Darbar restaurant

3.7 (228 reviews)

ModeratePakistani, Halal, Indian

Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Updated 1 month ago

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Darbar restaurant - a table full of indian food - Pakistani Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Darbar restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Darbar restaurant - Naan and Tandoori Chicken Quarter (2pcs) - Pakistani Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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DARBAR RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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Inside

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Quiet

Casual

Good for groups

Good for kids

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Tony T.

My friend took me here to try some Pakistani and Halal food. Overall, great food at unbeatable prices. I was initially worried that 3 items may not be enough, but the portions are huge. I was stuffed towards the end.

Suha L.

This is the most underrated restaurant in Boston and I had some of the best food here. They are a 100% halal restaurant serving Pakistani and Indian food. Seriously every dish was impressive. The owners were also so kind and the service was quick because it wasn't super busy, For food, we got the samosa chat, garlic naan, chicken biryani, karahi gosht (goat), magaz masala (goat brain), tandoori chicken, and seekh kebab. Samosa chat was unlike anything I've had before. It was almost like a deconstructed samosa topped with different sauces and every single bite had so much flavor and texture. Garlic naan and biryani were solid but not the stand outs. The karahi gosht overwhelmed my mouth with flavor. I can't even describe it but i wanted to lick every bite. Goat brain was soo creamy and was fantastic with rice- I was nervous bc its brain but soo insane. Tandoori chicken and seekh kabob came out sizzling and were soo juicy. The chicken was the best tandoori chicken I'veever had. The spices cooked on the grill perfectly I couldn't stop eating it. Sometimes only the outer layer is seasoned but even the inside was just as flavorful. The kabob had the perfect level of spice and was a crazy mix of meat and veggies. They offer a lunch buffet, caters events, and also do private parties. Trust me when i say you HAVE to go to this restaurant. It deserves to be full 24/7.

Rachel B.

Worst Indian food I have ever had. I picked this up to go. I opened it up within 5 mins of picking it up and the sauce was all separated and extremely oily. I did not know my meal didn't come with rice. I wish they would have asked me on the phone if I wanted rice with my chicken korma when I ordered it. The naan tasted like dry packaged pita bread and was not restaurant quality. Best thing I got from there was my Coca-Cola.

Good service, fantastic flavor, great value, chicken is tender.

Really Good service, fantastic review, chicken is super tender, Will recomment and will come again.

Excellent pakistani food, served fresh and hot. The service was really good and efficient, we didn't have to wait much. The ambiance is welcoming and very cultural. Will definitely come again

I ordered food to go for Iftar and found a piece of mop string in the stale chicken pulao. Disgusting. I'm really disappointed at how irresponsible they can be. Ordered some veggie pakoras, only 4 stale pieces with 2 containers of sauce in the box of pakoras so they can fill the box. It's Ramadan, please be kind and serve responsibly.

I came with my wife and friend. I am visiting from California for ACP conference. Initially we were not sure about this restaurant. We totally disagree with the previous reviews . Food was very fresh and delicious. Excellent customer service. I will definitely come back here.

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Faisal M.

9 years ago

Great food overall. Especially the Seekh Kabab and Daal. The only thing we didn't like was the Chapli Kabab... didn't look or taste good.

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Sara B.

13 years ago

Beyond pathetic "service", stale defrosted food. YUK YUK YUKKKKK! These ppl don't give a flying crap about their business. None of my trips to this place have been memorable but my latest one was very very memorable for all the wrong reasons. It's the month of Ramadan so many pakistani restaurants have a dinner/iftar buffet. I called this place up to inquire about their Iftar(breaking the fast dinner) offerings and was given a long list of buffet items. They asked that a reservation be made so i reserved it for four people. When we entered the place, it felt like we had trespassed into someone's private dining room. The owners and their family were seated at the bar having dinner and looked up at us like we were unwelcome guests. We were the ONLY people there (aside from their own brood). We seated ourselves and waited a good five minutes before realizing no one was going to attend us (they were too busy eating themselves). I asked for the traditional items served at iftar which i was told would be available such as pakora, samosa and dates. A server brought back FOUR dates and FOUR pieces of pakoras (one per person you see). The owners, in the meanwhile, were helping themselves to a gigantic tray of pakoras. We were served a drink that is mixed in milk and my friend asked if she could get it without the milk. Of course that meant someone would have to get up from their dinner table and actually do something so she was told that she should thank the lord for the blessings he bestows on her (seriously????) poured her a glass and left. Now let's talk about the actual food at the buffet. My two friends are relatively young students and aren't familiar with cooking. They thought the food was pretty good,not realizing that EVERY item including the biryani was defrosted or reheated. The only thing that tasted fresh was the chicken jalfrezi and the chaat. not only was everything stale but it was also swimming in oil and left a lot to be desired. On the phone i was told the buffet was $16 but they actually charged us close to $19 per head (we didn't order anything from the menu or any drink other than the one included in the buffet). Avoid this place at all costs and go to Punjabi Grill on davis square instead. or if you want a cheap and authentic pakistani take-out, visit manosalwa in somerville. These people clearly have no desire to stay in business. read more

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Ricky T.

9 years ago

They have a great lunch buffet, limited selection but everything is very good! The naan here might be the best part. When you get the buffet they make you a fresh piece! The veggie options are my favorite, aloo gobi is fantastic. read more

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Amber F.

9 years ago

This has by far the best Indian food I have had in Boston, and I come from India. I love their food and it's pretty economical-13$ buffets on weekends. We got: meat samosa-excellent; shamikebab- outstanding, well marinated and melts in the mouth; mutton curry and achari chicken-so freaking yummy that we order it every week. And their naans are phenomenal. The ambience is not that great but the service is awesome, but I don't really care about the ambience if the food is finger licking good. In short, I highly recommend this place. read more

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Nish N.

9 years ago

Fairly good Pakistani style halal food. Chicken korma and naan was good. Decent price. Ambience ok. Not your fine sit down dinging experience. read more

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Raj H.

11 years ago

Best place to eat non vegetarian food. I have tried maghaz, chicken karahi, chicken curry and the goat biryani. The buffet isn't that good.

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Anshuman D.

10 years ago

Their Biryani is the most-authentic biryani you are going to get in Boston. The naan is soft, their curry is flavorful and the spices are authentic. Also they have dishes like kadhi pakora that no other restaurant has in their menu. read more

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Colleen F.

12 years ago

Went here for a birthday dinner since we had a coupon for 50$ off the entire order. We got there and we were the only ones who were in the restaurant, which to me, was not a good sign. It seems like a small family owns this restaurant and had their child there. She was so cute! I also brought my son and they were goo-goo gah-ing at eachother. The owners were extremely personable and inviting. I dont eat Pakistani/Indian food often so I chose a safe option; Chicken Tiki Marsala. I was soo good!! We also order a ton of other small dishes and although they don't LOOK appealing, they TASTE amazing. Restaurant was very clean and the bathroom as well (which is really important to me)! The owner took my son aside and was playing with him while we ate (he said "you eat, I will watch him". So cute! I would def come here again next time I am craving Indian. read more

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Sebastian H.

10 years ago

I just moved to the area and ordered from here twice. The naan bread is a amazing and a must to get, and the tandoori chicken is awesome as well. I will be trying out a lot more of there dishes! read more

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Layren S.

16 years ago

The food is excellent, fresh, cooked perfectly, very very tasty. The space is pretty nice, and I find it mostly refreshing to see a family run place. It's pretty excellent, although I find that it's a little bit overpriced for the portion size. Worth it, but still a bit more than I would normally spend. read more

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R N.

10 years ago

I found this place on Yelp while I was in town. I ordered a chicken jalfrezi which I thought was a little bland so I pecked at it and asked for the check. The owner came to me and said he would cook something else from scratch and conjured up an excellent dal & lamb entree. We sat together and had a nice meal as I was by myself. I had to plead with him to accept my credit card. He waived 50% off my bill. Very friendly guy. If you can handle a little bit of spice, try the mutton korma or brain curry. His nihari too is terrific. read more

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Whiterock R.

13 years ago

great pakistani food. Some authentic dishes. Can be extremely spicy even for south asians. Buffet is good.

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Barrow G.

15 years ago

Takeout was great. Atmosphere looked nice. Food was nice and appropriately spicy. Will definitely be back.

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Husain K.

14 years ago

We have gone here on a number of occasions. We've also pretty much ordered most of the main dishes on there menu. Nihari is not really nihari. The bihari kabob is amazing. Chapli more like a hamburger patty and lacks flavor. The Chicken makni is pretty solid. The only thing that really keeps me coming back is the bihari kabab later in the week. read more

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Nusrat C.

16 years ago

It was very well organized. The food was exceptionally good. The staff is very kind and helpful. I had a wonderful time eating their delicious food. i especially liked their chicken tikka and Naan. read more

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Lucy R.

13 years ago

Went for lunch. Extremely spicy, poor service and not very friendly. I love indian food and this was ok. But there are many more better places around with more variety read more

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Kartik P.

Elite 19

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12 years ago

We walk into this place on a Saturday afternoon and its quiet. Very quiet. I think we were too late for lunch. But anyways decided to sit and give it a try. I tried their buffet and my friend had one of their paneer gravies and naan. The non veg on the buffet was Mehhh...It said paya curry but it had a mix of both goat and beef in about 20-80% . Too greasy and lacked the flavor. Similarly there was another beef curry on the buffet. I thought having 3 beef curries on the buffet and one chicken was not a smart choice, if you wanted to give your patrons a good choice. Chicken pulao was bland. Dint have a good mix of spices and was just rice most part. May be would give them a try once more just coz the place looked hopeful. Another big minus is the place doesnt have parking. You end up parking on the street which isnt a lot of space or across the street in a private parking lot which is not theirs!! read more

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Shariq A.

15 years ago

awesome pakistani food the brains masala is specially good ,one the better non veg options for indian cuisine in Boston area

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Aamir A.

15 years ago

I visited early on a Saturday just before the buffet started. The owner was very polite and made me comfortable while the food was being prepared. The variety at the buffet was good and the meal itself was outstanding. Halwa puri, cholay, tandoori chicken, qeema, alu ki sabzi; everything tasted amazing. Reminded me of actually being back in Pakistan! I also really enjoyed meeting the hosts. They are both very nice people. I look forward to going back the next time I am in Boston. read more

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NCNY N.

12 years ago

For a while there we were really in love with this place. They cook meat with the bone on, which makes the chicken so much tastier. The meat dishes were really really good. The vegetable dishes unfortunately were not. I didn't like the buffet. But the people are nice and it is worth trying, definitely very different from Indian cuisine in the area. read more

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Raihan H.

10 years ago

Can't believe they manage to be open with horrible Buffett menu.. Only two to three items, no appetizer included.. Food is horrible.

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Ghazi S.

13 years ago

Food was good. Very fresh and on the spot. The place was clean and hospitable.One waitress was good and helpful. The girl from Nepal . The other waitress was on the phone and not focused enough. Should focus more on customers and not on chit chatting on her cell phone. The Kashmiri chai was very average. Not at all up to the mark. A must try. The prices are very good . It's my neighborhood restaurant now. read more

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Sarah F.

12 years ago

The quality has gone down considerably since my first visit. The food is mostly mediocre. It's hit or miss. There aren't very many options for amazing Indian / Pakistani food in Boston, but Punjabi Grill's food is generally good and the place has better ambiance. read more

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Umair K.

12 years ago

Food used to be great here but something has changed and it's now terrible. Maybe the cook changed, parking is okay in this area. Service is great, food serving time is quick also. read more

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T H.

10 years ago

to me it's very average at best. Some people really love it, but I'm not impressed at all. Avoid the buffet. The biryani and haleem are good, but very overpriced. I think the best thing they have are the samosas. The restaurant is not always clean and the service is average. The owner is very nice. It's a sit down restaurant without but really shouldn't be as they use take out menus and the atmosphere(cleanliness) is nothing to be proud about. I should give it 2 stars but I like the owner so will be nice here. read more

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Saad A.

10 years ago

Never go here if you're from Pakistan or India or if you even speak Urdu or Punjabi. We went there and the owner himself said you finished all the chuttnis? Obviously we paid for the food and we can eat how much we want...then he started saying young generation is disrespectful...he was saying how you guys came here and wanted a menu and he was like oh so you don't want buffet? Then there was a white man and he was so polite to him and said I hope you're satisfied with the food. And he never gave the customer service that we wanted. Useless place to spend money on. We pay them and they don't give a damn. Useless. read more

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Jack G.

13 years ago

I have been to this place several times. Initially when the place opened the buffet was scrumptous and authentic pakistani dishes. Service was good. However, after a few visits I noticed the buffet quality had changed....quaility was just not there. So I ordered some dishes and that was even worse. Once they served Halwa poori and I have to tell you the pooris were horrible... they were from a package and not fluffy at all. I have to say the Halwa was good though. Any restaurant owners needs to pay careful attention to quality.... you can reduce quantity or increase prices but quality you should never compromise. Unfortunately, Darbar did that. Their food is nothing compared to Punjabi grille or Man-O-Salwa. I have heard they have a new chef but after my experiences I would think twice before going to Darbar. read more

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Afshan K.

14 years ago

This is not the place for the feeble-tongued! This is pure desi, spicy, oily and artery-clogging food - and if you don't like that, don't eat it! I LOVE that about Darbar. It's not trying to tone down its food at all. It's catering to a pure desi palette and not apologizing about it! More importantly, it offers purely Pakistani dishes - like nihari, paya and magaz masala - which is rare. They may not get it absolutely right (I would actually skip the Haleem entirely because it tasted more like daal), but they're the best I've had in the North East for a while, especially if you're tired of going to desi restaurants that have such bland food you're wondering what cuisine you're eating. I would recommend the nihari, goat korma and goat pulao. It's a bit on the pricier side (they don't accept American Express) and it doesn't help that it's not the most accessible place (about a 15 mins walk from Allston T stop). Bathrooms are ok. We will absolutely be heading there again. read more

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More info about Darbar restaurant

130 N Beacon St
Boston, MA 02135
Directions
(617) 779-8800
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://darbarboston.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Darbar restaurant open?

Darbar restaurant opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Darbar restaurant close?

Darbar restaurant closes at 10:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Darbar restaurant take Bitcoin?

No, Darbar restaurant does not take Bitcoin.

Does Darbar restaurant take credit cards?

Yes, Darbar restaurant takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Darbar restaurant have catering options?

Yes, Darbar restaurant does have catering options.

Does Darbar restaurant have a drive thru?

No, Darbar restaurant does not have a drive thru.

Does Darbar restaurant have a happy hour?

No, Darbar restaurant does not have a happy hour.

Does Darbar restaurant serve alcohol?

No, Darbar restaurant does not serve alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Darbar restaurant allow dogs?

No, Darbar restaurant does not allow dogs.

Does Darbar restaurant have TVs?

Yes, Darbar restaurant has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Darbar restaurant have bike parking?

No, Darbar restaurant does not have bike parking.

Does Darbar restaurant have outdoor seating?

No, Darbar restaurant does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Darbar restaurant have parking?

Yes, Darbar restaurant has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Is Darbar restaurant wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Darbar restaurant is wheelchair accessible.

Does Darbar restaurant have free WiFi?

Yes, Darbar restaurant has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

This is first pakistani indian restaurant. We serve halal meats only. Our food tastes different than at the indian restaurants. Our specialities are Nihari, haleem, goat paya, brain masala and lots more.

History

Established in 2010.

One of the owners owned a Cafe' Habibi here in brighton, right behind the fire station on Brighton and cambridge st. It was a small place. Since there were no pakistani restaurants, we decided to open one. Even when we had a party we would have to have the food catered all the way from New York and so did everyone else.

Meet the Business Owner: Irfan K.

I always loved cooking food and it was my dream to open a halal pakistani business in the boston area, since there were not many options of halal food.

More Info

Health Score

Ask the Community - Darbar restaurant

Are you doing Iftaar buffet today?

Yes we are

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Do you serve halal food?

Yes everything is Halal

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D3 - Orange Juice

Boston Sail Loft

Sail me to the moon with the Clam Chowder they make here!…read more Our first stop on a food tour, we came in for the legendary Clam Chowder. It was an absolute treat to say the least. Thickest, most seasoned, and most delicious Clam Chowder I've ever had. I wanted a second one but knew we had more on our tour to enjoy so I had to resist. In one of my photos attached, the spoon stands straight up in the mug! Incredible! The other food getting served around us looked great too. Definitely adding this to our "come back to" list when we visit Boston again.

Please forgive me--but sometimes people really do get it so wrong. I'm still trying to wrap my head…read morearound the good reviews about this place, as I fell into a tourist trap-- like a bear to honey. We were visiting Boston for the first time and, after a long day of travel on a cold, rainy evening, we were looking forward to a "classic" New England meal--especially clam chowder and a lobster roll. The restaurant was very crowded and loud (Sunday night), but we were seated fairly quickly. However, service was underwhelming; our waitress wasn't particularly engaging or helpful with recommendations. We ordered the clam chowder and a cold lobster roll, along with lobster mac & cheese for my child and a rice and stir-fried vegetable dish for myself. The clam chowder was decent, but quickly forgettable. The lobster roll was fine, but nowhere near the reputation it carries. The mac & cheese was similarly underwhelming from the first bite. The veggie stir-fry dish was inedible. I returned it after the first bite. Unless you enjoy food straight out of a mall food court in 1985--stuck in time, and not in a good way. They should be ashamed to offer this as the ONLY vegetarian option: too sweet, too sticky, and completely underwhelming. The manager did acknowledge that this dish is not well received in general. So why is it still on the menu? Overall, the experience didn't live up to the reputation or the reviews we had seen. If you're in Boston for that classic seafood experience, I'd honestly look elsewhere.

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Inside

Lobster Mac and Cheese

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Clam Chowder

Nachlo

4.1

(79 reviews)

2.9 mi

Not pictured: the very sketchy ambiance in this "restaurant" which is definitely off putting. We…read moreimmediately got strange vibes walking into this place and were tempted to go somewhere else but there aren't too many options in this neighborhood. We decided to try this place out anyways, and I have mixed feelings. The food here is very good and presented well, especially when dining in. I ordered the Moroccan beef kebab plate and it was very tasty and portions were large, which made the price worth it in my opinion. The cleanliness and overall state of this restaurant is a bit concerning though, and I honestly wouldn't recommend to others. There were practically no clean tables for us to sit at, half-finished plates of food scattered around the entire place, improper food handling (not swapping gloves after touching various surfaces), and even witnessed one of the employees drinking a leftover smoothie drink directly from the blender (!!!!!). Normally these are things I wouldn't notice when dining at the restaurant, but given the layout of this place it was hard to miss. Eat here with caution!

this place was amazing all food was extremely good, and the workers were friendly and helpful.read more

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Fakhita pasta

Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine

Yummyyyyyy! As I sit here eating leftovers from our dinner order the other night!!…read more We ordered delivery - big plate chicken- tender chicken very flavorful with potatoes and veggies and pasta. The stir fry dry chicken was really good too even though it was oily but so tasty! The laghman was enjoyed by the hubs. And I really enjoyed the fish dish - also very oily and could use less oil definitely. But tasty. Food came within a reasonable time. Overall quite satisfied with the food! Plenty of leftovers. Will order again.

TLDR: shockingly flavorful food in a homey ambiance…read more I have to say I was blown away with the flavors presented to me here. In particular, the pork dumplings were such a surprise pick! They're filled with this flavorful broth so despite looking very unassuming they were bursting with flavor. We came here on a Sunday evening without a reservation and were seated in 10min. The menu is entirely online but food came out quickly after we ordered. Dishes we got: - beef laghman: spiced well and chewy noodles! I liked it, although I was a bit confused if it was Uyghur or Chinese because it tasted very similar to Chinese food to me - Pork dumplings: delicious, you have to get these. They look so boring. They're SO good and there's so many. - Mapo tofu: my mouth was very numb eating this but the tofu was silky smooth. I can only assume it was good but I didn't have much spice tolerance left in me after the laghman.

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Interior

Beef and Onion Samosa

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Saltie Girl

Salty Girl absolutely lives up to the hype. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, with ample…read moreoutdoor seating and a great bar area that makes it a fun spot whether you're grabbing a meal or meeting friends for drinks. I started with the grapefruit cocktail, followed by the hamachi crudo and the lobster roll. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The hamachi crudo was especially impressive, and the lobster roll was everything you'd hope for when dining in Boston. The service was excellent, the food was outstanding, and the overall experience exceeded expectations. Salty Girl definitely deserves its high ratings, and I'll be back the next time I'm in town.

The Service here is so atrocious it overshadowed the experience…read more 25 minutes from being seated before we had any contact and then that level of service kept on. So many problems continued . It took two and a half hours. We watched two tables change next to us. Wrong food brought out, cocktail orders not taken took 3 tries and 45 minutes. Water never refilled and on an on Service was so bad I feel I was being profiled for wearing a world cup jersey. The food is pointless in the experience at this point.

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New England Lobster Roll and Parmesan Truffle Fries

New England Lobster Roll

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Warm lobster roll

Row 34 - Seaport

Row 34 in Seaport seriously blew me away. I've had oysters in a lot of places but this one is on…read moreanother level. We tried 4 different types and every single one tasted super fresh, clean, and just really high quality. You can tell they know what they're doing here, even the way they shuck it is nice and clean, no shell pieces or anything. Their menu actually has like 10+ kinds of oysters, highly selective and premium. I really wish we had more time (and stomach space) to try more. But we already had like 3 dinners planned that night lol so this was more like a "stop by and eat as much oysters as possible" situation. Honestly I'm pretty sure the other food here is just as good, based on what I saw on other tables. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Boston.

First time here. We got the lobster roll. And while, sure, the menu said the pricing was 'MP'…read more(meaning Market Price, or...based upon current market conditions)...and while, sure, we didn't ASK what the price would be, on that day, I still think it would have been nice if the waitstaff voluntarily offered up that detail. (I'm certain the staff are aware that many of their diners express shock, once the price is disclosed...) Many folks simply make an assumption or a guesstimate, as to the price, when they see 'MP' on a menu, and this is usually based upon their prior experiences, ordering such a menu item. So, for example, I was thinking the lobster roll might be in the $40-45 range. So imagine my utter shock, when we received the bill, to see a charge for $69?? I have never in my life had such an expensive lobster roll. Yes, it was delicious, and the housemade potato chips were also great. The slaw was also good (though it was a very tiny amount...I would have liked more). But boy, did that price shock me. I would normally never have voluntarily ordered a $69 lobster roll. It simply never would have occurred to me, that a place would ever charge that much....

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Oyster

Local Caught Jonah Crab

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Warm Buttered Lobster Roll

Boston Sail Loft

Lobster Mac and Cheese

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Clam Chowder

Lolita Back Bay

This restaurant is a 10/10. I genuinely hope to visit Boston again one day just to try more items…read morefrom their menu. We walked in without reservations and they were fully booked for the night, but they do have bar seating and a couple of side tables where you can grab a quick bite from the full menu. The ambiance is a 10/10. The decor is insane in the best way. The red chandeliers are stunning, the bar setup is perfection, and the low lighting with the table centerpieces really ties everything together. Even the bathrooms were insanely beautiful which is crazy to say but it stood out. It's rare to find restrooms that are that clean and well-designed. The drinks were great. I can't remember the name of the cocktail I got, but it had red sugar on the rim and it perfectly matched the whole aesthetic of the restaurant. For food, I got the steak taco and the fish taco and both were delicious. We were just stopping by for a quick bite before heading to the movies , but I really wish we could have stayed for a full meal because everything was amazing. Hopefully we'll get the chance to come back again one day.

We made a reservation, but when we arrived we decided to sit outside since the patio is first come,…read morefirst serve. The patio has a great vibe and is in an awesome spot. The queso was delicious, but it was very small and only came with a few chips. The mahi tacos were the standout for us, and the carne asada was also excellent! Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. The portions are on the smaller side, but we still really enjoyed the meal. Would recommend!

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Beef Gorditas, Hot Queso Dip, Steak Quesadilla, and Spicy Artichoke Empanadas

Lolita, Diablo, Spicy Cucumber, Broken Heart

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Lolita Back Bay Mezcal Room

Isabella Ristorante

Made a reservation on a weekday, which was not necessary but with a family of five in a small…read morerestaurant you never know. We all enjoyed the bread and our meals greatly. Gratis Limoncello afterwards and everything. Waiter was great, place is charming in the North End. This was a big hit with adults and children both. Not busy either which is what we were looking for. Didn't want a crazy tourist restaurant.

Amazing little spot in the Boston North End. We walked in…read morejust before lunch and were seated immediately. Recommend reservations for dinner as others have mentioned as it's relatively small, but cozy and reminiscent of some of my favorite Italy spots. Service was personal, immediate and wonderful. Bread was great as appetizer and filling. We ordered two specials and were VERY happy we did (see photos).

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The wine wall at Isabella Ristorante.

Eggplant Parmesan

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Little Italy on a beautiful Boston night.

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29 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Rebecca M.

10 years ago

Reviews from English as a Second Language class from Brighton High School who took a field trip to Darbar: Review #1: "I am glad that I tried the chicken tikka masala because it looked orange and it tasted very spicy. The atmosphere was attractive because there were many things around like pictures ,images,statues. I ate a few pieces of chicken. I just ate like 10 pieces. I drank a soda The food was a bomb because it was very spicy When you go to Darbar,I recommend to try the chicken jalfrezi because that was one of my favorite. Make sure to try the dessert with carrots. I was less interested in the mixed vegetables since, I do not really like them.I really enjoyed the chicken jalfrezi because it was spicy and iI like spicy food. The service was friendly and attentive with us .Moreover, it was very cool be there. The atmosphere was very nice interesting because they had images from their country on the wall and they play cool videos on the TV. I recommend you go there if you like spicy food and if you like flour tortillas because they have things like that." Review #2 "I particularly liked the chicken tikka masala and chicken jalfrezi too. The flavor was amazing spicy but not to hot. In addition I ate much chicken tikka masala because I love the spicy food. I could describe this with this metaphor: The Brighton High School is the The Darbar Restaurant because in their have many good things. I love Darbar Restaurant definitely. I came back to the Darbar Restaurant for delighting with their food.When you go to Darbar Restaurant , I recommend the chicken tikka masala.If you love the spicy you could love the chicken tikka masala." Review #3 "I particularly like the atmosphere because it is really beautiful and smells great. I liked the decorations from their country. The food was delicious.The chicken tikka masala was not spicy to taste. It was tender and red . The service was great comfortable and different that what I see everyday. I eat too much Chicken Jalfrezi. The Chicken Jalfrezi is like a chili pepper. I will recommend you to go to Darbar. The food is really delicious make sure you like spicy food because it is the principal ingredient in every food. You have to try the Chicken Jalfrezi is tender and delicious. The food is amazing. One thing they could do to make their service better is be more friendly with the customers to get a wonderful experience. If you are a person who doesn't like really spicy food I would not recommend you to eat Aloo Bhangan because is really spicy." Review #4 "The food was very fresh and salty especially the chiken tikka masala And about the atmosphere was really special and relaxed also the service was great and really respectful. They were smiling all the time I ate a lot of chiken tikka masala because the taste of it was really creamy And now im goona share to you guys a simile The chikken tikka was red like a apple. If you go to darbar make sure that you order the chiken tikka because on my exprience is very delicious plate :)" Review #5 "I particularly like the Naan bread since it was hot and squishy and kind of crunchy, you can eat it with many different sauce. I enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Jalfrezi because the Chicken Jalfrezi as spicy and the Chicken Tikka Masala was creamy. The service was particularly helpful because they have a nice way and they are helpful. I particularly liked the atmosphere since in the restaurant they put symbol of different cultures. I ate a little naan, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Jalfrezi,and rice, Halwa. The Chicken Tikka Masala sauce was red like a rose flower. When you go to Darbar, I recommend you to try Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan since the Chicken Tikka Masala was not spicy so people do not like spicy food can eat it and Naan you can eat it with many different sauce, or chicken, meat.I was less interested in the Halwa since I do not like to eat cooked carrots I like it fresh. I recommend you to stay away from the Chicken Jalfrazi since if you do not like spicy food." Review #6 The Halwa was deilcious and very sweet The atmosphere of the restaurant was kind of relaxed and comfortable,in addition the service was wonderful and great because they were ready to help you.I ate a little halwa because it's sweet and fresh. The halwa like sugar because both of them are sweet. read more

Rmoon V.

15 years ago

Just got to try this place. As we walk in a gentleman in a chef's jacket says "only two of you". We were not aware that it was Entourage only place? As the server is walking away from our table with the orders, the guys yells across and asks what we ordered? heh? We got kabab, haleem, paya( goat hooves curry) and gurda (liver dish) with couple of naan. He comes to us and says " No naan. I make you chapati." my DC and I are puzzled and tell no we want naan. Then he replies with, " okay i make one naan and one chapati". We ended up agreeing with him bc we got a lil scared. The food arrives and another gentleman is at our table telling us we are about to have the best food in the world. hmmm do i get to taste it before you decide that for me? Throughout dinner both men kept yelling across the room asking us "Goood Right?" Must admit the food was really good favorite was the liver. After reading all the tread I'm surprised to say that our least favorite was the haleem. The chef comes to our table again, " you lucky i make this liver today but I dont make it all the time" heh!? did we just not order from a menu that was laminated? Who knows I guess we must have been very special bc when we asked for the remainder of the food to go he brought a to go container to the table and packed it and also packed my DC naan with his bare hands which was also shuffling the toothpick in his mouth from one corner to the other. i dont think my DC will be having the leftover naan nomatter how good it was. ehhh All in all food was good but bizarre experience. As we are getting ready to leave this Asian kid walks in, "Only One?" I guess you better come with tons of friends here... :) also we could hear the chef talking to him, "I make you chapati" ahhh poor kid.. read more

R M.

10 years ago

Two more reviews from ESL students at Brighton High School! Review #7 "The food was delicious, i liked the chicken tikka masala was not too spicy. The atmosphere was nice i felt comfortable being there.The service was good because they had all the attention on us. My favorite food was the naan because it tasted like milk and it was soft. I ate many naan.The naan is like firework because when you eat a piece of naan you want to eat more. I recommend you order the naan because it is delicious, you will like it. I was less interested in the mixed vegetables since i did not like the flavor of the salsa, it tasted a little bitter. I recommend you stay away from the chicken jalfrezi since it's spicy." Review #8 I particularly liked the naan it was squishy and fresh. The food tasted excellent and it was creamy. The atmosphere was good. I like their idea for customers to put money from their countries on the wall and sign it. The service was friendly. I ate a little naan. Eating the naan was like flying, because it made me feel happy. You have to try the chicken tikka masala, because i like it. So l know you don't no me but you trust my opinion. I was less interested in the chicken jalfrezi, since i don't eat spicy food. Also i didn't much enjoy the chicken tikka masala, because it was not warm and i like to eat it warm. I recommend you stay away from the chicken jalfrezi, since it have a lot of spice in it. If you don't like spicy food don't eat chicken jalfrezi. read more

Grant D.

14 years ago

I used to love this restaurant, but stopped going as frequently because their prices got way out of hand. They recently lowered their buffet price so I decided to give it another try. I showed up an hour into the lunch buffet and nothing was setup. Business was slow so I understood. The bins were there and I saw the Chicken Tikki Masala was one of the buffet options, but it wasn't ready yet. I asked if it was coming out and they said yes. I ate some Naan and Chicken Jalfrezi which were both good. They brought the Chicken Tikka Masala out as I was almost full but I had to try it. It was very good, but when I got the bill THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE BUFFET AND THE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA as well as SALAD that was right next to the buffet line!!!!!! The total bill was almost $30 for a lunch buffet of $7.99. For the same reason I gave this a one star rating earlier, I feel like they just fleece people who go in there. I'm bummed out too because the food is really good. That was the last chance. Never again. read more

John C.

15 years ago

This place is amazing. If you like Pakistani/Indian food you've got to try Darbar. My wife and I spent a few weeks in India last year when we went over for a friend's wedding. To say we got spoiled with great cooking is an understatement. But a few months back we stumbled onto Darbar. We just happened to be at a store on N Beacon Street, and thought, 'oh, well, it's lunch time, why not give it a try'. We've been fans ever since. And not just for the buffet lunch. This is a great place for dinner. BTW. . my wife is a clean fanatic, and one day we walked into the restaurant and the door to the kitchen was propped open. My wife nudged me and whispered, "It's spotless." That's always a plus. Really, we've never had a bad experience here. The food is great, the staff is pleasant. And the owner and his wife are really nice people, very sincere. If you like Pakistani/Indian definitely try Darbar. And if you never tried this cuisine before, this restaurant is a good place to start. read more

Lincoln L.

10 years ago

I would never recommend this place to any one because of the following reasons. 1.] The food here tastes terrible and is not anything special, tastes just like the food you can get in the frozen foods section at your local supermarket. 2.] The food is over-priced and not worth the money. 3.] The Customer Service is terrible and the waiters are rude and not trained properly. [FYI There is no wi-fi at this place, I mean come on wtf what type of restaurant in this day and age doesn't have internet accessibility? 4.] The location is awful! [right next to a gas station and an auto body shop wtf?] Do you want to leave a restaurant smelling like gasoline or the various other nasty smells that surround the area. The only good part about this place is that there is a security camera down the street in case some Psychopath is stalking you it will be taped. read more

Leanna S.

14 years ago

food is okay, some dishes better than others, fish curry had so many bones i gave up trying to eat it, I'm sure its more authentic that way, but I am a lazy american and don't enjoy picking tiny fish bones out of my mouth every time i take a bite of food... who would? service is horrible. owner started going on a rant about hating jewish people to my jewish friend (not sure if he realized she was jewish or not)... as I was leaving around 10pm (they close at 11), a haitian man came in and wanted to be seated but the owner was short and rude with him and told him " If you wanted to eat here you should have showed up earlier"... when they were open for another hour.... read more

Nicole D.

14 years ago

Just a few dishes that made me confident to choose this place over Punjab Palace. The flavors are pretty spot on here. The spice however, is not. A little more of a kick to the Chicken Tikka Masala would have made me very happy! But it certainly wasn't sweet like Punjab Palace. They were very nice and pretty quick with the delivery. Haven't ever picked up from them, it's a hole in the wall. But they know they're flavor! And I'm pretty sure they do buffets. So check it out! I was a somewhat happy customer read more

Andrea H.

15 years ago

I've gotten take out from here three times now, and am so impressed! This is wonderful, family-owned place with amazing food! Although there are a lot of meat items on the menu, there are still some really delicious veggie items to choose from as well. The food always comes out quickly, and the service is excellent. read more

connor l.

13 years ago

the food was good but oily, and only nice person is was the guy with gray hair, the others waitress dont smile no answer questions and i notice is a family own restaurant but now they has a baby there is no place for a baby they can do better. is not to clean specially bathrooms. read more

M S.

9 years ago

The owner and the servers need to learn some manners and professionalism. The ambiance is horrible with a century old upholstery. They are disrespectful and racist towards their Desi (brown) customers. Had a very bad experience, never recommending this place to anyone. read more

Alyssa S.