I've been to Passage a few times both to dine in and take out, the food is so good! I really enjoy everything I've had from appetizers to entrees. The service is great too, whether you're dining in or taking food to go. They are friendly and fast. read more

Great food and amazing staff. I wish indoor dining or outside seating was available.

So disappointing! Chicken tikka masala was tough, sent back, still tough so did not eat. They would not take it off the bill because "nobody else complains" WHAT? Have been going for years and CTM was always tender - not today. Poor customer service, Won't be going back. They lost a customer. read more

We were very excited to find this gem right in the middle of town and even more excited to find it super busy on a Thursday night. We were a group of four and tried a lot of dishes. We started with their mixed appetizer- it was a large platter. The paneer pakora was very nice crisp outside and soft inside. The samosa had the perfect spice level. Then we had the mix grill which had all the tandoori items - very tender. We also had the dal and matar paneer with the bread basket. Very tasty and good size portions. Finally we tried the kulfi and gulab jamun. The owner warned us that the kulfi was not the same as India, however, it had the perfect flavor of saffron and pistachio and was not over sweet. We will definitely go back and recommend to others. read more

Delicious! Everything tasted freshly prepared. Our group had different dishes, from vegan to tandoori chicken. Everything was great. A nice dining option for the historic Salem area. read more

I am a strict vegan and they made a few of the vegetarian dishes vegan for me and they were delicious!! My BF order the chicken tikka masala and loved it!! I highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

10 out of 10 recommend this place! The service was fantastic, very fast and their food was absolutely incredible. They were super accomodating for our large group who had a vegan guest, vegetarian guest and mutluple allergies at the table. At the end of our meal they brought us hot cloth napkins to clean our hands after devouring the best Indian food we had ever had. Don't miss this spot while you are in town! read more

The sambar and dosa were quite bad. An older gentleman came out 20 minutes before closing and took my unfinished plate WHILE asking if I was done, forcing us to leave the meal unfinished. While I may not be back to Salem any time soon, I will certainly never eat here again if I am in the area. I wish the owners the best of luck and hope their staff stops treating the clients so rudely. Some of the food was OK in all fairness, but avoid the South Indian fare. read more

Nice Indian. Food was well spiced and portions were standard sizes. Naan bread was good

My fav and first Indian place. You cannot go wrong with their curries . Their bartender is awesome and super friendly! A must go if you are in Salem and hungry! read more

After going to Anmol, my interest in Indian food was close to waning... but PTI has restored it. The only down was the price. We paid $25 dollars each. Granted we went overboard in ordering a million orderings of the Garlic Naan and Regular Naan But the regular dishes were all $15 or over. And the portions are enough for one person. Actually, I think two people can share one order of dish, but being a fat bastard that I am, one dish would not have satisfied. So my suggestion for two Fat Bastards: Order two dishes= 30 dollars Order one Garlic Naan= 3.25 dollars. Order one Regular Naan= 2.25 dollars. Order two Soft Drinks= 3.00 dollars. total you pay = $23.40 each person(including 20%tip) My suggestion for two poor college students: Order one dish= 14.95 dollars Order one Regular Naan=2.25 dollars Order one Garlic Naan= 3.25 dollars Order Water= free total you pay = $12.05 each person( including 15% tip-you poor) http://ptisalem.foodler.com/MA/Salem/Indian/Passage-to-India/Menu/1023.html My suggestion for dishes. Lamb/Chicken/Beef Vindaloo- Mad Mad Hot. I am Korean. I was dying. Chicken Korma- My favorite. so good. so good. Chicken Mahkni- I wonder if this was what i think Chicken Korma is..... Chicken Tikka Marsala- I learned from my Indian friend that Marsala means it's hot. I'm Marsala.- just kidding. Also remember my friends. Who you eat with, effects how dellcious a meal is. read more

Say an alien comes down some night and climbs into your bedroom window. He wakes you up and tells you he's leaving a wonderful device with you. The device can lock in on any building on any block in any city and transport it to Washington Street in Salem, MA. If you love food half as much as I do, the first thing you'd do is start bringing over eating establishments from around the world. And when you got to Indian food, you'd probably want to grab a prime spot in one of the world's prime ethnic neighborhoods like Brick Lane in London. Well, consider it done - A Passage to India could rival any of the top curry houses on Brick Lane, or even India itself. I've never had a bad dish here and the lunch specials are a steal. Truly a worthy target for any alien powered relocation device. read more

My friend and I ordered take-out last night. She ordered the chicken korma, while I opted for the chicken tikka masala. On a whim, she suggested that we try a naan. "Sure," I said. "Pick one." So, seemingly at random, she chose the Kashmiri Naan - a choice which, we would soon discover, would change our lives forever. "This is delicious!" I exclaimed after a few bites of my tikka masala. "This is great, too!" agreed my friend. Then it was naan time. We each broke off a piece of the enormous stuffed naan and gave it a taste. In that moment, it was as if everything we had ever known about delicious food was nothing more than a horrible, heinous lie. Ancient Greek texts state that the gods watched over humanity, looking down from the summit of Mount Olympus as they dined on what was called "ambrosia," the perfect food fit for the gods. In that moment, it became clear to us that the Greek gods of yore must have been ordering from Passage to India, because this Kashmiri Naan was truly a treat fit for the gods. The Tikka Masala and the Korma were both absolutely delicious, but the naan truly turned the night into something special. My waistline weeps at the thought that this fine establishment is only a few blocks from my apartment, because I have no doubt that I'll be back again and again. read more

Their tends to not be many Indian restaurants on the North Shore, in fact short of food court offerings I think this is the only restaurant around! Their food is flavorful, spicey and true to what Indian cuisine should taste like. Make sure to order a few different types of their bread, because it is great and is wonderful tool for dipping and eating food. If you are vising here for your first time I suggest dinning in as they serve most of their food in fancy dishes. Dress tends to be a bit more than casual, though I don't recall being turned away for being under dressed. read more

The chicken tikka masala was excellent and the garlic naan was hot and lovely. The food came very quickly. Service was only ok not terribly friendly but prompt and attentive enough especially since it was that weird down time between lunch and dinner. Overall I was very pleased and would return. read more

Passage To India - Indian Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

No offense but the people that granted this place four stars must have faulty taste buds or have never had truly good Indian fare. This place offers lousy food and lousy service. The waiter knocked over a partially full bottle of beer and didn't even care to clean it up. He didn't care to ask how the food was. Good think he didn't! Do yourself a favor and drive a few extra miles to Anmol in Beverly. You will not regret it! read more

I hate to do this, but nearly 2 years since my original review & we're about over this spot. The food remains fine, but the service has gotten progressively worse- namely, the small, younger server who seems to be the only one usually working. Seriously, what is his problem? U mad bro? He's dismissive, rude, seems put out, always looks pissed or scowls through your order, and until it comes time to pick up the check, could care less about prompt service or attention. I don't care how delicious the food is, I'm not paying to be treated like shit. We'll take our business elsewhere and encourage others to do the same. read more

"A Passage to India" is probably my most treasured and most visited restaurant in Salem. Classy atmosphere, an amazing menu and great location make it one of Salem's must-eats. Their vegetarian options rival "Bangkok Paradise" but exceeds in their quality. First off: The amazing Garlic Naan Bread is a required appetizer. Order Samosas if you're extra hungry. Both are good enough alone to sell you on a monthly visit minimum. As for en trees, I highly recommend Kabuli Channa and their Vegetable Curry, as they are both pretty incredible. Also be sure to try their Indian Beer. You'd be surprised how much you get out of it. I can't recommend this place enough. My boyfriend and I are always challenging ourselves to change things up by trying new restaurants, but "Passage To India" makes for one alluring dining experience. Dress up, order lots of drinks and make a night out of it. You'll be glad you did. read more

A very spacious restaurant with multiple rooms, but they seat you right next to each other. Really good stuff. read more

This is a delightful place, full of locals and visitors alike. . The food was so good that we came back the next night to eat all of the things we didn't eat the first night. Night one..Lamb Korma, perfectly tender and rich sauce. Shrimp Tandori....huge shrimp, cooked just right. I could have ordered 2 more. Both the meat and potato samosas were snapped up before I could get a photo...but they were crunchy, spicy and heavenly. We cannot come to a consensus on which was better. Biriyani was well done and really good...but the sauces steal the show here. The bread basket is a must. They hooked us by bringing some additional sauces with the bread. We dipped into the Tiki Masala sauce and spent the rest of the meal talking about how we'd come back for that the next day. Everything was terrific...but their Tiki Masala is a shining star. Possibly the best I've ever tasted. Not terribly spicy (you can increase it if you'd like) but the depth of flavor was impressive.... And addictive. Beef Korma just as good as the lamb. The service was top notch. Go out of your way to eat here...you won't regret it. read more

Disappointed with this place. Shrimp Biryani was full of turmeric with peas and mushroom. When I questioned the owner he replied harshly saying this is what you get for this price read more

Food was good! I got the chicken tikka masala and it was as expected. I paired it with the garlic nann and it was perfect. Definitely recommend this place if you are ever in salem and want good tasting Indian food! I would have given it a 5 star if the rice was better. read more

Again, with Anmol in Beverly, I had a tough time deciding between 3 or 4. It's like 3.51 star...but then again, I think about my Jackson Heights, NY experience of Indian food and it automatically gets a 3 star but thinking about Anmol in Beverly, you get a 4 star. Nans are amazing. To be honest, I think their nans beat some of the nans in Jackson Heights for sure. It's hot, seasoned well and as you dip it in the sauce, it soaks up all the goodies so that your mouth could experience a unique sensation that you will remember for the rest of your life. The biggest reason for a 3 rating is their chicken, which is a bit tough just like the ones in Anmol. You see, when you are eating Chicken Tikka Masala, the chicken ought to melt in your mouth with the sauce that has a perfect balance of spices (not too spicy, but not too sweet). But it's hard to get this right. read more

Passage to India is one of my favorite restaurants in Salem, let alone favorite Indian restaurants. The food is consistently delicious. As far as I know, being a white girl from New Jersey, the good is authentic. Aside from a warm and welcoming environment, a delicious smell hits you when you enter the door. The staff is amazingly friendly and competent. Everything is served in these beautiful copper pots and glasses that I really love. The menu offers the perfect amount of selection. Enough to fit a range of tastes, so that you could even bring a first timer here. My favorites include the nan with great side sauces, vegetable masala, veggie curry, and veggie korma. The vegetarian appetizer sampler is a perfect way to sample a range of flavors and everything on it is delicious... especially the vegetable samosas. Lastly, I recommend trying one of their unique mixed drinks (like the one they entered in to the Salem Drink contest). There are 4 other locations across Mass.... I haven't tried any yet but I hope they would be just as good. read more

This place never fails. I've been eating here for 4 years and I've never had a bad meal, it's never been inconsistent and I've never ever had bad or slow service. They care about their food, business and patrons and it shows in there food. read more

Passage To India - Meat samosa and all the yummy sauces - Indian Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I've been here a couple of times now. Once for a relaxed lunch and a second time for dinner. At dinner time the place was packed! But they still managed to seat my wife and I in very short order. Food was excellent, interesting and at perfectly sized portions. All of the wait staff I've interacted with here have been quite attentive to leaving me the kind of space I like to have while eating, yet always being right at my side when I needed something, like the dessert menu. Look forward to dining here again. read more

Love, love, loved it, and cannot wait to go back. I'm a big fan of dark wood, which pretty much describes the interior of the restaurant--windows face out to the Salem street, with large paintings on the walls. The food was excellent--the garlic naan was spot on, my husband's chicken curry had the perfect amount of heat, and my Chicken Tikka Bhartha had just the right combination of elements. Each grain of rice was individual, though my only "complaint" would be that we could have used more (much more) of it. Especially when we took home so much, we ended up having to make an entire new pot for our lunches the next day. Glad that we finally got to taste it and it's now going on our standard rotation of North Shore restaurants. read more

We haven't been here for a few years but we recently got take out and they didn't give us any utensils. We were out and about so so in order to eat I had my 2 teenage girls go back for them. They were so rude and said since we didn't ask they weren't included. Really!?!? My daughters stood around waiting and they just weren't getting the utensils. Really!? They were all very rude to the girls. Then one waiter came out and started hitting on my 14 year old . Really?!? I guess the lack of competition here makes them not care how they treat people. I see that others find the service lacking too. This seems to be a recent direction the restaurant is taking. It's a shame because they give Indians a bad name. Hopefully the management realizes this and take action to correct this. read more

The food here is excellent. Spicy, but that can be altered to your taste. Service is excellent too, and they do take out. It's a popular place. If you've never tried Indian before, I recommend starting with chicken tikka masala or kabuli channa. And try some naan bread. I've had the dosas, but they are a little dry for me. The chai tea here is delicious. read more

I've been here a handful of times and am impressed by the quality of Indian food that comes out of that kitchen, especially when considering the fact that it's in Salem, MA. That is, it's a predominantly White town and so are the surrounding towns and that usually means I'm going to eat sort of bland food. But these folks got it right. I've tried almost all of their veggie dishes and was satisfied by all. The garlic naan is really fresh and extra garlicky, in a good way. Service is good and I absolutely hate sitting at the booths when the sun is setting. You will, too. read more

There's a reason why Passage has nearly 80 reviews and nothing below a 3-star rating. A Passage to India serves the best Indian cuisine around. Period. The quality and flavor of their dishes are simply unrivaled. I've been going here for years and it is still my favorite place for Indian food, nay, one of my favorite restaurants in general. My favorite entree is the Lamb Kebob, but their curry, korma, and tikka masala dishes are also fantastic. The sauces are just so incredibly savory, fragrant, and delicious that you can't help but smother the rice with it, soaking everything up with a hot piece of your favorite naan (mine happens to be the Kashmir Naan). And you can adjust the level of spice of your dish, so whether you like it mild or tongue-numbingly hot, Passage will tailor your order to your tastes. I have to mention that the staff is very friendly, always attentive, and guarantees a pleasant night out, whether with your significant other or a group of friends. If you haven't been to Passage, you need to go! read more

This restaurant can't be beat when it comes to Indian cuisine. i have tried other places and this one is just by far the best thing when it comes down to it. They have a variety of foods. The Vegetarian selection is large. The breads are fantastic. All of the food here is really good. The service is great and all are very friendly. The atmosphere is great, and the place is clean. I have never had a negative experience there and will continue to go there. i hate it when people say that all Indian food is curry. that is not true. if you want to try Indian food for the first time, this is the place to go. you won't be disappointed. read more

I love this place. When I moved to the North Shore in 2000 from Cambridge, I really missed the easily available Indian food. The North Shore was a wasteland for ethnic food. Since I discovered Passage to India, I must have eaten there or had take out over 75 times. The food is excellent, the breads are excellent, the staff is attentive, and the owners are approachable. I have yet to try dessert as I've always eaten too much to have room for it. read more