We always get take away. It's consistently delicious. Standard order includes tikka masala, saag paneer, and vindaloo. Always so enjoyable with naan and with rice. And as leftovers! read more

I love that they have organic options. I've only taken out, never ate in. The food is delicious and reasonably priced.

If the Lotus trifecta of restaurants were a children's story it would be "Goldilocks". First there is Papa Bear ("Lotus Cuisine of India" in San Rafael) which serves grown-up food for grown-ups in a quiet, orderly, traditional restaurant. Mama Bear is "Lotus Chaat & Spices" (also in San Rafael), which features a concrete floor and a hip menu of unique offerings including the best and most ample Bhel Puri I've come upon. Finally there is Baby Bear of Fairfax, more commonly known as Cafe Lotus. Baby got a menu that most resembles that of Papa Bear but a hip environment more reminiscent of Mama's vibe. Cafe Lotus is a crowded, bustling, uber-casual little place serving good Indian food. Of the three, it is likely the one which most closely resembles what you'ld find in India though I imagine it's still light years away from being anything of the sort. It's located right down the street from the Fairfax 5 Theatres making it a great post or pre-movie destination. Cafe Lotus is always a bit more expensive than I think it should be or than I wish it were but that's not to say it's expensive. A meal here for two consisting only of a shared chickpea chaat, a shared chicken tikka masala ($12.95), some white rice with peas, and nothing to drink ran about $30 which is just expensive enough to put me off ordering additional food even if I so desired. There's nothing fancy about Cafe Lotus which means that it fits perfectly into Fairfax. You could drop in here dressed up for a date or down for a hike and nobody would bat an eye. And if a place dares to open three restaurants with similar menus all within a two mile span they had better be serving pretty good food to pull it off. Cafe Lotus is and does and even though my personal preference is for "Lotus Chaat and Spices" (owing to that Behl Puri) I'm not at all disappointed when I wind up here. read more

Kids n I love this place !!! The whole menu is great n yummy.. Yes yes it's pricey !!! Portions are small....So bring your wallet n credit cards lol ... Oh ask for extra ice in the water .. Weather n food is hot n spicy up in fairfax !! There are parking lot right across street...come early cuz always crowded.. But today we notice they also have outdoor tables behind the kitchen area... Wow so nice.. read more

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Great food and great service. We usually order it as takeout. The staff is very friendly.

I took guests from San Francisco who love Indian food and they raved about the food! We sat outdoors in the serene courtyard in back. It was so busy that the wait people were literally running. Been there many times. The food never disappoints. read more

I'm celiac/gluten free with allium sensitivity and this place does a remarkable job working around my dietary challenges. Last night we ate there and I was able to enjoy a delicious, 100% gluten free pilsner. Service was terrific. read more

The drastic increase in prices across all main dishes has left my taste buds for this once affordable restaurant. You have made Sol Food affordable for me any likely manner others who should take a closer look at their receipts. $21 plus tax for a plate that is 3/4 sauce and maybe 1/4 of minced protein. Good luck! read more

Excellent Indian food, high quality and many Gluten-free options! You can't miss it! Service is very friendly. read more

AMAZING. Just as yummy as India Palace in Alameda. They have patio and INDOOR SEATING!!! read more

Tasty local Indian food. Everything is good because they offer high quality food all around.

This tiny Indian restaurant may not accommodate more than small groups of 6-10 people unless you don't mind the draft from the door opening and closing, but the flavors in its dishes more than compensate for the lack of space. The garlic naan, mango lassi, creamy chicken tikka masala, and lamb curry were my favorites. Other highlights included the prawn curry, aloo gobi, and kadahl lamb. Some like their dal makhni if you're a lentils fan. Either the organic ingredients helped the flavors permeate throughout the food or the marketing worked on us. The service is fast and good with reasonable prices. Moreover, there is ample parking across the street in the strip mall. read more

Cafe Lotus - Curries galore! - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, California

Undeniably ABSURDLY DELICIOUS. We did hike close to 10 miles before eating, so I only have one photo.... This meal was TOO GOOD .... once I took one bite I couldn't hold back! Must try Cafe Lotus Special NAAN!!!! read more

Cafe Lotus - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, California

My boyfriend and I really love this place because it has different variety of options and people who are vegan, vegetarians, gluten free and meat lovers can enjoy it. I really like getting vegan options at this spot. The food is amazing and delicious. Most of the food comes from Northern India, therefore, it is more on a spicier side, so be aware, but not a complain, I actually like it. The flavors of every dish we got were sooo good and different and amazing combinations. My boyfriend really enjoys Lamb Curry, and he also loved trying my vegan plates. The atmosphere is very homy, meaning small and cozy. The staff is over the moon lovely people, super friendly, helpful and nice. I think if you are checking out fairfax, pop into Cafe Lotus and you won't be sorry. Its surrounded by other great spots where you can listen to live music or grab coffee afterwards. read more

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Loved this place. Visited Café Lotus on our way back from Point Reyes. We were there by noon on a Saturday. Was empty when we went in. 1. They use a lot of Organic ingredients. Enough said :) 2. Yummy food. We ordered vegetarian and everything was super tasty. 3. Courteous staff. We wanted our food to be very mild as we had our baby with us and they were very kind to accommodate that. 4. Very clean toilet. One of the cleanest I have ever seen at a cafe / restaurant. 5. Lovely interiors with a lot of traditional Indian wall decors. Now we know where to eat when we travel a bit north of San Francisco. read more

Tiny portions definitely not worth it. Their tandoori half chicken for $16.95 is 2 chicken legs . And that's on some cabbage. So very disappointed. Tiny amount of chicken and it takes like cabbage! Hardly any chicken in the chicken Marsala. Just not worth it. Plus so salty, I'm left drinking water all night. Very disappointed. read more

Lovely dinner last night at Cafe Lotus. Butter chicken, lamb curry and appetizer plate. All tasty, well prepared and delicious. Service is friendly and inviting. Decor is a little bright but in keeping with Indian theme. As is the music. read more

Yum! Delicious Indian food. I had the Coconut Chicken and Bob had Tika Missala. Mine was really good, super creamy and spiced just right with warm naan and rice. Highly recommend! read more

Excellent food. Friendly and fast service. And they got the mild dishes perfect for the kids in our group. I highly recommend this spot!

Are used to be five stars. I think they underwent change of ownership. Kind of bland now.

We eat here at least once a week, and certainly more often than any other restaurant. The food is consistently delicious and the staff is always friendly. Our go to dishes are: Dal Tarka (yellow lentils) Veggie Samosas Chana Masala When dining in at the restaurant, we top it off with a cold lager from India! read more

I can't recommend this restaurant. Asked the waiter for their best lamb dish and ordered Lamb Saag which looked great on the menu as well. $21 and had 3 pieces of lamb with a curry sauce thickened by flour? corn starch? Way overpriced and a small quantity. There were only 2 other couples there on Saturday night, probably for a reason. I support small restaurants whenever possible but can't give them a pass when the food just isn't authentic or good. read more

I will miss this place!!! It was nice living around the corner, and walking to grab my order. Once I was walking my dog by Lotus and couldn't resist the smell. I had to order food but I had my pup. I called them on my cell and asked if I could order from outside. They were so nice, they brought my food packaged and the check outside the restaurant. The food is amazing!!! Chicken masala and rice is my Fav!!! read more

Yummy! The food was very tasty - nicely fragrant. We popped in just before lunch hour closing and the staff was still very nice and accommodating. You should go here for delicious Indian food. And the place is so nicely decorated - clean restr read more

Cafe Lotus - Vegetable Pakora - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, California

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I went there for lunch today and had the Chicken Chili ($12.95) from the Chicken Curries section of their main menu. It's described as Chicken breast cooked with onions, garlic, bell peppers, green chili, ginger, tomatoes, a touch of lemon, red chili sauce, green onions, and cilantro. It was wonderful, with quite concentrated and complex flavors, maybe one of the best food items I've ever had. I also had an order of onion naan ($4.25), which went perfectly with it. Also, it was a very generous serving; there was really enough for two lighter eaters. This is high-quality food at reasonable prices. read more

Cafe Lotus - Chicken Chili (Curry) - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, California

Great Indian food and it's perfect for vegetarians. The spice level is really very palatable. They don't overdo it. Fairfax, CA is a delightful small town with beautiful views of the mountains and a short drive from Point Reyes National Seashore. They tend to be rigid about closing on time, so get there early. They even gave me some Indian spices, totally complimentary, to take home with me during Covid-19, considering that I had no access to an Indian grocery store in Marin county. My friends in Fairfax totally loved the Indian food that I cooked for them more than once...I know that they're going to miss my vegetable curries in the future and will start dining at Cafe Lotus in Fairfax far more often. read more

Went for the lunch special- lamb curry. Very small serving with exactly 3 bite sized pieces of lamb. The little salad was just plain salad mix. The rice was barely warm. There were a few papadum chips and naan which was more plentiful then the lamb with which it was meant to be eaten. Disappointing. I was surprised based on reviews and would not go back. read more

In full transparency, the reasons I stopped here were: handsome guys standing out front, the cute name, organic, and convenience (parking lot across the street and on the way to/from Point Reyes). I'll be back because my Paneer Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan was freakin delicious and service was friendly. Also, my food somehow stayed warm through my ~40 min drive back to Oakland- no reheating necessary! Sorry no photos because I was too hungry. ps takeout only during these times, but there's an open, clean bathroom for customers picking up. Also I thought I saw a sign advertising a patio- would love to come back when that's open! read more

Smelled great. But I don't know if it was. Pros: - Smelled great. Cons: - Showed up 50 minutes before closing on a Friday night. Half the tables filled. Told they aren't serving dine in. We can order takeout. No apology, explanation, nothing. Just an indifferent "take it or leave it" attitude. We left it. read more

I absolutely love love the hidden gem in Fairfax. The food is delicious. The area is quaint cozy. But the staff is awesome I was amazed at the authenticity in being served. The waiter is very attentive the cooks are motivated to preparing your food timely. You call also call in orders. This place the best nan?? Bread my children are vegetarian and I am a meat eater they were very mindful how they set the food once knowing. I absolutely love this place read more

Good 10 out 5 service by rajat and kashi was awesome nice painting and very athuntic food plus we have organic chicken was great be back soon once the patio read more

THIS IS SO BOMB. best indian i've had hands down. vegetable coconut curry? samosas? garlic pesto naan? can't go wrong ever. I would eat this every night if I could. Amazing atmosphere, the best workers, 10/10 service. come here if you wanna leave full and happy read more

Cafe Lotus - Indian Near Me - Fairfax, California

This continues to be one of my favorite places in Marin county for Indian food, during this COVID-19 crisis I can count on them to be there & they can count on me to keep ordering my favorite dishes. Just a tip although you may not see Chana Saag on some menus they do offer it. In my opinion it is the best vegetarian dish on the menu. Keep in mind that you can use a delivery service like GrubHub or DoorDash etc. to keep social distancing. read more

We stopped here after hiking and enjoyed the service and ambiance as much as the food. We ate on the patio and I enjoyed some of the many vegan options. I was a bit apprehensive to try the vegan naan but it was pretty darn good. My omnivorous friend enjoyed her chicken masala. The rose lemonade was a great treat as well! read more

The food was outstanding and ready to go in 10 min. We ordered an okra dish and a lentil curry dish both of which were outstanding but the okra was exceptional. Friendly service and they were good with following covid related health guidelines. read more

This is an amazing authentic Indian restaurant with organic and fresh ingredients. The fish and chicken were perfectly moist and seasoned. The flavors in the sauces and biriyani entrees were amazing. The pesto garlic naan was soft and slightly crunchy with the right amount of flavor. The vegetable samosas are perfect for an appetizer. And try the sauces they come with too. Sooooo good! read more

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The food was good but the service was slow, our table wobbled and the kitchen noise was very loud in the small dining room. We had to get up and ask for water refills. The chicken Marsala doesn't come with rice read more

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Pro's: really good grub Mango Lassi (delicious) Naan Presentation right down town hippieville spices will awaken your Sinus...grab a tissue or two. Con's Small place (they say cozy and of course it is) so this could be a plus cost is ok but portion size is NOT. Lana Thai hooks you up! noise but this should be expected cause of the small space im hearing the bathrooms though i didnt check...but my cousin came back and said "i swear i didnt stink it up, must of been one of the workers" Indian food = got it!!! It's a must try and you will be satisfied when you leave, unless you are running low on cash then just eat at Perry's Deli or Good Earth (right next door) and you will be happy. read more

Awesome! My husband and I went for a lunch special, and got to sit right outside to watch folks pass by in Fairfax on a beautiful day. The thali dishes were great, and they even have gluten-free naan as an option. We'll definitely be back! read more

One of favorite Indian restaurants in Fairfax. After a long hike, this really hit the spot! Absolutely love their Coconut Chicken Curry. Have it prepared on a medium spicy way, it really brings out all the savory ingredients. The Prawn Pakoras, are really good as the appetizer. The naan, chai and mango lassi and really great too! I definitely will be returning. read more