Ajanta
| Address: | 1888 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA |
| Phone: | +1 510-526-4373 |
| Site: | ajantarestaurant.com |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 10
JI
Jiann Mok
Pros: - chicken tikka masala (not too creamy & not too chunky) - mangalore chicken curry (super tender chicken) - gulab jamun (dense doughnuts soaked in syrup) - entrees come with a plate of rice, palek paneer, and 1/2 naan - extremely attentive staff - fancy decor (especially for the reasonable price of the meal) - very quick service (3 course meal was over in 45 min, although we stayed longer and they didnt mind) - authentic Indian food* Cons: - haha no complaints here Bottom line: My favorite Indian food in Berkeley/Albany. They bring out the food so quickly and the restaurant feels busy, but when you take a bite, time seems to slow down as each layer of flavors melts in your mouth. I always have a great experience here and I cant wait to share this gem with others. * My Indian friend A.P. was visiting family in New Delhi when he stopped to grab a bite at a modest restaurant where ate the best chicken tikka masala he had ever tasted. No other restaurant had come close until he tried the chicken tikka masala at Ajanta. A.P. loved it so much that he took his parents here just 3 days later.
PA
Patrick Berkeley
The food here is really amazing. It is flavorful and spiced to perfection. How well the spices and flavors combined was impressive. The sauces and chutneys that came with the entrées were excellent. The rice was presented nicely in two small scoops on each plate. The atmosphere was pleasant (This surprised me because it looked a little dingy/cheap from the picture on their website.); the seating was comfortable; the acoustics were fairly good. The food was very filling, but not heavy. (Four of us shared two appetizers and three entrées, and it was more than enough food!) What I tried: Vegetable Samosa: Unlike other samosas Ive had, these were not oily. The pastry was pretty much perfect, flaky, not to thick and crunchy. Papadam: The wafers themselves were tasty, but what I really enjoyed was the mint-cilantro sauce that came with them. It was fresh and delicious. Bheh, Khumbi Aur Matar: This was my first time trying lotus root. Its good, something like a more flavorful water chestnut. Saag Paneer: Not oily. The cheese was smooth and not too heavy.
AL
Alyx Barranger
Before I came here for the first time I was adamant about the fact that I did not like indian food. This place quickly changed my mind and I learned that I do happen to like good indian food. :) This has to be one of my favorite places to eat in Northern California - I absolutely cannot recommend it enough to people. I dont think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu, but I tend to lean towards lamb dishes with creamier sauces (read: less spicy, since Im a wimp). I also highly recommend that you try the Kulfi for your dessert. It is out of this world delicious and will rock your world. Yes, this place is a little pricey, but it is absolutely worth every dollar. It is one of the few places that I dont mind paying extra for the decadence of the food they provide. If you are looking to treat yourself or challenge your notion that you dont like Indian food, this is your spot.
KA
Kathy Maser
I went to the restaurant with a female friend. My food arrived barely warm and when I told the waiter, he put his finger into my rice to check the temperature. His attitude was arrogant, that perhaps I was lying, he did not believe me. The plate, of which I had taken one small bite of rice, was returned to me after microwaving. UGGGG he had touched my food. I was fearful of returning it again since the waiter acted so rude. Was it because we were females???? Was I a lower cast??? Also the chickpeas which are served with the vegetarian meal were hard, a bit crunchy and I my opinion undercooked. Servings were small and even with an appetizer, I was able to finish my full meal (I weigh 110lbs and am a small eater, often not able to finish even half a meal at other restaurants. Needless to say, I will not return.
SA
Saravan Kumar
This is truly an amazing Indian restaurant , I cant think of any North Indian restaurant in the US that is nicer than this. parking can be a challenge but no complaints. go by the staffs selection. The tastes are truly awesome, every item on the plate was awesome, we thought the quantity was less but it was a full course mean i would say it was an expertly put together full course menu with precise quantities enough to fill u up but at the same time create an interest in the next course. It was along drive for us but everyone was delighted the flip side was every meal we ate after this felt average. The service is truly personnel, will say dont judge just experience. it is exceptional There is a nice little super market behind this place just walk over.
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Max Heinritz
I went here for dinner on a Monday with a friend and his family. For appetizers, we had the scallops, chicken chaat, and portobello. For my main, I had the Goa Prawns with Tamarind. I also ordered a mango lassi. The lassi, the scallops, and the portobello were the highlights of the meal. The portobello was rich and extremely flavorful. The scallops were sweet and perfectly cooked. The prawns were good, but they werent as flavor or sweet as I was expecting. The tamarind was too subtle IMO. The service was generally good, but my meal was served 5+ minutes after everyone elses, which was a bit awkward.
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J P
Seriously bad. I actually made the trip to Berkeley because this place was highly recommended. My wife and I are huge Indian Food fans and we were excited try a new place. We started off with something floating in her water. The buss boy looked perplexed that we were pointing it out. Im not sure if he didnt speak English or he thought it was no big deal. We ordered and I have to say the food was not good. In fact it was so of the worst we have ever had. To top it off we found a hair in the Rice! This place is dirty. I feel bad to say these things but it was a terrible experience.
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James Miller
As a regular for half a decade, I can attest that Ajanta is a cut above every other Indian place I have been to in the Bay Area. To be clear my perspective is that of a non-Indian American. Every dish I have tried has been very good to great. My only criticism is that I have always ordered the spicy level as mild / medium (their desired description), which results in the usual heat level I like, but occasionally is too mild or spicy. This place always gets packed, so plan ahead or be prepared to wait.
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Andres Rustan
Amazing experience. The food is delicious, the portions perfectly sized and flavors exquisite. We love Indian food and this is now our favorite Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area. The spiciness level can be selected from 1 to 5, so I went for 2 and it was perfect for an spice lover but without killing the flavors. Everything tasted fresh and it was delivered at a very good pace. The service was great and they helped us select dairy-free options for our entire meal.
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Naomi Black
Delicious Indian cooking with a subtle hand on the balance of the spices in every dish. They always have the standard favourites, but they mix up the menu to take advantage of local/seasonal produce. Definitely my favourite Indian restaurant in the Bay Area. The staff are friendly, the takeaway service is efficient, and theyre one of the few Berkeley restaurants that will do delivery (through ezdineinn).
