Gateway to India
1960 Hillview St, Sarasota, FL, 34239
Gateway to India Menu
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Address :
1960 Hillview St
Sarasota, FL, 34239 - Phone (941) 364-4777
- Website https://www.gatewaytoindiasrq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Nicole H.
My go to for a nice Indian buffet lunch. Much better than Tandoori. This place is small and quiet. The tikka masala my son and I had the other day had great flavor. The lemon rice was fantastic. Only complaint was the rice pudding had very little rice in it.
(4)Jim M.
Sunday lunch buffet is affordable and incredibly tasty, with plenty of vegetarian dishes.
(4)MaryAnn C.
Service is unbelievably bad. We were ignored for 15 minutes before a server came. Ordered a cold chai tea and it was delivered after we had finished our meal. We ordered a fried pickle side dish and it was so salty that we couldn't eat it. The breads were good and the entrees looked appealing and homemade, but the sauce on mine and my son's was awful-like they dropped a bottle of chili powder on it. The other two in our party had tasty food. The place is decorated cute but they decided not to turn on the air conditioning which made eating there uncomfortable. We asked to have the fan above us turned on and it took them 30 minutes to do it. I was very disappointed in their service and response time. For dessert we had the rose ice cream which had a delightful rose taste but again missed the mark on texture. It tasted as if they forgot to add the cream to make it ice cream and tasted like thawed then refrozen ice milk. Very disappointing. We had no liquor with our dinner and the bill was $94 for four of us. I can't recommend this place because the slow service started the meal off badly, they never picked up the pace, acted like they didn't care if we were served, and then such a high price for over salted and bitter curried food.
(1)Gillian B.
Went here yesterday evening, super meal, super attentive staff ( thanks AJ), and super clean! Love it!
(5)Tess C.
First of all, we're vegan, and this is the only non-veg restaurant I've ever given 5 stars to on yelp. Why? For starters... I think this restaurant offers just about the best service I've ever had. Every single person there is so sweet, warm, welcoming, and professional. Today, my family (all vegan) went there for the lunch buffet. There were fewer vegan options than usual. We didn't complain, but the owner noticed our plates weren't that full and insisted on making us some roti bread and chole. It was a big portion, which thrilled my husband especially. ;-) The flavors are also very good - well balanced, authentic, and delicious. And to me, it seems the prices are very fair. I highly recommend this spot - excellent service and delicious food!
(5)James S.
This is a decent, but not great place. I got the madras lamb, which was very spicy, as I requested, thought the meat chunks weren't very tender. My sister and mother got dishes that were too spicy for their liking. They are wimps, but the restaurant should be able to cater to their tastes. Father got the chicken vindaloo, which I tasted and was OK. This place broadcasts on its menu that it only uses white meat chicken. That's nothing to be proud of.
(3)Alex P.
Whenever we are in the mood for Indian food, my boyfriend and I come here for dinner. The food is consistently delicious with numerous amazing flavors and a perfect hint of spice. The servers are always very friendly and attentive - even the owner makes sure to stop by your table to make sure everything is good! The restaurant has a colorful yet cozy interior. Definitely one of the best Indian restaurants in Sarasota!
(5)Arijeet S.
Great food! try Palak Paneer and Chicken Tikka Masala. need to clean up the place; it looks too dusty and moldy.
(4)Disha S.
We came there with a party of 22. You'd think they'd treat us nicely since we were bringing in a lot of business... The guy in charge was so mean to us. You could tell since he was so nice to the other non Indian customers. The only thing we enjoyed were the samosas and the gulab jamban. He wouldn't even let us take our own leftovers...
(1)Jade W.
Went for the lunch time buffet! Tikka Marsala, tandoori chicken, curry chicken, saag aloo and garlic naan were all fantastic for about $12!! Place was very clean & the waiters were very friendly. Definitely will go back when I return to Sarasota!
(4)Jim P.
My wife and I enjoy good Indian food. We Yelped Sarasota Indian Restaurants and the Gateway to India sounded worth trying. We were very pleased. Had the Chcken Tikka Masala and it was very good. We recommend this restaurant to others. Jim P
(5)Brett V.
Lamb special was very good. Service was attentive and friendly.
(4)lynda j.
The food is good, not great, but if you want Indian food in Sarasota you really do not have any options. The service is slow, and I really feel their prices are too high. When they first opened they were reasonably priced, but very busy ( cause it was the only Indian restaurant in town) and I think they felt like they could raise their prices. Well now they are not nearly as busy so maybe they should think about lowering their prices. A typical meal for my boyfriend and I usually runs us $70 which is too much for a casual Hillview joint that doesn't even have a full bar!
(3)andy r.
Well cooked food so why the 2 star review? First it is overpriced with most entrees at $18 for which you get entree and rice. Second, they pad the bill by asking which bread you want with your meal and add $3.50 if you don't ask "is it included". The way in which it was asked was very deceptive. Very good food however but not at their prices. Clean restaurant, good service. (See another reviewers note that the owner keeps tips not the server).
(2)Andy D.
My mom and I were looking for an Indian restaurant near the hospital where my stepfather is staying. We found this place and were very happy to see several vegan options at the buffet. Everything we had was delicious and the service was really good. However, the highlight of our meal actually came after we left. My mom accidentally dropped $20 at our table and we left. One of the servers ran outside, found us about to drive away, and gave us back the dropped money. We are thrilled customers!
(5)Maggie L.
This place is pretty great. My second favorite indian place in Sarasota. The samosas and teas are great here. I love the decor in too, hole in the wall (in a good way), quaint and I love the lanterns. Service was perfect, a little pricey but it's been a great experience every time I've been here.
(4)Melanie C.
Delicious lunch buffet for a great price!! Great selection and the service was awesome. We came in right at the end of the buffet time and they were out of naan bread and another appetizer so the staff made us a fresh batch! He also gave us a 5 minute warning when he was about to close down the buffet which was very thoughtful. Would definitely come back and recommend to others!
(5)Natarajan R.
As close as it gets to good Indian food in Sarasota!! And good service as well. Can improve on the ambience but the food makes up for it.
(4)Joseph L.
We used to eat here every weekend. It was a tradition that I looked forward too all week because the food is very good. They ripped us off once (charged for three people when we were only two people) and I haven't been back since. I don't know if I can get over that type of thievery. When I pointed it out, the guy said that he already ran my card and he was sorry but they wouldn't charge us for an extra person next time. WTF? SERIOUSLY? If you do go for the buffet, go early because they usually don't bother to refill anything. Instead they just space the trays out to make it look like nothing is missing. Also, check your bill before you pay. Pay with cash. This should keep you safe and happy - otherwise the food is excellent. I really wish they hadn't ruined this place for me by stealing my money.
(1)Bob M.
Our "go to" Indian restaurant in Sarasota. The gobi Manchurian (sweet and sour cauliflower) - crisp on the outside - is moist and tender opening dish. The chicken Madras (medium) is pungent and spicy with just the right amount of heat for an American palette. The chicken Kadhi makes wonderful use of peppers and onions to create a superb sauce that will appeal to all. As an appetiser try chicken 65, but dip the pieces in rata for added complexity. Overall, 4.25 on a 1- 5 scale.
(4)doug w.
A pleasant surprise...very good indian food in Sarasota. Onion bahdji was crisp and wonderfully spiced (recommended). Aloo ghobi was spicy but very flavorful. Lamb madras was nicely spiced and flavored although quite different than I'm used to. Other dishes were really good. Breads wee also crisp and hot. There's dedicated parking on the side of the building (a plus in this area). Give it a try...I think you'll find it one of the best indian restaurants in Sarasota.
(4)Sara S.
The name is so fitting b/c it is truly a "gateway to India"! Everything from the decor, food, music, servers/chef is authentic India. Like the other spoiled DC resident reviewer, I have had some of the best (both hole in the wall and fine dining) Indian food back home and even in London, and now Sarasota has a true tasteful Indian experience. The chicken tikka masala has a sweet spice after taste, the saag paneer is creamy and delicious, the chicken biryani was good, but not the normal biryani you would expect. The consistency and ratio of rice was different. If you love Indian food, you'll appreciate this place.
(4)Tay A.
Yum yum yum! My husband and I ate here at least 3 times a month while were were living in Sarasota. We originally thought Tandoor was the only Indian place in town, but when a friend recommended Gateway to India, we were so pleasantly surprised since it's much closer to where we live (Downtown). We exclusively order the Chicken Tikka Masala, but tried some various appetizers on occasion -- all with great results. What a treasure this restaurant is!
(5)Rolf P.
No one has written about this gem for a while, so let me remind you that it's here and it's consistently terrific. I have reservations for tonight and am salivating a little already. A bit pricey, but it's in a pricey-restaurant neighborhood. Lobster vindalu never disappoints, nor do the lamb chops. Garlic nan and onion kulcha are always excellent accompaniments. Add a Kingfisher beer and I'm in heaven.
(4)Sunni M.
A few reserved parking spaces for guests. Delicious food, beautiful decor, awesome service. What more could you ask for?
(5)Nicole A.
Good Indian food, good service. I love the atmosphere, too. Gateway to India was my first Indian cuisine experience. I had their lunch buffet, which was cool because I could sample a bunch of different dishes. When I worked downtown, my coworkers and I used to go for the buffet about once a month and it was always good and fast.
(4)Tasha R.
The decor here is beautiful, but that is about all they have going for themselves. When we arrived we stood around for about 5 minutes before we were seated as no one was there to greet us. I actually started to wonder if we were suppose to seat ourselves. Then we waited another 10 minutes for someone to wait on us for our drinks. As far as service goes we did get regular refills and besides the untimely start our waiter was nice but nothing to make uop for the fact that we waited around for 15 minutes. Let me start by saying that I love Indian food and I have eaten a lot of it, good and bad. This place was not the worse but certainly not the best. I arrived for the lunch buffet. I recently had heard that they have a wider selection for their buffet so this is (mainly) why I decided to try this place out. Unfortunately it all tasted the same and was runny. On top of that their naan was mediocre. For $10+ a person I will not be coming here again. I found a better indian resteraunt to frequent.
(2)Nicki M.
I just feel like pointing it out that there were no Indians in this restaurant. I feel like that means something but I'm not sure what. The service was great we got out food very quickly which was great because we were starving. Chicken Tikka Masala was very good, I ordered it mild and should have gone with medium, I think the spice categories are tailored to yuppies. Overall I do think this place is a bit pricey, most of the traditional indian fare will run you between 15-18 bucks. If you add Naan, which is a must it will run you 3 more than that. They have coupons on Restaurant.com also which enabled us to get out of there for 30$ with tip, overall a very positive dining experience.
(4)Andrew N.
The food was good but not worth the price, and the service was poor. There are better Indian restaurants in the area that are also more affordable.
(3)B S.
Not good. Save your money & your tummy.
(1)Emily W.
I only ever come to Gateway to India for the lunch buffet, which is awesome. Some of the items aren't that great, but there are always one or two things that they put out that are really good and flavorful. As someone who is not super familiar with indian cuisine, it is always an adventure eating at the buffet because the flavors are so new to me and there is always something different. Two things that they always have at the buffet are delicious tender tandoori chicken, and this fried onion thing which is mmmm so good. They also always have one dessert. Not all the time, but sometimes the dessert is so different and delicious. Like one time they had this carrot pudding with all these spices, I will never forget that pudding. Also, they keep you stocked with delicious naan bread that you can use to soak up all the wonderful sauces from your meal. Thank you Gateway to India!
(4)Stephanie F.
I went here for the first time. It was delicious. My only complaint was they needed to turn the air down. It was a little warm.
(3)Terrie H.
Excellent lunch buffet! Staff extremely friendly and courteous food is delightful! A hidden gem, do not miss this spot!
(5)Dustin K.
I love Indian food. I've been searching for something to satisfy me since I moved here 4 months ago. Its been disappointed a lot; until I found Gateway to India. I recommend the buffet for lunch on Saturday and Sunday, its larger than usual and unbelievable. 99% vegetarian. Its amazing. Don't go if you're in a hurry. I've waited at an empty table for 20 minutes waiting for a bill. The service with some of the waitresses is the worst I've ever had anywhere but that isn't something that turns me off to a place, its all about the food. The pop is also in cans and obviously not free refill, fyi. Do yourself a favor...Go this weekend!
(5)Madison B.
Loved this place, and frequented it for the last year. But for the last couple months, it's been different. I think they changed owners because I don't see any of the old servers in there. They treated us like regulars even the first time we came in, and were always really understanding of dietary issues. The new people in here are pushy to try and get you to order more, and you have 4 different people asking you the same question every 30 seconds. I can't have soy, and this used to be one of the only places I could go because they really understood and were helpful, and made sure nothing had any soy in it. The waitress that took my order now looked at me like I had 3 heads and told me that nothing should have soy in it. To my even greater disappointment, I was definitely soy-sick all night long. Also, they're putting black beans in my Dahl Makhani to cheapen the dish. I guess I won't be coming back.
(2)Deepak N.
Best Chicken Tikka Masala we have had! Saag Paneer and Chicken/lamb Biryanis are great as well...food fresh and never thawed, so you will wait...but worth it! We take out more than dine in for convenience. Portions are enough for 2.
(5)kimmy c.
Ok, first off this place has only been open for a few weeks, so I will cut them some slack for the poor service... we waited about 15 min before we placed our order then it took more than an hour to get our meal. They definitely have some kinks to work out. The vibe of the place is cool. Colorful walls, fabrics and art add to the ambience and the layout of the room makes it cozy. I would recommend calling for a reservation, we had a 30 min wait for a table... but maybe when the service problem is sorted out that may improve. The food was ok, nothing spectacular (I guess I'm a little jaded since I've had really, really good Indian food). We order saag aloo (spinach & potatoes), daal mahkani for our main dishes and onion bhajees as an appetizer. The bhajees were very light and were served with a tamarind chutney and a coriander chutney. We really enjoyed the appetizer... they were flavorful and not greasy. Since the appetizer was good I had high hopes for the main dish... but both were just ok. The spinach dish was definitely better than the daal. The daal was in desperate need of salt. Both dishes could have used more flavor and spice. We also ordered an onion kultcha bread which was pretty good. You could tell it was made there and it was hot out of the oven. Overall, the food wasn't bad. The place was clean. And they are vegetarian/vegan friendly. With time I think the food and service will improve.
(3)Cheryl Z.
This is the third time I've been hear over the past year and the last. The worst servers, as far as personality, knowledge of menu and attentiveness. Prices are high for small portions. The food is good but not worth the wait or price.
(2)Matthew G.
I love being the only couple in a restaurant. I don't feel awkward at all, in fact, I feel like I can overeat without judgment. Although the service was mighty slow (even though we really were the only people in the place), the food is so good that, again, I felt justified gorging myself like a disgusting animal. I had the tandorii chicken, the big-boy order, and I couldn't finish it. After the silly good appetizer and the giant beer I felt too full to continue. My wife had the chicken tikka, and it was tasty as heck. The bill was not astronomical. I will return.
(4)Kristi F.
Used to have fantastic selection but now somewhat limited. Still good but won't visit as often.
(3)Rick L.
We have had luch here many times at the buffet and it has been excellent! However, for dinner last week with a group of approx. 8 people things did not work out so well. Everything about it was confusing and the wait staff disorganized. They has no idea who had ordered what and plates were being passed sround the table by us to whoever might have ordered. The food was not delivered on time as well. While the food was still good the experience lacked what we were looking for with out of town family. Go for the lunch buffet and you will enjoy!!
(3)mark l.
This Restaurnt fare was better than any in Philadelphia or Dallas! Surprisingly delectable, we got lamb chops, lamb Saab, and chicken Tika Marsala. The alu paratha was outstanding; even the naan noteworthy. Even though we were comfortably sated from our meal, we took some time out for their home-made ice cream--pistachio, mango, and a house-special orange blend. Heaven (or should I say Nirvana!). We'll be back....
(5)Judy S.
I read about this restaurant on Yelp as a good option for those who like Indian food. I myself am not a huge fan but have my favorites, but my husband loves Indian food - and tonight was my treat to him... This restaurant is tucked behind N. Tamiami Trail on a cute street with a few other restaurants. There IS free parking (important point) as well as valet parking. We were glad to find a spot right next to this restaurant in their small-ish lot. The atmostphere was very nice. We were seated quickly at about 6:30 p.m. on this Saturday Night without having a reservation. The restaurant filled up quickly. Some other "Yelper" noted that there were no true Indian diners, I noted that myself - while usually of course you know it would be an authentic restaurant - HOWEVER - Sarasota is a tourist town so you'll get all kinds of folks just looking for a good meal. What I loved about this place - was that when I mentioned to our server about a dish I have enjoyed elsewhere: Sag Paneer (those nice little cheese cubes in a creamy spinach), not seeing it on this menu, which did offer Lamb Paneer... the waiter said no problem I'll bring you that! It was delicious - if you like that. The Garlic Naan was like an excellent thin crust pizza... ie - not as doughy as other Naan I've eaten, but delicious. My Samosa (pastry filled with potatoes and peas) was perfect. We didn't have time to try more foods, but everyone around us seemed to be enjoying whatever they had ordered. Our water glasses were filled often, which in a restaurant offering spicy foods, is so important. We will come here again.
(4)Brian A.
I ended up here tonight, via some strong praise form one of my mothers Indian friends. Needless to say all the praise was worthy. Living in DC has spoiled me with good Indian food. It has been challenging to find really good Indian food in Sarasota. Based on my first experience here tonight I would say that is the case no longer. I had the Navratan Korma, which was excellent, fresh, chock full of good vegetables (not canned) and the flavor was well balanced. My mom had lamb which she was equally excited about. I plan on going back to try the lunch buffet and get a bigger sample of there fare. Hurray for good Indian in Sarasota, you will get my business whenever I am home.
(4)Alice S.
The food is quite good, but the service is mediocre at best. When we talked to our server recently, we may have found out why - all of the tips go to the owner! Servers get a flat wage (a little bit above minimum), and I'm guessing this is why most of the staff seem to be very new to waiting tables. The fact that tips don't go to the servers isn't on the menu anywhere, which I find to be a big problem. (I don't care what kind of payment setup is used, but when a server sees *none* of their tips and the policy isn't ever mentioned, I find that to be disingenuous.) Service has improved since its first months - there was a breakneck turnover of staff when this place opened, but the hourlong waits with no water seem to be a thing of the past. The service is still not great, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. Food-wise, I have to say it's better than the other two Indian restaurants in Sarasota, and it compares reasonably well to places I've been in other cities. They have a variety of vegetarian options, and while many of the fried pakoras aren't suitable for someone who has to avoid gluten (cross contamination in the oil), I've never had a problem with any of the non-tandoori main dishes that I've tried (paneer butter masala, baighan bhartha & channa masala).
(2)Dominic S.
Having grown up in Britain where Indian food is prevalent, I am quite fussy about the cuisine - the food at Gateway was very good, certainly the best I have had in the 20 years I've been in this country. The only thing food-wise that was disappointing was the Onion Bhaji's as they were overcooked (actually, I think they were reheated from a previous seating) and very dry. The service, however, was very poor. When a restaurant only has two tables seated and a customer still has to wait 15 minutes to have a drink order taken then something is inefficiently organized. My guest was sufficiently bothered by the service, or rather lack thereof, that she will not be returning to the establishment. I will give it another try because the food was great, but if the service hasn't improved then I'll probably elect to continue traveling to Tampa or do without Indian food. The location is great but it needs to backed up by great food and great service or this restaurant will go the same way as so many others on Hillview have (which is out of business). The clientele in that area expects, perhaps one should say demands, good service.
(3)Elena D.
Super lunch buffet.
(4)