I really didn't want to screw this up, so I called ahead. After hearing about Guru The Caterer on Yelp for months, I felt as if I was going to some holy shrine on a pilgrimmage. My fear was that I'd accidentally kick over a carved Roman column or extinguish an eternal flame or something. So I called Guru in the afternoon and got the skinny (did I need to order ahead, what was on the menu, etc). One of the extremely friendly and personable folks there walked me through it. All I need to do is show up and chose what I want - that day's menu had Chicken Tikki Masala, Chicken Korma, and some vegetable options. Thusly armed, I drove through Teele Square and to the small and wondrous storefront on Broadway. The line was three deep when I got there. We were all standing around the counter, alternating between glancing down at the menu (which is printed daily and adjusted as items sell out) and staring into the kitchen. Three or four folks cycles between various stations, ladling sauce into a container, packing rice, or making samosas. In the back, an older woman rolled out rotis. For the ten minutes I was there, that's all she did. She was on roti duty. Generally, you want to eat at any place that has a woman dedicated FULL TIME to roti duty. So I put my order in of one chicken tikki masala, one chicken korma, one order of vegetable samosas. It came with palak paneer (spinach cooked with cheese and onions), rice and, unsurprisingly, roti. Over the course of waiting, I chatted with another customer. She and her husband were regulars. Another woman walked by with her dog just to see what was on the menu for the day. One gentleman walked in and was immediately greeted by name. My food was packed and ready to go, and I drove to my house giggling like an idiot. The car smelled like what I kept thinking heaven would smell like. I got home, plated up and got to work on annihilating the meal. Everything, and I mean everything, was delicious. The korma was my favorite, with a nice smokiness in the cashew paste sauce and tender chicken. The palak paneer was also excellent, with chunks of firm and flavorful cheese throughout. The roti was a sponge that soaked up every last drop of what was able to avoid my fork. You can get great Indian food in a number of places around town. But where Guru stands out is the praiseworthy service, the freshness of the ingredients and the price. A transcendantly good takeout meal that filled up two people cost me $18. Bravo, Guru. The name is well-deserved. read more

After seeing this place as the #1 restaurant on Yelp, I have finally summoned a bit of energy and stop being lazy, and finally took it upon myself to drive my ass over there. 5.4 miles later, I parked right in front of the place. Street parking, nice. Quarter in the meter, check. Lock the doors, check. I can already smell the spices even before swinging the door open; my stomach bursts and I salivate. I them enter the customer area which is about 5 square feet. Tiny, and to the point: my kind of place. I enter this modest establishment and I am immediately greeted by a young fellow. I make up my mind and get the Chicken Combo, at a price of $7.50 and add an order of Kesari Kheer (rice pudding w/ saffron & raisins) and I also add a vegetable samosa with it. I figured, if I drove this far, I want to sample as much has I can, even if it means I have leftovers. I was chocked when I heard that my whopping total was of only $12.50, especially considering the amount of food that was handed to me. I actually almost felt bad. I had to wait a couple of minutes while they cooked my samosa to order and decided to have a quick chat with the manager of the place who was extremely friendly and told me that business was very good and that he was considering possibly moving to a newer, bigger location possibily within the next few months. It would be in the same area. Anyways, I stepped out and was immediately punished when i realized that this delicious, aromatic food was going to startle my nose as I drove back home. What a punishment. I cursed the red lights. I even sped a little. I was about to pop a netflix movie of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" but decided to honor this delicious food in peace, with no tv or movie playing. I sat there, eating just about everything. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G ! Seriously! It did not taste what it cost, I can tell you that much. Never have I had such good food at such a price and in such quantities, except for when I saw in Malaysia, so that doesn't really count. The chicken tika masala was hearty, full of flavor and spices. Could not get enough. I even slurped the leftover sauce. The chicken combo also came with rice and a side of vegetables, I went for the zucchini. It also came with some naan which I didn't like as much as other naans I've had at other places. Probably the only disappointment but then again I didn't drive 5.4 miles for naan. I came for the real food! Round trip, 32 minutes! Not bad, not bad. Looks like they found themselves a new regular in me! Soon they shall be calling me by my first name, haha. It was definitely worth the drive although I wish they opened up in Kendall square! THANK YOU, WILL COME AGAIN! read more

Guru The Caterer - $12.50 for all of this delicious food?! Damn! - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The verdict is in, and it's pretty darn tasty. My yummy smelling chicken tikka masala wasn't doing the back stroke in an oil pool, did not exhibit the fake reddish cream tan color from typical Indian places and somebody stuck a real mango in my lassi! I scarfed everything except the naan in one sitting. =/ It's cheap, fast and delicious. Now I regret I have but one stomach otherwise I'd finish the saag I got on the side too. read more

Guru The Caterer - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

All the food was extremely bland (except the fairly decent palaak paneer) but giving it 2* because the food wasn't offensive, just bad.

The food here is solid. It's fresh and not bad tasting. Portions are massive for the price, so it's a good deal. My only gripe is the abundance of cumin in all the items. Everything - curries, rice, paratha, samosa, even the pickle! - is absolutely loaded with cumin. I think the cumin in every bite overpowers what would otherwise be really flavorful food. read more

The flavor itself was ok. The Chicken Samosas and the Chicken Tikka were the most flavorful of the options I got. However, every single item seemed filled with hot peppers. I haven't had Indian food this spicy- and it generally is fairly spicy to begin with. Everything made my mouth burn, gave me big indigestion and a migraine which lasted all night. Even milk could not cure the burn. If you're looking to suffer, this is the place. If they ever mild options in the menu I'll give it another shot- maybe. read more

Picture sitting at home with your best guy/gal snuggled up on the couch with the aroma of Guru's indian food floating out from neatly packed take out containers. You've taken advantage of a couple of their package deals, so you have six different dishes, bread and some rice. There's no big table between you and your loved ones, obnoxious conversations from the awkward first date next to you or waiter hovering near by. Whats that in your pocket? Left over money because your meal was that cheap! Now, your free to enjoy your company and the season finally of Walking Dead with no interuptions. Ah the perfect date brought to you by Guru and AMC. (Ok, so my girlfriend hates horror movies- but even she would sit through a Zombie marathon for some of this Amazing Indian food.) read more

I live about 15 minutes walk from Guru - can't believe I haven't dragged myself here till now... The menu is simple and comes in combos. I had the hardest time deciding so ended up asking the guy at the counter for suggestions. Got the lamb vindaloo and veg pakora. Both were so delicious! The vindaloo combo also came with a veg "side" which is enough to be a meal for me! And on top of everything there's a serving of roti and rice that comes with a combo. It's a buffet meal. For the value (spent $15 for the above) and taste, I'm not sure you can beat that in Boston! I'm coming back every week now. read more

Guru The Caterer - From left bottom and clockwise: veg pakora, rice, lamb vindaloo, roti, and zucchini masala. - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yummmmmmmmmyy Read the yelp* reviews and ran over to get lunch. Okay, to be honest, I drove. Someone noticed - long hike out to the fringes of Somerville. And them, no three year old waitress (check other reviews). I am not certain what I ordered, but for $7.50 one cannot go wrong. Something with ground chicken and a lentil dish. The daily special menu was short enough not to worry. The guy behind the counter was extremely unenthusiastic, didn't make recommendations, but gave me the food and took the money. Thanks to the "twigs warning" from a fellow yelper, I grabbed some disposable utensils. Yes they are right on the counter. I took the food to the office and sank into delight. The idea of saving leftovers didn't last long. I certainly won't hang out with Guru, but it is a great take-out place. Food quality overrides the lack of "counter intelligence"!!! read more

We got chicken tikka masala and it was pretty much soup. Was disappointed in the quality of the food. Order was also lacking requested utensils. read more

I normally do not sign up to write reviews, but rather be selfish and read reviews from others, but I felt inclined to rave about this find thanks to everyone who recommended it on yelp! I was never really a fan of Indian until I found Punjab in Arlington, but then Guru the Caterer totally hit it out of the ballpark! I used to visit Punjab all the time for take-out, but felt the food was never consistent and gradually got bored and frustrated and stopped going there. I was ready to give up until ... BAM! GURU THE CATERER! Pushp is absolutely fantastic and extremely pleasant to talk to. To say the food is amazing is not enough. In addition to a changing menu, the food is extremely fresh and wildly affordable. I normally like my food to be a bit spicier than Guru the Caterer, but it was delicious nonetheless. I had Chicken Tikka Masala ($7 w/ chapati, rice, and one side of dal) that day and it was so delicious! The Kesari Kheer ($2) was also amazing!!! Simply the best Indian I have ever had! We had a dinner for two with two appetizers of the best samosas and dessert for only $23! That is cheaper than making dinner at home! This month, in Boston Magazine, there was an article on Guru the Caterer. As much as I wish Pushp and his business all the best and success, a part of me is being selfish and wish that he doesn't grow and lose that "specialness". Please don't change, Guru! read more

Expanded location, same great service, quality and value. I probably frequent guru 2-3 times a month for take out lunch. If you look on Yelp you already know that this place is a rock solid 4-5, but what you may not know is you can now enjoy your meal at one of the counters, or tables located in the newly expanded location. read more

Guru The Caterer - Expanded Guru location with seating - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

I love this place. The best food, like seriously the spices are so delicious. The stewed goat is amazing!!! And the service is great, very nice people run this place. 5/5 read more

Yummy. The spicing is just right. I had a Combo Special and chose goat curry and palak paneer. Each order comes with basmati rice and chapati. For me, the portions were large enough to provide 2 meals (although the menu claims it's only a portion for 1). Prices for the Combo Specials are very reasonable, ranging from $10.99-$12.99 for lunch or dinner. Highly recommended! read more

In full disclosure, I have never been to Guru the Caterer's location but have catered MANY a meal from Pushp. However, Pushp is great to work with, can usually fill your order even if you only give him less than a day's notice (I'm sure he likes it when he gets more than a day notice, but he has been great in coming through the clutch!). The food is great and there's always variety. I'm a fan of his chicken curry and all of his veggie dishes. He can surprise you with the special of the day, but if you have a dish you like, you can request that too! I do love Indian food to start with, so I may be biased. It's not my favorite Indian food in the world, but it's up there and Pushp was so easy and nice to work with that I kept going back! read more

I found this place from reading the Yelp reviews and let me tell you: this place has great delicious Indian food..reminded me of when I traveled to India. I ordered the Chicken combo which consisted of Chicken Tikka and Palak Paneer. Please note you can also order the lamb. The meal was excellent - very flavorful and def was spicy; for $12.99 it was a bargain as they give you a lot of food. I will definitely return when I travel back to Boston. read more

Guru The Caterer - Chicken Tikka - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

I had take out. The food was delicious. The employees in the kitchen (open to the pickup area) were not wearing their masks in violation of state orders. The person who walked to the register put a mask over her mouth but not nose. If they ignore these health and safety rules when it is very visible, I wonder about the health and safety procedures we cannot see. read more

Ordered on doordash and got the chicken combo and a mango lassi. Mango lassi was so delish one of the best I've had. I ordered Tikka Masala and sautéed cabbage and peas in my combo and the flavors were just okay, although the chicken was super tender and cooked very well. The reason this has 2 stars is because I was up in the middle of the night til the next night with food poisoning from this. If that didn't happen I would have rated 4 stars. read more

This one star rating is not for the food please note. I have been a regular customer since the last 4 months...and u absolutely love the food..since this year was my first thanksgiving, i hosted people and decided to order a la carte from Guru. I called them two weeks prior on different occasions to confirm if theit open on thanksgiving and the lady who answered said yes...they r gona be open..just imagine guests land up at your place at 1 am n no food to offer? Worse still cause grub hub was taking my order...super dissapointed ..and riddiculously upset read more

I'm so ready to go back here and change my reviews, especially after seeing how much praise it's getting from others on the Yelp-sphere. I didn't see that anyone else got the Chicken Korma, but I found it rather uninteresting myself. Maybe because I got it to-go? The menu was difficult for me to make sense of, and ordering in the restaurant was about as hard. I didn't know where the line started nor whom to talk to. The rice is this place's saving grace. I'm looking forward to updating this review next time I come here. read more

I finished the mango lassi before I left the side street it was that delicious! I got the combo with goat curry and palak paneer. The goat curry had so much flavorful tender meat unlike other places I've gone before where it's mostly bones lol and the spinach was so creamy and flavorful! The roti and mint chutney pored beautifully with everything as well. Love love love. It was a good portion for two meals for me :) read more

I rarely leave reviews but feel compelled. Everyone speaks to how delicious the food is here - and it is! But I want to talk about the service. I ordered from guru at the recommendation of a friend. I was pretty sad I didn't receive my bread with my order as I wanted the full experience. I made a call to the restaurant to see if they would be willing to deliver it. I'm well aware it's just bread but thought I'd try. The owner was kind enough to send her husband with the replacement. On top, she threw in dessert. Completely unexpected but much appreciated. Thank you guru for providing awesome tasty food, but also going above and beyond to ensure a complete experience. You've gained a loyal customer and plenty of referrals to come your way. read more

Wow! This Indian food tastes much different from the typical places. It feels homemade and healthy! I'd recommend trying the okra.

MEHHH. Nothing to write home about. I ordered chicken tikka masala tonight (don't judge me for being basic!). The portion was half what any other takeout place gives you, and the sauce was super watery. Skip this place and order elsewhere. EDIT: the owner called to say the small size was apparently a mistake and offered to replace for free, so that's appreciated. read more

Called a pickup order. Asked for everything to be mild. Was informed the food is prepared in advance and not made to order, thus spice level could not be altered. Was assured it is "not too spicey". Picked up food for four people. 80% of the food went into the trash because it was spicy to the point not being eatable. I am talking a half a container of a large greek yogurt couldn't quell the heat kind of spicey. Even the apps were spicy...vegetable pakora included. Had to make mac'n'cheese for kids and improvised for adults. Won't be going back again. read more

Goat curry and egg plant sides were very tasty. It was the right blend of spices with enough spiciness to make it delicious. Portions were great! Will visit again. read more

Ordered vegetarian take out. Good value and quality. Easy online ordering. Decent quantity

Good food. Worth more than the money we paid. Would definitely order from here again.

Most indian take out spots taste exactly the same. They all are the same pice 9.99 to 12.99 and though I love them I never feel great after. Guru is the opposite. They are incredibly generous and get great combos. Even better the flavors are unique and clearly crafted for the dishes. read more

Guru is the kind of cheap, no-frills Indian take-out restaurant that's missing in Boston proper. Curries are half as much as they cost at upscale restaurants ($7 vs. $14) but more home-cooked. I had the plain ol' chicken curry and it had a nice little kick to it. It wasn't as thick as most curries, but the spices were just right. The chicken biryani is fluffy and delicious as well. The aloo....er...I forget the second half of the word but it's spinach with potatoes...was fantastic. I love the way Indians mash up spinach and cook it with spices, even though the texture can be a bit much after a while. If you can make the trip out here, you're in for a delicious, affordable meal. I wish Guru would open up a location right next to me, but then their rent would be sky-high and they'd likely not have $7 curries anymore. read more

I stopped by here when I was in Boston a year ago and wow they were good. I got a mango lassi and there vegetarian items of the day and everything tasted fresh and amazing. If nearby stop by its worth it! read more

This place does not have spice level options. How it's made is how it's made, spicy or not. Real auntie food! read more

I love this place, and get vegetarian take-out very frequently. On a good day, the palak paneer and dal are to die for. On a bad day, it's still pretty good. Their rice, which is a food item I'm usually pretty ambivalent about, is amazing - fluffy and perfectly seasoned. However, there is a fair amount of inconsistency, and the food is usually at its best when the owner is around. Sometimes, it just lacks salt and others it's just mediocre corner-store Indian. That said, I'm happy to accept the bad days, because on the good ones the food is some of the best Indian I have ever had. I'll also add that a friend of mine who is from India used to live across the street and got dal here every day. And every time he comes to visit he brings us piles of delicious, steaming Guru. read more

I got Chicken Tikka Masala combo with aloo gobi. I ordered the chicken tikka masala spicy and it was definitely not spicy. It doesn't have to be Indian hot, but it needs to be spicer than bland. The papadum (crispy cracker like bread) was really good with the mint and tamarind chutney. The pictures are of chicken tikka masala mixed with jasmine rice and the aloo gobi. The aloo gobi was hotter than the chicken... Overall it was good. read more

Guru The Caterer - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Hands down this is the best Indian restaurant I have tried in the Boston/Cambridge/somerville area. The staff is very friendly but the star here is the food. The menu changes every day so the chefs really focus on the dishes of the day and it shows in the incredible taste. I had the madras chicken, lentils, chapathi, vegetable samosa, and mango lassi (my self control flew out the door after seeing the menu). Every single thing I tried was delicious - I grew up eating home cooked Indian food and the food here reminded me of my mom's dishes. The portions are large and the spice level is perfect - enough to add flavor but not overwhelm. The place is small but has seating, is very clean, and most importantly has a restroom! It's a quick walk from Davis square so if you're tired of waiting for a seat at the restaurants there, definitely come check this place out! read more

Guru The Caterer - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

It's the best indian food I've had in the United States. The combo plates are reasonably priced and one combo plate is enough for two meals. If you're sharing with someone, I'd recommend getting two appetizers in addition to the combo plate. Beware, most of their food is really spicy. I can eat this stuff all day but my wife is sensitive to spicy food and won't eat here anymore. read more

This place has the best samosa I've tasted. The only place that comes close is one close to my high school in India. Things to get here: 1) Samosas (Either Lamb, Veggie or chicken in that order) 2) The lamb biryani. 3) Lemon soda named Limca. Lots of street parking. Service is not top notch but whatever, the food is phenomenal. read more

I love this place and have been coming for many years... but today there were absolutely no masks on any of the kitchen staff even when she took my order, even when she brought me the food... so don't think I would come back. It is an indicator to me of overall restaurant cleanliness and safety. I waited for 20 minutes and watched as they made the food, talked on the phone and spoke to each other with masks on their chins. I have been coming here for 10 years or since it opened. So disappointed. How could any small business or restaurant not get that masks are mandatory at this point??? read more

Cons: Not sure about the high reviews, which got us to drive all the way to the "restaurant". This place is not a sit down restaurant and parking is not easy. The neighborhood looks shady and does not feel safe. The food burns one's mouth with the amount of red chilli powder they use. If not the crazy high hotness in food, the high salt will kill your taste buds. Pros: Saving grace is the staff that is friendly and polite. Samosas are good. read more

My husband and I have tried this place multiple times and I have no words to describe how good their food is. I have not even tasted such authentic Punjabi food in India. We tried Samosa, Bread Pakora, Aloo Paratha, Paneer Paratha and they were top notch. Food quantity is great for the price. I will keep going to this place. The only problem with this place is they have a very small area and it quickly fills up. So I would suggest a take-out for larger group or parties. read more