Darbar Indian Cuisine
| Address: | 129 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA |
| Phone: | +1 650-321-6688 |
| Site: | digi-net.ws |
| Rating: | 4 |
| Working: | 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 11AM–2:30PM 5–10PM 5–9:30PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 13
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Dipendra Misra
Food is good but the service and place could be a nightmare, specially on weekends. The place has an abnormally high room temperature with little ventilation. On top of that there is always a long queue of people waiting in the small doorway which creates a very claustrophobic environment. While this also means that the people in general like the food here and that they are willing to put up with the service. Food is indeed quite good however for me the service greatly offsets the experience. As a personal anecdote. Once I ordered my food a half an hour in advance and had to stay there an additional half an hour till I decided to cancel the order. They were completely unapologetic about it. There were like some 15-20 other people waiting there, a few of them not having their orders brought for more than an hour. Looks like they are either consciously understaffed or have no interest in service. Junta, a few blocks away is a much better option. They have a very friendly staff and have a much better ambiance.
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Devesh Parekh
I came in with a coupon for the wrong day (the valid dates were mostly covered by the dotted line around the coupon). They pointed it out but graciously let me use it anyway. Our entrees came with rice, naan, and an appetizer, and the entrees were huge! Most Indian restaurants Ive been to in the Bay Area have tiny entrees for the same price, and you have to order the naan and rice separately. I ate until I couldnt eat anymore, and I had enough left over for a meal the next day. The chicken curry was spicy and tasty. The naan and rice were both very good. The service was fast, and my water glass was always at least half-filled even though I drink a lot of water and doubly so when Im having spicy food. Admittedly, the restaurant was fairly empty, so there were more waiters than tables that needed waiting, but Id be happy to try this place again to see if the service is always so prompt. Update: Ive been back on a busy evening, and its just as good.
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A Private User
After hearing about this place countless times from friends, I finally decided to try it. Definitely a decision that im glad I made. From the beginning, my experience was great due to the friendly staff. It was also a Friday night, and pretty busy, so I was expecting to wait quite some time for my food. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how quick the service was! I had heard that the chicken tikka masala was one of the best dishes at Darbar, so my friend and I decided to order one dish and our waiter helped us pick a second dish. We probably didnt need to order two different things because the portions are so big! My friends raved about this place, and after finally trying out Darbar, I can understand why. I most definitely recommend Darbar to anyone looking for some great Indian food for a good price!
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Katja J
The Aloo Gobhi (Fresh cauliflower and potatoes cooked with herbs and spices) was amazing! BUT we live like 3 min from that restaurant and we ordered here the 3rd time. I always have the Aloo Gobhi and my husband always has the buttered chicken NOT spicy for take out. Every time it was super spicy. The last 2 times we extra ordered NOOOT spicy and they said ok but again it was super spicy so we called and complained this time. Theyre not good with complaints at all. The lady just said they cant make it not spicy/mild. We asked her why she never tells us on the phone when we order it not spicy!?! But no answer just that they cant make it mild. Not cool! No money back no "Im sorry". That was the last time we ordered here! Although my food was very good. The prices are ok but not the cheapest.
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Dan Gnanapragasam
This restaurant provides tasty Indian food at a very reasonable price. All of the main entrees come with daal, raita, naan, and heaping portion of rice. All of the curries that I have tried there have been first-rate (chicken vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, malai kofta) and even the plain rice is quite tasty. The only dish I didnt particularly enjoy was the vegetable biriyani. I would prefer the large vegetables (e.g. carrots and potatoes) to be sliced into smaller chunks and for the overall dish to be spicier. Overall, this is a great place to eat!
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A Private User
Let me start by saying I have never seen any of these bugs that the reviewers wrote about. My guess is that its one of the other restaurants writing sabatage. ;) I either go here or order take out each week. Of the three Indian places I know in town, Hydrabad House, and Fanta/Janta, this one is my favorite. Large portion sizes. But I have minimal sense of what good food is. I like cafeteria food. Still, nice place, well heated in winter. Good bang for the buck. Better than other downtown Indian places.
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A Private User
Ive been to Darbar two or three times with large groups and each time was amazing! We order family style to get a little taste of everything. The dishes are not very large, but satisfying. By the end of the dinner, all the dishes are gone and everyone in the party satisfied. The price per person is between $12-15 but definitely worth it. Much better than other Indian restaurants Ive tried in the area.
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Joseph Hall
I doubt I would visit or recommend Darbar for dinner, but the lunch buffet is another matter entirely. Its not Amber India Los Altos, but you can go in and exit with a large portion of tasty takeout (enough for leftovers) in 5 minutes for well under $20. When Im in a hurry to get back to my desk (as much as I dislike eating in the office), this is a go-to option.
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A Private User
From the moment we got our food we were inundated with little flies and bugs on the table and in our nan. The little flies were everywhere. This restaurant was highly recommended From the moment we got our food we were inundated with little flies and bugs on the table and in our nan. The little flies were everywhere. This restaurant was highly recommended
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A Private User
This is some of the best Indian food I have had period. Even the simple vegetable curry is amazing! The bengan burtha is also delicious, as is the malai kofta. The naan here is made to perfection. Service is quick and friendly, and the atmosphere is low key and relaxing. I highly recommend trying this out if you are looking for tasty Indian eats.
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msamirah4
Best Indian food in the area. A bit expensive (about $36 + tip for 2) but in par with the area and we really enjoy the food. Weve been coming here for about twice a month in the last 5 mths. They are always busy but weve never had to wait more than 10 min for a table and food is never late. Definitely recommend it.
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J Snider
Best Indian food in Palo Alto! Their chicken tikka masala is excellent. They have a lunch time buffet that is a great way to introduce Indian food to newbies. Service is just average but is good enough to not leave you upset. Make a reservation if you are going in a group because it fills up quickly.
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Shekar Chandrasekaran
The food is really good here, with certain caveats. Vegetarian biriyani could be spicier. Brad selection is limited because every entree cukes comes with rice and naan. Wait times could be long. If the place is busy, the staff might keep bothering you to order to get more people into the restaurant.
