I've been to Royal about 10 times by now. And every time it's been consistently good. The buffet: The lunch buffet... let me tell you. It is probably the ONLY place that Aaron K and I can consistently agree on. It's VERY vegetarian friendly. And the buffet is always SO GOOD! It's never been the same main entrees every time I go there. They will always have 1 chicken and 1 lamb dish, and about 4-5 vegetarian dishes with 1 rotating Indo-chinese dish. I had this some sort of pakora (fried spinach dough?) with a tangy General Tso's kind of sauce, and my god... that was fantastic! I've never had anything like it! For the whities out there who hate Indian, they always have chicken tikka out (the pink chicken with no sauce). The chicken is ALWAYS tender and not dried out at all. The staff is friendly, the women especially are great. The mango lassi is delicious. The prices are SO MUCH cheaper than Ashoka. Note: lunch buffet on the weekday is $7, weekends $8 -- and from 11:30-2:30pm on the weekdays! The naan comes free with the buffet. For being easy on the wallet and an amazing cheap lunch buffet... Royal has taken the place in my heart over Ashoka. Sorry Ashoka.
(5)
Samet A.
Tried this place for buffet on a Sunday for lunch, food was ok with not many selections, but the service was terrible, I had rice in my plate , the waitress started yellimg at me saying this is waste and they are gonna charge me for that till that time no one ever told me anything but at the very and I was told I have to pay for the rice, i would not mind paying for it but I did not like the yelling . I would never go back to this place again
(1)
Vic N.
I was very disappointed on my last Visit to Royal Indian Cuisine. Granted, the food is usually good, however, this time, the service and food were terrible! I did come in towards the end of their buffet and they told me it was okay. As soon as I sat down. They asked me if they could clear the buffet. I told them to leave it up for 10 minutes and they yelled at me. I have never experienced such terrible customer service. I feel bad giving this place such a poor review because the food is usually very good, but this time, it was not. Just as a tip, don't tell people to sit down for a buffet and then begin clearing everything right away. Also, yelling at the customers and telling them that you need to go home to take care of your family is not a good excuse. As customers, we expect good service!
(1)
Rodger W.
My daughter and I dined at Royal for the first time on a Sunday afternoon. The buffet was quite good, but very standard north Indian fare. The value was the real story here. For 9 dollars, you get a wide variety of dishes, a pleasant staff, and a nice clean establishment. I will be back.
(4)
Maggie C.
Great buffet:) Love everything here
(5)
Sean A.
I started with the battered and then fried jalapeño strips. They are like spicy hybrid French Fries with an Indian flair. My main dish was the Lamb Masala. I ordered it extra spicy, and it came out extra spicy- a request that too often gets ignored when frequenting Indian restaurants. The waiter kept coming over to check on me as the sheen on my forehead got more and more obvious. The ambiance was fair. They use those fluorescent light bulbs that are much too bright to say the least. If they toned the lights down to give that warm look and feel, I think I would have given them 5 stars. All in all, this was a very pleasant experience. I am in town on business and will certainly come back here when I return.
(4)
Chris C.
I love Royal Indian Cuisine. They are consistently good: food and service. I'm no expert, but i have tried most of the Indian spots around metro detroit and Royal rules.
(5)
Cristopher B.
In Metro Detroit, we have a lot of choices when it comes to non-American, non-European ethnic cuisine, but one is usually hard pressed to find someplace that's actually any good. So it's funny that in Troy you can find a pair of Indian restaurants, basically across the street from each other, competing for the hearts and minds of local tandoori chicken lovers and masala eaters, both of which are actually pretty decent! Now I can't speak to the buffet, I've never tried it. I'm generally not crazy about buffets and especially in smaller places like Royal, the food can have a tendency to sit around for awhile. Just seeking out entree action however, more often than not it'll do you just fine. Several times I've ordered my go-to lamb vindaloo and it's been both tasty and appropriately spicy. Their tandoori chicken also is pretty great, brought out on what reminds me of a fajita plate, that stuff stays hot forever in multiple ways - although the place is clearly guilty of adjusting their advertised spice levels for non Hindu-looking folks. It's hard to get a straight answer out of anybody when it comes to talking heat, and ordering something spicy is kind of a shell game. Maybe you'll get something fiery, maybe you'll get something that is moderately less than. It depends on your server's opinion of what they think you can handle, perhaps. I hear tell that there are greater Indian places in the metro area, outside of Troy. I've yet to find them, between Royal and it's cross-street neighbor I am pretty satisfied when it comes to Indian cravings. It's still got a ways to go before it's perfected in my vision of awesome Indian, but for what it's worth, Royal is a pretty good stop on the local culinary map.
(4)
David C.
Good quality food especially for a lunch buffet.
(4)
Dan L.
I tried the lunch buffet. I had gotten out of a doctors appt. and was hungry. I didn't get a chance to take pics sadly. I was happy with my meal. they serve a few pieces of hot naan (pita type bread) with it. they did not have my favorite (chicken tika masala) out this time. I even tried two soups. I prefer the lentil based soups but the hot and sour was good as well. (quite hot temperature wise) maybe pics next time.
(3)
A E.
I'm a loyal fan of this place. I used to go to Ashoka Indian Cuisine right across the street before I discovered this place and now its "bye-bye" Ashoka. The food here is definitely a notch above some of the Indian restaurants in the area and they are priced relatively well. The decor is simple-nothing fancy or elegant but if you're looking for good food this is where you beed to be !
(4)
Nina Q.
Love this place! Everything on the menu is delicious!
(5)
Jeffrey B.
I dined at Royal Indian Cuisine on Sunday night for dinner. I had never been and was honestly confused since I was thinking that Ashoka was where RIC was located. After battling many blocks of construction on Rochester Rd. I found myself on the West side of Rochester (that's Left if you're headed North) in a little strip ready for curry. I feel like I need to right a disclaimer now: I like Indian food but I don't really know the difference between Northern or Southern Fare. Is South Indian served with collard greens, gravy, and sweet tea? Probably not. I don't claim to be an expert, I just like things that are delicious. I ended up ordering the vegetable samosas, because I honestly love them. I would like to eat a super samosa that's like meal sized (think pot pie)--if anyone knows of a place that makes samosas that look like they're on steroids, please let me know stat. For my main course I had the Navrattan Korma, described as mixed vegetables cooked in onion, cashews, and cream based sauce. I asked the server if it was I would like it and we had a roundabout conversation that resulted in me taking the plunge and ordering it. Dinners were all served with heaps of rice and naan, glorious naan. I found their samosas to be great. There were two pieces and assortment of sauces. The minty green one has a special place in my heart. I actually thought there was some decent heat to them too. Mmm. And my Navrattan Korma was really great and super yellow! Not that food should be judged by its color, but this was a great one. There were a variety of vegetables in a really flavorful sauce. I was expecting cashews to be all over the place but I think they were just in the sauce. The medium heat I had was fine, I think I could have actually have had it spicier. The naan was really amazing too, soft, buttery, and abundant. I rarely opt for Indian when it's not a buffet because I usually want more than one dish. I really think Indian places need to have combination plates if they're not going to have a buffet, because honestly, I'm indecisive and I like variety. For those who use this as a standard, there were also Indians/Indian-Americans dining too. The menu also included Chinese fair which was surprising but not that odd when you consider the two countries are really close to each other. It was also nice to note that they are open until 10 on Sunday nights. My other favorite thing about RIC is that they had nice decorations, like these paintings that were partially 3-D, like sculpted not Magic Eye style. And in the center of our table was this happy bright pink circle decoration that made me smile. The booths also were covered in a tapestry fabric that little elephants on it. The service was perfectly attentive and really quick to refill our water glasses. They also boxed up all of the naan with my left over dinner. I am honestly shocked I haven't broken into it yet. . . I honestly can see myself easily returning to Royal Indian Cuisine. I thought everything was great and the menu was really varied. I would be curious to try their buffet too, judging by dinner I would wager it would be quite delectable.
(4)
Megan R.
I haven't been here for the buffet yet, but the dinners were very good. We shared between us an order of seekh kabab, which is their lamb kebab specialty, and an order of chicken biryani. To our surprise, we found that Royal Indian serves pappadum and various chutneys as a complimentary appetizer. These were tasty. Not long after we finished our pappadum, we were served our entrees. The kebab was good, very flavorful. The chicken biryani was good as well. We ordered them medium spiced, and they came medium spiced, spot on unlike some other restaurants I've been to where "medium" means "flaming hot." Our waiter also mentioned that if anything tasted too hot, they would be more than happy to remake it, which I thought was very nice. The naan that came with our entrees was excellent. One of the best I've had so far. Also, the kebab came with a few extras, like raitha and sample of aloo gobi, which was delicious and probably something I'd order next time. We also had gulab jamoon for desert which was very good. All in all, the food was pretty good and fresh and the service was good also. I haven't tried many Indian restaurants in the area, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I will say that I would come here again.
(4)
Anca N.
everything here was delicious. and very busy the moment it opened. there seem to be a lot of other happy customers too. loved the lunch buffet! food seems to be prepared with care and attention here. if you are in the area, try it. if you're not, travel to it, it's worth it!
(5)
Walter G.
I've been going to Royal Indian for several years. I go around noon, and have the buffet. Last Wednesday, I had the chicken masala. I put a spoonful in my mouth and bit down on a piece of metal. It was a circlular wire. I called the waitress over, showed her the wire, and told her I found it in my food. She seemed alarmed, but didn't apologize. She just took the wire away. I expected the manager to come out and apologize. But no. I could have choked on that wire. At the least, I could have chipped a tooth. I should have kept the wire, and sued them. Royal Indian used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but I am NEVER going back there again!!!
(1)
ivan k.
Bad food, thats all I got to say. I know Indian food because I am an Indian and this place is awful.
(1)
Haroun K.
It might be a mistake to claim Ashoka as the best Indian food in the area. Royal, located meters north of Ashoka, is just as good, if not better. The prices are a few dollars cheaper for most meals, and the service is consistently pleasant and attentive. The chief advantage of Ashoka is its amazing Thali meals, but if I had to have something a la carte, I would choose Royal. Also, Royal's buffet is superior.
(5)
Indian K.
Trust me people, the food is NOT fresh!! It also doesn't taste very good either. I don't understand all the 5 stars!
(1)
Samuel W. B.
The very best Indian buffet in the Detroit area, and nicely priced also.
(5)
Meredith S.
Royal Indian is always quality food with fast and friendly service. My husband and I love the Chicken 65 appetizer. The Chicken Manchurian is exactly like the "Indian Chinese" food we had in India. The prices are reasonable.
(5)
Vikram V.
Been coming here since I was in middle school and when it was known as Daawat Indian Cuisine. Everytime I come in here for the buffet or the a la carte/take out is really good. Everything is cooked really well and mild enough for people who like moderate spice to appreciate. The buffet in Indian restaurants is usually your best bet for quantity for the price but Royal also gives generous portions if you order off the menu. Great establishment and as such I'm a regular customer when I'm in town.
(4)
Lucia F.
I'm from Mexico, I barely know about Indian cuisine... but everything I have tried here is soooo AWESOME!! I have visited this place twice and I plan to return more often!, I'd recommend to try the buffet... taste different flavors for a great price!! Quite, clean, relax place to get a great meal...
(5)
Alexandra M.
I've never had a bad meal here, and trust me I come here a lot. I love all there vegetarian options and everyone I've taken here has loved it. I spent thanksgiving here once that's how much I like this place.
(5)
Sonia Y.
Very good authentic dishes. We ordered the paneer tikka masala, vegetable biryani and chicken curry and it was all so delicious! They also have this really good potato naan bread. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves or wants to try Indian food. They have a variety of dishes for all taste. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Jordyn K.
I don't know if I'm allowed to swear on here or whatever. But I want to put a lot of holy this and holy that. This place is so good, oh my god. The buffet is top notch. Seriously, I want to eat it everyday. I used to go once a week or so, but I've been really busy lately and I'm missing it soo bad. The buffet is open until 2:30, so get there early. I think its 9.99 for all you can eat. There are a lot of vegetarian/vegan options which is nice. But that tandori chicken is next level. There are always new dishes every week so it's cool to always be trying new things. The staff is awesome everytime and really nice. Seriously go eat here.
(5)
Vernon B.
best Indian food in the area and the area has many Indian restaurants. Chicken tikka masala is all I have to say!
(5)
Peter H.
A favorite of the Troy Indian population, and for good reason. There are quite a few Indian restaurants in Metro Detroit and it's sometimes a chore to separate the good from the garbage, but this is one of the few reliable options. Decor-wise, the place isn't much to write home about, from either the inside or outside, but it's not frightening either. Just a basic storefront and an almost-perfectly square dining room. The smell that greets you is a good indication of the food quality, though - it's spicy and aromatic, rather than the dull pungency (without being too graphically descriptive) that some of the weaker asian establishments suffer from. In terms of what I've tried, I've been a little limited by my dining company (i.e. people that don't like anything with more than a mild tingle of spicyness), but everything has been flavorful and interesting. Their Korma is actually a little punchier than the usual, with the chicken clearly having been tossed in something pretty fiery before adding to the gravy. Their Makhani (butter chicken) was a little yellower than usual, and perhaps not quite as thick and unctuous as some other place's offerings - Namaste, for example. Still decent, though. Their chilli chicken is, in my mind, perhaps the best in the area. Get the dry version, and you won't regret it. Layers of classic Chinese flavors...soy, garlic, scallions, green chillies. I massacred it in no more than 3 minutes when I tried it last. From an "authenticity" perspective, perhaps they've caved somewhat, since naan and rice are included with each entree (a sore point for some authenticity sticklers). But the flavors are there, as evidenced by the legitimately Desi clientele. I'd like to try some more extravagant menu items, but I'm very encouraged so far.
(4)
Joydip S.
Very good indian food. Their buffet is one of the best. Try out their shrimp biriyani. It will melt in your mouth.
(5)
Zac B.
My favorite! Just had it once again for dinner - as always tasty and filling. I love their chicken tiki masala, their naan is perfect every time and the portions are enough for two. I've eaten at most other Indian restaurants in the area and this one is the best in my opinion.
(5)
Michael G.
Let's see... Where to begin? Visited a half hour before closing and the owner told me to "hurry up" because they were closing. Horrible, horrible service. I asked for my food spicy and they delivered it inedible. Bear in mind that I love spicy food. Love it. That's why I ordered it that way. However, they put so much hot pepper that I could not even eat it. I have a feeling I was being punished for having the audacity to walk in while they were still open! Easily the worst service I've ever had in my life.
(2)
Ruchi r.
Good indian food. Me and my husband are a regular customer of their "chicken biriyani". I like their chicken curries as well. It is always a good experience there.
(4)
Rahul S.
The food was quite close to the real Indian food I had from back home and if you go there you MUST try the carrot sweet they have, it's not mentioned in the menu but do ask for the carrot sweet in the end, it's an amazing way to end your meal
(4)
Sagar B.
Just another americanized Indian restaurant. Had the buffet lunch here. The Roti's and naans were good. Butter chicken, spinach curry was pretty good. Not so much to write home about the lamb curry. The jamoon is too sweet, so is the kheer. Chana biriyani - now that's creative. But, not so great on taste. Overall, food is ok. Given the lack of quality alternatives close by, I would not mind going back. But, the service can be improved a lot. Pretty cold , uninterested, wanted us to leave at the strike of 330 pm.. And said, it was nap time for them. We had a toddler and couldn't help much. They were almost tugging away at our plates! Well, That could have been handled better.
(3)
Becca S.
Pretty solid. I am an Indian food junkie. Ordered takeout and got my usual cheese naan with shrimp tikka masala, however they gave me something slightly different than tikka masala sauce. It wasn't a cream based sauce, but rather a semi spicy tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly what I ordered. Still flavorful and good! The rice was nicely seasoned, and the naan is HUGE and tasty. My dinner mate got the matar paneer and enjoyed it as well. Not the best I've ever had, but no complaints either. Solid Indian joint.
(4)
Bill B.
Today, I had one of the best Indian meals that I've had in years at Royal. Navrattan Korma had a silky, golden gravy, perfectly spiced for me; very mild - I've developed an aversion to hot food lately - did not mean flavorless. The onion kulcha (bread with onion and cilantro in between) was buttery and reminiscent of a Chinese scallion pancake - only far better. The raita, a yogurt sauce, was perfectly balanced - not too spicy, sweet or sour, just comforting. Amendment to earlier review: Royal is now my favorite Indian restaurant in the area. On this day that other people fill with turkey and mashed potatoes, I'm thankful that this restaurant is not only nearby but open on a holiday.
(5)
Peter Y.
Let me preface by saying I'm not of Indian descent so my review of this restaurant is purely based on my taste buds, not in comparison to any other Indian restaurants. Dishes: I've tried the vegetable and chicken biryanee and I'm completely blown away at the flavor and quality of the dish. The chicken is all white breast meat and is extremely tender, spiced and season to perfection. The basmati rice is seasoned and cooked to perfection and together they are a match made in heaven. The chicken curry is wonderful and has to be served with plain white rice to really appreciate the complexity of taste that comes from the spice blend used in this dish. The chicken is succulent and the dish itself is rather wholesome lacking the heavy cream found in other popular indian dishes. The paneer makhini is the closest thing to paneer tikka masala. The paneer is cooked in a creamy sauce that contains spices and hit of tomato sauce. Amazing flavors and texture. Didn't think I would like cheese cubes in my meal but I was mistaken. I look forward to this dish when I'm in the mood for comfort food. The staff: Very well mannered, polite and fast. Overall I've had a wonderful experience with everyone I've met there. The restaurant: It's not bad although there are some things that turned me off. For example the wall paper is tearing off in some parts of the restaurant. Also, the ceiling tiles give the appearance of worn down and old in some places. I'm not sure if the booths are all in good shape, but the place seemed as though it could use a refresh in the dining area. Overall: I will continue dining there as long as they keep making quality food and the service is right. However, if the owners read this, I highly recommend a remodel to attract your non-indian customers. They will appreciate it and refer their friends and family to you.
(5)
Jessica X.
TL;DR: Come for the buffet lunch. I think it was ~$8/person. The lamb curry and the chicken curry are DELICIOUS. Came with the family for lunch one day. For my first plate, I got a bit of everything, and then quickly realized that the lamb curry and the chicken curry were to die for. The lamb was SO TENDER as was the chicken. I got another plateful of just those two curries with some rice. The naan wasn't anything special, but it tasted alright. I will DEFINITELY be coming back but only for those two aforementioned curries. If their other dishes were just as superb as the two curries, I would give this place a 5 star for lunch.
(4)
Bala S.
Lunch buffet was good at this place. Started with strawberry lassi, soft chili idly. Yummy Kadai lamb and saag paneer. Only thing I don't like is fried rice. There was no seasoning and vegetable in veg fried rice. Hardly I can see some carrots. Apart from that everything was good.
(3)
Eve S.
Pretty tasty food. Good service, the place was clean. The nan bread smelled like bisquick but the chicken tikka masala was on point. The palak paneer kind of tasted like old wet grass but the cheese in it was yummy. Waters were promptly filled and dessert was offered (we declined but it was good of them to ask)
(4)
Chet G.
Excellent place to eat. If you love Indian food. Friendly and courteous service. They have private parking off-street and they have a buffet. They are open 7 days a week.
(5)
Cari M.
The food here is pretty much flawless. I've gone to the lunch buffet a couple times now and would eat it several times a week if I could. The buffet is a great deal. They offer all kinds of dishes and I've never been disappointed. It's a great chance to try new dishes you wouldn't otherwise. You get a basket of naan with the buffet and it is always warm and perfect (though you might have to ask the servers to bring it out.) You really can't go wrong with their buffet. I would give it 5 stars except sometimes service isn't the friendliest. It's not rude, just not very attentive (even when the place is fairly empty.) The make sure the buffet is stocked and fresh. I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Amy H.
For the past few months i've been treating myself with takeout from Royal Indian every Sunday. I have yet to try the buffet (which looks fabulous), because I'm usually hungover on Sundays and want to eat by myself in a cool, dark room. So, let me start with some suggestions. Samosas, Masala Dosa, Paneer Mahkini, Mutter Panneer, Chicken Madras, Chicken Vindaloo, Chana Masala, Navrattan Korma, Keema Naan...the list goes on and on. All of this dishes, cooked to perfection, EVERY TIME. The textures of these dishes are always spot on, super creamy and rich in color. I order the food hot, and they deliver. I can handle some serious heat, but I ate one of the peppers in the chicken madras and actually had to lay down i felt so dizzy. It was great. The naan I get is always freshly baked and piping hot. There is always a plentiful amount of rice with my orders. God, I love this place. Seriously.
(5)
M B.
My experience overall at this place was underwhelming. The lamb biryani was mediocre and the chicken dish was just ok. Naan comes with meal, but it was just meh. The service was about average for Indian restaurants. We wanted to order dessert, but the check came before we got a chance to try their kulfi.
I've only been here for the lunch buffets. The staff is friendly but the service is at times slow. The food is best on the weekends for lunch. On the weekdays it is hit or miss. You can't beat the prices for either time periods though. I really like their saag paneer, lamb kudai, biryani, tandoori chicken and butter chicken.
(4)
Shirley R.
The food is mediocre at best. The lunch buffet was nothing special. But what made this entire experience a 1 star vs 3 star review was the staff. They were rude and literally yelled at us for not finishing our food. I will never go back again.
I'm a desi food fanatic and this place a great food. But the reason why I'm giving it 2 stars is that the service is horrible, over and over again. When I called to find out the timing of the buffet, the server told me its till 3:30 but not to bother coming after 2:30. The food compelled us to go and when we were there it was impossible to eat as the servers spoke in their native languages across the room. It took forever to bring the naans and the food got cold and had to beg for refills .overall I'm beginning to think the food is not worth going through such horrible experience. I would recommend the owner to change their servers, except Taimur who is the only one who was helpful.
(2)
Megan M.
Had a buy one get one free coupon so we decided to try this place out. So glad that we did. It may look like a hole in the wall from the outside but the inside looks great and we had a very good experience. We ordered chana masala and baigan bharta. Both were fresh and tasted great. Most entrees are only 9.95 and that included rice and lots of naan. Good portion sizes too. Staff were very nice and friendly to us, filled our glasses several times, and checked on us often. We took home the leftovers and can't wait to eat them. We will definitely be returning.
(5)
Kate H.
I had dinner at Royal tonight for probably the 30th time (if you include carry-out). This has been my "go to" place for Indian for probably 2 years now. I've been to most of the other major players in Indian food and the Navrattan Korma and Palak Paneer (spicy please!), along with the naan (try the garlic naan) at Royal have remained superior. Perfect level of spiciness, incredibly rich and flavorful, and full of fresh ingredients. I haven't been very adventurous with the menu, but I have had the Vegetable Briyani, Masala Dosa and Cream of Tomato Soup and they were all delicious. The Briyani is definitely the best I've had, but I have no idea about the Dosa because I've only had it there and it was really good. I've also had a few bites of the Tandoori Chicken (my husband's usual) and it's really tasty. The service is pretty slow, but I like to think it's because they're actually making your food from scratch. They give you a couple pieces of Padad (a spicy lentil cracker type thing that I don't entirely understand) with a sauce trio to keep you busy while you wait for your food, and when it comes... there is generally a large amount of it. I almost always have enough for two meals and the prices are totally reasonable for the amount and quality of food. My only beef would be that we always wait forever for our bill no matter how few people are there. This made me wish that 4.5 was an option, because it really is annoying when you need to get somewhere and you're done eating for like 10 minutes before they even approach you so you can ask for the bill. Otherwise, the service has always been pleasant, with borderline obsessive attention to water refills. I'm going to try to branch out next time, starting with the Mango Milkshake. Considering that three tables ordered them tonight while we were there, they must be good!
(5)
Abhishek C.
Very friendly and attentive servers but very average food. Was told later that the indo-Chinese is good. Will try that if I ever end up coming back.
(2)
Zink D.
I was going to to give it a two start but their malai kofta is really good. There is no consistency of food here. One day u have great food and experience the other day not so much. If you go around their closing time they will give you a table and then pressure you to leave. Their buffet is decent on the weekends.
(3)
Heidi C.
We just got back from eating there and It was just so good! The Buffet had a great variety and the spice was just right. Very friendly staff! The only thing that was missing for me was maybe a little background Indian music, that is just a little idea from me!
(5)
Beth F.
I was staying at the Troy Marriot for a business conference. One of my associates (local to the area), suggested we visit this place. We showed up a half hour before they closed and they made us feel very rushed. There was only one other table in the restaurant, but we had three people serving us...like they were running baton in a Track and Field event. The food might have been good. However, the manager couple (husband and wife owners?) rushed us so much, that it made the food entirely unpalatable. If you don't want to serve people food, don't open a restaurant. Terrible, terrible, terrible service.
(1)
Shawn W.
This place has the recommendation of many Indian people I know, and for good reason. The combination of excellent food, great value, and good service should make this a destination for lovers of Indian food. The experience starts with a very friendly greeting. The restaurant is nicely decorated and although casual, it has that feel of a nice banquet hall. My girlfriend and I had just finished a hike, and were "dressed down" compared to most people eating there and in light of the look of the place. Regardless, we were treated like, pardon the pun, Royalty! There is someone to greet you with a smile. You are waited on by multiple people, each with their specific tasks. One would vigilantly make sure water was refilled faster than we could drink it, one would remove used plates from the table, another took our order. They even continued this when the place went from practically empty when we first arrived to bustling later in the night. The food came out quickly and timed well so that we didn't get our main dish before we were finished with our appetizer. This is good service you often don't get with other Indian restaurants in the area. The selection of food is vast. To give an idea of the size of the menu, each dish has a number, and the numbers top 100 easily. Page upon page of choices, with Indo-Chinese, chicken and lamb selections, a huge variety of vegetarian dishes, and lots of appetizers. There are dishes that I had never heard of before. We ordered one South Indian dish called Chicken Chettinadu. It was a very exotic blend of flavors, with a slightly greater than usual amount of black pepper flavor. My girlfriend ordered this and didn't like it, probably partially because it was more exotic tasting than one usually gets at other Indian restaurants. To me, the dish had a punchy blend of zesty black pepper flavor combined with a sweet yet spicy coconut tomato sauce. Admittedly, this dish is not for the Indian food newbies. The other dish, Kadai Chicken, was delicious. It had a nice mellow sweet flavor of tomato and ginger, with just enough spicy kick to make your mouth water. The pieces of chicken were tender and juicy, not dry and chewy like at many other places. The chicken pieces seem to be marinated in the very sauce in the dish, because they had so much flavor. The vegetable samosas were slightly over-fried to the point of being too dry, but the flavor of the inside was very good. You get a lot of value for the money here. The portion sizes are good, plus you popodums and naan with your order for no additional charge. Most dishes are under $12. For all of the flavor and great service you get, it's a bargain. If you like flavorful, authentic Indian food and like your whole experience to be a pleasant one, don't miss Royal Indian Cuisine.
(5)
Jay D.
Our food has been splendid in the past. However, eating there tonight was somehow unimpressive. My girlfriend had chana masala which was inedible due to the overdose of garam masala. It was overpowering. I had navrattan korma, which was good but not totally taste-bud pleasing. Their Naan is still the best, and I think the same of their samosas. The price is decent and the waitstaff wants to please. The restaurant seems clean, which is always a good thing.
(3)
Brian G.
I need to go visit Ashoka to make the comparison. But I have been very happy with Royal - visited about 5 times. Excellent food, from the naan to various dishes, have tried a variety of them. They were even quite helpful with our kids being a bit finicky. Paneer dishes, sag, gobi - all good plus the tandoori and Tikka Masala dishes are also good for the slightly less adventuresome. Good buffet and prices are pretty reasonable - though like most Indian not cheap. Service was first rate and while not high end a very pleasant and neat interior apperance - better than the strip mall would suggest.
(5)
Sherry W.
I love this place for a great lunch buffet. You can try lots of food that taste great. Better than priyas buffet in troy, love going there.
(4)
Sudarshan M.
In my quest for a good Indian buffet, I visited Royal Indian Cuisine in Troy. Just a few yards further along Rochester Road from Ashoka, Royal is a cheaper alternative. Compared to Ashoka, Royal's buffet spread is limited and only as good in the flavor department. While some of the dishes were downright disappointing, there were atleast a couple that I liked. The butter chicken was good and so was their dal tadka. My wife actually preferred the kadhai paneer, but I thought it was just OK. Another thing which I did not like about Royal was the amount of time they took to bring out the naans. It took approximately 10-15 mins for them to bring out the naans. For a buffet that is simply unacceptable! I was already done with my first serving by then. I also noticed that the text next to us had ordered some chicken tikka and it took nearly 15 minutes for them to get their order too. The service is pretty darn slow. So I would not rate this buffet anything more than a 3 star. I would have given it a 2 but I really liked the butter chicken and dal tadka. So overall the best Indian buffet out there is still Ashoka, but not the one in Troy. I prefer the one in Canton. For some reason I think the food in Ashoka at Canton is much better than Troy.
(3)
Scott C.
What a great lunch find. Only $7.50 for lunch buffet. Somewhat limited selection of food, but I was certainly able to more than fill me up. The plain Naan was excellent (and I'm picky when it comes to Naan). I would go back just for that. The Mango Lassi really helped to hit the spot. I would definitely go back if I were in town for more than one week.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Susan S.
Indian food at its best
(5)Stefan S.
Not sure why this place received so many positive reviews. I suppose if you like McDonalds, you'll love this place. Wallpaper is pealing off the wall, the decor is from the 70's, and the place was empty. I ordered an appetizer but it was flavorless and greasy. The entrée was spicy but not worth eating. The waitress even told another patron not to put her napkin in the glass of water because it clogs the dishwasher. I should have known when I saw the menu had numbers by the item. But I suppose if you like the same old same old, you'll enjoy this place.
(2)Dea A.
I've been to Royal about 10 times by now. And every time it's been consistently good. The buffet: The lunch buffet... let me tell you. It is probably the ONLY place that Aaron K and I can consistently agree on. It's VERY vegetarian friendly. And the buffet is always SO GOOD! It's never been the same main entrees every time I go there. They will always have 1 chicken and 1 lamb dish, and about 4-5 vegetarian dishes with 1 rotating Indo-chinese dish. I had this some sort of pakora (fried spinach dough?) with a tangy General Tso's kind of sauce, and my god... that was fantastic! I've never had anything like it! For the whities out there who hate Indian, they always have chicken tikka out (the pink chicken with no sauce). The chicken is ALWAYS tender and not dried out at all. The staff is friendly, the women especially are great. The mango lassi is delicious. The prices are SO MUCH cheaper than Ashoka. Note: lunch buffet on the weekday is $7, weekends $8 -- and from 11:30-2:30pm on the weekdays! The naan comes free with the buffet. For being easy on the wallet and an amazing cheap lunch buffet... Royal has taken the place in my heart over Ashoka. Sorry Ashoka.
(5)Samet A.
Tried this place for buffet on a Sunday for lunch, food was ok with not many selections, but the service was terrible, I had rice in my plate , the waitress started yellimg at me saying this is waste and they are gonna charge me for that till that time no one ever told me anything but at the very and I was told I have to pay for the rice, i would not mind paying for it but I did not like the yelling . I would never go back to this place again
(1)Vic N.
I was very disappointed on my last Visit to Royal Indian Cuisine. Granted, the food is usually good, however, this time, the service and food were terrible! I did come in towards the end of their buffet and they told me it was okay. As soon as I sat down. They asked me if they could clear the buffet. I told them to leave it up for 10 minutes and they yelled at me. I have never experienced such terrible customer service. I feel bad giving this place such a poor review because the food is usually very good, but this time, it was not. Just as a tip, don't tell people to sit down for a buffet and then begin clearing everything right away. Also, yelling at the customers and telling them that you need to go home to take care of your family is not a good excuse. As customers, we expect good service!
(1)Rodger W.
My daughter and I dined at Royal for the first time on a Sunday afternoon. The buffet was quite good, but very standard north Indian fare. The value was the real story here. For 9 dollars, you get a wide variety of dishes, a pleasant staff, and a nice clean establishment. I will be back.
(4)Maggie C.
Great buffet:) Love everything here
(5)Sean A.
I started with the battered and then fried jalapeño strips. They are like spicy hybrid French Fries with an Indian flair. My main dish was the Lamb Masala. I ordered it extra spicy, and it came out extra spicy- a request that too often gets ignored when frequenting Indian restaurants. The waiter kept coming over to check on me as the sheen on my forehead got more and more obvious. The ambiance was fair. They use those fluorescent light bulbs that are much too bright to say the least. If they toned the lights down to give that warm look and feel, I think I would have given them 5 stars. All in all, this was a very pleasant experience. I am in town on business and will certainly come back here when I return.
(4)Chris C.
I love Royal Indian Cuisine. They are consistently good: food and service. I'm no expert, but i have tried most of the Indian spots around metro detroit and Royal rules.
(5)Cristopher B.
In Metro Detroit, we have a lot of choices when it comes to non-American, non-European ethnic cuisine, but one is usually hard pressed to find someplace that's actually any good. So it's funny that in Troy you can find a pair of Indian restaurants, basically across the street from each other, competing for the hearts and minds of local tandoori chicken lovers and masala eaters, both of which are actually pretty decent! Now I can't speak to the buffet, I've never tried it. I'm generally not crazy about buffets and especially in smaller places like Royal, the food can have a tendency to sit around for awhile. Just seeking out entree action however, more often than not it'll do you just fine. Several times I've ordered my go-to lamb vindaloo and it's been both tasty and appropriately spicy. Their tandoori chicken also is pretty great, brought out on what reminds me of a fajita plate, that stuff stays hot forever in multiple ways - although the place is clearly guilty of adjusting their advertised spice levels for non Hindu-looking folks. It's hard to get a straight answer out of anybody when it comes to talking heat, and ordering something spicy is kind of a shell game. Maybe you'll get something fiery, maybe you'll get something that is moderately less than. It depends on your server's opinion of what they think you can handle, perhaps. I hear tell that there are greater Indian places in the metro area, outside of Troy. I've yet to find them, between Royal and it's cross-street neighbor I am pretty satisfied when it comes to Indian cravings. It's still got a ways to go before it's perfected in my vision of awesome Indian, but for what it's worth, Royal is a pretty good stop on the local culinary map.
(4)David C.
Good quality food especially for a lunch buffet.
(4)Dan L.
I tried the lunch buffet. I had gotten out of a doctors appt. and was hungry. I didn't get a chance to take pics sadly. I was happy with my meal. they serve a few pieces of hot naan (pita type bread) with it. they did not have my favorite (chicken tika masala) out this time. I even tried two soups. I prefer the lentil based soups but the hot and sour was good as well. (quite hot temperature wise) maybe pics next time.
(3)A E.
I'm a loyal fan of this place. I used to go to Ashoka Indian Cuisine right across the street before I discovered this place and now its "bye-bye" Ashoka. The food here is definitely a notch above some of the Indian restaurants in the area and they are priced relatively well. The decor is simple-nothing fancy or elegant but if you're looking for good food this is where you beed to be !
(4)Nina Q.
Love this place! Everything on the menu is delicious!
(5)Jeffrey B.
I dined at Royal Indian Cuisine on Sunday night for dinner. I had never been and was honestly confused since I was thinking that Ashoka was where RIC was located. After battling many blocks of construction on Rochester Rd. I found myself on the West side of Rochester (that's Left if you're headed North) in a little strip ready for curry. I feel like I need to right a disclaimer now: I like Indian food but I don't really know the difference between Northern or Southern Fare. Is South Indian served with collard greens, gravy, and sweet tea? Probably not. I don't claim to be an expert, I just like things that are delicious. I ended up ordering the vegetable samosas, because I honestly love them. I would like to eat a super samosa that's like meal sized (think pot pie)--if anyone knows of a place that makes samosas that look like they're on steroids, please let me know stat. For my main course I had the Navrattan Korma, described as mixed vegetables cooked in onion, cashews, and cream based sauce. I asked the server if it was I would like it and we had a roundabout conversation that resulted in me taking the plunge and ordering it. Dinners were all served with heaps of rice and naan, glorious naan. I found their samosas to be great. There were two pieces and assortment of sauces. The minty green one has a special place in my heart. I actually thought there was some decent heat to them too. Mmm. And my Navrattan Korma was really great and super yellow! Not that food should be judged by its color, but this was a great one. There were a variety of vegetables in a really flavorful sauce. I was expecting cashews to be all over the place but I think they were just in the sauce. The medium heat I had was fine, I think I could have actually have had it spicier. The naan was really amazing too, soft, buttery, and abundant. I rarely opt for Indian when it's not a buffet because I usually want more than one dish. I really think Indian places need to have combination plates if they're not going to have a buffet, because honestly, I'm indecisive and I like variety. For those who use this as a standard, there were also Indians/Indian-Americans dining too. The menu also included Chinese fair which was surprising but not that odd when you consider the two countries are really close to each other. It was also nice to note that they are open until 10 on Sunday nights. My other favorite thing about RIC is that they had nice decorations, like these paintings that were partially 3-D, like sculpted not Magic Eye style. And in the center of our table was this happy bright pink circle decoration that made me smile. The booths also were covered in a tapestry fabric that little elephants on it. The service was perfectly attentive and really quick to refill our water glasses. They also boxed up all of the naan with my left over dinner. I am honestly shocked I haven't broken into it yet. . . I honestly can see myself easily returning to Royal Indian Cuisine. I thought everything was great and the menu was really varied. I would be curious to try their buffet too, judging by dinner I would wager it would be quite delectable.
(4)Megan R.
I haven't been here for the buffet yet, but the dinners were very good. We shared between us an order of seekh kabab, which is their lamb kebab specialty, and an order of chicken biryani. To our surprise, we found that Royal Indian serves pappadum and various chutneys as a complimentary appetizer. These were tasty. Not long after we finished our pappadum, we were served our entrees. The kebab was good, very flavorful. The chicken biryani was good as well. We ordered them medium spiced, and they came medium spiced, spot on unlike some other restaurants I've been to where "medium" means "flaming hot." Our waiter also mentioned that if anything tasted too hot, they would be more than happy to remake it, which I thought was very nice. The naan that came with our entrees was excellent. One of the best I've had so far. Also, the kebab came with a few extras, like raitha and sample of aloo gobi, which was delicious and probably something I'd order next time. We also had gulab jamoon for desert which was very good. All in all, the food was pretty good and fresh and the service was good also. I haven't tried many Indian restaurants in the area, so I don't have much to compare it to, but I will say that I would come here again.
(4)Anca N.
everything here was delicious. and very busy the moment it opened. there seem to be a lot of other happy customers too. loved the lunch buffet! food seems to be prepared with care and attention here. if you are in the area, try it. if you're not, travel to it, it's worth it!
(5)Walter G.
I've been going to Royal Indian for several years. I go around noon, and have the buffet. Last Wednesday, I had the chicken masala. I put a spoonful in my mouth and bit down on a piece of metal. It was a circlular wire. I called the waitress over, showed her the wire, and told her I found it in my food. She seemed alarmed, but didn't apologize. She just took the wire away. I expected the manager to come out and apologize. But no. I could have choked on that wire. At the least, I could have chipped a tooth. I should have kept the wire, and sued them. Royal Indian used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but I am NEVER going back there again!!!
(1)ivan k.
Bad food, thats all I got to say. I know Indian food because I am an Indian and this place is awful.
(1)Haroun K.
It might be a mistake to claim Ashoka as the best Indian food in the area. Royal, located meters north of Ashoka, is just as good, if not better. The prices are a few dollars cheaper for most meals, and the service is consistently pleasant and attentive. The chief advantage of Ashoka is its amazing Thali meals, but if I had to have something a la carte, I would choose Royal. Also, Royal's buffet is superior.
(5)Indian K.
Trust me people, the food is NOT fresh!! It also doesn't taste very good either. I don't understand all the 5 stars!
(1)Samuel W. B.
The very best Indian buffet in the Detroit area, and nicely priced also.
(5)Meredith S.
Royal Indian is always quality food with fast and friendly service. My husband and I love the Chicken 65 appetizer. The Chicken Manchurian is exactly like the "Indian Chinese" food we had in India. The prices are reasonable.
(5)Vikram V.
Been coming here since I was in middle school and when it was known as Daawat Indian Cuisine. Everytime I come in here for the buffet or the a la carte/take out is really good. Everything is cooked really well and mild enough for people who like moderate spice to appreciate. The buffet in Indian restaurants is usually your best bet for quantity for the price but Royal also gives generous portions if you order off the menu. Great establishment and as such I'm a regular customer when I'm in town.
(4)Lucia F.
I'm from Mexico, I barely know about Indian cuisine... but everything I have tried here is soooo AWESOME!! I have visited this place twice and I plan to return more often!, I'd recommend to try the buffet... taste different flavors for a great price!! Quite, clean, relax place to get a great meal...
(5)Alexandra M.
I've never had a bad meal here, and trust me I come here a lot. I love all there vegetarian options and everyone I've taken here has loved it. I spent thanksgiving here once that's how much I like this place.
(5)Sonia Y.
Very good authentic dishes. We ordered the paneer tikka masala, vegetable biryani and chicken curry and it was all so delicious! They also have this really good potato naan bread. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves or wants to try Indian food. They have a variety of dishes for all taste. We will definitely come back.
(5)Jordyn K.
I don't know if I'm allowed to swear on here or whatever. But I want to put a lot of holy this and holy that. This place is so good, oh my god. The buffet is top notch. Seriously, I want to eat it everyday. I used to go once a week or so, but I've been really busy lately and I'm missing it soo bad. The buffet is open until 2:30, so get there early. I think its 9.99 for all you can eat. There are a lot of vegetarian/vegan options which is nice. But that tandori chicken is next level. There are always new dishes every week so it's cool to always be trying new things. The staff is awesome everytime and really nice. Seriously go eat here.
(5)Vernon B.
best Indian food in the area and the area has many Indian restaurants. Chicken tikka masala is all I have to say!
(5)Peter H.
A favorite of the Troy Indian population, and for good reason. There are quite a few Indian restaurants in Metro Detroit and it's sometimes a chore to separate the good from the garbage, but this is one of the few reliable options. Decor-wise, the place isn't much to write home about, from either the inside or outside, but it's not frightening either. Just a basic storefront and an almost-perfectly square dining room. The smell that greets you is a good indication of the food quality, though - it's spicy and aromatic, rather than the dull pungency (without being too graphically descriptive) that some of the weaker asian establishments suffer from. In terms of what I've tried, I've been a little limited by my dining company (i.e. people that don't like anything with more than a mild tingle of spicyness), but everything has been flavorful and interesting. Their Korma is actually a little punchier than the usual, with the chicken clearly having been tossed in something pretty fiery before adding to the gravy. Their Makhani (butter chicken) was a little yellower than usual, and perhaps not quite as thick and unctuous as some other place's offerings - Namaste, for example. Still decent, though. Their chilli chicken is, in my mind, perhaps the best in the area. Get the dry version, and you won't regret it. Layers of classic Chinese flavors...soy, garlic, scallions, green chillies. I massacred it in no more than 3 minutes when I tried it last. From an "authenticity" perspective, perhaps they've caved somewhat, since naan and rice are included with each entree (a sore point for some authenticity sticklers). But the flavors are there, as evidenced by the legitimately Desi clientele. I'd like to try some more extravagant menu items, but I'm very encouraged so far.
(4)Joydip S.
Very good indian food. Their buffet is one of the best. Try out their shrimp biriyani. It will melt in your mouth.
(5)Zac B.
My favorite! Just had it once again for dinner - as always tasty and filling. I love their chicken tiki masala, their naan is perfect every time and the portions are enough for two. I've eaten at most other Indian restaurants in the area and this one is the best in my opinion.
(5)Michael G.
Let's see... Where to begin? Visited a half hour before closing and the owner told me to "hurry up" because they were closing. Horrible, horrible service. I asked for my food spicy and they delivered it inedible. Bear in mind that I love spicy food. Love it. That's why I ordered it that way. However, they put so much hot pepper that I could not even eat it. I have a feeling I was being punished for having the audacity to walk in while they were still open! Easily the worst service I've ever had in my life.
(2)Ruchi r.
Good indian food. Me and my husband are a regular customer of their "chicken biriyani". I like their chicken curries as well. It is always a good experience there.
(4)Rahul S.
The food was quite close to the real Indian food I had from back home and if you go there you MUST try the carrot sweet they have, it's not mentioned in the menu but do ask for the carrot sweet in the end, it's an amazing way to end your meal
(4)Sagar B.
Just another americanized Indian restaurant. Had the buffet lunch here. The Roti's and naans were good. Butter chicken, spinach curry was pretty good. Not so much to write home about the lamb curry. The jamoon is too sweet, so is the kheer. Chana biriyani - now that's creative. But, not so great on taste. Overall, food is ok. Given the lack of quality alternatives close by, I would not mind going back. But, the service can be improved a lot. Pretty cold , uninterested, wanted us to leave at the strike of 330 pm.. And said, it was nap time for them. We had a toddler and couldn't help much. They were almost tugging away at our plates! Well, That could have been handled better.
(3)Becca S.
Pretty solid. I am an Indian food junkie. Ordered takeout and got my usual cheese naan with shrimp tikka masala, however they gave me something slightly different than tikka masala sauce. It wasn't a cream based sauce, but rather a semi spicy tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly what I ordered. Still flavorful and good! The rice was nicely seasoned, and the naan is HUGE and tasty. My dinner mate got the matar paneer and enjoyed it as well. Not the best I've ever had, but no complaints either. Solid Indian joint.
(4)Bill B.
Today, I had one of the best Indian meals that I've had in years at Royal. Navrattan Korma had a silky, golden gravy, perfectly spiced for me; very mild - I've developed an aversion to hot food lately - did not mean flavorless. The onion kulcha (bread with onion and cilantro in between) was buttery and reminiscent of a Chinese scallion pancake - only far better. The raita, a yogurt sauce, was perfectly balanced - not too spicy, sweet or sour, just comforting. Amendment to earlier review: Royal is now my favorite Indian restaurant in the area. On this day that other people fill with turkey and mashed potatoes, I'm thankful that this restaurant is not only nearby but open on a holiday.
(5)Peter Y.
Let me preface by saying I'm not of Indian descent so my review of this restaurant is purely based on my taste buds, not in comparison to any other Indian restaurants. Dishes: I've tried the vegetable and chicken biryanee and I'm completely blown away at the flavor and quality of the dish. The chicken is all white breast meat and is extremely tender, spiced and season to perfection. The basmati rice is seasoned and cooked to perfection and together they are a match made in heaven. The chicken curry is wonderful and has to be served with plain white rice to really appreciate the complexity of taste that comes from the spice blend used in this dish. The chicken is succulent and the dish itself is rather wholesome lacking the heavy cream found in other popular indian dishes. The paneer makhini is the closest thing to paneer tikka masala. The paneer is cooked in a creamy sauce that contains spices and hit of tomato sauce. Amazing flavors and texture. Didn't think I would like cheese cubes in my meal but I was mistaken. I look forward to this dish when I'm in the mood for comfort food. The staff: Very well mannered, polite and fast. Overall I've had a wonderful experience with everyone I've met there. The restaurant: It's not bad although there are some things that turned me off. For example the wall paper is tearing off in some parts of the restaurant. Also, the ceiling tiles give the appearance of worn down and old in some places. I'm not sure if the booths are all in good shape, but the place seemed as though it could use a refresh in the dining area. Overall: I will continue dining there as long as they keep making quality food and the service is right. However, if the owners read this, I highly recommend a remodel to attract your non-indian customers. They will appreciate it and refer their friends and family to you.
(5)Jessica X.
TL;DR: Come for the buffet lunch. I think it was ~$8/person. The lamb curry and the chicken curry are DELICIOUS. Came with the family for lunch one day. For my first plate, I got a bit of everything, and then quickly realized that the lamb curry and the chicken curry were to die for. The lamb was SO TENDER as was the chicken. I got another plateful of just those two curries with some rice. The naan wasn't anything special, but it tasted alright. I will DEFINITELY be coming back but only for those two aforementioned curries. If their other dishes were just as superb as the two curries, I would give this place a 5 star for lunch.
(4)Bala S.
Lunch buffet was good at this place. Started with strawberry lassi, soft chili idly. Yummy Kadai lamb and saag paneer. Only thing I don't like is fried rice. There was no seasoning and vegetable in veg fried rice. Hardly I can see some carrots. Apart from that everything was good.
(3)Eve S.
Pretty tasty food. Good service, the place was clean. The nan bread smelled like bisquick but the chicken tikka masala was on point. The palak paneer kind of tasted like old wet grass but the cheese in it was yummy. Waters were promptly filled and dessert was offered (we declined but it was good of them to ask)
(4)Chet G.
Excellent place to eat. If you love Indian food. Friendly and courteous service. They have private parking off-street and they have a buffet. They are open 7 days a week.
(5)Cari M.
The food here is pretty much flawless. I've gone to the lunch buffet a couple times now and would eat it several times a week if I could. The buffet is a great deal. They offer all kinds of dishes and I've never been disappointed. It's a great chance to try new dishes you wouldn't otherwise. You get a basket of naan with the buffet and it is always warm and perfect (though you might have to ask the servers to bring it out.) You really can't go wrong with their buffet. I would give it 5 stars except sometimes service isn't the friendliest. It's not rude, just not very attentive (even when the place is fairly empty.) The make sure the buffet is stocked and fresh. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Amy H.
For the past few months i've been treating myself with takeout from Royal Indian every Sunday. I have yet to try the buffet (which looks fabulous), because I'm usually hungover on Sundays and want to eat by myself in a cool, dark room. So, let me start with some suggestions. Samosas, Masala Dosa, Paneer Mahkini, Mutter Panneer, Chicken Madras, Chicken Vindaloo, Chana Masala, Navrattan Korma, Keema Naan...the list goes on and on. All of this dishes, cooked to perfection, EVERY TIME. The textures of these dishes are always spot on, super creamy and rich in color. I order the food hot, and they deliver. I can handle some serious heat, but I ate one of the peppers in the chicken madras and actually had to lay down i felt so dizzy. It was great. The naan I get is always freshly baked and piping hot. There is always a plentiful amount of rice with my orders. God, I love this place. Seriously.
(5)M B.
My experience overall at this place was underwhelming. The lamb biryani was mediocre and the chicken dish was just ok. Naan comes with meal, but it was just meh. The service was about average for Indian restaurants. We wanted to order dessert, but the check came before we got a chance to try their kulfi.
(2)Eowyn K.
This was recommended by an coworker. She is vegetarian and I eat meat but we both agree that the food is delicious. I love their vegetable samosas. I have eaten here several times, every time the food and service has been excellent. The décor is not anything special, pretty basic but clean. There is a buffet, not being a fan of buffets I have never tried it.
(4)K P.
I've only been here for the lunch buffets. The staff is friendly but the service is at times slow. The food is best on the weekends for lunch. On the weekdays it is hit or miss. You can't beat the prices for either time periods though. I really like their saag paneer, lamb kudai, biryani, tandoori chicken and butter chicken.
(4)Shirley R.
The food is mediocre at best. The lunch buffet was nothing special. But what made this entire experience a 1 star vs 3 star review was the staff. They were rude and literally yelled at us for not finishing our food. I will never go back again.
(1)Jeffrey A.
This restaurant was recommended to me by a real live Indian. I know, that might sound cliché, but it's true. I've never had the lunch buffet at Royal Indian Cuisine in Troy. All the better, because I'm not a big fan of buffets. I find them to be generally disappointing at any establishment, with very few exceptions. I think it was the one and only cruise in my life that sealed the deal that I would never enjoy a buffet again. Yes, this restaurant is a bit far from my house, but thankfully not too far. It's actually closer to my office, so this makes dinner after a long day of work a very pleasant change of venue. I've tried the standard Indian as well as both the Indo-Chinese and Southern Indian dishes and have never been disappointed. I've brought friends to this restaurant on many occasions, some of whom have never had Indian food, and others who are snobbish about their food. All were pleased. One funny encounter was when I came here with 2 close family friends. The 3 of us walked in, and in what seemed like a collective action, nearly everybody in the restaurant (which is relatively small) looked up at us briefly, then looked back down as if we didn't exist. Thankfully, the wait staff noticed us, and they were very attentive throughout the meal! My friend thought maybe this phenomenon was due to the appearance that everybody in the place was Indian, and we were not, and somehow this might have mattered socially. Of course, I disagreed...it doesn't matter who is sitting in the restaurant, as long as the food is delicious and the service is excellent. What he didn't realize was that there was a non-Indian table in the front booth, and I recognized one of the people in the booth as a Yelp addict, named Jeffrey B! Long story short, when I leave Royal Indian Cuisine I feel slightly high on life, and great for the rest of the day.
(5)Marium S.
I'm a desi food fanatic and this place a great food. But the reason why I'm giving it 2 stars is that the service is horrible, over and over again. When I called to find out the timing of the buffet, the server told me its till 3:30 but not to bother coming after 2:30. The food compelled us to go and when we were there it was impossible to eat as the servers spoke in their native languages across the room. It took forever to bring the naans and the food got cold and had to beg for refills .overall I'm beginning to think the food is not worth going through such horrible experience. I would recommend the owner to change their servers, except Taimur who is the only one who was helpful.
(2)Megan M.
Had a buy one get one free coupon so we decided to try this place out. So glad that we did. It may look like a hole in the wall from the outside but the inside looks great and we had a very good experience. We ordered chana masala and baigan bharta. Both were fresh and tasted great. Most entrees are only 9.95 and that included rice and lots of naan. Good portion sizes too. Staff were very nice and friendly to us, filled our glasses several times, and checked on us often. We took home the leftovers and can't wait to eat them. We will definitely be returning.
(5)Kate H.
I had dinner at Royal tonight for probably the 30th time (if you include carry-out). This has been my "go to" place for Indian for probably 2 years now. I've been to most of the other major players in Indian food and the Navrattan Korma and Palak Paneer (spicy please!), along with the naan (try the garlic naan) at Royal have remained superior. Perfect level of spiciness, incredibly rich and flavorful, and full of fresh ingredients. I haven't been very adventurous with the menu, but I have had the Vegetable Briyani, Masala Dosa and Cream of Tomato Soup and they were all delicious. The Briyani is definitely the best I've had, but I have no idea about the Dosa because I've only had it there and it was really good. I've also had a few bites of the Tandoori Chicken (my husband's usual) and it's really tasty. The service is pretty slow, but I like to think it's because they're actually making your food from scratch. They give you a couple pieces of Padad (a spicy lentil cracker type thing that I don't entirely understand) with a sauce trio to keep you busy while you wait for your food, and when it comes... there is generally a large amount of it. I almost always have enough for two meals and the prices are totally reasonable for the amount and quality of food. My only beef would be that we always wait forever for our bill no matter how few people are there. This made me wish that 4.5 was an option, because it really is annoying when you need to get somewhere and you're done eating for like 10 minutes before they even approach you so you can ask for the bill. Otherwise, the service has always been pleasant, with borderline obsessive attention to water refills. I'm going to try to branch out next time, starting with the Mango Milkshake. Considering that three tables ordered them tonight while we were there, they must be good!
(5)Abhishek C.
Very friendly and attentive servers but very average food. Was told later that the indo-Chinese is good. Will try that if I ever end up coming back.
(2)Zink D.
I was going to to give it a two start but their malai kofta is really good. There is no consistency of food here. One day u have great food and experience the other day not so much. If you go around their closing time they will give you a table and then pressure you to leave. Their buffet is decent on the weekends.
(3)Heidi C.
We just got back from eating there and It was just so good! The Buffet had a great variety and the spice was just right. Very friendly staff! The only thing that was missing for me was maybe a little background Indian music, that is just a little idea from me!
(5)Beth F.
I was staying at the Troy Marriot for a business conference. One of my associates (local to the area), suggested we visit this place. We showed up a half hour before they closed and they made us feel very rushed. There was only one other table in the restaurant, but we had three people serving us...like they were running baton in a Track and Field event. The food might have been good. However, the manager couple (husband and wife owners?) rushed us so much, that it made the food entirely unpalatable. If you don't want to serve people food, don't open a restaurant. Terrible, terrible, terrible service.
(1)Shawn W.
This place has the recommendation of many Indian people I know, and for good reason. The combination of excellent food, great value, and good service should make this a destination for lovers of Indian food. The experience starts with a very friendly greeting. The restaurant is nicely decorated and although casual, it has that feel of a nice banquet hall. My girlfriend and I had just finished a hike, and were "dressed down" compared to most people eating there and in light of the look of the place. Regardless, we were treated like, pardon the pun, Royalty! There is someone to greet you with a smile. You are waited on by multiple people, each with their specific tasks. One would vigilantly make sure water was refilled faster than we could drink it, one would remove used plates from the table, another took our order. They even continued this when the place went from practically empty when we first arrived to bustling later in the night. The food came out quickly and timed well so that we didn't get our main dish before we were finished with our appetizer. This is good service you often don't get with other Indian restaurants in the area. The selection of food is vast. To give an idea of the size of the menu, each dish has a number, and the numbers top 100 easily. Page upon page of choices, with Indo-Chinese, chicken and lamb selections, a huge variety of vegetarian dishes, and lots of appetizers. There are dishes that I had never heard of before. We ordered one South Indian dish called Chicken Chettinadu. It was a very exotic blend of flavors, with a slightly greater than usual amount of black pepper flavor. My girlfriend ordered this and didn't like it, probably partially because it was more exotic tasting than one usually gets at other Indian restaurants. To me, the dish had a punchy blend of zesty black pepper flavor combined with a sweet yet spicy coconut tomato sauce. Admittedly, this dish is not for the Indian food newbies. The other dish, Kadai Chicken, was delicious. It had a nice mellow sweet flavor of tomato and ginger, with just enough spicy kick to make your mouth water. The pieces of chicken were tender and juicy, not dry and chewy like at many other places. The chicken pieces seem to be marinated in the very sauce in the dish, because they had so much flavor. The vegetable samosas were slightly over-fried to the point of being too dry, but the flavor of the inside was very good. You get a lot of value for the money here. The portion sizes are good, plus you popodums and naan with your order for no additional charge. Most dishes are under $12. For all of the flavor and great service you get, it's a bargain. If you like flavorful, authentic Indian food and like your whole experience to be a pleasant one, don't miss Royal Indian Cuisine.
(5)Jay D.
Our food has been splendid in the past. However, eating there tonight was somehow unimpressive. My girlfriend had chana masala which was inedible due to the overdose of garam masala. It was overpowering. I had navrattan korma, which was good but not totally taste-bud pleasing. Their Naan is still the best, and I think the same of their samosas. The price is decent and the waitstaff wants to please. The restaurant seems clean, which is always a good thing.
(3)Brian G.
I need to go visit Ashoka to make the comparison. But I have been very happy with Royal - visited about 5 times. Excellent food, from the naan to various dishes, have tried a variety of them. They were even quite helpful with our kids being a bit finicky. Paneer dishes, sag, gobi - all good plus the tandoori and Tikka Masala dishes are also good for the slightly less adventuresome. Good buffet and prices are pretty reasonable - though like most Indian not cheap. Service was first rate and while not high end a very pleasant and neat interior apperance - better than the strip mall would suggest.
(5)Sherry W.
I love this place for a great lunch buffet. You can try lots of food that taste great. Better than priyas buffet in troy, love going there.
(4)Sudarshan M.
In my quest for a good Indian buffet, I visited Royal Indian Cuisine in Troy. Just a few yards further along Rochester Road from Ashoka, Royal is a cheaper alternative. Compared to Ashoka, Royal's buffet spread is limited and only as good in the flavor department. While some of the dishes were downright disappointing, there were atleast a couple that I liked. The butter chicken was good and so was their dal tadka. My wife actually preferred the kadhai paneer, but I thought it was just OK. Another thing which I did not like about Royal was the amount of time they took to bring out the naans. It took approximately 10-15 mins for them to bring out the naans. For a buffet that is simply unacceptable! I was already done with my first serving by then. I also noticed that the text next to us had ordered some chicken tikka and it took nearly 15 minutes for them to get their order too. The service is pretty darn slow. So I would not rate this buffet anything more than a 3 star. I would have given it a 2 but I really liked the butter chicken and dal tadka. So overall the best Indian buffet out there is still Ashoka, but not the one in Troy. I prefer the one in Canton. For some reason I think the food in Ashoka at Canton is much better than Troy.
(3)Scott C.
What a great lunch find. Only $7.50 for lunch buffet. Somewhat limited selection of food, but I was certainly able to more than fill me up. The plain Naan was excellent (and I'm picky when it comes to Naan). I would go back just for that. The Mango Lassi really helped to hit the spot. I would definitely go back if I were in town for more than one week.
(4)