This is one of the best Shalimar locations in the area and the closest to my house. The food is…read morealways hot, quick, and tastes great. The chicken tikka masala is nice and creamy and doesn't have a strong tomato taste like some places, which I appreciate. Everyone that works there is super nice. I think the portions seem a little smaller than full serve places but the size is still adequate and the prices are relative.

For what is essentially an enhanced food court experience, you get a pretty tasty meal here,…read moreeverything comes out quickly, and the owner takes very good care of you. The menu is pretty extensive for the seemingly small kitchen space you can see behind the counter. My vegetable samosas (2) were piping hot and had a decent amount of "not potato" in them, accompanied by 2 sauces. The Chicken Tikka Masala Bowl includes a generous amount of well-prepared rice. Normally I pass on rice except as a vehicle for sauce, but I finished this. The sauce had a reasonably deep red color and an enjoyable spicy flavor, maybe a little less tomato flavor than I've had elsewhere, but still quite good. Naan, wrapped in foil, is fresh and hot, but not necessarily crisp. Flavored naans will have the flavors as a stuffing. My mango lassi was excellent - I almost wanted to steal a larger milkshake cup from nearby Herbie's and ask for that to be filled up instead. All in all, if you are looking for an Indian meal while at Galleria 7, you will be very satisfied here.

On 3/22, I wanted to celebrate my birthday by trying out the buffet at Spice Malabar. I told the…read morestaff it was my birthday and they were sweet enough to greet me. The food was spectacular. I couldn't get enough of the chicken biryani and the dosa they bring to your table. While I was enjoying my meal a recording of Happy Birthday started playing in the restaurant. I was shocked and was wondering who else was celebrating their birthday on the same day. But at that moment a staff member brought over a dessert item with a candle on top. I was shocked and so touched by this special gesture. I will be a fan of Spice Malabar forever since they cared enough to make my day special.

I frequent this place regularly and they are still five star in my book…read more They consistently deliver on fresh authentic flavors along with great service and the ambiance here is just so zen. Go here to satisfy your craving for Indian food, whether you like mild to spicy flavors!

Reviewing this spot again after nearly 4 years!…read more In my eyes, this spot has withstood the test of time. Maharaja still holds a dear place in my heart. The food is always exactly what I'm hoping for, and the service is always quick. I don't have to wait very long to get my food, and I always leave happy. My go-to is the Chicken Vindaloo. I have a pretty solid heat tolerance, and I don't recommend this to anyone that can't handle a bit of heat... I sometimes find myself sweating after this dish, but it is so worth it. My wife orders the Chicken Tikka Masala and it's also very delicious. I've tried a few chicken tikka masala dishes in the area (by extension of my wife) and this is my favorite. The sauce is a rich, buttery sauce that tastes amazing, and the chicken is always so tender. We share a helping of rice for the chicken tikka masala and vindaloo. It is plenty of food and we typically leave with leftovers (which reheat nicely). I do also love the copper-wear. Some of the appliances are getting a bit dented, and unfortunately the window in the front is cracked and I notice these small things, but the food is good enough for me to look past that.

As a vegetarian, I often keep my choices simple and focus on dishes that truly reflect authenticity…read moreand balance of flavors. During my visit, I ordered the classic yellow dal tadka and Kashmiri dum aloo and both exceeded my expectations. The dal tadka was comforting and beautifully prepared, with the perfect consistency and a well-balanced tempering that enhanced the natural flavor of the lentils without overpowering them. It had that unmistakable homemade, authentic Indian taste that is surprisingly hard to find. The Kashmiri dum aloo was outstanding. The potatoes were perfectly cooked, absorbing the rich, aromatic gravy infused with traditional spices. The depth of flavor, subtle heat, and creamy texture were exactly how this dish should be prepared. Honestly, I haven't tasted such an authentic and well-executed Kashmiri dum aloo anywhere in America. Ambience was very nice and service was exceptional too. If you are looking for genuine Indian flavors prepared with care and authenticity, I highly recommend this restaurant. It delivers both quality and taste in every bite.

The food was delicious. Truly. The fish, the lamb, the naan -- all solid…read more No complaints on taste whatsoever. But then the bill arrived... and suddenly I felt like I was skiing at Gore mountain and went off the right trail. Every entre we ordered magically secretly went up $2. Fish? +$2. Lamb? +$2. Garlic naan? +$0 (no bubbles). Onion naan? +$0 (also no bubbles). Same food, same table, same night -- just resort pricing. Apparently we were dining during peak season. Then we found out rice was already included with the entrées. That would've been great to know before we ordered extra food. A quick heads-up from the wait staff could've saved us from over-ordering -- kind of like knowing the lift ticket already includes access to that trail. When we asked about the price differences, we were told prices are "subject to change" and were shown a different paper menu with higher prices, complete with prices creatively crossed out and rewritten. Unfortunately, that was not the menu we were handed -- and I didn't realize I needed to check which "pricing tier" we were on. So yes -- great food. But dining here feels like skiing in New York: the conditions are nice, but the price jumps when you least expect it. My advice? Take a picture of the menu before ordering... or assume everything is black-diamond pricing. Proceed with caution Have fun!

Amazing little spot that we stumbled upon after a lacrosse tournament. We were the only ones dining…read morein, but it was early-ish for lunch (11:30), and there was a continuous stream of people coming in to pick up to go orders. We ordered samosas, pakoras, garlic naan, lamb saag, and chicken masala. Food was delicious, amazing fresh, and some of the best Indian food we have ever had. Server was very kind and attentive. Highly recommend.

I like this place best for Indian buffets in Albany(Latham) area. They have several cold side…read moresalads, fresh fruit, and at least 2 desserts normally. One is always rice pudding. Their lunch buffet (weekdays) is 14.95 and it always includes at least 1 meat on the buffet besides chicken, which I appreciate. Most Indian buffets are chicken dishes only. I find the seasonings used here to be pleasantly well done- it is never bland/lacking in flavor and it is also (when spicy) never overwhelming/too hot to enjoy. We're very fond of Indian buffets so have been looking in this area for a while; this is the best we've found so far. Attentive servers bring water and clear plates regularly. Restaurant is very clean and well run. Enjoy it!

Excellent restaurant food is delicious. They do a great job with presentation and food seems fresh…read moreand well cooked. Slightly strange atmosphere as it is always all middle aged male staff but they are pleasant and attentive. May be cultural but I have never experienced that before. That being said, we have been there several times and ordered take out from that. Definitely we will continue to go back

Absolutely obsessed with this place. We try a new dish every time we order and are always happy…read morewith what we get. 10/10!

I ordered basmanti rice to go and i was very happy with the portion i was served. the restaurant…read morehowever doesnt do a good job advertising they have private guests and make it awkwards at the take out line to order food.

The buffet is great for the price! Friendly and attentive staff, nice environment, clean bathrooms.read more

First time for us eating Indian food. Although my dinner partner did not like, I enjoyed having a…read moredifferent eating out option besides Italian or Chinese. I enjoyed tastes and spices that ai am definitely not used to eating, and I definitely plan on going back to try other dishes. only reason for 4 stars was that "salad" could definitely use a more flavor able dressing. Was very bland and not enough on the sliced vegetables. please warn about the goat to first time customers! Was surprised to chomp down on a piece of bone, until I googled and found out cooking/serving with bone is common.......prevent choking with future new customers and let them know! Rice pudding was fantastic. Indian food much more flavor able than some of the local Chinese that is bland and Americanized. please don't Americanized your food!

Food and service was top notch. They also have a large variety of vegetarian options. One of the…read morebest in the area.

Have been meaning to try this place and inadvertently stopped in for Sunday brunch on Father's Day…read morewhile out running errands. The place was packed and I was seated quickly in the front room in a nice booth. The buffet was huge and had a great selection of vegetarian as well as meat & fish options. They had a great collection of desserts that the server said they don't usually have so I got to try out a few different things. They clearly have a popular following in the area. Price was a little higher than expected due to Father's Day. They brought naan bread for the table which was a plus!