Darbar Indian Cuisine

Tim 2 months ago

3.5 stars but rounded up. Decent $19 lunch buffet everyday except for Sundays. Not busy on a Saturday around noon. Small selection of food. Nothing terrible, but also nothing exceptional. We thought that the naan, palak paneer, and began bharta were the best. Followed by the dal and lamb curry. Everything else was just ok. There was a lightly sweet, white/green color drink included. Service was great. They bring fresh plain and garlic naan to your table. It's chewy and thin. Garlic naan was fantastic, very flavorful. Service was great. They're quick with water refills and removing plates. Staff are all very nice. Medium sized, clean restaurant. There aren't many Indian lunch buffet options in the peninsula, but if given the choice, I'd go to the south bay ones instead

Bri M (Bri) 3 months ago

I come here often with my friends and always have a good experience. The butter chicken is so tender and rich, it always leaves me wanting more even when i’m full! Their mango lassi is just as good, refreshing and creamy. Their portions are great for the price, and I’m able to share an order of butter chicken and naan with one other person. The service is also great, servers regularly refill water cups and are super friendly. It’s always a great experience dining here. There is also never any wait!

S Rauw 4 months ago

I have been coming to Darbar Indian Cuisine for over 20 years, and it is a true Palo Alto staple. What stands out most is their incredible consistency—the food is just as delicious today as it was two decades ago. I’ve introduced many friends and coworkers to Darbar over the years, and it’s always a hit. My top suggestion: Go for dinner to truly enjoy the full experience and the wonderful flavors they offer.

Jay Dhillon 11 months ago

I hate to leave poor reviews but this place was incredibly disappointing. The butter chicken was SO uninspired and bland. To their credit, it came with an impressive amount of very soft tender chicken, but it too was also tasteless and colorless, as if it hasn't been marinaded or grilled beforehand. The gravy has a good consistency but again, completely tasteless and immediately forgettable. And they charge a premium price of $21 for the curry alone on doordash? That's absolutely inexcusable for the lack of care and attention to the dish. I also ordered two garlic naan. I received butter naan instead. Whatever, mistakes happen and I don't dock points for that, but the texture of the naan was floppy, rubbery, and difficult to pull apart which is far from the ideal fluffy with a light crispy edge/bottom. For the premium price I was expecting an elevated butter chicken but received a well below average dish I would not order again at any price. While it wasn't bad, it wasn't enjoyable either. 2.5/5 for the food but the audacity of pricing drags it down to a 1/5.

Monica a year ago

Solid place to get Indian food in Palo Alto. We came for a weekday lunch and they have a buffet with good selection. The food was tasty and I really enjoyed it. We paid $41.36 (tax and tip included) for 2 people. There wasn’t too many people when we came so we were seated quickly and the waiters cleared our finished plates fast. They also provide complimentary nan which I appreciate. Also at the buffet they have a variety of different sized plates, which is nice so you can get as little or as much as you want at the buffet. The interior is has many Indian decorations which makes the restaurant feel lively. There’s also many tables to sit at inside. Parking: Downtown Palo Alto has many garages, so we don’t find parking difficult here at all. We parked at one nearby and walked over.