I went to lunch with a vegetarian, a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan. In an effort not be the "odd man out", I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter and it was amazing. The waiter was professional, yet humorous...great service. I wish there was a restaurant like this where I live!
(5)
C G J.
The Indian husband and Italian wife owners have put an excellent "twist" on traditional Indian dishes. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and have not had a bad meal here. Portions are modest but freshness and taste are great.
(4)
Paytrox G.
Place was awesome. Rode up from DC to philly just to grab lunch. Yelp reviews were spot on. Great tasting of fine Indian Food! Plus very accommodating for those of us with food allergies. Great gluten free and vegan options.
(5)
J R.
My boyfriend and I did the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Excellent service from our server. I don't recall his name but he has curly hair, black glasses and tattoos on his arms. Very knowledgeable about wine pairings. Overall great experience! You MUST try their cheesy nan bread.
(5)
Suzanne C.
Indeblue was a wonderful dining experience. The staff were attentive but not overly so, just the right mix of attention and space. The food was superb. Bread basket is a must - delightful! Loved my drink. Tequila, lime and hibiscus tea - not sweet or tart or strong. Perfect! Highly recommend to vegetarians and carnivores.
(5)
Caitlin R.
Sat at the bar for happy hour (only at the bar) while on a (very quick) work trip to Philadelphia. The $3 vegetable samosa appetizer? Yes! Do not miss it! Two samosas (a little smaller than I usually see, but still delicious) were parked on a bed of Indeblue's channa masala (chickpeas) with a swipe of green chutney and cool yogurt. Indian food heaven... for $3. Even for the small portion, I'd pay the regular $8 non-happy hour. I don't live in Philly and ergo can't return often, so please go eat these samosas for me right now. Honorable mentions: the $5 happy hour ginger-lime-whiskey cocktail. Bartender Sean (?) was helpful, welcoming and knowledgeable. The naan pizza didn't change my life, but it was filling for $5. Live sitar music on Tuesday nights! It was terrific background, but not loud. So glad I randomly Yelped my way to this cozy, classy place!
(4)
Eric C.
Good. But not $100-for-dinner-for-two good. I've had way better. Has a happening feel. Just a little over-rated.
(3)
Archana L.
Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem around the corner from my hotel. Opulent wall decor with a contemporary twist. Refreshing avocado dahi puri to offset the summer heat. Taste meets texture in the perfectly spiced malai kofta. The masala chai was cold, but I was offered a fresh second cup without even asking. Polite, courteous service. Would definitely come back if I visit Philadelphia again.
(5)
Michael T.
This is respectably good indian fare, but with a higher than deserving prices.
(3)
Omnom N.
I loved this place! We went for a Sunday brunch - and there was live Sitar and Tabla music (which was really good music. :) ) Having an insane craving for home food, we decided to come here - definitely pricier than the like of Sitar in University City but the food is totally worth it. I caved in to ordering a masala dosa (it's been over a year since I had one) and this is as authentic as it gets. With good chutney and a good amount of the potato curry. Given that there is no good South Indian food in Philly, Indeblue manages to produce a good dosa which tastes just like the ones from home. The paneer bhurji is definitely an interesting fusion style food - but delicious nonetheless. I think this place manages to satiate the taste buds for /traditional/ Indian food as well has it has its own fusion food which are gorgeous. For dessert we had the mango panna cotta (which was gorgeous along with its saffron based garnishing) and the coconut-lychee sorbet with tandoori pineapple. I was literally ecstatic upon receiving the food, dhomping down with a grin plastered across my face. Con: I do wish dosas were cheaper and they had something like 2 dosas per plate.
(5)
Anmry C.
I have eaten here several times- never EVER disappointed!!! Absolutely delicious. Fantastic food and drinks. My boyfriend and I always over order here, in hopes that we'll have leftovers for the next couple of days. We love everything we've tried!
(5)
Michelle C.
IndeBlue in Collingswood was my gateway restaurant into the world of Indian food. I'll never forget the first time I called for an order. I spoke with Heather, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Rakesh Ramola, and she could not have been nicer or more helpful with answering my many - MANY - questions about the menu. On that day I ordered chicken vindaloo and from that day forward, I was hooked. I enjoyed a nice long love affair with IndeBlue during my Collingswood days. But then I moved to Philly, and I have not found Indian that comes close to the deliciousness of IndeBlue. Until now, with IndeBlue's second location on 13th Street. Happy day! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get there. It won't be long before a return visit. We started with the spinach chaat, crispy spinach leaves topped with diced tomatoes, shallots and yogurt sauce. Super unique and very tasty. We also had the long hots stuffed with paneer. Entrees consisted of the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and chicken biryani. All three were excellent. It was obvious how much I missed this food by the way I cleaned my entire plate (with the help of some fantastic garlic naan for swiping up the last of the sauce). I washed everything down with two lychee martinis which were made exactly to my liking (slightly sweet but not too sweet). I was too stuffed for dessert but changed my mind when we were generously treated to a sampling. There was a fantastic dessert with sticky fried doughnuts and cinnamon ice cream, plus some flavorful sorbets, but my favorite was the mango panna cotta with honey and crushed pistachios. Tons of flavor but still light. The pretty decor makes this the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends. I look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Diana D.
The mixed grill was excellent. The lamb chops were just perfect in the clay oven. I'd get them alone the next time. I'm a big indian fan and the flavors were up to par. I'd definately eat here again. Next time i'm up for happy hour. the reviews for HH great!
I pulled up to Indeblue and saw a bunch of Indians inside, instant street cred. Usually trendy indian restaurants are attended by essentially the same diverse crowd you would expect at any downtown restaurant. The heavy sprinkling of my brethren elevated my expectations. The feel and decor are center city standard. The menu has a mix of standard indian menu items like chicken tikka masala and chana masala, with a mix of "fusion-esque" dishes. Interestingly, they started off with a sample soup, spinach-mozzarella. So weird. It tasted like spinach soup...with mozzarella. I dont think we have mozzarella cheese in India. They seem to do the latter really well, while the former is about average to above average. Started with the spinach chaat. This was great. Flash fried spinach, with the usual mixing of chaat toppings. We then shared chicken korma with 2 side sized baingan bharta and daal makhani. Chicken korma was good, but just good. The baingan bharta was the best of the dishes as we could actually taste that the eggplant was roasted. Daal makhani was par for the course. Our bill, for 2 people with 2 drinks each was surprisingly affordable. Overall, a place worth visiting. I may stick to the newer fusion items as they seem to do this particularly well.
(3)
Rohit K.
Good authentic indian food, but a little bit expensive and quantity is not that great.
(4)
Traci T.
Wow! What a foodgasm at IndeBlue! A friend and I happened upon this place on our walk home and decided to give it a try for dinner the next day. The service and food were excellent. We walked in with no reservations and were seated right away. Drums of Heaven didn't disappoint and held up to its name. They were heavenly with the right amount of spiciness. The lamb shank was both tender and succulent in a wonderfully rich sauce. The divinely tasty Banana Nirvana was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Also need to acknowledge our server. He was so well versed in all the dishes, that when we asked him for recommendations he confidently steered us in the right direction. Highly recommend this place.
(4)
Vinny P.
I'm loving the center city Indeblue location. For my first visit I came for dinner and we ordered a couple of very tasty items. Our starters were the crispy vegetable chili and the sweet potato pakora. Of the two my favorite was the crispy vegetable chili. It had excellent texture and flavor. I thought the heat level was just right. My main was the goat biryani. At first I was surprised by its presentation, (the braised goat mixed into the rice, not alongside it) but it didn't detract from its taste whatsoever. It was a more at home style way of serving it and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In times since I've returned to sit at the bar and even for brunch (which deserves its own review). I think this place fits wonderfully on 13 and I hope they stay for a while.
(4)
Archana R.
I love this place!! They have one of the best chef. I love all the items on their menu. Each time I have been here, I tried a new dish and fell in love with it. They also have some great drinks.
(5)
Prasath S.
This review is based on Sunday Brunch only. Dined here this past weekend, excellent/friendly waitress who was also very knowledgeable about the food options. We started off with the Avocado Chaat (Great Refreshing Snack) & Drums of Heaven (4 Crispy Mini Wings dressed with some crumbled Blue Cheese - Delicious). For our entrees, we had the Masala Omelet (Oh My So tasty!!! swap the Maple Bacon for the Garam Masala one) Masala Dosa (Crispy with a yummy filling), Lamb Boti Kebab (Skewer of tender lamb meat dressed with masala fries and a yummy sauce) and finally a veggie Thali (which was more on the north indian side of things but still very tasty). Also tried the $4 Rose Mimosa - Slurpyyy goodness!!!
(4)
Zack S.
Legit Indian food at an upscale type place. I had the vegetarian thali (sampler) at lunch (see photo). Everything was above average. Highlights include the black sesame seeds on the naan (genius) and the paneer makhani (tomato-based gravy, kinda like tikka masala and just like that of butter chicken, for all you dummies out there). The sweet potato chips were good and went really well with the mango chutney but I'd rather fill up on that filthy delicious curry, know what I mean? Nobody was there at lunchtime (during the week). My server was super nice (Josh I think) You'll pay a bit more than average and you probably shouldn't dress like a hobo like I normally do. Cheaper buffet type places are more my style but I'd come here a couple times a year.
(5)
Casey S.
So good! Excellent, high quality Indian Food. The best naan I have ever had, which is a bold statement!
(5)
David W.
Some very good food, some mediocre food. In general, the unique, fusion items were better than the traditional items. The Spinach Chaat, in particular, was fantastic.
(4)
Oakland S.
Wanted to have a nice dinner out and thought I would try out this place. If your looking for something with parking good luck finding a spot. I'm cheap and had to drive to find a parking space near Christian street in a residential area. I dropped my date off first to grab a table. First off don't try to ask for a table without a reservation, we were told by the hostess that without a reservation it would be a 45 minute wait. The bartender kept pressuring my date to order while I was parking the car. When I joined my date, and she informed me of the wait, we decided to eat at the bar. I order a sangria for my date. It was served in a white wine glass filled with ice. Next time I order a sangria, I am going to say "no ice cubes". Then we decided to order two appetizers and an entree. He raved over one of the appetizers we ordered, but then quickly turned away to put the order in the computer without taking the entree order. We finally were able to order everything when he came back. It just felt like we were being rushed. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy spinach chaat and the barbecue spare rib samosa. I thought the spinach was better than the spare ribs which the waiter raved about. For the entree we order malai kofta. It's a vegetarian meatball in a creamy cashew sauce. I thought this dish was sub par. Maybe it was my fault, I should have ordered lamb. My opinion these vegetarian meatballs tasted like an under cooked boca burger. We decided to give the bar another chance and order another drink. After looking through the options we had a question regarding one of the drinks, so we decided to ask the bartender what lychee was. Instead of describing it using words, the bartender proceeded to grab the bottle of lychee puree and hold it up to my date's nose. Just a tip to the bartender--don't ever shove a bottle in anyone's face. I think for now, I am going to stick to takeout for Indian food.
(2)
L M.
A-mazing! Great atmosphere, food was excellent and service was exceptional with bonus points for being very helpful regarding gluten free options. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl the rice pudding came in...
(5)
Kathy P.
Not bad food! The rice was flavorful! The spinach chat was too oily, my chicken tikka dish wasn't cooked properly.. However, the paneer tikka dish was pleasing. I prefer Tashan to this restaurant, but it wasn't too bad. Not my first choice.
(3)
Marc M.
Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. I'll make sure that I return. The Osso Bocco Pork Vindaloo in spices (many other great dishes too that I can't remember the name) was fantastic. The tasting menu is the way to go. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Vanessa T.
First of all, I must clarify that the indeblue in center city is not byob, when I read the yelp reviews, someone said it was byob but It is only byob at the place in collingswood. Now that is out of the way, I came here for restaurant week and definitely like it here. I ordered the non-veg thali which is like a sampler of several dishes. The chicken tikka masala was delicious. The soups were delicious (sampler of 3 different soups during restaurant week). Drums of heaven was good too. I absolutely loved the dessert they had too (banana nirvana and the ice cream cookie). The service was wonderful as well.
(4)
B S.
My cousin recommended me this place when I went to visit philly this past weekend. Great food and awesome service! They really do care about their customers and it shows through. The ambience is great! It's very unique and we had an amazing dining experience! There's not a single con I can think about. Highly recommend his place!
(5)
Brianna K.
I ate here last night with my friend from UPenn for restaurant week. The food was FANTASTIC. I was so thrilled that they had a vegan option for each course- something that you can't find with many restaurants that participate in this event. The food was likely the best Indian that I have ever had. Crispy Spinach Chaat was top-notch, it was so full of flavor and was a perfect first portion. The Vegetarian Sampler Platter (made vegan)- Was GREAT. It was huge and flavorful and so varied, it gave me a great picture of what IndeBlue has to offer. Orange Ginger Sorbet- Perfect end to the meal, the ginger was sweet and perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegans and non vegans alike.
(5)
Sarah H.
Indeblue is my fav restaurant in Philly. The saag with shrimp is phenomenal. Fun atmosphere w/ seats regularly open at the bar. We had the pork samosa on our last visit. Ommmggggggggg. So good.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Came here for lunch with a few of my friends who have been dying to try Indeblue. Finally came, and loved it! The food was phenomenal, great service, and swanky cute atmosphere. Highly recommended! For appetizer we had the crispy spinach chatt and the dahi avocado chatt. Both delicious, but the spinach was mind blowing. So flavorful and just the right amount of crispy texture. Amazing!! For entrees we ate off the lunch menu: I had the Kaju Paneer Mattar, which was thick and creamy but very delicious. Housemade paneer, with peas, cashews , creamy caradamom sauce. (See photo). My friends had the non-vegetarian tahli , which was served on a silver platter and several different small dishes of apps, entrees, And salads. They all loved the chicken curry on the tahli platter, but didnt like the chicken tikka. I tried the lamb from one of my friends platters, and it was juicy, rich of flavor, and delicious. The naan was also wonderful and they give you plenty for dipping. The sweet chutney I loved, the cilantro chutney was also good, and the spicy chutney I stayed far away from lol. Overall great experience, and my friends from India say the food is very good up to their quality standards!! Bravo chef!
(4)
Jassi B.
Simply delicious food and great service. I myself are Indian and the fact that the waiter was white and could speak in Hindi a little bit was absolutely fascinating. But overall the food was incredible and it deserves bragging rights. I highly recommend the spinach chat and the long stuffed peppered also the pork curry they have the main course along with a the mozzarella naan bread
(5)
Cat P.
We ate here the other night for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and I was blown away by the food. This was the perfect setting for an intimate celebratory dinner and I didn't feel like we over-paid, given how amazing our dishes were. We each had cocktails to start. I enjoyed a wonderful lemon and basil concoction and my love went with some sort of ginger/bourbon drink; both were mixed well and complimented our food (as a side note, I found their cocktail list to be quite impressive and they even have happy hour specials, so I may need to revisit this spot in the future just for drinks). For apps, we went with the sweet potato pakora and the crispy vegetable chili. I highly recommend the second of the two, as the batter on the veggies had a delightful crunch and the dipping sauces that came with them packed a nice, spicy punch. Dinner arrived in a timely manner and I enjoyed my dishes. I went with tofu mangoli and chana saag. My beau had the goat biyrani, which was a decent size for him (he took leftovers home). If I had to complain about anything, I will say that our server wasn't so good at describing the portion sizes to us. You see, I ordered half sizes of both my dishes. I love that they even have this option just because most places don't, but it seemed like 2 halves just weren't enough. I had to end up ordering rice halfway through my dinner. I know this is a relatively new restaurant here in Philly, so hopefully the wait staff will be able to make better recommendations as time goes on. I thought the menu here was very easy to read for people with dietary restrictions (gluten free and vegan symbols appear next to dishes), but as somebody who is pretty inexperienced with Indian food, it would be nice if there was some kind of spice level number system of sorts so I don't burn my taste buds off. All in all, though, IndeBlue is doing things right, so I can definitely see myself coming back - especially for their live sitar music on Tuesday nights.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Came here during CC Sips/Happy hour with 2 friends. Oh my gosh, where has this restaurant been all my life. The drinks, food, and service was phenomenal. The Ginger Twist cocktail was just perfect. The Spinach Chaat.... I would come back just to eat this all day long. Drums of heaven were flavored just right, not overly saucy. Naan Pizza and the bread basket were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back for their happy hour again and try items on their dinner menu.
(5)
Mike M.
Had a great experience taking my wife out on the town. Service was superior, friendly and helpful. Food was great tasting, fresh and presented well. Staff was attentive to our several requests. Highly recommend as a prelude to theater, close to everything.
Although the food was really delicious, we were shocked with the exorbitant cost of the bill. Expect to pay DOUBLE whatever you're thinking, and tip will be included in the bill. Also service was spotty at best. The waitress we had was very sweet, but the kitchen sent out our main courses without the accompanying rice, which reached the table ten minutes after. Not good. Really good food but unfortunately, not worth a return trip.
(3)
Qinzhi J.
Very good service and beverage. We ordered naan and curry. Frankly I do not know hot to spell them but it was good. The chicks is dry and I think that's the only thing to improve...no wifi but they have their own musicians playing!
(4)
Carla F.
Great trendy spot for Indian food. I like this place because they serve traditional Indian dishes well. Their spinach chaat is a MUST!!!! If you don't like Indian food...well, then you just don't like it. I'm not sure this place is going to change your opinion but if you do like it, this is nice for a fun night out with good food.
(4)
Amanda W.
The ambiance and service were great. I also really appreciated that the menu was limited to a few pages, versus the tome of variations on the theme you often find in Indian restaurants. The menu also helpfully labels gluten-free and vegan options. I'd definitely go back when visiting Philly again.
(5)
Steve S.
Hip, modern indian vibe serving non-traditional meat dishes like pork and lamb shank and sea bass with traditional indian sauces and spices. Service and ambiance was lovely, an overall excellent experience. This is a $$$ dining place, and well worth it, not sure why it's shows as $$ here.
(4)
H. I.
If you're looking for Indian food that beats the typical hole in the wall places in University City with sub par service and questionable cleanliness, this is the place to go. We came here on Diwali so it was pretty lively inside and I was glad we made a reservation because it was a full house (although usually I've heard you can walk in and get a table). There were a couple of larger tables so it looks like they are good at accommodating large groups (6+). We had a friendly and helpful server, who recommended a few dishes to us. We got 3 appetizers to split among 3 of us: chilled dahi avocado chaat, stuffed long hot peppers, and drums of heaven. All were delicious! For dinner I had the tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops were some of the best I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back just to order the lollipop lamb chops. For dessert we split the chocolate sutra. It's not a particularly Indian dish but it was still good. Love the decor inside, not tacky or gaudy looking. It was trendy, sexy, and overall had a great atmosphere. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Christine B.
This spot reminds me a lot of Tashan, except maybe a little cheaper and a little less fusion. We shared the spicy scallops and the long hots. Neither was too spicy, and the scallops were nicely cooked. Also, had the sangria with the chai tea. It was an interesting cocktail that I enjoyed overall because it wasn't too sweet. For entrees, the lamb shank and the chicken korma with some extra spice. These dishes were really good. I could have used a little more meat on the lamb, but it was tender and the sauce was tasty, as was the saffron rice. This is a nice spot if you want to have a fancy Indian dinner, but I didn't think any of the food was amazingly better than your local Indian take out restaurant.
(4)
Bonnie B.
Amazing Crispy spinach chaat was so good! I could of ordered a second had another glass of wine and been satisfied. However we ordered more and everything was amazing! Paneer masala lamb and the special seafood dish!! I can wait to go back. Our waitress was wonderful, making perfect suggestion!
(5)
John H.
Delicious, I recommend the rose mimosa and drums of heaven, but everything seems pretty good here. The Bloody Mary is a little different, and you may not like it if you like regular ones, but conversely you may like it if you don't like regular ones. Rice is fluffy and well flavored. Atmosphere is slightly upscale, but the prices are more than fair for good Indian food.
(5)
Barrett L.
IndeBlue, an upscale Indian restaurant located in the heart of the gayborhood, serves both traditional and innovative takes on Indian cuisine. While the prices tend to be higher than your standard Indian joint, I found the food to be on par with most other places I've been too. Although I appreciated the good service and creative cocktails, I found the actual cuisine nothing surprising and wouldn't run back so soon to try more of the menu. We started with the crispy spinach chaat, which tasted rather oily (although somewhat delicious). We then split the Lamb Roganjosh, the Malwani Swordfish, Chana Masala, and a naan with spinach and mozzarella. Of these dishes, I found the lamb the most pleasant: juicy and savory, but not anything above the ordinary. The swordfish, despite swimming in sauce, was rather dry and the fish didn't really stand out for me. The chana masala was pretty standard, and the spinach and mozzarella naan was tasty, but I didn't find myself tasting a lot of the cheese or vegetables inside. I did, however, greatly appreciate our attentive and kind server, as well as the indebluetini (an adult version of a Mango Lassi). However, while I appreciate the concept of upscale Indian, I didn't find the food to be innovative or challenging enough to warrant the price point (especially when Tashan is located nearby). That said, there is always room for improvement, and I'm sure that IndeBlue can take it's merely good food to levels that are infinitely better.
(3)
Abbie D.
Came here for my husband's birthday. I e-mailed the restaurant beforehand to see if we could do the Chef's Tasting menu and to see if they had their liquor license. Early the next morning I received a phone call from the restaurant answering my questions. The person was super friendly and assured us that we would have a great meal. My husband and I did the chef's tasting with the wine pairings. The food was great and our server was super sweet. There was a bit of food timing issues but we totally understood b/c they just opened three days prior to our dinner. I know this may sound silly, but my only "complaint" isn't really a complaint just a comment on the end of our meal. When dessert came the servers and the chef came to the table and sang happy birthday to my husband. I KNOW they meant so well but I felt like we were at the olive garden. I would have loved to just have a subtle candle in the dessert and perhaps the musicians on the floor would play happy birthday very discretely. just a thought. All in all the dinner was very nice, a bit expensive, but good for a celebration.
(4)
Raghari P.
Good Indian restaurant:) tasty food. Service could be faster..Will come back again:)
(4)
Vinay G.
We landed at the restaurant based on the excellent reviews and its closeness to the liberty bell. The rating received by the restaurant is well deserved to say the least. The ambience is warm and bright and the hostess was spot on in her recommendations. The spinach chat was crisp and definitely refreshing after eating soggy chat elsewhere in downtown. The chicken tikka roll was fresh with tender chicken. The wheat roll though could have been thinner to give more flavour to the filling. We were in dual mind to chose the thali but it was warm and fresh. The bread was soft and the curries were simple and filing. We were too full to try the dessert but hope to be back.
(4)
Sarab S.
This is not your average Indian place. And I mean that as a compliment. Went here with a group of 10 people for a surprise party for my girlfriend. The staff were super helpful with setting it all up- from getting us set up for happy hour with delicious drinks and rather offbeat fusion Indian food, to giving us a massive table and letting us enjoy ourselves! The ambience is fantastic- it's an offbeat, Indian and Western fusion place and the decor shows it. The people were great and very friendly, so much so that we had a nice long chat with our bartender and our waiter! The food was delicious as well! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu with a wine tasting. While pricey, it was well worth the money. The scallops were fantastic, perhaps some of the best I've had. Their lamb was amazing and while the quail was good I'd probably go for the lamb next time I was there. All in all- a definite yes!
(5)
Alison L.
The food here was delicious (definitely order the Spinach chaat), but the service was way off. We had an early reservation on a Saturday night, and the place was full but not packed yet. Our drinks and food took forever to come out each time, but one we got them there was a busboy or waiter at our table practically every 5 minutes asking if they could clear anything. Half of these plates they were asking to clear still had food on them. We stayed for about an hour and a half which is not a long time for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, and I couldn't help but feel they were rushing us out to get to the next seating. I will say that the hosts were extremely nice, but the service stopped there. I would also say this is a $$$ restaurant, not $$ as Yelp indicates. The portion sizes are decent, but most entrees are $20+, and you're going to want to try appetizers, too.
(3)
Elizabeth B.
I hate to admit this but I am picky about food, I'm picky about service......probably not the greatest quality but it is me.......that being said...I LOVED IndeBlue....the wet cousin of IndeBlue in Collingswood which is dry!! WONDERFUL food and great service....can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Ash N.
Awesome service. Food was excellent (pork bhuna, scallops, spinach chaat, kheer). Service was top notch. Bar tender was super friendly. Love the spicy cocktails. Especially the lychee chili margarita.
(5)
Leo I.
Went here for lunch and I can't wait to go back. You get a lot of variety and delisiousness from the Thali plates. Tons of different flavors so you do not get bored. I'll be back again soon!
(4)
Daniel V.
Service, Staff and Food were exemplary! Outstanding! The food gave us a range of tastes and textures that our palettes thoroughly enjoyed. Above and beyond any experience we have EVER had.
(5)
Jay B.
Delicious, really good food! We got the samosas, crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, & chana masala with roti bread and it was the best! Go hear!
(5)
Adrienne D.
I love this place! All is great....from the happy hour to the customer service! My current favs - the rib samosas and the drumsticks. Want to try out small plates and good drinks at a reduced price? The happy hour is a sure bet. Get here on a Monday or at 5pm sharp to get a good space. Reservations recommended. Overall, been here four times. Between me and my friends - all the dishes have been great. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Marcie K.
This place just blew my freaking mind. Everything we ate, and I do mean everything, was PERFECT. The service excellent, and the atmosphere really pleasant. The spinach chaat - I'd push my mother in front of a train if I had to choose between her and the chaat. The seafood moille was superb. I would have liked a bit more variety in the seafood (90% shrimp) though. Just go there. Eat everything on the menu. Be happy.
(5)
Dan A.
IndeBlue is my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. So I wasn't surprised they won the "Best of Philly"award for their Collingswood location.Their happy hour and chef's tasting menu are both great. And if you're getting the chef's tasting menu, I'd suggest also getting the wine pairing. The food is modern/traditional Indian cuisine. And I've like everything I've tried here. They also have live music with a sitar and tabla on Tuesday nights and brunch on Sunday.
(4)
Lan H.
IndeBlue is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia :-) 5 stars, woop woop! I would go back for happy hour and order the chikni shandar that really tated more like the yummy sangria with just a touch of chai and cardamom. Innovative, to say the least! Then, I would sit in the dining room for a lamb biryani dinner that was more like dinner plus lunch for two more days! The atmosphere was on-point with great service and even live music to put you more in the mood for Indian food! I feel like I have only touched the surface of what IndeBlue has to offer - I mean, Sunday brunch? Tons of other happy hour goodies and dinner goodies? Yes, please! IndeBlue, you've made me excited for another Indian food adventure!
(5)
Joyce S.
it was my second night there couple days ago. the ambiance was always awesome. this location is the perfect place for a date. there were artists playing drums and guitar which surprised me. but it was still cool. their drinks were pretty good. I had the mango lassi and it was made just right. Not too sweet and not too sour. We had the family style menu so we can share food and try different things. their food tend to be more spice. we got the chicken tikka masala and goat masala. So for the folks who cannot eat spicy food like me, make sure you drink a lot of water. (or get a mango lassi to easy the burning sensation) The naan breads and the rice were really good. Me and my friend's favorite were actually the dessert. The caramel fried banana and the cinnamon ice cream were to die for. Even though we were really full but we still manage to chew that thing down. overall I will definitely come back to try out different things on the menu.
(4)
Venkata Krishnan C.
The ambience was great. The service was excellent and the food was the best. Ordered veg thali and everything was good. The only drawback is lack of parking with the hotel but there are a couple parking decks closeby.
(5)
Kathryn T.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars I came here for brunch with friends when in Philly for the weekend. The menu looked super dope and it was close by to where we were staying. The food was three stars. It was good but I have had better. We had the butter chicken -- which was spicier than advertised. The garlic naan was easily the highlight of the meal. It was fluffy and had the right amount of garlic. The spinach chaat was good. The texture is unexpected so if you happen to order it, it really is that crispy. Rose petal mimosas were great at first but once you get to a certain point, all you can taste is the syrup. The value is incredible. For about $22-25 each, we got an entree, drink, and appetizer. Yeah, can't find that in NY. The vibes of this place are incredible. The setup of the restaurant is really something that you have to see since it is so beautiful. Live music during brunch? Yes, I want that. So here's the thing about IndeBlue, the service is not good. The wait is horrendous. Should it really take twenty minutes for someone to take our order.... no. Should it take over an hour for us to get our food, definitely not. There was a couple sitting next to us that waited even longer. Overall: it was good. The portion to taste to price ratio is solid... but that wait? There's a lot more we could have explored in the city if we weren't sitting the restaurant waiting.
(3)
Swathi J.
IndeBlue is the best Indian food I have eaten till date in Philadelphia. Naan and Roti were rightly baked and the curries were amazingly good. We ordered Malai Kofta Curry, Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala. Everything was so flavorful. We had to wait 30 minutes though we had a reservation, but the manager was kind enough to give us a snack on the house. The only reason why I am not giving them 5 stars is because the portions are really small for the price. One curry serves only one person. I certainly would recommend this to anyone who wants to have true Indian food in Philly!
(4)
Niyati D.
Sighhh. I honestly wanted to give this a 2 star rating, but because I have had great experiences at the Collingswood location I bumped it up a star. My parents and aunt and uncle came to visit me in Philly, and we decided to go to IndeBlue since we loved the Collingswood location. We arrived at the restaurant a little after 8pm on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar, and it took a good 10 minutes before the bartender came back to the bar and took my order. I got the chai sangria, which was good but a little sweet for my taste. My mom and aunt really liked it though. We were seated shortly after I got my drink. And this is where, in my eyes, the experience went downhill. My parents and aunt and uncle are vegetarian. The menu had a total of 5/6 vegetarian entree options, 2 of which were daals (lentils). We started off by ordering 3 vegetables (2 of which were paneer based and one eggplant) and one daal. I asked our waitress if there were any other vegetables we could order and she suggested appetizers, which we weren't interested in getting. We asked for all of the dishes to be made spicy and they were. One of the most disappointing parts of the night was when our food came out. Indian food is meant to be eaten family style, but the portions were so small that by the time the 5 of us put a spoonful of the entree on our plate the bowl was empty... But of course we received a mountain of rice with each entree. We immediately had to order another entree, another paneer based vegetable. Luckily the service was very attentive and our last minute entree came out piping hot within 10 minutes. Now the bill. $14-16 per entree for the tiniest, most simple punjabi food. On top of that, we were charged $2 for a small plate of onions and lemon. What happened to the days of free pappadam and onions? I've been to many upscale American restaurants in NYC and they have no trouble serving table bread without charge. These things cost the restaurant literally nothing to make and if you're going to charge some absurd amount for a tiny entree, it's the least you can you do. To top it all off, my dad was looking at the receipt today and noticed that they charged a 20% tip for our party of 5! What is that about?! We hadn't noticed this at the restaurant so the waitress went home with a nice 40% tip. Bottom line - I won't be back, at least not to the Philly location. The lack of vegetarian variety and the hiked up prices (and nonsense tip policy) have ruined it for me.
(3)
Chian G.
This is a fun, upscale twist on Indian food. I especially love their Spinach Chaat and the lamb lollipops. If you can make it there for happy hour, it's a great deal!
(4)
Mike W.
I was expecting big things from indeblue and the completely delivered. Expertly prepared dishes. Prices were fairly good as well. Cost 105 for three people with tip and three beers. Flavors are definitely some of the best I have had outside India. They stay true to traditional cuisine but still inventive enough to keep it fun. The food is outstanding.
(5)
Mini M.
Great Indian food!!! Creative fine food that actually tastes authentic and is served the way Indian food should be served....in thalis (metal dishes). Ambience is amazing!!! This place is awesome for brunch and dinner. Great for special occasions. One of the best restaurants in Philly! Save room for dessert because the "banana nirvana" might just be the best thing I've ever eaten.
(5)
David V.
Loving this place so far. IndeBlue is what a certain other nearby upscale Indian restaurant should have been. The ambiance is nice and the food imaginative, but still distinctively Indian. We've been here for dinner and Sunday brunch and haven't had a bad meal. Brunch features both very Indian foods and more classic egg-based dishes, with an Indian slant. I had the Non-vegetarian Thali, which featured a chicken dish and a lamb dish, along with chickpeas, a green salad, a vegetable fritter and some naan. My wife had the masala omelette, which tasted more like a traditional Spanish tortilla than anything distinctly Indian, but also definitely wasn't just a traditional Spanish tortilla. The omelette also came with some tasty naan that had special seasonings and cheese on it. The service is also very friendly and efficient. We've had the same waitress both times we've gone, and she's been friendly and attentive both times. This place isn't cheap, but you're getting some quality food and service for the price you pay.
(4)
Sangita S.
Brought my parents here for my dad's birthday and they were obsessed. We are vegetarian so the options were plentiful and everything we ordered was incredible. The service was super and the atmosphere was perfect with the sitar and tabla players. My parents can't wait to bring the rest of the fam here and to try the rest of the options we didn't get around to. I'd highly recommend spinach chat, vegetable chili Hakka noodles, and the French toast (on the brunch menu)!
(5)
Kelly C.
I wasn't blown away by the food, but the atmosphere is great. I'm definitely no expert on Indian food, but I have a few favorite dishes. Chicken Tikka Masala is my barometer, even though I know it's not a native dish, and is often prepared to meet Western taste buds. Inde's wasn't spectacular. It was just OK. Ditto for the Lasooni (garlic) Naan. The Tikka Masala sauce was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, and not quite as spicy as I like. And the naan just wasn't garlicky enough for me. The dining room and service were great. Also, they sent out a sample of potato-leek soup which was very good and I would order it next time.
(3)
Robert B.
Very nice experience on Saturday night. The restaurant is very attractive, although the noise level is pretty high. The diver scallop appetizer was good, but the crispy spinach chaat was excellent. My tandoori mixed grill was very good, although the lamb chops were just ok. Chicken, shrimp and vegetables were all excellent and portion size was filling. Dining partner's butter chicken was liked but not loved. Fig ice cream dessert was very interesting and worth a try.
(4)
Raj K.
Some of our friends highly recommended IndeBlue so our family of four went for dinner. The ambiance is nice, and the service very good. We had the spinach chat, since so many reviewers had raved about it, honestly we were disappointed. It is very oily and filling, luckily we shared the plate so was OK. We ordered chicken tikka makhani, chicken madras, lamb roghan josh and malai kofta with some naans. We really liked the roghan josh, chicken tikka and malai kofta in that order. The chicken pieces in chicken madras were very dry, though the gravy was flavorful. Finished the meal off with chocolate sutra - which was very good as well.
(4)
Leib Z.
Visited on a Monday. Definitely nice setting, friendly and quite informative staff. Can't say I was impressed with the food. "Heavenly drumstick" were subpar at best, cauliflowers were decent but felt like it was done hastily. Chicken tikka was decent. Not sure if it's because it was a Monday but it did not meet my expectations after reading all the reviews. I've definitely had better indian food experience. Overall, would recommend to check it out, sit for a nice choice of wine and beer. Know the food you're ordering.
(3)
Hillary R.
Came in just before the kitchen closed and they still let me order. The tikka masala and naan pizza were great and the garlic naan bread was amazing! Also recommend the ginger twist from the bar, very good!
(5)
Karen W.
We came here for restaurant week around 9:30pm on Friday. The food was good, but given what you get, I wouldn't call this place a good value (but I can only speak for the restaurant week menu.) The reason why the three stars, is that despite the late reservation, the entire meal took over 2 hours to serve. We ordered at around 9:45pm, and while the appetizers came out quickly, it took forever for the entrees to come out. The restaurant was not packed so I don't understand why it took so long.
(3)
Delvia W.
I went September 11, 2014. I love Indian food and have eaten at several places both in and outside of Philadelphia but IndeBlue is by far the best. the server told me that the owner is the Chef. This explains why the food is soooo gooood!!! The food has such great flavor!!! The server suggested the crispy spinach chaat and omgeeeee I'm glad she did. The flavor was so bold it lasted on my taste buds well after I swallowed!!!! The diver scallops were delicious. Save the sauce for your Naan bread!!! The lamb balti was very tender and flavorful. The food came fast and the service was good. I will be back!!!! My new favorite place!!!
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Excellent service, cozy ambiance, and delicious food. My family (including my sister-in-law, who is from northern India) is crazy for Indian food, and this fusion joint did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the samosa chat, crispy spinach chat, baingan bharta, and lasooni naan. They also had an excellent spinach soup-of-the-day and their chutneys were perfect and unique. The one dish that wasn't a huge hit at the table was probably a case of bad ordering on our part - expecting one thing, ordering something else - although I can't quite speak to that given that I didn't taste this particular item. In addition to attentive service, they also provided complimentary tastes of the daily soup (a given), and they offered my mom a taste of their chai after she asked about its level of sweetness. They also removed the one dish we didn't love from the bill - totally unnecessary, but yet another example of their attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this spot to any Indian food enthusiasts, especially to those looking for a little twist on traditional fare. Also great for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free - their menu is flexible and clearly marked for these dietary restrictions.
(5)
Fima M.
Great concept, delicious food. We enjoyed our valentines day dinner here. Some of the items were classic indian restaurant items, such as a savory black lentil daal, and others were not classic at all, like the lobster tail, hudson valley foie gras on garam masala challah, and crispy spinach. I'd go back and try more items on their menu, like the shrimp skewers, chicken and chutneys, etc. I was told by my indian friend beforehand "it's indian food like you've never tried before," and I would agree. It didn't have the service aspect that some of my favorite places have had to earn the fourth and fifth star. We were initially greeted in an awkward manner by the hostess, but this did not take away from the food, I won't dock the restaurant a star for that at this time.
(4)
Sandip G.
IndeBleu is a great little Indian restaurant in the heart of Philly. This is a place you can't go wrong if you want to impress your date. We went pretty late at night about their closing time but still got great unrushed service and excellent food..chicken tikka masala as well as the vegetarian options. Makhani Daal was perfectly slow cooked and appropriately spiced. My vegetarian partner loved it. CTM was cooked in tomato sauce which was a welcome and healthier choice and tasted really nice. Will definitely repeat next time we are in Philly. Missed the live music this time because we went so late.
(5)
Ron H.
Great food ... Great atmosphere ... If you want to try indian food this is the best place in philly ...
(5)
Mike C.
Overpriced, very little heat. Service was slow. Food is ok, but lacks any real heat, and most dishes we had seemed too sweet (what I call Americanized Indian food: sweet and mild). Noticed not a single Indian patron was in a packed Indian restaurant....
(2)
Jill K.
I have been to indeblue MANY times. It is my favorite Indian food. I can't say it's a traditional Indian restaurant, but in my opinion, it's a good mix of traditional and contemporary. For appetizer, my favorite is the spinach chaat. It's usually done well, though once it was a little salty. Others that are good include the naan pizza and dahi avocado chaat. For the entree, I always get paneer. They currently have paneer tikka masala which is delicious. I like my Indian food spicy, so they will make it spicier for me. The naan is amazing- fresh, hot, soft. 2 of us can go through 2-3 orders in one meal. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will forego an appetizer and share an entree sized paneer tikka with an additional entree but in the smaller portion size. That with the naan will fill us. The dessert in general are pretty good. I love their house made chai and cocktails (chai sangria) as well! Overall, love this place!
(5)
Vishal P.
Modern twist to indian cuisine. Chilli lamb chops one of the highlights on the menu ! Mango panacotta for the dessert
(4)
Adam N.
This Modern Indian place is worth checking out. Even if you don't think you like Indian food, you need to try it. We've been a couple times since they opened and the food and service were great each time. Dishes are creative, flavorful and show that Indian can be appeal to everyone. We'll be back!
(5)
Ty W.
I had the pleasure of sampling the life changing "Drums of Heaven", at the Midtown Village Festival and it was love at first bite. A friend & I made a reservation (which I STRONGLY suggest doing) for a Saturday evening and we were seated immediately. The place is beautiful, candlelit tables, great service and knowledgeable servers a very intimate setting (yes by intimate I do mean small). The food, seemingly looks like it wouldn't be filling (clearly I was an Indian food virgin), I had the Seafood Moilee (I may have spelled that incorrectly) along with the drums of Heaven and everything was perfect, the food came out in a timely manner, no complaints about that whatsoever. The only thing I'd suggest is to request to be seated near the wall, as we were seated in the center and constantly had to deal with being bumped by bussers, waiters & waitresses and passersby.
(4)
Kaitlin W.
This is a great place for people that are trying Indian food for the first time. i think it's a perfect combination of authentic Indian with creative twists on classics. I went for restaurant week and couldn't have been more pleased! We started off with a trio of soups that were all equally delicious and making our 3-course meal more like 4 courses! Then I had the spinach chaat which I'm still dreaming about! This may have been my favorite part of the meal! I had the non-vegetarian sampler platter for dinner, all parts amazing! For dessert was a fried banana flavored dough with cinnamon ice cream, rather dense but incredibly delicious! I will definitely be returning!
(5)
Rachel W.
Absolutely fantastic experience. I love it when the service matches up to the food quality. Unfortunately we had a rowdy group seated next to us. Ah well, you can't blame the restaurant for that. I would highly recommend the dahi avocado chaat as an appetizer, it was really really delicious. The fresh vegetable jhalfrazie was spiced perfectly and was exactly the right amount for two people to share. For dessert we were served a complimentary ginger sorbet and a berry sorbet. Unfortunately they were not for me, but I'm not really a sorbet person and the fact that it was complimentary I can't knock off a star for that. Ambiance was great for a date, nice dim lighting. Also the cocktail choices are really something special. Enjoy!
(5)
Ryan D.
I am always on the hunt for my third favorite cuisine--Indian! Now, I am usually inclined to dine at a more traditional style indian Restaraunt, but IndeBlue does Indian-fusion very well. Service was quite attentive (thanks to Josh), which is the expectation with Indian restaurants. After being sat, we were each served a small portion mulligatawny soup-delicious, but it was not on our list if must-try's for our first visit. Please start with Crispy Spinach Chaat--it will not disappoint! Large enough portion for four to share. We also ordered Lasooni Naan with the scallops. There were only three scallops, but the sauce is a wonderful addition (but could be improved by reducing slightly longer to thicken). We ordered Laal Maas, Malwani Swordfish, Seafood Moilee, and Chicken Madras. The Seafood Moilee was the standout, but everything was wonderful; EXCEPT the sword fish: it was overcooked (dry), but the Makwani sauce was a great addition. Although, I did not partake (way too full), the table greatly enjoyed Banana Nirvana. We will return an hopefully soon!
(5)
Sam B.
Good food and great service, this is a good spot for a date or a nice dinner with friends. I thought the portions were a bit small for Indian food but it wasn't too bad and the menu is pretty good.
(4)
Ed C.
My partner and I have just starting coming to this place and we've been twice. The food is good and so is the service. I have tried the channa masala and baigan bharta, both were very delicious. Although, you really can't go wrong with Indian food. I would say that the cuisine is more high-end than your average Indian place and so are the prices. Don't get me wrong, the food is great and I like that they clearly mark their vegan options on the menu, but it's definitely a pricey dinner!
(4)
Remey M.
We had dinner reservations at this restaurant. The host sat us down right away. Everyone that we met was very polite. My waiter was awesome!! I recommend Jason to anyone who goes there. The food was fantastic! My daughter loved her lamp chops.. My husband and I enjoy all three courses. No complaints, we will return.
(5)
Elizabeth F.
I initially came here just to wait for friends who were LATE. I became enamored with the elegant decor and tasty food! Good for Indian food lovers as well as those who are wary of the cuisine. My favorite thing is the gharwali, sort of pita with mozzarella and baby spinach baked inside. Totally wonderful. They easily accommodate vegan and gluten free eaters and the staff is very friendly and efficient. You can get a drink an app for under $10 or get the chef's tasting menu with wine for $65. Lots of options in between these price points. Gorgeous and delicious!
(5)
Stephanie P.
I don't have Indian food often but everything I ate was wonderful. The service was exceptional. I will be sure to visit again. The crispy spinach chaat was delicious! Every person should try this dish!
(5)
Juliana K.
3.5 stars!!! Indieblue is a good upperscske modern Indian restaurant. Great decor inside. Service us friendly, though I wish they tried to sell me less. The waiter was friendly and knowledgable, but he kept trying to push us into ordering more appetizers. Duo Samosa was okay. It was very meaty and I liked the sauces. I've had the vegetarian samosa which I think are better. Kashmiri naan was awesome. Pistachio and coconut flavor gave it a great mild sweetness. Laal Maas lamb shank was very tender with a great sauce. Very modern from my perspective. Lamb Dhansak was a good fall dish with sweet potato. The lamb is very flavorful here. Chicken madras had my favorite curry like sauce. Food was well portioned. A teeny but pricey. Nothing was overly spicy. My mom can't take spice so they brought a mint yogurt sauce, which we found out was an extra $3. Overall, good restaurant. Not a place I would go to often, but good to try out.
(3)
Jonah K.
The food was incredible. I can't exactly remember the name of it but I had a lamb and rice dish which was delicious and spicy, but not overly so. They have great Naan and interesting salads too. I'm definitely going here again.
(4)
T N.
Atmosphere was quiet at first but as time went on, people kept coming up! Not sure if it's usually this packed around 6:15, but it was nice. Small little place but I enjoyed the food, not so much of the drinks.
(4)
Jess T.
The food is superb here. I've wanted to come here for months and finally got a chance to stop by for lunch today. And the food definitely did not disappoint. They have lunch specials for $15 which includes a starter and an entree. Everything sounded good on the menu but for my first time I went with the drums of heaven which is a Indian inspired buffalo wings with blue cheese. For my entree, I got my favorite, butter chicken (chicken makhani) which was extremely tasty and definitely has a kick to it. Best Indian food I've had in a while! My coworker had the tikka wrap and fries. Fries were crunchy and delicious. I'm guessing portions are smaller for lunch. Knocked one star off for service. Our waiter for lunch took his time and was slow to check in on us so make sure you're planning on a two hour lunch if you come in here!
(4)
Jacqueline O.
Beautiful little restaurant. Perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Tuesday's at 7 and brunch on Sunday have live music! Run a great happy hour deal from 5-7 or 9-close at the bar with 4 dollar beers and 5 dollar wines.
(5)
Alexis A.
LOVE! This freakin place has an amazing decor, friendly staff..and the food was really yummy! I went during restaurant week, so the deal was great! A lot of food for the $ and the soups were great.
(5)
Minty N.
I returned with friends for a brunch on Sunday morning. It was an excellent experience! They offer both breakfast items as well as lunch. I had a chicken tikka wrap which is very tasty with masala fries, one of my friends had the chope batture which was excellent. As always this place had great service and I would highly recommend going for brunch or any other meal.
(5)
Kate R.
Take this with a grain of salt because it was restaurant week. We had a reservation and were seated. After sitting at the table for more than 15 minutes without so much as a member of the waitstaff making eye contact with us (and believe me we tried to get their attention), we walked out. It wasn't even particularly busy! The worst part was the maître d' who had just seated us told us to have a good night as we walked out the door, not even realizing that no one had come to help us and we had not even ordered. I think the food is actually very good. I want this place to do well. They can and should do better. However, what we experienced was hands-down the worst service (or lack thereof) I have ever experienced. Again - it was restaurant week, which I usually avoid like the plague, we actually went there not even realizing it was. Still, there is no excuse for what happened, especially when the restaurant wasn't even close to full and the staff didn't look like they were hustling even a little bit.
(2)
Henry D.
DO NOT GO HERE FOR HAPPY HOUR!Specials only offered first come first serve at the very small bar. Also terrible customer service from manager! Unlike most restaurants in Philly who offer happy hour specials restaurant wide this place only offers the specials if you sit at the bar and the bar is tiny so if your group is more than two or three people forget it. We called in advance asked about happy hour then made a reservation but were not told that happy hour was only at the bar. When we told our server about our misunderstanding he said there was nothing he could do then when we addressed the happy hour issue with the manager he was very impolite and told us that it wasn't worth the money for them serve happy hour in the dinning area. Only after much debate did he allow us to order one round of food items from the happy hour menu. We ended up staying for dinner even though we were a bit turned off. Dinner was decent and we were enjoying catching up with our friends when the manager rudely told us that there were people waiting and that he needed us to leave. If he had been polite about it I wouldn't have minded but he wasn't and I also didn't see anyone waiting. Largely it was the manager who ruined this experience for us. Food drinks and decor were good. So much for relaxing after a long work week.
(1)
Sean m.
I have visited this restaurant twice since July. Every dish I have tried has been delicious. The decor adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend dining here.
(5)
Marna L.
I went to IndeBlue during Happy Hour. As another Yelper mentions, Indeblue's Happy Hour is restricted to only those who sit at the bar, which has limited seating. So for Happy Hour here is sort of exclusive to smaller groups. Food: I thought the food was tastier than food served in regular Indian restaurants. The food was fusion. I wasn't a fan of the Spinach Chaat, however, the Naan Pizza with the Tamarind sauce was quite stellar. The food is higher end than what are served in most other Indian venues. 4/5 Drinks: We only had two types of drinks, and both were delicious. 5/5 Setting: The ambiance was quite beautiful with great romantic lighting. The venue is a little narrow (rectangular shaped). Bar is quite small, however, the lighting and the decor overshadows any minor flaws. 5/5 Service: The service from the waiters and bartender were phenomenal. Some of the best service I've received in a while from servers. However, the hostess (Monday evening) can be friendlier and less snappy. In fact, we were quite satisfied with our experience at IndeBlue until we were about to depart. It was a rainy evening, therefore, many had left umbrellas. The hostess had left our umbrellas in a bucket, which mine was all the way underneath the other wet umbrellas. As we were searching for my umbrella, we noticed the hostess had shoved an umbrella inside another umbrella, causing one of them to break. In fact, mine was also damaged due to her umbrella handling. It really was not a busy evening, was that necessary to handle the customers' umbrellas so carelessly? Servers: 5/5. Hostess: 1/5
(4)
Alex X.
Is this the Indian restuarant with the elephant king somewhere by the door? Lol. So many of them I lose track which is which. I admit I forget look at name of the restaurants I go into. I dont always read reviews especially when you are having fun or a date etc...you are too busy focused on the person you with. Anyways if this is the elephant mirror indian restaurant, good indian restaurant. The waiter was kind and telling us which the tastiness foods in the kitchen were! There was a baked tender chicken he recommended that was out of this world. I never had it before. Gonna go back for more. It tasted better than some of the fancier colorful dishes we ordered. Window seat was great. Thanks for the ambience!
(4)
Dayan K.
Absolutely wonderful Indian restaurant. I've lived in three different states and eaten at Indian restaurants in SF, but Indeblue is the best. Hands down!!!!
(5)
Deebee K.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. It's Indian fusion food in a noisy and cramped place. We had the dahi avocado chaat to begin with-it was yum even though the puris were not crunchy and tasted old. My husband had the chef's table with 4 courses. It was filling but all the food was bland and not very enjoyable. I had the lasooni naan (which was soft and not too strong) and the Chana. The Chana vegetable was awful-tasted like boiled Chana. Service was good. On telling the server how average our experience was, he brought us 2 coupons for a free drink/appetizer for the next day. You'd be better off eating at an Indian restaurant without burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)
Sara V.
Welcome to Philly, IndeBlue. Not only do I have a location near home, I have one near work! The decor is, in a word, elegant. The cocktails, divine. Glasses are filled with a unique flavors and herbs. The food? Wow. The flavors of the meats, veggies, and spices make my mouth sing. The chutneys are sweet, savory, and delicate. The Drums of Heaven are mini bites of tandoori deliciousness. The lamb chops? Tender, spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So don't wait! Go now!
(5)
DJ J.
Since I don't live in Philadelphia, I certainly make every effort to dine at Indeblue anytime I can. My second experience at this restaurant was just as delightful as the first time in July 2013 (just weeks after the opening of the restaurant). During this visit we tried the Basil Mint Kabob appetizer; Chicken Tikka Masala, Baingan Bartha, and Malwana Swordfish for entrees along with the Kashmiri (pistachio, coconut, raisins) roti; and Mango Panna Cotta for dessert. Were I asked to pick a favorite among those options, I would certainly be unable to do so as they were all delicious in their own way. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Clare D.
Indian food in an upscale setting has always been met with a skeptical eye, but throw in some proteins, such as crab meat, swordfish, lamb shank, and pork shoulder, that seldom exist in your typical Indian restaurant and you can have a truly outstanding experience. My friend Chris W and I noted the location of Indeblue with some skepticism. "I bought a custom-made dress in this location years ago," I said to him. When we walked in, my jaw dropped. They completely gutted the place. Tastefully done decor with a chandelier, giant framed pictures, and an ornamental gate adorn the main dining room. No seat was a bad seat. It was truly a beautiful setting for a nice meal. Our appetizers included the scallops, lollipop lamb chops, and crispy spinach chaat. All were delicious. The scallops were giant U/10 beauties pan-seared and immersed in a light coconut milk-based curry. My only criticism is they could've used a little less salt. The lollipop lamb chops were grilled to perfection and coated with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint, and mojito. They were so good I wanted another order. The crispy spinach chaat was amazing. The spinach leaves were coated with chickpea batter and flash fried. Combine that with chopped tomatoes, shallots, yogurt, crispy noodles, and sweet tamarind date sauce. I couldn't stop eating it. Our main course was the seafood moilee, a coconut curry with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat that was accompanied by a saffron rice with peanuts, mustard seed, curry leaf, and chili peppers. This dish sang and danced in our mouths. We also got a side of tandoor roasted eggplant with tomatoes, carmelized onions, and green peas. It was like a smoky ratatouille. I love this place.
(5)
Steve W.
We went to IndeBlue due to its great proximity to the Walnut St. theaters and based on other's reviews...and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious! We had the flash fried spinach and naan pizza as appetizers and the tastes were spectacular. Then we had a basil chicken skewer and a lamb rogan josh which were also full of flavor and very filling. The atmosphere, staff and location were all excellent. I have already recommended it to several friends and will definitely go back.
(5)
Maha D.
My girlfriend and I were at Indeblue this Wednesday, and I am happy to say that this neo Indian (I like to call it food with a contemporary classicist flair) restaurant did not disappoint and impressed our hungry stomachs. I was compelled to make an instant comparison with Tashan on several levels. What stood out immediately was the decor while we were being led into the restaurant...Indian motifs with a modern flair, again reminiscent of Tashan perhaps..but it certainly had its unique appeal. The location of Indeblue in my mind will be key to its success. Tashan feels a tad far out for the likes of us that like to sip and hang around the Walnut/Chestnut to South St. types of locales. The menu does not disappoint either- they have a great spread of appetizers, entrees, veggie options and naans. The cocktail list looked like a cheery collection of Inde-Bollywood style names and fun flavors. We got the Bollywood sparkler (?) and the Chai tea sangria. The chai tasted better than Bollywood sparkler (this tasted too bubbly/frizzy for me) - the sangria was light and had hints of chai and brandy- a great combo to get a pitcher of, though it didn't sound appetizing in its description. The service was worthy of nothing. Well informed servers that were good with suggestions. Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly capable of choosing my tikkas, naans and rasams but given that the menu had an obvious personal flair of the chefs cooking style, it always helps to see how keen the chef is on informing the staff on his/her offerings. To start we had the long hots and the crispy veg. chilli- to me a rendition of the stuffed long green chillies and the Indo-Chinese Hakka noodles. The paneer mozzarella combo in the green chillies were perfect-creamy, the chillies added bite and the tangy tomato sauce rounded the flavour off. The veg chilli had zucchinis in it (which I found interesting) but was a good subtle complement to the bold/spicy sauce (more gravy than sauce). The veggies had not lost their crunch despite the sauce on the noodles. To those familiar with Indo-Chinese food-the addition of the 3 side sauces (vinegar w/ green chillies, green chilli sauce and soy) completed my experience of eating this glamorized version of hakka noodles. spot on!! For the main course, we had a meat and a veg option. Both were superb in their portion sizes, taste, flavour. We ordered the stuffed squash (this came with saffron rice) and osso bucco pork vindaloo. The meat dish came with bone in which was perfect, the meat was melt in your mouth worthy cooked. It was a great meat, potatoes and gravy dish that is typically comfort food for me. The vindaloo gravy did not have the pungency of vinegar that I seek, but completed the dish just fine. I can see how an overpowering amount of vinegar can turn customers away from this dish. The garlic naan was fresh, however I am not sure if it was made in a tandoor or sigri, and I could taste uncooked flour in some parts of the bread- I chose to overlook this. The stuffed squash in my girlfriend's words- it was creamy (perhaps slightly excessively so) but very tasty, very well cooked, could have had a hint bit more of spice but she enjoyed it overall. If this was a take on "malai kofta" it was certainly well executed. Overall, I would go back and recommend it to others. Chef Rakesh Ramola certainly had the right idea with opening IndeBlue here in Philly. The prices could be comparable to Tashan, the food is just as good as Tashan's Chef Shende and Chef Senat. Where it beats Tashan is the location and the restaurant size. The location is always popping (regardless of weather or economic paucity), the place's size will make certain that it looks full even on days where only a few occupy the bar and tables- a definite draw for guests to peer in.
(4)
Sophia S.
This is a fabulous restaurant (with a terrible name...gotta say I judged them for that at first). This place does true Indian fusion and pulls it off well! With a group of four, we ordered 3-4 small plates, 2 half-sized vegetarian entrees and one full sized meat entree. While the portions looked small (we literally laughed when they brought out our very tasty half portion of squash), we all left feeling full and happy. Some highlights were the spinach chaat (amazing! crispy!) and the naan pizza. Great cocktails too. The food is better than Bindi and its less pretentious and more interesting than Tashan. Seriously. A new favorite in midtown village.
(5)
Shashank M.
The food is good. You pay 10 dollars for about two or three pieces/ 2 ppl and your going to still feel hungry at the end. I heard their happy hour was really good but buyer beware when coming for dinner. This is Tashan 2.0
(3)
Fereshteh A.
5 star is definitely not enough for them! The decor, beautiful. Waiters, politest I have seen. Food, absolutely delicious. For your first time I recommend the thalia which is like a sampler of a few dishes. Chutney's were uniquely tasty. And the bread... I have blood sugar problems so I normally leave breads untouched in restaurants: I finished this one!!! ( I am writing this while I am still here :-P). And I just tried the chai: make sure you do as well ;-)
(5)
Sarah P.
Looking for a spot to have Sunday brunch? Stop. Right. Now. IndeBlue has the most amazing brunch I've been to. We weren't sure what to expect but were extremely impressed! We got more food than we could finish and it was all extremely good. If I had a second stomach I would've filled it up! The rose water mimosa was unique, refreshing, and super delicious! The atmosphere was great and the decor was gorgeous. I would love to come back and have dinner here.
(5)
Leah S.
Happy hour only served at a small bar at the front. They definitely don't explain this on their website and happy hour signs. When we asked the manager about this he told us that they basically didn't need our business because the place will be packed regardless... Not a very professional way of handling your customers if you ask me. They did end up giving us a few apps at happy hour prices and we did ended up staying and paying a lot to eat there. The food was over priced and not that great, it was just ok, definitely not worth the money. I will not be returning.
(1)
Kristen C.
We had to order the spinach chaat, since everyone on yelp raved about it. It was really delicious, but it was fried and greasy. I would prefer to start with something more fresh. We also tried the veggie samosa, which was pretty standard, it came on top of flavored chickpeas, which were very good. We had an order of naan plus saag paneer and paneer tikka masala for our entrees. The saag paneer wasn't very good- bitter spinach flavor, but also felt very oily and heavy. The paneer tikka masala tastes better, but still more greasy than I would have liked. The service was a bit slow, but it was nice not to feel rushed. Very nice atmosphere, upscale, good for a date. I probably won't go back, but I'm glad I tried it.
The food was definitely innovative and delicious. We got 4 appetizers from their happy hour menu. However the next day my friend and i both got very upset stomachs. Don't think we'll be returning.
(1)
Jimmy P.
So amazing to have our favorite spot add another location! Food here is up and above excellent, bordering on spectacular. Chef Rakeesh blends flavors and spices seamlessly and easily. Every bite, from their apps to their amazing chutneys are an experience not to be missed. Philly is gaining a brilliant chef and soon to be hot spot. We will be here again and again.
(5)
Soma Sekhar G.
Live music, crispy spinach chat and thali, just made my Sunday lunch a memorable one.
(5)
Julie W.
One of my favorite happy hours in the city (5-7 and then after 9, daily!). This place gets crowded around the bar, but it's not hard to snatch a seat or two if you have a small party. Intense physical proximity during peak hours doesn't make for the best heart-to-heart's (unless you opt for the quieter dining area), but it's great for delicious bites and strong drinks after work. Recommended noms: Drums of heaven - these are so good! A bit spicier than expected but like firecrackers in your mouth. Great HH snack though beware as it gets messy. Lamb rogan josh (19) - delicious lamb dish, rich in spices and flavor. Served with rice but great with their garlic naan. Split this with friend and we were very satisfied. Drinks: Kingfisher lager - light and refreshing, complemented the meal well. Indebluetini - rich mango flavor! favorite. Rose gimlet - pretty and strong, but a bit lackluster in taste. Take advantage of their long happy hours to sample their menu and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Jennifer R.
Of course my meal and service here was damn spectacular and I was very happy with it. I'm a bit bitter about how expensive everything is and that it didn't have the same great options as the Collingswood location I had tried, but it was absolutely delicious. This is some high quality indian and the restaurant itself was gorgeous, so I was thrilled to be here, I just don't think a rice dish with a cheap cut of lamb needs to be over $20. It was Lamb Biryani which was spiced so well with whole coriander and saffron and everything great about indian, so really no complaints on food at all. We also got a crisped spinach app and a tikka masala pita pizza which was straight awesome with the amount and type of spice used. We sprung for some fancy cocktails and all of them were delicious and strong. Go for them if you're celebrating or are ok with paying $14 for a drink. I'd sooner go to the Collingswood location over this for everything but atmosphere. If they added the $20 thali sampler to the Philly location, my butt would be at the door immediately. If you're going on a nice date and both can appreciate some spice, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Mandy H.
IndeBlue is one of my go-to happy hour spots. The location is great for me and they have wonderful food and drink specials. Their drinks are different and interesting and tend to include cardamom, which sounded a little weird to me at first, but I really enjoyed the indebluetini, which has mango, cardamom, citron vodka, and lemon juice. It just works. They also have a delicious spinach chaat. I don't know how they keep the spinach as crispy as they do, but it is so crunchy and perfect with a mix of salty and sweet spices. Definitely try it! The naan pizzas are always a safe bet and the drums of heaven are the perfect cure for hankering for buffalo wings. At $4-$5 a piece during Happy Hour, its not a bad deal at all. I will be back!
(4)
Suzanne B.
Ambience. Perfect menu. Deep flavors. Handsome stranger sitting across from me. How could I not love this place?
(5)
Sam W.
Impressive Indian food at reasonable prices and really good and cheap drinks. They don't have Chicken Tikka Masala which almost crushed me... but they were able to make it anyways :)
(5)
Kal P.
SPINACH CHAAT! That is all. Ya'll NEED to try this. I've come here multiple times for Happy Hour and once for dinner. The drinks are unique (one was super spicy which I wasn't a fan of) and the food is tasty. I was raised in an Indian household so I am a snob when it comes to Indian food - I highly recommend this place! Note: Not all the Naan Pizzas are yummy - they change them daily. Choose wisely.
(5)
Anil T.
I asked for a can of coke with my take out, and the waitress said YES. After taking my food and walking a block, i saw there was no can of coke with in my food parcel. Went back and they gave me a glass if coke from the bar and said we don't sell CANS of soda. Not going there again. Low standard. Poor in informing the customer correctly.
(1)
Lakshmi S.
Great food and service. Delicious. We are visitors from CA who enjoyed this restaurant thoroughly
(4)
Lili W.
I heard about indeblue from a yelp event, where they had a stand with samosas and chicken wings. I decided to check out the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The spinach chaat is awesome, definitely get this as a starter. It's flash fried spinach, but tastes very flavorful and light. As a main course, I got the fish of the day -- Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. My boyfriend got the vindaloo dish, absolutely delicious, wish I got this! So the only reason why this restaurant isn't a 5 star is because the drink prices are wayyy to expensive. A gin and tonic for 11? A bit steep.
(4)
T N.
Went here with a French friend (Frenchies love classy places...). She ordered the Rajwadi shrimps and lamb something, I ordered the Chili avacado chat (?), paneer tikka masala and fig ice cream. Chilli avacado chat was good, paneer tikka masala so..so..but the fig ice cream was the highlight of the night :-) 4 stars for appetizer, decor and desert
(4)
Nancy X.
One of the BEST lunch spots out there! High quality, delicious Indian fusion. But they still do the traditional stuff really really well. Their express lunch for $15 is basically a steal. It comes with an appetizer and an entree. For appetizers, you can choose a chaat, salad, soup, or one of their super yummy fusion plates. Appetizers I like: -The drums of heaven (battered chicken wings with blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili and scallions) are so perfectly flavored. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And you get 4 of these amazing things -Naan pizza! They have different flavors all the time. The one I tried had paneer, red peppers, red onions, herbs, and mozzarella -Barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, you get 2 rolls cut into 4 pieces in total. It comes with a super yummy dipping sauce of tamarind barbeque and blue cheese wine. -Stuffed long hot peppers. You get 2 big ol' smoked green peppers, stuffed with house-made paneer, mozzarella, deghi chili, spring onions, with a fresh tomato sauce on the bottom. -Aloo makkai tikki are these 2 yummy spiced potato cakes with corn and apple chutney. ALL SUPER TASTY! Entrees: -The best one is chicken tikka makhani (butter chicken). The chicken is apparently free range, and obviously delicious. the sauce is beautifully spiced, and tastes right. Not like the nasty overly creamy ones I have to eat in New Jersey :( It's served with fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice, which is so delicious, but still needs to be drowned in the beautiful makhani sauce. - Lamb rogan josh is also really good! It's a less interesting tasting sauce in my opinion, but still delicious. Kinda like a lamb stew but spiced with an Indian flair. The lamb had a great, tender texture, and the sauce was so hearty and yummy. This also came with the awesome herb rice. Overall, an awesome date place!! The ambiance is really nice, roomy, clean, and dimly-lit. The $15 express lunch is just unreal.
(5)
Donna D.
IndeBlue offers exceptional service, incredible food and a beautifully charming restaurant--all at very reasonable prices. My companion and I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. I am vegan, he is not. We both loved our meals and were very satisfied. You must order the vegetable samosas and the vegetable skewer. My companion had shrimp, chicken and lamb and he said they were all incredibly high quality meats, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waiter, Chris, was awesome and made us feel like family. This is my new favorite restaurant!
(5)
Emma M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! The food is superb. The service is attentive and seamless. The venue is elegant and beautiful, and the prices are uber-reasonable. Moreover, it caters not just to carnivorous diners, but to vegans and gluten-free acolytes alike. Yay! I like to sample as much of a restaurant's offerings as I can. Indeblue's menu certainly encourages that. I'll typically get the smaller versions of two entrees, throw in an appetizer and naan bread, and order one of their homemade desserts. They also offer a tasting menu, which I highly recommend. Since it's conveniently located near the Kimmel Center and other performance venues I like to frequent, I'll often come here for dinner. If I order before 7 pm, I've asked for my drink at Happy Hour prices even though my meal came from the dinner menu. Bear in mind that Happy Hour restarts at 9 pm! So indulge in a sumptuous meal, walk a few blocks to your performance, and return to Indeblue afterwards for a post-show drink. It's a great place to bring a date, enjoy a pleasant business dinner, or have a nice evening out with friends.
(5)
Liz F.
This place has a great brunch! To start there is a live sitar player... Come on, that is pretty unique touch! When we first came in we thought it was just music played through speakers. After we walked through the restaurant, we realized it was live and it was beautiful and relaxing. It was just the extra touch needed to seal the experience. First and foremost, order the rose mimosa! It was delicate and delicious and four dollars... I'm now regretting that I didn't get several. It isn't as sugary as orange juice and the flavor beautifully complimented the champagne. We ordered the samosas for our appetizer and those were extremely tasty. They were piping hot and perfectly plated. I ordered the non-vegetarian thali for my main dish and it was delectable! It is a lot of food, but I can honestly say I did not leave a single morsel behind. Each sample had a great flavor. I wish it was a bit spicier, but that is certainly a personal preference. This is an excellent choice to try several options without committing to just one. It's an indecisive persons dream come true! More seal the deal five star characteristics included: how attentive and available the wait staff was. Our waitress was quick to answer any questions and to ensure our food was enjoyable. Not to mention, when the check came not much damage was done considering the quality and quantity we had received. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to be back soon for dinner!!
(5)
Courtney J.
I've been in love with the IndeBlue in Collingswood for a few years now, so I was excited to hear they were getting a location in Philly. A couple of friends and I went to Happy Hour here last week, and we were impressed with the food deals. The happy hour is from 5:00-7:00 Monday-Friday at the bar. The food prices range from $3-$5. The veggie samosas were only $3 and came with two large ones in a chickpea sauce. They were stuffed full of potatoes and chickpeas. I also ordered the nan pizza ($5), which is just what it sounds like, a large piece of nan with pizza toppings. This particular one came topped with paneer, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and peppers. The type of pizza changes daily though, so ask before ordering. I was stuffed after having only those two appetizers. The drink I had was less impressive, but at only $5 it was alright. It was the Chikini Shandar. This is basically sangria with an Indian twist as chai and cardamom are added. However, I didn't taste any of these wonderful flavors. It was sweet and just tasted like regular sangria. Since the appetizers were good, I'll be back. I'll try a different drink next time, and hopefully it'll be better.
(4)
Bill G.
Today - The best Rogan Josh and Nan I have had in the last several years, Very Authentic Indian food. Five stars for cleanliness, ambience, authenticity and quality. No question in my mind that I will eat here again.
(4)
Sophia J.
Just tried to eat here but it's restaurant week only. Also, one of the first places I've been where they didn't accommodate my request to sit beside my husband. This place had really good ratings and decor but alas, off to Cuba Libre instead.
(1)
Anupma S.
**Restaurant Week Review** I can't imagine giving IndeBlue any less than five stars... Simply amazing! From the service, to food and drink, to decor and ambiance, IndeBlue scores an A+ on everything. I visited again to try their Restaurant Week menu and had an incredible dining experience. Our service was exceptional -- we had a good pace through our four courses and were never rushed by our waiter. Each course was so delicious!! Check out the pictures on this review to see our selections. My favorites... Chai Sangria: Umm... Two amazing drinks in one, heck yeah!!! They nailed it. Mango Avacado Salad: Light and fresh with tasteful additions of avacado and mango. Great way to begin a heavy meal of Indian food. Drums of Heaven: Reminiscent of Indo-Chinese flavors. Perfectly crispy and cooked! Chicken Tikka Makhani: Never had better! Bold, rich flavors and perfectly textured chicken. Gulab Jamun: Delicious pairing with cinnamon ice cream, YUMMM. Heck i loved everything lol. For serious, they can effortlessly make tasty vegetable and meat dishes that are both fresh and rich. I've never seen another Indian restaurant do it better! The decor inside is simply beautiful. They really went all out in making the restaurant an exotic escape from Philadelphia. It was packed for Restaurant Week too, so I'm not alone in my love!
(5)
Sanit J.
Hands down the best indian food in Philly. Dal Makhani is to die for. The crispy spinach chat is a great concept and texturally brilliant. Not to miss at all.
(5)
Ray M.
Based on a great review from Sari A. Indie Blue in Philadelphia did not disappoint. Very classy Indian restaurant. Wonderful decor/atmosphere. Very clean and comfortable. All the staff work well together to service the customer. It's clear to see this restaurant is just doing it right. I love Indian food! Indie Blue is now my new favorite place dine for this cuisine. I decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of 4 courses. You are able to pick 1-2 choices for each course from the main menu. I'm very confident everything at this restaurant is great. My favorite was the lollipop lamb chops! Omg! They were perfectly balanced with amazing spices and a melt in your mouth texture. Soooo good! I was also pleasantly surprised by the drink menu. Not too many Indian restaurants are known for good alcohol libations. They have amazing drinks with an Asian twist. Awesome! Desert: with the tasting menu you get coconut ice cream, banana beignet and rice pudding. Delicious! Words really cannot describe my start to finish experience. I can't wait to go back to explore more of this great menu at this lovely restaurant. Thank you Sari A!
(5)
Neil C.
The food is awesome... Service even better...I highly recommend the chef trading menu... Although it is a littler buy too much for one person... But you can Teetu many items on the menu.no went with spinach chat awesome, chicken drum rule awesome, lamb rack awesome, lamb rogan josh awesome, paneer butter masala awesome chocolate dessert awesome
(5)
Aria S.
*happy hour review* Definitely new happy hour stop. I came on Tuesday and the bar was completely packed, but on Thursday it was totally fine...I guess it's just a draw. Drinks: Rose gimlet, spicy lychee margarita, and indebluetini. All delicious and so creative in bringing in Indian flavors (like rose, spice, and cardamon) into drinks! They weren't strong, but for $5, well worth it. Food: Hai ram, this was all delicious. The spinach chaat is a must!! Aloo tikis are a meh (but for $3, why not!). The naan pizza changes weekly I guess but ours with paneer was delightful. The stuffed peppers also delicious and SPICY (yaass) and stuffed with paneer and mozeralla..yes delicious. The most expensive was the naan pizza for $5! For 3 hungry chicas, we ordered 4 appetizers and that was our dinner, coming out to like $5/person and it was the best decision ever. Will definitely return, especially because they have a late night happy hour (9-closing) for us who work later! Shoutout to Michael the host for helping us out when we were in a rush to leave and he got us our bill, etc.
(5)
Nora H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had. Everything with stellar: food, cocktails, service, and interior. Went during restaurant week and was impressed with the portion size. The chai tea cocktail and crispy spinach appetizer were especially excellent.
(5)
Neha S.
This is Indian food served with a refreshing modern twist. We ordered a stuffed mirchi as appetizer and Malai kofta, pindi chole and garlic mama as entre. And I have to say that every single dish was just outstanding. But the real winner was their fig ice cream with a texture as soft as a silk. I would highly recommend this place for food lovers in Philly!
(5)
Elisa F.
Great lunch specials and a gorgeous atmosphere. I had a sampler and everything single thing was awesome. Nice attentive service as well :)
(5)
Sonia S.
I came here on a Thursday night for happy hour (5-7pm) with 2 friends... The bar was full so they seated us at a small table near the entrance. This was my first time here and despite having high expectations, I was very impressed! The food and drinks were flavorful and unique. We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 rounds of drinks between the 3 of us and the bill came out to only $50! Drinks ($5 each) -chikni shandar (my favorite one!): sparkling wine with chai and cardamom. Tastes just like sangria with an Indian twist -rose gimlet: if you like gin, this is a must! -spicy lychee margarita: chili-infused tequila adds an interesting kick -indebluetini: just like a spiced maaza mango juice Food ($3-5) -spinach chaat: the best spinach you will ever have... Crispy spinach with onions, tomatoes topped with yogurt chutney and sev (thin crunchy noodles) -naan pizza: with tandoori marinated paneer and caramelized onions -aloo makkai tikki: still not sure how I feel about the apple chutney but overall an average dish -stuffed peppers: gets progressively more spicy as you near the end of the pepper with seeds. Looking forward to coming back for their late night happy hour (9pm-close) and trying a thali!
Pretty solid Indian food in Center city. Place is always packed. Beautiful decor. I recommend the lamb lollipops and the crispy spinach.
(5)
Lena J H.
This is Indeblue's second location, the original being in Collingswood, NJ. The food is pretty on par with that location, except in terms of pricing: food is on average a dollar more per dish yet it is the same preparation and portions. A huge difference is that Philly served alcohol, while Collingswood is dry. Definitely love their Indian twists on cocktails here. The mango martini is tasty, like an alcoholic lassi without the creaminess. The food is not traditional Indian by any means, so don't come here expecting that. It's a cool contemporary approach to Indian cuisine that is no less delicious. You can't go wrong with the chana masala, samosa, basmati rice, naan, or spinach chaat. I'm a vegan, and this restaurant is definitely accommodating and I have never had any trouble finding something to eat, especially with their knowledgable waitstaff (they even know what vegan means, you'd be surprised how many don't). It's usually a little too chilly inside for my taste, but it's not a big deal. It's pretty small inside and tends to get very busy around dinner time. I'd suggest making a reservation to be safe. Overall, great food and service, I'll be back many more times.
(4)
Sabrina K.
This restaurant is so popular, I had to make a reservation on a Tuesday night! It looks very dark, almost like it's closed, from the outside, but the atmosphere inside is bustling with activity. The lollipop lamp chops and spinach chaat are a must for appetizers! I would also recommend their daal makhani and paneer tikka masala as far as entrees go. The saffron rice is so delicious, I could eat it by itself. The banana nirvana is a unique, delicious dessert with its cinnamon ice cream, also a must! The staff could have been a little more sociable, spilled water on our table and almost gave us the wrong check so the visit could have been more professional but accidents happen.
(5)
Natalee F.
This might be one of my new favorite places to eat! I like everything about it. The interior is dark and stylish and the tables are not crowded together. I forget the name of the spiced chai alcoholic drink, but after one sip I thought wow, I could drink 20 of these. They are small and go down way too easily. It's made with homemade chai and you can taste the quality. So many vegetarian options!! The paneer is sooo tender and tasty. It's a 10/10 on the paneer deliciousness scale. We tried the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and the malai kofta, along with the truffle oil naan. The portions appeared small, but we definitely were full after eating. The dessert was perfection - homemade fig ice cream with a sweet cheese stuffed date. The only downside was that the waiter seemed like he was trying to get us out of there at the end of the meal. He didn't say it directly, but my friend and I have both worked as servers, so we recognized his tricks. It's a bit pricey, once it's all added up with the drinks, but well worth it. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Yash M.
This is one of the best happy hours I have attended in the city. As a regular, I have sampled almost every item on their happy hour menu and my favorites are: the Chikni Shandar - a chai-infused sangria, the Spinach Chaat (flash-fried spinach and other delicious chutneys). the Naan Pizza (rotating but dependably delicious), and the Drums of Heaven (Indian-style chicken). Indeblue is great for brunch too - rose mimosas, dosas, and thalis. For dinner, however, I was a little disappointed in the food. Portions were too big and got a little monotonous. I think the place would do much better with a small plates-style menu. I still give Indeblue five stars, however, because it is truly a great destination for someone who likes Indian flavors, but also wants to enjoy innovative cooking.
(5)
Fabio D.
If you're looking for the BEST Indian food, look no further! It's a very welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere. It's somewhat of a small restaurant (but worth it!). The staff was also very kind and helped with any questions on the menu. I've also tried the one in Collingswood which is just as good. However, this one in Philly is a little "fancier." Either way, they're both exceptional! Enjoy!
(5)
Geet M.
Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Corey and Topanga, Indian and brunch? Now one of those may make your eyebrows arch but trust me...they're all perfect combos! Indeblue is one of my favorite brunch spots in Philly, it's freaking fantastic. The brunch menu is pretty extensive and the prices are on point. Service was as good as the masala chai (and oh yes, it's good). Tried the chole bhature [Sun Brunch $10] (flavorful chickpeas eaten with a large piece of bread that's bigger than my face) + chicken tikka makhani (tender chunks of chicken swimming in awesome sauce [Sun Brunch $12]. It was the perfect atmosphere for a casual Sunday brunch, the sitar and tabla players are so talented and it transports you to a wonderful place to relax and dine. Our water glasses were always more than half full, for all you optimists out there. The only issue we had was that our bill had the brunch price swapped with the dinner price, an easy fix and the only lil hiccup in the dining experience. Once you dine here, you may not stop ;)
(5)
Joy Y.
Took advantage of their $15 lunch special. Spinach chaat: crispy, sweet, but a tad oily. Naan pizza: paneer is tasty but the tomato sauce definitely masked the wonderful texture of naan. Malai kofta: SO GOOD! It is a spicy dish although the menu doesn't say so, and the cashews and apricots provided such variation in texture and flavor that every bite was intense and complex. I poured all the saffron rice into the sauce and cleaned the plate. Next time I'll definitely want to try their mango lassi.
(4)
Eunni C.
Glad to find beautiful indian restaurant in the hood. Tried their vegetable samosa, spicy scallop and shrimp crusted salmon. They were all good! Samosa was crispy and deliciously seasoned. Scallop and salmon were great. I really liked the ambiance, it was lively and was perfect for grabbing some yummy food and enjoy conversation. I tried the lassi as well. And was rich and creamy as I like. I wish I tried their crispy chaat. Looked really but no one wanted to order so we skipped it. I will definitely try that dish next time I am there. The service was very professional and kind.
(4)
Mike Z.
Very fancy and upscale Indian restaurant with a bar. We ordered chicken tika masala, lamb tika masala, and lamb chops. In addition we had garlic naan. For drinks we just had the Jamison neat. The restaurant is really nice and they have good service. The food was pretty good but not the best Indian food I ever had. This would be a great place to go on a date and I would def come back again.
(4)
Mike M.
Excellent food! One of the best that I've personally had and I'm from NYC. Very enjoyable, I would recommend their mango alcoholic drink, naan pizza, garlic naan, and chicken tikka. Definitely will come back for dinner.
(5)
Olivia R.
I went to IndeBlue for happy hour with three of my Indian friends. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat with them but I tried some of their spinach chote and it was really good - tasted kind of like tempura and wasn't too spicy the way I find some other Indian food to be. They also got these stuffed peppers that looked good and they all seemed to like. The drinks were interesting and generally pretty good (between the four of us we had almost all of the cocktails). I had the cucumber mantra and the rose gimlet and they were both delicious. If you are looking for traditional Indian food though, this is probably not the place for you. It's Indian fusion so it's all kind of trendier takes on Indian food.
(4)
David G.
If there's one thing Philadelphia dining does exceptionally well, it's taking everyday food and turning it into something elegant and unusual. That's why I had such high expectations for dinner at IndeBlue. I was eager to witness the usual rice-n-curry turned up a few notches. I joined a colleague here on a cold and drizzly Tuesday night. It was a good thing we had reservations, since it was packed solid despite the bad weather and off night. I was immediately taken in by its warm and inviting ambiance. We started with a round of drinks -- the IndeBlueTini and a Rose Grapefruit Gimlet. Both were fun and fruity and easy to drink, which helped lift the rainy-day blues. For an appetizer, we shared the naan pizza. (The toppings change on the reg, so be sure to ask the server what you're getting!) Truthfully, I wasn't impressed by it. I was hoping for some heat or spice, but it was disappointingly bland, and the cheese was rubbery and stringy. It all seemed like a waste of perfectly good naan. Our next appetizer, the aloo makkai tikki (corn and potato cakes with apple chutney) was tons better. These crispy cakes were hot, flavorful, and all-around satisfying. For the entree, we shared the chicken Madras with a side of basmati rice and garlic naan. This dish was the most traditional item of the night, but it was packed with flavor and delicious spice. Loved the combo of chili, mustard seed, coconut, and saffron. When generously slathered on the rice or on a slice of naan, this dish brought me to Indian food heaven. For dessert, we shared the chocolate sutra, which didn't seem like an Indian dish at all. It was more like a flourless chocolate mousse cake with a few pistachios thrown on as an afterthought. That said, it tasted superb. Service was friendly throughout the night. Each time we looked up, it seemed like there was a different server tending to our table, but that never got in the way of their professionalism and timely pacing of the courses. Thanks for the lovely dinner, IndeBlue!
(4)
Jennifer P.
Excellent and innovative Indian cuisine. The cocktails are also original and elegant - try the spicy lychee martini or the mango margarita. Beautiful restaurant and very attentive service. Happy hour or late night is an awesome deal - all drinks and apps are between $4-$5 - truly a steal. Our expectations were exceeded - definitely a must go.
(5)
Cynthia X.
Currently eating leftovers from IndeBlue as I write this review. The food here is lovely, though I would stay away from any prix fixe menu they offer. Below is what I (and my bf) tried from their $50pp Valentine's special menu (don't think all items are on their actual menu): Course 1: Red kidney bean soup: Ok, tastes like chili. I could do without Chicken and kale soup: Tastes a bit like chicken noodle soup but with a thicker consistency. I wasn't a fan Course 2: Chickpea salad: Fine, but I can't believe they listed this out as a separate course. Course 3: Foiegras on toast: This was tasty, but I don't see the Indian connection at all.. Mushroom uttapam: Yum! Mushrooms + truffle oil over a light rice cake bread. This I would definitely recommend. Course 4: Chicken Tikka Masla: No trip to an Indian restaurant would be complete without this British rendition of Indian food! You cannot go wrong with this! While my bf and I wanted to be adventurous and try something else, we just couldn't resist. The chicken was completely tender and the sauce slightly sweet. Lamb chops: These were juicy, but I didn't particularly care for some of the spices which lent a bitter flavor. This came with a bread basket of 3 naans: sesame, paneer, and garlic. I loved all 3. I could eat naan for days. Course 5: Red velvet cake: delicious, though I'm pretty sure this is a Valentine's day special. Bread pudding: definitely could skip While my review is not all that favorable, I still give this place 4 stars because the mainstay food items (I think) that the restaurant normally serves are great - chicken tikka masala, naan, mushroom uttapam. yumyum. I wish I had a choice to order a la carte. Point of the story: regular menu items are great. valentine's special, not so much.
(4)
Krupa T.
Very good! Been here twice now and both times were amazing. The spinach chaat is unique and flavorful. It's almost like a salad/chaat. Hard to describe, order it! I feel like Indeblue has a truly unique menu that is modern and appetizing. I've been to tashaan and I thought their attempt to be modern comes off bland and flavorless!
(4)
Hema K.
Stopped in for happy hour after a long day of shopping and fell in LOVE! Such a cool vibe as soon as you enter and the waiters/bartenders are very friendly. We started off with two drinks--the Indebluetini and the Chikni Shandar. The Indebluetini was to die for--it tasted like rich mango pulp infused with vodka. The Chikni Shandar was good, but not what it was advertised to be--I couldn't taste the chai or cardamom, so it was more or less just a sangria/spritzer. However, the food completely made up for points I might have docked for the drinks. We ordered the naan pizza, the spinach chaat, and the stuffed long hot peppers. The peppers had great flavor but I wished the paneer inside was a bit more firm and less crumbly. The spinach chaat--out of this world! I could eat it for days. Such a unique twist on an Indian staple! And the naan pizza had an amazing range of flavors. The naan itself was perfectly cooked, and the rose petal marmalade, asparagus, and goat cheese all complemented each other so well. This is modern Indian fusion at its finest. Definitely my favorite spot in Philly--can't wait to be back. I will add that I thought having a Ganesha statue in the middle of the bar surrounded by spirits was a bit distasteful, but only a minor point.
(5)
Kathleen D.
Happy Hour, that's what I'm sayin. If you can swipe yourself a seat at styley IndeBlue's little bar between the hours of 5-7 PM, you should that. Happy Hour: That's what I can't shut up about here. With select appetizers in the $3-$5 range, you can really fashion a nice Indian style small plates feast for yourself, or an early dinner perhaps? Also, there's drinking to be done here: $3 Kingfishers, along with $4 featured crafty drafts, $4 select glasses of reds and whites, $5 cocktails... Here. I'll offer this tip up for the ravenous ones; maybe you wanna order in shifts. Otherwise, a parade of tapas sized plates will ascend on you all at once. I mentioned, it's not a large bar. I got to have one of those, "Ah geez, we're makin a spectacle of ourselves, ahhhgain,' moments as we huddled in the corner with our veritable mini smorgasbord of Indian fusion flavors. There are a lot of lil dishes that were calling our names. We did a shameless samplin' and enjoyed em up plenty. I'm required by some kinda self-imposed regulation that I always have to have a samosa. The vegetable samosas were spot-hitters, filled with mildly spiced potato & peas and drizzled with chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt. The other samosa style option on the bar menu during happy hour is the house-made tamarind barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls served with a blue cheese wine sauce. I liked em just fine, but for me those rolls were all about the winey blue cheese condiment accompanying those fellers. "Drums of Heaven," are representing for the wing portion of your happy hour hankerings. These frenched chicken wing drummies are batter-fried and then sauced in a slightly smoky, chili-tomato puree, with scattered blue cheese crumbles and scallion to top. Juicy. Messy! Tasty. Very tasty. Hey, and if your lookin for a fusiony flatbread, there's a daily featured naan pizza. "Ask your bartender," it says on the menu in parentheses. I can tell you, everyone asks. We heard the contents of that pizza repeated again and again...annnd despite that factoid, I know I'm still somehow leaving something off the list here, but you can believe me when I say that it was a good'un comprised of crispy bottomed, pillowy naan, topped with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, paneer, mozzarella, and cilantro. Out of everything, however, our top favorite bites were the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the stuffed long hot peppers appetizer. The crispy cauliflower was like that ole Indo-Chinese favorite of ours, Gobi Manchuria. Florets are batter-fried crispy and then spiced up with a, "medium heat,' tomato, chili, soy, ginger sauce. So good. So addictive. As always, I wish for more heat, but if you ask you can get a little of IndeBlue's red hot sauce on the side. I overheard another in-the-know lady do so, and I coppycatted. Yes. The stuffed long hot peppers didn't need no extree burn, I'm happy to report. You know how it is with long hots, some of em have a sneaking heat, and some of em straight up sear. These two roasted (or fried) soft long hot peppers were of the latter variety and stuffed with mozzarella and crumbled paneer and herbs, resting in a pool of that now-familiar chili tomato sauce. Good stuff. There you have it. We ate nearly everything on the happy hour menu and we dug it. Nearly everything... We'll return to devour the rest. IndeBlue's 5-7 daily happy hour became an instant favorite with us. Nice chaating with you.
(4)
Scott S.
The food is unbelievable if your in town check them out. They have a family style in the menu for two people and up.
(5)
Enid C.
Here's what I look for in Indian restaurants: 1) bold flavor combinations, 2) food that packs heat (when appropriate), 3) water glass-filling diligence. For the first two requirements, Indeblue falls short. We came with a group and ordered a pretty diverse sampling (samosa chaat, tandoori mixed grill, lamb rogan josh, baingan bharta, channa masala). Across the board, dishes ranged from underseasoned to just plain bland. I also barely detected any spiciness, even after specifying we wanted heat. Their take on "modern & traditional" cuisine (aren't those two things sort of mutually exclusive?) clearly means they have tempered things down to appease western palates. The interior is pretty swanky, and they serve up some decent cocktails. Prices are higher for smaller quantities of food, so know that you're paying for ambiance more than anything else. Maybe this is an alright place for happy hour socializing. If you're main focus is quality food, please direct yourself to Ekta. But hey - at least my water glass was always kept full!
(3)
Rupal P.
Excellent Indian Brunch - order any of the thali's and you'll be super happy you did:)
(5)
Kimberly Y.
I came here for brunch and really appreciated the variety on their menu. First of all, all the brunch drinks--chai sangria, Bloody Mary--were tempting, but I ended up going with the rose petal mimosa. Tasted amazing; there was just the perfect amount of rose flavor! My bf got the mango lassi even though we couldn't find it on the menu. Ended up being $5. Ridic. We also got the butter chicken with rice and French toast. While both were excellent, we would've appreciated larger portions. For two people, I'd recommend getting three dishes. Except we already spent $40 as is and didn't want to spend more... Usually I find brunch food to be extremely filling. Not exactly the cheapest Indian food. But that's okay! The ambiance more than made up for it. They had live guitar and drums which sounded surprisingly ethnic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The service was all right; sometimes extremely attentive, occasionally neglectful. Overall definitely worth the experience!
(5)
Amanda M.
I'm a big fan of IndeBlue's Collingswood location, but hadn't been to their Philly spot yet. So when I needed a spot in the city to meet up with fellow tikki masala loving friends, we all jumped at the chance to try this out, finally. On a Friday night, the place was crowded but not completely packed. Having only ever walked by the outside, I was surprised how big the restaurant was - it reaches really far back, and I was happy to be seated way back near the kitchen (far away from the door and the cold air coming through). The ambience was nice, and our waiter was, at first, extremely attentive. We weren't ordering drinks or several course meals, so he sort of disappeared when he realized we were going to be a cheap table. Still, the food was delicious - the paneer tikki masala was delicious, as was the fresh, hot naan I ordered on the side. Was disappointed by the small portion (was hoping for next-day leftovers!) but the quality was hard to beat. Definitely not an everyday/take-out sort of spot, but perfect for a night out. The happy hour deals look awesome, so I think I'll be back for that!
(4)
Trang N.
For my 200th review- I'm glad it was a good experience! We grabbed last night minute resis at indie blue. Upon entering the space there was a nice bar to the left by the hostess stand that was in full swing. He ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice dark purple walls, silk curtains, jeweled light fixtures over the tables and a beautiful ornate tapestry type decoration on the main wall, it created a warm romantic setting. Dinner got off to a rocky start, we had 7:30 reservation, but wasn't seated until 8pm! Major annoyance as we were standing in the doorway with another group complaining about the wait. Once we were seated, our waiter immediate stepped in and saved our evening! He was charismatic, very attentive and made great recommendations, our glasses were always full which is a huge plus! We selected the chefs tasting menu, the portions were perfect for two, however the wait time between the courses were rather long. We had the bbq spare ribs samosas- four pieces of flavorful rolls with tender shredded pork- the three side dipping sauces added a great level of heat. The heavenly drumsticks were a nice and spicy buffalo wing, crispy and dressed well. The lamb lollipops were cooked to the perfect medium rare and I couldn't help myself but to munch in the bones! Next we got the mixed tandori grill which was a tasting of the lamb/chicken and shrimp. Very nicely presented and great flavor. The Osso Bucco pork- was very nice- it didn't fall off the bone, but it was tender enough not to use a knife- great flavor in this tangy sauce- not technically an Osso Bucco as it was lacking that delicious bone marrow. The dessert trio was yummy, although we were so full, we packed it up- the ice cream was very nice. I highly recommend the mango lassi- I didn't see it on the menu but I knew hey had it! It was delicious!! It cooled down the heat factor for me when things were getting too spicy! Other than the wait, the floors were a little slippy and I wasn't even wearing heels. A bit treacherous to get to the bathroom, but I survived. All in all a great date night- the noise level was a bit louder, then I like but what can you do! I will be coming back!
(4)
Pam S.
I adore IndeBlue, especially their fantastic lunch. For one, they are ridiculously vegan-friendly, all I have to do is say "vegan" and the staff is very well informed, and items on the menu are clearly marked. Secondly (or firstly, for everyone who's not vegan) the food is fantastic. I love when I go to a place and the food and the prices match. Yes, it's fancier, and yes, you should pay for it. Fantastic. Third, that lunch? The best is getting the thali, or a plated lunch of small dishes. As of my last visit, it now includes dessert, which for vegans, was a house-made coconut sorbet. It. was. amazing. I haven't been for happy hour, but I've heard that's a great deal as well, and they have great drink specials at lunch ($4 rose mimosas? yes pls.) Love them, and I love bringing people there!
(5)
Jessica W.
The food at Indeblue is fantastic. Decor is beautiful. We had a very nice experience and look forward to returning.
(5)
Vidushi B.
This review update is for the brunch - dinner is still a solid 5 stars for me! I also enjoyed my brunch, but I still think dinner here is better. The ambiance obviously does not change from dinner to brunch -- but they do have live sitar and tabla at noon, which is a nice touch. To start, I ordered chai, and obviously loved it. I don't mean a chai tea latte, I mean real, milky, overly sweet chai, which is just the way I like it. We got the spinach chaat as an appetizer, which you'll know from all the other reviews, is the best dish at this restaurant. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. For my entree, I decided to have the paneer bhurjee, which is one of the more traditional items on the menu. It came with a small chili cheese naan. It was very flavorful, and I really liked it. The awkward thing was that they naan was pretty small, and I had so much bhurjee left over at the end. I took it home, and tonight, I ordered take-out naan to finish it with... My friends got the dosa and the french toast, and both were impressed. However, I think that getting the more fusion dishes is the move here, because that's what IndeBlue is good at - putting a new spin on more traditional dishes!
(4)
Farha A.
This was by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever encountered - and I am an Indian. What I appreciated most is the uniqueness of the dishes while still maintaining an authentic taste and reverence to South Asian cuisine. I went during happy hour to eat and the happy hour foods were served in generous portions for only $3, $4, or $5 max. My favorite dish was the Spinach Chaat. It was composed of crunchy Spinach flash fried in chick pea powder with other various spices and sauces typical to a chaana or samosa chaat. It was a very light yet satisfying dish and it took a lot of restraint not to order more as I still had plenty more coming. The drums of heaven, hot long peppers, veggie samosas, and shrimp with chilli aoili were also things I tried and loved each and every single one. The bartender serving my food was very kind and informative, offering explanations and recommendations and the food arrived promptly. Best part is all of this came out to be only around ~$20 so if you are a student like me wanting some delicious, gourmet food with a unique flair, I HIGHLY recommend Indeblue. One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Philly!
(5)
A B.
Tonight was looking for spice and flavor, enter IndeBlue. A modern decor and foods that had just a hint of a contemporary twist - barring the fish taco which was completely outside the box, though tasty - I found everything I was looking for!
(3)
Tonya M.
My friends and I have been here for dinner- yum! Have a great happy hour too. Lunch was so good! Reasonably priced, fast, super friendly service as always. Saag Paneer is my favorite.
(5)
Monica H.
It was a first for me to try Indian food. I would not be able to say whether it's authentic or not. So I'm just giving my opinion on what I've encountered.. Our waiter wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. I told him it was my first time trying Indian food, and he didn't offer any type of suggestions. We went with the chefs tasting menu. I wasn't wow'd. If it's a "Chefs Tasting Menu"... shouldn't the "chef" put it together? Why am I selecting all the options.. I wasn't getting a "pre fixe'd" meal.. Anyways.. after what it seemed like pulling teeth out of our waiter, "MONICAs TASTING MENU included: spinach - i enjoyed. it was crunchy and delicious. something i've never had. scallop - nothing special. ONE medium size scallop in a puddle of sauce. lamb chop - too salty. chicken - chewy and a bit on the dry side. goat - very tender and moist. ....dessert (which the chef finally decided to put together cuz their was no option). it consist of homemade ice cream, something like a fried banana dough, which i didn't taste any banana. rice pudding which was very waterdown... MAYBE i would come back for their lunch since there were items there that i did want to try which is not offered during dinner.
(3)
marie l.
This review is purely a happy hour cocktail review. I will be back to review food and regular menu very soon. So, I like happy hours for two reasons. 1.) getting together with a friend who you haven't seen in a while and really want to catch up with, but you both have such crazy schedules that all you can fit in is a happy hour, and 2.) Partake in a solo cocktail while I read or introspect, or think big life thoughts and simultaneously not break the bank. Either way, I love relatively small, quiet but interesting and alive places. Indeblue more than fits this bill. Good, strong cocktails for a happy hour, friendly and non invasive service, perfect balance of calm and vibrant.
(5)
Jason M.
I was at IndeBlue the other week. Very beautiful restaurant! The host (Danielle) was very nice, friendly, and accommodating. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I had a great experience with Jared and Julie. Both wonderful servers and people. I hear the owners are very friendly, caring, and treat their staff like family. That's always great to hear! I was able to speak with one of them (Heather). She wanted to make sure everything was to my satisfaction and she even sent out a complimentary appetizer after she found out this was my first time here. She was incredibly nice and friendly. I shared quite a few laughs with her as well. If I could, I'd give them 10 stars, but 5 stars will have to suffice for now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Tony R.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was hands down the best I've ever had. I have travelled the world and eaten indian food, this was the best!
(5)
bryan k.
The brunch is top notch in fusion and presentation. We had the masala omelette and chicken tikka wrap with four dollar cocktails. The omelette dish was cooked to a really nice consistency with maple syrup infused bacon and with the included naan we could make our own custom breakfast sandwich; such a good finger food! Also the live sitar music was a sweet aural addition!
(4)
Ashley M.
Absolutely delicious Indian food, with a flare. Loved the chick peas the best, dahl was also excellent.
(5)
Lu S.
Every dish was amazing. Full of flavour and lovely atmosphere. I had the veg samosa to start, butter chicken curry and then chocolate sutra for dessert. All delicious. Best Indian I've had in the US so far.
(4)
Breton B.
It's about time I started reviewing. Lived near Collingswood, NJ (location of IndeBlue's first joint) for several years and never really gave it a chance. Moved into Philly and IndeBlue followed along opening up their location a half a block from where I live in Center City. The Wash Square West location is pretty amazing. Classy decor, friendly waitstaff, and (though we didn't partake) the bar you pass to get to the dining room looked very inviting. The fiance liked her Bombay Punch (Bombay Gin, grapefruit and pineapple juice with mint) but the food - the food definitely made the night. We did small plates so no entree review here but each plate kept us wanting more (in a good way). HIghly recommend the Duo Samosa, the U-10 Scallops (with a coconut milk-curry sauce that was even more incredible when lapped up by Naan), and finally - the Chickpea battered Sweet Potato Pakora (could have eaten at least 3 plates of those). We ended with the Stuffed Squash with saffron rice. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. They even allowed us a taste of several of their chutneys as well as some Gazpacho to start off. For those that want a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine - IndeBlue delivers. Will be back for sure.
(5)
Paul A.
This place is great! Fantastic for date night (maybe not a first date though). It's a bit noisy so be warned. But the service and food is really great. Price is on the high end for Indian food but hey it's an upscale joint in Midtown so it's expected...and worth it! It's very popular so make a reservation. And most guys are wearing jackets so get dressed up and enjoy!
(5)
Shane L.
Surprisingly good lunch. It takes a lot for me consider indian food good (I'm no expert), because there's plenty of Indian spots that try too hard with the high-end look. Pricing is always a focus when I come to asian restaurants because the truth is that I really don't like to pay for stuff that I know costs little to nothing to prepare. Maybe it was the fact that this was a lunch meeting (expensed) which allowed me to enjoy the food a little more than I anticipated....who knows. Fact of the matter, it was plain delicious. This is a lunch review so I can't wait to see what a dinner experience will bring. Appetizer was a "crispy spinach chaat" that was refreshing and full of salty sweet flavors. Entree was a "sea-food thali" which was essentially nan, rice and 5 small bowls of goodness (mainly curries, pickled mango & yogurt). I look forward to trying out the dinner menu at some point. I feel that the food, coupled with the modern/sheek decor, will make for an amazing night.
(4)
Behnaum S.
Best happy hour I've been to in a long time. Very good prices on unique drinks all made with fresh squeezed juices, you can taste the difference. The happy hour food is great and well priced. I've gone 3 days in a row now.
(5)
Jade S.
This place is awesome. There's always a monthly special which usually features exotic entrees and appetizers that have a twist. My boyfriend and I will always try one of the two. What makes this place great is that it is consistent. We have never had a bad meal. Try the Thalie if Indian is new to you and DO NOT skip on the Fig ice cream. So happy to have this place nearby.
(5)
Ben W.
Meal left much to be desired. Manager was inexplicably rude. I will not be returning.
(1)
Anand T.
Came here for the first time last Saturday and was really impressed. This is a really good indian restaurant in the city. It's not authentic indian but it's more modernized indian. The food is amazing here some of my favorites are the drums of heaven and the seared scallops. The drums of heaven have a nice spice to it and it's not overwhelming spicy and everything in the dish complements well. Seared scallops are out of this world it goes especially with the sambar it just makes the dish even better. For those not in the city not to worry they have a location in collingswood, so def try it out you won't regret it.
(5)
Izabella J.
Vegetarian & Gluten Free welcome!!! 5 stars for Taste of the food, Service & Ambiance of this place
(5)
Jacob J.
There's a lot of good restaurant right within a few blocks but this is worth a stop. It's an American-Indian fusion with very good results. The drums of heaven are delicious wings with just enough spice and go well with tamarind chutney. The naan pizza is a nice touch. The seafood moilee is should try.
(4)
C V.
Indeblue is probably the best Indian option in Center City and a very nice experience. Ambience: Great- intimate, nice and elegant, not too loud Drinks: the cocktails were great! I'm usually not into cocktails because they're often prepared so sweet; Indeblue's cocktails were actually quite nice and unique Food: It's not entirely a traditional menu and I liked that; the spinach chaat is great as everyone says. The more traditional dishes are not as great as they could be but are still very good. Service: Everyone was very nice and seemed to take service seriously. They had a few mixups but were really apologetic about that. I think they're just getting up and running so I'm sure they'll improve as they go.
(4)
Ronald Y.
Delicious food, great service. I was there over the weekend with my partner and friends, we had had a great time. vibrant and energetic ambience. It's a must.
(5)
Jen L.
Things that IndeBlue are: - a nice restaurant as evidenced by inflated prices for food you can get more cheaply at a lot of other Indian restaurants, attentive service, and a decor that strives to look fancy - overhyped Things that IndeBlue are not: - a good restaurant. Food was underwhelming and not memorable, particularly at the price point they're requesting Not convinced this place is worth the extra bucks
(3)
David A.
Cut above the standard Indian fare. Ordered the chef's tasting menu. Exceptionally delicious and varied dishes -- not the same 'ol tikka whatever. Plus great beer or wine pairings (I had wine, my bros had beer). It was a real culinary experience. The waiter was awesome too: attentive without being obsequious. One of the most enjoyable Indian meals I've had anywhere.
(5)
Sam C.
The lamb biryani changed. my. life. If you don't order it, you're making a mistake. My friend and I had an amazing meal here. We had both been to the sister restaurant in Collingswood, NJ which was very yummy, but the new Center City location takes the cake. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great, and I loved the little pumpkin soup starter (to quote Andre from The League, I love to amuse my bouche). But let's get to the good stuff. We ordered a red chicken curry, lamb biryani, a roasted eggplant side, and a bunch of naans, all to share. Well let's just say we cleaned our plates in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Everything was delicious but the standouts for both of us were the biryani (seriously I could eat that every day, no problem), the accompanying raita which was perfectly tangy and refreshing, and the eggplant side which was absolutely scrumptious. The chutney and sauces were all wonderful as well. The spice level on everything was perfect; we were definitely feeling it but not so much that we couldn't taste our food. Even the least memorable dish, the chicken curry, would have gotten rave reviews at another restaurant; it was simply eclipsed by the more exceptional things on our table. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back to try as much as I can on the menu, but there's no way I won't be ordering that lamb again.
(5)
Jamie H.
We were looking for Indian food near our hotel, and the concierge recommended Indieblue. My friend and I shared two appetizers and half-servings of three entrees. Over the last 15 years, we have probably gotten together for 3 meals a year at conferences all over the world. We agreed that this was the best meal we've ever enjoyed together. The food was absolutely stupendous, and the service was marvelous too.
(5)
Manoj V.
Classy ambience, excellent service and amazing food. Spinach mozzarella soup Thali! Probably the best place to introduce someone to Indian food.
(5)
J K.
Inde Blue is a very pretty restaurant inside, candelit and romantic. It would be a nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our server was very professional and gave us good recommendations from the menu. This is not your "standard" Indian fare but more "fusion" ...the best dishes we had were a crispy spinach salad (which could be one of the best salads I have had anywhere) and goat biryani. We also tried the long hot peppers stuffed with cheese, they were very, very spicy (too spicy for me) The scallop appetizer was good. Overall very pleased with the meal, and will plan to return.
(3)
Tami L.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week. I already can't wait to return. The food is spectacular. Jason, our server, was funny, attentive without being overbearing, and offered superb recommendations. All of our food was delicious. The cocktails are tasty and innovative. The food was spicy but not uncomfortably so! A fabulous evening!
(5)
Jason T.
Pretty exceptional experience. Two of us dined. The food was very good. The service was good. What I found to be exceptional was the fact that we had an `in center city` coupon that had apparently expired. They gave me $10 off my next visit then called later to apologize and offer to honor the coupon.
(5)
Sara L.
If you have convinced yourself that "ethnic" food cannot be elegant, please step into IndeBlue and allow them to change your mind. I had heard raves about the Collingswood Inde Blue for years and was thrilled to learn that the relatively new space on 13th Street was associated. As our very helpful waiter explained, the downtown location is a little more upscale with more creative flair to the menu than the more traditional offerings in New Jersey. I made a reservation to celebrate the big 3-5 with my husband at IndeBlue this past weekend and enjoyed one of the nicer meals out I have had in some time. The space is beautifully decorated with a heavy (but not over-the-top) Indian vibe. The lighting is dim and sparkly, but you can still read the menu and see your dinner date. The drink menu had a nice selection of wines and beers, as well as some specialty cocktails that I look forward to trying. I was correct in my guess that the ~50% table occupation by Indian people predicted good things for the meal to come. Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative as he went over the soup and salad "of the moment" and reviewed the options for doing the 5-course chef's menu, which we skipped on this visit. We started the meal with complimentary amuse bouche portions of the spicy, but well-balanced chilled gazpacho, followed by appetizers of seared scallops in coconut curry sauce and and intriguing arugula salad over watermelon with spiced cashews and candied ginger. It was nice to start the meal with one heavier dish and one so very light and refreshing. For entrees we shared the chicken tikka masala and the seafood moilee. Both were outstanding, and each was served with a differently spiced rice side that perfectly suited them. We wrapped up the meal by sharing the fig duo dessert - a fig blondie with a scoop of homemade fig ice cream. I think that dessert has ruined Fig Newtons for me for life! We were already planning what to order on our next trip before we even finished our meals. The prices were not cheap, but very reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. If you are expecting the typical "vat of Indian food" portion sizes, you might be disappointed; however, for truly gourmet food I found them quite satisfying. Many of the dishes are rich enough that a little goes a long way, and we had ample leftovers to take home. I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit, but IndeBlue has really outdone themselves in filling a void for "Indian food as a nice meal" in a way that not even Palace at the Ben ever quite achieved.
(5)
Susan P.
Love this place! It's in a great location --- walking distance from many other restaurants and bars. It has beautiful decor and friendly staff. APPETIZERS/ENTREES I recommend the naan pizza, vegetable samosa chaat, drums of heaven, lollipop lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and the lamb rogan josh. DESSERTS The banana nirvana (banana gulab jamun) was ok --- it shouldn't be called gulab jamun --- it looks like gulab jamun but it tastes nothing like it. The mango panna cotta on the other hand was light and refreshing. COCKTAILS All of the cocktails that we got were delicious. I highly recommend the sexy goan, indebluetini, and the ginger twist.
(5)
Sar M.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. You have to try the lamb lollipops they were amazing! A little pricey but a great place to go for a different take on Indian food.
(4)
Shirl C.
Food is exquisite! The waiter was very nice to us, and the owner was so sweet. Food is absolutely fabulous!
(5)
Carly S.
We went here (on a double date) for restaurant week last night, and WOW I was so impressed. I'll preface this with the fact that I'm a pretty hypercritical restaurant diner, and honestly, I left having no complaints with our experience and food. We came here looking for a place that we typically wouldn't go to since it was restaurant week, and I'll definitely be coming back someday. First of all, the decor and service were great. The interior was very beautifully decorated, and felt intimate with the dim lighting. Great as a date spot or with a group of friends. We never had empty water glasses and the entire host of servers were very attentive and polite. The courses came out very well paced (maybe for some, a slightly long of a wait between courses since it was very busy last night, but I prefer to have a little gap between courses as I'm a slow eater and get overwhelmed when everything comes out too fast). For the first course I had the spinach chaat, which was out of this world. I wasn't expecting spinach to be so tasty. It was flash fried with these little crispy noodle things on top and some veggies and tasty sauce underneath. That set the bar high, but nothing after disappointed. For all the courses, the group got something different, so we all shared. The others got the chicken chaat which was very tender and flavorful, and also the vegetable samosa which I tried also and liked. For the second course I got the tandoori chicken wings which just fell off the bone and the spices used were perfect. came with a little salad of veggies on the side which I gobbled up too. My friends got fried cauliflower which was also delicious, the fish taco which was sweet and tasty, and the stuffed long hot which was deliciously cheesy. For the main course, I got lamb saag, Again, the meat was so tender, like nothing I've had before with a wonderful concoction of spices. It came with some sort of seasoned basmati rice (maybe saffron?) and your choice of naan bread. (get the garlic or rosemary one!) Everything was SO GOOD, and the portions were generous. I actually took half of my entree home for lunch today and can't wait to eat it again! The others got the fish dish, and my boyfriend got the pork one (which I think I liked even better than mine) Finally for dessert, I had the rice pudding which was very tasty and a nice finish. My friends got the sorbet, and the ice cream pairings. I think my favorite was the sorbet, but all were great. The rose petal ice cream and fig ice cream were something I never tried before, so that was fun. I wasn't drinking for the night, but all three of the others got the darjeeling cocktail, and all loved it. I would imagine at non-restaurant week, prices are a little steep, but so worth it. I left stuffed and happy, and still happy as I write this rating! Do yourself a favor, and come here!
(5)
Johanna B.
This was a great meal. The happy hour had amazing prices and is every day, even the weekends. We had a table of 4, so we shared 4 mains family style and a bread basket with 4 types of naan. We had one who needed gluten free options, which every main complied with and she even got her own gf naan. We ordered 1. the eggplant, almost pureed like a babaganoosh which was tasty with a mild heat, 2. a dish the ended up being vegetarian meatballs made of cashews, dried apricots and cheese in a mildly spicy creamy sauce, very good, 3. Cheese in masala, big hunks of cheese in a creamy mild sauce, very nice and 4. The goat in a rich, warm velvety sauce which was out standing. If you get a drink, opt for the signature drink, which is mango puree with citron vodka - like an adult lassi. The interior is beautiful, the service was great and we'll def be back.
(4)
Melissa P.
My friend who is a vegetarian (ish) was in town for the night and wanted to get dinner, hm, where to take a vegetarian out of towner where I can love my meal and check out a new place? Consulted my bookmarks and opentable and boom, Indeblue. Excellent choice. PRO TIP: Sign up for their emails and you will get a $10 off coupon emailed to you (and I think you get something on your bday and anniversary because they asked for that too. I put my anniversary of being single so I can celebrate with myself when that comes up...) VIBE: Gorgeous space and ambiance, tables are spaced out which is nice, and service was very friendly. FOOD: --Menu is very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole veggie menu section), which is part of the reason I picked it and it did not let us down. --Dahi Avocado Chat- Our waiter actually forgot to bring this out but even after he put it in it came out super quickly. It was very interesting and really delicious. It was cold, which I didn't expect for some reason, but I was into it. --Stuffed Red Pepper- very good, and surprisingly big for $14. We had leftovers --Lamb Rogan Josh-also good sized portion, very tender, great flavors. More leftovers. DRINKS: --Indebluetini is delicious-like a less creamy mango lassi cocktail. --Karma chai sutra was my selection and I had serious drink envy, this tasted like a chai spiced white russian and was way too milky for me. Not a fan, but that's more of a personal preference. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do, and probably spent 3 hours there and never felt rushed, which was awesome. Great spot, prices were reasonable, great atmosphere, and good food, definitely recommend! Also definitely want to check out their happy hour.
(4)
Priya R.
Take it from somebody who really HATES eating out for Indian food. This place is FABULOUS. I had the privilege to go there for dinner with my parents last weekend. Lets take it piece by piece shall we? The ambiance has an intimate, romantic, ethnic feel to it- basically what I want my future home to look like. I am just in love with the decor. It is very cozy and just wonderful (warning: instagramming may not be possible due to dim lighting) The service is exceptional. Water was always filled without question, servers were attentive and treated each customer with a lot of respect and patience. Indian food can be complicated for those who don't eat it often (and even for some who do!) but our server took time to explain everything and recommended some great dishes to try. The food is just perfection. I am trying to think of an Indian restaurant that I've eaten at in Philly that even compares and none comes to mind. We ordered the lamb kabob and the naan pizza (the rotating special. ours was a paneer and caramelized onion one) for the appetizer, the lamb rogan josh, and the chicken makhni (along with naan for the table). Everything came out very promptly and the food was absolutely great. When it first comes out you don't think that the portions are that much, but we ended up having enough leftovers for the next day. This truly is a great spot to go if you are interested in eating quality Indian food.
(5)
Yayi Z.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and they had live sitar playing. The music was awesome, and of course accompanied by great food. Service was a bit slow but pleasant.
(4)
Marissa K.
This place was pretty great. The ambience, service and cocktails were fabulous. The food was delicious too. The Flower of Devotion cocktail was hands down one of the best cocktails I have ever had so far in the city of Philadelphia. It was made with black velvet whiskey, lemon, honey, and lavender bitters. To. Die. For. The Crispy Cauliflower appetizer was fresh and tasty - had the flavor of 'general tso's' but healthier with the vegetable. The Paneer Tikka Masala was phenomenal - the house-made paneer was fantastic. We also got the Baingan Bharta - an eggplant dish - the waitress raved about it, and it was very flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the mashed eggplant. And ,of course, we ordered a bread basket with naan, lasooni, provencal and garhwali - all great breads to try (thought I wish they would have brought this out sooner to the table - they served it with the dinners). They also provided three chutneys for the table that were mild but flavorful that you could add to any of the dishes. The restaurant itself was trendy with great decor. A little dark, but the place was packed and that helped to make it a more intimate experience with your own table. I went with two girlfriends and it was a great place to catch up. The waitstaff was friendly and fun. You definitely know the second you walk in that you will be enjoying Indian cuisine as the smell of curry was strong throughout the restaurant. I would most definitely go back - hopefully I can make it during Happy Hour because they have some great specials at the bar.
(4)
Rajiv D.
This place is one of the better Indian restaurants I've been too. Very good food. Creative food, not done just to be different. It actually works. Wait staff is very good as well. The lunch thali is really awesome. But I've done dinner here as well and it was excellent. The spinach chaat is yum.
(5)
Ken M.
We are regulars at the IndieBlue Collingswood, NJ location. (I have a 5 star review for that location yelp.com/biz/indeblue-in… ). I convinced my wife that we should try this location. The bar: The bartender seemed distracted and uninterested. Why? Well, at the corner of the bar were two employees dressed in black who were standing, huddled around three customers who were sitting at the bar (they seemed to be employees as well, off-the-clock enjoying some civilian time). The bartender was more interested in chatting them up then paying attention to us. He had the personality of a wet blanket. Our server: He was very robotic and lacked personality. My wife and I were surprised at the night-and-day difference between the Philly and Collingswood location. In any case, he was proficient, that counts for something. The food: For an appetizer, we ordered the BBQ Rib rolls. They were (4) flavorless rolls, barely the size of my thumbs. It was not worth $8.00. The Baingan Bharta was very good. The Crispy Spinach Chaat was excellent (as always). The Chicken Madras and the Lamb Rogan Josh were perfection! (they are our go-to items if we aren't interested in the specials of the day). During the meal, our server had asked us 'so, is the Philly location better than Collingswood'? My wife and I both stared at him and just smiled, we couldn't even muster out a white lie. Pricing: We felt that the pricing was reasonable (seemed to be on-par with the Jersey location, minus the no BYOB here) Return factor: We don't need to be handheld/coddled but we expect some enthusiasm from the staff. When we go out to dine, we want the whole package. We don't think we will return to this location. 3.5 stars
(3)
Elva L.
Dude, no, okay? I mean, I don't want to go on forever, and you don't want to read a long review, so let's just, here: one word? underwhelmed. it is my understanding that a tasting menu should feature things that a chef feels that s/he has absolutely mastered. dishes in a tasting menu should represent a chef's style, and it must bear witness to a restaurant's reputation. so, what happened??!?!?! It sounds really awful when I say it's the worst tasting menu we've had since Cuba Libre, so I'll just say it's my least favorite. I love tasting menus. I like when it's complete set, I like when I have choices, I like it any how, any where. Er, just not here. what DO I remember from my meal here? a piece of under-seasoned chicken. bland dessert that was somehow neither classic nor innovative. weird, oil-y condiments that didn't stay well on the things you're supposed to spread them on. why even make me do the work? season your food, so I know what you want it to taste like. season your food, so I'm not in control of your best and most fundamental tools such as FLAVOR. who has even heard of under-seasoned Indian food? i've never encountered such until my visit here. at something like $50/pp, it is not a terrible loss. So i tried it, and felt disappointed by my experience. it happens. it isn't the end of the world. but i will remember this place as one of those times when yelp! has led me astray. so i guess give it a shot at your own risk, which is anyway always the case.
(2)
Anish R.
I went here for brunch, but I can safely say that pretty much every dish here is unique and will go beyond satisfying expectations. It's pretty great that this place offers a brunch menu. They even have bacon so you're basic brunch needs will be satisfied! Often times when I'm in the city looking for a brunch spot, I want something different than the traditional brunch menu. I had the stuff long pepper with paneer, which was amazing because it had that cheesy inside with an added spice. They have a large variety of naans including some topped with melted cheese as well as naan pizzas. Also had the chicken tikka masala served with rice, which was much better than any Indian restaurant in Philly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for indian food with a fusion twist.
(5)
Ainsley A.
I've always been wary to try Indian food. I've heard the horror stories and have always passed. After being introduced to a few of the menu items at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash, I was determined to come here and try a few more items off of the Happy Hour menu. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. The bartender was friendly and made sure that we were catered to. The ambiance is great- trendy, romantic yet casual. As for the food, 10/10. Like I said before, Indian has always creeped me out, but since IndeBlue is Indian infusion, it opened my eyes to a cuisine I would not normally try. The vegetable samosa's were full of flavor, resting on top of a bed of chickpeas. The spinach chaat was unlike anything I have ever tasted before- the crunch of the spinach paired perfectly with the sweet yogurt. The naan pizza is a nice portion for everyone to try- a bit small but the flavors were outstanding. The star of the evening though was the BBQ pork spare rib samosas. The meat was seasoned with tamarind and the blue cheese wine sauce mixed well with every flavor. I cant wait to come back and try the items on the dinner menu as I ordered almost everything on the HH menu.
(5)
Sneha K.
Went there for happy hour - the food was delicious and the happy hour was had great deals! The place is really cute and is a great spot for a date or a nice out with friends. IndeBlue offers both traditional and fusion Indian food but I'd strongly recommend the fusion food here over the traditional. My friends and I ordered the Spinach Chaat, which is made of fried spinach, yogurt, tomatoes and sauces, and the Stuffed Long Hot Peppers. The Spinach Chaat was one of the best chaats I've ever had! The peppers were a little too spicy for my liking but still pretty good. I also ordered the Indebluetini, a mango-based drink that was amazing.
(5)
Monya V.
Two friends and I stumbled upon this place by accident and I an so glad we did. We made it in time for their happy hour all three of us really enjoyed the food and drinks. We each had the indiebluetini, it was sweet, fruity, fragrant and just so yummy we got two rounds of them Although we only got appetizers at the bar, the food was spicy and delicious. I had the vegetable samosas - which were so good!! My friends ordered the crispy spinach chaat and some sort of shrimp dish. I tried the spinach chaat, it was melt in your mouth amazing. Four stars out of five for the slow service, they were busy, but they were not THAT busy that we couldn't have placed a food order or gotten a second round a little quicker. Also, the second round - my drink came to the table first & my friends had to wait for theirs even though we each ordered the same thing. All that said, I really like this place & we will defiantly be back!
(4)
Patty M.
Went in last night for post dinner drinks for their late night happy hour which runs 9pm-close nightly and 5-7 everyday. Their drinks are refreshing, stiff and only $5 during happy hour. Their HH food menu was extensive and will be trying when we return. The decor is also fantastic, cute and intimate.
(5)
Edward M.
After sampling some of IndeBlue's foods at various events recently, it seemed only right to stop by their restaurant for happy hour. The happy hour beer list is rather short, so after getting their last Harpoon summer beer, I switched to their mixed drinks, which were surprisingly good. They had interesting flavor combinations - with homages to Indian spices, were thankfully not cloyingly sweet, and were nicely presented. Some bites were sampled, as well. I particularly liked the Indian pizza and the samosas. The bartender, staff, and even the crowd at the packed bar were friendly. The restaurant space itself, which I ventured through on the way to the lovely loo, seemed well appointed and comfortable. For another time.
(5)
Anne K.
Best Indian food I've ever had in Philly, fa shoooo. We came here for date night and the food and ambiance was perfect. We shared the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka makhani. Both were perfectly seasoned! We ordered a side of buttery, bubbly naan topped with cilantro and garlic as well. They give you a pretty generous serving of basmati rice with their entrees. Make sure you check out their mango lassi! They top it off with some chopped pistachios and it's a total treat for anybody who loves mango and/or yogurt.
(5)
Michelle P.
So I FINALLY had a chance to dine at Indeblue. I've sampled their drums of heaven and samosas at a few events before and was highly anticipating my first dine-in experience. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. So my evening started off at the bar for happy hour. My group of three ordered several of the appetizers to share including the drums of heaven, spinach chaat, barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, vegetable samosas and a naan pizza. Each appetizer was between $3 and $5, as were the drinks on the happy hour menu. I found my comfort zone in a $4 glass of pinot grigio. This is definitely my new favorite happy hour in Philly. So beyond being reasonable everything was absolutely delicious. I knew that I loved the drums of heaven and samosas but the naan pizza and spinach chaat were standout fabulous. The pizza was made on naan and consisted of goat cheese, asparagus and mozzarella. It was by far the most creative Indian dish I've ever had. The spinach chaat was super crisy and really flavorful. The BBQ pork rolls were a little small and didn't pop with flavor as the other things did but were definitely tasty. So the next logical thing to do after gorging on appetizers and wine is to sit down to dinner, right? It was a Tuesday evening so we were lucky to grab a table shortly after 8:00pm. In the spirit of sharing, my group decided to go with the large portion of the lollipop lamb chops, small dishes of the baingan bharta and dal makhani, and a bread basket. Again everything was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and extremely palatable. The lamb chops are must-haves! The standout in the bread basket was the gharwali which was made up of spinach and mozzarella, and I would definitely get a solo order of that next time. I also had a nice glass of Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc and the gentlemen in my group enjoyed some scotch neat. I'm not an expert on Indian food however based on what I've had before, it seemed like the traditional cuisine but with a modern flair. Overall, this is probably the best food I've had in a while. On Tuesday evenings they also have live sitar and tabla player which added to some very nice background music. The dining room was bright and comforting. The atmosphere was nice yet relaxed at the same time. So what's my reason for the 4 stars? The service was simply meh. The bartender seemed fairly disinterested, even as happy hour ended and only a few customers remained. The server at our table was barely attentive and not personable at all. He wasn't rude but he just wasn't around much at all. With the prices of food and beverage being on the higher side, I really would have liked to be catered too. Unfortunately, the cost also brought my rating down. Everything was amazing but on the costly side. With that being said, this was probably the best Indian food I've ever had. I smile thinking about this meal, and look forward my next casual happy hour trip or special occasion dining experience at Indeblue.
(4)
Joyce T.
App: vegetable samosa, lamb chop / lollipop, sweet potato pakora Entree: chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, lasooni naan (garlic) We share the above food with party of four. Service and food were great!
(5)
Yaka H.
A great place for lunch. We indulged in the spinach chaat and the lunch thali platters. The spinach chaat involves spinach leaves fried to a delicate crispness. Topped with crispy straws, yogurt, tomatoes, a great combination of delicate textures, cool textures, and crunch. Each thali platter comes with: naan, rice, a snack (in this case 2 samosas), raita, two non-veg/veg/seafood curries, a vegetable curry (in this case daal makhani), and dessert (kheer). The thali platter is a large round platter with plated little bowls, giving you the opportunity to sample many flavors in one sitting. Definitely a great option to taste what IndeBlue offers at one meal. They have 3 kinds of thali platters: non-veg, veg, and seafood. My sister had the non-veg, which included a chicken curry and a lamb curry. I opted for the vegetarian thali. Staff here is cognizant of food allergies and inquired off at seating if we had any.
Visited last night for restaurant week. Four course menu with plenty to choose from... Everything was delicious. Not overly spicy but just enough. When confirming our reservation they repeated twice that the restaurant week menu would be the only menu offered. The $35 per person four course menu with multiple choices for each course is well worth it. We started with veggie samosas and chicken chaat. Both delicious, next we had the tandoori chicken wings and stuffed long pepper. The tandoori spice was evenly distributed and chicken was so tender. The long pepper itself was not spicy but the stuffing and chili sauce had a very nice kick. Next, we had the vegetarian thali platter and lamb was amazing and filling. We hardly had room for the rice pudding but when it was creamy and spiced with cinnamon. I almost forgot to mention the live sitarist and drums! The musicians were wonderful and added so much to the atmosphere of the restaurant. The one issue that prevented me from giving 5 stars was the wait. The entire dinner from when we entered the restaurant until we left was two hours. Because our server was waiting a large party of 18 guests, who all needed to be severed at the same time. Due to this my boyfriend and I had to wait primarily for our entrees, which took roughly 30 minutes. Overall, it was a wonderful night and we would return. Possibly for brunch which is when the sitarist and drummer play again!
(4)
Samannaaz K.
Hands down my best Indian food experience in the U.S! I have been there three times in my two visits to Philly and it is a must visit. If you go there for their happy hour, I highly recommend recommend the Indebluetini! The mango flavor with the cardamom is a true pleaser for your palate. Also- among their small bites- the drums of heaven, shrimp koliwada and the naan pizza. If you go there for dinner the lamb biryani is scrumptious, you can taste all the different spices. I think they use freshly ground spices as opposed to many regular Indian restaurants that use powdered or packages spices. Most Indian restaurants in the U.S. have left me underwhelmed or disappointed with their generic menus and very non-innovative recipes. Perhaps I need to explore more Indian cuisine restaurants...but if you are in Philly and you love Indian food, do not miss Indeblue! Also their courteous and well trained staff adds to the wonderful dining experience. I will always go back when I am in the area.
(5)
jay l.
This is, without a doubt, the very best Indian cuisine anywhere in South Jersey. My favorites: butter chicken, vegetable korma, and any of their delicious homemade ice creams. Occasionally I'll get the Thali which is always good for leftovers. I'm really thrilled with this restaurant for delivering all the way to Cherry Hill where I live, and also for having a really amazing Sunday brunch. I don't think I could love this place anymore if I tried. If you're looking for a sodium - laden Indian buffet, keep going. But if you're looking for fresh, delicious indopak cuisine this is your place.
(5)
John K.
Philly is no stranger to modern twists on Indian cuisine. Though Tashan is less one Chef Sylva Senat, it is still one of the prime destinations for delicious and beautifully presented Indian dishes. With IndeBlue making its way from Collingswood NJ, Center City Philly got a lot spicier. And with the exit of Bindi from Chef Marcie Turney's deck of restaurants a few years back, Chef Rakesh Ramola is certainly putting his Indian stamp on 13th Street. The space is beautiful as well - wide open with plenty of room and ornamental designs throughout. A bar stands at the front of the restaurant - a great spot for Happy Hour and Center City Sips. Crispy Spinach Chaat [$8] Crispy baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, tamarind date chutney The GF and I stopped by for lunch and the first thing we noticed on the menu was the crispy spinach chaat. And before we could even order it, the kitchen had already sent it out for us to try. This was a dish we had at Tashan and it exceeded our expectations. The baby spinach was lightly coated in a fresh chickpea batter and flash-fried in soybean oil. This allowed for a vegetal crisp amidst the bite of onion, chopped tomatoes, and shallots. The sweet yogurt and tamarind date chutney dressed the chaat well and provided a sweetness that brought a smile to our faces. A must order. Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable [$8] Seasonal vegetables, mustard seed, tomato, curry leaf, red chili These vegetables were coated with a thicker chickpea batter, yet it was still incredibly crisp and light. Fresh veggies included cauliflower, peppers, and eggplant, with the mustard seed and red chili providing a bit of heat, and the tomato providing the acid. I typically abhor raw onions, but the red onions really worked here to break up the heft of each bite. Drums of Heaven [$8] Battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili, scallions As soon as I saw pictures on Yelp (5 stars by the way), I knew I had to order this dish. Sure, it's not a traditional Indian dish. But really - how many restaurants french their drumsticks? This chicken was nicely crispy, but was dressed well with notes of garlic, tomato and chili. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and was marinated with what I believe was a yellow curry. The blue cheese certainly isn't typical, but hey - it's almost to be expected. If you like wings, definitely check these out. Chutney Mint, tamarind-date, green chile With our mains, the kitchen also sent out a sampler of chutneys for us to try (I believe they're typically $3 each). From top to bottom, we received mint (light and refreshing), tamarind-date (sweet depth of flavor), and green chile (be prepared to sweat!). Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" [$12] Boneless free-range chicken, fresh tomato, cream, honey, fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice We make butter chicken at least once a month in our home, despite the GF and I not being Indian. But why should that matter - it's crazy good - 'nuff said. IndeBlue's iteration? Blows ours out the water. The boneless chicken was moist, but really, it's all about the sauce. The tomato provided nice acidity against the cream and butter. Perfect to engulf the sweet saffron rice. If you're thinking that Indian food is all about curry and you need an easy entry into this cuisine, please try this. Non-Vegetarian Thali [$16] Two tasting entrees, dai makhani, appetizer, mango chutney, rice, naan, raita When I saw the thali options, I knew I had to order the non-vegetarian version. Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of various dishes - Indian tapas if you will. Counterclockwise from the right, I received mustard chicken (moist and bright), lamb (hearty like short rib and one of the best bites of the meal), and lentil daal (spicy and filling). A mango chutney and creamy raita provided the sweet and cooling elements to respectively balance the rest of the bites. Well-seasoned fried potatoes, more saffron rice, and naan bread were on offer as well. And for $16? This is easily a steal and a great way to try different bites from the kitchen. If you live in Center City Philly, consider yourself lucky. There's a wide variety of cuisines available, especially in the Midtown Village area. With IndeBlue, approachable and modern twists based on authentic Indian techniques and flavors are on display. Service was top-notch - Sean was friendly, informed, and our plates were cleared for each course. If I'm craving Indian, I know where I'll be going. Unless IndeBlue starts delivering ...
(5)
Lene P.
I think this could be my first time trying non-buffet Indian food. Indeblue seems to be a staple in NJ and is often mentioned for best Indian. It seems hidden but is located not far from Woody's. After work on a beautiful Friday night wasn't hard to get a table and street parking was available. Although to avoid the headache, try not to park on Spruce where they still have quarter meters (thanks to Indeblue staff for providing us with quarters). Size wise, it was rowhome tight but still comfortable. I wasn't bothered by the amount of staff shuffling about constantly. The $37/person tasting menu proved extremely filling. We were full by the time the entrees arrived. For the first course (choice of 2) we ordered the diver scallops (one scallop in sauce each) and the barbecue pork (?) samosa rolls with dipping sauce. Both were delicious. Second course was choice of 1 which we picked shrimp skewer (4). Third course we ordered a lamb saag (custom order) and the chicken tikka makhani. This came with an order of naan (3) and basmati rice. Fourth course was a sampler of their desserts (scoop of ice cream, a fried banana ball and rice pudding... I forget the formal description). This was also delicious! The tasting menu is cheap and definitely worth it. We tried their Indeblutini cocktail which was great if you love mango. Service was top notch. Very attentive and accommodating. Price wise, it is more expensive than the West Philly Indian buffets (New Delhi and Sitar) but great if you want a more upscale experience and be in Center City. It is similar to Karma in Old City although I know Karma definitely has a lunch buffet. I did like it a little better than Tiffin in South Philly.
(5)
Dee G.
We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Great decor, wonderful service and good food as well. I got the seafood thali which was a mistake. Although the seafood dishes were tasty they needed to be eaten with rice not the rotis that the thali comes with. The crunchy spinach chaat was excellent but a tad bit sweet for my taste. The lamb chops were great. We went there with a 1 year old and they were very accommodating. Oh and the cocktail (Bombay Punch) was good too.
(4)
John D.
When is Indian food not Indian. When it's "fusion". Gosh I hate that word. In any case the place in downtown Philly is very new so maybe the review isn't fair. There were six of us, one a native Indian. We all agreed the food was good, not great, a tad expensive, and definitely not true Indian food. ymmv. Give it a try but there is some sticker shock here. I found the chicken masala to be tough and the sauce too cloying. It was missing that tameric taste. The nan was greasy and the garlic nan was too garlicky (for me). I would not go back.
(2)
Natasha A.
I'm so full and satisfied I can barely type this. Yet, I will do my due diligence to try to express how much I loved this place. Words just don't seem to be enough. I came here for restaurant week, it was my first trip here. I've been hearing great things and decided RW was a great chance to try a great spread. I loved the ambiance the minute I walked in. The food was honestly amazing. I absolutely loved the spinach chaat. The vegetarian thali was out of this world! I love dal makhani and this was the best I've had. Everything in the thali was sooo piping hot and stayed hot so it tasted super fresh. And dessert?? Oh GOD dessert shot me straight to food heaven! I ordered the banana nirvana which was fantastic but the fig option was unexpectedly phenomenal! It took me by surprise. I never thought I could loooove figs like that! Overall an amazing time with friends and fabulous food! Can't wait to come back for happy hour!
(5)
G Y.
I came for happy hour on a Monday at 6pm and had no problem getting a seat at the bar for me and my two friends. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks (I had the tamarind margarita). We ended up staying for dinner, and while the food was amazing, I'm not sure it is something I would pay full price for again. But I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Great decor and service. The food was amazing! We got the vegetable samosas and my meal was the Baingon Bharta..delicious! I'll definitely be going back. Plus there was live music when we went Tuesday night. Cool place and pretty affordable dishes.
(4)
milton s.
the food is amazing and gluten free! woohoo! service is great!
(5)
Rick D.
Good, not great. The space itself is very nice and tastefully decorated. We went to the Center City IndeBlue location on a Tuesday night, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We started with the crispy vegetable chili and sweet potato pakora, and the chili appetizer was quite good. Our entrees of aloo bhindi and tikka paneer were rather bland, no hint of spice and generally not memorable. My expectations for IndeBlue were high, the reality was rather meh.
(3)
Sherry H.
Three of us went there and enjoyed everything we had immensely. Drinks, appetizers and entrees were all delectable. We were visiting the city and have actually considered doing the 3 hour drive (one way) again, just to eat at this place. We had to wait about a 3-4 weeks before we could even consider eating another Indian Indian place because we knew nothing would be as good. He had to come down from the "IndiBlue high". Now we will be "chasing the IndiBlue Dragon's-Tail", if you know what I mean.
(5)
Fatty D.
Complicated review here. Just the two of us this go around. Philly was sweltering, much more humid than the west coast. We had reservations and were seated quickly. Place was empty, maybe 5 tables taken. Upon our seating, our very nice server sold us on the 6 course Pre Fix. Neither of us had much of an idea of what to order or expect. We have had poor experiences with Indian Food in the past, however we wanted to try at a higher level of eatery before we closed the doors forever to eating this type of food. I think the quality of the ingredients, the staff, the portions, the ambiance was top notch. The other person joining me loved the meal. But for a few exceptions, Please understand, I realize there is a difference between a quality meal which this was, and me just hating the tastes. I'll list the courses. And my ending of this challenging meal. Started with some sort of cold soup. - to me it was ok. The other person said it tasted like vomit. Fried Spinach Salad - Fantastic texture and taste! Simply marvelous, Both of us loved it. Seared Scallops,- Over cooked by a hair, not seared properly. Very sweet Sauce inedible. The other person liked it. Here take mine. Lolly POP of a Lamb Rib with a Small Chicken Breast. - To me inedible, tangy and very spicy. Chicken was in a spicy Coconut Chutney. The other person loved it, I hated it. The Naan Bread which came with it sucked. Pork Shank with a roasted Potato. To me inedible. Other person enjoyed it. Dessert was Fig Ice Cream Drizzled with Honey. I hated it, Inedible, Too sweet. The other person enjoyed it. I think this type of food is not for everyone. I gave it an honest shot.Never again will I eat Indian Food I did not enjoy it from start to finish. I didn't eat anything but for the one fantastic salad course. I think evaluating the experience honestly is to say, if you like Indian Food, you probably will very much enjoy this place. However I won't be joining you. I rather eat my own throw up
(4)
J S.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! So flavorful and tender - I had the lamb rogan josh and my friend had the tikka masala which he enjoyed as well.
(5)
G C.
The place is fancier than your usual indian place. Service was great and the ambiance is quite nice. Entrees aren't cheap but they are also well made (given my limited knowledge of indian cuisine). A place for a classier indian dinner. Had the lamb rogan josh which was good.
(3)
Amar R.
Interesting place. The chef knows what he is doing-mixng authentic Indian streetside food with Contemporary American cuisine. This place could pass easily for a steven starr restaurant. Expensive with above average food.
(3)
Monang S.
A very contemporary indian cuisine with excellent service and beautiful interiors !! Kudos
(5)
Bill A.
Not traditional Indian food. They serve a modern fusion with other ingredients. It taste good. You should just have your expectations set. Modernized look. Service is good.
(4)
Jules C.
Delicious indian option for center city and all who sorely miss Bindi. I went here last week to try. It out and was very pleased with all aspects of this new 13th street addition. Upon walking in I felt transformed - maybe not to India but definitely to an elegant an pleasant dinner setting. The noise level was fine for conversation at the table which is getting to be an unheard of attribute of late and the food was spectacular. This is not your average Philly Indian it is definitely a notch or two above that will leave you wanting for more. The portion size is appropriate and the service was very attentive but not overdone. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
V T.
I am an Indian food addict so I've eaten at the whole gamut of Indian restaurants (buffets, dives, upscale, cafes, etc.), but IndeBlue stands out as something new and different. I love that they serve modern Indian food, which means many new takes on the standard dishes. My husband and I went for restaurant week last night and we loved everything we tried (drums of heaven, non-veg & veg sampler, fig blondie and banana nirvana). The portions were a good size (eating my leftovers for lunch as I type this) and everything was freshly prepared. The ambiance was great and Jason was the best waiter. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back soon because there are so many great items on the menu that I need to try!
(5)
John T.
This was one of the best Indian food I have had! Great place.Very highly recommend it. We were visiting Philli for 4 days and we ate here twice. Will be back.
(5)
Jessica S.
Wow, how was I missing out on the happy hour at this place for so long? And to think I considered myself a happy hour pro. Going down the street to Sampan, Vedge, and other places that are RIGHT DOWN THE STREET and never even thinking upon IndeBlue. I just don't think I'd ever really even be interested in trying their actual menu now that I know what the happy hour has to offer. Its just so... extensive. And delicious! OK, so I probably would try the menu. Just kidding. The decor is really pretty. Eye catching, sparkly, shiny and new looking. Very appealing, and I can see that being a draw for a couple looking for a romantic date spot. The bar is up front and has about 10 ish seats (maybe less?) and seemed to get packed around 6pm. Happy hour is only at the bar.... btw. We showed up at 5pm on the dot (very punctual, I know) and were weirdly the only people in the restaurant for almost an hour, at least a solid 30 minutes, and it wasn't even uncomfortable. The bartender was training someone and they were both very nice to talk to, and even some of the servers came to hang out and chat, giving good advice for menu items to try. The happy hour food menu consists of $3, $4, and $5 bites, and they are substantial enough to fulfill a hungry belly. Boyfriend and I shared 4, and between the two of us that was substantial for a light dinner. The spinach chaat was a highlight, and the "pockets of heaven" which are just light batter fried chicken wings in a tasty, spicy sauce were also surprisingly delicious. We also tried the stuffed long hots which were my personal favorite-and had a good spice level if you like that kinda thang-and the naan pizza, which was "ok" but not fantastic. I would've liked to have tried more items, but there are like 9-10 things on the happy hour menu alone. The HH drink menu was also as extensive. There were two wines ($4), two beers ($3) and like 4 cocktails ($5). The cocktails were legit. The wine did not suck. I was happy. Sweet mother of the holy happy hour gods-can we please have more awesome happy hours like this?!
(4)
Brian S.
Good, upscale Indian cuisine. Comfy, upscale setting, and excellent service. We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the vegetable samosa chaat, crispy spinach chaat., and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali platters. For dessert we had orange ginger sorbet and the banana nirvana. All very good and much better than other places in the area.
(4)
Ridhhisha A.
Coming from an Indian who has lived all her life there this is by far the most interesting twist of cuisine and really epic modern Indian I have ever had! Ofcourse it is the restaurant week so make the best of it! Insane naan pizza and spinach chat! The fig ice cream is just insane! Inspiration at its best :)
(5)
Ernest S.
The food is solid here. Everything I've tried from brunch to lamb chops has been good. My problem was with the service. Our waiter seemed impatient and rude to answer questions, forgot multiple items, and refused to split a check in a way that we asked (and there were only four of us).
(2)
Carol L.
A bit loud and this place lacks intimacy. Long tables facilitate group meetings though. Pinot noir was good. Service is a bit slow. The food is really yummy. Worth the wait. Appetizers and entrees great. Not too sure about the cinnamon ice cream.
(4)
Kate D.
This review is based on a restaurant week experience; I get that it isn't always the most accurate example of a places cuisine. I had super high expectations going into my meal here. Some of the things were alright. The spinach chaat was okay, but it was sort of reminiscent of bar food. Fried spinach leaves with onions, tomatoes, cheese and some white sauce (aoli maybe?). If you would have subbed out the spinach with a chip, you would almost have nachos. Best way to describe it. I had the mussels and they were alright. Cooked perfectly in a tomato based sauce but very small. Not served with a plate to discard shells. Then to the chicken tikka: really unimpressed. I have eaten lots of different takes on this British/Indian staple, and have grown to love it as one of my favorite foods. The rice that Indeblue had was excellent (how can you mess that up, really), but the tikka was one of the worst attempts of the dish I have ever had. The sauce was lacking, and the chicken was just like giant chunks of boiled chicken breast. No flavor whatsoever, and the meat was much too hard to cut into bite sized pieces with a fork. Aside from the tikka disaster, the garlic naan was really good, and the fig ice cream with praline pecans was outstanding. Outside of the meal, we ordered two house cocktails (mediocre and pricey) and two hot chia teas. The chai tea is made in house, and was very good. The service was great, the atmosphere was crowded but alright. My three star review mainly comes from my disappointment in the tikka and starter courses. For the money, I would much sooner go elsewhere for a date night. For Indian food, I will stick to Tiffin or Mood in the area.
(3)
Sara N.
I prefer my Indian food from hole-in-the-wall dives (that's how you know it's real Indian cooking), so I lacked a bit of confidence visiting IndeBlue. After my meal, I indeed felt justified because some of their dishes (e.g., bland chicken curry, thin doughy nann) paled in comparison to those found at my favorite Indian spots (a loud and proud shoutout to Dana Mandi in West Phila!). Why pay more when you can find more authentic and filling Indian meals in much humbler places? However, I must admit that I was very impressed by the kind staff and their beautiful restaurant. And not every bite failed the litmus test. I regret that the wonderfully tender lamb rogan josh came as a small dish on the platter. I'm certain to order it again as a main entree upon a return visit to IndeBlue. I think they has a creative (hello, brunch) and diverse Indian menu, which warrants a second chance.
(3)
Danie G.
Great happy hour! We sat at the bar and had drinks, appetizers and some great entrees. Food was quite tasty and they have both gluten-free and vegetarian options. Service was friendly and when they took some extra time with our entrees they apologized in a way that seem genuine and comped us some bread. Great happy hour and I hope to return for dinner soon.
(4)
Arati P.
This is a great upscale Indian restaurant! Perfect for a date night or special occasions. The decor is beautiful. We came here for husband's birthday and loved it. Spinach chaat was perfectly crispy. We ordered the malai kofta and it was the best malai kofta I've ever had! The koftas were soo soft and the gravy was so rich and had the perfect blend of spices. The drinks were good and strong as well. They have quite a variety on the menu including appetizers and small plates. Only thing is that the portions are very small but I feel this is typical of any upscale restaurant.
(5)
Ashley S.
FINALLY got to try out this (not-so) new Indian spot that everyone has been raving about in Philly! Rested cozily amongst some of the best bars in center city, it's a great spot to go to before a night out. The ambiance is great, although I thought it would be a little bigger, just judging from other photos I've seen, but that does not affect my rating at all. Went sporadically on a Saturday night and somehow was able to snag a table for 3 very last minute. I think we may have just gotten lucky because I've looked before, and this place is usually pretty booked up. We started with 3 appetizers. First up were the long hots. Basically, a green hot pepper stuffed with cheese. I was not a fan due to the extreme level of spice, but my friends loved it. We also had the samosas, which in my opinion were pretty delicious. Nothing out of the ordinary, but great, nonetheless. My favorite was the crispy spinach! Never had anything like it and it was amazzzzing. Great sharing size for an app, as well! For dinner, we shared 3 entrees, the lamb rogan josh, chicken madras, and paneer tikka makani. The serving sizes were pretty great for sharing. Each had a good amount of spice, which is pretty important to me when having Indian food. We were too stuffed for dessert, but I willl certainly save room for next time! Highly recommend this place to satisfy your Indian craving with a twist!
(4)
Ruben P.
Although I couldn't find a single indian face in the place, I can totally admit the food was delicious and well prepared. The environment is classy and fancy, waiters are very kind and there is also free coat check at entrance. Just book before: we walked in and ate at the bar, but it's pretty crowded. Not giving 5 stars for the prices quite high (the place deserves, tho).
(4)
Marni P.
Upscale, delicious and healthy Indian food! They had some new takes on some of the classics. All spice levels were perfect. The restaurant is a neat decor and classy yet cozy. The prices were a bit high but it's downtown philly so that's a thing. The staff was super nice even when they were very busy. It was clear our waitress was trying to speed up our drinks and was thoughtful in letting us know the status of our order. I hope to come here again!
(4)
Camay C.
Walking the Center City streets searching for happy hour with my girl Shante P. Did a double take and walked in. The ambiance here is sultry and super sexy. We had the Ginger Twist.. made with Black Velvet Whiskey, Ginger ale, Ginger and lime juice. $5! Didn't try any of the food but other folks plates looked tempting enough. I'll be back soon
(4)
Jayanth N.
Good chic indian food. The spinach chat & avocado chat was outstanding. The entrees come with rice & you have to order bread separately. I found that setup strange for an indian restaurant. Portion sizes are small compared to most Indian restaurants. But the food is of excellent quality.
(4)
Jemma C.
I really REALLY wanted to love this place but alas it wasn't to be. First impressions were great, super cozy dining room on a freezing cold night, nicely crowed, good atmosphere... Drinks came promptly, little disappointed in the limited menu however our favourites were there so happy out. My husband order vindaloo (which is a spicy fiery curry). I ordered something entirely unmemorable. We ordered samosas to start that incidentally tasted nothing like samosas nor had any indian flavouring or spices. Then we waited... And waited and waited. 55mins after ordering our food came. The vindaloo was beyond mild and I don't mean mild for a vindaloo I mean it tasted like a mild tomato based dish. Again nothing like vindaloo. No level of spice whatsoever and no flavouring at all. My curry was meh at best. The chicken was beyond over cooked and hard. The naan bread was great I'll give them that. Service was slow and patchy. Wouldn't return.
(2)
Shifa A.
Thank you Indeblu for opening up a restaurant in centre city! I love this place, hailing from India, Indian food in America has always been disappointing but Indeblu is far better than most. I love the spinach chaat, the samosas and the nan pizza! Happy hours are the best !
(4)
Natalie M.
Loved this place! For an appetizer we shared the vegetable samosa chaat and for our entree we shared the chicken tikka makhani with naan. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of spices. For a drink I had their chai sangria, which was so incredibly delicious! We would eat here all the time if we lived in Philly!
(5)
Kelly P.
A friend and I went for the chef's tasting menu on a Monday evening, and due to their computer issues it took a very long time. Despite that, the meal itself was delicious. We chose the avocado appetizer and the chaat, the chicken tikka and the lamb biryani. The standout was the lollipop lamb chops, I will be dreaming about these!! So flavorful. The sampling of desserts was not to my liking but that is just because I happen to not be a fan of rice pudding or cinnamon (there was cinnamon ice cream). I would love to come back here and will be sure to recommend to others. One star was removed because there was significant problems with the timing of the meal and we were not told until we could flag down our server - and we had been waiting over an hour for our second course - with no proactive explanation about the computer problem.
(4)
Mark C.
Had Tobi and the Indieblue team cater our wedding at the Powerplant Productions venue in Philadelphia this past weekend. Wow. My guests raved about the food. My wife and I rave about how fantastic their services were from the planning, set-up, execution and break down. Their specialty drink was so popular their team went and bought more supplies on the spot before their was ever a disruption. Complete success!!
(5)
Jaya P.
Great place for an indian brunch with classy ambience and mimosas! Went to Philly for an impromptu day trip and was craving indian food and saw Indebleu had great ratings. The interiors were nice - lots of gold, chandeliers and a nice bar. An added plus was that it is close to the major touristy sights, so we did not have to go out of our way to get there. They have chai sangria, rose mimosas, and bloody mary's for $5 for brunch - already liking this place. Decided to go for the rose mimosa - which was surprisingly good. If anyone else has grown up in India like me, it felt like 'roohafza' with moscato. It's funny because i never really liked roohafza growing up, but i guess my parents didn't know to mix it with champagne ;) For apps, we ordered the samosa chaat and ordered the paneer tikka masala and malai kofta with rotis for the main dish. Our server was super nice and said he would add the app and entree as an express lunch combo to save us a couple of bucks - score! The samosa chaat came as a bed of chickpeas in gravy with yogurt and chutneys and two samosas atop it. The samosas were great - definitely had more masalas (spices) than is usual for a samosa but it tasted great. My only slight complaint was that the chickpeas were a bit cold, i understand they don't have to be piping hot as it is a chaat and served with yoghurt but lukewarm would help. Now for the main course, both the dishes were finger lickin' good - the malai kofta were balls of paneer and veggies deep fried and cooked in a cardamom curry sauce. Each bite was heavenly and you could taste the real cardamom in it and even found a few green pods. The paneer tikka masala was superb - not too spicy and had great flavors! The paneer was a little bit on the chewier side than expected; but the sauce more than made up for it. The whole wheat rotis were great - not too rubbery, hot, and actually felt healthy. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert - would love to try it next time. Definitely, a place to go eat if you're in Philly!
(5)
Monique B.
Some of the best Indian food I've had in my life. The short rib samosa was a delicious starter, although it's a little more egg roll seaming than samosa. I had the chicken tikka for my main course and I wolfed down as much as possible. Usually chicken tikka is a little too sweet for my taste. However, this chicken tikka was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick and delicious sauce. I couldn't eat enough of the sauce and soaked up the sauce with my rice. We also shared a roti stuffed with nuts that was sweet and delicious. It tasted like the stuffing of bahklava put into a piece of naan. Delicious! The ambiance is great for a date with pretty interior decorating, a nice bar at the front and a classy but casual ambiance. The servers were attentive and friendly. This restaurant will definitely be added to my list of regulars when I visit Philly.
(5)
Bhavika P.
Rich Ambiance, Perfect Light and Good Staff. The food was really good and perfect quantity. We ordered Masala Bloody Mary which was a well made drink. For appetizers we ordered Chilled Dahi Avacado Chaat, Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable and Vegetable Shashlik Skewer - All tasted so good. We were 6 people and Dahi Avacado has just 5 pieces - the staff was flexible to add one more piece to it by charging a little extra. We then shared the Veg Thali between 2 of us and was sufficient considering the appetizers we had. there are 2 veggies, raita, mango chutney, dal makhani, rice and hot eggplant bhajiya. This is served in a Thali and it so much reminded of home. We felt like we are sitting in Mumbai at some high end dhaba enjoying the delicious food. The veggies had paneer makhanwala and spinach chana - mouth watering! We replaced the normal naan with lasooni naan and it was a good decision. To add to the meal we ordered Mango lassi which was again good. We all enjoyed the food and I believe it has a lot of options for Vegetarians.I would definitely recommend this place. Anytime I feel like having Ghar Ka Khana..it is IndeBlue. Also since it was Sunday afternoon they had Sitar and Tabla playing Live on the Background...very soothing to ears. My friends visited Philly for first time and I am glad we picked this place as they all enjoyed it a lot.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Loved the restaurant. Its not typical Indian food. It is more upscale with a modern twist. Inside has cool decorations. My only wish is outdoor seating for the warm weather.
(5)
Madeleine S.
I've been twice in the last couple of weeks. Both my servers were total charmers, completely anticipated our needs without hovering at all (which I so appreciate). The happy hour prices are also insanely good--almost too good, frankly. You can taste everything on the menu without going home poor, and their cocktails perfectly incorporate classic Indian flavors without getting weighed down at all. Got the spinach chaat both times I went (one of my girlfriends insisted on getting a plate of it for herself with no plans to share) and the pork samosas (which come with a blue cheese wine sauce so good I would have eaten it with a spoon if I'd run out of bites to put it on). Can't wait to go back next Tuesday to see the live Sitar.
(5)
Clifford Q.
Yet another new place in town that meets all expectations. Great design decor - Great staff - HOT bartender :-) Friday night - Early dinner for 4 - Bison wrapped in bacon to start 5 Stars - Dinner was a Seafood Moilee 5+ stars which was outstanding, Others had assorted items from starters and main dishes and not one complaint from a group that is VERY opinionated. Definitely will be back
(5)
N. K.
ehhh it was ok. Being Indian I'm still new to the concept of "Modern Indian" cuisine which I still don't quite understand other than being overpriced small plate american takes on indian dishes. crispy spinach chaat- 5/5 samosa chaat- 4/5 typical indian dish. long hots- 2/5 - didn't realize it was going to be 2 long green stuffed peppers sweet potato pakora- 3/5 nothing amazing naan pizza- 4/5 nothing really indian about it except made on a naan paneer tikka makhani- 4/5. very small dish for $16, nothing amazing. stuffed squash- 4/5 interesting dish, but again not much indian about it. in general IndeBlue has a nice atmosphere, but a bit overpriced and small portions and misses the wow factor. Nice to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
James M.
My partner and I had two amazing meals with friends at the new IndeBlue - Midtown Village. The entire experience from arrival to departure was great both times! Tobi the Bar Manager made us feel welcome and made great drinks. We sampled specialty drinks that were innovative and delicious - He was also very interesting to speak with while waiting for friends. Maura the Manager is a "Switched" on professional who was at our table at just the right times to check on us and we really felt looked after. Our servers have been wonderful both times. Justin really introduced us to the concept and the menu on our first visit, and Jarrod did an amazing job when six of us returned and tried the four course tasting menu -DELICIOUS and so reasonable! I could go on and on about the food because everything was so memorable. For example - the Spinach Chaat was one of the most interesting dishes I have had in an Indian cuisine restaurant. The Lamb Shank plates looked as though they were licked clean by all six of us. This restaurant has a true vibe, the minute that you walk in the front door. From styling to music, lighting to layout, it is the type of place you feel at home in immediately! I Might stop in tonight and here their live Sitar musician who I believe is there every Friday night!
(5)
Amy N.
Simply delicious --- This is one of the best Indian fusion restaurants we have been to. The restaurant is small and cozy and the ambience was nice. The waiters were friendly. We were a family of 3 and ordered spinach chaat, duo samosa and long hots for appetizers and shrimp moilee (seafood minus the lump crab!), madras chicken and lamb laal maas as main entrees and shared the desert banana gulob jamun. The dishes were all freshly prepared, very creative, and delicious. We were also greeted by Chef Ramola who was very friendly which was the icing on the cake to our visit. The food is moderately priced. The 5 course menu for $45 also sounded very nice but we did not order that. Great for personal and family celebrations. We signed up for the VIP club since we plan to visit there again very soon! There is a cheap validated parking available ($6 for 3 hours) at Park America at 1140 Sansom. We also plan on trying their first restaurant in Collingswood, NJ.
(5)
Tiberiu T.
My girlfriend and I went here for restaurant week. They first gave us a soup sampler, with three delicious (tiny) soups. Then we got the drums of heaven and the crispy spinach chaat as appetizers; both were delicious. For the main course we got the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian samplers with two types of naan (garlic+cilantro and butter+onion seed) (these were also delicious). For desserts we had the banana nirvana and the fig duo. Again, delicious. Also their mango lassi was excellent. This was a *lot* of food; in hindsight, we probably should have taken some of it home.
(5)
N M.
A good foray into the Indian restaurant scene in philadelphia. A better experience and more authentic than Tashan and extremely tidy compared to palace at the Ben. Food was good however missed the mark as they were missing true authenticity of Indian food. As an Indian I found the cuisine to lacking some of the spicyness and taste we get on the sub continent. Staples such as chutney and papadum were excluded and basics at every Indian restaurant. The one star is for service as we had reservations for 8pm and were not seated till 845pm. They clearly overbooked and made no excuses for that. Poor front end management, when I complained to the manager I was offered a seat at the bar and food at the bar. Why make a reservations and pretend to be a an authentic fine dining experience when you have not mastered basic restaurant management.
(1)
Alison P.
Went here with friends for dinner as we had learned of its recent opening. The food was definitely top notch and what I would return for. We really enjoyed the lamb lollipops which were tender and incredibly flavorful. Our other favorite dish was the stuffed squash which had a delicious rich sauce, and both types of naan we had were excellent. The meal was also very reasonably priced and we enjoyed ordering several small dishes to share. Although we loved the food the service was a bit off. We got checked on by our server too frequently and he made some comments towards us that made us all uncomfortable. Additionally, the majority of the staff were all huddled together in an alcove in the front of the restaurant near our table; I found it odd to see an entire restaurant staff standing around chatting during dinner service. Overall I imagine that some issues with the staff/service are opening hiccups. I would return for the excellent food and beautiful space.
(4)
M N.
We've been here twice in the past month for pre-theater dinners with friends, and had great meals both times. Delicious food, reasonable prices, attentive service, pretty setting and a good location. Two thumbs up. Don't miss the spinach chaat for appetizer.
(4)
Evelyn G.
great food and service!
(4)
Greg E.
This was my second time here. The food is absolutely amazing. Prices are more than reasonable. The staff goes well above and beyond! I took a good friend out for their birthday this week. For dessert I mentioned that it was their birthday and asked for a candle. The waitress said no problem. The waitress kept coming back to apologize for the wait which I thought was more than ok since we needed a break from the large dinner. Upon the arrival of our dessert she apologized for the wait again and mentioned they had to go out to purchase candles. Wow!! This blew me away and on top of that I wasn't even charged for the dessert due to the birthday. You never find service this good anywhere anymore! 5 star restaurant and I'll be going back often! Great bartender as well!
(5)
Len B.
From food to drink to service to ambience, all were truly amazing. Excellent choice for a night out
(5)
lisa s.
Of all the restaurants in Philadelphia our daughter chose this restaurant for her "going away" dinner. She had read about the opening of this restaurant but knew very little about it. Well, we are so excited about having found this place. We loved everything about this restaurant-location, ambiance ---even the bathrooms were beautiful---and the attentiveness of the wait staff. It was difficult to make a choice from the menu as everything sounded delicious. All three of us raved about out chosen entree even the second time around (we had each brought home a "doggy" bag). Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Justin L.
Dined in for restaurant week, which a friend had recommended the restaurant. Ambiance was beautiful and the staff attentive, but portion size and seasoning seemed to be an issue. Started with tuna tartar, which lacked any flavor of tuna in the tartar. However, the drums of heaven (chicken wings) seemed to be the saving grace by delivering enough heat, crisp skin, and a lovely blue cheese. As I was excited for the main course having seen other diners receive entrees, I realized that what I ordered versus what I expected did not match. I ordered per the menu cornish game hen, which my expectation was a full, cornish game hen. However, I was served maybe half of a cornish game hen with rice, which left me wanting more. Overall, the restaurant appears to be on the right track from the looks of things, but lacks all of the correct reasoning for a return visit given my experience.
(3)
Vish P.
Great food and Live Sitar and Tabla you can't ask for more! !! Came here for our first anniversary and we had a great time. A must go for all the indian who miss the indian thali specially.
(5)
Liz F.
Visited this restaurant during center city restaurant week. I was very pleased. Food, drinks, and environment were all great! There was even live music during Sunday brunch!
(4)
Smrithi D.
I dont know how I didint write a review for this place before but it has to be my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, especially for indian food. The ambiance is amazing, a great mix of traditional eastern decor with solid wood elements. The service has to be even better than the decor (or dare I say it even better than the food). Different staff have their own tasks/jobs, your waiter ensures you have a good experience, they have different busboys bringing you food and taking away your used dishes. I think a manager even came over to readjust my friend's napkin when she stepped back to use the restroom. That keen attention to detail is something to admire and worth it! Now onto my favorite part- no not the food yet - LIVE music! On a weekday night (tuesday or wednesday - i cant remember) and sunday brunch they have live sitar and tabla players which is the icing on what would be a perfect night. Ok food- the Paneer Tikka masala is to die for, the spinach chaat, the avocado appetizer, and lastly the unique rosemary herb naan. I cant wait to go back!
(5)
Marcuz H.
Great authentic Indian food! Food was steamy hot, one of the best chicken tikka masala gravy's I have had in East Coast. The gravy was smooth and thick in texture. The lighting and ambience was delightful. My lady loved her Baingan barta (eggplant gravy) which was spicy, tangy and flavorful as she expected and she's Indian too. This place is way way better than it's competitor - Tashan. If you are in Phily area and looking to eat fine dining delicious Indian food, please stop by and check out IndeBlue (NOT Tashan).
(4)
Dhaval S.
Great food and service. The staff explained all the dishes really well and also provided their recommendations. The spinach chaat is an awesome appetizer dish and garlic naan is great. Definitely will be coming back again!
(4)
Michael M.
*********SIX STAR REVIEW - SIX STAR REVIEW*********** So I crossed my wires for restaurant week and ended up here this past Tuesday. Heck we love this place so a chance to go two weeks in a row is no biggie. We arrived at happy hour and sat at the bar with the handsome Cory, creator of their drink menu. Cory was the perfect host that evening, he chatted with us, drinks came quickly, and he was attentive without being intrusive. Two stars right there for service. We started with a few happy hour snacks, the drums of heaven, Dahi Avacado Chaat, and the crispy spinach Chaat. These three dishes immediately reminded me of the problem of eating at Indeblue. You just want more. You never want the dish to end! The Dahi were cool and refreshing on this 99 degree day. The spinach Chaat was so good it was almost a fight with my guest over the bowl. We discussed ordering another but as we knew more food was coming we held off. The drums of heaven were primarily my dish, with my guest ordering a bowl of the corn cilantro chowder. I can tell you if it wasn't so hot I would have had a bowl too. It is magnificent. The drums of heaven are always perfect. Crunch, savory, and just enough spice to leave the edges of your lips burning as you finish them. Quickly cooled off by one of the lemon basil cocktails. Yum! I decided on the seafood moilee. When they say jumbo lump, they mean the size of your finger jumbo. The shrimp were *PERFECTLY* cooked. I add one star righht here for the shrimp. I honestly could not remember the last time I had shrimp prepared so perfectly in a restaurant, and I eat a lot of shrimp. The dish itself was incredible. A depth of flavor that made the seafood truly enchanting. I ate half to leave room for dessert and had the other half wrapped. I can't even tell you what my guest had as I was so entranced by the moilee. For dessert I had the Duo of Figs. Decadent and rich, it's a good idea to split this one. I however, had only eaten half my entree so this portion was just enough to fill me up. We split a bottle of prosecca with dessert, and my guest lost his bet. He hates the texture of bananas. but insists he's never ever had a bad dish here, so I challenged him to order the banana nirvana. As he was the one who first had me try Indeblue and showed me how glorious indian food can be when properly cooked, I felt it appropriate. The bananas came deep fried similar to how a plaintain would, covered with a salted caramel and then a cinnamon iced cream, they didn't stand a chance. The food gains another two stars for overall taste and perfection of flavor. Let me also say that rating includes how lovely the food is to the eye, as attention to plating is also something done very well here. Oh, and the food comes out fast and hot, (or, as appropriate, cold). I wish they had opened the kitchen so we could watch the Chef cook, he must be a blur in action. That's 5 stars you say. Why six? Here's why. As we sat sipping the last of the prosecca, our sweet teeth sated and bellies full but not bloated, we listened to the live music. The stunning interior design, the amazing food, perfect service all came together and transported me far from the streets of Philadelphia. I realized the experience I was enjoying had only been rivaled in my travels overseas, or the very rare occasional opulence of a grande dame in some far away vacation spot. For a moment, everything was absolutely perfect, the days worries forgot, the world revolving around my guest and I. Six Stars. Perfect.
(5)
Ameena D.
Had dinner at IndeBlue last night, thanks to all the great Yelp recommendations. Here are my thoughts: Ambiance: The restaurant is nice. Very well decorated and clean. Service: Really great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I must say, however, that I was surprised at how non-Indian this restaurant is. In other words, there wasn't a single Indian server / owner / chef around. Made me a bit nervous about how authentic our food would be. Food: We ordered many things - samosas, avocado puri, lollipop lamb chops, vegetable shashlik, chicken kabob, rice, roti, raita, mango panna cotta, and the restaurant sent a complimentary spinach appetizer. Everything was very tasty but SUPER SPICY. I'd specifically asked the waiter to make everything mild but absolutely nothing was mild. This was definitely a problem for our 9-year-old, as well as for me (my low spice-threshold is an embarrassment to my Indian father, I'm sure). In any case I requested some chutney to make things more bearable and that was that. Bottom Line: The service was great, the food was good, and pricing is reasonable. But I'm not sure I would return here because I prefer not to have to douse my food in sugary chutney so that I can eat it.
(3)
Charlene J.
My hubby ate here for lunch. We shared the crispy spinach chaat and crispy cauliflower as appetizers which were both amazing. They were only mildly spicy for those intolerant of hot foods. My hubby had the butter chicken and I had the chicken madras for our entree and they were both delicious. The food came out quickly. Our server was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu items. Loved this place!!!
(5)
Todd S.
We came down this weekend, for restaurant week. Lots of pressure this week, I know from experience it can be a big challenge for front and back of house. I thought they did an admirable job. Service was on, attentive non intrusive, water glass full. Food very good, mussels were notably excellent, wife's spinach chaar. My lamb shank was excellent and not over cooked, which is endemic when the dish involves a heavy sauce. I was a little nervous ordering a lamb shank with a robust sauce, a sauce is often used to precook the shank, reheat it and the sauce covers many sins. Probably not the case here. Shank was actually medium. Negatives? Get a coat rack. Coffee was poison, tasted like Sysco coffee pulled through my college dorm's common Mr Coffee and saved (I graduated in 1997). And Mussels need mussel spoons and a bowl for shells. I understand the mussels were a new dish. I'd say work out the presentation and make it a menu item. Otherwise, good showing!
(4)
Michelle J.
I was in India in November and have since been constantly on the lookout for amazing Indian food whenever or wherever I get the chance. This place did not disappoint. First thing that strikes you is the decor which are a perfect balance of a modern upscale restaurant but with an Indian flair. I had to try the paneer tikka as that is my favorite. The sauce was a touch too "tomatoey " but it was still excellent and the paneer was perfect. I also had the vegetable samosas and the accompanying sauce was perfection! Nice house wine paired with excellent service and definitely a place worth visiting !
(5)
Rafael A.
Seafood Moilee: This dish is very unique and fabulous. Indeblue has a great environment, good service and fantastic food.
(5)
Colleen M.
Uh-maze-ing. That is about all I need to say... but I'll elaborate since my experience was so out of this world. First, it was restaurant week and let's be honest with ourselves here - sometimes, things are less than top notch since you aren't paying top notch prices. You would have never known the difference here. The service, the food, the portion sizes were all on par with an expensive night out, only without the price tag. Ever important to me - the service was impeccable. Jason, our server, was so very attentive. So much so that he apologized for our second course taking longer than anticipated... and we hadn't even noticed (it really didn't take very long at all)! Our table was cleared regularly, water and other beverages; always full. We never wanted or needed for anything. Honestly some of the best service I have had out in Philly, a city that regularly excels in the service department. To say the food was not only abundant but also fantastic really doesn't do it justice. I left incredibly full and happy which is an anomaly for Restaurant Week offerings. Actually, by the time the main course was done, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take the smallest bite of dessert. Of course, I managed to power through but not without being tempted to unbutton the top button on my pants. Gluten free and veg friendly I highly recommend. I'll be back for sure!!!!
(5)
Gautam T.
Finally!!!!! Philadelphia has an amazing Indian restaurant in Center City. (EKTA you're great but you're in No-lib) This is the best indian I've had in the city and actuallly it can be in the argument with really good Indian restaurants in the region. A few things. This is not your traditional indian restaurant. This is extremely modern and Indeblue has done what no other Indian restaurant has ever done. Make curry sexy! its really hard to describe but you just have to try it out for yourself and let me know if you agree with me or not. Ok enough of my rant. I started off with the Spinach Chaat, which was so different but tasted exactly how a good chaat should taste. The Spinach is baked (I think) with spices and probably oil to give it a really crispy texture. Piled on top of the spinach is a wonderful combination of everything chaat. Moving on, scallops were the bomb, I could never imagine scallops in a sambar base tasting as glorious as it did, what a pleasantaly surprising dish. Shrimp, amazing, super super fresh like it just came out of the water fresh in a spicy tomato based blend. Chicken kebab, Spicy very Spicy but super tender and delicious. I can't talk about this anymore. Its frustrating me that I'm not there and I'm on my computer salivating.
(5)
Demitri H.
If you're craving quality indian food then back that truck up and fill your gullet here. The lamb lollipops were so tender I thought I was eating meat flavored butter! The paneer was also extra smooth and worth mopping up every bit with the fresh naan. Just go already!
(5)
Sujoy C.
I am rating it 5 stars as the food is closest to an Indian taste. Do try the drums of heaven it's really nice.
(5)
Palmila L.
This is easily the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. I loved that they do a modern reinvention of classic Indian cuisine that still nevertheless remains true to tradition. Must order dishes: 1. Spinach chaat. This was the perfect opener, and I've never had anything quite like it before. The spinach is flash-fried so it's perfectly crispy, and we loved the yogurt and tamarind date chutney together. It was light, but very well-rounded in flavor. 2. Malai kofta bukhara. We ordered this as a side, rather than the entree, so we could try more dishes, but this is something I would order as an entree next time. The creamy cardamom sauce was delicious, and the kofta filled with apricot and cashew was heavenly. 3. Any of the bread selections. Seriously. I especially loved the provencal (garnished with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) because I'm a sucker for truffle oil. We also tried the chicken madras--it was well-flavored, but we didn't find it particularly rave-worthy. Maybe it just didn't stand out in comparison to the other dishes that we loved. (Also completely irrelevant note, but the Williams-Sonoma nerd in me loved the silverware here! Such a unique design that fit in so well with the decor and ambiance of the restaurant.) The service was perfect and attentive. We came relatively late on a Saturday night (around 9:30 PM), and it was surprisingly busy. We were seated right in the middle of the dining room, so it was a little loud at times, but to be fair, we spent a decent amount of meal eating and not a lot of time talking once the dishes came out. The decor was gorgeous. On the whole, can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!
(4)
Tina D.
I love the ambience here! It has a very elegant Indian vibe. As a vegetarian I can always find plenty of options. I've eaten here several times and have tried most menu items. My personal favorites are the crispy cauliflower which has just the right amount if spice, the malai kofta and the dal makhani! The staff is always super pleasant and the service on point. I've also enjoyed drinks at the bar several times. The bartender is very friendly and makes great suggestions.
(4)
Nicole H.
The food here is very, very good. And the decor is beautiful - a huge improvement from the space before and glad they chose such fantastic finishes. That being said, I found the lunch menu slightly lacking in options and also very overpriced. I can go to El Vez and get a drink, huge app and huge entree for $15...why pay nearly $20 for anything similar here? I'd say stay away during lunch (we were the only ones there, so seems I'm not off base on that), but dinner could be fantastic. Try it once, even if you've never had Indian!
(4)
Sarah K.
I'm realizing I only review places I like. Oh well. Anyway, I had dinner here and it was GREAT. I've been bummed since my fave Indian place closed because the family moved to Fargo to open a restaurant there (who does that!?!?!?!), and the entree, malai kofta bukhara, and naan I had here were very much like what I used to have there. Delicious entree and the assortment of naan in the bread basket was also very tasty. I didn't have any appetizers so I can't speak to those, but they looked delicious (I'm a sucker for vegetable samosas). The waitress was very friendly but not annoying. They had live music which added ambience but gave me a headache, as all live music does, so take that for what it's worth. I would definitely go back here instead of trying something new, which means it was pretty good!
(5)
Peter S.
This is it. Wow. This was one of those meals (and they are few and far between) where with the last bite I had to sit back and savor the moment. If it wasn't perfection, it was darn close. If you are looking for superb Indian food in Center City, at a place that is upscale (without the upscale surcharge) and offers a fine dining experience, look no further. Not that I've been to the competition, but this was so top notch, I don't need to go anywhere else. IndeBlue has me. I arrived at little after 8pm on a Thursday. They were busy, not overtaxed. A good sign, I thought. Another good sign: all the entrees are Gluten Free. That's right: all the entrees. And they have gluten free naan, too. I'm telling you: they do gluten free. The food was spectacular. The flavors full and layered. Even the rice had spices & seasoning that flowed and danced. I am a one trick pony and had the chana masala, spicy. One of the finest dishes I have ever had. I know; you've heard me say this before, perhaps. Well, perhaps, but the truth still stands here. And, note, I've had plenty of food I've never written about. Why Yelp about mediocrity? I don't. IndeBlue is not a one trick pony; looking around the restaurant, it was clear that every dish was being thoroughly enjoyed. The gluten free bread was naan-like. It was light (not fluffy) and thin and roasted with seasoning (and tomato?). I'd give is a GF "A." A delicious GF naan substitution. For the first time since going gluten free, I could actually enjoy the meal with naan. And had I been with non-GF, I could have convinced them to forgo the gluten and join me with the gluten free. A word about the price: this place is a bargain. I'm not going to say under-priced, but let us do say that I was surprised at how little my check was. For instance: the GF naan was $3. And so is the regular naan. Yup; no gluten free surcharge. You've seen it: the GF item is 1/3 to a 1/2 more expensive. Not so here. And the chana masala was a more-than-reasonable $14. The service was very good. The waiter extremely pleasant & helpful. He knew gluten free. He had great banter and table-side manner. He found me papadam and recommended Bushmills as my Seagrams VO replacement. The Indian restaurant didn't have a Canadian whiskey. The horror. ;-) Bottom line: Excellent food. Great urban decor. A fine dining experience. I'd only wished I'd had a date.
(5)
Caroline L.
This has to be the best brunch in town--not only for the Indian food, specials, and also because I don't have to endure 2 hour waits. I've been here twice in the past year with a large group and have enjoyed the food. They have sampler plates and an eclectic mix of brunch and a flavorful Indian meal. They have a sitar player at noon, who plays masterfully without being overly intrusive for conversation. The service is brisk, but we were allowed to linger, even on a Sunday.
(4)
RaJaTi P.
I had been here twice . The best thing to get here as an Indian foodie I think is Thaali!! I just love it. The saag paneer was excellent. I also loved raita which was so fresh. Being from Washington, D.C., I have been craving for a thali since I don't get that one over there. The best part would be live sitar and tabla music. I feel it just blends so well with your meals. Kudos to the guys playing Indian raagas so well!! Overall a pleasurable experience!!!
(4)
Kruti P.
I visited IndeBlue for the first time today for brunch. I had a chai sangria, which was good but no different than most red wine sangrias I've had. My husband had a uniquely spicy masala Bloody Mary. I ordered the pizza naan of the day and paneer bhurjee. I wish the server would have told me that the chili cheese naan that comes with the bhurjee is basically a slightly smaller portion of the pizza. Both had wayyy too much cheese for my taste. To top it off, there was a bunch of melted cheese in the bhurjee... My husband enjoyed the lollipop lamb chops very much, more so than the drums of heaven - which were also good. Looking around, I would try the rose petal mimosa, chat and dosa/uttapam next time. Live sitar and tabla players were a nice addition.
(4)
Sarah P.
I have been meaning to go to IndeBlue with my friend Ainsley A. ever since we sampled their fantastic samosas at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash. Earlier this week, we finally had the chance to stop in for happy hour, and we were totally impressed. The decor is elegant and polished but not pretentious. A small group of us sat at the bar by the window for happy hour and ordered pretty much every plate of food on the happy hour menu. One of my friends also got the spicy lychee margarita and let us all have a sip. This drink is definitely for spice lovers- it packs a huge, yet delicious, punch. As for the food, the vegetable samosas have the perfect crispy outside/soft inside texture contrast. The bed of chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt beneath the samosas was divine, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and spice to compliment the flavors of the samosa. It was a well-executed classic dish. The spinach chaat was my personal favorite, and it was unlike anything I've had before. The crispiness of flash-fried flaky spinach was quenched perfectly with the sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney lying underneath. I could have eaten two of these by myself. One of my friends even ate a stray piece of spinach off the (very clean) bar top; it was just that good. The naan pizza was an interesting twist on traditional naan. It was the perfect dish to split and to shamelessly mop up every last bit of the chutney underneath our samosas. The stuffed long hot peppers were also very unique. The menu labels them medium-spicy, but I think that "medium" is an understatement (in a good way). The stuffing adds texture to the dish while still allowing the natural heat and flavor of the pepper to shine through. The experience was great, from the cool atmosphere, to the food, to our very professional and friendly bartender who tolerated our ridiculous conversation about dating and even politely chimed in. The price was right too; I spent less than 10 bucks for a decent amount of food! I have a feeling I'll be back here again very soon for dinner and to get my hands on more of that amazing spinach chaat.
(5)
Joe A.
We went for brunch on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. We ordered the vegetarian thali and the lentil pancake. Very tasty food and attentive service. Drinks were also very good.
(4)
L S.
Me and a good friend of mine decided to try this spot for Happy Hour yesterday (3/31). OMG I can't belive I've gone all this time without their food in my life...AMAZING, I got the spinach chaat (tastes like general tso chicken, I kid you not!), The pizza naan and the drums of heaven. All were on the HH menu for only $4 dollars each!!! This has been added to my list of favorites spots!
(5)
Nicole M.
IndeBlue is amazing Indian food that is much needed in Center City. It's slightly fusion, but not so much that it loses its authenticity. I've tried many of the menu items, but there are still so many more that I have my eye on. Highlights: Crispy Spinach Chaat: Amazingly crispy, light, and fresh. The tamarind date chutney makes a perfect "dressing" for this little spinach salad. I want to know how they cook the spinach to make it THAT crispy. I could eat this every day and wouldn't feel too guilty since it's a healthy option! Drums of heaven: Wings in an Indian-style spicy sauce. This sauce would be good on anything! Really crispy, almost Korean-style fried. Sweet potato pakora: Chickpea battered sweet potatoes. Super addicting. One order for 2-3 people will disappear in minutes. Paneer tikka makhani: I love paneer so I had to try this. The sauce is slightly sweeter than other dishes, so it was the perfect complement to the spicier entrees. Order a side portion and take a bite every time your tongue is on fire from something else. I usually only like to try places I've never been to for restaurant week, but I love this place so much, and their restaurant week menu is a steal. It's the perfect way to try a bunch of different things here. I got the non-vegetarian thali sampler platter as my main course, which came with chicken makhani, lamb rogan josh, dal makhani, rice, raita, mango chutney, and garlic naan. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, but I ate it all and enjoyed it so much. I regret it after, of course, but it was worth it. Try the cocktails! The Monsoon is delicious with a spicy kick from cinnamon, star anise, and ginger.
(5)
David D.
This is good Indian cuisine, but I can't get on board all these 4 and 5-star ratings. I've had much better Indian cuisine at the dingy, traditional Indian joints. The location in DT Philadelphia is good, and you are met with a very attentive and smiling Maitre'D, but the food doesn't quite match the sophistication they're trying to show. This is definitely the best looking Indian restaurant in Philadelphia (and second only to Kirin's in Houston that I have visited). Tables are clean, there is actual linen (woohoo), and the bathroom is like a Nirvana relative to most Indian establishments. IndeBlue has a good drink menu, and their IndeMartini is a standout and strong. They even have a wine list, which is borderline decent. The service was spotty. I found our waiter very affable, but in other ways he was a disaster. He almost poured my sparkling water in a wine glass, thought better of it, found a different glass, still almost spilled it, etc. The other wait staff were not up to par by any means, one even bumped into me on the way to the restroom sans an apology! Welcome to the jungle. This was restaurant week, so the menu was quite contrived. Maybe that is what held things back. I ordered the spinach chaat (good if you're into fried food), the vegetarian Thali (asked for vegan and gluten-free, got gluten-free, good thing I'm not a strict vegan), and the fig dessert was probably the best item. The vegetarian Thali was VERY limited compared to real Thalis that I have had at other Indian joints. My DP had a regular Thali from IndeBlue, and it also came with only 3 main dishes (and when I say dish we're talking a tiny saucer), compared to most places which have 5-6, and the idea is they will refill them for you, not here. They did start us with three complimentary tastes of soup, although I found them all lacking in taste. The rice was okay. Saffron rice, not really standout by any means. The fig cake was good, and the ice cream on top was decent. Not made in house, so I was like, ehhh. This is probably a fun date night for someone craving Indian cuisine, but IndeBlue is not foodie approved.
(3)
Joanna L.
If you like Indian food, then you have to check out IndeBlue. The flavors offered here will make your tastebuds dance with pleasure! Enjoyed a fantastic meal here with my family for a birthday. The atmosphere is trendy, but the vibe is relaxed and casual. The bartender Cory was very knowledgable about cocktails and beer, making perfect recommendations for everyone in our party. The coconut/caramom cocktail is deliciously refreshing and was the drink I stayed with throughout my dining experience. It was light, flavorful, not too sweet and exactly what I was looking for, containing both rum and vodka. In terms of food, here is what I recommend: Apps: Vegetable Samosa - 2 per order-- Filled with spiced potato turnovers, chickpeas , yogurt, tamarind date chutney, & cilantro mint chutney. Great balance of flavors inside, sitting on top of the chickpea yogurt mix that was a creamy accompaniment. They provide 3 types of dipping sauces - the mint chutney and spicy curry were my favorite! Crispy Spinach Chaat- crispy baby spinach, shallots , chopped tomatoes sweet yogurt, & tamarind date chutney. The best salad I've ever had. The crunchy spinach elevated the experience adding a different texture than a typical salad. I could have eaten three orders of this! So addicting! Great combination of flavors. Duo Samosa- pulled pork, tamarind barbecue, blue cheese wine, spinach, feta, & tomato raisin chutney. Another delicious samosa if you eat meat I would recommend. You receive one samosa and a spring roll. Everyone enjoyed. Drums of heaven- battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili & scallions. These were big ol' wings, more delicious than your average! If you visit the IndeBlue website, this is the picture when you select the menu. They're great to share and have a slight kick of heat to them. Of the small plates, we ordered the lamb lollipops- ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint & mojito. These are a MUST try. They're tender, juicy and packed with tasty spices. This was my my second favorite starter in addition to the spinach dish. Our table raved over them in fact. Main course breakdown: Seafood moilee -jumbo lump crab, jumbo shrimp, coconut, mustard seed, curry leaf served with lemon rice. This was a recommendation by our server and it was packed great! The lemon rice accompanies it perfectly. Laal maas - lamb shank, ginger, kashmiri chili, black cardamom, cumin and saffron rice. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly, sitting in a tangy sauce that complimented it well. Chicken tikka masala- boneless chicken, fresh tomato, red onion, fenugreek, & touch of cream served with saffron rice. Staple indian dish that we had to order. Chicken was juicy and the sauce was a solid combination of cream and spices. Baingan bharta- tandoor roasted eggplant mash, tomatoes , peas & caramelized onions. Great veggie side if you like eggplant. Soft consistency but coupled the entree orders well as a side with a good balance of spices. For Naan, we tried the provencal (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano & truffle oil) - combined awesome flavors when dipping in the entree sauces. If you like truffle oil, you've gotta try this! Also ordered the whole wheat roti which was also good.. pretty standard tho. Try the options with spices-- it adds the extra zing! I would definitely return to IndeBlue again. The service was pleasant and helpful, the decor is beautiful, cocktails were great, the food was excellent, and the price is VERY reasonable! Go and try it-- what are you waiting for?
(4)
Laura Jill S.
Wow. Michelle C had told me that Indeblue was her favorite Indian in the city, & wow, does she know her Indian food! Kristin H & I had dinner there tonight after the event at Eviama Life Spa (which was also phenomenal). The decor was beautiful & warm, I loved every detail of their presentation--in fact, I'm actually a little obsessed with their silverware. Everyone who worked there was friendly, and our waiter was excellent & accommodating (& quite cute, just sayin'). I know I've lived here a year, but I still can't get used to not having to explain what vegan is. It's still really special when someone in food service just knows & makes sure I'm taken care of. Kristin & I shared the samosas, the crispy vegetable chili, & the chana masala. I highly recommend all 3. (Michelle recommended the crispy spinach chaat--next time for sure!) I live for Indian food. This place is close to my apartment & amazing. I expect I'll be here often!
(5)
Jay D.
Pretty basic indian, even fancier atmosphere than Minar Palace down the street, which is my fav, and already too fancy (RIP: Old, unfancy Minar Palace on Sansom Street from 2005.) This seems like it would be the nicer option to go on a date to, and I love that they tell you on the menu what can be made vegan. But if I'm craving Indian, I'm heading to MP.
(4)
Kathy S.
This restaurant was such a pleasant surprise. The menu has familiar Indian food but with a twist. The vegetarian dishes, that can be ordered as sides, were excellent and the spinach chat was wonderful. Even the rice was very good. The service was perfect. Our sever was very attentive and didn't hurry us even though the restaurant was full. The ambiance is casually sophisticated and the noise level was acceptable. I thought this was the best Indian food in Phila. (my husband says Tashan but they really both are great)
(4)
Kiyana D.
Chicken tikka makhani, chana masala, and roti. Spicy, seasoned yumminess. Really good. A bit warm inside. Live mellow music and excellent HH. A great place for dinner and drinks with friends or date night.
(5)
Minh M.
My friends and I stumbled onto here while looking for a quick bite to eat before going out. We ended up staying until 1 am or so. I usually don't give out 5 stars unless it is really exceptional. Their lamb dishes were savory and amazing and their raita dip (yougurt, cucumber, and spices) is the best I've had. Not only that, but we came in 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was extremely accommodating. The kitchen staff put their best even late at night. To boot, he bartender whipped up a mean tamarita which was tequila and tamarind juice. It's too bad we found it so late in our trip because I would've loved to sit in the dining area, which was really cute and cozy, very different from the Indian restaurants I go to (but to be honest, this was an American, modern twist to Indian food). The hospitality was enough to earn them 5 stars and it's even better when the food is good. Check them out and look out for Cory to be your bartender!
(5)
Lan H.
IndeBlue is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia :-) 5 stars, woop woop! I would go back for happy hour and order the chikni shandar that really tated more like the yummy sangria with just a touch of chai and cardamom. Innovative, to say the least! Then, I would sit in the dining room for a lamb biryani dinner that was more like dinner plus lunch for two more days! The atmosphere was on-point with great service and even live music to put you more in the mood for Indian food! I feel like I have only touched the surface of what IndeBlue has to offer - I mean, Sunday brunch? Tons of other happy hour goodies and dinner goodies? Yes, please! IndeBlue, you've made me excited for another Indian food adventure!
(5)
Joyce S.
it was my second night there couple days ago. the ambiance was always awesome. this location is the perfect place for a date. there were artists playing drums and guitar which surprised me. but it was still cool. their drinks were pretty good. I had the mango lassi and it was made just right. Not too sweet and not too sour. We had the family style menu so we can share food and try different things. their food tend to be more spice. we got the chicken tikka masala and goat masala. So for the folks who cannot eat spicy food like me, make sure you drink a lot of water. (or get a mango lassi to easy the burning sensation) The naan breads and the rice were really good. Me and my friend's favorite were actually the dessert. The caramel fried banana and the cinnamon ice cream were to die for. Even though we were really full but we still manage to chew that thing down. overall I will definitely come back to try out different things on the menu.
(4)
Venkata Krishnan C.
The ambience was great. The service was excellent and the food was the best. Ordered veg thali and everything was good. The only drawback is lack of parking with the hotel but there are a couple parking decks closeby.
(5)
Kathryn T.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars I came here for brunch with friends when in Philly for the weekend. The menu looked super dope and it was close by to where we were staying. The food was three stars. It was good but I have had better. We had the butter chicken -- which was spicier than advertised. The garlic naan was easily the highlight of the meal. It was fluffy and had the right amount of garlic. The spinach chaat was good. The texture is unexpected so if you happen to order it, it really is that crispy. Rose petal mimosas were great at first but once you get to a certain point, all you can taste is the syrup. The value is incredible. For about $22-25 each, we got an entree, drink, and appetizer. Yeah, can't find that in NY. The vibes of this place are incredible. The setup of the restaurant is really something that you have to see since it is so beautiful. Live music during brunch? Yes, I want that. So here's the thing about IndeBlue, the service is not good. The wait is horrendous. Should it really take twenty minutes for someone to take our order.... no. Should it take over an hour for us to get our food, definitely not. There was a couple sitting next to us that waited even longer. Overall: it was good. The portion to taste to price ratio is solid... but that wait? There's a lot more we could have explored in the city if we weren't sitting the restaurant waiting.
(3)
Swathi J.
IndeBlue is the best Indian food I have eaten till date in Philadelphia. Naan and Roti were rightly baked and the curries were amazingly good. We ordered Malai Kofta Curry, Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala. Everything was so flavorful. We had to wait 30 minutes though we had a reservation, but the manager was kind enough to give us a snack on the house. The only reason why I am not giving them 5 stars is because the portions are really small for the price. One curry serves only one person. I certainly would recommend this to anyone who wants to have true Indian food in Philly!
(4)
Jess T.
The food is superb here. I've wanted to come here for months and finally got a chance to stop by for lunch today. And the food definitely did not disappoint. They have lunch specials for $15 which includes a starter and an entree. Everything sounded good on the menu but for my first time I went with the drums of heaven which is a Indian inspired buffalo wings with blue cheese. For my entree, I got my favorite, butter chicken (chicken makhani) which was extremely tasty and definitely has a kick to it. Best Indian food I've had in a while! My coworker had the tikka wrap and fries. Fries were crunchy and delicious. I'm guessing portions are smaller for lunch. Knocked one star off for service. Our waiter for lunch took his time and was slow to check in on us so make sure you're planning on a two hour lunch if you come in here!
(4)
Jacqueline O.
Beautiful little restaurant. Perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Tuesday's at 7 and brunch on Sunday have live music! Run a great happy hour deal from 5-7 or 9-close at the bar with 4 dollar beers and 5 dollar wines.
(5)
Julie W.
One of my favorite happy hours in the city (5-7 and then after 9, daily!). This place gets crowded around the bar, but it's not hard to snatch a seat or two if you have a small party. Intense physical proximity during peak hours doesn't make for the best heart-to-heart's (unless you opt for the quieter dining area), but it's great for delicious bites and strong drinks after work. Recommended noms: Drums of heaven - these are so good! A bit spicier than expected but like firecrackers in your mouth. Great HH snack though beware as it gets messy. Lamb rogan josh (19) - delicious lamb dish, rich in spices and flavor. Served with rice but great with their garlic naan. Split this with friend and we were very satisfied. Drinks: Kingfisher lager - light and refreshing, complemented the meal well. Indebluetini - rich mango flavor! favorite. Rose gimlet - pretty and strong, but a bit lackluster in taste. Take advantage of their long happy hours to sample their menu and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Adrienne D.
I love this place! All is great....from the happy hour to the customer service! My current favs - the rib samosas and the drumsticks. Want to try out small plates and good drinks at a reduced price? The happy hour is a sure bet. Get here on a Monday or at 5pm sharp to get a good space. Reservations recommended. Overall, been here four times. Between me and my friends - all the dishes have been great. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jennifer R.
Of course my meal and service here was damn spectacular and I was very happy with it. I'm a bit bitter about how expensive everything is and that it didn't have the same great options as the Collingswood location I had tried, but it was absolutely delicious. This is some high quality indian and the restaurant itself was gorgeous, so I was thrilled to be here, I just don't think a rice dish with a cheap cut of lamb needs to be over $20. It was Lamb Biryani which was spiced so well with whole coriander and saffron and everything great about indian, so really no complaints on food at all. We also got a crisped spinach app and a tikka masala pita pizza which was straight awesome with the amount and type of spice used. We sprung for some fancy cocktails and all of them were delicious and strong. Go for them if you're celebrating or are ok with paying $14 for a drink. I'd sooner go to the Collingswood location over this for everything but atmosphere. If they added the $20 thali sampler to the Philly location, my butt would be at the door immediately. If you're going on a nice date and both can appreciate some spice, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Mandy H.
IndeBlue is one of my go-to happy hour spots. The location is great for me and they have wonderful food and drink specials. Their drinks are different and interesting and tend to include cardamom, which sounded a little weird to me at first, but I really enjoyed the indebluetini, which has mango, cardamom, citron vodka, and lemon juice. It just works. They also have a delicious spinach chaat. I don't know how they keep the spinach as crispy as they do, but it is so crunchy and perfect with a mix of salty and sweet spices. Definitely try it! The naan pizzas are always a safe bet and the drums of heaven are the perfect cure for hankering for buffalo wings. At $4-$5 a piece during Happy Hour, its not a bad deal at all. I will be back!
(4)
Suzanne B.
Ambience. Perfect menu. Deep flavors. Handsome stranger sitting across from me. How could I not love this place?
(5)
Sam W.
Impressive Indian food at reasonable prices and really good and cheap drinks. They don't have Chicken Tikka Masala which almost crushed me... but they were able to make it anyways :)
(5)
Kal P.
SPINACH CHAAT! That is all. Ya'll NEED to try this. I've come here multiple times for Happy Hour and once for dinner. The drinks are unique (one was super spicy which I wasn't a fan of) and the food is tasty. I was raised in an Indian household so I am a snob when it comes to Indian food - I highly recommend this place! Note: Not all the Naan Pizzas are yummy - they change them daily. Choose wisely.
(5)
Anil T.
I asked for a can of coke with my take out, and the waitress said YES. After taking my food and walking a block, i saw there was no can of coke with in my food parcel. Went back and they gave me a glass if coke from the bar and said we don't sell CANS of soda. Not going there again. Low standard. Poor in informing the customer correctly.
(1)
Nancy X.
One of the BEST lunch spots out there! High quality, delicious Indian fusion. But they still do the traditional stuff really really well. Their express lunch for $15 is basically a steal. It comes with an appetizer and an entree. For appetizers, you can choose a chaat, salad, soup, or one of their super yummy fusion plates. Appetizers I like: -The drums of heaven (battered chicken wings with blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili and scallions) are so perfectly flavored. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And you get 4 of these amazing things -Naan pizza! They have different flavors all the time. The one I tried had paneer, red peppers, red onions, herbs, and mozzarella -Barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, you get 2 rolls cut into 4 pieces in total. It comes with a super yummy dipping sauce of tamarind barbeque and blue cheese wine. -Stuffed long hot peppers. You get 2 big ol' smoked green peppers, stuffed with house-made paneer, mozzarella, deghi chili, spring onions, with a fresh tomato sauce on the bottom. -Aloo makkai tikki are these 2 yummy spiced potato cakes with corn and apple chutney. ALL SUPER TASTY! Entrees: -The best one is chicken tikka makhani (butter chicken). The chicken is apparently free range, and obviously delicious. the sauce is beautifully spiced, and tastes right. Not like the nasty overly creamy ones I have to eat in New Jersey :( It's served with fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice, which is so delicious, but still needs to be drowned in the beautiful makhani sauce. - Lamb rogan josh is also really good! It's a less interesting tasting sauce in my opinion, but still delicious. Kinda like a lamb stew but spiced with an Indian flair. The lamb had a great, tender texture, and the sauce was so hearty and yummy. This also came with the awesome herb rice. Overall, an awesome date place!! The ambiance is really nice, roomy, clean, and dimly-lit. The $15 express lunch is just unreal.
(5)
Donna D.
IndeBlue offers exceptional service, incredible food and a beautifully charming restaurant--all at very reasonable prices. My companion and I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. I am vegan, he is not. We both loved our meals and were very satisfied. You must order the vegetable samosas and the vegetable skewer. My companion had shrimp, chicken and lamb and he said they were all incredibly high quality meats, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waiter, Chris, was awesome and made us feel like family. This is my new favorite restaurant!
(5)
Emma M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! The food is superb. The service is attentive and seamless. The venue is elegant and beautiful, and the prices are uber-reasonable. Moreover, it caters not just to carnivorous diners, but to vegans and gluten-free acolytes alike. Yay! I like to sample as much of a restaurant's offerings as I can. Indeblue's menu certainly encourages that. I'll typically get the smaller versions of two entrees, throw in an appetizer and naan bread, and order one of their homemade desserts. They also offer a tasting menu, which I highly recommend. Since it's conveniently located near the Kimmel Center and other performance venues I like to frequent, I'll often come here for dinner. If I order before 7 pm, I've asked for my drink at Happy Hour prices even though my meal came from the dinner menu. Bear in mind that Happy Hour restarts at 9 pm! So indulge in a sumptuous meal, walk a few blocks to your performance, and return to Indeblue afterwards for a post-show drink. It's a great place to bring a date, enjoy a pleasant business dinner, or have a nice evening out with friends.
(5)
Marcie K.
This place just blew my freaking mind. Everything we ate, and I do mean everything, was PERFECT. The service excellent, and the atmosphere really pleasant. The spinach chaat - I'd push my mother in front of a train if I had to choose between her and the chaat. The seafood moille was superb. I would have liked a bit more variety in the seafood (90% shrimp) though. Just go there. Eat everything on the menu. Be happy.
(5)
Lene P.
I think this could be my first time trying non-buffet Indian food. Indeblue seems to be a staple in NJ and is often mentioned for best Indian. It seems hidden but is located not far from Woody's. After work on a beautiful Friday night wasn't hard to get a table and street parking was available. Although to avoid the headache, try not to park on Spruce where they still have quarter meters (thanks to Indeblue staff for providing us with quarters). Size wise, it was rowhome tight but still comfortable. I wasn't bothered by the amount of staff shuffling about constantly. The $37/person tasting menu proved extremely filling. We were full by the time the entrees arrived. For the first course (choice of 2) we ordered the diver scallops (one scallop in sauce each) and the barbecue pork (?) samosa rolls with dipping sauce. Both were delicious. Second course was choice of 1 which we picked shrimp skewer (4). Third course we ordered a lamb saag (custom order) and the chicken tikka makhani. This came with an order of naan (3) and basmati rice. Fourth course was a sampler of their desserts (scoop of ice cream, a fried banana ball and rice pudding... I forget the formal description). This was also delicious! The tasting menu is cheap and definitely worth it. We tried their Indeblutini cocktail which was great if you love mango. Service was top notch. Very attentive and accommodating. Price wise, it is more expensive than the West Philly Indian buffets (New Delhi and Sitar) but great if you want a more upscale experience and be in Center City. It is similar to Karma in Old City although I know Karma definitely has a lunch buffet. I did like it a little better than Tiffin in South Philly.
(5)
Liz F.
This place has a great brunch! To start there is a live sitar player... Come on, that is pretty unique touch! When we first came in we thought it was just music played through speakers. After we walked through the restaurant, we realized it was live and it was beautiful and relaxing. It was just the extra touch needed to seal the experience. First and foremost, order the rose mimosa! It was delicate and delicious and four dollars... I'm now regretting that I didn't get several. It isn't as sugary as orange juice and the flavor beautifully complimented the champagne. We ordered the samosas for our appetizer and those were extremely tasty. They were piping hot and perfectly plated. I ordered the non-vegetarian thali for my main dish and it was delectable! It is a lot of food, but I can honestly say I did not leave a single morsel behind. Each sample had a great flavor. I wish it was a bit spicier, but that is certainly a personal preference. This is an excellent choice to try several options without committing to just one. It's an indecisive persons dream come true! More seal the deal five star characteristics included: how attentive and available the wait staff was. Our waitress was quick to answer any questions and to ensure our food was enjoyable. Not to mention, when the check came not much damage was done considering the quality and quantity we had received. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to be back soon for dinner!!
(5)
Courtney J.
I've been in love with the IndeBlue in Collingswood for a few years now, so I was excited to hear they were getting a location in Philly. A couple of friends and I went to Happy Hour here last week, and we were impressed with the food deals. The happy hour is from 5:00-7:00 Monday-Friday at the bar. The food prices range from $3-$5. The veggie samosas were only $3 and came with two large ones in a chickpea sauce. They were stuffed full of potatoes and chickpeas. I also ordered the nan pizza ($5), which is just what it sounds like, a large piece of nan with pizza toppings. This particular one came topped with paneer, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and peppers. The type of pizza changes daily though, so ask before ordering. I was stuffed after having only those two appetizers. The drink I had was less impressive, but at only $5 it was alright. It was the Chikini Shandar. This is basically sangria with an Indian twist as chai and cardamom are added. However, I didn't taste any of these wonderful flavors. It was sweet and just tasted like regular sangria. Since the appetizers were good, I'll be back. I'll try a different drink next time, and hopefully it'll be better.
(4)
Vidushi B.
This review update is for the brunch - dinner is still a solid 5 stars for me! I also enjoyed my brunch, but I still think dinner here is better. The ambiance obviously does not change from dinner to brunch -- but they do have live sitar and tabla at noon, which is a nice touch. To start, I ordered chai, and obviously loved it. I don't mean a chai tea latte, I mean real, milky, overly sweet chai, which is just the way I like it. We got the spinach chaat as an appetizer, which you'll know from all the other reviews, is the best dish at this restaurant. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. For my entree, I decided to have the paneer bhurjee, which is one of the more traditional items on the menu. It came with a small chili cheese naan. It was very flavorful, and I really liked it. The awkward thing was that they naan was pretty small, and I had so much bhurjee left over at the end. I took it home, and tonight, I ordered take-out naan to finish it with... My friends got the dosa and the french toast, and both were impressed. However, I think that getting the more fusion dishes is the move here, because that's what IndeBlue is good at - putting a new spin on more traditional dishes!
(4)
Farha A.
This was by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever encountered - and I am an Indian. What I appreciated most is the uniqueness of the dishes while still maintaining an authentic taste and reverence to South Asian cuisine. I went during happy hour to eat and the happy hour foods were served in generous portions for only $3, $4, or $5 max. My favorite dish was the Spinach Chaat. It was composed of crunchy Spinach flash fried in chick pea powder with other various spices and sauces typical to a chaana or samosa chaat. It was a very light yet satisfying dish and it took a lot of restraint not to order more as I still had plenty more coming. The drums of heaven, hot long peppers, veggie samosas, and shrimp with chilli aoili were also things I tried and loved each and every single one. The bartender serving my food was very kind and informative, offering explanations and recommendations and the food arrived promptly. Best part is all of this came out to be only around ~$20 so if you are a student like me wanting some delicious, gourmet food with a unique flair, I HIGHLY recommend Indeblue. One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Philly!
(5)
A B.
Tonight was looking for spice and flavor, enter IndeBlue. A modern decor and foods that had just a hint of a contemporary twist - barring the fish taco which was completely outside the box, though tasty - I found everything I was looking for!
(3)
Tonya M.
My friends and I have been here for dinner- yum! Have a great happy hour too. Lunch was so good! Reasonably priced, fast, super friendly service as always. Saag Paneer is my favorite.
(5)
Monica H.
It was a first for me to try Indian food. I would not be able to say whether it's authentic or not. So I'm just giving my opinion on what I've encountered.. Our waiter wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. I told him it was my first time trying Indian food, and he didn't offer any type of suggestions. We went with the chefs tasting menu. I wasn't wow'd. If it's a "Chefs Tasting Menu"... shouldn't the "chef" put it together? Why am I selecting all the options.. I wasn't getting a "pre fixe'd" meal.. Anyways.. after what it seemed like pulling teeth out of our waiter, "MONICAs TASTING MENU included: spinach - i enjoyed. it was crunchy and delicious. something i've never had. scallop - nothing special. ONE medium size scallop in a puddle of sauce. lamb chop - too salty. chicken - chewy and a bit on the dry side. goat - very tender and moist. ....dessert (which the chef finally decided to put together cuz their was no option). it consist of homemade ice cream, something like a fried banana dough, which i didn't taste any banana. rice pudding which was very waterdown... MAYBE i would come back for their lunch since there were items there that i did want to try which is not offered during dinner.
(3)
marie l.
This review is purely a happy hour cocktail review. I will be back to review food and regular menu very soon. So, I like happy hours for two reasons. 1.) getting together with a friend who you haven't seen in a while and really want to catch up with, but you both have such crazy schedules that all you can fit in is a happy hour, and 2.) Partake in a solo cocktail while I read or introspect, or think big life thoughts and simultaneously not break the bank. Either way, I love relatively small, quiet but interesting and alive places. Indeblue more than fits this bill. Good, strong cocktails for a happy hour, friendly and non invasive service, perfect balance of calm and vibrant.
(5)
Yaka H.
A great place for lunch. We indulged in the spinach chaat and the lunch thali platters. The spinach chaat involves spinach leaves fried to a delicate crispness. Topped with crispy straws, yogurt, tomatoes, a great combination of delicate textures, cool textures, and crunch. Each thali platter comes with: naan, rice, a snack (in this case 2 samosas), raita, two non-veg/veg/seafood curries, a vegetable curry (in this case daal makhani), and dessert (kheer). The thali platter is a large round platter with plated little bowls, giving you the opportunity to sample many flavors in one sitting. Definitely a great option to taste what IndeBlue offers at one meal. They have 3 kinds of thali platters: non-veg, veg, and seafood. My sister had the non-veg, which included a chicken curry and a lamb curry. I opted for the vegetarian thali. Staff here is cognizant of food allergies and inquired off at seating if we had any.
(4)
Christine F.
Visited last night for restaurant week. Four course menu with plenty to choose from... Everything was delicious. Not overly spicy but just enough. When confirming our reservation they repeated twice that the restaurant week menu would be the only menu offered. The $35 per person four course menu with multiple choices for each course is well worth it. We started with veggie samosas and chicken chaat. Both delicious, next we had the tandoori chicken wings and stuffed long pepper. The tandoori spice was evenly distributed and chicken was so tender. The long pepper itself was not spicy but the stuffing and chili sauce had a very nice kick. Next, we had the vegetarian thali platter and lamb was amazing and filling. We hardly had room for the rice pudding but when it was creamy and spiced with cinnamon. I almost forgot to mention the live sitarist and drums! The musicians were wonderful and added so much to the atmosphere of the restaurant. The one issue that prevented me from giving 5 stars was the wait. The entire dinner from when we entered the restaurant until we left was two hours. Because our server was waiting a large party of 18 guests, who all needed to be severed at the same time. Due to this my boyfriend and I had to wait primarily for our entrees, which took roughly 30 minutes. Overall, it was a wonderful night and we would return. Possibly for brunch which is when the sitarist and drummer play again!
(4)
Samannaaz K.
Hands down my best Indian food experience in the U.S! I have been there three times in my two visits to Philly and it is a must visit. If you go there for their happy hour, I highly recommend recommend the Indebluetini! The mango flavor with the cardamom is a true pleaser for your palate. Also- among their small bites- the drums of heaven, shrimp koliwada and the naan pizza. If you go there for dinner the lamb biryani is scrumptious, you can taste all the different spices. I think they use freshly ground spices as opposed to many regular Indian restaurants that use powdered or packages spices. Most Indian restaurants in the U.S. have left me underwhelmed or disappointed with their generic menus and very non-innovative recipes. Perhaps I need to explore more Indian cuisine restaurants...but if you are in Philly and you love Indian food, do not miss Indeblue! Also their courteous and well trained staff adds to the wonderful dining experience. I will always go back when I am in the area.
(5)
jay l.
This is, without a doubt, the very best Indian cuisine anywhere in South Jersey. My favorites: butter chicken, vegetable korma, and any of their delicious homemade ice creams. Occasionally I'll get the Thali which is always good for leftovers. I'm really thrilled with this restaurant for delivering all the way to Cherry Hill where I live, and also for having a really amazing Sunday brunch. I don't think I could love this place anymore if I tried. If you're looking for a sodium - laden Indian buffet, keep going. But if you're looking for fresh, delicious indopak cuisine this is your place.
(5)
John K.
Philly is no stranger to modern twists on Indian cuisine. Though Tashan is less one Chef Sylva Senat, it is still one of the prime destinations for delicious and beautifully presented Indian dishes. With IndeBlue making its way from Collingswood NJ, Center City Philly got a lot spicier. And with the exit of Bindi from Chef Marcie Turney's deck of restaurants a few years back, Chef Rakesh Ramola is certainly putting his Indian stamp on 13th Street. The space is beautiful as well - wide open with plenty of room and ornamental designs throughout. A bar stands at the front of the restaurant - a great spot for Happy Hour and Center City Sips. Crispy Spinach Chaat [$8] Crispy baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, tamarind date chutney The GF and I stopped by for lunch and the first thing we noticed on the menu was the crispy spinach chaat. And before we could even order it, the kitchen had already sent it out for us to try. This was a dish we had at Tashan and it exceeded our expectations. The baby spinach was lightly coated in a fresh chickpea batter and flash-fried in soybean oil. This allowed for a vegetal crisp amidst the bite of onion, chopped tomatoes, and shallots. The sweet yogurt and tamarind date chutney dressed the chaat well and provided a sweetness that brought a smile to our faces. A must order. Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable [$8] Seasonal vegetables, mustard seed, tomato, curry leaf, red chili These vegetables were coated with a thicker chickpea batter, yet it was still incredibly crisp and light. Fresh veggies included cauliflower, peppers, and eggplant, with the mustard seed and red chili providing a bit of heat, and the tomato providing the acid. I typically abhor raw onions, but the red onions really worked here to break up the heft of each bite. Drums of Heaven [$8] Battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili, scallions As soon as I saw pictures on Yelp (5 stars by the way), I knew I had to order this dish. Sure, it's not a traditional Indian dish. But really - how many restaurants french their drumsticks? This chicken was nicely crispy, but was dressed well with notes of garlic, tomato and chili. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and was marinated with what I believe was a yellow curry. The blue cheese certainly isn't typical, but hey - it's almost to be expected. If you like wings, definitely check these out. Chutney Mint, tamarind-date, green chile With our mains, the kitchen also sent out a sampler of chutneys for us to try (I believe they're typically $3 each). From top to bottom, we received mint (light and refreshing), tamarind-date (sweet depth of flavor), and green chile (be prepared to sweat!). Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" [$12] Boneless free-range chicken, fresh tomato, cream, honey, fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice We make butter chicken at least once a month in our home, despite the GF and I not being Indian. But why should that matter - it's crazy good - 'nuff said. IndeBlue's iteration? Blows ours out the water. The boneless chicken was moist, but really, it's all about the sauce. The tomato provided nice acidity against the cream and butter. Perfect to engulf the sweet saffron rice. If you're thinking that Indian food is all about curry and you need an easy entry into this cuisine, please try this. Non-Vegetarian Thali [$16] Two tasting entrees, dai makhani, appetizer, mango chutney, rice, naan, raita When I saw the thali options, I knew I had to order the non-vegetarian version. Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of various dishes - Indian tapas if you will. Counterclockwise from the right, I received mustard chicken (moist and bright), lamb (hearty like short rib and one of the best bites of the meal), and lentil daal (spicy and filling). A mango chutney and creamy raita provided the sweet and cooling elements to respectively balance the rest of the bites. Well-seasoned fried potatoes, more saffron rice, and naan bread were on offer as well. And for $16? This is easily a steal and a great way to try different bites from the kitchen. If you live in Center City Philly, consider yourself lucky. There's a wide variety of cuisines available, especially in the Midtown Village area. With IndeBlue, approachable and modern twists based on authentic Indian techniques and flavors are on display. Service was top-notch - Sean was friendly, informed, and our plates were cleared for each course. If I'm craving Indian, I know where I'll be going. Unless IndeBlue starts delivering ...
(5)
Anupma S.
**Restaurant Week Review** I can't imagine giving IndeBlue any less than five stars... Simply amazing! From the service, to food and drink, to decor and ambiance, IndeBlue scores an A+ on everything. I visited again to try their Restaurant Week menu and had an incredible dining experience. Our service was exceptional -- we had a good pace through our four courses and were never rushed by our waiter. Each course was so delicious!! Check out the pictures on this review to see our selections. My favorites... Chai Sangria: Umm... Two amazing drinks in one, heck yeah!!! They nailed it. Mango Avacado Salad: Light and fresh with tasteful additions of avacado and mango. Great way to begin a heavy meal of Indian food. Drums of Heaven: Reminiscent of Indo-Chinese flavors. Perfectly crispy and cooked! Chicken Tikka Makhani: Never had better! Bold, rich flavors and perfectly textured chicken. Gulab Jamun: Delicious pairing with cinnamon ice cream, YUMMM. Heck i loved everything lol. For serious, they can effortlessly make tasty vegetable and meat dishes that are both fresh and rich. I've never seen another Indian restaurant do it better! The decor inside is simply beautiful. They really went all out in making the restaurant an exotic escape from Philadelphia. It was packed for Restaurant Week too, so I'm not alone in my love!
(5)
Sanit J.
Hands down the best indian food in Philly. Dal Makhani is to die for. The crispy spinach chat is a great concept and texturally brilliant. Not to miss at all.
(5)
Ray M.
Based on a great review from Sari A. Indie Blue in Philadelphia did not disappoint. Very classy Indian restaurant. Wonderful decor/atmosphere. Very clean and comfortable. All the staff work well together to service the customer. It's clear to see this restaurant is just doing it right. I love Indian food! Indie Blue is now my new favorite place dine for this cuisine. I decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of 4 courses. You are able to pick 1-2 choices for each course from the main menu. I'm very confident everything at this restaurant is great. My favorite was the lollipop lamb chops! Omg! They were perfectly balanced with amazing spices and a melt in your mouth texture. Soooo good! I was also pleasantly surprised by the drink menu. Not too many Indian restaurants are known for good alcohol libations. They have amazing drinks with an Asian twist. Awesome! Desert: with the tasting menu you get coconut ice cream, banana beignet and rice pudding. Delicious! Words really cannot describe my start to finish experience. I can't wait to go back to explore more of this great menu at this lovely restaurant. Thank you Sari A!
(5)
Neil C.
The food is awesome... Service even better...I highly recommend the chef trading menu... Although it is a littler buy too much for one person... But you can Teetu many items on the menu.no went with spinach chat awesome, chicken drum rule awesome, lamb rack awesome, lamb rogan josh awesome, paneer butter masala awesome chocolate dessert awesome
(5)
Aria S.
*happy hour review* Definitely new happy hour stop. I came on Tuesday and the bar was completely packed, but on Thursday it was totally fine...I guess it's just a draw. Drinks: Rose gimlet, spicy lychee margarita, and indebluetini. All delicious and so creative in bringing in Indian flavors (like rose, spice, and cardamon) into drinks! They weren't strong, but for $5, well worth it. Food: Hai ram, this was all delicious. The spinach chaat is a must!! Aloo tikis are a meh (but for $3, why not!). The naan pizza changes weekly I guess but ours with paneer was delightful. The stuffed peppers also delicious and SPICY (yaass) and stuffed with paneer and mozeralla..yes delicious. The most expensive was the naan pizza for $5! For 3 hungry chicas, we ordered 4 appetizers and that was our dinner, coming out to like $5/person and it was the best decision ever. Will definitely return, especially because they have a late night happy hour (9-closing) for us who work later! Shoutout to Michael the host for helping us out when we were in a rush to leave and he got us our bill, etc.
(5)
Nora H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had. Everything with stellar: food, cocktails, service, and interior. Went during restaurant week and was impressed with the portion size. The chai tea cocktail and crispy spinach appetizer were especially excellent.
(5)
Neha S.
This is Indian food served with a refreshing modern twist. We ordered a stuffed mirchi as appetizer and Malai kofta, pindi chole and garlic mama as entre. And I have to say that every single dish was just outstanding. But the real winner was their fig ice cream with a texture as soft as a silk. I would highly recommend this place for food lovers in Philly!
(5)
Elisa F.
Great lunch specials and a gorgeous atmosphere. I had a sampler and everything single thing was awesome. Nice attentive service as well :)
(5)
Sonia S.
I came here on a Thursday night for happy hour (5-7pm) with 2 friends... The bar was full so they seated us at a small table near the entrance. This was my first time here and despite having high expectations, I was very impressed! The food and drinks were flavorful and unique. We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 rounds of drinks between the 3 of us and the bill came out to only $50! Drinks ($5 each) -chikni shandar (my favorite one!): sparkling wine with chai and cardamom. Tastes just like sangria with an Indian twist -rose gimlet: if you like gin, this is a must! -spicy lychee margarita: chili-infused tequila adds an interesting kick -indebluetini: just like a spiced maaza mango juice Food ($3-5) -spinach chaat: the best spinach you will ever have... Crispy spinach with onions, tomatoes topped with yogurt chutney and sev (thin crunchy noodles) -naan pizza: with tandoori marinated paneer and caramelized onions -aloo makkai tikki: still not sure how I feel about the apple chutney but overall an average dish -stuffed peppers: gets progressively more spicy as you near the end of the pepper with seeds. Looking forward to coming back for their late night happy hour (9pm-close) and trying a thali!
Pretty solid Indian food in Center city. Place is always packed. Beautiful decor. I recommend the lamb lollipops and the crispy spinach.
(5)
Lena J H.
This is Indeblue's second location, the original being in Collingswood, NJ. The food is pretty on par with that location, except in terms of pricing: food is on average a dollar more per dish yet it is the same preparation and portions. A huge difference is that Philly served alcohol, while Collingswood is dry. Definitely love their Indian twists on cocktails here. The mango martini is tasty, like an alcoholic lassi without the creaminess. The food is not traditional Indian by any means, so don't come here expecting that. It's a cool contemporary approach to Indian cuisine that is no less delicious. You can't go wrong with the chana masala, samosa, basmati rice, naan, or spinach chaat. I'm a vegan, and this restaurant is definitely accommodating and I have never had any trouble finding something to eat, especially with their knowledgable waitstaff (they even know what vegan means, you'd be surprised how many don't). It's usually a little too chilly inside for my taste, but it's not a big deal. It's pretty small inside and tends to get very busy around dinner time. I'd suggest making a reservation to be safe. Overall, great food and service, I'll be back many more times.
(4)
Sabrina K.
This restaurant is so popular, I had to make a reservation on a Tuesday night! It looks very dark, almost like it's closed, from the outside, but the atmosphere inside is bustling with activity. The lollipop lamp chops and spinach chaat are a must for appetizers! I would also recommend their daal makhani and paneer tikka masala as far as entrees go. The saffron rice is so delicious, I could eat it by itself. The banana nirvana is a unique, delicious dessert with its cinnamon ice cream, also a must! The staff could have been a little more sociable, spilled water on our table and almost gave us the wrong check so the visit could have been more professional but accidents happen.
(5)
Natalee F.
This might be one of my new favorite places to eat! I like everything about it. The interior is dark and stylish and the tables are not crowded together. I forget the name of the spiced chai alcoholic drink, but after one sip I thought wow, I could drink 20 of these. They are small and go down way too easily. It's made with homemade chai and you can taste the quality. So many vegetarian options!! The paneer is sooo tender and tasty. It's a 10/10 on the paneer deliciousness scale. We tried the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and the malai kofta, along with the truffle oil naan. The portions appeared small, but we definitely were full after eating. The dessert was perfection - homemade fig ice cream with a sweet cheese stuffed date. The only downside was that the waiter seemed like he was trying to get us out of there at the end of the meal. He didn't say it directly, but my friend and I have both worked as servers, so we recognized his tricks. It's a bit pricey, once it's all added up with the drinks, but well worth it. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Yash M.
This is one of the best happy hours I have attended in the city. As a regular, I have sampled almost every item on their happy hour menu and my favorites are: the Chikni Shandar - a chai-infused sangria, the Spinach Chaat (flash-fried spinach and other delicious chutneys). the Naan Pizza (rotating but dependably delicious), and the Drums of Heaven (Indian-style chicken). Indeblue is great for brunch too - rose mimosas, dosas, and thalis. For dinner, however, I was a little disappointed in the food. Portions were too big and got a little monotonous. I think the place would do much better with a small plates-style menu. I still give Indeblue five stars, however, because it is truly a great destination for someone who likes Indian flavors, but also wants to enjoy innovative cooking.
(5)
Fabio D.
If you're looking for the BEST Indian food, look no further! It's a very welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere. It's somewhat of a small restaurant (but worth it!). The staff was also very kind and helped with any questions on the menu. I've also tried the one in Collingswood which is just as good. However, this one in Philly is a little "fancier." Either way, they're both exceptional! Enjoy!
(5)
Geet M.
Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Corey and Topanga, Indian and brunch? Now one of those may make your eyebrows arch but trust me...they're all perfect combos! Indeblue is one of my favorite brunch spots in Philly, it's freaking fantastic. The brunch menu is pretty extensive and the prices are on point. Service was as good as the masala chai (and oh yes, it's good). Tried the chole bhature [Sun Brunch $10] (flavorful chickpeas eaten with a large piece of bread that's bigger than my face) + chicken tikka makhani (tender chunks of chicken swimming in awesome sauce [Sun Brunch $12]. It was the perfect atmosphere for a casual Sunday brunch, the sitar and tabla players are so talented and it transports you to a wonderful place to relax and dine. Our water glasses were always more than half full, for all you optimists out there. The only issue we had was that our bill had the brunch price swapped with the dinner price, an easy fix and the only lil hiccup in the dining experience. Once you dine here, you may not stop ;)
(5)
Joy Y.
Took advantage of their $15 lunch special. Spinach chaat: crispy, sweet, but a tad oily. Naan pizza: paneer is tasty but the tomato sauce definitely masked the wonderful texture of naan. Malai kofta: SO GOOD! It is a spicy dish although the menu doesn't say so, and the cashews and apricots provided such variation in texture and flavor that every bite was intense and complex. I poured all the saffron rice into the sauce and cleaned the plate. Next time I'll definitely want to try their mango lassi.
(4)
Eunni C.
Glad to find beautiful indian restaurant in the hood. Tried their vegetable samosa, spicy scallop and shrimp crusted salmon. They were all good! Samosa was crispy and deliciously seasoned. Scallop and salmon were great. I really liked the ambiance, it was lively and was perfect for grabbing some yummy food and enjoy conversation. I tried the lassi as well. And was rich and creamy as I like. I wish I tried their crispy chaat. Looked really but no one wanted to order so we skipped it. I will definitely try that dish next time I am there. The service was very professional and kind.
(4)
Mike Z.
Very fancy and upscale Indian restaurant with a bar. We ordered chicken tika masala, lamb tika masala, and lamb chops. In addition we had garlic naan. For drinks we just had the Jamison neat. The restaurant is really nice and they have good service. The food was pretty good but not the best Indian food I ever had. This would be a great place to go on a date and I would def come back again.
(4)
Mike M.
Excellent food! One of the best that I've personally had and I'm from NYC. Very enjoyable, I would recommend their mango alcoholic drink, naan pizza, garlic naan, and chicken tikka. Definitely will come back for dinner.
(5)
Olivia R.
I went to IndeBlue for happy hour with three of my Indian friends. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat with them but I tried some of their spinach chote and it was really good - tasted kind of like tempura and wasn't too spicy the way I find some other Indian food to be. They also got these stuffed peppers that looked good and they all seemed to like. The drinks were interesting and generally pretty good (between the four of us we had almost all of the cocktails). I had the cucumber mantra and the rose gimlet and they were both delicious. If you are looking for traditional Indian food though, this is probably not the place for you. It's Indian fusion so it's all kind of trendier takes on Indian food.
(4)
David G.
If there's one thing Philadelphia dining does exceptionally well, it's taking everyday food and turning it into something elegant and unusual. That's why I had such high expectations for dinner at IndeBlue. I was eager to witness the usual rice-n-curry turned up a few notches. I joined a colleague here on a cold and drizzly Tuesday night. It was a good thing we had reservations, since it was packed solid despite the bad weather and off night. I was immediately taken in by its warm and inviting ambiance. We started with a round of drinks -- the IndeBlueTini and a Rose Grapefruit Gimlet. Both were fun and fruity and easy to drink, which helped lift the rainy-day blues. For an appetizer, we shared the naan pizza. (The toppings change on the reg, so be sure to ask the server what you're getting!) Truthfully, I wasn't impressed by it. I was hoping for some heat or spice, but it was disappointingly bland, and the cheese was rubbery and stringy. It all seemed like a waste of perfectly good naan. Our next appetizer, the aloo makkai tikki (corn and potato cakes with apple chutney) was tons better. These crispy cakes were hot, flavorful, and all-around satisfying. For the entree, we shared the chicken Madras with a side of basmati rice and garlic naan. This dish was the most traditional item of the night, but it was packed with flavor and delicious spice. Loved the combo of chili, mustard seed, coconut, and saffron. When generously slathered on the rice or on a slice of naan, this dish brought me to Indian food heaven. For dessert, we shared the chocolate sutra, which didn't seem like an Indian dish at all. It was more like a flourless chocolate mousse cake with a few pistachios thrown on as an afterthought. That said, it tasted superb. Service was friendly throughout the night. Each time we looked up, it seemed like there was a different server tending to our table, but that never got in the way of their professionalism and timely pacing of the courses. Thanks for the lovely dinner, IndeBlue!
(4)
Jennifer P.
Excellent and innovative Indian cuisine. The cocktails are also original and elegant - try the spicy lychee martini or the mango margarita. Beautiful restaurant and very attentive service. Happy hour or late night is an awesome deal - all drinks and apps are between $4-$5 - truly a steal. Our expectations were exceeded - definitely a must go.
(5)
Cynthia X.
Currently eating leftovers from IndeBlue as I write this review. The food here is lovely, though I would stay away from any prix fixe menu they offer. Below is what I (and my bf) tried from their $50pp Valentine's special menu (don't think all items are on their actual menu): Course 1: Red kidney bean soup: Ok, tastes like chili. I could do without Chicken and kale soup: Tastes a bit like chicken noodle soup but with a thicker consistency. I wasn't a fan Course 2: Chickpea salad: Fine, but I can't believe they listed this out as a separate course. Course 3: Foiegras on toast: This was tasty, but I don't see the Indian connection at all.. Mushroom uttapam: Yum! Mushrooms + truffle oil over a light rice cake bread. This I would definitely recommend. Course 4: Chicken Tikka Masla: No trip to an Indian restaurant would be complete without this British rendition of Indian food! You cannot go wrong with this! While my bf and I wanted to be adventurous and try something else, we just couldn't resist. The chicken was completely tender and the sauce slightly sweet. Lamb chops: These were juicy, but I didn't particularly care for some of the spices which lent a bitter flavor. This came with a bread basket of 3 naans: sesame, paneer, and garlic. I loved all 3. I could eat naan for days. Course 5: Red velvet cake: delicious, though I'm pretty sure this is a Valentine's day special. Bread pudding: definitely could skip While my review is not all that favorable, I still give this place 4 stars because the mainstay food items (I think) that the restaurant normally serves are great - chicken tikka masala, naan, mushroom uttapam. yumyum. I wish I had a choice to order a la carte. Point of the story: regular menu items are great. valentine's special, not so much.
(4)
Krupa T.
Very good! Been here twice now and both times were amazing. The spinach chaat is unique and flavorful. It's almost like a salad/chaat. Hard to describe, order it! I feel like Indeblue has a truly unique menu that is modern and appetizing. I've been to tashaan and I thought their attempt to be modern comes off bland and flavorless!
(4)
Hema K.
Stopped in for happy hour after a long day of shopping and fell in LOVE! Such a cool vibe as soon as you enter and the waiters/bartenders are very friendly. We started off with two drinks--the Indebluetini and the Chikni Shandar. The Indebluetini was to die for--it tasted like rich mango pulp infused with vodka. The Chikni Shandar was good, but not what it was advertised to be--I couldn't taste the chai or cardamom, so it was more or less just a sangria/spritzer. However, the food completely made up for points I might have docked for the drinks. We ordered the naan pizza, the spinach chaat, and the stuffed long hot peppers. The peppers had great flavor but I wished the paneer inside was a bit more firm and less crumbly. The spinach chaat--out of this world! I could eat it for days. Such a unique twist on an Indian staple! And the naan pizza had an amazing range of flavors. The naan itself was perfectly cooked, and the rose petal marmalade, asparagus, and goat cheese all complemented each other so well. This is modern Indian fusion at its finest. Definitely my favorite spot in Philly--can't wait to be back. I will add that I thought having a Ganesha statue in the middle of the bar surrounded by spirits was a bit distasteful, but only a minor point.
(5)
Kathleen D.
Happy Hour, that's what I'm sayin. If you can swipe yourself a seat at styley IndeBlue's little bar between the hours of 5-7 PM, you should that. Happy Hour: That's what I can't shut up about here. With select appetizers in the $3-$5 range, you can really fashion a nice Indian style small plates feast for yourself, or an early dinner perhaps? Also, there's drinking to be done here: $3 Kingfishers, along with $4 featured crafty drafts, $4 select glasses of reds and whites, $5 cocktails... Here. I'll offer this tip up for the ravenous ones; maybe you wanna order in shifts. Otherwise, a parade of tapas sized plates will ascend on you all at once. I mentioned, it's not a large bar. I got to have one of those, "Ah geez, we're makin a spectacle of ourselves, ahhhgain,' moments as we huddled in the corner with our veritable mini smorgasbord of Indian fusion flavors. There are a lot of lil dishes that were calling our names. We did a shameless samplin' and enjoyed em up plenty. I'm required by some kinda self-imposed regulation that I always have to have a samosa. The vegetable samosas were spot-hitters, filled with mildly spiced potato & peas and drizzled with chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt. The other samosa style option on the bar menu during happy hour is the house-made tamarind barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls served with a blue cheese wine sauce. I liked em just fine, but for me those rolls were all about the winey blue cheese condiment accompanying those fellers. "Drums of Heaven," are representing for the wing portion of your happy hour hankerings. These frenched chicken wing drummies are batter-fried and then sauced in a slightly smoky, chili-tomato puree, with scattered blue cheese crumbles and scallion to top. Juicy. Messy! Tasty. Very tasty. Hey, and if your lookin for a fusiony flatbread, there's a daily featured naan pizza. "Ask your bartender," it says on the menu in parentheses. I can tell you, everyone asks. We heard the contents of that pizza repeated again and again...annnd despite that factoid, I know I'm still somehow leaving something off the list here, but you can believe me when I say that it was a good'un comprised of crispy bottomed, pillowy naan, topped with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, paneer, mozzarella, and cilantro. Out of everything, however, our top favorite bites were the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the stuffed long hot peppers appetizer. The crispy cauliflower was like that ole Indo-Chinese favorite of ours, Gobi Manchuria. Florets are batter-fried crispy and then spiced up with a, "medium heat,' tomato, chili, soy, ginger sauce. So good. So addictive. As always, I wish for more heat, but if you ask you can get a little of IndeBlue's red hot sauce on the side. I overheard another in-the-know lady do so, and I coppycatted. Yes. The stuffed long hot peppers didn't need no extree burn, I'm happy to report. You know how it is with long hots, some of em have a sneaking heat, and some of em straight up sear. These two roasted (or fried) soft long hot peppers were of the latter variety and stuffed with mozzarella and crumbled paneer and herbs, resting in a pool of that now-familiar chili tomato sauce. Good stuff. There you have it. We ate nearly everything on the happy hour menu and we dug it. Nearly everything... We'll return to devour the rest. IndeBlue's 5-7 daily happy hour became an instant favorite with us. Nice chaating with you.
(4)
Scott S.
The food is unbelievable if your in town check them out. They have a family style in the menu for two people and up.
(5)
Bill G.
Today - The best Rogan Josh and Nan I have had in the last several years, Very Authentic Indian food. Five stars for cleanliness, ambience, authenticity and quality. No question in my mind that I will eat here again.
(4)
Sophia J.
Just tried to eat here but it's restaurant week only. Also, one of the first places I've been where they didn't accommodate my request to sit beside my husband. This place had really good ratings and decor but alas, off to Cuba Libre instead.
(1)
Enid C.
Here's what I look for in Indian restaurants: 1) bold flavor combinations, 2) food that packs heat (when appropriate), 3) water glass-filling diligence. For the first two requirements, Indeblue falls short. We came with a group and ordered a pretty diverse sampling (samosa chaat, tandoori mixed grill, lamb rogan josh, baingan bharta, channa masala). Across the board, dishes ranged from underseasoned to just plain bland. I also barely detected any spiciness, even after specifying we wanted heat. Their take on "modern & traditional" cuisine (aren't those two things sort of mutually exclusive?) clearly means they have tempered things down to appease western palates. The interior is pretty swanky, and they serve up some decent cocktails. Prices are higher for smaller quantities of food, so know that you're paying for ambiance more than anything else. Maybe this is an alright place for happy hour socializing. If you're main focus is quality food, please direct yourself to Ekta. But hey - at least my water glass was always kept full!
(3)
Rupal P.
Excellent Indian Brunch - order any of the thali's and you'll be super happy you did:)
(5)
Kimberly Y.
I came here for brunch and really appreciated the variety on their menu. First of all, all the brunch drinks--chai sangria, Bloody Mary--were tempting, but I ended up going with the rose petal mimosa. Tasted amazing; there was just the perfect amount of rose flavor! My bf got the mango lassi even though we couldn't find it on the menu. Ended up being $5. Ridic. We also got the butter chicken with rice and French toast. While both were excellent, we would've appreciated larger portions. For two people, I'd recommend getting three dishes. Except we already spent $40 as is and didn't want to spend more... Usually I find brunch food to be extremely filling. Not exactly the cheapest Indian food. But that's okay! The ambiance more than made up for it. They had live guitar and drums which sounded surprisingly ethnic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The service was all right; sometimes extremely attentive, occasionally neglectful. Overall definitely worth the experience!
(5)
Carla F.
Great trendy spot for Indian food. I like this place because they serve traditional Indian dishes well. Their spinach chaat is a MUST!!!! If you don't like Indian food...well, then you just don't like it. I'm not sure this place is going to change your opinion but if you do like it, this is nice for a fun night out with good food.
(4)
Amanda M.
I'm a big fan of IndeBlue's Collingswood location, but hadn't been to their Philly spot yet. So when I needed a spot in the city to meet up with fellow tikki masala loving friends, we all jumped at the chance to try this out, finally. On a Friday night, the place was crowded but not completely packed. Having only ever walked by the outside, I was surprised how big the restaurant was - it reaches really far back, and I was happy to be seated way back near the kitchen (far away from the door and the cold air coming through). The ambience was nice, and our waiter was, at first, extremely attentive. We weren't ordering drinks or several course meals, so he sort of disappeared when he realized we were going to be a cheap table. Still, the food was delicious - the paneer tikki masala was delicious, as was the fresh, hot naan I ordered on the side. Was disappointed by the small portion (was hoping for next-day leftovers!) but the quality was hard to beat. Definitely not an everyday/take-out sort of spot, but perfect for a night out. The happy hour deals look awesome, so I think I'll be back for that!
(4)
Trang N.
For my 200th review- I'm glad it was a good experience! We grabbed last night minute resis at indie blue. Upon entering the space there was a nice bar to the left by the hostess stand that was in full swing. He ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice dark purple walls, silk curtains, jeweled light fixtures over the tables and a beautiful ornate tapestry type decoration on the main wall, it created a warm romantic setting. Dinner got off to a rocky start, we had 7:30 reservation, but wasn't seated until 8pm! Major annoyance as we were standing in the doorway with another group complaining about the wait. Once we were seated, our waiter immediate stepped in and saved our evening! He was charismatic, very attentive and made great recommendations, our glasses were always full which is a huge plus! We selected the chefs tasting menu, the portions were perfect for two, however the wait time between the courses were rather long. We had the bbq spare ribs samosas- four pieces of flavorful rolls with tender shredded pork- the three side dipping sauces added a great level of heat. The heavenly drumsticks were a nice and spicy buffalo wing, crispy and dressed well. The lamb lollipops were cooked to the perfect medium rare and I couldn't help myself but to munch in the bones! Next we got the mixed tandori grill which was a tasting of the lamb/chicken and shrimp. Very nicely presented and great flavor. The Osso Bucco pork- was very nice- it didn't fall off the bone, but it was tender enough not to use a knife- great flavor in this tangy sauce- not technically an Osso Bucco as it was lacking that delicious bone marrow. The dessert trio was yummy, although we were so full, we packed it up- the ice cream was very nice. I highly recommend the mango lassi- I didn't see it on the menu but I knew hey had it! It was delicious!! It cooled down the heat factor for me when things were getting too spicy! Other than the wait, the floors were a little slippy and I wasn't even wearing heels. A bit treacherous to get to the bathroom, but I survived. All in all a great date night- the noise level was a bit louder, then I like but what can you do! I will be coming back!
(4)
Pam S.
I adore IndeBlue, especially their fantastic lunch. For one, they are ridiculously vegan-friendly, all I have to do is say "vegan" and the staff is very well informed, and items on the menu are clearly marked. Secondly (or firstly, for everyone who's not vegan) the food is fantastic. I love when I go to a place and the food and the prices match. Yes, it's fancier, and yes, you should pay for it. Fantastic. Third, that lunch? The best is getting the thali, or a plated lunch of small dishes. As of my last visit, it now includes dessert, which for vegans, was a house-made coconut sorbet. It. was. amazing. I haven't been for happy hour, but I've heard that's a great deal as well, and they have great drink specials at lunch ($4 rose mimosas? yes pls.) Love them, and I love bringing people there!
(5)
Jessica W.
The food at Indeblue is fantastic. Decor is beautiful. We had a very nice experience and look forward to returning.
(5)
Melissa P.
My friend who is a vegetarian (ish) was in town for the night and wanted to get dinner, hm, where to take a vegetarian out of towner where I can love my meal and check out a new place? Consulted my bookmarks and opentable and boom, Indeblue. Excellent choice. PRO TIP: Sign up for their emails and you will get a $10 off coupon emailed to you (and I think you get something on your bday and anniversary because they asked for that too. I put my anniversary of being single so I can celebrate with myself when that comes up...) VIBE: Gorgeous space and ambiance, tables are spaced out which is nice, and service was very friendly. FOOD: --Menu is very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole veggie menu section), which is part of the reason I picked it and it did not let us down. --Dahi Avocado Chat- Our waiter actually forgot to bring this out but even after he put it in it came out super quickly. It was very interesting and really delicious. It was cold, which I didn't expect for some reason, but I was into it. --Stuffed Red Pepper- very good, and surprisingly big for $14. We had leftovers --Lamb Rogan Josh-also good sized portion, very tender, great flavors. More leftovers. DRINKS: --Indebluetini is delicious-like a less creamy mango lassi cocktail. --Karma chai sutra was my selection and I had serious drink envy, this tasted like a chai spiced white russian and was way too milky for me. Not a fan, but that's more of a personal preference. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do, and probably spent 3 hours there and never felt rushed, which was awesome. Great spot, prices were reasonable, great atmosphere, and good food, definitely recommend! Also definitely want to check out their happy hour.
(4)
Dan A.
IndeBlue is my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. So I wasn't surprised they won the "Best of Philly"award for their Collingswood location.Their happy hour and chef's tasting menu are both great. And if you're getting the chef's tasting menu, I'd suggest also getting the wine pairing. The food is modern/traditional Indian cuisine. And I've like everything I've tried here. They also have live music with a sitar and tabla on Tuesday nights and brunch on Sunday.
(4)
Carly S.
We went here (on a double date) for restaurant week last night, and WOW I was so impressed. I'll preface this with the fact that I'm a pretty hypercritical restaurant diner, and honestly, I left having no complaints with our experience and food. We came here looking for a place that we typically wouldn't go to since it was restaurant week, and I'll definitely be coming back someday. First of all, the decor and service were great. The interior was very beautifully decorated, and felt intimate with the dim lighting. Great as a date spot or with a group of friends. We never had empty water glasses and the entire host of servers were very attentive and polite. The courses came out very well paced (maybe for some, a slightly long of a wait between courses since it was very busy last night, but I prefer to have a little gap between courses as I'm a slow eater and get overwhelmed when everything comes out too fast). For the first course I had the spinach chaat, which was out of this world. I wasn't expecting spinach to be so tasty. It was flash fried with these little crispy noodle things on top and some veggies and tasty sauce underneath. That set the bar high, but nothing after disappointed. For all the courses, the group got something different, so we all shared. The others got the chicken chaat which was very tender and flavorful, and also the vegetable samosa which I tried also and liked. For the second course I got the tandoori chicken wings which just fell off the bone and the spices used were perfect. came with a little salad of veggies on the side which I gobbled up too. My friends got fried cauliflower which was also delicious, the fish taco which was sweet and tasty, and the stuffed long hot which was deliciously cheesy. For the main course, I got lamb saag, Again, the meat was so tender, like nothing I've had before with a wonderful concoction of spices. It came with some sort of seasoned basmati rice (maybe saffron?) and your choice of naan bread. (get the garlic or rosemary one!) Everything was SO GOOD, and the portions were generous. I actually took half of my entree home for lunch today and can't wait to eat it again! The others got the fish dish, and my boyfriend got the pork one (which I think I liked even better than mine) Finally for dessert, I had the rice pudding which was very tasty and a nice finish. My friends got the sorbet, and the ice cream pairings. I think my favorite was the sorbet, but all were great. The rose petal ice cream and fig ice cream were something I never tried before, so that was fun. I wasn't drinking for the night, but all three of the others got the darjeeling cocktail, and all loved it. I would imagine at non-restaurant week, prices are a little steep, but so worth it. I left stuffed and happy, and still happy as I write this rating! Do yourself a favor, and come here!
(5)
Johanna B.
This was a great meal. The happy hour had amazing prices and is every day, even the weekends. We had a table of 4, so we shared 4 mains family style and a bread basket with 4 types of naan. We had one who needed gluten free options, which every main complied with and she even got her own gf naan. We ordered 1. the eggplant, almost pureed like a babaganoosh which was tasty with a mild heat, 2. a dish the ended up being vegetarian meatballs made of cashews, dried apricots and cheese in a mildly spicy creamy sauce, very good, 3. Cheese in masala, big hunks of cheese in a creamy mild sauce, very nice and 4. The goat in a rich, warm velvety sauce which was out standing. If you get a drink, opt for the signature drink, which is mango puree with citron vodka - like an adult lassi. The interior is beautiful, the service was great and we'll def be back.
(4)
Priya R.
Take it from somebody who really HATES eating out for Indian food. This place is FABULOUS. I had the privilege to go there for dinner with my parents last weekend. Lets take it piece by piece shall we? The ambiance has an intimate, romantic, ethnic feel to it- basically what I want my future home to look like. I am just in love with the decor. It is very cozy and just wonderful (warning: instagramming may not be possible due to dim lighting) The service is exceptional. Water was always filled without question, servers were attentive and treated each customer with a lot of respect and patience. Indian food can be complicated for those who don't eat it often (and even for some who do!) but our server took time to explain everything and recommended some great dishes to try. The food is just perfection. I am trying to think of an Indian restaurant that I've eaten at in Philly that even compares and none comes to mind. We ordered the lamb kabob and the naan pizza (the rotating special. ours was a paneer and caramelized onion one) for the appetizer, the lamb rogan josh, and the chicken makhni (along with naan for the table). Everything came out very promptly and the food was absolutely great. When it first comes out you don't think that the portions are that much, but we ended up having enough leftovers for the next day. This truly is a great spot to go if you are interested in eating quality Indian food.
(5)
Yayi Z.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and they had live sitar playing. The music was awesome, and of course accompanied by great food. Service was a bit slow but pleasant.
(4)
Amanda W.
The ambiance and service were great. I also really appreciated that the menu was limited to a few pages, versus the tome of variations on the theme you often find in Indian restaurants. The menu also helpfully labels gluten-free and vegan options. I'd definitely go back when visiting Philly again.
(5)
Steve S.
Hip, modern indian vibe serving non-traditional meat dishes like pork and lamb shank and sea bass with traditional indian sauces and spices. Service and ambiance was lovely, an overall excellent experience. This is a $$$ dining place, and well worth it, not sure why it's shows as $$ here.
Very good service and beverage. We ordered naan and curry. Frankly I do not know hot to spell them but it was good. The chicks is dry and I think that's the only thing to improve...no wifi but they have their own musicians playing!
(4)
Marissa K.
This place was pretty great. The ambience, service and cocktails were fabulous. The food was delicious too. The Flower of Devotion cocktail was hands down one of the best cocktails I have ever had so far in the city of Philadelphia. It was made with black velvet whiskey, lemon, honey, and lavender bitters. To. Die. For. The Crispy Cauliflower appetizer was fresh and tasty - had the flavor of 'general tso's' but healthier with the vegetable. The Paneer Tikka Masala was phenomenal - the house-made paneer was fantastic. We also got the Baingan Bharta - an eggplant dish - the waitress raved about it, and it was very flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the mashed eggplant. And ,of course, we ordered a bread basket with naan, lasooni, provencal and garhwali - all great breads to try (thought I wish they would have brought this out sooner to the table - they served it with the dinners). They also provided three chutneys for the table that were mild but flavorful that you could add to any of the dishes. The restaurant itself was trendy with great decor. A little dark, but the place was packed and that helped to make it a more intimate experience with your own table. I went with two girlfriends and it was a great place to catch up. The waitstaff was friendly and fun. You definitely know the second you walk in that you will be enjoying Indian cuisine as the smell of curry was strong throughout the restaurant. I would most definitely go back - hopefully I can make it during Happy Hour because they have some great specials at the bar.
(4)
Rajiv D.
This place is one of the better Indian restaurants I've been too. Very good food. Creative food, not done just to be different. It actually works. Wait staff is very good as well. The lunch thali is really awesome. But I've done dinner here as well and it was excellent. The spinach chaat is yum.
(5)
Ken M.
We are regulars at the IndieBlue Collingswood, NJ location. (I have a 5 star review for that location yelp.com/biz/indeblue-in… ). I convinced my wife that we should try this location. The bar: The bartender seemed distracted and uninterested. Why? Well, at the corner of the bar were two employees dressed in black who were standing, huddled around three customers who were sitting at the bar (they seemed to be employees as well, off-the-clock enjoying some civilian time). The bartender was more interested in chatting them up then paying attention to us. He had the personality of a wet blanket. Our server: He was very robotic and lacked personality. My wife and I were surprised at the night-and-day difference between the Philly and Collingswood location. In any case, he was proficient, that counts for something. The food: For an appetizer, we ordered the BBQ Rib rolls. They were (4) flavorless rolls, barely the size of my thumbs. It was not worth $8.00. The Baingan Bharta was very good. The Crispy Spinach Chaat was excellent (as always). The Chicken Madras and the Lamb Rogan Josh were perfection! (they are our go-to items if we aren't interested in the specials of the day). During the meal, our server had asked us 'so, is the Philly location better than Collingswood'? My wife and I both stared at him and just smiled, we couldn't even muster out a white lie. Pricing: We felt that the pricing was reasonable (seemed to be on-par with the Jersey location, minus the no BYOB here) Return factor: We don't need to be handheld/coddled but we expect some enthusiasm from the staff. When we go out to dine, we want the whole package. We don't think we will return to this location. 3.5 stars
(3)
Elva L.
Dude, no, okay? I mean, I don't want to go on forever, and you don't want to read a long review, so let's just, here: one word? underwhelmed. it is my understanding that a tasting menu should feature things that a chef feels that s/he has absolutely mastered. dishes in a tasting menu should represent a chef's style, and it must bear witness to a restaurant's reputation. so, what happened??!?!?! It sounds really awful when I say it's the worst tasting menu we've had since Cuba Libre, so I'll just say it's my least favorite. I love tasting menus. I like when it's complete set, I like when I have choices, I like it any how, any where. Er, just not here. what DO I remember from my meal here? a piece of under-seasoned chicken. bland dessert that was somehow neither classic nor innovative. weird, oil-y condiments that didn't stay well on the things you're supposed to spread them on. why even make me do the work? season your food, so I know what you want it to taste like. season your food, so I'm not in control of your best and most fundamental tools such as FLAVOR. who has even heard of under-seasoned Indian food? i've never encountered such until my visit here. at something like $50/pp, it is not a terrible loss. So i tried it, and felt disappointed by my experience. it happens. it isn't the end of the world. but i will remember this place as one of those times when yelp! has led me astray. so i guess give it a shot at your own risk, which is anyway always the case.
(2)
Anish R.
I went here for brunch, but I can safely say that pretty much every dish here is unique and will go beyond satisfying expectations. It's pretty great that this place offers a brunch menu. They even have bacon so you're basic brunch needs will be satisfied! Often times when I'm in the city looking for a brunch spot, I want something different than the traditional brunch menu. I had the stuff long pepper with paneer, which was amazing because it had that cheesy inside with an added spice. They have a large variety of naans including some topped with melted cheese as well as naan pizzas. Also had the chicken tikka masala served with rice, which was much better than any Indian restaurant in Philly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for indian food with a fusion twist.
(5)
Ainsley A.
I've always been wary to try Indian food. I've heard the horror stories and have always passed. After being introduced to a few of the menu items at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash, I was determined to come here and try a few more items off of the Happy Hour menu. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. The bartender was friendly and made sure that we were catered to. The ambiance is great- trendy, romantic yet casual. As for the food, 10/10. Like I said before, Indian has always creeped me out, but since IndeBlue is Indian infusion, it opened my eyes to a cuisine I would not normally try. The vegetable samosa's were full of flavor, resting on top of a bed of chickpeas. The spinach chaat was unlike anything I have ever tasted before- the crunch of the spinach paired perfectly with the sweet yogurt. The naan pizza is a nice portion for everyone to try- a bit small but the flavors were outstanding. The star of the evening though was the BBQ pork spare rib samosas. The meat was seasoned with tamarind and the blue cheese wine sauce mixed well with every flavor. I cant wait to come back and try the items on the dinner menu as I ordered almost everything on the HH menu.
(5)
Lakshmi S.
Great food and service. Delicious. We are visitors from CA who enjoyed this restaurant thoroughly
(4)
Lili W.
I heard about indeblue from a yelp event, where they had a stand with samosas and chicken wings. I decided to check out the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The spinach chaat is awesome, definitely get this as a starter. It's flash fried spinach, but tastes very flavorful and light. As a main course, I got the fish of the day -- Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. My boyfriend got the vindaloo dish, absolutely delicious, wish I got this! So the only reason why this restaurant isn't a 5 star is because the drink prices are wayyy to expensive. A gin and tonic for 11? A bit steep.
(4)
T N.
Went here with a French friend (Frenchies love classy places...). She ordered the Rajwadi shrimps and lamb something, I ordered the Chili avacado chat (?), paneer tikka masala and fig ice cream. Chilli avacado chat was good, paneer tikka masala so..so..but the fig ice cream was the highlight of the night :-) 4 stars for appetizer, decor and desert
(4)
Sneha K.
Went there for happy hour - the food was delicious and the happy hour was had great deals! The place is really cute and is a great spot for a date or a nice out with friends. IndeBlue offers both traditional and fusion Indian food but I'd strongly recommend the fusion food here over the traditional. My friends and I ordered the Spinach Chaat, which is made of fried spinach, yogurt, tomatoes and sauces, and the Stuffed Long Hot Peppers. The Spinach Chaat was one of the best chaats I've ever had! The peppers were a little too spicy for my liking but still pretty good. I also ordered the Indebluetini, a mango-based drink that was amazing.
(5)
Monya V.
Two friends and I stumbled upon this place by accident and I an so glad we did. We made it in time for their happy hour all three of us really enjoyed the food and drinks. We each had the indiebluetini, it was sweet, fruity, fragrant and just so yummy we got two rounds of them Although we only got appetizers at the bar, the food was spicy and delicious. I had the vegetable samosas - which were so good!! My friends ordered the crispy spinach chaat and some sort of shrimp dish. I tried the spinach chaat, it was melt in your mouth amazing. Four stars out of five for the slow service, they were busy, but they were not THAT busy that we couldn't have placed a food order or gotten a second round a little quicker. Also, the second round - my drink came to the table first & my friends had to wait for theirs even though we each ordered the same thing. All that said, I really like this place & we will defiantly be back!
(4)
Michelle P.
So I FINALLY had a chance to dine at Indeblue. I've sampled their drums of heaven and samosas at a few events before and was highly anticipating my first dine-in experience. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. So my evening started off at the bar for happy hour. My group of three ordered several of the appetizers to share including the drums of heaven, spinach chaat, barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, vegetable samosas and a naan pizza. Each appetizer was between $3 and $5, as were the drinks on the happy hour menu. I found my comfort zone in a $4 glass of pinot grigio. This is definitely my new favorite happy hour in Philly. So beyond being reasonable everything was absolutely delicious. I knew that I loved the drums of heaven and samosas but the naan pizza and spinach chaat were standout fabulous. The pizza was made on naan and consisted of goat cheese, asparagus and mozzarella. It was by far the most creative Indian dish I've ever had. The spinach chaat was super crisy and really flavorful. The BBQ pork rolls were a little small and didn't pop with flavor as the other things did but were definitely tasty. So the next logical thing to do after gorging on appetizers and wine is to sit down to dinner, right? It was a Tuesday evening so we were lucky to grab a table shortly after 8:00pm. In the spirit of sharing, my group decided to go with the large portion of the lollipop lamb chops, small dishes of the baingan bharta and dal makhani, and a bread basket. Again everything was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and extremely palatable. The lamb chops are must-haves! The standout in the bread basket was the gharwali which was made up of spinach and mozzarella, and I would definitely get a solo order of that next time. I also had a nice glass of Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc and the gentlemen in my group enjoyed some scotch neat. I'm not an expert on Indian food however based on what I've had before, it seemed like the traditional cuisine but with a modern flair. Overall, this is probably the best food I've had in a while. On Tuesday evenings they also have live sitar and tabla player which added to some very nice background music. The dining room was bright and comforting. The atmosphere was nice yet relaxed at the same time. So what's my reason for the 4 stars? The service was simply meh. The bartender seemed fairly disinterested, even as happy hour ended and only a few customers remained. The server at our table was barely attentive and not personable at all. He wasn't rude but he just wasn't around much at all. With the prices of food and beverage being on the higher side, I really would have liked to be catered too. Unfortunately, the cost also brought my rating down. Everything was amazing but on the costly side. With that being said, this was probably the best Indian food I've ever had. I smile thinking about this meal, and look forward my next casual happy hour trip or special occasion dining experience at Indeblue.
(4)
Patty M.
Went in last night for post dinner drinks for their late night happy hour which runs 9pm-close nightly and 5-7 everyday. Their drinks are refreshing, stiff and only $5 during happy hour. Their HH food menu was extensive and will be trying when we return. The decor is also fantastic, cute and intimate.
(5)
Jessica S.
Wow, how was I missing out on the happy hour at this place for so long? And to think I considered myself a happy hour pro. Going down the street to Sampan, Vedge, and other places that are RIGHT DOWN THE STREET and never even thinking upon IndeBlue. I just don't think I'd ever really even be interested in trying their actual menu now that I know what the happy hour has to offer. Its just so... extensive. And delicious! OK, so I probably would try the menu. Just kidding. The decor is really pretty. Eye catching, sparkly, shiny and new looking. Very appealing, and I can see that being a draw for a couple looking for a romantic date spot. The bar is up front and has about 10 ish seats (maybe less?) and seemed to get packed around 6pm. Happy hour is only at the bar.... btw. We showed up at 5pm on the dot (very punctual, I know) and were weirdly the only people in the restaurant for almost an hour, at least a solid 30 minutes, and it wasn't even uncomfortable. The bartender was training someone and they were both very nice to talk to, and even some of the servers came to hang out and chat, giving good advice for menu items to try. The happy hour food menu consists of $3, $4, and $5 bites, and they are substantial enough to fulfill a hungry belly. Boyfriend and I shared 4, and between the two of us that was substantial for a light dinner. The spinach chaat was a highlight, and the "pockets of heaven" which are just light batter fried chicken wings in a tasty, spicy sauce were also surprisingly delicious. We also tried the stuffed long hots which were my personal favorite-and had a good spice level if you like that kinda thang-and the naan pizza, which was "ok" but not fantastic. I would've liked to have tried more items, but there are like 9-10 things on the happy hour menu alone. The HH drink menu was also as extensive. There were two wines ($4), two beers ($3) and like 4 cocktails ($5). The cocktails were legit. The wine did not suck. I was happy. Sweet mother of the holy happy hour gods-can we please have more awesome happy hours like this?!
(4)
Brian S.
Good, upscale Indian cuisine. Comfy, upscale setting, and excellent service. We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the vegetable samosa chaat, crispy spinach chaat., and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali platters. For dessert we had orange ginger sorbet and the banana nirvana. All very good and much better than other places in the area.
(4)
Ridhhisha A.
Coming from an Indian who has lived all her life there this is by far the most interesting twist of cuisine and really epic modern Indian I have ever had! Ofcourse it is the restaurant week so make the best of it! Insane naan pizza and spinach chat! The fig ice cream is just insane! Inspiration at its best :)
(5)
Ernest S.
The food is solid here. Everything I've tried from brunch to lamb chops has been good. My problem was with the service. Our waiter seemed impatient and rude to answer questions, forgot multiple items, and refused to split a check in a way that we asked (and there were only four of us).
(2)
Carol L.
A bit loud and this place lacks intimacy. Long tables facilitate group meetings though. Pinot noir was good. Service is a bit slow. The food is really yummy. Worth the wait. Appetizers and entrees great. Not too sure about the cinnamon ice cream.
(4)
Edward M.
After sampling some of IndeBlue's foods at various events recently, it seemed only right to stop by their restaurant for happy hour. The happy hour beer list is rather short, so after getting their last Harpoon summer beer, I switched to their mixed drinks, which were surprisingly good. They had interesting flavor combinations - with homages to Indian spices, were thankfully not cloyingly sweet, and were nicely presented. Some bites were sampled, as well. I particularly liked the Indian pizza and the samosas. The bartender, staff, and even the crowd at the packed bar were friendly. The restaurant space itself, which I ventured through on the way to the lovely loo, seemed well appointed and comfortable. For another time.
(5)
Kate D.
This review is based on a restaurant week experience; I get that it isn't always the most accurate example of a places cuisine. I had super high expectations going into my meal here. Some of the things were alright. The spinach chaat was okay, but it was sort of reminiscent of bar food. Fried spinach leaves with onions, tomatoes, cheese and some white sauce (aoli maybe?). If you would have subbed out the spinach with a chip, you would almost have nachos. Best way to describe it. I had the mussels and they were alright. Cooked perfectly in a tomato based sauce but very small. Not served with a plate to discard shells. Then to the chicken tikka: really unimpressed. I have eaten lots of different takes on this British/Indian staple, and have grown to love it as one of my favorite foods. The rice that Indeblue had was excellent (how can you mess that up, really), but the tikka was one of the worst attempts of the dish I have ever had. The sauce was lacking, and the chicken was just like giant chunks of boiled chicken breast. No flavor whatsoever, and the meat was much too hard to cut into bite sized pieces with a fork. Aside from the tikka disaster, the garlic naan was really good, and the fig ice cream with praline pecans was outstanding. Outside of the meal, we ordered two house cocktails (mediocre and pricey) and two hot chia teas. The chai tea is made in house, and was very good. The service was great, the atmosphere was crowded but alright. My three star review mainly comes from my disappointment in the tikka and starter courses. For the money, I would much sooner go elsewhere for a date night. For Indian food, I will stick to Tiffin or Mood in the area.
(3)
Sara N.
I prefer my Indian food from hole-in-the-wall dives (that's how you know it's real Indian cooking), so I lacked a bit of confidence visiting IndeBlue. After my meal, I indeed felt justified because some of their dishes (e.g., bland chicken curry, thin doughy nann) paled in comparison to those found at my favorite Indian spots (a loud and proud shoutout to Dana Mandi in West Phila!). Why pay more when you can find more authentic and filling Indian meals in much humbler places? However, I must admit that I was very impressed by the kind staff and their beautiful restaurant. And not every bite failed the litmus test. I regret that the wonderfully tender lamb rogan josh came as a small dish on the platter. I'm certain to order it again as a main entree upon a return visit to IndeBlue. I think they has a creative (hello, brunch) and diverse Indian menu, which warrants a second chance.
(3)
Danie G.
Great happy hour! We sat at the bar and had drinks, appetizers and some great entrees. Food was quite tasty and they have both gluten-free and vegetarian options. Service was friendly and when they took some extra time with our entrees they apologized in a way that seem genuine and comped us some bread. Great happy hour and I hope to return for dinner soon.
(4)
Arati P.
This is a great upscale Indian restaurant! Perfect for a date night or special occasions. The decor is beautiful. We came here for husband's birthday and loved it. Spinach chaat was perfectly crispy. We ordered the malai kofta and it was the best malai kofta I've ever had! The koftas were soo soft and the gravy was so rich and had the perfect blend of spices. The drinks were good and strong as well. They have quite a variety on the menu including appetizers and small plates. Only thing is that the portions are very small but I feel this is typical of any upscale restaurant.
(5)
Ashley S.
FINALLY got to try out this (not-so) new Indian spot that everyone has been raving about in Philly! Rested cozily amongst some of the best bars in center city, it's a great spot to go to before a night out. The ambiance is great, although I thought it would be a little bigger, just judging from other photos I've seen, but that does not affect my rating at all. Went sporadically on a Saturday night and somehow was able to snag a table for 3 very last minute. I think we may have just gotten lucky because I've looked before, and this place is usually pretty booked up. We started with 3 appetizers. First up were the long hots. Basically, a green hot pepper stuffed with cheese. I was not a fan due to the extreme level of spice, but my friends loved it. We also had the samosas, which in my opinion were pretty delicious. Nothing out of the ordinary, but great, nonetheless. My favorite was the crispy spinach! Never had anything like it and it was amazzzzing. Great sharing size for an app, as well! For dinner, we shared 3 entrees, the lamb rogan josh, chicken madras, and paneer tikka makani. The serving sizes were pretty great for sharing. Each had a good amount of spice, which is pretty important to me when having Indian food. We were too stuffed for dessert, but I willl certainly save room for next time! Highly recommend this place to satisfy your Indian craving with a twist!
(4)
Ruben P.
Although I couldn't find a single indian face in the place, I can totally admit the food was delicious and well prepared. The environment is classy and fancy, waiters are very kind and there is also free coat check at entrance. Just book before: we walked in and ate at the bar, but it's pretty crowded. Not giving 5 stars for the prices quite high (the place deserves, tho).
(4)
Marni P.
Upscale, delicious and healthy Indian food! They had some new takes on some of the classics. All spice levels were perfect. The restaurant is a neat decor and classy yet cozy. The prices were a bit high but it's downtown philly so that's a thing. The staff was super nice even when they were very busy. It was clear our waitress was trying to speed up our drinks and was thoughtful in letting us know the status of our order. I hope to come here again!
(4)
Camay C.
Walking the Center City streets searching for happy hour with my girl Shante P. Did a double take and walked in. The ambiance here is sultry and super sexy. We had the Ginger Twist.. made with Black Velvet Whiskey, Ginger ale, Ginger and lime juice. $5! Didn't try any of the food but other folks plates looked tempting enough. I'll be back soon
(4)
Jemma C.
I really REALLY wanted to love this place but alas it wasn't to be. First impressions were great, super cozy dining room on a freezing cold night, nicely crowed, good atmosphere... Drinks came promptly, little disappointed in the limited menu however our favourites were there so happy out. My husband order vindaloo (which is a spicy fiery curry). I ordered something entirely unmemorable. We ordered samosas to start that incidentally tasted nothing like samosas nor had any indian flavouring or spices. Then we waited... And waited and waited. 55mins after ordering our food came. The vindaloo was beyond mild and I don't mean mild for a vindaloo I mean it tasted like a mild tomato based dish. Again nothing like vindaloo. No level of spice whatsoever and no flavouring at all. My curry was meh at best. The chicken was beyond over cooked and hard. The naan bread was great I'll give them that. Service was slow and patchy. Wouldn't return.
(2)
Shifa A.
Thank you Indeblu for opening up a restaurant in centre city! I love this place, hailing from India, Indian food in America has always been disappointing but Indeblu is far better than most. I love the spinach chaat, the samosas and the nan pizza! Happy hours are the best !
(4)
Natalie M.
Loved this place! For an appetizer we shared the vegetable samosa chaat and for our entree we shared the chicken tikka makhani with naan. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of spices. For a drink I had their chai sangria, which was so incredibly delicious! We would eat here all the time if we lived in Philly!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Came here during CC Sips/Happy hour with 2 friends. Oh my gosh, where has this restaurant been all my life. The drinks, food, and service was phenomenal. The Ginger Twist cocktail was just perfect. The Spinach Chaat.... I would come back just to eat this all day long. Drums of heaven were flavored just right, not overly saucy. Naan Pizza and the bread basket were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back for their happy hour again and try items on their dinner menu.
(5)
Mike M.
Had a great experience taking my wife out on the town. Service was superior, friendly and helpful. Food was great tasting, fresh and presented well. Staff was attentive to our several requests. Highly recommend as a prelude to theater, close to everything.
Great place for an indian brunch with classy ambience and mimosas! Went to Philly for an impromptu day trip and was craving indian food and saw Indebleu had great ratings. The interiors were nice - lots of gold, chandeliers and a nice bar. An added plus was that it is close to the major touristy sights, so we did not have to go out of our way to get there. They have chai sangria, rose mimosas, and bloody mary's for $5 for brunch - already liking this place. Decided to go for the rose mimosa - which was surprisingly good. If anyone else has grown up in India like me, it felt like 'roohafza' with moscato. It's funny because i never really liked roohafza growing up, but i guess my parents didn't know to mix it with champagne ;) For apps, we ordered the samosa chaat and ordered the paneer tikka masala and malai kofta with rotis for the main dish. Our server was super nice and said he would add the app and entree as an express lunch combo to save us a couple of bucks - score! The samosa chaat came as a bed of chickpeas in gravy with yogurt and chutneys and two samosas atop it. The samosas were great - definitely had more masalas (spices) than is usual for a samosa but it tasted great. My only slight complaint was that the chickpeas were a bit cold, i understand they don't have to be piping hot as it is a chaat and served with yoghurt but lukewarm would help. Now for the main course, both the dishes were finger lickin' good - the malai kofta were balls of paneer and veggies deep fried and cooked in a cardamom curry sauce. Each bite was heavenly and you could taste the real cardamom in it and even found a few green pods. The paneer tikka masala was superb - not too spicy and had great flavors! The paneer was a little bit on the chewier side than expected; but the sauce more than made up for it. The whole wheat rotis were great - not too rubbery, hot, and actually felt healthy. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert - would love to try it next time. Definitely, a place to go eat if you're in Philly!
(5)
Monique B.
Some of the best Indian food I've had in my life. The short rib samosa was a delicious starter, although it's a little more egg roll seaming than samosa. I had the chicken tikka for my main course and I wolfed down as much as possible. Usually chicken tikka is a little too sweet for my taste. However, this chicken tikka was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick and delicious sauce. I couldn't eat enough of the sauce and soaked up the sauce with my rice. We also shared a roti stuffed with nuts that was sweet and delicious. It tasted like the stuffing of bahklava put into a piece of naan. Delicious! The ambiance is great for a date with pretty interior decorating, a nice bar at the front and a classy but casual ambiance. The servers were attentive and friendly. This restaurant will definitely be added to my list of regulars when I visit Philly.
(5)
Nicole H.
The food here is very, very good. And the decor is beautiful - a huge improvement from the space before and glad they chose such fantastic finishes. That being said, I found the lunch menu slightly lacking in options and also very overpriced. I can go to El Vez and get a drink, huge app and huge entree for $15...why pay nearly $20 for anything similar here? I'd say stay away during lunch (we were the only ones there, so seems I'm not off base on that), but dinner could be fantastic. Try it once, even if you've never had Indian!
(4)
Kelly P.
A friend and I went for the chef's tasting menu on a Monday evening, and due to their computer issues it took a very long time. Despite that, the meal itself was delicious. We chose the avocado appetizer and the chaat, the chicken tikka and the lamb biryani. The standout was the lollipop lamb chops, I will be dreaming about these!! So flavorful. The sampling of desserts was not to my liking but that is just because I happen to not be a fan of rice pudding or cinnamon (there was cinnamon ice cream). I would love to come back here and will be sure to recommend to others. One star was removed because there was significant problems with the timing of the meal and we were not told until we could flag down our server - and we had been waiting over an hour for our second course - with no proactive explanation about the computer problem.
(4)
Mark C.
Had Tobi and the Indieblue team cater our wedding at the Powerplant Productions venue in Philadelphia this past weekend. Wow. My guests raved about the food. My wife and I rave about how fantastic their services were from the planning, set-up, execution and break down. Their specialty drink was so popular their team went and bought more supplies on the spot before their was ever a disruption. Complete success!!
(5)
Justin L.
Dined in for restaurant week, which a friend had recommended the restaurant. Ambiance was beautiful and the staff attentive, but portion size and seasoning seemed to be an issue. Started with tuna tartar, which lacked any flavor of tuna in the tartar. However, the drums of heaven (chicken wings) seemed to be the saving grace by delivering enough heat, crisp skin, and a lovely blue cheese. As I was excited for the main course having seen other diners receive entrees, I realized that what I ordered versus what I expected did not match. I ordered per the menu cornish game hen, which my expectation was a full, cornish game hen. However, I was served maybe half of a cornish game hen with rice, which left me wanting more. Overall, the restaurant appears to be on the right track from the looks of things, but lacks all of the correct reasoning for a return visit given my experience.
(3)
Vish P.
Great food and Live Sitar and Tabla you can't ask for more! !! Came here for our first anniversary and we had a great time. A must go for all the indian who miss the indian thali specially.
(5)
Liz F.
Visited this restaurant during center city restaurant week. I was very pleased. Food, drinks, and environment were all great! There was even live music during Sunday brunch!
(4)
Demitri H.
If you're craving quality indian food then back that truck up and fill your gullet here. The lamb lollipops were so tender I thought I was eating meat flavored butter! The paneer was also extra smooth and worth mopping up every bit with the fresh naan. Just go already!
(5)
Sujoy C.
I am rating it 5 stars as the food is closest to an Indian taste. Do try the drums of heaven it's really nice.
(5)
Michael M.
*********SIX STAR REVIEW - SIX STAR REVIEW*********** So I crossed my wires for restaurant week and ended up here this past Tuesday. Heck we love this place so a chance to go two weeks in a row is no biggie. We arrived at happy hour and sat at the bar with the handsome Cory, creator of their drink menu. Cory was the perfect host that evening, he chatted with us, drinks came quickly, and he was attentive without being intrusive. Two stars right there for service. We started with a few happy hour snacks, the drums of heaven, Dahi Avacado Chaat, and the crispy spinach Chaat. These three dishes immediately reminded me of the problem of eating at Indeblue. You just want more. You never want the dish to end! The Dahi were cool and refreshing on this 99 degree day. The spinach Chaat was so good it was almost a fight with my guest over the bowl. We discussed ordering another but as we knew more food was coming we held off. The drums of heaven were primarily my dish, with my guest ordering a bowl of the corn cilantro chowder. I can tell you if it wasn't so hot I would have had a bowl too. It is magnificent. The drums of heaven are always perfect. Crunch, savory, and just enough spice to leave the edges of your lips burning as you finish them. Quickly cooled off by one of the lemon basil cocktails. Yum! I decided on the seafood moilee. When they say jumbo lump, they mean the size of your finger jumbo. The shrimp were *PERFECTLY* cooked. I add one star righht here for the shrimp. I honestly could not remember the last time I had shrimp prepared so perfectly in a restaurant, and I eat a lot of shrimp. The dish itself was incredible. A depth of flavor that made the seafood truly enchanting. I ate half to leave room for dessert and had the other half wrapped. I can't even tell you what my guest had as I was so entranced by the moilee. For dessert I had the Duo of Figs. Decadent and rich, it's a good idea to split this one. I however, had only eaten half my entree so this portion was just enough to fill me up. We split a bottle of prosecca with dessert, and my guest lost his bet. He hates the texture of bananas. but insists he's never ever had a bad dish here, so I challenged him to order the banana nirvana. As he was the one who first had me try Indeblue and showed me how glorious indian food can be when properly cooked, I felt it appropriate. The bananas came deep fried similar to how a plaintain would, covered with a salted caramel and then a cinnamon iced cream, they didn't stand a chance. The food gains another two stars for overall taste and perfection of flavor. Let me also say that rating includes how lovely the food is to the eye, as attention to plating is also something done very well here. Oh, and the food comes out fast and hot, (or, as appropriate, cold). I wish they had opened the kitchen so we could watch the Chef cook, he must be a blur in action. That's 5 stars you say. Why six? Here's why. As we sat sipping the last of the prosecca, our sweet teeth sated and bellies full but not bloated, we listened to the live music. The stunning interior design, the amazing food, perfect service all came together and transported me far from the streets of Philadelphia. I realized the experience I was enjoying had only been rivaled in my travels overseas, or the very rare occasional opulence of a grande dame in some far away vacation spot. For a moment, everything was absolutely perfect, the days worries forgot, the world revolving around my guest and I. Six Stars. Perfect.
(5)
Smrithi D.
I dont know how I didint write a review for this place before but it has to be my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, especially for indian food. The ambiance is amazing, a great mix of traditional eastern decor with solid wood elements. The service has to be even better than the decor (or dare I say it even better than the food). Different staff have their own tasks/jobs, your waiter ensures you have a good experience, they have different busboys bringing you food and taking away your used dishes. I think a manager even came over to readjust my friend's napkin when she stepped back to use the restroom. That keen attention to detail is something to admire and worth it! Now onto my favorite part- no not the food yet - LIVE music! On a weekday night (tuesday or wednesday - i cant remember) and sunday brunch they have live sitar and tabla players which is the icing on what would be a perfect night. Ok food- the Paneer Tikka masala is to die for, the spinach chaat, the avocado appetizer, and lastly the unique rosemary herb naan. I cant wait to go back!
(5)
Ameena D.
Had dinner at IndeBlue last night, thanks to all the great Yelp recommendations. Here are my thoughts: Ambiance: The restaurant is nice. Very well decorated and clean. Service: Really great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I must say, however, that I was surprised at how non-Indian this restaurant is. In other words, there wasn't a single Indian server / owner / chef around. Made me a bit nervous about how authentic our food would be. Food: We ordered many things - samosas, avocado puri, lollipop lamb chops, vegetable shashlik, chicken kabob, rice, roti, raita, mango panna cotta, and the restaurant sent a complimentary spinach appetizer. Everything was very tasty but SUPER SPICY. I'd specifically asked the waiter to make everything mild but absolutely nothing was mild. This was definitely a problem for our 9-year-old, as well as for me (my low spice-threshold is an embarrassment to my Indian father, I'm sure). In any case I requested some chutney to make things more bearable and that was that. Bottom Line: The service was great, the food was good, and pricing is reasonable. But I'm not sure I would return here because I prefer not to have to douse my food in sugary chutney so that I can eat it.
(3)
Charlene J.
My hubby ate here for lunch. We shared the crispy spinach chaat and crispy cauliflower as appetizers which were both amazing. They were only mildly spicy for those intolerant of hot foods. My hubby had the butter chicken and I had the chicken madras for our entree and they were both delicious. The food came out quickly. Our server was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu items. Loved this place!!!
(5)
Jayanth N.
Good chic indian food. The spinach chat & avocado chat was outstanding. The entrees come with rice & you have to order bread separately. I found that setup strange for an indian restaurant. Portion sizes are small compared to most Indian restaurants. But the food is of excellent quality.
(4)
Todd S.
We came down this weekend, for restaurant week. Lots of pressure this week, I know from experience it can be a big challenge for front and back of house. I thought they did an admirable job. Service was on, attentive non intrusive, water glass full. Food very good, mussels were notably excellent, wife's spinach chaar. My lamb shank was excellent and not over cooked, which is endemic when the dish involves a heavy sauce. I was a little nervous ordering a lamb shank with a robust sauce, a sauce is often used to precook the shank, reheat it and the sauce covers many sins. Probably not the case here. Shank was actually medium. Negatives? Get a coat rack. Coffee was poison, tasted like Sysco coffee pulled through my college dorm's common Mr Coffee and saved (I graduated in 1997). And Mussels need mussel spoons and a bowl for shells. I understand the mussels were a new dish. I'd say work out the presentation and make it a menu item. Otherwise, good showing!
(4)
Michelle J.
I was in India in November and have since been constantly on the lookout for amazing Indian food whenever or wherever I get the chance. This place did not disappoint. First thing that strikes you is the decor which are a perfect balance of a modern upscale restaurant but with an Indian flair. I had to try the paneer tikka as that is my favorite. The sauce was a touch too "tomatoey " but it was still excellent and the paneer was perfect. I also had the vegetable samosas and the accompanying sauce was perfection! Nice house wine paired with excellent service and definitely a place worth visiting !
(5)
Rafael A.
Seafood Moilee: This dish is very unique and fabulous. Indeblue has a great environment, good service and fantastic food.
(5)
Marcuz H.
Great authentic Indian food! Food was steamy hot, one of the best chicken tikka masala gravy's I have had in East Coast. The gravy was smooth and thick in texture. The lighting and ambience was delightful. My lady loved her Baingan barta (eggplant gravy) which was spicy, tangy and flavorful as she expected and she's Indian too. This place is way way better than it's competitor - Tashan. If you are in Phily area and looking to eat fine dining delicious Indian food, please stop by and check out IndeBlue (NOT Tashan).
(4)
Dhaval S.
Great food and service. The staff explained all the dishes really well and also provided their recommendations. The spinach chaat is an awesome appetizer dish and garlic naan is great. Definitely will be coming back again!
(4)
Anne K.
Best Indian food I've ever had in Philly, fa shoooo. We came here for date night and the food and ambiance was perfect. We shared the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka makhani. Both were perfectly seasoned! We ordered a side of buttery, bubbly naan topped with cilantro and garlic as well. They give you a pretty generous serving of basmati rice with their entrees. Make sure you check out their mango lassi! They top it off with some chopped pistachios and it's a total treat for anybody who loves mango and/or yogurt.
(5)
Colleen M.
Uh-maze-ing. That is about all I need to say... but I'll elaborate since my experience was so out of this world. First, it was restaurant week and let's be honest with ourselves here - sometimes, things are less than top notch since you aren't paying top notch prices. You would have never known the difference here. The service, the food, the portion sizes were all on par with an expensive night out, only without the price tag. Ever important to me - the service was impeccable. Jason, our server, was so very attentive. So much so that he apologized for our second course taking longer than anticipated... and we hadn't even noticed (it really didn't take very long at all)! Our table was cleared regularly, water and other beverages; always full. We never wanted or needed for anything. Honestly some of the best service I have had out in Philly, a city that regularly excels in the service department. To say the food was not only abundant but also fantastic really doesn't do it justice. I left incredibly full and happy which is an anomaly for Restaurant Week offerings. Actually, by the time the main course was done, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take the smallest bite of dessert. Of course, I managed to power through but not without being tempted to unbutton the top button on my pants. Gluten free and veg friendly I highly recommend. I'll be back for sure!!!!
(5)
Gautam T.
Finally!!!!! Philadelphia has an amazing Indian restaurant in Center City. (EKTA you're great but you're in No-lib) This is the best indian I've had in the city and actuallly it can be in the argument with really good Indian restaurants in the region. A few things. This is not your traditional indian restaurant. This is extremely modern and Indeblue has done what no other Indian restaurant has ever done. Make curry sexy! its really hard to describe but you just have to try it out for yourself and let me know if you agree with me or not. Ok enough of my rant. I started off with the Spinach Chaat, which was so different but tasted exactly how a good chaat should taste. The Spinach is baked (I think) with spices and probably oil to give it a really crispy texture. Piled on top of the spinach is a wonderful combination of everything chaat. Moving on, scallops were the bomb, I could never imagine scallops in a sambar base tasting as glorious as it did, what a pleasantaly surprising dish. Shrimp, amazing, super super fresh like it just came out of the water fresh in a spicy tomato based blend. Chicken kebab, Spicy very Spicy but super tender and delicious. I can't talk about this anymore. Its frustrating me that I'm not there and I'm on my computer salivating.
(5)
James L.
Although the food was really delicious, we were shocked with the exorbitant cost of the bill. Expect to pay DOUBLE whatever you're thinking, and tip will be included in the bill. Also service was spotty at best. The waitress we had was very sweet, but the kitchen sent out our main courses without the accompanying rice, which reached the table ten minutes after. Not good. Really good food but unfortunately, not worth a return trip.
(3)
Palmila L.
This is easily the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. I loved that they do a modern reinvention of classic Indian cuisine that still nevertheless remains true to tradition. Must order dishes: 1. Spinach chaat. This was the perfect opener, and I've never had anything quite like it before. The spinach is flash-fried so it's perfectly crispy, and we loved the yogurt and tamarind date chutney together. It was light, but very well-rounded in flavor. 2. Malai kofta bukhara. We ordered this as a side, rather than the entree, so we could try more dishes, but this is something I would order as an entree next time. The creamy cardamom sauce was delicious, and the kofta filled with apricot and cashew was heavenly. 3. Any of the bread selections. Seriously. I especially loved the provencal (garnished with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) because I'm a sucker for truffle oil. We also tried the chicken madras--it was well-flavored, but we didn't find it particularly rave-worthy. Maybe it just didn't stand out in comparison to the other dishes that we loved. (Also completely irrelevant note, but the Williams-Sonoma nerd in me loved the silverware here! Such a unique design that fit in so well with the decor and ambiance of the restaurant.) The service was perfect and attentive. We came relatively late on a Saturday night (around 9:30 PM), and it was surprisingly busy. We were seated right in the middle of the dining room, so it was a little loud at times, but to be fair, we spent a decent amount of meal eating and not a lot of time talking once the dishes came out. The decor was gorgeous. On the whole, can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!
(4)
Tina D.
I love the ambience here! It has a very elegant Indian vibe. As a vegetarian I can always find plenty of options. I've eaten here several times and have tried most menu items. My personal favorites are the crispy cauliflower which has just the right amount if spice, the malai kofta and the dal makhani! The staff is always super pleasant and the service on point. I've also enjoyed drinks at the bar several times. The bartender is very friendly and makes great suggestions.
(4)
Bonnie B.
Amazing Crispy spinach chaat was so good! I could of ordered a second had another glass of wine and been satisfied. However we ordered more and everything was amazing! Paneer masala lamb and the special seafood dish!! I can wait to go back. Our waitress was wonderful, making perfect suggestion!
(5)
John H.
Delicious, I recommend the rose mimosa and drums of heaven, but everything seems pretty good here. The Bloody Mary is a little different, and you may not like it if you like regular ones, but conversely you may like it if you don't like regular ones. Rice is fluffy and well flavored. Atmosphere is slightly upscale, but the prices are more than fair for good Indian food.
(5)
Ash N.
Awesome service. Food was excellent (pork bhuna, scallops, spinach chaat, kheer). Service was top notch. Bar tender was super friendly. Love the spicy cocktails. Especially the lychee chili margarita.
(5)
Leo I.
Went here for lunch and I can't wait to go back. You get a lot of variety and delisiousness from the Thali plates. Tons of different flavors so you do not get bored. I'll be back again soon!
(4)
Peter S.
This is it. Wow. This was one of those meals (and they are few and far between) where with the last bite I had to sit back and savor the moment. If it wasn't perfection, it was darn close. If you are looking for superb Indian food in Center City, at a place that is upscale (without the upscale surcharge) and offers a fine dining experience, look no further. Not that I've been to the competition, but this was so top notch, I don't need to go anywhere else. IndeBlue has me. I arrived at little after 8pm on a Thursday. They were busy, not overtaxed. A good sign, I thought. Another good sign: all the entrees are Gluten Free. That's right: all the entrees. And they have gluten free naan, too. I'm telling you: they do gluten free. The food was spectacular. The flavors full and layered. Even the rice had spices & seasoning that flowed and danced. I am a one trick pony and had the chana masala, spicy. One of the finest dishes I have ever had. I know; you've heard me say this before, perhaps. Well, perhaps, but the truth still stands here. And, note, I've had plenty of food I've never written about. Why Yelp about mediocrity? I don't. IndeBlue is not a one trick pony; looking around the restaurant, it was clear that every dish was being thoroughly enjoyed. The gluten free bread was naan-like. It was light (not fluffy) and thin and roasted with seasoning (and tomato?). I'd give is a GF "A." A delicious GF naan substitution. For the first time since going gluten free, I could actually enjoy the meal with naan. And had I been with non-GF, I could have convinced them to forgo the gluten and join me with the gluten free. A word about the price: this place is a bargain. I'm not going to say under-priced, but let us do say that I was surprised at how little my check was. For instance: the GF naan was $3. And so is the regular naan. Yup; no gluten free surcharge. You've seen it: the GF item is 1/3 to a 1/2 more expensive. Not so here. And the chana masala was a more-than-reasonable $14. The service was very good. The waiter extremely pleasant & helpful. He knew gluten free. He had great banter and table-side manner. He found me papadam and recommended Bushmills as my Seagrams VO replacement. The Indian restaurant didn't have a Canadian whiskey. The horror. ;-) Bottom line: Excellent food. Great urban decor. A fine dining experience. I'd only wished I'd had a date.
(5)
Caroline L.
This has to be the best brunch in town--not only for the Indian food, specials, and also because I don't have to endure 2 hour waits. I've been here twice in the past year with a large group and have enjoyed the food. They have sampler plates and an eclectic mix of brunch and a flavorful Indian meal. They have a sitar player at noon, who plays masterfully without being overly intrusive for conversation. The service is brisk, but we were allowed to linger, even on a Sunday.
(4)
RaJaTi P.
I had been here twice . The best thing to get here as an Indian foodie I think is Thaali!! I just love it. The saag paneer was excellent. I also loved raita which was so fresh. Being from Washington, D.C., I have been craving for a thali since I don't get that one over there. The best part would be live sitar and tabla music. I feel it just blends so well with your meals. Kudos to the guys playing Indian raagas so well!! Overall a pleasurable experience!!!
(4)
Kruti P.
I visited IndeBlue for the first time today for brunch. I had a chai sangria, which was good but no different than most red wine sangrias I've had. My husband had a uniquely spicy masala Bloody Mary. I ordered the pizza naan of the day and paneer bhurjee. I wish the server would have told me that the chili cheese naan that comes with the bhurjee is basically a slightly smaller portion of the pizza. Both had wayyy too much cheese for my taste. To top it off, there was a bunch of melted cheese in the bhurjee... My husband enjoyed the lollipop lamb chops very much, more so than the drums of heaven - which were also good. Looking around, I would try the rose petal mimosa, chat and dosa/uttapam next time. Live sitar and tabla players were a nice addition.
(4)
Sarah P.
I have been meaning to go to IndeBlue with my friend Ainsley A. ever since we sampled their fantastic samosas at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash. Earlier this week, we finally had the chance to stop in for happy hour, and we were totally impressed. The decor is elegant and polished but not pretentious. A small group of us sat at the bar by the window for happy hour and ordered pretty much every plate of food on the happy hour menu. One of my friends also got the spicy lychee margarita and let us all have a sip. This drink is definitely for spice lovers- it packs a huge, yet delicious, punch. As for the food, the vegetable samosas have the perfect crispy outside/soft inside texture contrast. The bed of chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt beneath the samosas was divine, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and spice to compliment the flavors of the samosa. It was a well-executed classic dish. The spinach chaat was my personal favorite, and it was unlike anything I've had before. The crispiness of flash-fried flaky spinach was quenched perfectly with the sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney lying underneath. I could have eaten two of these by myself. One of my friends even ate a stray piece of spinach off the (very clean) bar top; it was just that good. The naan pizza was an interesting twist on traditional naan. It was the perfect dish to split and to shamelessly mop up every last bit of the chutney underneath our samosas. The stuffed long hot peppers were also very unique. The menu labels them medium-spicy, but I think that "medium" is an understatement (in a good way). The stuffing adds texture to the dish while still allowing the natural heat and flavor of the pepper to shine through. The experience was great, from the cool atmosphere, to the food, to our very professional and friendly bartender who tolerated our ridiculous conversation about dating and even politely chimed in. The price was right too; I spent less than 10 bucks for a decent amount of food! I have a feeling I'll be back here again very soon for dinner and to get my hands on more of that amazing spinach chaat.
(5)
Joe A.
We went for brunch on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. We ordered the vegetarian thali and the lentil pancake. Very tasty food and attentive service. Drinks were also very good.
(4)
L S.
Me and a good friend of mine decided to try this spot for Happy Hour yesterday (3/31). OMG I can't belive I've gone all this time without their food in my life...AMAZING, I got the spinach chaat (tastes like general tso chicken, I kid you not!), The pizza naan and the drums of heaven. All were on the HH menu for only $4 dollars each!!! This has been added to my list of favorites spots!
(5)
Nicole M.
IndeBlue is amazing Indian food that is much needed in Center City. It's slightly fusion, but not so much that it loses its authenticity. I've tried many of the menu items, but there are still so many more that I have my eye on. Highlights: Crispy Spinach Chaat: Amazingly crispy, light, and fresh. The tamarind date chutney makes a perfect "dressing" for this little spinach salad. I want to know how they cook the spinach to make it THAT crispy. I could eat this every day and wouldn't feel too guilty since it's a healthy option! Drums of heaven: Wings in an Indian-style spicy sauce. This sauce would be good on anything! Really crispy, almost Korean-style fried. Sweet potato pakora: Chickpea battered sweet potatoes. Super addicting. One order for 2-3 people will disappear in minutes. Paneer tikka makhani: I love paneer so I had to try this. The sauce is slightly sweeter than other dishes, so it was the perfect complement to the spicier entrees. Order a side portion and take a bite every time your tongue is on fire from something else. I usually only like to try places I've never been to for restaurant week, but I love this place so much, and their restaurant week menu is a steal. It's the perfect way to try a bunch of different things here. I got the non-vegetarian thali sampler platter as my main course, which came with chicken makhani, lamb rogan josh, dal makhani, rice, raita, mango chutney, and garlic naan. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, but I ate it all and enjoyed it so much. I regret it after, of course, but it was worth it. Try the cocktails! The Monsoon is delicious with a spicy kick from cinnamon, star anise, and ginger.
(5)
David D.
This is good Indian cuisine, but I can't get on board all these 4 and 5-star ratings. I've had much better Indian cuisine at the dingy, traditional Indian joints. The location in DT Philadelphia is good, and you are met with a very attentive and smiling Maitre'D, but the food doesn't quite match the sophistication they're trying to show. This is definitely the best looking Indian restaurant in Philadelphia (and second only to Kirin's in Houston that I have visited). Tables are clean, there is actual linen (woohoo), and the bathroom is like a Nirvana relative to most Indian establishments. IndeBlue has a good drink menu, and their IndeMartini is a standout and strong. They even have a wine list, which is borderline decent. The service was spotty. I found our waiter very affable, but in other ways he was a disaster. He almost poured my sparkling water in a wine glass, thought better of it, found a different glass, still almost spilled it, etc. The other wait staff were not up to par by any means, one even bumped into me on the way to the restroom sans an apology! Welcome to the jungle. This was restaurant week, so the menu was quite contrived. Maybe that is what held things back. I ordered the spinach chaat (good if you're into fried food), the vegetarian Thali (asked for vegan and gluten-free, got gluten-free, good thing I'm not a strict vegan), and the fig dessert was probably the best item. The vegetarian Thali was VERY limited compared to real Thalis that I have had at other Indian joints. My DP had a regular Thali from IndeBlue, and it also came with only 3 main dishes (and when I say dish we're talking a tiny saucer), compared to most places which have 5-6, and the idea is they will refill them for you, not here. They did start us with three complimentary tastes of soup, although I found them all lacking in taste. The rice was okay. Saffron rice, not really standout by any means. The fig cake was good, and the ice cream on top was decent. Not made in house, so I was like, ehhh. This is probably a fun date night for someone craving Indian cuisine, but IndeBlue is not foodie approved.
(3)
Joanna L.
If you like Indian food, then you have to check out IndeBlue. The flavors offered here will make your tastebuds dance with pleasure! Enjoyed a fantastic meal here with my family for a birthday. The atmosphere is trendy, but the vibe is relaxed and casual. The bartender Cory was very knowledgable about cocktails and beer, making perfect recommendations for everyone in our party. The coconut/caramom cocktail is deliciously refreshing and was the drink I stayed with throughout my dining experience. It was light, flavorful, not too sweet and exactly what I was looking for, containing both rum and vodka. In terms of food, here is what I recommend: Apps: Vegetable Samosa - 2 per order-- Filled with spiced potato turnovers, chickpeas , yogurt, tamarind date chutney, & cilantro mint chutney. Great balance of flavors inside, sitting on top of the chickpea yogurt mix that was a creamy accompaniment. They provide 3 types of dipping sauces - the mint chutney and spicy curry were my favorite! Crispy Spinach Chaat- crispy baby spinach, shallots , chopped tomatoes sweet yogurt, & tamarind date chutney. The best salad I've ever had. The crunchy spinach elevated the experience adding a different texture than a typical salad. I could have eaten three orders of this! So addicting! Great combination of flavors. Duo Samosa- pulled pork, tamarind barbecue, blue cheese wine, spinach, feta, & tomato raisin chutney. Another delicious samosa if you eat meat I would recommend. You receive one samosa and a spring roll. Everyone enjoyed. Drums of heaven- battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili & scallions. These were big ol' wings, more delicious than your average! If you visit the IndeBlue website, this is the picture when you select the menu. They're great to share and have a slight kick of heat to them. Of the small plates, we ordered the lamb lollipops- ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint & mojito. These are a MUST try. They're tender, juicy and packed with tasty spices. This was my my second favorite starter in addition to the spinach dish. Our table raved over them in fact. Main course breakdown: Seafood moilee -jumbo lump crab, jumbo shrimp, coconut, mustard seed, curry leaf served with lemon rice. This was a recommendation by our server and it was packed great! The lemon rice accompanies it perfectly. Laal maas - lamb shank, ginger, kashmiri chili, black cardamom, cumin and saffron rice. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly, sitting in a tangy sauce that complimented it well. Chicken tikka masala- boneless chicken, fresh tomato, red onion, fenugreek, & touch of cream served with saffron rice. Staple indian dish that we had to order. Chicken was juicy and the sauce was a solid combination of cream and spices. Baingan bharta- tandoor roasted eggplant mash, tomatoes , peas & caramelized onions. Great veggie side if you like eggplant. Soft consistency but coupled the entree orders well as a side with a good balance of spices. For Naan, we tried the provencal (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano & truffle oil) - combined awesome flavors when dipping in the entree sauces. If you like truffle oil, you've gotta try this! Also ordered the whole wheat roti which was also good.. pretty standard tho. Try the options with spices-- it adds the extra zing! I would definitely return to IndeBlue again. The service was pleasant and helpful, the decor is beautiful, cocktails were great, the food was excellent, and the price is VERY reasonable! Go and try it-- what are you waiting for?
(4)
Sarah K.
I'm realizing I only review places I like. Oh well. Anyway, I had dinner here and it was GREAT. I've been bummed since my fave Indian place closed because the family moved to Fargo to open a restaurant there (who does that!?!?!?!), and the entree, malai kofta bukhara, and naan I had here were very much like what I used to have there. Delicious entree and the assortment of naan in the bread basket was also very tasty. I didn't have any appetizers so I can't speak to those, but they looked delicious (I'm a sucker for vegetable samosas). The waitress was very friendly but not annoying. They had live music which added ambience but gave me a headache, as all live music does, so take that for what it's worth. I would definitely go back here instead of trying something new, which means it was pretty good!
(5)
Joyce T.
App: vegetable samosa, lamb chop / lollipop, sweet potato pakora Entree: chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, lasooni naan (garlic) We share the above food with party of four. Service and food were great!
(5)
Laura Jill S.
Wow. Michelle C had told me that Indeblue was her favorite Indian in the city, & wow, does she know her Indian food! Kristin H & I had dinner there tonight after the event at Eviama Life Spa (which was also phenomenal). The decor was beautiful & warm, I loved every detail of their presentation--in fact, I'm actually a little obsessed with their silverware. Everyone who worked there was friendly, and our waiter was excellent & accommodating (& quite cute, just sayin'). I know I've lived here a year, but I still can't get used to not having to explain what vegan is. It's still really special when someone in food service just knows & makes sure I'm taken care of. Kristin & I shared the samosas, the crispy vegetable chili, & the chana masala. I highly recommend all 3. (Michelle recommended the crispy spinach chaat--next time for sure!) I live for Indian food. This place is close to my apartment & amazing. I expect I'll be here often!
(5)
Jay D.
Pretty basic indian, even fancier atmosphere than Minar Palace down the street, which is my fav, and already too fancy (RIP: Old, unfancy Minar Palace on Sansom Street from 2005.) This seems like it would be the nicer option to go on a date to, and I love that they tell you on the menu what can be made vegan. But if I'm craving Indian, I'm heading to MP.
(4)
Kathy S.
This restaurant was such a pleasant surprise. The menu has familiar Indian food but with a twist. The vegetarian dishes, that can be ordered as sides, were excellent and the spinach chat was wonderful. Even the rice was very good. The service was perfect. Our sever was very attentive and didn't hurry us even though the restaurant was full. The ambiance is casually sophisticated and the noise level was acceptable. I thought this was the best Indian food in Phila. (my husband says Tashan but they really both are great)
(4)
Kiyana D.
Chicken tikka makhani, chana masala, and roti. Spicy, seasoned yumminess. Really good. A bit warm inside. Live mellow music and excellent HH. A great place for dinner and drinks with friends or date night.
(5)
Minh M.
My friends and I stumbled onto here while looking for a quick bite to eat before going out. We ended up staying until 1 am or so. I usually don't give out 5 stars unless it is really exceptional. Their lamb dishes were savory and amazing and their raita dip (yougurt, cucumber, and spices) is the best I've had. Not only that, but we came in 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was extremely accommodating. The kitchen staff put their best even late at night. To boot, he bartender whipped up a mean tamarita which was tequila and tamarind juice. It's too bad we found it so late in our trip because I would've loved to sit in the dining area, which was really cute and cozy, very different from the Indian restaurants I go to (but to be honest, this was an American, modern twist to Indian food). The hospitality was enough to earn them 5 stars and it's even better when the food is good. Check them out and look out for Cory to be your bartender!
(5)
Nathan N.
I went to lunch with a vegetarian, a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan. In an effort not be the "odd man out", I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter and it was amazing. The waiter was professional, yet humorous...great service. I wish there was a restaurant like this where I live!
(5)
C G J.
The Indian husband and Italian wife owners have put an excellent "twist" on traditional Indian dishes. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and have not had a bad meal here. Portions are modest but freshness and taste are great.
(4)
Paytrox G.
Place was awesome. Rode up from DC to philly just to grab lunch. Yelp reviews were spot on. Great tasting of fine Indian Food! Plus very accommodating for those of us with food allergies. Great gluten free and vegan options.
(5)
J R.
My boyfriend and I did the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Excellent service from our server. I don't recall his name but he has curly hair, black glasses and tattoos on his arms. Very knowledgeable about wine pairings. Overall great experience! You MUST try their cheesy nan bread.
(5)
Suzanne C.
Indeblue was a wonderful dining experience. The staff were attentive but not overly so, just the right mix of attention and space. The food was superb. Bread basket is a must - delightful! Loved my drink. Tequila, lime and hibiscus tea - not sweet or tart or strong. Perfect! Highly recommend to vegetarians and carnivores.
(5)
Archana L.
Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem around the corner from my hotel. Opulent wall decor with a contemporary twist. Refreshing avocado dahi puri to offset the summer heat. Taste meets texture in the perfectly spiced malai kofta. The masala chai was cold, but I was offered a fresh second cup without even asking. Polite, courteous service. Would definitely come back if I visit Philadelphia again.
(5)
Michael T.
This is respectably good indian fare, but with a higher than deserving prices.
(3)
Caitlin R.
Sat at the bar for happy hour (only at the bar) while on a (very quick) work trip to Philadelphia. The $3 vegetable samosa appetizer? Yes! Do not miss it! Two samosas (a little smaller than I usually see, but still delicious) were parked on a bed of Indeblue's channa masala (chickpeas) with a swipe of green chutney and cool yogurt. Indian food heaven... for $3. Even for the small portion, I'd pay the regular $8 non-happy hour. I don't live in Philly and ergo can't return often, so please go eat these samosas for me right now. Honorable mentions: the $5 happy hour ginger-lime-whiskey cocktail. Bartender Sean (?) was helpful, welcoming and knowledgeable. The naan pizza didn't change my life, but it was filling for $5. Live sitar music on Tuesday nights! It was terrific background, but not loud. So glad I randomly Yelped my way to this cozy, classy place!
(4)
Eric C.
Good. But not $100-for-dinner-for-two good. I've had way better. Has a happening feel. Just a little over-rated.
(3)
Omnom N.
I loved this place! We went for a Sunday brunch - and there was live Sitar and Tabla music (which was really good music. :) ) Having an insane craving for home food, we decided to come here - definitely pricier than the like of Sitar in University City but the food is totally worth it. I caved in to ordering a masala dosa (it's been over a year since I had one) and this is as authentic as it gets. With good chutney and a good amount of the potato curry. Given that there is no good South Indian food in Philly, Indeblue manages to produce a good dosa which tastes just like the ones from home. The paneer bhurji is definitely an interesting fusion style food - but delicious nonetheless. I think this place manages to satiate the taste buds for /traditional/ Indian food as well has it has its own fusion food which are gorgeous. For dessert we had the mango panna cotta (which was gorgeous along with its saffron based garnishing) and the coconut-lychee sorbet with tandoori pineapple. I was literally ecstatic upon receiving the food, dhomping down with a grin plastered across my face. Con: I do wish dosas were cheaper and they had something like 2 dosas per plate.
(5)
Anmry C.
I have eaten here several times- never EVER disappointed!!! Absolutely delicious. Fantastic food and drinks. My boyfriend and I always over order here, in hopes that we'll have leftovers for the next couple of days. We love everything we've tried!
(5)
Casey S.
So good! Excellent, high quality Indian Food. The best naan I have ever had, which is a bold statement!
(5)
David W.
Some very good food, some mediocre food. In general, the unique, fusion items were better than the traditional items. The Spinach Chaat, in particular, was fantastic.
(4)
Michelle C.
IndeBlue in Collingswood was my gateway restaurant into the world of Indian food. I'll never forget the first time I called for an order. I spoke with Heather, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Rakesh Ramola, and she could not have been nicer or more helpful with answering my many - MANY - questions about the menu. On that day I ordered chicken vindaloo and from that day forward, I was hooked. I enjoyed a nice long love affair with IndeBlue during my Collingswood days. But then I moved to Philly, and I have not found Indian that comes close to the deliciousness of IndeBlue. Until now, with IndeBlue's second location on 13th Street. Happy day! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get there. It won't be long before a return visit. We started with the spinach chaat, crispy spinach leaves topped with diced tomatoes, shallots and yogurt sauce. Super unique and very tasty. We also had the long hots stuffed with paneer. Entrees consisted of the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and chicken biryani. All three were excellent. It was obvious how much I missed this food by the way I cleaned my entire plate (with the help of some fantastic garlic naan for swiping up the last of the sauce). I washed everything down with two lychee martinis which were made exactly to my liking (slightly sweet but not too sweet). I was too stuffed for dessert but changed my mind when we were generously treated to a sampling. There was a fantastic dessert with sticky fried doughnuts and cinnamon ice cream, plus some flavorful sorbets, but my favorite was the mango panna cotta with honey and crushed pistachios. Tons of flavor but still light. The pretty decor makes this the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends. I look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Diana D.
The mixed grill was excellent. The lamb chops were just perfect in the clay oven. I'd get them alone the next time. I'm a big indian fan and the flavors were up to par. I'd definately eat here again. Next time i'm up for happy hour. the reviews for HH great!
(4)
B S.
My cousin recommended me this place when I went to visit philly this past weekend. Great food and awesome service! They really do care about their customers and it shows through. The ambience is great! It's very unique and we had an amazing dining experience! There's not a single con I can think about. Highly recommend his place!
(5)
Brianna K.
I ate here last night with my friend from UPenn for restaurant week. The food was FANTASTIC. I was so thrilled that they had a vegan option for each course- something that you can't find with many restaurants that participate in this event. The food was likely the best Indian that I have ever had. Crispy Spinach Chaat was top-notch, it was so full of flavor and was a perfect first portion. The Vegetarian Sampler Platter (made vegan)- Was GREAT. It was huge and flavorful and so varied, it gave me a great picture of what IndeBlue has to offer. Orange Ginger Sorbet- Perfect end to the meal, the ginger was sweet and perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegans and non vegans alike.
(5)
Sarah H.
Indeblue is my fav restaurant in Philly. The saag with shrimp is phenomenal. Fun atmosphere w/ seats regularly open at the bar. We had the pork samosa on our last visit. Ommmggggggggg. So good.
I pulled up to Indeblue and saw a bunch of Indians inside, instant street cred. Usually trendy indian restaurants are attended by essentially the same diverse crowd you would expect at any downtown restaurant. The heavy sprinkling of my brethren elevated my expectations. The feel and decor are center city standard. The menu has a mix of standard indian menu items like chicken tikka masala and chana masala, with a mix of "fusion-esque" dishes. Interestingly, they started off with a sample soup, spinach-mozzarella. So weird. It tasted like spinach soup...with mozzarella. I dont think we have mozzarella cheese in India. They seem to do the latter really well, while the former is about average to above average. Started with the spinach chaat. This was great. Flash fried spinach, with the usual mixing of chaat toppings. We then shared chicken korma with 2 side sized baingan bharta and daal makhani. Chicken korma was good, but just good. The baingan bharta was the best of the dishes as we could actually taste that the eggplant was roasted. Daal makhani was par for the course. Our bill, for 2 people with 2 drinks each was surprisingly affordable. Overall, a place worth visiting. I may stick to the newer fusion items as they seem to do this particularly well.
(3)
Rohit K.
Good authentic indian food, but a little bit expensive and quantity is not that great.
(4)
Traci T.
Wow! What a foodgasm at IndeBlue! A friend and I happened upon this place on our walk home and decided to give it a try for dinner the next day. The service and food were excellent. We walked in with no reservations and were seated right away. Drums of Heaven didn't disappoint and held up to its name. They were heavenly with the right amount of spiciness. The lamb shank was both tender and succulent in a wonderfully rich sauce. The divinely tasty Banana Nirvana was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Also need to acknowledge our server. He was so well versed in all the dishes, that when we asked him for recommendations he confidently steered us in the right direction. Highly recommend this place.
(4)
Vinny P.
I'm loving the center city Indeblue location. For my first visit I came for dinner and we ordered a couple of very tasty items. Our starters were the crispy vegetable chili and the sweet potato pakora. Of the two my favorite was the crispy vegetable chili. It had excellent texture and flavor. I thought the heat level was just right. My main was the goat biryani. At first I was surprised by its presentation, (the braised goat mixed into the rice, not alongside it) but it didn't detract from its taste whatsoever. It was a more at home style way of serving it and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In times since I've returned to sit at the bar and even for brunch (which deserves its own review). I think this place fits wonderfully on 13 and I hope they stay for a while.
(4)
Archana R.
I love this place!! They have one of the best chef. I love all the items on their menu. Each time I have been here, I tried a new dish and fell in love with it. They also have some great drinks.
(5)
Prasath S.
This review is based on Sunday Brunch only. Dined here this past weekend, excellent/friendly waitress who was also very knowledgeable about the food options. We started off with the Avocado Chaat (Great Refreshing Snack) & Drums of Heaven (4 Crispy Mini Wings dressed with some crumbled Blue Cheese - Delicious). For our entrees, we had the Masala Omelet (Oh My So tasty!!! swap the Maple Bacon for the Garam Masala one) Masala Dosa (Crispy with a yummy filling), Lamb Boti Kebab (Skewer of tender lamb meat dressed with masala fries and a yummy sauce) and finally a veggie Thali (which was more on the north indian side of things but still very tasty). Also tried the $4 Rose Mimosa - Slurpyyy goodness!!!
(4)
Zack S.
Legit Indian food at an upscale type place. I had the vegetarian thali (sampler) at lunch (see photo). Everything was above average. Highlights include the black sesame seeds on the naan (genius) and the paneer makhani (tomato-based gravy, kinda like tikka masala and just like that of butter chicken, for all you dummies out there). The sweet potato chips were good and went really well with the mango chutney but I'd rather fill up on that filthy delicious curry, know what I mean? Nobody was there at lunchtime (during the week). My server was super nice (Josh I think) You'll pay a bit more than average and you probably shouldn't dress like a hobo like I normally do. Cheaper buffet type places are more my style but I'd come here a couple times a year.
(5)
Oakland S.
Wanted to have a nice dinner out and thought I would try out this place. If your looking for something with parking good luck finding a spot. I'm cheap and had to drive to find a parking space near Christian street in a residential area. I dropped my date off first to grab a table. First off don't try to ask for a table without a reservation, we were told by the hostess that without a reservation it would be a 45 minute wait. The bartender kept pressuring my date to order while I was parking the car. When I joined my date, and she informed me of the wait, we decided to eat at the bar. I order a sangria for my date. It was served in a white wine glass filled with ice. Next time I order a sangria, I am going to say "no ice cubes". Then we decided to order two appetizers and an entree. He raved over one of the appetizers we ordered, but then quickly turned away to put the order in the computer without taking the entree order. We finally were able to order everything when he came back. It just felt like we were being rushed. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy spinach chaat and the barbecue spare rib samosa. I thought the spinach was better than the spare ribs which the waiter raved about. For the entree we order malai kofta. It's a vegetarian meatball in a creamy cashew sauce. I thought this dish was sub par. Maybe it was my fault, I should have ordered lamb. My opinion these vegetarian meatballs tasted like an under cooked boca burger. We decided to give the bar another chance and order another drink. After looking through the options we had a question regarding one of the drinks, so we decided to ask the bartender what lychee was. Instead of describing it using words, the bartender proceeded to grab the bottle of lychee puree and hold it up to my date's nose. Just a tip to the bartender--don't ever shove a bottle in anyone's face. I think for now, I am going to stick to takeout for Indian food.
(2)
L M.
A-mazing! Great atmosphere, food was excellent and service was exceptional with bonus points for being very helpful regarding gluten free options. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl the rice pudding came in...
(5)
Kathy P.
Not bad food! The rice was flavorful! The spinach chat was too oily, my chicken tikka dish wasn't cooked properly.. However, the paneer tikka dish was pleasing. I prefer Tashan to this restaurant, but it wasn't too bad. Not my first choice.
(3)
Marc M.
Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. I'll make sure that I return. The Osso Bocco Pork Vindaloo in spices (many other great dishes too that I can't remember the name) was fantastic. The tasting menu is the way to go. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Vanessa T.
First of all, I must clarify that the indeblue in center city is not byob, when I read the yelp reviews, someone said it was byob but It is only byob at the place in collingswood. Now that is out of the way, I came here for restaurant week and definitely like it here. I ordered the non-veg thali which is like a sampler of several dishes. The chicken tikka masala was delicious. The soups were delicious (sampler of 3 different soups during restaurant week). Drums of heaven was good too. I absolutely loved the dessert they had too (banana nirvana and the ice cream cookie). The service was wonderful as well.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Came here for lunch with a few of my friends who have been dying to try Indeblue. Finally came, and loved it! The food was phenomenal, great service, and swanky cute atmosphere. Highly recommended! For appetizer we had the crispy spinach chatt and the dahi avocado chatt. Both delicious, but the spinach was mind blowing. So flavorful and just the right amount of crispy texture. Amazing!! For entrees we ate off the lunch menu: I had the Kaju Paneer Mattar, which was thick and creamy but very delicious. Housemade paneer, with peas, cashews , creamy caradamom sauce. (See photo). My friends had the non-vegetarian tahli , which was served on a silver platter and several different small dishes of apps, entrees, And salads. They all loved the chicken curry on the tahli platter, but didnt like the chicken tikka. I tried the lamb from one of my friends platters, and it was juicy, rich of flavor, and delicious. The naan was also wonderful and they give you plenty for dipping. The sweet chutney I loved, the cilantro chutney was also good, and the spicy chutney I stayed far away from lol. Overall great experience, and my friends from India say the food is very good up to their quality standards!! Bravo chef!
(4)
Jassi B.
Simply delicious food and great service. I myself are Indian and the fact that the waiter was white and could speak in Hindi a little bit was absolutely fascinating. But overall the food was incredible and it deserves bragging rights. I highly recommend the spinach chat and the long stuffed peppered also the pork curry they have the main course along with a the mozzarella naan bread
(5)
Cat P.
We ate here the other night for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and I was blown away by the food. This was the perfect setting for an intimate celebratory dinner and I didn't feel like we over-paid, given how amazing our dishes were. We each had cocktails to start. I enjoyed a wonderful lemon and basil concoction and my love went with some sort of ginger/bourbon drink; both were mixed well and complimented our food (as a side note, I found their cocktail list to be quite impressive and they even have happy hour specials, so I may need to revisit this spot in the future just for drinks). For apps, we went with the sweet potato pakora and the crispy vegetable chili. I highly recommend the second of the two, as the batter on the veggies had a delightful crunch and the dipping sauces that came with them packed a nice, spicy punch. Dinner arrived in a timely manner and I enjoyed my dishes. I went with tofu mangoli and chana saag. My beau had the goat biyrani, which was a decent size for him (he took leftovers home). If I had to complain about anything, I will say that our server wasn't so good at describing the portion sizes to us. You see, I ordered half sizes of both my dishes. I love that they even have this option just because most places don't, but it seemed like 2 halves just weren't enough. I had to end up ordering rice halfway through my dinner. I know this is a relatively new restaurant here in Philly, so hopefully the wait staff will be able to make better recommendations as time goes on. I thought the menu here was very easy to read for people with dietary restrictions (gluten free and vegan symbols appear next to dishes), but as somebody who is pretty inexperienced with Indian food, it would be nice if there was some kind of spice level number system of sorts so I don't burn my taste buds off. All in all, though, IndeBlue is doing things right, so I can definitely see myself coming back - especially for their live sitar music on Tuesday nights.
(5)
H. I.
If you're looking for Indian food that beats the typical hole in the wall places in University City with sub par service and questionable cleanliness, this is the place to go. We came here on Diwali so it was pretty lively inside and I was glad we made a reservation because it was a full house (although usually I've heard you can walk in and get a table). There were a couple of larger tables so it looks like they are good at accommodating large groups (6+). We had a friendly and helpful server, who recommended a few dishes to us. We got 3 appetizers to split among 3 of us: chilled dahi avocado chaat, stuffed long hot peppers, and drums of heaven. All were delicious! For dinner I had the tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops were some of the best I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back just to order the lollipop lamb chops. For dessert we split the chocolate sutra. It's not a particularly Indian dish but it was still good. Love the decor inside, not tacky or gaudy looking. It was trendy, sexy, and overall had a great atmosphere. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Christine B.
This spot reminds me a lot of Tashan, except maybe a little cheaper and a little less fusion. We shared the spicy scallops and the long hots. Neither was too spicy, and the scallops were nicely cooked. Also, had the sangria with the chai tea. It was an interesting cocktail that I enjoyed overall because it wasn't too sweet. For entrees, the lamb shank and the chicken korma with some extra spice. These dishes were really good. I could have used a little more meat on the lamb, but it was tender and the sauce was tasty, as was the saffron rice. This is a nice spot if you want to have a fancy Indian dinner, but I didn't think any of the food was amazingly better than your local Indian take out restaurant.
(4)
Barrett L.
IndeBlue, an upscale Indian restaurant located in the heart of the gayborhood, serves both traditional and innovative takes on Indian cuisine. While the prices tend to be higher than your standard Indian joint, I found the food to be on par with most other places I've been too. Although I appreciated the good service and creative cocktails, I found the actual cuisine nothing surprising and wouldn't run back so soon to try more of the menu. We started with the crispy spinach chaat, which tasted rather oily (although somewhat delicious). We then split the Lamb Roganjosh, the Malwani Swordfish, Chana Masala, and a naan with spinach and mozzarella. Of these dishes, I found the lamb the most pleasant: juicy and savory, but not anything above the ordinary. The swordfish, despite swimming in sauce, was rather dry and the fish didn't really stand out for me. The chana masala was pretty standard, and the spinach and mozzarella naan was tasty, but I didn't find myself tasting a lot of the cheese or vegetables inside. I did, however, greatly appreciate our attentive and kind server, as well as the indebluetini (an adult version of a Mango Lassi). However, while I appreciate the concept of upscale Indian, I didn't find the food to be innovative or challenging enough to warrant the price point (especially when Tashan is located nearby). That said, there is always room for improvement, and I'm sure that IndeBlue can take it's merely good food to levels that are infinitely better.
(3)
Abbie D.
Came here for my husband's birthday. I e-mailed the restaurant beforehand to see if we could do the Chef's Tasting menu and to see if they had their liquor license. Early the next morning I received a phone call from the restaurant answering my questions. The person was super friendly and assured us that we would have a great meal. My husband and I did the chef's tasting with the wine pairings. The food was great and our server was super sweet. There was a bit of food timing issues but we totally understood b/c they just opened three days prior to our dinner. I know this may sound silly, but my only "complaint" isn't really a complaint just a comment on the end of our meal. When dessert came the servers and the chef came to the table and sang happy birthday to my husband. I KNOW they meant so well but I felt like we were at the olive garden. I would have loved to just have a subtle candle in the dessert and perhaps the musicians on the floor would play happy birthday very discretely. just a thought. All in all the dinner was very nice, a bit expensive, but good for a celebration.
(4)
Raghari P.
Good Indian restaurant:) tasty food. Service could be faster..Will come back again:)
(4)
Sarab S.
This is not your average Indian place. And I mean that as a compliment. Went here with a group of 10 people for a surprise party for my girlfriend. The staff were super helpful with setting it all up- from getting us set up for happy hour with delicious drinks and rather offbeat fusion Indian food, to giving us a massive table and letting us enjoy ourselves! The ambience is fantastic- it's an offbeat, Indian and Western fusion place and the decor shows it. The people were great and very friendly, so much so that we had a nice long chat with our bartender and our waiter! The food was delicious as well! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu with a wine tasting. While pricey, it was well worth the money. The scallops were fantastic, perhaps some of the best I've had. Their lamb was amazing and while the quail was good I'd probably go for the lamb next time I was there. All in all- a definite yes!
(5)
Alison L.
The food here was delicious (definitely order the Spinach chaat), but the service was way off. We had an early reservation on a Saturday night, and the place was full but not packed yet. Our drinks and food took forever to come out each time, but one we got them there was a busboy or waiter at our table practically every 5 minutes asking if they could clear anything. Half of these plates they were asking to clear still had food on them. We stayed for about an hour and a half which is not a long time for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, and I couldn't help but feel they were rushing us out to get to the next seating. I will say that the hosts were extremely nice, but the service stopped there. I would also say this is a $$$ restaurant, not $$ as Yelp indicates. The portion sizes are decent, but most entrees are $20+, and you're going to want to try appetizers, too.
(3)
Elizabeth B.
I hate to admit this but I am picky about food, I'm picky about service......probably not the greatest quality but it is me.......that being said...I LOVED IndeBlue....the wet cousin of IndeBlue in Collingswood which is dry!! WONDERFUL food and great service....can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Niyati D.
Sighhh. I honestly wanted to give this a 2 star rating, but because I have had great experiences at the Collingswood location I bumped it up a star. My parents and aunt and uncle came to visit me in Philly, and we decided to go to IndeBlue since we loved the Collingswood location. We arrived at the restaurant a little after 8pm on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar, and it took a good 10 minutes before the bartender came back to the bar and took my order. I got the chai sangria, which was good but a little sweet for my taste. My mom and aunt really liked it though. We were seated shortly after I got my drink. And this is where, in my eyes, the experience went downhill. My parents and aunt and uncle are vegetarian. The menu had a total of 5/6 vegetarian entree options, 2 of which were daals (lentils). We started off by ordering 3 vegetables (2 of which were paneer based and one eggplant) and one daal. I asked our waitress if there were any other vegetables we could order and she suggested appetizers, which we weren't interested in getting. We asked for all of the dishes to be made spicy and they were. One of the most disappointing parts of the night was when our food came out. Indian food is meant to be eaten family style, but the portions were so small that by the time the 5 of us put a spoonful of the entree on our plate the bowl was empty... But of course we received a mountain of rice with each entree. We immediately had to order another entree, another paneer based vegetable. Luckily the service was very attentive and our last minute entree came out piping hot within 10 minutes. Now the bill. $14-16 per entree for the tiniest, most simple punjabi food. On top of that, we were charged $2 for a small plate of onions and lemon. What happened to the days of free pappadam and onions? I've been to many upscale American restaurants in NYC and they have no trouble serving table bread without charge. These things cost the restaurant literally nothing to make and if you're going to charge some absurd amount for a tiny entree, it's the least you can you do. To top it all off, my dad was looking at the receipt today and noticed that they charged a 20% tip for our party of 5! What is that about?! We hadn't noticed this at the restaurant so the waitress went home with a nice 40% tip. Bottom line - I won't be back, at least not to the Philly location. The lack of vegetarian variety and the hiked up prices (and nonsense tip policy) have ruined it for me.
(3)
Chian G.
This is a fun, upscale twist on Indian food. I especially love their Spinach Chaat and the lamb lollipops. If you can make it there for happy hour, it's a great deal!
(4)
Mike W.
I was expecting big things from indeblue and the completely delivered. Expertly prepared dishes. Prices were fairly good as well. Cost 105 for three people with tip and three beers. Flavors are definitely some of the best I have had outside India. They stay true to traditional cuisine but still inventive enough to keep it fun. The food is outstanding.
(5)
Mini M.
Great Indian food!!! Creative fine food that actually tastes authentic and is served the way Indian food should be served....in thalis (metal dishes). Ambience is amazing!!! This place is awesome for brunch and dinner. Great for special occasions. One of the best restaurants in Philly! Save room for dessert because the "banana nirvana" might just be the best thing I've ever eaten.
(5)
David V.
Loving this place so far. IndeBlue is what a certain other nearby upscale Indian restaurant should have been. The ambiance is nice and the food imaginative, but still distinctively Indian. We've been here for dinner and Sunday brunch and haven't had a bad meal. Brunch features both very Indian foods and more classic egg-based dishes, with an Indian slant. I had the Non-vegetarian Thali, which featured a chicken dish and a lamb dish, along with chickpeas, a green salad, a vegetable fritter and some naan. My wife had the masala omelette, which tasted more like a traditional Spanish tortilla than anything distinctly Indian, but also definitely wasn't just a traditional Spanish tortilla. The omelette also came with some tasty naan that had special seasonings and cheese on it. The service is also very friendly and efficient. We've had the same waitress both times we've gone, and she's been friendly and attentive both times. This place isn't cheap, but you're getting some quality food and service for the price you pay.
(4)
Sangita S.
Brought my parents here for my dad's birthday and they were obsessed. We are vegetarian so the options were plentiful and everything we ordered was incredible. The service was super and the atmosphere was perfect with the sitar and tabla players. My parents can't wait to bring the rest of the fam here and to try the rest of the options we didn't get around to. I'd highly recommend spinach chat, vegetable chili Hakka noodles, and the French toast (on the brunch menu)!
(5)
Kelly C.
I wasn't blown away by the food, but the atmosphere is great. I'm definitely no expert on Indian food, but I have a few favorite dishes. Chicken Tikka Masala is my barometer, even though I know it's not a native dish, and is often prepared to meet Western taste buds. Inde's wasn't spectacular. It was just OK. Ditto for the Lasooni (garlic) Naan. The Tikka Masala sauce was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, and not quite as spicy as I like. And the naan just wasn't garlicky enough for me. The dining room and service were great. Also, they sent out a sample of potato-leek soup which was very good and I would order it next time.
(3)
Robert B.
Very nice experience on Saturday night. The restaurant is very attractive, although the noise level is pretty high. The diver scallop appetizer was good, but the crispy spinach chaat was excellent. My tandoori mixed grill was very good, although the lamb chops were just ok. Chicken, shrimp and vegetables were all excellent and portion size was filling. Dining partner's butter chicken was liked but not loved. Fig ice cream dessert was very interesting and worth a try.
(4)
Raj K.
Some of our friends highly recommended IndeBlue so our family of four went for dinner. The ambiance is nice, and the service very good. We had the spinach chat, since so many reviewers had raved about it, honestly we were disappointed. It is very oily and filling, luckily we shared the plate so was OK. We ordered chicken tikka makhani, chicken madras, lamb roghan josh and malai kofta with some naans. We really liked the roghan josh, chicken tikka and malai kofta in that order. The chicken pieces in chicken madras were very dry, though the gravy was flavorful. Finished the meal off with chocolate sutra - which was very good as well.
(4)
Daniel V.
Service, Staff and Food were exemplary! Outstanding! The food gave us a range of tastes and textures that our palettes thoroughly enjoyed. Above and beyond any experience we have EVER had.
(5)
Jay B.
Delicious, really good food! We got the samosas, crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, & chana masala with roti bread and it was the best! Go hear!
(5)
Vinay G.
We landed at the restaurant based on the excellent reviews and its closeness to the liberty bell. The rating received by the restaurant is well deserved to say the least. The ambience is warm and bright and the hostess was spot on in her recommendations. The spinach chat was crisp and definitely refreshing after eating soggy chat elsewhere in downtown. The chicken tikka roll was fresh with tender chicken. The wheat roll though could have been thinner to give more flavour to the filling. We were in dual mind to chose the thali but it was warm and fresh. The bread was soft and the curries were simple and filing. We were too full to try the dessert but hope to be back.
(4)
Leib Z.
Visited on a Monday. Definitely nice setting, friendly and quite informative staff. Can't say I was impressed with the food. "Heavenly drumstick" were subpar at best, cauliflowers were decent but felt like it was done hastily. Chicken tikka was decent. Not sure if it's because it was a Monday but it did not meet my expectations after reading all the reviews. I've definitely had better indian food experience. Overall, would recommend to check it out, sit for a nice choice of wine and beer. Know the food you're ordering.
(3)
Hillary R.
Came in just before the kitchen closed and they still let me order. The tikka masala and naan pizza were great and the garlic naan bread was amazing! Also recommend the ginger twist from the bar, very good!
(5)
Karen W.
We came here for restaurant week around 9:30pm on Friday. The food was good, but given what you get, I wouldn't call this place a good value (but I can only speak for the restaurant week menu.) The reason why the three stars, is that despite the late reservation, the entire meal took over 2 hours to serve. We ordered at around 9:45pm, and while the appetizers came out quickly, it took forever for the entrees to come out. The restaurant was not packed so I don't understand why it took so long.
(3)
Delvia W.
I went September 11, 2014. I love Indian food and have eaten at several places both in and outside of Philadelphia but IndeBlue is by far the best. the server told me that the owner is the Chef. This explains why the food is soooo gooood!!! The food has such great flavor!!! The server suggested the crispy spinach chaat and omgeeeee I'm glad she did. The flavor was so bold it lasted on my taste buds well after I swallowed!!!! The diver scallops were delicious. Save the sauce for your Naan bread!!! The lamb balti was very tender and flavorful. The food came fast and the service was good. I will be back!!!! My new favorite place!!!
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Excellent service, cozy ambiance, and delicious food. My family (including my sister-in-law, who is from northern India) is crazy for Indian food, and this fusion joint did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the samosa chat, crispy spinach chat, baingan bharta, and lasooni naan. They also had an excellent spinach soup-of-the-day and their chutneys were perfect and unique. The one dish that wasn't a huge hit at the table was probably a case of bad ordering on our part - expecting one thing, ordering something else - although I can't quite speak to that given that I didn't taste this particular item. In addition to attentive service, they also provided complimentary tastes of the daily soup (a given), and they offered my mom a taste of their chai after she asked about its level of sweetness. They also removed the one dish we didn't love from the bill - totally unnecessary, but yet another example of their attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this spot to any Indian food enthusiasts, especially to those looking for a little twist on traditional fare. Also great for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free - their menu is flexible and clearly marked for these dietary restrictions.
(5)
Fima M.
Great concept, delicious food. We enjoyed our valentines day dinner here. Some of the items were classic indian restaurant items, such as a savory black lentil daal, and others were not classic at all, like the lobster tail, hudson valley foie gras on garam masala challah, and crispy spinach. I'd go back and try more items on their menu, like the shrimp skewers, chicken and chutneys, etc. I was told by my indian friend beforehand "it's indian food like you've never tried before," and I would agree. It didn't have the service aspect that some of my favorite places have had to earn the fourth and fifth star. We were initially greeted in an awkward manner by the hostess, but this did not take away from the food, I won't dock the restaurant a star for that at this time.
(4)
Sandip G.
IndeBleu is a great little Indian restaurant in the heart of Philly. This is a place you can't go wrong if you want to impress your date. We went pretty late at night about their closing time but still got great unrushed service and excellent food..chicken tikka masala as well as the vegetarian options. Makhani Daal was perfectly slow cooked and appropriately spiced. My vegetarian partner loved it. CTM was cooked in tomato sauce which was a welcome and healthier choice and tasted really nice. Will definitely repeat next time we are in Philly. Missed the live music this time because we went so late.
(5)
Ron H.
Great food ... Great atmosphere ... If you want to try indian food this is the best place in philly ...
(5)
Mike C.
Overpriced, very little heat. Service was slow. Food is ok, but lacks any real heat, and most dishes we had seemed too sweet (what I call Americanized Indian food: sweet and mild). Noticed not a single Indian patron was in a packed Indian restaurant....
(2)
Jill K.
I have been to indeblue MANY times. It is my favorite Indian food. I can't say it's a traditional Indian restaurant, but in my opinion, it's a good mix of traditional and contemporary. For appetizer, my favorite is the spinach chaat. It's usually done well, though once it was a little salty. Others that are good include the naan pizza and dahi avocado chaat. For the entree, I always get paneer. They currently have paneer tikka masala which is delicious. I like my Indian food spicy, so they will make it spicier for me. The naan is amazing- fresh, hot, soft. 2 of us can go through 2-3 orders in one meal. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will forego an appetizer and share an entree sized paneer tikka with an additional entree but in the smaller portion size. That with the naan will fill us. The dessert in general are pretty good. I love their house made chai and cocktails (chai sangria) as well! Overall, love this place!
(5)
Vishal P.
Modern twist to indian cuisine. Chilli lamb chops one of the highlights on the menu ! Mango panacotta for the dessert
(4)
Adam N.
This Modern Indian place is worth checking out. Even if you don't think you like Indian food, you need to try it. We've been a couple times since they opened and the food and service were great each time. Dishes are creative, flavorful and show that Indian can be appeal to everyone. We'll be back!
(5)
Ty W.
I had the pleasure of sampling the life changing "Drums of Heaven", at the Midtown Village Festival and it was love at first bite. A friend & I made a reservation (which I STRONGLY suggest doing) for a Saturday evening and we were seated immediately. The place is beautiful, candlelit tables, great service and knowledgeable servers a very intimate setting (yes by intimate I do mean small). The food, seemingly looks like it wouldn't be filling (clearly I was an Indian food virgin), I had the Seafood Moilee (I may have spelled that incorrectly) along with the drums of Heaven and everything was perfect, the food came out in a timely manner, no complaints about that whatsoever. The only thing I'd suggest is to request to be seated near the wall, as we were seated in the center and constantly had to deal with being bumped by bussers, waiters & waitresses and passersby.
(4)
Kaitlin W.
This is a great place for people that are trying Indian food for the first time. i think it's a perfect combination of authentic Indian with creative twists on classics. I went for restaurant week and couldn't have been more pleased! We started off with a trio of soups that were all equally delicious and making our 3-course meal more like 4 courses! Then I had the spinach chaat which I'm still dreaming about! This may have been my favorite part of the meal! I had the non-vegetarian sampler platter for dinner, all parts amazing! For dessert was a fried banana flavored dough with cinnamon ice cream, rather dense but incredibly delicious! I will definitely be returning!
(5)
Rachel W.
Absolutely fantastic experience. I love it when the service matches up to the food quality. Unfortunately we had a rowdy group seated next to us. Ah well, you can't blame the restaurant for that. I would highly recommend the dahi avocado chaat as an appetizer, it was really really delicious. The fresh vegetable jhalfrazie was spiced perfectly and was exactly the right amount for two people to share. For dessert we were served a complimentary ginger sorbet and a berry sorbet. Unfortunately they were not for me, but I'm not really a sorbet person and the fact that it was complimentary I can't knock off a star for that. Ambiance was great for a date, nice dim lighting. Also the cocktail choices are really something special. Enjoy!
(5)
Sam C.
The lamb biryani changed. my. life. If you don't order it, you're making a mistake. My friend and I had an amazing meal here. We had both been to the sister restaurant in Collingswood, NJ which was very yummy, but the new Center City location takes the cake. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great, and I loved the little pumpkin soup starter (to quote Andre from The League, I love to amuse my bouche). But let's get to the good stuff. We ordered a red chicken curry, lamb biryani, a roasted eggplant side, and a bunch of naans, all to share. Well let's just say we cleaned our plates in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Everything was delicious but the standouts for both of us were the biryani (seriously I could eat that every day, no problem), the accompanying raita which was perfectly tangy and refreshing, and the eggplant side which was absolutely scrumptious. The chutney and sauces were all wonderful as well. The spice level on everything was perfect; we were definitely feeling it but not so much that we couldn't taste our food. Even the least memorable dish, the chicken curry, would have gotten rave reviews at another restaurant; it was simply eclipsed by the more exceptional things on our table. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back to try as much as I can on the menu, but there's no way I won't be ordering that lamb again.
(5)
Jamie H.
We were looking for Indian food near our hotel, and the concierge recommended Indieblue. My friend and I shared two appetizers and half-servings of three entrees. Over the last 15 years, we have probably gotten together for 3 meals a year at conferences all over the world. We agreed that this was the best meal we've ever enjoyed together. The food was absolutely stupendous, and the service was marvelous too.
(5)
Manoj V.
Classy ambience, excellent service and amazing food. Spinach mozzarella soup Thali! Probably the best place to introduce someone to Indian food.
(5)
J K.
Inde Blue is a very pretty restaurant inside, candelit and romantic. It would be a nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our server was very professional and gave us good recommendations from the menu. This is not your "standard" Indian fare but more "fusion" ...the best dishes we had were a crispy spinach salad (which could be one of the best salads I have had anywhere) and goat biryani. We also tried the long hot peppers stuffed with cheese, they were very, very spicy (too spicy for me) The scallop appetizer was good. Overall very pleased with the meal, and will plan to return.
(3)
Sara L.
If you have convinced yourself that "ethnic" food cannot be elegant, please step into IndeBlue and allow them to change your mind. I had heard raves about the Collingswood Inde Blue for years and was thrilled to learn that the relatively new space on 13th Street was associated. As our very helpful waiter explained, the downtown location is a little more upscale with more creative flair to the menu than the more traditional offerings in New Jersey. I made a reservation to celebrate the big 3-5 with my husband at IndeBlue this past weekend and enjoyed one of the nicer meals out I have had in some time. The space is beautifully decorated with a heavy (but not over-the-top) Indian vibe. The lighting is dim and sparkly, but you can still read the menu and see your dinner date. The drink menu had a nice selection of wines and beers, as well as some specialty cocktails that I look forward to trying. I was correct in my guess that the ~50% table occupation by Indian people predicted good things for the meal to come. Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative as he went over the soup and salad "of the moment" and reviewed the options for doing the 5-course chef's menu, which we skipped on this visit. We started the meal with complimentary amuse bouche portions of the spicy, but well-balanced chilled gazpacho, followed by appetizers of seared scallops in coconut curry sauce and and intriguing arugula salad over watermelon with spiced cashews and candied ginger. It was nice to start the meal with one heavier dish and one so very light and refreshing. For entrees we shared the chicken tikka masala and the seafood moilee. Both were outstanding, and each was served with a differently spiced rice side that perfectly suited them. We wrapped up the meal by sharing the fig duo dessert - a fig blondie with a scoop of homemade fig ice cream. I think that dessert has ruined Fig Newtons for me for life! We were already planning what to order on our next trip before we even finished our meals. The prices were not cheap, but very reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. If you are expecting the typical "vat of Indian food" portion sizes, you might be disappointed; however, for truly gourmet food I found them quite satisfying. Many of the dishes are rich enough that a little goes a long way, and we had ample leftovers to take home. I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit, but IndeBlue has really outdone themselves in filling a void for "Indian food as a nice meal" in a way that not even Palace at the Ben ever quite achieved.
(5)
Susan P.
Love this place! It's in a great location --- walking distance from many other restaurants and bars. It has beautiful decor and friendly staff. APPETIZERS/ENTREES I recommend the naan pizza, vegetable samosa chaat, drums of heaven, lollipop lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and the lamb rogan josh. DESSERTS The banana nirvana (banana gulab jamun) was ok --- it shouldn't be called gulab jamun --- it looks like gulab jamun but it tastes nothing like it. The mango panna cotta on the other hand was light and refreshing. COCKTAILS All of the cocktails that we got were delicious. I highly recommend the sexy goan, indebluetini, and the ginger twist.
(5)
Sar M.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. You have to try the lamb lollipops they were amazing! A little pricey but a great place to go for a different take on Indian food.
(4)
Shirl C.
Food is exquisite! The waiter was very nice to us, and the owner was so sweet. Food is absolutely fabulous!
(5)
Tami L.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week. I already can't wait to return. The food is spectacular. Jason, our server, was funny, attentive without being overbearing, and offered superb recommendations. All of our food was delicious. The cocktails are tasty and innovative. The food was spicy but not uncomfortably so! A fabulous evening!
(5)
Jason T.
Pretty exceptional experience. Two of us dined. The food was very good. The service was good. What I found to be exceptional was the fact that we had an `in center city` coupon that had apparently expired. They gave me $10 off my next visit then called later to apologize and offer to honor the coupon.
(5)
Jen L.
Things that IndeBlue are: - a nice restaurant as evidenced by inflated prices for food you can get more cheaply at a lot of other Indian restaurants, attentive service, and a decor that strives to look fancy - overhyped Things that IndeBlue are not: - a good restaurant. Food was underwhelming and not memorable, particularly at the price point they're requesting Not convinced this place is worth the extra bucks
(3)
David A.
Cut above the standard Indian fare. Ordered the chef's tasting menu. Exceptionally delicious and varied dishes -- not the same 'ol tikka whatever. Plus great beer or wine pairings (I had wine, my bros had beer). It was a real culinary experience. The waiter was awesome too: attentive without being obsequious. One of the most enjoyable Indian meals I've had anywhere.
(5)
Dee G.
We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Great decor, wonderful service and good food as well. I got the seafood thali which was a mistake. Although the seafood dishes were tasty they needed to be eaten with rice not the rotis that the thali comes with. The crunchy spinach chaat was excellent but a tad bit sweet for my taste. The lamb chops were great. We went there with a 1 year old and they were very accommodating. Oh and the cocktail (Bombay Punch) was good too.
(4)
John D.
When is Indian food not Indian. When it's "fusion". Gosh I hate that word. In any case the place in downtown Philly is very new so maybe the review isn't fair. There were six of us, one a native Indian. We all agreed the food was good, not great, a tad expensive, and definitely not true Indian food. ymmv. Give it a try but there is some sticker shock here. I found the chicken masala to be tough and the sauce too cloying. It was missing that tameric taste. The nan was greasy and the garlic nan was too garlicky (for me). I would not go back.
(2)
Jules C.
Delicious indian option for center city and all who sorely miss Bindi. I went here last week to try. It out and was very pleased with all aspects of this new 13th street addition. Upon walking in I felt transformed - maybe not to India but definitely to an elegant an pleasant dinner setting. The noise level was fine for conversation at the table which is getting to be an unheard of attribute of late and the food was spectacular. This is not your average Philly Indian it is definitely a notch or two above that will leave you wanting for more. The portion size is appropriate and the service was very attentive but not overdone. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Natasha A.
I'm so full and satisfied I can barely type this. Yet, I will do my due diligence to try to express how much I loved this place. Words just don't seem to be enough. I came here for restaurant week, it was my first trip here. I've been hearing great things and decided RW was a great chance to try a great spread. I loved the ambiance the minute I walked in. The food was honestly amazing. I absolutely loved the spinach chaat. The vegetarian thali was out of this world! I love dal makhani and this was the best I've had. Everything in the thali was sooo piping hot and stayed hot so it tasted super fresh. And dessert?? Oh GOD dessert shot me straight to food heaven! I ordered the banana nirvana which was fantastic but the fig option was unexpectedly phenomenal! It took me by surprise. I never thought I could loooove figs like that! Overall an amazing time with friends and fabulous food! Can't wait to come back for happy hour!
(5)
G Y.
I came for happy hour on a Monday at 6pm and had no problem getting a seat at the bar for me and my two friends. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks (I had the tamarind margarita). We ended up staying for dinner, and while the food was amazing, I'm not sure it is something I would pay full price for again. But I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(5)
Stephanie M.
Great decor and service. The food was amazing! We got the vegetable samosas and my meal was the Baingon Bharta..delicious! I'll definitely be going back. Plus there was live music when we went Tuesday night. Cool place and pretty affordable dishes.
(4)
milton s.
the food is amazing and gluten free! woohoo! service is great!
(5)
Rick D.
Good, not great. The space itself is very nice and tastefully decorated. We went to the Center City IndeBlue location on a Tuesday night, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We started with the crispy vegetable chili and sweet potato pakora, and the chili appetizer was quite good. Our entrees of aloo bhindi and tikka paneer were rather bland, no hint of spice and generally not memorable. My expectations for IndeBlue were high, the reality was rather meh.
(3)
Sherry H.
Three of us went there and enjoyed everything we had immensely. Drinks, appetizers and entrees were all delectable. We were visiting the city and have actually considered doing the 3 hour drive (one way) again, just to eat at this place. We had to wait about a 3-4 weeks before we could even consider eating another Indian Indian place because we knew nothing would be as good. He had to come down from the "IndiBlue high". Now we will be "chasing the IndiBlue Dragon's-Tail", if you know what I mean.
(5)
Fatty D.
Complicated review here. Just the two of us this go around. Philly was sweltering, much more humid than the west coast. We had reservations and were seated quickly. Place was empty, maybe 5 tables taken. Upon our seating, our very nice server sold us on the 6 course Pre Fix. Neither of us had much of an idea of what to order or expect. We have had poor experiences with Indian Food in the past, however we wanted to try at a higher level of eatery before we closed the doors forever to eating this type of food. I think the quality of the ingredients, the staff, the portions, the ambiance was top notch. The other person joining me loved the meal. But for a few exceptions, Please understand, I realize there is a difference between a quality meal which this was, and me just hating the tastes. I'll list the courses. And my ending of this challenging meal. Started with some sort of cold soup. - to me it was ok. The other person said it tasted like vomit. Fried Spinach Salad - Fantastic texture and taste! Simply marvelous, Both of us loved it. Seared Scallops,- Over cooked by a hair, not seared properly. Very sweet Sauce inedible. The other person liked it. Here take mine. Lolly POP of a Lamb Rib with a Small Chicken Breast. - To me inedible, tangy and very spicy. Chicken was in a spicy Coconut Chutney. The other person loved it, I hated it. The Naan Bread which came with it sucked. Pork Shank with a roasted Potato. To me inedible. Other person enjoyed it. Dessert was Fig Ice Cream Drizzled with Honey. I hated it, Inedible, Too sweet. The other person enjoyed it. I think this type of food is not for everyone. I gave it an honest shot.Never again will I eat Indian Food I did not enjoy it from start to finish. I didn't eat anything but for the one fantastic salad course. I think evaluating the experience honestly is to say, if you like Indian Food, you probably will very much enjoy this place. However I won't be joining you. I rather eat my own throw up
(4)
J S.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! So flavorful and tender - I had the lamb rogan josh and my friend had the tikka masala which he enjoyed as well.
(5)
G C.
The place is fancier than your usual indian place. Service was great and the ambiance is quite nice. Entrees aren't cheap but they are also well made (given my limited knowledge of indian cuisine). A place for a classier indian dinner. Had the lamb rogan josh which was good.
(3)
Amar R.
Interesting place. The chef knows what he is doing-mixng authentic Indian streetside food with Contemporary American cuisine. This place could pass easily for a steven starr restaurant. Expensive with above average food.
(3)
Monang S.
A very contemporary indian cuisine with excellent service and beautiful interiors !! Kudos
(5)
Bill A.
Not traditional Indian food. They serve a modern fusion with other ingredients. It taste good. You should just have your expectations set. Modernized look. Service is good.
(4)
V T.
I am an Indian food addict so I've eaten at the whole gamut of Indian restaurants (buffets, dives, upscale, cafes, etc.), but IndeBlue stands out as something new and different. I love that they serve modern Indian food, which means many new takes on the standard dishes. My husband and I went for restaurant week last night and we loved everything we tried (drums of heaven, non-veg & veg sampler, fig blondie and banana nirvana). The portions were a good size (eating my leftovers for lunch as I type this) and everything was freshly prepared. The ambiance was great and Jason was the best waiter. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back soon because there are so many great items on the menu that I need to try!
(5)
John T.
This was one of the best Indian food I have had! Great place.Very highly recommend it. We were visiting Philli for 4 days and we ate here twice. Will be back.
(5)
Bhavika P.
Rich Ambiance, Perfect Light and Good Staff. The food was really good and perfect quantity. We ordered Masala Bloody Mary which was a well made drink. For appetizers we ordered Chilled Dahi Avacado Chaat, Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable and Vegetable Shashlik Skewer - All tasted so good. We were 6 people and Dahi Avacado has just 5 pieces - the staff was flexible to add one more piece to it by charging a little extra. We then shared the Veg Thali between 2 of us and was sufficient considering the appetizers we had. there are 2 veggies, raita, mango chutney, dal makhani, rice and hot eggplant bhajiya. This is served in a Thali and it so much reminded of home. We felt like we are sitting in Mumbai at some high end dhaba enjoying the delicious food. The veggies had paneer makhanwala and spinach chana - mouth watering! We replaced the normal naan with lasooni naan and it was a good decision. To add to the meal we ordered Mango lassi which was again good. We all enjoyed the food and I believe it has a lot of options for Vegetarians.I would definitely recommend this place. Anytime I feel like having Ghar Ka Khana..it is IndeBlue. Also since it was Sunday afternoon they had Sitar and Tabla playing Live on the Background...very soothing to ears. My friends visited Philly for first time and I am glad we picked this place as they all enjoyed it a lot.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Loved the restaurant. Its not typical Indian food. It is more upscale with a modern twist. Inside has cool decorations. My only wish is outdoor seating for the warm weather.
(5)
Madeleine S.
I've been twice in the last couple of weeks. Both my servers were total charmers, completely anticipated our needs without hovering at all (which I so appreciate). The happy hour prices are also insanely good--almost too good, frankly. You can taste everything on the menu without going home poor, and their cocktails perfectly incorporate classic Indian flavors without getting weighed down at all. Got the spinach chaat both times I went (one of my girlfriends insisted on getting a plate of it for herself with no plans to share) and the pork samosas (which come with a blue cheese wine sauce so good I would have eaten it with a spoon if I'd run out of bites to put it on). Can't wait to go back next Tuesday to see the live Sitar.
(5)
Clifford Q.
Yet another new place in town that meets all expectations. Great design decor - Great staff - HOT bartender :-) Friday night - Early dinner for 4 - Bison wrapped in bacon to start 5 Stars - Dinner was a Seafood Moilee 5+ stars which was outstanding, Others had assorted items from starters and main dishes and not one complaint from a group that is VERY opinionated. Definitely will be back
(5)
N. K.
ehhh it was ok. Being Indian I'm still new to the concept of "Modern Indian" cuisine which I still don't quite understand other than being overpriced small plate american takes on indian dishes. crispy spinach chaat- 5/5 samosa chaat- 4/5 typical indian dish. long hots- 2/5 - didn't realize it was going to be 2 long green stuffed peppers sweet potato pakora- 3/5 nothing amazing naan pizza- 4/5 nothing really indian about it except made on a naan paneer tikka makhani- 4/5. very small dish for $16, nothing amazing. stuffed squash- 4/5 interesting dish, but again not much indian about it. in general IndeBlue has a nice atmosphere, but a bit overpriced and small portions and misses the wow factor. Nice to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
James M.
My partner and I had two amazing meals with friends at the new IndeBlue - Midtown Village. The entire experience from arrival to departure was great both times! Tobi the Bar Manager made us feel welcome and made great drinks. We sampled specialty drinks that were innovative and delicious - He was also very interesting to speak with while waiting for friends. Maura the Manager is a "Switched" on professional who was at our table at just the right times to check on us and we really felt looked after. Our servers have been wonderful both times. Justin really introduced us to the concept and the menu on our first visit, and Jarrod did an amazing job when six of us returned and tried the four course tasting menu -DELICIOUS and so reasonable! I could go on and on about the food because everything was so memorable. For example - the Spinach Chaat was one of the most interesting dishes I have had in an Indian cuisine restaurant. The Lamb Shank plates looked as though they were licked clean by all six of us. This restaurant has a true vibe, the minute that you walk in the front door. From styling to music, lighting to layout, it is the type of place you feel at home in immediately! I Might stop in tonight and here their live Sitar musician who I believe is there every Friday night!
(5)
Amy N.
Simply delicious --- This is one of the best Indian fusion restaurants we have been to. The restaurant is small and cozy and the ambience was nice. The waiters were friendly. We were a family of 3 and ordered spinach chaat, duo samosa and long hots for appetizers and shrimp moilee (seafood minus the lump crab!), madras chicken and lamb laal maas as main entrees and shared the desert banana gulob jamun. The dishes were all freshly prepared, very creative, and delicious. We were also greeted by Chef Ramola who was very friendly which was the icing on the cake to our visit. The food is moderately priced. The 5 course menu for $45 also sounded very nice but we did not order that. Great for personal and family celebrations. We signed up for the VIP club since we plan to visit there again very soon! There is a cheap validated parking available ($6 for 3 hours) at Park America at 1140 Sansom. We also plan on trying their first restaurant in Collingswood, NJ.
(5)
Tiberiu T.
My girlfriend and I went here for restaurant week. They first gave us a soup sampler, with three delicious (tiny) soups. Then we got the drums of heaven and the crispy spinach chaat as appetizers; both were delicious. For the main course we got the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian samplers with two types of naan (garlic+cilantro and butter+onion seed) (these were also delicious). For desserts we had the banana nirvana and the fig duo. Again, delicious. Also their mango lassi was excellent. This was a *lot* of food; in hindsight, we probably should have taken some of it home.
(5)
N M.
A good foray into the Indian restaurant scene in philadelphia. A better experience and more authentic than Tashan and extremely tidy compared to palace at the Ben. Food was good however missed the mark as they were missing true authenticity of Indian food. As an Indian I found the cuisine to lacking some of the spicyness and taste we get on the sub continent. Staples such as chutney and papadum were excluded and basics at every Indian restaurant. The one star is for service as we had reservations for 8pm and were not seated till 845pm. They clearly overbooked and made no excuses for that. Poor front end management, when I complained to the manager I was offered a seat at the bar and food at the bar. Why make a reservations and pretend to be a an authentic fine dining experience when you have not mastered basic restaurant management.
(1)
Alison P.
Went here with friends for dinner as we had learned of its recent opening. The food was definitely top notch and what I would return for. We really enjoyed the lamb lollipops which were tender and incredibly flavorful. Our other favorite dish was the stuffed squash which had a delicious rich sauce, and both types of naan we had were excellent. The meal was also very reasonably priced and we enjoyed ordering several small dishes to share. Although we loved the food the service was a bit off. We got checked on by our server too frequently and he made some comments towards us that made us all uncomfortable. Additionally, the majority of the staff were all huddled together in an alcove in the front of the restaurant near our table; I found it odd to see an entire restaurant staff standing around chatting during dinner service. Overall I imagine that some issues with the staff/service are opening hiccups. I would return for the excellent food and beautiful space.
(4)
M N.
We've been here twice in the past month for pre-theater dinners with friends, and had great meals both times. Delicious food, reasonable prices, attentive service, pretty setting and a good location. Two thumbs up. Don't miss the spinach chaat for appetizer.
(4)
Evelyn G.
great food and service!
(4)
Greg E.
This was my second time here. The food is absolutely amazing. Prices are more than reasonable. The staff goes well above and beyond! I took a good friend out for their birthday this week. For dessert I mentioned that it was their birthday and asked for a candle. The waitress said no problem. The waitress kept coming back to apologize for the wait which I thought was more than ok since we needed a break from the large dinner. Upon the arrival of our dessert she apologized for the wait again and mentioned they had to go out to purchase candles. Wow!! This blew me away and on top of that I wasn't even charged for the dessert due to the birthday. You never find service this good anywhere anymore! 5 star restaurant and I'll be going back often! Great bartender as well!
(5)
Len B.
From food to drink to service to ambience, all were truly amazing. Excellent choice for a night out
(5)
lisa s.
Of all the restaurants in Philadelphia our daughter chose this restaurant for her "going away" dinner. She had read about the opening of this restaurant but knew very little about it. Well, we are so excited about having found this place. We loved everything about this restaurant-location, ambiance ---even the bathrooms were beautiful---and the attentiveness of the wait staff. It was difficult to make a choice from the menu as everything sounded delicious. All three of us raved about out chosen entree even the second time around (we had each brought home a "doggy" bag). Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Ryan D.
I am always on the hunt for my third favorite cuisine--Indian! Now, I am usually inclined to dine at a more traditional style indian Restaraunt, but IndeBlue does Indian-fusion very well. Service was quite attentive (thanks to Josh), which is the expectation with Indian restaurants. After being sat, we were each served a small portion mulligatawny soup-delicious, but it was not on our list if must-try's for our first visit. Please start with Crispy Spinach Chaat--it will not disappoint! Large enough portion for four to share. We also ordered Lasooni Naan with the scallops. There were only three scallops, but the sauce is a wonderful addition (but could be improved by reducing slightly longer to thicken). We ordered Laal Maas, Malwani Swordfish, Seafood Moilee, and Chicken Madras. The Seafood Moilee was the standout, but everything was wonderful; EXCEPT the sword fish: it was overcooked (dry), but the Makwani sauce was a great addition. Although, I did not partake (way too full), the table greatly enjoyed Banana Nirvana. We will return an hopefully soon!
(5)
Sam B.
Good food and great service, this is a good spot for a date or a nice dinner with friends. I thought the portions were a bit small for Indian food but it wasn't too bad and the menu is pretty good.
(4)
Ed C.
My partner and I have just starting coming to this place and we've been twice. The food is good and so is the service. I have tried the channa masala and baigan bharta, both were very delicious. Although, you really can't go wrong with Indian food. I would say that the cuisine is more high-end than your average Indian place and so are the prices. Don't get me wrong, the food is great and I like that they clearly mark their vegan options on the menu, but it's definitely a pricey dinner!
(4)
Remey M.
We had dinner reservations at this restaurant. The host sat us down right away. Everyone that we met was very polite. My waiter was awesome!! I recommend Jason to anyone who goes there. The food was fantastic! My daughter loved her lamp chops.. My husband and I enjoy all three courses. No complaints, we will return.
(5)
Elizabeth F.
I initially came here just to wait for friends who were LATE. I became enamored with the elegant decor and tasty food! Good for Indian food lovers as well as those who are wary of the cuisine. My favorite thing is the gharwali, sort of pita with mozzarella and baby spinach baked inside. Totally wonderful. They easily accommodate vegan and gluten free eaters and the staff is very friendly and efficient. You can get a drink an app for under $10 or get the chef's tasting menu with wine for $65. Lots of options in between these price points. Gorgeous and delicious!
(5)
Stephanie P.
I don't have Indian food often but everything I ate was wonderful. The service was exceptional. I will be sure to visit again. The crispy spinach chaat was delicious! Every person should try this dish!
(5)
Juliana K.
3.5 stars!!! Indieblue is a good upperscske modern Indian restaurant. Great decor inside. Service us friendly, though I wish they tried to sell me less. The waiter was friendly and knowledgable, but he kept trying to push us into ordering more appetizers. Duo Samosa was okay. It was very meaty and I liked the sauces. I've had the vegetarian samosa which I think are better. Kashmiri naan was awesome. Pistachio and coconut flavor gave it a great mild sweetness. Laal Maas lamb shank was very tender with a great sauce. Very modern from my perspective. Lamb Dhansak was a good fall dish with sweet potato. The lamb is very flavorful here. Chicken madras had my favorite curry like sauce. Food was well portioned. A teeny but pricey. Nothing was overly spicy. My mom can't take spice so they brought a mint yogurt sauce, which we found out was an extra $3. Overall, good restaurant. Not a place I would go to often, but good to try out.
(3)
Jonah K.
The food was incredible. I can't exactly remember the name of it but I had a lamb and rice dish which was delicious and spicy, but not overly so. They have great Naan and interesting salads too. I'm definitely going here again.
(4)
T N.
Atmosphere was quiet at first but as time went on, people kept coming up! Not sure if it's usually this packed around 6:15, but it was nice. Small little place but I enjoyed the food, not so much of the drinks.
(4)
Alexis A.
LOVE! This freakin place has an amazing decor, friendly staff..and the food was really yummy! I went during restaurant week, so the deal was great! A lot of food for the $ and the soups were great.
(5)
Minty N.
I returned with friends for a brunch on Sunday morning. It was an excellent experience! They offer both breakfast items as well as lunch. I had a chicken tikka wrap which is very tasty with masala fries, one of my friends had the chope batture which was excellent. As always this place had great service and I would highly recommend going for brunch or any other meal.
(5)
Kate R.
Take this with a grain of salt because it was restaurant week. We had a reservation and were seated. After sitting at the table for more than 15 minutes without so much as a member of the waitstaff making eye contact with us (and believe me we tried to get their attention), we walked out. It wasn't even particularly busy! The worst part was the maître d' who had just seated us told us to have a good night as we walked out the door, not even realizing that no one had come to help us and we had not even ordered. I think the food is actually very good. I want this place to do well. They can and should do better. However, what we experienced was hands-down the worst service (or lack thereof) I have ever experienced. Again - it was restaurant week, which I usually avoid like the plague, we actually went there not even realizing it was. Still, there is no excuse for what happened, especially when the restaurant wasn't even close to full and the staff didn't look like they were hustling even a little bit.
(2)
Henry D.
DO NOT GO HERE FOR HAPPY HOUR!Specials only offered first come first serve at the very small bar. Also terrible customer service from manager! Unlike most restaurants in Philly who offer happy hour specials restaurant wide this place only offers the specials if you sit at the bar and the bar is tiny so if your group is more than two or three people forget it. We called in advance asked about happy hour then made a reservation but were not told that happy hour was only at the bar. When we told our server about our misunderstanding he said there was nothing he could do then when we addressed the happy hour issue with the manager he was very impolite and told us that it wasn't worth the money for them serve happy hour in the dinning area. Only after much debate did he allow us to order one round of food items from the happy hour menu. We ended up staying for dinner even though we were a bit turned off. Dinner was decent and we were enjoying catching up with our friends when the manager rudely told us that there were people waiting and that he needed us to leave. If he had been polite about it I wouldn't have minded but he wasn't and I also didn't see anyone waiting. Largely it was the manager who ruined this experience for us. Food drinks and decor were good. So much for relaxing after a long work week.
(1)
Sean m.
I have visited this restaurant twice since July. Every dish I have tried has been delicious. The decor adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend dining here.
(5)
Marna L.
I went to IndeBlue during Happy Hour. As another Yelper mentions, Indeblue's Happy Hour is restricted to only those who sit at the bar, which has limited seating. So for Happy Hour here is sort of exclusive to smaller groups. Food: I thought the food was tastier than food served in regular Indian restaurants. The food was fusion. I wasn't a fan of the Spinach Chaat, however, the Naan Pizza with the Tamarind sauce was quite stellar. The food is higher end than what are served in most other Indian venues. 4/5 Drinks: We only had two types of drinks, and both were delicious. 5/5 Setting: The ambiance was quite beautiful with great romantic lighting. The venue is a little narrow (rectangular shaped). Bar is quite small, however, the lighting and the decor overshadows any minor flaws. 5/5 Service: The service from the waiters and bartender were phenomenal. Some of the best service I've received in a while from servers. However, the hostess (Monday evening) can be friendlier and less snappy. In fact, we were quite satisfied with our experience at IndeBlue until we were about to depart. It was a rainy evening, therefore, many had left umbrellas. The hostess had left our umbrellas in a bucket, which mine was all the way underneath the other wet umbrellas. As we were searching for my umbrella, we noticed the hostess had shoved an umbrella inside another umbrella, causing one of them to break. In fact, mine was also damaged due to her umbrella handling. It really was not a busy evening, was that necessary to handle the customers' umbrellas so carelessly? Servers: 5/5. Hostess: 1/5
(4)
Alex X.
Is this the Indian restuarant with the elephant king somewhere by the door? Lol. So many of them I lose track which is which. I admit I forget look at name of the restaurants I go into. I dont always read reviews especially when you are having fun or a date etc...you are too busy focused on the person you with. Anyways if this is the elephant mirror indian restaurant, good indian restaurant. The waiter was kind and telling us which the tastiness foods in the kitchen were! There was a baked tender chicken he recommended that was out of this world. I never had it before. Gonna go back for more. It tasted better than some of the fancier colorful dishes we ordered. Window seat was great. Thanks for the ambience!
(4)
Dayan K.
Absolutely wonderful Indian restaurant. I've lived in three different states and eaten at Indian restaurants in SF, but Indeblue is the best. Hands down!!!!
(5)
Deebee K.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. It's Indian fusion food in a noisy and cramped place. We had the dahi avocado chaat to begin with-it was yum even though the puris were not crunchy and tasted old. My husband had the chef's table with 4 courses. It was filling but all the food was bland and not very enjoyable. I had the lasooni naan (which was soft and not too strong) and the Chana. The Chana vegetable was awful-tasted like boiled Chana. Service was good. On telling the server how average our experience was, he brought us 2 coupons for a free drink/appetizer for the next day. You'd be better off eating at an Indian restaurant without burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)
Sara V.
Welcome to Philly, IndeBlue. Not only do I have a location near home, I have one near work! The decor is, in a word, elegant. The cocktails, divine. Glasses are filled with a unique flavors and herbs. The food? Wow. The flavors of the meats, veggies, and spices make my mouth sing. The chutneys are sweet, savory, and delicate. The Drums of Heaven are mini bites of tandoori deliciousness. The lamb chops? Tender, spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So don't wait! Go now!
(5)
DJ J.
Since I don't live in Philadelphia, I certainly make every effort to dine at Indeblue anytime I can. My second experience at this restaurant was just as delightful as the first time in July 2013 (just weeks after the opening of the restaurant). During this visit we tried the Basil Mint Kabob appetizer; Chicken Tikka Masala, Baingan Bartha, and Malwana Swordfish for entrees along with the Kashmiri (pistachio, coconut, raisins) roti; and Mango Panna Cotta for dessert. Were I asked to pick a favorite among those options, I would certainly be unable to do so as they were all delicious in their own way. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Clare D.
Indian food in an upscale setting has always been met with a skeptical eye, but throw in some proteins, such as crab meat, swordfish, lamb shank, and pork shoulder, that seldom exist in your typical Indian restaurant and you can have a truly outstanding experience. My friend Chris W and I noted the location of Indeblue with some skepticism. "I bought a custom-made dress in this location years ago," I said to him. When we walked in, my jaw dropped. They completely gutted the place. Tastefully done decor with a chandelier, giant framed pictures, and an ornamental gate adorn the main dining room. No seat was a bad seat. It was truly a beautiful setting for a nice meal. Our appetizers included the scallops, lollipop lamb chops, and crispy spinach chaat. All were delicious. The scallops were giant U/10 beauties pan-seared and immersed in a light coconut milk-based curry. My only criticism is they could've used a little less salt. The lollipop lamb chops were grilled to perfection and coated with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint, and mojito. They were so good I wanted another order. The crispy spinach chaat was amazing. The spinach leaves were coated with chickpea batter and flash fried. Combine that with chopped tomatoes, shallots, yogurt, crispy noodles, and sweet tamarind date sauce. I couldn't stop eating it. Our main course was the seafood moilee, a coconut curry with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat that was accompanied by a saffron rice with peanuts, mustard seed, curry leaf, and chili peppers. This dish sang and danced in our mouths. We also got a side of tandoor roasted eggplant with tomatoes, carmelized onions, and green peas. It was like a smoky ratatouille. I love this place.
(5)
Steve W.
We went to IndeBlue due to its great proximity to the Walnut St. theaters and based on other's reviews...and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious! We had the flash fried spinach and naan pizza as appetizers and the tastes were spectacular. Then we had a basil chicken skewer and a lamb rogan josh which were also full of flavor and very filling. The atmosphere, staff and location were all excellent. I have already recommended it to several friends and will definitely go back.
(5)
Maha D.
My girlfriend and I were at Indeblue this Wednesday, and I am happy to say that this neo Indian (I like to call it food with a contemporary classicist flair) restaurant did not disappoint and impressed our hungry stomachs. I was compelled to make an instant comparison with Tashan on several levels. What stood out immediately was the decor while we were being led into the restaurant...Indian motifs with a modern flair, again reminiscent of Tashan perhaps..but it certainly had its unique appeal. The location of Indeblue in my mind will be key to its success. Tashan feels a tad far out for the likes of us that like to sip and hang around the Walnut/Chestnut to South St. types of locales. The menu does not disappoint either- they have a great spread of appetizers, entrees, veggie options and naans. The cocktail list looked like a cheery collection of Inde-Bollywood style names and fun flavors. We got the Bollywood sparkler (?) and the Chai tea sangria. The chai tasted better than Bollywood sparkler (this tasted too bubbly/frizzy for me) - the sangria was light and had hints of chai and brandy- a great combo to get a pitcher of, though it didn't sound appetizing in its description. The service was worthy of nothing. Well informed servers that were good with suggestions. Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly capable of choosing my tikkas, naans and rasams but given that the menu had an obvious personal flair of the chefs cooking style, it always helps to see how keen the chef is on informing the staff on his/her offerings. To start we had the long hots and the crispy veg. chilli- to me a rendition of the stuffed long green chillies and the Indo-Chinese Hakka noodles. The paneer mozzarella combo in the green chillies were perfect-creamy, the chillies added bite and the tangy tomato sauce rounded the flavour off. The veg chilli had zucchinis in it (which I found interesting) but was a good subtle complement to the bold/spicy sauce (more gravy than sauce). The veggies had not lost their crunch despite the sauce on the noodles. To those familiar with Indo-Chinese food-the addition of the 3 side sauces (vinegar w/ green chillies, green chilli sauce and soy) completed my experience of eating this glamorized version of hakka noodles. spot on!! For the main course, we had a meat and a veg option. Both were superb in their portion sizes, taste, flavour. We ordered the stuffed squash (this came with saffron rice) and osso bucco pork vindaloo. The meat dish came with bone in which was perfect, the meat was melt in your mouth worthy cooked. It was a great meat, potatoes and gravy dish that is typically comfort food for me. The vindaloo gravy did not have the pungency of vinegar that I seek, but completed the dish just fine. I can see how an overpowering amount of vinegar can turn customers away from this dish. The garlic naan was fresh, however I am not sure if it was made in a tandoor or sigri, and I could taste uncooked flour in some parts of the bread- I chose to overlook this. The stuffed squash in my girlfriend's words- it was creamy (perhaps slightly excessively so) but very tasty, very well cooked, could have had a hint bit more of spice but she enjoyed it overall. If this was a take on "malai kofta" it was certainly well executed. Overall, I would go back and recommend it to others. Chef Rakesh Ramola certainly had the right idea with opening IndeBlue here in Philly. The prices could be comparable to Tashan, the food is just as good as Tashan's Chef Shende and Chef Senat. Where it beats Tashan is the location and the restaurant size. The location is always popping (regardless of weather or economic paucity), the place's size will make certain that it looks full even on days where only a few occupy the bar and tables- a definite draw for guests to peer in.
(4)
Sophia S.
This is a fabulous restaurant (with a terrible name...gotta say I judged them for that at first). This place does true Indian fusion and pulls it off well! With a group of four, we ordered 3-4 small plates, 2 half-sized vegetarian entrees and one full sized meat entree. While the portions looked small (we literally laughed when they brought out our very tasty half portion of squash), we all left feeling full and happy. Some highlights were the spinach chaat (amazing! crispy!) and the naan pizza. Great cocktails too. The food is better than Bindi and its less pretentious and more interesting than Tashan. Seriously. A new favorite in midtown village.
(5)
Shashank M.
The food is good. You pay 10 dollars for about two or three pieces/ 2 ppl and your going to still feel hungry at the end. I heard their happy hour was really good but buyer beware when coming for dinner. This is Tashan 2.0
(3)
Fereshteh A.
5 star is definitely not enough for them! The decor, beautiful. Waiters, politest I have seen. Food, absolutely delicious. For your first time I recommend the thalia which is like a sampler of a few dishes. Chutney's were uniquely tasty. And the bread... I have blood sugar problems so I normally leave breads untouched in restaurants: I finished this one!!! ( I am writing this while I am still here :-P). And I just tried the chai: make sure you do as well ;-)
(5)
Sarah P.
Looking for a spot to have Sunday brunch? Stop. Right. Now. IndeBlue has the most amazing brunch I've been to. We weren't sure what to expect but were extremely impressed! We got more food than we could finish and it was all extremely good. If I had a second stomach I would've filled it up! The rose water mimosa was unique, refreshing, and super delicious! The atmosphere was great and the decor was gorgeous. I would love to come back and have dinner here.
(5)
Leah S.
Happy hour only served at a small bar at the front. They definitely don't explain this on their website and happy hour signs. When we asked the manager about this he told us that they basically didn't need our business because the place will be packed regardless... Not a very professional way of handling your customers if you ask me. They did end up giving us a few apps at happy hour prices and we did ended up staying and paying a lot to eat there. The food was over priced and not that great, it was just ok, definitely not worth the money. I will not be returning.
(1)
Kristen C.
We had to order the spinach chaat, since everyone on yelp raved about it. It was really delicious, but it was fried and greasy. I would prefer to start with something more fresh. We also tried the veggie samosa, which was pretty standard, it came on top of flavored chickpeas, which were very good. We had an order of naan plus saag paneer and paneer tikka masala for our entrees. The saag paneer wasn't very good- bitter spinach flavor, but also felt very oily and heavy. The paneer tikka masala tastes better, but still more greasy than I would have liked. The service was a bit slow, but it was nice not to feel rushed. Very nice atmosphere, upscale, good for a date. I probably won't go back, but I'm glad I tried it.
The food was definitely innovative and delicious. We got 4 appetizers from their happy hour menu. However the next day my friend and i both got very upset stomachs. Don't think we'll be returning.
(1)
Jimmy P.
So amazing to have our favorite spot add another location! Food here is up and above excellent, bordering on spectacular. Chef Rakeesh blends flavors and spices seamlessly and easily. Every bite, from their apps to their amazing chutneys are an experience not to be missed. Philly is gaining a brilliant chef and soon to be hot spot. We will be here again and again.
(5)
Soma Sekhar G.
Live music, crispy spinach chat and thali, just made my Sunday lunch a memorable one.
(5)
Jason M.
I was at IndeBlue the other week. Very beautiful restaurant! The host (Danielle) was very nice, friendly, and accommodating. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I had a great experience with Jared and Julie. Both wonderful servers and people. I hear the owners are very friendly, caring, and treat their staff like family. That's always great to hear! I was able to speak with one of them (Heather). She wanted to make sure everything was to my satisfaction and she even sent out a complimentary appetizer after she found out this was my first time here. She was incredibly nice and friendly. I shared quite a few laughs with her as well. If I could, I'd give them 10 stars, but 5 stars will have to suffice for now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Tony R.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was hands down the best I've ever had. I have travelled the world and eaten indian food, this was the best!
(5)
bryan k.
The brunch is top notch in fusion and presentation. We had the masala omelette and chicken tikka wrap with four dollar cocktails. The omelette dish was cooked to a really nice consistency with maple syrup infused bacon and with the included naan we could make our own custom breakfast sandwich; such a good finger food! Also the live sitar music was a sweet aural addition!
(4)
Ashley M.
Absolutely delicious Indian food, with a flare. Loved the chick peas the best, dahl was also excellent.
(5)
Lu S.
Every dish was amazing. Full of flavour and lovely atmosphere. I had the veg samosa to start, butter chicken curry and then chocolate sutra for dessert. All delicious. Best Indian I've had in the US so far.
(4)
Breton B.
It's about time I started reviewing. Lived near Collingswood, NJ (location of IndeBlue's first joint) for several years and never really gave it a chance. Moved into Philly and IndeBlue followed along opening up their location a half a block from where I live in Center City. The Wash Square West location is pretty amazing. Classy decor, friendly waitstaff, and (though we didn't partake) the bar you pass to get to the dining room looked very inviting. The fiance liked her Bombay Punch (Bombay Gin, grapefruit and pineapple juice with mint) but the food - the food definitely made the night. We did small plates so no entree review here but each plate kept us wanting more (in a good way). HIghly recommend the Duo Samosa, the U-10 Scallops (with a coconut milk-curry sauce that was even more incredible when lapped up by Naan), and finally - the Chickpea battered Sweet Potato Pakora (could have eaten at least 3 plates of those). We ended with the Stuffed Squash with saffron rice. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. They even allowed us a taste of several of their chutneys as well as some Gazpacho to start off. For those that want a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine - IndeBlue delivers. Will be back for sure.
(5)
Paul A.
This place is great! Fantastic for date night (maybe not a first date though). It's a bit noisy so be warned. But the service and food is really great. Price is on the high end for Indian food but hey it's an upscale joint in Midtown so it's expected...and worth it! It's very popular so make a reservation. And most guys are wearing jackets so get dressed up and enjoy!
(5)
Shane L.
Surprisingly good lunch. It takes a lot for me consider indian food good (I'm no expert), because there's plenty of Indian spots that try too hard with the high-end look. Pricing is always a focus when I come to asian restaurants because the truth is that I really don't like to pay for stuff that I know costs little to nothing to prepare. Maybe it was the fact that this was a lunch meeting (expensed) which allowed me to enjoy the food a little more than I anticipated....who knows. Fact of the matter, it was plain delicious. This is a lunch review so I can't wait to see what a dinner experience will bring. Appetizer was a "crispy spinach chaat" that was refreshing and full of salty sweet flavors. Entree was a "sea-food thali" which was essentially nan, rice and 5 small bowls of goodness (mainly curries, pickled mango & yogurt). I look forward to trying out the dinner menu at some point. I feel that the food, coupled with the modern/sheek decor, will make for an amazing night.
(4)
Behnaum S.
Best happy hour I've been to in a long time. Very good prices on unique drinks all made with fresh squeezed juices, you can taste the difference. The happy hour food is great and well priced. I've gone 3 days in a row now.
(5)
Jade S.
This place is awesome. There's always a monthly special which usually features exotic entrees and appetizers that have a twist. My boyfriend and I will always try one of the two. What makes this place great is that it is consistent. We have never had a bad meal. Try the Thalie if Indian is new to you and DO NOT skip on the Fig ice cream. So happy to have this place nearby.
(5)
Ben W.
Meal left much to be desired. Manager was inexplicably rude. I will not be returning.
(1)
Anand T.
Came here for the first time last Saturday and was really impressed. This is a really good indian restaurant in the city. It's not authentic indian but it's more modernized indian. The food is amazing here some of my favorites are the drums of heaven and the seared scallops. The drums of heaven have a nice spice to it and it's not overwhelming spicy and everything in the dish complements well. Seared scallops are out of this world it goes especially with the sambar it just makes the dish even better. For those not in the city not to worry they have a location in collingswood, so def try it out you won't regret it.
(5)
Izabella J.
Vegetarian & Gluten Free welcome!!! 5 stars for Taste of the food, Service & Ambiance of this place
(5)
Jacob J.
There's a lot of good restaurant right within a few blocks but this is worth a stop. It's an American-Indian fusion with very good results. The drums of heaven are delicious wings with just enough spice and go well with tamarind chutney. The naan pizza is a nice touch. The seafood moilee is should try.
(4)
C V.
Indeblue is probably the best Indian option in Center City and a very nice experience. Ambience: Great- intimate, nice and elegant, not too loud Drinks: the cocktails were great! I'm usually not into cocktails because they're often prepared so sweet; Indeblue's cocktails were actually quite nice and unique Food: It's not entirely a traditional menu and I liked that; the spinach chaat is great as everyone says. The more traditional dishes are not as great as they could be but are still very good. Service: Everyone was very nice and seemed to take service seriously. They had a few mixups but were really apologetic about that. I think they're just getting up and running so I'm sure they'll improve as they go.
(4)
Ronald Y.
Delicious food, great service. I was there over the weekend with my partner and friends, we had had a great time. vibrant and energetic ambience. It's a must.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Nathan N.
I went to lunch with a vegetarian, a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan. In an effort not be the "odd man out", I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter and it was amazing. The waiter was professional, yet humorous...great service. I wish there was a restaurant like this where I live!
(5)C G J.
The Indian husband and Italian wife owners have put an excellent "twist" on traditional Indian dishes. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and have not had a bad meal here. Portions are modest but freshness and taste are great.
(4)Paytrox G.
Place was awesome. Rode up from DC to philly just to grab lunch. Yelp reviews were spot on. Great tasting of fine Indian Food! Plus very accommodating for those of us with food allergies. Great gluten free and vegan options.
(5)J R.
My boyfriend and I did the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Excellent service from our server. I don't recall his name but he has curly hair, black glasses and tattoos on his arms. Very knowledgeable about wine pairings. Overall great experience! You MUST try their cheesy nan bread.
(5)Suzanne C.
Indeblue was a wonderful dining experience. The staff were attentive but not overly so, just the right mix of attention and space. The food was superb. Bread basket is a must - delightful! Loved my drink. Tequila, lime and hibiscus tea - not sweet or tart or strong. Perfect! Highly recommend to vegetarians and carnivores.
(5)Caitlin R.
Sat at the bar for happy hour (only at the bar) while on a (very quick) work trip to Philadelphia. The $3 vegetable samosa appetizer? Yes! Do not miss it! Two samosas (a little smaller than I usually see, but still delicious) were parked on a bed of Indeblue's channa masala (chickpeas) with a swipe of green chutney and cool yogurt. Indian food heaven... for $3. Even for the small portion, I'd pay the regular $8 non-happy hour. I don't live in Philly and ergo can't return often, so please go eat these samosas for me right now. Honorable mentions: the $5 happy hour ginger-lime-whiskey cocktail. Bartender Sean (?) was helpful, welcoming and knowledgeable. The naan pizza didn't change my life, but it was filling for $5. Live sitar music on Tuesday nights! It was terrific background, but not loud. So glad I randomly Yelped my way to this cozy, classy place!
(4)Eric C.
Good. But not $100-for-dinner-for-two good. I've had way better. Has a happening feel. Just a little over-rated.
(3)Archana L.
Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem around the corner from my hotel. Opulent wall decor with a contemporary twist. Refreshing avocado dahi puri to offset the summer heat. Taste meets texture in the perfectly spiced malai kofta. The masala chai was cold, but I was offered a fresh second cup without even asking. Polite, courteous service. Would definitely come back if I visit Philadelphia again.
(5)Michael T.
This is respectably good indian fare, but with a higher than deserving prices.
(3)Omnom N.
I loved this place! We went for a Sunday brunch - and there was live Sitar and Tabla music (which was really good music. :) ) Having an insane craving for home food, we decided to come here - definitely pricier than the like of Sitar in University City but the food is totally worth it. I caved in to ordering a masala dosa (it's been over a year since I had one) and this is as authentic as it gets. With good chutney and a good amount of the potato curry. Given that there is no good South Indian food in Philly, Indeblue manages to produce a good dosa which tastes just like the ones from home. The paneer bhurji is definitely an interesting fusion style food - but delicious nonetheless. I think this place manages to satiate the taste buds for /traditional/ Indian food as well has it has its own fusion food which are gorgeous. For dessert we had the mango panna cotta (which was gorgeous along with its saffron based garnishing) and the coconut-lychee sorbet with tandoori pineapple. I was literally ecstatic upon receiving the food, dhomping down with a grin plastered across my face. Con: I do wish dosas were cheaper and they had something like 2 dosas per plate.
(5)Anmry C.
I have eaten here several times- never EVER disappointed!!! Absolutely delicious. Fantastic food and drinks. My boyfriend and I always over order here, in hopes that we'll have leftovers for the next couple of days. We love everything we've tried!
(5)Michelle C.
IndeBlue in Collingswood was my gateway restaurant into the world of Indian food. I'll never forget the first time I called for an order. I spoke with Heather, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Rakesh Ramola, and she could not have been nicer or more helpful with answering my many - MANY - questions about the menu. On that day I ordered chicken vindaloo and from that day forward, I was hooked. I enjoyed a nice long love affair with IndeBlue during my Collingswood days. But then I moved to Philly, and I have not found Indian that comes close to the deliciousness of IndeBlue. Until now, with IndeBlue's second location on 13th Street. Happy day! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get there. It won't be long before a return visit. We started with the spinach chaat, crispy spinach leaves topped with diced tomatoes, shallots and yogurt sauce. Super unique and very tasty. We also had the long hots stuffed with paneer. Entrees consisted of the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and chicken biryani. All three were excellent. It was obvious how much I missed this food by the way I cleaned my entire plate (with the help of some fantastic garlic naan for swiping up the last of the sauce). I washed everything down with two lychee martinis which were made exactly to my liking (slightly sweet but not too sweet). I was too stuffed for dessert but changed my mind when we were generously treated to a sampling. There was a fantastic dessert with sticky fried doughnuts and cinnamon ice cream, plus some flavorful sorbets, but my favorite was the mango panna cotta with honey and crushed pistachios. Tons of flavor but still light. The pretty decor makes this the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends. I look forward to my next visit!
(5)Diana D.
The mixed grill was excellent. The lamb chops were just perfect in the clay oven. I'd get them alone the next time. I'm a big indian fan and the flavors were up to par. I'd definately eat here again. Next time i'm up for happy hour. the reviews for HH great!
(4)Rebecca S.
Had a really excellent brunch here on Sunday with Vinny P. and Cat D. after a morning of shopping. Our stomachs were rumbly, El Vez was packed and we were about to make our way to Perch Pub when Vinny stopped in his tracks and said, "hey, how does Indian sound?". Now traditionally, Indian would not be my first go-to for brunch cuisine, but given that I'm typically a savory bruncher over sweet figured why the heck not. First off, there was no wait and we were seated immediately upon entry. We could have sat at the empty bar had the restaurant been full, but that wasn't a necessity so to a table we went. Our server was very enthusiastic, as waters were being poured she sold us on their $4 garam masala bloody Mary's and rose mimosas; off to a good start if you ask me. Though bloody Mary's are a meal in and of themselves, it was time to buckle down and decide what to have for an entrée. Right up until our waitress came back to take our order, I was still undecided and had her choose for me; I was torn between an Indian spiced egg and bacon wrap and the chicken tikka wrap that had recently been added to the menu. Chicken tikka was the final determination, while Vinny ordered a thali plate and Cassie went with a few vegan options of chickpeas and potatoes. My chicken tikka wrap was pretty damn good, the chicken was tender, the crisp cucumbers in side were a nice cooling feel against the spice of the chicken...would I order it again? Absolutely. Served on the side were a few masala fries and a sweet chili aioli; delicious. When I first moved to the city 6 years ago my first question to my landlord was how to know which Chinese food restaurants were worth eating from in Chinatown; he told myself and my roommates to always follow where the Chinese dine because that's the real-deal. When it comes to Indeblue, the fact that the space is beautiful, the prices are completely reasonable for brunch, and many Indian families spending their Sunday afternoon here all lean toward this being the real-deal and a new staple in the brunch rotation.
(4)Ron G.
I pulled up to Indeblue and saw a bunch of Indians inside, instant street cred. Usually trendy indian restaurants are attended by essentially the same diverse crowd you would expect at any downtown restaurant. The heavy sprinkling of my brethren elevated my expectations. The feel and decor are center city standard. The menu has a mix of standard indian menu items like chicken tikka masala and chana masala, with a mix of "fusion-esque" dishes. Interestingly, they started off with a sample soup, spinach-mozzarella. So weird. It tasted like spinach soup...with mozzarella. I dont think we have mozzarella cheese in India. They seem to do the latter really well, while the former is about average to above average. Started with the spinach chaat. This was great. Flash fried spinach, with the usual mixing of chaat toppings. We then shared chicken korma with 2 side sized baingan bharta and daal makhani. Chicken korma was good, but just good. The baingan bharta was the best of the dishes as we could actually taste that the eggplant was roasted. Daal makhani was par for the course. Our bill, for 2 people with 2 drinks each was surprisingly affordable. Overall, a place worth visiting. I may stick to the newer fusion items as they seem to do this particularly well.
(3)Rohit K.
Good authentic indian food, but a little bit expensive and quantity is not that great.
(4)Traci T.
Wow! What a foodgasm at IndeBlue! A friend and I happened upon this place on our walk home and decided to give it a try for dinner the next day. The service and food were excellent. We walked in with no reservations and were seated right away. Drums of Heaven didn't disappoint and held up to its name. They were heavenly with the right amount of spiciness. The lamb shank was both tender and succulent in a wonderfully rich sauce. The divinely tasty Banana Nirvana was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Also need to acknowledge our server. He was so well versed in all the dishes, that when we asked him for recommendations he confidently steered us in the right direction. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Vinny P.
I'm loving the center city Indeblue location. For my first visit I came for dinner and we ordered a couple of very tasty items. Our starters were the crispy vegetable chili and the sweet potato pakora. Of the two my favorite was the crispy vegetable chili. It had excellent texture and flavor. I thought the heat level was just right. My main was the goat biryani. At first I was surprised by its presentation, (the braised goat mixed into the rice, not alongside it) but it didn't detract from its taste whatsoever. It was a more at home style way of serving it and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In times since I've returned to sit at the bar and even for brunch (which deserves its own review). I think this place fits wonderfully on 13 and I hope they stay for a while.
(4)Archana R.
I love this place!! They have one of the best chef. I love all the items on their menu. Each time I have been here, I tried a new dish and fell in love with it. They also have some great drinks.
(5)Prasath S.
This review is based on Sunday Brunch only. Dined here this past weekend, excellent/friendly waitress who was also very knowledgeable about the food options. We started off with the Avocado Chaat (Great Refreshing Snack) & Drums of Heaven (4 Crispy Mini Wings dressed with some crumbled Blue Cheese - Delicious). For our entrees, we had the Masala Omelet (Oh My So tasty!!! swap the Maple Bacon for the Garam Masala one) Masala Dosa (Crispy with a yummy filling), Lamb Boti Kebab (Skewer of tender lamb meat dressed with masala fries and a yummy sauce) and finally a veggie Thali (which was more on the north indian side of things but still very tasty). Also tried the $4 Rose Mimosa - Slurpyyy goodness!!!
(4)Zack S.
Legit Indian food at an upscale type place. I had the vegetarian thali (sampler) at lunch (see photo). Everything was above average. Highlights include the black sesame seeds on the naan (genius) and the paneer makhani (tomato-based gravy, kinda like tikka masala and just like that of butter chicken, for all you dummies out there). The sweet potato chips were good and went really well with the mango chutney but I'd rather fill up on that filthy delicious curry, know what I mean? Nobody was there at lunchtime (during the week). My server was super nice (Josh I think) You'll pay a bit more than average and you probably shouldn't dress like a hobo like I normally do. Cheaper buffet type places are more my style but I'd come here a couple times a year.
(5)Casey S.
So good! Excellent, high quality Indian Food. The best naan I have ever had, which is a bold statement!
(5)David W.
Some very good food, some mediocre food. In general, the unique, fusion items were better than the traditional items. The Spinach Chaat, in particular, was fantastic.
(4)Oakland S.
Wanted to have a nice dinner out and thought I would try out this place. If your looking for something with parking good luck finding a spot. I'm cheap and had to drive to find a parking space near Christian street in a residential area. I dropped my date off first to grab a table. First off don't try to ask for a table without a reservation, we were told by the hostess that without a reservation it would be a 45 minute wait. The bartender kept pressuring my date to order while I was parking the car. When I joined my date, and she informed me of the wait, we decided to eat at the bar. I order a sangria for my date. It was served in a white wine glass filled with ice. Next time I order a sangria, I am going to say "no ice cubes". Then we decided to order two appetizers and an entree. He raved over one of the appetizers we ordered, but then quickly turned away to put the order in the computer without taking the entree order. We finally were able to order everything when he came back. It just felt like we were being rushed. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy spinach chaat and the barbecue spare rib samosa. I thought the spinach was better than the spare ribs which the waiter raved about. For the entree we order malai kofta. It's a vegetarian meatball in a creamy cashew sauce. I thought this dish was sub par. Maybe it was my fault, I should have ordered lamb. My opinion these vegetarian meatballs tasted like an under cooked boca burger. We decided to give the bar another chance and order another drink. After looking through the options we had a question regarding one of the drinks, so we decided to ask the bartender what lychee was. Instead of describing it using words, the bartender proceeded to grab the bottle of lychee puree and hold it up to my date's nose. Just a tip to the bartender--don't ever shove a bottle in anyone's face. I think for now, I am going to stick to takeout for Indian food.
(2)L M.
A-mazing! Great atmosphere, food was excellent and service was exceptional with bonus points for being very helpful regarding gluten free options. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl the rice pudding came in...
(5)Kathy P.
Not bad food! The rice was flavorful! The spinach chat was too oily, my chicken tikka dish wasn't cooked properly.. However, the paneer tikka dish was pleasing. I prefer Tashan to this restaurant, but it wasn't too bad. Not my first choice.
(3)Marc M.
Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. I'll make sure that I return. The Osso Bocco Pork Vindaloo in spices (many other great dishes too that I can't remember the name) was fantastic. The tasting menu is the way to go. Service was fantastic.
(4)Vanessa T.
First of all, I must clarify that the indeblue in center city is not byob, when I read the yelp reviews, someone said it was byob but It is only byob at the place in collingswood. Now that is out of the way, I came here for restaurant week and definitely like it here. I ordered the non-veg thali which is like a sampler of several dishes. The chicken tikka masala was delicious. The soups were delicious (sampler of 3 different soups during restaurant week). Drums of heaven was good too. I absolutely loved the dessert they had too (banana nirvana and the ice cream cookie). The service was wonderful as well.
(4)B S.
My cousin recommended me this place when I went to visit philly this past weekend. Great food and awesome service! They really do care about their customers and it shows through. The ambience is great! It's very unique and we had an amazing dining experience! There's not a single con I can think about. Highly recommend his place!
(5)Brianna K.
I ate here last night with my friend from UPenn for restaurant week. The food was FANTASTIC. I was so thrilled that they had a vegan option for each course- something that you can't find with many restaurants that participate in this event. The food was likely the best Indian that I have ever had. Crispy Spinach Chaat was top-notch, it was so full of flavor and was a perfect first portion. The Vegetarian Sampler Platter (made vegan)- Was GREAT. It was huge and flavorful and so varied, it gave me a great picture of what IndeBlue has to offer. Orange Ginger Sorbet- Perfect end to the meal, the ginger was sweet and perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegans and non vegans alike.
(5)Sarah H.
Indeblue is my fav restaurant in Philly. The saag with shrimp is phenomenal. Fun atmosphere w/ seats regularly open at the bar. We had the pork samosa on our last visit. Ommmggggggggg. So good.
(5)Stephanie S.
Came here for lunch with a few of my friends who have been dying to try Indeblue. Finally came, and loved it! The food was phenomenal, great service, and swanky cute atmosphere. Highly recommended! For appetizer we had the crispy spinach chatt and the dahi avocado chatt. Both delicious, but the spinach was mind blowing. So flavorful and just the right amount of crispy texture. Amazing!! For entrees we ate off the lunch menu: I had the Kaju Paneer Mattar, which was thick and creamy but very delicious. Housemade paneer, with peas, cashews , creamy caradamom sauce. (See photo). My friends had the non-vegetarian tahli , which was served on a silver platter and several different small dishes of apps, entrees, And salads. They all loved the chicken curry on the tahli platter, but didnt like the chicken tikka. I tried the lamb from one of my friends platters, and it was juicy, rich of flavor, and delicious. The naan was also wonderful and they give you plenty for dipping. The sweet chutney I loved, the cilantro chutney was also good, and the spicy chutney I stayed far away from lol. Overall great experience, and my friends from India say the food is very good up to their quality standards!! Bravo chef!
(4)Jassi B.
Simply delicious food and great service. I myself are Indian and the fact that the waiter was white and could speak in Hindi a little bit was absolutely fascinating. But overall the food was incredible and it deserves bragging rights. I highly recommend the spinach chat and the long stuffed peppered also the pork curry they have the main course along with a the mozzarella naan bread
(5)Cat P.
We ate here the other night for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and I was blown away by the food. This was the perfect setting for an intimate celebratory dinner and I didn't feel like we over-paid, given how amazing our dishes were. We each had cocktails to start. I enjoyed a wonderful lemon and basil concoction and my love went with some sort of ginger/bourbon drink; both were mixed well and complimented our food (as a side note, I found their cocktail list to be quite impressive and they even have happy hour specials, so I may need to revisit this spot in the future just for drinks). For apps, we went with the sweet potato pakora and the crispy vegetable chili. I highly recommend the second of the two, as the batter on the veggies had a delightful crunch and the dipping sauces that came with them packed a nice, spicy punch. Dinner arrived in a timely manner and I enjoyed my dishes. I went with tofu mangoli and chana saag. My beau had the goat biyrani, which was a decent size for him (he took leftovers home). If I had to complain about anything, I will say that our server wasn't so good at describing the portion sizes to us. You see, I ordered half sizes of both my dishes. I love that they even have this option just because most places don't, but it seemed like 2 halves just weren't enough. I had to end up ordering rice halfway through my dinner. I know this is a relatively new restaurant here in Philly, so hopefully the wait staff will be able to make better recommendations as time goes on. I thought the menu here was very easy to read for people with dietary restrictions (gluten free and vegan symbols appear next to dishes), but as somebody who is pretty inexperienced with Indian food, it would be nice if there was some kind of spice level number system of sorts so I don't burn my taste buds off. All in all, though, IndeBlue is doing things right, so I can definitely see myself coming back - especially for their live sitar music on Tuesday nights.
(5)Jennifer H.
Came here during CC Sips/Happy hour with 2 friends. Oh my gosh, where has this restaurant been all my life. The drinks, food, and service was phenomenal. The Ginger Twist cocktail was just perfect. The Spinach Chaat.... I would come back just to eat this all day long. Drums of heaven were flavored just right, not overly saucy. Naan Pizza and the bread basket were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back for their happy hour again and try items on their dinner menu.
(5)Mike M.
Had a great experience taking my wife out on the town. Service was superior, friendly and helpful. Food was great tasting, fresh and presented well. Staff was attentive to our several requests. Highly recommend as a prelude to theater, close to everything.
(4)Kate S.
I was so delighted to find a vegan friendly menu. The food was amazing and so flavorful. Our waiter was great, he brought us samples of the soups even though we both ordered salads. The check was less than $40 for two people with two entrees, salads, and also an order of naan. The décor is so beautiful and all of the staff is well versed on the menu and is very friendly.
(5)James L.
Although the food was really delicious, we were shocked with the exorbitant cost of the bill. Expect to pay DOUBLE whatever you're thinking, and tip will be included in the bill. Also service was spotty at best. The waitress we had was very sweet, but the kitchen sent out our main courses without the accompanying rice, which reached the table ten minutes after. Not good. Really good food but unfortunately, not worth a return trip.
(3)Qinzhi J.
Very good service and beverage. We ordered naan and curry. Frankly I do not know hot to spell them but it was good. The chicks is dry and I think that's the only thing to improve...no wifi but they have their own musicians playing!
(4)Carla F.
Great trendy spot for Indian food. I like this place because they serve traditional Indian dishes well. Their spinach chaat is a MUST!!!! If you don't like Indian food...well, then you just don't like it. I'm not sure this place is going to change your opinion but if you do like it, this is nice for a fun night out with good food.
(4)Amanda W.
The ambiance and service were great. I also really appreciated that the menu was limited to a few pages, versus the tome of variations on the theme you often find in Indian restaurants. The menu also helpfully labels gluten-free and vegan options. I'd definitely go back when visiting Philly again.
(5)Steve S.
Hip, modern indian vibe serving non-traditional meat dishes like pork and lamb shank and sea bass with traditional indian sauces and spices. Service and ambiance was lovely, an overall excellent experience. This is a $$$ dining place, and well worth it, not sure why it's shows as $$ here.
(4)H. I.
If you're looking for Indian food that beats the typical hole in the wall places in University City with sub par service and questionable cleanliness, this is the place to go. We came here on Diwali so it was pretty lively inside and I was glad we made a reservation because it was a full house (although usually I've heard you can walk in and get a table). There were a couple of larger tables so it looks like they are good at accommodating large groups (6+). We had a friendly and helpful server, who recommended a few dishes to us. We got 3 appetizers to split among 3 of us: chilled dahi avocado chaat, stuffed long hot peppers, and drums of heaven. All were delicious! For dinner I had the tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops were some of the best I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back just to order the lollipop lamb chops. For dessert we split the chocolate sutra. It's not a particularly Indian dish but it was still good. Love the decor inside, not tacky or gaudy looking. It was trendy, sexy, and overall had a great atmosphere. Will definitely be back!
(5)Christine B.
This spot reminds me a lot of Tashan, except maybe a little cheaper and a little less fusion. We shared the spicy scallops and the long hots. Neither was too spicy, and the scallops were nicely cooked. Also, had the sangria with the chai tea. It was an interesting cocktail that I enjoyed overall because it wasn't too sweet. For entrees, the lamb shank and the chicken korma with some extra spice. These dishes were really good. I could have used a little more meat on the lamb, but it was tender and the sauce was tasty, as was the saffron rice. This is a nice spot if you want to have a fancy Indian dinner, but I didn't think any of the food was amazingly better than your local Indian take out restaurant.
(4)Bonnie B.
Amazing Crispy spinach chaat was so good! I could of ordered a second had another glass of wine and been satisfied. However we ordered more and everything was amazing! Paneer masala lamb and the special seafood dish!! I can wait to go back. Our waitress was wonderful, making perfect suggestion!
(5)John H.
Delicious, I recommend the rose mimosa and drums of heaven, but everything seems pretty good here. The Bloody Mary is a little different, and you may not like it if you like regular ones, but conversely you may like it if you don't like regular ones. Rice is fluffy and well flavored. Atmosphere is slightly upscale, but the prices are more than fair for good Indian food.
(5)Barrett L.
IndeBlue, an upscale Indian restaurant located in the heart of the gayborhood, serves both traditional and innovative takes on Indian cuisine. While the prices tend to be higher than your standard Indian joint, I found the food to be on par with most other places I've been too. Although I appreciated the good service and creative cocktails, I found the actual cuisine nothing surprising and wouldn't run back so soon to try more of the menu. We started with the crispy spinach chaat, which tasted rather oily (although somewhat delicious). We then split the Lamb Roganjosh, the Malwani Swordfish, Chana Masala, and a naan with spinach and mozzarella. Of these dishes, I found the lamb the most pleasant: juicy and savory, but not anything above the ordinary. The swordfish, despite swimming in sauce, was rather dry and the fish didn't really stand out for me. The chana masala was pretty standard, and the spinach and mozzarella naan was tasty, but I didn't find myself tasting a lot of the cheese or vegetables inside. I did, however, greatly appreciate our attentive and kind server, as well as the indebluetini (an adult version of a Mango Lassi). However, while I appreciate the concept of upscale Indian, I didn't find the food to be innovative or challenging enough to warrant the price point (especially when Tashan is located nearby). That said, there is always room for improvement, and I'm sure that IndeBlue can take it's merely good food to levels that are infinitely better.
(3)Abbie D.
Came here for my husband's birthday. I e-mailed the restaurant beforehand to see if we could do the Chef's Tasting menu and to see if they had their liquor license. Early the next morning I received a phone call from the restaurant answering my questions. The person was super friendly and assured us that we would have a great meal. My husband and I did the chef's tasting with the wine pairings. The food was great and our server was super sweet. There was a bit of food timing issues but we totally understood b/c they just opened three days prior to our dinner. I know this may sound silly, but my only "complaint" isn't really a complaint just a comment on the end of our meal. When dessert came the servers and the chef came to the table and sang happy birthday to my husband. I KNOW they meant so well but I felt like we were at the olive garden. I would have loved to just have a subtle candle in the dessert and perhaps the musicians on the floor would play happy birthday very discretely. just a thought. All in all the dinner was very nice, a bit expensive, but good for a celebration.
(4)Raghari P.
Good Indian restaurant:) tasty food. Service could be faster..Will come back again:)
(4)Vinay G.
We landed at the restaurant based on the excellent reviews and its closeness to the liberty bell. The rating received by the restaurant is well deserved to say the least. The ambience is warm and bright and the hostess was spot on in her recommendations. The spinach chat was crisp and definitely refreshing after eating soggy chat elsewhere in downtown. The chicken tikka roll was fresh with tender chicken. The wheat roll though could have been thinner to give more flavour to the filling. We were in dual mind to chose the thali but it was warm and fresh. The bread was soft and the curries were simple and filing. We were too full to try the dessert but hope to be back.
(4)Sarab S.
This is not your average Indian place. And I mean that as a compliment. Went here with a group of 10 people for a surprise party for my girlfriend. The staff were super helpful with setting it all up- from getting us set up for happy hour with delicious drinks and rather offbeat fusion Indian food, to giving us a massive table and letting us enjoy ourselves! The ambience is fantastic- it's an offbeat, Indian and Western fusion place and the decor shows it. The people were great and very friendly, so much so that we had a nice long chat with our bartender and our waiter! The food was delicious as well! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu with a wine tasting. While pricey, it was well worth the money. The scallops were fantastic, perhaps some of the best I've had. Their lamb was amazing and while the quail was good I'd probably go for the lamb next time I was there. All in all- a definite yes!
(5)Alison L.
The food here was delicious (definitely order the Spinach chaat), but the service was way off. We had an early reservation on a Saturday night, and the place was full but not packed yet. Our drinks and food took forever to come out each time, but one we got them there was a busboy or waiter at our table practically every 5 minutes asking if they could clear anything. Half of these plates they were asking to clear still had food on them. We stayed for about an hour and a half which is not a long time for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, and I couldn't help but feel they were rushing us out to get to the next seating. I will say that the hosts were extremely nice, but the service stopped there. I would also say this is a $$$ restaurant, not $$ as Yelp indicates. The portion sizes are decent, but most entrees are $20+, and you're going to want to try appetizers, too.
(3)Elizabeth B.
I hate to admit this but I am picky about food, I'm picky about service......probably not the greatest quality but it is me.......that being said...I LOVED IndeBlue....the wet cousin of IndeBlue in Collingswood which is dry!! WONDERFUL food and great service....can't wait to go back!!
(5)Ash N.
Awesome service. Food was excellent (pork bhuna, scallops, spinach chaat, kheer). Service was top notch. Bar tender was super friendly. Love the spicy cocktails. Especially the lychee chili margarita.
(5)Leo I.
Went here for lunch and I can't wait to go back. You get a lot of variety and delisiousness from the Thali plates. Tons of different flavors so you do not get bored. I'll be back again soon!
(4)Daniel V.
Service, Staff and Food were exemplary! Outstanding! The food gave us a range of tastes and textures that our palettes thoroughly enjoyed. Above and beyond any experience we have EVER had.
(5)Jay B.
Delicious, really good food! We got the samosas, crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, & chana masala with roti bread and it was the best! Go hear!
(5)Adrienne D.
I love this place! All is great....from the happy hour to the customer service! My current favs - the rib samosas and the drumsticks. Want to try out small plates and good drinks at a reduced price? The happy hour is a sure bet. Get here on a Monday or at 5pm sharp to get a good space. Reservations recommended. Overall, been here four times. Between me and my friends - all the dishes have been great. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Marcie K.
This place just blew my freaking mind. Everything we ate, and I do mean everything, was PERFECT. The service excellent, and the atmosphere really pleasant. The spinach chaat - I'd push my mother in front of a train if I had to choose between her and the chaat. The seafood moille was superb. I would have liked a bit more variety in the seafood (90% shrimp) though. Just go there. Eat everything on the menu. Be happy.
(5)Dan A.
IndeBlue is my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. So I wasn't surprised they won the "Best of Philly"award for their Collingswood location.Their happy hour and chef's tasting menu are both great. And if you're getting the chef's tasting menu, I'd suggest also getting the wine pairing. The food is modern/traditional Indian cuisine. And I've like everything I've tried here. They also have live music with a sitar and tabla on Tuesday nights and brunch on Sunday.
(4)Lan H.
IndeBlue is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia :-) 5 stars, woop woop! I would go back for happy hour and order the chikni shandar that really tated more like the yummy sangria with just a touch of chai and cardamom. Innovative, to say the least! Then, I would sit in the dining room for a lamb biryani dinner that was more like dinner plus lunch for two more days! The atmosphere was on-point with great service and even live music to put you more in the mood for Indian food! I feel like I have only touched the surface of what IndeBlue has to offer - I mean, Sunday brunch? Tons of other happy hour goodies and dinner goodies? Yes, please! IndeBlue, you've made me excited for another Indian food adventure!
(5)Joyce S.
it was my second night there couple days ago. the ambiance was always awesome. this location is the perfect place for a date. there were artists playing drums and guitar which surprised me. but it was still cool. their drinks were pretty good. I had the mango lassi and it was made just right. Not too sweet and not too sour. We had the family style menu so we can share food and try different things. their food tend to be more spice. we got the chicken tikka masala and goat masala. So for the folks who cannot eat spicy food like me, make sure you drink a lot of water. (or get a mango lassi to easy the burning sensation) The naan breads and the rice were really good. Me and my friend's favorite were actually the dessert. The caramel fried banana and the cinnamon ice cream were to die for. Even though we were really full but we still manage to chew that thing down. overall I will definitely come back to try out different things on the menu.
(4)Venkata Krishnan C.
The ambience was great. The service was excellent and the food was the best. Ordered veg thali and everything was good. The only drawback is lack of parking with the hotel but there are a couple parking decks closeby.
(5)Kathryn T.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars I came here for brunch with friends when in Philly for the weekend. The menu looked super dope and it was close by to where we were staying. The food was three stars. It was good but I have had better. We had the butter chicken -- which was spicier than advertised. The garlic naan was easily the highlight of the meal. It was fluffy and had the right amount of garlic. The spinach chaat was good. The texture is unexpected so if you happen to order it, it really is that crispy. Rose petal mimosas were great at first but once you get to a certain point, all you can taste is the syrup. The value is incredible. For about $22-25 each, we got an entree, drink, and appetizer. Yeah, can't find that in NY. The vibes of this place are incredible. The setup of the restaurant is really something that you have to see since it is so beautiful. Live music during brunch? Yes, I want that. So here's the thing about IndeBlue, the service is not good. The wait is horrendous. Should it really take twenty minutes for someone to take our order.... no. Should it take over an hour for us to get our food, definitely not. There was a couple sitting next to us that waited even longer. Overall: it was good. The portion to taste to price ratio is solid... but that wait? There's a lot more we could have explored in the city if we weren't sitting the restaurant waiting.
(3)Swathi J.
IndeBlue is the best Indian food I have eaten till date in Philadelphia. Naan and Roti were rightly baked and the curries were amazingly good. We ordered Malai Kofta Curry, Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala. Everything was so flavorful. We had to wait 30 minutes though we had a reservation, but the manager was kind enough to give us a snack on the house. The only reason why I am not giving them 5 stars is because the portions are really small for the price. One curry serves only one person. I certainly would recommend this to anyone who wants to have true Indian food in Philly!
(4)Niyati D.
Sighhh. I honestly wanted to give this a 2 star rating, but because I have had great experiences at the Collingswood location I bumped it up a star. My parents and aunt and uncle came to visit me in Philly, and we decided to go to IndeBlue since we loved the Collingswood location. We arrived at the restaurant a little after 8pm on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar, and it took a good 10 minutes before the bartender came back to the bar and took my order. I got the chai sangria, which was good but a little sweet for my taste. My mom and aunt really liked it though. We were seated shortly after I got my drink. And this is where, in my eyes, the experience went downhill. My parents and aunt and uncle are vegetarian. The menu had a total of 5/6 vegetarian entree options, 2 of which were daals (lentils). We started off by ordering 3 vegetables (2 of which were paneer based and one eggplant) and one daal. I asked our waitress if there were any other vegetables we could order and she suggested appetizers, which we weren't interested in getting. We asked for all of the dishes to be made spicy and they were. One of the most disappointing parts of the night was when our food came out. Indian food is meant to be eaten family style, but the portions were so small that by the time the 5 of us put a spoonful of the entree on our plate the bowl was empty... But of course we received a mountain of rice with each entree. We immediately had to order another entree, another paneer based vegetable. Luckily the service was very attentive and our last minute entree came out piping hot within 10 minutes. Now the bill. $14-16 per entree for the tiniest, most simple punjabi food. On top of that, we were charged $2 for a small plate of onions and lemon. What happened to the days of free pappadam and onions? I've been to many upscale American restaurants in NYC and they have no trouble serving table bread without charge. These things cost the restaurant literally nothing to make and if you're going to charge some absurd amount for a tiny entree, it's the least you can you do. To top it all off, my dad was looking at the receipt today and noticed that they charged a 20% tip for our party of 5! What is that about?! We hadn't noticed this at the restaurant so the waitress went home with a nice 40% tip. Bottom line - I won't be back, at least not to the Philly location. The lack of vegetarian variety and the hiked up prices (and nonsense tip policy) have ruined it for me.
(3)Chian G.
This is a fun, upscale twist on Indian food. I especially love their Spinach Chaat and the lamb lollipops. If you can make it there for happy hour, it's a great deal!
(4)Mike W.
I was expecting big things from indeblue and the completely delivered. Expertly prepared dishes. Prices were fairly good as well. Cost 105 for three people with tip and three beers. Flavors are definitely some of the best I have had outside India. They stay true to traditional cuisine but still inventive enough to keep it fun. The food is outstanding.
(5)Mini M.
Great Indian food!!! Creative fine food that actually tastes authentic and is served the way Indian food should be served....in thalis (metal dishes). Ambience is amazing!!! This place is awesome for brunch and dinner. Great for special occasions. One of the best restaurants in Philly! Save room for dessert because the "banana nirvana" might just be the best thing I've ever eaten.
(5)David V.
Loving this place so far. IndeBlue is what a certain other nearby upscale Indian restaurant should have been. The ambiance is nice and the food imaginative, but still distinctively Indian. We've been here for dinner and Sunday brunch and haven't had a bad meal. Brunch features both very Indian foods and more classic egg-based dishes, with an Indian slant. I had the Non-vegetarian Thali, which featured a chicken dish and a lamb dish, along with chickpeas, a green salad, a vegetable fritter and some naan. My wife had the masala omelette, which tasted more like a traditional Spanish tortilla than anything distinctly Indian, but also definitely wasn't just a traditional Spanish tortilla. The omelette also came with some tasty naan that had special seasonings and cheese on it. The service is also very friendly and efficient. We've had the same waitress both times we've gone, and she's been friendly and attentive both times. This place isn't cheap, but you're getting some quality food and service for the price you pay.
(4)Sangita S.
Brought my parents here for my dad's birthday and they were obsessed. We are vegetarian so the options were plentiful and everything we ordered was incredible. The service was super and the atmosphere was perfect with the sitar and tabla players. My parents can't wait to bring the rest of the fam here and to try the rest of the options we didn't get around to. I'd highly recommend spinach chat, vegetable chili Hakka noodles, and the French toast (on the brunch menu)!
(5)Kelly C.
I wasn't blown away by the food, but the atmosphere is great. I'm definitely no expert on Indian food, but I have a few favorite dishes. Chicken Tikka Masala is my barometer, even though I know it's not a native dish, and is often prepared to meet Western taste buds. Inde's wasn't spectacular. It was just OK. Ditto for the Lasooni (garlic) Naan. The Tikka Masala sauce was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, and not quite as spicy as I like. And the naan just wasn't garlicky enough for me. The dining room and service were great. Also, they sent out a sample of potato-leek soup which was very good and I would order it next time.
(3)Robert B.
Very nice experience on Saturday night. The restaurant is very attractive, although the noise level is pretty high. The diver scallop appetizer was good, but the crispy spinach chaat was excellent. My tandoori mixed grill was very good, although the lamb chops were just ok. Chicken, shrimp and vegetables were all excellent and portion size was filling. Dining partner's butter chicken was liked but not loved. Fig ice cream dessert was very interesting and worth a try.
(4)Raj K.
Some of our friends highly recommended IndeBlue so our family of four went for dinner. The ambiance is nice, and the service very good. We had the spinach chat, since so many reviewers had raved about it, honestly we were disappointed. It is very oily and filling, luckily we shared the plate so was OK. We ordered chicken tikka makhani, chicken madras, lamb roghan josh and malai kofta with some naans. We really liked the roghan josh, chicken tikka and malai kofta in that order. The chicken pieces in chicken madras were very dry, though the gravy was flavorful. Finished the meal off with chocolate sutra - which was very good as well.
(4)Leib Z.
Visited on a Monday. Definitely nice setting, friendly and quite informative staff. Can't say I was impressed with the food. "Heavenly drumstick" were subpar at best, cauliflowers were decent but felt like it was done hastily. Chicken tikka was decent. Not sure if it's because it was a Monday but it did not meet my expectations after reading all the reviews. I've definitely had better indian food experience. Overall, would recommend to check it out, sit for a nice choice of wine and beer. Know the food you're ordering.
(3)Hillary R.
Came in just before the kitchen closed and they still let me order. The tikka masala and naan pizza were great and the garlic naan bread was amazing! Also recommend the ginger twist from the bar, very good!
(5)Karen W.
We came here for restaurant week around 9:30pm on Friday. The food was good, but given what you get, I wouldn't call this place a good value (but I can only speak for the restaurant week menu.) The reason why the three stars, is that despite the late reservation, the entire meal took over 2 hours to serve. We ordered at around 9:45pm, and while the appetizers came out quickly, it took forever for the entrees to come out. The restaurant was not packed so I don't understand why it took so long.
(3)Delvia W.
I went September 11, 2014. I love Indian food and have eaten at several places both in and outside of Philadelphia but IndeBlue is by far the best. the server told me that the owner is the Chef. This explains why the food is soooo gooood!!! The food has such great flavor!!! The server suggested the crispy spinach chaat and omgeeeee I'm glad she did. The flavor was so bold it lasted on my taste buds well after I swallowed!!!! The diver scallops were delicious. Save the sauce for your Naan bread!!! The lamb balti was very tender and flavorful. The food came fast and the service was good. I will be back!!!! My new favorite place!!!
(5)Elizabeth B.
Excellent service, cozy ambiance, and delicious food. My family (including my sister-in-law, who is from northern India) is crazy for Indian food, and this fusion joint did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the samosa chat, crispy spinach chat, baingan bharta, and lasooni naan. They also had an excellent spinach soup-of-the-day and their chutneys were perfect and unique. The one dish that wasn't a huge hit at the table was probably a case of bad ordering on our part - expecting one thing, ordering something else - although I can't quite speak to that given that I didn't taste this particular item. In addition to attentive service, they also provided complimentary tastes of the daily soup (a given), and they offered my mom a taste of their chai after she asked about its level of sweetness. They also removed the one dish we didn't love from the bill - totally unnecessary, but yet another example of their attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this spot to any Indian food enthusiasts, especially to those looking for a little twist on traditional fare. Also great for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free - their menu is flexible and clearly marked for these dietary restrictions.
(5)Fima M.
Great concept, delicious food. We enjoyed our valentines day dinner here. Some of the items were classic indian restaurant items, such as a savory black lentil daal, and others were not classic at all, like the lobster tail, hudson valley foie gras on garam masala challah, and crispy spinach. I'd go back and try more items on their menu, like the shrimp skewers, chicken and chutneys, etc. I was told by my indian friend beforehand "it's indian food like you've never tried before," and I would agree. It didn't have the service aspect that some of my favorite places have had to earn the fourth and fifth star. We were initially greeted in an awkward manner by the hostess, but this did not take away from the food, I won't dock the restaurant a star for that at this time.
(4)Sandip G.
IndeBleu is a great little Indian restaurant in the heart of Philly. This is a place you can't go wrong if you want to impress your date. We went pretty late at night about their closing time but still got great unrushed service and excellent food..chicken tikka masala as well as the vegetarian options. Makhani Daal was perfectly slow cooked and appropriately spiced. My vegetarian partner loved it. CTM was cooked in tomato sauce which was a welcome and healthier choice and tasted really nice. Will definitely repeat next time we are in Philly. Missed the live music this time because we went so late.
(5)Ron H.
Great food ... Great atmosphere ... If you want to try indian food this is the best place in philly ...
(5)Mike C.
Overpriced, very little heat. Service was slow. Food is ok, but lacks any real heat, and most dishes we had seemed too sweet (what I call Americanized Indian food: sweet and mild). Noticed not a single Indian patron was in a packed Indian restaurant....
(2)Jill K.
I have been to indeblue MANY times. It is my favorite Indian food. I can't say it's a traditional Indian restaurant, but in my opinion, it's a good mix of traditional and contemporary. For appetizer, my favorite is the spinach chaat. It's usually done well, though once it was a little salty. Others that are good include the naan pizza and dahi avocado chaat. For the entree, I always get paneer. They currently have paneer tikka masala which is delicious. I like my Indian food spicy, so they will make it spicier for me. The naan is amazing- fresh, hot, soft. 2 of us can go through 2-3 orders in one meal. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will forego an appetizer and share an entree sized paneer tikka with an additional entree but in the smaller portion size. That with the naan will fill us. The dessert in general are pretty good. I love their house made chai and cocktails (chai sangria) as well! Overall, love this place!
(5)Vishal P.
Modern twist to indian cuisine. Chilli lamb chops one of the highlights on the menu ! Mango panacotta for the dessert
(4)Adam N.
This Modern Indian place is worth checking out. Even if you don't think you like Indian food, you need to try it. We've been a couple times since they opened and the food and service were great each time. Dishes are creative, flavorful and show that Indian can be appeal to everyone. We'll be back!
(5)Ty W.
I had the pleasure of sampling the life changing "Drums of Heaven", at the Midtown Village Festival and it was love at first bite. A friend & I made a reservation (which I STRONGLY suggest doing) for a Saturday evening and we were seated immediately. The place is beautiful, candlelit tables, great service and knowledgeable servers a very intimate setting (yes by intimate I do mean small). The food, seemingly looks like it wouldn't be filling (clearly I was an Indian food virgin), I had the Seafood Moilee (I may have spelled that incorrectly) along with the drums of Heaven and everything was perfect, the food came out in a timely manner, no complaints about that whatsoever. The only thing I'd suggest is to request to be seated near the wall, as we were seated in the center and constantly had to deal with being bumped by bussers, waiters & waitresses and passersby.
(4)Kaitlin W.
This is a great place for people that are trying Indian food for the first time. i think it's a perfect combination of authentic Indian with creative twists on classics. I went for restaurant week and couldn't have been more pleased! We started off with a trio of soups that were all equally delicious and making our 3-course meal more like 4 courses! Then I had the spinach chaat which I'm still dreaming about! This may have been my favorite part of the meal! I had the non-vegetarian sampler platter for dinner, all parts amazing! For dessert was a fried banana flavored dough with cinnamon ice cream, rather dense but incredibly delicious! I will definitely be returning!
(5)Rachel W.
Absolutely fantastic experience. I love it when the service matches up to the food quality. Unfortunately we had a rowdy group seated next to us. Ah well, you can't blame the restaurant for that. I would highly recommend the dahi avocado chaat as an appetizer, it was really really delicious. The fresh vegetable jhalfrazie was spiced perfectly and was exactly the right amount for two people to share. For dessert we were served a complimentary ginger sorbet and a berry sorbet. Unfortunately they were not for me, but I'm not really a sorbet person and the fact that it was complimentary I can't knock off a star for that. Ambiance was great for a date, nice dim lighting. Also the cocktail choices are really something special. Enjoy!
(5)Ryan D.
I am always on the hunt for my third favorite cuisine--Indian! Now, I am usually inclined to dine at a more traditional style indian Restaraunt, but IndeBlue does Indian-fusion very well. Service was quite attentive (thanks to Josh), which is the expectation with Indian restaurants. After being sat, we were each served a small portion mulligatawny soup-delicious, but it was not on our list if must-try's for our first visit. Please start with Crispy Spinach Chaat--it will not disappoint! Large enough portion for four to share. We also ordered Lasooni Naan with the scallops. There were only three scallops, but the sauce is a wonderful addition (but could be improved by reducing slightly longer to thicken). We ordered Laal Maas, Malwani Swordfish, Seafood Moilee, and Chicken Madras. The Seafood Moilee was the standout, but everything was wonderful; EXCEPT the sword fish: it was overcooked (dry), but the Makwani sauce was a great addition. Although, I did not partake (way too full), the table greatly enjoyed Banana Nirvana. We will return an hopefully soon!
(5)Sam B.
Good food and great service, this is a good spot for a date or a nice dinner with friends. I thought the portions were a bit small for Indian food but it wasn't too bad and the menu is pretty good.
(4)Ed C.
My partner and I have just starting coming to this place and we've been twice. The food is good and so is the service. I have tried the channa masala and baigan bharta, both were very delicious. Although, you really can't go wrong with Indian food. I would say that the cuisine is more high-end than your average Indian place and so are the prices. Don't get me wrong, the food is great and I like that they clearly mark their vegan options on the menu, but it's definitely a pricey dinner!
(4)Remey M.
We had dinner reservations at this restaurant. The host sat us down right away. Everyone that we met was very polite. My waiter was awesome!! I recommend Jason to anyone who goes there. The food was fantastic! My daughter loved her lamp chops.. My husband and I enjoy all three courses. No complaints, we will return.
(5)Elizabeth F.
I initially came here just to wait for friends who were LATE. I became enamored with the elegant decor and tasty food! Good for Indian food lovers as well as those who are wary of the cuisine. My favorite thing is the gharwali, sort of pita with mozzarella and baby spinach baked inside. Totally wonderful. They easily accommodate vegan and gluten free eaters and the staff is very friendly and efficient. You can get a drink an app for under $10 or get the chef's tasting menu with wine for $65. Lots of options in between these price points. Gorgeous and delicious!
(5)Stephanie P.
I don't have Indian food often but everything I ate was wonderful. The service was exceptional. I will be sure to visit again. The crispy spinach chaat was delicious! Every person should try this dish!
(5)Juliana K.
3.5 stars!!! Indieblue is a good upperscske modern Indian restaurant. Great decor inside. Service us friendly, though I wish they tried to sell me less. The waiter was friendly and knowledgable, but he kept trying to push us into ordering more appetizers. Duo Samosa was okay. It was very meaty and I liked the sauces. I've had the vegetarian samosa which I think are better. Kashmiri naan was awesome. Pistachio and coconut flavor gave it a great mild sweetness. Laal Maas lamb shank was very tender with a great sauce. Very modern from my perspective. Lamb Dhansak was a good fall dish with sweet potato. The lamb is very flavorful here. Chicken madras had my favorite curry like sauce. Food was well portioned. A teeny but pricey. Nothing was overly spicy. My mom can't take spice so they brought a mint yogurt sauce, which we found out was an extra $3. Overall, good restaurant. Not a place I would go to often, but good to try out.
(3)Jonah K.
The food was incredible. I can't exactly remember the name of it but I had a lamb and rice dish which was delicious and spicy, but not overly so. They have great Naan and interesting salads too. I'm definitely going here again.
(4)T N.
Atmosphere was quiet at first but as time went on, people kept coming up! Not sure if it's usually this packed around 6:15, but it was nice. Small little place but I enjoyed the food, not so much of the drinks.
(4)Jess T.
The food is superb here. I've wanted to come here for months and finally got a chance to stop by for lunch today. And the food definitely did not disappoint. They have lunch specials for $15 which includes a starter and an entree. Everything sounded good on the menu but for my first time I went with the drums of heaven which is a Indian inspired buffalo wings with blue cheese. For my entree, I got my favorite, butter chicken (chicken makhani) which was extremely tasty and definitely has a kick to it. Best Indian food I've had in a while! My coworker had the tikka wrap and fries. Fries were crunchy and delicious. I'm guessing portions are smaller for lunch. Knocked one star off for service. Our waiter for lunch took his time and was slow to check in on us so make sure you're planning on a two hour lunch if you come in here!
(4)Jacqueline O.
Beautiful little restaurant. Perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Tuesday's at 7 and brunch on Sunday have live music! Run a great happy hour deal from 5-7 or 9-close at the bar with 4 dollar beers and 5 dollar wines.
(5)Alexis A.
LOVE! This freakin place has an amazing decor, friendly staff..and the food was really yummy! I went during restaurant week, so the deal was great! A lot of food for the $ and the soups were great.
(5)Minty N.
I returned with friends for a brunch on Sunday morning. It was an excellent experience! They offer both breakfast items as well as lunch. I had a chicken tikka wrap which is very tasty with masala fries, one of my friends had the chope batture which was excellent. As always this place had great service and I would highly recommend going for brunch or any other meal.
(5)Kate R.
Take this with a grain of salt because it was restaurant week. We had a reservation and were seated. After sitting at the table for more than 15 minutes without so much as a member of the waitstaff making eye contact with us (and believe me we tried to get their attention), we walked out. It wasn't even particularly busy! The worst part was the maître d' who had just seated us told us to have a good night as we walked out the door, not even realizing that no one had come to help us and we had not even ordered. I think the food is actually very good. I want this place to do well. They can and should do better. However, what we experienced was hands-down the worst service (or lack thereof) I have ever experienced. Again - it was restaurant week, which I usually avoid like the plague, we actually went there not even realizing it was. Still, there is no excuse for what happened, especially when the restaurant wasn't even close to full and the staff didn't look like they were hustling even a little bit.
(2)Henry D.
DO NOT GO HERE FOR HAPPY HOUR!Specials only offered first come first serve at the very small bar. Also terrible customer service from manager! Unlike most restaurants in Philly who offer happy hour specials restaurant wide this place only offers the specials if you sit at the bar and the bar is tiny so if your group is more than two or three people forget it. We called in advance asked about happy hour then made a reservation but were not told that happy hour was only at the bar. When we told our server about our misunderstanding he said there was nothing he could do then when we addressed the happy hour issue with the manager he was very impolite and told us that it wasn't worth the money for them serve happy hour in the dinning area. Only after much debate did he allow us to order one round of food items from the happy hour menu. We ended up staying for dinner even though we were a bit turned off. Dinner was decent and we were enjoying catching up with our friends when the manager rudely told us that there were people waiting and that he needed us to leave. If he had been polite about it I wouldn't have minded but he wasn't and I also didn't see anyone waiting. Largely it was the manager who ruined this experience for us. Food drinks and decor were good. So much for relaxing after a long work week.
(1)Sean m.
I have visited this restaurant twice since July. Every dish I have tried has been delicious. The decor adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend dining here.
(5)Marna L.
I went to IndeBlue during Happy Hour. As another Yelper mentions, Indeblue's Happy Hour is restricted to only those who sit at the bar, which has limited seating. So for Happy Hour here is sort of exclusive to smaller groups. Food: I thought the food was tastier than food served in regular Indian restaurants. The food was fusion. I wasn't a fan of the Spinach Chaat, however, the Naan Pizza with the Tamarind sauce was quite stellar. The food is higher end than what are served in most other Indian venues. 4/5 Drinks: We only had two types of drinks, and both were delicious. 5/5 Setting: The ambiance was quite beautiful with great romantic lighting. The venue is a little narrow (rectangular shaped). Bar is quite small, however, the lighting and the decor overshadows any minor flaws. 5/5 Service: The service from the waiters and bartender were phenomenal. Some of the best service I've received in a while from servers. However, the hostess (Monday evening) can be friendlier and less snappy. In fact, we were quite satisfied with our experience at IndeBlue until we were about to depart. It was a rainy evening, therefore, many had left umbrellas. The hostess had left our umbrellas in a bucket, which mine was all the way underneath the other wet umbrellas. As we were searching for my umbrella, we noticed the hostess had shoved an umbrella inside another umbrella, causing one of them to break. In fact, mine was also damaged due to her umbrella handling. It really was not a busy evening, was that necessary to handle the customers' umbrellas so carelessly? Servers: 5/5. Hostess: 1/5
(4)Alex X.
Is this the Indian restuarant with the elephant king somewhere by the door? Lol. So many of them I lose track which is which. I admit I forget look at name of the restaurants I go into. I dont always read reviews especially when you are having fun or a date etc...you are too busy focused on the person you with. Anyways if this is the elephant mirror indian restaurant, good indian restaurant. The waiter was kind and telling us which the tastiness foods in the kitchen were! There was a baked tender chicken he recommended that was out of this world. I never had it before. Gonna go back for more. It tasted better than some of the fancier colorful dishes we ordered. Window seat was great. Thanks for the ambience!
(4)Dayan K.
Absolutely wonderful Indian restaurant. I've lived in three different states and eaten at Indian restaurants in SF, but Indeblue is the best. Hands down!!!!
(5)Deebee K.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. It's Indian fusion food in a noisy and cramped place. We had the dahi avocado chaat to begin with-it was yum even though the puris were not crunchy and tasted old. My husband had the chef's table with 4 courses. It was filling but all the food was bland and not very enjoyable. I had the lasooni naan (which was soft and not too strong) and the Chana. The Chana vegetable was awful-tasted like boiled Chana. Service was good. On telling the server how average our experience was, he brought us 2 coupons for a free drink/appetizer for the next day. You'd be better off eating at an Indian restaurant without burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)Sara V.
Welcome to Philly, IndeBlue. Not only do I have a location near home, I have one near work! The decor is, in a word, elegant. The cocktails, divine. Glasses are filled with a unique flavors and herbs. The food? Wow. The flavors of the meats, veggies, and spices make my mouth sing. The chutneys are sweet, savory, and delicate. The Drums of Heaven are mini bites of tandoori deliciousness. The lamb chops? Tender, spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So don't wait! Go now!
(5)DJ J.
Since I don't live in Philadelphia, I certainly make every effort to dine at Indeblue anytime I can. My second experience at this restaurant was just as delightful as the first time in July 2013 (just weeks after the opening of the restaurant). During this visit we tried the Basil Mint Kabob appetizer; Chicken Tikka Masala, Baingan Bartha, and Malwana Swordfish for entrees along with the Kashmiri (pistachio, coconut, raisins) roti; and Mango Panna Cotta for dessert. Were I asked to pick a favorite among those options, I would certainly be unable to do so as they were all delicious in their own way. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Clare D.
Indian food in an upscale setting has always been met with a skeptical eye, but throw in some proteins, such as crab meat, swordfish, lamb shank, and pork shoulder, that seldom exist in your typical Indian restaurant and you can have a truly outstanding experience. My friend Chris W and I noted the location of Indeblue with some skepticism. "I bought a custom-made dress in this location years ago," I said to him. When we walked in, my jaw dropped. They completely gutted the place. Tastefully done decor with a chandelier, giant framed pictures, and an ornamental gate adorn the main dining room. No seat was a bad seat. It was truly a beautiful setting for a nice meal. Our appetizers included the scallops, lollipop lamb chops, and crispy spinach chaat. All were delicious. The scallops were giant U/10 beauties pan-seared and immersed in a light coconut milk-based curry. My only criticism is they could've used a little less salt. The lollipop lamb chops were grilled to perfection and coated with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint, and mojito. They were so good I wanted another order. The crispy spinach chaat was amazing. The spinach leaves were coated with chickpea batter and flash fried. Combine that with chopped tomatoes, shallots, yogurt, crispy noodles, and sweet tamarind date sauce. I couldn't stop eating it. Our main course was the seafood moilee, a coconut curry with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat that was accompanied by a saffron rice with peanuts, mustard seed, curry leaf, and chili peppers. This dish sang and danced in our mouths. We also got a side of tandoor roasted eggplant with tomatoes, carmelized onions, and green peas. It was like a smoky ratatouille. I love this place.
(5)Steve W.
We went to IndeBlue due to its great proximity to the Walnut St. theaters and based on other's reviews...and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious! We had the flash fried spinach and naan pizza as appetizers and the tastes were spectacular. Then we had a basil chicken skewer and a lamb rogan josh which were also full of flavor and very filling. The atmosphere, staff and location were all excellent. I have already recommended it to several friends and will definitely go back.
(5)Maha D.
My girlfriend and I were at Indeblue this Wednesday, and I am happy to say that this neo Indian (I like to call it food with a contemporary classicist flair) restaurant did not disappoint and impressed our hungry stomachs. I was compelled to make an instant comparison with Tashan on several levels. What stood out immediately was the decor while we were being led into the restaurant...Indian motifs with a modern flair, again reminiscent of Tashan perhaps..but it certainly had its unique appeal. The location of Indeblue in my mind will be key to its success. Tashan feels a tad far out for the likes of us that like to sip and hang around the Walnut/Chestnut to South St. types of locales. The menu does not disappoint either- they have a great spread of appetizers, entrees, veggie options and naans. The cocktail list looked like a cheery collection of Inde-Bollywood style names and fun flavors. We got the Bollywood sparkler (?) and the Chai tea sangria. The chai tasted better than Bollywood sparkler (this tasted too bubbly/frizzy for me) - the sangria was light and had hints of chai and brandy- a great combo to get a pitcher of, though it didn't sound appetizing in its description. The service was worthy of nothing. Well informed servers that were good with suggestions. Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly capable of choosing my tikkas, naans and rasams but given that the menu had an obvious personal flair of the chefs cooking style, it always helps to see how keen the chef is on informing the staff on his/her offerings. To start we had the long hots and the crispy veg. chilli- to me a rendition of the stuffed long green chillies and the Indo-Chinese Hakka noodles. The paneer mozzarella combo in the green chillies were perfect-creamy, the chillies added bite and the tangy tomato sauce rounded the flavour off. The veg chilli had zucchinis in it (which I found interesting) but was a good subtle complement to the bold/spicy sauce (more gravy than sauce). The veggies had not lost their crunch despite the sauce on the noodles. To those familiar with Indo-Chinese food-the addition of the 3 side sauces (vinegar w/ green chillies, green chilli sauce and soy) completed my experience of eating this glamorized version of hakka noodles. spot on!! For the main course, we had a meat and a veg option. Both were superb in their portion sizes, taste, flavour. We ordered the stuffed squash (this came with saffron rice) and osso bucco pork vindaloo. The meat dish came with bone in which was perfect, the meat was melt in your mouth worthy cooked. It was a great meat, potatoes and gravy dish that is typically comfort food for me. The vindaloo gravy did not have the pungency of vinegar that I seek, but completed the dish just fine. I can see how an overpowering amount of vinegar can turn customers away from this dish. The garlic naan was fresh, however I am not sure if it was made in a tandoor or sigri, and I could taste uncooked flour in some parts of the bread- I chose to overlook this. The stuffed squash in my girlfriend's words- it was creamy (perhaps slightly excessively so) but very tasty, very well cooked, could have had a hint bit more of spice but she enjoyed it overall. If this was a take on "malai kofta" it was certainly well executed. Overall, I would go back and recommend it to others. Chef Rakesh Ramola certainly had the right idea with opening IndeBlue here in Philly. The prices could be comparable to Tashan, the food is just as good as Tashan's Chef Shende and Chef Senat. Where it beats Tashan is the location and the restaurant size. The location is always popping (regardless of weather or economic paucity), the place's size will make certain that it looks full even on days where only a few occupy the bar and tables- a definite draw for guests to peer in.
(4)Sophia S.
This is a fabulous restaurant (with a terrible name...gotta say I judged them for that at first). This place does true Indian fusion and pulls it off well! With a group of four, we ordered 3-4 small plates, 2 half-sized vegetarian entrees and one full sized meat entree. While the portions looked small (we literally laughed when they brought out our very tasty half portion of squash), we all left feeling full and happy. Some highlights were the spinach chaat (amazing! crispy!) and the naan pizza. Great cocktails too. The food is better than Bindi and its less pretentious and more interesting than Tashan. Seriously. A new favorite in midtown village.
(5)Shashank M.
The food is good. You pay 10 dollars for about two or three pieces/ 2 ppl and your going to still feel hungry at the end. I heard their happy hour was really good but buyer beware when coming for dinner. This is Tashan 2.0
(3)Fereshteh A.
5 star is definitely not enough for them! The decor, beautiful. Waiters, politest I have seen. Food, absolutely delicious. For your first time I recommend the thalia which is like a sampler of a few dishes. Chutney's were uniquely tasty. And the bread... I have blood sugar problems so I normally leave breads untouched in restaurants: I finished this one!!! ( I am writing this while I am still here :-P). And I just tried the chai: make sure you do as well ;-)
(5)Sarah P.
Looking for a spot to have Sunday brunch? Stop. Right. Now. IndeBlue has the most amazing brunch I've been to. We weren't sure what to expect but were extremely impressed! We got more food than we could finish and it was all extremely good. If I had a second stomach I would've filled it up! The rose water mimosa was unique, refreshing, and super delicious! The atmosphere was great and the decor was gorgeous. I would love to come back and have dinner here.
(5)Leah S.
Happy hour only served at a small bar at the front. They definitely don't explain this on their website and happy hour signs. When we asked the manager about this he told us that they basically didn't need our business because the place will be packed regardless... Not a very professional way of handling your customers if you ask me. They did end up giving us a few apps at happy hour prices and we did ended up staying and paying a lot to eat there. The food was over priced and not that great, it was just ok, definitely not worth the money. I will not be returning.
(1)Kristen C.
We had to order the spinach chaat, since everyone on yelp raved about it. It was really delicious, but it was fried and greasy. I would prefer to start with something more fresh. We also tried the veggie samosa, which was pretty standard, it came on top of flavored chickpeas, which were very good. We had an order of naan plus saag paneer and paneer tikka masala for our entrees. The saag paneer wasn't very good- bitter spinach flavor, but also felt very oily and heavy. The paneer tikka masala tastes better, but still more greasy than I would have liked. The service was a bit slow, but it was nice not to feel rushed. Very nice atmosphere, upscale, good for a date. I probably won't go back, but I'm glad I tried it.
(3)Sean H.
IndeBlue is an upscale Indian joint with prices to match. That said, the food is delicious, if somewhat skimpy on the portion sizes. The décor is phenomenal. Very romantic, which I kind of wish I'd known before going there with a friend. Oh, and get dessert. The gulab jamun were fantastic.
(4)pandaranda g.
The food was definitely innovative and delicious. We got 4 appetizers from their happy hour menu. However the next day my friend and i both got very upset stomachs. Don't think we'll be returning.
(1)Jimmy P.
So amazing to have our favorite spot add another location! Food here is up and above excellent, bordering on spectacular. Chef Rakeesh blends flavors and spices seamlessly and easily. Every bite, from their apps to their amazing chutneys are an experience not to be missed. Philly is gaining a brilliant chef and soon to be hot spot. We will be here again and again.
(5)Soma Sekhar G.
Live music, crispy spinach chat and thali, just made my Sunday lunch a memorable one.
(5)Julie W.
One of my favorite happy hours in the city (5-7 and then after 9, daily!). This place gets crowded around the bar, but it's not hard to snatch a seat or two if you have a small party. Intense physical proximity during peak hours doesn't make for the best heart-to-heart's (unless you opt for the quieter dining area), but it's great for delicious bites and strong drinks after work. Recommended noms: Drums of heaven - these are so good! A bit spicier than expected but like firecrackers in your mouth. Great HH snack though beware as it gets messy. Lamb rogan josh (19) - delicious lamb dish, rich in spices and flavor. Served with rice but great with their garlic naan. Split this with friend and we were very satisfied. Drinks: Kingfisher lager - light and refreshing, complemented the meal well. Indebluetini - rich mango flavor! favorite. Rose gimlet - pretty and strong, but a bit lackluster in taste. Take advantage of their long happy hours to sample their menu and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jennifer R.
Of course my meal and service here was damn spectacular and I was very happy with it. I'm a bit bitter about how expensive everything is and that it didn't have the same great options as the Collingswood location I had tried, but it was absolutely delicious. This is some high quality indian and the restaurant itself was gorgeous, so I was thrilled to be here, I just don't think a rice dish with a cheap cut of lamb needs to be over $20. It was Lamb Biryani which was spiced so well with whole coriander and saffron and everything great about indian, so really no complaints on food at all. We also got a crisped spinach app and a tikka masala pita pizza which was straight awesome with the amount and type of spice used. We sprung for some fancy cocktails and all of them were delicious and strong. Go for them if you're celebrating or are ok with paying $14 for a drink. I'd sooner go to the Collingswood location over this for everything but atmosphere. If they added the $20 thali sampler to the Philly location, my butt would be at the door immediately. If you're going on a nice date and both can appreciate some spice, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Mandy H.
IndeBlue is one of my go-to happy hour spots. The location is great for me and they have wonderful food and drink specials. Their drinks are different and interesting and tend to include cardamom, which sounded a little weird to me at first, but I really enjoyed the indebluetini, which has mango, cardamom, citron vodka, and lemon juice. It just works. They also have a delicious spinach chaat. I don't know how they keep the spinach as crispy as they do, but it is so crunchy and perfect with a mix of salty and sweet spices. Definitely try it! The naan pizzas are always a safe bet and the drums of heaven are the perfect cure for hankering for buffalo wings. At $4-$5 a piece during Happy Hour, its not a bad deal at all. I will be back!
(4)Suzanne B.
Ambience. Perfect menu. Deep flavors. Handsome stranger sitting across from me. How could I not love this place?
(5)Sam W.
Impressive Indian food at reasonable prices and really good and cheap drinks. They don't have Chicken Tikka Masala which almost crushed me... but they were able to make it anyways :)
(5)Kal P.
SPINACH CHAAT! That is all. Ya'll NEED to try this. I've come here multiple times for Happy Hour and once for dinner. The drinks are unique (one was super spicy which I wasn't a fan of) and the food is tasty. I was raised in an Indian household so I am a snob when it comes to Indian food - I highly recommend this place! Note: Not all the Naan Pizzas are yummy - they change them daily. Choose wisely.
(5)Anil T.
I asked for a can of coke with my take out, and the waitress said YES. After taking my food and walking a block, i saw there was no can of coke with in my food parcel. Went back and they gave me a glass if coke from the bar and said we don't sell CANS of soda. Not going there again. Low standard. Poor in informing the customer correctly.
(1)Lakshmi S.
Great food and service. Delicious. We are visitors from CA who enjoyed this restaurant thoroughly
(4)Lili W.
I heard about indeblue from a yelp event, where they had a stand with samosas and chicken wings. I decided to check out the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The spinach chaat is awesome, definitely get this as a starter. It's flash fried spinach, but tastes very flavorful and light. As a main course, I got the fish of the day -- Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. My boyfriend got the vindaloo dish, absolutely delicious, wish I got this! So the only reason why this restaurant isn't a 5 star is because the drink prices are wayyy to expensive. A gin and tonic for 11? A bit steep.
(4)T N.
Went here with a French friend (Frenchies love classy places...). She ordered the Rajwadi shrimps and lamb something, I ordered the Chili avacado chat (?), paneer tikka masala and fig ice cream. Chilli avacado chat was good, paneer tikka masala so..so..but the fig ice cream was the highlight of the night :-) 4 stars for appetizer, decor and desert
(4)Nancy X.
One of the BEST lunch spots out there! High quality, delicious Indian fusion. But they still do the traditional stuff really really well. Their express lunch for $15 is basically a steal. It comes with an appetizer and an entree. For appetizers, you can choose a chaat, salad, soup, or one of their super yummy fusion plates. Appetizers I like: -The drums of heaven (battered chicken wings with blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili and scallions) are so perfectly flavored. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And you get 4 of these amazing things -Naan pizza! They have different flavors all the time. The one I tried had paneer, red peppers, red onions, herbs, and mozzarella -Barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, you get 2 rolls cut into 4 pieces in total. It comes with a super yummy dipping sauce of tamarind barbeque and blue cheese wine. -Stuffed long hot peppers. You get 2 big ol' smoked green peppers, stuffed with house-made paneer, mozzarella, deghi chili, spring onions, with a fresh tomato sauce on the bottom. -Aloo makkai tikki are these 2 yummy spiced potato cakes with corn and apple chutney. ALL SUPER TASTY! Entrees: -The best one is chicken tikka makhani (butter chicken). The chicken is apparently free range, and obviously delicious. the sauce is beautifully spiced, and tastes right. Not like the nasty overly creamy ones I have to eat in New Jersey :( It's served with fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice, which is so delicious, but still needs to be drowned in the beautiful makhani sauce. - Lamb rogan josh is also really good! It's a less interesting tasting sauce in my opinion, but still delicious. Kinda like a lamb stew but spiced with an Indian flair. The lamb had a great, tender texture, and the sauce was so hearty and yummy. This also came with the awesome herb rice. Overall, an awesome date place!! The ambiance is really nice, roomy, clean, and dimly-lit. The $15 express lunch is just unreal.
(5)Donna D.
IndeBlue offers exceptional service, incredible food and a beautifully charming restaurant--all at very reasonable prices. My companion and I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. I am vegan, he is not. We both loved our meals and were very satisfied. You must order the vegetable samosas and the vegetable skewer. My companion had shrimp, chicken and lamb and he said they were all incredibly high quality meats, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waiter, Chris, was awesome and made us feel like family. This is my new favorite restaurant!
(5)Emma M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! The food is superb. The service is attentive and seamless. The venue is elegant and beautiful, and the prices are uber-reasonable. Moreover, it caters not just to carnivorous diners, but to vegans and gluten-free acolytes alike. Yay! I like to sample as much of a restaurant's offerings as I can. Indeblue's menu certainly encourages that. I'll typically get the smaller versions of two entrees, throw in an appetizer and naan bread, and order one of their homemade desserts. They also offer a tasting menu, which I highly recommend. Since it's conveniently located near the Kimmel Center and other performance venues I like to frequent, I'll often come here for dinner. If I order before 7 pm, I've asked for my drink at Happy Hour prices even though my meal came from the dinner menu. Bear in mind that Happy Hour restarts at 9 pm! So indulge in a sumptuous meal, walk a few blocks to your performance, and return to Indeblue afterwards for a post-show drink. It's a great place to bring a date, enjoy a pleasant business dinner, or have a nice evening out with friends.
(5)Liz F.
This place has a great brunch! To start there is a live sitar player... Come on, that is pretty unique touch! When we first came in we thought it was just music played through speakers. After we walked through the restaurant, we realized it was live and it was beautiful and relaxing. It was just the extra touch needed to seal the experience. First and foremost, order the rose mimosa! It was delicate and delicious and four dollars... I'm now regretting that I didn't get several. It isn't as sugary as orange juice and the flavor beautifully complimented the champagne. We ordered the samosas for our appetizer and those were extremely tasty. They were piping hot and perfectly plated. I ordered the non-vegetarian thali for my main dish and it was delectable! It is a lot of food, but I can honestly say I did not leave a single morsel behind. Each sample had a great flavor. I wish it was a bit spicier, but that is certainly a personal preference. This is an excellent choice to try several options without committing to just one. It's an indecisive persons dream come true! More seal the deal five star characteristics included: how attentive and available the wait staff was. Our waitress was quick to answer any questions and to ensure our food was enjoyable. Not to mention, when the check came not much damage was done considering the quality and quantity we had received. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to be back soon for dinner!!
(5)Courtney J.
I've been in love with the IndeBlue in Collingswood for a few years now, so I was excited to hear they were getting a location in Philly. A couple of friends and I went to Happy Hour here last week, and we were impressed with the food deals. The happy hour is from 5:00-7:00 Monday-Friday at the bar. The food prices range from $3-$5. The veggie samosas were only $3 and came with two large ones in a chickpea sauce. They were stuffed full of potatoes and chickpeas. I also ordered the nan pizza ($5), which is just what it sounds like, a large piece of nan with pizza toppings. This particular one came topped with paneer, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and peppers. The type of pizza changes daily though, so ask before ordering. I was stuffed after having only those two appetizers. The drink I had was less impressive, but at only $5 it was alright. It was the Chikini Shandar. This is basically sangria with an Indian twist as chai and cardamom are added. However, I didn't taste any of these wonderful flavors. It was sweet and just tasted like regular sangria. Since the appetizers were good, I'll be back. I'll try a different drink next time, and hopefully it'll be better.
(4)Bill G.
Today - The best Rogan Josh and Nan I have had in the last several years, Very Authentic Indian food. Five stars for cleanliness, ambience, authenticity and quality. No question in my mind that I will eat here again.
(4)Sophia J.
Just tried to eat here but it's restaurant week only. Also, one of the first places I've been where they didn't accommodate my request to sit beside my husband. This place had really good ratings and decor but alas, off to Cuba Libre instead.
(1)Anupma S.
**Restaurant Week Review** I can't imagine giving IndeBlue any less than five stars... Simply amazing! From the service, to food and drink, to decor and ambiance, IndeBlue scores an A+ on everything. I visited again to try their Restaurant Week menu and had an incredible dining experience. Our service was exceptional -- we had a good pace through our four courses and were never rushed by our waiter. Each course was so delicious!! Check out the pictures on this review to see our selections. My favorites... Chai Sangria: Umm... Two amazing drinks in one, heck yeah!!! They nailed it. Mango Avacado Salad: Light and fresh with tasteful additions of avacado and mango. Great way to begin a heavy meal of Indian food. Drums of Heaven: Reminiscent of Indo-Chinese flavors. Perfectly crispy and cooked! Chicken Tikka Makhani: Never had better! Bold, rich flavors and perfectly textured chicken. Gulab Jamun: Delicious pairing with cinnamon ice cream, YUMMM. Heck i loved everything lol. For serious, they can effortlessly make tasty vegetable and meat dishes that are both fresh and rich. I've never seen another Indian restaurant do it better! The decor inside is simply beautiful. They really went all out in making the restaurant an exotic escape from Philadelphia. It was packed for Restaurant Week too, so I'm not alone in my love!
(5)Sanit J.
Hands down the best indian food in Philly. Dal Makhani is to die for. The crispy spinach chat is a great concept and texturally brilliant. Not to miss at all.
(5)Ray M.
Based on a great review from Sari A. Indie Blue in Philadelphia did not disappoint. Very classy Indian restaurant. Wonderful decor/atmosphere. Very clean and comfortable. All the staff work well together to service the customer. It's clear to see this restaurant is just doing it right. I love Indian food! Indie Blue is now my new favorite place dine for this cuisine. I decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of 4 courses. You are able to pick 1-2 choices for each course from the main menu. I'm very confident everything at this restaurant is great. My favorite was the lollipop lamb chops! Omg! They were perfectly balanced with amazing spices and a melt in your mouth texture. Soooo good! I was also pleasantly surprised by the drink menu. Not too many Indian restaurants are known for good alcohol libations. They have amazing drinks with an Asian twist. Awesome! Desert: with the tasting menu you get coconut ice cream, banana beignet and rice pudding. Delicious! Words really cannot describe my start to finish experience. I can't wait to go back to explore more of this great menu at this lovely restaurant. Thank you Sari A!
(5)Neil C.
The food is awesome... Service even better...I highly recommend the chef trading menu... Although it is a littler buy too much for one person... But you can Teetu many items on the menu.no went with spinach chat awesome, chicken drum rule awesome, lamb rack awesome, lamb rogan josh awesome, paneer butter masala awesome chocolate dessert awesome
(5)Aria S.
*happy hour review* Definitely new happy hour stop. I came on Tuesday and the bar was completely packed, but on Thursday it was totally fine...I guess it's just a draw. Drinks: Rose gimlet, spicy lychee margarita, and indebluetini. All delicious and so creative in bringing in Indian flavors (like rose, spice, and cardamon) into drinks! They weren't strong, but for $5, well worth it. Food: Hai ram, this was all delicious. The spinach chaat is a must!! Aloo tikis are a meh (but for $3, why not!). The naan pizza changes weekly I guess but ours with paneer was delightful. The stuffed peppers also delicious and SPICY (yaass) and stuffed with paneer and mozeralla..yes delicious. The most expensive was the naan pizza for $5! For 3 hungry chicas, we ordered 4 appetizers and that was our dinner, coming out to like $5/person and it was the best decision ever. Will definitely return, especially because they have a late night happy hour (9-closing) for us who work later! Shoutout to Michael the host for helping us out when we were in a rush to leave and he got us our bill, etc.
(5)Nora H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had. Everything with stellar: food, cocktails, service, and interior. Went during restaurant week and was impressed with the portion size. The chai tea cocktail and crispy spinach appetizer were especially excellent.
(5)Neha S.
This is Indian food served with a refreshing modern twist. We ordered a stuffed mirchi as appetizer and Malai kofta, pindi chole and garlic mama as entre. And I have to say that every single dish was just outstanding. But the real winner was their fig ice cream with a texture as soft as a silk. I would highly recommend this place for food lovers in Philly!
(5)Elisa F.
Great lunch specials and a gorgeous atmosphere. I had a sampler and everything single thing was awesome. Nice attentive service as well :)
(5)Sonia S.
I came here on a Thursday night for happy hour (5-7pm) with 2 friends... The bar was full so they seated us at a small table near the entrance. This was my first time here and despite having high expectations, I was very impressed! The food and drinks were flavorful and unique. We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 rounds of drinks between the 3 of us and the bill came out to only $50! Drinks ($5 each) -chikni shandar (my favorite one!): sparkling wine with chai and cardamom. Tastes just like sangria with an Indian twist -rose gimlet: if you like gin, this is a must! -spicy lychee margarita: chili-infused tequila adds an interesting kick -indebluetini: just like a spiced maaza mango juice Food ($3-5) -spinach chaat: the best spinach you will ever have... Crispy spinach with onions, tomatoes topped with yogurt chutney and sev (thin crunchy noodles) -naan pizza: with tandoori marinated paneer and caramelized onions -aloo makkai tikki: still not sure how I feel about the apple chutney but overall an average dish -stuffed peppers: gets progressively more spicy as you near the end of the pepper with seeds. Looking forward to coming back for their late night happy hour (9pm-close) and trying a thali!
(5)Sari A.
So its one block away and I never been there? where have I've eaten all this time? I made a reservation through open table via Yelp, and checked in with the friendly host Josh, who happened to be my waiter as well, he greeted me "Namasté" and walked me to my table. Josh kept addressing me by my first name!! Since it was my first time there, Josh recommended the thali, either the vegetarian, non-vegetarian or the seafood one. He was nice enough to accommodate my request to switch one of the non-vegetarian entrees to a vegetarian one, so I can have a taste of everything! The recipe of a cup of Masala Chai goes back five thousands years ago, I started my meal with Masala Chai. Basically, its Indian-style tea, meaning it is spicy. Isn't india the land of spices?! My chai was milky, sweet and full of taste and flavor, ginger is the secret for the Masala Chai! The waiter, Josh, placed the non-vegetarian thali in front of me, and that contained: 1/ A buttery black lentil-dal makhan and potato cakes as appetizers. Yummy 2/ The two tasting entrees: Chicken curry ( small boneless chicken marinated with fresh tomato and spices) and malai kofta bukhara ( fresh house-made paneer cheese,) both were delicious. 3/ Perfectly cooked basmati white rice with saffron and a very airy naan. 4/ To compliment the platter, a sweet and tangy mango chutney and a raita sauce made with mint, cucumber and some chopped tomatoes, were on the side and were both very tasty condiments. 4/Dessert, I can eat dessert all day and I prefer to be able to choose my own dessert. Today, I didn't, it came as a part of the platter, desi kheer i.e: a traditional cardamom rice pudding. Personally I'm not a rice pudding fan, but I didn't hold back my eager to just give it a try, and it was quite tasty. I love, love LOVE cardamom, and mixing it with saffron added a whole another level of flavor! He handed me the bill and wished me a good day in hindi "Ap ka din shub ho!" I guess that's how one can write it phonetically. isn't that cute! Next time I visit I will try the chicken biryani! Five Yelps and Namasté!
(5)Sam A.
Pretty solid Indian food in Center city. Place is always packed. Beautiful decor. I recommend the lamb lollipops and the crispy spinach.
(5)Lena J H.
This is Indeblue's second location, the original being in Collingswood, NJ. The food is pretty on par with that location, except in terms of pricing: food is on average a dollar more per dish yet it is the same preparation and portions. A huge difference is that Philly served alcohol, while Collingswood is dry. Definitely love their Indian twists on cocktails here. The mango martini is tasty, like an alcoholic lassi without the creaminess. The food is not traditional Indian by any means, so don't come here expecting that. It's a cool contemporary approach to Indian cuisine that is no less delicious. You can't go wrong with the chana masala, samosa, basmati rice, naan, or spinach chaat. I'm a vegan, and this restaurant is definitely accommodating and I have never had any trouble finding something to eat, especially with their knowledgable waitstaff (they even know what vegan means, you'd be surprised how many don't). It's usually a little too chilly inside for my taste, but it's not a big deal. It's pretty small inside and tends to get very busy around dinner time. I'd suggest making a reservation to be safe. Overall, great food and service, I'll be back many more times.
(4)Sabrina K.
This restaurant is so popular, I had to make a reservation on a Tuesday night! It looks very dark, almost like it's closed, from the outside, but the atmosphere inside is bustling with activity. The lollipop lamp chops and spinach chaat are a must for appetizers! I would also recommend their daal makhani and paneer tikka masala as far as entrees go. The saffron rice is so delicious, I could eat it by itself. The banana nirvana is a unique, delicious dessert with its cinnamon ice cream, also a must! The staff could have been a little more sociable, spilled water on our table and almost gave us the wrong check so the visit could have been more professional but accidents happen.
(5)Natalee F.
This might be one of my new favorite places to eat! I like everything about it. The interior is dark and stylish and the tables are not crowded together. I forget the name of the spiced chai alcoholic drink, but after one sip I thought wow, I could drink 20 of these. They are small and go down way too easily. It's made with homemade chai and you can taste the quality. So many vegetarian options!! The paneer is sooo tender and tasty. It's a 10/10 on the paneer deliciousness scale. We tried the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and the malai kofta, along with the truffle oil naan. The portions appeared small, but we definitely were full after eating. The dessert was perfection - homemade fig ice cream with a sweet cheese stuffed date. The only downside was that the waiter seemed like he was trying to get us out of there at the end of the meal. He didn't say it directly, but my friend and I have both worked as servers, so we recognized his tricks. It's a bit pricey, once it's all added up with the drinks, but well worth it. I can't wait to return.
(5)Yash M.
This is one of the best happy hours I have attended in the city. As a regular, I have sampled almost every item on their happy hour menu and my favorites are: the Chikni Shandar - a chai-infused sangria, the Spinach Chaat (flash-fried spinach and other delicious chutneys). the Naan Pizza (rotating but dependably delicious), and the Drums of Heaven (Indian-style chicken). Indeblue is great for brunch too - rose mimosas, dosas, and thalis. For dinner, however, I was a little disappointed in the food. Portions were too big and got a little monotonous. I think the place would do much better with a small plates-style menu. I still give Indeblue five stars, however, because it is truly a great destination for someone who likes Indian flavors, but also wants to enjoy innovative cooking.
(5)Fabio D.
If you're looking for the BEST Indian food, look no further! It's a very welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere. It's somewhat of a small restaurant (but worth it!). The staff was also very kind and helped with any questions on the menu. I've also tried the one in Collingswood which is just as good. However, this one in Philly is a little "fancier." Either way, they're both exceptional! Enjoy!
(5)Geet M.
Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Corey and Topanga, Indian and brunch? Now one of those may make your eyebrows arch but trust me...they're all perfect combos! Indeblue is one of my favorite brunch spots in Philly, it's freaking fantastic. The brunch menu is pretty extensive and the prices are on point. Service was as good as the masala chai (and oh yes, it's good). Tried the chole bhature [Sun Brunch $10] (flavorful chickpeas eaten with a large piece of bread that's bigger than my face) + chicken tikka makhani (tender chunks of chicken swimming in awesome sauce [Sun Brunch $12]. It was the perfect atmosphere for a casual Sunday brunch, the sitar and tabla players are so talented and it transports you to a wonderful place to relax and dine. Our water glasses were always more than half full, for all you optimists out there. The only issue we had was that our bill had the brunch price swapped with the dinner price, an easy fix and the only lil hiccup in the dining experience. Once you dine here, you may not stop ;)
(5)Joy Y.
Took advantage of their $15 lunch special. Spinach chaat: crispy, sweet, but a tad oily. Naan pizza: paneer is tasty but the tomato sauce definitely masked the wonderful texture of naan. Malai kofta: SO GOOD! It is a spicy dish although the menu doesn't say so, and the cashews and apricots provided such variation in texture and flavor that every bite was intense and complex. I poured all the saffron rice into the sauce and cleaned the plate. Next time I'll definitely want to try their mango lassi.
(4)Eunni C.
Glad to find beautiful indian restaurant in the hood. Tried their vegetable samosa, spicy scallop and shrimp crusted salmon. They were all good! Samosa was crispy and deliciously seasoned. Scallop and salmon were great. I really liked the ambiance, it was lively and was perfect for grabbing some yummy food and enjoy conversation. I tried the lassi as well. And was rich and creamy as I like. I wish I tried their crispy chaat. Looked really but no one wanted to order so we skipped it. I will definitely try that dish next time I am there. The service was very professional and kind.
(4)Mike Z.
Very fancy and upscale Indian restaurant with a bar. We ordered chicken tika masala, lamb tika masala, and lamb chops. In addition we had garlic naan. For drinks we just had the Jamison neat. The restaurant is really nice and they have good service. The food was pretty good but not the best Indian food I ever had. This would be a great place to go on a date and I would def come back again.
(4)Mike M.
Excellent food! One of the best that I've personally had and I'm from NYC. Very enjoyable, I would recommend their mango alcoholic drink, naan pizza, garlic naan, and chicken tikka. Definitely will come back for dinner.
(5)Olivia R.
I went to IndeBlue for happy hour with three of my Indian friends. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat with them but I tried some of their spinach chote and it was really good - tasted kind of like tempura and wasn't too spicy the way I find some other Indian food to be. They also got these stuffed peppers that looked good and they all seemed to like. The drinks were interesting and generally pretty good (between the four of us we had almost all of the cocktails). I had the cucumber mantra and the rose gimlet and they were both delicious. If you are looking for traditional Indian food though, this is probably not the place for you. It's Indian fusion so it's all kind of trendier takes on Indian food.
(4)David G.
If there's one thing Philadelphia dining does exceptionally well, it's taking everyday food and turning it into something elegant and unusual. That's why I had such high expectations for dinner at IndeBlue. I was eager to witness the usual rice-n-curry turned up a few notches. I joined a colleague here on a cold and drizzly Tuesday night. It was a good thing we had reservations, since it was packed solid despite the bad weather and off night. I was immediately taken in by its warm and inviting ambiance. We started with a round of drinks -- the IndeBlueTini and a Rose Grapefruit Gimlet. Both were fun and fruity and easy to drink, which helped lift the rainy-day blues. For an appetizer, we shared the naan pizza. (The toppings change on the reg, so be sure to ask the server what you're getting!) Truthfully, I wasn't impressed by it. I was hoping for some heat or spice, but it was disappointingly bland, and the cheese was rubbery and stringy. It all seemed like a waste of perfectly good naan. Our next appetizer, the aloo makkai tikki (corn and potato cakes with apple chutney) was tons better. These crispy cakes were hot, flavorful, and all-around satisfying. For the entree, we shared the chicken Madras with a side of basmati rice and garlic naan. This dish was the most traditional item of the night, but it was packed with flavor and delicious spice. Loved the combo of chili, mustard seed, coconut, and saffron. When generously slathered on the rice or on a slice of naan, this dish brought me to Indian food heaven. For dessert, we shared the chocolate sutra, which didn't seem like an Indian dish at all. It was more like a flourless chocolate mousse cake with a few pistachios thrown on as an afterthought. That said, it tasted superb. Service was friendly throughout the night. Each time we looked up, it seemed like there was a different server tending to our table, but that never got in the way of their professionalism and timely pacing of the courses. Thanks for the lovely dinner, IndeBlue!
(4)Jennifer P.
Excellent and innovative Indian cuisine. The cocktails are also original and elegant - try the spicy lychee martini or the mango margarita. Beautiful restaurant and very attentive service. Happy hour or late night is an awesome deal - all drinks and apps are between $4-$5 - truly a steal. Our expectations were exceeded - definitely a must go.
(5)Cynthia X.
Currently eating leftovers from IndeBlue as I write this review. The food here is lovely, though I would stay away from any prix fixe menu they offer. Below is what I (and my bf) tried from their $50pp Valentine's special menu (don't think all items are on their actual menu): Course 1: Red kidney bean soup: Ok, tastes like chili. I could do without Chicken and kale soup: Tastes a bit like chicken noodle soup but with a thicker consistency. I wasn't a fan Course 2: Chickpea salad: Fine, but I can't believe they listed this out as a separate course. Course 3: Foiegras on toast: This was tasty, but I don't see the Indian connection at all.. Mushroom uttapam: Yum! Mushrooms + truffle oil over a light rice cake bread. This I would definitely recommend. Course 4: Chicken Tikka Masla: No trip to an Indian restaurant would be complete without this British rendition of Indian food! You cannot go wrong with this! While my bf and I wanted to be adventurous and try something else, we just couldn't resist. The chicken was completely tender and the sauce slightly sweet. Lamb chops: These were juicy, but I didn't particularly care for some of the spices which lent a bitter flavor. This came with a bread basket of 3 naans: sesame, paneer, and garlic. I loved all 3. I could eat naan for days. Course 5: Red velvet cake: delicious, though I'm pretty sure this is a Valentine's day special. Bread pudding: definitely could skip While my review is not all that favorable, I still give this place 4 stars because the mainstay food items (I think) that the restaurant normally serves are great - chicken tikka masala, naan, mushroom uttapam. yumyum. I wish I had a choice to order a la carte. Point of the story: regular menu items are great. valentine's special, not so much.
(4)Krupa T.
Very good! Been here twice now and both times were amazing. The spinach chaat is unique and flavorful. It's almost like a salad/chaat. Hard to describe, order it! I feel like Indeblue has a truly unique menu that is modern and appetizing. I've been to tashaan and I thought their attempt to be modern comes off bland and flavorless!
(4)Hema K.
Stopped in for happy hour after a long day of shopping and fell in LOVE! Such a cool vibe as soon as you enter and the waiters/bartenders are very friendly. We started off with two drinks--the Indebluetini and the Chikni Shandar. The Indebluetini was to die for--it tasted like rich mango pulp infused with vodka. The Chikni Shandar was good, but not what it was advertised to be--I couldn't taste the chai or cardamom, so it was more or less just a sangria/spritzer. However, the food completely made up for points I might have docked for the drinks. We ordered the naan pizza, the spinach chaat, and the stuffed long hot peppers. The peppers had great flavor but I wished the paneer inside was a bit more firm and less crumbly. The spinach chaat--out of this world! I could eat it for days. Such a unique twist on an Indian staple! And the naan pizza had an amazing range of flavors. The naan itself was perfectly cooked, and the rose petal marmalade, asparagus, and goat cheese all complemented each other so well. This is modern Indian fusion at its finest. Definitely my favorite spot in Philly--can't wait to be back. I will add that I thought having a Ganesha statue in the middle of the bar surrounded by spirits was a bit distasteful, but only a minor point.
(5)Kathleen D.
Happy Hour, that's what I'm sayin. If you can swipe yourself a seat at styley IndeBlue's little bar between the hours of 5-7 PM, you should that. Happy Hour: That's what I can't shut up about here. With select appetizers in the $3-$5 range, you can really fashion a nice Indian style small plates feast for yourself, or an early dinner perhaps? Also, there's drinking to be done here: $3 Kingfishers, along with $4 featured crafty drafts, $4 select glasses of reds and whites, $5 cocktails... Here. I'll offer this tip up for the ravenous ones; maybe you wanna order in shifts. Otherwise, a parade of tapas sized plates will ascend on you all at once. I mentioned, it's not a large bar. I got to have one of those, "Ah geez, we're makin a spectacle of ourselves, ahhhgain,' moments as we huddled in the corner with our veritable mini smorgasbord of Indian fusion flavors. There are a lot of lil dishes that were calling our names. We did a shameless samplin' and enjoyed em up plenty. I'm required by some kinda self-imposed regulation that I always have to have a samosa. The vegetable samosas were spot-hitters, filled with mildly spiced potato & peas and drizzled with chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt. The other samosa style option on the bar menu during happy hour is the house-made tamarind barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls served with a blue cheese wine sauce. I liked em just fine, but for me those rolls were all about the winey blue cheese condiment accompanying those fellers. "Drums of Heaven," are representing for the wing portion of your happy hour hankerings. These frenched chicken wing drummies are batter-fried and then sauced in a slightly smoky, chili-tomato puree, with scattered blue cheese crumbles and scallion to top. Juicy. Messy! Tasty. Very tasty. Hey, and if your lookin for a fusiony flatbread, there's a daily featured naan pizza. "Ask your bartender," it says on the menu in parentheses. I can tell you, everyone asks. We heard the contents of that pizza repeated again and again...annnd despite that factoid, I know I'm still somehow leaving something off the list here, but you can believe me when I say that it was a good'un comprised of crispy bottomed, pillowy naan, topped with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, paneer, mozzarella, and cilantro. Out of everything, however, our top favorite bites were the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the stuffed long hot peppers appetizer. The crispy cauliflower was like that ole Indo-Chinese favorite of ours, Gobi Manchuria. Florets are batter-fried crispy and then spiced up with a, "medium heat,' tomato, chili, soy, ginger sauce. So good. So addictive. As always, I wish for more heat, but if you ask you can get a little of IndeBlue's red hot sauce on the side. I overheard another in-the-know lady do so, and I coppycatted. Yes. The stuffed long hot peppers didn't need no extree burn, I'm happy to report. You know how it is with long hots, some of em have a sneaking heat, and some of em straight up sear. These two roasted (or fried) soft long hot peppers were of the latter variety and stuffed with mozzarella and crumbled paneer and herbs, resting in a pool of that now-familiar chili tomato sauce. Good stuff. There you have it. We ate nearly everything on the happy hour menu and we dug it. Nearly everything... We'll return to devour the rest. IndeBlue's 5-7 daily happy hour became an instant favorite with us. Nice chaating with you.
(4)Scott S.
The food is unbelievable if your in town check them out. They have a family style in the menu for two people and up.
(5)Enid C.
Here's what I look for in Indian restaurants: 1) bold flavor combinations, 2) food that packs heat (when appropriate), 3) water glass-filling diligence. For the first two requirements, Indeblue falls short. We came with a group and ordered a pretty diverse sampling (samosa chaat, tandoori mixed grill, lamb rogan josh, baingan bharta, channa masala). Across the board, dishes ranged from underseasoned to just plain bland. I also barely detected any spiciness, even after specifying we wanted heat. Their take on "modern & traditional" cuisine (aren't those two things sort of mutually exclusive?) clearly means they have tempered things down to appease western palates. The interior is pretty swanky, and they serve up some decent cocktails. Prices are higher for smaller quantities of food, so know that you're paying for ambiance more than anything else. Maybe this is an alright place for happy hour socializing. If you're main focus is quality food, please direct yourself to Ekta. But hey - at least my water glass was always kept full!
(3)Rupal P.
Excellent Indian Brunch - order any of the thali's and you'll be super happy you did:)
(5)Kimberly Y.
I came here for brunch and really appreciated the variety on their menu. First of all, all the brunch drinks--chai sangria, Bloody Mary--were tempting, but I ended up going with the rose petal mimosa. Tasted amazing; there was just the perfect amount of rose flavor! My bf got the mango lassi even though we couldn't find it on the menu. Ended up being $5. Ridic. We also got the butter chicken with rice and French toast. While both were excellent, we would've appreciated larger portions. For two people, I'd recommend getting three dishes. Except we already spent $40 as is and didn't want to spend more... Usually I find brunch food to be extremely filling. Not exactly the cheapest Indian food. But that's okay! The ambiance more than made up for it. They had live guitar and drums which sounded surprisingly ethnic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The service was all right; sometimes extremely attentive, occasionally neglectful. Overall definitely worth the experience!
(5)Amanda M.
I'm a big fan of IndeBlue's Collingswood location, but hadn't been to their Philly spot yet. So when I needed a spot in the city to meet up with fellow tikki masala loving friends, we all jumped at the chance to try this out, finally. On a Friday night, the place was crowded but not completely packed. Having only ever walked by the outside, I was surprised how big the restaurant was - it reaches really far back, and I was happy to be seated way back near the kitchen (far away from the door and the cold air coming through). The ambience was nice, and our waiter was, at first, extremely attentive. We weren't ordering drinks or several course meals, so he sort of disappeared when he realized we were going to be a cheap table. Still, the food was delicious - the paneer tikki masala was delicious, as was the fresh, hot naan I ordered on the side. Was disappointed by the small portion (was hoping for next-day leftovers!) but the quality was hard to beat. Definitely not an everyday/take-out sort of spot, but perfect for a night out. The happy hour deals look awesome, so I think I'll be back for that!
(4)Trang N.
For my 200th review- I'm glad it was a good experience! We grabbed last night minute resis at indie blue. Upon entering the space there was a nice bar to the left by the hostess stand that was in full swing. He ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice dark purple walls, silk curtains, jeweled light fixtures over the tables and a beautiful ornate tapestry type decoration on the main wall, it created a warm romantic setting. Dinner got off to a rocky start, we had 7:30 reservation, but wasn't seated until 8pm! Major annoyance as we were standing in the doorway with another group complaining about the wait. Once we were seated, our waiter immediate stepped in and saved our evening! He was charismatic, very attentive and made great recommendations, our glasses were always full which is a huge plus! We selected the chefs tasting menu, the portions were perfect for two, however the wait time between the courses were rather long. We had the bbq spare ribs samosas- four pieces of flavorful rolls with tender shredded pork- the three side dipping sauces added a great level of heat. The heavenly drumsticks were a nice and spicy buffalo wing, crispy and dressed well. The lamb lollipops were cooked to the perfect medium rare and I couldn't help myself but to munch in the bones! Next we got the mixed tandori grill which was a tasting of the lamb/chicken and shrimp. Very nicely presented and great flavor. The Osso Bucco pork- was very nice- it didn't fall off the bone, but it was tender enough not to use a knife- great flavor in this tangy sauce- not technically an Osso Bucco as it was lacking that delicious bone marrow. The dessert trio was yummy, although we were so full, we packed it up- the ice cream was very nice. I highly recommend the mango lassi- I didn't see it on the menu but I knew hey had it! It was delicious!! It cooled down the heat factor for me when things were getting too spicy! Other than the wait, the floors were a little slippy and I wasn't even wearing heels. A bit treacherous to get to the bathroom, but I survived. All in all a great date night- the noise level was a bit louder, then I like but what can you do! I will be coming back!
(4)Pam S.
I adore IndeBlue, especially their fantastic lunch. For one, they are ridiculously vegan-friendly, all I have to do is say "vegan" and the staff is very well informed, and items on the menu are clearly marked. Secondly (or firstly, for everyone who's not vegan) the food is fantastic. I love when I go to a place and the food and the prices match. Yes, it's fancier, and yes, you should pay for it. Fantastic. Third, that lunch? The best is getting the thali, or a plated lunch of small dishes. As of my last visit, it now includes dessert, which for vegans, was a house-made coconut sorbet. It. was. amazing. I haven't been for happy hour, but I've heard that's a great deal as well, and they have great drink specials at lunch ($4 rose mimosas? yes pls.) Love them, and I love bringing people there!
(5)Jessica W.
The food at Indeblue is fantastic. Decor is beautiful. We had a very nice experience and look forward to returning.
(5)Vidushi B.
This review update is for the brunch - dinner is still a solid 5 stars for me! I also enjoyed my brunch, but I still think dinner here is better. The ambiance obviously does not change from dinner to brunch -- but they do have live sitar and tabla at noon, which is a nice touch. To start, I ordered chai, and obviously loved it. I don't mean a chai tea latte, I mean real, milky, overly sweet chai, which is just the way I like it. We got the spinach chaat as an appetizer, which you'll know from all the other reviews, is the best dish at this restaurant. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. For my entree, I decided to have the paneer bhurjee, which is one of the more traditional items on the menu. It came with a small chili cheese naan. It was very flavorful, and I really liked it. The awkward thing was that they naan was pretty small, and I had so much bhurjee left over at the end. I took it home, and tonight, I ordered take-out naan to finish it with... My friends got the dosa and the french toast, and both were impressed. However, I think that getting the more fusion dishes is the move here, because that's what IndeBlue is good at - putting a new spin on more traditional dishes!
(4)Farha A.
This was by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever encountered - and I am an Indian. What I appreciated most is the uniqueness of the dishes while still maintaining an authentic taste and reverence to South Asian cuisine. I went during happy hour to eat and the happy hour foods were served in generous portions for only $3, $4, or $5 max. My favorite dish was the Spinach Chaat. It was composed of crunchy Spinach flash fried in chick pea powder with other various spices and sauces typical to a chaana or samosa chaat. It was a very light yet satisfying dish and it took a lot of restraint not to order more as I still had plenty more coming. The drums of heaven, hot long peppers, veggie samosas, and shrimp with chilli aoili were also things I tried and loved each and every single one. The bartender serving my food was very kind and informative, offering explanations and recommendations and the food arrived promptly. Best part is all of this came out to be only around ~$20 so if you are a student like me wanting some delicious, gourmet food with a unique flair, I HIGHLY recommend Indeblue. One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Philly!
(5)A B.
Tonight was looking for spice and flavor, enter IndeBlue. A modern decor and foods that had just a hint of a contemporary twist - barring the fish taco which was completely outside the box, though tasty - I found everything I was looking for!
(3)Tonya M.
My friends and I have been here for dinner- yum! Have a great happy hour too. Lunch was so good! Reasonably priced, fast, super friendly service as always. Saag Paneer is my favorite.
(5)Monica H.
It was a first for me to try Indian food. I would not be able to say whether it's authentic or not. So I'm just giving my opinion on what I've encountered.. Our waiter wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. I told him it was my first time trying Indian food, and he didn't offer any type of suggestions. We went with the chefs tasting menu. I wasn't wow'd. If it's a "Chefs Tasting Menu"... shouldn't the "chef" put it together? Why am I selecting all the options.. I wasn't getting a "pre fixe'd" meal.. Anyways.. after what it seemed like pulling teeth out of our waiter, "MONICAs TASTING MENU included: spinach - i enjoyed. it was crunchy and delicious. something i've never had. scallop - nothing special. ONE medium size scallop in a puddle of sauce. lamb chop - too salty. chicken - chewy and a bit on the dry side. goat - very tender and moist. ....dessert (which the chef finally decided to put together cuz their was no option). it consist of homemade ice cream, something like a fried banana dough, which i didn't taste any banana. rice pudding which was very waterdown... MAYBE i would come back for their lunch since there were items there that i did want to try which is not offered during dinner.
(3)marie l.
This review is purely a happy hour cocktail review. I will be back to review food and regular menu very soon. So, I like happy hours for two reasons. 1.) getting together with a friend who you haven't seen in a while and really want to catch up with, but you both have such crazy schedules that all you can fit in is a happy hour, and 2.) Partake in a solo cocktail while I read or introspect, or think big life thoughts and simultaneously not break the bank. Either way, I love relatively small, quiet but interesting and alive places. Indeblue more than fits this bill. Good, strong cocktails for a happy hour, friendly and non invasive service, perfect balance of calm and vibrant.
(5)Jason M.
I was at IndeBlue the other week. Very beautiful restaurant! The host (Danielle) was very nice, friendly, and accommodating. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I had a great experience with Jared and Julie. Both wonderful servers and people. I hear the owners are very friendly, caring, and treat their staff like family. That's always great to hear! I was able to speak with one of them (Heather). She wanted to make sure everything was to my satisfaction and she even sent out a complimentary appetizer after she found out this was my first time here. She was incredibly nice and friendly. I shared quite a few laughs with her as well. If I could, I'd give them 10 stars, but 5 stars will have to suffice for now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Tony R.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was hands down the best I've ever had. I have travelled the world and eaten indian food, this was the best!
(5)bryan k.
The brunch is top notch in fusion and presentation. We had the masala omelette and chicken tikka wrap with four dollar cocktails. The omelette dish was cooked to a really nice consistency with maple syrup infused bacon and with the included naan we could make our own custom breakfast sandwich; such a good finger food! Also the live sitar music was a sweet aural addition!
(4)Ashley M.
Absolutely delicious Indian food, with a flare. Loved the chick peas the best, dahl was also excellent.
(5)Lu S.
Every dish was amazing. Full of flavour and lovely atmosphere. I had the veg samosa to start, butter chicken curry and then chocolate sutra for dessert. All delicious. Best Indian I've had in the US so far.
(4)Breton B.
It's about time I started reviewing. Lived near Collingswood, NJ (location of IndeBlue's first joint) for several years and never really gave it a chance. Moved into Philly and IndeBlue followed along opening up their location a half a block from where I live in Center City. The Wash Square West location is pretty amazing. Classy decor, friendly waitstaff, and (though we didn't partake) the bar you pass to get to the dining room looked very inviting. The fiance liked her Bombay Punch (Bombay Gin, grapefruit and pineapple juice with mint) but the food - the food definitely made the night. We did small plates so no entree review here but each plate kept us wanting more (in a good way). HIghly recommend the Duo Samosa, the U-10 Scallops (with a coconut milk-curry sauce that was even more incredible when lapped up by Naan), and finally - the Chickpea battered Sweet Potato Pakora (could have eaten at least 3 plates of those). We ended with the Stuffed Squash with saffron rice. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. They even allowed us a taste of several of their chutneys as well as some Gazpacho to start off. For those that want a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine - IndeBlue delivers. Will be back for sure.
(5)Paul A.
This place is great! Fantastic for date night (maybe not a first date though). It's a bit noisy so be warned. But the service and food is really great. Price is on the high end for Indian food but hey it's an upscale joint in Midtown so it's expected...and worth it! It's very popular so make a reservation. And most guys are wearing jackets so get dressed up and enjoy!
(5)Shane L.
Surprisingly good lunch. It takes a lot for me consider indian food good (I'm no expert), because there's plenty of Indian spots that try too hard with the high-end look. Pricing is always a focus when I come to asian restaurants because the truth is that I really don't like to pay for stuff that I know costs little to nothing to prepare. Maybe it was the fact that this was a lunch meeting (expensed) which allowed me to enjoy the food a little more than I anticipated....who knows. Fact of the matter, it was plain delicious. This is a lunch review so I can't wait to see what a dinner experience will bring. Appetizer was a "crispy spinach chaat" that was refreshing and full of salty sweet flavors. Entree was a "sea-food thali" which was essentially nan, rice and 5 small bowls of goodness (mainly curries, pickled mango & yogurt). I look forward to trying out the dinner menu at some point. I feel that the food, coupled with the modern/sheek decor, will make for an amazing night.
(4)Behnaum S.
Best happy hour I've been to in a long time. Very good prices on unique drinks all made with fresh squeezed juices, you can taste the difference. The happy hour food is great and well priced. I've gone 3 days in a row now.
(5)Jade S.
This place is awesome. There's always a monthly special which usually features exotic entrees and appetizers that have a twist. My boyfriend and I will always try one of the two. What makes this place great is that it is consistent. We have never had a bad meal. Try the Thalie if Indian is new to you and DO NOT skip on the Fig ice cream. So happy to have this place nearby.
(5)Ben W.
Meal left much to be desired. Manager was inexplicably rude. I will not be returning.
(1)Anand T.
Came here for the first time last Saturday and was really impressed. This is a really good indian restaurant in the city. It's not authentic indian but it's more modernized indian. The food is amazing here some of my favorites are the drums of heaven and the seared scallops. The drums of heaven have a nice spice to it and it's not overwhelming spicy and everything in the dish complements well. Seared scallops are out of this world it goes especially with the sambar it just makes the dish even better. For those not in the city not to worry they have a location in collingswood, so def try it out you won't regret it.
(5)Izabella J.
Vegetarian & Gluten Free welcome!!! 5 stars for Taste of the food, Service & Ambiance of this place
(5)Jacob J.
There's a lot of good restaurant right within a few blocks but this is worth a stop. It's an American-Indian fusion with very good results. The drums of heaven are delicious wings with just enough spice and go well with tamarind chutney. The naan pizza is a nice touch. The seafood moilee is should try.
(4)C V.
Indeblue is probably the best Indian option in Center City and a very nice experience. Ambience: Great- intimate, nice and elegant, not too loud Drinks: the cocktails were great! I'm usually not into cocktails because they're often prepared so sweet; Indeblue's cocktails were actually quite nice and unique Food: It's not entirely a traditional menu and I liked that; the spinach chaat is great as everyone says. The more traditional dishes are not as great as they could be but are still very good. Service: Everyone was very nice and seemed to take service seriously. They had a few mixups but were really apologetic about that. I think they're just getting up and running so I'm sure they'll improve as they go.
(4)Ronald Y.
Delicious food, great service. I was there over the weekend with my partner and friends, we had had a great time. vibrant and energetic ambience. It's a must.
(5)Jen L.
Things that IndeBlue are: - a nice restaurant as evidenced by inflated prices for food you can get more cheaply at a lot of other Indian restaurants, attentive service, and a decor that strives to look fancy - overhyped Things that IndeBlue are not: - a good restaurant. Food was underwhelming and not memorable, particularly at the price point they're requesting Not convinced this place is worth the extra bucks
(3)David A.
Cut above the standard Indian fare. Ordered the chef's tasting menu. Exceptionally delicious and varied dishes -- not the same 'ol tikka whatever. Plus great beer or wine pairings (I had wine, my bros had beer). It was a real culinary experience. The waiter was awesome too: attentive without being obsequious. One of the most enjoyable Indian meals I've had anywhere.
(5)Sam C.
The lamb biryani changed. my. life. If you don't order it, you're making a mistake. My friend and I had an amazing meal here. We had both been to the sister restaurant in Collingswood, NJ which was very yummy, but the new Center City location takes the cake. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great, and I loved the little pumpkin soup starter (to quote Andre from The League, I love to amuse my bouche). But let's get to the good stuff. We ordered a red chicken curry, lamb biryani, a roasted eggplant side, and a bunch of naans, all to share. Well let's just say we cleaned our plates in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Everything was delicious but the standouts for both of us were the biryani (seriously I could eat that every day, no problem), the accompanying raita which was perfectly tangy and refreshing, and the eggplant side which was absolutely scrumptious. The chutney and sauces were all wonderful as well. The spice level on everything was perfect; we were definitely feeling it but not so much that we couldn't taste our food. Even the least memorable dish, the chicken curry, would have gotten rave reviews at another restaurant; it was simply eclipsed by the more exceptional things on our table. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back to try as much as I can on the menu, but there's no way I won't be ordering that lamb again.
(5)Jamie H.
We were looking for Indian food near our hotel, and the concierge recommended Indieblue. My friend and I shared two appetizers and half-servings of three entrees. Over the last 15 years, we have probably gotten together for 3 meals a year at conferences all over the world. We agreed that this was the best meal we've ever enjoyed together. The food was absolutely stupendous, and the service was marvelous too.
(5)Manoj V.
Classy ambience, excellent service and amazing food. Spinach mozzarella soup Thali! Probably the best place to introduce someone to Indian food.
(5)J K.
Inde Blue is a very pretty restaurant inside, candelit and romantic. It would be a nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our server was very professional and gave us good recommendations from the menu. This is not your "standard" Indian fare but more "fusion" ...the best dishes we had were a crispy spinach salad (which could be one of the best salads I have had anywhere) and goat biryani. We also tried the long hot peppers stuffed with cheese, they were very, very spicy (too spicy for me) The scallop appetizer was good. Overall very pleased with the meal, and will plan to return.
(3)Tami L.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week. I already can't wait to return. The food is spectacular. Jason, our server, was funny, attentive without being overbearing, and offered superb recommendations. All of our food was delicious. The cocktails are tasty and innovative. The food was spicy but not uncomfortably so! A fabulous evening!
(5)Jason T.
Pretty exceptional experience. Two of us dined. The food was very good. The service was good. What I found to be exceptional was the fact that we had an `in center city` coupon that had apparently expired. They gave me $10 off my next visit then called later to apologize and offer to honor the coupon.
(5)Sara L.
If you have convinced yourself that "ethnic" food cannot be elegant, please step into IndeBlue and allow them to change your mind. I had heard raves about the Collingswood Inde Blue for years and was thrilled to learn that the relatively new space on 13th Street was associated. As our very helpful waiter explained, the downtown location is a little more upscale with more creative flair to the menu than the more traditional offerings in New Jersey. I made a reservation to celebrate the big 3-5 with my husband at IndeBlue this past weekend and enjoyed one of the nicer meals out I have had in some time. The space is beautifully decorated with a heavy (but not over-the-top) Indian vibe. The lighting is dim and sparkly, but you can still read the menu and see your dinner date. The drink menu had a nice selection of wines and beers, as well as some specialty cocktails that I look forward to trying. I was correct in my guess that the ~50% table occupation by Indian people predicted good things for the meal to come. Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative as he went over the soup and salad "of the moment" and reviewed the options for doing the 5-course chef's menu, which we skipped on this visit. We started the meal with complimentary amuse bouche portions of the spicy, but well-balanced chilled gazpacho, followed by appetizers of seared scallops in coconut curry sauce and and intriguing arugula salad over watermelon with spiced cashews and candied ginger. It was nice to start the meal with one heavier dish and one so very light and refreshing. For entrees we shared the chicken tikka masala and the seafood moilee. Both were outstanding, and each was served with a differently spiced rice side that perfectly suited them. We wrapped up the meal by sharing the fig duo dessert - a fig blondie with a scoop of homemade fig ice cream. I think that dessert has ruined Fig Newtons for me for life! We were already planning what to order on our next trip before we even finished our meals. The prices were not cheap, but very reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. If you are expecting the typical "vat of Indian food" portion sizes, you might be disappointed; however, for truly gourmet food I found them quite satisfying. Many of the dishes are rich enough that a little goes a long way, and we had ample leftovers to take home. I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit, but IndeBlue has really outdone themselves in filling a void for "Indian food as a nice meal" in a way that not even Palace at the Ben ever quite achieved.
(5)Susan P.
Love this place! It's in a great location --- walking distance from many other restaurants and bars. It has beautiful decor and friendly staff. APPETIZERS/ENTREES I recommend the naan pizza, vegetable samosa chaat, drums of heaven, lollipop lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and the lamb rogan josh. DESSERTS The banana nirvana (banana gulab jamun) was ok --- it shouldn't be called gulab jamun --- it looks like gulab jamun but it tastes nothing like it. The mango panna cotta on the other hand was light and refreshing. COCKTAILS All of the cocktails that we got were delicious. I highly recommend the sexy goan, indebluetini, and the ginger twist.
(5)Sar M.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. You have to try the lamb lollipops they were amazing! A little pricey but a great place to go for a different take on Indian food.
(4)Shirl C.
Food is exquisite! The waiter was very nice to us, and the owner was so sweet. Food is absolutely fabulous!
(5)Carly S.
We went here (on a double date) for restaurant week last night, and WOW I was so impressed. I'll preface this with the fact that I'm a pretty hypercritical restaurant diner, and honestly, I left having no complaints with our experience and food. We came here looking for a place that we typically wouldn't go to since it was restaurant week, and I'll definitely be coming back someday. First of all, the decor and service were great. The interior was very beautifully decorated, and felt intimate with the dim lighting. Great as a date spot or with a group of friends. We never had empty water glasses and the entire host of servers were very attentive and polite. The courses came out very well paced (maybe for some, a slightly long of a wait between courses since it was very busy last night, but I prefer to have a little gap between courses as I'm a slow eater and get overwhelmed when everything comes out too fast). For the first course I had the spinach chaat, which was out of this world. I wasn't expecting spinach to be so tasty. It was flash fried with these little crispy noodle things on top and some veggies and tasty sauce underneath. That set the bar high, but nothing after disappointed. For all the courses, the group got something different, so we all shared. The others got the chicken chaat which was very tender and flavorful, and also the vegetable samosa which I tried also and liked. For the second course I got the tandoori chicken wings which just fell off the bone and the spices used were perfect. came with a little salad of veggies on the side which I gobbled up too. My friends got fried cauliflower which was also delicious, the fish taco which was sweet and tasty, and the stuffed long hot which was deliciously cheesy. For the main course, I got lamb saag, Again, the meat was so tender, like nothing I've had before with a wonderful concoction of spices. It came with some sort of seasoned basmati rice (maybe saffron?) and your choice of naan bread. (get the garlic or rosemary one!) Everything was SO GOOD, and the portions were generous. I actually took half of my entree home for lunch today and can't wait to eat it again! The others got the fish dish, and my boyfriend got the pork one (which I think I liked even better than mine) Finally for dessert, I had the rice pudding which was very tasty and a nice finish. My friends got the sorbet, and the ice cream pairings. I think my favorite was the sorbet, but all were great. The rose petal ice cream and fig ice cream were something I never tried before, so that was fun. I wasn't drinking for the night, but all three of the others got the darjeeling cocktail, and all loved it. I would imagine at non-restaurant week, prices are a little steep, but so worth it. I left stuffed and happy, and still happy as I write this rating! Do yourself a favor, and come here!
(5)Johanna B.
This was a great meal. The happy hour had amazing prices and is every day, even the weekends. We had a table of 4, so we shared 4 mains family style and a bread basket with 4 types of naan. We had one who needed gluten free options, which every main complied with and she even got her own gf naan. We ordered 1. the eggplant, almost pureed like a babaganoosh which was tasty with a mild heat, 2. a dish the ended up being vegetarian meatballs made of cashews, dried apricots and cheese in a mildly spicy creamy sauce, very good, 3. Cheese in masala, big hunks of cheese in a creamy mild sauce, very nice and 4. The goat in a rich, warm velvety sauce which was out standing. If you get a drink, opt for the signature drink, which is mango puree with citron vodka - like an adult lassi. The interior is beautiful, the service was great and we'll def be back.
(4)Melissa P.
My friend who is a vegetarian (ish) was in town for the night and wanted to get dinner, hm, where to take a vegetarian out of towner where I can love my meal and check out a new place? Consulted my bookmarks and opentable and boom, Indeblue. Excellent choice. PRO TIP: Sign up for their emails and you will get a $10 off coupon emailed to you (and I think you get something on your bday and anniversary because they asked for that too. I put my anniversary of being single so I can celebrate with myself when that comes up...) VIBE: Gorgeous space and ambiance, tables are spaced out which is nice, and service was very friendly. FOOD: --Menu is very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole veggie menu section), which is part of the reason I picked it and it did not let us down. --Dahi Avocado Chat- Our waiter actually forgot to bring this out but even after he put it in it came out super quickly. It was very interesting and really delicious. It was cold, which I didn't expect for some reason, but I was into it. --Stuffed Red Pepper- very good, and surprisingly big for $14. We had leftovers --Lamb Rogan Josh-also good sized portion, very tender, great flavors. More leftovers. DRINKS: --Indebluetini is delicious-like a less creamy mango lassi cocktail. --Karma chai sutra was my selection and I had serious drink envy, this tasted like a chai spiced white russian and was way too milky for me. Not a fan, but that's more of a personal preference. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do, and probably spent 3 hours there and never felt rushed, which was awesome. Great spot, prices were reasonable, great atmosphere, and good food, definitely recommend! Also definitely want to check out their happy hour.
(4)Priya R.
Take it from somebody who really HATES eating out for Indian food. This place is FABULOUS. I had the privilege to go there for dinner with my parents last weekend. Lets take it piece by piece shall we? The ambiance has an intimate, romantic, ethnic feel to it- basically what I want my future home to look like. I am just in love with the decor. It is very cozy and just wonderful (warning: instagramming may not be possible due to dim lighting) The service is exceptional. Water was always filled without question, servers were attentive and treated each customer with a lot of respect and patience. Indian food can be complicated for those who don't eat it often (and even for some who do!) but our server took time to explain everything and recommended some great dishes to try. The food is just perfection. I am trying to think of an Indian restaurant that I've eaten at in Philly that even compares and none comes to mind. We ordered the lamb kabob and the naan pizza (the rotating special. ours was a paneer and caramelized onion one) for the appetizer, the lamb rogan josh, and the chicken makhni (along with naan for the table). Everything came out very promptly and the food was absolutely great. When it first comes out you don't think that the portions are that much, but we ended up having enough leftovers for the next day. This truly is a great spot to go if you are interested in eating quality Indian food.
(5)Yayi Z.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and they had live sitar playing. The music was awesome, and of course accompanied by great food. Service was a bit slow but pleasant.
(4)Marissa K.
This place was pretty great. The ambience, service and cocktails were fabulous. The food was delicious too. The Flower of Devotion cocktail was hands down one of the best cocktails I have ever had so far in the city of Philadelphia. It was made with black velvet whiskey, lemon, honey, and lavender bitters. To. Die. For. The Crispy Cauliflower appetizer was fresh and tasty - had the flavor of 'general tso's' but healthier with the vegetable. The Paneer Tikka Masala was phenomenal - the house-made paneer was fantastic. We also got the Baingan Bharta - an eggplant dish - the waitress raved about it, and it was very flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the mashed eggplant. And ,of course, we ordered a bread basket with naan, lasooni, provencal and garhwali - all great breads to try (thought I wish they would have brought this out sooner to the table - they served it with the dinners). They also provided three chutneys for the table that were mild but flavorful that you could add to any of the dishes. The restaurant itself was trendy with great decor. A little dark, but the place was packed and that helped to make it a more intimate experience with your own table. I went with two girlfriends and it was a great place to catch up. The waitstaff was friendly and fun. You definitely know the second you walk in that you will be enjoying Indian cuisine as the smell of curry was strong throughout the restaurant. I would most definitely go back - hopefully I can make it during Happy Hour because they have some great specials at the bar.
(4)Rajiv D.
This place is one of the better Indian restaurants I've been too. Very good food. Creative food, not done just to be different. It actually works. Wait staff is very good as well. The lunch thali is really awesome. But I've done dinner here as well and it was excellent. The spinach chaat is yum.
(5)Ken M.
We are regulars at the IndieBlue Collingswood, NJ location. (I have a 5 star review for that location yelp.com/biz/indeblue-in… ). I convinced my wife that we should try this location. The bar: The bartender seemed distracted and uninterested. Why? Well, at the corner of the bar were two employees dressed in black who were standing, huddled around three customers who were sitting at the bar (they seemed to be employees as well, off-the-clock enjoying some civilian time). The bartender was more interested in chatting them up then paying attention to us. He had the personality of a wet blanket. Our server: He was very robotic and lacked personality. My wife and I were surprised at the night-and-day difference between the Philly and Collingswood location. In any case, he was proficient, that counts for something. The food: For an appetizer, we ordered the BBQ Rib rolls. They were (4) flavorless rolls, barely the size of my thumbs. It was not worth $8.00. The Baingan Bharta was very good. The Crispy Spinach Chaat was excellent (as always). The Chicken Madras and the Lamb Rogan Josh were perfection! (they are our go-to items if we aren't interested in the specials of the day). During the meal, our server had asked us 'so, is the Philly location better than Collingswood'? My wife and I both stared at him and just smiled, we couldn't even muster out a white lie. Pricing: We felt that the pricing was reasonable (seemed to be on-par with the Jersey location, minus the no BYOB here) Return factor: We don't need to be handheld/coddled but we expect some enthusiasm from the staff. When we go out to dine, we want the whole package. We don't think we will return to this location. 3.5 stars
(3)Elva L.
Dude, no, okay? I mean, I don't want to go on forever, and you don't want to read a long review, so let's just, here: one word? underwhelmed. it is my understanding that a tasting menu should feature things that a chef feels that s/he has absolutely mastered. dishes in a tasting menu should represent a chef's style, and it must bear witness to a restaurant's reputation. so, what happened??!?!?! It sounds really awful when I say it's the worst tasting menu we've had since Cuba Libre, so I'll just say it's my least favorite. I love tasting menus. I like when it's complete set, I like when I have choices, I like it any how, any where. Er, just not here. what DO I remember from my meal here? a piece of under-seasoned chicken. bland dessert that was somehow neither classic nor innovative. weird, oil-y condiments that didn't stay well on the things you're supposed to spread them on. why even make me do the work? season your food, so I know what you want it to taste like. season your food, so I'm not in control of your best and most fundamental tools such as FLAVOR. who has even heard of under-seasoned Indian food? i've never encountered such until my visit here. at something like $50/pp, it is not a terrible loss. So i tried it, and felt disappointed by my experience. it happens. it isn't the end of the world. but i will remember this place as one of those times when yelp! has led me astray. so i guess give it a shot at your own risk, which is anyway always the case.
(2)Anish R.
I went here for brunch, but I can safely say that pretty much every dish here is unique and will go beyond satisfying expectations. It's pretty great that this place offers a brunch menu. They even have bacon so you're basic brunch needs will be satisfied! Often times when I'm in the city looking for a brunch spot, I want something different than the traditional brunch menu. I had the stuff long pepper with paneer, which was amazing because it had that cheesy inside with an added spice. They have a large variety of naans including some topped with melted cheese as well as naan pizzas. Also had the chicken tikka masala served with rice, which was much better than any Indian restaurant in Philly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for indian food with a fusion twist.
(5)Ainsley A.
I've always been wary to try Indian food. I've heard the horror stories and have always passed. After being introduced to a few of the menu items at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash, I was determined to come here and try a few more items off of the Happy Hour menu. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. The bartender was friendly and made sure that we were catered to. The ambiance is great- trendy, romantic yet casual. As for the food, 10/10. Like I said before, Indian has always creeped me out, but since IndeBlue is Indian infusion, it opened my eyes to a cuisine I would not normally try. The vegetable samosa's were full of flavor, resting on top of a bed of chickpeas. The spinach chaat was unlike anything I have ever tasted before- the crunch of the spinach paired perfectly with the sweet yogurt. The naan pizza is a nice portion for everyone to try- a bit small but the flavors were outstanding. The star of the evening though was the BBQ pork spare rib samosas. The meat was seasoned with tamarind and the blue cheese wine sauce mixed well with every flavor. I cant wait to come back and try the items on the dinner menu as I ordered almost everything on the HH menu.
(5)Sneha K.
Went there for happy hour - the food was delicious and the happy hour was had great deals! The place is really cute and is a great spot for a date or a nice out with friends. IndeBlue offers both traditional and fusion Indian food but I'd strongly recommend the fusion food here over the traditional. My friends and I ordered the Spinach Chaat, which is made of fried spinach, yogurt, tomatoes and sauces, and the Stuffed Long Hot Peppers. The Spinach Chaat was one of the best chaats I've ever had! The peppers were a little too spicy for my liking but still pretty good. I also ordered the Indebluetini, a mango-based drink that was amazing.
(5)Monya V.
Two friends and I stumbled upon this place by accident and I an so glad we did. We made it in time for their happy hour all three of us really enjoyed the food and drinks. We each had the indiebluetini, it was sweet, fruity, fragrant and just so yummy we got two rounds of them Although we only got appetizers at the bar, the food was spicy and delicious. I had the vegetable samosas - which were so good!! My friends ordered the crispy spinach chaat and some sort of shrimp dish. I tried the spinach chaat, it was melt in your mouth amazing. Four stars out of five for the slow service, they were busy, but they were not THAT busy that we couldn't have placed a food order or gotten a second round a little quicker. Also, the second round - my drink came to the table first & my friends had to wait for theirs even though we each ordered the same thing. All that said, I really like this place & we will defiantly be back!
(4)Patty M.
Went in last night for post dinner drinks for their late night happy hour which runs 9pm-close nightly and 5-7 everyday. Their drinks are refreshing, stiff and only $5 during happy hour. Their HH food menu was extensive and will be trying when we return. The decor is also fantastic, cute and intimate.
(5)Edward M.
After sampling some of IndeBlue's foods at various events recently, it seemed only right to stop by their restaurant for happy hour. The happy hour beer list is rather short, so after getting their last Harpoon summer beer, I switched to their mixed drinks, which were surprisingly good. They had interesting flavor combinations - with homages to Indian spices, were thankfully not cloyingly sweet, and were nicely presented. Some bites were sampled, as well. I particularly liked the Indian pizza and the samosas. The bartender, staff, and even the crowd at the packed bar were friendly. The restaurant space itself, which I ventured through on the way to the lovely loo, seemed well appointed and comfortable. For another time.
(5)Anne K.
Best Indian food I've ever had in Philly, fa shoooo. We came here for date night and the food and ambiance was perfect. We shared the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka makhani. Both were perfectly seasoned! We ordered a side of buttery, bubbly naan topped with cilantro and garlic as well. They give you a pretty generous serving of basmati rice with their entrees. Make sure you check out their mango lassi! They top it off with some chopped pistachios and it's a total treat for anybody who loves mango and/or yogurt.
(5)Michelle P.
So I FINALLY had a chance to dine at Indeblue. I've sampled their drums of heaven and samosas at a few events before and was highly anticipating my first dine-in experience. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. So my evening started off at the bar for happy hour. My group of three ordered several of the appetizers to share including the drums of heaven, spinach chaat, barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, vegetable samosas and a naan pizza. Each appetizer was between $3 and $5, as were the drinks on the happy hour menu. I found my comfort zone in a $4 glass of pinot grigio. This is definitely my new favorite happy hour in Philly. So beyond being reasonable everything was absolutely delicious. I knew that I loved the drums of heaven and samosas but the naan pizza and spinach chaat were standout fabulous. The pizza was made on naan and consisted of goat cheese, asparagus and mozzarella. It was by far the most creative Indian dish I've ever had. The spinach chaat was super crisy and really flavorful. The BBQ pork rolls were a little small and didn't pop with flavor as the other things did but were definitely tasty. So the next logical thing to do after gorging on appetizers and wine is to sit down to dinner, right? It was a Tuesday evening so we were lucky to grab a table shortly after 8:00pm. In the spirit of sharing, my group decided to go with the large portion of the lollipop lamb chops, small dishes of the baingan bharta and dal makhani, and a bread basket. Again everything was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and extremely palatable. The lamb chops are must-haves! The standout in the bread basket was the gharwali which was made up of spinach and mozzarella, and I would definitely get a solo order of that next time. I also had a nice glass of Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc and the gentlemen in my group enjoyed some scotch neat. I'm not an expert on Indian food however based on what I've had before, it seemed like the traditional cuisine but with a modern flair. Overall, this is probably the best food I've had in a while. On Tuesday evenings they also have live sitar and tabla player which added to some very nice background music. The dining room was bright and comforting. The atmosphere was nice yet relaxed at the same time. So what's my reason for the 4 stars? The service was simply meh. The bartender seemed fairly disinterested, even as happy hour ended and only a few customers remained. The server at our table was barely attentive and not personable at all. He wasn't rude but he just wasn't around much at all. With the prices of food and beverage being on the higher side, I really would have liked to be catered too. Unfortunately, the cost also brought my rating down. Everything was amazing but on the costly side. With that being said, this was probably the best Indian food I've ever had. I smile thinking about this meal, and look forward my next casual happy hour trip or special occasion dining experience at Indeblue.
(4)Joyce T.
App: vegetable samosa, lamb chop / lollipop, sweet potato pakora Entree: chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, lasooni naan (garlic) We share the above food with party of four. Service and food were great!
(5)Yaka H.
A great place for lunch. We indulged in the spinach chaat and the lunch thali platters. The spinach chaat involves spinach leaves fried to a delicate crispness. Topped with crispy straws, yogurt, tomatoes, a great combination of delicate textures, cool textures, and crunch. Each thali platter comes with: naan, rice, a snack (in this case 2 samosas), raita, two non-veg/veg/seafood curries, a vegetable curry (in this case daal makhani), and dessert (kheer). The thali platter is a large round platter with plated little bowls, giving you the opportunity to sample many flavors in one sitting. Definitely a great option to taste what IndeBlue offers at one meal. They have 3 kinds of thali platters: non-veg, veg, and seafood. My sister had the non-veg, which included a chicken curry and a lamb curry. I opted for the vegetarian thali. Staff here is cognizant of food allergies and inquired off at seating if we had any.
(4)Tiffany D.
IndeBlue was descent. It wasn't horrible but I have had better Indian food before. The ambience was very nice. A very nice setting. The nicest I have seen for an Indian restaurant. My fiancé and I shared the Chicken Madras, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Raita. Overall the food was pretty good. The cream sauce for the Butter Chicken just wasn't what I wanted it to be. It wasn't bad but it just did not give me that WOW when I tasted it.
(3)Christine F.
Visited last night for restaurant week. Four course menu with plenty to choose from... Everything was delicious. Not overly spicy but just enough. When confirming our reservation they repeated twice that the restaurant week menu would be the only menu offered. The $35 per person four course menu with multiple choices for each course is well worth it. We started with veggie samosas and chicken chaat. Both delicious, next we had the tandoori chicken wings and stuffed long pepper. The tandoori spice was evenly distributed and chicken was so tender. The long pepper itself was not spicy but the stuffing and chili sauce had a very nice kick. Next, we had the vegetarian thali platter and lamb was amazing and filling. We hardly had room for the rice pudding but when it was creamy and spiced with cinnamon. I almost forgot to mention the live sitarist and drums! The musicians were wonderful and added so much to the atmosphere of the restaurant. The one issue that prevented me from giving 5 stars was the wait. The entire dinner from when we entered the restaurant until we left was two hours. Because our server was waiting a large party of 18 guests, who all needed to be severed at the same time. Due to this my boyfriend and I had to wait primarily for our entrees, which took roughly 30 minutes. Overall, it was a wonderful night and we would return. Possibly for brunch which is when the sitarist and drummer play again!
(4)Samannaaz K.
Hands down my best Indian food experience in the U.S! I have been there three times in my two visits to Philly and it is a must visit. If you go there for their happy hour, I highly recommend recommend the Indebluetini! The mango flavor with the cardamom is a true pleaser for your palate. Also- among their small bites- the drums of heaven, shrimp koliwada and the naan pizza. If you go there for dinner the lamb biryani is scrumptious, you can taste all the different spices. I think they use freshly ground spices as opposed to many regular Indian restaurants that use powdered or packages spices. Most Indian restaurants in the U.S. have left me underwhelmed or disappointed with their generic menus and very non-innovative recipes. Perhaps I need to explore more Indian cuisine restaurants...but if you are in Philly and you love Indian food, do not miss Indeblue! Also their courteous and well trained staff adds to the wonderful dining experience. I will always go back when I am in the area.
(5)jay l.
This is, without a doubt, the very best Indian cuisine anywhere in South Jersey. My favorites: butter chicken, vegetable korma, and any of their delicious homemade ice creams. Occasionally I'll get the Thali which is always good for leftovers. I'm really thrilled with this restaurant for delivering all the way to Cherry Hill where I live, and also for having a really amazing Sunday brunch. I don't think I could love this place anymore if I tried. If you're looking for a sodium - laden Indian buffet, keep going. But if you're looking for fresh, delicious indopak cuisine this is your place.
(5)John K.
Philly is no stranger to modern twists on Indian cuisine. Though Tashan is less one Chef Sylva Senat, it is still one of the prime destinations for delicious and beautifully presented Indian dishes. With IndeBlue making its way from Collingswood NJ, Center City Philly got a lot spicier. And with the exit of Bindi from Chef Marcie Turney's deck of restaurants a few years back, Chef Rakesh Ramola is certainly putting his Indian stamp on 13th Street. The space is beautiful as well - wide open with plenty of room and ornamental designs throughout. A bar stands at the front of the restaurant - a great spot for Happy Hour and Center City Sips. Crispy Spinach Chaat [$8] Crispy baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, tamarind date chutney The GF and I stopped by for lunch and the first thing we noticed on the menu was the crispy spinach chaat. And before we could even order it, the kitchen had already sent it out for us to try. This was a dish we had at Tashan and it exceeded our expectations. The baby spinach was lightly coated in a fresh chickpea batter and flash-fried in soybean oil. This allowed for a vegetal crisp amidst the bite of onion, chopped tomatoes, and shallots. The sweet yogurt and tamarind date chutney dressed the chaat well and provided a sweetness that brought a smile to our faces. A must order. Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable [$8] Seasonal vegetables, mustard seed, tomato, curry leaf, red chili These vegetables were coated with a thicker chickpea batter, yet it was still incredibly crisp and light. Fresh veggies included cauliflower, peppers, and eggplant, with the mustard seed and red chili providing a bit of heat, and the tomato providing the acid. I typically abhor raw onions, but the red onions really worked here to break up the heft of each bite. Drums of Heaven [$8] Battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili, scallions As soon as I saw pictures on Yelp (5 stars by the way), I knew I had to order this dish. Sure, it's not a traditional Indian dish. But really - how many restaurants french their drumsticks? This chicken was nicely crispy, but was dressed well with notes of garlic, tomato and chili. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and was marinated with what I believe was a yellow curry. The blue cheese certainly isn't typical, but hey - it's almost to be expected. If you like wings, definitely check these out. Chutney Mint, tamarind-date, green chile With our mains, the kitchen also sent out a sampler of chutneys for us to try (I believe they're typically $3 each). From top to bottom, we received mint (light and refreshing), tamarind-date (sweet depth of flavor), and green chile (be prepared to sweat!). Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" [$12] Boneless free-range chicken, fresh tomato, cream, honey, fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice We make butter chicken at least once a month in our home, despite the GF and I not being Indian. But why should that matter - it's crazy good - 'nuff said. IndeBlue's iteration? Blows ours out the water. The boneless chicken was moist, but really, it's all about the sauce. The tomato provided nice acidity against the cream and butter. Perfect to engulf the sweet saffron rice. If you're thinking that Indian food is all about curry and you need an easy entry into this cuisine, please try this. Non-Vegetarian Thali [$16] Two tasting entrees, dai makhani, appetizer, mango chutney, rice, naan, raita When I saw the thali options, I knew I had to order the non-vegetarian version. Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of various dishes - Indian tapas if you will. Counterclockwise from the right, I received mustard chicken (moist and bright), lamb (hearty like short rib and one of the best bites of the meal), and lentil daal (spicy and filling). A mango chutney and creamy raita provided the sweet and cooling elements to respectively balance the rest of the bites. Well-seasoned fried potatoes, more saffron rice, and naan bread were on offer as well. And for $16? This is easily a steal and a great way to try different bites from the kitchen. If you live in Center City Philly, consider yourself lucky. There's a wide variety of cuisines available, especially in the Midtown Village area. With IndeBlue, approachable and modern twists based on authentic Indian techniques and flavors are on display. Service was top-notch - Sean was friendly, informed, and our plates were cleared for each course. If I'm craving Indian, I know where I'll be going. Unless IndeBlue starts delivering ...
(5)Lene P.
I think this could be my first time trying non-buffet Indian food. Indeblue seems to be a staple in NJ and is often mentioned for best Indian. It seems hidden but is located not far from Woody's. After work on a beautiful Friday night wasn't hard to get a table and street parking was available. Although to avoid the headache, try not to park on Spruce where they still have quarter meters (thanks to Indeblue staff for providing us with quarters). Size wise, it was rowhome tight but still comfortable. I wasn't bothered by the amount of staff shuffling about constantly. The $37/person tasting menu proved extremely filling. We were full by the time the entrees arrived. For the first course (choice of 2) we ordered the diver scallops (one scallop in sauce each) and the barbecue pork (?) samosa rolls with dipping sauce. Both were delicious. Second course was choice of 1 which we picked shrimp skewer (4). Third course we ordered a lamb saag (custom order) and the chicken tikka makhani. This came with an order of naan (3) and basmati rice. Fourth course was a sampler of their desserts (scoop of ice cream, a fried banana ball and rice pudding... I forget the formal description). This was also delicious! The tasting menu is cheap and definitely worth it. We tried their Indeblutini cocktail which was great if you love mango. Service was top notch. Very attentive and accommodating. Price wise, it is more expensive than the West Philly Indian buffets (New Delhi and Sitar) but great if you want a more upscale experience and be in Center City. It is similar to Karma in Old City although I know Karma definitely has a lunch buffet. I did like it a little better than Tiffin in South Philly.
(5)Dee G.
We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Great decor, wonderful service and good food as well. I got the seafood thali which was a mistake. Although the seafood dishes were tasty they needed to be eaten with rice not the rotis that the thali comes with. The crunchy spinach chaat was excellent but a tad bit sweet for my taste. The lamb chops were great. We went there with a 1 year old and they were very accommodating. Oh and the cocktail (Bombay Punch) was good too.
(4)John D.
When is Indian food not Indian. When it's "fusion". Gosh I hate that word. In any case the place in downtown Philly is very new so maybe the review isn't fair. There were six of us, one a native Indian. We all agreed the food was good, not great, a tad expensive, and definitely not true Indian food. ymmv. Give it a try but there is some sticker shock here. I found the chicken masala to be tough and the sauce too cloying. It was missing that tameric taste. The nan was greasy and the garlic nan was too garlicky (for me). I would not go back.
(2)Natasha A.
I'm so full and satisfied I can barely type this. Yet, I will do my due diligence to try to express how much I loved this place. Words just don't seem to be enough. I came here for restaurant week, it was my first trip here. I've been hearing great things and decided RW was a great chance to try a great spread. I loved the ambiance the minute I walked in. The food was honestly amazing. I absolutely loved the spinach chaat. The vegetarian thali was out of this world! I love dal makhani and this was the best I've had. Everything in the thali was sooo piping hot and stayed hot so it tasted super fresh. And dessert?? Oh GOD dessert shot me straight to food heaven! I ordered the banana nirvana which was fantastic but the fig option was unexpectedly phenomenal! It took me by surprise. I never thought I could loooove figs like that! Overall an amazing time with friends and fabulous food! Can't wait to come back for happy hour!
(5)G Y.
I came for happy hour on a Monday at 6pm and had no problem getting a seat at the bar for me and my two friends. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks (I had the tamarind margarita). We ended up staying for dinner, and while the food was amazing, I'm not sure it is something I would pay full price for again. But I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(5)Stephanie M.
Great decor and service. The food was amazing! We got the vegetable samosas and my meal was the Baingon Bharta..delicious! I'll definitely be going back. Plus there was live music when we went Tuesday night. Cool place and pretty affordable dishes.
(4)milton s.
the food is amazing and gluten free! woohoo! service is great!
(5)Rick D.
Good, not great. The space itself is very nice and tastefully decorated. We went to the Center City IndeBlue location on a Tuesday night, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We started with the crispy vegetable chili and sweet potato pakora, and the chili appetizer was quite good. Our entrees of aloo bhindi and tikka paneer were rather bland, no hint of spice and generally not memorable. My expectations for IndeBlue were high, the reality was rather meh.
(3)Sherry H.
Three of us went there and enjoyed everything we had immensely. Drinks, appetizers and entrees were all delectable. We were visiting the city and have actually considered doing the 3 hour drive (one way) again, just to eat at this place. We had to wait about a 3-4 weeks before we could even consider eating another Indian Indian place because we knew nothing would be as good. He had to come down from the "IndiBlue high". Now we will be "chasing the IndiBlue Dragon's-Tail", if you know what I mean.
(5)Fatty D.
Complicated review here. Just the two of us this go around. Philly was sweltering, much more humid than the west coast. We had reservations and were seated quickly. Place was empty, maybe 5 tables taken. Upon our seating, our very nice server sold us on the 6 course Pre Fix. Neither of us had much of an idea of what to order or expect. We have had poor experiences with Indian Food in the past, however we wanted to try at a higher level of eatery before we closed the doors forever to eating this type of food. I think the quality of the ingredients, the staff, the portions, the ambiance was top notch. The other person joining me loved the meal. But for a few exceptions, Please understand, I realize there is a difference between a quality meal which this was, and me just hating the tastes. I'll list the courses. And my ending of this challenging meal. Started with some sort of cold soup. - to me it was ok. The other person said it tasted like vomit. Fried Spinach Salad - Fantastic texture and taste! Simply marvelous, Both of us loved it. Seared Scallops,- Over cooked by a hair, not seared properly. Very sweet Sauce inedible. The other person liked it. Here take mine. Lolly POP of a Lamb Rib with a Small Chicken Breast. - To me inedible, tangy and very spicy. Chicken was in a spicy Coconut Chutney. The other person loved it, I hated it. The Naan Bread which came with it sucked. Pork Shank with a roasted Potato. To me inedible. Other person enjoyed it. Dessert was Fig Ice Cream Drizzled with Honey. I hated it, Inedible, Too sweet. The other person enjoyed it. I think this type of food is not for everyone. I gave it an honest shot.Never again will I eat Indian Food I did not enjoy it from start to finish. I didn't eat anything but for the one fantastic salad course. I think evaluating the experience honestly is to say, if you like Indian Food, you probably will very much enjoy this place. However I won't be joining you. I rather eat my own throw up
(4)J S.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! So flavorful and tender - I had the lamb rogan josh and my friend had the tikka masala which he enjoyed as well.
(5)G C.
The place is fancier than your usual indian place. Service was great and the ambiance is quite nice. Entrees aren't cheap but they are also well made (given my limited knowledge of indian cuisine). A place for a classier indian dinner. Had the lamb rogan josh which was good.
(3)Amar R.
Interesting place. The chef knows what he is doing-mixng authentic Indian streetside food with Contemporary American cuisine. This place could pass easily for a steven starr restaurant. Expensive with above average food.
(3)Monang S.
A very contemporary indian cuisine with excellent service and beautiful interiors !! Kudos
(5)Bill A.
Not traditional Indian food. They serve a modern fusion with other ingredients. It taste good. You should just have your expectations set. Modernized look. Service is good.
(4)Jules C.
Delicious indian option for center city and all who sorely miss Bindi. I went here last week to try. It out and was very pleased with all aspects of this new 13th street addition. Upon walking in I felt transformed - maybe not to India but definitely to an elegant an pleasant dinner setting. The noise level was fine for conversation at the table which is getting to be an unheard of attribute of late and the food was spectacular. This is not your average Philly Indian it is definitely a notch or two above that will leave you wanting for more. The portion size is appropriate and the service was very attentive but not overdone. Can't wait to go back.
(5)V T.
I am an Indian food addict so I've eaten at the whole gamut of Indian restaurants (buffets, dives, upscale, cafes, etc.), but IndeBlue stands out as something new and different. I love that they serve modern Indian food, which means many new takes on the standard dishes. My husband and I went for restaurant week last night and we loved everything we tried (drums of heaven, non-veg & veg sampler, fig blondie and banana nirvana). The portions were a good size (eating my leftovers for lunch as I type this) and everything was freshly prepared. The ambiance was great and Jason was the best waiter. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back soon because there are so many great items on the menu that I need to try!
(5)John T.
This was one of the best Indian food I have had! Great place.Very highly recommend it. We were visiting Philli for 4 days and we ate here twice. Will be back.
(5)Jessica S.
Wow, how was I missing out on the happy hour at this place for so long? And to think I considered myself a happy hour pro. Going down the street to Sampan, Vedge, and other places that are RIGHT DOWN THE STREET and never even thinking upon IndeBlue. I just don't think I'd ever really even be interested in trying their actual menu now that I know what the happy hour has to offer. Its just so... extensive. And delicious! OK, so I probably would try the menu. Just kidding. The decor is really pretty. Eye catching, sparkly, shiny and new looking. Very appealing, and I can see that being a draw for a couple looking for a romantic date spot. The bar is up front and has about 10 ish seats (maybe less?) and seemed to get packed around 6pm. Happy hour is only at the bar.... btw. We showed up at 5pm on the dot (very punctual, I know) and were weirdly the only people in the restaurant for almost an hour, at least a solid 30 minutes, and it wasn't even uncomfortable. The bartender was training someone and they were both very nice to talk to, and even some of the servers came to hang out and chat, giving good advice for menu items to try. The happy hour food menu consists of $3, $4, and $5 bites, and they are substantial enough to fulfill a hungry belly. Boyfriend and I shared 4, and between the two of us that was substantial for a light dinner. The spinach chaat was a highlight, and the "pockets of heaven" which are just light batter fried chicken wings in a tasty, spicy sauce were also surprisingly delicious. We also tried the stuffed long hots which were my personal favorite-and had a good spice level if you like that kinda thang-and the naan pizza, which was "ok" but not fantastic. I would've liked to have tried more items, but there are like 9-10 things on the happy hour menu alone. The HH drink menu was also as extensive. There were two wines ($4), two beers ($3) and like 4 cocktails ($5). The cocktails were legit. The wine did not suck. I was happy. Sweet mother of the holy happy hour gods-can we please have more awesome happy hours like this?!
(4)Brian S.
Good, upscale Indian cuisine. Comfy, upscale setting, and excellent service. We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the vegetable samosa chaat, crispy spinach chaat., and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali platters. For dessert we had orange ginger sorbet and the banana nirvana. All very good and much better than other places in the area.
(4)Ridhhisha A.
Coming from an Indian who has lived all her life there this is by far the most interesting twist of cuisine and really epic modern Indian I have ever had! Ofcourse it is the restaurant week so make the best of it! Insane naan pizza and spinach chat! The fig ice cream is just insane! Inspiration at its best :)
(5)Ernest S.
The food is solid here. Everything I've tried from brunch to lamb chops has been good. My problem was with the service. Our waiter seemed impatient and rude to answer questions, forgot multiple items, and refused to split a check in a way that we asked (and there were only four of us).
(2)Carol L.
A bit loud and this place lacks intimacy. Long tables facilitate group meetings though. Pinot noir was good. Service is a bit slow. The food is really yummy. Worth the wait. Appetizers and entrees great. Not too sure about the cinnamon ice cream.
(4)Kate D.
This review is based on a restaurant week experience; I get that it isn't always the most accurate example of a places cuisine. I had super high expectations going into my meal here. Some of the things were alright. The spinach chaat was okay, but it was sort of reminiscent of bar food. Fried spinach leaves with onions, tomatoes, cheese and some white sauce (aoli maybe?). If you would have subbed out the spinach with a chip, you would almost have nachos. Best way to describe it. I had the mussels and they were alright. Cooked perfectly in a tomato based sauce but very small. Not served with a plate to discard shells. Then to the chicken tikka: really unimpressed. I have eaten lots of different takes on this British/Indian staple, and have grown to love it as one of my favorite foods. The rice that Indeblue had was excellent (how can you mess that up, really), but the tikka was one of the worst attempts of the dish I have ever had. The sauce was lacking, and the chicken was just like giant chunks of boiled chicken breast. No flavor whatsoever, and the meat was much too hard to cut into bite sized pieces with a fork. Aside from the tikka disaster, the garlic naan was really good, and the fig ice cream with praline pecans was outstanding. Outside of the meal, we ordered two house cocktails (mediocre and pricey) and two hot chia teas. The chai tea is made in house, and was very good. The service was great, the atmosphere was crowded but alright. My three star review mainly comes from my disappointment in the tikka and starter courses. For the money, I would much sooner go elsewhere for a date night. For Indian food, I will stick to Tiffin or Mood in the area.
(3)Sara N.
I prefer my Indian food from hole-in-the-wall dives (that's how you know it's real Indian cooking), so I lacked a bit of confidence visiting IndeBlue. After my meal, I indeed felt justified because some of their dishes (e.g., bland chicken curry, thin doughy nann) paled in comparison to those found at my favorite Indian spots (a loud and proud shoutout to Dana Mandi in West Phila!). Why pay more when you can find more authentic and filling Indian meals in much humbler places? However, I must admit that I was very impressed by the kind staff and their beautiful restaurant. And not every bite failed the litmus test. I regret that the wonderfully tender lamb rogan josh came as a small dish on the platter. I'm certain to order it again as a main entree upon a return visit to IndeBlue. I think they has a creative (hello, brunch) and diverse Indian menu, which warrants a second chance.
(3)Danie G.
Great happy hour! We sat at the bar and had drinks, appetizers and some great entrees. Food was quite tasty and they have both gluten-free and vegetarian options. Service was friendly and when they took some extra time with our entrees they apologized in a way that seem genuine and comped us some bread. Great happy hour and I hope to return for dinner soon.
(4)Arati P.
This is a great upscale Indian restaurant! Perfect for a date night or special occasions. The decor is beautiful. We came here for husband's birthday and loved it. Spinach chaat was perfectly crispy. We ordered the malai kofta and it was the best malai kofta I've ever had! The koftas were soo soft and the gravy was so rich and had the perfect blend of spices. The drinks were good and strong as well. They have quite a variety on the menu including appetizers and small plates. Only thing is that the portions are very small but I feel this is typical of any upscale restaurant.
(5)Ashley S.
FINALLY got to try out this (not-so) new Indian spot that everyone has been raving about in Philly! Rested cozily amongst some of the best bars in center city, it's a great spot to go to before a night out. The ambiance is great, although I thought it would be a little bigger, just judging from other photos I've seen, but that does not affect my rating at all. Went sporadically on a Saturday night and somehow was able to snag a table for 3 very last minute. I think we may have just gotten lucky because I've looked before, and this place is usually pretty booked up. We started with 3 appetizers. First up were the long hots. Basically, a green hot pepper stuffed with cheese. I was not a fan due to the extreme level of spice, but my friends loved it. We also had the samosas, which in my opinion were pretty delicious. Nothing out of the ordinary, but great, nonetheless. My favorite was the crispy spinach! Never had anything like it and it was amazzzzing. Great sharing size for an app, as well! For dinner, we shared 3 entrees, the lamb rogan josh, chicken madras, and paneer tikka makani. The serving sizes were pretty great for sharing. Each had a good amount of spice, which is pretty important to me when having Indian food. We were too stuffed for dessert, but I willl certainly save room for next time! Highly recommend this place to satisfy your Indian craving with a twist!
(4)Ruben P.
Although I couldn't find a single indian face in the place, I can totally admit the food was delicious and well prepared. The environment is classy and fancy, waiters are very kind and there is also free coat check at entrance. Just book before: we walked in and ate at the bar, but it's pretty crowded. Not giving 5 stars for the prices quite high (the place deserves, tho).
(4)Marni P.
Upscale, delicious and healthy Indian food! They had some new takes on some of the classics. All spice levels were perfect. The restaurant is a neat decor and classy yet cozy. The prices were a bit high but it's downtown philly so that's a thing. The staff was super nice even when they were very busy. It was clear our waitress was trying to speed up our drinks and was thoughtful in letting us know the status of our order. I hope to come here again!
(4)Camay C.
Walking the Center City streets searching for happy hour with my girl Shante P. Did a double take and walked in. The ambiance here is sultry and super sexy. We had the Ginger Twist.. made with Black Velvet Whiskey, Ginger ale, Ginger and lime juice. $5! Didn't try any of the food but other folks plates looked tempting enough. I'll be back soon
(4)Jayanth N.
Good chic indian food. The spinach chat & avocado chat was outstanding. The entrees come with rice & you have to order bread separately. I found that setup strange for an indian restaurant. Portion sizes are small compared to most Indian restaurants. But the food is of excellent quality.
(4)Jemma C.
I really REALLY wanted to love this place but alas it wasn't to be. First impressions were great, super cozy dining room on a freezing cold night, nicely crowed, good atmosphere... Drinks came promptly, little disappointed in the limited menu however our favourites were there so happy out. My husband order vindaloo (which is a spicy fiery curry). I ordered something entirely unmemorable. We ordered samosas to start that incidentally tasted nothing like samosas nor had any indian flavouring or spices. Then we waited... And waited and waited. 55mins after ordering our food came. The vindaloo was beyond mild and I don't mean mild for a vindaloo I mean it tasted like a mild tomato based dish. Again nothing like vindaloo. No level of spice whatsoever and no flavouring at all. My curry was meh at best. The chicken was beyond over cooked and hard. The naan bread was great I'll give them that. Service was slow and patchy. Wouldn't return.
(2)Shifa A.
Thank you Indeblu for opening up a restaurant in centre city! I love this place, hailing from India, Indian food in America has always been disappointing but Indeblu is far better than most. I love the spinach chaat, the samosas and the nan pizza! Happy hours are the best !
(4)Natalie M.
Loved this place! For an appetizer we shared the vegetable samosa chaat and for our entree we shared the chicken tikka makhani with naan. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of spices. For a drink I had their chai sangria, which was so incredibly delicious! We would eat here all the time if we lived in Philly!
(5)Kelly P.
A friend and I went for the chef's tasting menu on a Monday evening, and due to their computer issues it took a very long time. Despite that, the meal itself was delicious. We chose the avocado appetizer and the chaat, the chicken tikka and the lamb biryani. The standout was the lollipop lamb chops, I will be dreaming about these!! So flavorful. The sampling of desserts was not to my liking but that is just because I happen to not be a fan of rice pudding or cinnamon (there was cinnamon ice cream). I would love to come back here and will be sure to recommend to others. One star was removed because there was significant problems with the timing of the meal and we were not told until we could flag down our server - and we had been waiting over an hour for our second course - with no proactive explanation about the computer problem.
(4)Mark C.
Had Tobi and the Indieblue team cater our wedding at the Powerplant Productions venue in Philadelphia this past weekend. Wow. My guests raved about the food. My wife and I rave about how fantastic their services were from the planning, set-up, execution and break down. Their specialty drink was so popular their team went and bought more supplies on the spot before their was ever a disruption. Complete success!!
(5)Jaya P.
Great place for an indian brunch with classy ambience and mimosas! Went to Philly for an impromptu day trip and was craving indian food and saw Indebleu had great ratings. The interiors were nice - lots of gold, chandeliers and a nice bar. An added plus was that it is close to the major touristy sights, so we did not have to go out of our way to get there. They have chai sangria, rose mimosas, and bloody mary's for $5 for brunch - already liking this place. Decided to go for the rose mimosa - which was surprisingly good. If anyone else has grown up in India like me, it felt like 'roohafza' with moscato. It's funny because i never really liked roohafza growing up, but i guess my parents didn't know to mix it with champagne ;) For apps, we ordered the samosa chaat and ordered the paneer tikka masala and malai kofta with rotis for the main dish. Our server was super nice and said he would add the app and entree as an express lunch combo to save us a couple of bucks - score! The samosa chaat came as a bed of chickpeas in gravy with yogurt and chutneys and two samosas atop it. The samosas were great - definitely had more masalas (spices) than is usual for a samosa but it tasted great. My only slight complaint was that the chickpeas were a bit cold, i understand they don't have to be piping hot as it is a chaat and served with yoghurt but lukewarm would help. Now for the main course, both the dishes were finger lickin' good - the malai kofta were balls of paneer and veggies deep fried and cooked in a cardamom curry sauce. Each bite was heavenly and you could taste the real cardamom in it and even found a few green pods. The paneer tikka masala was superb - not too spicy and had great flavors! The paneer was a little bit on the chewier side than expected; but the sauce more than made up for it. The whole wheat rotis were great - not too rubbery, hot, and actually felt healthy. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert - would love to try it next time. Definitely, a place to go eat if you're in Philly!
(5)Monique B.
Some of the best Indian food I've had in my life. The short rib samosa was a delicious starter, although it's a little more egg roll seaming than samosa. I had the chicken tikka for my main course and I wolfed down as much as possible. Usually chicken tikka is a little too sweet for my taste. However, this chicken tikka was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick and delicious sauce. I couldn't eat enough of the sauce and soaked up the sauce with my rice. We also shared a roti stuffed with nuts that was sweet and delicious. It tasted like the stuffing of bahklava put into a piece of naan. Delicious! The ambiance is great for a date with pretty interior decorating, a nice bar at the front and a classy but casual ambiance. The servers were attentive and friendly. This restaurant will definitely be added to my list of regulars when I visit Philly.
(5)Bhavika P.
Rich Ambiance, Perfect Light and Good Staff. The food was really good and perfect quantity. We ordered Masala Bloody Mary which was a well made drink. For appetizers we ordered Chilled Dahi Avacado Chaat, Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable and Vegetable Shashlik Skewer - All tasted so good. We were 6 people and Dahi Avacado has just 5 pieces - the staff was flexible to add one more piece to it by charging a little extra. We then shared the Veg Thali between 2 of us and was sufficient considering the appetizers we had. there are 2 veggies, raita, mango chutney, dal makhani, rice and hot eggplant bhajiya. This is served in a Thali and it so much reminded of home. We felt like we are sitting in Mumbai at some high end dhaba enjoying the delicious food. The veggies had paneer makhanwala and spinach chana - mouth watering! We replaced the normal naan with lasooni naan and it was a good decision. To add to the meal we ordered Mango lassi which was again good. We all enjoyed the food and I believe it has a lot of options for Vegetarians.I would definitely recommend this place. Anytime I feel like having Ghar Ka Khana..it is IndeBlue. Also since it was Sunday afternoon they had Sitar and Tabla playing Live on the Background...very soothing to ears. My friends visited Philly for first time and I am glad we picked this place as they all enjoyed it a lot.
(5)Kimberly S.
Loved the restaurant. Its not typical Indian food. It is more upscale with a modern twist. Inside has cool decorations. My only wish is outdoor seating for the warm weather.
(5)Madeleine S.
I've been twice in the last couple of weeks. Both my servers were total charmers, completely anticipated our needs without hovering at all (which I so appreciate). The happy hour prices are also insanely good--almost too good, frankly. You can taste everything on the menu without going home poor, and their cocktails perfectly incorporate classic Indian flavors without getting weighed down at all. Got the spinach chaat both times I went (one of my girlfriends insisted on getting a plate of it for herself with no plans to share) and the pork samosas (which come with a blue cheese wine sauce so good I would have eaten it with a spoon if I'd run out of bites to put it on). Can't wait to go back next Tuesday to see the live Sitar.
(5)Clifford Q.
Yet another new place in town that meets all expectations. Great design decor - Great staff - HOT bartender :-) Friday night - Early dinner for 4 - Bison wrapped in bacon to start 5 Stars - Dinner was a Seafood Moilee 5+ stars which was outstanding, Others had assorted items from starters and main dishes and not one complaint from a group that is VERY opinionated. Definitely will be back
(5)N. K.
ehhh it was ok. Being Indian I'm still new to the concept of "Modern Indian" cuisine which I still don't quite understand other than being overpriced small plate american takes on indian dishes. crispy spinach chaat- 5/5 samosa chaat- 4/5 typical indian dish. long hots- 2/5 - didn't realize it was going to be 2 long green stuffed peppers sweet potato pakora- 3/5 nothing amazing naan pizza- 4/5 nothing really indian about it except made on a naan paneer tikka makhani- 4/5. very small dish for $16, nothing amazing. stuffed squash- 4/5 interesting dish, but again not much indian about it. in general IndeBlue has a nice atmosphere, but a bit overpriced and small portions and misses the wow factor. Nice to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)James M.
My partner and I had two amazing meals with friends at the new IndeBlue - Midtown Village. The entire experience from arrival to departure was great both times! Tobi the Bar Manager made us feel welcome and made great drinks. We sampled specialty drinks that were innovative and delicious - He was also very interesting to speak with while waiting for friends. Maura the Manager is a "Switched" on professional who was at our table at just the right times to check on us and we really felt looked after. Our servers have been wonderful both times. Justin really introduced us to the concept and the menu on our first visit, and Jarrod did an amazing job when six of us returned and tried the four course tasting menu -DELICIOUS and so reasonable! I could go on and on about the food because everything was so memorable. For example - the Spinach Chaat was one of the most interesting dishes I have had in an Indian cuisine restaurant. The Lamb Shank plates looked as though they were licked clean by all six of us. This restaurant has a true vibe, the minute that you walk in the front door. From styling to music, lighting to layout, it is the type of place you feel at home in immediately! I Might stop in tonight and here their live Sitar musician who I believe is there every Friday night!
(5)Amy N.
Simply delicious --- This is one of the best Indian fusion restaurants we have been to. The restaurant is small and cozy and the ambience was nice. The waiters were friendly. We were a family of 3 and ordered spinach chaat, duo samosa and long hots for appetizers and shrimp moilee (seafood minus the lump crab!), madras chicken and lamb laal maas as main entrees and shared the desert banana gulob jamun. The dishes were all freshly prepared, very creative, and delicious. We were also greeted by Chef Ramola who was very friendly which was the icing on the cake to our visit. The food is moderately priced. The 5 course menu for $45 also sounded very nice but we did not order that. Great for personal and family celebrations. We signed up for the VIP club since we plan to visit there again very soon! There is a cheap validated parking available ($6 for 3 hours) at Park America at 1140 Sansom. We also plan on trying their first restaurant in Collingswood, NJ.
(5)Tiberiu T.
My girlfriend and I went here for restaurant week. They first gave us a soup sampler, with three delicious (tiny) soups. Then we got the drums of heaven and the crispy spinach chaat as appetizers; both were delicious. For the main course we got the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian samplers with two types of naan (garlic+cilantro and butter+onion seed) (these were also delicious). For desserts we had the banana nirvana and the fig duo. Again, delicious. Also their mango lassi was excellent. This was a *lot* of food; in hindsight, we probably should have taken some of it home.
(5)N M.
A good foray into the Indian restaurant scene in philadelphia. A better experience and more authentic than Tashan and extremely tidy compared to palace at the Ben. Food was good however missed the mark as they were missing true authenticity of Indian food. As an Indian I found the cuisine to lacking some of the spicyness and taste we get on the sub continent. Staples such as chutney and papadum were excluded and basics at every Indian restaurant. The one star is for service as we had reservations for 8pm and were not seated till 845pm. They clearly overbooked and made no excuses for that. Poor front end management, when I complained to the manager I was offered a seat at the bar and food at the bar. Why make a reservations and pretend to be a an authentic fine dining experience when you have not mastered basic restaurant management.
(1)Alison P.
Went here with friends for dinner as we had learned of its recent opening. The food was definitely top notch and what I would return for. We really enjoyed the lamb lollipops which were tender and incredibly flavorful. Our other favorite dish was the stuffed squash which had a delicious rich sauce, and both types of naan we had were excellent. The meal was also very reasonably priced and we enjoyed ordering several small dishes to share. Although we loved the food the service was a bit off. We got checked on by our server too frequently and he made some comments towards us that made us all uncomfortable. Additionally, the majority of the staff were all huddled together in an alcove in the front of the restaurant near our table; I found it odd to see an entire restaurant staff standing around chatting during dinner service. Overall I imagine that some issues with the staff/service are opening hiccups. I would return for the excellent food and beautiful space.
(4)M N.
We've been here twice in the past month for pre-theater dinners with friends, and had great meals both times. Delicious food, reasonable prices, attentive service, pretty setting and a good location. Two thumbs up. Don't miss the spinach chaat for appetizer.
(4)Evelyn G.
great food and service!
(4)Greg E.
This was my second time here. The food is absolutely amazing. Prices are more than reasonable. The staff goes well above and beyond! I took a good friend out for their birthday this week. For dessert I mentioned that it was their birthday and asked for a candle. The waitress said no problem. The waitress kept coming back to apologize for the wait which I thought was more than ok since we needed a break from the large dinner. Upon the arrival of our dessert she apologized for the wait again and mentioned they had to go out to purchase candles. Wow!! This blew me away and on top of that I wasn't even charged for the dessert due to the birthday. You never find service this good anywhere anymore! 5 star restaurant and I'll be going back often! Great bartender as well!
(5)Len B.
From food to drink to service to ambience, all were truly amazing. Excellent choice for a night out
(5)lisa s.
Of all the restaurants in Philadelphia our daughter chose this restaurant for her "going away" dinner. She had read about the opening of this restaurant but knew very little about it. Well, we are so excited about having found this place. We loved everything about this restaurant-location, ambiance ---even the bathrooms were beautiful---and the attentiveness of the wait staff. It was difficult to make a choice from the menu as everything sounded delicious. All three of us raved about out chosen entree even the second time around (we had each brought home a "doggy" bag). Can't wait to go back.
(4)Justin L.
Dined in for restaurant week, which a friend had recommended the restaurant. Ambiance was beautiful and the staff attentive, but portion size and seasoning seemed to be an issue. Started with tuna tartar, which lacked any flavor of tuna in the tartar. However, the drums of heaven (chicken wings) seemed to be the saving grace by delivering enough heat, crisp skin, and a lovely blue cheese. As I was excited for the main course having seen other diners receive entrees, I realized that what I ordered versus what I expected did not match. I ordered per the menu cornish game hen, which my expectation was a full, cornish game hen. However, I was served maybe half of a cornish game hen with rice, which left me wanting more. Overall, the restaurant appears to be on the right track from the looks of things, but lacks all of the correct reasoning for a return visit given my experience.
(3)Vish P.
Great food and Live Sitar and Tabla you can't ask for more! !! Came here for our first anniversary and we had a great time. A must go for all the indian who miss the indian thali specially.
(5)Liz F.
Visited this restaurant during center city restaurant week. I was very pleased. Food, drinks, and environment were all great! There was even live music during Sunday brunch!
(4)Smrithi D.
I dont know how I didint write a review for this place before but it has to be my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, especially for indian food. The ambiance is amazing, a great mix of traditional eastern decor with solid wood elements. The service has to be even better than the decor (or dare I say it even better than the food). Different staff have their own tasks/jobs, your waiter ensures you have a good experience, they have different busboys bringing you food and taking away your used dishes. I think a manager even came over to readjust my friend's napkin when she stepped back to use the restroom. That keen attention to detail is something to admire and worth it! Now onto my favorite part- no not the food yet - LIVE music! On a weekday night (tuesday or wednesday - i cant remember) and sunday brunch they have live sitar and tabla players which is the icing on what would be a perfect night. Ok food- the Paneer Tikka masala is to die for, the spinach chaat, the avocado appetizer, and lastly the unique rosemary herb naan. I cant wait to go back!
(5)Marcuz H.
Great authentic Indian food! Food was steamy hot, one of the best chicken tikka masala gravy's I have had in East Coast. The gravy was smooth and thick in texture. The lighting and ambience was delightful. My lady loved her Baingan barta (eggplant gravy) which was spicy, tangy and flavorful as she expected and she's Indian too. This place is way way better than it's competitor - Tashan. If you are in Phily area and looking to eat fine dining delicious Indian food, please stop by and check out IndeBlue (NOT Tashan).
(4)Dhaval S.
Great food and service. The staff explained all the dishes really well and also provided their recommendations. The spinach chaat is an awesome appetizer dish and garlic naan is great. Definitely will be coming back again!
(4)Michael M.
*********SIX STAR REVIEW - SIX STAR REVIEW*********** So I crossed my wires for restaurant week and ended up here this past Tuesday. Heck we love this place so a chance to go two weeks in a row is no biggie. We arrived at happy hour and sat at the bar with the handsome Cory, creator of their drink menu. Cory was the perfect host that evening, he chatted with us, drinks came quickly, and he was attentive without being intrusive. Two stars right there for service. We started with a few happy hour snacks, the drums of heaven, Dahi Avacado Chaat, and the crispy spinach Chaat. These three dishes immediately reminded me of the problem of eating at Indeblue. You just want more. You never want the dish to end! The Dahi were cool and refreshing on this 99 degree day. The spinach Chaat was so good it was almost a fight with my guest over the bowl. We discussed ordering another but as we knew more food was coming we held off. The drums of heaven were primarily my dish, with my guest ordering a bowl of the corn cilantro chowder. I can tell you if it wasn't so hot I would have had a bowl too. It is magnificent. The drums of heaven are always perfect. Crunch, savory, and just enough spice to leave the edges of your lips burning as you finish them. Quickly cooled off by one of the lemon basil cocktails. Yum! I decided on the seafood moilee. When they say jumbo lump, they mean the size of your finger jumbo. The shrimp were *PERFECTLY* cooked. I add one star righht here for the shrimp. I honestly could not remember the last time I had shrimp prepared so perfectly in a restaurant, and I eat a lot of shrimp. The dish itself was incredible. A depth of flavor that made the seafood truly enchanting. I ate half to leave room for dessert and had the other half wrapped. I can't even tell you what my guest had as I was so entranced by the moilee. For dessert I had the Duo of Figs. Decadent and rich, it's a good idea to split this one. I however, had only eaten half my entree so this portion was just enough to fill me up. We split a bottle of prosecca with dessert, and my guest lost his bet. He hates the texture of bananas. but insists he's never ever had a bad dish here, so I challenged him to order the banana nirvana. As he was the one who first had me try Indeblue and showed me how glorious indian food can be when properly cooked, I felt it appropriate. The bananas came deep fried similar to how a plaintain would, covered with a salted caramel and then a cinnamon iced cream, they didn't stand a chance. The food gains another two stars for overall taste and perfection of flavor. Let me also say that rating includes how lovely the food is to the eye, as attention to plating is also something done very well here. Oh, and the food comes out fast and hot, (or, as appropriate, cold). I wish they had opened the kitchen so we could watch the Chef cook, he must be a blur in action. That's 5 stars you say. Why six? Here's why. As we sat sipping the last of the prosecca, our sweet teeth sated and bellies full but not bloated, we listened to the live music. The stunning interior design, the amazing food, perfect service all came together and transported me far from the streets of Philadelphia. I realized the experience I was enjoying had only been rivaled in my travels overseas, or the very rare occasional opulence of a grande dame in some far away vacation spot. For a moment, everything was absolutely perfect, the days worries forgot, the world revolving around my guest and I. Six Stars. Perfect.
(5)Ameena D.
Had dinner at IndeBlue last night, thanks to all the great Yelp recommendations. Here are my thoughts: Ambiance: The restaurant is nice. Very well decorated and clean. Service: Really great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I must say, however, that I was surprised at how non-Indian this restaurant is. In other words, there wasn't a single Indian server / owner / chef around. Made me a bit nervous about how authentic our food would be. Food: We ordered many things - samosas, avocado puri, lollipop lamb chops, vegetable shashlik, chicken kabob, rice, roti, raita, mango panna cotta, and the restaurant sent a complimentary spinach appetizer. Everything was very tasty but SUPER SPICY. I'd specifically asked the waiter to make everything mild but absolutely nothing was mild. This was definitely a problem for our 9-year-old, as well as for me (my low spice-threshold is an embarrassment to my Indian father, I'm sure). In any case I requested some chutney to make things more bearable and that was that. Bottom Line: The service was great, the food was good, and pricing is reasonable. But I'm not sure I would return here because I prefer not to have to douse my food in sugary chutney so that I can eat it.
(3)Charlene J.
My hubby ate here for lunch. We shared the crispy spinach chaat and crispy cauliflower as appetizers which were both amazing. They were only mildly spicy for those intolerant of hot foods. My hubby had the butter chicken and I had the chicken madras for our entree and they were both delicious. The food came out quickly. Our server was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu items. Loved this place!!!
(5)Todd S.
We came down this weekend, for restaurant week. Lots of pressure this week, I know from experience it can be a big challenge for front and back of house. I thought they did an admirable job. Service was on, attentive non intrusive, water glass full. Food very good, mussels were notably excellent, wife's spinach chaar. My lamb shank was excellent and not over cooked, which is endemic when the dish involves a heavy sauce. I was a little nervous ordering a lamb shank with a robust sauce, a sauce is often used to precook the shank, reheat it and the sauce covers many sins. Probably not the case here. Shank was actually medium. Negatives? Get a coat rack. Coffee was poison, tasted like Sysco coffee pulled through my college dorm's common Mr Coffee and saved (I graduated in 1997). And Mussels need mussel spoons and a bowl for shells. I understand the mussels were a new dish. I'd say work out the presentation and make it a menu item. Otherwise, good showing!
(4)Michelle J.
I was in India in November and have since been constantly on the lookout for amazing Indian food whenever or wherever I get the chance. This place did not disappoint. First thing that strikes you is the decor which are a perfect balance of a modern upscale restaurant but with an Indian flair. I had to try the paneer tikka as that is my favorite. The sauce was a touch too "tomatoey " but it was still excellent and the paneer was perfect. I also had the vegetable samosas and the accompanying sauce was perfection! Nice house wine paired with excellent service and definitely a place worth visiting !
(5)Rafael A.
Seafood Moilee: This dish is very unique and fabulous. Indeblue has a great environment, good service and fantastic food.
(5)Colleen M.
Uh-maze-ing. That is about all I need to say... but I'll elaborate since my experience was so out of this world. First, it was restaurant week and let's be honest with ourselves here - sometimes, things are less than top notch since you aren't paying top notch prices. You would have never known the difference here. The service, the food, the portion sizes were all on par with an expensive night out, only without the price tag. Ever important to me - the service was impeccable. Jason, our server, was so very attentive. So much so that he apologized for our second course taking longer than anticipated... and we hadn't even noticed (it really didn't take very long at all)! Our table was cleared regularly, water and other beverages; always full. We never wanted or needed for anything. Honestly some of the best service I have had out in Philly, a city that regularly excels in the service department. To say the food was not only abundant but also fantastic really doesn't do it justice. I left incredibly full and happy which is an anomaly for Restaurant Week offerings. Actually, by the time the main course was done, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take the smallest bite of dessert. Of course, I managed to power through but not without being tempted to unbutton the top button on my pants. Gluten free and veg friendly I highly recommend. I'll be back for sure!!!!
(5)Gautam T.
Finally!!!!! Philadelphia has an amazing Indian restaurant in Center City. (EKTA you're great but you're in No-lib) This is the best indian I've had in the city and actuallly it can be in the argument with really good Indian restaurants in the region. A few things. This is not your traditional indian restaurant. This is extremely modern and Indeblue has done what no other Indian restaurant has ever done. Make curry sexy! its really hard to describe but you just have to try it out for yourself and let me know if you agree with me or not. Ok enough of my rant. I started off with the Spinach Chaat, which was so different but tasted exactly how a good chaat should taste. The Spinach is baked (I think) with spices and probably oil to give it a really crispy texture. Piled on top of the spinach is a wonderful combination of everything chaat. Moving on, scallops were the bomb, I could never imagine scallops in a sambar base tasting as glorious as it did, what a pleasantaly surprising dish. Shrimp, amazing, super super fresh like it just came out of the water fresh in a spicy tomato based blend. Chicken kebab, Spicy very Spicy but super tender and delicious. I can't talk about this anymore. Its frustrating me that I'm not there and I'm on my computer salivating.
(5)Demitri H.
If you're craving quality indian food then back that truck up and fill your gullet here. The lamb lollipops were so tender I thought I was eating meat flavored butter! The paneer was also extra smooth and worth mopping up every bit with the fresh naan. Just go already!
(5)Sujoy C.
I am rating it 5 stars as the food is closest to an Indian taste. Do try the drums of heaven it's really nice.
(5)Palmila L.
This is easily the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. I loved that they do a modern reinvention of classic Indian cuisine that still nevertheless remains true to tradition. Must order dishes: 1. Spinach chaat. This was the perfect opener, and I've never had anything quite like it before. The spinach is flash-fried so it's perfectly crispy, and we loved the yogurt and tamarind date chutney together. It was light, but very well-rounded in flavor. 2. Malai kofta bukhara. We ordered this as a side, rather than the entree, so we could try more dishes, but this is something I would order as an entree next time. The creamy cardamom sauce was delicious, and the kofta filled with apricot and cashew was heavenly. 3. Any of the bread selections. Seriously. I especially loved the provencal (garnished with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) because I'm a sucker for truffle oil. We also tried the chicken madras--it was well-flavored, but we didn't find it particularly rave-worthy. Maybe it just didn't stand out in comparison to the other dishes that we loved. (Also completely irrelevant note, but the Williams-Sonoma nerd in me loved the silverware here! Such a unique design that fit in so well with the decor and ambiance of the restaurant.) The service was perfect and attentive. We came relatively late on a Saturday night (around 9:30 PM), and it was surprisingly busy. We were seated right in the middle of the dining room, so it was a little loud at times, but to be fair, we spent a decent amount of meal eating and not a lot of time talking once the dishes came out. The decor was gorgeous. On the whole, can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!
(4)Tina D.
I love the ambience here! It has a very elegant Indian vibe. As a vegetarian I can always find plenty of options. I've eaten here several times and have tried most menu items. My personal favorites are the crispy cauliflower which has just the right amount if spice, the malai kofta and the dal makhani! The staff is always super pleasant and the service on point. I've also enjoyed drinks at the bar several times. The bartender is very friendly and makes great suggestions.
(4)Nicole H.
The food here is very, very good. And the decor is beautiful - a huge improvement from the space before and glad they chose such fantastic finishes. That being said, I found the lunch menu slightly lacking in options and also very overpriced. I can go to El Vez and get a drink, huge app and huge entree for $15...why pay nearly $20 for anything similar here? I'd say stay away during lunch (we were the only ones there, so seems I'm not off base on that), but dinner could be fantastic. Try it once, even if you've never had Indian!
(4)Sarah K.
I'm realizing I only review places I like. Oh well. Anyway, I had dinner here and it was GREAT. I've been bummed since my fave Indian place closed because the family moved to Fargo to open a restaurant there (who does that!?!?!?!), and the entree, malai kofta bukhara, and naan I had here were very much like what I used to have there. Delicious entree and the assortment of naan in the bread basket was also very tasty. I didn't have any appetizers so I can't speak to those, but they looked delicious (I'm a sucker for vegetable samosas). The waitress was very friendly but not annoying. They had live music which added ambience but gave me a headache, as all live music does, so take that for what it's worth. I would definitely go back here instead of trying something new, which means it was pretty good!
(5)Peter S.
This is it. Wow. This was one of those meals (and they are few and far between) where with the last bite I had to sit back and savor the moment. If it wasn't perfection, it was darn close. If you are looking for superb Indian food in Center City, at a place that is upscale (without the upscale surcharge) and offers a fine dining experience, look no further. Not that I've been to the competition, but this was so top notch, I don't need to go anywhere else. IndeBlue has me. I arrived at little after 8pm on a Thursday. They were busy, not overtaxed. A good sign, I thought. Another good sign: all the entrees are Gluten Free. That's right: all the entrees. And they have gluten free naan, too. I'm telling you: they do gluten free. The food was spectacular. The flavors full and layered. Even the rice had spices & seasoning that flowed and danced. I am a one trick pony and had the chana masala, spicy. One of the finest dishes I have ever had. I know; you've heard me say this before, perhaps. Well, perhaps, but the truth still stands here. And, note, I've had plenty of food I've never written about. Why Yelp about mediocrity? I don't. IndeBlue is not a one trick pony; looking around the restaurant, it was clear that every dish was being thoroughly enjoyed. The gluten free bread was naan-like. It was light (not fluffy) and thin and roasted with seasoning (and tomato?). I'd give is a GF "A." A delicious GF naan substitution. For the first time since going gluten free, I could actually enjoy the meal with naan. And had I been with non-GF, I could have convinced them to forgo the gluten and join me with the gluten free. A word about the price: this place is a bargain. I'm not going to say under-priced, but let us do say that I was surprised at how little my check was. For instance: the GF naan was $3. And so is the regular naan. Yup; no gluten free surcharge. You've seen it: the GF item is 1/3 to a 1/2 more expensive. Not so here. And the chana masala was a more-than-reasonable $14. The service was very good. The waiter extremely pleasant & helpful. He knew gluten free. He had great banter and table-side manner. He found me papadam and recommended Bushmills as my Seagrams VO replacement. The Indian restaurant didn't have a Canadian whiskey. The horror. ;-) Bottom line: Excellent food. Great urban decor. A fine dining experience. I'd only wished I'd had a date.
(5)Caroline L.
This has to be the best brunch in town--not only for the Indian food, specials, and also because I don't have to endure 2 hour waits. I've been here twice in the past year with a large group and have enjoyed the food. They have sampler plates and an eclectic mix of brunch and a flavorful Indian meal. They have a sitar player at noon, who plays masterfully without being overly intrusive for conversation. The service is brisk, but we were allowed to linger, even on a Sunday.
(4)RaJaTi P.
I had been here twice . The best thing to get here as an Indian foodie I think is Thaali!! I just love it. The saag paneer was excellent. I also loved raita which was so fresh. Being from Washington, D.C., I have been craving for a thali since I don't get that one over there. The best part would be live sitar and tabla music. I feel it just blends so well with your meals. Kudos to the guys playing Indian raagas so well!! Overall a pleasurable experience!!!
(4)Kruti P.
I visited IndeBlue for the first time today for brunch. I had a chai sangria, which was good but no different than most red wine sangrias I've had. My husband had a uniquely spicy masala Bloody Mary. I ordered the pizza naan of the day and paneer bhurjee. I wish the server would have told me that the chili cheese naan that comes with the bhurjee is basically a slightly smaller portion of the pizza. Both had wayyy too much cheese for my taste. To top it off, there was a bunch of melted cheese in the bhurjee... My husband enjoyed the lollipop lamb chops very much, more so than the drums of heaven - which were also good. Looking around, I would try the rose petal mimosa, chat and dosa/uttapam next time. Live sitar and tabla players were a nice addition.
(4)Sarah P.
I have been meaning to go to IndeBlue with my friend Ainsley A. ever since we sampled their fantastic samosas at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash. Earlier this week, we finally had the chance to stop in for happy hour, and we were totally impressed. The decor is elegant and polished but not pretentious. A small group of us sat at the bar by the window for happy hour and ordered pretty much every plate of food on the happy hour menu. One of my friends also got the spicy lychee margarita and let us all have a sip. This drink is definitely for spice lovers- it packs a huge, yet delicious, punch. As for the food, the vegetable samosas have the perfect crispy outside/soft inside texture contrast. The bed of chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt beneath the samosas was divine, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and spice to compliment the flavors of the samosa. It was a well-executed classic dish. The spinach chaat was my personal favorite, and it was unlike anything I've had before. The crispiness of flash-fried flaky spinach was quenched perfectly with the sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney lying underneath. I could have eaten two of these by myself. One of my friends even ate a stray piece of spinach off the (very clean) bar top; it was just that good. The naan pizza was an interesting twist on traditional naan. It was the perfect dish to split and to shamelessly mop up every last bit of the chutney underneath our samosas. The stuffed long hot peppers were also very unique. The menu labels them medium-spicy, but I think that "medium" is an understatement (in a good way). The stuffing adds texture to the dish while still allowing the natural heat and flavor of the pepper to shine through. The experience was great, from the cool atmosphere, to the food, to our very professional and friendly bartender who tolerated our ridiculous conversation about dating and even politely chimed in. The price was right too; I spent less than 10 bucks for a decent amount of food! I have a feeling I'll be back here again very soon for dinner and to get my hands on more of that amazing spinach chaat.
(5)Joe A.
We went for brunch on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. We ordered the vegetarian thali and the lentil pancake. Very tasty food and attentive service. Drinks were also very good.
(4)L S.
Me and a good friend of mine decided to try this spot for Happy Hour yesterday (3/31). OMG I can't belive I've gone all this time without their food in my life...AMAZING, I got the spinach chaat (tastes like general tso chicken, I kid you not!), The pizza naan and the drums of heaven. All were on the HH menu for only $4 dollars each!!! This has been added to my list of favorites spots!
(5)Nicole M.
IndeBlue is amazing Indian food that is much needed in Center City. It's slightly fusion, but not so much that it loses its authenticity. I've tried many of the menu items, but there are still so many more that I have my eye on. Highlights: Crispy Spinach Chaat: Amazingly crispy, light, and fresh. The tamarind date chutney makes a perfect "dressing" for this little spinach salad. I want to know how they cook the spinach to make it THAT crispy. I could eat this every day and wouldn't feel too guilty since it's a healthy option! Drums of heaven: Wings in an Indian-style spicy sauce. This sauce would be good on anything! Really crispy, almost Korean-style fried. Sweet potato pakora: Chickpea battered sweet potatoes. Super addicting. One order for 2-3 people will disappear in minutes. Paneer tikka makhani: I love paneer so I had to try this. The sauce is slightly sweeter than other dishes, so it was the perfect complement to the spicier entrees. Order a side portion and take a bite every time your tongue is on fire from something else. I usually only like to try places I've never been to for restaurant week, but I love this place so much, and their restaurant week menu is a steal. It's the perfect way to try a bunch of different things here. I got the non-vegetarian thali sampler platter as my main course, which came with chicken makhani, lamb rogan josh, dal makhani, rice, raita, mango chutney, and garlic naan. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, but I ate it all and enjoyed it so much. I regret it after, of course, but it was worth it. Try the cocktails! The Monsoon is delicious with a spicy kick from cinnamon, star anise, and ginger.
(5)David D.
This is good Indian cuisine, but I can't get on board all these 4 and 5-star ratings. I've had much better Indian cuisine at the dingy, traditional Indian joints. The location in DT Philadelphia is good, and you are met with a very attentive and smiling Maitre'D, but the food doesn't quite match the sophistication they're trying to show. This is definitely the best looking Indian restaurant in Philadelphia (and second only to Kirin's in Houston that I have visited). Tables are clean, there is actual linen (woohoo), and the bathroom is like a Nirvana relative to most Indian establishments. IndeBlue has a good drink menu, and their IndeMartini is a standout and strong. They even have a wine list, which is borderline decent. The service was spotty. I found our waiter very affable, but in other ways he was a disaster. He almost poured my sparkling water in a wine glass, thought better of it, found a different glass, still almost spilled it, etc. The other wait staff were not up to par by any means, one even bumped into me on the way to the restroom sans an apology! Welcome to the jungle. This was restaurant week, so the menu was quite contrived. Maybe that is what held things back. I ordered the spinach chaat (good if you're into fried food), the vegetarian Thali (asked for vegan and gluten-free, got gluten-free, good thing I'm not a strict vegan), and the fig dessert was probably the best item. The vegetarian Thali was VERY limited compared to real Thalis that I have had at other Indian joints. My DP had a regular Thali from IndeBlue, and it also came with only 3 main dishes (and when I say dish we're talking a tiny saucer), compared to most places which have 5-6, and the idea is they will refill them for you, not here. They did start us with three complimentary tastes of soup, although I found them all lacking in taste. The rice was okay. Saffron rice, not really standout by any means. The fig cake was good, and the ice cream on top was decent. Not made in house, so I was like, ehhh. This is probably a fun date night for someone craving Indian cuisine, but IndeBlue is not foodie approved.
(3)Joanna L.
If you like Indian food, then you have to check out IndeBlue. The flavors offered here will make your tastebuds dance with pleasure! Enjoyed a fantastic meal here with my family for a birthday. The atmosphere is trendy, but the vibe is relaxed and casual. The bartender Cory was very knowledgable about cocktails and beer, making perfect recommendations for everyone in our party. The coconut/caramom cocktail is deliciously refreshing and was the drink I stayed with throughout my dining experience. It was light, flavorful, not too sweet and exactly what I was looking for, containing both rum and vodka. In terms of food, here is what I recommend: Apps: Vegetable Samosa - 2 per order-- Filled with spiced potato turnovers, chickpeas , yogurt, tamarind date chutney, & cilantro mint chutney. Great balance of flavors inside, sitting on top of the chickpea yogurt mix that was a creamy accompaniment. They provide 3 types of dipping sauces - the mint chutney and spicy curry were my favorite! Crispy Spinach Chaat- crispy baby spinach, shallots , chopped tomatoes sweet yogurt, & tamarind date chutney. The best salad I've ever had. The crunchy spinach elevated the experience adding a different texture than a typical salad. I could have eaten three orders of this! So addicting! Great combination of flavors. Duo Samosa- pulled pork, tamarind barbecue, blue cheese wine, spinach, feta, & tomato raisin chutney. Another delicious samosa if you eat meat I would recommend. You receive one samosa and a spring roll. Everyone enjoyed. Drums of heaven- battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili & scallions. These were big ol' wings, more delicious than your average! If you visit the IndeBlue website, this is the picture when you select the menu. They're great to share and have a slight kick of heat to them. Of the small plates, we ordered the lamb lollipops- ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint & mojito. These are a MUST try. They're tender, juicy and packed with tasty spices. This was my my second favorite starter in addition to the spinach dish. Our table raved over them in fact. Main course breakdown: Seafood moilee -jumbo lump crab, jumbo shrimp, coconut, mustard seed, curry leaf served with lemon rice. This was a recommendation by our server and it was packed great! The lemon rice accompanies it perfectly. Laal maas - lamb shank, ginger, kashmiri chili, black cardamom, cumin and saffron rice. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly, sitting in a tangy sauce that complimented it well. Chicken tikka masala- boneless chicken, fresh tomato, red onion, fenugreek, & touch of cream served with saffron rice. Staple indian dish that we had to order. Chicken was juicy and the sauce was a solid combination of cream and spices. Baingan bharta- tandoor roasted eggplant mash, tomatoes , peas & caramelized onions. Great veggie side if you like eggplant. Soft consistency but coupled the entree orders well as a side with a good balance of spices. For Naan, we tried the provencal (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano & truffle oil) - combined awesome flavors when dipping in the entree sauces. If you like truffle oil, you've gotta try this! Also ordered the whole wheat roti which was also good.. pretty standard tho. Try the options with spices-- it adds the extra zing! I would definitely return to IndeBlue again. The service was pleasant and helpful, the decor is beautiful, cocktails were great, the food was excellent, and the price is VERY reasonable! Go and try it-- what are you waiting for?
(4)Laura Jill S.
Wow. Michelle C had told me that Indeblue was her favorite Indian in the city, & wow, does she know her Indian food! Kristin H & I had dinner there tonight after the event at Eviama Life Spa (which was also phenomenal). The decor was beautiful & warm, I loved every detail of their presentation--in fact, I'm actually a little obsessed with their silverware. Everyone who worked there was friendly, and our waiter was excellent & accommodating (& quite cute, just sayin'). I know I've lived here a year, but I still can't get used to not having to explain what vegan is. It's still really special when someone in food service just knows & makes sure I'm taken care of. Kristin & I shared the samosas, the crispy vegetable chili, & the chana masala. I highly recommend all 3. (Michelle recommended the crispy spinach chaat--next time for sure!) I live for Indian food. This place is close to my apartment & amazing. I expect I'll be here often!
(5)Jay D.
Pretty basic indian, even fancier atmosphere than Minar Palace down the street, which is my fav, and already too fancy (RIP: Old, unfancy Minar Palace on Sansom Street from 2005.) This seems like it would be the nicer option to go on a date to, and I love that they tell you on the menu what can be made vegan. But if I'm craving Indian, I'm heading to MP.
(4)Kathy S.
This restaurant was such a pleasant surprise. The menu has familiar Indian food but with a twist. The vegetarian dishes, that can be ordered as sides, were excellent and the spinach chat was wonderful. Even the rice was very good. The service was perfect. Our sever was very attentive and didn't hurry us even though the restaurant was full. The ambiance is casually sophisticated and the noise level was acceptable. I thought this was the best Indian food in Phila. (my husband says Tashan but they really both are great)
(4)Kiyana D.
Chicken tikka makhani, chana masala, and roti. Spicy, seasoned yumminess. Really good. A bit warm inside. Live mellow music and excellent HH. A great place for dinner and drinks with friends or date night.
(5)Minh M.
My friends and I stumbled onto here while looking for a quick bite to eat before going out. We ended up staying until 1 am or so. I usually don't give out 5 stars unless it is really exceptional. Their lamb dishes were savory and amazing and their raita dip (yougurt, cucumber, and spices) is the best I've had. Not only that, but we came in 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was extremely accommodating. The kitchen staff put their best even late at night. To boot, he bartender whipped up a mean tamarita which was tequila and tamarind juice. It's too bad we found it so late in our trip because I would've loved to sit in the dining area, which was really cute and cozy, very different from the Indian restaurants I go to (but to be honest, this was an American, modern twist to Indian food). The hospitality was enough to earn them 5 stars and it's even better when the food is good. Check them out and look out for Cory to be your bartender!
(5)Lan H.
IndeBlue is, by far, my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia :-) 5 stars, woop woop! I would go back for happy hour and order the chikni shandar that really tated more like the yummy sangria with just a touch of chai and cardamom. Innovative, to say the least! Then, I would sit in the dining room for a lamb biryani dinner that was more like dinner plus lunch for two more days! The atmosphere was on-point with great service and even live music to put you more in the mood for Indian food! I feel like I have only touched the surface of what IndeBlue has to offer - I mean, Sunday brunch? Tons of other happy hour goodies and dinner goodies? Yes, please! IndeBlue, you've made me excited for another Indian food adventure!
(5)Joyce S.
it was my second night there couple days ago. the ambiance was always awesome. this location is the perfect place for a date. there were artists playing drums and guitar which surprised me. but it was still cool. their drinks were pretty good. I had the mango lassi and it was made just right. Not too sweet and not too sour. We had the family style menu so we can share food and try different things. their food tend to be more spice. we got the chicken tikka masala and goat masala. So for the folks who cannot eat spicy food like me, make sure you drink a lot of water. (or get a mango lassi to easy the burning sensation) The naan breads and the rice were really good. Me and my friend's favorite were actually the dessert. The caramel fried banana and the cinnamon ice cream were to die for. Even though we were really full but we still manage to chew that thing down. overall I will definitely come back to try out different things on the menu.
(4)Venkata Krishnan C.
The ambience was great. The service was excellent and the food was the best. Ordered veg thali and everything was good. The only drawback is lack of parking with the hotel but there are a couple parking decks closeby.
(5)Kathryn T.
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars I came here for brunch with friends when in Philly for the weekend. The menu looked super dope and it was close by to where we were staying. The food was three stars. It was good but I have had better. We had the butter chicken -- which was spicier than advertised. The garlic naan was easily the highlight of the meal. It was fluffy and had the right amount of garlic. The spinach chaat was good. The texture is unexpected so if you happen to order it, it really is that crispy. Rose petal mimosas were great at first but once you get to a certain point, all you can taste is the syrup. The value is incredible. For about $22-25 each, we got an entree, drink, and appetizer. Yeah, can't find that in NY. The vibes of this place are incredible. The setup of the restaurant is really something that you have to see since it is so beautiful. Live music during brunch? Yes, I want that. So here's the thing about IndeBlue, the service is not good. The wait is horrendous. Should it really take twenty minutes for someone to take our order.... no. Should it take over an hour for us to get our food, definitely not. There was a couple sitting next to us that waited even longer. Overall: it was good. The portion to taste to price ratio is solid... but that wait? There's a lot more we could have explored in the city if we weren't sitting the restaurant waiting.
(3)Swathi J.
IndeBlue is the best Indian food I have eaten till date in Philadelphia. Naan and Roti were rightly baked and the curries were amazingly good. We ordered Malai Kofta Curry, Paneer Tikka Masala and Chana Masala. Everything was so flavorful. We had to wait 30 minutes though we had a reservation, but the manager was kind enough to give us a snack on the house. The only reason why I am not giving them 5 stars is because the portions are really small for the price. One curry serves only one person. I certainly would recommend this to anyone who wants to have true Indian food in Philly!
(4)Jess T.
The food is superb here. I've wanted to come here for months and finally got a chance to stop by for lunch today. And the food definitely did not disappoint. They have lunch specials for $15 which includes a starter and an entree. Everything sounded good on the menu but for my first time I went with the drums of heaven which is a Indian inspired buffalo wings with blue cheese. For my entree, I got my favorite, butter chicken (chicken makhani) which was extremely tasty and definitely has a kick to it. Best Indian food I've had in a while! My coworker had the tikka wrap and fries. Fries were crunchy and delicious. I'm guessing portions are smaller for lunch. Knocked one star off for service. Our waiter for lunch took his time and was slow to check in on us so make sure you're planning on a two hour lunch if you come in here!
(4)Jacqueline O.
Beautiful little restaurant. Perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Tuesday's at 7 and brunch on Sunday have live music! Run a great happy hour deal from 5-7 or 9-close at the bar with 4 dollar beers and 5 dollar wines.
(5)Julie W.
One of my favorite happy hours in the city (5-7 and then after 9, daily!). This place gets crowded around the bar, but it's not hard to snatch a seat or two if you have a small party. Intense physical proximity during peak hours doesn't make for the best heart-to-heart's (unless you opt for the quieter dining area), but it's great for delicious bites and strong drinks after work. Recommended noms: Drums of heaven - these are so good! A bit spicier than expected but like firecrackers in your mouth. Great HH snack though beware as it gets messy. Lamb rogan josh (19) - delicious lamb dish, rich in spices and flavor. Served with rice but great with their garlic naan. Split this with friend and we were very satisfied. Drinks: Kingfisher lager - light and refreshing, complemented the meal well. Indebluetini - rich mango flavor! favorite. Rose gimlet - pretty and strong, but a bit lackluster in taste. Take advantage of their long happy hours to sample their menu and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Adrienne D.
I love this place! All is great....from the happy hour to the customer service! My current favs - the rib samosas and the drumsticks. Want to try out small plates and good drinks at a reduced price? The happy hour is a sure bet. Get here on a Monday or at 5pm sharp to get a good space. Reservations recommended. Overall, been here four times. Between me and my friends - all the dishes have been great. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Jennifer R.
Of course my meal and service here was damn spectacular and I was very happy with it. I'm a bit bitter about how expensive everything is and that it didn't have the same great options as the Collingswood location I had tried, but it was absolutely delicious. This is some high quality indian and the restaurant itself was gorgeous, so I was thrilled to be here, I just don't think a rice dish with a cheap cut of lamb needs to be over $20. It was Lamb Biryani which was spiced so well with whole coriander and saffron and everything great about indian, so really no complaints on food at all. We also got a crisped spinach app and a tikka masala pita pizza which was straight awesome with the amount and type of spice used. We sprung for some fancy cocktails and all of them were delicious and strong. Go for them if you're celebrating or are ok with paying $14 for a drink. I'd sooner go to the Collingswood location over this for everything but atmosphere. If they added the $20 thali sampler to the Philly location, my butt would be at the door immediately. If you're going on a nice date and both can appreciate some spice, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Mandy H.
IndeBlue is one of my go-to happy hour spots. The location is great for me and they have wonderful food and drink specials. Their drinks are different and interesting and tend to include cardamom, which sounded a little weird to me at first, but I really enjoyed the indebluetini, which has mango, cardamom, citron vodka, and lemon juice. It just works. They also have a delicious spinach chaat. I don't know how they keep the spinach as crispy as they do, but it is so crunchy and perfect with a mix of salty and sweet spices. Definitely try it! The naan pizzas are always a safe bet and the drums of heaven are the perfect cure for hankering for buffalo wings. At $4-$5 a piece during Happy Hour, its not a bad deal at all. I will be back!
(4)Suzanne B.
Ambience. Perfect menu. Deep flavors. Handsome stranger sitting across from me. How could I not love this place?
(5)Sam W.
Impressive Indian food at reasonable prices and really good and cheap drinks. They don't have Chicken Tikka Masala which almost crushed me... but they were able to make it anyways :)
(5)Kal P.
SPINACH CHAAT! That is all. Ya'll NEED to try this. I've come here multiple times for Happy Hour and once for dinner. The drinks are unique (one was super spicy which I wasn't a fan of) and the food is tasty. I was raised in an Indian household so I am a snob when it comes to Indian food - I highly recommend this place! Note: Not all the Naan Pizzas are yummy - they change them daily. Choose wisely.
(5)Anil T.
I asked for a can of coke with my take out, and the waitress said YES. After taking my food and walking a block, i saw there was no can of coke with in my food parcel. Went back and they gave me a glass if coke from the bar and said we don't sell CANS of soda. Not going there again. Low standard. Poor in informing the customer correctly.
(1)Nancy X.
One of the BEST lunch spots out there! High quality, delicious Indian fusion. But they still do the traditional stuff really really well. Their express lunch for $15 is basically a steal. It comes with an appetizer and an entree. For appetizers, you can choose a chaat, salad, soup, or one of their super yummy fusion plates. Appetizers I like: -The drums of heaven (battered chicken wings with blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili and scallions) are so perfectly flavored. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And you get 4 of these amazing things -Naan pizza! They have different flavors all the time. The one I tried had paneer, red peppers, red onions, herbs, and mozzarella -Barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, you get 2 rolls cut into 4 pieces in total. It comes with a super yummy dipping sauce of tamarind barbeque and blue cheese wine. -Stuffed long hot peppers. You get 2 big ol' smoked green peppers, stuffed with house-made paneer, mozzarella, deghi chili, spring onions, with a fresh tomato sauce on the bottom. -Aloo makkai tikki are these 2 yummy spiced potato cakes with corn and apple chutney. ALL SUPER TASTY! Entrees: -The best one is chicken tikka makhani (butter chicken). The chicken is apparently free range, and obviously delicious. the sauce is beautifully spiced, and tastes right. Not like the nasty overly creamy ones I have to eat in New Jersey :( It's served with fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice, which is so delicious, but still needs to be drowned in the beautiful makhani sauce. - Lamb rogan josh is also really good! It's a less interesting tasting sauce in my opinion, but still delicious. Kinda like a lamb stew but spiced with an Indian flair. The lamb had a great, tender texture, and the sauce was so hearty and yummy. This also came with the awesome herb rice. Overall, an awesome date place!! The ambiance is really nice, roomy, clean, and dimly-lit. The $15 express lunch is just unreal.
(5)Donna D.
IndeBlue offers exceptional service, incredible food and a beautifully charming restaurant--all at very reasonable prices. My companion and I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. I am vegan, he is not. We both loved our meals and were very satisfied. You must order the vegetable samosas and the vegetable skewer. My companion had shrimp, chicken and lamb and he said they were all incredibly high quality meats, seasoned and cooked to perfection. Our waiter, Chris, was awesome and made us feel like family. This is my new favorite restaurant!
(5)Emma M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! The food is superb. The service is attentive and seamless. The venue is elegant and beautiful, and the prices are uber-reasonable. Moreover, it caters not just to carnivorous diners, but to vegans and gluten-free acolytes alike. Yay! I like to sample as much of a restaurant's offerings as I can. Indeblue's menu certainly encourages that. I'll typically get the smaller versions of two entrees, throw in an appetizer and naan bread, and order one of their homemade desserts. They also offer a tasting menu, which I highly recommend. Since it's conveniently located near the Kimmel Center and other performance venues I like to frequent, I'll often come here for dinner. If I order before 7 pm, I've asked for my drink at Happy Hour prices even though my meal came from the dinner menu. Bear in mind that Happy Hour restarts at 9 pm! So indulge in a sumptuous meal, walk a few blocks to your performance, and return to Indeblue afterwards for a post-show drink. It's a great place to bring a date, enjoy a pleasant business dinner, or have a nice evening out with friends.
(5)Marcie K.
This place just blew my freaking mind. Everything we ate, and I do mean everything, was PERFECT. The service excellent, and the atmosphere really pleasant. The spinach chaat - I'd push my mother in front of a train if I had to choose between her and the chaat. The seafood moille was superb. I would have liked a bit more variety in the seafood (90% shrimp) though. Just go there. Eat everything on the menu. Be happy.
(5)Lene P.
I think this could be my first time trying non-buffet Indian food. Indeblue seems to be a staple in NJ and is often mentioned for best Indian. It seems hidden but is located not far from Woody's. After work on a beautiful Friday night wasn't hard to get a table and street parking was available. Although to avoid the headache, try not to park on Spruce where they still have quarter meters (thanks to Indeblue staff for providing us with quarters). Size wise, it was rowhome tight but still comfortable. I wasn't bothered by the amount of staff shuffling about constantly. The $37/person tasting menu proved extremely filling. We were full by the time the entrees arrived. For the first course (choice of 2) we ordered the diver scallops (one scallop in sauce each) and the barbecue pork (?) samosa rolls with dipping sauce. Both were delicious. Second course was choice of 1 which we picked shrimp skewer (4). Third course we ordered a lamb saag (custom order) and the chicken tikka makhani. This came with an order of naan (3) and basmati rice. Fourth course was a sampler of their desserts (scoop of ice cream, a fried banana ball and rice pudding... I forget the formal description). This was also delicious! The tasting menu is cheap and definitely worth it. We tried their Indeblutini cocktail which was great if you love mango. Service was top notch. Very attentive and accommodating. Price wise, it is more expensive than the West Philly Indian buffets (New Delhi and Sitar) but great if you want a more upscale experience and be in Center City. It is similar to Karma in Old City although I know Karma definitely has a lunch buffet. I did like it a little better than Tiffin in South Philly.
(5)Liz F.
This place has a great brunch! To start there is a live sitar player... Come on, that is pretty unique touch! When we first came in we thought it was just music played through speakers. After we walked through the restaurant, we realized it was live and it was beautiful and relaxing. It was just the extra touch needed to seal the experience. First and foremost, order the rose mimosa! It was delicate and delicious and four dollars... I'm now regretting that I didn't get several. It isn't as sugary as orange juice and the flavor beautifully complimented the champagne. We ordered the samosas for our appetizer and those were extremely tasty. They were piping hot and perfectly plated. I ordered the non-vegetarian thali for my main dish and it was delectable! It is a lot of food, but I can honestly say I did not leave a single morsel behind. Each sample had a great flavor. I wish it was a bit spicier, but that is certainly a personal preference. This is an excellent choice to try several options without committing to just one. It's an indecisive persons dream come true! More seal the deal five star characteristics included: how attentive and available the wait staff was. Our waitress was quick to answer any questions and to ensure our food was enjoyable. Not to mention, when the check came not much damage was done considering the quality and quantity we had received. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to be back soon for dinner!!
(5)Courtney J.
I've been in love with the IndeBlue in Collingswood for a few years now, so I was excited to hear they were getting a location in Philly. A couple of friends and I went to Happy Hour here last week, and we were impressed with the food deals. The happy hour is from 5:00-7:00 Monday-Friday at the bar. The food prices range from $3-$5. The veggie samosas were only $3 and came with two large ones in a chickpea sauce. They were stuffed full of potatoes and chickpeas. I also ordered the nan pizza ($5), which is just what it sounds like, a large piece of nan with pizza toppings. This particular one came topped with paneer, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and peppers. The type of pizza changes daily though, so ask before ordering. I was stuffed after having only those two appetizers. The drink I had was less impressive, but at only $5 it was alright. It was the Chikini Shandar. This is basically sangria with an Indian twist as chai and cardamom are added. However, I didn't taste any of these wonderful flavors. It was sweet and just tasted like regular sangria. Since the appetizers were good, I'll be back. I'll try a different drink next time, and hopefully it'll be better.
(4)Vidushi B.
This review update is for the brunch - dinner is still a solid 5 stars for me! I also enjoyed my brunch, but I still think dinner here is better. The ambiance obviously does not change from dinner to brunch -- but they do have live sitar and tabla at noon, which is a nice touch. To start, I ordered chai, and obviously loved it. I don't mean a chai tea latte, I mean real, milky, overly sweet chai, which is just the way I like it. We got the spinach chaat as an appetizer, which you'll know from all the other reviews, is the best dish at this restaurant. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. For my entree, I decided to have the paneer bhurjee, which is one of the more traditional items on the menu. It came with a small chili cheese naan. It was very flavorful, and I really liked it. The awkward thing was that they naan was pretty small, and I had so much bhurjee left over at the end. I took it home, and tonight, I ordered take-out naan to finish it with... My friends got the dosa and the french toast, and both were impressed. However, I think that getting the more fusion dishes is the move here, because that's what IndeBlue is good at - putting a new spin on more traditional dishes!
(4)Farha A.
This was by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever encountered - and I am an Indian. What I appreciated most is the uniqueness of the dishes while still maintaining an authentic taste and reverence to South Asian cuisine. I went during happy hour to eat and the happy hour foods were served in generous portions for only $3, $4, or $5 max. My favorite dish was the Spinach Chaat. It was composed of crunchy Spinach flash fried in chick pea powder with other various spices and sauces typical to a chaana or samosa chaat. It was a very light yet satisfying dish and it took a lot of restraint not to order more as I still had plenty more coming. The drums of heaven, hot long peppers, veggie samosas, and shrimp with chilli aoili were also things I tried and loved each and every single one. The bartender serving my food was very kind and informative, offering explanations and recommendations and the food arrived promptly. Best part is all of this came out to be only around ~$20 so if you are a student like me wanting some delicious, gourmet food with a unique flair, I HIGHLY recommend Indeblue. One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Philly!
(5)A B.
Tonight was looking for spice and flavor, enter IndeBlue. A modern decor and foods that had just a hint of a contemporary twist - barring the fish taco which was completely outside the box, though tasty - I found everything I was looking for!
(3)Tonya M.
My friends and I have been here for dinner- yum! Have a great happy hour too. Lunch was so good! Reasonably priced, fast, super friendly service as always. Saag Paneer is my favorite.
(5)Monica H.
It was a first for me to try Indian food. I would not be able to say whether it's authentic or not. So I'm just giving my opinion on what I've encountered.. Our waiter wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. I told him it was my first time trying Indian food, and he didn't offer any type of suggestions. We went with the chefs tasting menu. I wasn't wow'd. If it's a "Chefs Tasting Menu"... shouldn't the "chef" put it together? Why am I selecting all the options.. I wasn't getting a "pre fixe'd" meal.. Anyways.. after what it seemed like pulling teeth out of our waiter, "MONICAs TASTING MENU included: spinach - i enjoyed. it was crunchy and delicious. something i've never had. scallop - nothing special. ONE medium size scallop in a puddle of sauce. lamb chop - too salty. chicken - chewy and a bit on the dry side. goat - very tender and moist. ....dessert (which the chef finally decided to put together cuz their was no option). it consist of homemade ice cream, something like a fried banana dough, which i didn't taste any banana. rice pudding which was very waterdown... MAYBE i would come back for their lunch since there were items there that i did want to try which is not offered during dinner.
(3)marie l.
This review is purely a happy hour cocktail review. I will be back to review food and regular menu very soon. So, I like happy hours for two reasons. 1.) getting together with a friend who you haven't seen in a while and really want to catch up with, but you both have such crazy schedules that all you can fit in is a happy hour, and 2.) Partake in a solo cocktail while I read or introspect, or think big life thoughts and simultaneously not break the bank. Either way, I love relatively small, quiet but interesting and alive places. Indeblue more than fits this bill. Good, strong cocktails for a happy hour, friendly and non invasive service, perfect balance of calm and vibrant.
(5)Yaka H.
A great place for lunch. We indulged in the spinach chaat and the lunch thali platters. The spinach chaat involves spinach leaves fried to a delicate crispness. Topped with crispy straws, yogurt, tomatoes, a great combination of delicate textures, cool textures, and crunch. Each thali platter comes with: naan, rice, a snack (in this case 2 samosas), raita, two non-veg/veg/seafood curries, a vegetable curry (in this case daal makhani), and dessert (kheer). The thali platter is a large round platter with plated little bowls, giving you the opportunity to sample many flavors in one sitting. Definitely a great option to taste what IndeBlue offers at one meal. They have 3 kinds of thali platters: non-veg, veg, and seafood. My sister had the non-veg, which included a chicken curry and a lamb curry. I opted for the vegetarian thali. Staff here is cognizant of food allergies and inquired off at seating if we had any.
(4)Christine F.
Visited last night for restaurant week. Four course menu with plenty to choose from... Everything was delicious. Not overly spicy but just enough. When confirming our reservation they repeated twice that the restaurant week menu would be the only menu offered. The $35 per person four course menu with multiple choices for each course is well worth it. We started with veggie samosas and chicken chaat. Both delicious, next we had the tandoori chicken wings and stuffed long pepper. The tandoori spice was evenly distributed and chicken was so tender. The long pepper itself was not spicy but the stuffing and chili sauce had a very nice kick. Next, we had the vegetarian thali platter and lamb was amazing and filling. We hardly had room for the rice pudding but when it was creamy and spiced with cinnamon. I almost forgot to mention the live sitarist and drums! The musicians were wonderful and added so much to the atmosphere of the restaurant. The one issue that prevented me from giving 5 stars was the wait. The entire dinner from when we entered the restaurant until we left was two hours. Because our server was waiting a large party of 18 guests, who all needed to be severed at the same time. Due to this my boyfriend and I had to wait primarily for our entrees, which took roughly 30 minutes. Overall, it was a wonderful night and we would return. Possibly for brunch which is when the sitarist and drummer play again!
(4)Samannaaz K.
Hands down my best Indian food experience in the U.S! I have been there three times in my two visits to Philly and it is a must visit. If you go there for their happy hour, I highly recommend recommend the Indebluetini! The mango flavor with the cardamom is a true pleaser for your palate. Also- among their small bites- the drums of heaven, shrimp koliwada and the naan pizza. If you go there for dinner the lamb biryani is scrumptious, you can taste all the different spices. I think they use freshly ground spices as opposed to many regular Indian restaurants that use powdered or packages spices. Most Indian restaurants in the U.S. have left me underwhelmed or disappointed with their generic menus and very non-innovative recipes. Perhaps I need to explore more Indian cuisine restaurants...but if you are in Philly and you love Indian food, do not miss Indeblue! Also their courteous and well trained staff adds to the wonderful dining experience. I will always go back when I am in the area.
(5)jay l.
This is, without a doubt, the very best Indian cuisine anywhere in South Jersey. My favorites: butter chicken, vegetable korma, and any of their delicious homemade ice creams. Occasionally I'll get the Thali which is always good for leftovers. I'm really thrilled with this restaurant for delivering all the way to Cherry Hill where I live, and also for having a really amazing Sunday brunch. I don't think I could love this place anymore if I tried. If you're looking for a sodium - laden Indian buffet, keep going. But if you're looking for fresh, delicious indopak cuisine this is your place.
(5)John K.
Philly is no stranger to modern twists on Indian cuisine. Though Tashan is less one Chef Sylva Senat, it is still one of the prime destinations for delicious and beautifully presented Indian dishes. With IndeBlue making its way from Collingswood NJ, Center City Philly got a lot spicier. And with the exit of Bindi from Chef Marcie Turney's deck of restaurants a few years back, Chef Rakesh Ramola is certainly putting his Indian stamp on 13th Street. The space is beautiful as well - wide open with plenty of room and ornamental designs throughout. A bar stands at the front of the restaurant - a great spot for Happy Hour and Center City Sips. Crispy Spinach Chaat [$8] Crispy baby spinach, shallots, chopped tomatoes, sweet yogurt, tamarind date chutney The GF and I stopped by for lunch and the first thing we noticed on the menu was the crispy spinach chaat. And before we could even order it, the kitchen had already sent it out for us to try. This was a dish we had at Tashan and it exceeded our expectations. The baby spinach was lightly coated in a fresh chickpea batter and flash-fried in soybean oil. This allowed for a vegetal crisp amidst the bite of onion, chopped tomatoes, and shallots. The sweet yogurt and tamarind date chutney dressed the chaat well and provided a sweetness that brought a smile to our faces. A must order. Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable [$8] Seasonal vegetables, mustard seed, tomato, curry leaf, red chili These vegetables were coated with a thicker chickpea batter, yet it was still incredibly crisp and light. Fresh veggies included cauliflower, peppers, and eggplant, with the mustard seed and red chili providing a bit of heat, and the tomato providing the acid. I typically abhor raw onions, but the red onions really worked here to break up the heft of each bite. Drums of Heaven [$8] Battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili, scallions As soon as I saw pictures on Yelp (5 stars by the way), I knew I had to order this dish. Sure, it's not a traditional Indian dish. But really - how many restaurants french their drumsticks? This chicken was nicely crispy, but was dressed well with notes of garlic, tomato and chili. The chicken itself was incredibly juicy and was marinated with what I believe was a yellow curry. The blue cheese certainly isn't typical, but hey - it's almost to be expected. If you like wings, definitely check these out. Chutney Mint, tamarind-date, green chile With our mains, the kitchen also sent out a sampler of chutneys for us to try (I believe they're typically $3 each). From top to bottom, we received mint (light and refreshing), tamarind-date (sweet depth of flavor), and green chile (be prepared to sweat!). Chicken Tikka Makhani "Butter Chicken" [$12] Boneless free-range chicken, fresh tomato, cream, honey, fenugreek, black pepper, saffron rice We make butter chicken at least once a month in our home, despite the GF and I not being Indian. But why should that matter - it's crazy good - 'nuff said. IndeBlue's iteration? Blows ours out the water. The boneless chicken was moist, but really, it's all about the sauce. The tomato provided nice acidity against the cream and butter. Perfect to engulf the sweet saffron rice. If you're thinking that Indian food is all about curry and you need an easy entry into this cuisine, please try this. Non-Vegetarian Thali [$16] Two tasting entrees, dai makhani, appetizer, mango chutney, rice, naan, raita When I saw the thali options, I knew I had to order the non-vegetarian version. Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of various dishes - Indian tapas if you will. Counterclockwise from the right, I received mustard chicken (moist and bright), lamb (hearty like short rib and one of the best bites of the meal), and lentil daal (spicy and filling). A mango chutney and creamy raita provided the sweet and cooling elements to respectively balance the rest of the bites. Well-seasoned fried potatoes, more saffron rice, and naan bread were on offer as well. And for $16? This is easily a steal and a great way to try different bites from the kitchen. If you live in Center City Philly, consider yourself lucky. There's a wide variety of cuisines available, especially in the Midtown Village area. With IndeBlue, approachable and modern twists based on authentic Indian techniques and flavors are on display. Service was top-notch - Sean was friendly, informed, and our plates were cleared for each course. If I'm craving Indian, I know where I'll be going. Unless IndeBlue starts delivering ...
(5)Anupma S.
**Restaurant Week Review** I can't imagine giving IndeBlue any less than five stars... Simply amazing! From the service, to food and drink, to decor and ambiance, IndeBlue scores an A+ on everything. I visited again to try their Restaurant Week menu and had an incredible dining experience. Our service was exceptional -- we had a good pace through our four courses and were never rushed by our waiter. Each course was so delicious!! Check out the pictures on this review to see our selections. My favorites... Chai Sangria: Umm... Two amazing drinks in one, heck yeah!!! They nailed it. Mango Avacado Salad: Light and fresh with tasteful additions of avacado and mango. Great way to begin a heavy meal of Indian food. Drums of Heaven: Reminiscent of Indo-Chinese flavors. Perfectly crispy and cooked! Chicken Tikka Makhani: Never had better! Bold, rich flavors and perfectly textured chicken. Gulab Jamun: Delicious pairing with cinnamon ice cream, YUMMM. Heck i loved everything lol. For serious, they can effortlessly make tasty vegetable and meat dishes that are both fresh and rich. I've never seen another Indian restaurant do it better! The decor inside is simply beautiful. They really went all out in making the restaurant an exotic escape from Philadelphia. It was packed for Restaurant Week too, so I'm not alone in my love!
(5)Sanit J.
Hands down the best indian food in Philly. Dal Makhani is to die for. The crispy spinach chat is a great concept and texturally brilliant. Not to miss at all.
(5)Ray M.
Based on a great review from Sari A. Indie Blue in Philadelphia did not disappoint. Very classy Indian restaurant. Wonderful decor/atmosphere. Very clean and comfortable. All the staff work well together to service the customer. It's clear to see this restaurant is just doing it right. I love Indian food! Indie Blue is now my new favorite place dine for this cuisine. I decided to try the tasting menu which consisted of 4 courses. You are able to pick 1-2 choices for each course from the main menu. I'm very confident everything at this restaurant is great. My favorite was the lollipop lamb chops! Omg! They were perfectly balanced with amazing spices and a melt in your mouth texture. Soooo good! I was also pleasantly surprised by the drink menu. Not too many Indian restaurants are known for good alcohol libations. They have amazing drinks with an Asian twist. Awesome! Desert: with the tasting menu you get coconut ice cream, banana beignet and rice pudding. Delicious! Words really cannot describe my start to finish experience. I can't wait to go back to explore more of this great menu at this lovely restaurant. Thank you Sari A!
(5)Neil C.
The food is awesome... Service even better...I highly recommend the chef trading menu... Although it is a littler buy too much for one person... But you can Teetu many items on the menu.no went with spinach chat awesome, chicken drum rule awesome, lamb rack awesome, lamb rogan josh awesome, paneer butter masala awesome chocolate dessert awesome
(5)Aria S.
*happy hour review* Definitely new happy hour stop. I came on Tuesday and the bar was completely packed, but on Thursday it was totally fine...I guess it's just a draw. Drinks: Rose gimlet, spicy lychee margarita, and indebluetini. All delicious and so creative in bringing in Indian flavors (like rose, spice, and cardamon) into drinks! They weren't strong, but for $5, well worth it. Food: Hai ram, this was all delicious. The spinach chaat is a must!! Aloo tikis are a meh (but for $3, why not!). The naan pizza changes weekly I guess but ours with paneer was delightful. The stuffed peppers also delicious and SPICY (yaass) and stuffed with paneer and mozeralla..yes delicious. The most expensive was the naan pizza for $5! For 3 hungry chicas, we ordered 4 appetizers and that was our dinner, coming out to like $5/person and it was the best decision ever. Will definitely return, especially because they have a late night happy hour (9-closing) for us who work later! Shoutout to Michael the host for helping us out when we were in a rush to leave and he got us our bill, etc.
(5)Nora H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had. Everything with stellar: food, cocktails, service, and interior. Went during restaurant week and was impressed with the portion size. The chai tea cocktail and crispy spinach appetizer were especially excellent.
(5)Neha S.
This is Indian food served with a refreshing modern twist. We ordered a stuffed mirchi as appetizer and Malai kofta, pindi chole and garlic mama as entre. And I have to say that every single dish was just outstanding. But the real winner was their fig ice cream with a texture as soft as a silk. I would highly recommend this place for food lovers in Philly!
(5)Elisa F.
Great lunch specials and a gorgeous atmosphere. I had a sampler and everything single thing was awesome. Nice attentive service as well :)
(5)Sonia S.
I came here on a Thursday night for happy hour (5-7pm) with 2 friends... The bar was full so they seated us at a small table near the entrance. This was my first time here and despite having high expectations, I was very impressed! The food and drinks were flavorful and unique. We ordered 4 appetizers and 2 rounds of drinks between the 3 of us and the bill came out to only $50! Drinks ($5 each) -chikni shandar (my favorite one!): sparkling wine with chai and cardamom. Tastes just like sangria with an Indian twist -rose gimlet: if you like gin, this is a must! -spicy lychee margarita: chili-infused tequila adds an interesting kick -indebluetini: just like a spiced maaza mango juice Food ($3-5) -spinach chaat: the best spinach you will ever have... Crispy spinach with onions, tomatoes topped with yogurt chutney and sev (thin crunchy noodles) -naan pizza: with tandoori marinated paneer and caramelized onions -aloo makkai tikki: still not sure how I feel about the apple chutney but overall an average dish -stuffed peppers: gets progressively more spicy as you near the end of the pepper with seeds. Looking forward to coming back for their late night happy hour (9pm-close) and trying a thali!
(5)Sari A.
So its one block away and I never been there? where have I've eaten all this time? I made a reservation through open table via Yelp, and checked in with the friendly host Josh, who happened to be my waiter as well, he greeted me "Namasté" and walked me to my table. Josh kept addressing me by my first name!! Since it was my first time there, Josh recommended the thali, either the vegetarian, non-vegetarian or the seafood one. He was nice enough to accommodate my request to switch one of the non-vegetarian entrees to a vegetarian one, so I can have a taste of everything! The recipe of a cup of Masala Chai goes back five thousands years ago, I started my meal with Masala Chai. Basically, its Indian-style tea, meaning it is spicy. Isn't india the land of spices?! My chai was milky, sweet and full of taste and flavor, ginger is the secret for the Masala Chai! The waiter, Josh, placed the non-vegetarian thali in front of me, and that contained: 1/ A buttery black lentil-dal makhan and potato cakes as appetizers. Yummy 2/ The two tasting entrees: Chicken curry ( small boneless chicken marinated with fresh tomato and spices) and malai kofta bukhara ( fresh house-made paneer cheese,) both were delicious. 3/ Perfectly cooked basmati white rice with saffron and a very airy naan. 4/ To compliment the platter, a sweet and tangy mango chutney and a raita sauce made with mint, cucumber and some chopped tomatoes, were on the side and were both very tasty condiments. 4/Dessert, I can eat dessert all day and I prefer to be able to choose my own dessert. Today, I didn't, it came as a part of the platter, desi kheer i.e: a traditional cardamom rice pudding. Personally I'm not a rice pudding fan, but I didn't hold back my eager to just give it a try, and it was quite tasty. I love, love LOVE cardamom, and mixing it with saffron added a whole another level of flavor! He handed me the bill and wished me a good day in hindi "Ap ka din shub ho!" I guess that's how one can write it phonetically. isn't that cute! Next time I visit I will try the chicken biryani! Five Yelps and Namasté!
(5)Sam A.
Pretty solid Indian food in Center city. Place is always packed. Beautiful decor. I recommend the lamb lollipops and the crispy spinach.
(5)Lena J H.
This is Indeblue's second location, the original being in Collingswood, NJ. The food is pretty on par with that location, except in terms of pricing: food is on average a dollar more per dish yet it is the same preparation and portions. A huge difference is that Philly served alcohol, while Collingswood is dry. Definitely love their Indian twists on cocktails here. The mango martini is tasty, like an alcoholic lassi without the creaminess. The food is not traditional Indian by any means, so don't come here expecting that. It's a cool contemporary approach to Indian cuisine that is no less delicious. You can't go wrong with the chana masala, samosa, basmati rice, naan, or spinach chaat. I'm a vegan, and this restaurant is definitely accommodating and I have never had any trouble finding something to eat, especially with their knowledgable waitstaff (they even know what vegan means, you'd be surprised how many don't). It's usually a little too chilly inside for my taste, but it's not a big deal. It's pretty small inside and tends to get very busy around dinner time. I'd suggest making a reservation to be safe. Overall, great food and service, I'll be back many more times.
(4)Sabrina K.
This restaurant is so popular, I had to make a reservation on a Tuesday night! It looks very dark, almost like it's closed, from the outside, but the atmosphere inside is bustling with activity. The lollipop lamp chops and spinach chaat are a must for appetizers! I would also recommend their daal makhani and paneer tikka masala as far as entrees go. The saffron rice is so delicious, I could eat it by itself. The banana nirvana is a unique, delicious dessert with its cinnamon ice cream, also a must! The staff could have been a little more sociable, spilled water on our table and almost gave us the wrong check so the visit could have been more professional but accidents happen.
(5)Natalee F.
This might be one of my new favorite places to eat! I like everything about it. The interior is dark and stylish and the tables are not crowded together. I forget the name of the spiced chai alcoholic drink, but after one sip I thought wow, I could drink 20 of these. They are small and go down way too easily. It's made with homemade chai and you can taste the quality. So many vegetarian options!! The paneer is sooo tender and tasty. It's a 10/10 on the paneer deliciousness scale. We tried the saag paneer, paneer tikka masala, and the malai kofta, along with the truffle oil naan. The portions appeared small, but we definitely were full after eating. The dessert was perfection - homemade fig ice cream with a sweet cheese stuffed date. The only downside was that the waiter seemed like he was trying to get us out of there at the end of the meal. He didn't say it directly, but my friend and I have both worked as servers, so we recognized his tricks. It's a bit pricey, once it's all added up with the drinks, but well worth it. I can't wait to return.
(5)Yash M.
This is one of the best happy hours I have attended in the city. As a regular, I have sampled almost every item on their happy hour menu and my favorites are: the Chikni Shandar - a chai-infused sangria, the Spinach Chaat (flash-fried spinach and other delicious chutneys). the Naan Pizza (rotating but dependably delicious), and the Drums of Heaven (Indian-style chicken). Indeblue is great for brunch too - rose mimosas, dosas, and thalis. For dinner, however, I was a little disappointed in the food. Portions were too big and got a little monotonous. I think the place would do much better with a small plates-style menu. I still give Indeblue five stars, however, because it is truly a great destination for someone who likes Indian flavors, but also wants to enjoy innovative cooking.
(5)Fabio D.
If you're looking for the BEST Indian food, look no further! It's a very welcoming restaurant with a great atmosphere. It's somewhat of a small restaurant (but worth it!). The staff was also very kind and helped with any questions on the menu. I've also tried the one in Collingswood which is just as good. However, this one in Philly is a little "fancier." Either way, they're both exceptional! Enjoy!
(5)Geet M.
Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, Corey and Topanga, Indian and brunch? Now one of those may make your eyebrows arch but trust me...they're all perfect combos! Indeblue is one of my favorite brunch spots in Philly, it's freaking fantastic. The brunch menu is pretty extensive and the prices are on point. Service was as good as the masala chai (and oh yes, it's good). Tried the chole bhature [Sun Brunch $10] (flavorful chickpeas eaten with a large piece of bread that's bigger than my face) + chicken tikka makhani (tender chunks of chicken swimming in awesome sauce [Sun Brunch $12]. It was the perfect atmosphere for a casual Sunday brunch, the sitar and tabla players are so talented and it transports you to a wonderful place to relax and dine. Our water glasses were always more than half full, for all you optimists out there. The only issue we had was that our bill had the brunch price swapped with the dinner price, an easy fix and the only lil hiccup in the dining experience. Once you dine here, you may not stop ;)
(5)Joy Y.
Took advantage of their $15 lunch special. Spinach chaat: crispy, sweet, but a tad oily. Naan pizza: paneer is tasty but the tomato sauce definitely masked the wonderful texture of naan. Malai kofta: SO GOOD! It is a spicy dish although the menu doesn't say so, and the cashews and apricots provided such variation in texture and flavor that every bite was intense and complex. I poured all the saffron rice into the sauce and cleaned the plate. Next time I'll definitely want to try their mango lassi.
(4)Eunni C.
Glad to find beautiful indian restaurant in the hood. Tried their vegetable samosa, spicy scallop and shrimp crusted salmon. They were all good! Samosa was crispy and deliciously seasoned. Scallop and salmon were great. I really liked the ambiance, it was lively and was perfect for grabbing some yummy food and enjoy conversation. I tried the lassi as well. And was rich and creamy as I like. I wish I tried their crispy chaat. Looked really but no one wanted to order so we skipped it. I will definitely try that dish next time I am there. The service was very professional and kind.
(4)Mike Z.
Very fancy and upscale Indian restaurant with a bar. We ordered chicken tika masala, lamb tika masala, and lamb chops. In addition we had garlic naan. For drinks we just had the Jamison neat. The restaurant is really nice and they have good service. The food was pretty good but not the best Indian food I ever had. This would be a great place to go on a date and I would def come back again.
(4)Mike M.
Excellent food! One of the best that I've personally had and I'm from NYC. Very enjoyable, I would recommend their mango alcoholic drink, naan pizza, garlic naan, and chicken tikka. Definitely will come back for dinner.
(5)Olivia R.
I went to IndeBlue for happy hour with three of my Indian friends. I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat with them but I tried some of their spinach chote and it was really good - tasted kind of like tempura and wasn't too spicy the way I find some other Indian food to be. They also got these stuffed peppers that looked good and they all seemed to like. The drinks were interesting and generally pretty good (between the four of us we had almost all of the cocktails). I had the cucumber mantra and the rose gimlet and they were both delicious. If you are looking for traditional Indian food though, this is probably not the place for you. It's Indian fusion so it's all kind of trendier takes on Indian food.
(4)David G.
If there's one thing Philadelphia dining does exceptionally well, it's taking everyday food and turning it into something elegant and unusual. That's why I had such high expectations for dinner at IndeBlue. I was eager to witness the usual rice-n-curry turned up a few notches. I joined a colleague here on a cold and drizzly Tuesday night. It was a good thing we had reservations, since it was packed solid despite the bad weather and off night. I was immediately taken in by its warm and inviting ambiance. We started with a round of drinks -- the IndeBlueTini and a Rose Grapefruit Gimlet. Both were fun and fruity and easy to drink, which helped lift the rainy-day blues. For an appetizer, we shared the naan pizza. (The toppings change on the reg, so be sure to ask the server what you're getting!) Truthfully, I wasn't impressed by it. I was hoping for some heat or spice, but it was disappointingly bland, and the cheese was rubbery and stringy. It all seemed like a waste of perfectly good naan. Our next appetizer, the aloo makkai tikki (corn and potato cakes with apple chutney) was tons better. These crispy cakes were hot, flavorful, and all-around satisfying. For the entree, we shared the chicken Madras with a side of basmati rice and garlic naan. This dish was the most traditional item of the night, but it was packed with flavor and delicious spice. Loved the combo of chili, mustard seed, coconut, and saffron. When generously slathered on the rice or on a slice of naan, this dish brought me to Indian food heaven. For dessert, we shared the chocolate sutra, which didn't seem like an Indian dish at all. It was more like a flourless chocolate mousse cake with a few pistachios thrown on as an afterthought. That said, it tasted superb. Service was friendly throughout the night. Each time we looked up, it seemed like there was a different server tending to our table, but that never got in the way of their professionalism and timely pacing of the courses. Thanks for the lovely dinner, IndeBlue!
(4)Jennifer P.
Excellent and innovative Indian cuisine. The cocktails are also original and elegant - try the spicy lychee martini or the mango margarita. Beautiful restaurant and very attentive service. Happy hour or late night is an awesome deal - all drinks and apps are between $4-$5 - truly a steal. Our expectations were exceeded - definitely a must go.
(5)Cynthia X.
Currently eating leftovers from IndeBlue as I write this review. The food here is lovely, though I would stay away from any prix fixe menu they offer. Below is what I (and my bf) tried from their $50pp Valentine's special menu (don't think all items are on their actual menu): Course 1: Red kidney bean soup: Ok, tastes like chili. I could do without Chicken and kale soup: Tastes a bit like chicken noodle soup but with a thicker consistency. I wasn't a fan Course 2: Chickpea salad: Fine, but I can't believe they listed this out as a separate course. Course 3: Foiegras on toast: This was tasty, but I don't see the Indian connection at all.. Mushroom uttapam: Yum! Mushrooms + truffle oil over a light rice cake bread. This I would definitely recommend. Course 4: Chicken Tikka Masla: No trip to an Indian restaurant would be complete without this British rendition of Indian food! You cannot go wrong with this! While my bf and I wanted to be adventurous and try something else, we just couldn't resist. The chicken was completely tender and the sauce slightly sweet. Lamb chops: These were juicy, but I didn't particularly care for some of the spices which lent a bitter flavor. This came with a bread basket of 3 naans: sesame, paneer, and garlic. I loved all 3. I could eat naan for days. Course 5: Red velvet cake: delicious, though I'm pretty sure this is a Valentine's day special. Bread pudding: definitely could skip While my review is not all that favorable, I still give this place 4 stars because the mainstay food items (I think) that the restaurant normally serves are great - chicken tikka masala, naan, mushroom uttapam. yumyum. I wish I had a choice to order a la carte. Point of the story: regular menu items are great. valentine's special, not so much.
(4)Krupa T.
Very good! Been here twice now and both times were amazing. The spinach chaat is unique and flavorful. It's almost like a salad/chaat. Hard to describe, order it! I feel like Indeblue has a truly unique menu that is modern and appetizing. I've been to tashaan and I thought their attempt to be modern comes off bland and flavorless!
(4)Hema K.
Stopped in for happy hour after a long day of shopping and fell in LOVE! Such a cool vibe as soon as you enter and the waiters/bartenders are very friendly. We started off with two drinks--the Indebluetini and the Chikni Shandar. The Indebluetini was to die for--it tasted like rich mango pulp infused with vodka. The Chikni Shandar was good, but not what it was advertised to be--I couldn't taste the chai or cardamom, so it was more or less just a sangria/spritzer. However, the food completely made up for points I might have docked for the drinks. We ordered the naan pizza, the spinach chaat, and the stuffed long hot peppers. The peppers had great flavor but I wished the paneer inside was a bit more firm and less crumbly. The spinach chaat--out of this world! I could eat it for days. Such a unique twist on an Indian staple! And the naan pizza had an amazing range of flavors. The naan itself was perfectly cooked, and the rose petal marmalade, asparagus, and goat cheese all complemented each other so well. This is modern Indian fusion at its finest. Definitely my favorite spot in Philly--can't wait to be back. I will add that I thought having a Ganesha statue in the middle of the bar surrounded by spirits was a bit distasteful, but only a minor point.
(5)Kathleen D.
Happy Hour, that's what I'm sayin. If you can swipe yourself a seat at styley IndeBlue's little bar between the hours of 5-7 PM, you should that. Happy Hour: That's what I can't shut up about here. With select appetizers in the $3-$5 range, you can really fashion a nice Indian style small plates feast for yourself, or an early dinner perhaps? Also, there's drinking to be done here: $3 Kingfishers, along with $4 featured crafty drafts, $4 select glasses of reds and whites, $5 cocktails... Here. I'll offer this tip up for the ravenous ones; maybe you wanna order in shifts. Otherwise, a parade of tapas sized plates will ascend on you all at once. I mentioned, it's not a large bar. I got to have one of those, "Ah geez, we're makin a spectacle of ourselves, ahhhgain,' moments as we huddled in the corner with our veritable mini smorgasbord of Indian fusion flavors. There are a lot of lil dishes that were calling our names. We did a shameless samplin' and enjoyed em up plenty. I'm required by some kinda self-imposed regulation that I always have to have a samosa. The vegetable samosas were spot-hitters, filled with mildly spiced potato & peas and drizzled with chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt. The other samosa style option on the bar menu during happy hour is the house-made tamarind barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls served with a blue cheese wine sauce. I liked em just fine, but for me those rolls were all about the winey blue cheese condiment accompanying those fellers. "Drums of Heaven," are representing for the wing portion of your happy hour hankerings. These frenched chicken wing drummies are batter-fried and then sauced in a slightly smoky, chili-tomato puree, with scattered blue cheese crumbles and scallion to top. Juicy. Messy! Tasty. Very tasty. Hey, and if your lookin for a fusiony flatbread, there's a daily featured naan pizza. "Ask your bartender," it says on the menu in parentheses. I can tell you, everyone asks. We heard the contents of that pizza repeated again and again...annnd despite that factoid, I know I'm still somehow leaving something off the list here, but you can believe me when I say that it was a good'un comprised of crispy bottomed, pillowy naan, topped with roasted red peppers, carmelized onions, paneer, mozzarella, and cilantro. Out of everything, however, our top favorite bites were the crispy cauliflower appetizer and the stuffed long hot peppers appetizer. The crispy cauliflower was like that ole Indo-Chinese favorite of ours, Gobi Manchuria. Florets are batter-fried crispy and then spiced up with a, "medium heat,' tomato, chili, soy, ginger sauce. So good. So addictive. As always, I wish for more heat, but if you ask you can get a little of IndeBlue's red hot sauce on the side. I overheard another in-the-know lady do so, and I coppycatted. Yes. The stuffed long hot peppers didn't need no extree burn, I'm happy to report. You know how it is with long hots, some of em have a sneaking heat, and some of em straight up sear. These two roasted (or fried) soft long hot peppers were of the latter variety and stuffed with mozzarella and crumbled paneer and herbs, resting in a pool of that now-familiar chili tomato sauce. Good stuff. There you have it. We ate nearly everything on the happy hour menu and we dug it. Nearly everything... We'll return to devour the rest. IndeBlue's 5-7 daily happy hour became an instant favorite with us. Nice chaating with you.
(4)Scott S.
The food is unbelievable if your in town check them out. They have a family style in the menu for two people and up.
(5)Bill G.
Today - The best Rogan Josh and Nan I have had in the last several years, Very Authentic Indian food. Five stars for cleanliness, ambience, authenticity and quality. No question in my mind that I will eat here again.
(4)Sophia J.
Just tried to eat here but it's restaurant week only. Also, one of the first places I've been where they didn't accommodate my request to sit beside my husband. This place had really good ratings and decor but alas, off to Cuba Libre instead.
(1)Enid C.
Here's what I look for in Indian restaurants: 1) bold flavor combinations, 2) food that packs heat (when appropriate), 3) water glass-filling diligence. For the first two requirements, Indeblue falls short. We came with a group and ordered a pretty diverse sampling (samosa chaat, tandoori mixed grill, lamb rogan josh, baingan bharta, channa masala). Across the board, dishes ranged from underseasoned to just plain bland. I also barely detected any spiciness, even after specifying we wanted heat. Their take on "modern & traditional" cuisine (aren't those two things sort of mutually exclusive?) clearly means they have tempered things down to appease western palates. The interior is pretty swanky, and they serve up some decent cocktails. Prices are higher for smaller quantities of food, so know that you're paying for ambiance more than anything else. Maybe this is an alright place for happy hour socializing. If you're main focus is quality food, please direct yourself to Ekta. But hey - at least my water glass was always kept full!
(3)Rupal P.
Excellent Indian Brunch - order any of the thali's and you'll be super happy you did:)
(5)Kimberly Y.
I came here for brunch and really appreciated the variety on their menu. First of all, all the brunch drinks--chai sangria, Bloody Mary--were tempting, but I ended up going with the rose petal mimosa. Tasted amazing; there was just the perfect amount of rose flavor! My bf got the mango lassi even though we couldn't find it on the menu. Ended up being $5. Ridic. We also got the butter chicken with rice and French toast. While both were excellent, we would've appreciated larger portions. For two people, I'd recommend getting three dishes. Except we already spent $40 as is and didn't want to spend more... Usually I find brunch food to be extremely filling. Not exactly the cheapest Indian food. But that's okay! The ambiance more than made up for it. They had live guitar and drums which sounded surprisingly ethnic. The interior is absolutely gorgeous. The service was all right; sometimes extremely attentive, occasionally neglectful. Overall definitely worth the experience!
(5)Carla F.
Great trendy spot for Indian food. I like this place because they serve traditional Indian dishes well. Their spinach chaat is a MUST!!!! If you don't like Indian food...well, then you just don't like it. I'm not sure this place is going to change your opinion but if you do like it, this is nice for a fun night out with good food.
(4)Amanda M.
I'm a big fan of IndeBlue's Collingswood location, but hadn't been to their Philly spot yet. So when I needed a spot in the city to meet up with fellow tikki masala loving friends, we all jumped at the chance to try this out, finally. On a Friday night, the place was crowded but not completely packed. Having only ever walked by the outside, I was surprised how big the restaurant was - it reaches really far back, and I was happy to be seated way back near the kitchen (far away from the door and the cold air coming through). The ambience was nice, and our waiter was, at first, extremely attentive. We weren't ordering drinks or several course meals, so he sort of disappeared when he realized we were going to be a cheap table. Still, the food was delicious - the paneer tikki masala was delicious, as was the fresh, hot naan I ordered on the side. Was disappointed by the small portion (was hoping for next-day leftovers!) but the quality was hard to beat. Definitely not an everyday/take-out sort of spot, but perfect for a night out. The happy hour deals look awesome, so I think I'll be back for that!
(4)Trang N.
For my 200th review- I'm glad it was a good experience! We grabbed last night minute resis at indie blue. Upon entering the space there was a nice bar to the left by the hostess stand that was in full swing. He ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice dark purple walls, silk curtains, jeweled light fixtures over the tables and a beautiful ornate tapestry type decoration on the main wall, it created a warm romantic setting. Dinner got off to a rocky start, we had 7:30 reservation, but wasn't seated until 8pm! Major annoyance as we were standing in the doorway with another group complaining about the wait. Once we were seated, our waiter immediate stepped in and saved our evening! He was charismatic, very attentive and made great recommendations, our glasses were always full which is a huge plus! We selected the chefs tasting menu, the portions were perfect for two, however the wait time between the courses were rather long. We had the bbq spare ribs samosas- four pieces of flavorful rolls with tender shredded pork- the three side dipping sauces added a great level of heat. The heavenly drumsticks were a nice and spicy buffalo wing, crispy and dressed well. The lamb lollipops were cooked to the perfect medium rare and I couldn't help myself but to munch in the bones! Next we got the mixed tandori grill which was a tasting of the lamb/chicken and shrimp. Very nicely presented and great flavor. The Osso Bucco pork- was very nice- it didn't fall off the bone, but it was tender enough not to use a knife- great flavor in this tangy sauce- not technically an Osso Bucco as it was lacking that delicious bone marrow. The dessert trio was yummy, although we were so full, we packed it up- the ice cream was very nice. I highly recommend the mango lassi- I didn't see it on the menu but I knew hey had it! It was delicious!! It cooled down the heat factor for me when things were getting too spicy! Other than the wait, the floors were a little slippy and I wasn't even wearing heels. A bit treacherous to get to the bathroom, but I survived. All in all a great date night- the noise level was a bit louder, then I like but what can you do! I will be coming back!
(4)Pam S.
I adore IndeBlue, especially their fantastic lunch. For one, they are ridiculously vegan-friendly, all I have to do is say "vegan" and the staff is very well informed, and items on the menu are clearly marked. Secondly (or firstly, for everyone who's not vegan) the food is fantastic. I love when I go to a place and the food and the prices match. Yes, it's fancier, and yes, you should pay for it. Fantastic. Third, that lunch? The best is getting the thali, or a plated lunch of small dishes. As of my last visit, it now includes dessert, which for vegans, was a house-made coconut sorbet. It. was. amazing. I haven't been for happy hour, but I've heard that's a great deal as well, and they have great drink specials at lunch ($4 rose mimosas? yes pls.) Love them, and I love bringing people there!
(5)Jessica W.
The food at Indeblue is fantastic. Decor is beautiful. We had a very nice experience and look forward to returning.
(5)Melissa P.
My friend who is a vegetarian (ish) was in town for the night and wanted to get dinner, hm, where to take a vegetarian out of towner where I can love my meal and check out a new place? Consulted my bookmarks and opentable and boom, Indeblue. Excellent choice. PRO TIP: Sign up for their emails and you will get a $10 off coupon emailed to you (and I think you get something on your bday and anniversary because they asked for that too. I put my anniversary of being single so I can celebrate with myself when that comes up...) VIBE: Gorgeous space and ambiance, tables are spaced out which is nice, and service was very friendly. FOOD: --Menu is very vegetarian friendly (they have a whole veggie menu section), which is part of the reason I picked it and it did not let us down. --Dahi Avocado Chat- Our waiter actually forgot to bring this out but even after he put it in it came out super quickly. It was very interesting and really delicious. It was cold, which I didn't expect for some reason, but I was into it. --Stuffed Red Pepper- very good, and surprisingly big for $14. We had leftovers --Lamb Rogan Josh-also good sized portion, very tender, great flavors. More leftovers. DRINKS: --Indebluetini is delicious-like a less creamy mango lassi cocktail. --Karma chai sutra was my selection and I had serious drink envy, this tasted like a chai spiced white russian and was way too milky for me. Not a fan, but that's more of a personal preference. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do, and probably spent 3 hours there and never felt rushed, which was awesome. Great spot, prices were reasonable, great atmosphere, and good food, definitely recommend! Also definitely want to check out their happy hour.
(4)Dan A.
IndeBlue is my favorite Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. So I wasn't surprised they won the "Best of Philly"award for their Collingswood location.Their happy hour and chef's tasting menu are both great. And if you're getting the chef's tasting menu, I'd suggest also getting the wine pairing. The food is modern/traditional Indian cuisine. And I've like everything I've tried here. They also have live music with a sitar and tabla on Tuesday nights and brunch on Sunday.
(4)Carly S.
We went here (on a double date) for restaurant week last night, and WOW I was so impressed. I'll preface this with the fact that I'm a pretty hypercritical restaurant diner, and honestly, I left having no complaints with our experience and food. We came here looking for a place that we typically wouldn't go to since it was restaurant week, and I'll definitely be coming back someday. First of all, the decor and service were great. The interior was very beautifully decorated, and felt intimate with the dim lighting. Great as a date spot or with a group of friends. We never had empty water glasses and the entire host of servers were very attentive and polite. The courses came out very well paced (maybe for some, a slightly long of a wait between courses since it was very busy last night, but I prefer to have a little gap between courses as I'm a slow eater and get overwhelmed when everything comes out too fast). For the first course I had the spinach chaat, which was out of this world. I wasn't expecting spinach to be so tasty. It was flash fried with these little crispy noodle things on top and some veggies and tasty sauce underneath. That set the bar high, but nothing after disappointed. For all the courses, the group got something different, so we all shared. The others got the chicken chaat which was very tender and flavorful, and also the vegetable samosa which I tried also and liked. For the second course I got the tandoori chicken wings which just fell off the bone and the spices used were perfect. came with a little salad of veggies on the side which I gobbled up too. My friends got fried cauliflower which was also delicious, the fish taco which was sweet and tasty, and the stuffed long hot which was deliciously cheesy. For the main course, I got lamb saag, Again, the meat was so tender, like nothing I've had before with a wonderful concoction of spices. It came with some sort of seasoned basmati rice (maybe saffron?) and your choice of naan bread. (get the garlic or rosemary one!) Everything was SO GOOD, and the portions were generous. I actually took half of my entree home for lunch today and can't wait to eat it again! The others got the fish dish, and my boyfriend got the pork one (which I think I liked even better than mine) Finally for dessert, I had the rice pudding which was very tasty and a nice finish. My friends got the sorbet, and the ice cream pairings. I think my favorite was the sorbet, but all were great. The rose petal ice cream and fig ice cream were something I never tried before, so that was fun. I wasn't drinking for the night, but all three of the others got the darjeeling cocktail, and all loved it. I would imagine at non-restaurant week, prices are a little steep, but so worth it. I left stuffed and happy, and still happy as I write this rating! Do yourself a favor, and come here!
(5)Johanna B.
This was a great meal. The happy hour had amazing prices and is every day, even the weekends. We had a table of 4, so we shared 4 mains family style and a bread basket with 4 types of naan. We had one who needed gluten free options, which every main complied with and she even got her own gf naan. We ordered 1. the eggplant, almost pureed like a babaganoosh which was tasty with a mild heat, 2. a dish the ended up being vegetarian meatballs made of cashews, dried apricots and cheese in a mildly spicy creamy sauce, very good, 3. Cheese in masala, big hunks of cheese in a creamy mild sauce, very nice and 4. The goat in a rich, warm velvety sauce which was out standing. If you get a drink, opt for the signature drink, which is mango puree with citron vodka - like an adult lassi. The interior is beautiful, the service was great and we'll def be back.
(4)Priya R.
Take it from somebody who really HATES eating out for Indian food. This place is FABULOUS. I had the privilege to go there for dinner with my parents last weekend. Lets take it piece by piece shall we? The ambiance has an intimate, romantic, ethnic feel to it- basically what I want my future home to look like. I am just in love with the decor. It is very cozy and just wonderful (warning: instagramming may not be possible due to dim lighting) The service is exceptional. Water was always filled without question, servers were attentive and treated each customer with a lot of respect and patience. Indian food can be complicated for those who don't eat it often (and even for some who do!) but our server took time to explain everything and recommended some great dishes to try. The food is just perfection. I am trying to think of an Indian restaurant that I've eaten at in Philly that even compares and none comes to mind. We ordered the lamb kabob and the naan pizza (the rotating special. ours was a paneer and caramelized onion one) for the appetizer, the lamb rogan josh, and the chicken makhni (along with naan for the table). Everything came out very promptly and the food was absolutely great. When it first comes out you don't think that the portions are that much, but we ended up having enough leftovers for the next day. This truly is a great spot to go if you are interested in eating quality Indian food.
(5)Yayi Z.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and they had live sitar playing. The music was awesome, and of course accompanied by great food. Service was a bit slow but pleasant.
(4)Amanda W.
The ambiance and service were great. I also really appreciated that the menu was limited to a few pages, versus the tome of variations on the theme you often find in Indian restaurants. The menu also helpfully labels gluten-free and vegan options. I'd definitely go back when visiting Philly again.
(5)Steve S.
Hip, modern indian vibe serving non-traditional meat dishes like pork and lamb shank and sea bass with traditional indian sauces and spices. Service and ambiance was lovely, an overall excellent experience. This is a $$$ dining place, and well worth it, not sure why it's shows as $$ here.
(4)Tiffany D.
IndeBlue was descent. It wasn't horrible but I have had better Indian food before. The ambience was very nice. A very nice setting. The nicest I have seen for an Indian restaurant. My fiancé and I shared the Chicken Madras, Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, and Raita. Overall the food was pretty good. The cream sauce for the Butter Chicken just wasn't what I wanted it to be. It wasn't bad but it just did not give me that WOW when I tasted it.
(3)Qinzhi J.
Very good service and beverage. We ordered naan and curry. Frankly I do not know hot to spell them but it was good. The chicks is dry and I think that's the only thing to improve...no wifi but they have their own musicians playing!
(4)Marissa K.
This place was pretty great. The ambience, service and cocktails were fabulous. The food was delicious too. The Flower of Devotion cocktail was hands down one of the best cocktails I have ever had so far in the city of Philadelphia. It was made with black velvet whiskey, lemon, honey, and lavender bitters. To. Die. For. The Crispy Cauliflower appetizer was fresh and tasty - had the flavor of 'general tso's' but healthier with the vegetable. The Paneer Tikka Masala was phenomenal - the house-made paneer was fantastic. We also got the Baingan Bharta - an eggplant dish - the waitress raved about it, and it was very flavorful, but I didn't love the texture of the mashed eggplant. And ,of course, we ordered a bread basket with naan, lasooni, provencal and garhwali - all great breads to try (thought I wish they would have brought this out sooner to the table - they served it with the dinners). They also provided three chutneys for the table that were mild but flavorful that you could add to any of the dishes. The restaurant itself was trendy with great decor. A little dark, but the place was packed and that helped to make it a more intimate experience with your own table. I went with two girlfriends and it was a great place to catch up. The waitstaff was friendly and fun. You definitely know the second you walk in that you will be enjoying Indian cuisine as the smell of curry was strong throughout the restaurant. I would most definitely go back - hopefully I can make it during Happy Hour because they have some great specials at the bar.
(4)Rajiv D.
This place is one of the better Indian restaurants I've been too. Very good food. Creative food, not done just to be different. It actually works. Wait staff is very good as well. The lunch thali is really awesome. But I've done dinner here as well and it was excellent. The spinach chaat is yum.
(5)Ken M.
We are regulars at the IndieBlue Collingswood, NJ location. (I have a 5 star review for that location yelp.com/biz/indeblue-in… ). I convinced my wife that we should try this location. The bar: The bartender seemed distracted and uninterested. Why? Well, at the corner of the bar were two employees dressed in black who were standing, huddled around three customers who were sitting at the bar (they seemed to be employees as well, off-the-clock enjoying some civilian time). The bartender was more interested in chatting them up then paying attention to us. He had the personality of a wet blanket. Our server: He was very robotic and lacked personality. My wife and I were surprised at the night-and-day difference between the Philly and Collingswood location. In any case, he was proficient, that counts for something. The food: For an appetizer, we ordered the BBQ Rib rolls. They were (4) flavorless rolls, barely the size of my thumbs. It was not worth $8.00. The Baingan Bharta was very good. The Crispy Spinach Chaat was excellent (as always). The Chicken Madras and the Lamb Rogan Josh were perfection! (they are our go-to items if we aren't interested in the specials of the day). During the meal, our server had asked us 'so, is the Philly location better than Collingswood'? My wife and I both stared at him and just smiled, we couldn't even muster out a white lie. Pricing: We felt that the pricing was reasonable (seemed to be on-par with the Jersey location, minus the no BYOB here) Return factor: We don't need to be handheld/coddled but we expect some enthusiasm from the staff. When we go out to dine, we want the whole package. We don't think we will return to this location. 3.5 stars
(3)Elva L.
Dude, no, okay? I mean, I don't want to go on forever, and you don't want to read a long review, so let's just, here: one word? underwhelmed. it is my understanding that a tasting menu should feature things that a chef feels that s/he has absolutely mastered. dishes in a tasting menu should represent a chef's style, and it must bear witness to a restaurant's reputation. so, what happened??!?!?! It sounds really awful when I say it's the worst tasting menu we've had since Cuba Libre, so I'll just say it's my least favorite. I love tasting menus. I like when it's complete set, I like when I have choices, I like it any how, any where. Er, just not here. what DO I remember from my meal here? a piece of under-seasoned chicken. bland dessert that was somehow neither classic nor innovative. weird, oil-y condiments that didn't stay well on the things you're supposed to spread them on. why even make me do the work? season your food, so I know what you want it to taste like. season your food, so I'm not in control of your best and most fundamental tools such as FLAVOR. who has even heard of under-seasoned Indian food? i've never encountered such until my visit here. at something like $50/pp, it is not a terrible loss. So i tried it, and felt disappointed by my experience. it happens. it isn't the end of the world. but i will remember this place as one of those times when yelp! has led me astray. so i guess give it a shot at your own risk, which is anyway always the case.
(2)Anish R.
I went here for brunch, but I can safely say that pretty much every dish here is unique and will go beyond satisfying expectations. It's pretty great that this place offers a brunch menu. They even have bacon so you're basic brunch needs will be satisfied! Often times when I'm in the city looking for a brunch spot, I want something different than the traditional brunch menu. I had the stuff long pepper with paneer, which was amazing because it had that cheesy inside with an added spice. They have a large variety of naans including some topped with melted cheese as well as naan pizzas. Also had the chicken tikka masala served with rice, which was much better than any Indian restaurant in Philly. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for indian food with a fusion twist.
(5)Ainsley A.
I've always been wary to try Indian food. I've heard the horror stories and have always passed. After being introduced to a few of the menu items at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash, I was determined to come here and try a few more items off of the Happy Hour menu. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. The bartender was friendly and made sure that we were catered to. The ambiance is great- trendy, romantic yet casual. As for the food, 10/10. Like I said before, Indian has always creeped me out, but since IndeBlue is Indian infusion, it opened my eyes to a cuisine I would not normally try. The vegetable samosa's were full of flavor, resting on top of a bed of chickpeas. The spinach chaat was unlike anything I have ever tasted before- the crunch of the spinach paired perfectly with the sweet yogurt. The naan pizza is a nice portion for everyone to try- a bit small but the flavors were outstanding. The star of the evening though was the BBQ pork spare rib samosas. The meat was seasoned with tamarind and the blue cheese wine sauce mixed well with every flavor. I cant wait to come back and try the items on the dinner menu as I ordered almost everything on the HH menu.
(5)Lakshmi S.
Great food and service. Delicious. We are visitors from CA who enjoyed this restaurant thoroughly
(4)Lili W.
I heard about indeblue from a yelp event, where they had a stand with samosas and chicken wings. I decided to check out the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The spinach chaat is awesome, definitely get this as a starter. It's flash fried spinach, but tastes very flavorful and light. As a main course, I got the fish of the day -- Chilean sea bass with saffron rice. My boyfriend got the vindaloo dish, absolutely delicious, wish I got this! So the only reason why this restaurant isn't a 5 star is because the drink prices are wayyy to expensive. A gin and tonic for 11? A bit steep.
(4)T N.
Went here with a French friend (Frenchies love classy places...). She ordered the Rajwadi shrimps and lamb something, I ordered the Chili avacado chat (?), paneer tikka masala and fig ice cream. Chilli avacado chat was good, paneer tikka masala so..so..but the fig ice cream was the highlight of the night :-) 4 stars for appetizer, decor and desert
(4)Sneha K.
Went there for happy hour - the food was delicious and the happy hour was had great deals! The place is really cute and is a great spot for a date or a nice out with friends. IndeBlue offers both traditional and fusion Indian food but I'd strongly recommend the fusion food here over the traditional. My friends and I ordered the Spinach Chaat, which is made of fried spinach, yogurt, tomatoes and sauces, and the Stuffed Long Hot Peppers. The Spinach Chaat was one of the best chaats I've ever had! The peppers were a little too spicy for my liking but still pretty good. I also ordered the Indebluetini, a mango-based drink that was amazing.
(5)Monya V.
Two friends and I stumbled upon this place by accident and I an so glad we did. We made it in time for their happy hour all three of us really enjoyed the food and drinks. We each had the indiebluetini, it was sweet, fruity, fragrant and just so yummy we got two rounds of them Although we only got appetizers at the bar, the food was spicy and delicious. I had the vegetable samosas - which were so good!! My friends ordered the crispy spinach chaat and some sort of shrimp dish. I tried the spinach chaat, it was melt in your mouth amazing. Four stars out of five for the slow service, they were busy, but they were not THAT busy that we couldn't have placed a food order or gotten a second round a little quicker. Also, the second round - my drink came to the table first & my friends had to wait for theirs even though we each ordered the same thing. All that said, I really like this place & we will defiantly be back!
(4)Michelle P.
So I FINALLY had a chance to dine at Indeblue. I've sampled their drums of heaven and samosas at a few events before and was highly anticipating my first dine-in experience. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. So my evening started off at the bar for happy hour. My group of three ordered several of the appetizers to share including the drums of heaven, spinach chaat, barbeque pork spare rib samosa rolls, vegetable samosas and a naan pizza. Each appetizer was between $3 and $5, as were the drinks on the happy hour menu. I found my comfort zone in a $4 glass of pinot grigio. This is definitely my new favorite happy hour in Philly. So beyond being reasonable everything was absolutely delicious. I knew that I loved the drums of heaven and samosas but the naan pizza and spinach chaat were standout fabulous. The pizza was made on naan and consisted of goat cheese, asparagus and mozzarella. It was by far the most creative Indian dish I've ever had. The spinach chaat was super crisy and really flavorful. The BBQ pork rolls were a little small and didn't pop with flavor as the other things did but were definitely tasty. So the next logical thing to do after gorging on appetizers and wine is to sit down to dinner, right? It was a Tuesday evening so we were lucky to grab a table shortly after 8:00pm. In the spirit of sharing, my group decided to go with the large portion of the lollipop lamb chops, small dishes of the baingan bharta and dal makhani, and a bread basket. Again everything was so delicious! Seasoned perfectly and extremely palatable. The lamb chops are must-haves! The standout in the bread basket was the gharwali which was made up of spinach and mozzarella, and I would definitely get a solo order of that next time. I also had a nice glass of Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc and the gentlemen in my group enjoyed some scotch neat. I'm not an expert on Indian food however based on what I've had before, it seemed like the traditional cuisine but with a modern flair. Overall, this is probably the best food I've had in a while. On Tuesday evenings they also have live sitar and tabla player which added to some very nice background music. The dining room was bright and comforting. The atmosphere was nice yet relaxed at the same time. So what's my reason for the 4 stars? The service was simply meh. The bartender seemed fairly disinterested, even as happy hour ended and only a few customers remained. The server at our table was barely attentive and not personable at all. He wasn't rude but he just wasn't around much at all. With the prices of food and beverage being on the higher side, I really would have liked to be catered too. Unfortunately, the cost also brought my rating down. Everything was amazing but on the costly side. With that being said, this was probably the best Indian food I've ever had. I smile thinking about this meal, and look forward my next casual happy hour trip or special occasion dining experience at Indeblue.
(4)Patty M.
Went in last night for post dinner drinks for their late night happy hour which runs 9pm-close nightly and 5-7 everyday. Their drinks are refreshing, stiff and only $5 during happy hour. Their HH food menu was extensive and will be trying when we return. The decor is also fantastic, cute and intimate.
(5)Jessica S.
Wow, how was I missing out on the happy hour at this place for so long? And to think I considered myself a happy hour pro. Going down the street to Sampan, Vedge, and other places that are RIGHT DOWN THE STREET and never even thinking upon IndeBlue. I just don't think I'd ever really even be interested in trying their actual menu now that I know what the happy hour has to offer. Its just so... extensive. And delicious! OK, so I probably would try the menu. Just kidding. The decor is really pretty. Eye catching, sparkly, shiny and new looking. Very appealing, and I can see that being a draw for a couple looking for a romantic date spot. The bar is up front and has about 10 ish seats (maybe less?) and seemed to get packed around 6pm. Happy hour is only at the bar.... btw. We showed up at 5pm on the dot (very punctual, I know) and were weirdly the only people in the restaurant for almost an hour, at least a solid 30 minutes, and it wasn't even uncomfortable. The bartender was training someone and they were both very nice to talk to, and even some of the servers came to hang out and chat, giving good advice for menu items to try. The happy hour food menu consists of $3, $4, and $5 bites, and they are substantial enough to fulfill a hungry belly. Boyfriend and I shared 4, and between the two of us that was substantial for a light dinner. The spinach chaat was a highlight, and the "pockets of heaven" which are just light batter fried chicken wings in a tasty, spicy sauce were also surprisingly delicious. We also tried the stuffed long hots which were my personal favorite-and had a good spice level if you like that kinda thang-and the naan pizza, which was "ok" but not fantastic. I would've liked to have tried more items, but there are like 9-10 things on the happy hour menu alone. The HH drink menu was also as extensive. There were two wines ($4), two beers ($3) and like 4 cocktails ($5). The cocktails were legit. The wine did not suck. I was happy. Sweet mother of the holy happy hour gods-can we please have more awesome happy hours like this?!
(4)Brian S.
Good, upscale Indian cuisine. Comfy, upscale setting, and excellent service. We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the vegetable samosa chaat, crispy spinach chaat., and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali platters. For dessert we had orange ginger sorbet and the banana nirvana. All very good and much better than other places in the area.
(4)Ridhhisha A.
Coming from an Indian who has lived all her life there this is by far the most interesting twist of cuisine and really epic modern Indian I have ever had! Ofcourse it is the restaurant week so make the best of it! Insane naan pizza and spinach chat! The fig ice cream is just insane! Inspiration at its best :)
(5)Ernest S.
The food is solid here. Everything I've tried from brunch to lamb chops has been good. My problem was with the service. Our waiter seemed impatient and rude to answer questions, forgot multiple items, and refused to split a check in a way that we asked (and there were only four of us).
(2)Carol L.
A bit loud and this place lacks intimacy. Long tables facilitate group meetings though. Pinot noir was good. Service is a bit slow. The food is really yummy. Worth the wait. Appetizers and entrees great. Not too sure about the cinnamon ice cream.
(4)Edward M.
After sampling some of IndeBlue's foods at various events recently, it seemed only right to stop by their restaurant for happy hour. The happy hour beer list is rather short, so after getting their last Harpoon summer beer, I switched to their mixed drinks, which were surprisingly good. They had interesting flavor combinations - with homages to Indian spices, were thankfully not cloyingly sweet, and were nicely presented. Some bites were sampled, as well. I particularly liked the Indian pizza and the samosas. The bartender, staff, and even the crowd at the packed bar were friendly. The restaurant space itself, which I ventured through on the way to the lovely loo, seemed well appointed and comfortable. For another time.
(5)Kate D.
This review is based on a restaurant week experience; I get that it isn't always the most accurate example of a places cuisine. I had super high expectations going into my meal here. Some of the things were alright. The spinach chaat was okay, but it was sort of reminiscent of bar food. Fried spinach leaves with onions, tomatoes, cheese and some white sauce (aoli maybe?). If you would have subbed out the spinach with a chip, you would almost have nachos. Best way to describe it. I had the mussels and they were alright. Cooked perfectly in a tomato based sauce but very small. Not served with a plate to discard shells. Then to the chicken tikka: really unimpressed. I have eaten lots of different takes on this British/Indian staple, and have grown to love it as one of my favorite foods. The rice that Indeblue had was excellent (how can you mess that up, really), but the tikka was one of the worst attempts of the dish I have ever had. The sauce was lacking, and the chicken was just like giant chunks of boiled chicken breast. No flavor whatsoever, and the meat was much too hard to cut into bite sized pieces with a fork. Aside from the tikka disaster, the garlic naan was really good, and the fig ice cream with praline pecans was outstanding. Outside of the meal, we ordered two house cocktails (mediocre and pricey) and two hot chia teas. The chai tea is made in house, and was very good. The service was great, the atmosphere was crowded but alright. My three star review mainly comes from my disappointment in the tikka and starter courses. For the money, I would much sooner go elsewhere for a date night. For Indian food, I will stick to Tiffin or Mood in the area.
(3)Sara N.
I prefer my Indian food from hole-in-the-wall dives (that's how you know it's real Indian cooking), so I lacked a bit of confidence visiting IndeBlue. After my meal, I indeed felt justified because some of their dishes (e.g., bland chicken curry, thin doughy nann) paled in comparison to those found at my favorite Indian spots (a loud and proud shoutout to Dana Mandi in West Phila!). Why pay more when you can find more authentic and filling Indian meals in much humbler places? However, I must admit that I was very impressed by the kind staff and their beautiful restaurant. And not every bite failed the litmus test. I regret that the wonderfully tender lamb rogan josh came as a small dish on the platter. I'm certain to order it again as a main entree upon a return visit to IndeBlue. I think they has a creative (hello, brunch) and diverse Indian menu, which warrants a second chance.
(3)Danie G.
Great happy hour! We sat at the bar and had drinks, appetizers and some great entrees. Food was quite tasty and they have both gluten-free and vegetarian options. Service was friendly and when they took some extra time with our entrees they apologized in a way that seem genuine and comped us some bread. Great happy hour and I hope to return for dinner soon.
(4)Arati P.
This is a great upscale Indian restaurant! Perfect for a date night or special occasions. The decor is beautiful. We came here for husband's birthday and loved it. Spinach chaat was perfectly crispy. We ordered the malai kofta and it was the best malai kofta I've ever had! The koftas were soo soft and the gravy was so rich and had the perfect blend of spices. The drinks were good and strong as well. They have quite a variety on the menu including appetizers and small plates. Only thing is that the portions are very small but I feel this is typical of any upscale restaurant.
(5)Ashley S.
FINALLY got to try out this (not-so) new Indian spot that everyone has been raving about in Philly! Rested cozily amongst some of the best bars in center city, it's a great spot to go to before a night out. The ambiance is great, although I thought it would be a little bigger, just judging from other photos I've seen, but that does not affect my rating at all. Went sporadically on a Saturday night and somehow was able to snag a table for 3 very last minute. I think we may have just gotten lucky because I've looked before, and this place is usually pretty booked up. We started with 3 appetizers. First up were the long hots. Basically, a green hot pepper stuffed with cheese. I was not a fan due to the extreme level of spice, but my friends loved it. We also had the samosas, which in my opinion were pretty delicious. Nothing out of the ordinary, but great, nonetheless. My favorite was the crispy spinach! Never had anything like it and it was amazzzzing. Great sharing size for an app, as well! For dinner, we shared 3 entrees, the lamb rogan josh, chicken madras, and paneer tikka makani. The serving sizes were pretty great for sharing. Each had a good amount of spice, which is pretty important to me when having Indian food. We were too stuffed for dessert, but I willl certainly save room for next time! Highly recommend this place to satisfy your Indian craving with a twist!
(4)Ruben P.
Although I couldn't find a single indian face in the place, I can totally admit the food was delicious and well prepared. The environment is classy and fancy, waiters are very kind and there is also free coat check at entrance. Just book before: we walked in and ate at the bar, but it's pretty crowded. Not giving 5 stars for the prices quite high (the place deserves, tho).
(4)Marni P.
Upscale, delicious and healthy Indian food! They had some new takes on some of the classics. All spice levels were perfect. The restaurant is a neat decor and classy yet cozy. The prices were a bit high but it's downtown philly so that's a thing. The staff was super nice even when they were very busy. It was clear our waitress was trying to speed up our drinks and was thoughtful in letting us know the status of our order. I hope to come here again!
(4)Camay C.
Walking the Center City streets searching for happy hour with my girl Shante P. Did a double take and walked in. The ambiance here is sultry and super sexy. We had the Ginger Twist.. made with Black Velvet Whiskey, Ginger ale, Ginger and lime juice. $5! Didn't try any of the food but other folks plates looked tempting enough. I'll be back soon
(4)Jemma C.
I really REALLY wanted to love this place but alas it wasn't to be. First impressions were great, super cozy dining room on a freezing cold night, nicely crowed, good atmosphere... Drinks came promptly, little disappointed in the limited menu however our favourites were there so happy out. My husband order vindaloo (which is a spicy fiery curry). I ordered something entirely unmemorable. We ordered samosas to start that incidentally tasted nothing like samosas nor had any indian flavouring or spices. Then we waited... And waited and waited. 55mins after ordering our food came. The vindaloo was beyond mild and I don't mean mild for a vindaloo I mean it tasted like a mild tomato based dish. Again nothing like vindaloo. No level of spice whatsoever and no flavouring at all. My curry was meh at best. The chicken was beyond over cooked and hard. The naan bread was great I'll give them that. Service was slow and patchy. Wouldn't return.
(2)Shifa A.
Thank you Indeblu for opening up a restaurant in centre city! I love this place, hailing from India, Indian food in America has always been disappointing but Indeblu is far better than most. I love the spinach chaat, the samosas and the nan pizza! Happy hours are the best !
(4)Natalie M.
Loved this place! For an appetizer we shared the vegetable samosa chaat and for our entree we shared the chicken tikka makhani with naan. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of spices. For a drink I had their chai sangria, which was so incredibly delicious! We would eat here all the time if we lived in Philly!
(5)Jennifer H.
Came here during CC Sips/Happy hour with 2 friends. Oh my gosh, where has this restaurant been all my life. The drinks, food, and service was phenomenal. The Ginger Twist cocktail was just perfect. The Spinach Chaat.... I would come back just to eat this all day long. Drums of heaven were flavored just right, not overly saucy. Naan Pizza and the bread basket were delicious as well. Definitely want to come back for their happy hour again and try items on their dinner menu.
(5)Mike M.
Had a great experience taking my wife out on the town. Service was superior, friendly and helpful. Food was great tasting, fresh and presented well. Staff was attentive to our several requests. Highly recommend as a prelude to theater, close to everything.
(4)Kate S.
I was so delighted to find a vegan friendly menu. The food was amazing and so flavorful. Our waiter was great, he brought us samples of the soups even though we both ordered salads. The check was less than $40 for two people with two entrees, salads, and also an order of naan. The décor is so beautiful and all of the staff is well versed on the menu and is very friendly.
(5)Jaya P.
Great place for an indian brunch with classy ambience and mimosas! Went to Philly for an impromptu day trip and was craving indian food and saw Indebleu had great ratings. The interiors were nice - lots of gold, chandeliers and a nice bar. An added plus was that it is close to the major touristy sights, so we did not have to go out of our way to get there. They have chai sangria, rose mimosas, and bloody mary's for $5 for brunch - already liking this place. Decided to go for the rose mimosa - which was surprisingly good. If anyone else has grown up in India like me, it felt like 'roohafza' with moscato. It's funny because i never really liked roohafza growing up, but i guess my parents didn't know to mix it with champagne ;) For apps, we ordered the samosa chaat and ordered the paneer tikka masala and malai kofta with rotis for the main dish. Our server was super nice and said he would add the app and entree as an express lunch combo to save us a couple of bucks - score! The samosa chaat came as a bed of chickpeas in gravy with yogurt and chutneys and two samosas atop it. The samosas were great - definitely had more masalas (spices) than is usual for a samosa but it tasted great. My only slight complaint was that the chickpeas were a bit cold, i understand they don't have to be piping hot as it is a chaat and served with yoghurt but lukewarm would help. Now for the main course, both the dishes were finger lickin' good - the malai kofta were balls of paneer and veggies deep fried and cooked in a cardamom curry sauce. Each bite was heavenly and you could taste the real cardamom in it and even found a few green pods. The paneer tikka masala was superb - not too spicy and had great flavors! The paneer was a little bit on the chewier side than expected; but the sauce more than made up for it. The whole wheat rotis were great - not too rubbery, hot, and actually felt healthy. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert - would love to try it next time. Definitely, a place to go eat if you're in Philly!
(5)Monique B.
Some of the best Indian food I've had in my life. The short rib samosa was a delicious starter, although it's a little more egg roll seaming than samosa. I had the chicken tikka for my main course and I wolfed down as much as possible. Usually chicken tikka is a little too sweet for my taste. However, this chicken tikka was perfectly seasoned with a slight kick and delicious sauce. I couldn't eat enough of the sauce and soaked up the sauce with my rice. We also shared a roti stuffed with nuts that was sweet and delicious. It tasted like the stuffing of bahklava put into a piece of naan. Delicious! The ambiance is great for a date with pretty interior decorating, a nice bar at the front and a classy but casual ambiance. The servers were attentive and friendly. This restaurant will definitely be added to my list of regulars when I visit Philly.
(5)Nicole H.
The food here is very, very good. And the decor is beautiful - a huge improvement from the space before and glad they chose such fantastic finishes. That being said, I found the lunch menu slightly lacking in options and also very overpriced. I can go to El Vez and get a drink, huge app and huge entree for $15...why pay nearly $20 for anything similar here? I'd say stay away during lunch (we were the only ones there, so seems I'm not off base on that), but dinner could be fantastic. Try it once, even if you've never had Indian!
(4)Kelly P.
A friend and I went for the chef's tasting menu on a Monday evening, and due to their computer issues it took a very long time. Despite that, the meal itself was delicious. We chose the avocado appetizer and the chaat, the chicken tikka and the lamb biryani. The standout was the lollipop lamb chops, I will be dreaming about these!! So flavorful. The sampling of desserts was not to my liking but that is just because I happen to not be a fan of rice pudding or cinnamon (there was cinnamon ice cream). I would love to come back here and will be sure to recommend to others. One star was removed because there was significant problems with the timing of the meal and we were not told until we could flag down our server - and we had been waiting over an hour for our second course - with no proactive explanation about the computer problem.
(4)Mark C.
Had Tobi and the Indieblue team cater our wedding at the Powerplant Productions venue in Philadelphia this past weekend. Wow. My guests raved about the food. My wife and I rave about how fantastic their services were from the planning, set-up, execution and break down. Their specialty drink was so popular their team went and bought more supplies on the spot before their was ever a disruption. Complete success!!
(5)Justin L.
Dined in for restaurant week, which a friend had recommended the restaurant. Ambiance was beautiful and the staff attentive, but portion size and seasoning seemed to be an issue. Started with tuna tartar, which lacked any flavor of tuna in the tartar. However, the drums of heaven (chicken wings) seemed to be the saving grace by delivering enough heat, crisp skin, and a lovely blue cheese. As I was excited for the main course having seen other diners receive entrees, I realized that what I ordered versus what I expected did not match. I ordered per the menu cornish game hen, which my expectation was a full, cornish game hen. However, I was served maybe half of a cornish game hen with rice, which left me wanting more. Overall, the restaurant appears to be on the right track from the looks of things, but lacks all of the correct reasoning for a return visit given my experience.
(3)Vish P.
Great food and Live Sitar and Tabla you can't ask for more! !! Came here for our first anniversary and we had a great time. A must go for all the indian who miss the indian thali specially.
(5)Liz F.
Visited this restaurant during center city restaurant week. I was very pleased. Food, drinks, and environment were all great! There was even live music during Sunday brunch!
(4)Demitri H.
If you're craving quality indian food then back that truck up and fill your gullet here. The lamb lollipops were so tender I thought I was eating meat flavored butter! The paneer was also extra smooth and worth mopping up every bit with the fresh naan. Just go already!
(5)Sujoy C.
I am rating it 5 stars as the food is closest to an Indian taste. Do try the drums of heaven it's really nice.
(5)Michael M.
*********SIX STAR REVIEW - SIX STAR REVIEW*********** So I crossed my wires for restaurant week and ended up here this past Tuesday. Heck we love this place so a chance to go two weeks in a row is no biggie. We arrived at happy hour and sat at the bar with the handsome Cory, creator of their drink menu. Cory was the perfect host that evening, he chatted with us, drinks came quickly, and he was attentive without being intrusive. Two stars right there for service. We started with a few happy hour snacks, the drums of heaven, Dahi Avacado Chaat, and the crispy spinach Chaat. These three dishes immediately reminded me of the problem of eating at Indeblue. You just want more. You never want the dish to end! The Dahi were cool and refreshing on this 99 degree day. The spinach Chaat was so good it was almost a fight with my guest over the bowl. We discussed ordering another but as we knew more food was coming we held off. The drums of heaven were primarily my dish, with my guest ordering a bowl of the corn cilantro chowder. I can tell you if it wasn't so hot I would have had a bowl too. It is magnificent. The drums of heaven are always perfect. Crunch, savory, and just enough spice to leave the edges of your lips burning as you finish them. Quickly cooled off by one of the lemon basil cocktails. Yum! I decided on the seafood moilee. When they say jumbo lump, they mean the size of your finger jumbo. The shrimp were *PERFECTLY* cooked. I add one star righht here for the shrimp. I honestly could not remember the last time I had shrimp prepared so perfectly in a restaurant, and I eat a lot of shrimp. The dish itself was incredible. A depth of flavor that made the seafood truly enchanting. I ate half to leave room for dessert and had the other half wrapped. I can't even tell you what my guest had as I was so entranced by the moilee. For dessert I had the Duo of Figs. Decadent and rich, it's a good idea to split this one. I however, had only eaten half my entree so this portion was just enough to fill me up. We split a bottle of prosecca with dessert, and my guest lost his bet. He hates the texture of bananas. but insists he's never ever had a bad dish here, so I challenged him to order the banana nirvana. As he was the one who first had me try Indeblue and showed me how glorious indian food can be when properly cooked, I felt it appropriate. The bananas came deep fried similar to how a plaintain would, covered with a salted caramel and then a cinnamon iced cream, they didn't stand a chance. The food gains another two stars for overall taste and perfection of flavor. Let me also say that rating includes how lovely the food is to the eye, as attention to plating is also something done very well here. Oh, and the food comes out fast and hot, (or, as appropriate, cold). I wish they had opened the kitchen so we could watch the Chef cook, he must be a blur in action. That's 5 stars you say. Why six? Here's why. As we sat sipping the last of the prosecca, our sweet teeth sated and bellies full but not bloated, we listened to the live music. The stunning interior design, the amazing food, perfect service all came together and transported me far from the streets of Philadelphia. I realized the experience I was enjoying had only been rivaled in my travels overseas, or the very rare occasional opulence of a grande dame in some far away vacation spot. For a moment, everything was absolutely perfect, the days worries forgot, the world revolving around my guest and I. Six Stars. Perfect.
(5)Smrithi D.
I dont know how I didint write a review for this place before but it has to be my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city, especially for indian food. The ambiance is amazing, a great mix of traditional eastern decor with solid wood elements. The service has to be even better than the decor (or dare I say it even better than the food). Different staff have their own tasks/jobs, your waiter ensures you have a good experience, they have different busboys bringing you food and taking away your used dishes. I think a manager even came over to readjust my friend's napkin when she stepped back to use the restroom. That keen attention to detail is something to admire and worth it! Now onto my favorite part- no not the food yet - LIVE music! On a weekday night (tuesday or wednesday - i cant remember) and sunday brunch they have live sitar and tabla players which is the icing on what would be a perfect night. Ok food- the Paneer Tikka masala is to die for, the spinach chaat, the avocado appetizer, and lastly the unique rosemary herb naan. I cant wait to go back!
(5)Ameena D.
Had dinner at IndeBlue last night, thanks to all the great Yelp recommendations. Here are my thoughts: Ambiance: The restaurant is nice. Very well decorated and clean. Service: Really great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I must say, however, that I was surprised at how non-Indian this restaurant is. In other words, there wasn't a single Indian server / owner / chef around. Made me a bit nervous about how authentic our food would be. Food: We ordered many things - samosas, avocado puri, lollipop lamb chops, vegetable shashlik, chicken kabob, rice, roti, raita, mango panna cotta, and the restaurant sent a complimentary spinach appetizer. Everything was very tasty but SUPER SPICY. I'd specifically asked the waiter to make everything mild but absolutely nothing was mild. This was definitely a problem for our 9-year-old, as well as for me (my low spice-threshold is an embarrassment to my Indian father, I'm sure). In any case I requested some chutney to make things more bearable and that was that. Bottom Line: The service was great, the food was good, and pricing is reasonable. But I'm not sure I would return here because I prefer not to have to douse my food in sugary chutney so that I can eat it.
(3)Charlene J.
My hubby ate here for lunch. We shared the crispy spinach chaat and crispy cauliflower as appetizers which were both amazing. They were only mildly spicy for those intolerant of hot foods. My hubby had the butter chicken and I had the chicken madras for our entree and they were both delicious. The food came out quickly. Our server was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu items. Loved this place!!!
(5)Jayanth N.
Good chic indian food. The spinach chat & avocado chat was outstanding. The entrees come with rice & you have to order bread separately. I found that setup strange for an indian restaurant. Portion sizes are small compared to most Indian restaurants. But the food is of excellent quality.
(4)Todd S.
We came down this weekend, for restaurant week. Lots of pressure this week, I know from experience it can be a big challenge for front and back of house. I thought they did an admirable job. Service was on, attentive non intrusive, water glass full. Food very good, mussels were notably excellent, wife's spinach chaar. My lamb shank was excellent and not over cooked, which is endemic when the dish involves a heavy sauce. I was a little nervous ordering a lamb shank with a robust sauce, a sauce is often used to precook the shank, reheat it and the sauce covers many sins. Probably not the case here. Shank was actually medium. Negatives? Get a coat rack. Coffee was poison, tasted like Sysco coffee pulled through my college dorm's common Mr Coffee and saved (I graduated in 1997). And Mussels need mussel spoons and a bowl for shells. I understand the mussels were a new dish. I'd say work out the presentation and make it a menu item. Otherwise, good showing!
(4)Michelle J.
I was in India in November and have since been constantly on the lookout for amazing Indian food whenever or wherever I get the chance. This place did not disappoint. First thing that strikes you is the decor which are a perfect balance of a modern upscale restaurant but with an Indian flair. I had to try the paneer tikka as that is my favorite. The sauce was a touch too "tomatoey " but it was still excellent and the paneer was perfect. I also had the vegetable samosas and the accompanying sauce was perfection! Nice house wine paired with excellent service and definitely a place worth visiting !
(5)Rafael A.
Seafood Moilee: This dish is very unique and fabulous. Indeblue has a great environment, good service and fantastic food.
(5)Marcuz H.
Great authentic Indian food! Food was steamy hot, one of the best chicken tikka masala gravy's I have had in East Coast. The gravy was smooth and thick in texture. The lighting and ambience was delightful. My lady loved her Baingan barta (eggplant gravy) which was spicy, tangy and flavorful as she expected and she's Indian too. This place is way way better than it's competitor - Tashan. If you are in Phily area and looking to eat fine dining delicious Indian food, please stop by and check out IndeBlue (NOT Tashan).
(4)Dhaval S.
Great food and service. The staff explained all the dishes really well and also provided their recommendations. The spinach chaat is an awesome appetizer dish and garlic naan is great. Definitely will be coming back again!
(4)Anne K.
Best Indian food I've ever had in Philly, fa shoooo. We came here for date night and the food and ambiance was perfect. We shared the chicken tikka masala and the paneer tikka makhani. Both were perfectly seasoned! We ordered a side of buttery, bubbly naan topped with cilantro and garlic as well. They give you a pretty generous serving of basmati rice with their entrees. Make sure you check out their mango lassi! They top it off with some chopped pistachios and it's a total treat for anybody who loves mango and/or yogurt.
(5)Colleen M.
Uh-maze-ing. That is about all I need to say... but I'll elaborate since my experience was so out of this world. First, it was restaurant week and let's be honest with ourselves here - sometimes, things are less than top notch since you aren't paying top notch prices. You would have never known the difference here. The service, the food, the portion sizes were all on par with an expensive night out, only without the price tag. Ever important to me - the service was impeccable. Jason, our server, was so very attentive. So much so that he apologized for our second course taking longer than anticipated... and we hadn't even noticed (it really didn't take very long at all)! Our table was cleared regularly, water and other beverages; always full. We never wanted or needed for anything. Honestly some of the best service I have had out in Philly, a city that regularly excels in the service department. To say the food was not only abundant but also fantastic really doesn't do it justice. I left incredibly full and happy which is an anomaly for Restaurant Week offerings. Actually, by the time the main course was done, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take the smallest bite of dessert. Of course, I managed to power through but not without being tempted to unbutton the top button on my pants. Gluten free and veg friendly I highly recommend. I'll be back for sure!!!!
(5)Gautam T.
Finally!!!!! Philadelphia has an amazing Indian restaurant in Center City. (EKTA you're great but you're in No-lib) This is the best indian I've had in the city and actuallly it can be in the argument with really good Indian restaurants in the region. A few things. This is not your traditional indian restaurant. This is extremely modern and Indeblue has done what no other Indian restaurant has ever done. Make curry sexy! its really hard to describe but you just have to try it out for yourself and let me know if you agree with me or not. Ok enough of my rant. I started off with the Spinach Chaat, which was so different but tasted exactly how a good chaat should taste. The Spinach is baked (I think) with spices and probably oil to give it a really crispy texture. Piled on top of the spinach is a wonderful combination of everything chaat. Moving on, scallops were the bomb, I could never imagine scallops in a sambar base tasting as glorious as it did, what a pleasantaly surprising dish. Shrimp, amazing, super super fresh like it just came out of the water fresh in a spicy tomato based blend. Chicken kebab, Spicy very Spicy but super tender and delicious. I can't talk about this anymore. Its frustrating me that I'm not there and I'm on my computer salivating.
(5)James L.
Although the food was really delicious, we were shocked with the exorbitant cost of the bill. Expect to pay DOUBLE whatever you're thinking, and tip will be included in the bill. Also service was spotty at best. The waitress we had was very sweet, but the kitchen sent out our main courses without the accompanying rice, which reached the table ten minutes after. Not good. Really good food but unfortunately, not worth a return trip.
(3)Palmila L.
This is easily the best Indian food I've had in Philadelphia. I loved that they do a modern reinvention of classic Indian cuisine that still nevertheless remains true to tradition. Must order dishes: 1. Spinach chaat. This was the perfect opener, and I've never had anything quite like it before. The spinach is flash-fried so it's perfectly crispy, and we loved the yogurt and tamarind date chutney together. It was light, but very well-rounded in flavor. 2. Malai kofta bukhara. We ordered this as a side, rather than the entree, so we could try more dishes, but this is something I would order as an entree next time. The creamy cardamom sauce was delicious, and the kofta filled with apricot and cashew was heavenly. 3. Any of the bread selections. Seriously. I especially loved the provencal (garnished with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano) because I'm a sucker for truffle oil. We also tried the chicken madras--it was well-flavored, but we didn't find it particularly rave-worthy. Maybe it just didn't stand out in comparison to the other dishes that we loved. (Also completely irrelevant note, but the Williams-Sonoma nerd in me loved the silverware here! Such a unique design that fit in so well with the decor and ambiance of the restaurant.) The service was perfect and attentive. We came relatively late on a Saturday night (around 9:30 PM), and it was surprisingly busy. We were seated right in the middle of the dining room, so it was a little loud at times, but to be fair, we spent a decent amount of meal eating and not a lot of time talking once the dishes came out. The decor was gorgeous. On the whole, can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu!
(4)Tina D.
I love the ambience here! It has a very elegant Indian vibe. As a vegetarian I can always find plenty of options. I've eaten here several times and have tried most menu items. My personal favorites are the crispy cauliflower which has just the right amount if spice, the malai kofta and the dal makhani! The staff is always super pleasant and the service on point. I've also enjoyed drinks at the bar several times. The bartender is very friendly and makes great suggestions.
(4)Bonnie B.
Amazing Crispy spinach chaat was so good! I could of ordered a second had another glass of wine and been satisfied. However we ordered more and everything was amazing! Paneer masala lamb and the special seafood dish!! I can wait to go back. Our waitress was wonderful, making perfect suggestion!
(5)John H.
Delicious, I recommend the rose mimosa and drums of heaven, but everything seems pretty good here. The Bloody Mary is a little different, and you may not like it if you like regular ones, but conversely you may like it if you don't like regular ones. Rice is fluffy and well flavored. Atmosphere is slightly upscale, but the prices are more than fair for good Indian food.
(5)Ash N.
Awesome service. Food was excellent (pork bhuna, scallops, spinach chaat, kheer). Service was top notch. Bar tender was super friendly. Love the spicy cocktails. Especially the lychee chili margarita.
(5)Leo I.
Went here for lunch and I can't wait to go back. You get a lot of variety and delisiousness from the Thali plates. Tons of different flavors so you do not get bored. I'll be back again soon!
(4)Peter S.
This is it. Wow. This was one of those meals (and they are few and far between) where with the last bite I had to sit back and savor the moment. If it wasn't perfection, it was darn close. If you are looking for superb Indian food in Center City, at a place that is upscale (without the upscale surcharge) and offers a fine dining experience, look no further. Not that I've been to the competition, but this was so top notch, I don't need to go anywhere else. IndeBlue has me. I arrived at little after 8pm on a Thursday. They were busy, not overtaxed. A good sign, I thought. Another good sign: all the entrees are Gluten Free. That's right: all the entrees. And they have gluten free naan, too. I'm telling you: they do gluten free. The food was spectacular. The flavors full and layered. Even the rice had spices & seasoning that flowed and danced. I am a one trick pony and had the chana masala, spicy. One of the finest dishes I have ever had. I know; you've heard me say this before, perhaps. Well, perhaps, but the truth still stands here. And, note, I've had plenty of food I've never written about. Why Yelp about mediocrity? I don't. IndeBlue is not a one trick pony; looking around the restaurant, it was clear that every dish was being thoroughly enjoyed. The gluten free bread was naan-like. It was light (not fluffy) and thin and roasted with seasoning (and tomato?). I'd give is a GF "A." A delicious GF naan substitution. For the first time since going gluten free, I could actually enjoy the meal with naan. And had I been with non-GF, I could have convinced them to forgo the gluten and join me with the gluten free. A word about the price: this place is a bargain. I'm not going to say under-priced, but let us do say that I was surprised at how little my check was. For instance: the GF naan was $3. And so is the regular naan. Yup; no gluten free surcharge. You've seen it: the GF item is 1/3 to a 1/2 more expensive. Not so here. And the chana masala was a more-than-reasonable $14. The service was very good. The waiter extremely pleasant & helpful. He knew gluten free. He had great banter and table-side manner. He found me papadam and recommended Bushmills as my Seagrams VO replacement. The Indian restaurant didn't have a Canadian whiskey. The horror. ;-) Bottom line: Excellent food. Great urban decor. A fine dining experience. I'd only wished I'd had a date.
(5)Caroline L.
This has to be the best brunch in town--not only for the Indian food, specials, and also because I don't have to endure 2 hour waits. I've been here twice in the past year with a large group and have enjoyed the food. They have sampler plates and an eclectic mix of brunch and a flavorful Indian meal. They have a sitar player at noon, who plays masterfully without being overly intrusive for conversation. The service is brisk, but we were allowed to linger, even on a Sunday.
(4)RaJaTi P.
I had been here twice . The best thing to get here as an Indian foodie I think is Thaali!! I just love it. The saag paneer was excellent. I also loved raita which was so fresh. Being from Washington, D.C., I have been craving for a thali since I don't get that one over there. The best part would be live sitar and tabla music. I feel it just blends so well with your meals. Kudos to the guys playing Indian raagas so well!! Overall a pleasurable experience!!!
(4)Kruti P.
I visited IndeBlue for the first time today for brunch. I had a chai sangria, which was good but no different than most red wine sangrias I've had. My husband had a uniquely spicy masala Bloody Mary. I ordered the pizza naan of the day and paneer bhurjee. I wish the server would have told me that the chili cheese naan that comes with the bhurjee is basically a slightly smaller portion of the pizza. Both had wayyy too much cheese for my taste. To top it off, there was a bunch of melted cheese in the bhurjee... My husband enjoyed the lollipop lamb chops very much, more so than the drums of heaven - which were also good. Looking around, I would try the rose petal mimosa, chat and dosa/uttapam next time. Live sitar and tabla players were a nice addition.
(4)Sarah P.
I have been meaning to go to IndeBlue with my friend Ainsley A. ever since we sampled their fantastic samosas at Yelp's 10th Anniversary Bash. Earlier this week, we finally had the chance to stop in for happy hour, and we were totally impressed. The decor is elegant and polished but not pretentious. A small group of us sat at the bar by the window for happy hour and ordered pretty much every plate of food on the happy hour menu. One of my friends also got the spicy lychee margarita and let us all have a sip. This drink is definitely for spice lovers- it packs a huge, yet delicious, punch. As for the food, the vegetable samosas have the perfect crispy outside/soft inside texture contrast. The bed of chickpeas, chutneys, and yogurt beneath the samosas was divine, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and spice to compliment the flavors of the samosa. It was a well-executed classic dish. The spinach chaat was my personal favorite, and it was unlike anything I've had before. The crispiness of flash-fried flaky spinach was quenched perfectly with the sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney lying underneath. I could have eaten two of these by myself. One of my friends even ate a stray piece of spinach off the (very clean) bar top; it was just that good. The naan pizza was an interesting twist on traditional naan. It was the perfect dish to split and to shamelessly mop up every last bit of the chutney underneath our samosas. The stuffed long hot peppers were also very unique. The menu labels them medium-spicy, but I think that "medium" is an understatement (in a good way). The stuffing adds texture to the dish while still allowing the natural heat and flavor of the pepper to shine through. The experience was great, from the cool atmosphere, to the food, to our very professional and friendly bartender who tolerated our ridiculous conversation about dating and even politely chimed in. The price was right too; I spent less than 10 bucks for a decent amount of food! I have a feeling I'll be back here again very soon for dinner and to get my hands on more of that amazing spinach chaat.
(5)Joe A.
We went for brunch on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. We ordered the vegetarian thali and the lentil pancake. Very tasty food and attentive service. Drinks were also very good.
(4)L S.
Me and a good friend of mine decided to try this spot for Happy Hour yesterday (3/31). OMG I can't belive I've gone all this time without their food in my life...AMAZING, I got the spinach chaat (tastes like general tso chicken, I kid you not!), The pizza naan and the drums of heaven. All were on the HH menu for only $4 dollars each!!! This has been added to my list of favorites spots!
(5)Nicole M.
IndeBlue is amazing Indian food that is much needed in Center City. It's slightly fusion, but not so much that it loses its authenticity. I've tried many of the menu items, but there are still so many more that I have my eye on. Highlights: Crispy Spinach Chaat: Amazingly crispy, light, and fresh. The tamarind date chutney makes a perfect "dressing" for this little spinach salad. I want to know how they cook the spinach to make it THAT crispy. I could eat this every day and wouldn't feel too guilty since it's a healthy option! Drums of heaven: Wings in an Indian-style spicy sauce. This sauce would be good on anything! Really crispy, almost Korean-style fried. Sweet potato pakora: Chickpea battered sweet potatoes. Super addicting. One order for 2-3 people will disappear in minutes. Paneer tikka makhani: I love paneer so I had to try this. The sauce is slightly sweeter than other dishes, so it was the perfect complement to the spicier entrees. Order a side portion and take a bite every time your tongue is on fire from something else. I usually only like to try places I've never been to for restaurant week, but I love this place so much, and their restaurant week menu is a steal. It's the perfect way to try a bunch of different things here. I got the non-vegetarian thali sampler platter as my main course, which came with chicken makhani, lamb rogan josh, dal makhani, rice, raita, mango chutney, and garlic naan. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, but I ate it all and enjoyed it so much. I regret it after, of course, but it was worth it. Try the cocktails! The Monsoon is delicious with a spicy kick from cinnamon, star anise, and ginger.
(5)David D.
This is good Indian cuisine, but I can't get on board all these 4 and 5-star ratings. I've had much better Indian cuisine at the dingy, traditional Indian joints. The location in DT Philadelphia is good, and you are met with a very attentive and smiling Maitre'D, but the food doesn't quite match the sophistication they're trying to show. This is definitely the best looking Indian restaurant in Philadelphia (and second only to Kirin's in Houston that I have visited). Tables are clean, there is actual linen (woohoo), and the bathroom is like a Nirvana relative to most Indian establishments. IndeBlue has a good drink menu, and their IndeMartini is a standout and strong. They even have a wine list, which is borderline decent. The service was spotty. I found our waiter very affable, but in other ways he was a disaster. He almost poured my sparkling water in a wine glass, thought better of it, found a different glass, still almost spilled it, etc. The other wait staff were not up to par by any means, one even bumped into me on the way to the restroom sans an apology! Welcome to the jungle. This was restaurant week, so the menu was quite contrived. Maybe that is what held things back. I ordered the spinach chaat (good if you're into fried food), the vegetarian Thali (asked for vegan and gluten-free, got gluten-free, good thing I'm not a strict vegan), and the fig dessert was probably the best item. The vegetarian Thali was VERY limited compared to real Thalis that I have had at other Indian joints. My DP had a regular Thali from IndeBlue, and it also came with only 3 main dishes (and when I say dish we're talking a tiny saucer), compared to most places which have 5-6, and the idea is they will refill them for you, not here. They did start us with three complimentary tastes of soup, although I found them all lacking in taste. The rice was okay. Saffron rice, not really standout by any means. The fig cake was good, and the ice cream on top was decent. Not made in house, so I was like, ehhh. This is probably a fun date night for someone craving Indian cuisine, but IndeBlue is not foodie approved.
(3)Joanna L.
If you like Indian food, then you have to check out IndeBlue. The flavors offered here will make your tastebuds dance with pleasure! Enjoyed a fantastic meal here with my family for a birthday. The atmosphere is trendy, but the vibe is relaxed and casual. The bartender Cory was very knowledgable about cocktails and beer, making perfect recommendations for everyone in our party. The coconut/caramom cocktail is deliciously refreshing and was the drink I stayed with throughout my dining experience. It was light, flavorful, not too sweet and exactly what I was looking for, containing both rum and vodka. In terms of food, here is what I recommend: Apps: Vegetable Samosa - 2 per order-- Filled with spiced potato turnovers, chickpeas , yogurt, tamarind date chutney, & cilantro mint chutney. Great balance of flavors inside, sitting on top of the chickpea yogurt mix that was a creamy accompaniment. They provide 3 types of dipping sauces - the mint chutney and spicy curry were my favorite! Crispy Spinach Chaat- crispy baby spinach, shallots , chopped tomatoes sweet yogurt, & tamarind date chutney. The best salad I've ever had. The crunchy spinach elevated the experience adding a different texture than a typical salad. I could have eaten three orders of this! So addicting! Great combination of flavors. Duo Samosa- pulled pork, tamarind barbecue, blue cheese wine, spinach, feta, & tomato raisin chutney. Another delicious samosa if you eat meat I would recommend. You receive one samosa and a spring roll. Everyone enjoyed. Drums of heaven- battered chicken wings, blue cheese crumble, garlic, tomato, chili & scallions. These were big ol' wings, more delicious than your average! If you visit the IndeBlue website, this is the picture when you select the menu. They're great to share and have a slight kick of heat to them. Of the small plates, we ordered the lamb lollipops- ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint & mojito. These are a MUST try. They're tender, juicy and packed with tasty spices. This was my my second favorite starter in addition to the spinach dish. Our table raved over them in fact. Main course breakdown: Seafood moilee -jumbo lump crab, jumbo shrimp, coconut, mustard seed, curry leaf served with lemon rice. This was a recommendation by our server and it was packed great! The lemon rice accompanies it perfectly. Laal maas - lamb shank, ginger, kashmiri chili, black cardamom, cumin and saffron rice. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly, sitting in a tangy sauce that complimented it well. Chicken tikka masala- boneless chicken, fresh tomato, red onion, fenugreek, & touch of cream served with saffron rice. Staple indian dish that we had to order. Chicken was juicy and the sauce was a solid combination of cream and spices. Baingan bharta- tandoor roasted eggplant mash, tomatoes , peas & caramelized onions. Great veggie side if you like eggplant. Soft consistency but coupled the entree orders well as a side with a good balance of spices. For Naan, we tried the provencal (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano & truffle oil) - combined awesome flavors when dipping in the entree sauces. If you like truffle oil, you've gotta try this! Also ordered the whole wheat roti which was also good.. pretty standard tho. Try the options with spices-- it adds the extra zing! I would definitely return to IndeBlue again. The service was pleasant and helpful, the decor is beautiful, cocktails were great, the food was excellent, and the price is VERY reasonable! Go and try it-- what are you waiting for?
(4)Sarah K.
I'm realizing I only review places I like. Oh well. Anyway, I had dinner here and it was GREAT. I've been bummed since my fave Indian place closed because the family moved to Fargo to open a restaurant there (who does that!?!?!?!), and the entree, malai kofta bukhara, and naan I had here were very much like what I used to have there. Delicious entree and the assortment of naan in the bread basket was also very tasty. I didn't have any appetizers so I can't speak to those, but they looked delicious (I'm a sucker for vegetable samosas). The waitress was very friendly but not annoying. They had live music which added ambience but gave me a headache, as all live music does, so take that for what it's worth. I would definitely go back here instead of trying something new, which means it was pretty good!
(5)Joyce T.
App: vegetable samosa, lamb chop / lollipop, sweet potato pakora Entree: chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, lasooni naan (garlic) We share the above food with party of four. Service and food were great!
(5)Laura Jill S.
Wow. Michelle C had told me that Indeblue was her favorite Indian in the city, & wow, does she know her Indian food! Kristin H & I had dinner there tonight after the event at Eviama Life Spa (which was also phenomenal). The decor was beautiful & warm, I loved every detail of their presentation--in fact, I'm actually a little obsessed with their silverware. Everyone who worked there was friendly, and our waiter was excellent & accommodating (& quite cute, just sayin'). I know I've lived here a year, but I still can't get used to not having to explain what vegan is. It's still really special when someone in food service just knows & makes sure I'm taken care of. Kristin & I shared the samosas, the crispy vegetable chili, & the chana masala. I highly recommend all 3. (Michelle recommended the crispy spinach chaat--next time for sure!) I live for Indian food. This place is close to my apartment & amazing. I expect I'll be here often!
(5)Jay D.
Pretty basic indian, even fancier atmosphere than Minar Palace down the street, which is my fav, and already too fancy (RIP: Old, unfancy Minar Palace on Sansom Street from 2005.) This seems like it would be the nicer option to go on a date to, and I love that they tell you on the menu what can be made vegan. But if I'm craving Indian, I'm heading to MP.
(4)Kathy S.
This restaurant was such a pleasant surprise. The menu has familiar Indian food but with a twist. The vegetarian dishes, that can be ordered as sides, were excellent and the spinach chat was wonderful. Even the rice was very good. The service was perfect. Our sever was very attentive and didn't hurry us even though the restaurant was full. The ambiance is casually sophisticated and the noise level was acceptable. I thought this was the best Indian food in Phila. (my husband says Tashan but they really both are great)
(4)Kiyana D.
Chicken tikka makhani, chana masala, and roti. Spicy, seasoned yumminess. Really good. A bit warm inside. Live mellow music and excellent HH. A great place for dinner and drinks with friends or date night.
(5)Minh M.
My friends and I stumbled onto here while looking for a quick bite to eat before going out. We ended up staying until 1 am or so. I usually don't give out 5 stars unless it is really exceptional. Their lamb dishes were savory and amazing and their raita dip (yougurt, cucumber, and spices) is the best I've had. Not only that, but we came in 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and the staff was extremely accommodating. The kitchen staff put their best even late at night. To boot, he bartender whipped up a mean tamarita which was tequila and tamarind juice. It's too bad we found it so late in our trip because I would've loved to sit in the dining area, which was really cute and cozy, very different from the Indian restaurants I go to (but to be honest, this was an American, modern twist to Indian food). The hospitality was enough to earn them 5 stars and it's even better when the food is good. Check them out and look out for Cory to be your bartender!
(5)Nathan N.
I went to lunch with a vegetarian, a gluten-free vegetarian and a vegan. In an effort not be the "odd man out", I ordered the Vegetarian Thali Platter and it was amazing. The waiter was professional, yet humorous...great service. I wish there was a restaurant like this where I live!
(5)C G J.
The Indian husband and Italian wife owners have put an excellent "twist" on traditional Indian dishes. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and have not had a bad meal here. Portions are modest but freshness and taste are great.
(4)Paytrox G.
Place was awesome. Rode up from DC to philly just to grab lunch. Yelp reviews were spot on. Great tasting of fine Indian Food! Plus very accommodating for those of us with food allergies. Great gluten free and vegan options.
(5)J R.
My boyfriend and I did the 4 course dinner with wine pairing. Excellent service from our server. I don't recall his name but he has curly hair, black glasses and tattoos on his arms. Very knowledgeable about wine pairings. Overall great experience! You MUST try their cheesy nan bread.
(5)Suzanne C.
Indeblue was a wonderful dining experience. The staff were attentive but not overly so, just the right mix of attention and space. The food was superb. Bread basket is a must - delightful! Loved my drink. Tequila, lime and hibiscus tea - not sweet or tart or strong. Perfect! Highly recommend to vegetarians and carnivores.
(5)Archana L.
Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem around the corner from my hotel. Opulent wall decor with a contemporary twist. Refreshing avocado dahi puri to offset the summer heat. Taste meets texture in the perfectly spiced malai kofta. The masala chai was cold, but I was offered a fresh second cup without even asking. Polite, courteous service. Would definitely come back if I visit Philadelphia again.
(5)Michael T.
This is respectably good indian fare, but with a higher than deserving prices.
(3)Caitlin R.
Sat at the bar for happy hour (only at the bar) while on a (very quick) work trip to Philadelphia. The $3 vegetable samosa appetizer? Yes! Do not miss it! Two samosas (a little smaller than I usually see, but still delicious) were parked on a bed of Indeblue's channa masala (chickpeas) with a swipe of green chutney and cool yogurt. Indian food heaven... for $3. Even for the small portion, I'd pay the regular $8 non-happy hour. I don't live in Philly and ergo can't return often, so please go eat these samosas for me right now. Honorable mentions: the $5 happy hour ginger-lime-whiskey cocktail. Bartender Sean (?) was helpful, welcoming and knowledgeable. The naan pizza didn't change my life, but it was filling for $5. Live sitar music on Tuesday nights! It was terrific background, but not loud. So glad I randomly Yelped my way to this cozy, classy place!
(4)Eric C.
Good. But not $100-for-dinner-for-two good. I've had way better. Has a happening feel. Just a little over-rated.
(3)Omnom N.
I loved this place! We went for a Sunday brunch - and there was live Sitar and Tabla music (which was really good music. :) ) Having an insane craving for home food, we decided to come here - definitely pricier than the like of Sitar in University City but the food is totally worth it. I caved in to ordering a masala dosa (it's been over a year since I had one) and this is as authentic as it gets. With good chutney and a good amount of the potato curry. Given that there is no good South Indian food in Philly, Indeblue manages to produce a good dosa which tastes just like the ones from home. The paneer bhurji is definitely an interesting fusion style food - but delicious nonetheless. I think this place manages to satiate the taste buds for /traditional/ Indian food as well has it has its own fusion food which are gorgeous. For dessert we had the mango panna cotta (which was gorgeous along with its saffron based garnishing) and the coconut-lychee sorbet with tandoori pineapple. I was literally ecstatic upon receiving the food, dhomping down with a grin plastered across my face. Con: I do wish dosas were cheaper and they had something like 2 dosas per plate.
(5)Anmry C.
I have eaten here several times- never EVER disappointed!!! Absolutely delicious. Fantastic food and drinks. My boyfriend and I always over order here, in hopes that we'll have leftovers for the next couple of days. We love everything we've tried!
(5)Casey S.
So good! Excellent, high quality Indian Food. The best naan I have ever had, which is a bold statement!
(5)David W.
Some very good food, some mediocre food. In general, the unique, fusion items were better than the traditional items. The Spinach Chaat, in particular, was fantastic.
(4)Michelle C.
IndeBlue in Collingswood was my gateway restaurant into the world of Indian food. I'll never forget the first time I called for an order. I spoke with Heather, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Chef Rakesh Ramola, and she could not have been nicer or more helpful with answering my many - MANY - questions about the menu. On that day I ordered chicken vindaloo and from that day forward, I was hooked. I enjoyed a nice long love affair with IndeBlue during my Collingswood days. But then I moved to Philly, and I have not found Indian that comes close to the deliciousness of IndeBlue. Until now, with IndeBlue's second location on 13th Street. Happy day! I'm just sorry it took me so long to get there. It won't be long before a return visit. We started with the spinach chaat, crispy spinach leaves topped with diced tomatoes, shallots and yogurt sauce. Super unique and very tasty. We also had the long hots stuffed with paneer. Entrees consisted of the chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and chicken biryani. All three were excellent. It was obvious how much I missed this food by the way I cleaned my entire plate (with the help of some fantastic garlic naan for swiping up the last of the sauce). I washed everything down with two lychee martinis which were made exactly to my liking (slightly sweet but not too sweet). I was too stuffed for dessert but changed my mind when we were generously treated to a sampling. There was a fantastic dessert with sticky fried doughnuts and cinnamon ice cream, plus some flavorful sorbets, but my favorite was the mango panna cotta with honey and crushed pistachios. Tons of flavor but still light. The pretty decor makes this the perfect spot for a date or a night out with friends. I look forward to my next visit!
(5)Diana D.
The mixed grill was excellent. The lamb chops were just perfect in the clay oven. I'd get them alone the next time. I'm a big indian fan and the flavors were up to par. I'd definately eat here again. Next time i'm up for happy hour. the reviews for HH great!
(4)B S.
My cousin recommended me this place when I went to visit philly this past weekend. Great food and awesome service! They really do care about their customers and it shows through. The ambience is great! It's very unique and we had an amazing dining experience! There's not a single con I can think about. Highly recommend his place!
(5)Brianna K.
I ate here last night with my friend from UPenn for restaurant week. The food was FANTASTIC. I was so thrilled that they had a vegan option for each course- something that you can't find with many restaurants that participate in this event. The food was likely the best Indian that I have ever had. Crispy Spinach Chaat was top-notch, it was so full of flavor and was a perfect first portion. The Vegetarian Sampler Platter (made vegan)- Was GREAT. It was huge and flavorful and so varied, it gave me a great picture of what IndeBlue has to offer. Orange Ginger Sorbet- Perfect end to the meal, the ginger was sweet and perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegans and non vegans alike.
(5)Sarah H.
Indeblue is my fav restaurant in Philly. The saag with shrimp is phenomenal. Fun atmosphere w/ seats regularly open at the bar. We had the pork samosa on our last visit. Ommmggggggggg. So good.
(5)Rebecca S.
Had a really excellent brunch here on Sunday with Vinny P. and Cat D. after a morning of shopping. Our stomachs were rumbly, El Vez was packed and we were about to make our way to Perch Pub when Vinny stopped in his tracks and said, "hey, how does Indian sound?". Now traditionally, Indian would not be my first go-to for brunch cuisine, but given that I'm typically a savory bruncher over sweet figured why the heck not. First off, there was no wait and we were seated immediately upon entry. We could have sat at the empty bar had the restaurant been full, but that wasn't a necessity so to a table we went. Our server was very enthusiastic, as waters were being poured she sold us on their $4 garam masala bloody Mary's and rose mimosas; off to a good start if you ask me. Though bloody Mary's are a meal in and of themselves, it was time to buckle down and decide what to have for an entrée. Right up until our waitress came back to take our order, I was still undecided and had her choose for me; I was torn between an Indian spiced egg and bacon wrap and the chicken tikka wrap that had recently been added to the menu. Chicken tikka was the final determination, while Vinny ordered a thali plate and Cassie went with a few vegan options of chickpeas and potatoes. My chicken tikka wrap was pretty damn good, the chicken was tender, the crisp cucumbers in side were a nice cooling feel against the spice of the chicken...would I order it again? Absolutely. Served on the side were a few masala fries and a sweet chili aioli; delicious. When I first moved to the city 6 years ago my first question to my landlord was how to know which Chinese food restaurants were worth eating from in Chinatown; he told myself and my roommates to always follow where the Chinese dine because that's the real-deal. When it comes to Indeblue, the fact that the space is beautiful, the prices are completely reasonable for brunch, and many Indian families spending their Sunday afternoon here all lean toward this being the real-deal and a new staple in the brunch rotation.
(4)Ron G.
I pulled up to Indeblue and saw a bunch of Indians inside, instant street cred. Usually trendy indian restaurants are attended by essentially the same diverse crowd you would expect at any downtown restaurant. The heavy sprinkling of my brethren elevated my expectations. The feel and decor are center city standard. The menu has a mix of standard indian menu items like chicken tikka masala and chana masala, with a mix of "fusion-esque" dishes. Interestingly, they started off with a sample soup, spinach-mozzarella. So weird. It tasted like spinach soup...with mozzarella. I dont think we have mozzarella cheese in India. They seem to do the latter really well, while the former is about average to above average. Started with the spinach chaat. This was great. Flash fried spinach, with the usual mixing of chaat toppings. We then shared chicken korma with 2 side sized baingan bharta and daal makhani. Chicken korma was good, but just good. The baingan bharta was the best of the dishes as we could actually taste that the eggplant was roasted. Daal makhani was par for the course. Our bill, for 2 people with 2 drinks each was surprisingly affordable. Overall, a place worth visiting. I may stick to the newer fusion items as they seem to do this particularly well.
(3)Rohit K.
Good authentic indian food, but a little bit expensive and quantity is not that great.
(4)Traci T.
Wow! What a foodgasm at IndeBlue! A friend and I happened upon this place on our walk home and decided to give it a try for dinner the next day. The service and food were excellent. We walked in with no reservations and were seated right away. Drums of Heaven didn't disappoint and held up to its name. They were heavenly with the right amount of spiciness. The lamb shank was both tender and succulent in a wonderfully rich sauce. The divinely tasty Banana Nirvana was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Also need to acknowledge our server. He was so well versed in all the dishes, that when we asked him for recommendations he confidently steered us in the right direction. Highly recommend this place.
(4)Vinny P.
I'm loving the center city Indeblue location. For my first visit I came for dinner and we ordered a couple of very tasty items. Our starters were the crispy vegetable chili and the sweet potato pakora. Of the two my favorite was the crispy vegetable chili. It had excellent texture and flavor. I thought the heat level was just right. My main was the goat biryani. At first I was surprised by its presentation, (the braised goat mixed into the rice, not alongside it) but it didn't detract from its taste whatsoever. It was a more at home style way of serving it and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In times since I've returned to sit at the bar and even for brunch (which deserves its own review). I think this place fits wonderfully on 13 and I hope they stay for a while.
(4)Archana R.
I love this place!! They have one of the best chef. I love all the items on their menu. Each time I have been here, I tried a new dish and fell in love with it. They also have some great drinks.
(5)Prasath S.
This review is based on Sunday Brunch only. Dined here this past weekend, excellent/friendly waitress who was also very knowledgeable about the food options. We started off with the Avocado Chaat (Great Refreshing Snack) & Drums of Heaven (4 Crispy Mini Wings dressed with some crumbled Blue Cheese - Delicious). For our entrees, we had the Masala Omelet (Oh My So tasty!!! swap the Maple Bacon for the Garam Masala one) Masala Dosa (Crispy with a yummy filling), Lamb Boti Kebab (Skewer of tender lamb meat dressed with masala fries and a yummy sauce) and finally a veggie Thali (which was more on the north indian side of things but still very tasty). Also tried the $4 Rose Mimosa - Slurpyyy goodness!!!
(4)Zack S.
Legit Indian food at an upscale type place. I had the vegetarian thali (sampler) at lunch (see photo). Everything was above average. Highlights include the black sesame seeds on the naan (genius) and the paneer makhani (tomato-based gravy, kinda like tikka masala and just like that of butter chicken, for all you dummies out there). The sweet potato chips were good and went really well with the mango chutney but I'd rather fill up on that filthy delicious curry, know what I mean? Nobody was there at lunchtime (during the week). My server was super nice (Josh I think) You'll pay a bit more than average and you probably shouldn't dress like a hobo like I normally do. Cheaper buffet type places are more my style but I'd come here a couple times a year.
(5)Oakland S.
Wanted to have a nice dinner out and thought I would try out this place. If your looking for something with parking good luck finding a spot. I'm cheap and had to drive to find a parking space near Christian street in a residential area. I dropped my date off first to grab a table. First off don't try to ask for a table without a reservation, we were told by the hostess that without a reservation it would be a 45 minute wait. The bartender kept pressuring my date to order while I was parking the car. When I joined my date, and she informed me of the wait, we decided to eat at the bar. I order a sangria for my date. It was served in a white wine glass filled with ice. Next time I order a sangria, I am going to say "no ice cubes". Then we decided to order two appetizers and an entree. He raved over one of the appetizers we ordered, but then quickly turned away to put the order in the computer without taking the entree order. We finally were able to order everything when he came back. It just felt like we were being rushed. For the appetizer we ordered the crispy spinach chaat and the barbecue spare rib samosa. I thought the spinach was better than the spare ribs which the waiter raved about. For the entree we order malai kofta. It's a vegetarian meatball in a creamy cashew sauce. I thought this dish was sub par. Maybe it was my fault, I should have ordered lamb. My opinion these vegetarian meatballs tasted like an under cooked boca burger. We decided to give the bar another chance and order another drink. After looking through the options we had a question regarding one of the drinks, so we decided to ask the bartender what lychee was. Instead of describing it using words, the bartender proceeded to grab the bottle of lychee puree and hold it up to my date's nose. Just a tip to the bartender--don't ever shove a bottle in anyone's face. I think for now, I am going to stick to takeout for Indian food.
(2)L M.
A-mazing! Great atmosphere, food was excellent and service was exceptional with bonus points for being very helpful regarding gluten free options. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl the rice pudding came in...
(5)Kathy P.
Not bad food! The rice was flavorful! The spinach chat was too oily, my chicken tikka dish wasn't cooked properly.. However, the paneer tikka dish was pleasing. I prefer Tashan to this restaurant, but it wasn't too bad. Not my first choice.
(3)Marc M.
Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. I'll make sure that I return. The Osso Bocco Pork Vindaloo in spices (many other great dishes too that I can't remember the name) was fantastic. The tasting menu is the way to go. Service was fantastic.
(4)Vanessa T.
First of all, I must clarify that the indeblue in center city is not byob, when I read the yelp reviews, someone said it was byob but It is only byob at the place in collingswood. Now that is out of the way, I came here for restaurant week and definitely like it here. I ordered the non-veg thali which is like a sampler of several dishes. The chicken tikka masala was delicious. The soups were delicious (sampler of 3 different soups during restaurant week). Drums of heaven was good too. I absolutely loved the dessert they had too (banana nirvana and the ice cream cookie). The service was wonderful as well.
(4)Stephanie S.
Came here for lunch with a few of my friends who have been dying to try Indeblue. Finally came, and loved it! The food was phenomenal, great service, and swanky cute atmosphere. Highly recommended! For appetizer we had the crispy spinach chatt and the dahi avocado chatt. Both delicious, but the spinach was mind blowing. So flavorful and just the right amount of crispy texture. Amazing!! For entrees we ate off the lunch menu: I had the Kaju Paneer Mattar, which was thick and creamy but very delicious. Housemade paneer, with peas, cashews , creamy caradamom sauce. (See photo). My friends had the non-vegetarian tahli , which was served on a silver platter and several different small dishes of apps, entrees, And salads. They all loved the chicken curry on the tahli platter, but didnt like the chicken tikka. I tried the lamb from one of my friends platters, and it was juicy, rich of flavor, and delicious. The naan was also wonderful and they give you plenty for dipping. The sweet chutney I loved, the cilantro chutney was also good, and the spicy chutney I stayed far away from lol. Overall great experience, and my friends from India say the food is very good up to their quality standards!! Bravo chef!
(4)Jassi B.
Simply delicious food and great service. I myself are Indian and the fact that the waiter was white and could speak in Hindi a little bit was absolutely fascinating. But overall the food was incredible and it deserves bragging rights. I highly recommend the spinach chat and the long stuffed peppered also the pork curry they have the main course along with a the mozzarella naan bread
(5)Cat P.
We ate here the other night for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and I was blown away by the food. This was the perfect setting for an intimate celebratory dinner and I didn't feel like we over-paid, given how amazing our dishes were. We each had cocktails to start. I enjoyed a wonderful lemon and basil concoction and my love went with some sort of ginger/bourbon drink; both were mixed well and complimented our food (as a side note, I found their cocktail list to be quite impressive and they even have happy hour specials, so I may need to revisit this spot in the future just for drinks). For apps, we went with the sweet potato pakora and the crispy vegetable chili. I highly recommend the second of the two, as the batter on the veggies had a delightful crunch and the dipping sauces that came with them packed a nice, spicy punch. Dinner arrived in a timely manner and I enjoyed my dishes. I went with tofu mangoli and chana saag. My beau had the goat biyrani, which was a decent size for him (he took leftovers home). If I had to complain about anything, I will say that our server wasn't so good at describing the portion sizes to us. You see, I ordered half sizes of both my dishes. I love that they even have this option just because most places don't, but it seemed like 2 halves just weren't enough. I had to end up ordering rice halfway through my dinner. I know this is a relatively new restaurant here in Philly, so hopefully the wait staff will be able to make better recommendations as time goes on. I thought the menu here was very easy to read for people with dietary restrictions (gluten free and vegan symbols appear next to dishes), but as somebody who is pretty inexperienced with Indian food, it would be nice if there was some kind of spice level number system of sorts so I don't burn my taste buds off. All in all, though, IndeBlue is doing things right, so I can definitely see myself coming back - especially for their live sitar music on Tuesday nights.
(5)H. I.
If you're looking for Indian food that beats the typical hole in the wall places in University City with sub par service and questionable cleanliness, this is the place to go. We came here on Diwali so it was pretty lively inside and I was glad we made a reservation because it was a full house (although usually I've heard you can walk in and get a table). There were a couple of larger tables so it looks like they are good at accommodating large groups (6+). We had a friendly and helpful server, who recommended a few dishes to us. We got 3 appetizers to split among 3 of us: chilled dahi avocado chaat, stuffed long hot peppers, and drums of heaven. All were delicious! For dinner I had the tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops were some of the best I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back just to order the lollipop lamb chops. For dessert we split the chocolate sutra. It's not a particularly Indian dish but it was still good. Love the decor inside, not tacky or gaudy looking. It was trendy, sexy, and overall had a great atmosphere. Will definitely be back!
(5)Christine B.
This spot reminds me a lot of Tashan, except maybe a little cheaper and a little less fusion. We shared the spicy scallops and the long hots. Neither was too spicy, and the scallops were nicely cooked. Also, had the sangria with the chai tea. It was an interesting cocktail that I enjoyed overall because it wasn't too sweet. For entrees, the lamb shank and the chicken korma with some extra spice. These dishes were really good. I could have used a little more meat on the lamb, but it was tender and the sauce was tasty, as was the saffron rice. This is a nice spot if you want to have a fancy Indian dinner, but I didn't think any of the food was amazingly better than your local Indian take out restaurant.
(4)Barrett L.
IndeBlue, an upscale Indian restaurant located in the heart of the gayborhood, serves both traditional and innovative takes on Indian cuisine. While the prices tend to be higher than your standard Indian joint, I found the food to be on par with most other places I've been too. Although I appreciated the good service and creative cocktails, I found the actual cuisine nothing surprising and wouldn't run back so soon to try more of the menu. We started with the crispy spinach chaat, which tasted rather oily (although somewhat delicious). We then split the Lamb Roganjosh, the Malwani Swordfish, Chana Masala, and a naan with spinach and mozzarella. Of these dishes, I found the lamb the most pleasant: juicy and savory, but not anything above the ordinary. The swordfish, despite swimming in sauce, was rather dry and the fish didn't really stand out for me. The chana masala was pretty standard, and the spinach and mozzarella naan was tasty, but I didn't find myself tasting a lot of the cheese or vegetables inside. I did, however, greatly appreciate our attentive and kind server, as well as the indebluetini (an adult version of a Mango Lassi). However, while I appreciate the concept of upscale Indian, I didn't find the food to be innovative or challenging enough to warrant the price point (especially when Tashan is located nearby). That said, there is always room for improvement, and I'm sure that IndeBlue can take it's merely good food to levels that are infinitely better.
(3)Abbie D.
Came here for my husband's birthday. I e-mailed the restaurant beforehand to see if we could do the Chef's Tasting menu and to see if they had their liquor license. Early the next morning I received a phone call from the restaurant answering my questions. The person was super friendly and assured us that we would have a great meal. My husband and I did the chef's tasting with the wine pairings. The food was great and our server was super sweet. There was a bit of food timing issues but we totally understood b/c they just opened three days prior to our dinner. I know this may sound silly, but my only "complaint" isn't really a complaint just a comment on the end of our meal. When dessert came the servers and the chef came to the table and sang happy birthday to my husband. I KNOW they meant so well but I felt like we were at the olive garden. I would have loved to just have a subtle candle in the dessert and perhaps the musicians on the floor would play happy birthday very discretely. just a thought. All in all the dinner was very nice, a bit expensive, but good for a celebration.
(4)Raghari P.
Good Indian restaurant:) tasty food. Service could be faster..Will come back again:)
(4)Sarab S.
This is not your average Indian place. And I mean that as a compliment. Went here with a group of 10 people for a surprise party for my girlfriend. The staff were super helpful with setting it all up- from getting us set up for happy hour with delicious drinks and rather offbeat fusion Indian food, to giving us a massive table and letting us enjoy ourselves! The ambience is fantastic- it's an offbeat, Indian and Western fusion place and the decor shows it. The people were great and very friendly, so much so that we had a nice long chat with our bartender and our waiter! The food was delicious as well! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu with a wine tasting. While pricey, it was well worth the money. The scallops were fantastic, perhaps some of the best I've had. Their lamb was amazing and while the quail was good I'd probably go for the lamb next time I was there. All in all- a definite yes!
(5)Alison L.
The food here was delicious (definitely order the Spinach chaat), but the service was way off. We had an early reservation on a Saturday night, and the place was full but not packed yet. Our drinks and food took forever to come out each time, but one we got them there was a busboy or waiter at our table practically every 5 minutes asking if they could clear anything. Half of these plates they were asking to clear still had food on them. We stayed for about an hour and a half which is not a long time for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, and I couldn't help but feel they were rushing us out to get to the next seating. I will say that the hosts were extremely nice, but the service stopped there. I would also say this is a $$$ restaurant, not $$ as Yelp indicates. The portion sizes are decent, but most entrees are $20+, and you're going to want to try appetizers, too.
(3)Elizabeth B.
I hate to admit this but I am picky about food, I'm picky about service......probably not the greatest quality but it is me.......that being said...I LOVED IndeBlue....the wet cousin of IndeBlue in Collingswood which is dry!! WONDERFUL food and great service....can't wait to go back!!
(5)Niyati D.
Sighhh. I honestly wanted to give this a 2 star rating, but because I have had great experiences at the Collingswood location I bumped it up a star. My parents and aunt and uncle came to visit me in Philly, and we decided to go to IndeBlue since we loved the Collingswood location. We arrived at the restaurant a little after 8pm on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar, and it took a good 10 minutes before the bartender came back to the bar and took my order. I got the chai sangria, which was good but a little sweet for my taste. My mom and aunt really liked it though. We were seated shortly after I got my drink. And this is where, in my eyes, the experience went downhill. My parents and aunt and uncle are vegetarian. The menu had a total of 5/6 vegetarian entree options, 2 of which were daals (lentils). We started off by ordering 3 vegetables (2 of which were paneer based and one eggplant) and one daal. I asked our waitress if there were any other vegetables we could order and she suggested appetizers, which we weren't interested in getting. We asked for all of the dishes to be made spicy and they were. One of the most disappointing parts of the night was when our food came out. Indian food is meant to be eaten family style, but the portions were so small that by the time the 5 of us put a spoonful of the entree on our plate the bowl was empty... But of course we received a mountain of rice with each entree. We immediately had to order another entree, another paneer based vegetable. Luckily the service was very attentive and our last minute entree came out piping hot within 10 minutes. Now the bill. $14-16 per entree for the tiniest, most simple punjabi food. On top of that, we were charged $2 for a small plate of onions and lemon. What happened to the days of free pappadam and onions? I've been to many upscale American restaurants in NYC and they have no trouble serving table bread without charge. These things cost the restaurant literally nothing to make and if you're going to charge some absurd amount for a tiny entree, it's the least you can you do. To top it all off, my dad was looking at the receipt today and noticed that they charged a 20% tip for our party of 5! What is that about?! We hadn't noticed this at the restaurant so the waitress went home with a nice 40% tip. Bottom line - I won't be back, at least not to the Philly location. The lack of vegetarian variety and the hiked up prices (and nonsense tip policy) have ruined it for me.
(3)Chian G.
This is a fun, upscale twist on Indian food. I especially love their Spinach Chaat and the lamb lollipops. If you can make it there for happy hour, it's a great deal!
(4)Mike W.
I was expecting big things from indeblue and the completely delivered. Expertly prepared dishes. Prices were fairly good as well. Cost 105 for three people with tip and three beers. Flavors are definitely some of the best I have had outside India. They stay true to traditional cuisine but still inventive enough to keep it fun. The food is outstanding.
(5)Mini M.
Great Indian food!!! Creative fine food that actually tastes authentic and is served the way Indian food should be served....in thalis (metal dishes). Ambience is amazing!!! This place is awesome for brunch and dinner. Great for special occasions. One of the best restaurants in Philly! Save room for dessert because the "banana nirvana" might just be the best thing I've ever eaten.
(5)David V.
Loving this place so far. IndeBlue is what a certain other nearby upscale Indian restaurant should have been. The ambiance is nice and the food imaginative, but still distinctively Indian. We've been here for dinner and Sunday brunch and haven't had a bad meal. Brunch features both very Indian foods and more classic egg-based dishes, with an Indian slant. I had the Non-vegetarian Thali, which featured a chicken dish and a lamb dish, along with chickpeas, a green salad, a vegetable fritter and some naan. My wife had the masala omelette, which tasted more like a traditional Spanish tortilla than anything distinctly Indian, but also definitely wasn't just a traditional Spanish tortilla. The omelette also came with some tasty naan that had special seasonings and cheese on it. The service is also very friendly and efficient. We've had the same waitress both times we've gone, and she's been friendly and attentive both times. This place isn't cheap, but you're getting some quality food and service for the price you pay.
(4)Sangita S.
Brought my parents here for my dad's birthday and they were obsessed. We are vegetarian so the options were plentiful and everything we ordered was incredible. The service was super and the atmosphere was perfect with the sitar and tabla players. My parents can't wait to bring the rest of the fam here and to try the rest of the options we didn't get around to. I'd highly recommend spinach chat, vegetable chili Hakka noodles, and the French toast (on the brunch menu)!
(5)Kelly C.
I wasn't blown away by the food, but the atmosphere is great. I'm definitely no expert on Indian food, but I have a few favorite dishes. Chicken Tikka Masala is my barometer, even though I know it's not a native dish, and is often prepared to meet Western taste buds. Inde's wasn't spectacular. It was just OK. Ditto for the Lasooni (garlic) Naan. The Tikka Masala sauce was quite a bit thicker than I'm used to, and not quite as spicy as I like. And the naan just wasn't garlicky enough for me. The dining room and service were great. Also, they sent out a sample of potato-leek soup which was very good and I would order it next time.
(3)Robert B.
Very nice experience on Saturday night. The restaurant is very attractive, although the noise level is pretty high. The diver scallop appetizer was good, but the crispy spinach chaat was excellent. My tandoori mixed grill was very good, although the lamb chops were just ok. Chicken, shrimp and vegetables were all excellent and portion size was filling. Dining partner's butter chicken was liked but not loved. Fig ice cream dessert was very interesting and worth a try.
(4)Raj K.
Some of our friends highly recommended IndeBlue so our family of four went for dinner. The ambiance is nice, and the service very good. We had the spinach chat, since so many reviewers had raved about it, honestly we were disappointed. It is very oily and filling, luckily we shared the plate so was OK. We ordered chicken tikka makhani, chicken madras, lamb roghan josh and malai kofta with some naans. We really liked the roghan josh, chicken tikka and malai kofta in that order. The chicken pieces in chicken madras were very dry, though the gravy was flavorful. Finished the meal off with chocolate sutra - which was very good as well.
(4)Daniel V.
Service, Staff and Food were exemplary! Outstanding! The food gave us a range of tastes and textures that our palettes thoroughly enjoyed. Above and beyond any experience we have EVER had.
(5)Jay B.
Delicious, really good food! We got the samosas, crispy spinach chaat, paneer tikka masala, & chana masala with roti bread and it was the best! Go hear!
(5)Vinay G.
We landed at the restaurant based on the excellent reviews and its closeness to the liberty bell. The rating received by the restaurant is well deserved to say the least. The ambience is warm and bright and the hostess was spot on in her recommendations. The spinach chat was crisp and definitely refreshing after eating soggy chat elsewhere in downtown. The chicken tikka roll was fresh with tender chicken. The wheat roll though could have been thinner to give more flavour to the filling. We were in dual mind to chose the thali but it was warm and fresh. The bread was soft and the curries were simple and filing. We were too full to try the dessert but hope to be back.
(4)Leib Z.
Visited on a Monday. Definitely nice setting, friendly and quite informative staff. Can't say I was impressed with the food. "Heavenly drumstick" were subpar at best, cauliflowers were decent but felt like it was done hastily. Chicken tikka was decent. Not sure if it's because it was a Monday but it did not meet my expectations after reading all the reviews. I've definitely had better indian food experience. Overall, would recommend to check it out, sit for a nice choice of wine and beer. Know the food you're ordering.
(3)Hillary R.
Came in just before the kitchen closed and they still let me order. The tikka masala and naan pizza were great and the garlic naan bread was amazing! Also recommend the ginger twist from the bar, very good!
(5)Karen W.
We came here for restaurant week around 9:30pm on Friday. The food was good, but given what you get, I wouldn't call this place a good value (but I can only speak for the restaurant week menu.) The reason why the three stars, is that despite the late reservation, the entire meal took over 2 hours to serve. We ordered at around 9:45pm, and while the appetizers came out quickly, it took forever for the entrees to come out. The restaurant was not packed so I don't understand why it took so long.
(3)Delvia W.
I went September 11, 2014. I love Indian food and have eaten at several places both in and outside of Philadelphia but IndeBlue is by far the best. the server told me that the owner is the Chef. This explains why the food is soooo gooood!!! The food has such great flavor!!! The server suggested the crispy spinach chaat and omgeeeee I'm glad she did. The flavor was so bold it lasted on my taste buds well after I swallowed!!!! The diver scallops were delicious. Save the sauce for your Naan bread!!! The lamb balti was very tender and flavorful. The food came fast and the service was good. I will be back!!!! My new favorite place!!!
(5)Elizabeth B.
Excellent service, cozy ambiance, and delicious food. My family (including my sister-in-law, who is from northern India) is crazy for Indian food, and this fusion joint did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the samosa chat, crispy spinach chat, baingan bharta, and lasooni naan. They also had an excellent spinach soup-of-the-day and their chutneys were perfect and unique. The one dish that wasn't a huge hit at the table was probably a case of bad ordering on our part - expecting one thing, ordering something else - although I can't quite speak to that given that I didn't taste this particular item. In addition to attentive service, they also provided complimentary tastes of the daily soup (a given), and they offered my mom a taste of their chai after she asked about its level of sweetness. They also removed the one dish we didn't love from the bill - totally unnecessary, but yet another example of their attention to detail. I would absolutely recommend this spot to any Indian food enthusiasts, especially to those looking for a little twist on traditional fare. Also great for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free - their menu is flexible and clearly marked for these dietary restrictions.
(5)Fima M.
Great concept, delicious food. We enjoyed our valentines day dinner here. Some of the items were classic indian restaurant items, such as a savory black lentil daal, and others were not classic at all, like the lobster tail, hudson valley foie gras on garam masala challah, and crispy spinach. I'd go back and try more items on their menu, like the shrimp skewers, chicken and chutneys, etc. I was told by my indian friend beforehand "it's indian food like you've never tried before," and I would agree. It didn't have the service aspect that some of my favorite places have had to earn the fourth and fifth star. We were initially greeted in an awkward manner by the hostess, but this did not take away from the food, I won't dock the restaurant a star for that at this time.
(4)Sandip G.
IndeBleu is a great little Indian restaurant in the heart of Philly. This is a place you can't go wrong if you want to impress your date. We went pretty late at night about their closing time but still got great unrushed service and excellent food..chicken tikka masala as well as the vegetarian options. Makhani Daal was perfectly slow cooked and appropriately spiced. My vegetarian partner loved it. CTM was cooked in tomato sauce which was a welcome and healthier choice and tasted really nice. Will definitely repeat next time we are in Philly. Missed the live music this time because we went so late.
(5)Ron H.
Great food ... Great atmosphere ... If you want to try indian food this is the best place in philly ...
(5)Mike C.
Overpriced, very little heat. Service was slow. Food is ok, but lacks any real heat, and most dishes we had seemed too sweet (what I call Americanized Indian food: sweet and mild). Noticed not a single Indian patron was in a packed Indian restaurant....
(2)Jill K.
I have been to indeblue MANY times. It is my favorite Indian food. I can't say it's a traditional Indian restaurant, but in my opinion, it's a good mix of traditional and contemporary. For appetizer, my favorite is the spinach chaat. It's usually done well, though once it was a little salty. Others that are good include the naan pizza and dahi avocado chaat. For the entree, I always get paneer. They currently have paneer tikka masala which is delicious. I like my Indian food spicy, so they will make it spicier for me. The naan is amazing- fresh, hot, soft. 2 of us can go through 2-3 orders in one meal. Sometimes my boyfriend and I will forego an appetizer and share an entree sized paneer tikka with an additional entree but in the smaller portion size. That with the naan will fill us. The dessert in general are pretty good. I love their house made chai and cocktails (chai sangria) as well! Overall, love this place!
(5)Vishal P.
Modern twist to indian cuisine. Chilli lamb chops one of the highlights on the menu ! Mango panacotta for the dessert
(4)Adam N.
This Modern Indian place is worth checking out. Even if you don't think you like Indian food, you need to try it. We've been a couple times since they opened and the food and service were great each time. Dishes are creative, flavorful and show that Indian can be appeal to everyone. We'll be back!
(5)Ty W.
I had the pleasure of sampling the life changing "Drums of Heaven", at the Midtown Village Festival and it was love at first bite. A friend & I made a reservation (which I STRONGLY suggest doing) for a Saturday evening and we were seated immediately. The place is beautiful, candlelit tables, great service and knowledgeable servers a very intimate setting (yes by intimate I do mean small). The food, seemingly looks like it wouldn't be filling (clearly I was an Indian food virgin), I had the Seafood Moilee (I may have spelled that incorrectly) along with the drums of Heaven and everything was perfect, the food came out in a timely manner, no complaints about that whatsoever. The only thing I'd suggest is to request to be seated near the wall, as we were seated in the center and constantly had to deal with being bumped by bussers, waiters & waitresses and passersby.
(4)Kaitlin W.
This is a great place for people that are trying Indian food for the first time. i think it's a perfect combination of authentic Indian with creative twists on classics. I went for restaurant week and couldn't have been more pleased! We started off with a trio of soups that were all equally delicious and making our 3-course meal more like 4 courses! Then I had the spinach chaat which I'm still dreaming about! This may have been my favorite part of the meal! I had the non-vegetarian sampler platter for dinner, all parts amazing! For dessert was a fried banana flavored dough with cinnamon ice cream, rather dense but incredibly delicious! I will definitely be returning!
(5)Rachel W.
Absolutely fantastic experience. I love it when the service matches up to the food quality. Unfortunately we had a rowdy group seated next to us. Ah well, you can't blame the restaurant for that. I would highly recommend the dahi avocado chaat as an appetizer, it was really really delicious. The fresh vegetable jhalfrazie was spiced perfectly and was exactly the right amount for two people to share. For dessert we were served a complimentary ginger sorbet and a berry sorbet. Unfortunately they were not for me, but I'm not really a sorbet person and the fact that it was complimentary I can't knock off a star for that. Ambiance was great for a date, nice dim lighting. Also the cocktail choices are really something special. Enjoy!
(5)Sam C.
The lamb biryani changed. my. life. If you don't order it, you're making a mistake. My friend and I had an amazing meal here. We had both been to the sister restaurant in Collingswood, NJ which was very yummy, but the new Center City location takes the cake. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great, and I loved the little pumpkin soup starter (to quote Andre from The League, I love to amuse my bouche). But let's get to the good stuff. We ordered a red chicken curry, lamb biryani, a roasted eggplant side, and a bunch of naans, all to share. Well let's just say we cleaned our plates in an embarrassingly short amount of time. Everything was delicious but the standouts for both of us were the biryani (seriously I could eat that every day, no problem), the accompanying raita which was perfectly tangy and refreshing, and the eggplant side which was absolutely scrumptious. The chutney and sauces were all wonderful as well. The spice level on everything was perfect; we were definitely feeling it but not so much that we couldn't taste our food. Even the least memorable dish, the chicken curry, would have gotten rave reviews at another restaurant; it was simply eclipsed by the more exceptional things on our table. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back to try as much as I can on the menu, but there's no way I won't be ordering that lamb again.
(5)Jamie H.
We were looking for Indian food near our hotel, and the concierge recommended Indieblue. My friend and I shared two appetizers and half-servings of three entrees. Over the last 15 years, we have probably gotten together for 3 meals a year at conferences all over the world. We agreed that this was the best meal we've ever enjoyed together. The food was absolutely stupendous, and the service was marvelous too.
(5)Manoj V.
Classy ambience, excellent service and amazing food. Spinach mozzarella soup Thali! Probably the best place to introduce someone to Indian food.
(5)J K.
Inde Blue is a very pretty restaurant inside, candelit and romantic. It would be a nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Our server was very professional and gave us good recommendations from the menu. This is not your "standard" Indian fare but more "fusion" ...the best dishes we had were a crispy spinach salad (which could be one of the best salads I have had anywhere) and goat biryani. We also tried the long hot peppers stuffed with cheese, they were very, very spicy (too spicy for me) The scallop appetizer was good. Overall very pleased with the meal, and will plan to return.
(3)Sara L.
If you have convinced yourself that "ethnic" food cannot be elegant, please step into IndeBlue and allow them to change your mind. I had heard raves about the Collingswood Inde Blue for years and was thrilled to learn that the relatively new space on 13th Street was associated. As our very helpful waiter explained, the downtown location is a little more upscale with more creative flair to the menu than the more traditional offerings in New Jersey. I made a reservation to celebrate the big 3-5 with my husband at IndeBlue this past weekend and enjoyed one of the nicer meals out I have had in some time. The space is beautifully decorated with a heavy (but not over-the-top) Indian vibe. The lighting is dim and sparkly, but you can still read the menu and see your dinner date. The drink menu had a nice selection of wines and beers, as well as some specialty cocktails that I look forward to trying. I was correct in my guess that the ~50% table occupation by Indian people predicted good things for the meal to come. Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative as he went over the soup and salad "of the moment" and reviewed the options for doing the 5-course chef's menu, which we skipped on this visit. We started the meal with complimentary amuse bouche portions of the spicy, but well-balanced chilled gazpacho, followed by appetizers of seared scallops in coconut curry sauce and and intriguing arugula salad over watermelon with spiced cashews and candied ginger. It was nice to start the meal with one heavier dish and one so very light and refreshing. For entrees we shared the chicken tikka masala and the seafood moilee. Both were outstanding, and each was served with a differently spiced rice side that perfectly suited them. We wrapped up the meal by sharing the fig duo dessert - a fig blondie with a scoop of homemade fig ice cream. I think that dessert has ruined Fig Newtons for me for life! We were already planning what to order on our next trip before we even finished our meals. The prices were not cheap, but very reasonable for the atmosphere and quality of the food. If you are expecting the typical "vat of Indian food" portion sizes, you might be disappointed; however, for truly gourmet food I found them quite satisfying. Many of the dishes are rich enough that a little goes a long way, and we had ample leftovers to take home. I rarely give 5 stars on a first visit, but IndeBlue has really outdone themselves in filling a void for "Indian food as a nice meal" in a way that not even Palace at the Ben ever quite achieved.
(5)Susan P.
Love this place! It's in a great location --- walking distance from many other restaurants and bars. It has beautiful decor and friendly staff. APPETIZERS/ENTREES I recommend the naan pizza, vegetable samosa chaat, drums of heaven, lollipop lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and the lamb rogan josh. DESSERTS The banana nirvana (banana gulab jamun) was ok --- it shouldn't be called gulab jamun --- it looks like gulab jamun but it tastes nothing like it. The mango panna cotta on the other hand was light and refreshing. COCKTAILS All of the cocktails that we got were delicious. I highly recommend the sexy goan, indebluetini, and the ginger twist.
(5)Sar M.
Fantastic service and the food was delicious. You have to try the lamb lollipops they were amazing! A little pricey but a great place to go for a different take on Indian food.
(4)Shirl C.
Food is exquisite! The waiter was very nice to us, and the owner was so sweet. Food is absolutely fabulous!
(5)Tami L.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week. I already can't wait to return. The food is spectacular. Jason, our server, was funny, attentive without being overbearing, and offered superb recommendations. All of our food was delicious. The cocktails are tasty and innovative. The food was spicy but not uncomfortably so! A fabulous evening!
(5)Jason T.
Pretty exceptional experience. Two of us dined. The food was very good. The service was good. What I found to be exceptional was the fact that we had an `in center city` coupon that had apparently expired. They gave me $10 off my next visit then called later to apologize and offer to honor the coupon.
(5)Jen L.
Things that IndeBlue are: - a nice restaurant as evidenced by inflated prices for food you can get more cheaply at a lot of other Indian restaurants, attentive service, and a decor that strives to look fancy - overhyped Things that IndeBlue are not: - a good restaurant. Food was underwhelming and not memorable, particularly at the price point they're requesting Not convinced this place is worth the extra bucks
(3)David A.
Cut above the standard Indian fare. Ordered the chef's tasting menu. Exceptionally delicious and varied dishes -- not the same 'ol tikka whatever. Plus great beer or wine pairings (I had wine, my bros had beer). It was a real culinary experience. The waiter was awesome too: attentive without being obsequious. One of the most enjoyable Indian meals I've had anywhere.
(5)Dee G.
We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Great decor, wonderful service and good food as well. I got the seafood thali which was a mistake. Although the seafood dishes were tasty they needed to be eaten with rice not the rotis that the thali comes with. The crunchy spinach chaat was excellent but a tad bit sweet for my taste. The lamb chops were great. We went there with a 1 year old and they were very accommodating. Oh and the cocktail (Bombay Punch) was good too.
(4)John D.
When is Indian food not Indian. When it's "fusion". Gosh I hate that word. In any case the place in downtown Philly is very new so maybe the review isn't fair. There were six of us, one a native Indian. We all agreed the food was good, not great, a tad expensive, and definitely not true Indian food. ymmv. Give it a try but there is some sticker shock here. I found the chicken masala to be tough and the sauce too cloying. It was missing that tameric taste. The nan was greasy and the garlic nan was too garlicky (for me). I would not go back.
(2)Jules C.
Delicious indian option for center city and all who sorely miss Bindi. I went here last week to try. It out and was very pleased with all aspects of this new 13th street addition. Upon walking in I felt transformed - maybe not to India but definitely to an elegant an pleasant dinner setting. The noise level was fine for conversation at the table which is getting to be an unheard of attribute of late and the food was spectacular. This is not your average Philly Indian it is definitely a notch or two above that will leave you wanting for more. The portion size is appropriate and the service was very attentive but not overdone. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Natasha A.
I'm so full and satisfied I can barely type this. Yet, I will do my due diligence to try to express how much I loved this place. Words just don't seem to be enough. I came here for restaurant week, it was my first trip here. I've been hearing great things and decided RW was a great chance to try a great spread. I loved the ambiance the minute I walked in. The food was honestly amazing. I absolutely loved the spinach chaat. The vegetarian thali was out of this world! I love dal makhani and this was the best I've had. Everything in the thali was sooo piping hot and stayed hot so it tasted super fresh. And dessert?? Oh GOD dessert shot me straight to food heaven! I ordered the banana nirvana which was fantastic but the fig option was unexpectedly phenomenal! It took me by surprise. I never thought I could loooove figs like that! Overall an amazing time with friends and fabulous food! Can't wait to come back for happy hour!
(5)G Y.
I came for happy hour on a Monday at 6pm and had no problem getting a seat at the bar for me and my two friends. The food was fantastic, as were the drinks (I had the tamarind margarita). We ended up staying for dinner, and while the food was amazing, I'm not sure it is something I would pay full price for again. But I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(5)Stephanie M.
Great decor and service. The food was amazing! We got the vegetable samosas and my meal was the Baingon Bharta..delicious! I'll definitely be going back. Plus there was live music when we went Tuesday night. Cool place and pretty affordable dishes.
(4)milton s.
the food is amazing and gluten free! woohoo! service is great!
(5)Rick D.
Good, not great. The space itself is very nice and tastefully decorated. We went to the Center City IndeBlue location on a Tuesday night, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We started with the crispy vegetable chili and sweet potato pakora, and the chili appetizer was quite good. Our entrees of aloo bhindi and tikka paneer were rather bland, no hint of spice and generally not memorable. My expectations for IndeBlue were high, the reality was rather meh.
(3)Sherry H.
Three of us went there and enjoyed everything we had immensely. Drinks, appetizers and entrees were all delectable. We were visiting the city and have actually considered doing the 3 hour drive (one way) again, just to eat at this place. We had to wait about a 3-4 weeks before we could even consider eating another Indian Indian place because we knew nothing would be as good. He had to come down from the "IndiBlue high". Now we will be "chasing the IndiBlue Dragon's-Tail", if you know what I mean.
(5)Fatty D.
Complicated review here. Just the two of us this go around. Philly was sweltering, much more humid than the west coast. We had reservations and were seated quickly. Place was empty, maybe 5 tables taken. Upon our seating, our very nice server sold us on the 6 course Pre Fix. Neither of us had much of an idea of what to order or expect. We have had poor experiences with Indian Food in the past, however we wanted to try at a higher level of eatery before we closed the doors forever to eating this type of food. I think the quality of the ingredients, the staff, the portions, the ambiance was top notch. The other person joining me loved the meal. But for a few exceptions, Please understand, I realize there is a difference between a quality meal which this was, and me just hating the tastes. I'll list the courses. And my ending of this challenging meal. Started with some sort of cold soup. - to me it was ok. The other person said it tasted like vomit. Fried Spinach Salad - Fantastic texture and taste! Simply marvelous, Both of us loved it. Seared Scallops,- Over cooked by a hair, not seared properly. Very sweet Sauce inedible. The other person liked it. Here take mine. Lolly POP of a Lamb Rib with a Small Chicken Breast. - To me inedible, tangy and very spicy. Chicken was in a spicy Coconut Chutney. The other person loved it, I hated it. The Naan Bread which came with it sucked. Pork Shank with a roasted Potato. To me inedible. Other person enjoyed it. Dessert was Fig Ice Cream Drizzled with Honey. I hated it, Inedible, Too sweet. The other person enjoyed it. I think this type of food is not for everyone. I gave it an honest shot.Never again will I eat Indian Food I did not enjoy it from start to finish. I didn't eat anything but for the one fantastic salad course. I think evaluating the experience honestly is to say, if you like Indian Food, you probably will very much enjoy this place. However I won't be joining you. I rather eat my own throw up
(4)J S.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! So flavorful and tender - I had the lamb rogan josh and my friend had the tikka masala which he enjoyed as well.
(5)G C.
The place is fancier than your usual indian place. Service was great and the ambiance is quite nice. Entrees aren't cheap but they are also well made (given my limited knowledge of indian cuisine). A place for a classier indian dinner. Had the lamb rogan josh which was good.
(3)Amar R.
Interesting place. The chef knows what he is doing-mixng authentic Indian streetside food with Contemporary American cuisine. This place could pass easily for a steven starr restaurant. Expensive with above average food.
(3)Monang S.
A very contemporary indian cuisine with excellent service and beautiful interiors !! Kudos
(5)Bill A.
Not traditional Indian food. They serve a modern fusion with other ingredients. It taste good. You should just have your expectations set. Modernized look. Service is good.
(4)V T.
I am an Indian food addict so I've eaten at the whole gamut of Indian restaurants (buffets, dives, upscale, cafes, etc.), but IndeBlue stands out as something new and different. I love that they serve modern Indian food, which means many new takes on the standard dishes. My husband and I went for restaurant week last night and we loved everything we tried (drums of heaven, non-veg & veg sampler, fig blondie and banana nirvana). The portions were a good size (eating my leftovers for lunch as I type this) and everything was freshly prepared. The ambiance was great and Jason was the best waiter. I can't recommend this place enough. I will be back soon because there are so many great items on the menu that I need to try!
(5)John T.
This was one of the best Indian food I have had! Great place.Very highly recommend it. We were visiting Philli for 4 days and we ate here twice. Will be back.
(5)Bhavika P.
Rich Ambiance, Perfect Light and Good Staff. The food was really good and perfect quantity. We ordered Masala Bloody Mary which was a well made drink. For appetizers we ordered Chilled Dahi Avacado Chaat, Mangalorean Crispy Vegetable and Vegetable Shashlik Skewer - All tasted so good. We were 6 people and Dahi Avacado has just 5 pieces - the staff was flexible to add one more piece to it by charging a little extra. We then shared the Veg Thali between 2 of us and was sufficient considering the appetizers we had. there are 2 veggies, raita, mango chutney, dal makhani, rice and hot eggplant bhajiya. This is served in a Thali and it so much reminded of home. We felt like we are sitting in Mumbai at some high end dhaba enjoying the delicious food. The veggies had paneer makhanwala and spinach chana - mouth watering! We replaced the normal naan with lasooni naan and it was a good decision. To add to the meal we ordered Mango lassi which was again good. We all enjoyed the food and I believe it has a lot of options for Vegetarians.I would definitely recommend this place. Anytime I feel like having Ghar Ka Khana..it is IndeBlue. Also since it was Sunday afternoon they had Sitar and Tabla playing Live on the Background...very soothing to ears. My friends visited Philly for first time and I am glad we picked this place as they all enjoyed it a lot.
(5)Kimberly S.
Loved the restaurant. Its not typical Indian food. It is more upscale with a modern twist. Inside has cool decorations. My only wish is outdoor seating for the warm weather.
(5)Madeleine S.
I've been twice in the last couple of weeks. Both my servers were total charmers, completely anticipated our needs without hovering at all (which I so appreciate). The happy hour prices are also insanely good--almost too good, frankly. You can taste everything on the menu without going home poor, and their cocktails perfectly incorporate classic Indian flavors without getting weighed down at all. Got the spinach chaat both times I went (one of my girlfriends insisted on getting a plate of it for herself with no plans to share) and the pork samosas (which come with a blue cheese wine sauce so good I would have eaten it with a spoon if I'd run out of bites to put it on). Can't wait to go back next Tuesday to see the live Sitar.
(5)Clifford Q.
Yet another new place in town that meets all expectations. Great design decor - Great staff - HOT bartender :-) Friday night - Early dinner for 4 - Bison wrapped in bacon to start 5 Stars - Dinner was a Seafood Moilee 5+ stars which was outstanding, Others had assorted items from starters and main dishes and not one complaint from a group that is VERY opinionated. Definitely will be back
(5)N. K.
ehhh it was ok. Being Indian I'm still new to the concept of "Modern Indian" cuisine which I still don't quite understand other than being overpriced small plate american takes on indian dishes. crispy spinach chaat- 5/5 samosa chaat- 4/5 typical indian dish. long hots- 2/5 - didn't realize it was going to be 2 long green stuffed peppers sweet potato pakora- 3/5 nothing amazing naan pizza- 4/5 nothing really indian about it except made on a naan paneer tikka makhani- 4/5. very small dish for $16, nothing amazing. stuffed squash- 4/5 interesting dish, but again not much indian about it. in general IndeBlue has a nice atmosphere, but a bit overpriced and small portions and misses the wow factor. Nice to try once but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)James M.
My partner and I had two amazing meals with friends at the new IndeBlue - Midtown Village. The entire experience from arrival to departure was great both times! Tobi the Bar Manager made us feel welcome and made great drinks. We sampled specialty drinks that were innovative and delicious - He was also very interesting to speak with while waiting for friends. Maura the Manager is a "Switched" on professional who was at our table at just the right times to check on us and we really felt looked after. Our servers have been wonderful both times. Justin really introduced us to the concept and the menu on our first visit, and Jarrod did an amazing job when six of us returned and tried the four course tasting menu -DELICIOUS and so reasonable! I could go on and on about the food because everything was so memorable. For example - the Spinach Chaat was one of the most interesting dishes I have had in an Indian cuisine restaurant. The Lamb Shank plates looked as though they were licked clean by all six of us. This restaurant has a true vibe, the minute that you walk in the front door. From styling to music, lighting to layout, it is the type of place you feel at home in immediately! I Might stop in tonight and here their live Sitar musician who I believe is there every Friday night!
(5)Amy N.
Simply delicious --- This is one of the best Indian fusion restaurants we have been to. The restaurant is small and cozy and the ambience was nice. The waiters were friendly. We were a family of 3 and ordered spinach chaat, duo samosa and long hots for appetizers and shrimp moilee (seafood minus the lump crab!), madras chicken and lamb laal maas as main entrees and shared the desert banana gulob jamun. The dishes were all freshly prepared, very creative, and delicious. We were also greeted by Chef Ramola who was very friendly which was the icing on the cake to our visit. The food is moderately priced. The 5 course menu for $45 also sounded very nice but we did not order that. Great for personal and family celebrations. We signed up for the VIP club since we plan to visit there again very soon! There is a cheap validated parking available ($6 for 3 hours) at Park America at 1140 Sansom. We also plan on trying their first restaurant in Collingswood, NJ.
(5)Tiberiu T.
My girlfriend and I went here for restaurant week. They first gave us a soup sampler, with three delicious (tiny) soups. Then we got the drums of heaven and the crispy spinach chaat as appetizers; both were delicious. For the main course we got the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian samplers with two types of naan (garlic+cilantro and butter+onion seed) (these were also delicious). For desserts we had the banana nirvana and the fig duo. Again, delicious. Also their mango lassi was excellent. This was a *lot* of food; in hindsight, we probably should have taken some of it home.
(5)N M.
A good foray into the Indian restaurant scene in philadelphia. A better experience and more authentic than Tashan and extremely tidy compared to palace at the Ben. Food was good however missed the mark as they were missing true authenticity of Indian food. As an Indian I found the cuisine to lacking some of the spicyness and taste we get on the sub continent. Staples such as chutney and papadum were excluded and basics at every Indian restaurant. The one star is for service as we had reservations for 8pm and were not seated till 845pm. They clearly overbooked and made no excuses for that. Poor front end management, when I complained to the manager I was offered a seat at the bar and food at the bar. Why make a reservations and pretend to be a an authentic fine dining experience when you have not mastered basic restaurant management.
(1)Alison P.
Went here with friends for dinner as we had learned of its recent opening. The food was definitely top notch and what I would return for. We really enjoyed the lamb lollipops which were tender and incredibly flavorful. Our other favorite dish was the stuffed squash which had a delicious rich sauce, and both types of naan we had were excellent. The meal was also very reasonably priced and we enjoyed ordering several small dishes to share. Although we loved the food the service was a bit off. We got checked on by our server too frequently and he made some comments towards us that made us all uncomfortable. Additionally, the majority of the staff were all huddled together in an alcove in the front of the restaurant near our table; I found it odd to see an entire restaurant staff standing around chatting during dinner service. Overall I imagine that some issues with the staff/service are opening hiccups. I would return for the excellent food and beautiful space.
(4)M N.
We've been here twice in the past month for pre-theater dinners with friends, and had great meals both times. Delicious food, reasonable prices, attentive service, pretty setting and a good location. Two thumbs up. Don't miss the spinach chaat for appetizer.
(4)Evelyn G.
great food and service!
(4)Greg E.
This was my second time here. The food is absolutely amazing. Prices are more than reasonable. The staff goes well above and beyond! I took a good friend out for their birthday this week. For dessert I mentioned that it was their birthday and asked for a candle. The waitress said no problem. The waitress kept coming back to apologize for the wait which I thought was more than ok since we needed a break from the large dinner. Upon the arrival of our dessert she apologized for the wait again and mentioned they had to go out to purchase candles. Wow!! This blew me away and on top of that I wasn't even charged for the dessert due to the birthday. You never find service this good anywhere anymore! 5 star restaurant and I'll be going back often! Great bartender as well!
(5)Len B.
From food to drink to service to ambience, all were truly amazing. Excellent choice for a night out
(5)lisa s.
Of all the restaurants in Philadelphia our daughter chose this restaurant for her "going away" dinner. She had read about the opening of this restaurant but knew very little about it. Well, we are so excited about having found this place. We loved everything about this restaurant-location, ambiance ---even the bathrooms were beautiful---and the attentiveness of the wait staff. It was difficult to make a choice from the menu as everything sounded delicious. All three of us raved about out chosen entree even the second time around (we had each brought home a "doggy" bag). Can't wait to go back.
(4)Ryan D.
I am always on the hunt for my third favorite cuisine--Indian! Now, I am usually inclined to dine at a more traditional style indian Restaraunt, but IndeBlue does Indian-fusion very well. Service was quite attentive (thanks to Josh), which is the expectation with Indian restaurants. After being sat, we were each served a small portion mulligatawny soup-delicious, but it was not on our list if must-try's for our first visit. Please start with Crispy Spinach Chaat--it will not disappoint! Large enough portion for four to share. We also ordered Lasooni Naan with the scallops. There were only three scallops, but the sauce is a wonderful addition (but could be improved by reducing slightly longer to thicken). We ordered Laal Maas, Malwani Swordfish, Seafood Moilee, and Chicken Madras. The Seafood Moilee was the standout, but everything was wonderful; EXCEPT the sword fish: it was overcooked (dry), but the Makwani sauce was a great addition. Although, I did not partake (way too full), the table greatly enjoyed Banana Nirvana. We will return an hopefully soon!
(5)Sam B.
Good food and great service, this is a good spot for a date or a nice dinner with friends. I thought the portions were a bit small for Indian food but it wasn't too bad and the menu is pretty good.
(4)Ed C.
My partner and I have just starting coming to this place and we've been twice. The food is good and so is the service. I have tried the channa masala and baigan bharta, both were very delicious. Although, you really can't go wrong with Indian food. I would say that the cuisine is more high-end than your average Indian place and so are the prices. Don't get me wrong, the food is great and I like that they clearly mark their vegan options on the menu, but it's definitely a pricey dinner!
(4)Remey M.
We had dinner reservations at this restaurant. The host sat us down right away. Everyone that we met was very polite. My waiter was awesome!! I recommend Jason to anyone who goes there. The food was fantastic! My daughter loved her lamp chops.. My husband and I enjoy all three courses. No complaints, we will return.
(5)Elizabeth F.
I initially came here just to wait for friends who were LATE. I became enamored with the elegant decor and tasty food! Good for Indian food lovers as well as those who are wary of the cuisine. My favorite thing is the gharwali, sort of pita with mozzarella and baby spinach baked inside. Totally wonderful. They easily accommodate vegan and gluten free eaters and the staff is very friendly and efficient. You can get a drink an app for under $10 or get the chef's tasting menu with wine for $65. Lots of options in between these price points. Gorgeous and delicious!
(5)Stephanie P.
I don't have Indian food often but everything I ate was wonderful. The service was exceptional. I will be sure to visit again. The crispy spinach chaat was delicious! Every person should try this dish!
(5)Juliana K.
3.5 stars!!! Indieblue is a good upperscske modern Indian restaurant. Great decor inside. Service us friendly, though I wish they tried to sell me less. The waiter was friendly and knowledgable, but he kept trying to push us into ordering more appetizers. Duo Samosa was okay. It was very meaty and I liked the sauces. I've had the vegetarian samosa which I think are better. Kashmiri naan was awesome. Pistachio and coconut flavor gave it a great mild sweetness. Laal Maas lamb shank was very tender with a great sauce. Very modern from my perspective. Lamb Dhansak was a good fall dish with sweet potato. The lamb is very flavorful here. Chicken madras had my favorite curry like sauce. Food was well portioned. A teeny but pricey. Nothing was overly spicy. My mom can't take spice so they brought a mint yogurt sauce, which we found out was an extra $3. Overall, good restaurant. Not a place I would go to often, but good to try out.
(3)Jonah K.
The food was incredible. I can't exactly remember the name of it but I had a lamb and rice dish which was delicious and spicy, but not overly so. They have great Naan and interesting salads too. I'm definitely going here again.
(4)T N.
Atmosphere was quiet at first but as time went on, people kept coming up! Not sure if it's usually this packed around 6:15, but it was nice. Small little place but I enjoyed the food, not so much of the drinks.
(4)Alexis A.
LOVE! This freakin place has an amazing decor, friendly staff..and the food was really yummy! I went during restaurant week, so the deal was great! A lot of food for the $ and the soups were great.
(5)Minty N.
I returned with friends for a brunch on Sunday morning. It was an excellent experience! They offer both breakfast items as well as lunch. I had a chicken tikka wrap which is very tasty with masala fries, one of my friends had the chope batture which was excellent. As always this place had great service and I would highly recommend going for brunch or any other meal.
(5)Kate R.
Take this with a grain of salt because it was restaurant week. We had a reservation and were seated. After sitting at the table for more than 15 minutes without so much as a member of the waitstaff making eye contact with us (and believe me we tried to get their attention), we walked out. It wasn't even particularly busy! The worst part was the maître d' who had just seated us told us to have a good night as we walked out the door, not even realizing that no one had come to help us and we had not even ordered. I think the food is actually very good. I want this place to do well. They can and should do better. However, what we experienced was hands-down the worst service (or lack thereof) I have ever experienced. Again - it was restaurant week, which I usually avoid like the plague, we actually went there not even realizing it was. Still, there is no excuse for what happened, especially when the restaurant wasn't even close to full and the staff didn't look like they were hustling even a little bit.
(2)Henry D.
DO NOT GO HERE FOR HAPPY HOUR!Specials only offered first come first serve at the very small bar. Also terrible customer service from manager! Unlike most restaurants in Philly who offer happy hour specials restaurant wide this place only offers the specials if you sit at the bar and the bar is tiny so if your group is more than two or three people forget it. We called in advance asked about happy hour then made a reservation but were not told that happy hour was only at the bar. When we told our server about our misunderstanding he said there was nothing he could do then when we addressed the happy hour issue with the manager he was very impolite and told us that it wasn't worth the money for them serve happy hour in the dinning area. Only after much debate did he allow us to order one round of food items from the happy hour menu. We ended up staying for dinner even though we were a bit turned off. Dinner was decent and we were enjoying catching up with our friends when the manager rudely told us that there were people waiting and that he needed us to leave. If he had been polite about it I wouldn't have minded but he wasn't and I also didn't see anyone waiting. Largely it was the manager who ruined this experience for us. Food drinks and decor were good. So much for relaxing after a long work week.
(1)Sean m.
I have visited this restaurant twice since July. Every dish I have tried has been delicious. The decor adds to the overall experience. I highly recommend dining here.
(5)Marna L.
I went to IndeBlue during Happy Hour. As another Yelper mentions, Indeblue's Happy Hour is restricted to only those who sit at the bar, which has limited seating. So for Happy Hour here is sort of exclusive to smaller groups. Food: I thought the food was tastier than food served in regular Indian restaurants. The food was fusion. I wasn't a fan of the Spinach Chaat, however, the Naan Pizza with the Tamarind sauce was quite stellar. The food is higher end than what are served in most other Indian venues. 4/5 Drinks: We only had two types of drinks, and both were delicious. 5/5 Setting: The ambiance was quite beautiful with great romantic lighting. The venue is a little narrow (rectangular shaped). Bar is quite small, however, the lighting and the decor overshadows any minor flaws. 5/5 Service: The service from the waiters and bartender were phenomenal. Some of the best service I've received in a while from servers. However, the hostess (Monday evening) can be friendlier and less snappy. In fact, we were quite satisfied with our experience at IndeBlue until we were about to depart. It was a rainy evening, therefore, many had left umbrellas. The hostess had left our umbrellas in a bucket, which mine was all the way underneath the other wet umbrellas. As we were searching for my umbrella, we noticed the hostess had shoved an umbrella inside another umbrella, causing one of them to break. In fact, mine was also damaged due to her umbrella handling. It really was not a busy evening, was that necessary to handle the customers' umbrellas so carelessly? Servers: 5/5. Hostess: 1/5
(4)Alex X.
Is this the Indian restuarant with the elephant king somewhere by the door? Lol. So many of them I lose track which is which. I admit I forget look at name of the restaurants I go into. I dont always read reviews especially when you are having fun or a date etc...you are too busy focused on the person you with. Anyways if this is the elephant mirror indian restaurant, good indian restaurant. The waiter was kind and telling us which the tastiness foods in the kitchen were! There was a baked tender chicken he recommended that was out of this world. I never had it before. Gonna go back for more. It tasted better than some of the fancier colorful dishes we ordered. Window seat was great. Thanks for the ambience!
(4)Dayan K.
Absolutely wonderful Indian restaurant. I've lived in three different states and eaten at Indian restaurants in SF, but Indeblue is the best. Hands down!!!!
(5)Deebee K.
I don't get what all the fuss is about. It's Indian fusion food in a noisy and cramped place. We had the dahi avocado chaat to begin with-it was yum even though the puris were not crunchy and tasted old. My husband had the chef's table with 4 courses. It was filling but all the food was bland and not very enjoyable. I had the lasooni naan (which was soft and not too strong) and the Chana. The Chana vegetable was awful-tasted like boiled Chana. Service was good. On telling the server how average our experience was, he brought us 2 coupons for a free drink/appetizer for the next day. You'd be better off eating at an Indian restaurant without burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)Sara V.
Welcome to Philly, IndeBlue. Not only do I have a location near home, I have one near work! The decor is, in a word, elegant. The cocktails, divine. Glasses are filled with a unique flavors and herbs. The food? Wow. The flavors of the meats, veggies, and spices make my mouth sing. The chutneys are sweet, savory, and delicate. The Drums of Heaven are mini bites of tandoori deliciousness. The lamb chops? Tender, spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. So don't wait! Go now!
(5)DJ J.
Since I don't live in Philadelphia, I certainly make every effort to dine at Indeblue anytime I can. My second experience at this restaurant was just as delightful as the first time in July 2013 (just weeks after the opening of the restaurant). During this visit we tried the Basil Mint Kabob appetizer; Chicken Tikka Masala, Baingan Bartha, and Malwana Swordfish for entrees along with the Kashmiri (pistachio, coconut, raisins) roti; and Mango Panna Cotta for dessert. Were I asked to pick a favorite among those options, I would certainly be unable to do so as they were all delicious in their own way. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Clare D.
Indian food in an upscale setting has always been met with a skeptical eye, but throw in some proteins, such as crab meat, swordfish, lamb shank, and pork shoulder, that seldom exist in your typical Indian restaurant and you can have a truly outstanding experience. My friend Chris W and I noted the location of Indeblue with some skepticism. "I bought a custom-made dress in this location years ago," I said to him. When we walked in, my jaw dropped. They completely gutted the place. Tastefully done decor with a chandelier, giant framed pictures, and an ornamental gate adorn the main dining room. No seat was a bad seat. It was truly a beautiful setting for a nice meal. Our appetizers included the scallops, lollipop lamb chops, and crispy spinach chaat. All were delicious. The scallops were giant U/10 beauties pan-seared and immersed in a light coconut milk-based curry. My only criticism is they could've used a little less salt. The lollipop lamb chops were grilled to perfection and coated with ginger, garlic, nutmeg, yogurt, mace, mint, and mojito. They were so good I wanted another order. The crispy spinach chaat was amazing. The spinach leaves were coated with chickpea batter and flash fried. Combine that with chopped tomatoes, shallots, yogurt, crispy noodles, and sweet tamarind date sauce. I couldn't stop eating it. Our main course was the seafood moilee, a coconut curry with jumbo shrimp and crabmeat that was accompanied by a saffron rice with peanuts, mustard seed, curry leaf, and chili peppers. This dish sang and danced in our mouths. We also got a side of tandoor roasted eggplant with tomatoes, carmelized onions, and green peas. It was like a smoky ratatouille. I love this place.
(5)Steve W.
We went to IndeBlue due to its great proximity to the Walnut St. theaters and based on other's reviews...and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious! We had the flash fried spinach and naan pizza as appetizers and the tastes were spectacular. Then we had a basil chicken skewer and a lamb rogan josh which were also full of flavor and very filling. The atmosphere, staff and location were all excellent. I have already recommended it to several friends and will definitely go back.
(5)Maha D.
My girlfriend and I were at Indeblue this Wednesday, and I am happy to say that this neo Indian (I like to call it food with a contemporary classicist flair) restaurant did not disappoint and impressed our hungry stomachs. I was compelled to make an instant comparison with Tashan on several levels. What stood out immediately was the decor while we were being led into the restaurant...Indian motifs with a modern flair, again reminiscent of Tashan perhaps..but it certainly had its unique appeal. The location of Indeblue in my mind will be key to its success. Tashan feels a tad far out for the likes of us that like to sip and hang around the Walnut/Chestnut to South St. types of locales. The menu does not disappoint either- they have a great spread of appetizers, entrees, veggie options and naans. The cocktail list looked like a cheery collection of Inde-Bollywood style names and fun flavors. We got the Bollywood sparkler (?) and the Chai tea sangria. The chai tasted better than Bollywood sparkler (this tasted too bubbly/frizzy for me) - the sangria was light and had hints of chai and brandy- a great combo to get a pitcher of, though it didn't sound appetizing in its description. The service was worthy of nothing. Well informed servers that were good with suggestions. Don't get me wrong.. I am perfectly capable of choosing my tikkas, naans and rasams but given that the menu had an obvious personal flair of the chefs cooking style, it always helps to see how keen the chef is on informing the staff on his/her offerings. To start we had the long hots and the crispy veg. chilli- to me a rendition of the stuffed long green chillies and the Indo-Chinese Hakka noodles. The paneer mozzarella combo in the green chillies were perfect-creamy, the chillies added bite and the tangy tomato sauce rounded the flavour off. The veg chilli had zucchinis in it (which I found interesting) but was a good subtle complement to the bold/spicy sauce (more gravy than sauce). The veggies had not lost their crunch despite the sauce on the noodles. To those familiar with Indo-Chinese food-the addition of the 3 side sauces (vinegar w/ green chillies, green chilli sauce and soy) completed my experience of eating this glamorized version of hakka noodles. spot on!! For the main course, we had a meat and a veg option. Both were superb in their portion sizes, taste, flavour. We ordered the stuffed squash (this came with saffron rice) and osso bucco pork vindaloo. The meat dish came with bone in which was perfect, the meat was melt in your mouth worthy cooked. It was a great meat, potatoes and gravy dish that is typically comfort food for me. The vindaloo gravy did not have the pungency of vinegar that I seek, but completed the dish just fine. I can see how an overpowering amount of vinegar can turn customers away from this dish. The garlic naan was fresh, however I am not sure if it was made in a tandoor or sigri, and I could taste uncooked flour in some parts of the bread- I chose to overlook this. The stuffed squash in my girlfriend's words- it was creamy (perhaps slightly excessively so) but very tasty, very well cooked, could have had a hint bit more of spice but she enjoyed it overall. If this was a take on "malai kofta" it was certainly well executed. Overall, I would go back and recommend it to others. Chef Rakesh Ramola certainly had the right idea with opening IndeBlue here in Philly. The prices could be comparable to Tashan, the food is just as good as Tashan's Chef Shende and Chef Senat. Where it beats Tashan is the location and the restaurant size. The location is always popping (regardless of weather or economic paucity), the place's size will make certain that it looks full even on days where only a few occupy the bar and tables- a definite draw for guests to peer in.
(4)Sophia S.
This is a fabulous restaurant (with a terrible name...gotta say I judged them for that at first). This place does true Indian fusion and pulls it off well! With a group of four, we ordered 3-4 small plates, 2 half-sized vegetarian entrees and one full sized meat entree. While the portions looked small (we literally laughed when they brought out our very tasty half portion of squash), we all left feeling full and happy. Some highlights were the spinach chaat (amazing! crispy!) and the naan pizza. Great cocktails too. The food is better than Bindi and its less pretentious and more interesting than Tashan. Seriously. A new favorite in midtown village.
(5)Shashank M.
The food is good. You pay 10 dollars for about two or three pieces/ 2 ppl and your going to still feel hungry at the end. I heard their happy hour was really good but buyer beware when coming for dinner. This is Tashan 2.0
(3)Fereshteh A.
5 star is definitely not enough for them! The decor, beautiful. Waiters, politest I have seen. Food, absolutely delicious. For your first time I recommend the thalia which is like a sampler of a few dishes. Chutney's were uniquely tasty. And the bread... I have blood sugar problems so I normally leave breads untouched in restaurants: I finished this one!!! ( I am writing this while I am still here :-P). And I just tried the chai: make sure you do as well ;-)
(5)Sarah P.
Looking for a spot to have Sunday brunch? Stop. Right. Now. IndeBlue has the most amazing brunch I've been to. We weren't sure what to expect but were extremely impressed! We got more food than we could finish and it was all extremely good. If I had a second stomach I would've filled it up! The rose water mimosa was unique, refreshing, and super delicious! The atmosphere was great and the decor was gorgeous. I would love to come back and have dinner here.
(5)Leah S.
Happy hour only served at a small bar at the front. They definitely don't explain this on their website and happy hour signs. When we asked the manager about this he told us that they basically didn't need our business because the place will be packed regardless... Not a very professional way of handling your customers if you ask me. They did end up giving us a few apps at happy hour prices and we did ended up staying and paying a lot to eat there. The food was over priced and not that great, it was just ok, definitely not worth the money. I will not be returning.
(1)Kristen C.
We had to order the spinach chaat, since everyone on yelp raved about it. It was really delicious, but it was fried and greasy. I would prefer to start with something more fresh. We also tried the veggie samosa, which was pretty standard, it came on top of flavored chickpeas, which were very good. We had an order of naan plus saag paneer and paneer tikka masala for our entrees. The saag paneer wasn't very good- bitter spinach flavor, but also felt very oily and heavy. The paneer tikka masala tastes better, but still more greasy than I would have liked. The service was a bit slow, but it was nice not to feel rushed. Very nice atmosphere, upscale, good for a date. I probably won't go back, but I'm glad I tried it.
(3)Sean H.
IndeBlue is an upscale Indian joint with prices to match. That said, the food is delicious, if somewhat skimpy on the portion sizes. The décor is phenomenal. Very romantic, which I kind of wish I'd known before going there with a friend. Oh, and get dessert. The gulab jamun were fantastic.
(4)pandaranda g.
The food was definitely innovative and delicious. We got 4 appetizers from their happy hour menu. However the next day my friend and i both got very upset stomachs. Don't think we'll be returning.
(1)Jimmy P.
So amazing to have our favorite spot add another location! Food here is up and above excellent, bordering on spectacular. Chef Rakeesh blends flavors and spices seamlessly and easily. Every bite, from their apps to their amazing chutneys are an experience not to be missed. Philly is gaining a brilliant chef and soon to be hot spot. We will be here again and again.
(5)Soma Sekhar G.
Live music, crispy spinach chat and thali, just made my Sunday lunch a memorable one.
(5)Jason M.
I was at IndeBlue the other week. Very beautiful restaurant! The host (Danielle) was very nice, friendly, and accommodating. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I had a great experience with Jared and Julie. Both wonderful servers and people. I hear the owners are very friendly, caring, and treat their staff like family. That's always great to hear! I was able to speak with one of them (Heather). She wanted to make sure everything was to my satisfaction and she even sent out a complimentary appetizer after she found out this was my first time here. She was incredibly nice and friendly. I shared quite a few laughs with her as well. If I could, I'd give them 10 stars, but 5 stars will have to suffice for now. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Tony R.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was hands down the best I've ever had. I have travelled the world and eaten indian food, this was the best!
(5)bryan k.
The brunch is top notch in fusion and presentation. We had the masala omelette and chicken tikka wrap with four dollar cocktails. The omelette dish was cooked to a really nice consistency with maple syrup infused bacon and with the included naan we could make our own custom breakfast sandwich; such a good finger food! Also the live sitar music was a sweet aural addition!
(4)Ashley M.
Absolutely delicious Indian food, with a flare. Loved the chick peas the best, dahl was also excellent.
(5)Lu S.
Every dish was amazing. Full of flavour and lovely atmosphere. I had the veg samosa to start, butter chicken curry and then chocolate sutra for dessert. All delicious. Best Indian I've had in the US so far.
(4)Breton B.
It's about time I started reviewing. Lived near Collingswood, NJ (location of IndeBlue's first joint) for several years and never really gave it a chance. Moved into Philly and IndeBlue followed along opening up their location a half a block from where I live in Center City. The Wash Square West location is pretty amazing. Classy decor, friendly waitstaff, and (though we didn't partake) the bar you pass to get to the dining room looked very inviting. The fiance liked her Bombay Punch (Bombay Gin, grapefruit and pineapple juice with mint) but the food - the food definitely made the night. We did small plates so no entree review here but each plate kept us wanting more (in a good way). HIghly recommend the Duo Samosa, the U-10 Scallops (with a coconut milk-curry sauce that was even more incredible when lapped up by Naan), and finally - the Chickpea battered Sweet Potato Pakora (could have eaten at least 3 plates of those). We ended with the Stuffed Squash with saffron rice. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. They even allowed us a taste of several of their chutneys as well as some Gazpacho to start off. For those that want a modern take on traditional Indian cuisine - IndeBlue delivers. Will be back for sure.
(5)Paul A.
This place is great! Fantastic for date night (maybe not a first date though). It's a bit noisy so be warned. But the service and food is really great. Price is on the high end for Indian food but hey it's an upscale joint in Midtown so it's expected...and worth it! It's very popular so make a reservation. And most guys are wearing jackets so get dressed up and enjoy!
(5)Shane L.
Surprisingly good lunch. It takes a lot for me consider indian food good (I'm no expert), because there's plenty of Indian spots that try too hard with the high-end look. Pricing is always a focus when I come to asian restaurants because the truth is that I really don't like to pay for stuff that I know costs little to nothing to prepare. Maybe it was the fact that this was a lunch meeting (expensed) which allowed me to enjoy the food a little more than I anticipated....who knows. Fact of the matter, it was plain delicious. This is a lunch review so I can't wait to see what a dinner experience will bring. Appetizer was a "crispy spinach chaat" that was refreshing and full of salty sweet flavors. Entree was a "sea-food thali" which was essentially nan, rice and 5 small bowls of goodness (mainly curries, pickled mango & yogurt). I look forward to trying out the dinner menu at some point. I feel that the food, coupled with the modern/sheek decor, will make for an amazing night.
(4)Behnaum S.
Best happy hour I've been to in a long time. Very good prices on unique drinks all made with fresh squeezed juices, you can taste the difference. The happy hour food is great and well priced. I've gone 3 days in a row now.
(5)Jade S.
This place is awesome. There's always a monthly special which usually features exotic entrees and appetizers that have a twist. My boyfriend and I will always try one of the two. What makes this place great is that it is consistent. We have never had a bad meal. Try the Thalie if Indian is new to you and DO NOT skip on the Fig ice cream. So happy to have this place nearby.
(5)Ben W.
Meal left much to be desired. Manager was inexplicably rude. I will not be returning.
(1)Anand T.
Came here for the first time last Saturday and was really impressed. This is a really good indian restaurant in the city. It's not authentic indian but it's more modernized indian. The food is amazing here some of my favorites are the drums of heaven and the seared scallops. The drums of heaven have a nice spice to it and it's not overwhelming spicy and everything in the dish complements well. Seared scallops are out of this world it goes especially with the sambar it just makes the dish even better. For those not in the city not to worry they have a location in collingswood, so def try it out you won't regret it.
(5)Izabella J.
Vegetarian & Gluten Free welcome!!! 5 stars for Taste of the food, Service & Ambiance of this place
(5)Jacob J.
There's a lot of good restaurant right within a few blocks but this is worth a stop. It's an American-Indian fusion with very good results. The drums of heaven are delicious wings with just enough spice and go well with tamarind chutney. The naan pizza is a nice touch. The seafood moilee is should try.
(4)C V.
Indeblue is probably the best Indian option in Center City and a very nice experience. Ambience: Great- intimate, nice and elegant, not too loud Drinks: the cocktails were great! I'm usually not into cocktails because they're often prepared so sweet; Indeblue's cocktails were actually quite nice and unique Food: It's not entirely a traditional menu and I liked that; the spinach chaat is great as everyone says. The more traditional dishes are not as great as they could be but are still very good. Service: Everyone was very nice and seemed to take service seriously. They had a few mixups but were really apologetic about that. I think they're just getting up and running so I'm sure they'll improve as they go.
(4)Ronald Y.
Delicious food, great service. I was there over the weekend with my partner and friends, we had had a great time. vibrant and energetic ambience. It's a must.
(5)