Ordered chicken saag, vegetable coconut curry and tikka masala paneer along with naan and rice for the family. The chicken saag was very creamy with nice chunks of breast meat and great flavor. We were particularly pleased with the coconut curry vegetables. We ordered these at medium spicy level which in retrospect was not spicy enough for our tastes. The tikka masala sauce was as tasty as we expect for the dish. Everything came out nice and hot very quickly from the kitchen. Also ordered some desserts including a fantastic kheer (rice pudding). Service was excellent and we lacked for nothing. There was a vey nice crowd of patrons for a Tuesday evening. read more

Saucy Well regulated Nice Unique food for Marin county Needs more pictures for the curry sauces on the menu As well as the meat in order to better choose read more

Best Indian food in Marin. There are a lot of good places around to get Indian but I find myself coming back to this one over and over. Everything is delicious! I just found out they have a patio out back so I'll be dining in more often as well. read more

This is simply the best Indian restaurant in Marin County. The Naan bread is incredible. The eggplant is the best I have ever had. The organic ingredients are worth the price. read more

Cafe Lotus Fairfax is one of our favorite places to eat (and to do takeout!). The food is excellent (ask for organic chicken for a $1 more) and the staff is very friendly. My wife is gluten free and they make a really nice Naan that is GF. Feel fortunate to have this place in Ross Valley! read more

Incredible gem in Fairfax. Organic Indian? Yes please. Was blown away by the crispness of the samosas and naan. Chicken tikka kebab was on point. Highly recommend. read more

Amazing, totally flavorful and authentic Indian. Yes they make their own raita/yogurt here. We stopped here based on the reviews. The décor, staff, music is so welcoming but of course it is the food that brings it all together. It's not just a restaurant but someone's labor of love. read more

Delicious curries and naan served by upbeat friendly crew. I was very impressed. Suggest the combinations of curries.

The food was great, the atmosphere is very fitting, and the service is good. Its pretty much what you want from a good restaurant. However we both got sick shortly after, and it was our first and only meal of the day. Not terribly sick or anything but definitely not great. Also they dont really have any AC so it gets very hot in there. read more

I had a nice dinner with a friend here a couple of days ago. I love Indian food, and am always on the hunt for good restaurants in the North Bay. The great thing is the wide variety of gluten-free things they have, including gluten-free Naan! It was really good - best gluten-free flat bread I've ever had. The Chicken Korma was smooth and flavorful. The other dish we had, Saag Paneer, was wonderful. The service was friendly and quick. It's a small space, and so the seats are a bit crowded, but that's a very minor thing - it was a wonderful meal, and if I lived closer, I'd be a regular. read more

Omg best Indian food I have ever had! I ordered there mushroom masala and there garlic naan... It was delicious! They have fast service and there staff is very nice. I am personally a very picky person but I would be open to try literally anything at there restaurant. I would totally recommend going there! Amazing food! read more

Great customer service, Took our to go order 10 minutes before closing with out a blink, not that I will repeat, dont want to cause them stress but thats hospitality . Fantastic food. read more

If you are looking for subtly-spiced, delicious and organic Indian food...you can't go wrong at Cafe Lotus. My family and I have been coming here for years, and in the past 2 months or so their already-delicious food has gotten even better. (Seriously. We frequented every Indian restaurant in Marin, and although Lotus in San Rafael and Aarti are also terrific organic Indian options, right now, Cafe Lotus in Fairfax is hands-down the BEST). Take-out is fast, and if you choose to dine in the very cozy dining room, be prepared to share a smile or conversation with neighbors. It's a lovely, friendly vibe. And the staff always makes us feel welcome. My husband, daughter and I order saag paneer, chicken tikka masala, rice for 3 and our latest favorite, an appetizer order of papadum with mint chutney. We feast on this for supper, and then one of us is lucky enough to finish off the leftovers for lunch the next day. I rarely write Yelp reviews, and honestly, I don't really want to share this gem with others! When I complimented the kitchen last night, though, they asked if I'd share my thoughts here, and I like them so much I agreed. So there ya go. If you try Cafe Lotus, have a great time and enjoy the food! read more

Ordered online for delivery. Paid. Received confirmation. And then contacted the restaurant after an hour with no food and they claimed they "never received the order" and hung up. Worst service ever. AVOID. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the bay. The gf naan is heavenly and the dishes are always delicious. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Love this place so much. read more

Absolutely authentic and delicious. The flavors explode in your mouth. A party of 5 we tried so many things and EVERYTHING WAS OUTSTANDING

I could eat here every day. Seriously. It's that good. Awesome, organic Indian food, spiced to perfection. The quality is consistently outstanding. Excellent service, the guys here remember you and take great care of you. It's cool when you call up and they know you by name and remember your favorite dishes. Some of the best restraunt service I've found in Marin. The Seekh Kabab is my favorite, if you eat it there, it comes on a sizzling plate. People at other tables always stop and ask us what we're having. The curries taste so good, and have such a good energy to them, healthy and satisfying. Even their water is special, they put fresh mint and lemon in it from their garden. This is a very special restaurant. read more

I hate writing bad reviews. :( My undying and ever-present need for good ,vegetarian Indian food used to take me here quite often, sometimes once a week. Their prices are a little steeper than the Lotus in San Rafael, and the place is pretty tiny, but it's organic, tasty, the people are nice and it's within walking distance of my house. Then, things changed. In the spring of 2010, I got horrible food poisoning after eating here. I figured maybe something got screwed up and left out or something, and after a couple of months I gave it another shot. Again, food poisoning. So I stopped going there, of course. Ugh. Since I live way up in the shady hills of Marin County, my options for Indian are limited if I want to stay conscious of my fuel consumption. So about a week ago, I broke down again, a year after the initial incident... Yup, it was just as bad. And like someone else said, the food was a lot more oily and a lot less flavorful this time. And it made me sick as hell. Suffice to say, I won't get fooled again! What a bummer. :( read more

Organic Indian dishes all for under 8$/dish? You're f***ing kidding me right? My only complaints are that the lamb is a little too dry, and the chai is a little bland (but complimentary). However, to finally get a tomato based sauce that taste like tomatoes and not like cream is heaven to me. And the chana masala is perfectly spiced and cooked and the garlic naan the right texture of crispy and doughy. Did I mention that their veggies taste like veggies? I will absolutely leave San Francisco and make the drive just for the food here. P.S. I ordered the chicken biryani to go because I knew I would want something to eat later, and five hours later, it tastes like a new addiction. read more

Wow, lunch was terrific! Love their chai and friendly waiters. My lamb roll-up was so good I ate the whole thing. $7 will give you a giant lunch that can easily be shared by two. Would give the Lotus another star but the restrooms need work. read more

I took my partner out for dinner for his birthday and his first Indian food experience. He ordered the gluten-free naan (which we both loved) and the dal (which he loved and I kind of liked, but the flavor was different than what I am used to from other Indian restaurants). I ordered regular naan (I LOVED it) and vegetable korma (also great). We both ordered brown rice with our food, a real plus in our books. So why only 4 stars? As much as we loved our food, we were very uncomfortable eating inside Cafe Lotus. It was HOT inside and there were a few flies buzzing around. There was also a baby at the table next to us throwing food around and making a ton of noise dropping utensils and banging them on the table. Obviously not something the owners of the restaurant could be responsible for, but it made the experience of eating there unpleasant. I talked to one of the owners about the heat in the cafe and was told that they are working on a solution, they have an open kitchen and no air conditioning installed. On the upside, I noticed that the eating area was meticulously clean, every table, seat, inch of the area was spotlessly clean. Bottom line: I'll be back in winter and/or will order my food to go when it is warm out. read more

Hole in the wall worth going out of your way for. Much better than their sister (parent?) restaurant in San Rafael. This Fairfax gem has maybe five tables and little ambience other than funky but the food is lovingly prepared and so delicious. I highly recommend the Kadahi Lamb for you non-vegans, rich and savory with caramelized onions and tomato and just the right amount of heat. The Biriyanis are lovely, but they have more than ample vegetarian selections. People often complain about the expense of Indian food but it is a very labor intensive cuisine if done correctly. It's worth the extra premium to me and this place deserves your business. Try the Onion Naan with a side of Raita to go with your lamb or Chicken Tikka Masala. Ask for Papadums with the Tamarind and Mint Sauces. Not on the menu really that I could see, but a must for me when I eat Indian. You can order take out online as well which is a real bonus. Salivating until my next visit! read more

Many an Indian has told me I'm not a legit Indian. I get it, my ancestors got on the party boat and sprung up roots on an island. Being from Trinidad, our food is influenced by a multitude of cultures, especially Spanish and Chinese, so our dishes are different. We obviously cook Indian dishes, they just have a different flair to them. More herb-based than spice-based. I said all of that to say I don't generally enjoy legit Indian food as it's normally too heavy for me. Until this place. My dear friend said "let's go to Fairfax" and I though why the heck not. Fairfax is one of those laid back, extremely relaxed towns and you'd have fun spending half a day there checking out the stores. There's also a cute park, and a violinist was playing while we were there. Oh, and Good Earth is right on the way there. Ok, about this place. It's an unassuming location for a Zagat rated place. And let me tell you, they deserve that award! It's tiny, but I think that's part of the charm. Throughout our meal, we received excellent service and never had to ask for drink refills. Drinks run from the gamut of sodas to beers, and mango lassi's. I'd love to see them add some other drinks, like coconut water or iced teas. We ate: Chicken Vindalu, Dal Makhni with rice and regular naan. I forget the name, but we started out with this app that had garbanzos, cucumbers and yogurt and man the spices were on point. I think that's why I really liked this place, the spices were never overwhelming and the chef allowed each flavor to develop, creating these intense layers of deliciousness. My friend mentioned that she thought they should add Okra Bhindi to the menu, and they said it was an off-menu item. And then they offered to make it for us! This of course was delicious: fried okra, onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices. I could eat this dish everyday. If you're looking for the best Indian food this quasi-legit Indian has ever tasted, head thee to Cafe Lotus! read more

(update: Cafe Tandoori has been sold to the people who own Lotus Indian food in San Rafael. I have high hopes for this restaurant again. I'll review it when I try out the new ownership) First I will say that the people running this restaurant seem like genuinely sweet and friendly people. I also really love that all the food is organic. On those points I would give them four to five stars. However, I have to add that I have eaten here many times and more than half of those times I was very disappointed by the food. I was excited when they opened, since I live in Fairfax and we have no other Indian restaurants. The first time I ate there I had a delicious lamb curry dish and I thought that the place rocked. The next time I ate there I had their lamb wrap and I was very unpleasantly surprised by the overlarge, dry doughy wrap with scant chunks of dry, flavorless, nearly burnt lamb inside. I was really annoyed because the wrap had been really expensive and it was clear from looking at it that the person who made it didn't really care about making something that would taste good. But I let it go (literally too -I threw it away) and thought this may have just been a bad day, since they had recently opened and were probably still working out the "bugs" (bad metaphor, I know). The third time I went there I ordered the lamb curry again, to-go this time and when I walked out and looked in the bag and saw the tiny little serving they had sold me for a really high price, I was totally shocked and upset. It was about half as much food as when I last ordered the same thing. I went back inside and asked for my money back, which they promptly gave, and I didn't eat there again for about six months. Recently I went back to see if they had worked out the bugs and had gotten things rolling more smoothly there. Once again I was disappointed. I ordered some samosas and that fried pattie thing in the yogurt sauce (can't remember the name). Both dishes tasted rich but sort of bland and pasty inside, like they were undercooked in the middle. The tamarind and mint chutneys were disappointing, and a mere shadow of those served at other nearby Indian restaurants... I can't recommend this place unless you are dying for Indian food and simply can't drive 10 minutes to San Rafael, or if you insist on all organic. You order at the counter and they have four or five utilitarian tables available. More geared towards take-out. read more

Great Indian food. Wonderful outdoor patio. Wonderful luncheon specials. Fast take out service

This place was actually pretty good, but I have to drop a star for it being too expensive for what it is. We ordered the lamb curry, vegetable biryani, and a beer. The place looks more like a take-out spot, but the bill still ended up being around $30... which we weren't expecting. Tasty spot, but not as inexpensive as it looks. read more

I've literally never had better Indian food... not even during my 2 months in India. This place is amazing! This is as healthful and flavorful as it gets. The guys that run this place are also super sweet and friendly. That part squares perfectly with my experience traveling through India. The food however is WAY better! read more

Cafe Lotus is a small, pleasant place in downtown Fairfax. I have had their tandori, tikka massala and their naan lunch wraps. All of the items have been tasty and reasonably priced. I don't know if I would travel a long distance for their food, but it is a great place to stop when you are in the neighborhood. read more

A nice addition to Fairfax. I thought it was reasonably priced and tasty. The garlic naan was just right. Aloo mata gobi was good, too. One of the cheaper places to grab lunch in the area so if you're cruising down Sir Francis Drake on your bike or in your car, it's not a bad option for grabbing some grub before you head of hill toward West Marin. read more

Really good food. Very nice lunch specials that includes curry, rice and naan and reasonably priced. Believe they even have lunch buffet which we missed. Fast and friendly service and people who are genuinely interested in making you have a good dining experience. After a tiring trip back from Point Reyes, this place was open even past 3PM and was wonderfully located for us for a much needed refueling stop. The place is not fancy and is just a hole in the wall kind of place that serves good food. Definitely a must try if you are in that area read more

A rainy night and a waiter who's English was less than adequate was not a great start to dinner. We ordered the vegetables in coconut curry and naan. We were brought the wrong dishes twice. The food was very good but the portion was relatively small fro the price. If I was in the neighborhood I would eat here again but I wouldn't go out of my way and I wouldn't choose it for a special occasion a little too casual. read more

One of the best places to get hearty curries, and a unique feature is that it is primarily organic. Spice level is pretty mild, so if you like heat, tell them to make it at least medium hot. The staff are really nice, & remember my name, even after a long sabbatical. read more

Had a wonderful lunch. My friend could have a gluten free wrap. We were both very satisfied. Looking forward to bringing the hubs here.

For a town with limited options, Cafe Lotus was a surprising and delightful find. The service was very attentive and quick. The food was a reasonable price and very good. The samosas were freshly made. The dough tasted like it was fresh. The lamb curry and saag paneer were also very good. Everyone was getting the rice biryani, which was full of veggies and nuts. The place is very small, maybe 6 tables. It's quite cramped. read more

I love first and foremost that this place serves organic chicken! The food is good and flavorful and really tasty! The reason I gave it only three stars is that I am not crazy about the decor, feels a bit like a small cafeteria, not super cozy. And I don't like the feel at times that it is all Indian men serving. As a women I sometimes feel a bit of an attitude from them and I really don't like that. It almost feels like they do not want to serve me, but have to... Otherwise it's ok - I mostly call in for take-out now, so I don't have to deal with that... read more

Food was excellent, say a little above 4 stars. Vindalu was outstanding. Minced lamb kebab was both different and quite good. Garlic naan was decent but not amazing - not enough garlic and it's not baked in (despite the menu description to the contrary). Service was mediocre. Not bad. Just average. I used to wait tables so perhaps I'm a hard judge of service. Why the 5 stars? Backyard seating was very nice. Truly family run restaurant - nice to see Indian staff making Indian dishes. Most importantly, the price point was outstanding. At this price point, I'd say 4.5 stars. read more

This is the BEST Indian restaurant in San Francisco and Marin! They use organic chicken and vegetables - perfect for health conscious individuals :) Their chicken tikka masala is amazing, saag aloo is perfection and their mango lassi's are great! Also, they have chaat (Indian street food) that is delicious. I love the samosa chaat & bhel puri chaat. Pakoras are also a winner. They recently added gluten-free naan to their menu (yes, I am also gluten intolerant) and it is delicious (which is not easy to do)!! The service is great & the restaurant has a nice ambiance. All this writing is making me crave Indian food...i might have to go to Lotus today! I do wish their chai had some ginger and cardamon in it - i think it is mainly cloves. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant!! I drive from San Francisco at least once a month to indulge (after acupuncture at Dragon Heart Healing Arts). read more

Went here on Thanksgiving (one of many visits) and they were serving free dinners. Never heard of anything like that - what a generous gesture. Everything we've tried here was above expectations, and on top of that, are made with organic ingredients. Nothing is better than warm service with your warm curry. And they also have awesome lunch specials! They're supposed to be offering free delivery soon. Hoping its going to be on a little bicycle with a cart behind - everyone likes bikes in Fairfax! re: Veda F.'s review We rate restaurants primarily on their food, not on their restrooms. Who goes to restaurants because they love their restrooms?! "Oh, five stars-excellent toilet!" We're at a restaurant to eat food, not excrete it. read more

After many years of coming to Cafe Lotus for a sit-down meal or take-out, the quality remains consistently very high, with great service and regular updates to the menu. We know pretty much all the staff, now, including those who work in the all-important kitchen area, creating freshly made, organic delights that are all too easy to eat. Great to see more people eating in the restaurant, and the addition of wine options for the take-out menu, via the much improved web site, are all very well received. Very reasonable prices for very good portions. Thanks Cafe Lotus - always looking forward to next time. read more

This is a wonderful place. I wish that I would've known about it long ago! Oh how I've suffered with the food in San Anselmo! Cafe Tandoori is all-organic and exceptionally good quality. I've had the chicken wrap (amazing) and the vegetable biryani (wow!). The mixed tandoori plate wasn't as good since it was a bit too dry. The staff is soooo nice! This is a great place to visit, especially if you live in the city. Come to Fairfax for the afternoon and get your freak on! If you sit in the dining room, there's a large window for you to view the festival of strangeness that passes by. read more