Nirlep Indian Restaurant
908 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC, 29407
Nirlep Indian Restaurant Menu
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Shuruat
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Non Vegetarian
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Tandoori-roti
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Chicken Dishes
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Lamb Dishes
Healthy Meal suggestions for Nirlep Indian Restaurant
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Shuruat
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Non Vegetarian
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Tandoori-roti
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Chicken Dishes
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Lamb Dishes
Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
908 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC, 29407 - Phone (843) 763-9923
- Website https://www.nirlepsc.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : Yes
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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Brianna M.
I love supporting local and family restaurants in Charleston, SC. Nirlep gave me the chance to do both. The menu explains well what the food is and what you are ordering. The menu also has great options for vegetarian dishes. The traditional flavors of India and authenticity are well tasted here! The service was long considering they were busy and seemed understaffed but overall, worth the wait.
(4)Loretta J.
A mixed experience in every way. The food just lacked flavor overall. I could not discern those lovely hints of exotic spices that I love about saag or dum aloo. The temperature offered "mild,medium or hot" was kind of arbitrary. We chose medium and it was totally lacking any heat. There was a red chutney on the table that helped. The nan was ok but the poori was great. A rancid glass of wine was quickly replaced and the berry lassi was delicious. Overall... Ok. I found the service this visit to be good. We had a lady who was very nice. I voided this place for 10 years because of a poor experience with the service. Glad I gave it another try but I won't go out of my way. There is a lot more flavor across the street.
(2)Mark J.
Let me preface by saying I'm a huge fan of good quality Indian food. I've spent almost a year in London which has the best Indian food in the world outside of India. I also understand there is a cultural disconnect which generally makes it difficult to get even adequate service at most Indian places. I take this into account and grade on a curve respectively. Food: Nirlep had very good to great food. We ordered chicken korma, lamb rogan josh and saag paneer as entrees with sides of garlic naan and onion naan. The curries were great and the naans outstanding, especially the garlic, killer! So why only 3 stars you ask? The portions were very very small, as small as you can get and still somewhat get away with it. When it comes to Indian food, I order a lot with an expectation of a good amount of leftovers. There's nothing better than that reheated next day Indian food meal. It sucks when the little metal serving dishes come out and there is only a few pieces of protein. Service: The service was pretty unimpressive, even at Indian standards. We had a little collection of beer bottles and empty glasses at the end of the table (from before we got our food) for collection. I asked the waiter to take them, they stayed the entire meal. The waiter was very gruff and not at all responsive. Atmosphere: The restaurant is in an old pizza hut. They didn't change it much outside of changing the lighting (which was great) adding the lunch buffet and they had two tvs on playing Indian music videos, which is also very common. I generally object to Tvs in a restaurant ding room, but I think the Indian videos are pretty cool, I kind of like a cultural influence outside of the food and workers to add an additional dimension to the experience. Increase your portions and I'd give between 4-5 stars Food- 5 stars Service - 2 Stars Atmosphere - 4 Stars Value- 3 Stars
(3)Tracey D.
I have been going here for years now, mostly to their lunch buffets where I can get a good amount of variety but sometimes I'll treat myself to their dinners (more quality, but of course less quantity). Their food feels very authentic. I love it and have brought many friends here to try Indian food for the first time & they loved it too! My favorite is the butter chicken, I don't know what they put in here, but it's so delicious and I actually get cravings if I don't have it for awhile. Although I've had much better in bigger cities, i's my favorite Indian restaurant in town, so it's really worth trying out.
(4)Raghari P.
Good restaurant for Charleston. Service is good. Had a buffet. Value for money. Samosa could be better. Well visit again.
(4)Anna H.
Loved the buffet options here especially when you are limited in your knowledge of Indian food. My favorite today was the cabbage mixed curry. It was cooked and seasoned really well. So tasty with the Indian rice! I also enjoyed eating the Tandoori chicken and the chicken masala. Both were yummy! So looking forward to coming back here!
(4)Keli T.
This place continues to be in my top 10 for Charleston! If you like Indian food, then don't miss it. It is owned by a local family and their cooking is off the hook. I've probably been there 50 times by now and I get so excited every time. If you are new to Indian cuisine or your exploring the idea, try their lunch buffet from 11-3. Great price and a way you can sample different items to find what you like. I'm not a vegetarian, but their vegetarian dishes are amazing!
(5)Jessica B.
Every Indian place I have tried in Charleston was either super terrible or closed down within a few months. I am *so* happy to have found this place and know that it isn't going anywhere. It keeps getting all the "best of" votes each year! It is in West Ashley, near my house, so that is a big plus. We arrived around 1230/1pm on a Saturday and there weren't a lot of people there, maybe three or four. It quickly filled up moments after we arrived. They have a lunch buffet everyday starting at 1130. They don't have many options on the buffet, but they have enough to make you happy. And totally worth the $10. We weren't asked if we wanted anything other than water or if we wanted to see the full lunch menu- they assumed we wanted the buffet. (I would have liked to have seen the other menu to perhaps order an appetizer or special naan) The staff was friendly and there were a lot of them in the restaurant. Each person who checked on us, sat us, checked us out at the counter were all incredibly helpful and super nice. I take away the one star because of the lack of communication between the staff and customer; listed above regarding the menu/drinks. I will certainly go back. I'd like to try their dinner menu and order a ton of stuff that I saw on their menu online. I recommend this place to anyone in the mood for Indian. Top notch :)
(4)Jim W.
We chose Nirlep because it was on the way to Drayton Hall and it was open for lunch on Sundays. We arrived just before the 11:30 a.m. opening time but were seated anyway. We received water while we waited for the staff to finish opening the buffet (as I said, we were just a bit early). Several other groups arrived just after we did, so once they opened the buffet everyone grabbed a plate. Most Indian restaurants vary to some degree. I'd say the Nirlep's buffet offerings are slightly more unusual than average, but also with a fair percentage of familiar dishes. Several of the 'non-standard' dishes turned out to be quite good, and my wife thought their garlic naan was among the best she's had. Actually she liked this meal more than a 'fine dining' establishment we'd been to the previous evening (which was a bit depressing for me, given the price difference). If we were in the area again, we would definitely return for either lunch or dinner.
(5)Grace T.
Nirlep is not the prettiest Indian place in town. It's also not the one with the best service. BUT, I will say that their food offers probably the best Indian flavors in town. They have more variety for their lunch buffet, but if you're a stickler for garlic naan and gulab jamun, go to Taste of India instead, because Nirlep's lunch naan doesn't have garlic and they don't have gulab jamun during lunch. Between the two, I would probably go back to Nirlep more than I would go to Taste of India. But service is better at Taste of India, so if bad service ruins your whole meal, don't go to Nirlep. Hope that helps you decide where to go!
(4)Greg L.
The food is OK, not great. Portions seem to be heavy on sauce and light on meat. The service is indifferent. They seem to not really want to do more than the bare minimum for each table. This is based on three trips there over the last year or two. I think it's a decent buffet experience if you crave Indian, but if you want a sit down with service then try Taste of India instead. Missing the Bollywood Cafe!
(2)Lee H.
Horrible service. Had to wait forever just for bread. Refused to refill our drinks. My aunt had to go get her own refills from the kitchen. The food is excellent though if you're willing to wait almost 2 hours to eat and endure horrible service.
(2)Harold W.
Hadn't been to dinner in a while. Usually eat lunch buffet. I forgot how intimate the lighting and setting was in the evening. Got the sampler platter which everything on it was fried except for the tandoori chicken. Got chicken vindaloo and chicken korma which somehow tastes so much better than the lunch buffet. Amazingly considering the lunch buffet is wonderful on its own. You can't go wrong with the bread basket. Definitely need it to sop up the delicious flavors of the sauces.
(5)Pradeep A.
Amazing food. Being a non vegetarian person, i found this place has amazing vegetarian dishes too. Nice ambiance and excellent food for the price of the buffet which is very reasonable. I was in charleston for a weekend went there twice for lunch. Waiters are friendly and welcoming. I would always visit this place when i come to charleston.
(5)Frank K.
Pretty good food, pleasant atmosphere. Neither I or my wife know Indian food very well--we're much more familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine: Thai and Vietnamese. That said, we've stopped into Nirlep a number of times this summer and have had decent meals. Its been an experimental process--trying things we think we might like and then moving on to others if we don't. Not so crazy about the pakoras, the stuffed fritters. Not super-fresh or particularly tasty. Love the garlic naan, the spinach paratha (however too little spinach), while the tandoori chicken is very good. Wife likes the veggie korma quite a bit.The shrimp korma had very few shrimp in it--maybe six smallish ones. Sauce was good though. Atmosphere--this is a former pizza hut, but spacious and quiet (a rarity in Charleston). We have never seen it super busy. Quite a few Indian families patronize the place, and the other night there were probably 25 people there happily chowing down and quietly talking. They seem to have a very active take-out business. Service is usually fast, and while the owners/hosts aren't super-friendly, they are cordial. A bit more formal than a typical American place. Which is just fine with us. We're happy this place is here as an occasional break from the other stand out restaurants in W. Ashley: Glass Onion, Al Di La, and.....?
(3)B B.
Loved the ambiance and service, however the food wasn't good. Lacked the authentic taste of the items. The complimentary papads were soggy and chewy instead of crispy. Peshwari naan only had coconut instead of a blend of pistachios, almonds etc. paneer was not fresh but rather chewy.
(3)Blake P.
Enjoyed the buffet but it was a little oily. Service was good and it was a good value. Place is good but not great.
(3)Nirmal M.
Bad ambassador of North Indian vegetarian food. Prices are almost double than normal top rated Indian restaurants. End up paying $105 for 4 people lunch. May be they punished us for not taking buffet.
(1)Aaron O.
This place is so unassuming, yet so legit. The food is incredibly authentic (and reasonably priced) and the staff is so friendly and welcoming. My wife had a veggie curry and I had chicken/ spinach dish and we split some naan. We said, over and over again how incredibly good the food was. The servers also stopped by our table plenty of times to refill our waters and ask if we needed anything. Pretty sure I'll be coming here again and again and again!
(5)Dariel S.
I really enjoyed this place. We there really late for dinner and we were only one of two or three tables there so the service was really good. I tried the Tiki Masala (excuse the spelling) and Tandoor chicken. Everything overall was very enjoyable.
(5)Kelsey F.
Lunch buffet has a good variety and usually at least two vegan/vegetarian options. Consistently good food and reasonably priced for a buffet ($11 with tax). The sweet carrot dessert is good - try it!
(4)Nicole J.
I have had some of the best Indian food around the world and Nirlep is right up there, especially when it comes to authenticity. I'm sure some reviews will knock down points for the ambience and maybe even the service, but once you come to understand cultural differences and language barriers, this place deserves five stars and your patronage! Get to know the owners and you will see that they are very warm, friendly people who take pride in the food they serve. I eat here almost once a week and have never been disappointed. My favorites so far are the Chicken Tikka and Tandoor Shrimp--simply amazing!
(5)Julie T.
I've never had dinner here, so this review is strictly for the lunch time buffet. It's a pretty decent lunch buffet. It's not amazing, but the quality is good and the flavors are nice. I do think the entire place needs a serious update from 1989 though. Everything from the booths to the bathrooms look like the original fixtures from when this place was a Pizza Hut years and years back. The steam table that they put the buffet out on are also in serious need of replacement. Will the food here change your life, or be the best damned Indian food you've ever had? Most certainly not, but it is okay for what it is...a Buffet lunch for a reasonable price. Don't come expecting "amazing" come expecting a good bang for your buck. All in all, though, I like the food, and the service has always been efficient, if a little cool, so I just keep coming back. I can make WAY BETTER Indian cuisine myself at home, but for a zero effort lunch out with a friend or two, Nirlep is pretty decent.
(4)Chip H.
Wife and I stopped enroute from FL to NC (she's a fan of the cuisine and we were staying nearby). Her chicken tikka masala and my lamb saag were delicious. My medium spicy was perfect for me, and her mild was right for her. Garlic Naan and mulligatawny soup were delicious as well. Service was prompt and gracious as well. Would definitely recommend this spot.
(4)Kelly B.
THE place to go for Indian cuisine in Charleston. If you want to be sure to catch the best they have to offer, all at once, catch their Sunday lunch buffet. They have lunch buffet every day they're open but Sunday is the best dishes of any day. And don't forget to try the mango lassi or hot tea. Delicious!!
(5)Dharanidharan S.
I and four of my friends went for dinner and the food was not good at all. We had the veg and non-veg dinner for two. We were hungry and had to manage eating the food so that we don't starve. Most of the dishes did not have salt in it. Palak panner was very bitter. The chicken pakoda was undercooked. Naan was so thick and tasteless. Please don't waste your money.
(1)Kate R.
We have been to Taste of India quite a few times over the last couple months. Their food is pretty good but nothing to write home about. Which is why we wanted to try Nirlep to see if they were better. After paying 1 1/2 times what we would have at Taste of India, we were expecting the food to be more authentic. However, we were extraordinarily disappointed. We tried the chicken curry and the chicken jalfrezi, both of which tasted as if they were made with tomato sauce and tomato paste, with no authentic spices except for large amounts of red pepper. The naan tasted like uncooked dough. If you have a choice... go across the street and don't throw your money away here.
(1)Roy M.
We had the buffet it was ok if you don't like spicy there was only two things spicy. When I eat Indian food I like spicy. Also the owner is not friendly. Maybe they cater to people that like mild Indian food I will not be back I will try out other places near by.
(3)Ariana C.
We were visiting Charleston and saw this place and decided to walk in. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Madras and they were both excellent, just what we were looking. Very authentic Indian cuisine and great service. If you're in the area and like Indian food, give it a try!
(5)Renae J.
Awesome food! I've been here a few times and it is always amazing. The food is spicy and the beer is cold!
(5)Dave C.
This is, hands down, the best Indian restaurant in Charleston. Everything about this place is authentic and delicious and I want to go to there right now. (Liz Lemon) During the week, they have a lunch buffet which is out of this world. If you can handle a little heat, try the spicy tandoor chicken, it will knock your socks off. Much better than Taste of India across the street. I've given them several tries but the quality and the flavor just isn't there. At dinner, the vegetarian dinner for two is essentially a four course meal with enough food to satisfy even the biggest appetites and have leftovers for lunch the next day (been there done that). The staff is friendly, family-oriented, and efficient. We always have a great experience here. Protip: They are closed on Mondays. For some reason this is the day I want to eat there the most.
(5)Swavino T.
A fantastic example of authentic Punjabi Singh cuisine. You won't find this good Indian food in big cities. The food here is clearly freshly prepared, unlike many places that serve you leftovers. When they say spicy they mean it here. Don't miss this place if you like real Indian food. Go hungry.
(5)Kelly C.
For all of Charleston's restaurants, my Indian food cravings have been hard to satisfy. I checked this place out a few weeks ago, relieved to know it was down the street in the trendy triangle district. The naan was definitely fresh but thinner and crispier than I've had before and with enough garlic to linger on your breath for a week (both a good and a bad thing). The chicken in my first dish was fresh and excellently seasoned but the palak paneer, my very favorite, was very bland. Hard to count off for that as everyone's preference in seasoning is different! I'd definitely go back but I won't be wanting it badly enough to order take out - my four star requirement.
(3)Amy Lauren S.
We went here for the 3 for $20 restaurant week deal. For $20 + tax, we got bread (garlic naan) and two entries off the vegetarian, chicken, or lamb menus. I had the Malai Kofta (vegetable balls cooked in a creamy nut sauce) and my husband had the Lamb Rojan Josh (tender lamb cooked with onions, ginger, and garlic). I ordered my food and then he ordered his spicy. He likes spicy things, I don't. We both love Indian and Thai food, really any ethnic food. The waiter didn't repeat our order. When it came, my dish wasn't creamy at all and was almost too spicy to eat. I tried mellowing it out with the flavors of chutnee but my face was red and my lips were burning. Of course my husband didn't think it was that spicy, and I flagged down the waiter and asked if it was the mild dish or spicy. He took it back to the kitchen, said it was made spicy and i'd requested it spicy. He and the owner showed where "spicy" was written on the check. Granted it was under my husband's order, not mine. I had to insist that I'd ordered my food mild to both of them. I honestly felt like they were trying to say "you ordered this, you eat it". I hate sending food back... anyway, they let us box up my original dish and we took it home for my husband to enjoy and they made me a new dish. My husband even commented that it didn't even taste like the same food, it was much better- what I actually ordered, and it was pretty good. I'd order it again, but not at Nirlep. Maybe it's a cultural issue with communication, but I wish they'd been a little more understanding, especially since Indian cuisine is new to a lot of people and they are one of the few Indian restaurants in Charleston. Still though, they have some competition and I really expected better.
(2)Nicole P.
Everything. Just eat everything. There is a buffet there that will make you never want to eat Indian food anywhere else in Charleston, and everyday is different! (My personal favorite day to go is Friday, but that's just me. You really can't go wrong any day though) The service is good, too-- those guys have iced tea refill EAGLE EYES. I love you, Nirlep.
(5)Sam B.
The food was amazing , naan with the garlic seasoning was very delicious . The chicken tandoori would make you slap your mother because it tasted so good. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Randell Franklyn B.
I've eaten lunch buffet at Nirlep three times now and want to echo the sentiments of others: this place seems to lack any sense of energy, engagement, or "joy" as one commentator put it. A professional chef and foodservice manager, this place strikes me as being on the long slide to closing. It's thread-bare and a little dirty, the food is so-so and inconsistent. The owners seem absent most of the time and just breeze through to pick up the days receipts or get their kids something to eat. For my money, try Taste of India just a few blocks away on the other side of Savannah Highway (Rt 17)
(2)JP S.
Like the Indian food here. Portions are good enough for sharing. Nothing over the top mind you, I have had better, but this and the game across the way are about the only places in town to eat Indian. Service is ify. Some times you get a very friendly and animated server, but the last time the dude who served us, while pleasant was not too friendly and had a flat affect as one who has taken too many psychotropic meds. Believe it or not, the nan was the best part of the meal... the Garlic Nan was ''come back for more good"...
(3)Bali A.
We went there with friends looking for some good vegetarian food. The owner, a surly Sikh, gave us only two options. Lentils and cauliflower sabzi. We waited (I kid you not) for an entire hour. Numerous reminders during this time were ignored or rudely responded. The food was beyond horrible. The lentil was a watery mix of yesterdays dish-wash and the cauliflower was uncooked. When we complained the server explained that their cooks were busy taking care of pick-up orders, which they seem to prefer to dine-in customres. The coup d'état: We had ordered tomato soup as an appetizer. It came after the meal when we were ready to leave. Needless to say we left hungry, disappointed and poorer by a tidy sum. My advise is to give this excuse of a restaurant a miss. Perhaps try the Taste of India (have not eaten there but have heard good things) Wish there was an option for zero or negative stars!
(1)Ben S.
I used the Yelp app to find somewhere good to eat around my hotel. I am glad the Yelp app recommended it or I would have never walked into this old looking place. The food that comes out of it however is great! The menu is massive so anyone should be able to find something. When we went it was Restaurant Week so for $20 each we got an entree and dessert as well as a drink. My chai tea and my friend's smoothie were both great! The service is unobtrusive. Not everyone speaks fluent English, but they are very kind and want you to enjoy yourself. There was one woman who seemed to know English the best that did come around to make sure everyone was happy. All workers are Indian so this is an authentic experience and one I wish I could repeat soon.
(5)Calvin W.
The food was excellent and the atmosphere matched that! My wife and I will definitely be back to eat here again very soon!
(5)Michael K.
I went for the first time last night after hearing good things and looking for a break from the usual spots. I must say I found the food to be rather delicious, and can see myself coming out here frequently. I am very glad to have been there yesterday. It should be noted that there isn't a real service aspect of the dining experience, it's rather chaotic and confusing when it comes to being seated, ordering, and receiving food but worth it alone for the food.
(4)Keith W.
Nice alternative to long brunch waits on Sundays in West Ashley. Another plus is it's all you can eat buffet style. I was impressed.
(4)Jason M.
We went here during lunch buffet and ordered off the menu which can be a pain for the restaurant sometimes when they're not expecting it. It was no problem and they made two Nav Rattan Korma dishes for us, one very spicy (perfectly) and one absolutely mild which was also perfectly done. Now getting completely mild curries can be very tough, they did it perfectly, not to mention it was delicious. The nan was great, the service was great. I can't say enough good about our experience. I'm not sure what kind of experience Bali A. above had but my feeling is he may be from a competing Indian restaurant in town, maybe the one down the street :p All speculation there, we had a great meal.
(5)Tim U.
My family and I have been to Nirlep quite a few times. The food is halfway decent and is what brings us back, but the atmosphere seems devoid of any joy. I have scarcely witnessed a member of the staff smile, and they are often downright surly. If when ordering they don't hear you, they have on seveal occasions barked "what?!". Sometimes the staff all sit at a table watching television while you eat, with their line of sight going right over your heads, which is slightly unnerving. The Indian channels they have on the TV in the evening seem to play nothing but advertisements, which cheapen the experience a great deal. I write this in the hope that Nirlep will try to improve on this, as we are devotees of Indian food and have a great deal of experience with Indian restaurants in both the US and UK. Again I say the food is decent, but the restaurant is unwelcoming and unfriendly. Our experience with Nirlep leaves us wanting for better Indian food options.
(2)Colleen J.
Yup. Fave Indian restaurant in Charleston by far. I spent pretty much the entire dinner talking about how appropriate it would be to hug the family that owns the place before I left because everything we had was just that amazing. We had the vegetarian dinner for two and I am telling you - this is no exaggeration - but it was the best Indian food experience of my life. SOLD.
(5)Faith O.
Terrible meal. I've been to many Indian restaurants but this was by far the worst. My meal had no flavor at all and on top of that very poor customer service.
(1)Marcela T.
Had dinner here tonight with my family for the first time and it did not disappoint. The curry was awesome! Our server was a little short/dry (I'm thinking language barrier, let's give this guy the benefit of the doubt) but the sa was super attentive and nice. I will probably return here for the food, and with high hopes of better service the second time around.
(4)Ann C.
I had high expectations for Nirlep given the previous reviews but I was disappointed. In comparison to other Indian buffets (outside of Charleston) I've had Nirlep was just meh. None of the dishes I tried had much spice to them, which is what I enjoy about Indian food. The chicken in the chicken curry was dry and overcooked, possibly because they used breast meat instead of dark meat.
(3)Chris O.
I went here the other day with a group of co-workers. The atmosphere was very relaxing but I felt as if the place needs to be cleaned up. As for the food I felt as if it could have been better. Nothing stood out to me and everything seemed very bland. This is the first time that I have had Indian food so it may just be me, but I was under the impression that Indian food was suppose to be very flavorful. I also felt as if the food sitting under heat lamps for a while dried the food out. The food was not terrible but at the same time nothing stood out. I plan to check out another Indian restaurant soon to compare. The service here was great though! Everyone working at the restaurant was very nice and kept making sure our glasses were full and kept all of the dirty used buffet plates off of the table.
(2)Dalton N.
Overall, this place was alright. The interior had a good amount of seats. The smell of the food was good. Service was really, really slow. It took us almost an hour to get all our food. We had a group of over 8 before us and the food came out a couple of plates at a time. At least they came to fill our water glasses every minute. When our food finally came out, it was good. I ordered the lamb rojan josh medium spice with garlic naan. Each dish came with a serving of white rice. The sauce was flavorful, but spicy. I had to drink lots of water for it. The garlic naan was nice and hot. Good garlic flavor. Good for scooping up the sauces. Given the slow service in the kitchen, I might or might not come back.
(3)Manuela B.
We went there craving spicy Indian food and got disappointed. We went for lunch. When we first entered the restaurant, we got seated and left alone for quite a few minutes. After a while the owner came over and attended to us. We decided on the buffet. It was ok tasting, but it had no heat. And my husband was sick to his stomach for 2 days! Overall, very slow if no service at all and food not worth the 40 min drive for us!
(2)Kunal S.
Pretty avoidable, nothing great on the menu, the reason I am giving it 2 stars and not 1 is the Dal Makhani was really good, very home made style... Apart from that, it was avoidable.
(2)Aisha H.
Went here while in Charleston as my other half cannot live without his Indian food fix. Had a great time here, the staff were very entertaining and the food was pretty good (which is saying a lot coming from me!). Will definitely look for the opportunity to visit here again.
(4)Alan S.
Nirlep serves the best Indian food in Charleston and their Chicken Tikka Masala is not only the best Indian dish I've tasted, but one of my favorite dishes ever. Their nan is also out of this world, and their sweet tea is a sort of chai sweet tea that pairs amazingly with the food. Their lunch buffet is fantastic, too. It's family owned and operated and they're all very friendly and attentive. I've turned several people onto Indian food because of Nirlep, and my wife and I visit regularly.
(5)Cheryl L.
Very delicious food. Loved spivey chicken and cabbage . Fresh and flavorful. Service was excellent.
(5)Ginger T.
First time being here and I was pleasantly surprised. I went for the lunch buffet and it was all reasonably priced and yummy, full of flavor! For those on a restricted diet they have plenty of options for you to eat. By far my favorite thing was the Indian chai tea, I have never had anything like it and it was absolutely delcious!!! I highly recommend anyone who goes here try the chai tea.
(4)Arin P.
The food was absolutely delicious (a little heavier than what I normally eat but it was a rare occasion) !! The staff was great and the one lady there was awesome and super friendly. She helped me find all the vegan choices!! Price was good.
(5)Michael L.
Delicious, affordable, excellent friendly service. The various dishes all taste different from each other, and are quite flavorful. These people take pride in what they do. There's a reason they're so busy. Also, excellent atmosphere.
(5)Roy A.
The aromas alone sucked me through the door of Nilep's. The next clue this would be authentic was the segregation of the menu into regular and "non-vegetarian." I haven't seen that since I was last in India. The best measure of Indian dining is how well a restaurant handles vegetarian food. My vegetarian meal that followed at Nirlep was so good, in a city of great restaurants, as a tourist, I chose to dine BOTH nights there. Every dish was prepared with authenticity and panache. Given a choice of 1 to 3 stars for spice, I chose 2, and was happily heated by the chilies. The ras malai desert was so rich and creamy, it melted on my tongue. Its ground green cardamom garnish was pulverized to an irregular grind of both course and fine, producing a subtle melange of texture, flavor and color. The only perceived deviation from authenticity was chapatis brushed with ghee. But maybe they do that in the higher class restaurants in India, of which I've rarely imbibed. No matter, they were REALLY good. For atmosphere, Nirlep is Pizza-hut a la Bombay. But, it's the food that counts. Go to Nirlep's. I think you'll be happy. I sure was.
(5)Raghav V.
daal makhni tasty. matar paneer way too spicy for even my desi tastes. tandoori roti made from whole wheat and fresh out of the tandoor just like the dhabas in india. service good, but attitude indifferent. decor and ambiance musty and so so.
(3)Patti B.
Excellent family run Indian restaurant. Very authentic. One of the only things I didn't like was that bread wasn't standard fare, you had to pay quite a bit more. However, the dishes are excellent. If you are vegetarian, you will find many options here. I found the meat dishes to be a bit sparse on the meat end of it, however this is the way they eat, not the way AMERICAN'S eat meat. They were more than willing to accommodate us by splitting up the checks last minute. My son, who loves Indian food, actually asked the owner about her recipes and she was more than happy to discuss things. Staff is very attentive, even if they don't all speak English (clearly), they seem happy to help.
(4)C L.
A new favorite! Great food, especially vegetarian dishes. Staff is very friendly!
(5)Ryan C.
Pretty good Indian food. Here for dinner so the food is prepared fresh. Had the chicken tikki masala and aloo nan. Masala was as expected. The nan was a little greasy but good taste. Service is just okay.
(3)Nidhi S.
Ok food (shrimp biryani and kalmi chicken kabob was good though). But with limited Indian options in the city, this might be worth a try.
(2)Haynus S.
I rolled up, saw the place is in an old Pizza Hut, and wondered what I was getting myself into. Well, don't judge a book by the cover! I got there about 7:45 p.m. on a Sunday, and it was hardly crowded. I noticed a few Indian couples eating there, which I took as a positive sign. After being seated, they brought out the customary "cracker." On the table were two chutneys (onion-cilantro-mint, and a very spicy onion), plus tamarind sauce. I started with vegetable korma. These came out rather fast. They were a little dry, but had a very good flavor. For my entree, I order the lamb curry, with a side of garlic naan. The naan was phenomenal! I thought the curry could have used a few more vegetables, but otherwise it was good, too. I ordered it "medium" spicy. I ended up adding some of the onion chutney to add some heat. Still good though. The rice was very well cooked, too. One of the best items, the waiter was johnny-on-the-spot refilling my water! This is a big plus for me. If I were going to be in town for more than a business trip, I'd probably check out their lunch buffet.
(4)J B.
Excellent, fresh, authentic Indian food. We asked for spicy and were given spicy, too. Ordered from hotel and it was ready 15 - 20 minutes later. Highly recommended. My 4-star rating is conservative, as we tried only once.
(4)Jeremy P.
We go for the buffet and it is amazing. We are always greeted warmly. The buffet food is always hoot and fresh- constantly being "refreshed." And the place is spotless. Gave the place across the street a shot and it fell short on every level. Charlestons best Indian fare for sure and some of the best Indian food I've had after living in several major cities. Love nirlep! See you payday.
(5)Alex V.
Nice find! Friendly Service and good food. I find that, so many times, its difficult to find good quality cuisine from other countries in the smaller towns around the country. Nirlep is certainly a gem. The food was outstanding. As it was my first time here I decided to stick with the standards - Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan, Lassi. Each part of the meal was well executed, flavors were great and the heat level was exactly as requested. If you're in Charleston and looking for a good meal at an authentic Indian restaurant - Nirlep is the place to go.
(4)Jennifer B.
Wow I'm shocked at all the great reviews of this place. The only thing I can conclude is that the reviewers have never actually had top notch, authentic Indian food. I don't fault them for this, since there is a real lack of ethnic cuisine here in the Charleston area. I wouldn't say that the owners were extremely friendly, they weren't unfriendly. But I don't even really care about service as long as the food is good. The food fell extremely short of expectation, given all the great reviews. I'm convinced that the curries are not actually cooked for hours with the meat and that they just drop in a few small nuggets of dry chicken at the last minute when you order. Sadly I will not be back. I'll continue to get my Indian food from Trader Joes!
(2)Iris N.
4.5 stars. Darn good indian except that the na'an bread was greasy/heavy. Having been trained in culinary Indian I would say that it was a paratha which is an unleavened style of bread; instead of na'an which is light and airy due to the yeast content. I much prefer the later which is what I ordered. DId not really look at the menu all that close to know if this is their flatbread option or a mistake. Beyond that, the owner asked if I wanted medium or spicy with my Dal, and no lie, their spicy is hot hot. I can normally take the heat just fine and this was walking the borderline. Will be back again to try more "traditional Indian food" which I always laugh at when I read this labeling in reviews. The average Indian dish has 16 ingredients, imagine how much that dish changes region to region and country to country. Indian, Goan, Bangali, and Pakistani are all going to be really similar, but just different enough because of the spice origins. Paneer, the fresh cheese made daily, can differ just slightly and change the overall texture of a dish greatly. Indian is not nearly as straight forward as say, Thai, which usually has about half of the ingredients. If you want to start off with baby steps into the cuisine I would suggest vegetarian dishes like, Dal Makhani (lentils) , Saag Paneer (spinach and cheese), and Saag Aloo (spinach and potato). Lost of Indians are vegetarian, especially the women (who are typically in the kitchen) so these dishes seem to be consistently the best from various kitchens.
(4)Carl H.
Really love this place. Have been a fan since day 1 (I was their first customer for their first lunch service). Really love their Lamb Saag and garlic Naan. Their lunch buffet is the best. Great variety and great taste.
(5)Sophie C.
Nirlep is heaven-sent! There aren't a ton of ethnic restaurants in Charleston-area. Coming from Southern California, where you can't help but dine on Ethiopian on Monday, Indian on Tuesday, Korean on Wednesday, etc...I have to say that I MISS all the ethnic options!! Especially Indian--one of my favorites! Nirlep offers simple, delicious food! I have loved every single dish I've had there (knock on wood!), and the service is MARVELOUS!!! I highly recommend Nirlep!
(5)Russell S.
I like their lunch buffet better than the other ones in town. Not fancy but great food, reasonably priced, and worth coming back often.
(5)Cindy W.
A little on the pricey side for the location and ambiance. I would not mind spending that much, however, one would expect to get a decent portion for the price. We had the Chicken Tikki Masala ($13.00), and the Lamb Boti Kabob Masala ($16.00), and the Garlic Nan. They food was all tasty, but nothing spectacular and VERY small portions....disappointing. The help (family run) was quite lacking in friendliness. Not one smile from all three who waited on us at one time or another. They almost seemed to be "put out" that we were there. Oh, and we were the only customers there for most of our meal, so it was not like they were too busy to care. Maybe we interrupted a family argument or something? So, with all the other options for great dining in Charleston, I don't think we will be returning.
(3)Josh S.
Oh man, I don't even know where to start with Nirlep! It's by far one of my favorite restaurants. I won't try and BS this review by saying I even have the slightest clue of what real authentic Indian food is. (I'm a white dude from Mount Pleasant.) I have been to many "best of" Indian restaurants in much larger cities, and Nirlep always ranks highest on my list. The food is magical. And by "magical," I mean that I cannot recreate the dishes myself. (Trust me, I've tried many times.) The amount of detail and effort that the family puts into their food is unimaginable. I've spoken to Mrs. Banga many times and she spends hours each week creating the multitude of naan available on the menu. Little things like the multi-colored rice (orange saffron infused basmati is cooked separately from the rest, then added at the end for a beautiful display) and use of non-traditional additions such as golden raisins in the korma display a level of quality that I haven't found in other Indian restaurants. The Banga family have always been very warm and comforting, and it appalls me to see negative comments about "rudeness" that I've seen in other reviews. Yeah, Mr. Banga appears quiet and reserved, but he's a really nice guy if you get past his seemingly serious demeanor! Mrs. Banga's charm and quick wit always start great conversations. Their son works at the restaurant and their youngest son, Nirlep, holds their restaurant's namesake. Really a wonderful family running a true family-owned business! One word of advice - go for dinner. The lunch buffet is good, but it's nothing like the dinner menu.
(5)Michael T.
It was ok, not great.I like the place across the street for Indian.
(3)Christine T.
Excellent food...had an eggplant dish that was amazing.
(4)Denise S.
Nirlep is really good, I just started eatting Indian food and was given a menu of what to order from a friend who grow up in Indian and lives in the states now. The Chicken butter was wonderful and the rice had a very nice flavor. I ordered the garlic naan and only wish it had more garlic. The grilled shrimp are delicious!! Great place to eat Indian food at. very friendly staff
(4)Adrian M.
A group of 8 of us went there last night for dinner and it was very good. We had meat and vegetarian dishes and liked all of them. The mutton biryani was spicy (unusual for biryani in my experience) but delicious. And the mutton in it was not gamey at all. The spicy dishes were sweat inducing and great. Downsides. The naan was tough. The service was responsive and fast but not friendly, my kids called the waiter "stone face."
(4)Carol S.
We went for dinner early on a Sunday night. Everything about the evening, from the service to the food, was fair. The biggest problem for me was the restaurant was not clean. Our table was dirty, the ladies room was very dirty with no soap or paper towels, and my water glass had some questionable spots .
(2)Kristi S.
I love Nirlep. The lunch buffet is great even w/ little ones. The owner and his wife are such fantastic hosts and really take care of every table like they are their own family. Their tandoori chicken and naan are my favorites - yum.
(4)Anil G.
The food was ok. Not excellent but ok. The service was so so...the waiter made 2 mistakes and my Naan was undercooked
(2)naren b.
Very nice food, tasty. I wanted to eat all of them in excess, but I could not. Top quality food. One should go, if close to this place.
(5)Karen H.
Nerlep was a definite treat. Just got back from London, England, and had the best Indian food, without going to India. Tried Nerlep for the first time, and I was pleasantly surprised. Only negative thing I can even mention is the pompadom...too much black pepper, Bucan't really complain because after all, they were free!!
(4)Jasen F.
Went today, lunch buffett was excellent. Spicy vegetable dish rocked my world. Love the minimal decor, the nice staff, and the fresh food. My Indian buddy gave it a thumbs up, along with the plentiful condiments, fresh chutnies, spices galore, and copious vegetarian options. Better than Taste of India in my humble, traveling consultant in Charleston opinion. Check it out!
(4)Jaclyn R.
This place actually makes me crave Indian food. YUM! Every time we order we get a phenomenal meal and takeout is always fast. Definitely recommend!
(4)Dave K.
I've been to the Middle East and back. This is the real deal authentic Indian food, with the atmosphere to match! The food is so good, you will not leave hungry! But it's so filling, you must come on an empty stomach!
(5)Deepesh K.
So far this has been the best Indian Restaurant that i have been in US especially if you like Punjabi food.This is definitely my favorite restaurant - good taste and variety.
(5)Brett S.
Our daughter took us to this restaurant last night and we loved it! We feasted on the chicken curry, lamb, mixed vegetables, and vegetable balls all with different Nan and other breads and rice. Most excellent for those who especially would like something a little different.
(4)Alfons H.
Fantastic food, wonderful buffet. Favorites: Chicken Butter, Lamb Rogan Josh, Saag Paneer. The best saag dishes for hundreds of miles. There is no reason to eat Indian food anywhere else in Charleston.
(5)Alton B.
I can make better Indian food at home...
(2)Harish B.
Good authentic Indian Food. I am suprised for good Indian Food in Carleston,SC.
(4)Lungfish L.
as a white boy - im not going to try and validate the authenticity of this indian food - it just tastes pretty darn good ...even if it's located in an old pizza hut building. i can only compare it to some of the indian food in my work travels across the pond. curries are tasty and tandori is spot on...service was very good.
(4)nerd h.
I got the buffet. The food was weird. Most of it was vegetarian I think. It's not similar to the Indian food I am used to in Seattle. So for the food, I would say 3 stars. The reason I gave them 4 is because the people that work there are SO NICE. I was eating alone since I just moved to CHS, so that was huge to me. And it's pretty cheap. I prefer the food at Taste of India, but the people that work there are kind of dicks.
(4)L. P.
I love this place. It's the best Indian food in town and what I treat myself to when I need a boost. I recommend the lamb korma - it's fantastic. The staff can be a smidge curt at times but I chalk that up to cultural misunderstandings rather than faulty service.
(5)