.
If you live near central square, and you've got to satisfy your sudden craving for Indian food, this place will do the job well. Good food at a good price with good service. Nothing stellar, but I'm happy. Next time I'm craving Indian again, I'll be back.
(3)Gerardo F.
Food is pretty tasty, prices are decent, service is atrociously slow, decor is lacking but nice. Overall this place is OK for a quick bite.
(3)Tracy K.
The food here is solidly good. I wasn't blown away, but it's apparently pretty authentic. Of course, I'm no Indian food expert, but my Desi friend came with me to guide me through the meal, haha. We got the large naan basket, which included a sweet naan (interesting, almost dessert or pastry-like), one with potato in it, and a garlic one (my personal fave). We split tikka masala and palak paneer. I guess we didn't expect the portions to be so generous. When it's served, it doesn't even look that big, but as you're eating, you realize just how much food there really is. My only complaint is that the waiter was rather...not smart. He was very polite and courteous, but he was just off in some ways. He did a horrible job explaining to us the size difference between the large and small baskets of naan (something about 2 kinds but 4, 1 of each type, wtf?). We also had to wait a century to get the check, and when we were getting things to-go, he could NOT understand that we wanted to split all the dishes between the two of us. I'm coming here again before it gets too cold to sit outside, and I'm feeling adventurous so I'm going to get everything spicy. Yeahhh boy.
(4)Chris M.
The shop where I spend a (dis)respectable amount of time building things is located pretty close to the plaza where Desi Dhaba is located. Many late nights, as I venture out into the chilling Cambridge air in search of food I often look as Desi Dhaba, as they're located right next to another one of my favorite late night cheap eateries, Cinderella's. I've always felt a pang of longing as I walked into Cindy's, wishing instead I were walking into Desi, but there were always so many good reasons. Indian food can be....hit or miss....and they table cloths and place settings made it look too classy for my shop-worn hands to rest in. No, "another time" always seemed the resolve when I went out to eat. Thankfully, Thanksgiving gave* me an opportunity to finally try it out. Let me be concise (for a change). This place is delicious. The menu is extensive, offering a smattering of paneers and curries of every taste. I spent several minutes examining and combining foods in my mind until I found the perfect opportunity. A sampling of samosa, lamb curry, chicken tandoori, chicken tikka masala, naan, kheer, and raita. A dream come true! And a relative bargain at $15.00. The service, if we're being honest, was not the best. They weren't rude, but they weren't exactly attentive either. I did have to remind them that I was missing my samosa and tandoori chicken, and I don't think I ever saw the daal that was supposed to come with my naan, but they were apologetic and happy to correct the mistakes. The food though, was some of the best I've had and a fine choice if you're around Central. The curry had more meat than sauce, a pleasant rarity in my experience (some other places give essentially a cube of meat in a bucket of sauce. Not exacly substantial.). Everything tasted fresh and complex without being greasy or "odd" in the way that some indian food can be. In short, Desi Dhaba is a great experience for dinner, and maybe one of these days I'll make it back for their lunch buffet. *gave is perhaps a strong word here. Taco Bell was closed, as was McDonalds, my original goal for dinner on Thanksgiving.
(5)Joshua L.
Solidly good Indian food in a town that has lots of acceptable Indian food, but, in all honesty, not a lot of very good Indian food. It's average for prices, average for taste, and average for service. You may be picking up a theme here. -1 star for being a little too expensive for their quality level, and another -1 for a bit of a disappointing lunch buffet. Then again, most of the Indian lunch buffets around here are on the disappointing side. Still, it's very consistent for its quality level, unlike most mid-price range places. I don't think I've ever had anything bad here, it's just that, aside from once or twice, I've never left feeling particularly impressed either.
(3)Tony K.
Ordered delivery. It was slow-ish. An hour+ to get food from Kendall to Central is pretty whack. Got the Goat Korma. Best damn Korma I've ever had. They had actual chunks of cashew and almond in with the goat. The meat was tender with only a few bones and no gristle. And the meat to sauce ratio was respectable - unlike many indian places where you get 3 pieces of meat swimming in a pint of sauce. I will definitely order from here again.
(4)patrick w.
I go here for the lunch buffet sometimes. It's not totally cheap ($8) but it OK and filling. The service is reasonable. This is not a place to rave about, but it's dependable in a basic way.
(3)molly f.
I've been to Desi Dhaba several times and have always been pleased with my food & the service. The food is classicly prepared with the traditional flavors and served nicely with little copper serving trays and other touches that add a little something to the meal. Their portions are rather generous which means...LEFTOVERS! and yes, while I agree with other yelpers that it can be a bit pricier the fact that I can reheat my tasty dinner & have it for lunch the next day makes it worth the extra buck or two. Overall...i'm totally psyched that I can walk to this place & chow down on some great indian food & grab a table outside & enjoy the sights and sounds of central square !
(4)Chris W.
Desi Dhaba is a pretty typical, but good Indian place. The food is generally good, and prices are about normal. The service has alwasy been cool. The waiters are really nice and chill from my experiences there. I really recommend the Combination Dinner if you just want a stereotypical Indian meal. It's got tandoori chicken, lamb saag, daal makhani, and your choice of curry for just $35. They say it feeds 2, but 3 of us shared it and still all got full. The tandoori chicken was HELLA JUICY that time. I don't even like tandoori chicken that much, but it was really good. The buffet, as everyone else says, is a good deal too ($8.95). They have tandoori chicken (not as good as it was for dinner), palak paneer, mixed vegetables, daal makhani, and chicken tikka masala. I can't remember everything else but it was about 8 dishes total, plus the deserts. The Kheer was definitely the best kheer I've ever had (not saying that much though). It's rice pudding, if you don't know what it is. It was super smooth and tasty. Oh and they have outdoor seating now, with the new park being built as others have said. This came in handy when my friend had a dog with her, and we needed a place where we wouldn't get kicked out because we had a dog. Yeah, so Desi Dhaba is an average indian place, nothing too special, but gives you what you want. Kinda like this average, boring, but slightly informative (hopefully?) review.
(3)Frank L.
Mass Ave has probably a dozen or more Indian restaurants that serve a lunch buffet. I've tried a few places already and this one is my favorite so far. I even got a recommendation from a friend who is Indian and very demanding when it comes to Indian cuisine. So four stars for the lunch buffet. My favorite dish was the goat. I've also want to say that I love their Peshawari Naan. It's the best dessert naan I've ever had. It's full of almonds, cashews, raisins, coconuts, and honey. That's a winning combination.
(4)Adrienne M.
As an MIT grad, I've been here many times over the years, and can always count on this place for solid, but not exceptional food. I came here the other night with a group of 5, and we fed ourselves very well with two platters (one veg and one non-veg) and an order of vegetarian appetizers. As I said, the food is solid, always tasty but nothing to write home about. The pakoras were the highlight of the appetizer plate for me - the paneer and samosas were just so-so. The entrees we sampled were all pretty comparable, and the naan is decent as well. The prices are not unreasonable, but not an amazing deal - a typical entree will run you $13-$15, although naan and rice are not included. Platters can save you a little bit, as they run about $30, include rice and naan and can easily serve 2-3 (I would say 2 platters serve 5 about perfectly). The service can be a little brusk, and there always seem to be a lot of flies, which can be a little unappetizing, but it's definitely a good option if you're craving Indian food in the MIT area.
(3)Julie J.
All in all, I liked this place. I'm a recent transplant from Atlanta, which is slowly becoming more saturated with Indian communities, so there are Indian buffets all over the place. I was very pleased with Desi Dhaba -- I won't go as far to say that this is the best, but it's pretty darn good. Prices are reasonable. ~$8 for lunch buffet. Their buffet is tiny: maybe like 6 types of dishes, plus rice, samosas, and naan, but for the price, I can't complain. Besides it's really tasty. I've been to buffets where there are endless buffet tables and every dish is mediocre. Here, each dish is really well made. I've gotten delivery from here too; they may be the only Indian place in Central Sq that does free delivery (well, with a $15 min). They give huge portions though, so it's worth it if you get a couple of dishes. Their chicken curries are delish -- the chicken is fall-apart tender, and their curries are flavorful without knocking you out of your chair. The veggie samosas are gut-bustingly delicious -- I think I could get full off of 2 of these alone.
(4)Ann G.
Bad service. Subpar food. Will not go again.
(2)Roberto B.
Motherfuckers deliver, motherfuckers. The food ain't what I'm going for, see. I'm gittin down with a tongue and it starts rollin off some hindi, so i wanna stuff that face with some reeeeal food reeeeal fast. call up ma boys, they ain't gonna let u down.
(3)Alexander D.
Decent food, nothing fancy
(4)Chris R.
Ah, Desi Dhaba. Reviewing you is somewhat of a conundrum for me. In a nutshell: there are Indian restaurants that are more affordable than Desi Dhaba and there are Indian restaurants that are better than Desi Dhaba. There are also Indian restaurants that are both. This is why I give Desi Dhaba three stars. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to go here but I wouldn't necessarily recommend against going here either. So why is writing this review difficult for me? Well, a friend of mine and I sort of have a tradition of going here on Sunday evenings for dinner. This tradition doesn't really make sense because there are definitely places that are more worthy of being part of a tradition. Yet, we have this tradition nonetheless and I go here more often than many restaurants that I have given four or five stars.
(3)Vikram S.
"I liked the place. Other than the fact that I felt like taking a crap afterwards almost everytime I visited that place (I think their dal is particularly deadly in that regard)..... I used to frequent the place for their weekend buffet with my friends or for dinner on weekdays when none of us had anything better to do. I like their Kadhi, mixed vegetable, chilly paneer and veg biryani. The channa is not bad either."
(4)Shane F.
Desi Dhaba is the flashiest Indian restaurant in Central square. The interior design doesn't reach the wackiness quotient of Kabob Factory or Diva but it's colorful and modern. The buffet is of average size and price, it has reliably tasty vegetarian dishes and, at least sometimes, offers Punjabi Tikki instead of the pakoras and samosas you might be tired of finding everywhere else. Their plain naan is possibly the best plain naan I've ever had. If you make decisions about where to eat based on bread quality this might be helpful to you.
(4)Kathleen M.
The food was actually pretty good but the service was horrible. I got a dinner that came with Naan and asked if I could have garlic naan instead of plain and at first they said no, then seemed confused, then finally said okay. They brought the check and we asked if we could split it and the split checks combined were more than the total original check. Then we were supposed to get dessert with our dinner and I asked and they said they would bring out rice pudding. We waited ten or fifteen minutes and no dessert came as the waiters just sat around chatting. Even though the food was good I wouldn't go back, there are plenty of other good Indian food places in the area.
(2)Celeste G.
I ordered from here once..the food looked good and it was reasonably priced, however i had just a dug in i found a long hair that I swear to god resembled a pubic hair perfectly. All the food went straight in the garbage and I didn't eat indian food for months afterwards.........SO GROSS!!
(1)Julia F.
Desi Dhaba is a nice place to stop for the buffet (which is about average $7) they have recently given the place a face-lift and have a fully stocked bar. The wait staff is very pleasant and it has a great atmosphere. My one fault in going out for Indian is that since I can remember I have been ordering Chicken Tikka Masala. Sometimes I will get Poori or Naan with it, but basically, I'm usually freaked out to try something new, cause I KNOW what I like. Just last week (4/25/08) I went with a friend for dinner, and decided that I would step outside the comfort zone. This means I trust the nice little men at DD to make it good. We got Coconut Soup, Curry Shrimp, Tandoori Grill Platter, and the Large Bread Basket. Literally covered the table in food. We sat and ate for well over an hour, and water was refilled frequently, sauces were brought, plates taken away, check delivered all in a timely fashion. I was happy that I tried something new. I love tandoori chicken, and only get it for buffet usually. So tasty! We had enough food to feed about four people! The bill was about fifty bucks and that included a drink each. Also, it's not hard to convince anybody you eat with to join you at Toscanini's afterwards... A little coffee or ice cream treat totally hits the spot after any good meal.
(3)Irene F.
I usually go to Desi Dhaba out of convenience, because as Chris R. pointed out, there is definitely Indian food in Cambridge that is cheaper/better/both. Service can be a tad slow even if there are not many customers at the moment, but the food is solid (although I cannot vouch for its authenticity). The restaurant isn't small so I've never had to wait for seating, and they don't rush you through dinner at all. I often get dosas (though I prefer the ones at Tanjore), but tonight I tried the Boti Tikka Kabob (Tandoori lamb). It was a bit on the tough and dry side. However, a friend of mine liked her Vegetable Jalfrezi. We also shared a Peshawary Naan (the sweet kind with coconut) and it was good. I liked my mango lassi, and wished there was more of it--thank goodness I didn't order anything spicy!
(3)sunny n.
Great Authentic Indian Cuisine in a superb classy atmosphere tucked away of central square on Mass Avenue. Perfect Lighting, Great Decor, Owner and waitstaff are very knowledgeable and personable. FREE DELIVERY - one of the few Indian restaurants offering free delivery. If you want a good experience..I suggest going for dinner and not buffet...thats my suggestion on all indian dining...:-))
(5)Jay H.
I ate one meal at the Desi Dhabha, actually mistaking it for the other "dhaba" in town, Punjabi Dhaba! I was quite happy with the food and the decor is nice. All of our vegetarian dishes were tasty. The sweet lassi we ordered was not the best, but overall the place is pretty decent. It is also located in the nicer section of the town.
(4)Anonymous P.
Not a great option with all the great Indian restaurants around, but decent enough, and it gets a star for free delivery through campusfood.com . update: loses a star for delivering poor, bland tandoori salmon when i ordered tandoori swordfish. update: i've been unfair to this restaurant. solid delivery, decent to good food. 3.5 stars.
(3)AJ S.
Worst Indian food ever. I am an Indian and a place like this should shut itself down and definitely not call it 'authentic' Indian food. I ordered chhola bhatura and it was no where near what this Indian dish looks and tastes like. Above all, me and my wife both fell sick after eating their horrible food. I won't suggest anyone to go there unless I want to avenge them. This place is a big time bummer.
(1)Jonny P.
My girlfriend and I went there on Christmas as it was one of the few options that night. We walked in around 6pm and the place was dead. Our visit started off weird because didn't seem like they were too happy have customers; took the staff a while to serve us. But once people started to come in, service picked up. Strangely enough, the concept of first come first served didn't seem too apply here. Oh well. While I enjoyed the food (the Naan selections were yummy) and the bottle of wine we had, it really wasn't memorable there.
(3)Rob L.
On a sunny Friday in mid-September, Desi Dhaba became the 11th stop in our Cambridge Indian buffet quest. It was also the second pleasant surprise in a row on the fringe the Central Square, which should be renamed Indiatown. In short, Desi Dhaba was quite good. To start, they flavored the rice. This may seem like a no-brainer, but so many buffets (even in Indian-heavy Cambridge) have plain old white rice that it's a treat to see a few seeds and other flavoring mixed in. It's a simple, but very nice touch. At the other end of the buffet sat a basket of surprisingly good naan. Normally there's a clear line between naan that is served tableside and it's more soggy in-the-buffet version. But DD was busy enough that the staff was constantly refilling the relatively small basket. As a result, warm crispy-chewy (the way I like it) bread awaited me on every trip. The salad bar was modest, but nicely done, with one or two fruit (melon) options mixed in. The cauliflower pakora appetizer impressed us with its flavor and crispiness. Again I have to credit the crowd and the need for constant refills. I imagine things would have been a little different if we had gone very early or late, when things were a bit slower. Desi Dhaba had six main dishes (a good number) and I liked all of them. Not one really stood out, but they were all solid. The palak paneer was pretty good, if a bit skimpy on the paneer. But after almost a dozen different buffets in the area, I've come to accept that as standard. Mixed veggies were quite tasty. The chicken/shrimp curry didn't have much shrimp, but I didn't miss them. The yellow dal was done well, as was the tandoori chicken (cut into smaller pieces than I normally see). And the chicken tikka masala was maybe a little watery, but also quite good. The rice pudding (kheer) was very good, and you could really taste the underlying spice (cardamom or nutmeg or whatever it was) in a good way. My roommate felt it was one of the better ones we had tasted. The atmosphere was light and not incredibly Indian. A flat screen t.v. above the buffet showed a news channel. Service (water refills etc.) was a bit slow, but there was quite a crowd. In fact, I had to wait in line for the buffet, something I almost never see on a Friday afternoon buffet. But it was always a short wait and I wasn't bothered, especially when it resulted in all the food being more fresh and tasty anyway. Desi Dhaba is down Mass Ave. a couple blocks from Central Sq. on the way to MIT. At $7.95, it was my favorite in the immediate area and I'd recommend walking a couple extra blocks to choose it over the nearby competitors. But if you are on the other side of the square, closer to Harvard, I'd recommend India Castle.
(4)Heather H.
Decent enough, fresh, non-greasy Indian fare. Inoffensive. EXCEPT when I ordered vindaloo and it was as spicy as half the spice of a korma. Do not order their vindaloo if you want spice.
(2)Mabel C.
This place is ok. The first time I went I kind of liked it - thought the food was decent. The second time I went for the lunch buffet. Selection was very limited, and the chicken tikka masala tasted a little off to me. The other options in the buffet were not that great either. While overall not bad, there are so many Indian restaurants in Boston that I think I can pass on this one.
(3)Laura A.
ordered delivery from here tonight for the first time - so sad that we'll be moving away in a month :( they might be my new favorite indian delivery! of course we will definitely try it again, but as of right now, it was a solid four stars. my boyfriend said his chicken tikka masala was really tasty. he wanted you to know "it was very mildly spicy, tangy, creamy, and delicious." (what can i say, he's an editor and loves hyperbole) (and i can basically say whatever i want about him on yelp because he doesn't have an account and has no source of rebuttal). i really liked my shahi paneer - the sauce was really flavorful but not super heavy/creamy, just delicious. it didn't sit like lead in my stomach afterwards a la namaskar. minus a star for the weird attitude with the delivery. when i ordered from them (through foodler.com = 10% off!) i naturally have directions associated with my home address that says what street off of mass ave you have to turn off of to get to it, since my street is one-way. the guy called us before he left asking for directions, which i thought was weird because it was sent as a comment with our order, and my boyfriend told him the same thing i had said. and when the guy arrived with our food he yelled at my boyfriend "next time just say [name of street off of mass ave]!" while shoving our bag at him, on which was CLEARLY PRINTED OUT THE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FROM FOODLER ON HOW TO GET TO OUR PLACE FROM MASS AVE. seriously, dude. is this a language barrier or did you really not even look? in either case there's no need to yell about it. how do you manage to get to everyone else's houses you deliver to who don't write out step by step instructions? or are you pissy because i live in davis and you're in central? then don't deliver to davis!
(4)Duaa M.
Used to be my favorite place for Indian in Central (in fact I started going here when it first opened several years ago), but I'm no longer a fan. Their prices are too high and the quality of the food and service has gone down.
(2)Chris V.
I actually would say 3.7 food was good but not consistant. went 3 times 1 4 stars the other 2 times 3 stars. Service wold be a 2 star, but if in area worth a trip to check out would not be a bad choice.
(3)AB H.
I agree, the lunch buffet is a good choice. They also have a decent beer selection. I like the outdoor seating (right on the newly constructed park off Mass Ave).
(4)Ja H.
Food is standard but service is somewhat sub-par when the server/host is distracted by things other than customer service.
(2)Leroy t.
Solid Indian food with run-of-the-mill Americanized menu. Strong flavors, consistent, seems relatively freshly made. Decent service; good "in and out" place for Indian, with great outdoor seating when the weather is nice. Watch out for terrible live music from next door!
(4)Merri L.
The other week we had yummy Indian at Desi Dhaba in Central Square (Boston). I had the vegetarian thali and Jesse had the meat thali. Both were very good. The thali is when you get a bunch of different dishes in one. We also had the mango lassis, which tasted a bit different than usual, but still good. Plus, for dessert, ras malai, a creamy cheese dessert. We were the only ones in the restaurant, because it was a Monday night, so we got very good service. I would reccomend this restaurant, even though it didn't have too much atmosphere.
(4)Happy Eater B.
Pro: good value, extremely quick lunch buffet. For the price, I think the selection of items is very good. The service was prompt and unobtrusive. Nothing about it wowed me - none of the dishes were amazing, nothing about the service knocked me out, and so on. But it is a nice place with pretty decent Indian food at a good price.
(3)Jamie A.
eh. the boy & i were super into the idea of ordering delivery indian food and the place in porter we wanted to order from was under renovation, so we gave desi dhaba a try. our order took quite awhile to arrive and by the time it did knock at the door, it wasn't very warm. our tandoori chicken was juicy & a-ok, but nothing very special. the veggie appetizer sampler was also just alright-- the things were fried and tasted...well, like tasty fried things do. i probably wouldn't order from them again, but nothing was offensively bad. p.s.-- my mango lassi was absolutely delicious, mind you. that certainly is a plus.
(2)Katia M.
I stopped here for dinner one night with a friend and was pleasantly surprised. It's not every day you can walk in off the street and have a really good meal. The atmosphere was great ... dim lights, warm colors ... and the service was very attentive. A very nice dining experience, full of curry and Kingfisher beer. I'd definitely recommend it.
(4)Laureen B.
I really liked this place. The food was really good, nice veggie options, cheap, clean. My only complaint was that the staff was very slow. Which is nice if you want to have a relaxing lunch. It was a good experience. Order the bread basket, the different types of bread it really good, and the condiments are awesome! :)
(4)aditya t.
I had a very bad experience with desi dhaba...It lacks the taste of authentic desi food. I visited this place with my wife and son. We were served soup and then had to wait for about 40 minutes for our veg thalis. Aloo gobi appeared to be stale and mutter paneer had no salt at all. We had chosen "dinner for two" option (veg thalis) for $29 but there was only one naan served for two people. when i asked for more naan, i was told that there would be extra charge for that. I ordered extra naan and waited for another 25 mins but we were not served naan so i called up the waiter to cancel the order for the naan as we were done with our dinner, but waiter tells me that it's already prepared and he couldn't cancel the order for naan. I was shocked when we were not served the naan for another 10 mins. I have visited many restaurants but the Desi dhaba has been the worst. I'll never go to this place even if someone offers to pay the bill. Overall bill of $34 for two people for tasteless food...so not worth it.
(1)Smitha S.
note Start rating is only for dishes I've tried and like at their place: 1. The Dhabha Thali is decent. I would try it atleast once.- Esp the chicken tikka that comes with it 2. Shahi Paneer & Kofta- But what I like most is their kofta and shahi paneer. Even though these guys and India Castle share the owner, this is way better for those same two dishes (that I order again and again and again.....) 3. Great Naans and Rotis 4. Decent samosas. Also the wait staff is very courteous. Accepts coupons for take outs.
(4)p r.
Food was bland and seemed not very fresh. Nothing special at all. But they do have a nice patio.
(3)Elizabeth L.
this is five stars for take out only (the interior is rather dull, but clean). since moving to central square i have been trying to figure out my favorite indian food spot as it seems that this place is in 1st place so far.. i always get chicken saag and it was the perfect amount of spicey and tasty! (mouth was hot but never flaming). my boyfriend gets chicken masala (we are boring, i admit), but honestly, their chicken masala is the best we have ever had from anywhere. really creamy and rich. a treat.
(5)Buddy S.
We went there for dinner for 4. 2 dead mosquitoes on the table. Loud and noisy kitchen. Seekh Kabab was barely cooked - when pointed out replaced with equally bad chicken tikka. Food took 1.5 hours to come. and prices were exorbitant. In 7+ years of eating out at all quallites of Indian restaurants in US, this was most definitely the worst. Completely spoiled our day.
(1)Jessica H.
This place has pretty good Indian food and the prices are fair. The staff is also very nice. I went to the lunch buffet once which was under $10 and had a ton of options. I was upset though because there were no samosas at the buffet! Those are my favorite. I guess it just wasn't my day. I'm pretty sure they put different foods out everyday.
(4)Srikanth S.
This is a review of the buffet only. DD's buffet is priced a bit higher than others in the area. I came to see if it could meet the promise of less-greasy restaurant food. The starches offered were standard white rice, which was fine, and naan. The naan felt mass-produced -- cooked in the oven in tall piles with butter, then sliced and laid out -- with no detectable layers. That was a serious handicap to tearing and eating with one hand. The other items were: 1. Gobi Pakora - not super greasy, and I think I tasted a little bit of rock salt (think Wendy's chili sauce), which is soo awesome. 2. Palak Paneer - way too mild; would satisfy if you like the dish purely because it consists of spinach and cheese. 3. Mixed Vegetable Stir-Fry: WEIRD. not only standard issue mild, but sweet. And consisting of an awful-lot of "English" or "New World" vegetables, esp. corn. beans, and squashy things. This was either a clever spin on the First Thanksgiving menu and Columbus' anthropological confusion, or the handiwork of the Jolly Green Giant. But, hearty and not greasy at all. So, sucks to the Smallpox Champions. 4. Yellow Dal - It's dal, it's good for you, and it tastes like that. But if I'm gonna eat it at a restaurant, I'm gonna want a more robust preparation, with stuff like garlic, ginger, caramelized onions, chunks of tomato, A GOD DAMN CHILI PEPPER, etc. Still, from the standpoint of keeping things basically healthy, they're doing a good job. 5. Chicken Shrimp Curry - Shrimp gross me out. 6. Chicken Tikka Masala - Really, abjectly mild, but props for not going nuts with the goopy greasiness. Too bad this is an absurd menu item. 7. Tandoori Chicken - Always a hit or miss item, esp. at a buffet. Here it was the one thing I simply could not finish. I grabbed a drumstick, took a bite, tasted the unvarnished mediocrity of culinary protein that is underspiced Chicken, and put it down (on my plate, not back on the buffet. That wouldn'a been couth) So yeah, not greasy, and not terribly flavorful either. Making mattters worse: they add sweetener to their raita, which makes me want to retch; and the red onion compote pickled awesomes weren't put out until halfway through the meal. HOT TIP for enjoying an Indian buffet that feels underspiced: I went over to the gentlemen that work here and asked for achaar (pickle). Because it was a punjabi place, they brought out just what I had hoped: Pachranga mixed pickle! A tremendous taste experience, that Pachranga. It has awesome stuff like pickled carrot, mango, and LOTUS ROOT(!), and the spices include saunf, the same stuff that you munch on from the mukhwas tray on your way out. Try it next time you're feeling underwhelmed and want to pull the levers of spice for a change.
(3)Kaopectate P.
run of the mill indian food.
(3)Jessica R.
Desi Dhaba has a great lunch buffet with plenty of vegetarian options on it. More important though is the fact that the vegetarian dishes on the buffet seem to be different each day, sparing you the boredom of homogenous consumption.
(4)Sandra C.
Good local Indian restaurant for those who live in Central Square. It isn't anything special though so I wouldn't drive too far to get to it. Reasonable prices and they also have dosas - a Southern Indian dish (think a curry stuffed crepe) which most Indian restaurants don't carry.
(3)