Darbar
1911 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD, 21231
Darbar Menu
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Address :
1911 Aliceanna St
Baltimore, MD, 21231 - Phone (410) 563-8008
- Website https://darbarbaltimore.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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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Richard L.
Note: this review is five stars, but an additional star is added on simply because it's carryout only...and I live within walking distance. If I had to drive to do carryout it would be 4.5 stars or something like that. Also, I haven't ever eaten there because indian food is meant to be devoured in a state of bliss while watching white collar on netflix, and complaining that there's no Law and Order season 9 available. What the hell, netflix? I have watched seasons 1-8 a hundred goddamn times. Yes, I know that Samuel L. Jackson was a lawyer in season 1. Please update your damn library. Onto the food. The chicken tikka masala is the best in the city. Hands down. Put your pencils down, call your parents, the test is over - Darbar got the highest score in the class. The spices are just mild enough to really shine through and it is apparent from the consistency of the sauce that the spices are cooked in the right order(surprisingly important for indian food). mild is exactly mild - a bit hotter is excellent with a bit of kick well worth the potential damage to ones colon. The fish tikka is also very good - if you haven't had flaky white fish in a tikka masala sauce, you should. It goes very...swimmingly. Their standard courses with lamb are very good, and they have a variety of cool curries as well. The rogon josh and the vindaloo are typically curries dumbed down for american palates, but they are very good here and with just enough authenticity to make you feel like you are in india, but hopefully not the india of the temple of doom. There are no chilled monkey brains on the menu. Seriously, stop asking shit like that, dude in front of me picking up his naan bread and "no spice" tikka masala. Kill yourself. If you are in the area I highly recommend it - if not I still highly recommend darbar. I don't go to other indian places in the city, because why would I? As Paul Newman said about infidelity "why go out for hamburger when I have steak at home?" Then he made salad dressing.
(5)Kara C.
I would not have known about this place if my friend hadn't suggested we walk there from Harbor East one random Wednesday evening. It's kind of tucked away, so it may be outside many of our radars, but I would have to say this is now my new favorite Indian place in Baltimore. The lentil soup was just the best thing I've had in so long. I didn't know something so simple as lentil soup could be so divine. My friend had the chicken tikki masala and that was really, really good too. But really, the soup is what won me over.
(4)Zofia K.
Walked in for dinner last Friday night. Greeted and seated by a stone faced employee, which can be typical for "fine dining" which this place strives to be. Our server ended up being a different employee named Sunny (spelling?). He was a star. Funny, engaging, and helpful. I ordered a Paneer entree (HUGE portion, enough for lunch tomorrow), and I ordered it Spicy. I learned there is "Indian Hot" and "English Hot". Seeing my face all but burst into flames, our server hurried over and offered to exchange for "English Hot". Awesome. Chai was pretty good -- they offer free refills!!!!!!!! Delicious food, I'll be back for sure.
(5)Amy G.
Love this place! We were introduced to Darbar through friends who invited a bunch of us to share a table and have some fun. Only half of us are adventurous to try new things.. my husband is one of them. I do recall asking if they had anything American on the menu as he would otherwise go hungry that evening. Boy was I wrong! Faced with trying something new, or going hungry, he threw caution to the wind and tried each of the dishes that passed by - the samosa, papri chaat, tikka masala, korma, naan, chutneys and more. With each passing plate, he grew fond of their food - the spices, the textures.. he was in love! This restaurant became our new favorite! The waiters know our order as we sit down (although I do, at times, stray from the norm). You can order ANYTHING as spicy or subdued as you like. We've accidentally asked them to kick up the spice at times, which led to tears and laughter and a mad dash for some tissues... and then more laughter. Phew! They also do a cool presentation of their orange kulfi - it comes out in slices looking like the ice cream was formed inside an orange :) (do call ahead if you would like this as it takes 24 hours to make this presentation). Their mango lassi is creamy and smooth.. Our favorite meal: Papri Chaat, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, & Garlic Naan.. Note: the restaurant DOES have it's own parking lot directly across the street. Look for the open gate to the left of the car shop. Service is generally good with the seasoned wait staff. In quieter moments, we've chatted with the staff who are very happy to share their stories of their journeys here, and of customs/traditions/way of life in their home cities. The owners are almost always onsite and usually walk around to check in with the guests. Our requests for lots of water refills is usually kept up with. We even ordered take out from here on our wedding night - fast and easy, and so good!
(5)Mark M.
This is currently my go to place in inner harbor for Indian food. The owner is very nice and friendly. I usually order the chicken tikka masala or the saag paneer- both are great. Go to the website and get the 10% off coupon!
(4)Tony C.
Absolutely love this place. The food is great, staff is super nice and the owner is really awesome. She let me and a group of 5 others walk back in the kitchen and showed us how the food is cooked. The lunch buffet is incredible too. So much delicious food for cheap. And you can get it to go!
(5)Shelly B.
Not bad, not great, good service.
(3)Jeanne R.
Considering there aren't really any other places to get Indian food in the city, I'd say that Darbar could have really skimped out on a number of things and people would still like the food more or less; however, this is some of the best Indian food I've ever had! It's not 100% traditional, but in a really good way. I worry that this place will go out of business, because it's never that packed, so get on it people - eat here! You won't regret it! (I recommend the chicken tikka masala medium heat - Simply delish!!!)
(4)Rach K.
Yum! Being out of my element (in Baltimore on business) I've been using yelp for epicurean inspiration. After some research for Indian food within a few miles of our hotel with decent reviews, a friend and I decided to try this place out. We called ahead and placed our orders to pick up. My friend opted for the chicken tikka masala (good first time Indian meal for those who might consider anything other than a burger to be "exotic"). I went for the chicken vindaloo (as I was craving something a bit spicier) and we decided to split an order of garlic naan. Once we arrived, we quickly found street parking, just a 20-second walk from the restaurant, and headed in. I requested a container of red onion chutney, which the waiter happily packed up for me and added to our bag. I didn't bother asking for utensils, but I should have because they were not included, but it was no big deal. We just borrowed some from the hotel. I was feeling anti-social so we split up our food and parted ways so I didn't get to try the chicken tikka masala, but my friend said it was really good. My chicken vindaloo was amazing. They provided us each with HUGE containers of rice (which was fluffy and amazing) and it was definitely enough food for 3 meals for me (and I eat a lot, trust me). The flavor of the vindaloo was amazing and there was enough spice and kick without overpowering any of the other flavors. The red onion chutney was only so-so (it wasn't spicy enough for me) but I liked the crunch it added to my dish. The naan was perfect - fluffy and covered in garlic (watch out vampires). I really enjoyed the food and I definitely want to go back to try a few more dishes. From what I saw of the restaurant, ambiance was nice and looks like a place you could bring a date.
(4)Pascal P.
I'm happy to see that we have an Indian restaurant in Fell Point again. I've been to Darbar a couple of times for dinner and once for lunch and the food has always been excellent. IMO this restaurant gives Akbar & Mughal Garden competition as the best Indian restaurant in Baltimore.
(5)Ami M.
Not the best Indian food I've ever had, but definitely not the worst. The samosas were pretty good, the naan was soft and flavorful, and the curries were as expected - but nothing was extraordinary. Everyone I went with agreed with me that the food was good, but no one was raving about it. If you're craving Indian food and don't know where else to go, Darbar does the job.
(3)Melissa A.
Love, love this place. I've been there a few times already and it never disappoints. The service is great - never have to wait more than a few moments to get waited on and your glass is always full. Food is fantastic and is definitely one of the better Indian restaurants out there. I've tried both the buffets and menu service. Off the menu, I've tried the lamb saag, lamb xacutit, and chicken tikka masala. All tasty choices. Also, their beef samosas are excellent. The only word of caution I'd give is that their food is spicy, which I personally love, but all of those items are adequately marked on their menu. I think it has a very nice intimate setting. It's small, but a good spot for date nite.
(5)Chosei K.
Darbar is one of my two favorite Indian food spots in Baltimore. I discovered this place with a Groupon a while back. The vegetarian korma here is my favorite Indian restaurant food ever. They provide a parking lot for customers which, in Fells Point, is virtually unheard of.
(5)Ernest P.
This review is based on the limited amount of food we tried. We ordered vegetables samosas that were pretty standard, thought the filling was quite dense as if tightly rolled into a ball then wrapped. Tasted ok though. For entrees we had saag paneer (spinach w/cheese) and vegetable korma. The spinach was ok though my wife thought it had an unpleasant bitterness and stopped after one or two bites. You really can't go wrong with a korma sauce and this one was passable. Short on spices, a little to thick and pretty bland as it tasted mostly of the "creamy" element. Unfortunately it was advertised as "seasonal" vegetable korma but what we got was most definitely vegetables from a frozen bag right down to the crinkle cut carrot coins and mushy cauliflower florets. Rasika this place ain't. The bread was good though I will never understand how Indian restaurants decide on their pricing where flour and water (literally!) mixed together cost so much for such a small pieces. Guess they gotta earn a living too but really? I will say that the table across from us got Tandoori meats that came to the table sizzling and smelled great. If you're into that sorta thing might be a better way to go. Service was not as slow as others have noted, even though they were busy. We did sit for about 10 minutes before any came to the table to greet us or drop water but oh well, the food came fairly quickly. I wouldn't make a special trip from Howard County to dine here but for folks in the city, or the neighborhood I suppose its a good choice.
(3)Michelle C.
Perfectly decent food and good service. Not the best Indian food I've ever had, but it was good. And they were great at serving a large party.
(3)Franz K.
I'm not a 1 star giver, but the experience here was very poor as was the food. First off, being from out of town, I was very intrigued by the "free parking" they claim on the website . . . come to find out, this is only valid during "dinner hours" and not during the "lunch buffet". Ok, no big deal, I found street parking down the street after circling a few times. As soon as we walk in the guy asks us to wait a few minutes as half of their restaurant was shut down because the A/C was broke on that side . . . I didn't really notice a change in temperature from one side to the next, but whatever, a few minutes ended up being over 10. For a buffet, the options were extremely limited and the food was extremely dry, almost like they used the Sunday leftovers for Monday's buffet. Funny thing is, they had been charging everybody the Sunday $11.95 price, and tried me like that, but I told him on a Monday it says $9.95 and he explained that they were supposed to manually change the price and had been charging people the wrong price . . . huh? The check was hand written, how is it the computers fault? Extremely shady. Back to the food, the best thing was the bread on the table. There were no samosas, Food just was very bland . . . edible if hungry, but terrible from the grand scheme of things. Maybe it is just their buffet, but I would never find out otherwise as the impression they left me was enough for me never to go here again. The waiters also have a bit of an attitude and the Indian couple next to us were "disgusted" with the food and tried to get their money back before the wife calmed the husband down and they just dealt with it like we did. I dunno, this place is pretty awful, and I would suggest skipping it, although I'm not from Baltimore and I don't know of other Indian spots . . . . but the food is terrible, especially on the buffet.
(1)dave w.
Darbar wins the prize for the most bizarre dining experience I've had in a long time. I arrived for lunch @ 2 and the place was empty. I was ushered to their buffet. Not wanting to eat food that had been sitting out for 3 hours, i asked for a menu. The waiter looked at me like I was from Mars, but complied. Prices per entree were $2-3 more than what I usually pay elsewhere. I suspect one is paying for the Fells Point location, but it's hardly all that...... Service was quick but abrupt. My waiter plopped the soup in front of me and said "here!" WTF? The tomato soup would have been lovely if someone hadn't dumped a tablespoon of raw chopped garlic (from a jar?) in it. What were they thinking?? The naan was excellent, if oily. I suspect it was made elsewhere. The okra was fine, and the rice fresh, but I've had better (and less oily) Bhindi elsewhere. For much less. Then the fun started. When he delivered the food, the waiter asked if that would be all, as the kitchen was closing. 5 minutes later, he announced the RESTAURANT was closing and everyone was going on break. I just looked at him: I'd only eaten 1/4 of my food - was I being evicted? So I asked for the check, and was given the check and a styrofoam container and a bag. Never saw the waiter again. With so many fine Indian restaurants in Baltimore, how can these guys expect to compete? I'll never go back.
(1)Jimmy L.
Tried their Salmon Tikka Masala. It was amazing! Must come back to try other items on the menu. Service was great and it is around the harbor. If you like Indian food, definitely stop by!
(4)Ankit A.
Right off the bat, I'm gonna put this out there - I'm Indian, and I almost literally grew up in an Indian restaurant that my parents owned and operated for a good part of my adolescence, so I've been around Indian food and Indian restaurants a LOT... I was sad to learn that Thalay Thai closed down a few weeks ago, but when passing by their old location, I saw a sign that read "Darbar - Indian Cuisine - opening soon" and was excited to finally have an Indian restaurant within walking distance of my home. After already hearing good reviews from friends in the neighborhood who'd gone to check out the restaurant in it's first week of business, my fiancée and I decided that we should give Darbar a try - and boy were we glad we did! The nature of our visit was first and foremost, to see if we liked the food, but also, in addition, to see if we might be able to find an Indian restaurant willing and capable of catering our wedding in September. My fiancée decided that before we talked about the catering part with them, we should decide if we liked their food... I was really pleased and surprised to see the quantity of items Darbar offered on its menu. Not only did they have the typical staples of most Indian restaurants, e.g. Chicken Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, Tandoori Chicken, etc. but they also had a HUGE selection of foods that I've only been able to find at Indian restaurants in India or at friends' and families' houses within the U.S. - things I've rarely seen on the menu of an Indian restaurant in the U.S. It was only the two of us tonight, but I will definitely be back to try their extensive Indian seafood dishes. We started off with an order of vegetable samosas (two to an order, though the menu makes it seem singular) and papri chaat, my fiancée's favorite. The samosas were really good - fresh out of the frier and piping hot and the chutneys that accompanied them were nothing short of amazing. Papri chaat is a classic North Indian street food that can be likened to nachos in terms of its visual look, but nothing like nachos in its taste. Essentially it's a bunch of flour cracker/crisp things (really really similar to the crust part at the bottom of a samosa) layered with chick peas, potatoes, and onions, with mint and tamarind chutneys and yogurt drizzled on top. Where one might eat nachos one chip (or a few) at a time with their hands, this dish is best eaten by the spoonful after breaking all of the crisps up and mixing everything together. Again - the chutneys were great in this appetizer. Our main course arrived after some time, (it's only their first week, so by all means it was understandable that the timing is something they're still working out) and when it did, as we both took our first bites we realized that the food was well worth the wait. I got the 12 spice chicken curry and she got the khatta meetha baigan (literally translates to "sweet and sour eggplant"). As far as chicken curry goes, this was a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill chicken curry dish - not to say it was bad at all, because it wasn't, it was actually very homey feeling which I think is a good thing - chicken curry is one of those Indian restaurant staples that you HAVE to get right, and they definitely did, it's no frills, down-home, good chicken curry. The khatta meetha bagain on the other hand was both really unique and really stellar. Though it has "sweet" in the name, I didn't expect it to be so sweet at first, but the perfect combinations of spices kicked right in after the initial jolt of sweet I got from the dish and it was really really good with our rice and garlic nan. My fiancée, who is American, agreed with my assessment of the sweet being surprising at first, and agreed that it definitely went really well with the spiced, tomatoey finish of the gravy. The chunks of eggplant were huge, which is really good because I've had my share of thinly-sliced, tiny pieces of eggplant in Indian restaurants that tend to lose their structural integrity as a result of overcooking and big chunks in this dish were really appreciated. We decided to pack up much of our meal as the portion sizes are HUGE but that didn't stop us from trying their gulab jamuns for dessert - another MUST for anyone not already familiar with Indian food. You can't really make gulab jamuns fancier than what they are (fried milk-based-batter balls soaked in a honey syrup) but you CAN mess them up, luckily, Darbar did not. One thing I always forget about most Indian restaurants is that many of the dishes lend well to being served family style, as one dish alone is generally too much to handle for just one person. I think the true fun in eating Indian food out comes when you can go with a bunch of friends and all try ordering something different and pass your entrees around the table - and that's exactly what I intend to do, and hopefully for many years to come at Darbar. And yes, I think we found our caterers for the wedding!
(5)Sarah G.
Solid Indian restaurant in Fells Point. The Goa Fish Curry is particularly good, and the weekend brunch is excellent. Service is prompt if sometimes a bit annoying (I don't want you to ask me if I need anything 10 times during the meal), and prices are on par with other Indian spots in Baltimore. I'm subtracting half a star because they send leftovers home with you with in flimsy styrofoam and plastic bags. This place offers Groupon-like deals frequently, so I hope they're doing ok financially and will be around a while.
(4)Coco K.
I have been here twice now for the lunch buffet and both times I found it "just ok". I agree with other reviewers that it is by no means the worst Indian food I have ever had, but it was generally lacking for me on multiple fronts. All of the chicken dishes were dry and the tikka masala had a sweet and tinny element to the sauce - maybe too much sugar and canned tomato sauce? - that I did not find appealing. The various vegetable dishes were bland and uninspired and also did not hold up well for a buffet. The naan and channa masala type dish were probably the standouts as better than the rest, but not enough to get me to go back. In addition, I agree the interior, menus, and carpets are in need of a refresh as the place veers more towards seeming to not get enough cleaning as opposed to the Charm City shabby chic vibe you often find in Baltimore restaurants. Service was fine, but not particularly attentive with only just a few tables. Also, if you have a Living Social coupon for this place like I did, read the fine print as it is only for dinner and not the buffet. I did not realize that and I ended up not being able to use the coupon prior to the expiration.
(2)Michelle A.
Their lunch buffet is delicious! Great option for a quick lunch in Fells.
(4)Chaka H.
The meat is succulent, the spices are real and used with a great amount of care and skill. I've eaten at Darbar a few times now, and I've always left very full and very satisfied. The chicken tikka masala has a great taste because the meat was tender, and the sauce had just a hint of spice which made it perfect. The tandoori meals are also very well done, it's been a while since I've ordered tandoori chicken and it's been tender and yet, the spices and color are beautifully incorporated into the meal. The chana masala is a great veggie meal with chick peas and tomatoes and an assortment of spices and the naan has always been warm, soft and thick (which I love!) If you're nearby during lunchtime, I would also reccommend their $9.95 lunch buffet!
(4)Brandy U.
Finally, a great Indian place in Fells Point! I live right around the corner and stopped in today for Aloo Ghobi and some Roti. In addition, the buffet was set up and the host (owner?) was kind enough to allow me try some samples while waiting at their counter for my take-out. The pakoras were tender and delicious, and the chutney and daal patties were wonderful as well. While the Aloo Ghobi was a bit spicy for my taste, I was was still more than satisfied with my entire meal. The amount was also generous, though it should be noted that the price was $12.00, which is pretty standard for an entree at an Indian restaurant. I have nothing bad to say, and I definitely look forward to making it a regular spot for me, which isn't always easy to do, since I'm a vegan and my options are often limited.
(5)Ayon J. R.
The food is better than average compared to most other Indian places in Baltimore. But, the restaurant has a 'moldy', stuffy feeling. They try to make their dishes presentable as well tasty. Why don't they try to improve the ambience a little bit! Anyways... an Indian restaurant in Fells Point area is always welcome.
(3)Macele K.
To the owner: HMMM ok so I dont review the same day I go... I actually made the mistake of visiting Dabar on 7/25 where there clearly was no Tilapia on the menu... I am a very honest and picky eater... that Tandoori chicken was freshly prepared the night before because it was over dry from reheating. My husband loves salad and fills up on it at any buffet we go to.. hmmm guess we must have missed the "salad on the menu" that day too. I don't know how you can say with a straight face, you take pride in the food you serve. My thoughts on you lunch "buffet" is to rethink and try again.. better luck next time P.S. and please don't let my mother in law get a yelp account because she hated the food more than I did... most of Florida has heard what she thinks of Dabar
(1)Elda L.
I've had wonderful Indian food before, in LA. Given that this place is in Baltimore, I couldn't expect anything better than average. The food lacked salt and flavoring. The staff was kind and welcoming, but the food fell short.
(2)Julie W.
We ordered the murgh kohlapuri and lamb xacutt (I don't think that's the right spelling), both medium spicy. the lamb was the better of the two - tender and more flavor. I would not have called either dish medium in spiciness levels. I had higher hopes for the restaurant based on word of mouth. I still prefer Lumbini based on this trip but it was not bad.
(3)gus t.
This was our first Indian dining experience. It was fun and good. The service was top notch, and food was very authentic. We ate everything the waiter recommended and were very pleased. The food was fresh and all tasted very good. My only complaint is they brought us naan (their style of bread) with our dinner and then charged us $2.25 for it. I would have thought it would of come with dinner being we ordered two dinner meals. I never had a restaurant charge for dinner bread when you order two dinner meals. Other then that I highly recommend this place. Clean, fresh and tasty. Its always a plus when the owners are on premises going around to all of the tables checking in with everyone.
(4)Alisa K.
Indian food in Baltimore is a bit lacking in general and this place is no exception. The curries here are a bit too pasty for my taste. The ambience is ok - a little dark and musty.
(3)Robert W.
I was a bit skeptical to try this place because I was so satisfied with my go to Indian place, Kumari. But, I'm glad I did, it was fantastic. The flavors, sauces, naan were excellent and would recommend this place to anyone. Service was friendly and attentive. Too bad the current delivery minimum is $50. A must try.
(5)Smita D.
I went with a friend and we were greeted right away upon entering the restaurant. The ambiance is nice and the waiter(s) was very attentive and kind. I grew up with Indian food and I was really impressed with the dishes (which often rare for me at Indian restaurants). The dishes weren't too oily or buttery, and the portions were perfect. I will definitely come back and bring more friends along.
(4)Angelina G.
We were waiting for an hour for our food to get at the table, the food was so spicy that the chicken favors went off. It's original and probably authentic but not my best option. It is also pretty expensive a dish with a pice of chicken, lamb, and shrimp just had one little shrimp and it was $21.00 dlls.
(2)Nicholas C.
Went back for take out dinner. Tried the Aloo Gobi, Chana Masala, and Vegetable Samosas. Aloo Gobi was fantastic. A new favorite dish. Very flavor-full. The Chana Masala was ok. A little too tomato-ey for my taste. Personally, perfer Mughal Garden's Chana Masala. However, still a good place to go if you're in the area.
(4)Alexandra K.
This is our favorite Indian restaurant to go to in Baltimore as a family and the location is perfect. The staff is super friendly and the food is really good. I knock one star off for sometimes slow service and their desserts are not their great compared to other places I have tried.
(4)Phil B.
Every so often Indian food seems to hit the spot and Darbar more than offers a solution. Great paneer chicken chutney, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Not much in the way of beer selection, though, and the food is pricey.
(4)Biju A.
Understaffed. Food quality was below average.
(2)Robin M.
Great food, especially the Somosa Chat! Generally the service is freindly and good.But they have a serious problem though, the hostess has a really bad attitude problem. She manages to turn the simplest of requests into confrontational issues. The management need to deal with this or get rid of her.
(3)Rasi W.
Waited for 45 minutes for our dinner. When the dinner finally got to us, it wasn't anything special. My daughter was starving and there was nothing short of empty promises from the management stating that our food is on its way. I was on the verge of walking out. Very disappointed for a place that has garnered high reviews. The food was good, I should say, but not the best I have had. And I am of Indian/South asian descent. There are better places to get good Indian food in Baltimore, and Darbar is certainly not the best among them.
(3)Catherine S.
We're Fells Point locals and decided to try this out one Saturday night. Clearly something was amiss because we sat for almost 10 minutes before a waiter even came over to get our drink orders. It was busy so we gave them the benefit of the doubt. We eventually ordered but were there well over an hour with no update on our food, while several tables around us had been served. We eventually left without eating and just paid for our wine. Since the manager finally came over to acknowledge what happened (one of their kitchen staff was ill so our waiter was trying to help out), we said we'd try again sometime. We went again on a very slow Tuesday night but the service didn't improve much. The place was nearly empty but our entrees still took quite a while to arrive and our waiter wasn't very attentive. The chicken tikka masala and vindaloo were both good, but my Indian boyfriend felt the vindaloo could have been hotter. We'll probably stick to take-out for this place.
(2)Serra A.
Fantastic!! We had the chicken tikka masala and the 12 spiced chicken curry. Couldn't decide which was better! Friendly staff, very reasonably priced, clean, and prompt service. The only reason we didn't rate it a 5 is because the naan wasn't the absolute best we had ever had, but it was still very good. We'll be going back ASAP. Definitely worth it!!!
(4)Priya P.
My family and I were die hard Akbar fans (Charles street) but my elderly mother found it difficult to do the steps. When Darbar opened in the Fells point area we were delighted and went there within the first week of it's opening. The food, like Akbar, is delicious. Our favorite dishes usually are lamb chops, tandoori chicken, biryani ( a rice dish which you can get with chicken, lamb, shrimp or vegetarian: they are ALL delicious), dhal (lentils) and either nan or roti (kinds of bread). We also do a lot of the curries, with lamb rogan josh and the chicken tikka masala being stand out favorites. Our newest favorite (the list keeps growing) is "kurkuri bindi"(crispy fried okra) which is also outstanding. Not only is the food in these establishments wonderful, their service is fast, friendly and courteous. They are especially indulgent with my mother and her needs, and will frequently return to the table to make sure everything is to our satisfaction. By the way there is a new chef at Darbar now and there are even more things being added to the menu including some really good and unusual desserts. Our family couldn't be happier with Darbar and every time we set out for dinner we look at each other and say"where do you want to go? as if there was any real debate! We always say that the true test of any ethnic restaurant is whether people of THAT ethnic group will eat there, simply because they know what the food is SUPPOSED to taste like and what makes something good or bad. Well trust me, we are as Indian as they come, and I know my way around a kitchen so I believe I have honestly rated this establishment, so help me God! Priya P.
(5)Mim B.
My impression of Darbar in a word? Adequate. Surrounded by pub grub and pizza, Darbar is a great way for those with a traditional American palate to eat Indian food. Generally speaking, everything tasted downright tame. "Sterile" is too strong a word, but I left feeling like I hadn't gotten what I wanted. The first thing I noticed was a weird gloopy red something that was supposedly tamarind. You know the trio of sauces (a green chutney, tamarind, and onions) most Indian places put out with a few papadums right as you are seated? No matter how cheap the place is, I've only ever experienced real tamarind. Sometimes a little watery, sometimes thicker, but always real tamarind. This was the first time I've ever seen this... syrup (?), and I avoided it. The green chutney was good but oddly mild. The veg samosas were fine. Nothing special. Like the green chutney, they hit the right notes, I suppose, but there was... something missing. It's like they held back on the spices, which is an odd thing to say about Indian food. But most Indian food I've had, even mild dishes, have been intensely flavorful. For a main, I had the chana masala, which is one of my favorites. Darbar's version was heavy, mild, and sweet. I'm used to a lighter, tangier, spicier take on the dish with a bit more heat (differentiation between spice and heat is intentional). In my experience, a tangy spicy chana masala pairs beautifully with a poori (puffy fried bread), which is something Darbar's version just wouldn't work with because there's not enough contrast between the two. My dinner companion ordered an assortment of vegetarian dishes, and all were similarly heavy, sweet, and oddly light on spice. Even saag paneer. I've never had sweet saag paneer. It was almost spinach pudding. I think the only thing I actively enjoyed was the naan. But I don't go out for Indian for the bread. I go for the beautiful complex spices. My only guess as to what's going on here is they're courting an American southern palate. From my extensive exploration of Curry Row down in the village during my college years in NYC, having dinner at many friends of Indian descent houses, and countless blissful lunches at Woodlands in Langley Park, MD (the best Indian lunch buffet I've ever had in my life), Darbar isn't spectacular. I can do better with a few Madhur Jaffrey recipes in my own kitchen. Darbar seems to be a big fish in a small pond, and I don't think they're incapable of stepping up their game. Maybe with some competition in the future, they'll get in the groove. Unless I'm feeling lazy, cramped for time, and the cravings get bad, I won't be back. Despite being insanely full, I felt unsatisfied, and that's not worth the money or the calories.
(2)Penny M.
We tried this restaurant for the first time this evening. The food was good, but the service was so poor that we considered it unacceptable. What a shame. We won't be returning.
(1)Chris G.
Absolutely the best Indian food in Baltimore or anywhere I have been. The owner and all servers were very nice. So glad the Darbar is in the neighborhood and hope it stays a LONG LONG time.
(5)Eric F.
Best Indian food in Baltimore.
(5)Lori R.
Incredible food! This is by far my favorite Indian food restaurant. Besides having delicious food, I am also impressed by the variety. They have a lot of dishes that I haven't seen at any other Indian food restaurants. My two favorite dishes are KHATTA MEETHA BAIGAN (eggplant in a tangy, yogurt sauce) and KURKURI BHINDI (crispy, fried strips of okra). Two things I have never had before and you must try. The service is always fast and friendly. I feel good giving patronage to this place. I definitely recommend Darbar.
(5)Marye I.
I went on a Saturday for the lunch buffet, and everything was really delicious. Wondeful samosas, tandoori, curry, dal, and naan, and of course VERY reasonably priced. I'll go back as often as I can!!
(5)Cheri A.
We ordered carry-out from Darbar about a month ago. The service was super friendly and fairly quick. They are vegan friendly and knowledgeable. The reason I'm not ranking super high is because the food was VERY greasy, and both me and my fiancee wound up feeling pretty sick for two days after we ate the food. It tasted great, but the post-eating illness makes us very uncertain about eating here again.
(3)Yan X.
Been here a couple of times with the spouse. Food at dinner time is great but lunch time buffet was lacking. The dinner menu is big, and pricey though. Location is horrible and to find a paring spot during lunch... Good Luck. Overall the food was good, but not the best. But will still go back because its the only indian joint around.
(3)Brandon H.
Great Baltimore Indian Food!!
(4)Sonali A.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to in the United States, so far. The most authentic Indian food and excellent customer service. A must try here is their chicken tikka masala.
(5)Yelp Fan F.
Got the saturday lunch buffet. Interesting mix of north indian and south indian dishes. Notables: the cabbage poriyal, mulligatawny soup, kheer( which stood on its own without the addition of nuts and i could barely taste the cardamom). The salad contained baby spinach- which pushes it up a notch in my opinion over lettuce-y salads. nice gulab jamuns too, would taste nicer if they were warm. The chicken tikka was disappointing- i don't understand why the chicken is hard and fibrous in the chicken tikka, at so many restaurants. Do they inject some hardener into it? I think trying the la-cart menu should be interesting.
(4)Patrick H.
We went to Darbar for the first time tonight and we were extremely impressed. Canton and Fells point finally have outstanding, authentic Indian cuisine. We had the lamb vindaloo and chicken tikka from the tandoor with a side of garlic naan. Everything was cooked perfectly. The staff were friendly and attentive. All in all, this is our favorite new restaurant in Baltimore.
(5)Miles K.
Delicious food, beautiful decor, and terrific service! A great new indian restaurant!
(5)Vivian Z.
I just want to start by saying i LOVE Indian food. My mother almost disowned me because I didn't list Chinese food as my number one favorite (since I'm Chinese)...anyway, because of this fact, I've tried many Indian restaurant around town and I am so glad Darbar opened in Canton/Fells Point because now we don't have to travel all the way to downtown for Indian food. The owner of Darbar is the same owner as Akbar, and if you had Indian food in Akbar, you know it's tasty. We went to Darbar twice since it opened, once for dinner and the other for lunch buffet. We were very satisfied both times. Though the menu is a bit different than Akbar's, the food was delicious. Their Chicken Tikka Masala was amazing, esp with the chicken cooked to perfection, very tender, not dry at all and cury sauce was to die for. I was disappointed however, that they do not have Martar Paneer but not every Indian restaurant should have the same menu right? So high recommendations for Darbar! go try it and you will LOVE it~
(5)Bethany W.
Living around the corner from here, I was at first upset when I realized that Tallay Thai was no longer open (closing with no notice or explanation). I slowly watched the building get repainted, new carpet etc, and finally saw a sign announcing the new restaurant, DARBAR, opening March 21st. Of course, I had to be the first one there to try it out. The food was AWESOME! One of the best Indian food restaurants in the city! Sauces were hearty and flavorful, not just spicy to be spicy. We had veggie samosas, naan, chicken vindaloo, and chana masala. Everything was cooked well and balanced. The chutneys were also delicious! I could have had the mint chutney as a meal, so delicious! I would highly highly highly suggest visiting this restaurant the next time you are in the mood for indian food, or wanting to try something new. They mentioned they will be opening a lunch buffet next week, which I will have to sneak away from work to try as well. Welcome to the neighborhood :)
(5)E. M.
We had the pleasure of dining at Darbar this past weekend and we were really delighted to find a new restaurant that serves Indian food in town. This was the first local Indian restaurant that offered a spicy coconut dish which I always look for but never find on other menus I've seen. Their spicy coconut dish is called Chicken Xacutti and it was delicious; in fact, all of our dinners were delicious. The service is also excellent as the waiters and the owner are all extremely friendly and try to make your experience the best it can be. We will definitely be going back to Darbar!
(5)David S.
Been twice, and each time beat expectations. Very authentic cuisine. Just enough spice to bring you to the edge of sniffles. Spices and sauces very aromatic. Dishes are enough for two with a side or an app.
(5)Becky M.
This place is amazing! My husband and I have been four or five times now and each time we have been very pleased at how great the food is and how pleasant the service has been. The Chicen Tikka Masala and the Saag Paneer are to die for.
(5)Alyssa L.
The food was delicious but the service wasn't very impressive. It was fine at first but then the staff seemed annoyed with us when we stayed to chat and finish our wine after dinner. There were plenty of open tables and we tipped 30%, but we still got some irritated looks. Not sure I'd return even though I enjoyed my dinner.
(3)Shana L.
so yummy! my new favorite in fells! some of the best indian i have ever had! the service is great too, they are so friendly! gotta check it out, and i recommend the special egg plant dish, so good!
(5)Ira L.
Very solid Indian food at a reasonable price. I think this place gets penalized by fellow Yelpers for not being exceptional in anyway but at the same time it is a reliable Canton option that shouldn't be ignored. It's not as cheap as Jasa Kabab. It's not as opulent as Endigma or the Ambassador Dining Room but it does a good job at offering good Indian food that is both traditional and a reliable option for delivery or takeout. If I have a choice, I tend not to eat here because it's greatest knock is the ambiance of the interior. If I could give it 4.5, I would for that. Just ignore eating in though, and this problem solves itself.
(4)Jay B.
Burnt naan is NOT good (or tasty) naan. I will take a moment to react while I pick away at charred pieces of bread. Darbar was revisited because the initial taste of the Chana Masala was remembered as quite superb. After coming back, I was greeted with lackluster flavors and mild customer service. I AM STILL on a quest to find better Indian eats in Baltimore. I am typing this review real-time while the disfunctional staff is arguing in the kitchen. Trial and error.
(2)Ipek S.
It isn't the best Indian food I've ever had but it is a good deal for $9.95. It is true that the food doesn't taste amazing, the service isn't the best but the owner is friendly and she is helpful. The naans are delicious, their desserts are very well done. You should give a try if you like mild Indian food (it isn't spicy at all).
(3)Patrick B.
Probably the best place in Balto to grab some Indian Food. I took a half day of work and came in here for lunch. (I mean who on earth would be productive at work after eating a massive amount of carbs and going into a diabetic coma) Was greeted and promptly sat down in a very simple but class dining area. Nice flatware, glasses, white table cloths and relaxing ambiance. Food was great, hot and plenty of it. Would get 5 stars from me but I saw a customer leave and instead of changing out the table cloth the server came back with a Clorox bleach pent and removed the stain. Table cloths should be removed and changed after each customer, similar to how you must use a clean plate every time you go to get food.
(4)Chandni S.
Took so much time to prepare order. When I came back home there was plastic in between naan. The food is okay not so great!
(2)Jocelyn O.
For starters, they have free off-street parking across the street from the restaurant! That is a huge plus because parking in that area can be a pain, so it's nice they offer free parking if you end up driving. The food was great! My go to is usually the chicken tiki masala which did not disappoint! Their nan was also super fluffy and warm (I'm a huge nan snob, so this part was important to me). The waiter was patient and willing to go over any menu items we had questions about.
(3)Jessica R.
Good LAWD this place is amazing. I crave it. I've had lots of Indian food all over the US, Europe and Japan and this one is definitely in the top 3. Maybe 1? I find chicken tikka masala is hard to master the way I like it and they do it perfect. The raita and bhindi are amazing too. Today had the buffet and standouts were also the cabbage and kheer. And it's blocks from my house! Fate.
(5)Michael P.
The staff is welcoming and the food is above par. Also, the buffet on the weekends is a very awesome option!
(5)Nayoung L.
I would go to Darbar for their lunch buffet. It is a solid option for a quick, affordable lunch on weekdays. I have tried dinner once and didn't feel like it was worth it. I would rather drive to Mt.Vernon or Columbia for a better option. I do not love their decor, either. It seems dark and I can sometimes see the inside of the storage area which is rather untidy.
(3)David R.
This is my favorite Indian in Baltimore city. I always get lamb or chicken vindaloo. It's the spiciest I've ever had and I appreciate that. Not to mention their Indian nachos (they bring this out first for dinner) and naan. 5 stars!
(5)Drew P.
Very adorable Indian restaurant. 5 stars for the atmosphere and person ability of the staff. I could barely take a sip without them refilling my drink. Extremely friendly people and I hope they do well. Food was mediocre... But I will try it again some time and get the biyrani instead of the tikka masala, which relied heavily on cream rather than spice for its flavor. I tried three types of bread... Two were just okay, but the third was amazing. It was stuffed with onions and spices. I'll skip it next time and go to Jasa Kabob for better quality at a better price. Still, they were so kind that eventually I'd like to try it again. In no rush to do so though.
(3)Lizzie L.
Excellent Chicken Tikka Malasa! Order takeout from here all of the time, portions big enough to split between two people. Haven't been to the buffet in a long time--always seem to run out of the more popular foods, but it is a great deal.
(4)Stephanie I.
I've been here a few times for the buffet and haven't been disappointed. It's pretty consistent but not always in a good way. They are always out of naan...always. It just doesn't seem like they ever check the buffet on their own. Someone always has to ask them to bring out more and then it's another 10 minute wait. Every time I've been there, there have only been a few other tables so I'm not sure why it takes awhile to get water refills and plates cleared. The food is good. Sometimes the chicken in the tikka masala is a little tough and not as tender as it should be. It's the only buffet in this area so I'm sure I'll be back but at least I know what to expect.
(3)Chris N.
Making a reservation through Open table at Darbar did not count for squat, forcing myself and my date to wait for 50 minutes WITH a reservation. granted it was on a valentine's day, a wait was expected. However, we also ended up waiting another 1 and 15 min for entrees as well, spoiling the dinner portion of the date.. The food was at most is average. I probably wont be coming back, with far better options for Indian food around Baltimore.
(1)Stefanie M.
If you live in Baltimore and you aren't eating here, you are doing it wrong. This is the best indian food I've ever had! And they serve Kurkuri Bhindi (fried okra w spicy mango powder) - I can't find it anywhere else and it's completely addictive. Everything there is good, I crave it. We moved away and it's the restaurant I miss the most!
(5)Trupti T.
Okay I would say there are far better Indian buffets and take outs there. The food here was lacking flavor. Not only that the staff here were not friendly at all. I am not sure if I ended up going on a off day, because the reviews were good on this place. I have only been here once but was not impressed at all.
(1)Anuj B.
This is my favorite for a lunch buffet. Not much expensive. Staff is friendly. Food is great as always. Try their mango lassi, it's different in a better sense. Parking is not a problem there as they have a lot right across the street.
(4)Jeff B.
I am a very quiet person. I'm sort of socially awkward, too, even though I am an 8 out of 10. While I ate lunch here, I spoke a grand total of 21 words. "My name is Jeff. Nice to meet you." [when meeting someone for the first time] "I have been here for one month." [when asked how long I have been working for my company] "Thank you." (three separate times) [when thanking the waiter for re-filling my water cup] This was a business lunch of sorts. I ate with my colleagues. They talked about irrelevant things, such as their work schedules, the work duties' of others, safety procedures at work, how long/short their commutes are, parking in Baltimore, and strategic marketing for prices of chemicals. Is this what older people talk about? Sheesh. The food itself was good. I ate a lunch buffet of basmati rice, beans, lentils, potatoes, zucchini, and curry; however, I couldn't keep eating during the entire lunch because I am not fat. I would have liked to eat throughout the entire conversation so that I wouldn't have to feel inclined to speak and so I could continue thinking about and internally debating where my eyes should be focused on. There is an ambience in the restaurant, but I never found it because I zone out when I don't talk and contribute to the conversation. I sip from my water cup. I look around. I notice the cars going by. I wait for when the alpha male will put his palms on the table and say, "Well! I think we ought to be heading out now!"
(4)Perpetua K.
Very good food. Went for the lunch buffet with a larger party, Nice sourroundings, quick service and excellent value for money. The buffett offers everything you can wish for and the good was just really delicious! Naan bread, soup, onion bahji, chicken curry, Creamy spinach, lentils, kofta and much more. They even offer desserts: sweet fried dough balls in syrup (forgot the name) and nice rice pudding. The mango drink was superior, too a must-do! Despite all these positive things it is still not a high-end restaurant but I would go any time again without hesitation.
(4)Robin S.
Was craving some malai kofta so decided to give Darbar a try. Decent but nothing to get overly excited about. The kofta dumplings seemed heavy on the flour and so were a bit gummy. The sauce was flavorful so I enjoyed the rice and naan with that. They were also a little heavy "finishing" the dish with fresh fenugreek. I was picking dozens of stems out of my sauce. Not likely a repeat customer.
(2)Morgan D.
Came here for my Birthday Dinner with some close friends. There were 6 of us in total, and they only gave our table 3 menus. Odd. I asked for more and the waitress said that was all they had. (The place wasn't even near full, and not every table needs a menu at the same time) Our waitress...wasn't my favorite. She seemed a little snobby, such as pronouncing our orders back to us if we didn't pronounce it right and also making sure we knew how spicy Indian food is. Thanks...but umm, we've been to indian restaurants before, many times. The food...EXCELLENT. I was not happy with my dish though, which was a little disappointing, since it's not something that I typically order. I ordered the aloo gobi...the veggies weren't cooked enough and it was really bland. The only reason I ordered it was because I went out to indian the week before with my friend and she ordered it and I loved it! Everyone else's dish though was fantastic! I will definitely give this place another chance.
(3)G J R.
You are reading this cuz you want some Indian food. Darbar will accommodate your craving for that, albeit, in my opinion, not as good as Kumari. Granted the food tastes as you might expect. But I think they made the flavors geared more towards the American palate. Muted. Not bland, just not as intense as you can get from other Indian restaurants. If you are an Indian foodie, I bet you will notice it right away. And understand that I mean intense as a flavor, NOT a spicy/heat. There are flavors quite specific to a lot of Indian dishes, but instead of cranking it all the way up, hitting you w/ the spices, they keep it subdued. That said, maybe it's your 1st time trying Indian food. Definitely try here. It's not the most delicious Indian cuisine, however, it IS walking distance from Butcher Hill. And sometimes that means more to you...when you're hungover or lazy.
(3)Devonshire B.
I'm not quite sure what it is with this place and Cazbar, but they obviously hold reservations in a high light. That's the first thing that draws my attention, but it didn't have any negative complications. The second would be the service. It's pretty spot on. My glass was never empty and rarely hit the halfway mark. We didn't have to wait long to order or to get boxes or to pay. The food was delicious! The Tikka Masala and the Chicken Sag were great. The rice was standard, but tasty and the garlic naan was mmmmm. I've been here a few times and haven't been disappointed. I believe it's one of the best Indian restaurants in the area. So with that being said, go eat some great Indian food already!
(4)Chryssandra B.
Darbar is right around the corner and the only Indian restaurant within walking distance in the neighborhood. While the menu does feel a little limited, what they do offer is usually done very well. I usually get take out so I can't speak to the service but so far everything I've seen from them is pretty good.
(4)Meatdowntown C.
Decent Indian buffet. Not the best Indian food but good for Baltimore standards since I have not found an Indian place higher than average around the Harbor East/Mount Vernon area. The lunch buffet is a great way to taste many dishes and reasonably priced at $10. They keep refreshing the Naan bread constantly.
(3)Kamni G.
We ended up here because my husband had some serious cravings for chicken tikka masala every Friday for the past few weeks. I got tired of ordering from the same place over and over and go luckily groupon came to my rescue. We bought the groupon and made a date night out of dinner at Darbar. The drive from Towson is not bad at all. Parking is not easy to find, but drive around a bit and you should find something. We were promptly greeted and seated. The place seems and feels cramped. We had corner seats and had to place sugar packets under a table leg to balance it. We ordered an appetizer with samosas and it was delicious. The hubby had...well you guessed it, chicken tikka masala and loved it. I had the tandoori chicken with vegetables. The seasoning was great but my chicken was dry and overcooked. So have I had better? Definitely but I would try this place again. Until then 3 stars it is my friend
(3)Irshad K.
Awesome food. We ordered these things 1) chicken palak(spinach) soup. This was one of the best soups we have had in a while. 2) Samosa chat. Average. Nothing special, nothing bad. 3) seekh kabab. Delicious again.8 out of 10. 4) mix vegetable. Passable. 5) lamb palak. Delicious. 8 out of 10. 6) pulao. Okish. Service excellent Ambience, decor 7 out of 10.
(4)Victoria L.
Let me just say that I am SUPER EXCITED to live around the corner from amazing Indian food. When I lived in Mount Vernon, I was around the corner from Akbar (which, btw, is owned by the husband of the couple and Darbar is owned by the wife, according to their servers). Needless to say, as someone who orders Indian food the way some people order pizza, this will become a frequent joint. Seating is often available on weekend nights. I think they must do a lot of their business via takeout/delivery. Everything from the samosas to tikka masala was flavorful and fantastic, and well-spiced. The kheer even comes in a martini glass (and they comped it to us since it was our birthday weekend!) and was a little watery, but still delicious. You can buy wine and liquor by the bottle or glass and the staff is very attentive when it comes to refills. :) If you're in Fells, definitely give Darbar a try. Nom.
(5)Gerry S.
The Lunch Buffet at Darbar. Some impressions, by Gerry: - The naan had sat on the steam table so long, it was crunchy and stale. - The tandoori chicken shared these same qualities. - The tikka masala was suspiciously reminiscent of Campbell's Tomato Soup. - The carpeted floor in front of the buffet felt squishy and sticky. - Really. Sticky.
(2)Vishal S.
Someone should tell them what Indian food is. They have the worst selection of buffet items and food. Most of the food tastes something else. It does not taste like indian food. They had the audacity to Replace paneer with tofu and they lost all resect. The al-a-carte is even worse and xpensive. Avoid at all costs.
(1)J. M.
I'm tempted to give this three stars because I've had wildly different experiences on two separate occasions. However, let's look at it this way. South Asian food in the city is outrageously bad [authentic South Asian here plzthankewverymuch] and there's a few dishes here that are really excellent so I'm going to ignore my second visit and affirm the restaurant anyway. I tried the Lamb Chili Fry and Murgh Kohlapur. It was quite excellent. And for you grass-munching conscientious turnips who get sad at the flesh devouring amoral ways of the rest of us? Dunno mate. I hear PALAAAAK PUHNEER [in an American accent] is generally solid everywhere. Good luck : )
(4)Keith W.
I had heard good things about Darbar and it did not disappoint. The chutneys brought out were a nice mixture of heat, sweet and sugary to go with the soft corn chips. I ordered the lamb saag (medium heat) and it was spectacular. Make sure you order the naan with it to soak up the sauce after you make it through the overwhelming amount of lamb cubes. The naan was great on its own too. Parking is easy, a private lot right across the street. Total bill for two was around $50 with drinks + tip. The best Indian food in Baltimore that I have had yet.
(4)Lawrence C.
The first thing I asked the waiter about was the onion chutney that they served. When the table next to me asked the same question, I knew they must get asked that question A LOT. The onion chutney was pretty amazing. In fact, for the most part, my meal here was pretty amazing. Service was also good as well. The restaurant though was a little ghetto. I particularly like the two loud air conditioners that are somewhat haphazardly placed on top of the doors. I had the best meat samosas I've ever had at this place. Lots of cumin flavor infused into the lamb meat, absolutely delicious. The Chicken Saag I got was pretty good, but not the best I've had. I'll try to make another trip into this place some other time, particularly to try their buffet.
(4)C B.
The food was delicious and flavorful. We ordered food for take out so I can't comment on the service, but both dishes were creamy and complex. A must try Indian place for anyone in Fells!
(5)CafeMaster M.
Excellent food quality- a notch above the typical indian fare one expects. We ordered vegetarian: the Tandoori Paneer Tikka was very nice, as was the Chana Masala. There was an appropriate amount of heat and the food wasn't overly heavy. Service was perfect- we were well attended to and taken care of. The wine selection was good and not overpriced. The atmosphere was great- very cozy and warm: soft lighting, a wood beamed ceiling, and plenty of artwork adorning the walls. Overall I highly recommend this place when the mood for some Indian cuisine strikes you.
(4)Andrew G.
Food isn't the best indian ive had... Go to jassa kabob instead in canton...Smaller portions than i expected... The service was terrrrrrrible!... Awful!... I usually give people the benefit if the doubt but not this time.
(2)Supriya M.
Always good Indian food, nice ambiance, friendly service - this place is great! The lamb chops were a bit overcooked but the chicken vindaloo and saag paneer were fantastic. The bread was fresh. The gulab jamuns were underwhelming but then again, I've never had good gulab jamuns in the US - so its par for the course. Overall, favorite Indian place in Baltimore City so far!
(4)James K.
Now that I finally got them to make my vindaloo hot enough, I'm going full five stars for Darbar. I like it really, really hot. My wife's chicken tikka masala has been great every time. You can pretty much walk in and get a table any time, which is weird considering how good it is.
(5)Janet L.
Got food delivered on a Friday night and it was much later than the anticipated delivery time. However the chicken tikka and lamb Kadai were delicious I despite the wait. Pretty standard Indian food. Would get delivery from Darbar in the future as long as I wasn't super hungry.
(4)Danielle W.
I haven't checked out any other Indian restaurants in Baltimore just yet, but no complaints (besides the mostly empty restaurant) at Darbar! In their defense, we arrived shortly after 5pm on a Sunday, when they open, so they may have been busier later. Great service, great food and the fact that it's walking distance ensures I'll be back.
(4)Lily B.
Hubby was carving Indian food and this is the only one in the hood. A friend had been there and liked it, so we decided to give it a try a couple of weeks ago. Staff was very friendly and food was very good, but service was a bit slow coming from New York. --papadam and sauces were good; mint sauce was not hot, like expected --mango lassis were good (not noteworthy compare to other places but I don't know any other in Baltimore) Main dishes took 40+ minutes to arrive so shouldn't come here at the point of starving. --Lamb Xacutti was exactly what I wanted: rich, moderately spicy, Indian curry; ordered the spicyness level to be moderate, and would describe the result on my scale as 5/10 (meaning, I noticed the spice, but it was very easy to eat) --Zafarani Murg Biryani (a type of chicken Biryani) was excellent, one of the better ones can remember having --spicy tea (Masala Chai): ordered it with milk; took 15 minutes to arrive; was disappointed in the result: was very weak tasting. Starbucks' Chai is much stronger! I remember my friend's (Indian) home-made Masala Chai was stronger too.
(4)Danielle J.
Great food, great service. -2 stars because the interior looks nice at first, but when you actually look at things individually there are some much needed spruce-ups. Our menus were dirty, there were lots of dings and smudges of food (?) on the wall closest to us. What turned me off, was the air conditioner above one of the front windows. There was what appeared to be YEARS of dust/dirt on the front cover. I really didn't like it, and it makes me wonder how they keep the back of the house if that's how something looks at the very front of the restaurant.
(3)Matthew L.
Finally had a chance to stop in for the lunch buffet at darbar. That day, they had the best naan I've had in Baltimore. (Could have been their day). Had most of the usual suspects, tiki masala, saag paneer, samosas, etc. Another unique option is that you can pay for the buffet and get a carry out container. Most would agree one carry out container can feed 2 people. Great deal.
(3)Soren G.
I had dinner here with my wife on a Friday night around 6:00pm. The restaurant was very quite, although several more couples came in throughout our dinner. Our server was polite and helpful. I had their chicken tikka masala which was very good. My wife also enjoyed her meal, although I forget what she ordered. The rice, papadums, nan (which comes with a yogurt dip), and sauces were also tasty. My wife and I both had a bit of food left over, our server offered to put it in a to-go container with some extra rice, which we very much appreciated. We will certainly be back here to fulfill our next craving for delicious Indian cuisine.
(4)Dianna L.
I like the Darbar Special. It's basically a whole meal for two for $24! It comes with naan, soup, and 2 dishes - one chicken and one veggie. You know the place is good when an Indian restaurant is packed for dinner. Lunch buffet is pretty typical of other places.
(4)Vickie S.
Gosh, I love Indian food. I really enjoyed myself at Darbar. Probably not the most gripping start, but it's true. I'll come back when I get up to Fells again. Let's get to the nitty gritty: the food here is delicious. Okay, I could do with a few more vegetarian options that are on the spicier side, but there's no dearth of choices for herbivores. I made a meal out of appetizers with the kulcha (flatbread with surprises of onion, mushroom, tarragon and cheese inside) and vegetable samosas. The chopped onion spicy chutney that comes out with the pepper crackers is wonderful. The mango lassi, which is a staple for me when I eat Indian food, must have rosewater in it, because it finishes with a sweet, floral taste. I hereby oblige couples to order one of these and make out as soon as you step outside. My companion ordered a lamb appetizer (he purred when he bit into the first piece) while we were waiting on two others to join us. When the waiter put it down, he indicated that I was a vegetarian and wouldn't be sharing it. A few minutes later, the waiter came back with a plate of two vegetable korma, gratis, because he "didn't want you to feel left out". Aw. My only concern (not so much for me - we spent about three hours here catching up and wasting time) was the admittedly slow service. Not bad, not inattentive, not impolite but slow-paced. I would not recommend the "I have a half hour and want a sit down dinner" plan at Darbar. Could also be a problem if you and your date aren't hitting it off so well. They keep water glasses full, we spoke with the manager for several minutes when she came by to say hello and had our waiter check on us a few times, so don't worry about the quality of service, just the tempo. For reference: The complimentary parking is the fenced lot immediately across the street. Not the most sophisticated, but beats street parking. You don't need a ticket or validation.
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