Indian Pavilion is owned by the same people who own Haveli, so it's no coincidence that they are equal in my heart and in my stomach. I love their mango lassis, naan and anything with paneer (cheese) in it. In fact, I always ask for extra in my dish and they are happy to oblige. I've only been in once since they re-decorated, but the change is incredible. It was cozy and a little cheesy before, but it's very elegant now. This might sound weird, but I couldn't get over how beautiful the tile in the bathroom was. So go to India Pavilion, eat some delicious food and, um, check out the bathroom. read more

I came here to try the lunch buffet (9.95) a few weeks ago and the service was notoriously bad compared to other indian places around the vicinity. I wasn't even acknowledged so I ended up just grabbing my own table and then getting food. Water wasn't automatically served to me (like all the other places) by default and I had to ask for it midway. The food, on the other hand, wasn't anything to rave about. Given that the restaurant commands a $1 price premium for its buffet compared to the other places around, you'd expect a little better. I won't be coming back. read more

Wow, Wow, Wow!!!! Disclosure: This review is based on the fact that I am currently living in Chicago where the Indian food is crappy and expensive. Chicken Tikka Masala - chicken was moist and tender, the curry was creamy, buttery, and very flavorful Rogan Josh - great sauce, huge chunks of tender lamb Onion Kulcha - great portion and my husband thought it was better than cold pizza the next day Vegetable Samosa - crispy, large, and sinful Matter Paneer - excellent, no skimping on the cheese here. I give this place an A+ even though I haven't tried any other places in the area yet. On top of that, our bill was about $30 for all of that. I thought they had made a mistake. read more

Our initial visit to this place was prompted when we saw a groupon and figured we'd give it a shot. Turns out the groupon only covered 2 non alcoholic drinks (no fun) and only one particular item from the menu. So we said eff it and just ordered everything else. Try the mixed vegetable platter, you will not be disappointed. Its served with a sweet tangy sauce and it is simply out of this world when paired together. We ordered the platter and garlic naan to start, and then a chicken and lamb masala. Added a carafe of mango sangria and our dinner was more than complete. Very friendly and attentive staff. Really beautiful interior (yes that's right i am making a comment about the decor of the restaurant). Definitely warrants a few return trips. read more

One of my favorite places to get Indian food!!! Their chicken tikka masala is absolutely delicious. The chicken is dark meat (yum!!!), juicy and comes in large pieces. Sauce is very spicy but oh so flavorful. Mild version is less spicy, but on bland side. The naan is super fresh and soft. Garlic naan takes it to the next level. I usually don't get dessert but the kheer here is amazing. It's the best I've tasted and not too sweet! I can't wait to try their lunch buffet. read more

Lunch Buffet I highly recommend the lunch buffets. Great selection for less than $10. The indian food is pretty tasty....but not incredibly delicious. Regular dinners. Relative to the lunch buffet, separate entres are expensive. Compared to other Indian restaurants, dishes are priced well. read more

I'm always up for trying new Indian restaurants, so this was tonight's choice. I started with the coconut soup because I had read here it was so good. It was alright? Admittedly, I'm not a huge coconut fan, but it still seemed really sweet for an appetizer. The malai kofta, which was pretty solid. Nothing fantastic. The spices were a little tame. Also, the amount of nan I got was a bit pathetic. I was finished with it before I got halfway through my food. The service was a bit slow, so we didn't have a chance for dessert before we had to go. They were really great about dropping the price, though, because we had originally ordered the dinners but didn't get around to dessert. It's surprisingly inexpensive, though, so if you're looking for cheap Indian that won't surprise you with its fabulosity, this is a fine choice. Just don't go out of your way. read more

This place is just BLAH! It was not the most comforting/cleanly dining room I've ever been in. I am pretty sure samosas came out of the microwave. Rogan josh had a stronger tomato flavor than I expected for the dish. Lamb korma was not creamy enough. I am 95% sure the veg tables in the biryani were frozen. Breads were decent. Garlic on naan was a little burnt. Next time I am craving a curry I'll just stick to Pavilion's cousin Punjabi Dhaba. If I want a dining (ie waiter service) experience I'll head to Tamarind Bay. read more

Usually 5 stars. Sometimes only 3 1/2. My wife and I come here regularly. Great food (e.g. they never use pre-frozen meat, always fresh). The tikka masala is THE BEST anywhere around here (and we've looked). Staff is very friendly. They're expanding soon too, I think - they should do well. The current dining area is a bit dated, so hopefully the expansion will include a makeover as well. Eat Indian here. read more

The food quality's been kicked back up a notch now that they're in their hugely expanded, wood-paneled, chandeliered digs. AND THERE'S A BAR NOW, yesss! Unplug the frickin flat-screen TV's with those muted Bollywood movies and I'll be even happier. read more

I am very confused as to why this restaurant has so many stars. The food was bland compared to 99 percent of indian places I've been to. The traditionally "spicy" dishes were not at all. My sister who was with me said it tasted like they made it the traditional way then added water to it (the curry we ordered). I was not impressed with any of the tiny portion dishes we bought. Also, the wait staff was slow to come around and then fast to rush us to leave. This place was not horrible but it was not good or recommended. read more

This is a good Indian place right in the heart of Central Square. Since their renovations a few years ago, the interior is nice and spacious, making it an ideal place for groups. The food is quite good. Last time I came, I ordered the Chicken Do-Piazza, which was tender, flavorful, and had a perfect garnish of cilantro. Another attractive feature of this restaurant is that it is one of the least expensive places around Central, making it perfect for budget-conscious students. My dish, together with Naan and an alcoholic beverage, cost around $20, tax and tip included. read more

We went on a Sunday for a late lunch. They still had the buffet. Despite us being quite late, it was still delicious. There wasn't a single item that tasted bland or bad. The staff was attentive and accessible, the place itself is quite pretty. Thumbs up! read more

India Pavilion - Great for large groups and small alike - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Been here for a lunch buffet on a weekend, expecting good variety and flavor of Indian food, but it was utterly disappointing , I don't even know how this restaurant is so highly rated, food was tasteless, bland and cold.The service was too slow too, took a.long while for the Indian breads to come / pick up plates from the table. The curries were bland/tasteless without any spices. Wouldn't recommend this place at for a lunch buffet or so! read more

Went here for the first time last night. I would totally go back. I got the tandoori chicken meal with Mulligawty soup, regular naan, and the rice pudding. Tandoori chicken was soooo flavorful, though I was expecting it to be in some sort of sauce. Regardless, super yummy and moist. Soup was spicy and smooth, perfect for cold weather days. Rice pudding was amazing. It was like eating chai tea yogurt with rice in it. Cold and creamy, it nearly had the flavor of an amazing vanilla ice cream. 3 courses for 12.00 minus a glass of wine and tip. I think it was about 19$ with everything....AND they bought out some crispy thin bread and Indian style salsa for free :) read more

Although they claim to be open until 11pm, apparently the restaurant's kitchen closes at 10pm. They seated us and warned us that we had 5 minutes to order, which is fine, but when we realized that they expected us to leave by 10:30pm (and they were not willing to let us order a bottle of wine since they do not have a way to seal an open bottle to take home), we decided to take out everything home. Considering that they were willing to seat us, we expected to be accommodated better. This is unfortunate, since we considered India Pavilion to be our top choice for Indian food. read more

Not bad,the buffet din have much of the options, but the price is comparatively cheaper when compared to others. Im rating based on the taste of food, but not for the price... read more

This place is so so good. Best saag paneer around, which is what I usually judge by. Don't miss the Roti, the Kobi, or the Jerk Chicken in addition to the regular favorites. read more

My wife and I are regulars here and it is great. We will come from our neighborhood in Fenway whenever we are too lazy to cook. Food is cheap, simple, and delicious. We usually get the chicken tikka masala and naan. Dosa is also good. Highly recommended! We will miss this place when we move from Boston. read more

Maybe I was there on a bad night? My food was okay, not the best I've had. The naan was on the chewy side. I thought the Chicken Tikka Masala was a little bland and generic. The atmosphere was weird and not in a quirky way, one of the kitchen staff who was taking a dinner break was staring at me the whole time he ate... creepy. Probably will not go back. read more

On my visit to Boston, I met up with some family at this Central Square spot. This is a solid no frills resturaunt, homemade nan with options to have garlic or onions if you want to walk on the wild side. Solid vegitarian and meat dishes. A new upgraded atmosphere and dishware make for a nice dining experience. Always a good sign, a window to watch them prepare your food! If you want good Indian food and still have money to hit the bars, this is the spot for you. read more

The food was fine - pretty standard Indian fare - and the physical space is nice. Plus it is a great location. The service, however, is subpar. I went with a group of ten people on a Wednesday night during an absolute downpour. Given that, there were not many other people in the restaurant, which makes the bad service that much worse. I order a veggie combo meal that included a dessert. Everyone had been done eating for a long while but they failed to bring out the dessert. They brought our check and to go containers but still no dessert. I reminded them that I paid for a dessert which was never brought. They said they would bring it right away but since my group was done and ready to leave I asked if I could get the dessert to go. The waiter refused to do that - despite the fact we already had extra to go containers - because the dessert was "too small". I asked multiple times and he refused multiple times. Not wanting to cause a scene in front of a group of people I had just met, I relented and never got dessert despite paying for it. They then refused to give us separate checks and insisted they would only take four cards from our group of ten. It just doesn't make sense. If we had come in and been sat as 5 groups of 2 they would have taken ten cards. Yet because we sit together they refuse. Given that my dinner party did not know each other well and not many people had cash this caused a huge inconvenience for us. And, again, we were a huge group on a Wednesday during a huge rainstorm. You would think they would have seemed somewhat happy to have our busy on an otherwise really slow night. Guess not... read more

Their food was fresh and delicious. They served everything while it was warm and the spices were just perfect. Their customer service was great. We were there with our large running group for their buffet. Their waiters always made sure we had everything we need and came by multiple times to take our drink orders. The manager came by to check in on us and to make sure we had everything we need. On top of that, since we had a large group, they accommodated us and made sure we were comfortable and had the space we need.I would certainly recommend this restaurant as we had a great experience, overall! read more

Best Indian food I've ever had - hands down. I had the shrimp masala and it was so tasty I wanted to just drink the sauce that was left when I was finished. Stunningly delicious. I saw a few people post that they thought the wait staff wasn't attentive. That was not my experience at all; they were completely welcoming, professional, and efficient. The food came surprisingly fast (it was a Monday night during the holiday season when I'm guessing Cambridge is a little deserted, so it wasn't particularly crowded. But they were clearly doing a brisk take-out business.) One thing to note - I eat keto, so I don't eat rice. There were only 6 shrimps in my entree. I don't have a huge appetite, so it was plenty for me. But if you have a bigger appetite, expect that the rice and sauce (& veggies in the sauce) comprise a good deal of the bulk of your meal - or of this entree at least. There was plenty of all of that, so you'll be completely satisfied, as long as you eat rice. Don't hesitate about this place. Soooooo good. read more

Very pleasant food. Service needs some improving but kind people. There is definitely a language barrier there.

For more than three millennia, the Indian subcontinent was ruled by a plethora of powerful dynasties vying for territory. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the global Indian restaurant market is also heavily dynastic -- recall the infamous Berkeley Indian restaurant magnate, Deepak Agarwal (a.k.a. Deepak Shakur). During our visit to India Pavilion (IP), in the heart of Central Square in Cambridge, we learned of Deepak's Cambridge counterpart, Mohan Singh, whose territory extends north-south across the heart of the city with ownership of IP, PD, and Froyogi. IP, the flagship restaurant of the Singh dynasty, opened its doors over 30 years ago, during the dark ages of Central Square. In fact, the restaurant still displays a prominent sign "NO DRUGS" -- perhaps a relic from that crime-ridden epoch. Despite the geographic separation of the Shakur and Singh Dynasties, their bicoastal establishments feature the most critical yet useless element of restaurant décor: the ornate wooden screen hawked by Restaurant Depot. And, like all empire builders, Singh and Shakur understand the importance of diversification: whereas Shakur owned taxi businesses and sought to corner the East Bay spice trade, Singh markets his own brand of Garam Masala, on prominent display at IP in neatly arranged glass jars with mis-oriented labels. Unlike the crude interior of PD, however, IP's interior was immaculate, with comfortable chairs, well arranged tables, a pleasing color scheme, and balanced lighting, attributes befitting the stature of the great Singh dynasty. Notably, IP's kitchen faced the dining area, separated by a transparent window. This allowed us to observe the preparation of our food in real time, and we were pleased by what we saw. The meal began with peshawari nan ($5), which was fresh, tasty, but a tad undercooked. The poori ($4) was plasmatic on arrival, but rapidly deflated, leaving behind less impressive and more doughy morsels upon cooling. The goat curry ($14) was tender and the navrattan korma ($10) was very flavorful with excellent cookitude. Surprisingly, we learned that the aloo gobi, while offered, was an off-menu item. Its omission, though sacreligious, was a good choice, as the dish lacked appropriate potato cookitude and was bland despite our requests for extreme spice levels. The mango lassi ($4) was excellent, with a viscous texture and an essence of kewra, the extract from the flower of a screwpine plant. Despite a few critical missteps, IP is a solid four samosa restaurant with a with a high-end three rupee price tag. However, despite IP's apparent preeminence, the Singh dynasty, too, will someday fall. Will it succumb to Mongol invaders, or the slow eastward march of the Shakur empire? Time will tell, and history will be written by the victors, so experience this jewel before its inevitable plunder! read more

Okay, I like this place and give it 3 stars. Another neighborhood favorite, mainly for their take-out, naan, and lunch buffet. Eating in the restaurant is an okay experience. The atmosphere of the place is kind of a turn-off with its dirty worn carpet. The inner room is much better. Service is efficient and friendly. The curries are good and they come with rice, making it a better value given their prices. An update to the interior and dining experience would help. read more

I really want to give them 5 stars. This is where my boyfriend and I like to go or order delivery from... but their food is not consistent enough. It's easy to notice when my boyfriend and I almost always order the same dishes when we have Indian. Usually, I get Chicken Tikka Masala while he gets Lamb Saag. A couple of times my curry was either too sweet or too sour. My boyfriend loves his lamb, and it's very well prepared. Usually I avoid lamb because it smells like the zoo to me, but not here. Their mango lassi is nice, and they don't add ice like some places! (thank you!) Last time we went, I accidentally ordered Chicken Tikka because I thought it was the same as Chicken Tikka Masala... and it was a pleasant surprise!! Next time we go, I'm going to try more dishes!! read more

I hate, hate, hate giving this place two stars. They put a lot of money into remodeling it, so I give it a star for ambience, and a star for not messing with the naan. The naan is great. But the food is not as good, and I don't think they are taking as much care with it. The first few times we went after the remodel, it was okay, and I am all about patronizing local businesses. Then my husband had a nasty bout with food poisoning after eating one of their chicken dishes. I can forgive a lot. I know how hard it is to run a restaurant and how hard it is to expand a business. But not making sure your food won't poison your patrons? This aggression will not stand. I'll come back, India Pavilion, but only if you promise to cook your food all the way through next time. read more

I was putting off this place because of the not so great reviews here and so it was a nice surprise when I actually went to have the lunch buffet. The buffet had two starters/sides - Pakode which were nice and Tandoori Chicken which was really bland for my tastes. Two curries with meat - Butter Chicken which was one of the best I had in recent months and Goat Rogan Josh which I didn't taste. Veg offerings were Chole (chickpeas), Palak Paneer, Mutter Paneer and Navratan Korma. I loved the Korma and the other things were okay. Three desserts - Jalebi, Gajar Halwa and Rice Kheer. If I had to rate this place only for the food, I would have probably given 3 stars but given that the all you can buffet comes for only $8.95, I gave the extra star. read more

Delicious food, excellent and personable service, the oldest and best Indian joint in Cambridge. Fabulous! read more

India Pavilion - Indian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Terrible service. They have an option for takeout buffet. As a person on ketogenic diet, all I eat is chicken and while filling my box with chicken, the waiter was rude and said I couldn't do it. He made me cancel my order and I had to walk out of there. I am dissatisfied by the rude behavior of the waiter who did not let me eat there. read more

This is the worst restraunt I could ever imagine going too, The staff are totaly inexperienced, "at times rude" the food isn't great, I love Indian food, but this place is way too much hassle. read more

We ordered through a third party, and India Pavilion lost our $45 order. We contacted them trying to resolve the issue and were hung up on with the issue remaining unresolved. The food is fairly decent, but we've definitely had problems with service here in the past. We should have read the Yelp! reviews first. It seems like the staff is very unwilling to help resolve issues that other patrons have experienced. read more

This is one of my top two favorite Indian dinner places in Boston. Our waiter was prompt, courteous, thoughtful, and friendly. The interior is new, polished, and clean. The food completes the excellent experience. Each dish was beautifully presented and executed with an impeccable blend of spices. If you're craving some Indian food with a nice sit-down experience, Indian Pavilion hits the spot. read more

I am a tough critic when it comes to Indian food, so that fact is the only reason India Pavilion did not receive a perfect rating. First of all, they have the best naan I have ever had . You know how there is the flat, kind of bland naan that is pretty common in Indian restaurants?...well theirs is satisfying on its own, so have two orders of it. Second, please order the Chicken Makhni. Take care not to order it on a date, because you run the risk of losing your appeal; ravenously devouring the Makhni and naan, Lord-of-the-Flies style, is not the most flattering of images. Third, the decor is pretty cool for an Indian restaurant. I say this because few cheap/moderately priced Indian restaurants put much thought into the look of the space. The walls here are covered in cultural murals that give you something to look at, should you become bored with your companion/date. read more

Went to Indian Pavilion after a 3 year hiatus because the last I was not pleased at all. I figure with the new renovations I would give it another try. First, do not order wine by the glass. It was dishwater. I order a bottle of Malbec very nice-so was the price. I thought Indian food was to have plenty of aromatic flavors. Neither, in any of the dishes we order. It is a shame, since it so close to home. read more

So this is my third restaurant in last two weeks that is Indian. I have to say that this is one of the better one around Central Square. It was clean and nice. They had the least amount of frozen food. Egg plant burtha seemed freshly made have to give you points for that. Deserts and Pakora's were at least 3-4 days old. Not sure why Indians res. are serving cold jalabi for deserts and cold Gulab Jamun out of the cans. This is totally ridicules you guys. They all know that india no one ever sells cold jalabis and serves cold Gulab Jamun. Cutting Corners left and right... I noticed you are a Yelp paid member and i know this might not appear in the review.. as yelp is also gone crook with the paid members. Back to food. Here is how i think Chicken Masala is made...Chili and chicken is made separate.. as needs arise they must add chicken to the Masala and Chilli. How can you tel?l.. see how dry is the chicken compared to everything else is you will know the taste... Samosas on Lunch buffet is not served but they have chutni's (sauce) to go with it. SO if you are going to eat Indian avoid Shalimar and Haveli around the corner. read more

This is seriously my most favorite restaurant in the whole world. I don't know why it is so difficult, but very few places get indian food right; the sauce is supposed to permeate the meat, but oftentimes the meat is dry and swimming in a delicious, herby sauce. This creates a jarring transition from the sauce (wet, delicious, melty) to the meat (dry, dull, much chewing required - the dish should be called jawsercise). India Pavilion ALWAYS gets it right. I have been there a zillion times and it never disappoints. Tikka Masala - fantastic. Vindaloo - wonderful. Saag/Palak Paneer - to die for, but I ask them to make it a bit hotter for me. This restaurant is the standard by which I judge all other indian restaurants, and very few come close. Not being able to go here for lunch is one of my biggest regrets about leaving Boston. Never change, IP - 'til we meet again!! read more

This is THE best Indian restaurant in the area, which is why I dine here all the time and have sent hundreds of my clients here for lunch and dinner. The ambiance is inviting and the staff always warm and welcoming. My commitment to this restaurant is based on the quality of the food, the service and the great energy that is reflected in the entire dining experience! Dr. Lloyd Sheldon Johnson Cambridge read more