India Cafe
| Address: | 227 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA |
| Phone: | +1 319-354-2775 |
| Site: | indiacafewashingtonst.com |
| Rating: | 3.8 |
| 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 21
Reviews 23
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Ben Smasher
We arrived at the dimly lit restaurant for a late lunch at 2:15 unaware that they were closing in 15 minutes. India Cafes hours are not posted on the window. We were told that we could go ahead and start at the buffet and were not warned that they would be closing in 15 minutes. The waiter did not ask what we wanted to drink. While we were in the middle of our first plate, we were told that they were closing the buffet and we should get any last food items from it before they took it all down. This was yet another chance that the waiter could have told us that they closed at 2:30, at this point it was probably around 2:40. At 2:51 the waiter came by and told us that we had to go because they were closed at 2:30. I will chalk the waiters rudeness up to not having a firm grip on the English language, but the fact that he repeatedly neglected to inform us that they would be closing soon was downright insipid. Had he warned us that they were closing soon, he could have avoided later treating his paying patrons so rudely. When asked how everything was, my friend explained how rude it was to be kicked out after not being warned of their impending closing, to which the waiter responded with silence. The spinach pakora was so dry and hard that I was afraid of breaking my teeth on it. Of the two chicken dishes I had, I found myself picking bones and bone chunks out of every other bite. The tandoori chicken was beyond dry and bland. From my sampling of the food, the recipes are uninspired and flavorless slop. Needless to say we will never set foot in India Cafe, and I personally feel sorry for anyone who thinks their service or food is fit for dogs, let alone humans.
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David Frohman
I really like their buffet. My favorite part is the indian carrot cake they often have on the buffet. The selection is actually very small during their lunch buffet. It is a tiny buffet area. But the high quality makes up for the small variety. There is nothing that isnt delicious in their buffet area. Also they change their buffet selection every day, and I am not sure if they use a pattern for that or not. For dinner you can order off of a menu. They have items on the menu that I have never seen on their buffet. I usually get the goat when I am coming for dinner, as I feel it is what they handle best. My best friend disagrees and says they do fish the best. Dont order their chicken at dinner time. Theres always some sort of chicken on the buffet line, and their dinner chicken is honestly less good than their lunch chicken. Dont ask me why.
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A Private User
My husband and I just moved here from Madison , WI and used to have Indian food every Tuesday, from a restaurant called the Taste of India. I craved the decadently creamy dish of Chicken Tikka Masala on a weekly basis. I am unimpressed with India Cafes Chicken Tikka Masala -- it seemed to have less spice, quality and creaminess. Also, the atmosphere is under par and if more warm colors were employed and the lighting improved, their business would double. They have an excellent location and need to improve the above deficiencies. I recommend buying higher quality ingredients and decreasing the portion sizes. Customers would come back for the delicious taste and thank you for not expanding their waste size. I would appreciate these above changes so I can look forward to eating Indian food once a week with anticipation. Thank you.
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Roshan Patel
I have gone here about 5 times. Each time I have been disappointed. They seem to reuse their food. I ordered the Tandoori Chicken and it was not fresh. I have had the chicken curry, tikka masala, and makhani and they all are the same thing. They all taste the same. Flavors were watery and diluted. The Naan is the only thing I have seen improve since going here. I dont think I can go back after so many tries to get a good meal here. It is also overpriced for their quality.
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Jamie Schmidt
It was worth the dime I left for tip. By far the worst service Ive ever experienced anywhere. The food was good if you covered it in the raita or tamarind chutney--which was actually delicious. **Addition: to be fair, there was a man with white and gray hair who gave me fresh bread when I came in. He was great.
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Zarif IM
One of the best Indian food around. Very good customer service as well since they accommodated me with dates when I was fasting. I would recommend people to go there. I dont understand why the hate though. Its been one of the earliest halal restaurants in Iowa City for so long
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Sandy Kemp
Really great, freshly prepared authentic Indian food. Service is very good. You can tell that the staff takes pride in their food. This place I feel had been under-rated. We have come here regularly for about 5 years and find it consistently excellent.
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A Private User
for downtown iowa city its either here or masala for indian; this is better only because im not a vegetarian. i need meat and this place provides plenty of it; everything taste great here, lunch buffet is a great value and food is very consistent.
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Jared Brees
The creamy foods were just a little watery/bland, but still very good. Service was excellent. The Aloo Pakora was great, and the desserts were probably the best Indian desserts Ive ever had. (The day I went it was Burfi and Rice Pudding.)
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Annie Gordon Perkins
the masalas and vindaloos and curries are all delicious. the buffet is best because you can try everything including special "condiment" sauces which otherwise would be an added charge and desserts. the naan is great here too.
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Austin R
Really nice place to eat. Ive been their multiple times, and every time I go its just as good as I remember it being. Never had a problem with the food. The waiter is very kind and helpful.
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Katie Roche
I love Indian food and really love this setting, the buffet and the selection. Really nice people keeping your water filled and full of smiles. An Iowa City institution!
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Crystal Gray
Good service and great food. Wish their mango lassis were thicker.... nevertheless... it was good! I go multiple times a week when Im in town!
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abe kline
Awesome inexpensive indian cuisine. Everything on the menu is good. Highly recommend the rogan josh, the shahi korma, and, of course, the naan
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Ali Al-Jumaili
I like the open buffet for reasonable price: unlimited bread (naan), rice , couple soups, tendory chicken and couple desserts.
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Peter Chanthanakone
The buffet was awful, dry chicken and very limited selection of items. Go to the Indian restaurant in Coralville. ahhh!
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A Private User
Great lunch spot. They offer a buffet which is great because you get to try a little bit of everything. Friendly staff.
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Seth Bernstein
Delicious food and friendly staff. A little too spicy, a "2" on their scale from 1-10 was still pretty spicy.
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Anshul Shrivastava
Food was not good, although roti/ chapati was food, but sabji was really bad. No recommendation to anyone
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Tejas V
Worst customer service & food. One of the worst indian restaurant I have visited in United States.
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Nick Sparr
Quality seems a step above Masala, but sometimes the dishes are stingy on the quantity of meat.
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Daniel Levitt
Amazing lunch buffet with a wide selection of both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes!
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James Hartman
Not the best I have ever had but pretty dang good. Clean and friendly. Buffet was tasty.
