This was.... The best meal I've had in a long time. I'm not going to lie, I was not super excited about no meat options. This place is... absolutely divine. I can't believe how flavorful all the dishes were. It's insane. I wanted to turn back the clock to eat everything again. I have no idea what we had because my friend ordered everything. All I know is i will be back as soon as humanely possible.... Hopefully with a large group... to eat all the things. read more

Restaurants are in the hospitality industry, but I'm not sure Besharam is aware of that, as there was no hospitality from anyone besides the two bartenders who were serving me. There was a time when customer experience was prioritized, but at Besharam last night, it not only felt like my experience came second to the restaurant's arbitrary rules, but that the higher-ups at the restaurant were committed to ensuring I did not have a good experience. This was a huge blow to me, as I've been anticipating dining at Besharam since it opened. I am Gujarati and vegetarian (which is the style of food served at Besharam), so I was eager to try for the first time an elevated version of the cuisine my mom and grandmother used to cook for me while I was growing up. It was supposed to be a comfort. Little did I know that rather than leaving the restaurant comforted, I would leave with a sour taste in my mouth. I wanted to do the tasting menu to try a little bit of everything, since I live in LA and am rarely in the Bay. I only have one friend here and this friend had already done the tasting menu. She was very dissatisfied with it, so she did not wish to do it again. I, however, wanted to give it a chance. The dilemma was that if we were to sit in the dining room, both of us would need to do the tasting menu. The way we found around the dilemma was to each make a reservation for one at the bar. I had asked in advance, and was told a single person could do the tasting menu. I arrived after my friend was already seated at the bar, and the host sat me right next to her. This is important, because I didn't ask to be sat there. And again, we had separate reservations. When I asked for the tasting menu, they said no because I was seated next to my friend. I begged them, saying technically my friend and I were not together and that I could sit a stool apart from her if that would help. I also explained my personal connection to the cuisine, how I would be leaving in a few days and that I'd been anticipating dining at Besharam since it opened. They still said no. Eventually, they said I could do the tasting menu if I were willing to sit at a dining room table by myself. This is what makes me feel like they were committed to ruining my experience, rather than making my experience an enjoyable one. Why would you want to seat me by myself when I could have a joyous time eating and drinking with my friend at the bar? For all they knew, we ran into each other at the restaurant. If anything, the hoops I jumped through to do the tasting menu should have earned me the opportunity. It was a testament to how badly I wanted to experience Besharam's food. I was in disbelief at their complete unwillingness to accommodate my small request. It's not like I was asking for something off the menu or being demanding in any way. I was simply trying to offer them more of my business, as my meal would have been more expensive had I been able to order the tasting menu. In addition, why did you give me a tasting menu if you were going to arbitrarily decide I can't order from it? Others were eating it, so I don't get how it would've inconvenienced them to offer it to me. It's actually weird how militant they were about their rules when they could have had a sense of humor about how my friend and I put on this show of running into each other just to have this experience. It's like we were in high school again, and detention would've been sitting at a table by myself. Also, if their rules are so important, why not clearly state them on the tasting menu? Maybe because they don't apply to everyone? Another reviewer mentioned he was treated poorly because he was Indian. I wonder the same. And here I was hoping to support a fellow Indian. I'm not at all surprised by their low rating, given their lack of dedication to customer experience. It's a shame because their food and drinks are actually good, but I won't be dining here again or recommending this restaurant to anyone. Besharam means "shameless" in Gujarati. I can now see where they get their name. read more

Besharam - Tasting menu that shows no minimum person requirement. - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Everything that's supposed to crispy on the outside is with a nice balance warm creaminess on inside. The flavors and textures are carefully crafted and they always work. read more

Located in the historic Dogpath neighborhood, Besharam is one of the best Indian food I've had in SF and Bay Area. We arrived here just 15 mins before closing time and they were already past their last order time. While the server notified us it would be very difficult to get a table, we were comfortably seated and given a couple of mins to order by the host. We ordered Mumtaz and Right Above It for cocktails and right above it was a great great cocktail to order. For dinner, we ended up getting drunken pani puri which was good and as described, kachori dumplings-which was amazing(a must order), gatte-an amazingly traditional rajasthani dish made into a modern pasta, cheesy garlic naan( must order) and maska paneer (must order). The grated paneer on top of their maska paneer dish is the richest and softest paneer I've had in the US. One notable mention about their service is that once we got our cheesy garlic naan, we really wanted to order another and asked our server if that can be arranged and the chefs were graceful enough to make another one for us even though they were closing down the kitchen. The ambiance is lovely and they have a mix of Bollywood and pop music playing in the background. One important thing to note is that they include a 20% service charge and a 5% San Francisco mandate on their bill so it does get a little expensive. Still, we had a great time here and would absolutely love to be back again! read more

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Super delicious late lunch here on a Friday afternoon. As 1970s music played and the kitchen staff worked hard preparing for dinner, they served me a delicious mango salad with endive and white miso sesame dressing and crunchy (rice?) bits on top. One of the best salads I've had all year. Then came Dahi Wada, flat dal fritters topped with yogurt and chutney. Add a ginger lemon drink and it's a perfect lunch. read more

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Wow - I've been coming here for years and I can't believe I've never written a review - this is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco! Consistently delicious meals - so much flavor! Good drinks, good service. So much flavor! If you haven't eaten here, you're missing out! read more

I had been hearing so much buzz about Besharam, an upscale restaurant, that I finally decided to give it a try with a group of friends. Unfortunately, a few things stood out in a negative sense that made our experience less enjoyable than we expected. Firstly, if you are a group of six or more, you are required to choose the prefix menu, which is limited and doesn't give you the freedom to select dishes that you prefer. As a result, our total bill came out to be around $900, which seemed quite steep considering the quantity and quality of food that we received. Moreover, the service tax is 20% irrespective of the number of diners in your group, so be sure to keep that in mind if you visit this place. Moving on to the food, we were not particularly impressed. The portions were small, and the taste was average at best. Given the high price we paid per person, it felt like we were eating homemade food that shouldn't cost $70 per person. To add to our disappointment, we were seated outside in an art gallery, which felt quite random and not particularly conducive to a memorable upscale dining experience. Although the decor and ambiance were nice inside the restaurant, our seating arrangements did not live up to our expectations. Overall, while the brand and decor of Besharam may seem impressive, the food and service did not match up to their reputation. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for an upscale and memorable dining experience, especially considering the high prices and limited menu options in the prefix menu. I'm a little hesitant to be back and try the a la carte menu. read more

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I would give 3.5 stars if Yelp allowed. Pretty good food and experience, but what we ordered didnt knock it out of the park. First the good. Despite our size, wealth, and vibrant south Asian community, it's surprising that SF has so few contemporary Indian food restaurants in SF. Rooh was the first (5 stars), so I was excited for Besharam to be the latest addition. It's a great location in Dogpatch, which seems to get better every month for dining and nightlife. The restaurant is on the ground floor of a converted warehouse which is now a collection of art galleries, and the restaurant delivers on the industrial chic vibe. We had a reservation, but arrived early. The staff were great - we only had to wait a bit and they were able to accommodate us. We started with some cocktails as we perused the menu - there's a tasting menu and you can also order a la carte. Server seemed a bit confused about us wanting to ponder the menu over our first drink, but he eventually caught on we werent in a rush and adjusted accordingly. Robust list of cocktails, beer, wine, soft drinks. With one exception, cocktail choices are all sweet. Not sure why, but the epic wines-by-the-glass list made up for it. So why the three stars? The flavors were all AMAZING. The balance of spices were exciting and engaging and so delicious. But all the food was just stodgy. We had masala dumplings to start, which were crispy and flavorful. After that, everything was surprisingly heavy without contrast: dahi wada, maska paneer, malai kofta, and cheesy garlic naan were all heavy, unbalanced dishes without any contrast in texture. Way too much cheese in the maska paneer and naan, kofta and dahi wasa were soft and heavy without any crunch on the outside. Maybe we mis-ordered and a different combination of dishes might have provided a better balance, but might have expected the server to provide guidance on that. I was close to giving four stars, but at this price point expectations are raised. If you're looking for a fun night out with some interesting new flavors I would definitely give it a try, just engage the server to help you navigate the menu. read more

Came here on a Saturday night and this place definitely hits the spot with unique Indian cuisine! I got a whole smattering of dishes and really liked the presentation of all of them - the only complaint is that the service is a bit slow here. My favorite dishes were the chutneys and the roti type bread. We ordered the kebabs too and it blew my mind that it wasn't meat. Definitely a vegetarian's dream. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and would come again if I had more time. Nice dimly lit ambiance for a date especially! read more

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if you are conflicted to whether to try gujarati food as a fine dining experience go for it! The besharam family is truly set to entertain you Bollywood style. The vibe is as expected with perfectly curated menu , charming crew and correctly set ambiance! Only unexpected was how good the dishes truly are! We tried kala khtta soda and they have nailed recipe. It connected us right back to gola( shaved ice) we cherished as kids. We also went for idla and paani puri for appetizers. Put a big smile on our faces when the accompanying green chutney with idla hit the correct notes. I was guessing whether it was due to raw mango or curds.. We opted for maska paneer with saag. Our bartender sang odes of the freshly made paneer by chef Heena herself and I would agree! Saag itself is good but paneer is outstanding! Tip: this much is actually enough for two. But being besharam as we are , we tried shiro which is made of mung beans and it was really good! My personal preference is eating it warm but have it cold was new experience and tasted good too. All in all we now have a new favorite! read more

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Honestly was pretty impressed with the food/flavors here. Based on the past reviews it looks like the menu rotates - we were offered a Gujarati themed menu. I was a little hesitant about this since I don't usually like the sweeter flavor profile from Gujarati cuisine and it was all vegetarian but the dishes we got were more fusion / tasted great! Here's what you should try! Drunken pani puri (has Gin!) Maska Paneer (I think this was my favorite) Malai Kofta I'd pass on the Dahi wada and the srikhand cheesecake (unless you really like srikhand) Service was a bit slow and the location is a bit out of the way, but I'd be back to try other things if they change up the menu and would love to try the cocktails! Also appreciated the decor/ hatecopy artwork! read more

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The food is fun and some items are very delicious. Good dishes to try (in order of my preference): Kachori, Sev Puri (wasn't on the menu on the most recent visit), Dabeli paratha, Paresh paratha, and tea (a bit overpowering, so only recommended if you like Masala chai). Things to absolutely avoid: 24 karat "dessert". You might as well eat a can of preserved peaches. So so stuff: Khaman. I give them 3.5/4 for the bold menu and mostly well prepared items. However, the restaurant is designed to discourage families with kids. They don't have high chairs, don't have kids friendly low/no spice items and won't customize anything to accommodate kids. read more

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We couldn't get a reservation but showed at around six. There were some empty tables but were told we couldn't be seated and that the waitlist was 1 hour. We walked around the minnesota project (art installations) and checked back after 20-25 mins since we still saw empty tables. Asking a second time, we got seated immediately. We ordered things to share. We got the drunken pain puri, roti, ringan no oro, dal makani, cheesy garlic naan, kheema bati, and cheesecake. Everything was good, especially the pani puri and cheeses garlic naan. The more people at the table the better, so you can order multiple things. It's expensive for the type of dishes though (transitional very affordable Indian dishes). read more

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SERVICE - located in the dogpatch neighborhood very close to highway 280 - plenty of parking available in front of store - reservation highly recommended - seating available at bar or in 2 different sections of restaurant - view of kitchen with chefs hard at work - servers are very friendly and welcoming! We had Krishnan and he constantly came by our table to ensure our meal was good while also making some casual jokes to keep the mood light - food served relatively quickly MENU - Indian food inspired by 4 parts of northern India - small dishes and larger mains - all vegetarian with vegan and gluten free options marked - slightly pricier ($25 per entree) - option to do a set menu for $70 per person FOOD - besharam samosas (5/10): 3 small pastry triangles filled with spicy potatoes and served with a side of mint chutney. I was expecting them to be slightly larger based on how our server described them. The taste was okay but not spectacular when compared to the rest of the dishes. - ringan no oro (10/10): fire charred eggplant topped with roasted garlic. This is a play off of the classic baingan ka bharta, a roasted eggplant dish. I really enjoyed the smoky flavor on the eggplant as well as the subtle sweetness from the garlic. The texture is most similar to a jam and it was easy to scoop with the roti or eat on its own. A must order! - chole (8/10): garbanzo bean curry topped with garlic and chili. Chole is one of my favorite comfort foods so I had to order this. The flavors are very similar to what I am used to eating at home. The beans themselves are soft and creamy yet not complete mush. - dal dhokli (10/10): yuba (tofu skin) sheets, kabocha squash, and crunchy chickpea noodles in a coconut broth. I had never seen this on a menu so was very interested to try it. It ended up being my favorite of the dishes that we ordered. I especially liked how the broth was slightly sweet but also spicy. The crunchy noodles maintained their texture despite being soaked in broth. - gatte (7/10): chickpea flour noodles in a manchurian sauce with spicy honey drizzle. This was another dish that I had not seen before so was excited to try it. The texture of the noodles is most similar to an udon but drier on the inside. The sauce is quite tangy and tomato forward. - roti (9/10): 2 pieces of whole wheat bread with coconut flakes and cumin. It was softer than most roti so I think they added another type of flour (millet?). The grill marks are also a unique way of cooking. It makes the perfect side dish for the Chole and ringan no oro. - halwa (7/10): grated spiced carrot pudding with cashews and pumpkin seeds. This was the only dessert that was vegan so we decided to try it. It is exactly what you would expect from a gajjar ka halwa and made a great end to our meal. WOULD I COME BACK? This has to be one of the best restaurants I have been to. Chef Heena Patel balances the authentic flavors of Indian cuisines with modern twists in a way that the whole family can enjoy. Will definitely be coming back! read more

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Besharam is located adjacent to an art gallery which they use after hours to increase their seating capacity. The service is extremely good with the waiters introducing the restaurant , owner and the menu breakdown. Definitely a large variety of food from different states of India. We started off with the kala khatta and pineapple drink. The kala khatta was definitely a standout. For apps, the drunken Paani puri was recommended , I think it was too hyped up and was pretty good, didn't taste any of the gin that it was supposed to contain. The Khaman was really good and definitely reminded me of my time in Ahmedabad years ago. The impossible kheema batti and paneer were extremely delicious when paired with the rice Overall would recommend this place. I like the concept of being able to taste different flavors of India in a single place. read more

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At least the name is accurate. But they should be ashamed. Street Food should be tasty and unpretentious - this was the exact opposite. You shouldn't have to wait 45 min to be seated in a half empty restaurant serving bland food - the 15 or so empty but "reserved tables" were still empty after we left. Like Copra, it's reputation far exceeds the reality I didn't think anyone could mess up pani puri but they managed to, and the chaat was a complete disappointment - plus you have to order all the accoutrements separately. Do yourselves a favor and go to Chaat Corner in SOMA. Way tastier minus the snooty read more

Liked the food, especially the drunken pani puri and the Mali kofta. Alcholol drinks were average and wish they had mkre spiced drinks, I wish they had Indian cha (milk tea) to finish off the meal. Wish the food had more flavor and or spice to them. Me not being a local, I can never understand the automatic 20% service charge and the 5% SF mandate that just makes things much more expensive than they should be. read more

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I recently had lunch at Besharam for the first time with my girlfriend, Lisa. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The dining room is spacious and has lots of light with big windows. The food and service were great. My favorite dish was the drunken pani puri. My girlfriend was partial to the Turmeric Crush! Lots of street parking. You can also visit the many art galleries at the Minnesota Street Project while you're there. https://minnesotastreetproject.com/ read more

Came for a birthday dinner with friends and didn't realize it was a tasting menu which was a pleasant surprise. There are two sides to the restaurant, the "main" side which felt more contemporary and lively (and had music) and then the art studio side which was much more peaceful and "echoey." We were seated on the art side which was cool since you get to walk around and take in the art, but it felt kind of strange since the ambience was very different. If I came again, I would much prefer the main restaurant seating. Compared to other San Francisco Indian restaurants such as ROOH and Amber, this place definitely has more of a "new Indian" feel to it. The tasting menu looked to be comprised of some of their more famous dishes and most were delicious: * Drunken Pani Puri - 8/10: the dish I was most excited about, pouring the sauce soup into the puffs was an absolute delight; loved it even though I'm not that big of a mint fan * Khaman - 7/10: delicious lentil cakes that paired exquisitely with the accompanied chutney * Besharam samosas - 7/10: the only meat dish that we ordered, the outer layer reminded me of filo dough with all its layers * Kanji Wada - 8/10: interesting concept of fried tapioca, loved the little balls of chewiness inside * Dahi Wada - 7/10: a fantastic marriage of all kinds of different flavors from sweet to savory * Mango Salad - 7/10: nice and refreshing mix of greens with a very sesame forward dressing * Ringan No Oro - 10/10: easily my most favorite dish, the roast on the eggplant was so smokey and delicious * Maska Paneer - 8/10: the paneer in conjunction with the spinach sauce made for a wonderful accompaniment to the naan and rice * Chole - 6/10: not my favorite since the garbanzo beans tasted a bit under seasoned * Mawa Beignets - 5/10: very disappointing dessert that reminded me more of doughnut holes than anything else * All of the various chutneys and pickles - 8/10: all quite delicious with varying levels of sweetness, spice, and intensity We also ordered a bottle of wine that was suggested to accompany this tasting menu and it was sweet and floral. Pro-tip: so we decided to order all of the chutneys and pickles since that's what our waitress suggested, but we didn't realize that a lot of the appetizers came with the same chutneys. Unless you have a huge party of 8+, just order the specific chutneys that you want and make sure to ask if whatever add-ons or appetizers you get comes with it already. Overall, I was satisfied with my experience and would recommend those that haven't tried it yet, to come here at least once. read more

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Nice little place with a unique take on small plate Indian food. Lively music and vibe. Not photographed - who killed the lamb? Order that with rice. Their twist on traditional dishes is amazing. And while the servings look small, they are way filling. Loved the cocktail. read more

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Heena Patel has changed the Indian Fusion Game. Beautiful representation and even beautiful taste. Drinks, Sweet (Shrikhand Cheesecake ) and everything on the menu is simply must try! Amazing service and Unique Location. Full recommendation! read more

I was super excited to try the spot and I heard amazing reviews! The food was delicious, felt really Homey and made with love. Chef Heena Patel made a lot of amazing authentic dishes with her personal twist on it from her childhood growing up. (She was also super sweet, we said hello to her at the end!) To start, the drinks were phenomenal!! One even came with parleg biscuit! Brought back so many childhood memories Everything that the way to recommended for us was really good! One dish that caught me off surprise was the mango salad- it was actually full of flavor, and really refreshing and phenomenal!!! I wasn't expecting that at all. The one dish I wish I didn't get was the meatballs - this might be a personal take but I personally don't love the taste of impossible meat, so I wasn't a biggest fan of this, but everything else was really good. Their rotis and naans were reallllly fresh! read more

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My friends threw a surprise birthday dinner for me and my girlfriend. We sat at the bar and had amazing conversations with bartenders. Even though I have been to many Indian restaurants, Gujarati cuisine has always been close to my heart and I was super impressed by the delicious and flavorful Besharam's delicacies. Right from drinks to dessert - I enjoyed every bit of our time there. And Chef Heena Patel stopped by our table to ask about our food. I could see the personal care and touch that goes into making the food. Thank you, Besharam for wonderful time. read more

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Exceptional food and cocktails. We especially liked the dahi vada as an appetizer, the malai koftas as a main, and the paratha bread. Our waiter was attentive and the food came fast. read more

This is supposed to be an Indian restaurant with a twist....meaning some cute variations of Indian cuisine. The food quality is underwhelming with a grossly overpriced menu. The price needs to be one third of their price to justify the visit. I am impressed by the hype created by them to be apparently successful! The ambience is of a self service cafeteria. I was not impressed. Good luck to you if you plan to visit. I suggest try some other Indian restaurants for better experience. The cost of limited amount of food with a drink will average $80-100 per person Reminder:Add about 27% to menu prices to account for mandatory tip and SF worker's medical insurance charges. read more

Went to this place as part of wife's bday dinner. Vegetarian menu is very limited and did not accommodate a little customization( most restaurant does little bit of changes based on people allergy requirements ). We had to decide appetizer , main course menu at same time else waiters refused to take the order. Food test was ok and based on the marketing / promos expected a lot from this place ( in similar line rooh had better food when I tried ). read more

I was reluctant to go to this restaurant since it is vegetarian after I had food here I became a big fan of this place. Pani puri is not that great, puris are not authentic. I recommend to avoid this item. Some of the items we repeatedly ordered were Keema batti, pav bhaji puffs they are out of bounds. Gatte pasta is not that great it had a weird taste tossed in a sweet sauce and we did not like the combination. We could not get a table because of the Father's day, so we sat at the bar table. One thing I got annoyed by the staff is they asked me to order all drinks I am going to have for the dinner together. I have not encountered this request before. We ordered all food together, but the drinks I don't get it. Desserts are not that great, mango srikand is average. I did not get to experience the ambiance as we did not get a table. read more

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Enjoyed the corn pakora, tandoori elote, shrikhand cheesecake. Would pass on paneer satay.

Didn't like the thali . Worst thali I ever ate. Never felt so awful after eating such food. Full of cream tasteless malai kofta, full of oil, tasteless dal , rice peas pulao was not good, frozen roti uncooked , dessert- as per my daughter's comment super yucky! Mirchi bhaji was good, vada pav was good. Service is not good. Do not waste your money here, not worth it. read more

I've had the pleasure of dining at Besharam several times over the past few weeks, and each visit has been nothing short of exceptional. I just finished my lunch there and already find myself wanting to return, not out of hunger, but simply because the food is that extraordinary. The atmosphere is equally impressive: warm, welcoming, and full of heart. The entire team makes you feel at home, and I have to give special thanks to my server, Sal, whose kindness and attentiveness truly stood out. I can't stop telling everyone I know about Besharam, it is truly a gem. read more

Excellent modern Indian food - a delightful blend of street food and classics, and all vegetarian friendly. Wonderful flavors and spice levels. We'll be back! read more

Besharam (Shameless) - the name aptly reflects botched or bastardized Indian cuisine. Very disappointed with quality of food at such high prices. Perhaps it's not a place for Indians to dine in as they know the authenticity of the food is no where near. It's a terrible waste of money and the dining experience at a such a high price. read more

I have done both the tasting menu and a la carte, and everything here is sooo good - my fav indian place in SF! I am not vegetarian but my bf is vegan and it was great going here w him I have loved everything, but special highlights are the Drunken Pani Puri, Dhokli (such a fun dish), Kachori Dumplings, Vindaloo Meat Balls It tastes like your Indian moms home cooking but with fusion flavors - that is a high compliment, being able to get the taste of home cooking at a beautiful upscale restaurant I love it, will be back!! SF was blessed with this gem read more

I'm super wary of upper-high end Indian food. I mean, what could possibly be that much better than a hole-in-the-wall dhaba or your Nani's cooking? I came to Besharam with these reservations, and while some of these questions remain, I was shown the merits of higher end Indian cuisine. I had a reservation for the indoor atrium on a weekday. The actual restaurant is quite small and cozy, but they have some seating spillover into the atrium of the adjoining museum. The atrium was nice and didn't exactly detract from our experience, but my friend and I both agreed that we'd like to sit inside next time for better ambiance. Maybe the establishment could put some speakers in the atrium so the guests sitting there can enjoy some Bollywood bangers as well? DRINKS Chammak Challo: I'll be honest, I ordered this drink for its name, and enjoyed the little performance the waiter gave me when he served it. Perfect for those who, like me, enjoy a sweet, citrusy little drink. Disco Dancer: an interesting take on a masala chai, a bit stronger and very gingery. Loved the Parle-G as garnish! My friend got the Lights out at the Dogpatch. It has like 3-4 different types of liquor in it. This drink is not for the weak, I could only really have a sip of it. FOOD: Drunken Pani Puri: just a great pani puri, the pani was super flavorful and delicious. It apparently had gin in it, but there wasn't a strong alcohol flavor. Garlic Naan: there was a lot of cheese in the naan, which felt unnecessary when the naan was eaten with the other curries. I do wish it was more like a typical naan, or if there was a cheese-less option on the menu. It was also not segmented at all, which made it a little awkward to share. Malai Koftas: super flavorful, creamy, just really delicious. The kofte were soft and decadent. A lot of restaurants get this wrong and I'm glad Besharam did not. Ringan No Oro: a traditional Gujarati eggplant dish similar to baingan bhartha. Really great roasted flavor. Overall, I would describe Besharam as having elevated versions of classic Indian dishes. While the Indian-inspired drinks and interesting takes on Indian appetizers and sides make the experience worth it, I'm not sure if the main entrees were elevated enough to justify the price point. While Gujarati cuisine is more difficult to find, I do feel like I have had Indian food just as good as Besharam's at more low-key establishments. Definitely worth a try! The volume of options on the menu might warrant a return visit for me. read more

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So disappointing! Big groups have a pre-fix menu - make sure you check that before you go here. We were visiting friends in San Francisco and visited this restaurant with a group of 13 friends. We didn't know about the pre fix menu before we got to the restaurant. I made the reservation on Google, and I was not made aware of the pre fix menu by the restaurant or Google. When we got there, the front desk told us that the menu was non negotiable. We asked for substitutions, but she said they would be only be minimal in case of food restrictions. We decided not to stay because the food did not suit our needs. The front desk called the owner of the restaurant and they said that our $250 deposit would not be returned. The owner was extremely rude and started arguing with my husband that it was Google's fault. That we should call Google and tell them to take Besharam off their site. And that it was our mistake that we didn't see the menu or website before we got there. I understand that miscommunications occur, but there's no place for rudeness or being disrespectful. There are a million restaurants in the Bay Area, and if you would like us to respect your food, you have to be nice. read more

Tried this place for lunch today. Very expensive place for service, portion size and quality of food. Lunch has very limited menu choices. Presentation of food was very good but I am not a huge fan of modifying food for sake of making it look cool. 25 dollar Pav Bhaji they only serve 1 paav, for 11 dollar vada paav, vada comes on single sided bun, so how do I eat it? In any part of the world if you are eating Vada paav with fork and spoon you are committing a crime. Ask anyone who likes Vada paav to draw a Vada paav and they will do so with Vada stuffed in a pav and not slapped flat on single sides bun. Service is slow, i had to go to counter to order my food. I paid 125 dollars for 4 items one of them was lassi and then had to eat again in 2 hours. Disappointed Everything tasted average. Not a great tasting Indian place but place has good vibe. read more

We had a 3 star experience. Will consider 4 stars because of multiple vegan options. Celebrated a birthday here. We had a total of 9 in our party ( including 3 kids). If party had more than 6 guests, you are automatically placed on fixed menu which is $65 dollars person ( including kids). The most popular items like the samosas are not included and have to be bought separately. If in a larger party or unlucky, you get placed in the museum/indoor atrium outside. Truly feels like a separate restaurant, cold and impersonal. Food overall was ok. Vegan kebab and the vegan lamb were actually gross and would avoid. I think a party of 2-4 people that sat in the actual restaurant and was able to order off the menu would have a much better experience. Parking was easy. read more

What a delight! Had a very enjoyable meal here. Went with the tasting menu which features 4 different Indian cuisines, you get some starters, then move onto a meal that would be offered to you if you were dining in someone's home, finished with a yummy dessert. Place is big & roomy. Service was very friendly & welcoming. Gratuity is included in meal price. Drinks were great. I had a for you & me cocktail, refreshing, juicy & delicious. Onto our food, the starters included pani puri which was good, I've never had it before! Mango salad had the most delicious sesame dressing on it, I could eat that everyday. There were dumplings & a potato appetizer as well. There was a lime juice palate cleanser & then the larger dishes, filled with warm & comforting aromas, so good! tasted like what I would expect home cooked to taste like. Amazing! all of them. We ended the meal with beignets with 2 yummy dipping sauces. I believe all the food is vegetarian. And I can attest it is all delicious. I'd love to go again on a future visit when I'm back in SF. read more

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This was my 4th visit to besharam. We liked it very much the first time but the experience after that has been underwhelming. Service was very friendly the first time. Menu was all new and innovative. Subsequent visits the service lived up to the name (besharam means shameless). Food is a hit or a miss. Malai kofta was very good. Other dishes missed the mark. Patra kadhi was watery. Baingan bharta - they had a different name for it was ordinary. Dahi vada and Dabeli parantha were ok. Srikhand cheesecake was good. Chai is made with mix so it's too sweet and they can't do anything about it. The experience was more fast food than an upscale restaurant. Shouldn't one expect more for a $75-$100 meal in 2024? I really do wish the restaurant thrives but I am not looking to go back anytime soon. read more

Extremely delicious food, though on the pricier side. Mango Lassi very delicious, malai kofta was slightly spicy. Kachori dumplings were unique, crispy and delicious. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive. Pathra kadhi was warm and comforting, nostalgic for people who grew up eating it, but it's a unique flavor profile for new palates. Lots of veggie options, some vegan. Ambiance was classy but not stuffy, playing Bollywood bops. Make a reservation for sure! read more

Besharam - Kachori Dumplings - Indian Near Me - San Francisco, California