Ambrosia is one of my favorite restaurants in Monterey! If you're looking for delicious Indian food…read morein a peaceful setting, this is definitely a place to visit. I especially love their lunch buffet. It offers a wonderful variety of flavorful dishes at a great price, making it an excellent value. The naan bread is always warm and fresh, and the dipping sauces are absolutely delicious. I also appreciate that they offer several vegetarian options, so there's something for everyone. One of my favorite things about Ambrosia is the atmosphere. The restaurant is quiet, clean, and relaxing, and the beautiful outdoor patio filled with succulents and flowers creates such a serene place to enjoy a meal. The staff are friendly and professional. The food is consistently excellent, the prices are reasonable, and the overall dining experience keeps me coming back. Whether you're already a fan of Indian cuisine or thinking about trying it for the first time, I highly recommend Ambrosia. I'll definitely be back again!

Ambrosia: A Must-Try for Indian Food Lovers!…read more After a less-than-stellar experience at another Indian restaurant in the area, I decided to give Ambrosia a try, especially since it's known as one of the best in Monterey. Located just a short walk from Alvarado Street, it's super convenient. I went around 1 PM on a Tuesday, and they had both a buffet and a menu to order from. The moment I walked in, I was struck by the peaceful and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant was spotless and beautifully decorated, and the staff were friendly and relaxed. We started with the samosas, which were absolutely delicious - a perfect way to kick off the meal. For our mains, we ordered the chicken tikka masala and vegetable biryani, both with a spicy kick. The spice level was perfect, adding a wonderful depth of flavor without being overwhelming. I also noticed they have a wide selection of drinks, including some interesting vodka infusions and imported Indian beer, which would be great for dinner. Overall, Ambrosia is a fantastic spot for authentic Indian cuisine. Highly recommend!

I have GOT to say, WOW. I've now eaten here three times with family. Each time, the food was…read moreOUTSTANDING. This time around we had lentils, butter chicken, lamb korma, chipotle chicken, spicy cauliflower, samosas, and some delicious chocolate nan! (I think I'm forgetting a few dishes lol) it can be overwhelming when I see huge menus, but the staff is so great at making suggestions. I have never liked Indian food, but now I'm a huge fan. The chef apparently studied at a Michelin star restaurant in London for over a decade! The food is bright and colorful, with a ton of gluten free options too. There is also outdoor seating with fire pits, perfect for a date night. This place is a hidden gem, and I don't know why more people aren't talking about it. I can't wait to go back.

My first Indian lunch buffet and it was a great experience! Aabha Indian Cuisine is located in the…read morebustling Barnyard Plaza and has bright yellow interior, gracious service, and good food. The lunch buffet consists of ~8 banquet style hot dishes ready to scoop, plus salad greens and unlimited fresh herby naan brought to your table. On the Friday we went options included fried onions, mushroom masala, tandoori chicken, butter chicken, mango pudding, yellow daal, basmati rice, and a chickpea curry. Everything was well spiced and flavorful without being too salty or spicy, and we really enjoyed soaking up all of the sauces with rice and naan. The naan had anise seeds and other herbs in it and was crispy and fresh from the oven. On the side we also ordered an eggplant dish and mango lassi and found both to be excellent, especially the mango lassi which was naturally sweet and creamy. Everytime you get more food you are to use a new plate so it's very hygenic. Service was so kind and accomodating especially as we had two little ones dining in our party. Naan always came out quickly and the professionalism of the staff makes it feel like an elevated restaurant experience.

I am a big fan of Indian food and can be a bit picky. In my opinion this is the best indian food in…read morethe Monterey Bay. I have been here many times and have never had a bad experience. My favorite dishes are Palak Paneer and any variation of Coconut curry. Most recently I ate the shrimp coconut curry and was very happy with the flavor. All rice is delicious, and I've tried them all. The service is always good as well. The older man has been my server most times I go in and newest time a different server was just as good. The ambiance is cozy. I love the artwork and overall just a great place to get some good indian food

I've been coming here for years, so it's disappointing to say the experience has definitely gone…read moredownhill compared to how it used to be. The biggest issue was the service -- it was pretty much nonexistent the entire meal. It took a while to get served, and once the food came out, there was very little follow-up or attention afterward. We came towards the end of the night and most all the tables were left dirty, filled with plates from diners who had already left the restaurant. The food itself was decent overall and still had the good flavors I remember. The fried fish had really great seasoning and flavor, but it was overcooked and only served lukewarm. Honestly, if it had come out fresh and hot, it probably would have been excellent. The rest of the dishes were pretty good too, but unfortunately none of the food was actually hot when it reached the table, which took away from the experience. I'd still order from here because the flavors are there, but going forward I'll probably stick to takeout instead of dining in.

I was on the fence about the buffet format, but all the food turned out tasty and satisfying. It's…read morekind of a lower price point buffet with fewer options but all well done. The host and waiters were surprisingly friendly and responsive, and the place was clean. Case in point, I noticed the host cleaning at least three times while we were there, and the dining area seemed thoroughly cleaned. Kids under 5 eat for free, but kids 6-10 are about half price. Overall, I would recommend eating here as they have gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian options.

It is nice to have another option for Indian Cuisine in Gilroy. I was starting to feel like Little…read moreIndia was the only show in town , and were price gauging their customers because of it. if I am comparing the two, I prefer Little India's food better, but I feel like you get a little more bang for your buck here at Tadka. The dining room is welcoming , with music videos playing and pictures of delicious food on the wall. For dinner, we opted for the butter chicken and lamb curry. This is probably the worst version of butter chicken that I have ever tried. The chicken was dry despite being covered in the wonderful sauce. The lamb curry was better , but a little fatty in some spots. The aloo gobhi was really good with both the potatoes and cauliflower cooked perfectly. The basmati rice was perfect , and the garlic naan was excellent. Our total bill was about 65.00 not including tip. To be fair we had enough leftovers for a lunch the next day. Solid option in Gilroy, but not quite the can't miss experience I was hoping for. I guess it is back to Little India for me for my Indian cuisine.

My bf and I went to this place the other night, and because of the recent reviews I was skeptical…read more Although we were confused on who to talk to about getting a table, and we did wait a little longer for the food and hookah this place was hella cool! It was late so we were the only ones there which was actually pretty awesome. We got a fire pit to ourselves and the hookah was great, we got watermelon and mint. Nice and smooth. We got the chili chicken with naan which was hella good the perfect amount of spice to flavor. The bartender (?) server (?) was really chill and accommodating. Me and the bf are From Oakland so unfortunately we can only come here once every couple months but we will definitely be going back to this place.

Hookahs great, music is great. Of bartender Steph was awesome!…read more Love the fire pit, super chill place to come relax have some food get a drink and smoke some hoookah! Highly recommend

Good food! Great service! Yellow coconut curry was exquisite! I would visit it next time we visit…read morecarmel by the sea

Lovely, enjoyed the artichoke appetizer and vegan rita pizza. Thanks for the herbal tea…read morerecommendations, I really enjoyed it. Eclectic artsy spot, limited parking (neighborhood street parking works fine). No wait for a table, food was quick, highly recommend anything with the special white sauce.

SCW and I stopped into El Cantato while staying in Monterey Bay. This place was a priority for me…read moreas it's all plant based and Mexican. Parking is sparse in front of the restaurant but paid parking is nearby. We entered and wow, the place was busy. Not overwhelming but lots of people in the indoor dining area enjoying their food. The menu is overheard and we decided what we wanted and ordered. The employees were kind and helpful, we probably were the only people that didn't speak Spanish well in the restaurant but that wasn't an issue, SCW got the number 2 combo, I got the mole. Also ordered an appetizer. Seated and waited about 10 minutes and our order came out. Everything was freaking amazing. Such great flavors and so fresh. Even SCW who doesn't necessarily gravitate towards Mexican food made nom nom nom sounds the whole time. The mole was incredible, the best I've ever had. The whole time we were here it was an endless stream of customers, even late lunch hour. SCW was impressed by the contrast stream of people coming in. We even walked around the wharf nearby for a while and drove past again and it was still packed with people. Do yourself a favor and visit El Cantato. I know I will.

This is an amazing Vegan restaurant. I was in the area for the day and found this place. I haven't…read morebeen to many Mexican restaurants with any vegan options let alone a full Vegan menus. It took our party (8 people) a while to decide as we were spoiled with choices. But we had time as it was pretty busy for a Friday around 1. I ended up getting the carne asada nachos and the aqua Fresca that they had that day (mango and watermelon I think). Both were absolutely spectacular. The picture included might not show the best scale but I had 2 others helping me to eat this plate and otherwise I would not have been able to finish it (even as a larger man). The crunchy jalapeños with the chips, beans and guacamole were the perfect balance. As a meat eater, the texture of the faux meat was a touch odd, but the flavor more than made up for it. The staff was helpful and attentive even as they were balancing supporting customers, answer phone orders, and taking regular orders. My wife and will definitely be stopping by here more often!!

I'd been wanting to check this place out and was happy to stumble upon it on my drive this morning…read more The place is charming. They have a great breakfast menu filled with a variety of options and a large assortment of coffee drinks and other beverages. I went with my standard Americano and treated myself to half an avocado toast, a Presbyterian butter bliss ball and a brown sugar chocolate chip cookie. You can browse the shop on site for jams and other local products while you wait. Great food and beverages, friendly and knowledgeable staff and great atmosphere has me adding this place to my list of favorite spots in Pacific Grove!

This place has such a cute vibe! I love that it's so community oriented, offering lessons on things…read morelike pickling and providing ways to give back! We got the avocado toast and salad. The salad was huge! You could tell each ingredient was fresh and healthily grown. The avocado toast was nicely seasoned and toasted. The workers are all wonderful and happy to give advice if you're not sure what to get. This place was definitely a highlight of our trip to Monterey!