Passage To India
Comfort Inn,525 S Front St, Harrisburg, PA, 17104
Passage To India Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Harrisburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
Comfort Inn,525 S Front St
Harrisburg, PA, 17104 - Phone (717) 233-1202
- Website https://www.passagetoindiaharrisburgpa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : 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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Mark A.
Go-to place for Indian food in the Harrisburg area! Terrific food., attentive staff, clean place with casual-to-classy decor and ambiance. I'm surprised at the negative reviews here. I notice that many of them are for the buffet, which I've never tried, but all the dinner entrees I've had are first-rate although thy tend to be a little spicy on the spicy side (for those of you who aren't used to that). Chicken Briyani, Saag Paneer, Combo Platter, all dishes have been good in 3 or so visits, and they have a LOT of them on the menu. Basmati rice is just right. Side dishes are served in small metal ramekins for those of you who like to keep sauces separate. Staff are attentive and try to be helpful if you're willing to ask questions and be patient (I wonder how the conversations went down for those who were treated rudely). And alcohol is served on premises with a full wine and beer list. This place makes itself out to be the upscale Indian restaurant in the region, and it succeeds. Prices may be a dollar or two high for some tastes, but you get what you pay for -- great food, large variety and attentive service -- and Passage to India does not disappoint. 4.5 stars.
(5)Gwen W.
The service was flawless: attentive without being pushy, polite, and knowledgeable about the menu with excellent suggestions. The food was superlative. Flavorful without being mouth-blastingly spicy. There was a lovely selection of chutney and raiita (sp?) and the naan was flawless. They also have a fantastic variety of lassi, including banana, blueberry and the single best mango lassi I have ever had. Excellent parking, too, and I had worried about that given the downtown location.
(5)JANELLE B.
Excellent food, nice decor, great service!! Very authentic Indian... the lamb korma, extra spicy!
(5)Soumya V.
We reached there for dinner at about 9 PM and their staff were not very welcoming! They included a gratuity along with the bill, quite strange ! Did not even inform that they would do it. Food was just okay!
(1)Emad E.
Big menu with variety for almost everyone, price just right, clean and they were so fast "I have dinner in July 4th and they were busy" very nice serve , the place is quiet and very clean. Good job
(5)Mark T.
This place is a "go-to" anytime. Been there at least 50 times and always spot on quality and service. Be careful if you say you like it hot....it will blow you away. Super nice people!
(4)Flint W.
This place had decent quality food with plenty of variety. The decor isn't mig to speak of. The staff are always friendly. The prices are quite reasonable. Naan is fantastic.
(4)Khalid A.
I understand this is an Indian restaurant but the music is depression, as for me i suffer from depression I don't feel listening to the repetitive depressing music they got. It took them 30 minutes to cook only ONE chicken biryani. They didn't serve anything complimentary, other restaurant been to they serve papadum. Food was okay. And for gods sake change the spelling of mango lassi in menu! Also have some napkins on table.
(2)Jane W.
I am surprised by the negative reviews - perhaps they don't really know Indian food. Service is impeccable, if you like less spicy food or more, just ask - they will comply. I love, love Indian food and eat here 2 to 3 times per week and have never been disappointed. Decor and atmosphere is lovely.
(5)Ram-a-lama D.
It was very average with a rather small number of choices.. For 10 bucks it's not a bad deal .. Just nothing I will remember 2 days from now.. I would not come back.. Id rather roll the dice and maybe find something better. If your craving Indian Buffett.. Well.. It is that.. Ok is a good as I can give it...couldn't decide between 2 and 3 stars.. It didn't suck.. Just wasn't good...
(3)Keerthana M.
Not capable of even 1 star! Extremely rude behavior to the customers! The food and toilet stinks equally! Not recommended
(1)Frida K.
Had the buffet lunch on a Saturday. The Chana Chicken was fabulous. The rest of the food was good enough too. The decor was distracting and too, should I say, "opulent" for my taste. Staff was prompt and pleasant, particularly Peter. Prices were reasonable. Will definitely be visiting again.
(3)Coco M.
Great tasting food for a man on a budget.
(4)Kent S.
Colorful. Warm. Food comes out fast. Good food, sort of spicy though.
(4)Robert F.
So technically not a fair review. I drove to this place after stopping by the last indian restaurant and finding them closed. This place had hours posted on their website also here on Yelp. They even had hours on their door as they they are connected to a Drury Inn I was met by the staff that promptly informed me that they had changed hours and were closed from 2pm to 5pm. It was currently 2:30pm and I was out of luck for Indian food today. I understand that some places may need to trim hours when not during prime dining times. But SOMEONE should be able to update the hours online and on the door.
(1)Aj M.
I have often come for Biryani and have never been disappointed- till last night. I got lamb biryani, the flavor was fine but the lamb was over cooked, the top of the biryani was dried out(and missing the lid that usually comes on the pot), and there were whole chunks of "white" rice randomly mixed in. I could also swear there was vermicelli pasta mixed in too(rice a roni ya'll?). I don't know if this was the last of a batch, but it was very disappointing. Will give Passage another try, but I'm hoping this was a fluke(never had bad experience before)
(2)Stephen B.
This is one of the best places to eat in the Harrisburg area as far as I am concerned. They have a great lunch-time buffet with a regular rotation of different types of dishes. The service is excellent, as you are promptly seated and they keep your glasses filled. It's a little bit off the path, as it's near some highway entrances and a motel, but don't let the location fool you, this place is very good!
(5)Anbria B.
I have been a fan since it opened!! Very authentic food, very well service, friendly atmosphere, very romantic ambiance. The food can get on the expensive side.
(4)Vaishali B.
Ambience has Indian overtone - and I liked it. Quite clean and pleasing surroundings. Food is good. Not too mind-blowing, neither too bad. I can do it again. But nothing special either!
(3)Subodh R.
Great ambiance, not-so-great food. As a vegetarian, I thought I would have a lot of options to eat at the buffet. But I was terribly disappointed by the food selection there. The buffet was a joke. Naan tasted good, but the vegetables weren't that great. Only 2 vegetables and no Veggie Biryani. As soon as I walked in the restaurant I felt like I was a guest at an elaborate Indian wedding. The 1 star I have given to this place is just for ambiance. Aloo tikki was super oily and not fresh. It would have been nice to have more veggie options and a little better quality food. Also, I asked the waiter if I could get some water. He said yes, went in the kitchen and disappeared. No one ever showed up. I was disappointed by this visit.
(1)Jitsanyo T.
No Star at all Review need to add star so gave it or minus. Very rude staff. On lunch buffet. 20% gratuities for family of 4. Kid less than 9 yr full charge. Food was ok. Never ever come back as well recommend to friends.
(1)Pritika S.
The owner was quite rude to be frank.I would suggest not to go. They could listen to the tip I gave. I suggested them to keep chappati and they were very rude about it.
(1)Akshay N.
Dal makhani it's spoil and food was nothing taste complet bad service not happy never come back
(1)Sara N.
The first time I picked up a plate from the buffet table, there was soggy leftover food stuck on the bottom--strike one. Strike two was the assembly line of unadventurous and lukewarm Indian dishes. Doling out mostly vegetarian entrees and bland soups/curries, they're clearly saving the good stock for the pricier dinner menu. The house naan was a swing-and-a-miss. Cold, flat, stale, and strike three.
(1)Radhika P.
Hands down the best Indian food I have ever had. I'm Indian and had A LOT of Indian good. We stopped here on a family trip to Hershey park and definitely weren't expecting much. The restaurant is connected to an average hotel by the water and doesn't look too impressive. We ordered the patra for the appetizer and had butter paneer, chana masala, raita, and naan for dinner. Everything was ridiculously good. The paneer had the perfect chewy texture with a just spicy enough creamy sauce. The chana masala was ordered very spicy and it didn't have an overpowering tomato taste that some restaurants have. The naan was light and crispy. The good was incredible. We are honestly considering coming down to Harrisburg (a couple hour drive) just to eat here and find some things to do.
(5)Bob N.
Good good. Very busy for lunch. If you go for lunch, plan on the Buffett. If you go for dinner, it's a little expensive. Great food and service overall.
(4)Anil D.
One of the worst lunch buffet I ever had in the Harrisburg Area. They have 3 vegetarian curries and 3 non-veg curries, 1 appetizer, 1 desert, rice and naan. Rice is not fresh and very dry. Naans are half burnt. Appetizer was ok , Its better not to talk about the curries. I m never going there again, I would rather go to Masala bistro which is far better.
(1)Anna N.
5 stars aren't enough when it comes to this restaurant. I go here every few weeks for the Sunday lunch buffet, and I have always left feeling as though I've eaten the best meal of my life. Their tikka masala is the best thing I've ever eaten, and the tandoori chicken is pretty awesome as well. The staff is probably the friendliest and most accommodating restaurant staff I've ever encountered, and the decor is delightful and charming. If I ever found myself on death row, I would request something from Passage to India for my last meal!
(5)Jeanine C.
While planning a double date, the other couple suggested we eat here because they said the food was amazing. I agreed without thinking twice, and regretting it. I never had Indian food and I'm not a fan of trying new dishes, I stick to what I know. Also, I don't like Thai food, and I was told it was similar - so then I lost the little interest I had. This place itself is hard to see, you would never spot it from Front Street. You basically have to park at the hotel (that is clearly visible), and it's off to the side of the building. The inside is incredible and not what I was expecting. Whoever did the designing did a wonderful job! It feels like I just walked right into India (not that I would know anyway). So we're seated by friendly staff and placed with our menus that have a huge variety of food, it was pretty difficult to choose. Again, I tried sticking to what I knew and I ended up with the "Chicken Tikka Lababdar" which includes chicken, with a sauce that was lightly spiced. It was OUTSTANDING! Also, someone had suggested I try the Naan. Which is bread, I guess? I ordered the Garlic Naan - best garlic bread I've ever had in my life. And Crab Goa - to die for. $16.00 for my meal. Not too pricey, reasonable. Oh - and one, single bathroom for all! Do I recommend this place? Absolutely. So for me it all comes down to - Don't knock it before you try it.
(5)Kashyap P.
Worst Indian food I've ever had the pleasure of eating! Buffet sucks. Rotis are like Indian government hostel rotis. Not worth it. Indians should never come here, and Americans this is not real Indian food.
(1)J R.
this is the nicest Indian restaurant around by far but also the most expensive. The few times my wife and I went here it was a not an inexpensive date night. The food is good but we can get just as good food elsewhere for literally half the price and just as good. I would only go back if it was a very special event but when I get a hankering for Indian food, which is often this is not the place we will go. At around 17 bucks per person for a simple dish and any extras etc, it adds up.
(3)Praveen B.
This is one of the worst indian food I have ever tasted. Ordered chicken briyani and I asked him to make it more spicy. First of all it does not really look like briyani and the taste was too bad. No salt, no spice (even though I asked for extra spicy briyani). I will not recommend this place to anyone. Note to the management : Please concentrate on giving quality food rather than focussing on ambience. People are coming to restaurants to eat good food not to see the interiors.
(1)Rebecca S.
Go for the lunch buffet, you won't be disappointed. The selection is always varied and fresh! It is worth your time and money. Very nice management as well.
(4)AB S.
Stopped here while I was in town for work and was not disappointed. They graciously added some vegetables to my chicken dish at my request. I've never had more garlicky delicious naan.
(5)Sam O.
I thought the food tasted all right, average for Indian food, and pricy for the portion and quality (average entrée is about $16.00), but the real issue I had was the cleanliness of the dining room. The carpet is absolutely filthy! The chairs have dust on the braces under the seats, and on top of all the braces on the backs of them. I killed a stink bug crawling on the sill of the window my wife and I were sat by. If the dining room where everybody can see is this dirty, I shudder to think what the kitchen that you can't see looks like. That being said, the waiters were dressed well, in white shirts and ties and were very polite although for the amount of people that were in the restaurant, they were not very attentive to our needs. All considered, I would not bother to go back or to recommend this restaurant to anyone else.
(2)Laura Jill S.
This is a staple of vegan-friendliness whenever I'm in Harrisburg. Delicious food: my dad has had his birthday parties either there or catered by them on more than one occasion. I always hold my breath when I tell a server that I'm vegan. Will they or won't they know what a vegan is. When they DO, it's a big sigh of relief, and it's huge kudos for customer service. I had the samosas and the channa masala. Our server was very clear that I couldn't have the veggie soup because of the cream (that's my mom's favorite soup), and made a point to bring roti with no ghee for me! I love Indian restaurants in general, but the decor here is super cute, and the food is delish!
(5)Craig F.
While our experience with Indian cuisine is very limited, we thoroughly enjoyed the range of spices and seasonings that surounded our entrees! Loved the naan, tandori, and Tiki Masala. The waitstaff was very atttentive and eagerly answered our questions and provided recommendations for our meals. I consider my dinning experience to be successful if I'm already thinking of when I can return to eat again before I even left the restaurant.
(4)Karan S.
Garlic Naan, paneer tikka dry and chicken tikka!! BEST!!
(4)Gkg G.
Not good ...lunch buffet had poor selection only one non-veg curry and tandoor chicken and the vegetarian selection was nothing special. Food is very bland and was cold. The dosa wasn't cooked all the way and it's the same potatoes in the pakora. The mango lassi was good
(1)Tes Y.
Beautifully decorated restaurant. Great service. However, selection is very poor. Only liked the chicken curry. Drinks are not included in the buffet- wat! And my tea was not well strained- so there were bits of cloves, ginger as I drank. Naan is fresh but since it's stacked up on each other, they were steamed through and slightly soggy. Only one dessert.
(2)S D.
Super delicious Indian food! Great atmosphere and great service. Love it, definitely coming back again.
(5)Sam R.
Had been there for buffet, Nice ambience but limited variety of food, food does not taste Indian and 2 day old biryani was served.
(3)Brian M.
I have to say that I'm surprised with some of these reviews. Maybe the ones that didn't give this restaurant 5 stars went when the staff/kitchen may have had an off day. I literally travel all around the world and quite a bit throughout he United States. I always go to an Indian restaurant for lunch, or dinner since that is my favorite ethnic food. With Indian restaurants, it's "hit or miss," and unfortunately it's mostly "miss." The best Indian restaurants outside of India is supposedly in London, England. I have gone to a few in London, and they were consistently good. I'd have to say that Passage To India is just as good, if not better than those in London. I went on Friday the 14th with three other people. We all decided on four different dishes which we shared with on another. EVERY dish was excellent!! The ingredients and spices that was put into these dishes were perfectly balanced. I have been to literally hundreds of Indian restaurants over the years, and I'd put this in the top three on my list. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the ambiance was comfortable. The wait staff was polite and took care of all of of our needs. I would highly recommend Passage To India for anyone that truly loves, and understands what good Indian food is all about. I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Chris J.
Great food... Always have at least one meal here when I'm in Harrisburg.
(4)Colleen S.
Just moving back from England where I am used to a curry a week (if not two) this place scratches my itch. They make a great saag and the price for dinner is spot on. If you love English Indian (basically its more mild spicy dishes) then this is the place for you. The interior is very nice and the service is polite and accomdating. Indian is very vegan and veggie friendly as well if that is a concern.
(4)Charles N.
easily the best indian restaurant in harrisburg. bare in mind that being the "best" anything in harrisburg isnt saying much unless youre the "best way out of harrisburg." (waka). PTI (as i affectionately referred to it BEFORE ESPN made it famous) was my introduction to indian food. the lunch buffet was a staple in high school: cheap and plentiful. this douchebag kid who i used to be friends with ate something like 35 pieces of naan once. so that's something. ive eaten at many indian restaurants over the years and ill never forget PTI. ive never had a better mango lassi.
(4)TheAnonomous T.
Much better than any "Indian" place we ate at in Los Angeles, and much better value for money. We really liked the different flavors on Nan and I loved my Lamb dish. The mango drink was really tasty too. If you are staying at the Comfort Inn next door you might rename this restaurant as Passage out of Hell. Haven't yet tried the buffet yet but we are looking forward to it.
(4)Khalid S.
Your typical Westernized Indian food joint. Decor is very fine and detailed though. I had Shrimp Vindaloo and Chicken Jalfrezi. Naan were definitely better than Citadel and Aangan.
(3)sarita d.
service and food is not good restaurant looks nice.
(1)Julie K.
I came here with my mom a few months ago. The food was okay...the service was horrible. I came back again last week with a friend of mine and her boyfriend, because she was craving indian. The service was absolutely dreadful. It took damn close to an hour for our food to arrive, not including the 20 minutes it took for them to even take our order (and it wasn't even busy! Not even close). The waiter kept ignoring us and refilling water at the tables around us. When the food finally arrived, it was good...but it took 3 tries for them to acknowledge my friend's request for a certain kind of brown sauce (that usually accompanies the thin bread that is served as an appetizer--which we didn't receive at all). Then, now...this isn't the restaurant's fault...but there was a brat at the table next to us, who was running around the table playing with his figurines, and nearly ran into me multiple times. I was ready to throttle the child--except that I could never hurt a kid...but did his mother tell him to sit? No, she told him "Sweetie, be careful. Don't hurt yourself now." No...if he were my kid, I would tell him to sit down and BEHAVE. This isn't his house, he is in a restaurant and is more than old enough to understand what an INDOOR voice is. Not to mention, he had a portable dvd player and headphones...but I digress. Food is okay, service sucks. I'll go to masala bistro from now on.
(2)joshua h.
I used to go here once or twice a month,...liked ther food,...then i didnt go for a while, "i joined the small business owner crowd and was poor for a year"... but then a new indian place opened in mechanicsburg, BOMBAY junction, I tried it and was very impressed by the food,"service is not that great though" but then i went back to passge last night,....and gotta say,... as nice as the wait staff and owners are,"and there very nice,...there food is no where near as good as bombay,.."and I ordered the excact same thing,..chicken khorma and chicken saag",.. so hopefully they will read this and remedy the food situation,.."
(2)Jeff S.
order off the menu, avoid the buffet.
(3)Kale M.
Great atmosphere and service! I tried the combination platter and loved almost everything on my plate. The chefs soup was creamy and spicy although I thought it could use a cream or coconut base for flavor. The naan is hands down the best I've ever had, soft thick and perfectly warm! Would definite come back.
(4)Miss M.
Beautiful looking restaurant. My family and I stopped here for a light lunch snack after a long drive from Canada. My Uncle used this app to find it and good job too! Lovely food, we ordered papri chaat and somosas and mango lassis. Food was perfectly cooked, tasted wonderful and wasn't too spicy at all. The mango lassi was perfect, lovely and cold and served in fancy glasses. The restaurant has its own parking right opposite the Susquehanna River.
(4)Judith B.
Wonderful food and great service. I had the nested chickpea appetizer, Alu mutter, my spouse had the chana masala. And we had pappadam and garlic naan. Wonderful, just wonderful. Accomodated our large party (~20) from our annual conference without a hitch. We make an annual pilgimmage there every conference. The alu mutter has a wonderful delicate flavor, tad of spice. Yum.
(4)Kunal P.
I recently went there for lunch while visiting Harrisburg. I had eaten there years earlier as well during another trip. This time however, what a disappointment. Yeah the service was good, yeah the decor was good, yeah the place was packed (signaling its popularity). But, the food was outright disgusting. Potatoes weren't cooked properly, Cauliflower was half raw. And much much more. If the food had any taste, those flaws could've have been overlooked. But, non of the food had any taste to them at all. I mean, we had to put chutneys and chilly pepper from the salad area to add some taste to the food. I don't understand how everyone loves this place so much. I felt really embarrassed for taking along my friends and family this time as well.
(1)Anu R.
This place sucks!!!!! They have no idea what ingredients they are cooking with! No taste, no salt and over expensive. Lamb biryani tastes like shit and it's 3-4 days old ! When I asked the receptionist do you guys cook it fresh, she said naturally !!!!instead of eating at this place, go eat at MC D and save some $$$
(1)Jack W.
If you are in hurry and want some food quick, this is your choice. The best thing in the lunch buffet is chicken chilly. Other than if you have some more time and if you want indian try bombay something.
(3)Ash M.
So......totally random spot for an Indian restaurant. Adjacent to the Comfort Inn pool?!?! Very bizzarre. I mean, the decor inside the restaurant was incredible; lovely colors, great lighting, tons of awards hanging on the walls...but then you sit and look outside to see a handful of kids splashing around in the pool, and a group of delinquent -looking bachelors drinking beers and smoking next to their cooler. It's an odd scene... BUT, that is not why you come to Passage to India. You come here for the food (which is DELICIOUS)!!! I came here with a fairly large group (8 people), and we ordered up a ton of food to share. And for the most part it was fabulous! The chicken tikki masala? wonderful! The shrimp/ lamb vindaloos? spicy, but not overpowering! The chicken korma? yum-tastic! My only complaint food-wise would be the mango chicken I ordered. The chicken breast was dry on the inside and the sauce was too sweet. The rice and the naan bread here are also amazing. The rice has saffron and bay leaves and probably a ton of other spices I have yet to define. It was sooo flavorful and still complimented the curries well. But my all-time favorite Indian food is perhaps NAAN bread, And Passage to India makes incredible naan bread. It's both soft and crispy, and loaded with goodness. I ordered garlic naan, which was great, and also tried the passage naan, which had raisins and nuts in it.....wow, what a treat! The service here was okay, nothing to complain about, but also nothing to write home about. *Tip* - the entrance to this restaurant is hard to find. It's right off of Rice Street, before you enter all the Freeways from Front Street.....Googlemap it first!
(4)Lydia M.
I stopped here on my way from New York back to Ohio after Thanksgiving. We picked it out because Harrisburg was a convenient place to stop, but it turned out to be waaaaaay better than we expected. It's just off the highway, so it's super-convenient; and the view is actually incredible. They should really boast the view a bit more. We arrived around 2:30--just as they were closing up lunch--so we ordered plain naan, bhartha and chicken tikka masala to-go and ate in the car. The food was incredible, the view was perfect... it was a truly great moment! I have to say, though, the bhartha is an interesting take on what is normally my go-to Indian dish. It was cinnamon- or maybe nutmeg-spiced and sweeter than I've ever had it. It was less tomato-y and more creamy, too. Nonetheless, it was delicious. My boyfriend and I joked about moving to Harrisburg just for the view and the Indian food.
(5)Aadharsh R.
I did not expect to see an Indian restaurant in Harrisburg, PA let alone a very good one. We stayed in a B&B place and the owner recommended this place to us. I was a bit reluctant to have dinner here (I do not care so much about lunch but I generally want dinner to be a pleasant experience, since that is the only time I sit down with my family for a meal) for two reasons - Yelpers did not rank this place so highly and then the place that they had ranked higher (Aangan) did not turn out to be that great! We ordered the Veg Biriyani, some rotis and a potato dish (Aloo makhani). Delightful. Just the right mix of spices, very fragrant and authentic. The biriyani was layered with the gravy and reminded me of stuff from back home. This restaurant is located inside the Comfort Inn complex and may sometimes be difficult to find. The waiters and possibly the owner are fairly curt and do not bother with niceties (we had to call a couple of times to find the restaurant and it was not easy to get some love from them!).
(4)Patrick B.
Always reliably good. UPDATE (2/8/13): New chef alert! I may have to change my rating.
(4)Kristen E.
I love this place! You can go dressed either casual or dressy. The location is very unassuming. It's located inside of a motel, but the food is great and service is always excellent. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food that you get. My favorite dishes are the vegetarian platter and tarka dal.
(4)Douglas W.
Great Indian food buffet in the heart of Harrisburg. It's a Hilton Honors dining spot for those of you who are members of the program. We stop every time we drive East. There's always a nice mix of vegetarian and meat dishes, heavy on the vegetarian or you can order from the menu. I like the dosa station and always have a little mango pudding with fruit for desert. I am never disappointed. Sometimes I like the mix better than others but always find plenty to eat. They're especially good at making rich hot creamy soups. The service is terrific and the place is beautiful. Go for a walk along the river after lunch.
(4)Kurt I.
Very good Indian food in a lousy location. Ignore that when you drive in, and expect for some deliciousness. I'm a vegetarian, so I've only had those dishes. What I've had was always well prepared, very delicious, and well presented. As of right now, its the only restaurant I've enjoyed in Harrisburg.
(4)R B.
We came here for dinner on a Saturday night as a party of 12 inclusion kids. Parking was tough, maybe because of a party going next door, but the wait time for seating was bearable. Once inside, the ambience was nice, service was pleasant and food was prompt. We tried Chakna, Patra and Crab Goa for Appetizers. All three were good and Crab Goa was the favoritie with both kids and adults. The curries we ordered for the main course also came out delicious - especially Chicken Xaccuti. Only reason for 4 stars is because the rotis were not soft enough and the chicken biriyani was not upto our expectation. Next time I'm around this place and if am in a mood for Indian food, I will definitely choose this place.
(4)Becky M.
We had reservations for October 1st at the Comfort Inn on Front Street and arrived at dusk after driving from Mystic Connecticut with stops along the way. We were tired. When we asked about nearby restaurants, the desk clerk told us about "restaurant row" a few walkable blocks away. We noticed a non-descript restaurant front that seemed semi-detached from the motel and shared the same parking lot. The clerk conceded that the food was good and was Indian. Many years ago I'd eaten Indian food, but I remembered little about it, so I walked next door to look at a menu. Hubby went to our room. What a surprise to enter a really lovely, upscale, white tablecloth restaurant sparkling with tiny white lights and Indian accent pieces everywhere. The maitre'd seemed a little stiff; he gave me a condescending sniff, but managed to hand me a take out menu when requested. (I was dressed for travel, not dinner) I ordered the "chicken karma" entre and "chicken naan," which was a thin bread stuffed with a little chicken. In about 10 minutes the order was ready, well-boxed and included several different sauces as accompaniments.. Hubby was a little skeptical when I returned with Indian take out, but he began to warm to it as I started uncovering containers, releasing wonderful aromas of the exotic food. The meal was delicious and plentiful. It makes me hungry, even now, just writing about it.
(5)Meh G.
One of my favorite indian restaurants. The service was good and their food was very tasty. I love their Lamb Saag and chicken vindaloo.
(4)Stephen J.
Good was okay. Felt the quality was watered down. Food on the buffet was cold or like warm.
(3)Jamie S.
Very delicious food, lovely restaurant decor, and kind accommodating staff. Decen and inexpensive wine list by the bottle. We had chicken tikka masala, rogan josh, basil naan, and tandoori chicken and it was all quite good. I would suggest regular naan because the basil naan tasted odd to me. Other than that, this was a really nice dining experience. Highly recommend. Edit, they gave us a free ramekin each of their homemade ice cream and it was heaven. Cream, pistachio, almond and cardamom in a thick, decadent frozen treat. I wish it was served in a bucket instead of a ramekin.
(5)Vishal S.
I was in Harrisburg last night and my friend recommended that we give Passage to India a try. We got there late after work - 9:40 PM! The place looks good even though it is next to a Comfort Inn. The staff was very cordial and seated us even though their last order is at 9:45 PM. We went straight for the main course - no time for appetizers and we were super hungry too. We were in a vegetarian mood and ordered the following: - Dal Makhani (Whole black lentils, yellow lentils and kidney beans simmered with tomatoes, onions, and freshly ground spices, garnished with a touch of cream) - Bhindi Masala (whole okras cooked in spicy sauce - and House recommended Vegetable Xaccutti (Pronounced "sha-ku-tee" A spicy vegetable curry from west coast of India (Goa), made with ground and roasted coconut, and a blend of aromatic spices) We wanted all the food to be mild/ medium spicy. What came out of the kitchen was SPICY food! So beware of that when ordering. Bhindi was definitely a pass 2 stars (out of 5). Okras were not well cooked and half raw. Dal was good - the usual like any other Indian restaurant Vegetable Xaccutti was spicy for sure! That blanketed the taste of the dish IMO. Service was good and attentive. Bottom Line - Reading other reviews I would return for buffet and give this place another try...
(2)Emily S.
This is my favorite Indian place in the area. I've been here for dinner many times and for the lunch buffet once. Oh, and if you sign up for their emails they don't spam you, just send out a coupon probably once every two months. Setting: Great location in downtown Harrisburg, large place - I've never had to wait for a table, great view of the Susquehanna river Service: Excellent, attentive Food: The food is awesome. Between my boyfriend and I we've tried probably all of the vegetarian and chicken dishes on the menu - they won't let you down. My favorite entree would probably either be the chicken korma or the mutter paneer. The vegetable samosas and vegetable pakora are great appetizers if you're in the mood for something fried.
(5)Joel S.
My wife, daughter and son in law had dinner here last night. I had been here prior for lunch and loved it. It was the 1st time for the other three. From the outside, it is deceiving but inside is really lovely with lots of icons and artwork from India and bright red walls. The staff is very alert and knowledgeable. Service is quick and efficient. They had 3 Indian beers on the menu and the SIL and I tasted all three - two were lagers and one a pilsner - all were excellent. We had 3 appetizers and shared them. The appetizers were Patra, Chakna and Samosa. All were large and very good. With the sauces, they could have been a meal in themselves. The lamb in the Chakna was especially good. For dinner two of us had a chicken dish and 2 lamb. Mine was Vindaloo and it was just as it should be - very spicy and hot. The menu does a great job of explaining what you are getting and how it is made if you are not that familiar with Indian food. We had two flavored naans - like the garlic way better than the basil. I had spiced tea (like chai) and my wife had the custard with caramel sauce. That is an awesome dessert. All in all we had a great time, the place was packed and lively, the service was excellent and the food was as well. Price being so reasonable is a plus. It would be a great place for both people with love of Indian food as well as for a newbie who would like to try but might feel intimidated. The staff is really nice. It is really great to have a place this good for Indian food here in Harrisburg area.
(4)Brian R.
Despite the mixed reviews of the place I decided to try it for myself and was pleasantly pleased. The interior of the restaurant is just beautiful, very elegant and classy with great river views. I personally ordered the Lamb Xaccuti which I found terribly delicious with just the right amount of heat. The lamb was tender and very mild. The other curries at my table were decent but the Xaccuti was by far my favorite. I didn't appreciate that we had to order naan separately from our meals, but they have a number of different kinds you can choose from which was cool. I found the passage naan to be delicious. The service was fine for us, not superb but certainly not insulting. Overall I really enjoyed the place.
(4)Miriam W.
Great Indian food buffet here at Passage to India. We come here whenever we're driving through, and have never been disappointed. The lunch buffet always includes salad fixins, a veggie soup, and a mix of veggie and meat dishes,with naan and a dessert, usually mango pudding with fruit. The vegetarian food is always solid, and sometimes achieves truly great heights. The buffet today included tandoor chicken, coconut chicken, dal, aloo matar capsicum (potatoes, peas and bell peppers in a curry sauce), kidney beans with squash, basmati rice, naan, tiny masala dosas, mango pudding, and the aforementioned soup and salad. Doug had the coconut chicken and said it was wonderful. Service is efficient if not warm.
(4)John H.
I used to frequent Passage to India several years ago. At that time I found the overall experience to be quite good, so we decided to dine here again last evening. On the positive side, the decor of the restaurant is pleasant. The naan, samosas, and lassi were very good, though the soft drinks were flat. We ordered lamb dishes (saag and xacutti); sadly both were extremely disappointing. Curries should offer a complex and delightful interplay of spices. Instead both shared a dark, flat gravy with an overcooked/burnt flavor. In addition, the lamb lacked any distinctive flavor and tasted like beef - we did not finish our meal. I do hope this was somehow an off night for Passage, as I do truly value good local Indian restaurants.
(2)Ken E.
This place is a hidden gem, nestled on the Susquehanna just south of downtown Harrisburg. I've been most impressed with the level of service and the quality of the produce and meats they use. All first rate. By far the most warm and hospitable staff I've come across in Central Pa. I've had three different dishes, all were outstanding. Thumbs up, a Harrisburg must try if you like Indian food. Passage to India has become one of my local staples.
(3)Christopher M.
Not too shabby for HBG. I was there as part of a cast party for an opera I did in town and I enjoyed the buffet spread. There wasn't anything all that authentic. It's very Americanized. But still a good quality for what it is.
(3)Erin N.
This isn't a review about the food. The hours for food service ends at 2:30pm everyday which quiet odd. My family and I walked in around 2:40 and while waiting 5 mins a lady informed is that they finish serving at 2:30.. I told her it stated they close at 9 according to yelp she said that no and their closing time is 2:30 pm :( the decor is amazing though !
(3)Lea C.
The is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in the world as of yet. I spent a lot of time here during law school, and it's probably the thing I miss the most in Central PA. Yes, it's attached to the Comfort Inn, but I promise this has nothing to do with the caliber of the restaurant. The decor is beautiful and very evocative of India, beginning with the heavy filigreed silver front door. I am told by some of my Indian friends that this place is famous in the Indian community, and that there are families that will come down from NYC just to eat here. The tamarind chutney that is kept on the table is the best I have ever had, and I put it on everything I eat. The portions here are large, which means that if you get an appetizer and entree, you won't possibly be able to finish, so bring a friend and share (and of course, take home leftovers!). It is also incredibly inexpensive for the quality and amount of food. The papri chat made here is the best I have ever had and I crave it daily. It's served cold, and the crispy bits never seem to get soggy. The pakoras are perfectly spiced, and the samosa filling is yellow and falls apart in your mouth. The naan is large, buttered, and always slighty charred. My favorite entree is a stereotypical one: chicken makhani. It is super juicy, swimming in its complex, creamy sauce, and accompanied with a big platter of basmati rice with saffron, peas, and orange zest. All the entrees are served in beautiful copper bowls. Again, don't let them take away the chutneys, as the dark, burgundy tamarind chutney will satisfy any sweet tooth and I think is the perfect complement to...well, everything. Once you come here once, you'll keep coming back, I promise.
(5)Lora B.
I went here last night with my boyfriend at the recommendation of a friend. It was delicious!! I had the chicken korma and plain naan, Steve got Kadai lamb and garlic naan. He also got guava juice (YUM!). My chicken was amazing. It had sweet and savory complex flavors, the rice was fantastic and perfectly cooked, and the naan was excellent. The chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly. My one and only complaint was it could have been spicier. I expect a little heat in Indian food and this had very little. Steve's lamb was spicy and delicious. He had to take half of it home. I wolfed my chicken down...I was starving. Service was fast, attentive, and polite. The restaurant was pretty quiet- it was 9pm when we arrived. The decor is tasteful and fun. The only reason it got 4 stars from me was it felt a little over-priced. That may just be that I recently moved from a place where you could get good, amazing food of any type for incredibly cheap (Viva Las Vegas!). We will be coming back!
(4)Leigh T.
One if the only negative is that the naan is below average. Better ambiance than Aangaan. Price is right on for the quality. The variation in food is not as good in the good ole days if you know what I mean. Is it the chef or owner? What made this place great was the quality and variation. Aangaan is worse with the variety. Same stuff forever. I see an Indian gentleman in a red polo everything I go, he us heavy set and has a mustache. This guy seems like an Indian businessman. A good sign if you know what I mean.
(4)Steve L.
The wife and I dined on Memorial Day. The restaurant was about half-full and our greeting server obviously didn't want to be there. He rushed us, barely spoke a few sentences in our greeting and was in a foul mood. We started with the Papri Chat which we enjoyed. Then we ordered two vegetarian dishes: Alu Kadai Gobi & Tarka Dal. Both lacked a strong flavor and spice. The bad service really got to us and next time we are in the area, we won't be back.
(2)Christy K.
Without a doubt the most awful Indian food I've ever eaten. IT WAS BLAND. How do you make Indian cuisine bland??
(1)Suriya G.
Though I liked ambience very much and food is worth for money, servers are not friendly enough.
(2)AgentxAngel X.
I'm sorry but I had the buffet here and it was really bad. Not even just mediocre. It was also unfortunate because the person I was with never had Indian food before and I don't want them thinking that's how it should taste. The chicken in ever dish was so dry too. This is only getting two stars because the naan was okay and there was good customer service. If you want good Indian food, go to masala bistro.
(2)Dennis S.
Let me preface this review by stating that I'm not a fan of Indian food, or at least haven't enjoyed dishes that I've had (or smelled) in the past. In December we dined at Passage to India and had a great dinner. We chowed down on yummy Naan bread and had a nice bottle of Shiraz. I ordered the Lamb Saag, and it was delicious. I will consent to being dragged here again in the future.
(4)Mike D.
Wasn't sure what to expect from an Indian restaurant in The 'Burg but was pleasantly surprised by this place. It was a bit weird to find and a potentially-stunning view of the Susquehanna is compromised by the Comfort Inn's pool and its gaggle of swimmers in the foreground. The atmosphere is otherwise quite elegant. Always particular about our Indian, my wife and I stuck with our standard go-to options, chicken tikka masala and chicken korma respectively. and both passed the test with flying colors. The samosas were tasty and filling enough but the service was a bit slow and inattentive. However,overall Passage to India is good enough that we plan to go back to sample their other fare.
(3)Steve P.
I always love the smell of Indian food when I walk in this place. It's like "mmm, I'll take that"... Unfortunately "That" is just an amalgam of everything they serve. Good Tandori chicken dish and fantastic Mango Lassi. If nothing else, come in here on a hot day, order a mango lassi and enjoy. Nice and thick, excellent flavor, and hits the spot every time. Also as stated by previous reviewers, these guys love to refill your water.
(4)Tanner T.
I first visited this restaurant 2 years ago and it was my first experience with Indian food. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was fantastic. This is a great place for an introduction to Indian food as the staff is helpful in determining a meal that is best for you. The location is next to the river which is perfect for a post-meal stroll with a nice date. The reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because of the price. It wasn't enough to deter me from having gone again but it is something that should be mentioned.
(4)Julia D.
My go to Indian restaurant in the Burg. Sure I can walk there but it's also DELICIOUS! Some other Yelpers pointed out that it is a rough location, I suppose that is true. Ignore that it's next to the Comfort Inn because it is some of the best Indian you will have. Everything I've ever had is fantastic here and my Veggie friends always beg to go. Try the Passage Naan. It's pretty darn good kids.
(4)Jeannie B.
Great Indian restaurant! Hubby and I are huge fans of Indian food, and this is probably the best place in Central PA. We've always had just amazing food, great service, wonderful drinks. Yeah, the location is a little strange, but at least it's easy to get to! Am in love with their mango chicken and Passage naan. Great food!
(5)Gregory C.
The location is horrible. Parking is difficult depending on the time due to the hotel guests everywhere. The view from outside the restaurant is the hotel pool that could be nice if we were at the Atlantis or something, but we're working with a Comfort Inn which is wholly unappetizing in itself. That being said, the staff is pretty friendly and you will never, never, never have a shortage of ice water. Ever. The food is absolutely AMAZING however, and the decor is just that right mix of formal and cozy to make it diverse enough for a group of friends or a business lunch. If you have never had Indian food before, I recommend coming here for the very affordable all-you-can-eat lunch buffet first, instead of for dinner.
(4)John F.
In well over 10 years of going to Passage to India, I have never had a bad meal there. In fact, I've never had bad service there, either. Good food and good service... Tough to beat that.
(5)Lina K.
I have been here several times, and this place always impresses me. I have gone there for the lunch buffet numerous times. My husband and I went a couple weeks ago and had a pleasant time. It was busy, so we were sat in the middle at a small two person table, which made me feel somewhat exposed. Also, the prices are a bit higher than other Indian restaurants in the area.
(5)Mike E.
Service is exceptionally horrible but the food was good. I will never patronize the place again due to poor service.
(3)E G.
We went back. I dunno why, I guess we wanted a river view and felt like Indian food. Don't order the Tandoori Thali. Simply gross. No way it is worth the $18.95 price tag it's honored with, seeing that it is small in size and obviously cooked at the beginning of the night and then used throughout the evening. Not warm, not fresh and left us with stomach aches. It is about 8 small pieces of a number of tandoori chicken, one lamb piece and one shrimp. The shrimp made me gag, it was so stringy and overcooked, yet cold. The chicken was cold and had obviously been sitting around all night. The lamb was fat. The Aloo Mutter was surprisingly good, I may order that to go one time again. I would say I like the atmosphere, but when you have a waiter arguing with a customer at the table next to you about the price of a catering quote loudly for 30 mintues I can't even enjoy my meal even if it was good. Seriously, do that business at the counter or over the phone. Nothing worse then a drawn out dispute over money ruining a dining experience. Can't say I was surprised though ;) Our waiter didn't even look at us the whole time he was taking the order and checked back with us half heartedly, seemingly more concerned with a party across the restaurant. 1 star it again.
(1)Jen L.
This is likely the best Indian restaurant in Harrisburg. The menu offers a lot of options, so whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian, you should be able to find something you like. The naan is good. The mango drink is good, too. I haven't tried all the entrees before, but the ones I've tried are pretty good.
(5)Ashley A.
I have been dining here for years and I can honestly say Passage to India is the best restaurant in Harrisburg! The food is always delicious and the service is impeccable! Staff is very personable and spends time with each table. I love dining here!! Some of my favorites include: the mango lassi (a yogurt drink), passage naan, puri, chicken korma, chicken ahuri, chicken tika masala, basmati rice, and gobi manchuran. I always order the spiced tea. And for an appetizer, try the samosas. Really, you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Also, the buffet is a great price and offers a good mix of food from the menu. And for those who don't love spice, the buffet is great because none of the food on the buffet is spicy. I love the decor and atmosphere. This restaurant is great for families, date night and anything in between. But I think the best selling point, their food is consistent. Where else can you go and get the same great taste every time! This is a must-try!
(5)Barbara V.
This is a decent place overall. I think there's better Indian in the area, however. I've had several things on the menu, but the papri chat appetizer is still my favorite. They offer a full bar here unlike most Indian places in the area that are BYOB. The service is really great. I recommend getting a reservation as they get busy on Fri/Sat nights.
(3)Lisa A.
I was excited to try this place out. I hadn't read the reviews here first before going. I have to agree with EG that the food didn't seem authentic, and that everything tasted similar. I think it all comes down to taste. My husband and I weren't fond of the food and preferred Aangans. My daughter really liked the food. I have to disagree with Khalid though (sorry Khalid) :D We all agreed Aangan's bread is better, even though Passage to India's was pretty good. Basically I thought all the food tasted the same - it was all spiced similarly. I had a hard time getting through some of the meal (and I very much love Indian food). It was just all spicy and tasted the same. I said that already, but that's how the food impressed me. We did go to the buffet - maybe ordering off the menu would be better. One thing I thought was extremely good was the lentil soup they had that day. It was very delicious and satisfying. Mango lassi - extremely rich so much so that I couldn't even try the dessert. That drink was my dessert.
(3)Lina K.
If you like Indian food and buffets, this is a good place for you. I have been there a few times, only for the lunch buffet, and found it to be consistently good. I tend to agree with Khalid that this may be the westernized version of Indian but this style may appeal to a wider variety of palates. I love the naan here ... fresh and hot! The chicken tikka masaala was delicious (but was only there 1 out of the 3 times I was there). The saag paneer was also very good. Desserts are interesting and tasty. The management and staff are very attentive.
(4)Stephen A.
Excellent quality. Authentic spices and recipes. Nice location. Great service. This is a place that would survive in a big metro city. Can't give a bigger rap than that.
(4)Michelle S.
I'd like to start off by saying that I'm in no way an Indian food expert. Basically, I get the Samosas, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan bread every time. However, that being said, I really enjoy the food, service, and atmosphere at Passage to India! The staff is super friendly and responsive. I'd highly recommend Passage to India!
(5)Amy G.
If you like Indian food, this is a great place. If you like Indian food that is hard core and not modified for the Central PA palate, get over it because it doesn't exist in Central PA. This, my friend, is some of the best Indian you'll find in the area. I've eaten here on many, many occasions. Usually for the lunch buffet but also occasionally for dinner. My Indian friends enjoy the restaurant, although they're very clear that this is not 100% authentic and that it only touches upon a small portion of the vastly differing types of Indian food you find in India. Bottom line - if the Indian people like it, it has to be good. Indian people are very hospitable and have distinguished palates. The lunch buffet is a good deal. There is plenty to eat. There is always a green salad. There is always dal. I can't remember them having a buffet without tandoori chicken. They always have one or two vegetarian dishes and one or two additional meat dishes. You will also find some type of dessert offering. Their food isn't overly spicy, but the meekest of you might find a slight tingle on your tongue. They usually have a few garnishes or relishes that can add some heat if you need something a little more exciting. If you like Indian food, you'll love the scent as you walk through the glass doors - basmati rice, curry, cardamom, etc. The location is a little odd - if you miss the entrance to the restaurant/hotel you usually end up in a panic and getting onto the ramp to the highway. The parking is adequate since is shares the lot with the hotel. There are huge glass windows that face the river, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it water-front dining. The staff is nicely dressed, very polite, and very attentive. It feels like a find dining establishment. Their vegetable pakora is good, but be careful for anything fried on the buffet - it can get a little greasy if it sits too long. Their mango lassi is also a good item. Their chicken vindaloo and their chicken tikka masala are also very good options. Any of the stuffed nans are also good - I like the Passage nan which is on the sweet side. My favorite Indian dishes are made with paneer - a type of cheese curd. This place doesn't disappoint - their Matteer Paneer is great! We make frozen Gulab Jamun at the house but I'm dying to try it there so it's fresh out of the syrup bath when it comes to the table. The decor is nice and very upscale with brass, tapestries, artwork, textiles . . . all in beautiful colors. The lunch patrons are usually in business clothes - which today ranges from jeans to suits. At night, most people seem to dress up a little bit. On the way out, don't forget to freshen your breath with the candied fennel seeds!
(4)Kevin K.
I grew up on the Sunday buffet here. Great food, tough location, good people, great service. Hot & cold dessert is always good (kulfi & gulab jamin) as are all of the curries.
(4)Christian L.
Passage is my favorite Indian restaurant in Harrisburg by far. Great ambience, friendly and fast service and their food is incredible. Try the chicken naan and chicken tikka masala.
(5)Amita R.
So after having to use them as my caterer for my wedding, I am thoroughly pissed off at them and their service and their complete and utter lack of professionalism. First, we went to them months ago to agree on a menu. The owner hands us a sheet with menu options and gives us a set price. Fast forward to 2 weeks before the wedding and the owner is MIA. His wife decides that the quote her husband had given us was outrageously low and refuses to honor it. Then tells us that she can honor it for double what she originally quoted us. We finally get the price down to something somewhat reasonable (still well above the quoted price mind you). Then the wedding day. We had them caterer the appetizers and dinner portion of our reception. The appetizers for the most part go off without a hitch, but the dinner was horrible. The food was cold. The lassis were more like yogurt. They kept running out of food and couldn't refill it in time. It was a mess. After talking to them about what happened, they of course blamed the hotel and its staff. I'm not sure who's telling the truth on that one, but I will say this: I will NEVER use them again for a catering gig. EVER! Its no surprise that most Indian weddings that happen in the area end up going up to New Jersey for their catering. I thought that was ridiculous, but I now know why: there just isn't anyone good in the Harrisburg area.
(1)T W.
Easily the best Indian food I've had in Harrisburg. Even better is the very well decorated, lush dining room, with a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. Service is always friendly and professional. Love the lunch buffet also. They have a full bar, and reasonably priced wine. Really a great restaurant!!
(4)Saskia S.
Passage is such a strange place...the restaurant is attached to a hotel and yet it has such delicious food. We've been going to Passage for years now, and even though Harrisburg now has other Indian options I'm always partial to Passage. Nice staff, good basics, and always easy to get table.
(4)Saskia S.
Passage is such a strange place...the restaurant is attached to a hotel and yet it has such delicious food. We've been going to Passage for years now, and even though Harrisburg now has other Indian options I'm always partial to Passage. Nice staff, good basics, and always easy to get table.
(4)Steve P.
I always love the smell of Indian food when I walk in this place. It's like "mmm, I'll take that"... Unfortunately "That" is just an amalgam of everything they serve. Good Tandori chicken dish and fantastic Mango Lassi. If nothing else, come in here on a hot day, order a mango lassi and enjoy. Nice and thick, excellent flavor, and hits the spot every time. Also as stated by previous reviewers, these guys love to refill your water.
(4)Tanner T.
I first visited this restaurant 2 years ago and it was my first experience with Indian food. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was fantastic. This is a great place for an introduction to Indian food as the staff is helpful in determining a meal that is best for you. The location is next to the river which is perfect for a post-meal stroll with a nice date. The reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because of the price. It wasn't enough to deter me from having gone again but it is something that should be mentioned.
(4)Julia D.
My go to Indian restaurant in the Burg. Sure I can walk there but it's also DELICIOUS! Some other Yelpers pointed out that it is a rough location, I suppose that is true. Ignore that it's next to the Comfort Inn because it is some of the best Indian you will have. Everything I've ever had is fantastic here and my Veggie friends always beg to go. Try the Passage Naan. It's pretty darn good kids.
(4)Jeannie B.
Great Indian restaurant! Hubby and I are huge fans of Indian food, and this is probably the best place in Central PA. We've always had just amazing food, great service, wonderful drinks. Yeah, the location is a little strange, but at least it's easy to get to! Am in love with their mango chicken and Passage naan. Great food!
(5)Gregory C.
The location is horrible. Parking is difficult depending on the time due to the hotel guests everywhere. The view from outside the restaurant is the hotel pool that could be nice if we were at the Atlantis or something, but we're working with a Comfort Inn which is wholly unappetizing in itself. That being said, the staff is pretty friendly and you will never, never, never have a shortage of ice water. Ever. The food is absolutely AMAZING however, and the decor is just that right mix of formal and cozy to make it diverse enough for a group of friends or a business lunch. If you have never had Indian food before, I recommend coming here for the very affordable all-you-can-eat lunch buffet first, instead of for dinner.
(4)John F.
In well over 10 years of going to Passage to India, I have never had a bad meal there. In fact, I've never had bad service there, either. Good food and good service... Tough to beat that.
(5)Lina K.
I have been here several times, and this place always impresses me. I have gone there for the lunch buffet numerous times. My husband and I went a couple weeks ago and had a pleasant time. It was busy, so we were sat in the middle at a small two person table, which made me feel somewhat exposed. Also, the prices are a bit higher than other Indian restaurants in the area.
(5)Mike E.
Service is exceptionally horrible but the food was good. I will never patronize the place again due to poor service.
(3)E G.
We went back. I dunno why, I guess we wanted a river view and felt like Indian food. Don't order the Tandoori Thali. Simply gross. No way it is worth the $18.95 price tag it's honored with, seeing that it is small in size and obviously cooked at the beginning of the night and then used throughout the evening. Not warm, not fresh and left us with stomach aches. It is about 8 small pieces of a number of tandoori chicken, one lamb piece and one shrimp. The shrimp made me gag, it was so stringy and overcooked, yet cold. The chicken was cold and had obviously been sitting around all night. The lamb was fat. The Aloo Mutter was surprisingly good, I may order that to go one time again. I would say I like the atmosphere, but when you have a waiter arguing with a customer at the table next to you about the price of a catering quote loudly for 30 mintues I can't even enjoy my meal even if it was good. Seriously, do that business at the counter or over the phone. Nothing worse then a drawn out dispute over money ruining a dining experience. Can't say I was surprised though ;) Our waiter didn't even look at us the whole time he was taking the order and checked back with us half heartedly, seemingly more concerned with a party across the restaurant. 1 star it again.
(1)sarita d.
service and food is not good restaurant looks nice.
(1)Jen L.
This is likely the best Indian restaurant in Harrisburg. The menu offers a lot of options, so whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian, you should be able to find something you like. The naan is good. The mango drink is good, too. I haven't tried all the entrees before, but the ones I've tried are pretty good.
(5)Ashley A.
I have been dining here for years and I can honestly say Passage to India is the best restaurant in Harrisburg! The food is always delicious and the service is impeccable! Staff is very personable and spends time with each table. I love dining here!! Some of my favorites include: the mango lassi (a yogurt drink), passage naan, puri, chicken korma, chicken ahuri, chicken tika masala, basmati rice, and gobi manchuran. I always order the spiced tea. And for an appetizer, try the samosas. Really, you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Also, the buffet is a great price and offers a good mix of food from the menu. And for those who don't love spice, the buffet is great because none of the food on the buffet is spicy. I love the decor and atmosphere. This restaurant is great for families, date night and anything in between. But I think the best selling point, their food is consistent. Where else can you go and get the same great taste every time! This is a must-try!
(5)Barbara V.
This is a decent place overall. I think there's better Indian in the area, however. I've had several things on the menu, but the papri chat appetizer is still my favorite. They offer a full bar here unlike most Indian places in the area that are BYOB. The service is really great. I recommend getting a reservation as they get busy on Fri/Sat nights.
(3)Lisa A.
I was excited to try this place out. I hadn't read the reviews here first before going. I have to agree with EG that the food didn't seem authentic, and that everything tasted similar. I think it all comes down to taste. My husband and I weren't fond of the food and preferred Aangans. My daughter really liked the food. I have to disagree with Khalid though (sorry Khalid) :D We all agreed Aangan's bread is better, even though Passage to India's was pretty good. Basically I thought all the food tasted the same - it was all spiced similarly. I had a hard time getting through some of the meal (and I very much love Indian food). It was just all spicy and tasted the same. I said that already, but that's how the food impressed me. We did go to the buffet - maybe ordering off the menu would be better. One thing I thought was extremely good was the lentil soup they had that day. It was very delicious and satisfying. Mango lassi - extremely rich so much so that I couldn't even try the dessert. That drink was my dessert.
(3)Lina K.
If you like Indian food and buffets, this is a good place for you. I have been there a few times, only for the lunch buffet, and found it to be consistently good. I tend to agree with Khalid that this may be the westernized version of Indian but this style may appeal to a wider variety of palates. I love the naan here ... fresh and hot! The chicken tikka masaala was delicious (but was only there 1 out of the 3 times I was there). The saag paneer was also very good. Desserts are interesting and tasty. The management and staff are very attentive.
(4)Stephen A.
Excellent quality. Authentic spices and recipes. Nice location. Great service. This is a place that would survive in a big metro city. Can't give a bigger rap than that.
(4)Michelle S.
I'd like to start off by saying that I'm in no way an Indian food expert. Basically, I get the Samosas, chicken tikka masala and garlic naan bread every time. However, that being said, I really enjoy the food, service, and atmosphere at Passage to India! The staff is super friendly and responsive. I'd highly recommend Passage to India!
(5)Amy G.
If you like Indian food, this is a great place. If you like Indian food that is hard core and not modified for the Central PA palate, get over it because it doesn't exist in Central PA. This, my friend, is some of the best Indian you'll find in the area. I've eaten here on many, many occasions. Usually for the lunch buffet but also occasionally for dinner. My Indian friends enjoy the restaurant, although they're very clear that this is not 100% authentic and that it only touches upon a small portion of the vastly differing types of Indian food you find in India. Bottom line - if the Indian people like it, it has to be good. Indian people are very hospitable and have distinguished palates. The lunch buffet is a good deal. There is plenty to eat. There is always a green salad. There is always dal. I can't remember them having a buffet without tandoori chicken. They always have one or two vegetarian dishes and one or two additional meat dishes. You will also find some type of dessert offering. Their food isn't overly spicy, but the meekest of you might find a slight tingle on your tongue. They usually have a few garnishes or relishes that can add some heat if you need something a little more exciting. If you like Indian food, you'll love the scent as you walk through the glass doors - basmati rice, curry, cardamom, etc. The location is a little odd - if you miss the entrance to the restaurant/hotel you usually end up in a panic and getting onto the ramp to the highway. The parking is adequate since is shares the lot with the hotel. There are huge glass windows that face the river, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it water-front dining. The staff is nicely dressed, very polite, and very attentive. It feels like a find dining establishment. Their vegetable pakora is good, but be careful for anything fried on the buffet - it can get a little greasy if it sits too long. Their mango lassi is also a good item. Their chicken vindaloo and their chicken tikka masala are also very good options. Any of the stuffed nans are also good - I like the Passage nan which is on the sweet side. My favorite Indian dishes are made with paneer - a type of cheese curd. This place doesn't disappoint - their Matteer Paneer is great! We make frozen Gulab Jamun at the house but I'm dying to try it there so it's fresh out of the syrup bath when it comes to the table. The decor is nice and very upscale with brass, tapestries, artwork, textiles . . . all in beautiful colors. The lunch patrons are usually in business clothes - which today ranges from jeans to suits. At night, most people seem to dress up a little bit. On the way out, don't forget to freshen your breath with the candied fennel seeds!
(4)Kevin K.
I grew up on the Sunday buffet here. Great food, tough location, good people, great service. Hot & cold dessert is always good (kulfi & gulab jamin) as are all of the curries.
(4)Christian L.
Passage is my favorite Indian restaurant in Harrisburg by far. Great ambience, friendly and fast service and their food is incredible. Try the chicken naan and chicken tikka masala.
(5)Brian M.
I have to say that I'm surprised with some of these reviews. Maybe the ones that didn't give this restaurant 5 stars went when the staff/kitchen may have had an off day. I literally travel all around the world and quite a bit throughout he United States. I always go to an Indian restaurant for lunch, or dinner since that is my favorite ethnic food. With Indian restaurants, it's "hit or miss," and unfortunately it's mostly "miss." The best Indian restaurants outside of India is supposedly in London, England. I have gone to a few in London, and they were consistently good. I'd have to say that Passage To India is just as good, if not better than those in London. I went on Friday the 14th with three other people. We all decided on four different dishes which we shared with on another. EVERY dish was excellent!! The ingredients and spices that was put into these dishes were perfectly balanced. I have been to literally hundreds of Indian restaurants over the years, and I'd put this in the top three on my list. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the ambiance was comfortable. The wait staff was polite and took care of all of of our needs. I would highly recommend Passage To India for anyone that truly loves, and understands what good Indian food is all about. I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Chris J.
Great food... Always have at least one meal here when I'm in Harrisburg.
(4)Colleen S.
Just moving back from England where I am used to a curry a week (if not two) this place scratches my itch. They make a great saag and the price for dinner is spot on. If you love English Indian (basically its more mild spicy dishes) then this is the place for you. The interior is very nice and the service is polite and accomdating. Indian is very vegan and veggie friendly as well if that is a concern.
(4)Charles N.
easily the best indian restaurant in harrisburg. bare in mind that being the "best" anything in harrisburg isnt saying much unless youre the "best way out of harrisburg." (waka). PTI (as i affectionately referred to it BEFORE ESPN made it famous) was my introduction to indian food. the lunch buffet was a staple in high school: cheap and plentiful. this douchebag kid who i used to be friends with ate something like 35 pieces of naan once. so that's something. ive eaten at many indian restaurants over the years and ill never forget PTI. ive never had a better mango lassi.
(4)TheAnonomous T.
Much better than any "Indian" place we ate at in Los Angeles, and much better value for money. We really liked the different flavors on Nan and I loved my Lamb dish. The mango drink was really tasty too. If you are staying at the Comfort Inn next door you might rename this restaurant as Passage out of Hell. Haven't yet tried the buffet yet but we are looking forward to it.
(4)Khalid S.
Your typical Westernized Indian food joint. Decor is very fine and detailed though. I had Shrimp Vindaloo and Chicken Jalfrezi. Naan were definitely better than Citadel and Aangan.
(3)Julie K.
I came here with my mom a few months ago. The food was okay...the service was horrible. I came back again last week with a friend of mine and her boyfriend, because she was craving indian. The service was absolutely dreadful. It took damn close to an hour for our food to arrive, not including the 20 minutes it took for them to even take our order (and it wasn't even busy! Not even close). The waiter kept ignoring us and refilling water at the tables around us. When the food finally arrived, it was good...but it took 3 tries for them to acknowledge my friend's request for a certain kind of brown sauce (that usually accompanies the thin bread that is served as an appetizer--which we didn't receive at all). Then, now...this isn't the restaurant's fault...but there was a brat at the table next to us, who was running around the table playing with his figurines, and nearly ran into me multiple times. I was ready to throttle the child--except that I could never hurt a kid...but did his mother tell him to sit? No, she told him "Sweetie, be careful. Don't hurt yourself now." No...if he were my kid, I would tell him to sit down and BEHAVE. This isn't his house, he is in a restaurant and is more than old enough to understand what an INDOOR voice is. Not to mention, he had a portable dvd player and headphones...but I digress. Food is okay, service sucks. I'll go to masala bistro from now on.
(2)joshua h.
I used to go here once or twice a month,...liked ther food,...then i didnt go for a while, "i joined the small business owner crowd and was poor for a year"... but then a new indian place opened in mechanicsburg, BOMBAY junction, I tried it and was very impressed by the food,"service is not that great though" but then i went back to passge last night,....and gotta say,... as nice as the wait staff and owners are,"and there very nice,...there food is no where near as good as bombay,.."and I ordered the excact same thing,..chicken khorma and chicken saag",.. so hopefully they will read this and remedy the food situation,.."
(2)Jeff S.
order off the menu, avoid the buffet.
(3)Mark A.
Go-to place for Indian food in the Harrisburg area! Terrific food., attentive staff, clean place with casual-to-classy decor and ambiance. I'm surprised at the negative reviews here. I notice that many of them are for the buffet, which I've never tried, but all the dinner entrees I've had are first-rate although thy tend to be a little spicy on the spicy side (for those of you who aren't used to that). Chicken Briyani, Saag Paneer, Combo Platter, all dishes have been good in 3 or so visits, and they have a LOT of them on the menu. Basmati rice is just right. Side dishes are served in small metal ramekins for those of you who like to keep sauces separate. Staff are attentive and try to be helpful if you're willing to ask questions and be patient (I wonder how the conversations went down for those who were treated rudely). And alcohol is served on premises with a full wine and beer list. This place makes itself out to be the upscale Indian restaurant in the region, and it succeeds. Prices may be a dollar or two high for some tastes, but you get what you pay for -- great food, large variety and attentive service -- and Passage to India does not disappoint. 4.5 stars.
(5)Gwen W.
The service was flawless: attentive without being pushy, polite, and knowledgeable about the menu with excellent suggestions. The food was superlative. Flavorful without being mouth-blastingly spicy. There was a lovely selection of chutney and raiita (sp?) and the naan was flawless. They also have a fantastic variety of lassi, including banana, blueberry and the single best mango lassi I have ever had. Excellent parking, too, and I had worried about that given the downtown location.
(5)JANELLE B.
Excellent food, nice decor, great service!! Very authentic Indian... the lamb korma, extra spicy!
(5)Soumya V.
We reached there for dinner at about 9 PM and their staff were not very welcoming! They included a gratuity along with the bill, quite strange ! Did not even inform that they would do it. Food was just okay!
(1)Emad E.
Big menu with variety for almost everyone, price just right, clean and they were so fast "I have dinner in July 4th and they were busy" very nice serve , the place is quiet and very clean. Good job
(5)Mark T.
This place is a "go-to" anytime. Been there at least 50 times and always spot on quality and service. Be careful if you say you like it hot....it will blow you away. Super nice people!
(4)Flint W.
This place had decent quality food with plenty of variety. The decor isn't mig to speak of. The staff are always friendly. The prices are quite reasonable. Naan is fantastic.
(4)Khalid A.
I understand this is an Indian restaurant but the music is depression, as for me i suffer from depression I don't feel listening to the repetitive depressing music they got. It took them 30 minutes to cook only ONE chicken biryani. They didn't serve anything complimentary, other restaurant been to they serve papadum. Food was okay. And for gods sake change the spelling of mango lassi in menu! Also have some napkins on table.
(2)Jane W.
I am surprised by the negative reviews - perhaps they don't really know Indian food. Service is impeccable, if you like less spicy food or more, just ask - they will comply. I love, love Indian food and eat here 2 to 3 times per week and have never been disappointed. Decor and atmosphere is lovely.
(5)Ram-a-lama D.
It was very average with a rather small number of choices.. For 10 bucks it's not a bad deal .. Just nothing I will remember 2 days from now.. I would not come back.. Id rather roll the dice and maybe find something better. If your craving Indian Buffett.. Well.. It is that.. Ok is a good as I can give it...couldn't decide between 2 and 3 stars.. It didn't suck.. Just wasn't good...
(3)Keerthana M.
Not capable of even 1 star! Extremely rude behavior to the customers! The food and toilet stinks equally! Not recommended
(1)Frida K.
Had the buffet lunch on a Saturday. The Chana Chicken was fabulous. The rest of the food was good enough too. The decor was distracting and too, should I say, "opulent" for my taste. Staff was prompt and pleasant, particularly Peter. Prices were reasonable. Will definitely be visiting again.
(3)Robert F.
So technically not a fair review. I drove to this place after stopping by the last indian restaurant and finding them closed. This place had hours posted on their website also here on Yelp. They even had hours on their door as they they are connected to a Drury Inn I was met by the staff that promptly informed me that they had changed hours and were closed from 2pm to 5pm. It was currently 2:30pm and I was out of luck for Indian food today. I understand that some places may need to trim hours when not during prime dining times. But SOMEONE should be able to update the hours online and on the door.
(1)Aj M.
I have often come for Biryani and have never been disappointed- till last night. I got lamb biryani, the flavor was fine but the lamb was over cooked, the top of the biryani was dried out(and missing the lid that usually comes on the pot), and there were whole chunks of "white" rice randomly mixed in. I could also swear there was vermicelli pasta mixed in too(rice a roni ya'll?). I don't know if this was the last of a batch, but it was very disappointing. Will give Passage another try, but I'm hoping this was a fluke(never had bad experience before)
(2)Stephen B.
This is one of the best places to eat in the Harrisburg area as far as I am concerned. They have a great lunch-time buffet with a regular rotation of different types of dishes. The service is excellent, as you are promptly seated and they keep your glasses filled. It's a little bit off the path, as it's near some highway entrances and a motel, but don't let the location fool you, this place is very good!
(5)Anbria B.
I have been a fan since it opened!! Very authentic food, very well service, friendly atmosphere, very romantic ambiance. The food can get on the expensive side.
(4)Vaishali B.
Ambience has Indian overtone - and I liked it. Quite clean and pleasing surroundings. Food is good. Not too mind-blowing, neither too bad. I can do it again. But nothing special either!
(3)Subodh R.
Great ambiance, not-so-great food. As a vegetarian, I thought I would have a lot of options to eat at the buffet. But I was terribly disappointed by the food selection there. The buffet was a joke. Naan tasted good, but the vegetables weren't that great. Only 2 vegetables and no Veggie Biryani. As soon as I walked in the restaurant I felt like I was a guest at an elaborate Indian wedding. The 1 star I have given to this place is just for ambiance. Aloo tikki was super oily and not fresh. It would have been nice to have more veggie options and a little better quality food. Also, I asked the waiter if I could get some water. He said yes, went in the kitchen and disappeared. No one ever showed up. I was disappointed by this visit.
(1)Jitsanyo T.
No Star at all Review need to add star so gave it or minus. Very rude staff. On lunch buffet. 20% gratuities for family of 4. Kid less than 9 yr full charge. Food was ok. Never ever come back as well recommend to friends.
(1)Pritika S.
The owner was quite rude to be frank.I would suggest not to go. They could listen to the tip I gave. I suggested them to keep chappati and they were very rude about it.
(1)Akshay N.
Dal makhani it's spoil and food was nothing taste complet bad service not happy never come back
(1)Sara N.
The first time I picked up a plate from the buffet table, there was soggy leftover food stuck on the bottom--strike one. Strike two was the assembly line of unadventurous and lukewarm Indian dishes. Doling out mostly vegetarian entrees and bland soups/curries, they're clearly saving the good stock for the pricier dinner menu. The house naan was a swing-and-a-miss. Cold, flat, stale, and strike three.
(1)Radhika P.
Hands down the best Indian food I have ever had. I'm Indian and had A LOT of Indian good. We stopped here on a family trip to Hershey park and definitely weren't expecting much. The restaurant is connected to an average hotel by the water and doesn't look too impressive. We ordered the patra for the appetizer and had butter paneer, chana masala, raita, and naan for dinner. Everything was ridiculously good. The paneer had the perfect chewy texture with a just spicy enough creamy sauce. The chana masala was ordered very spicy and it didn't have an overpowering tomato taste that some restaurants have. The naan was light and crispy. The good was incredible. We are honestly considering coming down to Harrisburg (a couple hour drive) just to eat here and find some things to do.
(5)Bob N.
Good good. Very busy for lunch. If you go for lunch, plan on the Buffett. If you go for dinner, it's a little expensive. Great food and service overall.
(4)Anil D.
One of the worst lunch buffet I ever had in the Harrisburg Area. They have 3 vegetarian curries and 3 non-veg curries, 1 appetizer, 1 desert, rice and naan. Rice is not fresh and very dry. Naans are half burnt. Appetizer was ok , Its better not to talk about the curries. I m never going there again, I would rather go to Masala bistro which is far better.
(1)Kale M.
Great atmosphere and service! I tried the combination platter and loved almost everything on my plate. The chefs soup was creamy and spicy although I thought it could use a cream or coconut base for flavor. The naan is hands down the best I've ever had, soft thick and perfectly warm! Would definite come back.
(4)Kent S.
Colorful. Warm. Food comes out fast. Good food, sort of spicy though.
(4)Jeanine C.
While planning a double date, the other couple suggested we eat here because they said the food was amazing. I agreed without thinking twice, and regretting it. I never had Indian food and I'm not a fan of trying new dishes, I stick to what I know. Also, I don't like Thai food, and I was told it was similar - so then I lost the little interest I had. This place itself is hard to see, you would never spot it from Front Street. You basically have to park at the hotel (that is clearly visible), and it's off to the side of the building. The inside is incredible and not what I was expecting. Whoever did the designing did a wonderful job! It feels like I just walked right into India (not that I would know anyway). So we're seated by friendly staff and placed with our menus that have a huge variety of food, it was pretty difficult to choose. Again, I tried sticking to what I knew and I ended up with the "Chicken Tikka Lababdar" which includes chicken, with a sauce that was lightly spiced. It was OUTSTANDING! Also, someone had suggested I try the Naan. Which is bread, I guess? I ordered the Garlic Naan - best garlic bread I've ever had in my life. And Crab Goa - to die for. $16.00 for my meal. Not too pricey, reasonable. Oh - and one, single bathroom for all! Do I recommend this place? Absolutely. So for me it all comes down to - Don't knock it before you try it.
(5)Kashyap P.
Worst Indian food I've ever had the pleasure of eating! Buffet sucks. Rotis are like Indian government hostel rotis. Not worth it. Indians should never come here, and Americans this is not real Indian food.
(1)J R.
this is the nicest Indian restaurant around by far but also the most expensive. The few times my wife and I went here it was a not an inexpensive date night. The food is good but we can get just as good food elsewhere for literally half the price and just as good. I would only go back if it was a very special event but when I get a hankering for Indian food, which is often this is not the place we will go. At around 17 bucks per person for a simple dish and any extras etc, it adds up.
(3)Praveen B.
This is one of the worst indian food I have ever tasted. Ordered chicken briyani and I asked him to make it more spicy. First of all it does not really look like briyani and the taste was too bad. No salt, no spice (even though I asked for extra spicy briyani). I will not recommend this place to anyone. Note to the management : Please concentrate on giving quality food rather than focussing on ambience. People are coming to restaurants to eat good food not to see the interiors.
(1)Rebecca S.
Go for the lunch buffet, you won't be disappointed. The selection is always varied and fresh! It is worth your time and money. Very nice management as well.
(4)AB S.
Stopped here while I was in town for work and was not disappointed. They graciously added some vegetables to my chicken dish at my request. I've never had more garlicky delicious naan.
(5)Sam O.
I thought the food tasted all right, average for Indian food, and pricy for the portion and quality (average entrée is about $16.00), but the real issue I had was the cleanliness of the dining room. The carpet is absolutely filthy! The chairs have dust on the braces under the seats, and on top of all the braces on the backs of them. I killed a stink bug crawling on the sill of the window my wife and I were sat by. If the dining room where everybody can see is this dirty, I shudder to think what the kitchen that you can't see looks like. That being said, the waiters were dressed well, in white shirts and ties and were very polite although for the amount of people that were in the restaurant, they were not very attentive to our needs. All considered, I would not bother to go back or to recommend this restaurant to anyone else.
(2)Laura Jill S.
This is a staple of vegan-friendliness whenever I'm in Harrisburg. Delicious food: my dad has had his birthday parties either there or catered by them on more than one occasion. I always hold my breath when I tell a server that I'm vegan. Will they or won't they know what a vegan is. When they DO, it's a big sigh of relief, and it's huge kudos for customer service. I had the samosas and the channa masala. Our server was very clear that I couldn't have the veggie soup because of the cream (that's my mom's favorite soup), and made a point to bring roti with no ghee for me! I love Indian restaurants in general, but the decor here is super cute, and the food is delish!
(5)Craig F.
While our experience with Indian cuisine is very limited, we thoroughly enjoyed the range of spices and seasonings that surounded our entrees! Loved the naan, tandori, and Tiki Masala. The waitstaff was very atttentive and eagerly answered our questions and provided recommendations for our meals. I consider my dinning experience to be successful if I'm already thinking of when I can return to eat again before I even left the restaurant.
(4)Karan S.
Garlic Naan, paneer tikka dry and chicken tikka!! BEST!!
(4)Gkg G.
Not good ...lunch buffet had poor selection only one non-veg curry and tandoor chicken and the vegetarian selection was nothing special. Food is very bland and was cold. The dosa wasn't cooked all the way and it's the same potatoes in the pakora. The mango lassi was good
(1)Tes Y.
Beautifully decorated restaurant. Great service. However, selection is very poor. Only liked the chicken curry. Drinks are not included in the buffet- wat! And my tea was not well strained- so there were bits of cloves, ginger as I drank. Naan is fresh but since it's stacked up on each other, they were steamed through and slightly soggy. Only one dessert.
(2)S D.
Super delicious Indian food! Great atmosphere and great service. Love it, definitely coming back again.
(5)Sam R.
Had been there for buffet, Nice ambience but limited variety of food, food does not taste Indian and 2 day old biryani was served.
(3)Miss M.
Beautiful looking restaurant. My family and I stopped here for a light lunch snack after a long drive from Canada. My Uncle used this app to find it and good job too! Lovely food, we ordered papri chaat and somosas and mango lassis. Food was perfectly cooked, tasted wonderful and wasn't too spicy at all. The mango lassi was perfect, lovely and cold and served in fancy glasses. The restaurant has its own parking right opposite the Susquehanna River.
(4)Judith B.
Wonderful food and great service. I had the nested chickpea appetizer, Alu mutter, my spouse had the chana masala. And we had pappadam and garlic naan. Wonderful, just wonderful. Accomodated our large party (~20) from our annual conference without a hitch. We make an annual pilgimmage there every conference. The alu mutter has a wonderful delicate flavor, tad of spice. Yum.
(4)Anna N.
5 stars aren't enough when it comes to this restaurant. I go here every few weeks for the Sunday lunch buffet, and I have always left feeling as though I've eaten the best meal of my life. Their tikka masala is the best thing I've ever eaten, and the tandoori chicken is pretty awesome as well. The staff is probably the friendliest and most accommodating restaurant staff I've ever encountered, and the decor is delightful and charming. If I ever found myself on death row, I would request something from Passage to India for my last meal!
(5)Kunal P.
I recently went there for lunch while visiting Harrisburg. I had eaten there years earlier as well during another trip. This time however, what a disappointment. Yeah the service was good, yeah the decor was good, yeah the place was packed (signaling its popularity). But, the food was outright disgusting. Potatoes weren't cooked properly, Cauliflower was half raw. And much much more. If the food had any taste, those flaws could've have been overlooked. But, non of the food had any taste to them at all. I mean, we had to put chutneys and chilly pepper from the salad area to add some taste to the food. I don't understand how everyone loves this place so much. I felt really embarrassed for taking along my friends and family this time as well.
(1)Anu R.
This place sucks!!!!! They have no idea what ingredients they are cooking with! No taste, no salt and over expensive. Lamb biryani tastes like shit and it's 3-4 days old ! When I asked the receptionist do you guys cook it fresh, she said naturally !!!!instead of eating at this place, go eat at MC D and save some $$$
(1)Jack W.
If you are in hurry and want some food quick, this is your choice. The best thing in the lunch buffet is chicken chilly. Other than if you have some more time and if you want indian try bombay something.
(3)Ash M.
So......totally random spot for an Indian restaurant. Adjacent to the Comfort Inn pool?!?! Very bizzarre. I mean, the decor inside the restaurant was incredible; lovely colors, great lighting, tons of awards hanging on the walls...but then you sit and look outside to see a handful of kids splashing around in the pool, and a group of delinquent -looking bachelors drinking beers and smoking next to their cooler. It's an odd scene... BUT, that is not why you come to Passage to India. You come here for the food (which is DELICIOUS)!!! I came here with a fairly large group (8 people), and we ordered up a ton of food to share. And for the most part it was fabulous! The chicken tikki masala? wonderful! The shrimp/ lamb vindaloos? spicy, but not overpowering! The chicken korma? yum-tastic! My only complaint food-wise would be the mango chicken I ordered. The chicken breast was dry on the inside and the sauce was too sweet. The rice and the naan bread here are also amazing. The rice has saffron and bay leaves and probably a ton of other spices I have yet to define. It was sooo flavorful and still complimented the curries well. But my all-time favorite Indian food is perhaps NAAN bread, And Passage to India makes incredible naan bread. It's both soft and crispy, and loaded with goodness. I ordered garlic naan, which was great, and also tried the passage naan, which had raisins and nuts in it.....wow, what a treat! The service here was okay, nothing to complain about, but also nothing to write home about. *Tip* - the entrance to this restaurant is hard to find. It's right off of Rice Street, before you enter all the Freeways from Front Street.....Googlemap it first!
(4)Lydia M.
I stopped here on my way from New York back to Ohio after Thanksgiving. We picked it out because Harrisburg was a convenient place to stop, but it turned out to be waaaaaay better than we expected. It's just off the highway, so it's super-convenient; and the view is actually incredible. They should really boast the view a bit more. We arrived around 2:30--just as they were closing up lunch--so we ordered plain naan, bhartha and chicken tikka masala to-go and ate in the car. The food was incredible, the view was perfect... it was a truly great moment! I have to say, though, the bhartha is an interesting take on what is normally my go-to Indian dish. It was cinnamon- or maybe nutmeg-spiced and sweeter than I've ever had it. It was less tomato-y and more creamy, too. Nonetheless, it was delicious. My boyfriend and I joked about moving to Harrisburg just for the view and the Indian food.
(5)Aadharsh R.
I did not expect to see an Indian restaurant in Harrisburg, PA let alone a very good one. We stayed in a B&B place and the owner recommended this place to us. I was a bit reluctant to have dinner here (I do not care so much about lunch but I generally want dinner to be a pleasant experience, since that is the only time I sit down with my family for a meal) for two reasons - Yelpers did not rank this place so highly and then the place that they had ranked higher (Aangan) did not turn out to be that great! We ordered the Veg Biriyani, some rotis and a potato dish (Aloo makhani). Delightful. Just the right mix of spices, very fragrant and authentic. The biriyani was layered with the gravy and reminded me of stuff from back home. This restaurant is located inside the Comfort Inn complex and may sometimes be difficult to find. The waiters and possibly the owner are fairly curt and do not bother with niceties (we had to call a couple of times to find the restaurant and it was not easy to get some love from them!).
(4)Patrick B.
Always reliably good. UPDATE (2/8/13): New chef alert! I may have to change my rating.
(4)Kristen E.
I love this place! You can go dressed either casual or dressy. The location is very unassuming. It's located inside of a motel, but the food is great and service is always excellent. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food that you get. My favorite dishes are the vegetarian platter and tarka dal.
(4)Douglas W.
Great Indian food buffet in the heart of Harrisburg. It's a Hilton Honors dining spot for those of you who are members of the program. We stop every time we drive East. There's always a nice mix of vegetarian and meat dishes, heavy on the vegetarian or you can order from the menu. I like the dosa station and always have a little mango pudding with fruit for desert. I am never disappointed. Sometimes I like the mix better than others but always find plenty to eat. They're especially good at making rich hot creamy soups. The service is terrific and the place is beautiful. Go for a walk along the river after lunch.
(4)Kurt I.
Very good Indian food in a lousy location. Ignore that when you drive in, and expect for some deliciousness. I'm a vegetarian, so I've only had those dishes. What I've had was always well prepared, very delicious, and well presented. As of right now, its the only restaurant I've enjoyed in Harrisburg.
(4)Coco M.
Great tasting food for a man on a budget.
(4)R B.
We came here for dinner on a Saturday night as a party of 12 inclusion kids. Parking was tough, maybe because of a party going next door, but the wait time for seating was bearable. Once inside, the ambience was nice, service was pleasant and food was prompt. We tried Chakna, Patra and Crab Goa for Appetizers. All three were good and Crab Goa was the favoritie with both kids and adults. The curries we ordered for the main course also came out delicious - especially Chicken Xaccuti. Only reason for 4 stars is because the rotis were not soft enough and the chicken biriyani was not upto our expectation. Next time I'm around this place and if am in a mood for Indian food, I will definitely choose this place.
(4)Steve L.
The wife and I dined on Memorial Day. The restaurant was about half-full and our greeting server obviously didn't want to be there. He rushed us, barely spoke a few sentences in our greeting and was in a foul mood. We started with the Papri Chat which we enjoyed. Then we ordered two vegetarian dishes: Alu Kadai Gobi & Tarka Dal. Both lacked a strong flavor and spice. The bad service really got to us and next time we are in the area, we won't be back.
(2)Christy K.
Without a doubt the most awful Indian food I've ever eaten. IT WAS BLAND. How do you make Indian cuisine bland??
(1)Suriya G.
Though I liked ambience very much and food is worth for money, servers are not friendly enough.
(2)Becky M.
We had reservations for October 1st at the Comfort Inn on Front Street and arrived at dusk after driving from Mystic Connecticut with stops along the way. We were tired. When we asked about nearby restaurants, the desk clerk told us about "restaurant row" a few walkable blocks away. We noticed a non-descript restaurant front that seemed semi-detached from the motel and shared the same parking lot. The clerk conceded that the food was good and was Indian. Many years ago I'd eaten Indian food, but I remembered little about it, so I walked next door to look at a menu. Hubby went to our room. What a surprise to enter a really lovely, upscale, white tablecloth restaurant sparkling with tiny white lights and Indian accent pieces everywhere. The maitre'd seemed a little stiff; he gave me a condescending sniff, but managed to hand me a take out menu when requested. (I was dressed for travel, not dinner) I ordered the "chicken karma" entre and "chicken naan," which was a thin bread stuffed with a little chicken. In about 10 minutes the order was ready, well-boxed and included several different sauces as accompaniments.. Hubby was a little skeptical when I returned with Indian take out, but he began to warm to it as I started uncovering containers, releasing wonderful aromas of the exotic food. The meal was delicious and plentiful. It makes me hungry, even now, just writing about it.
(5)Meh G.
One of my favorite indian restaurants. The service was good and their food was very tasty. I love their Lamb Saag and chicken vindaloo.
(4)Stephen J.
Good was okay. Felt the quality was watered down. Food on the buffet was cold or like warm.
(3)Jamie S.
Very delicious food, lovely restaurant decor, and kind accommodating staff. Decen and inexpensive wine list by the bottle. We had chicken tikka masala, rogan josh, basil naan, and tandoori chicken and it was all quite good. I would suggest regular naan because the basil naan tasted odd to me. Other than that, this was a really nice dining experience. Highly recommend. Edit, they gave us a free ramekin each of their homemade ice cream and it was heaven. Cream, pistachio, almond and cardamom in a thick, decadent frozen treat. I wish it was served in a bucket instead of a ramekin.
(5)AgentxAngel X.
I'm sorry but I had the buffet here and it was really bad. Not even just mediocre. It was also unfortunate because the person I was with never had Indian food before and I don't want them thinking that's how it should taste. The chicken in ever dish was so dry too. This is only getting two stars because the naan was okay and there was good customer service. If you want good Indian food, go to masala bistro.
(2)Dennis S.
Let me preface this review by stating that I'm not a fan of Indian food, or at least haven't enjoyed dishes that I've had (or smelled) in the past. In December we dined at Passage to India and had a great dinner. We chowed down on yummy Naan bread and had a nice bottle of Shiraz. I ordered the Lamb Saag, and it was delicious. I will consent to being dragged here again in the future.
(4)Vishal S.
I was in Harrisburg last night and my friend recommended that we give Passage to India a try. We got there late after work - 9:40 PM! The place looks good even though it is next to a Comfort Inn. The staff was very cordial and seated us even though their last order is at 9:45 PM. We went straight for the main course - no time for appetizers and we were super hungry too. We were in a vegetarian mood and ordered the following: - Dal Makhani (Whole black lentils, yellow lentils and kidney beans simmered with tomatoes, onions, and freshly ground spices, garnished with a touch of cream) - Bhindi Masala (whole okras cooked in spicy sauce - and House recommended Vegetable Xaccutti (Pronounced "sha-ku-tee" A spicy vegetable curry from west coast of India (Goa), made with ground and roasted coconut, and a blend of aromatic spices) We wanted all the food to be mild/ medium spicy. What came out of the kitchen was SPICY food! So beware of that when ordering. Bhindi was definitely a pass 2 stars (out of 5). Okras were not well cooked and half raw. Dal was good - the usual like any other Indian restaurant Vegetable Xaccutti was spicy for sure! That blanketed the taste of the dish IMO. Service was good and attentive. Bottom Line - Reading other reviews I would return for buffet and give this place another try...
(2)Emily S.
This is my favorite Indian place in the area. I've been here for dinner many times and for the lunch buffet once. Oh, and if you sign up for their emails they don't spam you, just send out a coupon probably once every two months. Setting: Great location in downtown Harrisburg, large place - I've never had to wait for a table, great view of the Susquehanna river Service: Excellent, attentive Food: The food is awesome. Between my boyfriend and I we've tried probably all of the vegetarian and chicken dishes on the menu - they won't let you down. My favorite entree would probably either be the chicken korma or the mutter paneer. The vegetable samosas and vegetable pakora are great appetizers if you're in the mood for something fried.
(5)Joel S.
My wife, daughter and son in law had dinner here last night. I had been here prior for lunch and loved it. It was the 1st time for the other three. From the outside, it is deceiving but inside is really lovely with lots of icons and artwork from India and bright red walls. The staff is very alert and knowledgeable. Service is quick and efficient. They had 3 Indian beers on the menu and the SIL and I tasted all three - two were lagers and one a pilsner - all were excellent. We had 3 appetizers and shared them. The appetizers were Patra, Chakna and Samosa. All were large and very good. With the sauces, they could have been a meal in themselves. The lamb in the Chakna was especially good. For dinner two of us had a chicken dish and 2 lamb. Mine was Vindaloo and it was just as it should be - very spicy and hot. The menu does a great job of explaining what you are getting and how it is made if you are not that familiar with Indian food. We had two flavored naans - like the garlic way better than the basil. I had spiced tea (like chai) and my wife had the custard with caramel sauce. That is an awesome dessert. All in all we had a great time, the place was packed and lively, the service was excellent and the food was as well. Price being so reasonable is a plus. It would be a great place for both people with love of Indian food as well as for a newbie who would like to try but might feel intimidated. The staff is really nice. It is really great to have a place this good for Indian food here in Harrisburg area.
(4)Brian R.
Despite the mixed reviews of the place I decided to try it for myself and was pleasantly pleased. The interior of the restaurant is just beautiful, very elegant and classy with great river views. I personally ordered the Lamb Xaccuti which I found terribly delicious with just the right amount of heat. The lamb was tender and very mild. The other curries at my table were decent but the Xaccuti was by far my favorite. I didn't appreciate that we had to order naan separately from our meals, but they have a number of different kinds you can choose from which was cool. I found the passage naan to be delicious. The service was fine for us, not superb but certainly not insulting. Overall I really enjoyed the place.
(4)Miriam W.
Great Indian food buffet here at Passage to India. We come here whenever we're driving through, and have never been disappointed. The lunch buffet always includes salad fixins, a veggie soup, and a mix of veggie and meat dishes,with naan and a dessert, usually mango pudding with fruit. The vegetarian food is always solid, and sometimes achieves truly great heights. The buffet today included tandoor chicken, coconut chicken, dal, aloo matar capsicum (potatoes, peas and bell peppers in a curry sauce), kidney beans with squash, basmati rice, naan, tiny masala dosas, mango pudding, and the aforementioned soup and salad. Doug had the coconut chicken and said it was wonderful. Service is efficient if not warm.
(4)John H.
I used to frequent Passage to India several years ago. At that time I found the overall experience to be quite good, so we decided to dine here again last evening. On the positive side, the decor of the restaurant is pleasant. The naan, samosas, and lassi were very good, though the soft drinks were flat. We ordered lamb dishes (saag and xacutti); sadly both were extremely disappointing. Curries should offer a complex and delightful interplay of spices. Instead both shared a dark, flat gravy with an overcooked/burnt flavor. In addition, the lamb lacked any distinctive flavor and tasted like beef - we did not finish our meal. I do hope this was somehow an off night for Passage, as I do truly value good local Indian restaurants.
(2)Ken E.
This place is a hidden gem, nestled on the Susquehanna just south of downtown Harrisburg. I've been most impressed with the level of service and the quality of the produce and meats they use. All first rate. By far the most warm and hospitable staff I've come across in Central Pa. I've had three different dishes, all were outstanding. Thumbs up, a Harrisburg must try if you like Indian food. Passage to India has become one of my local staples.
(3)Christopher M.
Not too shabby for HBG. I was there as part of a cast party for an opera I did in town and I enjoyed the buffet spread. There wasn't anything all that authentic. It's very Americanized. But still a good quality for what it is.
(3)Erin N.
This isn't a review about the food. The hours for food service ends at 2:30pm everyday which quiet odd. My family and I walked in around 2:40 and while waiting 5 mins a lady informed is that they finish serving at 2:30.. I told her it stated they close at 9 according to yelp she said that no and their closing time is 2:30 pm :( the decor is amazing though !
(3)Lea C.
The is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in the world as of yet. I spent a lot of time here during law school, and it's probably the thing I miss the most in Central PA. Yes, it's attached to the Comfort Inn, but I promise this has nothing to do with the caliber of the restaurant. The decor is beautiful and very evocative of India, beginning with the heavy filigreed silver front door. I am told by some of my Indian friends that this place is famous in the Indian community, and that there are families that will come down from NYC just to eat here. The tamarind chutney that is kept on the table is the best I have ever had, and I put it on everything I eat. The portions here are large, which means that if you get an appetizer and entree, you won't possibly be able to finish, so bring a friend and share (and of course, take home leftovers!). It is also incredibly inexpensive for the quality and amount of food. The papri chat made here is the best I have ever had and I crave it daily. It's served cold, and the crispy bits never seem to get soggy. The pakoras are perfectly spiced, and the samosa filling is yellow and falls apart in your mouth. The naan is large, buttered, and always slighty charred. My favorite entree is a stereotypical one: chicken makhani. It is super juicy, swimming in its complex, creamy sauce, and accompanied with a big platter of basmati rice with saffron, peas, and orange zest. All the entrees are served in beautiful copper bowls. Again, don't let them take away the chutneys, as the dark, burgundy tamarind chutney will satisfy any sweet tooth and I think is the perfect complement to...well, everything. Once you come here once, you'll keep coming back, I promise.
(5)Lora B.
I went here last night with my boyfriend at the recommendation of a friend. It was delicious!! I had the chicken korma and plain naan, Steve got Kadai lamb and garlic naan. He also got guava juice (YUM!). My chicken was amazing. It had sweet and savory complex flavors, the rice was fantastic and perfectly cooked, and the naan was excellent. The chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly. My one and only complaint was it could have been spicier. I expect a little heat in Indian food and this had very little. Steve's lamb was spicy and delicious. He had to take half of it home. I wolfed my chicken down...I was starving. Service was fast, attentive, and polite. The restaurant was pretty quiet- it was 9pm when we arrived. The decor is tasteful and fun. The only reason it got 4 stars from me was it felt a little over-priced. That may just be that I recently moved from a place where you could get good, amazing food of any type for incredibly cheap (Viva Las Vegas!). We will be coming back!
(4)Leigh T.
One if the only negative is that the naan is below average. Better ambiance than Aangaan. Price is right on for the quality. The variation in food is not as good in the good ole days if you know what I mean. Is it the chef or owner? What made this place great was the quality and variation. Aangaan is worse with the variety. Same stuff forever. I see an Indian gentleman in a red polo everything I go, he us heavy set and has a mustache. This guy seems like an Indian businessman. A good sign if you know what I mean.
(4)Mike D.
Wasn't sure what to expect from an Indian restaurant in The 'Burg but was pleasantly surprised by this place. It was a bit weird to find and a potentially-stunning view of the Susquehanna is compromised by the Comfort Inn's pool and its gaggle of swimmers in the foreground. The atmosphere is otherwise quite elegant. Always particular about our Indian, my wife and I stuck with our standard go-to options, chicken tikka masala and chicken korma respectively. and both passed the test with flying colors. The samosas were tasty and filling enough but the service was a bit slow and inattentive. However,overall Passage to India is good enough that we plan to go back to sample their other fare.
(3)Amita R.
So after having to use them as my caterer for my wedding, I am thoroughly pissed off at them and their service and their complete and utter lack of professionalism. First, we went to them months ago to agree on a menu. The owner hands us a sheet with menu options and gives us a set price. Fast forward to 2 weeks before the wedding and the owner is MIA. His wife decides that the quote her husband had given us was outrageously low and refuses to honor it. Then tells us that she can honor it for double what she originally quoted us. We finally get the price down to something somewhat reasonable (still well above the quoted price mind you). Then the wedding day. We had them caterer the appetizers and dinner portion of our reception. The appetizers for the most part go off without a hitch, but the dinner was horrible. The food was cold. The lassis were more like yogurt. They kept running out of food and couldn't refill it in time. It was a mess. After talking to them about what happened, they of course blamed the hotel and its staff. I'm not sure who's telling the truth on that one, but I will say this: I will NEVER use them again for a catering gig. EVER! Its no surprise that most Indian weddings that happen in the area end up going up to New Jersey for their catering. I thought that was ridiculous, but I now know why: there just isn't anyone good in the Harrisburg area.
(1)T W.
Easily the best Indian food I've had in Harrisburg. Even better is the very well decorated, lush dining room, with a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River. Service is always friendly and professional. Love the lunch buffet also. They have a full bar, and reasonably priced wine. Really a great restaurant!!
(4)