I don't know what food other people were served but I clearly didn't receive the same food because this was not it! The chicken tikka masala was honestly terrible. The sauce was either broken or not cooked long enough because it was separated and watery and runny and the chicken itself was dry and could have been from the prior day. My order was also missing the rice, salad, chickpeas and yogurt that the menu clearly stated all entrees are served with...maybe that was a blessing though given how unappetizing the entree was. The naan breads were what "saved" this review although they were not hitting hitting ... they were about 3 stars. Definitely won't be ordering from or dining here again. read more

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Foods just blah... makes you think are all restaurants just using Shan masala and doling out the food... nothing unique and nothing to write home about. Better options available in my opinion around the area. read more

Excellent buffet with great selections at a very reasonable price. The waiter brings each table freshly cooked tandoori bread and a plate of tandoori chicken. Great service! They offer all day buffet Tuesday thru Sunday and are closed on Mondays. The buffet cost a few dollars extra Friday thru Sunday but it includes a goat or lamb dish. See picture for prices. Highly recommended! read more

Royal Palm Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

We came here to check out their weekend lunch buffet, which is offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - otherwise, a la carte ordering can be done from their extensive menu, which includes various light snacks (samosas, aloo tikki, prathas, etc.), entrees (that includes naan, yogurt, salad, rice, and chickpeas), kid options, and desserts. From the buffet, I enjoyed the tandoori chicken, with this charred crisp exterior, their chana masala, and their aloo. The flavors were just okay, but with only just a couple or a few things that we enjoyed from the buffet didn't make up for the higher price point. The place seems to be a favorite for the locals; the restaurant is decorated well, with the fancy-ish light fixtures and chandeliers. I'm glad I was able to give Royal Palm a try, but wouldn't go out of my way to return. Plenty of parking in the plaza lot. +weekend buffet offered +plenty of parking in plaza lot read more

We've hosted lots of events at Royal Palm Sterling. Under the previous ownership, everything was handled with professionalism, respect, and great service. We were always proud to support this Afghan owned business. Unfortunately, our most recent event under the new management was a completely different experience-disappointing, frustrating, and frankly unacceptable. From the start, customer service was poor. The staff seemed unprepared and unprofessional, with no clear coordination or attention to detail. When we raised valid concerns, instead of listening or trying to resolve the issue, the new owner became aggressive and disrespectful. The most upsetting part was when he pointed his finger at a female member of our family and spoke to her in an extremely rude and inappropriate tone. This kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable in any business setting-and especially shameful coming from someone within our own Afghan community, where respect for guests and elders is a cultural value we all expect to be upheld. As for the food, it was was far below the standard we were promised. The quantity was not enough for the number of guests we paid. It's heartbreaking to see how far the standards have dropped under the new management. We will not be returning, and we strongly urge others to think twice before booking this venue for any important occasion. Respect, service, and honesty matter-sadly, none of that was shown to us this time. read more

At here in summer 2024. It was fantastic. The food was good, and the value for the money was absolutely fantastic. The buffet is the star. At the time of this writing, it was $12.99 for the buffet on Tue, Wed, and Thursday. Heck, at most Indian places you can't even get a plate of butter chicken for that price. Here, you can get a huge place of multiple different things, plus naan, for less than you can even eat at most India places. (It's like $16 bucks on the weekend, I think.) 5 stars, well deserved. Good food, amazing value. read more

Definitely a 4.5! We showed up for dinner on a Wednesday and it was only $12.99 for the buffet. No one else was in the restaurant when we got there. So, the owner was extremely attentive and kind! He even remembered my boyfriend's face even though we visited over a year ago. He made us two complimentary fresh naan and even cooked us some fresh tandoori chicken. The food was yummy and you definitely got your moneys worth for the price. Don't expect the most top notch quality but based on the price the food was more than satisfying. I would definitely recommend going and I would come back! read more

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New management is for sure an upgrade!! Came in last week on Mothers' Day and was greeted by a sweet gentleman. His smile made my daughter and I feel so welcomed. We asked for a table of two and at a first glance, he seemed to be running around alone servicing all tables in the restaurant. It was "breakfast time" as they called it. We decided to give it a shot because the menu was hard to resist. Although the service was slow, he made it known and communicated every few mins that he appreciates our patience. There was maybe a party of 20 next to the right of us, and at least a few other large numbered parties that he was taking care of. He was diligent, seemed poised, but most of all, kudos to him for attending all parties and still remembering about the smaller parties. I wanted to ask if he was alone and if there was any help coming, but I decided not too. We ordered the small board, an appetizer of Bolany, and a side of vegetarian eggs which were to die for! The bolany was my daughters favorite, the board came with a mix of Fruits, jams, cheeses, to name a few. Pretty cool concept that I've never seen before.We capped it off with some traditional afghani tea before heading out. What stood out to me was the fact he gave my daughter and I a refill on the tea in to go cups without even asking for it. Kudos for the new management as they struck gold in the server. Will definitely be back for breakfast and for dinner. read more

I went to this restaurant with my friends, and the customer service was incredible. Layla was very nice to all of us and a great hostess. The food was also very delicious and very well priced. They have new ownership and you can tell they take pride in their customer service. I will definitely come back here! read more

A phone call was made recently to inquire about their buffet hours. I was told that they no longer offer AYCE buffet.

All good very good service food was excellent- we tried Iftar buffet loved it. Not too spicy /

Valid spot with great economically feasible food. Chicken seekh kabob was spicy and great tasting. Chick peas are meh. Everything else was great. read more

The Service was really bad as the Manager was forcing me to deal with cash as it was birthday and the guests were invited so I could not cancel the last moment. The Manager ruined my party read more

Royal Palm Restaurant - Pakistani Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

Pretty solid Pakistani food! Good for takeout. I loved the butter chicken - chicken was tandoori chicken and tender while the sauce was creamy and full of flavor! Definitely not too sweet. I also liked that they give you a sizable side included which was the chickpeas. Super spicy but a simple and tasty dish! I also tried the samosa chaat which was amazing! Such a huge dish for an appetizer. I also tried the beef kebab which was tender and spicy. Loved all the food! read more

Butter chicken is not authentic . Chicken Tikka was good. It's safe to say , order their grilled items.

Good food, good service. Sammy always gives us excellent service. The buffet is excellent as well.

My husband and I got takeout from the newly opened Royal Palm Restaurant for dinner tonight. I wanted to do my part to spread the word about a local restaurant with delicious food. The chickpeas were phenomenal, the ground beef kabob was flavorful with visible herbs in every bite, and the chicken was yum too. The naan was nice and fluffy around the ends, just like I love it. I was happy to see they were able to open. I remember seeing the "opening soon" signs earlier this year right before COVID19 shutdowns started. I spoke with a gentleman at the counter (not sure if he was an owner), and he said they were all set to open and then COVID19 happened and they were left with rent to pay but not able to open. (He had a good attitude about it, wasn't complaining just answering questions I asked him). He said today makes day 16 they've been open, and I encourage you to give it a try if you're looking for a tasty meal. We'll definitely patronize the business again, except next time I'll order extra chickpeas read more

Royal Palm Restaurant - Combo Kabob - Pakistani Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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Halwa puri was excellent but small portion of halwa. The bowl looked like they had scooped some out of it. My friend got the lunch buffet, and we reviewed yelp and Google reviews before we chose this place. The buffet was the worst ever have ever had. The yellow dahl was extremely watered down, the butter chicken or chicken tikka was also watered down with very, very few pieces of chicken in there. Like 95% sauce and 5% chicken pieces. If that. I was so embarrassed to bring my friend there. My friend usually eats several heaping platefuls of buffet food but not this time. We've both been to many Indian restaurants and know food can be so much better. The review would be a one star if it wasn't for the halwa puri. read more

We went a few times for events and the last time was for a family lunch - food has always been delicious. I would like to see a bit more variety on the buffet but give me the goat curry, chickpeas and salad and I'll pay the buffet prices. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Sterling. My boyfriend and I go almost once a week. The portions are huge and everything is made fresh and seasoned perfectly. We've tried the tandoori chicken, tikka masala, chicken Tikka.. Royal mixer.. chicken seekh.. all of it has been to die for. Their chickpea masala is 5 stars as well. The food is never greasy, never heavy. On top of this, their service is wonderful and they give you a ton of Naan bread with almost every entree. Would recommend to anyone -- even if you aren't big on spicy food, it's all made to order. read more

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We recently held my brother's wedding reception at Royal Palm in Sterling. This place was an hour away from us but we could not have been happier with our choice. Sammy assisted us with the booking and was our POC throughout the whole process. As with any large event, there were some mishaps but Sammy worked with us to ensure the event would be a success. The food was amazing and people commented on how great some of the beef items were. We are very grateful for a wonderful event and working with Sammy. read more

We decided to do a family take out night and thought to try Royal Palm. Here is our rating! Royal Mixer: 9.5/10 Fried Fish: 8.5/10 Chicken Karachi: 9.5/10 Chiefs Daal: 9.5/10 Chickpeas: 4/10 (so disappointed.. no salt at all) Overall amazing experience. Can't wait to try their buffet once it opens up! read more

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The Food: Is Hot, Fresh Curries oozing with flavor!! We usually pop in on weekends for their simple buffet. Yesterday it was, Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Vegetable (Aloo Baingan Last night), Dal, Beef Curry, Mutton Curry, a couple of Rice dishes, Biryani and Plain Rice, Chana Masala and Halwa. I am sure it comes with a Naan but we usually order Rotis. The Rotis are Huge and Whole Wheat!! And I love their Raita (Indians like us would call it Chutney but its Yummy!) We love their Halwa Puri off the menu too! read more

Had goat Karachi and haleem. Goat Karachi was not at all what's expected. It was more of tomatoes paste cooked in goat meat. The haleem was dark and had a sweetish taste. Very disappointing. read more

The food was better than expected and the ambiance was very inviting with friendly and attentive staff making sure all our accommodations were met. Karai Ghost was delicious!! read more

Love love love their bread and butter chicken. When we first ordered the portion look small (my children have big appetite) so I have to place 2 order. it's very satisfying !!! I also add the chicken birvani - it was spicy but deliciooOooUs, and chicken masala. I like to mixed my masala and butter chicken altogether with my rice since masala is alittle sour and not too rich in flavor for me. My to go place for butter chicken for sure read more

Very limited selection on the buffet--from other reviews, I expected much better. Not worth a return visit.

We hosted a 100-guest graduation party at the Banquet Hall. Shan helped us with the food choices and communicated with us till the day of the event. He personally made sure that every detail of the event was planned out meticulously. The food was excellent and beyond our expectations, the guests absolutely loved it. The banquet hall décor and arrangements were also seamlessly done. The restaurant staff was very responsive to any last-minute requests. Overall, it was a great experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to host an event. read more

Best and most authentic pakistani restaurant around. Great for catering as well. We have friends who travel 30 miles to pick up catered order. Reasonably priced as well. read more

Excellent food and great price. The service is fast and courteous, the owners are gracious and very attentive. The food was full of flavor and was hot and fresh. I would highly recommend this place for both individuals and families due to the great ambiance. This is a bit of a hidden treasure in Sterling and surprised that more people have not found out about it. read more

We went to Royal Palm early in the evening on Friday to check out the dinner buffet. Although the number of dishes on the buffet was less than I expected and butter chicken was not one of the choices, the presence of goat korma and cow hooves made it irresistible. We ate at a table outside, away from any other customers. I was not disappointed by the food. The goat korma was absolutely delicious and the cow hooves were unctuous and tasty. Sticky! The freshly made naan made me abandon my low carb diet. A little bit of saag for veg and a little bit of halwa for dessert, and I left as one stuffed and happy camper. I'm not sure whether the food is more Pakistani or more Indian, but it's all delicious. read more

I think average is the right level here for the buffet. The butter chicken and rice was really good, tandorri chicken was good, other dishes were average or below. Everything was fresh But lackluster. If you want a solid meal for good price , it works. But if you want to be wowed , this is not your place. read more

Grabbed some Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken to go tonight and everything tasted great. The portions were generous, the naan was large and delicious, and we got some Gulab Jamun which was than excellent way to finish the meal. Great prices too. Looking forward to going back. read more

Royal Palm Restaurant - Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Naan to go. - Pakistani Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

We heard about this place and saw the reviews, but never tried it before. We had a last minute program and went ahead and booked them. When we booked the place they told us, they will give us three tables and even told us in which direction. But when we arrived they were not giving us our tables and kept on insisting to sit somewhere else. We were a big group of four families and that was the reason we booked ahead, we were completely shocked as we all planned to sit together but then we were denied, but since we had guests with them, we didn't want to waste more time, we asked them a lot but no help, even the owner himself tried to make us sit somewhere else, where we booked with him for a different place. Now the food, for chicken tikka they had all chicken wings, I mean forget about the taste, but you are not even serving what you said you are. That's cheating. You charged me for something and you gave me something else. This is only one item I am mentioning, we had a lot of people and everyone said that the food didn't taste good. I only liked the chickpeas and butter chicken and ate that. The naans were all burnt. Over all, it was very disappointing and I know everyone says this but surely not returning or recommending anyone. I know it won't affect neither do I wish their business to be affected, but you should remember that your action is being watched by GOD and what you do, comes back to you, if you are cheating someone else, you will get the price for it. They were not honest and didn't keep their commitment, as a business they failed to take care of their customers. It was surely our first and last time there. Even though the service failed, wished if food could make up for it, both were disaster, it was so embarrassing that none of our guests liked the food. It was our bad luck that we had such a bad experience. The only good thing about the place was their clean bathrooms and hand shower, which is rare to find. read more

Not bad at all. Containers leak when they pack it to go. The restaurant main dining area could be cleaner but the food overall is decent.

Good Indian/Pakistani food in generous portions. The menu has most of the dishes you would expect. Service was prompt and friendly. Disappointing, the advertised lunch buffet was not available. So that I can enjoy the variety of flavors, I am a big fan of lunch buffets in Indian restaurants. read more

Was looking for a decent Indian buffet near me and found Royal Palm. The place is in a shopping center and looks to be split into an eatery on one side and more formal dining/event on the other. The buffet looked small at first but had plenty of variety to offer. The food is pretty good and slightly toward the spicier side (definitely packs a low heat but it might be a bit much for those of you that can't handle spicy). They brought out fresh naan and also have some dessert choices behind the counter. I'll definitely be back for me. read more

We went in mid-afternoon after the lunch crowd. The restaurant was very clean, organized and had an informal area and a formal one off to the side. Our host was eager to serve us and answered a few menu questions. My buddy told the waiter he was buying and ordered the Samosa Platter as an appetizer, and two entrees:Daal and Tiki Marsala. A couple minutes after taking our order the waiter reappeared with two bottles of spring water and a bowl of ice, resplendent with tongs.we thought it was a nice touch, pondered and asked if this cost extra. We were told it was not. Although the water was a perfect accompaniment to the spices, we soon found out there was a "charge" added to the bill. Our order was properly served, first a small salad then the main course. The food was presented well- better than many of the Indian restaurants in our experience.The vegetables were all cut carefully, very fresh, and great compliments to the hot portions of our meal. Even the parsley was crisp- the way it should be. The food, all around was absolutely cooked to perfection and savory-delicious. My only caveat is my chicken, cut in bite size pieces, still had the bones, now chopped, in a good few pieces. Inconvenient, messy and unsettling. The taste soon took my attention again and we continued our meal. Dessert was Gajar Halwah, very sweet and correctly prepared. But- - - at this juncture I feel it is necessary to address the Spring Water again. When the bill came the charge for the bottles was $1.95 ea.(a bit tacky) We will return again soon, now that we know the bumps in the road, all the wiser and becoming inordinately satisfied. read more

Service is great, but food in the buffet was cold and tasted stale. Will not recommend trying buffet.

Such great service, we came in on a Sunday at 6:30pm and got the buffet. Food was delicious and we were brought hot fresh naan, tandoori chicken, and chicken biryani as well as pakoras. Would def come back for the service alone. We were finished eating within 30 minutes and super full because everything was so fast. read more