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

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

My mum and dad spent a year in India before I was born, and when India Pavilion opened up we were regular customers. That was when there wasn't a lot of (what my folks call) "ethnic" food in Cambridge yet, so Central Sq wasn't crowded with places you had to choose from. I remember, when I was about 13, going to dinner with my family, and after the meal asking for a toothpick. The waiter was totally confused, but we explained to him what I wanted and a few minutes later he reappeared and opened a brand new box of toothpicks that he had run out to buy so that I could have one. Of course, that has nothing to do with the food. Suffice to say, best Indian in Central Sq, definitely. In Cambridge? Maybe. Certainly it is a contender. We have eaten there twice this month and been completely satisfied both times. On the budget tip: the meals for two are plentiful and I defy you to match the price (remember, you are feeding two people here) even at the cheaper places, like the dhabas. read more

I've lived in Central Square for about five years, and I've gotten food from India Pavilion about once a month for all that time. It's usually the best Indian restaurant in the area, but I've been concerned about the food quality lately. The prices have gone up since the shutdown (which is understandable), but also, the last two times I picked up food on my way home, it was ready in less than ten minutes and tasted like it was re-heated from a big vat. The chicken in particular was hard in the middle, but had sort of disintegrated into a mush around the outside. I hope that this was just a random bad day in the kitchen, but I might have to go try the other restaurants in the area again if it stays this way. read more

Their weekday lunch buffet (12pm-3pm) clocks in at $6.25 and the place bustles with pleased patrons of all ethnicities. Usual Indian staples include veggie pakoras, plain naan, basmati rice, veggie korma, aloo mutter, chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, saag paneer, onion chutney, raita, and rice pudding as well (no papadums!) The food was all on the mild (although not bland) side with the chicken tikka masala at a runnier consistency than I would have preferred. Redemption however, is to be found in the piping hotness of the selections. They also allow "takeout" for their buffet with boxes available. The place was packed today which made it strangely cozy; but the garishly colourful paintings on the wall gave the place a disturbing "fun house" (in the carnival sense) feel to it which I didn't care for. The servers were efficient with plates being quickly cleared. Solidly average fare whereby its main strength lies within low prices. read more

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I live right around the corner from the India Pavilion. Have been many times, but will not order food from there again--the food is way too spicy. I've ordered the Chicken Korma (THREE times) recently, each time asking for mild, then extra mild with NO chiles or pepper please, but still found red chili peppers in my Korma. Way too hot and spicy, a shame because I would like to be able to walk to get Indian food. Now I have drive to Inman Sq. to get great (mild) Chicken Korma. read more

Okay, I normally hate to see reviews like the one I'm about to write, where an arbitrary experience with servers leads to an otherwise great meal getting a bad review.... I get it that it shouldn't factor in to such a degree, but the bizarre behavior of the staff tonight really ruined an otherwise great meal. First the good: The food! - Really high quality, well prepared tasty food. Standbys like Saag Paneer, navratan korma, bangain bharta were all delightful. Tasty, spiced perfectly to requested level, and generous portions. Also affordable. Most vegetarian entrees were under $10. The space: I used to frequent this place 10+ years ago when it was a tiny hole in the wall. It has been greatly expanded and improved and is a gorgeous space now. The bad: We arrived at 630pm on a Saturday to an all but empty dining room. Three of our party of five entered explaining the other two people were parking and would be in in a moment. We were shown to a table, and literally immediately greeted by a waitress who asked if she could take our order while we were standing taking off our coats and not having yet been given menus. We explained we were waiting for others and sat down. In less than (literally) 30 seconds she returned asking if we were ready to order. We again explained we would be waiting for the rest of our patty to arrive and would be a while. Our party arrived a moment later and we opened our menus. Without detailing each instance she (and others) returned no less than 5 more times in the following ten minutes, including interrupting a discussion clearly occurring at the table about what best to order. (We also had a child with us who was unfamiliar with the Indian menu and was clearly having things described and explained to him) Finally one member of our party who was upset by the insistent pressure started ordering throwing us into a momentary chaos and resulting in angry people and a decidedly less than pleasant vibe for the rest of the visit. Keep in mind they were not trying to close, (other patrons were arriving) she did not appear to be trying to end her shift as she was still there taking new parties at the end of our meal, we had not sat there for anything close to a long or unreasonable amount of time (all of this occurred within 10 minutes of coming in the doors) nor was it a language issue. It was just bizarre and annoying. Also this wasn't a case of a brusque mom and pop shop type service, they had a staff of professional servers. Nor was it miscommunication between multiple servers as each of the several who pestered us was told we needed more time only to ignore it and continue to pressure us. (As an aside, we seemed to be the only table not served chutney or Papadum, a small issue, but something some of us were looking forward to) I know one person's server grudge should not be a reason for lost stars or bad reviews and certainly (hopefully) YMMV. But it really affected our enjoyment of the experience and so I have to knock it down from 4 to 3 stars. Go to India Pavillion for the food. Just for god's sake know what you want before you get there! read more

I worked in Central Square up until 2005, and I tried all of the 5-6 Indian places that came in and out of the area. The place I kept going back to was India Pavilion. Other places in Central Square will have Saag, but it won't be with Paneer, or they'll go heavy on the vegetarian dishes with a few being low in flavor. NOT SO HERE! A good balance between veg and meat, with a variety of FLAVORS. Heck I don't know what else to say, I'm new at this thing. read more

I love this place each and every time I go there. It's just not my favorite for some reason but I will say it's my 2nd favorite. I can't put my finger on what would bring it over the top and be my favorite... Maybe location? Central Square is not bad but it's not pretty. Anyway, I went here Saturday 2/7 for the weekend buffet. The Chicken Tikka Masala, Onion Chutney, Naan, Pakoras, and service were wonderful. The price is good too. Another thing, on River Street (ask if you don't know where that is) just down the street from the restaurant is an Indian grocery store owned and operated by the same people who own Indian Pavillion. I adore this shopt and have found many bargains there in terms of frozen naan and of course spices which you will find up the stairs and in the back. This place also has a grilling and food area where you can order Pakoras and Samosas (among many other yummy items). You can also order something like Chicken Korma to go and they'll make it from scratch right in front of you. Superb! read more

If you're into Indian Food, this place should definitely be on your list of options in Cambridge. I can't speak to the quality - I'm not an Indian food connoisseur, but I can say that everything I've tried has been hot and tasty. The naan is always delicious, the service impeccable and friendly, and the portions are generous. If you're in Central and unsure of where to go, step into India Pavilion -- they are rarely full and should have you seated fairly quickly. read more

Stay away! The food was flavorless and most of the food was cold when it arrived to our table. We ordered Malai Kofta and one of the vegetable dumplings was frozen when it arrived to our table. The Navratma Korma was actually flavorless. There weren't any spices in the curry. We were extremely disappointed with our meal. read more

I'm no expert on Indian cuisine, but I really like this place for the Central Square area. The food is very good, it's inexpensive, the service was fine and I liked the casual atmosphere. I'll be back! read more

Decent enough Indian place - nothing phenomenal but I had a good meal here. I recommend the malai kofta among the vegetarian dishes. The tomato sauce is well-prepared, although portions run a bit on the small side. read more

Tried this restaurant for the first time today for lunch. $10.95 all you can eat buffet??? Yes please! I have been to a few other Indian restaurants for lunch buffets and this is by far my favorite one simply because there are so many options. It was quite busy but the staff did a good job of helping each other out and turning tables quickly. The food was tasty as well and it helps that I smelt it as soon as I got off the T. read more

Limited variety of Indian cuisine. Mostly curated for non-Indians who want some naan, chicken tikka and samosas. We appreciated the atmosphere and the service. read more

Wow, first time I've been there in years. Gonna be years before it happens again! Had to beg for onion chutney and pappadam. All the side dishes (raita, chutney) were served in thimbles, that weren't refilled. The lamb dish tasted like it came from a can. (Who knew Chef Boyardee had an Indian Cousin?) And it was about $12/meal, with no sides. I'd rather eat tasty food in a seedy setting than Indian Spam in a Taj Mahal. Won't be coming back again. Terrible. read more

The lunch buffet here is what opened the doors to Indian cuisine for me. It also helps that it was a block away from my old apartment. I'm a fan of their regular offerings: naan, tandoori chicken, saag paneer, and especially their crispy delicious pakoras. Finish that meal off with some tasty sweet kheer, and I've always left a happy (and very full) customer. read more

Solid Indian food at good prices. The set-price meal for two ($27 total) gets you soups, something like four entrees (not full size I don't think but you don't need that anyways), rice, naan, desserts plus chai tea. The food isn't the most amazing I've ever had but it was definitely tasty and a great value. read more

For good Indian food in Cambridge, look no further than India Pavilion. It may be older than many of the restaurants in Central Square but it has not lost its touch. read more

I work near Central Square and I get Indian usually once a week. While I still prefer the food at Punjabi Dhaba, India Pavilion is the place to go for a buffet. It's only $6.25 and they seem to not run out of food (naan) like other buffets in the area. Service has been pretty good. read more

The worst Indian food.. No taste no standard. Have had better roadside food. I think they need a new chef or need to get their recipes right! Zero stars if it would let me. read more

I was very disappointed, especially after reading all of these excellent reviews. First, I think that the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful inside and it's so close to the T. But, I had an awful experience overall. The restaurant did not honor my groupon appropriately and thus, I felt very dissatisfied (Groupon eventually reimbursed me for my purchase.) read more

The place offers a buffet for the western palette that is extremely good. Flavors are distinct and wait staff is very helpful. I enjoy watching thru the large kitchen widow at the cooking staff doing their hard work to make the dishes. Go on Sundays when you will see many Indian customers enjoying the food. If the Indian community goes, you know its good. Quality is always consistent and the buffett prices are very reasonable. See you there! read more

By far the best Indian food ever! I have eaten at almost every Indian restaurant in the area and these guys win hands down. The prices are inexpensive, the wait staff friendly but the food is why its the best!! read more

I love this place! It's extremely reasonably priced and have great options. I usually get a veggie dish and some naan and am always happy.

I have eaten at this place three times. Buffet lunch on a weekday, dinner takeout (ordered online) and lunch takeout (also ordered online). I have not had any issues and really loved the food. Just the rice that comes with the main dish is super yummy. The buffet is so good! My threshold for spiciness / heat is not high but I was able to enjoy the food served here. If you order online, there is options for mild, medium or hot. read more

This place is good for dinner, but I wouldn't recommend the lunch buffet, which is frustratingly bland.

Everything was great until the staff decided it would be a sound idea to burn incense approximately 15 feet behind me and at the vacant buffet table approximately 40 feet away from me. This suppressed my appetite and ruined the entire experience. My lamb dal masala was worthy of five stars, but the rest of my experience here was atrocious and worth zero stars. Word to the wise, if you are going to get food at this place, do NOT dine in; get takeout (or delivery if you live within 2.5 miles of the restaurant). If you are vegan, I would suggest giving this place a wide berth, as most of the vegetarian options have some kind of animal product in them. The wait staff and facilities were average. Also, if they are burning incense in the dining area, it makes me wonder if they are trying to hide something. read more

This is the best Indian restaurant I've found in Boston so far. The customer service was wonderful; our waitress explained the menu very well and offered suggestions like drinking the masala tea after dinner to help with digestion. I got the Thaali, and it was everything I wanted. You can choose your 2 curries, a soup, bread, and dessert, so I got the Lamb Vindaloo and chicken tikka masala. It was really flavorful, perfect about of spice, and really just absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend! Also full bar is great, and the chai tea was a nice touch. read more

This place is so good! I've come here both for the lunch buffet and for dinner. My favorite dish at any indian restaurant is the saag paneer, and I'm impressed with the IP version of it every time. Fir the vegetarians out there (i mainly eat this way), there are plenty of good options on the buffet. All in all, a good, tasty experience every time I go! read more

Best Indian buffet around! If you're looking for cheap ($6 or $7/person), delicious Indian food go any day of the week for lunch and stuff yourself silly! read more

This is the worst Indian buffet in Central. They let the rice get dried out. The sauces are runny; they won't stick to the rice and when you serve say, some korma, for yourself, the sauce just runs right off the vegetables and pools on the plate around them and it ends up looking like badly cooked scrambled eggs that have released their liquid. Also, the naan is not as flavorful as the naan at other restaurants. Generally everything I've eaten from Indian Pavilion, either at the buffet or delivered to my home, has lacked the depth of flavor that can be found at most of the other Indian restaurants. read more

fave indian restaurant in cambridge so far... recommend the battoora (fried bread), chicken tikka masala (sweeter than others, but delicious and mild), and saag paneer (not weirdly smokey like others). The cheese pakora was interesting, but next time, I'm trying the veggie pakoras or meat samosas. (absolute fave indian is Kebab Factory in Somerville...) read more

The best North Indian in Cambridge. High quality, unique offerings, good service, and low prices.

I have a soft spot for this place, not only was this my first Indian food experience some 20+ years ago as a city-curious, adventuring teen from the South Shore suburbs...but it was also the spot for my hubby & my first date. Great food, consistent, usually not a wait. I love the veggie apps, malai kofta and aloo paratha. The papadum is a nice touch, they gave it complimentary at the table before ordering. This place was my first formal introduction to Indian cuisine and I haven't looked back since! read more

Great spot for dinner - tasty food, friendly service, and a good venue for conversation. And now we enjoy their new, beautifully renovated space! read more

Two months ago, I would have given India Pavilion 5 stars. My wife and I have eaten here 2-3 times a month for the past year and a half. Most of the food that we've tried is really good (we particularly like the shahi paneer and peshwari nan), prices are low ($2.50 for two salty delicious veggie samosas!!), and the wait staff is nice. So why 5 stars two months ago and 4 stars now? Well, lately the food has been somewhat variable. While the food is still good, it's a minor letdown each time it doesn't quite live up to the standard that we came to expect after more than a year of deliciousness. read more

I can't decide. This restuarant is somewhere between 3-5 stars (I'm having trouble settling). The food is excellent, the service okay (but the staff were quite friendly), the price is excellent, the location and ambiance is good. I definately wouldn't call the food bland, as another reviewer did. Overall I was quite happy and will be returning again. A fine establishment. read more

Seeking shelter on a stormy Summer evening we stumbled upon The India Pavilion. THE GOOD: Fast service, food prepared in an adequate time. THE AVERAGE: Well, the taste of the food. THE BAD: The rice was extremely dry. No point in going back with so many other options out here in the Cambridge/Boston area. read more