Punjabi Grill
236 Elm St, Somerville, MA, 02144
Punjabi Grill Menu
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Address :
236 Elm St
Somerville, MA, 02144 - Phone (617) 718-1599
- Website https://www.punjabigrillma.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
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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Al R.
If you look at the ratings below 5 stars, you will see that they all comment on the slow service. Not the quality of food. This restaurant was my first exposure to Pakistani cuisine and i have since become obsessed. Each dish is incredible. And Im particularly taken with the chicken korma biryani and the beef haleem. I insist that you go here and try these two dishes if nothing else, and i promise you wont ever stop dreaming about them. Get a side of naan, as you'll want something to dip in the haleem. And then enjoy the best meal of your life. I promise you. Also, yes, the service is slow. However, food like this takes time. So slip into a different pace for the night, bring good company, and enjoy the experience of having your taste buds spoiled beyond repair.
(5)Courtney J.
I love this place! I've luckily never had the abysmal service everyone else has. The service may be bad because it seems like they are understaffed. There's only one waiter working on a Friday at 8 pm. Our waiter is great and he is working with 6 tables. This is the only place that will serve you really spicy when you order really spicy. I suggest trying the chicken biriyani korma and Bihari chicken kadai :)
(5)Virak N.
Food: 4.5/5 Service: 3/5 I had the Chicken Korma and it was delicious! This was after an off-putting experience of being ignored when I entered the restaurant. I agree with another review that the food more than makes up for the service. Patience was well rewarded with great food.
(4)Sara B.
This is probably the best pakistani resturant in boston. They make excellant... everything. Recommendations: 1. Chicken Karahi: This is a must have! it's available at the buffet which I love! It's chicken seared with ginger,garlic, Freshly ground pepper, herbs, and either yogurt or tomatoes (I believe this place uses yogurt). Some people avoid it due to the bone-in meat, but that's really the authentic way of making it as the juices from the bone add flavour to the dish. 2. Biryani: This is the true test of any pakistani or north indian restaurant, because it's mostly made incorrectly, either due to a lack of knowledge or sheer laziness. Biryani is made in multiple steps. You start off by making a gravy(of goat or chicken) and let it cook to a thick consistency. You boil rice separatly until it is 3/4 done. Finally you layer the two and let it "cook" on the lowest heat setting for half hour. Before serving, you mix all the layers together and it becomes homogenous. The biryani served here is the REAL deal and you can tell just by looking at it. It's sometimes served at the buffet- i believe sometime on the weekend. One problem with their biryani is that sometimes they don't mix the layers of rice and masala(dried gravy) which is a certain way of serving the biryani, because some biryani enthusiasts like to mix the layers themselves. But this can be confusing to those who aren't as familar with this tradition. They either need to stop doing this and confusing the customers or they need to start explaining the process. Chicken Tandoori: Flavourful and moist! also a must have Lahori Fish: Small pieces of fish coated insome sort of batter (i think in chickpea flour+seasoningz) and fried. This is nice too
(5)Brendan B.
I"ve only been for the weekday lunch buffetts. There are all sorts of Indian/Pakistani/Bangledeshi restaurants in the greater Somerville/Cambridge area who are serving weekday lunch buffets. I've been to probably 7 or 8 of them and this one is the best. I find that like Chinese restaurants, Indian places sort of all taste the same after a while but this is not the case with Punjabi Grill. The food just has an extra little something that makes it taste damn good. It also has a simple but nice atmosphere inside.
(5)Ted S.
So happy to have a very good Indian restaurant in Davis Square. Punjabi Grill just opened up where Namaskar used to be. The buffet was great, using the obligatory chicken tikka masala as a benchmark. They also had goat biryani, and a very nicely done saag paneer, among other items. This is the place for Indian in Davis Square.
(4)May L.
Warning: they are dry and do not serve any booze. Now , I am not an alcoholic by any means but after putting on a nice dress and enduring a long work week, I was flat out pissed off that I could not order a glass of wine to precede my Friday night spice fest / hot date. The place isn't casual so I didn't expect tea totaling. You cannot byob, we asked. About the food, it was brought too us too quickly, we were in and out in an 40 minutes max, and was average in taste - better than Diva though. I would possibly come for lunch buffet but skip this restaurant on date night.
(2)Kunal C.
Horrible service, every table wad waiting for 20-30 mins for food. Food quality is highly ok. Kulfee is just ice. Don't order that. Paneer was not cooked at all, hard as stone. Dal and chapati were the only good dishes. Doubt I'll come back here.
(2)S. S.
Yes, there is no ambiance. Yes, the service sucks. Yes, the waitress sighs and looks completely bored 100% of the time ( I am brown and she even gives me the look when I ask her a question but I think that's her baseline look - don't take it personally). The food ROCKS! Hands down the best Pakistani food I have had since leaving the motherland. My favorite thing here is the bihari chicken kadahi. It's the boneless grilled bihari chicken thrown together in a skillet/wok with the tomato sauce for the kadahi. It's even better than the regular chicken kadhai which is also phenomenal. They also have the best palak paneer I have had in a long time. I usually stick to those 2 dishes, but I have loved each dish I have tried. Highly recommend the achaari paneer and achaari chicken, bihari chicken, lamb vindaloo, chicken/lamb biryani, haleem and the nihari and the baingan are decent too. Do yourself a favor, ignore the rest of the indian places in Boston, go here. Your palate will thank you. Ignore the service, focus on the food and order mild or medium depending on your roots. If you are a true desi, go for the heat!
(5)Ayesha H.
Best Pakistani food I've found in Boston, up there with Mehak. They catered two events I went to after which I was driven to go to the restaurant to have their food again. I hope more people discover this hidden gem!
(4)Hisham M.
Their mid-day buffet USED to be the best Southasian / Pakistani option in Boston. The quality of food has tumbled down very quickly as of late.
(3)Laura P.
I decided to try this place when my beloved Namaskar closed, and I ended up disappointed. The place was dead except for me and my boyfriend, but that was not infrequently the case with Namaskar, so I didn't think much of it. There was no music playing, so the empty restaurant seemed both quiet and loud at the same time--every sound we or the waitstaff made seemed to echo. It was a little disconcerting. To start with, we got garlic naan and the aloo papri appetizer. The naan was fairly good, though not spectacular. It tasted like the tandoor in which it was cooked wasn't quite hot enough to give it that really awesome taste and texture that the best naan has. The aloo papri was quite delicious, fresh and light-tasting. It was probably my favorite part of the meal. My boyfriend ordered the goat karahi, medium heat. It was a bit spicier than he'd expected, but it was tasty. There didn't seem to be much meat on the chunks of goat in the dish, though--they were mainly bone. I ordered the goat haleem, spicy. What I received resembled a tomato soup with barely, barely perceptible shreds of something in it. I asked if there was any goat in it, because I didn't see any. I was told that those barely perceptible shreds were the goat. Ah. There was, I guess, about as much meat in that dish as on a single one of the bony chunks in my boyfriend's dish. Nowhere in the menu did it say that this was what I'd be getting, and the price was the same as that of the dishes that actually had chunks of goat in them! I had planned on eating the dish with just a little rice, but my meal turned out to be mostly rice, because otherwise, I'd have had to eat the dish from the pot with a spoon. It was indeed spicy, which was good in my book, but there didn't seem to be much flavor to it--just heat. Unsurprisingly, I could not taste goat at all. I was terribly disappointed, and left most of it. Maybe that meant I was wasting even more money, but I really didn't like it enough to finish it. I don't intend to go back to Punjabi Grill. They may still look exactly like Namaskar, but my loyalty is not transferring to the new owner along with the decor.
(2)Husain A.
Great food and service. Have been here quite a few times now.
(5)Wes D.
I have been in for Dinner and Lunch. I would say that this is the best Indian Buffett in the area. Very fresh and flavorful options and a good deal only $8.95. I felt that the Dinner I had there (my first impression of the place) was very tasty, but a tad expensive. $15 a Plate for indian fare is too much in my eyes. That being said it was very tasty and well seasoned. I will continue to return for the buffet and possibly the dinner if I am reallllly craving it.
(4)Carissa B.
This is my new favorite Indian restaurant! I was sad to see the closing of Namaskar, who previously occupied this space. The food there was always tasty, but the restaurant was never full. When I came here on a Saturday night at around 7pm, there was only one other occupied table. We almost went somewhere else because the restaurant was so dead-not a good sign. But, remembering that it was a new restaurant, and craving Indian food, we entered and took a seat which I'm glad we did. I ordered the shrimp korma biryani which was listed under the Pakistani special section of the menu. It was a different kind of biryani than I had tasted before, but it was delicious. The spices were not integrated throughout the rice but came in pockets. The sauce was also tomato based, and included fried crispy onions. The shrimp in the biryani, unlike other places were plentiful, large and very plump. The biryani also came with a generous serving of raita which was a delicious accompaniment to the rice dish. I should add that my partner, who is Indian, did not care for this style of biryani, though she thought my meal was good. She ordered the saag paneer, which was also tasty! This dish was also very fresh, the saag was a standout and the dish included matchsticks of ginger and fresh cilantro. My friend ordered a special biryani which included shrimp, lamb, and chicken. His dish looked more like the biryanis I have seen and cooked myself. The spices were more integrated into the rice. We also ordered a garlic naan for the table which was perfect, it came out piping hot and not too covered in ghee. The portions were so big all of us took some home though we came to the restaurant famished. This is not the cheapest restaurants, but it was clear that you paid for the high quality food. I had the feeling that the food was not cooked en mass, as in the case of many Indian restaurants, that instead each dish was given individual care. I can't wait to come and try the Sunday buffet. I don't usually write reviews, but I was motivated to write one for Punjabi Grill, so it won't meet the same fate as its predecessor.
(4)Kannan R.
Just had the buffet. Food is definitely good but just like other good Indian buffets. Nothing new here. Same currys, same desserts, same kind of naans, etc.
(3)Domino P.
Great lunch buffet. Everything was fresh and hot and every tray was full. Service was great. Also very reasonable.
(4)Damian W.
Food: 4.0/5.0 Service: 2.0/5.0 Value: 2.5/5.0 Decor: 2.5/5.0 Overall: 3.5/5.0 The service here is really slow and the restaurant has been near-empty every single time I've been here for dinner. But what you give up in awkwardness, you get back nicely in the quality of food - call me crazy, but I like to overweight food tastiness when it comes to reviewing restaurants. The menu is generally very solid, though I've found most of the meat dishes and the biryanis particularly good. Have not been for the lunch buffet yet so no comment there.
(4)Omar Q.
This place isn't perfect, but it's by far the best option for indian/Pakistani food in Davis or Porter. It's much shabbier than Divas, but the food is much better. Also they offer samosas and garlic naan on the $8.95 lunch buffet. They keep their gulab jaman hot and their kheer cold. The chicken tikka masala is above average. I highly advise the lunch buffet.
(5)Hogger K.
Here's a question: why was the place just about empty at lunchtime today? The food here is definitely solid, and it's far better than many of the other Indian places I've tried in Cambridge (except for Tanjore in Harvard Square which is also fantastic). And for $8.95 for the weekday buffet and $10.95 for the weekend buffet, it's a great deal.
(5)N T.
Excellent and authentic Pakistani food. The chicken karahi is a favorite. The chicken saagwala and Nihari is also great. Haven't had a bad meal here. The service could be better, it takes a long time to get your food and the staff is pretty unresponsive.
(5)Akbar M.
I am not a food critic. I am a picky eater. I know good food from bad. If something doesn't please my taste buds it's bad. Period. The first bite makes you decide whether you have suddenly gotten hungrier or just lost your appetite completely. I walked into Punjabi Restaurant not expecting much, just whatever Desi (Indian/Pakistani) food. However, to my surprise everything was super delicious from start to finish. Here is a list of what we ordered: Aaloo Papri Sweet Lassi Samosas with no peas, the true Punjabi kind Chicken Karahi (full chicken, freshly made, sizzling and spicy, served in a Karahi) Plain Naan (so fresh and hot we had to wait a couple of minutes to hold it) Bottom line: Highly recommended.
(5)Cassandra V.
I often find myself craving food from here. However, I have also found that the buffet is probably the best option. I tried ordering from the menu once or twice and was presented with overly oily dishes that I did not think were worth the prices I paid. At the buffet I get more of what I personally want with seemingly a bit less oil dripping from my bread or fork. I go at least every couple of months now since it is a bit of a trek for me.
(4)Miles H.
I must have walked by this place about two thousand times before finally venturing inside for the exceptionally well-priced lunch buffet. It still baffles me that there rarely seems to be more than a couple other diners sharing the room at any given time, because the food here is quite tasty and again, the lunch buffet is a killer deal. Yes, the options are limited, but during each visit, I've had multiple helpings of the chicken tikka masala, coriander okra, and vegetable samosas. Consider this a hidden gem, and one of the last places for a decent cheap meal in Davis Square these days.
(4)Priti K.
I ordered a samosa chaat, which was pretty average. I can't speak too much to it because I waited a long time to eat it to be polite at the table while my dinner companions didn't get their meals yet, so by the time I tried it was kind of sad already. My partner ordered the meat platter. The meat was extremely salty and dry. It's definitely meat overload, but he relied on it to be tasty without having any other sides. This dish was terrible and it wouldn't have stood well with rice or something else either. As for the service, it was kind of chaotic and impolite. I probably wouldn't come back here. Boston is not short of good South Asian food, try something else.
(2)Kimi D.
In my 3.5 years of living in Boston, I've been repeatedly dissapointed at the quality of Indian food available. Alas, I discovered Punjabi Grill close to my leaving the city. The food here tastes the way Indian/Pakistani food should taste, like the way your mother makes it. I was dissapointed when I visited their lunch buffet, as I think it is not representative of the great food they make. If you go in and order on your own, however, the food is awesome. I highly recommend the lamb Rogan gosh and the baingan bhartha. They make great rotis and other bread too.
(5)Penelope B.
This place is fantastic and may well be the best place for Indian in the Boston area. I normally use saag paneer as my baseline, and here it was absolutely fine... but completely outshone by the other dishes. The dal makhani and shahi navrattan korma were perfect, among the best I have ever had. The pakora could have been a touch spicier but the texture and mix of veggies was ideal. The raita was very pleasant. I can't rate the bread because gluten is my enemy, but my friends loved the naan. We were here a bit on the early side and with my friends' baby, who can, uh, act like a two year old. Service was great and I thought they did well with the baby. They gave him water in a plastic cup with a lid and a straw and were good about our various requests for a small plate and a bowl. The big down for coming here with a baby is that there are no changing tables in the bathroom. There is TV, but it's not obtrusive. It is easy to get a gluten-free meal here as long as you avoid the bread, samosa, and other things that normally have gluten in them. The pakora are safe. I had no trouble with any kind of kitchen contact issues. Getting a vegan meal would also be easy. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience and probably my new favorite in the Boston area.
(5)Raj S.
Wow, seems like a hit job on this restaurant over the past month with multiple 1 star reviews. Ignore those folks who are completely discounting the quality of food! The food here is delicious. Probably the best Indian / Pakistani you can have in Boston metro area. If you like meat, this is the place for you. I've tried numerous Pakistani specialty dishes, takeout so far. The garlic tandoori chicken is the best!!! Come here for the food and don't stress about the slow service.
(5)Usama A.
The best Pakistani food in Boston, by far (but the service is terrible). I recommend the Beef Nihari, Lahori Fish Fry and Lamb Biryani.
(5)Orchid G.
I went in for the weekday lunch buffet for $8.95 today. I tried the tandoori chicken, other chicken with the bone dish, the saag paneer and side salad. I didn't find the food that amazing, fragrant or tasty but it was ok. I felt service to be very lackluster.
(3)Ayyad K.
The food here is great. The waiters/waitresses were courteous but they seemed too busy. The manager/owner needs to just hire more help, perhaps more people would be interested in coming back without worrying about how long things take and how often water is refilled (important with spicy food)
(4)Mohammad M.
I have been to this place many times food is great when ever they run out any food you have to ask so many time before they brings that
(1)Adarsh S.
Veg biryani is very terrible. I shouldn't have visited this place. It's bit pricey as well.
(1)Pradeep R.
I would have given this place a 5star if it wasn't for the bad service I received from one of the waitresses working here. Other than that the food was delicious. My wife and I got chicken tikka masala with garlic naan, Chicken korma biriyani and plain white basmati rice. We also got masala chai at the end of our meal. All the above tasted really good. Especially the korma biriyani which was delicious. The ambience is pretty good. I wouldn't go nuts for it though. It's clean and looks alright. The price is reasonable I would say, not expensive. All the above cost around $45 totally. If you go here then do not forget to have the korma biriyani. It's totally worth it and it's the best thing they make here.
(4)Pia J.
I really enjoyed their a'La carte Dinner menu but was very disappointed in their weekend lunch buffet. The experience is literally like night & day(sic)! The parathas, Chicken Jalfrezi, Chicken Makhni, Dal Makhni are spicy and gratifying. I will go back again for dinner next time we're in Boston. The lunch buffet was lacking in flavor & variety and seem lazily put together, I will not go there in the day again.
(3)Abhishek Y.
This place is definitely one of the best indian authentic restaurants close to Boston if you are not going to suburbs. Close to Davis T-stop and very accessible. They have got a great chicken curry and decent starters. Service is just as good as what you might expect from any indian restaurant but I dont complain as long as I get authentic food. I have been a regular to their lunch buffet which is good and doesn't weigh much on your pocket. Overall, a thumbs up from me!!
(4)Rima K.
4 stars solely for their Chicken Karahi. Its been a while since I have had it but the presentation in the actual dish sizzling hot. Its heavenly! The shrimp biryani is pretty good too!
(4)Serena W.
I have never eaten here only gotten take out. It's always empty when I come to pick up so I'm often confused how they remain open. They also aren't super friendly but I'm only picking up so don't need anything above and beyond. However, they make some pretty delicious food. The chicken tikka masala has just the right amount of spice and texture. My husband gets the lamb sagwala and raves about it. I really really hope they don't close because the food is so much better than Diva down the street.
(5)Alefiyah R.
The food is excellent, however the service has consistently been very poor. Recommend getting take out unless you want to spend two hours waiting for dinner to appear
(1)Chloe S.
Punjabi Grill is LOADS better than Diva. Diva has very mainstream Indian cuisine. There is a clear difference between the food served there and at Punjabi. I prefer Punjabi because the food seems more authentic and is always fresh and delicious. Also, the staff are treated much better than at Diva (which has had trouble in the past with their employee management). The buffet is a great value -- $12 for all you can eat. The atmosphere is relaxed, clean, and quiet. Servers are attentive to the customers needs and overall courteous.
(4)Hamel H.
The service is HORRIBLE. They only staff one cook in the restaurant, and everything comes out extremely slow. No matter how good the food might be, if you eat here be prepared to have a very bad experience. Waiters do not remember your order, and do not have any concept of checking on you to make sure you have enough water or need anything. In order to get help, you have to literally get up and stop a waiter to ask for help. I asked for water 3 times and the water never came. I ordered rice but it was only presented to me 1 hour after my dish came out and after my bill. Again, the service is HORRIBLE. Expect to be treated as if though you are receiving the food for free. Worst yet, the lack of service is evident in their sanitary practices - as the dishes and tables are not cleaned. The management of this restaurant has no concept of customer service and do not deserve to be in business. Beware if you go to this restaurant you will not only waste your money but you will most importantly waste your time.
(1)Fizza N.
The food was pretty good. We had the karahi chicken, biryani, and bihari chicken. The mango lassis were also pretty tasty, as well as the slow cooked chai. The reason I'm giving a 2 is because of the horrible service and negligence. We were served with dirty dishes. The water glasses were obviously dirty with grease marks all over them. Maybe just rinsed from the prior customers. And when the chai came, the spoons with the chai came dirty with obvious food on them. There were only two people working the entire floor. Perhaps due to the shortage of help, there was oversight on quality customer service. But that should never be an excuse for lack of hygiene.
(2)Aanchal J.
Punjabi Grill has become quite a regular with us, but it is not the best Indian restaurant that Boston has to offer. But it is definitely one of the nicer ones in and around Cambridge. The food is generally good, but the place loses out on two counts. Firstly, there is no consistency, there have been times the food has been amazing, and there have been times that food is just average. The second problem is that the place is "very" understaffed. From the moment you sit down, it can be a long time before someone takes your order, and can be even longer before you actually get your food (have waited more than 45 mins once!). Having said that, since the days the food is good, it is really good, is the reason we keep going back! Dal makhni is one of my favorites there :)
(3)Umber N.
Is it my grandmother's cooking? No. But for restaurant food, that too a Pakistani place in the U.S., it is as good as it gets. They make biryani the authentic way. In Ramadan, their buffet has a lot of options. Their chai is also authentic. They don't mess up gulab jamun. If you want something somewhat close to authentic home cooking, this is probably your best bet.
(5)Asher M.
The food is very good, which for me is the most important thing. The sauces were a little on the rich side for Indian, but the spices were spot on and the meat was very high quality for curry. Definitely one of the top Indian places in Boston for flavor. I recommend the Korma highly. The service was definitely quite slow, but I am a very slow eater so I do not mind. The ambiance was fine, unexceptional for me. The restaurant was fairly empty for a Friday night. No wait for a table!
(5)Maria K.
Worst. Service. Ever. I've been to this place a few times now because the food honestly is pretty good. But I have to say, after my last experience, I won't be heading back. It's sad because they're losing customers with their terrible service. So let me tell you what happened the last time I went here. My friend and I arrive at the restaurant and are seated at one of many empty tables. There were about 3 other tables occupied. Our table has two paper placemats which are covered in a sticky mess of food bits. We try to ignore this and take our seats. Shortly after, we order our food, three entrees between the two of us to share. The food arrives in a reasonable amount of time but one entree is missing. About ten minutes later, the waiter comes with the third entree and asks "Is this yours?". The night goes on. We're eating and our water glasses are completely empty. We ask the waiter twice for some water. He states, "I'll ask someone to refill". Another 20 minutes goes by, no water. Believe it or not, after asking twice for water, we give up. We did not receive any water for the rest of the night! Empty. Glasses. At the end of the evening, we ask for the check but then decide we may want to have a quick gulab jamun and chai for dessert. The waitress makes a huge deal about how difficult it is to add something on now that she's created the bill! They decide this unrealistic task may be possible after all and we request an order of gulab jamun and two cups of chai. Right away the waiter goes, "No, our kitchen is too busy, we can't make chai". At this point, this is evening is getting ludicrous. Our reaction is just sheer disbelief. Chai is tea. It's milk, water, teabags, and sugar on a stove. There are three other tables filled in this restaurant with 15 tables. Yet the kitchen is "too busy" to make chai. We tried not to make a scene but our outrage was clearly obvious in our expressions.
(1)Saba Q.
Recently moved from out of town and was looking for that goto Indian/Pakistani restaurant!! Punjabi Grill will not disappoint!!! Ordered the karahi chicken which is bone in chicken cooked in a wok with tomatoes, ginger, whole spices and cilantro-it's a party in your mouth!!! along with mouth watering saag paneer, baghan burtha and chicken tikka masala. To say this meal hit the spot is an understatement. It was all really delicious, not too rich but tons and tons of flavor. Service was nice too, definitely a plus for a desi restaurant. I know my Pakistani food and this is a definite gem. Ahh and one more thing. Have been here multiple times and the food was amazing and consistent which tells me a lot. Would highly highly recommend Punjabi Grill.
(5)Tara B.
This place has great food and friendly service. It is incredibly clean. The lunch buffet is a great value and is available on the weekend as well! Great for a large or small party.
(5)Jason M.
Very good food. The Chicken Karahi and Chicken Korma (Pakistani version, with yogurt instead of cream) I got last night were fantastic. I'm not a fan of their take on Saag, though. As others have noted, the service is pretty lackadaisical, but that wasn't a big deal for us. If it is for you, you might consider getting take-out instead of eating at the restaurant.
(4)Yen D.
Granted, I don't live in Boston and I understand that Davis Square prices run high, but I still think this was overpriced for OK Indian food. Every time I walk by the place is empty, which is confusing (how do they stay in business??). When I went with some friends, we were the only customers (which was great because we had a baby with us so she didn't disturb anyone), and when my roommate went she said she was also the only customer. We both went at 6:30 or so not on a Monday. Strange, right? Anyways, as promised by yelp the service is lackluster, but I was expecting it so that's fine. She took our orders, gave us our food, and eventually got us the check without lots of checking in. I do wish we'd gotten more water though. Foodwise, we had a goat curry-ish dish, baingan bharta (a perpetual fav of mine), lamb kebabs, and garlic naan. Highlight was definitely the delightful goat curry (korma?)- the goat was extremely tender and flavorful, falling off the bone, and the sauce was delicious. Also the garlic naan is fantastic- lots of garlic flavor and something green (coriander) lightening it up. Baingan bharta was a bit bland but OK, and the lamb kebabs were dry but OK. The goat was truly fantastic. Overall I'd say everything cost $2-$3 more than I'd prefer, but again, I don't know the Boston market for indian food.
(3)App T.
This place could be a lot better if they change the front end people. Sadly highly non professional staff that seemed less bothered about the guest. I have been to this place number of times and faced with the staff talking in their own language in front if guest and messing the order. Food could be hit or miss as well.
(1)Boston ..
Went there for lunch buffet on Wednesday. The food was delicious, not a huge menu but whatever was there was tasty. Onion pokada was really crispy. Palak paneer was decent. Best part was kheer and gulab jamun. it's definitely worth a try restaurant.
(4)Simon L.
Service was apathetic; strange for a place in their opening days - seated quickly but then made to wait while we were finally told someone would be right with us. Our server seemed to grunt at us while taking order, serving food and clearing table. Food? Decent. Standard vegetarian appetizer platter ($7.95) of samosa, lentils and fried onion - skip it, nothing extraordinary except for the curry dipping sauce. Chicken korma ($14.95) arrives in a pewter sand bucket stuffed with tender moist chicken chunks. Thick sauce is rich and heavy with corriander, garam masala, ginger and cardamom. Chicken tikka masala ($15.95) is served in a vessel full of braised chicken. The complex gravy is spicy with red chilli. Tomatos provide a pleasing red hue to the onions and yogurt and corriander leaves. Chicken tandoori ($14.95) is half a bird of sizzling hot and moist chicken. Again, standard but good. Rice is buttery, served with peas and onions. Poori ($2.95)puffs steam as it flattens out. Yes, a chicken heavy dinner, but worth it none the less. Several regional Pakistani dishes like Achari Ghost and Lamb Korahi await my return.
(3)Laura S.
Proof (not just from me) that this place rocks: Eater's list of most underrated Boston restaurants(#3) boston.eater.com/archive… This is some of the best Indian food I've had....ever. I may be a Jewish white girl, but I know a lot about good Indian food. There's not a ton of ambiance and they don't serve alcohol (bc it's a halal place I was told) but whatever they are missing in atmosphere they make up for in ridiculously good food. Here's what I recommend: Garlic naan - great chewy bread with the right amount of garlic Lamb vindaloo - nice & spicy, lots of meat Bihari chicken Kadai - spicy, delicious dish with tons of flavor. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don't get it. I haven't had many dishes that are specifically from Pakistan and now I'm a full convert. I look forward to coming back to try more! The service was slow but I will say when I asked to have my leftovers to go, they gave me an additional order of rice on the house so I'd have it with my leftovers. I very much appreciate that!
(5)Jeff M.
Pretty basic Indian. Waaayyy better than Diva. If you're in Davis and need a curry this is the only real option.
(3)Ishtiaq M.
Went with couple of friends , after the dinner we requested for three teas they told they don't have tea at all , that sounds odd and suspicious because they have full house at this particular time and most of desi folks do have drink .
(1)Yatin P.
The server told us they don't serve food before 5 pm even though the OPEN sign was on. The menu states dinner hour start at 3 PM. We were served at 5 with a serious face as we had cut short their siesta.
(3)S M.
The food is excellent, especially the Pakistani dishes. Service is a bit lackluster, but the food makes up for it. The buffet will do in a pinch, but ordering off the menu is much better.
(5)Zhichun Y.
Food here is good, and in small portion. I love the poori here, it is fried perfectly. I went there on Friday night around 6pm and we were the first customer, so no need to wait, which is very good.
(3)Saima J.
Delicious, high quality food. We ordered the Chicken Karhai, Chicken Biryani, Makhni Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Poori. Each item was prepared to perfection. Much to my pleasure as a Pakistani expat, the Chicken Karhai and Chicken Biryani recipes they use are very authentic and reminded me of home - a real treat! Food was very flavorful and fresh with the perfect amount of spices. I have never written a yelp review before but my wonderful experience at the Punjabi Grill has compelled me to put the word out there!
(5)Stefanie Y.
We came on a Saturday night and were surprised that it was almost completely empty. We were a little worried because the only other table there left unsatisfied, but we ended up really enjoying ourselves. The portions, though not very large, were filling and all had strong flavors. Some dishes were a little too salty and though we all ordered medium spiciness level, our dishes ranged from extremely mild to very spicy. However, the naan was great, especially the garlic naan. I also really enjoyed that Punjabi did not skimp on ingredients. The lamb Rogan Josh had a good amount of lamb, and the Malai Kofta had four vegetable balls, while a lot of other places usually only have three. The service was courteous, though it was pretty clear that English wasn't their first language, which led to some confusion. They were super nice about splitting the check and were attentive with water refills. I think this place has a lot of potential. Honestly, I like it more than Diva down the street because their flavors are excellent though a little inconsistent . I'll definitely be coming back to see how this restaurant grows.
(3)T N.
Completely unprofessional wait staff at this place. I'm still in shock at how they treat their customers. We had a large group of people (at a time when the restaurant was nearly empty) and: 1) were not seated nor shown to a table 2) were not given water 3) given an attitude/glares by the young woman that works there 4) they refused to split the check 5) did not check on our table at all during our time there to see if we wanted anything Bringing our food out took approximately 45 minutes. As for the three people in our party that ordered appetizers, they did not bring those at the same either and in fact "forgot" one of the orders.
(2)Sara C.
This place made me a little nervous because it was completely empty when we arrived for dinner! But, the food was incredible. Especially be sure to try the Pakastani specialities, which were unique and extra tasty.
(5)Jared B.
As others have said, this place has great food and hopefully people realize that before it goes out of business. Diva a few doors down has much more curb appeal with their sign/outdoor seating which I'm sure steal a lot of their business. But, the food is better at Punjabi. They don't serve alcohol and the service was a little lackluster considering the fact no one else was in the restaurant. Food - good. Service and atmosphere loses them 1 star
(4)Fabien T.
One of the best Indian/Pakistani restaurants I have been to. The restaurant was very tidy and the food was served hot and fresh. Food was simply delicious and the portions were enormous. If two of you go to this place and order the same thing, just order one platter (will be enough to fill the two of you up ) reason I gave this place a 4/5 is due to the waitress. She didnt seem too caring but people have their days.
(4)Hannah C.
Not the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to, but definitely a solid step up from Diva's next door. If you're living in Davis, I would say this should be where you should go for Indian.
(3)Hamad A.
Visited them expecting good food after viewing all those comments. Ordered chicken jalfarezi n what I got was chicken korma with vegetables in it. This is what u call jalfarezi????? U don't even know what jalfarezi is??? Remove Pakistani from your sign ? U don't even know what jalfarezi really is??
(1)Fathi B.
It was very extremely bad choice - there was no service, the waiters were not friendly , you need to wait to talk to You, they serve me a used saled .. When I told them this food it is used the change it but the did not say even sorry for that... Tha food Quality was very very bad.. I took my family there.. We didn't finsh it and my wife start throwing up after almost an hour... The bathroom is dirty.. Overall it's not recommended - if you wanna Indian food try Pinjab palace in Brighton ..
(1)Azmyra K.
The BEST Pakistani food in Boston! (They also have delish Indian food but the Pakistani food is particularly superb.) Located in Davis Square, this small restaurant packs some big flavors. I'd recommend nearly anything on the Pakistani Specials section of the menu. This includes Chicken Karahi (gingery chicken cooked in a wok-like pan), Beef Nihari (braised beef that melts in your mouth), Chicken Biryani (great texture and flavor - be sure to order raita with it!), and the Beef Haleem (like a super beefy lentil bowl of love). For standard Indian dishes, they are very strong as well (Saag Paneer, Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan, etc.) They have a weekend brunch buffet that offers a great combination of Indian and Pakistani food for a very reasonable price (~13/person). Stop reading and GO NOW!
(5)Noshii R.
I am so glad now they have a closer location to Cambridge/Boston. We had Punjabi Grill cater our wedding at The Harvard Club last November--and it was GREAT!!! I was referred to them by a family friend and from our first visit to the restaurant we were sold. They have authentic Pakistani food, which they can make spicy or more mild according to your taste. The seekh kebab and naan are superb. For vegetarians this is an ideal spot as they have a plethora of dishes. So, for those who want the real deal go to Punjabi Grill!!!
(5)Bilhuda R.
Easily my favorite food around the boston area. Yes the food... good heavens! Say you want the Pakistani dishes, that's their forte. Especially the karahi, mmmmmmmmmm. Or the beef nihari, or daal makhani, slow-cooked into a thick sauce. Notice I say food and not restaurant. The ambience is decent and the service is patchy, so don't go if you only care about the service. But I go for the food and I will keep giving them loads of business. You should too!
(5)Wasim Q.
Been here twice, and it's been Incredibly bad Indian food both times. We had the chicken karahi and chicken seekh kabob and achari paneer. The sauce on the chicken karahi tasted like Ragu spaghetti sauce-- just way too smooth and uniform. And the quality of meat in the karahi is ridiculous: it's like neck pieces or something-- hard to tell what part of the chicken they come from. Mango lassis are pretty good, but those are pretty hard to mess up so no props for that. Feel bad for this place as it's always empty at dinner, but their quality issues are their own doing.
(1)ak k.
Food is very good But the service is very very bad Talk about losing business Large group of us got insulted By the waitress not willing to do anything Then started shouting at us Because we wanted to split the cost We will never return here lots of Options nearby where people Respect you
(1)Qasim R.
Hands down the best Pakistani/Indian food in the NE area... New location at Davis is convenient compared to Framingham & surprisingly the decor/environment is pretty great compared to the settings of other similar restaurants Other than making great standard dishes (Chicken tikka masala, mixed grill etc) they excel & outright beat out the competition in dishes like Chicken Karhai (chicken with ginger, garlic, tomato, cilantro and spices, the masala of this dish is amazing & unlike the standard fare one finds at other restaurants) & Goat Saag ( goat cooked with spinach and exotic spices garnished with fresh coriander) Weekend brunch buffet is a steal at the cheap prices especially considering the quality & variety of dishes they have on buffet & u will be sorry by the end with a bursting stomach & regretting that u decided to come here.... Catering service is also great & the taste you get on catering orders is the same as in the restaurant. Service is good & staff is attentive. Only backdrop for some ppl is that they don't serve alcohol, but considering the quality/taste of the food one does not even realize its absence & continues to wolf down the food...
(5)Yue Z.
Service: 3 Food: 4.5 Ambiance: 3 I came to this place with a Pakistani friend, far out of the way from where I live. It was a great meal. The food was very flavorful, and everything tasted delicious. He ordered for the table, Pakistani style. Veggie Pakoras: delicious fried goodness, particularly with the different sauces. My favorite was the green spicy one. Chicken Karahi: Chicken in tomato sauce. the right amount of spicy, with very tender chicken, served in a wok. amazing Goat Saag: Again very tender meat. Great spices. Loved the touch of coriander. Dal Makhni: Lentils were delicious and creamy, particularly in contrast to the spicy meats. Get it with some lemon to dizzle on top. even better. Beef Haleem: great sauce. smaller portions. Kheer: rice pudding = condensed milk + lots of sugar. Delicious but may be health concern. Garlic Naan = always delicious. Overall, the food was superb. The place was a bit empty though. I was there on a Thursday night and there were at most 3-4 tables other than ours at any point. We were the last ones to leave the place at around 10pm. The restaurant is clean and service is friends, so not quite sure why. Perhaps the name could be less generic? It's easy to confuse it with many other joints in the Boston area.
(4)Katherine I.
Disappointingly bland Lunch Buffet made worse by poor and mislabeled selections, and inattentive waitress wearing headphones. Will not be returning. Sorry we disturbed you. No wonder the restaurant is nearly empty.
(3)Ol Y.
I was there on a very slow Sunday evening with my girlfriend. Once we walked in to the restaurant there was only one table except us. So,we decided to seat further away from the entrance in the booth. Right after we got seated, we could hear how waitress and the other waiter gave us unpleasant looks, since they wanted us to seat far away from their "resting" booth area. Apparently, we showed up on a wrong time and wanted to seat in a wrong booth in their opinion . 1. Ok, so how do we know where their "resting"/"eating" areas are and regardless if customer wants to seat in particular table in the almost empty restaurant there should be no issue at all. 2. When my girlfriend had questions about menu, waitress would give her annoyed look as giving us a favor and even sigh after she responded. 3. The bill was brought out and once she charged us the waitress said northing, didn't say thank you even once, didn't ask how the food was. 4. By the time we were leaving most of the staff 3-4 people were laying down and taking a nap with no shoes on top of the booths next to us. That was ridiculous, I understand it must be hard to serve couple of tables in a slow day. Is it even possible to wait before we leave? And of course on the way out no one even looked at us or said thank you or bye, they were just taking a nap in the middle of restaurant.. Worst service I've gotten so far!!
(1)Kevin A.
I've tried a lot of different Indian restaurants, and this is probably my favorite. It is definitely the best I've had in the Boston metro area. There is a nice range of Indian and Pakistani dishes. Everything tastes fresh. The chicken is very moist. All the dishes I have had have so much flavor. The weekend buffet is also great. There is a lot more variety than what a lot of Indian buffets have (yes, there is chicken tikka masala, but there is also so much more). The service is very casual. It isn't fine-dining or anything. It is usually the same two servers in the restaurant. They are laid back and fun. It is more the kind of place where you just call somebody over if you need something (don't expect that they will keep coming back to check on you- I actually really like this about the place).
(5)Alisa K.
This is one of those places that can range from a 2.5 to a 5 stars, depending on what you order. -Chicken Karahi: 5 stars! Delicious. I recommend the boneless version - delicious, flavorful, tomato-ey dark meat. Great with naan. Word on the street: this is what they're known for. If you order one thing here, get this! -Chicken tikka kabob: 4 stars. If you order this sizzling plate, you'll be the star of the restaurant! Just watch yo'self - it's hot. The tikka is succulent, juicy, well-seasoned. -Lunch buffet: 4 stars. Great selection for only $12! Appetizers, desserts, salads, biryani, several vegetarian and meat (non-veg for you desi's out there) options. -Any traditional Indian (as opposed to Pakistani) dish (eg, samosa chaat, mutter paneer, lamb qorma): 2.5 stars. Stews were mushy, flavors bland. -Ambience: 2.5 stars: Mainly because the restaurant is pretty empty and they play kind of depressing Bollywood songs from the early to mid-90s. -Bottom line: The chicken karahi is phenomenal. The lunch buffet is solid. They appear to be much better at Pakistani (eg. chicken karahi, kabobs) than Indian cuisine. Note this is coming from someone who definitely prefers Indian to Pakistani food (and who hails from the India-Pakistan-disputed territory of Kashmir). No dispute here (the food, not the politics).
(3)Apolinaras S.
Place may not have changed how it looks, but the owners have. And boy is the quality of the food is so much better. Went with my fam for Saturday brunch buffet. Proprietors are really nice quiet folks. Really nice selection and none of the proteins were dry. Usually you can expect chicken to be dry as a bone, but that was not the case at all. Great food, great value, and really nice and tidy place. Finally decent Indian in Davis square.
(5)Janet L.
I'm writing this review because I think the food here really has merit, and I hope they don't go out of business. I've eaten at Punjabi Grill twice so far, once in-restaurant and once take-out. First off, their advertising/marketing and signage outside is found wanting. There's nothing about the exterior that looks inviting, which is a shame. Once you enter inside, the restaurant is nicely decorated (well, they try, you can tell), and the atmosphere is calm because most likely there will be no one else in there (which is what I've experienced both times). Really a shame, because if they can just make the restaurant look more inviting from the outside, that's half the battle. Having a banner instead of a real sign probably doesn't help. Food-wise, yesterday, I ordered a vegetarian dish - "Baingan Bhartha" - "An eggplant specialty baked over open flame, mashed, then sautéed with onions, tomato, garlic, ginger and other spices, garnished with fresh coriander" for $12.95. The spices are great and authentic - I ordered mild and there was just a subtle yet deep hint of spicyness (and I can handle spicy), it was really nice. I've also ordered the lamb curry for $14.95 and can also say the spices were delicious as well. And portions are very reasoable. So please, if you're craving Indian or Punjabi, go to Punjabi Grill! I'm not giving them 5 stars since a) an empty room doesn't make for the best decor and b) the prices could be cheaper, but then again, Davis Square real estate is pretty expensive and you won't find much cheaper at other nearby restaurants.
(4)Columbine P.
I went to Punjabi Grill for a birthday dinner, and so got to try a number of different dishes. We started with garlic naan, and both vegetarian and a non-vegetarian appetizer combos. All of the appetizers were excellent, and the naan light and fluffy. When our entrees arrived, the first thing I noticed was that even the rice was superb. Who notices the rice? But it was just that good, as was everything I tasted. I think my favorite was the goat korma - richly flavored sauce, and tender, fall-off-the-bone meat. But they also did more than justice to my habitual favorite, saag paneer, and the fiery Bihari Chicken Kadai was wonderful. Chicken Haleem was comfort food from the get-go. Every single dish I tried was extraordinarily good. Punjabi Grill is also very reasonably priced, and has a open, comfortable layout and a calm, low-key feel. The service was fast, courteous, and 100% accurate, and it was fun to watch the cook in his little glassed-in alcove hanging up giant hooked skewers of grilled meat and spreading dough for baking. Delicious, well presented, and utterly pleasant in every way.
(5)Binh L.
I came here at 7pm and it was dead. I don't know how long they're going to last at that kind of pace! I thought the food was pretty good, but the spice and salt level was a little overpowering when I ordered the Pakistani special, chicken korma biranyi. Oddly, they gave me more meat than rice. I just added more rice and pow -- solved. They actually make it spicy when you say medium (most places give me americanalised level of spice) so I appreciated the heat and it added complexity to the taste. They make flavorful curries (you can always tell when a curry is boringly flat and has no dynamic taste) so I would be sad to see them get run of out business so quickly. My waiter was nice, the food is good, and hey, now days, it's so empty that you can have a decent conversation. What are you waiting for? Hurry for some curry!
(4)J K.
The buffet was awesome. I went with my family and it was fantastic. Well done! The naan is great, too!
(4)Scott W.
I've been meaning to go to this place for a really long time. I've heard bad things about Diva on a few fronts (as a business, food wise, and customer wise) and the other nearby (to Davis) alternatives for Indian/Pakistani have proven to be kind of crappy. The stall that Punjabi Grill occupies seems to be a little cursed from reading about its history but it really should end here. As my last meal in Davis (I was in the midst of moving to Philly) I finally went here despite looking empty and closed. In fact someone walked past while I was staring at the menu posted outside and said "That place looks closed." It was very quiet when I got inside but it was extremely early for dinner and I was delighted to see that a Indian (or perhaps South Asian) family was enjoying a meal there. Part of the problem of looking alive is that they seem to prefer to seat people in booths that are hidden from view of the streets. The waiter was a very cute old South Asian man that was very polite, professional, and quiet. He was thoroughly attentive and seemed to be a hard worker. In the end I made an effort to tip exceedingly well. I ordered a garlic naan and the lamb curry. They were kind enough to ask how spicy I'd like it. The menu is very thorough and has pretty much any Indian/Pakistani dish you'd want. The food was excellent! The garlic naan had lots of real slivers of garlic and was the perfect texture. The lamb was perfectly tender. I have never actually had lamb at a restaurant cooked as well before. Spice wise it was excellent but it was also a rather standard recipe. The one complaint food wise is that the rice was a little clumpy which didn't matter to much as I would go ahead and drench it in the delicious curry. Lastly price was a little high for most Indian/Pakistani food but I felt it was well worth it given the quality of the food and the location. Vegetarians will find plenty of dishes to choose from which do cost less.
(5)Elizabeth P.
I was excited when Punjabi Grill opened last month... it was definitely an intriguing replacement for Namaskar as my go-to eat-out Indian spot, particularly considering that it occupies the same place in Davis Square. Overall, the experience was solidly good. Memory tells me that Namaskar was a bit better, but I did enjoy the food at Punjabi Grill, and definitely preferred it to Masala in Teele. I'm not entirely sold on the place yet, but I'll be back and recommend that you at least try it too! The interior is okay--it feels like your standard Indian restaurant. For those who'd been to Namaskar, Punjabi Grill has virtually the same layout and decor (interior-wise, not much has changed). The service was okay, not great... by no means bad enough to keep me from coming back, but not particularly memorable either. Speed of service was fine, but the staff could have been a touch friendlier/enthusiastic. The menu features the typical Indian fare you expect it to have, as well as an additional section of Pakistani specialties. It's lengthy, with a number of vegetarian options, as Indian places tend to have. Prices were fair--in the ballpark of what I expected. The food itself was pretty tasty, all-in-all. The lassis (mango and sweet) were both very good: they had a great tang to them and weren't overly sweet. Friends of mine ordered the Tandoori Tikka and Chicken Tikka Masala and found both dishes to be tasty and well-executed renditions. I found the Chicken Vindaloo to be pretty tasty. We requested it hot, and it did have a kick to it, though it could have been even spicier. We also tried the Malai Kofta, which was okay. The sauce in which the veggie dumplings swam was absolutely delicious, and probably my favorite thing on the night, however, the dumplings themselves were just okay. I didn't really love the texture and have had better renditions of the dish. The garlic naan was very tasty--if you're a garlic fan, definitely plan on ordering one for the table!
(3)Peter K.
Decent amount of vegetarian dishes that can be made vegan by omitting dairy. Nothing to write home about.
(3)Taimur M.
Excellent food especially the Sunday brunch. Beware if you have kids under 5 they charge for half the buffet price which makes no sense. Parking can be real pain during weekends.
(3)Roman K.
Delicious food and a great location. The restaurant usually looks empty, but the tables are actually "hidden" on the left- and right-hand sides of the room. Service was okay.
(4)Steph Y.
I don't understand why people aren't flocking to this place! I've been three times for brunch (they open at 11, so it's not early-morning) on the weekend, and there have never been more than one or two other tables. The brunch buffet is always fresh and flavorful, and the food is nicely spicy and not bland-ed down to typical New England tastes. Meat is halal for those of you that care, and there are also good vegetarian options. Be sure to ask for the spice chai tea with milk, instead of just getting the black tea on the buffet. Reasonable price, friendly service, good food.
(5)George P.
I am Indian, well traveled and been to numerous Indian restaurants all over the world. We (wife and I) went to Punjabi Grill in Somerville for a buffet lunch. I was not expecting much beyond the usual Indian buffet food. Tikka Masala watery, Saag Paneer no salt/garlic, samosas with no flavour, chana with no ginger. I was blown away by the food. Usually there is a big difference between buffet food and a la carte. If I would rate Kabab Factory in Somerville and Apna Punjab (both of whom I have given 5 stars) buffet versus a la carte, I would give the buffet a 6/10 and the a la carte a 10/10. I did not go there for dinner so I have no way of knowing how good the a la carte food is but I can tell you the buffet is the best I have had outside Calcutta (Kolkata). I tried all the hot dishes and every dish had its own distinct flavour, texture and smell. Every dish tasted like what it was supposed to taste not an imitation. I have had better chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken at other places but not in a buffet. The rest of the dishes were spectacularly good. Do yourself a favour and go there.
(5)Andrew S.
Excellent! Garlic naan, chicken karhai, mango lassi. Service wasn't stupendous but the food made up for it. Definitely coming back for seconds.
(5)Bill C.
I would give 6 stars if i could. as a lover of indian food i was so happy to see this place open up after namaskar closed. The reason? Because that sorry excuse for indian food next door, diva, is horrile. Their food is watered down and tasteless and thier staff is rude. Punjab grill cooks excellent indian food the way it should be full of flavor with fresh ingredients and authentic spices. I have yet to have anything bad from there. I recommend going for thier lunch buffet so you can try a variety of thier dishes. My staple dish is tiki masala they make it excellent, i am very picky with this dish and had it many places so know when it is good. The mali kofta is also excellent, the saag paneer and the chickpea dish are all also great. Another thing this place does great is the sauces that you use to dip the appetizers in are plentiful and fresh. There prices are also resonable. Im not sure why its not crowded, dont be fooled by this. I think the word needs to get out which is why i felt the need to write this review. I really dont want to see them close.
(5)Audrey C.
Surprisingly good! I say surprisingly, because it was pretty empty, but I'm glad we came. Weekends are buffet- but I ordered off the menu as the buffet did not have many hot veg options (1 only I think). The eggplant curry dish I ordered was a winner- smoky grilled eggplant, slightly creamy sauce, nice spices, really good. A large portion, and I wasn't even hungry but ended up eating all of it. My bf had the buffet option, and he gave it a thumbs up approval. He loves Indian food too (the more authentic the better & the spicier the better for him).
(5)Shelly A.
Better than anticipated, I ordered chicken tikki masala, veg. pakora, and naan; the chicken tikki masala was flavorful and gave more chicken than most places I've tried. Veg pakora was good also, and who doesn't like naan? The reason that this received 3 stars instead of the 4 I would probably have given it, was because of the atmosphere. I must not have chosen a good day to go, because they were having some sort of function that was loud and crowded; really the place should've been rented out because it took over more than half of the restaurant. Also the waitress we had was not very pleasant. Other than that, I would visit again. It is reasonably priced, well proportioned, and tasty.
(3)Gwendolyn S.
Great food and reasonable prices for Davis (businesses can spend 10K a month on rent, so I can only imagine!). I'm a bit sad that it's always empty and hope it does well, since it's a great alternative to Diva. Everything I've had there is tasty, but I feel like if it's going to compete with Diva, they should drop their prices several dollars. However, rice is included with entrees, so that's a plus! 1 star taken away because the service was very slow when we were there on an empty night and as said above, I think it could be a little cheaper.
(4)Leigh F.
Unless you are chowing down on street food on the Indian subcontinent, this is as good as it gets . There are two Indian/Pakistani restaurants in Davis. This is the one to go to. For the buffet, of all things. Unbelievably fresh and flavorful. I usually do not eat meats at Indo-Pakistani places, but couldn't resist the tandoor. The saag paneer was like home cooking, the pakoras were actually crisp, the aloo gobhi comforting (but could've used some curry leaves, IMHO). The rice is sort of short-grained but they cook it perfectly. Annnd...gajjar ka halwa (carrot pudding) on the buffet? Fill a bowl half-and-half with it and their rice pudding, and you are in heaven. I have NEVER seen this on any menu, anywhere - such a treat!
(5)Melissa F.
I'm giving this four stars instead of five only because of inconsistency. We went for dinner once and had the best karahi chicken of our lives. We went a second time and the karahi chicken was completely different (and not in a good way). So, why four stars instead of three? Because the lunch buffet is amazing. It includes the better version of their karahi, which is refreshed regularly like the other dishes, and a lot of other delicious curries, appetizers (the samosas are awesome), and breads. One of the best values that I've enjoyed.
(4)Sarah S.
Fantastic Indian and Pakistani food. Bordering on homestyle. the eat in service still needs a little work, I think they're learning, so I recommend take out. Much better than Namaskar was and much more authentic than bloody Diva up the street. Please check this place out. I can't keep them open on my own, and I don't want them to leave. :-D
(5)J S.
Expect to wait a while before someone takes your order. They walked past me several times before I just threatened to leave. Only then did they take my order.Food is ok. Did go back to buffet twice. The buffet was better than the dinner.
(3)