Mela
578 Tremont St, Boston, MA, 02118
Mela Menu
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Address :
578 Tremont St
Boston, MA, 02118 - Phone (617) 859-4805
- Website https://www.melaboston.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Miranda B.
Favorite restaurant for dinner and delivery! Best Indian food I've had since being in London!
(5)Liza H.
Lovely room and location. Bias relief carvings, copper and mango organza curtains make for a breezy interior. On to the important stuff, food. The lamb do-piazza and pork vindaloo were very good. The menu had some 'confusion food' items with gold leaf and what not. I am a purist and still have nightmares about accidently biting tin foil. That stuff's not for me. Although I am pleased to see some Western and Southern style food on the menu. I am glad I checked it out, however, you'll find me at my usual haunts of Namaskar and India Quality
(3)Hector D.
Good stuff. We came for dinner and had some of the red curry chicken, some naan, and white rice. The food was great and the service was good. The only thing was that the soda was flat and the temperature in the restaurant was too hot, but we will definitely go again.
(4)Dave D.
Best Indian in the city. No question. Great prices, good service, nice decor. Perfect for vegetarians (well, duh). Even the leftovers are better than most places' fresh meals.
(5)M. N.
My boyfriend and I visited Mela for our first time (although we have been living in Boston for more than 5 years now) for the weekend brunch buffet. Given the fact that it is Boston Marathon Weekend, we went early at 11:30am sharp. Surprisingly, there were already 4 parties there waiting for the buffet to start. Once the buffet was served, we were delighted! Every dish was fresh, hot and delicious. We both especially enjoyed the Palak Paneer, Tandoori Chicken, Chick pea curry, bean curry, kheer and the samosas. Of course, the Chicken Tikka Masala and Basmati rice were delicious too. Honestly, I tried every dish there and loved every bit of it! The garlic naan we ordered were very fresh, crispy yet chewy. Mmm! We've tried many Indian restaurants with our friends from India both in Boston and Cambridge but this is now our favourite! The service at Mela which we experienced today was superb as well. Water was always refilled, plates were always replaced and everybody was considerate. Although the price for this buffet is pricey compared to those on Newbury and Cambridge ($13.80 incl. tax), it is definitely worth every bit of it!
(4)Susie A.
We had dinner here last night and brought my parents who were visiting from FL. Wow! What a great surprise! The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous and very romantic. It was also a good sign that on a Monday night, it was completely packed. We had the vegetarian platter to start, 2 orders of naan and each ordered an entree. I had the Malai kofta which was so creamy and delicious! My dad had the lamb coconut curry and couldn't stop raving about how great it was. My mom had the chicken tikka (loved it) and my husband had some sort of mixed platter that came with tandoori chicken, grilled lamb, shrimp and some other meaty lovers delight. I would definitely return here. Also, get a mango lassi! So good! Overall, five stars!
(5)Shesha B.
Me and my fiance had a great dinner at Mela. The food was amazing. We ordered vegetarian appetizer platter which was great! malai kofta and vegetable biryani which were delicious. The best was their chapati which was so soft. Did not have such great chapatis in a while. The service was great. A minor drawback is the place is a little noisy. Overall I would rate this a great restaurant with amazing food and good ambience. My fiance who is from Switzerland enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Would love to go back there. -Saran & Aamani
(5)Iaroslav M.
went here for brunch a couple of times. Nothing exeptional, fish is good,lots of vegetarian stuff. we received our naan while already having a desert, so service can be better (our waitress just simply blamed the kitchen for that-but she just forgot to place the order).Its a great buffet, but only if you go here like once in a while, they don't change the food options very often.Overall, good place to get dinner, not too pricy, kind of romantic at the night.
(4)Em B.
Delicious lunch buffet. Fresh and a good selection. We came in at two, and even though the buffet ended at 3, they continued to bring out more food. The naan was fabulous! Great service, too.
(4)Nikhil P.
I'm Indian. I got this. The food was good, let's not deny. But, there's a big stock range of good Indian food in the city. What is "good?" There's naan that fills you up and is bready. The sauces for the butter chicken are very bright orange, taste creamy, and have bits of chicken that are a little dry scattered within. There is a vegetable dish that has cauliflower and okra, and it glistens with oil and curry powder. And there's a spinach sabji of some kind, that has the consistency of the butter chicken and makes your naan nice and soggy. All well and good, but not necessarily particularly delicious. Notable exceptions from other indian buffets in town? No chai tea, no papad, not particularly spicy (NB: spicy doesn't mean intense peri-oral inflammation; it means flavor... and plenty of it), the keer wasn't fully prepared (vermicelli wasn't gelatinous enough, could have used more cardamom), and nothing particularly memorable. The price was great, the waitress was sweet, the decor was a bit dated but the neighborhood was fun (South End). Three star on the weekday lunch buffet. Probably three star even if you're white. Even if you don't have a single indian friend.
(3)Melissa M.
By far the best Indian buffet I've had in a long time! Last Saturday we went to Kasmir on Newbury. That was good but Mela had, for the same price, a larger selection, better service, better lighting, better buffet layout and great food! Hats off to Mela on Tremont.
(5)Eunice E.
I've been to Mela for dinner a few times now, and I feel like it gets better each time I go back. It's so pretty inside... soft lights, pink curtains, mod white furniture and dishes. But even nicer than the decor? The food, of course! It helps that the food comes out served by very polite, friendly, professional waitstaff. That always makes the experience better. The last time we went, we ended up ordering the veggie samosas, garlic naan, peshawari naan, chicken vindaloo (extra spicy), chicken tikka masala (spicy), and the malai kofta (spicy). Everything came out delicious... not TOO hot, but there was definitely a kick to it all. It was great that the flavours weren't masked by pure capsacin or something, because their spices really are some of the best I've tasted I've tasted in Indian cuisine. Next time, I think we'll stick with our usual vindaloo and our new veggie favourite, malai kofta... which they do EXTREMELY well here. Wow! These nutty, cheesy balls of perfection are awesome. Thumbs up, Mela. Even though we ordered a TON of food for two, we were so hungry and it was so tasty, that most of it was gone by the time our waiter came by to ask if we wanted dessert (sadly, no room). The one small gripe about this place is that their drinks aren't all that good. Shame, since the food is so tasty! I had a sip of my dinner partner's sangria, and it was cringe-inducing. I do recall ordering a drink myself the last time I came to Mela, and being extremely underwhelmed then as well. Oh, well. You can't win 'em all. All in all, though, Mela is certainly worth a stroll through Newbury St., and I'll definitely be coming back again. Their spices... mmm... their spices...
(4)karen f.
I really wanted to give Mela 4 stars but it just didn't live up to that much celestial praise for evening dining options in Boston. First off we had to wait 35-40 minutes beyond our 8:30 reservation. The mgr did offer free alcohol drink for the trouble. The waiter had to bring the mgr over when I shared my free mango lassi offer that's on four square. The mgr said if I had a groupon I couldn't use the 4square deal -is that legal? 20 minutes into dinner, I had to ask waiter again to deliver my lassi. We ordered the chicken tiki, beef vindaloo and the eggplant. It was..ok. I wish I knew when you order the naan you only receive one piece. While a big piece, not when you only get 1/3.. We will keep searching for another great Indian haunt in Boston.
(3)Dani M.
Delicious Indian food! Look out for the daily discounts on groupon. Just go early, around 7:30pm the wait starts. I went around 6:00 and service was fantastic. Had the mango lassi, chicken vindaloo and vegetable samosas. Yum, yum, and yum! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Mike G.
took me nearly 3 yrs to return, food a tad better (awful naan). may check back in 2016.
(3)Amanda F.
If you follow my reviews closely, you know that I'm an Indian food fanatic. I went to Mela today for the lunch buffet. I was hungry after spending the early part of the afternoon wandering around the South End. I remembered seeing Mela on one of my other jaunts in the neighborhood, so I finally stopped in. The buffet had a pretty good variety: Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, Dal Makhani, Goat Curry (still can't bring myself to try goat meat), something with cauliflower, and a few other selections. It was all good, but not my favorite in the city. (Still trying to figure out who that honor should belong to). I tried Chicken pakoras for the first time. There wasn't much to them, but dipping them in some of the other sauces did the trick Yum! The waiter who took my drink order (Mango Lassi -- very good, but my favorite lassi is still the one that I had in the food court of H-Mart in Burlington) and brought me my garlic naan (so very fresh and delicious!) was extremely friendly, but I didn't see much of the staff during my meal. It took a while to get my water refilled and to get my check. The restaurant is small. The buffet is right in front of the counter where orders come up. It made getting my food a little rushed and hectic. The tables were also really close together. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience. It satisfied my craving for Indian food.
(3)Hongbo Y.
Nice dining environment. Good food. The only issue that I have is that some of chicken was kind of too dry.
(3)Isabella C.
My fav Indian restaurant in Boston. Good price for delicious Indian food. Service is good. Sometimes can be a wait if u go for dinner on weekends but otherwise u get seated pretty quickly
(5)Ali A.
Went with a group and they did a nice job of seating us as we trickled in as opposed to the wait-til-everyone-has-arrived mentality so many places abide by. (It's the little things, folks.) Our table overflowed with delicious food, leaving us all stuffed. And with still more food in a doggy bag for the next day! My Beef Vindaloo was amazing. They ask for each entree if you want it mild, medium or hot and let me tell you, the hot vindaloo lived up to expectation. My fellow diners kept their tastes of the dish to a nibble for that reason. Several kinds of Naan and the Veggie Samosas were also super tasty. In the end, the bill seemed small for the amount of food we ate - always a pleasant surprise. However, the service was only okay. Our waitress didn't rush us, but there were times when she couldn't be found for ages. (Come on lady, I ordered that dish HOT. Need. More. Water.) Also, our group was decreased by one due to illness and she seemed perturbed we sat there with an empty chair for 10 min before letting her know. What can I say? We had to catch up! Didn't realize you were so anxious. They don't have valet at the front door, but you can use the valet across the street at Aquataine. Not obvious, so I'm glad I called ahead and asked. Will be back for more!
(4)Smita D.
My boyfriend and I found a groupon for this place and after seeing the rave reviews, we decided to check it out for our date night. It was soooo far from disappointing. We got great seats near the window and the waiter gave us complimentary garlic potato soup--how awesome was that?!? And it tasted amazing, perfect for a cold Boston night. Then we ordered the veggie appetizer platter which was delicious in its deep fried goodness. For entrees, I got the shrimp masala and my boyfriend ordered the lamb korma. The portions are huge! It was definitely enough to feed 4 people. The spices were just right and the flavor of the curries and meat were bold. This place hit the spot for sure. Also I'm impressed an Indian place serves beef and pork on its menu; I hope to try those out sometime soon. Overall, food and service were fantastic and you should definitely eat here!!!
(4)Hana K.
My Indian friend from India told me that the best Indian food in Boston was at Mela. Came here for their lunch buffet - totally worth the $13.00 for their unlimited curry, nan and rice. Though the restaurant is very small, the atmosphere was clean, sophisticated and slightly more upscale than your average Indian restaurant. Tips: I've seen them on Groupon several times for their lunch hours. Check it out for discounts before coming in.
(4)Jody G.
Another very good Boston meal! The setting is beautiful and the service is very good. And, the portions are huge! Three of us shared an order of Aloo Nan (unleavened bread stuffed with potatoes and spices), Chicken Tikka Masala (boneless chicken breast chunks in a creamy tomato sauce), Beef Biryani (Basmati rice and spicy beef chunks cooked with nuts and spices), and Gobhi Charchi (cauliflower cooked with ginger, garlic, potatoes, and spices). The last item was my choice and it was definitely my favorite..... although all of the food was of good quality. A bowl of Basmati rice was brought to the table. I love that rice! I don't know how it gets so fluffy.... with each grain so separate and perfect. For dessert I had Kheer (rice cooked in sweetened milk, raisins, and almonds). It was the one disappointment of the meal. It was too soupy, had one lonely raisin in it, and had soggy cashews on top rather than the almonds (or more traditionally pistachios). My son's mango lassi, however, was the best ever. Sweet and slightly tart with lots of fresh mango blended in.
(4)Amar M.
Being Indian, I'm hypercritical of Indian restaurants by default. In general they offer food that I can't really cook at home since I don't own an oil tanker, but every now and then it's something I gotta have. When I lived in the South End, Mela was the closest Indian food option, luckily within walking distance from my place. I've dined in a few times and gotten takeout a few times more. As they say on their menu they definitely take a slightly (read: slightly) lighter approach to the food, and it's noticeably less heavy than some other places. I've had a number of their chicken and lamb dishes, along with some veg options too, all are tasty and spiced according to your tastes (the spicy option always satisfies me). Avoid the biryani, its more like heavy fried rice than actual biryani. Service when dining in is good, the restaurant itself is pretty nice as well. Overall the food is solid, but I have to dock a star for the prices. I get that the restaurant is in the South End, but I don't think I'll ever be able to justify paying nearly 20 dollars for lamb curry or $16 for paneer makhani of all things. Again, the food is good, but not that good and too little quantity. The prices are pretty outrageous unless you end up sharing with a few people. Now that I've moved out of the South End, I doubt I'll ever be back again, the prices are exorbitant. Bonus, papad and chutneys come with takeout orders!
(3)Laura A.
Mela is a good reminder that I really need to get my Hyderabadi mother-in-law to teach me how to cook Indian food. The food at Mela is fine, but nothing to write home about - and that's kind of a tragedy in the South End where there are SO many amazing restaurants. That said, my husband and I have eaten here a few times and ordered takeout (we live nearby) so clearly it's sufficient. Mela will certainly satisfy any base cravings for India food. You pretty much can't go wrong with Mela's bhindi, vegetarian platter or - every white person's favorite Indian dish- butter chicken. It's just not Indian food the way Mumi makes. And Mumi makes some really good food.
(3)Andres V.
Had a groupon for this place and I was not disappointed. My girlfriend and I tried most of the menu and it was great. The staff was nice and very knowledgable and quickly answered any questions we had about the meal. The tables are a bit too close to each other, in part because the place is very small which made for an strenuous eating experience mostly due to the person talking next to us.
(4)Sarah G.
The two stars are for the food, which was pretty good. The service is what made my dining experiences here so disappointing. I'm not one to belabor service .. I don't need you to bend over backwards for me. My last time at Mela was just painful. Our server was obviously new and was covering a lot of tables. It took a long time for her to take our order, bring out the food, and then finally bring us the check. I'm understanding to the fact that she was probably new but can't really understand why no one came out to help her since there were other staff at the restaurant who looked like they could. There was a guy behind the bar (I think he was a manager), who never once came out to help despite the fact that he could see our waitress struggling. I don't know if he thought it was beneath him but it was extremely irritating. This place has a "bar" that can maybe fit two people, but it doesn't need a "bartender" or whatever he was doing during our entire dinner, especially considering no one was sitting at it and the restaurant was busy.
(2)Maureen D.
Got a reservation on friday afternoon and though they had mixed up the reservation when we got there they seated us in no time! The place has a very interesting decor with copper panels on 1 wall and intricate Indian wood carvings on several others. There are several hanging glowing orbs that provide light over the tables. There is a selection of several Indian cuisine themed cocktails but we didn't try any. Service was prompt and polite and within 20 minutes of placing our order we were dining. We enjoyed a contempary curry vegetable dish with asparagus and artichoke, as well as 2 more traditional dishes which were Savage paneer and lentils. The food was well prepared and well seasoned. Portions were moderate in size. Overall a great experience and a restaurant I will be adding to my standards in the south end.
(4)Arun M.
Went because of all the great reviews. But wasn't impressed. Clean place and good service. But food does not do justice. Would not recommend.
(2)Mindy M.
Went a few weeks ago with my boss who referred to the place as "divey". Seemed like a nice, cozy place with a decent ambience to me. Ordered Shahi Bhindi (okra), Chicken Tikka and Peshwari Naan. It was very good and I would go back if in that part of town.
(3)Natasha A.
I was very impressed with Mela. Their food is just a tad better than most other Indian restaurants I have tried in the Boston area. Their saag was a bit more garlicky, their vindaloo more flavorful. They also have some non-traditional dishes on their menus such as seafood, beef and even a duck dish. We ordered their dinner for "two". Really its more like dinner for 4 or 6, or leftovers for 2 more meals for 2. It came with soup, samosas, 2 dishes from their curry's menu, a tandroori mixed grill plate, dessert and tea/coffee all for $45. Everything was excellent except the tandoori was a tad dry. Service was very attentive and friendly. Looking forward to returning.
(5)sean g.
Some of the best indian in the city! a higher quality than the vast majority of indian places. The non-vegetarian dinner for two is a deal, well worth it. the peshwari naan is the best. small dining room but intimate, modern and upscale. Great spot for a date. Very classy and delicious!
(5)Ander J.
Great Indian restaurant. I've come probably 5 times and never been disappointed. I really like the lamb korma and seafood saag dishes. Naan and soups are good too. They have a "dinner for two" option, which gives you a large amount of delicious food - definitely cost effective and recommended. The only drawback to this dinner option is no substitutions. I love the tomato coconut soup but it's not available with the deal, even when it's only $1 more than the soup you actually get. Same with desserts, not all are included. I'd give 5 stars if they were a little flexible there.
(4)stephanie v.
While Mela would be a 4 stars in other major cities, it gets 5 stars in Boston due to the complete lack of good Indian food in this area (yes, many places to go but none that are worth a return visit). I could eat Indian food all day everyday, that's how much I love it. Mela is the only sit-down Indian restaurant I return to on a regular basis (weekend brunch and dinner). You can always find a groupon or restaurant.com deal, which really makes Mela a no-brainer. I always order the chicken tikka masala or butter chicken, garlic naan, lamb shank curry (under the "modern indian" section) and veggie biryani and always leave happy.
(5)Margarita B.
Since my original post, I've been back, and must say I've changed my mind. I loved the food this time around- shrimp korma and lamb saag were fantastic and extremely flavorful. Garlic naan is also delicious - piping hot, right out the oven as it should be. Will definitely come back again.
(4)Sarah P.
Thank you, Yelp, for helping me find this little gem. The chicken korma was very good and filled with spices, even my mild version. My friend had the butter chicken, which also comes highly recommended. The only complaint I had is that no one paid attention to me when I first arrived, which was a bit awkward as I waited in the teeny entryway for my friend to arrive.
(4)Clare F.
Girl buys Rue La La groupon for Indian Restaurant. Girl forgets she has said groupon until 2 weeks before it expires... its like a free dinner, right? Mela is solid Indian food. The portions are generous and delicious. B and I started with the vegetarian platter, which gave you an ample tasting framework of all of India's glorious fried goodies - samosa, onion bhaji, and some other tasty treats. They were laid out on a platter with dipping sauces, but I would have appreciated the dipping sauces being in some sort of separate container rather than spilled onto the plate. For dinner we had palaak paneer (our old standby to judge every Indian restaurant we ever visit) and the dish that is fried balls of deliciousness in a masala/korma sauce (name is escaping me and the Mela site is down to check). Plus basmati rice, and we had more than enough. I insisted on Peshawari Naan as well, and it did not disappoint. It was less sweet than in other restaurants which B was happy with. Mela has a super cute interior, and we were seated right by the window, which has pretty sparkly cushions as a window seat. We could see the comings and goings of the South End without the wait for an outdoor table at Stephi's. The staff packs you in there pretty tightly, getting to the restroom was a bit of an obstacle course, but all was fine. As a nod to its all Indian staff, they have a bowl of the candy-covered anise seeds for when you leave for breath freshening. I don't eat the stuff, but B said it was awesome. Will definitely have to try it again.
(4)Linda E.
The restaurant is decorated nicely. The service was a bit slow to begin with, but it soon picked up its pace. The eggplant vegetarian dish and the spicy garbanzo bean vegetarian dish was delicious. A friend and I got the meal for 2 for $35 which came with samosas, rice, naan, tea or coffee, and a dessert for each of us. I was so full by the end. The food was delicious. I wish the waitress had taken us more seriously when we asked for spicy, she kept repeating medium, but we wanted spicy, it came out with a little kick to it, but I could have handled it a bit spicier.
(4)Deanna D.
I've been back to Mela numerous times for their delicious lunch buffet and I always leave happy! The service is usually fast, friendly, and efficient. They always keep the water glasses full. The decor is bright, vibrant and airy which makes it a great lunch spot. The selection is standard but changes frequently. The Pakoras and Samosa are tasty, well seasoned, and the sauces are also great. The Palak Paneer and daal is not the greatest but it still good. The okra and eggplant dishes are usually great. The Chicken Tikka Masala is flavorful and tender. For desert they typically serve kheer which is usually tasty. The spice on most dishes were great and the freshly baked garlic naan was lovely! A great value for only $10 keeps me coming back for more!
(4)David C.
Mela may not be the best Indian buffet I've been to in these parts (hello, Kebab Factory!), but they do carry some interesting dishes that you might not find elsewhere (their tender chicken pakoras spring to mind quickly). They also do the basics very well, and the service is overall pretty genial. Seating isn't always ideal, but for the stomach and wallet-friendly price of an all-you-can-eat buffet, I'm willing to put up with someone's butt in my face every once in a while.
(4)Lily H.
I had been wanting to try Mela for the longest time but had been postponing my food adventure for a while, which I regret because Mela is so good! Well, their recent LivingSocial deal gave me that little push so I made a 7pm reservation for a couple girlfriends and I on a Friday night. We arrived right on time and were immediately seated at the far corner or the restaurant away from the cold breezes that would rush through the entrance. The tables began to fill up rather quickly, and not too much longer there was a crowd of people waiting at the door. The restaurant is not that big so if you unfortunately happen to get seated at a table adjacent to the door, you'll probably have people standing over you watching you and your party scarf down the delicious food. However, people, have no shame! We ordered Butter Chicken, Seekh Kebabs, Chicken Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, Raita, and 2 orders of Garlic Naan. Of course they came with enough basamati rice to soak up the sauces in every bite. They were all extremely flavorful and delicious. The butter chicken and chicken tikka masala tasted very similar, however, the chicken in the butter chicken was more tender. The naan came out hot and fresh. The service at Mela is excellent. Our waters were constantly being filled and we were checked on an appropriate amount of times, even considering how busy the place was. Also, I had ordered Peach Bellinitini cocktail (which was really good) but the server had misheard my order and returned with another another -tini drink, which did not taste like peach, nor was it remotely good. Though it'd be left untouched the entire night, he let me keep the drink and brought out the correct one with no problem. Dine at Mela if you want some good food with good service in a nice atmosphere. But don't expect this place to be the one for your quiet romantic outing on a Friday night. Even though the walls are warmly decorated, the tables/chairs are relatively close together and you might have to speak up a bit to hear the one sitting right across from you.
(5)Emily W.
I've ordered from here a bunch more times and never had the super slow delivery experience again. I do love their food, though it seems overpriced. Dining in the restaurant is the way to go here - the decor is nice and the price seems more worthwhile for an in-house experience.
(4)G S.
The best Butter Chicken I've had. Service was great. Nice atmosphere, clean facility. Large portion size. Will be back!
(5)Kerri M.
I just can't get enough of this place. I first discovered it this past December and I've been minimally 10 times since then. It's probably one of the most consistent restaurants I've ever been to; the service and food are always great. I usually get the chicken tikka masala and my boyfriend gets a lamb dish, either the shank curry or lamb tikka masala. The meat in both is always so tender and delicious. The Peshari Nahn is also amazing!
(5)Bella B.
Love this place and keep coming back, out of all the Indian restaurants in Boston. Not only is the food consistently excellent, but the ambiance and service are great too. They do a lot of groupons etc, but even without the prices are good for a nice little casual date night. The chicken korma's my favorite. Careful, "medium" is pretty spicy so if you want "medium on the mild side" be sure to say so!
(5)Andrew A.
Delicious and reasonably priced. Lots of food for your money and great service. A neighborhood gem!
(5)Lynn J.
ATHENTIC INDIAN FOOD...*smile* I've dined there 2x now, and had good experiences both times. The food is flavorful and the service is efficient. The prices were a bit high, but in keeping with the Back Bay area. One drawback...All 4 entrees we ordered came with meat and/or fish in a sauce and rice on the side...but NO VEGETABLES in the main dish itself. (2 came with a "side salad," which was simply a cup of dressed, iceburg lettuce with a cucumber & tomato.)
(3)Joanna F.
Came in on Friday night at 5:30 and was seated immediately. The service was attentive and the vegetarian menu for 2 was more than my friend and I could eat. Two bowls of soup, two veggie samosas,naan, raima, two entrees of your choice, two desserts of your choice, coffee and tea all for $35 is RIDICULOUS (in a good way) especially by South End standards. All of the food was fresh and delicious. The decor was quiet and inviting. I'll be back.
(4)Scott L.
I'll try to focus on the positives first by saying the food was delicious. Ordered the tikka masala and the butter chicken. Both were fantastic. Unfortunately the portions were tiny and the delivery was about 25 minutes after predicted (55 min total) and that was from the South End to the west side of Southie. Speed up delivery, bump up portion size and I'm a repeat customer!
(3)Ro C.
This place was very acceptable. I had the chicken korma and I enjoyed it. Hearty chicken chunks, flavorful sauce. Yes. I partook of the salty lassi and it was ah, salty, no kidding. It was a bit briney, which wasn't what I was expecting - I was looking for more of a savory drink - but ah, I survived. The chicken naan was pretty good. I enjoyed the spring rolls we had as an appetizer. The staff was very patient while we spent a two hour hour lunch chatting and enjoying our food. Major props for their patience! I might come back later with an empty belly just for the buffet :)
(3)Nishant G.
Expensive, but delicious!
(4)E. F.
Thanks Yelp for steering us to this place while we were visiting Boston! We were greeted with the amazing scent of Indian food as soon as we walked in the door. Yum. The place is a bit cramped and was pretty crowded but we settled into a table in the corner. Our waiter was pretty good. He forgot about our tea but was very apologetic about it and got it out right away when we reminded him. My boyfriend and I got the vegetarian meal for two. It is a TON OF FOOD for the price. ($34, I think?). Two soups, two samosas, naan, rice, two veggie entrees (we got malai kofta and a dish with lentils... I forget the name), and two desserts. Malai Kofta was tasty. Not the best I've had, but definitely close. The lentils were phenomenal. Just spicy enough, perfect texture. Yum, yum, yum. One sad thing... you can only pick your desserts from the first 4 on the dessert menu. So just beware if you pick the meal for two. :-) Otherwise, YUM. So glad we went here.
(4)Samantha B.
this place was adorable. stopped by for a quick bite and a tall glass of taj mahal. we ordered appetizers: vegetable samosa and chicken pakora. both were great! of course we had to had naan bread and it was delicious. hoping to come back here one day and have a full indian meal.
(4)Andrea M.
God, I love Mela. Atmosphere: Cute, sort of boutique vibe. Very softly lit with pretty tables and windows. Small enough to feel intimate but not so small that it feels crowded. Service: Very professional and polite. Aside from being attentive and fast, our server also was incredibly graceful when I made an idiot out of myself. I accidentally ordered the Jalfazi with meat in it, instead of the vegetarian one. I dug in, and when I realized there was pork, and I had ordered the wrong thing, the server immediately brought me the vegetarian version, and he actually apologized to me, even though he did nothing wrong. Then, we used a $10 coupon, and he said we could reuse it next time for our "trouble." (Meanwhile, it's my fault I ordered the wrong meal.) That's amazing service. Food: Always flavorful and very dependable. Nothing ever falls short. My favorites are the (vegetarian) jalfrazi, mulligatawny and aloo paratha. My boyfriend had the Tamarind Margarita, and it was a well-crafted mix of savory and sweet. Misc: Mela is also one of the more affordable options in the South End, and delivers.
(4)Anne G.
Love the food, especially the saag paneer and chicken tikka masala. We haven't had anything we didn't like. The only reason I gave four instead of five stars is that the service can be slow. It may be that they are trying not to rush you, but we've been there for dinner early when there were only people at one other table. It still took a long time to be asked for our order. Depending on what you get, the food can be slow too, though sometimes it comes quickly. We find it worth it because the food is so good.
(4)Matty B.
I visited from out of town and we came here with a groupon. The food was delicious. We each ordered a curry/entree dish and each were well portioned, coming with rice. We also ordered the samosa appetizer, which was a great way. They also have tons of Flavored Naan. Price was perfect for environment. Drinks were a little pricy, but the restaurant is decently upscale, so that makes sense. The restaurant is in two halves- a bar and a restaurant. They seat tables in the bar so it was a little cold and less intimate. If you were to make a reservation, I would recommend you request the restaurant room. Place is great for dates or small parties.
(4)Chris K.
I went to dinner here with my friend, and we were so disappointed by the lack of spice/flavor with the food (I requested "Hot" and my friend requested "Extra Hot Hot" for our entrees). Both of our entrees were quite mild -- really disappointing. We ordered the muligatawny soup (delicious), samosas, two entrees, and rice pudding. The best part of the meal was the soup -- the rest of the meal items I've had better at other cheaper Indian restaurants with much friendlier service. The wait staff here is unapologetic about keeping you waiting even after you've been waiting far too long to order your meal. My friend and I are glad that we tried this place, since we've been curious each time we pass by Mela, but it's not worth returning.
(2)Greg L.
Two stars because they have a Vegetarian meal for 2 for $35 (Meat is $45) which includes soup, app, 2 veg curries, rice, naan, and desert. Not a bad deal. We got palak paneer and gobhi charci, both were very salty. Samosas were good and the naan was fine. Service was ok.... Overall very blah for South End cuisine.
(2)Robin D.
The food was truly delicious, and the wine was wonderful. Our server was really inept, though he was kind. Ambience was warm and inviting. This was a special birthday dinner, and Mela turned out to be a great choice. Recommended!
(4)Raj S.
Bleh! The first time we went for a buffet a few weeks ago it was really good. This past weekend, many dishes were cold. They somehow managed to mess up the tandoori chicken! I mean, come on! But the chole-batura, dosas and gulab jamuns were great. Chicken curry was nice too but nothing special. The odd thing is the first time we went close to closing time and food was warmer.
(3)Alex P.
I don't know what it was about this day when we visited, but this place was absolutely hopping with a wait about 30 minutes. Since we had walked all the way out there, we decided to stick around for a bit. The only problem was there is no waiting area. The other problem of this evening was that they were either pumping heat into the joint or there was a fire in the back. Either way, it definitely was not a comfortable environment for eating food, let alone spicy food. Thankfully, the food here is very good and there is plenty of it. I ordered the rogan josh (getting the picture yet?) which was tender, had a strong yet not overpowering flavor and was the level of spiciness I had asked for. I find this to be a rare occasion when they hit what you ask for and something that is difficult to do, which saved the evening and the meal. I will have to give it another try on a cooler night without a wait.
(3)Erin C.
I'm in love with Mela. I had a groupon to use so off the date and I went. Apparently everyone in Boston also had the exact same Groupon to use on the same date so the place was slammed. There was a nary a spot to spare. After waiting for about 30 minutes we finally got the idea to ask if we could use it for take out even though it specifically says for dine in only. They were happy to oblige our request. Stars all around for service I say! I went with the Paneer Makhni with just a little spice and my date got the lamb curry with TONS of spice. We also added in a few orders of garlic naan. When we finally got home to sit down and eat I was a bit nervous that nothing was going to be as good as it would be in the restaurant. Holy crap...I was wrong. Everything was perfect! The sauce was just the right amount of heat. The naan was warm, garlicky and squishy. Just the way naan should be. The rice was cooked to perfection. We sat in silence while eating which is always the sign of a great meal. Two thumbs up and a promise to return from me!
(4)Jason B.
A freezing cold Monday night is an interesting time to visit any restaurant. Since they are likely to be slow both in terms of customers, the waitstaff can be prone to slacking off. Armed with a Groupon, we ventured out into the freezing after-work Monday blah night to have some yummy Indian food. We were the only diners in Mela at 6:50 p.m. on Monday, and were quickly brought to a table in their small but elegantly appointed dining room. The walls are covered with panels of beaten copper, artfully arranged in textured layers, for a sculpture-on-the-walls look, and which lightly reflects the dim, intimate lighting for a nice, ambient glow effect throughout - a classically romantic feel. The service on this Monday night was a little spotty. Our waiter asked if we preferred bottled or tap water, but did not take a drink order. After he poured our water, and gave us a small sample of Mulligatawny soup, he walked away, not to return for some time. He did eventually return, and took our orders, including the initial drink order. After a fairly short wait, the kitchen delivered our vegetable samosa appetizer, a solid, if unremarkable offering served, attractively plated, with two sauces - a sweet/sour and a cilantro-yogurt. The onion kulcha, an unleavened bread, was the highlight for me - a homemade flatbread baked with bits of caramelized onion - a texture and flavor surprise all around. Our entrees arrived with a nice big bowl of basmati rice to share. The Madras Machali, ordered non-spicy, came as ordered, without the fire, and was a plentiful bowl of swordfish chunks and veggies in a powerful curry sauce. The Lamb Shank curry, a "chef specialty", ordered very spicy, was indeed full of fire. Unfortunately, there were no veggie accompaniments here, and the lamb shanks, though expertly braised, had obviously been done some time ago. Some were warm, some cool, one of them had obviously been heated only on one side - half warm and half cold. Also, the shanks themselves were very fatty, a couple of them offered no better than a 50/50 meat-to-fat ratio. Overall, while the meat that was present was very succulent, it was a very low-value dish. During our meal, our waiter did not come by to ask if we would like another drink, despite the fact that our glasses were drained and sat on the outer edge of the table in the universal signal for "we'd like another drink". By the time the manager came to clear our plates, we just decided to take our full bellies and totter off into the cold. I was a bit disappointed that a "chef's specialty" was so uneven, but we will keep Mela in mind for another meal - I am convinced that with such a great atmosphere on which to build that they can create a positive dining experience, and I would like to give their kitchen another chance.
(3)Shannon O.
Slightly slow on bringing the check (hey, for lunch buffet, that should be the EASIEST part of your job), and they completely forgot to bring me the drink I'd ordered, but the food was good and fast, the two criteria I was working with that day.
(3)Corey C.
The food: Really good. The atmosphere: Neat. The service: Horrendous. Had to ask for the same item 4 different times, which was ultimately never received. We asked if we could still have them to go, our server (Ashmita) said, "Our kitchen is too busy now." Really?! (the only reason for the 2-star rating)
(2)Winston G.
Had the Sunday lunch/brunch buffet here-- it was around $15.00 with tax/tip, which was a bit pricey for an Indian lunch buffet, but still decently priced (maybe because I had just gotten back from Europe) They had a diverse selection of foods out, including samosas to start and a variety of the spinach and cheese, some veggies, goat, and chicken tikka masala. The food was decent-- but the best thing that Mela has is their naan. I found their garlic naan to be delicious, and probably some of the better naan I've had. It was a bit thick, but the fact that it was fresh and fluffy made it awesome. Also, I am a huge sucker for chai tea, and Mela happened to have it-- unlimited. Would like to try this place out for dinner, as I would think that it would be pretty good, and the dishes would be much fresher!
(4)Bill U.
Great food! Lamb with coconut curry is delish.
(5)P C.
I went there last week after looking at the reviews here. I have eaten indian food at lot of other places. This place is mediocre at best. I was there during afternoon, non-rush hour on the weekend, slow service, unfriendly staff etc. Food didn't impress at all. There are a lot of other options in the area.
(1)Scott S.
The words "expensive" and "indian food" should not be found next to each other. Yet this place is pricey. So not off to a good start. The food was decent, but I have to raise the standards because, again, you are paying a premium. And in that respect, it only gets 2 stars. The mulligatawny soup wasn't very tastey (neither of us finished ours), the meat samosas were dry and relatively tasteless, the nan came with no dipping sauces, and the desserts weren't good either. I did like my entree, so not going to give this place only 1 star. The decor and service weren't good also. The place is small and cramped and only has ONE bathroom for both sexes (that's right, one door with one potty). The service was abominal. Water glasses not refilled for 25 minutes (and this is spicey indian food guys!!), and had odd communication with the waiter. Host even ignored us as we entered and had to say, um, i'm here for my reservation..... A higher priced place MUST have good service and decor!! I give a thumbs up to Tantric and Mantra (owned by same company as Mela btw but a MUCH better experience) instead!!
(2)Aditi R.
6 minutes away from my place. 2 1/2 years and a days upon days of yearning for mom's food and I resisted the urge to go to this place. Horrible decision. The mango lassi was mango-ey and oh so yummy. The garlic naan was soft and the basmati rice melted in my mouth. The paneer was fresh and the curry it was cooked in was amazingly tasty and they did not joke around when I said to make the Chicken do-piaza spicy (which I loved). And the portions are great for the price - easily have some left over for another meal. Lastly, the badam kulfi for dessert - not great, but good enough to close out the meal. Total? 9.22 + tip. My only regret? Not buying enough buywithme's to have more of these less than $10 bills for a feast. Regardless, my indian food cravings will know where to go from now on :)
(4)Fahad B.
Here's a short one to save you some time Cozy place (read: small) and Aesthetically pleasing The food is very good Helpful staff Definitely a great place for a date Done.
(4)Jeff M.
Mela is pretty average. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area but would not make a special trip out of it. Best thing here is the naans and the service. Samosas were fresh, but average. Chicken tikka masala was nice and on the creamier side, but only slightly. I tried the 'New Indian' lamb shank curry. I had a lamb shank curry at Benares in London and let me know tell you the two versions are worlds apart. Mela's lamb shank was not very tender. Like is mediocre.
(3)Aboud Y.
I went once and was generally underwhelmed...not my favorite place. Nothing was awful. Just meh. So that's it. Mela=Meh
(2)Namrata A.
Positives - interesting choices on the buffet like big samosas, fish pakoras, chole bature, small dosas, and other items - good service - nice decor - food was not oily as many places can be Negatives - would like more flavor in food - felt cramped inside - $14 per person for an indian buffet is ridic priced especially because the food was not spectacular
(3)Allison S.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Boston. Delicious and rich dishes. My faves are the cauliflower with potatoes and the veggie korma. MMM... Very attentive staff. One of the few places in the south end that you can drop in without a reservation on a friday night. The dinner for two is a great deal - only $35 for 2 entrees, an appetizer, soup and desert.
(5)Timothy A.
The best Indian food I have ever had. My whole family agreed it was an amazing meal. Staff is friendly and attentive.
(5)Jacob M.
Good food. Good service. All at a good price. They had me sold at their lunch buffet deals. For party of three, the third person eats for free. How awesome is that. Their saag paneer and tikka masala are really good, and garlic naans are amazing, although their chicken tandoris are hit-and-miss sometimes. And their samosas.. Get their samosas. it's a must. Overall, a decent Indian restaurant with great service.
(4)Micah C.
Really good Indian food at a moderate price. We tried this place for both lunch and dinner and we both preferred dinner. The lunch buffet was definitely good but not enough spicy dishes as we like. Dinner was much better b/c we could control how spicy each dish was. The chicken curry was pretty good, the saag wasn't bad either. Great naan for sure. But still, I've had better or similar. Try it if you want good Indian!
(4)Brian S.
The food was very good, but I just can't give it four stars. Mainly because 2 of the other 3 people I was with had their credit cards compromised shortly after dining here. The server came back with the first two credit cards quickly, but the other two took much longer. Now we don't have any proof but it seems very suspicious that this would happen. Other than that, the food was good, service was OK.
(3)David S.
I went here with 8 of my coworkers for dinner. Half of the table were native Indians who were vegetarians. I'm basing my review on my experience and what they offered in terms of feedback. Food: Overall, we were very pleased with the dishes we had. The food was tasty and spiced to an Indian palate, not an American one. I had some of the Saag Paneer and ordered the Sahi Bhindi for myself. The Bhindi was quite good with none of the sliminess or greasiness that can come of the dish. The Saag Paneer was also quite good and wasn't overdone with the overabundance of cream that occasionally plagues this dish in other restaurants. The order of Gulab Jamun that we had could have been better. It was served piping hot, which I really enjoy, but it could have used a touch more orange water in the syrup. It was rich and sweet but lack that orangey aroma that I really enjoy. The only thing I really found subpar were the bread offerings. Our garlic naan was a little on the stale side and my aloo naan just didn't seem to contain enough aloo. I ordered some mixed pickle to go with my dish and it didn't taste like it came from jar. That impressed me. Service: We had one waiter serving a table of nine and he did a good job making sure that we were served with a clockwork precision. I will go so far as to say that it was the best service I have ever experience in an Indian restaurant (service is usually sadly lacking). When we asked if he could divide the bill up evenly along all 9 credit cards he happily did so (we have to expense our meals individually and this request often can't be accomodated). Decor: Refreshingly modern. You can definitely tell it's an Indian restaurant with given the thematic notes, but these are subtle and tasteful. The overall look is clean and modern but very warm and inviting. So despite not being wowed by the food ( a solid 3 in my book) the service and decor bump up Mela to a 4 for me.
(4)Ashley O.
The food was great, and the setting was really nice. We were sat by the window to the street, and they were great about clearing our plates and making sure we had a clean one every time we went up for more food. I wish the service was a bit more attentive - we had to get up to order a soda, get more water, and to get the check.
(4)Sean D.
Dining room is nice, the staff is friendly. Food was good. Tandoori tends to be a bit dry, and although most of the meat was, the chicken was fantastic. We had the non-vegetarian meal for two ($45) and it was more than we could eat. A soup each, meat samosas (dry), tandoori with mixed meats, but no veggies, big bowl of basmati rice, two curry entrees and two desserts. Soup was delicious and the seafood masala was wonderful. Naan is the size of an elephant's ear. Everything was pleasing and the timing was relaxed (although I would consider it slow if we had somewhere to be). The only disappointment was that one of the waiters dripped sauce on my shirt while clearing the table, but didn't tell me about it. It was brought to my attention later by a friend. Personally, I find this to be rude. Granted, we all make mistakes, but at least tell me about it (and maybe offer to comp my glass of wine for the dry cleaning expense). I'd recommend Mela to a friend if they were looking for reasonably-priced Indian.
(3)Josh F.
Nice atmosphere. Decent flavor but the chicken was a little over cooked and dry.
(3)Maya T.
Friendly staff. Food was good and came out quickly. Nice decor. Will be back.
(4)Tim N.
Definitely impressed with this place. The food looked and tasted very authentic and very good! The service was spot on, the space was comfortable, and the prices were more than reasonable. But it was more than just these things. Mela was spot on with the little things too. - Mela has a small coat check right at the front, and they were happy to hang up our coats for us upon arrival. This was nice, considering the number of restaurants I've recently been to that have no place to put your bulky winter coat. - Before ordering anything, we were treated to a small cup of their ginger soup. It was rich and spicy and delicious. A nice way to start off the meal. - They were very accommodating with food allergies. There was a sign posted in the dining area stating that customers should alert their server to any dietary restrictions. My server was very knowledgable of the ingredients on the menu, and was able to help me choose a dairy-free entree. My recommendations would be the Aloo Tikka Appetizer (fried potato pancakes) and the Chicken Vindaloo entree. Both were delicious, generously sized, and reasonably priced. All in all, a great experience and I hope to return here again someday!
(4)Nani S.
So I'm hearing Indians and Non Indians sing praises for Mela's Indian fare but I have a few complaints. The awesome thing about meal would be its ambience. Love the pastel colored walls and the beautiful chandeliers. Another hige bonus?- A massive lunch for just $10 Flaws: The food was below average, Chicken tikka masala had some good curry but the meat was pink! (gross!) the tandoori chicken was dry, the naan was average and the pakoras were hot and alright. But the desert- kheer was yummy! The right amount of sweet with great texture, I wanted to go for seconds but was full with the other not so great food.
(2)Jiwon K.
They have very good naan and service is pretty good. I ordered the saag paneer and lamb vindaloo and both were very good. Price is reasonable so I would recommend to other people.
(4)Ross G.
It's VERY good! A bit spicy, but they gave me a free cup of pea soup when I came in (haven't got anything free in eons) The service is on point, and excellent (way above par for Boston) I ordered my favorite indian dish chicken Tikka Masala and some poori bread for dipping. It was outstanding, and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Aravind P.
Horrible food. Worst Indian food I ever ate in all of Boston in the 12 years I lived here. And I am not even picky about food. As a benchmark, this is my first 1 star review ever.
(1)Steve L.
This place is amazing though the prices are a bit high for the portion given. $10 daily lunch buffet is very satisfying though Groupon does not apply for dine-in!
(4)Matthew P.
I went here the other day before going to the movies. I've always heard great things about it so I thought I would give it a try. I was pleased overall. Before I walked in I was concerned about having my clothes smell for the rest of the night because, well, it's an Indian restaurant. Fortunately this was not the case. It has very heavy incense which was refreshing. It was a little weird not to smell curry or really any food at all but I can't complain. We got the nice window seat overlooking Tremont St. that I had always coveted. The servers were very nice and they even brought out a complimentary soup in a tiny cup for us to try. We got three apps, a vegetarian meatball thing, a lamb curry, the tikka masala, and the garlic naan. We asked for it to be extra spicy. As what usually happens whenever I ask for it spicy anywhere, it turns out it wasn't. Not really in the least to be honest. We asked for the tikka masala to just be medium because someone in our group wasn't a fan of the spicy foods. She could taste no difference between the spiciness of any of the dishes. Next time I'll be more adamant maybe? Overall it was a nice experience. The food was a little on the expensive side though. Fortunately, we had a coupon to go with the meal so it wasn't as expensive. I love Indian food but I'm totally fine going to cheaper Indian restaurants. I just don't think the food we got should have been that expensive. Other than that, if you enjoy Indian "fine dining" I'd recommend coming here.
(3)Kristin C.
I've been there twice for their lunch buffet. Both times the food was flavorful and fresh. The service is quick, atmosphere is nice, and the price is right. I'd definitely go back! p.s. Get the garlic naan. It's delicious!
(4)stephanie c.
Came here on Saturday evening for dinner-delicious!! Ambiance-very small, cozy, dim lighting with red/orange drapery and windows overlooking Tremont street. Cute date spot, intimate setting. The place is very small and incredibly packed and busy. We had a dinner reservation, but beware because regardless...you will have to wait. Love the interior decorations. Modern, sexy, and chic. Service-This is where they lost a star. Polite, but not friendly. We ordered cocktails when we sat and never received them till we were practically done with our meal. Had to check on them 3 times. Not cool. The waitress never smiled, made eye contact, or develop any type of conversation. They all seemed to be pretty aloof. Food-Delicious!! Everything we had was excellent (with the exception of side of pickled vegetables). We ordered Chicken with Coconut Curry, Shrimp Masala, Lamb Vindoo, Butter chicken and Naan. Everything was incredibly tasty, fresh, and not too heavy. Portions were okay, but they did seem pretty stingy about the amount of meat in the dishes. It seemed to be 75% sauce and only 25% shrimp/chicken. Wish they were more generous with the substance considering each dish was approx $15-20. Nonetheless, we stuffed ourselves dipping naan and rice into the sauces. I do have one strong suggestion-Stay FAR away from the side of pickled vegetables. I was thinking it would be a light tangy side to the curries and meat. I have no clue what that thing was but when I placed it in my mouth, it was the most foul tasting thing ever!! I immediately spit it back out. It was horrendous. Stay away from that. Overall-cute spot, love the ambiance, food was tasty but wish they put mroe meat in the dishes and the service could use some "happy pills". I'll definitely be back though.
(4)Steph X.
Mela is my favorite Indian restaurant, by far. I've been going there for the past year and a half (sometimes for takeout, sometimes to dine in) and have yet to have a negative experience. Yes, there will sometimes be a wait, and no, they will never ever be rude. These are the reasons why I love Mela: 1. Their food is rich, delicious, fragrant, well-seasoned, and always comes out piping hot. The chicken tikka masala is a must have, with fresh cardamom, thick sauce, and juicy chicken. Their food is always impeccably prepared and I can no longer go to cheaper Indian places because it's never as good! 2. The decor/ambiance is great 3. Their service is impeccable. I've never had a server who has been anything less than incredibly gracious and kind. They will always acknowledge you when you walk into the restaurant, and they are always attentive with the water glasses. EDIT: After going here regularly over the past 3 years, and ordering take out on many occasions, I'm taking away a star because their dishes are often inconsistent. While their food is really really good, when it's good, I've received some overly watery curries on more than one occasion, which is really unappetizing and unacceptable. Still love this place, but please don't water down your curries!
(4)Jazzie F.
I like Mela, a lot. I have been going here on and off for the past 4+ years. Probably ever since it opened. I didn't like it at first, it had it's quirks. But mostly the place has improved since those days. I go here, at least once a month now and this placen isn't cheap. Although the portions are generous and staff isn't all total 'tards. If you go at a busy time, say, Friday night you'll have to wait around a bit but otherwise, the service is quick and I am usually full and happy. I hope this place stays the same. I def. recommend it.
(4)Eric F.
Stopped by for dinner recently with a Groupon and I thoroughly enjoyed the discounted dinner for two. My friend and I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Vindaloo - both were nicely done and reflected the spice level we specified (always a plus when the chef gets that down accurately). We plenty to split between us with the accompanying samosas, rice, naan, mixed tandoori grill, and lovely Rose Kulfi. Very reasonably priced, Groupon'd or otherwise, with ample portions and good variety.
(4)Hillary M.
I wasn't planning on eating here, but saw they had a lunch buffet and went in. I think only one other table was taken, but this was at 2pm on a weekday, so I'm not terribly surprised. All the food tasted hot and delicious and I adored the garlic naan. The price was great, too. Good service, etc. I brought the baby and there was a great window seat sort of thing by my table that she hung out in, she enjoyed nibbling some naan, and the spacious, clean bathroom had this shelf thing that was perfect for changing her diaper. I love a place with a changing table for the kid! Overall, a very nice lunch.
(4)Anjana S.
Attentive servers, good food choices and tasty... Not too loud and jarring music like in some restaurants but good mellow instrumental music hits playing at a decent volume. Price on the high side, but for a good choice of dishes, its worth it. $13 for a buffet per person. Good ambience. and good silver ware used.
(5)Samantha E.
As per some yelp recommendations, I ordered the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and chicken tikka.... It was INCREDIBLE! A little pricey buy the food was so good I stopped caring. I'll definitely be ordering from here again!
(4)Brian L.
Everything I've eaten here has been delicious. The prices are reasonable for a date night, the staff is eager to help. Despite all the great things about it, the restaurant is rarely busy too. This is our go-to Indian restaurant.
(4)Daniel L.
They're a little pricey for Indian, but since I ordered a few groupons, Mela and I have grown close. If you like vegetarian, the Navrattan Korma and Baingan Bhartha are good. Try them a little spicy with garlic naan. I've been pretty happy with everything that I've tried. The Saag and Vindaloo are great choices for meat dishes if you're trying to break away from Chicken Tikka Masala.
(4)Moksha M.
Horrible service - never being to a worse place in terms of service. Food is meh! We could see a long line of takeout orders being prepared - so definitely doesn't seem like a local's fav to dine in. I would never recommend this place
(1)Le T.
Good customer service. Brought the manfriend here because I ate here once in college with my roommates. Thought it was interesting that they have the hot stone grill so wanted manfriend to give it a try. :) That was basically what sets apart this Indian restaurant from the rest. They are aiming to be "modern". I thought the seafood hot stone entree with salmon and scallop was great. Very fresh to the taste.
(4)Chris L.
I came here on a Sunday for their weekend lunch buffet with a group of my friends. It was $13 for all you can eat Indian food plus made to order garlic or plain Naan. We were greeted with a big smile and the service was excellent throughout the whole meal. I'll start off by saying this is the cleanest Indian restaurant I've been to. All the plates and tableware were spotless and had no greasy residue on it at all. The watermelon juice was very refreshing and was perfectly sweetened, if at all. I tried many of the dishes and all of them were decent. here are my thoughts! -The pani puri was average. Nothing spectacular compared to some of the stuff I had before. -The goat curry had a very flavorful sauce with tender pieces of meat, but some pieces were large and dry--the chunks of goat without bone. -The chicken Tikka Masala was very flavorful but being made with all white meat so some pieces were dry. -The tandoori chicken was average and could use a little more spice in the marinade as well. -The fried chicken pieces were very good. Crunchy and battered with a nice spiced chickpea flour -the vegetarian dishes were greasy, but had a nice flavor profile to it. Overall, I feel that the Indian food here is a good balance and easy on the stomach. It is just spicy enough to please everyone but not catered towards those looking for 100% authentic Indian food. I will definitely be back!
(4)Vignesh S.
Poorest service. Never again! Just got back from the restaurant. The experience was bittersweet - more bitter than sweet. The service was terrible, overpowering the good food that it was. Greeted by a grumpy cat in the guise of a woman. Oh! Did I say 'greet'? Strike that. I'm not sure if it was karma or the manager doesn't pay well, we were served by a horrible(fill-in all synonyms) waiter who doesn't seem to serve us with what we need unless we asked him minimum 3 to 4 times. Found it hard to even get a spoon, waited for 10mins to get it. When we asked other waiter, he replied "I don't serve your table". Way to go! In the end, our celebration for a birthday & job went down the drain. I'm sure they served "Non-Indians" better. Do they pay $2 more/dish? Just curious. EDIT: Looks like all those reviews that complained about terrible service go in to the "Not Recommended" section. Check it out!
(1)Lynn W.
We have had two wonderful experiences at Mela so far. We went at the recommendation of a friend of Indian descent - she said the food tasted like food her mother would make. Having spent a month living in India myself, I have to concur. The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. We first went for dinner, using a Groupon. The food came out right away, the spice level was just as requested, and the servers were extremely professional. We also loved the ambiance of the place - it is very romantic and elegant. The second time, we tried their lunch buffet. It was great - way better than I expect from a lunch buffet. Large selection of dishes - three protein dishes, four vegetarian dishes, appetizers, soup, fruit, dessert... Everything was delicious. Milder than you get at dinner when you can adjust the heat to your personal taste, but that is to be expected at a lunch buffet. The daal (lentils) were some of the best I've ever had. As an added bonus, they give you a fresh serving of the naan of your choice! Also, as a pleasant surprise, the host recognized us from dinner the previous week. He was so gracious and kind. Mela is definitely going to be a part of our ongoing rotation of restaurants!
(5)Nancy C.
My friend & I went to Mela because I had a $25 off a meal of $50 or more and also because we were craving Indian food (or at least I was). At 5pm on a Sunday, the restaurant was mostly empty. We were greeted right upon entering, promptly seated and handed menus. The menu was extensive but not overwhelmingly so. They offer a range of dishes, from traditional chicken tikka masala to organic and modern specialties. We got goat curry (extra hot), Baingan Bhartha (eggplant - also extra hot), chicken tikka appetizer, pashwari naan, and a mango lassi. This added up to $50 perfectly, plus about $3 for tax. The portions are huge. It comes with a massive bowl of rice, which is much needed for the curry. I really enjoyed the goat curry - even though there are some bones (obviously), there was a large amount of meat as well. WARNING for those who can't handle spicy foods - ask for this to be "mild" because although I enjoyed the "extra hot," my friend said it was too spicy for her. The eggplant was flavorful as well. Its texture is slightly strange (it's mashed eggplant), but the peas definitely help give it some chew. Overall, the service was spectacular, the decor was nice, and the food was really good. It's slightly on the pricier side if you don't have some sort of deal, but I think it's worth it, especially as my friend and I brought about half of our meal home.
(4)M L.
Not the most authentic Indian restaurant we have been to but definitely fills the void when we are in a tikki masala mood. Two of our favorite dishes to get here are the lamb coconut curry and chicken tikki masala. One item on their menu that is definitely a must have is the garlic naan! We can literally eat that all day. We won't be recommending this place as a must-go but it has nice decor inside and is pretty clean. If you want some Indian food in a nice environment but don't mind it not being extremely authentic, then this is the place! Definitely hit the spot for us the other evening we were there.
(3)Abby R.
I came for the lunch buffet, and while there's nothing to complain about, I can't find anything to rave about, either. Its best feature is that it's $12 after you tip, and it's all you can eat, which is a hell of a lot better deal than WholeFoods' indian food. The most mediocre thing was the Chicken Tikka Masala, unfortunately. This favorite of indian buffet-goers was sadly pretty bland here, which I'm aware is a pretty big insult in an Indian restaurant, but so it is. It could have been that particular batch, but the masala tasted like a thin tomato sauce with no spiciness at all (even though Tikka Masala is meant to be mild, it usually has a hint of heat) and weak flavoring. Ok, so maybe there was something to complain about, but as I said, it wasn't bad, just mediocre. The garlic naan was delicious, but it took until our second plate to arrive. But at least when it arrived it was plentiful. The Veggie Pakoras were delish, and the mint chutney was actually some of the best I've had, no lie. I was drowning my Pakoras in it. The Saag Paneer was a bit bitter, but the Paneer was good. The Muttar Masala was alarmingly watery, so much so that you couldn't get the sauce on the slotted spoon. It was basically a soup. I would definitely come back to see if the Tikka Masala was just having an off day, but mainly I would go back because it's a decent buffet and I love Indian food.
(3)Jason F.
You don't need to be Indian to tell that this place is sub-par. It's a shame, because if there was a decent Indian restaurant in my neighborhood I'd eat there every other day.
(2)jyoti a.
Undoubtedly the best Indian food I have had in years...the place is a little small, limited seating...so u r literally in each other's face if it's crowded...but they serve with a sincere smile and are very friendly...the food is great...very close to authentic Indian...could do a little better in the vegetarian selection
(4)Chris M.
Came for a late dinner. The portions are huge and the food is very tasty. I had the vegetable samosa, Garden salad and the Mela Biryani. It was all very good. Nicely spiced. I'd come back often if I lived in Boston.
(4)Brian B.
One of the best chicken tikka masala's I've ever had. Spices were perfect. And I've had Indian food all around the country. Friendly staff. We got the buffet and thought it was a good value. Would definitely go back.
(5)Gulam A.
I am sooo full as I am writing this review. One of the best indian buffets I have tried. They do not compromise on the quality of food at buffets, unlike most other restaurants.
(4)Shisham K.
A restaurant to me is all about experience of delicious, mouthwatering food & the service. I am totally a food lover! And never in my life , I have left any place without eating. Last night, I made a reservation of 6 & was confirmed the time. Happy & excited We reached Mela at the given time. However , the place was full, sooo we patiently waited there. We waited there for more than 40 mins.... & was assured we would get the seats in five mins. But our patience ended when people who arrived later got the seats & we did not! We raised our concern with d manger in a polite manner but he barely seem to care!!! And asked to wait even longer..... Management & politeness are probably two alien words for the manager of Mela. Disappointed is how I felt about the whole experience!!! I hate to write this, but the manager sld learn basic politeness & some management skills!
(1)Sam M.
Mediocre Service and Food at Mela. They took forever to bring our Naan, when the restaurant was practically empty. Extremely limited buffer menu options. They were serving daal as soup. I would not recommend Mela to anyone. Service was horrible and sever questioned us on why we tipped so low. Well, you have to earn your tip. 3 people from our group had stomach pain after having Mela food :( There are better alternatives in Boston.
(1)Charlie B.
I think one of the two best Indian restaurants in Boston. Good Naan, Rogan Josh, Chicken curry. Lunch buffet is solid for reasonable price. Good Service, Nice decor. Recommended hands down
(4)Carrie F.
First time here and loved it! We had the Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Saag and the Beef Coconut. They were all so good! The sauce on the beef coconut was my favorite of the three and the lamb in the saag was so tender. I think I would do lamb curry next time. But would order all three again for sure.
(5)Jim W.
Curry Dinner special was really tasty and a lot of good food for 2 ppl for $50...minus a star because my gf and I were rushed by our waiter to finish our courses...if the foods ready, bring it out, that fine but don't be pulling my half eaten app off the table with my fork still in hand. Still will go back though.
(4)Mika S.
Great atmosphere in a fantastic area in Boston! I loved the modern Indian decor of the restaurant and thought they did a great job with the food plating. Although it seems trivial, it's small details like that, which enhance my experiences at restaurants. The waiters were also very attentive, but not over-bearing. We ordered the Garlic Beef, the Butter Chicken, the Pickle and the Peshawari Naan Bread. The beef was unbelievably tender, with a nice curry, although I wish I had picked something a little spicier. The Butter Chicken was by far the best, with deliciously sweet undertones that paired very well with the Peshawari Naan bread (which was also slightly sweet). Overall everything was reasonably priced, although this was the first time i've been to an Indian restaurant that charges you extra for Naan Bread.
(3)Niles d.
There are few times in life when you want to end your dining experience before you even start your meal but today is one of those days. I have ordered in the past many times from Mela for delivery as well as eaten in the restaurant but today's experience may prompt me to switch to one of the other local Indian restaurants for my future orders. Somehow my electronic order's tip was erased and I didn't notice it prior to the indignant delivery man showing up at my door demanding it. I fear I shouldn't eat the food because I'm not sure what he's done to it prior to its arrival on my doorstep. Normally I would have expected to have the delivery person pleasantly hand me my food and then politely say something like "I noticed you didn't include a tip on your order, was it because of a bad experience or did you plan to pay it in cash?" And I could have easily rectified the problem. Or "I know we charge a delivery fee but a gratuity for the driver is also appreciated if you'd like to add one at this time". However, holding the food hostage scowling and demanding "you need to pay me your tip in cash since you didn't put it on the order" somehow presupposes that I WANTED to tip the angry delivery person. I did tip him at the door (called the electronic service and had them adjust the order to include the tip) but now that I have my food I'm wondering, "What did he do to the food prior to arriving at my residence?" And why is Mela employing such short tempered frustrated or irritable delivery folk? If I don't come in to work tomorrow or show up in the hospital consider this my manifesto to bad delivery people and holding food for mandatory tips.
(1)Anjali N.
So Mela is one of those "Indian Restaurants" that is really not Indian. We ordered the prawn puri and chicken tandoori, and when I asked our server to make it spicy she just gave me a puzzled look. When the food came ( it looked amazing! ) , I realized it has been very heavily americanized...not really Indian. The spices hadn't blended into the tandoori at all and the chutney with it was just gravy from a curry - very bland. The prawn puri was quite good but I would have liked it a little spicier. All in all. I wouldn't go back. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're into authentic Indian cuisine. The ambience of the place is really nice though !
(1)Norina N.
I came here with my coworkers for lunch buffet, the selections were limited and food were not so good. I have tried every single dish, and I didn't like any even one, very disappointing. Service was nice.
(2)Tasty Bee Review S.
Mela is still a great tiny place for an Indian cuisine. The food is always delicious, went there yesterday around 6 pm. The music and the stuff - all wonderful, fast and super polite. The dinning experience was slightly spoiled by the company of 9 loud males which arrived after we had ordered stuff (otherwise we would have left). In a small space like Mela's two halls: their voices and laughter sounded like thunderstorm. I've been to Mela at least 10 times by now. Food is great. But next time I will take-out. The space is too tiny.
(4)Tamara W.
I LOVE this place! Been here a few times out to eat and also done take out; their service is really good (always accommodating and get to you right away) and the food takes like, 10 minutes to make. I think their prices are way too much but since their portions are big i recommend splitting something; I love the shrimp masala... it is my favorite! Also their Saag Paneer is really good, too. All very delicious and the best Indian place in South End for sure!
(5)Jackie O.
Good delivery, almost always correct. The only time it wasn't correct was when I did a pick up.
(4)Ryan Z.
The food here is spectacular and very modestly priced. Pesawari naan is a must and highly recommend the chicken korma.
(4)Rachel G.
We have been coming to Mela since early 2012. Mela is consistently outstanding. Service is friendly, fast, and not overbearing. We are Californian transplants and familiar with the SF Bay area where Indian and South Asian food is truly authentic. Mela for Boston is close as it gets to authentic in this city. We used to love a place called Bhindi Bazaar and their Chicken Malai. It closed down. Then there was A Taste of India in Harvard Square on Brattle St., great Lamb Vindaloo, closed down also. Then of course there was and maybe still is, the Maharaja, but there was a fire and not sure if they are still open. We've tried every Indian place in town, including the ones on Newbury, Bolyston, and Comm Ave. They never impressed us much, due to un-fresh food, unclean food, or just plain bland. Mela is delicious. It has been a surivivor, and it is very much underrated. Unlike many Indian or Chinese food places that either taste great but is bad for you or makes you ill, and UNLIKE pretentious Back Bay gastro-pubs and other frou frou kitchens in the area that holds itself out to be something it is not, Mela's is what it appears to be: modern Indian cuisine. Great food, great chefs, good portions, healthy, and tastey Indian fare. I hope this business keeps on doing well. Our favorites: lamb curry and spinach lamb. Amazing MINT chutney, the best. The goat curry BTW for buffet, excellent. NO other Indian buffet will offer goat or lamb for buffet. :)
(5)Ankur P.
very very VERY average indian placel. CTM is a little dry. unfortunatley, not much competition in the immediate area
(2)Natassha D.
The 2 stars was for the service really I always have good service eating inside the restaurant since Mela's opened on Tremont but a couple of months back I felt like eating some great Indian cruisine did a delivery service I didn't feel like moving at all and I figured why not delivery they were only down the streetfrom my house when I got my food I was told by the delivery guy that the owner does not deliver in dominant Black areas funny I live 5 minutes away it didn't make any sense I could see the milage out area problem. But anyways this will be the last delivery or eat in I spoke with the manager myself and he said he will call me back welp! He never did but that's okay Mela will Never ever get they're racist Hands on my money at all they can employ Blacks but I guess they stop right there when it comes down to delivering food to Blacks...
(2)Sara J.
I have been to Mela a few times now. The food is pretty good and the staff members in the restaurant are pretty friendly. Giving it three stars because: - The food is a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. I could venture out to other areas to get the same type of food for a cheaper price. - When I ordered online once for delivery, they said it would take between 20-30 mins but the food did not arrive until an hour later - very disappointing. Had to call the restaurant twice (the lady who picked up was not apologetic at all) to ask where our food was. Would probably go back again at some point if I'm in the area!
(3)Jenny D.
Had a very good late night meal. Garlic beef was excellent as well as the Chicken Tikka masala. Try the ice cream, but the rice pudding left something to be desired. Service was less than par, but that was from a tired waitress as we were the last customers of the night.
(4)Allison L.
Hey vegans! This is what you can eat on the menu. I asked so you don't have to. :) -subz panchmael -aloo choley -gobhi charchi Have to disagree with the person who said the spice level is nothing to write home about. I get "medium" at every Indian restaurant, and this "medium" was definitely spicier. Our friends who got "extra hot" were sweating a bit.
(4)Deepika R.
I really regret the 1 star but guys trust me, being an indian i totally fess up that the food served is not even close. For dinner i ordered garlic naan which was not too greasy and soft, the only dish which was good. Mutton biryani was a poor dish with jus plain rice , no biryani flavor n pieces of mutton. Not even close to being on the menu actually! Expresso martini was a huge disappointment as well because i definitely have had better and best at other places. Very pricey with kind of so called Indian food. The waiter was in a rush to clear our table even before we had finished eating. Poor waiting. The hostess was great though.
(1)Nick S.
Excellent food, excellent service. Was able to accommodate eleven people with no notice on a Thursday evening.
(5)Carolina N.
Although there's no way that this could be called the best Indian restaurant in Boston, it is pretty great. The service is consistently good, the food is delicious, and it's a great spot for vegetarians. Mela Vegetarian Platter - no idea what the things on this platter actually are, but they are all delicious. My vegetarian friend and I decided to order this on a whim once, and now we always have to have it. Palak Paneer - better than most. The cheese cubes are firm and the spinach is creamy. Absolutely delicious. Garlic Naan - it's great, but no different than at other places. Mela is definitely a solid pick and will not disappoint.
(4)Ryan A.
I ordered from this place yesterday and based on the reviews on here I was expecting more. It was OK. Good but not great and definitely not as authentic as I'm used to eating in South Florida. The Vegetable Samosa was decent but the Malai Kofta left a lot to be desired. I love spicy food so I asked for their hottest sauce and it was mild compared to the more authentic Indian restaurants I've frequented. I'll definitely be looking for a better Indian establishment in Boston.
(2)Joe J.
I ordered a few things from Mela one night late at work and it was a pretty good experience. Got take out, so can't speak to the service, but the food was good. Had the: Tandoori Chicken Beef Vindaloo Garlic Naan I thought everything tasted good, not great. That being said, I would certainly return here for Indian food should I have the craving for it. One caveat...it is sort of pricey.
(4)Cindy M.
Ordered for delivery and I was happy with the outcome. The chicken tikka masala was quite tasty. I ordered before i read other reviews and was nervous while I was waiting for my food due to some of the other posts stating it was bland. It took about 1 hour to get here, but the delivery person was friendly and respectful. I had it delivered to my hotel and I find many restaurants give lower quality meals when they see it is a hotel. Luckily Mela did not think that way and I will definitely order from them again.
(4)Yolanda T.
Classic curries were great, the soups were unbelievable but the meat was dry and the naan was under cooked.
(3)Lieu T.
Went here and used a Groupon deal for $63 which allowed us to order two appetizers, two naans, and four entrees. The decor is so nice; background music is mostly instrumental. We ordered the mustard lamb and non vegetarian platter for appetizers and two garlic naan. For entrees lamb vindaloo, seafood marsala, chicken tikki marsala and prime filet hot stone. The waiter told us to order the most expensive dishes lol! Overall everything was delicious! Standout dishes were the mustard lamb, chicken tikki marsala and seafood marsala. The hot stone filet was good but it's just putting meat and cooking it on a hot stone. Only thing bad about the meal was the Lemelson 2006 wine (terrible).
(4)Annie G.
My dining partner and I opted to share the 2-person preset menu. For $45, we got a LOT of food. Each person got a cup of spiced soup, a large samosa, a big piece of naan, a platter of meats to share, one curry each with rice, choice of 2 desserts, and tea/coffee. I ate way more than I should have, and we still had a box of leftover curry. I wonder if they'd let you split their 2-person deal between 3 people? It certainly would have been a good way to split all that food... The preset meal comes two ways: vegetarian or meaty. We opted for meat, so our samosa was stuffed with lamb (and beef?), and our curries included lamb rogan josh and beef vindaloo. MMM the vindaloo was so good and citrus-y. It was my favorite part of the meal. The soup was a tad difficult to get down due to its high sodium content. It was pleasantly mealy and thick. I think ground up chickpeas may have been involved. :) The samosa was delicious; I love the green sauce that always goes with it. The meat platter was ok. Some of the chicken was really dry, but there was also lamb and some sort of ground up meat sausage thing. Naan was a good addition to my super salty soup, the dessert was delicious (we got kheer and ice cream [!!!]), and the warm chai at the end was a great way to wrap it all up. Of course, I was super stuffed and wanted to just keel over and food coma, but I thought we got a good amount of food for the price paid.
(4)Devin M.
Myself and two friends were nearby and checked Yelp and found this place. It was AMAZING! We arrived shortly after 6 and were almost immediately seated in an otherwise packed restaurant. I think it we had come a few minutes later we might've had a longer wait. The ambiance is nice. It has a unique interior that's very cozy, but not overly so. When we were seated we were given a friend cauliflower of sorts which was surprisingly delicious. The menu selection was the largest for any Indian restaurant I've been to. My party ordered some meat Samosas (not bad, but I wasn't impressed), Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala and some Kali Mirch ke Tikki as well as some garlic naan and chicken naan. I can honestly say that, aside from the samosas, every dish was the best I've ever had. The naan was the perfect texture. Portions were large enough to feel satiated and still have leftovers and the price was right on par with nearly every other Indian restaurant. It took a little while to receive our food (they brought out two of the dishes and then the last dishes + naan about 10 minutes later which was weird. It was busy though, so could've just been an aberration. Overall, I highly recommend. If I lived in the area, I'd go every week.
(5)Scott S.
We arrived at the restaurant and were told there was a half hour wait, though there were quickly several tables available and no one else waiting...finally, after I asked and the manager remembered that we were indeed waiting, he seated us at one of the empty tables. This lackadaisical service continued. The lighting fixture above our table was thick with dust and the bathroom needed cleaning. The food, while edible had no flavor and was disappointing. Having lived in South Asia, I can say that this is bland and overly Americanized. There are many better Indian restaurants with better food AND service. In other words: don't waste your time and money at Mela!
(2)Bos G.
Once upon a time if you wanted to eat Indian in Boston you had to go to the Back Bay, which is home to more curry houses than any other neighborhood. Fortunately a few years ago a successful local management company that owns several Indian restaurants in Boston opened Mela in the South End. Mela consistently cooks flavorful dishes at a reasonable price. Dinner including an appetizer, main dish and dessert (no drink or tip included) will cost $20.00 - $25.00 per person. However, if you are like me temptations like Samosas and Naan will lead you to order more than you can eat and result in bringing home extra food. Mela recently added a limited organic menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, which I have not tried but wanted to mention. I regularly order the Baingan Bhartha ($13) which is an eggplant main dish that makes my mouth water. If you do enjoy food spicy (no matter what you order) don't be afraid to say you want the food spicy or hot. All main dishes can be cooked mild, medium or hot... I consistently find the medium is not spicy enough for my liking and I think this is simply a practical business decision on Mela to keep their food more mild for the Boston residents. Mela is open for lunch as well as dinner and is relatively easy to get a table except during peak hours on weekends when a reservation are recommended.
(4)Andrea F.
Loved the lunch buffet so wanted to try the menu... Service is terrible and the food is not spicy enough even when you ask for Indian Hot!!!
(3)Amanda B.
I visited Mela last week for lunch with coworkers. They do a buffet-style lunch for $9.95. According to the website, the selection changes daily. The day I visited, I believe there was Chicken Tikka, some kind of Pakora, Palak Paneer, some kind of veggie dish with mushrooms and chick peas, beef meatballs and another dish I can't remember. An ok variety, but it would be nice to have more. I liked the pakora and the chicken tikka the best. We also had naan (because how could you not?) The restaurant is contemporary and nicely decorated, but the tables are super close to each other. There was one other party (of 2) in our area and our waiter sat the four of us directly next to them in the corner. So we had to squeeze in and out between the two tables and wait for the inside person to sit first. Plus, we all had coats and bags so it was tight. i think I saw about five different employees running around during our visit and the restaurant was not even half full. The overall experience was ok. I'd go back to experience different buffet dishes.
(3)Audrey C.
Nothing memorable for me. Reminded me of why I don't like buffets.. even if it's $12 for brunch buffet, it felt like a bunch bunch of lukewarm leftovers. The food is all kind of warm, or cold, not hot. The garlic nan, which I was so excited about, turned out to be cold, thin, and tasteless. I will take quality over quantity. I didn't even end up eating anywhere near $12 worth, because it just wasn't that great.
(3)Christine C.
Honestly, the Masala is too buttery, however the quality of the meat is very good. I was not impressed with the naan. It basically sucked, and they did not have a good variety of flavors. The place itself is decorated very nicely and the seats were comfortable. The staff was a little off, they did not speak English well and did not understand or know what San Pellegrino was when we asked for sparkling water.
(3)steve s.
a terrible restaurant. very badly managed. a 7:00PM reservation that was honored at 7:45. overcrowded entrance overflowing with angry unseated reservation-guests. Indifferent services, entrees served 10' apart, botched orders. a very unpleasant experience.
(1)Angela C.
Deelish Indian food! I had the lunch buffet which was deelish and prices reasonable! My only critique is i didnt have room to try everything!!! :-) The atmosphere is bright and attractive, Thumbs up would def eat there again! Easy to find on Tremont St, in the South End....
(4)D P.
I am changing my review after going to Mela last night for dinner. We had ordered Vegetarian specials for two which includes Samosa for appetizer, choice of 2 vegetarian dishes, rice, naan, raita, dessert, tea/coffee. I asked the waiter if we could get Garlic Naan instead of plain naan and they can charge the difference of $1, he said 'NO', nothing can be substitued. He could have been more polite or allowed the substitution with charging us extra $1. Anyway, we ordered Garlic Naan anyways. The appetizer (samosa) and Chutney(sauce) was so blend. Probably the worst Samosa in Boston. We picked 'Bhindi (Okra)' and 'Malai Kofta' for main course. Malai Kofta was really good. Bhindi wasn't bad taste wise, but I was turned off seeing plenty of 'head' of the Okra. For those of you, don't know Okra, when you cut Okra, you remove head and the tail part. Usually when you buy frozen Okra, you see both of it being there. Which again was the reason why I was turned off. If I come to the restaurant ordering Okra, at least the vegetable should be used fresh, not frozen. Finally, for the dessert we had a choice of 4 dessert to pick what we wanted. I ordered Badam Kulfi (Almond Ice-cream with Cardamom made Indian style) -- It was so hard, I had to ask for a knief to cut ice-cream. The taste of Kulfi wasn't correct either and let me not forget, I ordered Masala Tea --which was NOT indian tea at all. The place is tiny and so crowded and at one point there was too much smoke which was also a turn-off. (I think there might be some dishes they bring sizzling on a pan like Mexican place).. I couldn't wait to get out of there. All in all, I would only recommend this place to go on a less popular night or perhaps for a lunch buffet.
(2)Aaron M.
Honestly, I would love to give this place five stars. I've had their excellent lunch buffet a number of times and had I not had such a crappy experience the other night I would have done just that. Unfortunately, things went awry the other night when I decided to introduce my girlfriend to their delicious Indian cuisine. What we got instead of a tasty feast was poor and slow service, bland food (except for the goat), and near-vomiting stomach sickness that hit both of us by the time we were enjoying our dessert. I was so disappointed in what I thought would be a sure thing. I'm still going to try the buffet again to see if this was a fluke but I'm going advise everyone to stick with lunch there where the atmosphere is much more relaxed, friendly, and stomach sickness free.
(3)eliza b.
Mela was a nice place, went with a friend and had gift certificates to try it out. I'm a picky india eater; but the food was good, cooked to order and they are sensitve to "newbies" when it comes to the heat. They do have alternatives and seafood items for them. Pretty place, modern decor, nice staff. Found a new delish martini...Lychee Martini..next I'll order a pitcher!
(4)Len R.
a little pricey, but it's in the south end. no dry food for me, though the service was lacking - we were the only people here on a weekday and the server kept interrupting us mid-sentence to ask us questions. on a busy night, sure, but can't you wait 5 seconds when you're empty?
(5)Alan N.
went here on new years day for my post new years hangover meal. got there around 2pm for the brunch buffet. they had veggie pakora, old fried broccoli, mushroom saag, lychee paneer, lentil something, goat curry, chicken tikka masala, and chicken tandoori, and some other salad stuff we didnt try. also they give you fresh garlic naan which is nice. for $12.95 it was sufficient. the food was pretty room temp which sucked, or maybe i just like my food really hot. the best was actually the spinach and mushroom pakora. if the mushroom saag was hot, it would have been great on my naan. the chicken tandoori was also good but i think because i got there late it was a little dry. the chicken tikka was good over my rice, but nothing special about this place. good if you like indian food, and good if you like all you can eat.
(3)Ryan L.
I am generally a budget Indian buffet eater and tend to avoid pricier places but when I came here with some out of state friends, it was a rock solid culinary experience. With the higher price you do get a nicer chic ambiance but the food also matches the decor. We had several meat and veggie plates (standard chicken tikka masala, saag, an appetizer plate, and a lamb sausage curry) and they were all excellent. Being that it was dinner, it could be the reason why the food was better but one of these days I will have to try to make it up there for the lunch buffet. I only wish the parking was better in the South End.
(5)S S.
Another example, where i wanted to give the place a two and a half star. The location is great . I love the south end. This place is really small but i like the decor, fun orange organza curtains and interesting statues of indian dieties. The food is decent and the service is decent. I was dissapointed cos i expected "good food", only one vegeterian options in the "modern indian menu" part and the traditional indian fare wasnt anything i would write home about. With such great location and cute interior i would expect them to step up a notch with food. Its something you could eat at any indian resturant, ans still pay more.
(3)N. B.
As someone of S. Asian descent myself, I'm very particular about eating at an Indian Restaurant. Particularly the style of "punjabi" food that is in most indian restaurants. My rule is, If I can make it better myself I wont bother. If its loaded up with cream (when did it become okay to load up amazing fresh flavorful food such as Indian food with heavy cream and dilute its flavors??) i'll move on. But I've ordered take out from Mela before and enjoyed it, and so when two friends (who are not S. Asian) wanted to eat out Indian food, I thought why not here? I used to eat at Bukhara Grill (also owned by the same group) and thought it was great too. The service was great, and we were immediately greeted with a small watermelon drink. I had a Iliachitini (Iliachi is the word for cardamon) which was fun. The food was again standard. I had a Bhaingan Bharta because it is one of the few dishes without cream in it. I ordered it spicy so I did get a good amount of flavor. Nan was pretty fresh. But to be honest the food came out pretty quick....a little too quick, actually, that I'm sort of suspicious. Something tells me that Eggplant was cooked to softness earlier in the day.... But the food is NOT worth its price. It is again, standard. In fact, my husband ordered lamb and in his bowl of soupy sauce, was only TWO pieces of lamb, for around 20$!! I actually had to cook for him again when we got home because he was still hungry!!! Although the service was great, the atmosphere is lovely, for the value its not so hot. For making me cook for my husband again when we got home...0 stars!!...balances out to 2 stars. BTW we also came to this place because it was one of the few places available last minute in the S. End on a saturday night. So others must be thinking the same thing. Put more food in your servings, and less creamy sauce and get your 4 stars like you deserve!
(2)Pooja N.
Made a reservation for Saturday at 8:30 and were seated instantly. Service was great. We ordered the non-vegetarian dinner for 2 and got one appetizer- it was definitely enough for 4 people. Food was delicious and the drink selection was great too. Great experience!
(4)Connor T.
Not only is the food way overpriced for the poor quality, but their driver never even showed up with our $40 worth of food.
(1)Eric W.
Is it overpriced? Well, certainly; this is Tremont St., after all. So, expect to break your wallet, but also expect the food to be a cut above. We went for the brunch buffet on a Sunday which you might not expect to put the food in the best light, but it was still prepared with enough care to make it memorable. For a buffet, the dishes were especially spicy and there was a nice balance between vegetarian and meat dishes. They also offer to create omelets on which we passed, but I'm curious enough that I might just return.
(4)Ashley M.
went to Mela two nights in a row this weekend and its one of my new favorite spots in the city. its a typical teeny-tiny south end restaurant. the walls are decorated in metal plating in the back and windows layed with sheer curtains in front. very attractive. the metal plating and small space makes voices reverberate so its a little loud but still very intimate. service was only ok... seems like the servers have a hard time hearing too. HOWEVER, after having read mixed reviews i was very pleastantly surprised. i ate vegetarian my first night and non-veg the second. everything was excellent. it truly is 'modern' indian so if you're looking for class punjabi food like you get at most indian restaurants, this is slightly different. can't remember what the veg dish was under the modern indian choices but it consisted of asparagus, peppers, etc in a very unique sauce. also tried - goat curry, a modern duck dish, mustard lamb (you cook it yourself on a hot stone), and a variety of other dishes. per a reviewer's rec went with the mango creme brulee for desert. everything was great. even the wine (and you don't normally expect good wine with indian food). can't wait to take more people there.
(4)Jim M.
Great Indian food! The staff did a terrific job, and I got a free round of drinks for pointing out that they had Guinness listed on the menu as being from England, not Ireland. Anil is the host, Jay the bartender, and both were terrific. Try the Mango martini or the tamarind margarita: fresh fruit makes it taste like a smoothie, packs a kick like a shot of absinthe.
(5)Dan M.
They've go t really great little lunch buffet which I indulged in today. Very nice. Good variety. The food was flavorful and LIGHT. I appreciate LIGHT enormously as Indian cusine can often be very, very heavy. Service is fast and efficient and wait staff are professional and super polite.
(4)Joseph M.
I live close by to Mela so go frequently. My favorite dish is the salmon kebabs, although I admit that a few times, they were a bit fishy and too bready. But usually they are good. Other dishes have always been consistently good. The staff is always helpful. I read through several reviews here, and frankly some of the 1 and 2 star ratings were for issues that are not necessarily within the control of the restaurant. Yes, it's a bit cramped and there is nowhere to wait for a table except in a nook or on the street - oh well, it's a small restaurant in the south end! No worse than many others. Save your "top secret" meetings for the board room! I have always found Mela's food to be on par with the better Indian restaurants. My partner is a big fan. He thinks the restaurant is very clean (which is important to him) and he really enjoys their food.
(4)Gregory M.
Enjoyed the meal, and the environment, even though we were at the table closest to the kitchen. It's also hard to find an Indian restaurant with a good wine menu, but this one has it. You deal with the usual South End parking ordeal (so have an extra 20 in your back pocket for valet), but you can make a night out of it and roll your stuffed belly over to one of the nearby bars (Beehive if you're looking for the most trendy place right now, though I don't get the hype unless you really have a thing for deer antlers).
(4)frank a.
Says open till 11 pm however service was declined at 10:30pm. Poor customer service to say the least. Why would you reject business like that? Food is average. Service sucks. 1 Star. Should have been -1 if yelp had option.
(1)manish m.
Pros- Good food. Cons- Considering how small the seating area is (feels overcrowded if people are sitting next to you) , its pricy.
(4)Kim F.
Twice I have gone with the intention of eating a little and bringing home leftovers and both times they take my almost full dishes and package less than half of it for me to take away. I feel ripped off. The first time I thought that maybe I misjudged what I had remaining. This time I took one small bite of my dish and didn't get hardly any of it in the take away. Why would they do that?
(1)Guillermo M.
Loved this place, excellent food and not too expensive. Had the chicken tikka masala and was amazing with basmati rice and naan. Also to close dinner I had the mango lassi, also excellent. Would love to come back!
(4)Holly S.
I'm no connoisseur but this is the best Indian food I have ever eaten. Excellent flavors and a nice variety of dishes on the buffet at lunch. Ambiance is clean and bright. It had a relaxed, laid back feel to it on a weekday. Decor is light, airy, and appropriate for the restaurant.
(5)David K.
I had higher expectations. It seemed that the chicken tikka masala was not marinated very long. No bad, but didn't have the flavor we were expecting. Don't think I'll return.
(1)Neal P.
If you are in search of authentic real indian food then this is not for you. This is an American modified indian restaurant. I ordered my favorite snacks for appetizers(samosa, chat papri) and I was sadly disappointed. Samosa stuffing looked/tasted artificial and was dry. The chat had very little chutney or spices and was more like a bowl of thick oversized pita chips. The butter chicken, my favorite dish which is usually hard to mess up, ended up just not meeting the industry standard. You might like this if you've never eaten indian food before but if you have chances are you'll say "this isn't close to as good as that other place"
(2)Pb P.
I ordered the coconut chicken curry. It was delicious, the rice was delicious, but it makes me mad that a portion is barely equivalent to ONE CHICKEN BREAST for $13.
(2)Anntheresa O.
Mela is a very good choice for Indian food in Boston.The decor is simple, but the service and staff are very good. I was relieved to have Indian food that had more vegetable , and real ingredients, not just sauce and gravy. I was also impressed with the menu variety. I was very happy to enjoy organic Indian menu choices that were delicious. The food was fresh, tasty, and I will go back soon. We ordered the Organic Spinach and Tofu, (very tasty with good spices ),and also the Vegetable Jalfrezi( sauce was very satisfying).
(5)Sandeep S.
Went for the lunch buffet today. Ample paid parking was available. First shocker was the size of the plates available! Come on guys, what's the strategy behind the small plates stacked for the buffet? One cannot fit more than 3 items on the plate. Pathetic. On to the food. Barring the saag paneer/palak paneer, which was flavor full and spiced alright, the quality of food was a disaster. First time in my life, I witnessed the total rape of the legendary tandoori chicken. How can you use turmeric in the sauteed onions that accompany the TC? TC was on the dry side and was as bland as the 'Gerber foods' my son used to hate as an infant! I did not dare try the 'aloo-bhindi'. What sort of combination is that? Never heard of the dish before and I salute the chef who tried to combine a starchy potato with a '' okra! Bad combo in my opinion. Butter chicken was very very average. Yellow dal (probably chana dal) was the second best dish on the buffet. Naan was hot and fresh and deserves respect. I did not try the kheer, but my wife did and she was happy with it. I guess, the quality/spice of the food works for the people who visit the restaurant because the place filled up fast. Good for the business, but I would certainly not be visiting the joint again.
(1)Corey L.
Stopped in on valentines day w my girlfriend, armed w a Livingsocial coupon. We had reservations, which was good at it was packed. First, initial service was slow as hell, but once he came to take our orders, he was around pretty frequently. I'll chalk it up to it being so busy. But after that, better service than you stereotypically get at Indian places. We shared a non-vegetarian combo, $50 for 2 soups, 2 meat samosas, 2 currie entrees, a plate of mixed tandoori meats, naan, rice, and 2 desserts. They had a similar $55 valentines deal with less food and options, which I think was overpriced. Smart guys. Overall, food was quite good and I think matched the higher than typical prices for Indian, especially considering that it's in a pricey chique area. Regarding the food: -lychee martini: excellent -mulligatawny soup: quite tasty -meat (lamb?) and veggie samosas: good, typical -mixed tandoori platter: lots of tasty tandoori meats -chicken saag: quite good, though asked for medium spicy and it was weak. But he brought extra out, which helped quite a bit. Not too oily or dry -shrimp curry w coconut: a few big shrimp in there, curry was quite tasty -kulfi ice cream: quite good, though pretty darn frozen -galub jamun: tasty and sweet as expected -naan: good combo of light, thick, and not greasy Overall quite good quality food worth the price. Yay good Indian!
(4)Mason Y.
Food was quite good and generously portioned, and the main reason this place has several stars. My biggest complaint is the service. When I went on a Sunday night there were very few customers (fewer than 5 tables) and three waiters. Throughout our entire dinner they were chatting and lounging at the bar watching TV. I had to beckon them to do things every step of the way, from ordering food to getting our check. 4 star meal and 1 star service
(2)D C.
I've been to Mela several times, both for the buffet and ordering off the menu. The buffet is a bit more limited in options than I've experienced elsewhere; for today's buffet, there were only three meat options, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and beef kofta. Other options were saag paneer, daal, a mixed veggie stew, garlic/potato soup and veggie pakora. The garlic/potato soup was my favorite thing. It'd be the perfect thing to eat if you were stuck home with a cold. The veggie pakora was pretty tasty as well. But everything else was just a little...off.. I've eaten a lot of Indian food, and it's usually pretty consistent from restaurant to restaurant, in every city I've visited. But Mela's spicing/seasoning is different.. Super-ginger-y daal.. Powerfully coriander-ed saag. And I love heavily-spiced food (hello, I'm at an Indian restaurant), but the flavors just aren't right. The tikka masala was watery and too vinegar-y. Even the chutneys, sauces, and raita were weird; the tamarind sauce was over-sweetened and the onion chutney was missing something. Nothing really satisfied, other than the soup, because the flavors were so off. For whatever reason, whenever I come to Mela, it's pretty much deserted, and the staff seem irritated to have to serve someone. At today's visit, the busser was good about clearing our plates, but it was one glass of water to drink, and we were never asked about ordering an additional drink. And the cook, behind the buffet set-up, as well as the manager (?) were scowling at us our entire meal. I felt intimidated to actually go back up to the buffet because they looked so annoyed. Not sure what was up with that. I hesitate to return to Mela since the food is mediocre and the service is so unwelcoming. Ordering off of the menu, versus the buffet, was better, but still not great. Maybe if I'm desperate, and in the area, I'll stop in.
(3)K C.
The food is great, but the service is TERRIBLE. I would never dine in here again. Our waiter seemed very clearly annoyed that I wasn't knowledgable about Indian food and after talking to us once, he basically ignored us the rest of the night. We had to flag him down whenever we wanted to order, get a drink, check, etc. It looks like management really tried to create a nice atmosphere...and you're surely paying for it...I'm not sure why they wouldn't choose a nice staff as well. Definitely good Indian food - but ORDER OUT!
(3)Liz K.
I'm an Indian food newb, but my partner isn't, and we both LOVED Mela. The place was packed on a Friday night but we were seated quickly having had made a reservation earlier in the week. The staff served our drinks and a out of this world vegetable soup sample. We ordered quite a lot, tandoori chicken, chicken binyani, poori, garlic naan, garlic beef, and meat samosa. It was all fantastic. The portions are generous, the food was hot, and we loved our dinner. My *only* complaint is the service can be a little bit slow. I only saw a few wait staff, so I'm going to chalk it up to a busy night at a popular restaurant. It's a great place, a little bit pricey, but in my opinion well worth the cash.
(4)Marcy Z.
Had $12.95 lunch buffet on Sat. Service was attentive. Presentation was good as dishes were on a bar and under a clear cover on lower counter. Chicken, goat and several hot dishes we could have eaten only a plate of any of them as a single entree choice and been quite complimentary. It was great to try it all!
(4)Irene Y.
A great spot to enjoy authentic cuisine with modern flair. The Chicken Tiki Marsala is some of the finest that I've ever had and you really can't go wrong with their garlic naan and mango lassi (yogurt drink). Their Dinner Special for 2 a great value (pair of the following appetizer, entree, dessert and drink) and they often run Groupon promotions where you can purchase $20 for $40 worth of food (for two) or $40 for $80 worth of food (min 4 people), so it's always a win-win. Additionally, the dinning experience is elegant and refined, without being pompus, and If you want to impress a colleague, date, or supervisor, you will definitely set the bar high. Enjoy!
(5)Olivia J.
Went with M and a friend from Penn for dinner. I've had better Indian food elsewhere. I got palak paneer and tried chicken tikka masala. The spinach in palak paneer tasted too sour. Chicken tikka masala was okay; I think it could have been more flavorful. The rice was too salty. Also, too pricey. The bill for each person came out to be $20 ish.
(2)Sanya B.
Well I am very picky about Indian food since I've had a lot of the good food. So, this place didn't impress me much since the taste was pretty average. The food was what you'd find at local wedding receptions in India. The music they were playing didn't suit my taste and the ambience could've been much better. But, on the brighter side, the lunch buffet was pretty reasonable and in some way the food gave me a sense of home- which probably was why I went there in the first place!
(2)Anabelle D.
Good food, decent place a good service. If you like indian food and you are in Boston this is the place.
(4)Sumeer S.
This is the worst experience I had in Boston, I can't say about other food but definitely felt like a fool ordering chicken noodle soup, very bad quality of food
(1)Maggie G.
Mela is simply awesome. The Sunday brunch is so good and plenty of options. Not expensive either!! Their dinner menu is awesome, too. We've had the vegetarian dinner for two, but it could easily feed 3 or even 4. We always take a good amount of food home, and leave full! The service is always great. Prompt and polite.
(5)Jon E.
Garlic naan, unlimited lunch buffet and ice tea for $9.99. It's a steal and the food is good.
(4)Ashish J.
Awesome food and great variety. I had the weekend lunch buffet The varitey of apperizers was really great. Got the plain naan which was really soft and freshly baked. The watermelong juice was exquisite as were the desserts (gulab jamun and kheer). The only problem is that it's not that easy/convenient to get to, one has to either walk down from copley or take the 43 from park st.
(5)Cagen L.
My wife and I wanted to grab some food before seeing a production at the BCA and Mela was convienent as well as several other great resturaunts. We love indian cuisine plus I found a groupon so that sealed the deal. When you first are seated they gave us a small espresso cup with a garlicky soup it was savoury and a very nice touch on a cold night. For an appetizer we got the vegitarian platter. All the peices were good but The pakora were especially tasty. Mela had more varieties of naan than I have ever seen. Chicken, lamb, pashwari, garlic and mary more. We decided to have the chicken; it was good but the meat just felt extraneous to me. (side note: I ate the left over naan as a meal unto itself the next day and it was perfect) For entrees I had the chicken tikka massala and the roast lamb kebab. The Chicken tikka massla was great! The flavor was really good but the chicken was so tender is literally melts in your mouth. The lamb was flavorful and tender, however my wife likes it well done and we asked for that but it was still quite pink inside. I would like to try some more spicy dishes but my wife is not into that so that was a no go. The only criticism of the place is that it it packed really tight, like elbow length from the next table. We requested (and got) a window seat (which was nice) but the next table was really close. Oh, and there was not onion chutney on the table or served with our food and that is not acceptable - that magical stuff is required of all indian restaurants.
(3)Conor S.
The food was great, but definitely keep in mind that their "hot" isn't setting any records. For most non-spicy eaters, medium is no problem at all ("has a kick"). Service was all right, but nothing astounding. Good thing the food was great. We also had a Groupon which made the whole meal an unbelievable deal.
(4)Kristina N.
BEST INDIAN FOOD IN BOSTON OR POSSIBLY THAT I'VE EVER HAD. The atmosphere is modern and it's a very clean establishment. Every time I go, I usually have a Groupon or Amazon Local deal and it's worth it! $20 for $40. I always go with one friend (we've been there at least 4-5 times) and we order the garlic naan, the shrimp curry entree, the chicken tikka masala. We alternate on another appetizer we try on each visit, we've had the meat sampler and the vegetable samosa. The staff are attentive and I love coming to this restaurant! I've told so many friends about how great this place is, and it's become their new favorite Indian spot!
(5)Maha H.
I am very picky with food, unfortunately I was not a big fan of Mela. Although they do make an effort with the food and the portions are a good size, I was put off by the overpowering smell of the spices and food before I even stepped into the restaurant. Let alone sitting there for about 2 hours and then after leaving, despite leaving the clothes hanging out, the smell was still there, everything had to go in the wash :( It is not my cup of tea, however, I guess I am not an Indian cuisine fan
(2)Katie Y.
We have been a quite a few times for birthdays and just dinners with friends. We love the bread and most of them are really good. We have tried the Garlic Naan, Chicken Naan, and Poori. They come onto the table fresh and hot. Also we love the decoration of the restaurant. It's both trendy and includes touches of Indian art(stone carvings in the walls). For dessert we have gotten Badami Kulfi which is very unique and we love it! Sometimes we stop for brunch and it is affordable for a tasting of what they serve for dinner. It's like a self-serve for brunch(because it's a brunch buffet) but for dinner it's more formal and waiters bring the food to you. The soups are a must try since they are amazing! The spices and ingredients go very well together that the soup is exotic. We tried this dish with talapia and it was very good. One thing to note is that during dinner it's quite loud since the restaurant is kind of small and is usually packed with conversational people(that's what dinners are for!) with Indian music playing in the background. This is the only Indian restaurant that we have really went to since it's close to our house so keep in mind we haven't tried other Indian restaurants.
(4)Nicole B.
Best Indian food I've had in Boston! The chicken vindaloo is amazing, and the naan too (garlic or plain). The dishes come with the option of mild, medium or hot spice level. I usually like medium, but I ordered it once and it was SO HOT it was unpalatable. I think this might have been a fluke, but I haven't been brave enough to try it again, so I've stuck to mild and haven't been disappointed. The place is kind of small, but has a lot of charm and ambiance. If you book through the Savored app you can usually get 40% off your bill, too!
(5)Lillie A.
I usually just order the Chicken Tikka Marsala with rice and Garlic Nann - that meal I s very flavorful - haven't tried anything else from the menu as yet
(3)Raajamaathangi K.
Me and my friend went for the lunch buffet. Chicken tikka masala was good. Other than the appetizer (veg pakora), all the entrees for vegetarian options were really bland and was missing something. There was gobi subzi, palak paneer and aloo coconut gravy which were all missing key spices. Overall not worth a second visit
(3)Melanie M.
It's hard to find a good Indian restaurant in Boston. When my group first walked in, we asked for a table of four. That request seemed to confuse the host, and we had to clarify that we came to eat and would like to sit down. Wow. Other than that, the service was okay. The food was fresh and it's definetely one of the better Indian restaurants Boston has to offer. I'm not saying Mela is really good, they just seem a little bit better than the rest.
(3)Pumpkin P.
Excellent Indian food in a nice atmosphere. A little cold with the overblown AC, but the food is so good we didn't mind having to wear our jackets. The service is not great, but again - the food was so delish that the slow service is negligible. I do wish they actually offered the organic menu listed on their site and even printed as part of their physical menu. For months now they've been saying that they're "working on it". I'm not sure what there is to work on (find a distributor!) and it is a bit of false advertising, but at least they are honest about it and not serving conventional food in place of the exorbitantly priced organic menu.
(4)Brian L.
I'm not an Indian food expert, but Mela was one of the best Indian experiences I've had. We ordered butter chicken, palak paneer, lamb vindaloo and one of the other curries... Brags (+): They got the spiciness levels right!! We were four spicy food lovers, and there's not much more disappointing when you ask for a 4/5 and can barely register anything on the spice-ometer. So some of the spicier dishes we ordered had me sweating a little bit. Pain is pleasure when it comes to spicy!! In addition, the meats were tender, the sauces creamy and delicious. Especially the butter chicken, mmmm. Service was great, nice and helpful waitstaff! Beats (-): Hmm not much wrong, maybe the only thing was that I thought the tables were a bit small, considering you usually get a lot of plates at Indian restaurants (the entrees, naan, rice, personal plates). Variance (~): Funky decor, we were talking about the wavy copper plating on the walls for a while.
(5)Shona S.
Loved this place! Nice ambiance. Clean bathrooms. Took a large group of 16 ppl here 4 grad dinner. They were very accommodating. Allowed us to take the cake to them the day before and were able to take us a hour before the reservation time. Food came out quickly and it was alot if food one dish could easily serve 3 ppl with nan and rice. So it was a very cost effective option. I have had my share of Indian food and this place was decent. Definitely deserving of the zaggat rating. Note: be very aware of how much you order. everything looks soo tastey (im sure its all delish) best bet is to order one of everything u want and share Family style. Lambshank curry, tandoori chicken. Tika masala chicken were all a hit.
(4)G G.
great place ,friendly staff we were served by sonu or soni , very attentive and courteous food was great and flavorful , the hot stone salmon was super good we were traveling from new york and were late , but the staff was welcoming even though we were there at last min , that was nice of them recommended !!
(5)Adam P.
This place has the best coconut chicken curry and butter chicken I have ever had!
(5)Susan L.
I came here on a Monday night for dinner with four friends. When I first walked in, I noticed there was a thin cloud of food smoke that permeated throughout the entire restaurant. By the end of our meal my entire outfit wreaked of indian food for the next two days. Even spraying my parka with febreze didn't get rid of the smell so every time I put on that jacket the next day I had a weird craving for indian food. I would say the food was overrated and just okay, but the portions were decent. Food ordered amongst five: - Chicken Tikka Masala - Sauce was flavorful and creamy, but the chicken was diced a little too big so it wasn't as tender as I would have liked. - Lamb Biryani - Good, nothing special. - Tandoori Combination - An assortment of tandoori meats that included chicken, lamb, and other meats that I don't really remember anymore. (Obviously not memorable.) Everything was SO DRY. Comes with sauce that tasted like tikka masala, but the meat was so dry that it was practically inedible without the sauce. - Paneer Palek - I love spinach and paneer so I was really excited for this dish, but I was disappointed when I tried it. I felt like it was missing some spices that would have made it a bit more flavorful. - Okra dish (forget the indian name) - Good if you like okra! - Garlic Naan and Onion Naan - You really can't go wrong with naan! I would recommend the garlic over the onion if you're deciding between the two. I'm a garlic fiend, so the more garlic the better! Pros: Service was great. Nice ambiance. Decent sized portions. Cons: Food was just okay and overpriced. FOOD SMOKE that made everything including my bag smell of indian food.
(2)Marie W.
Went here for dinner last night and the food was delicious! Decor is also very nice. The food was way better than the other Indian places in Boston that I have tried. The only downside is that we waited about 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. We ordered: -Vegetarian appetizer platter: came out a few different things, all of which were yummy! -Malai Kofta--loved the creamy tomato sauce! Not as creamy as some other places but the flavors were intense and tasted great with nan and rice. -Aloo Choley--potatoes and chickpeas. So tasty. -Sabji Jalfrazi--mixed vegetables. Also very good. -Nan--soft, chewy, warm. The portions were large so that there was at least enough leftover for another meal at home. Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes!
(5)Austin J. A.
Mela was one of the first restaurants we ever went to when we moved out to Boston. It's in a nice location, a close walk to Copley Square. We were intrigued enough to try their version of hot-stone cooking because we tend to like that sort of DIY restaurant experience. The hot-stone cooking surface was a big, lovely slab of rock. I thought that for the price (over $20 for four little pieces), the tiny portion was a little unfortunate, but for a novelty experience, it was cool. It wasn't a problem, because not only are the dipping sauces delicious, but we ordered another dish (chicken tikka masala) and some garlic naan to accompany the hot stone lamb. The chicken tikka masala was very good. Their decor is so nice, it's a lovely place to have a date, and the service is good.
(4)Pete B.
The food was fantastic and the service was good too. We had the lunch buffet special and got to try everything from soup and chicken to beef and fried vegetables. They gave us free naan bread with our meal which was a great bonus. Located in a beautiful and quaint part of Boston. Didn't eat very much but left feeling well fed. Great deal!
(5)Sarah G.
The last big meal we had was at an Indian restaurant called Mela. Indian is another fave of mine, so I had my fingers crossed that it would be worth our 20 dollars for 40 dollars worth of food Groupon. It totally was. Although the place was a bit pricey, the food more than made up for it. We got the appetizer platter, which pretty much consisted of a small sampling of each appetizer. Our main dish was Lamb curry, which was off the charts in terms of taste. Spicy but oh so good! The way that Indian definitely should be. We also ordered an Indian bread, not na'an, but a bread that had potatoes in it..we thought we would try something different. It was really good, and it added a little bit of a heavier dimension to the curry. Since this is me, and I'm the ultimate dessert fiend (I think it's the best meal of the day by far) we ordered exotic Indian ice cream. It wasn't like my preconceived notion of ice cream, less creamy. And it wasn't as sweet either, it had saffron in it, and nuts on top. I don't know if I would order it again, but I like to try new things :)
(3)Myrtle T.
Came here for the weekend brunch special. The spices are pretty great, however my biggest complaint was the saltiness of the curries and sauces, especially the saag, and the relative sogginess of the naan. While the flavors were all there and the meats were cooked fine, I felt pretty bad for the rest of the day after eating this food. And I am a pretty big Indian food fan, so this was fairly odd. Also the need to remind the waitstaff literally 4 times to bring my water wasn't great considering the saltiness of the food.
(3)Pratik P.
I am shocked they even call it Indian food. Had gone for the lunch buffet today & the chicken pakora were cold, Pav Bhaji needed identification as it looked nothing like Pav bhaji, all curries were bland. The one star is only for the gulab jamun.
(1)Matt C.
4 stars for the lunch buffet. I have never been for any other occasion but I don't even feel the need to. The lunch buffet is such a good deal. Give it a try and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Take a look on GROUPON NOW and you should be able to snag it for about $7. There have everything you could want across the board on the Indian cuisine and the quality is top notch.
(4)Weleys S.
I asked the waiter what's a spicy chicken dish he would recommend, he replies...I can make any dish mild, medium, hot, and spicy. Not a response you want to hear when you know they are just going to proportionally add red ground pepper based on your request. Chicken was terrible quality, samosa and cutless sucked, and the lamb chops were really good, veg dishes ok. 1/11 plates that we ordered was really good. Only reason the lamb chops were good was because the were cooked medium. First time I'd been to an Indian restaurant where they cooked a medium well meat dish. That last straw, as good as it was and cartilagious the lamb chop, it was the straw to break the gringo Indian food barrier, this is as gringo as it gets. Goal for EVERY Indian restaurant is to make juicy/tender meat in tandoor that is well done, I understand not an easy task but with this place, not at all happy.
(2)Jill B.
Amazing. The ambiance is great and food is always amazing. Small place, so call ahead for reservations. And there are almost always ww.restaurant.com deals so while Mela is a bit expensive, you can get a good deal. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Vijaya P.
Food was average. Ambience was bad, it was very hot in there and nothing was done even after telling them, they didn't do anything to fix it. I am definitely not going there again.
(2)Steven E.
Forgetting for a moment that the last time I was in the restaurant I saw a mouse - my most recent experience involved Mela taking an hour and a half to deliver me cold food and forget my naan. I then was treated to an ADDITIONAL hour wait for them to deliver the missing naan. Wow. Just wow. Pull it together.
(1)Sakura V.
This is my second visit to Mela. My first time there I remembered the food being nice and spicy, but this time around it wasn't as spicy as I would like even though I requested it to be. Other than that I still had a nice dinner. We ordered a Mango Lassi, Pistachio Shake, Beef Vindaloo, and Atlantic Hot Stone (?) with a side of garlic naan. The Pistachio Shake turned out to be a great choice. It was the perfect sweetness and consistency. As mentioned earlier the vindaloo would have also been excellent if made a bit spicier, but thats my own preference. The garlic naan was pretty good as well. The Atlantic Hot Stone consisted of raw marinated scallop and salmon they were pretty much self served to be cooked on a very hot stone. It wasn't bad, but it was not amazing either, so I don't think it was worth the $24 price. It was an interesting concept similar to Korean BBQ and Japanese Shabu. On another note they had a really interesting drink menu with many choices. I would go back just to try each of the drinks and definitely order more of the pistachio!
(4)Ian M.
Great food. Fast service. Perfect(!) atmosphere. Good prices. Doesn't get much better. We wondered in around 9pm on Saturday without a reservation and we were seated right away. I got the Mela goat. My husband got the chicken vandiloo. Best part though may have been the Aloo Naan. And we each got an Indian beer (only 2 to choose from). Make sure to order spicy. It won't kick you that hard, and definitely adds to the flavor.
(5)Erica K.
The food is amazing! They have a large variety of vegetarian options and the portion sizes are massive! Prices are really good too. Customer service was really friendly and the food preparation was fast. The establishment is clean, cozy yet roomy, and the decor is nice. I would definitely eat there again.
(5)Collin N.
Definately recommended. Great Palak Paneer. Whenever I get their lunch buffet, I'm too stuffed to bother with dinner.
(4)Audrey P.
The food here is authentic and tasty. The service is friendly, but sometimes a bit slow depending on how busy it is. You get great value for the portions. Just watch the level of spice. On any given day, the medium can be served hotter than desired. We went with mild and it was perfect. We even spotted a celebrity chef dining here inconspicuously, so if it's good enough for him, it's even better for us! The decor and ambiance are noteworthy. Just get there before the rush if you can! Take out works when it is too crowded.
(4)Greg C.
Good quick lunch buffet. Service was a bit slow but it was crowded @ lunch.
(4)keith l.
Food the other night wasn't very good, two and a half stars maybe. But the service and customer service were great. Our vegetarian appetizer sampler was incredibly salty, and we just didn't like the pakoras (which was just our preference, not crazy seasoning). The waiter noticed we left almost all of the pakoras on the plate, and at the end of the meal they actually comped us the app. Totally unexpected - we hadn't even mentioned the salty aspect to the aloo tikki and samosa since we're stupid wimps. We were very touched, and impressed. He also gave us some extra rice for our packed up leftovers. I've had the lunch buffet here a few times and was happy, so I was surprised the dinner food wasn't so great. My fiancee said the Daal Makhani was at best on par with the foil pouch version from Trader Joe's. She likes the TJ's version, but...it comes in a pouch. For $3. Not $12 or $13. The chicken tikka masala was dry, and while flavorful, wasn't very memorable. I think I'd be willing to go back, mainly to see if the food can live up to the customer service. I'm also a really big fan of other restaurants of theirs I've tried (Kashmir and Bukhara), so I'm hoping the other night was an aberration....
(3)Yifan L.
I've been here twice, and overall really enjoy Mela. Though it's a small space, the atmosphere is really nice, with Indian reliefs on the wall, a giant Buddha face, and beautiful lanterns. It's romantic enough for a nice date, but lots of people seem to go to catch up with friends. The dishes are a bit pricier than I usually pay for Indian food, but are very well presented and quite tasty. I found the saag to be a bit too salty, but otherwise have enjoyed everything I've had there (the spicy stuff is actually spicy too!). I recommend getting the vegetarian meal for two...such a good deal! You get naan, soup, samosas, 2 dishes, rice, and condiments for $35. Mela also always seem to have a little sampler-of-the-day that they will serve you while you wait for your food to arrive. I guess the main reasons for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is that most things are a bit pricier than they should be, and that the saag's flavor was overwhelmed by its saltiness. Also, the last time I went, I sat at a cramped table and must have gotten my chair kicked about ten times by people and staff walking by. However, our waiter was really friendly and managed to maneuver around our table without kicking it at all, so big props to him :)
(4)Ali S.
Delivery FAIL. I ordered from Mela at 8:11. At 10:00 I became impatient, but they assured me they "would be there any minute." I had plans at 11:00. At 10:45 I wanted to cancel the order, but they said it was "already made." At 11:15 they canceled on me- actually I believed they asked me if I "wanted my food that day."
(1)Bindiya T.
Definitely one of the Boston's best North Indian food. I have had better Indian food in US but only in New Jersey. This restaurant is as good as it gets in Boston. It's a bit pricey but the food is totally worth it. I would any day do Mela a-la-carte, than a cheap Indian buffet. I have never tried their buffet though, so I am not sure how good it is. But judging from their food quality and taste I am sure it's good. It's highly recommended from someone who has had Indian food all her life!
(5)Steve S.
I really liked this place...Havent had really good Indian in a long time in this town. First, Mela is in the South End on Tremont Street. Liked the interior, which is authentic in an upscale ethnic type of way... nice drapes with Indian(I am assuming) carvings on the back wall. Kitchen is in close proximity to the dining area First, Mela has an impressive menu of Indian food as well as the staples of Chaat, Vindaloo and Tikka. I rated Indian restaurants by how well they serve Chicken Tikka. I have eaten it in a number of different places and it is never the same...usually, its overcooked. Curious, because, it is just grilled chicken and spices. Melas interpretation was excellent Vindaloo is a challenge around here as well. Either the portions are too small, too spicy or bland...Mela again was excellent..right portion with just enough spice Indian food is not standardized like Chinese, so you really never know from place to place....Mela, however, is certainly worth a look Almost five stars
(4)Jennifer M.
I ordered take-out from Mela one night and got my favorite: chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Both were exceptional and I will order from them again. They also didn't take too long to deliver to Back Bay, so that's always a plus in my book.
(5)Heather D.
Excellent Indian restaurant in the South End. First off, this place is absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant is draped in rose-colored organza drapes and cream light fixtures which bathe your fellow guests in a pearly glow that only makes them look more attractive. The crisp white tables and modern furniture add to the ambiance. The food was top-notch. The waiter started by bringing us a complimentary amous-bouche, a Dal type soup in an espresso cup. It was a nice touch. We ordered the garlic naan, the Coconut Chicken Curry and the Butter Chicken Curry, both spicy. The Butter Chicken Curry was definitely a stand-out, with a rich tomato-y sauce that was perfect for dipping with delicious naan. Mela has an intriguing cocktail list, and I couldn't help but try the tamarind margarita. It was the priciest drink at $11, but it almost knocked me on my ass, and was worth it. My boyfriend enjoyed his mango lassi as well. For me, this place is in the higher part of the two-dollar-sign range, so more for a special night out. I think it would be great for someone's birthday. One of the standouts on Tremont Street.
(4)Erika M.
The only reason this is getting 3 stars instead of 2 is because we met an awesome couple there (Aaron and Stephanie!) sitting next to us.... The decor was great, but I don't eat decor...unless it's edible, of course. The service was great...the prices were reasonable...however, the "runs" weren't. Sorry folks. Both my husband and I suffered from major IBS FIF(from Indian food) on Valentine's day night. Dan actually threw up. The romance was boiling over that night! And by romance I mean shit. If it means anything, the food as delicious on the way in. I will likely try this place again because I love to torture myself...and I love Indian food.
(3)Bella D.
Although I'm American, I went here two days ago with my husband and his cousin, both of whom are from India. This is NOT the most authentic Indian food out there. The chicken tikka appetizer was basically grilled chicken pieces you dipped in some cilantro sauce rather than the chicken being marinated and cooked the way it should. The three of us also ordered the lamb biryani. ALL THREE OF US were extremely disappointed. This is not good biryani, nor is it really authentic. We each asked for the spice level to be just a little under 'hot', which was more like a very, very mild with no kick at all (so the spice has been tailored more for American taste). There were no green chiles in the biryani, no hard boiled eggs, and they added mushrooms, raisins, and carrots, which ruined the entire dish. The lamb was extremely dry, and both my husband and I agreed they used goat meat rather than lamb. Whatever it was, it was like chewing shoe leather and did not have that distinct lamb taste. In fact, the entire dish was pretty dry and bland, a far cry from traditional biryani. The biryani cost us $16.00. This place was filled with American diners, so that should be your first hint this place is just a farce. Mela is more of a hot spot for young Americans on dates rather than for someone who wants to experience a home-cooked Indian meal. If you are looking for TRUE INDIAN food, this is NOT the place. For the record, the service was not the greatest, nor the friendliest.
(1)Alicia B.
When my BF and I ate here on Friday the 13th, it was my birthday. But, Mela didn't know this. They treated me like any other patron... and good thing, too, for if this is how they treat a "normal" customer, then I can vouch for them, saying they provide top-notch service. No, I'm not the type to flaunt my birthday around. I think it's more special when the occasion is shared between a select few. I'm sure, though, they wouldn't have pulled a TGIF and gathered around the table to clap their hands and sing out of key. Even though we had reservations, there was no wait. We were shown immediately to a table. We did ask to sit at another table, not wanting to crowd the couple at the window. Mela obliged, thankfully. The table needed to be cleaned, but we didn't mind. It actually, IMHO, added a bit of upscale service to the experience - having your table set right in front of you. I admit, I felt kinda special. Then, we were immediately served a fruit "salad." Rather, it's small pieces of fruit in a yogurt glaze. I noticed I got 3 pieces of pineapple; my BF had more variety. Interesting. Later on, I noticed the same thing happened to a new couple beside us. I looked over and wondered if she cared that she was given 3 pieces of pineapple. Obviously, it came from a can. You can't disguise the syrup-y taste. But, that was just a random observation of the night - not a knock against Mela. We ordered two of the Ramsay Pinot Noirs. Excellent and easy to drink. They're $10 a glass; so keep that in mind! The app we ordered was SUPERB. Whatever fig-ish sauce it comes with is amazing. I so recommend you try their veggie samosa. Amazing! For my entree, I went with the Lamb Saag, medium spice. My BF ordered their Duck Jalfrazi. Say that five times fast. We also, of course, indulged in an order of their naan, which is $3 extra and comes with one piece, freshly made. If you love naan, be careful. You could easily rack up the money just indulging in this treat. We didn't wait long for our entrees to come. Love the dishes they're served in! Speaking of ambiance, this place has it. Love some of their decor choices. While it can, I imagine, feel cramped on a busier night/time, it's worth checking out. The vibe is very relaxed and casual, with a touch of pure class. Back to the food... Lamb Saag = really great! It was chunks of lamb meat in a spinach-type sauce. At first bite, I thought the spice level may out-do me, but given a few bites, I was adapting. I admit, though, I needed to eat more rice than I wanted, to neutralize the spice party in my mouth. I ended up picking the lamb out to eat that first. Then, I used the naan with the spinach sauce. Addicting! (I'm craving it now as I type this. YUM!) My BF really liked his dish, though he could tell it was made with heavy cream. So, what may appear to be healthy could hide some hidden bulk calories. Good to know. Then again, isn't it worth it? I tried his dish and liked it, but I definitely prefer the Lamb Saag. So, in summary: + Order the Veggie Samosa + Be mindful of your personal spice level. Medium is HOT to some. + If you use a restaurant.com gift certificate here, be mindful that you MUST spend $50 ON FOOD before you can use it. Drinks don't count. +Not a place for groups, though we did count a party of 6 dining at the same time of us. We were able to use the GC, thankfully. It's very cool that hot places in The South End let you use these popular gift certs. Sure, they are stipulations on what you order and what days you can go, but, hey, you can save like $25 off your bill. So, with the GC and 18% gratuity factored in (another stipulation of the GC), our tab was a little over $50. Not bad for all we had - 2 drinks, an app, 2 huge entrees and an order of naan. I'm delighted this this place is close to where we live. If visiting friends are craving Indian cuisine, I know exactly where to take them. Or, we could always call in the order for take-out!
(4)Meghan M.
I don't often seek out Indian food but visited Mela for their brunch/lunch buffet at my dad's request. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, and buffet style at that! We arrived somewhat close to closing time and the food was still plentiful and fresh. I liked everything I tried and the ambiance was quite nice as well. I did feel like the service was lacking though (even though it was help-yourself)...Our drinks, which we asked for 3 times, didn't come until we were almost done with our meal. I doubt it's that bad during dinnertime but I can only comment on my experience. I left very full and happy so I really can't complain much. I'm definitely going to give Mela another shot but probably not until another Indian-food-loving friend/relative motivates me to.
(4)Diana B.
Loved the decor! Good food and service =) Had the Chicken Tikka Masala and Nann. My friend had the Coconut Chicken Curry. We both thought the food was De-Lishh
(4)Anas Q.
Mela was a nice chance encounter, so to speak. The food was superb, it can't get any better than that. Really well done. Service was attentive and the food came fast. Really good place for a meal if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
(5)moises j.
What a great place. Garlic Naan, butter chicken, and the fried potato appz were awesome! The price and ambiance are good for the price, I could see why there were so many takeout orders while waiting for my seat. I love Indian food and I can honestly say this was the best Indian food I've had in Boston. I haven't tried all of the Indian food places here, but it's sure one to get my vote.
(5)Erdan L.
My indian friend told me there is really no good Indian food in Boston. Looks like it is true. By the way, it is way too warm inside the restaurant.
(3)Jillian Y.
What luck! I stumbled across Mela post-SOWA on a Sunday afternoon. The food, as I expected, was amazing. We had the shrimp do-piaza and the coconut curry shrimp and both were incredible, perfectly spicy with large, succulent (and plentiful!) shrimp. The aloo naan was perhaps the best I've ever had, and the service was prompt. The negative (thus, the missing star?) 1) The chairs at this place are the most UNCOMFORTABLE I could possibly imagine. I'm 5'6" with an average torso, and they cut right into my mid-back. After an hour of sitting here, my back was in pain! I don't get it, honestly. 2) Despite the restaurant being empty, and it being post-brunch, they seated us next to the ONLY other party in the restaurant, a party which (not the restaurant's fault) stayed for our ENTIRE MEAL. We couldn't even have a conversation. Seriously, have some consideration and forethought and seat us elsewhere. But seriously, it obviously didn't affect my thoughts on the meal...
(4)Matthew H.
After having been to several other restaurants with the same owners as Mela (Kashmir, Diva, Bukhara), I had high hopes for this place. The good: the atmosphere is very nice and the service was quite attentive and friendly. They also bring you a cup of delicious curried soup before your meal arrives. The naan was also very tasty. The bad: my chicken tikka masala just didn't taste like tikki masala. While the ingredients seemed high quality, the sauce tasted sour and really didn't meet my expectations. My date ordered chicken saag and it was pretty unremarkable as well. Perhaps we just didn't order the right dishes, but overall the food left something to be desired.
(3)Marilyn T.
I was a little skeptical at first, wondering how authentic a pristine and modern Indian place on Tremont could be, but I was happily surprised during the weekend brunch. It is a bit pricier than the Somerville places I regularly go to (Kebab Factory, Namaskar, Diva), but the ambiance is definitely more unique. The serving ware is very modern looking, and the inside is mostly white, with accents of bright textures decorating the walls. It's a small space with a small buffet spread, but there are a good number of items. The salad selection was very fresh and featured a lot of fruit, which was nice. they also had sambar soup, which not every buffet has. The warm dishes were the standards like saag paneer, chicken tikka masala, etc, but they all had a lot of flavor and spice. Most importantly, I didn't get the post-MSG stupor that I usually get. Water is refilled quickly, and dishes are cleared as soon as you're done. It was a nice change, and I liked that it's so accessible.
(4)Ben K.
I went for a casual dinner with a friend the other night and was delighted and wow'd by this place. Unlike many other Indian places, there was a stylish and calming ambiance that felt inviting and warm. The service was prompt and friendly- beginning with a complementary Mulligatawny Soup (lentil-based soup) instead of the typical papadam basket. We ordered veggie samosas (crispy and flavorful), the rogan josh (YUM!), and my new favorite the Malai kofta. It was more than enough for two hungry diners. While the prices were a few dollars more per entree than other places, the ambiance, flavors, service, and quality of the food made it very much a worthwhile dining venture.
(5)Mark W.
Excellent Indian Cuisine. I travel to India often and this is pretty authentic. Great service, nice ambiance. I recommend.
(4)Christine J.
I live right down the street from Mela so I am a frequent customer. Being Indian myself I have had a hard time finding a good Indian restaurant in Boston that meets my needs, but Mela goes above and beyond. Let me start off by saying, if you want the gritty, home-cooked Indian food this is NOT your place. Mela is more of a refined Indian restaurant where they take things and put slight spins on them. Everything seems to taste a little lighter and fresher. I highly recommend going in for brunch on the weekends. It's only $12 and buffet style. They serve all sorts of appetizers, entrees and desserts! The menu changes from day to day, but when I've gone they've had masala dosas and a pani puree station. They typically always have chicken tikka masala and another meat dish. Then for dessert they always have mango lassi, gulab jaman, and a rice pudding type of dish. Apparently now they have an organic menu, which I can't wait to try!
(5)Meredith K.
I went here for dinner with a friend and was overall very impressed. Everything was delicious! As soon as we sat down (before we even ordered!), they brought us cups of cauliflower soup. I had chicken saag, garlic naan, and a mango lassi. I can't say enough good things about the naan and the lassi. Both were fantastic. I really enjoyed the chicken saag and rice too. Our waiters were very polite as well. I have two complaints (hence, the 4 stars). First, I thought the restaurant was a little too loud - my friend and I had to strain to hear each other and make ourselves heard. Second, while service was quite prompt at the beginning, they took a long time to bring our check. In general though, I really enjoyed the food here and would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Kathe T.
I really wanted to like Mela, but given the prices (yes, it's the South End) I was expecting a bit more. I had first tried their food at the Boston Local Food Fest in the fall and was pleased with it given the concessionary/catered style of the event as a whole. When I saw a deal come up on Rue La La, I thought I hit the jackpot and was excited to experience Mela in its own environment. Sadly, I remember liking them better at the food fest. I ordered the mulligatawny soup, which lacked the lentils and vegetables (all of them)- the broth was tasty. We had also ordered samosas (veg for me and meat for the man); the server was kind enough to offer just doing one of each rather than getting two orders - awesome!!! Except that when they were brought out - 2 meat, 0 veg - about five minutes later, he did bring over a veg samosa & apologize (without us saying anything). For my entree, I ordered the Vegetable Biryani, it was ok, spicy (my fault), but ok... I never did eat the leftovers.
(2)Stephanie L.
Delicious! We had the garlic naan, eggplant (Bhurtha) and the mela non-vegetarian platter which included meat samosas, chicken pakora, lamb / chicken / beef chunks with tamarind and mint sauces. Everything was very delicious--especially the lamb and eggplant. I liked how the Bhurtha wasn't too oily or anything. The naan and the beef chunks was a little burnt for overall great meal. Service was great--also refilled the water. I would definitely come back to Boston just to eat this meal again--delicious!
(5)D H.
I've been here a few times now for dinner. All around very good Indian food. Better than other places closer to where I live, like Haveli.
(5)Fiddos J.
As used as I am to the disappointing fare the passes for Indian food in the US, Mela manages to underperform even by those very generously low standards. Firstly - the good points - the service is good and friendly. And the $45 dinner for 2 is good - atleast conceptually - if not in execution. Now the problems. The chicken tikkas or tandoori or whatever that was supposed to be - was awful. the chicken was dry and tasteless. The only "tandoori" aspect of it was the listless desultory tinge of red. The taste of boiled chicken. And while there's nothing wrong with boiled chicken - Indian food is very definitely NOT about boiled chicken. We need flavor in our food. The goan prawn (shrimp) curry was ridiculously hot - but entirely flavorless. And I am not someone who subscribes to that cliched canard that you can't taste any flavors in spicy food - that's just not true. It means that you're eating "spicy food" as defined by Mela - which means "we put insane amounts of chilly powder in our food while going easy on everything else". The ras-malai was dry and at least a few months wrought - and the kulfi was frozen hard, glassy and also a touch stale - not the fresh creamy rich soft delicately fragrant treat from the Mughal table. I really wish sponsor an H1-B visa for a good chef from India and open a decent restaurant. I'm seriously tired of this second rate Brick Lane "chicken tikka masala" crap. The British first pillaged India and then destroyed our food (for those of us living abroad), as a final act of malice.
(2)Bassel A.
Went there without a reservation and were told there was a 30 minute wait which was fine. We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before the bar tender finally showed up to take our order. We ordered a bottle of champagne and he couldnt find any champagne glasses (they were right behind him) and he went off to the kitchen and grabbed two wine glasses. He then proceeded to grab the bar rag and wipe down the drinking part of the glass with the dirty rag. I couldn't believe it. I told him I was all set with the champagne and waited for the table. The service was good at the table and the food was decent. Nothing special and I've had better Indian food, but it wasn't bad. If it wasnt for the champagne experiance I would go back. Note - the dinner for 2 for $45 is a pretty good deal. You'll have lots of leftovers for an Indian lunch the next day.
(3)Miao L.
I have to say I'm very disappointed after my dining experience here. Food wise, we ordered the non-veggie platter as appertizer, lamb vindaloo, chickken tandoori and nann, and they are nothing special to me, which is ok. However, their service really sucks. While I was waiting for my friend, the server refused to let me sit down at a table, while there are 80% tables unoccupied. Then after we sat down and the server repeated our order, he actually points to each of me and my friend when repeating each of our orders! That just threw me off~ When he brought over our orders, he wouldn't rearrange the plates to make room for the new dish, rather I and my friend had to do that for him. For me, when dining out, service is important. I'm asking too much for an Indian restaurant with price at the lower side, but at least no finger pointing, please~
(2)Jennifer J.
Got delivery on 11/4/2011. The person who took our order was very nice. The food was excellent. Vegetable somosas were great. Palek Paneer was good. Butter chicken was great. Garlic naan was great. Has coupons you can use. Delivery only took 30 minutes. Will definitely order from here again.
(4)Loan L.
I was very impressed with this place. I was with a party of 4 on a Sat night and we were hoping to have dinner at Masa. I had some family in from Cali and wanted to show them a nice tapas dinner, but since I failed to make reservations, we didn't get to eat at Masa. We walked around and stumbled upon this gem. The place is quite small and as we were leaving, a customer told us that the food is very good and that they give you a lot of food. When we were seated, the server gave us some sort of fried cauliflower and it was delicious. All four of us ordered the 2 person combo dinner which includes some soup, kebab-like appetizer, our entree and desert. We all ordered different entrees so that we can taste them all. My favorites were the lamb with mushroom and the butter chicken. Both entrees, the meat was so tender and very flavorful. I had a mango mimosa which was a great palette cleanser ans also very good. The desserts which we all picked different ones were equally as good. My fav was some sort of sweet dough, the rice pudding, and the ice cream. And then we all had chai tea, which was also included with the combo meal. The food was fantastic and our server was very nice an attentive. Besides the food and service being great, the atmosphere was very cozy. I recommend anyone going there on a Sat night to make reservations. We were lucky to get a table because someone had canceled. There was a line after we had sat down.
(5)Thuy L.
Cozy and intimate are the two words I would use to describe Mela. I've passed by this restaurant so many times and meant to stop in, so one night, my friends and I did. I came in without reservations on a random tuesday night. I was the first to arrive and was seated immediately at a pretty cozy table by the window and about a foot away from each surrounding table. I could hear the conversations from 3 tables away. Service was okay. Food was okay. It actually felt like this restaurant was trying to be something that it is not, a high class restaurant. When you enter the doorway and have no wear to wait except for the three pillow-topped chairs right in front of the door, you cannot be a classy restaurant. It cannot be in the same ranks as Kashmir. I still like Tantric's food, service, and ambiance better. I ordered the Paneer Tikka Masala while others at the table ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Vindaloo. Everyone said they liked their meal, but on the way home, my stomach was definitely having a different opinion.
(2)Ridhima S.
Picked up butter chicken, aloo chole, and garlic naans from Mela today. The butter chicken was okay, I've definitely had much better. There was one spice that was overdone in the aloo chole- I can't put my finger on it, but the dish overall tasted strange. The naan was okay, although some of the parts were burnt. And the papad had uncooked pieces- yuck. Based on this experience, Mela is definitely over-hyped. We were expecting much better food, especially for the price.
(2)Lea C.
Let's run through the "White Girl Gets Indian Food" checklist: papri chaat? Check. Chicken? Check. Garlic naan? Check. Samosa? Check. Pakoras? Check. Mela is owned by a company which has a ton of differently-marketed Indian restaurants all over the city, but I have only been to Mela so far. I am a fan. It's got a very sexy, modern vibe. The chandeliers are beautiful, the light is dim, the presentation is on clean, modern white plates, and and there's a hammered-copper bar. So I'd definitely put this into the "night out" Indian category. Two of my good Indian girlfriends and I did exactly that as we kicked off a night of debauchery at Mela one Saturday. The bad news is that it's not accessible by the T, which is the same for most of the worthwhile things in the South End, so I always end up driving to restaurant row on Tremont. If it's later or earlier on a weeknight, street parking won't necessarily be a problem. But on a Saturday night, forget it. There is of course valet...but the valet is $14, so bring cash and be annoyed that valet costs $14. Mela gives you a shot-sized cup of soup as an amuse (was it Mulligatawny?) that is insanely delicious. They had a very creative cocktail menu, which is something I have never before seen in an Indian joint. We ordered the vegetarian appetizer platter, all of which was standard fare and good. I ordered the papri chaat, which had lots of tomatoes and was very light. I followed this with chicken vindaloo which was very tasty and tangy. One of my gfs had a vegetarian curry dish which was so spicy I couldn't try it (but she loved it), and the other got lamb shank curry, which she didn't like because she said the lamb was very gristly. The garlic naan was fantastic and generously portioned. As with every time I have Indian food, I took about half of it home, and the take-out containers are plastic, which helped in the safe transportation department. I'd say it was on the higher end of average as far as price goes. I would definitely go there again for a date or another girls' night out. Thumbs up.
(3)Neal K.
I had the meat samosas, garlic naan, and lamb saag... all of which were amazing!! One of the best indian restaurants in boston, 4 stars just because it's not the cheapest/best value I've seen for indian.
(4)Colene B.
Delicious entrees. I had one of the Modern Indian entrees - Subz Panchmael - with fresh vegetables (peppers, artichokes, asparagus) spiced with green cardamon and the balance of flavors and crispness of the vegetables were perfect. My husband greatly enjoyed the organic Kerala Salmon curry. The service was excellent. I may not have not tried Mela if it were not for the Groupon special, but we will definitely be back.
(5)Kevin C.
This place, straight up is amazing, I stated going there back in 2008 and anytime I have a long lunch break I am there. It is small so don't try to bring a group larger then 10 people but its also quiet there so you could bring a date. The architecture features and the art and great. I took a group of friends there a few weeks ago and we were late but they hadn't taken down the lunch buffet which is really the only thing i have every had or needed there. They let us finish off the buffet and then they even prepared extra items for us. It was an amazing feast. if your looking for some Indian food during lunch and your in the south end this is the best place around. All the items in the buffet are great, if its your first time try it all because there isn't anything you want to pass up. do NOT waste the space in your stomachs on the salad bar, it just isn't worth it, you will regret it.
(5)Srey S.
Went there the day after Christmas. Restaurant was pretty empty with only one to two other tables. The decor is nice though the chairs are uncomfortable. Staff was attentive (but then again we were one of three tables). We had poori, kerala fish curry, and beef vindaloo. The fish dish was very well done. Poori was good. The beef however was kinda tough, both dish were ordered medium level of spiciness--though they both tasted mild. I don't mind mild but would enjoy more flavor. The shocker though is how awful the rice was. It looked like its been sitting there for way too long and were not fresh, long grains like you'd expect. I tried to explain to the waiter, after all, it's the day after Christmas, maybe they were not cooking rice batches as often as usual. Upon notifying the waiter, he suggests we note it in the comment card. Really? I've just informed you, this is the part where you take action. At some point later, the waiter came back and told us he informed the manager and offered us some Naan instead, which we declined, as we are done with dinner. Overall, we are not impressed enough by the menu or quality of food to come back, which is quite disappointing for us because we would like to dine in the South End more often.
(3)Mark D.
Without a doubt, this is some of the best Indian in town. I've eaten at this establishment more times than I can count, and I have yet to have a dish that I cannot recommend. Last evening I decided to order from them via Foodler.com (free delivery!). I ordered the chicken tikka masala, aloo choley, a chapati and the coconut sorbet. The chicken tikka masala is wonderful. The masala is rich and full of flavor. I ordered it medium hotness, and it was great. If this is your first time having Indian, just an FYI, its not jam packed full of meat. But the portion is just enough for one person. It was the first time I ever ordered the aloo choley (I usually stick with the dal makhani--which is just absolutely amazing btw if you love lentils). The dish was very tasty. I had enough to bring to work today for lunch too. The chapati was ok. It was supposed to be served with butter but they didn't give me any or didn't butter it as far as I could tell. But it was fine nonetheless. The coconut sorbet was WOW. I've sampled the cardamon chocolate mousse before (its ok), but I just wanted something light to top off my meal so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'll be honest here... every time I go to this place, from now on I'll be ordering the coconut sorbet! It was served in a half coconut shell. It was rich and creamy and extremely refreshing. Has to be the best sorbet I've ever had in my life. Definitely highly recommended! If you happen to stroll over to the restaurant on Tremont, its well-kept, with an exceptionally friendly staff. Two thumbs up high for this place!
(5)Jessica H.
good food for dinner but kind of pricey. try to find a groupon code for this place!
(4)ChianWen T.
Mela is a kind of place that makes the South End cute. I loved sitting by the windows and just enjoying the typical postcard architecture of the South End. 5 stars for the ambiance. Our waiter was so gay, sweet, and friendly. He really made us feel like two princesses. I totally wanted to box him up and take him home. 5 stars for the waiter. The food was good, I think. Though I need to go back one more time when I am not sick to determine if it is really a 5 star place.
(5)Mel S.
Ok, I've been wanting to come here for a long time. Finally was able to go on a Sunday night with the hubby. Service: We got there around 6. Place was not busy yet, we sat down by the bar area. As soon as we sat menus were given. While we were scanning through the overwhelming menu, another couple sat right next to us. We got our water then they got their water. The waiter then took their order first (hey! we arrived before them) then he took our order right after. No biggie, (we thought )maybe he'll put in our order first so it doesn't really matter. Nope! that's not it. The other table got their food way before us. They were halfway through their entree by the time our appetizers arrived. It never even occured to the waiter to ever check on us. Food: We ordered the vegetarian sampler, only ate half. The coconut curry lamb was really heavy. The cubed beef curry wasn't so cubed, it was more like ground beef. Garlic Naan was however, really good. Maybe we just didn't really know what we should've ordered from here. We will come back for a second try. But the first experience was a big disappontment. Stay tuned for the the updated review.
(1)Casey H.
We went to Mela this past Sun for a late lunch. We ordered the vegetarian special for two and had the samosa, saag paneer, and malai kofta. These were all decent. Not great, but decent. The malai kofta was better than the saag paneer. However, the dessert was horrible. It was pretty clear that the rasmalai had been frozen and was fairly icy when served. I would give the food a 3/5 stars based on the many Indian restaurants I've been to in multiple cities. The service was a 1/5 stars. First off, the place was empty around the time we went so there should have been no excuses. I had to ask my waiter multiple times to refill the water glass and he basically disappeared for the whole meal. However, the worst part was that he forgot to include the tea/coffee that was supposed to be included with our meal/dessert. When we tracked him down to ask about it, he said that it would take about 10 mins to brew. Overall, I don't think we will be back to this place.
(2)Tapan P.
Love their lunch buffet. I love how you can get a variety of food when you have a buffet- but I hate how I tend to over-eat in spite of constant promises to myself that I won't.
(4)Hanh R.
Although the restaurant is small, it made for an intimate dinner. We did not have to worry about trying to hear one another while we ate. We ordered the dinner for two which I think is an awesome deal (sure beats Restaurant week). We could not finish it. There was so much food and it was all delicious! My sangria was wonderful. The service was phenomenal too. We just had a wonderful dinner experience and would return again. We had the left overs for lunch the next day and it reheated nicely.
(4)Anastasia R.
This was a top to bottom fantastic dining experience. We were greeted by a tall Indian gentleman with a Mandarin collar and a smile who showed us to one of the lovers' tables at a bay window. The largest wall in the room we were seated in was covered in strips of copper that were raised into decorative curls in places which gave the room a wonderfully warm glow and a fantastic aesthetic. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. We sat down and ordered a bottle of still water while we looked at the cocktail menu. I got some pomegranate martini and the gf got a mojito. These were truly some of the best cocktails I've had in Boston, and it was a pleasant surprise. Not too sweet, sour or boozy tasting. We got the non vegetarian meal for 2: Complementary tasting of garlic potato soup (I love it when they do that) Cup of lentil soup 2 samosas and a small salad with some delicious lemon dressing A meat platter... (this plate is usually why I get the vegetarian option. It's just lots of meat on a plate) Our entrees - I had Rogan something which was a lamb dish and the gf got the lamb korma. Naan Dessert. - pistachio ice cream and that dough ball soaked in syrup thing The food was all excellent, but what gives this place its 5 stars is the service. We were brought our courses with immaculate timing, and any time I did want something I would look for our waiter and he would bring me what I needed without me even asking. Magic? Perhaps.
(5)Nadia G.
Slow, unfriendly service. Mediocre food. Really mediocre food. Small portions. Totally ovepriced for the quality. Not much more to say. Not coming back.
(2)Brad P.
What makes this restaurant worth five stars is not just that the food is very good but that it is reasonably priced and well proportioned. So often portions are small and overpriced, or you have to buy rice on the side, at Indian places. We ordered Lamb Saag, Okra, Eggplant and Chicken in coconut curry, as well as samosas and naan, and it was all as good as we've had in any but the highest priced Indian places. The lamb was tender, and the samosas were well stuffed. The service was good, too, friendly and nice atmosphere. We'll go back.
(5)J P.
I loved the food!
(5)Natalie B.
Ended up at Mela because of a RueLaLa coupon that had been given to me by my mom (who, incidentally, doesn't have indian food very often.)I typically stay local to Shanti near my house, but I decided to spread my wings. Called ahead and made a reservation and it was accepted - and still waited about 20 minutes to be seated. Their takeout business seems busy and a focus for them. Decor was far more interesting and trendy than you would see in typical indian restaurants. They clearly try to stay ethnic while aligning with the 'trendy' expectation of the South End. Service was eh. Friendly, but much, much too busy to give everyone attention. This might be different on a typical weekday night and I went on a Thursday, so perhaps that was part of the reason. It's also quite noisy and loud and I don't think that it can be helped. It's quite small and every sound seems to echo and the kitchen is right off the dining room, so that doesn't help. I had Vegetable Biryani and Aloo Naan and both were good. The biryani was much lighter than I've had in the past at other places - and I've had it everywhere. Didn't feel heavy or oily or saturated - it was just light, which was great. And the aloo naan was a little heavy, but good. Hard to make a comparison, as I almost never have aloo naan elsewhere. I agree that the service leaves something to be desired but speaking for just the food, it was a good choice. If you're looking for the complete dining experience, you may be disappointed but I recommend for the food.
(3)Rekha M.
I love it when someone does something creative with Indian cuisine. Mela did, without going overboard. Everything we had was very good... the chat, the goan shrimp curry, the papadum. Nothing was greasy, so we came out feeling good, too. The service was really nice and unintrusive. My group of seven were very happy. I look forward to returning. UPDATE: I returned and the service and ambience were still great, but the food was definitely three stars. Too salty,, for one thing. Papadum still delicious.
(3)Terry P.
So disappointed. Visited for early Saturday dinner and took forever while we were the only customer in the house! Glass of wine was less than half full. Could see dusts on the light fixture right above our table. Salad was stale - could see the dried lettuce right in front of our face. Hot stone lamb was a unique experience but the shrimp cold appetizer - Jinghat Chat - was odd - taste was not together. Port Vindaloo was okay. Service was good and accommodating however I won't be coming here again unless I have to. I went there with great expectations of 4 star from Yelp reviewers and am very perplexed as to what happened.
(2)Dana L.
This is solid Indian food - well presented and tasty. The decor is nice as well. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Kebab Factory, except that Kebab Factory has grains and beans in the table, and this place doesn't. I ordered the beef saag, and we got the onion kulcha and the peshawari naan. I would say that the bread was quite exceptional, and the saag was good. It is rather rare that the bread impresses me more than the rest of the food, but for some reason it did in this case. And I'm not often a fan or naan or kulcha - a lot of places do it wrong. The Peshawari naan, however, was divine. Recommended. It came to around $50 for two people, although there was probably enough food for three (we ordered two dishes and two breads.
(4)Charoline D.
Wow ok, now I know I'm not probably the best judge of Indian food since I've had it so few times, but we had a pretty amazing time here. With my 3 dear friends, we ventured in here after a long day of T-hopping and being corralled around at the Bizarre Bazaar/Bazaar Bizarre (?). I initally wanted to go to Addis, but a peek through the door showed the oodles of people waiting to be sat, and it was only 4:45! We had wanted to try something different that we weren't used to, and I was the only one with exposure to it, and it was weak at best. We entered to find salmon snakeskin covered bench seats along the wall, a copper plated wall, interesting lighting and plenty of seating. That would ordinarily make me nervous, that this place wasn't hopping, but the 3 Indian-esque boys at the front enjoying their meal sort of confirmed to me that this would do just fine. We sat, were served water, and started scanning the menu for appetizers. I really enjoy spicy dishes, but my 3 counterparts teetered more on the edge of things being cooked to "medium" spicyness rather than me with my "I want it so hot that it singes holes in my small intestine" preference. We started with an order of Aloo Tikki, some deep fried spicy potato pancakes served with two sauces. I couldn't tell you what either sauce was but we lapped up everything we could with some Aloo Paratha, a tortilla like flat wheat bread griddle cooked with butter. For dinner, Kara and I both ordered Beef Vindaloo, I asked for mine "hot" and she went for "medium". My hetero-lifepartner Lyndsay ordered the Beef Coconut Curry and Joyce went for the Chicken Tikki Masala. We were promptly brought a large bowl of jasmine rice to share and we dug in. Mine was perfectly hot, and not to the point where it was inedible. Lynz's was pretty perfect as well, it was just the right amount of coconut where it came off as more of a note of flavor rather than being overwhelming. The guy who served us water got to be somewhat irritating as he kept coming back to the table, but then stopped when I finally needed it. Oh well, he never came back with Joycee's lemons either. When dessert came around, we all Ooooed-and Ahhed at the prospect of coconut creme brulee and cardamom chocolate cake. 3 of us ordered the creme brulee and Lynz had the cake. Wow, the creme brulee was light and tasty, the caramel perfectly burnt on top with the custard lightly hinted with coconut, but Lynz's chocolate cake was OUTERWORLDLY. It was mostly a very rich mousse cake, the cardamom wasn't as present as I had expected, but nonetheless, the cake was amazing as Joycee and I kept lifting our spoons over to Lynz's plate to "help her". It was the sort of chocolate that seemed relative to a ganache, where it enters the mouth as a rich fudge, and then it's remnants are difficult to lick off the spoon.
(4)Brittany H.
I returned to Mela recently to use up another coupon I had from a few months back. My second trip was MUCH better than my first! On our first visit, we had the tikka masala and coconut curry chicken -- the coconut curry was okay, and I didn't care for the tikka masala. This time we ordered the palak paneer and the lamb shank curry, both of which were delicious. A little spicier than anticipated but it was definitely welcomed. Our naan wasn't burnt this time and the wait staff was very busy but attentive. The place is a little far for us to travel, so we probably won't frequent Mela, but I would definitely return if I was in the area.
(4)Jon H.
Couple of friends and I headed to some brunch places in South Boston, but after facing huge lines (upwards of 2 hour wait times) we stumbled upon Mela, and were pleasantly surprised. First off, this place has all you can eat for brunch. I don't know how it is usually, but 15 bucks a person after tax and tip for a great stuffing indian meal is fine in my book. To start off, you order your naan as you sit down so they can freshly make it. They give you a couple regular naans and some garlic naans, which are all cooked perfectly, served hot, and just the perfect balance between chewy and crisp. On to the buffet. This is the mother of indian buffets. Not because of the huge selection (its tucked away in a small corner of the main dining room, but because of the quality of the dishes offered. First off, there's a guy making potato veggie dosas fresh, which are crisp and covered in a coconut chutney. Now, I focused one dish on the staples (samosas, rice, paneer), but I won't review those. Why? Because I ate about four plates of chicken masala, coupled with this wierd fried dough they have on the side. PURE HEAVEN (that's why I ate four dishes of it). The masala is spiced to perfection, the chicken is tender, and the sauce is plentiful for dipping naan and the fried dough. I had the watermelon juice and everything else too, but just for this dish alone I will pay the 15 bucks and eat four/five dishes of it. Honestly, if I had known that I was eating at a buffet for brunch, I would have prepared accordingly and ate even more! Just a really fun experience, good food, great atmosphere (lots of natural light through the windows), really clean restaurant, and fast service. Good times all around! I can't believe I just discovered the wonders of South Boston!
(5)Ira H.
We tried this place for dinner last Sat eve. when Addis Red Sea had too big of a line. I'm glad we did. Staff was kind and friendly. Menu had many choices you don't see in a typical Indian/Pakistani restaurant. Ambiance was lovely. We ended up picking the $45 (for 2!) combination plate. It is a great deal as mentioned in a previous review and we had a big bag of nicely packed leftovers to take home. There is a vegetarian combination choice as well. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the fact that the tables were pretty close together and the host kept packing all the parties to one end of the restaurant when they could have spread the guests around and given us more space. Also, there was some server confusion for example, the bartender originally thought he had no salt available for my margarita and then came over and apologized saying that was yesterday after I had changed my order to a beer. The Margarita turned out great by the way. I will definitely be back.
(4)Archana V.
Mela never disappoints! If a non-Indian friend of mine wanted to try Indian food for the first time, I would bring them to Mela. The ambience is classy and nice, the restaurant is clean and they have a pretty extensive menu. The portions are much bigger than most Indian restaurants and they have wide variety of naans to choose from. I've never tried their cocktails but the choices look very interesting and I'm looking forward to trying them in the future. They usually offer groupon/livingsocial deal every three months or so which is definitely a plus.
(4)Adriana L.
Really good! I ordered the Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan because I had a coupon for foodler. My food came sooner than I had been told and was great. The naan was smothered in fresh garlic, which I loved, and the entree was really rich and satisfying. I actually had leftovers! That never happens.
(5)Azn B.
A friend and I had an early dinner (5:30'ish) here on Sunday. It's a perfect time for dinner if you prefer a little quiet atmosphere. There were probably about 4 parties total at that time. The service was great. The servers were humble and attentive...not sure if this would be the case if the house is a bit more full. We had a couple of cocktails but forgot the names. They were good and my friend's version was very fragrant. It had a hint of Indian spice with cardamon pods floating in it. He had a second round of the same drink. For the food, we had an appetizer, 2 main dishes and a garlic nan. The appetizer was the meat samosa. This reminds me of 2 mini empanadas with Indian spices, although a bit dry but tasty. As for the main entrees, we had coconut chicken curry and beef korma. They were both very tender and delicious. We wanted them as medium spicey and they came as we like it, just perfect. The bread was fluffy and fresh. In general, the price is a bit on the steep side for Indian food, but we're paying for the location (South End) as Welland the decor was nice. However, we got a great deal through Restaurant's for a $25 certificate at $2 cost, caching!!! A win win all around. Overall, the food was good and the experience was good!
(4)Ayon J. R.
The food is very good. So is the decor and ambience (which is very rare for Indian restaurants). They bill themselves as 'modern' Indian food, but there's nothing really modern about the menu.
(4)TJ N.
I have not had a bad dining experience here yet so it stays a 5 in my book. It serves as my benchmark for other Indian restaurants in the area. My only concern is that it doesn't get ringing endorsement for authenticity from South Asians that i know. Service can be spotty but always polite.
(5)Sana N.
Ok, so the decor is very, very nice and the manager there is very, very nice too. However, the food is not so nice. The portions are large but the food tastes really uninspired. One of the naans was a bit too burnt. My friend asked one of the waitresses if they could bring out any dessert with a little candle stuck in it (we were celebrating a birthday) and the waitress snapped "No!" okaaay. We weren't sure if that "No!" meant: "No,we don't have any candles" "No, we won't/can't do that" or "No, get lost!" Then we had two different waitresses come to our table, each asking if we wanted dessert. Also, the restaurant is a bit cramped, if you want to have an intimate dinner, you don't want to come here. On our way out, I noticed a restaurant patron change her baby's diaper in one of the big windows, so i am assuming there is no changing table in the bathroom. All in all, the food and the service can both use some proper seasoning.
(2)lori m.
i really like it here. it's cozy and adorable and the food was phenomenal. we got the garlic naan, chicken tikka masala and chicken saag (ordered both HOT). this was a perfect place to grab some hot and spicy indian food on a cold winter night. everything was amazing. everything but the service. the waiter took forever to get our drink order....and to take our food order...and to brink us water. when we asked him for anything he stood there awkwardly, contemplating whether or not he should actually do it. i'm still going back. the food was too delicious not to.
(4)Meg N.
Went here because I had a coupon (thanks Rue la la!!) and I am so very glad I did. We tried the "special dinner" (non-veg version) and it was quite good...and very filling. For drinks we ordered one of the specials...very good...but would have liked if we received the drink before dinner and had a little time to enjoy it. The waiters were very nice and all the food came out hot, which is always good. Soup course was good as were the samosas. We loved the curry, rice and naan section of the dinner best. My friend really liked the grill. We both would have enjoyed a few vegetables (even with the non veg option). For dessert we had rice pudding, as they were out of the ice cream -- dessert was definitely the weakest part of the meal...although still pretty good. Overall we both enjoyed the meal a lot and would go back.
(4)David D.
I fucking H8 buffets. They remind me of Fung-Wah bus rides, bad dates, and terrible food. Mela's lunch buffet isn't bad. I just had lunch there (alone :( ). I don't even like Indian food. I have no idea why I walked in here, but out of the 10+ options, I liked most of them. Fuckin' yummy-yummy. My only complaints: The tables were a little too close to each other. I didn't feel like I was having lunch alone. I could hear the WORST wasp conversations. The Tomato and Coconut soup kind of tasted like Spaghettios with coconut mixed in. :'(~~. And right before I left, 2 men walked in and they had ponytails. I guess that's not the restaurant's fault, but I waited around for a minute, and they were still served. That's not cool.
(4)Derek B.
Go here for Indian food in the South End! I've been here for their brunch buffet. Some of the best Indian I've ever had. The garlic naan is to die for. The chicken tandoori is stellar. The service is very good and its usually pretty easy to get a table (at least during brunch hours). 5 star experience!
(5)Sarah S.
Went last night and had a really tasty, really lovely dinner. All the dishes ordered (we were a party of 5) were delicious...highlights included chicken tikka masala, the appetizer sampler, and coconut curry chicken. I also loved the decor and ambiance of this place. It's sort of dreamy and romantic without being cheesy. They also have a surprisingly interesting wine list--I loved my Cabernet from Chile. The best surprise was the value. I expected to be paying a little more considering the location...but it was very reasonable. Two of the people I was with got the 'non-vegetarian dinner for two' for $45, and it was an unbelievable amount of food! I will definitely be back here and I also want to try the buffet as well....yum!
(4)Marissa P.
Really nice place! Beautifually decorated... love the curtains! Wonderful location. Nice selection of drinks. The food's very good, but not spectacular. Their nan did not impress me, but besides that I thought everything was very good. The service wasn't so great... Another thing that's nice about this place though is that it's not your average Indian cuisine.. it's "modern"... so, some things are very different and you won't be able to find elsewhere.
(4)Rozina K.
Having grown up in India and with a mother who is the BEST Indian cook in the world (admittedly biased) has hardened me into a tough critic of Indian food. With that being said, last night I had one of the best Indian meals I have ever had! We decided to go to Mela for some yummy vegetarian food (to offset the artery clogging effects of the burgers we had at lunch). The restaurant is small but cozy, with pretty organza curtains that give the place a homey/girly feel. I also really like the pictures on the back wall of native Indians in their daily lives. We started the mango lassi which was absolutely delicious but could have been a bit colder. It wasn't too sweet which was perfect. We also ordered the aloo choley, malai kofta, aloo paratha, and raita. Unlike other Indian restaurants, spicy meant spicy which I love. The aloo paratha closely resembled my mom's (which is HUGE compliment). Both the aloo choley and malai kofta were very flavorful and decent sized portions. I've had better raita (yogurt with mint) but it was acceptable. The south end is lacking in terms of Indian restaurants but Mela is a great option. Minus one star for the waiter who tried to hurry us by telling us that they were closing in an hour within 30 seconds of us sitting down, and for the inflated prices.
(4)Shang S.
I ordered from here often for work and have had their lunch buffet, and it's very solid Indian food, and the decor is super-modern too, which makes for a great spot for either a casual lunch meetup or even dinner date.
(4)L P.
LOVE this place. Everything is phenomenal. It's the best indian food in the South End, by far. (Bombay club is not even in the running... avoid.) I have eaten here at dinner (their dinner for two is outstanding and SO much food!) lunch and weekend buffet... outstanding and very reasonably priced. Also, there take out is just as good as the dine in. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED HERE!
(5)Chris M.
I had high hopes for Mela but it didn't turn out to the be the experience I thought It'd be. I can't remember what my partner ordered but I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and Veggie Samosas. The Somosas were great actually but our main dishes were SUPER salty (we didn't even take the left overs). Also we were in a small corner next to another table that got some sort of seafood type dish that was cooked on a hot plate at their table. This isn't Mela's fault but it smoked the entire corner and we left smelling like smokey fish... which also didn't make for an enjoyable dinner. I would give them another chance but we live in JP and have Bukhara so why would we go any place else?
(3)Brad S.
Excellent restaurant. The food was very good. I HIGHLY recommend the butter chicken. I came with 4 other friends and we got a bunch of dishes and shared them. Everything was good. The service was a bit slow, but the food made up for it.
(4)Lee D.
Great service, delicious food, great price. Seriously, every item on their menu is fantastic.
(4)Shruti M.
Ugh. This place is terrible. I went here and while I did not expect my mother's cooking, I did expect something halfway decent considering the decor and atmosphere. How sadly disappointed I was. I ordered the Chicken Biriyani which came with raitha. OK I'm sorry...a cup of plain yogurt is not raitha..it needs a little something more! I asked for medium and felt like I got mild (if that). The Biriyani had mushrooms and assorted vegetables in it, which is not typically how its made. Its supposed to be a chicken and rice dish, with some sauteed onions and nuts as garnish. I saw no onions and there were no nuts. The chicken had no flavor to it, basically the entire dish tasted like it was yesterdays leftovers mixed together and given a fancy name. We also had the pashwari naan ( Naan with coconut inside)... truly nothing to write home about. The wait staff was EXTREMELY efficient. They basically hovered over our table the entire night. At one point, the guy came to refill my water glass as I was reaching over to drink from it. He actually stood near the table and waited til I put it down so that he could refill it. I sincerely doubt I will be back
(1)Erin B.
I had a groupon for this place to try it out and I will definitely be back! Nice ambience and waitstaff. The food was some of the best that I have had since I moved to Boston- wide selection of dishes and you can adjust the spicy-ness to your tasting.
(4)Erik D.
My office is nearby so my team goes there a few times a month. Pretty great indian food, we usually go for lunch and the buffet doesn't disappoint. Order your nan as soon as you sit down for it always takes a little while. Their lassi is great too. Highly recommended !
(4)Amanda M.
A few of us from work decided to go for the lunch buffet. The buffet is $10 per person and is served from around 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This may sound strange, but I didn't really know what the dishes were, but they all tasted good. There were veggie turnovers and some really great chicken dishes as well as some tasty meatballs. I enjoyed sampling the various items and the garlic naan that was brought to the table. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with flowing curtains, immaculate white furniture and an interesting metal wall sculpture. It is small, but comfortable and there is a small bar area on one side. The only strange thing is that it was around 1:30 pm when we went for lunch and we were the only ones in the place. The servers seemed reluctant to pay any attention to us and there were about 10 servers hanging around with just the four of us dining. I will definitely be back for another round at the buffet!
(4)Mona L.
Love the Makhni Paneer. And the Mango Lassi, and naan. That's all I've ever had but overall, the service and the food is always good here.
(5)Kyle S.
Be careful with the hot plate stuff.. It's really good but the fat from the scallops will burn up really fast!
(4)Steph G.
I'm giving this place 5 stars for service and speed. Food is about 4. Boyfriend and I easily got a table on a Friday night, and within moments of being seated, were served complimentary tastes of chicken soup. It was phenomenal (but not to be confused with their chicken noodle soup, which is less than awesome), and will become a staple in our fridge come winter. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and kind, and our food came out faster than I thought possible. For starters, the naan is out of this world. While I'm no Indian food aficionado, I know a good naan. We tasted the chicken tikka masala, the chicken vindaloo, and the rogan josh, and were impressed with all of them. The raita was a lovely, crisp accompaniment. We also sampled the desserts--while the chocolate cake was alright, we definitely preferred the galub jamun and have come back several times just to savor those little orbs of pleasure. Overall, the prices are great, and we will definitely be returning for more lovely meals in a gorgeous setting.
(5)Tarryn V.
The chicken korma and sadwallah (sp?) are amazing. We order from mela more often than anywhere else in the south end. Hint hint always get extra rice for to go orders.
(5)Anna F.
The atmosphere, service and food are five stars. Where the loose that last star is a weak masala tea and less than stellar prices. This place is definitely a date venue. The lighting is dim, the decor decadent, and the food divine. I've now been to all the One World Cuisine restaurants- My fave is Cafe of India with Mela a close second. Kashmir, though all are in the 4 star range. This mini-chain is the most reliably good Indian food with solid service and atmosphere- not sure why you'd go anywhere else, Kasmir, Mantra, Diva, Mela and Cafe of India are all jewels in the crown of East Asian dining in Boston.
(4)Maeve K.
This place is delicious. I went with four people and we each ordered different things (chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, beef vindaloo, seafood masala) and aloo naan and regular naan, and none of us could decide which was the best. All of the meat was tender and the sauces were so flavorful. What really made this place stand out though was the service. They did not leave a dirty dish on the table and constantly refilled our water glasses. Everything was so respectful and efficient, and we came on a busy night with no reservation and the host was so nice and hospitable. They are a bit pricey but they have a pretty good buffet deal that I've never gone to but would consider it given how great the food is!
(4)Sean B.
Fantastic food - and great for vegetarians and vegans!
(4)peggy c.
It has been a while since I've been to Mela, but I've always had good experiences here. The decor is oddly but pleasantly decorative and refreshing- a simple translucent curtain drapes the large windows while stone relief and copper facade add a distinctive flair to the interior. Mela's a good place to catch up with friends or for a date. The place is a little small so if you plan on going with a group call ahead for a reservation. They're pretty accommodating - my friend had a going away dinner here for about a dozen people, and they created a special menu for her, which was rather sweet. From what my Indian friends tell me, the food isn't that authentic but it tastes great. I particularly like their biryani - actually it's the only place in Boston I'll get biryani. I tried it at a few other places and were kind of disgusted (i.e. Kashmir), but the biryani at Mela is fresh and flavorful. They also make their own paneer so though I'm not a huge fan of paneer, it's quite delicious. Lastly, if you like your food REALLY spicy, you're in luck - just ask them to make it "Indian hot" and they'll happily comply. Mela is definitely one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Boston.
(4)Arestia R.
When I'm in the mood to eat Indian food out, I'm in the mood to head to Mela. It's a cool little spot great for dates or eating with friends. The menu is varied and the naan is hot and good. The portions are great, too and perfect for splitting with friends. The service is a little hit or miss, so don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)Colleen T.
The decorating is cool, both modern and archaeological-leaning, and still somehow misses twee. I liked the warm copper and red hues. We were seated at a fantastic table, right in the bay window, with a view of the street (which was perfect--especially since it was Halloween night and we got to watch the little Spidermen and fairy princesses tromp by on their way to the next candy stop). The vegetable samosas were pretty ordinary but then it's a kind of ordinary dish, and the sauces it was served with were nice. I had the lamb saag and it was good, but I shouldn't have asked for the medium spicy, because it was actually quite mild. My husband had the kerala fish curry and he ordered it hot; it had a great flavor and was really outstanding, not at all painful or difficult to eat. (I like things spicy and highly flavored, not burning so much that there is only pain, no real taste.) The food was good-to-excellent, the staff was friendly and responsive, and though no one asked me if I wanted another martini, that was probably all for the best. We will definitely be back.
(4)Brett W.
Hands down the best Indian restaurant I've been to! The food was amazing - I ordered the Lamb Coconut Curry and it was very good and very filling. The portions are great, and the server even came around and offered us more rice (Yes please!!). For dessert I ordered the Gulab Jamun, and it was a perfect way to end the evening. Service was 5 star - very friendly and very quick! I would definitely return!
(5)Dorothy T.
I've been to quite a few Indian restaurants and tried a lot of different dishes and Mela is incredibly authentic and delicious! I've been here quite a few times and every time I was beyond impressed with the service and the food. If you're going for dinner and have an appetite, I would recommend the Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Dinner Combo (not quite sure if that's what it is called). It comes with soup, veggie or meat samosas, mixed tandoori grill, your choice of whatever curry you'd like, dessert, and coffee or tea. It's a ton of food for only $45 for 2 people! Needless to say, we had leftovers for the next day for lunch and dinner! Their soups are all really really good and the Tikka Masalas and Coconut Currys are exceptional! Your meal always comes with an abundance of basmati rice which is cooked to perfection (and you can get free refills if you want them!). The Garlic Naan is really really really good. Overall the food is delicious, and you can definitely tell that they take pride in their culture and the food that they serve. Their cocktails were pretty good...more generous than other places I've visited. I ordered the Indian Summer and it was not only delicious, but they put very little ice in my glass and extra everything, to the point that I could barely finish it! That's my kind of cocktail! The service is exceptional. The servers and owner are always really kind and courteous and very attentive to their guests. Don't be surprised if you never find your water glass empty! Bottom line...there is something for everyone at Mela and if you haven't tried it yet, get over there! It's delicious and truly a gem in the South End!
(5)Thomas S.
I've dined at Mela just under a dozen times. Mela is really as good as it gets for the kind of restaurant it is. It's your small local, neighborhood indian restaurant that is actually cool. Interior is nicely decorated and the atmosphere is pleasant. The prices are reasonable. You could do a whole lot worse than taking your date for dinner (or lunch) here. Vegetarian options are decent.
(5)Jason F.
really cool interior, nice pictures and other stuff adorning the walls. started off with the garlic naan which was really good. shared the chicken tikka masala, and the butter chicken. both were excellent, and the service was great as well. definitely
(4)Tod K.
Amazing food! And what a service! We showed up on a Friday night. It was busy so we had to wait a bit longer. We got a free appetizer on the house as well as a few samples compliments of the chef.
(5)Nicole B.
so i ordered delivery from here tonite...it never came. i ordered for my boyfriend while i went out for the night. i let him know it was coming. good thing i did because 2 hours later i get a text that the food never came! when i call they told me they called me to deliver it but couldn't. i asked what the problem was...they had the address so what was the problem? they couldn't answer me...just "call my manager in the morning." when i persisted to find out what the issue was he hung up on me. asshole. my boyfriend called foodler and made it so the money was never charged from my credit card which was good. but i will never order delivery from mela again. fine, they screwed up. shit happens. but it's how you handle yourself after that decides things. f them!
(1)Jessica F.
Second to review. F yeah!! (Ok not so much...) Anyway, after much anticipation and waiting, I stopped in to try out Mela last night. I walk by their windows everyday, and had spent months peering through openings in the paper covering the windows to get a glimpse of what was going on inside. Without much fanfare (as the previous reviewer noted, only a paper sign saying "Open" alerted us of their opening in mid-Dec.), Mela has given the South End a strong addition and needed variety to the neighborhood culinary scene. The decor is very well done: modest, but with powerful accents (white cut paper bubble hanging light fixtures, sectioned copper covering one wall, large white-on-white Indian wall sculptures). White modern china and white cloth napkins adorn the tables, and gauzy curtains soften the huge windows facing Tremont Street. And, the owners were able to keep the Nightengale's liquor license, so there is a full bar, complete with several stools if you want to wait there. Admittedly, I am not the most adventurous eater of Indian food (I stay away from goat thank you very much), but since I seem to eat the same things again and again, I think I have good points of reference. We had samosas to start with - quite tasty, but unfortunately they brought the vegetable version instead of the meat version that we ordered. We ate them anyway, but were a bit disappointed. Our mains were chicken masala and chicken coconut curry, which both came with very lighty & tasty basmati rice. A side of naan completed the meal, and with a glass of wine and a gin & tonic, our bill came to about $80. (We had enough to take home for leftovers, which I always factor in the price as well!) All in all, the food was great. Didn't "blow my mind" either, but given what they are advertising - traditional Indian, with some creative dishes, at modest price points, I think Mela totally hits their target. The service is attentive, plentiful and speedy, the food was fresh, tasty and ample and the menu offers many choices. The chicken masala was super tender and moist, with deliciously flavored sauce. The chicken coconut curry could have had a bit more coconut, but overall, quite good. Naan was hot and soft in the right places, just how I like it. My only negatives are decor related. It feels like they overlooked the importance of the bathroom as part of the whole restaurant feel (I am a stickler on this - big pet peeve to go from a v. nicely designed restaurant into a crap bathroom with bad lighting - total mood killer!) They could spend a few hundred bucks on modern light fixtures, a better paint job and few decorative accents to tie it all together. Also, the cutlery and glassware are very cheap dineresque - a disconnect from the china and napkins. I'm not saying put sterling silver down, but again, more modern accompaniments would be better fitting to the overall feeling. Overall, solid food, solid decor and solid service. At their prices, I see Mela as welcome addition with a good life in the South End. Will look forward to going back (but not too often or all of that naan and masala will blow me up like a balloon!!!)
(3)C C.
I'd gladly give this place a 5, but....let's start from the unhappy end. The service was very very bad on the Friday night I invited my friends to go try out this "new chic indian restaurant in the South End" with RESERVATION made, and ended up waiting 1:15 hours for the table. 1:15! Apparantly this was a new management; they looked rather daunted by the amount of crowd and had given away RSVP tables to walk-ins earlier. If it weren't for the frigid cold weather that night, we would've easily walked out to any other restaurant on Tremont St. We were all so mad and hungry. Service was slow. After standing 85 minutes we finally sat down; still, waited 10 minutes until someone came to give us some water. Even more hungry and searingly mad. Then the food came. Anger and hunger what? who? where? The food here was absolutely delicious, plentiful, and inventive. Now that our satisfyingly indulged tummies conquered over our emotions, we started appreciating the intimate interior setting. We sat next to a large French window inside this cute nice restaurant. Reminded so much of the hidden dining gems in the Village down in NYC. Oh yeah, the price mirrored those in that city too. But it was well worth the food, and I came to understand why people linger in here long past their meals. Would totally recommend the restaurant, but maybe want to go during lunch or less busy nights. Hey at least the story has a happy ending. Wouldn't want it the other way around.
(4)Nisma B.
Mela's brunch is perfect for the person who wants to try new things with minimal cost (on their wallet and stomach). Like most restaurants in Boston's South End, its dinner menu boasts a mighty expensive and elegant adventure that dissuades most curious beginners from even attempting. However, its reasonably priced brunch offers many different kinds of medium spiced curries, appetizers, and desserts. Instead of locking you into one hit or miss expensive choice, the brunch allows you to figure out your personal favorites commitment free. Mela's brunch includes an array of traditional curries like Goat Curry, American favorites like, Chicken Tikka Masala but also a few interesting creations you'll only find in the trendy South End, like Paneer Mahkani with Cherries. Though their creations may be inspired by the economy (like sticking the extra maraschino cherries in the brunch curry) they are adventurous and different nonetheless! Also, they offer South Indian items like Dosa (an Indian style potato filled crepe) and Keema (a ground beef and potato curry). The deal breaker for me is the season appropriate unique juice (watermelon in the summer) they offer as an option over cocktails most commonly consumed and spent on during brunch. Their condiment selection appeals to the mild, spicy, sour and savory hearted. Their décor juxtaposes rough hammered metal and tulle/ribbon netting (and yes, they finally got rid of the receipt paper that tied the curtains together). On nice days the sun floods through casting mellow shades of dusty rose, burnt orange and bronze glimmers. There are few Indian restaurants that offer fresh ingredients and a delightful ambiance that is often required of any nice dining experience. This has unfortunately led most beginners into the realm of Indian "fast food" at the Prudential Center as their first and last attempt. Bad Indian food casts a fatal label to all Indian food (unlike bad Chinese food, which has been embraced as a greasy guilty pleasure for late night and weekend hangover cures). Most bad Indian food victims tragically never recover... Mela's brunch is continuing to fight the good fight by offering a spectrum of traditional to contemporary tastes while catering to a charming weekend brunch atmosphere.
(5)Austin F.
Drove up to Boston to see some friends who are from India, and as I always do, I requested they take me to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Mela was recommended to us by a friend of my friends so we decided to try it. Upon entering the establishment you are overcome by the intoxicating scents of fine Indian spices and greeted by the excellent staff. The kitchen is semi-open to the dining area but the noise isn't too loud as to not be able to hear the table's conversation, but gives you a since of being in someone's home back "in the old country". Several (approximately five) main courses were ordered from the vegetarian menu, and all were excellent. The course size was plenty to feed two people with all the trimmings of Naan and rice. While here, be sure to order the Mango Lassi, a fresh mango and yogurt smoothie. The spiciness of the dishes were not overpowering, but struck a perfect balance between flavor of the spice and the natural flavor of the vegetables. In short, stop here and try it! Parking is difficult on a weekend night, but there are valet services available.
(5)Amanda S.
Lamb Vindaloo + Rogan Josh + Aloo Chole are my favorites. This is definitely a great Indian restaurant--delicious food and great service (they bring a small appetizer along with your menu before you even order). A cute little South End restaurant. The only thing I would say is that because it is small, it can feel crowded because the tables are all so close to each other. Otherwise, no complaints. :)
(4)Jen D.
My husband is always asking me if we can go for indian and up until I experienced Mela, I always had my taste buds burning for some other sort of cuisine. Well my friends, I cannot stop thinking about our lunch there last week! It was by far the best indian buffet I've encountered......granted my experience is limited so take that comment with a grain of salt. Get the naan with garlic - seriously you will not be disappointed. It comes out fresh, not reheated like some junky indian places I've been. Pricing was point on too $10 for the lunch buffet.
(4)sara m.
What a great date spot. It was my boyfriend's birthday and he really loves Indian food but there was never an Indian restaurant that I thought was "special" enough for a bday dinner. Mela certainly is special dinner worthy. The decor is pink and copper and glow-y. We both had the tamarind margarita, it was like something you would get at your favorite cocktail bar, great flavor and strong! We also had masala seafood, most places have seafood on the menu but its never their standout, this was spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It is a little more pricey than most Indian restaurants, but for the south end it was reasonable.
(5)Shivani G.
My brother and I went to this place last Friday. It's the first Indian restaurant we've seen in the South End, so we were intrigued. We had the shrimp chaat and the chicken saag. The veggies in the shrimp chaat were a bit too chunky to go with the subtely of the sauce. (if you go and order this dish, write a review and let us know if the veggies were chopped smaller because I mentioned it to the waiter). The chicken saag was phe-no-me-nal! It's the best saag I have ever eaten in a restaurant. The accompanying paratha was also decent. I would definitely go again if only to eat the saag. I did think it was pricey for the food, but then again, it's the South End.
(3)Winnie C.
I came in on Saturday afternoon around 3 for lunch and it was empty for most of my visit. We ordered a shrimp appetizer, jumbo shrimp entree, beef curry, coconut cream brulee, pistachio shake and watermelon daiquiri smoothie. The shrimp in the thin bread bowl was better than I expected, nice flavor in the bread, shrimps and mushroom were a nice size. The jumbo shrimp was nice and mildly spicy (as I specified). Both of the drinks were delicious and the watermelon one was very fresh. The dessert was really sweet and something I would definitely order again. Service was pleasant, but there was one waiter that we had some trouble communicating with. Overall, even though Indian food isn't my thing, I give it four stars.
(4)Kasey F.
I love Indian food and I was referred here by a friend of mine saying it was the best he's had. He was definitely right! The servers were extremely nice and polite, very attentive. I've seen reviews that pointed out the opposite of their customer service but I've never encountered it there! My food is always cooked as I order it. I've gone in with groupons/coupons and they always honor it. Only negative remark was one night I dined in someone ordered something that is grilled at the table and since the place is so small with little ventilation I was choking for air at my table.
(4)Preethi C.
I was pleased to see an Indian restaurant open up in restaurant row in the South End & made it a point to stop by for lunch buffet one afternoon. I was struck by the decor, which was a mix of contemporary and traditional Indian motifs - it was tastefully decorated & very relaxing. The service was attentive at filling my glass and taking my order. At $9.99 the buffet was a great value, and I was happy to see that quality was not sacrificed in the least bit - the masalas were authentic and the ingredents were fresh tasting. The curry gravies were thick and not watered down, as many buffets tend to be. The typical Indian restaurant fare (palak paneer, chicken tikka, etc) were available along with some non-typical dishes such as Goan vegetable curry & a Beef curry dish, both of which were delicious. I highly recommend this place & can't wait to try their ala carte menu as well as their $12.95 weekend champagne brunch - what a great value on restaurant row!
(4)Sophia E.
Mela is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, let alone in the South End. The Indian cuisine is impeccable and completely affordable. The atmosphere is causal and relaxed and the service is amazing. On the weekends they have this amazing buffet special called the Spectacular Brunch Buffet. For only $12.95 you can stuff yourself silly with vegetable samosa, coconut chicken curry, chicken vindaloo, paneer makhni and so much more.... My tummy is growling just thinking about it. The only draw back is that the restaurant is a bit small with few tables. Which sometimes can cause a line to grow.
(5)Molly M.
Great Indian food in the South End. They understand the differences between mild, medium and HOT! (I like it hot.) My favorite is the butter chicken. Mela makes terrific naan. The waiters are nice, even if they are slow. I don't know of much service of the South End that isn't fairly slow, though, so I expected this. When I lived in the South End, right around the time they opened, I was eating there about once a week and my tummy was very happy!
(4)Christine S.
We ate at Mela with some friends a week ago, and overall the experience was great. After moving to Boston from Fresno, CA two weeks ago, we really needed some delicious Indian food. The restaurant is beautiful, with soft lighting and an interesting copper wall treatment, plus giant spiraly-paper lanterns that make for pretty lighting. The meal started out with a complimentary tasting of hot and sour chicken soup, which was delicious. My husband and I split the vegetarian dinner for two special (a steal at $35), which includes mulligatawny soup, vegetable samosas, choice of 2 veg entrees, rice, naan, raita, dessert and tea or coffee. For one entree we chose the Shahi Navratan Korma, which is fresh vegetables in a creamy sauce with nuts and raisins. It was absolutely delicious with many layers of spices and flavors. The heat was the kind that builds over time, but never got unpleasant (and I'm not much for spiciness). The waiter did ask us what level of spiciness we would like for each dish, and we ordered "American medium." This makes me think there's probably many higher levels of heat you can get over and above what the average American can tolerate. The Daal Makhni was also delicious, as were all other dishes in the meal. My only complaint was that the vegetable samosas weren't anything special (and I LOVE samosas). It was disappointing because everything else was so delicious and obviously carefully prepared and spiced. The samosas just kind of tasted like they were reheated leftovers from lunch. I'm hoping that was a fluke because this is a restaurant I would love to go to again. One other snag is that our waiter forgot that our dinner included dessert and coffee/tea. We reminded him about the dessert but we forgot the coffee. Other than that the service was good, and the desserts (Badami Kulfi - a nutty ice cream - and Gulab Jamun - a fried dough ball in sweetened condensed milk syrup) were absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant - at the end of the meal we had enough leftovers for another meal for both of us.
(4)Katie M.
I just found the best deal in boston. (Let me preface this by telling you I've only been in town 2 months) This deal is amazing though. For $45 dollars, my fiancee and I both got 2 soups (creamy and spicy), samosa (which I love), a plate of various tandoori meats, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. Needless to say, I had to be rolled out of there. The food was very good. That naan bread is to die for (I'm pretty sure its fat free right?) :) I had the coconut curry chicken which was creamy and delicious. For drinks, I would skip the Bollywood martini and just have the mojitos (surprizingly minty and sweet, not too sour). When we first ordered the combo dish, we thought is was going to be $45 per person and we were really surprized that it was $45 for 2. Great food and a lower bill, what more can you ask for!
(4)Carole H.
There was a crazy long wait but it was well worth it (note to self, don't go places the first week a groupon is in effect!). This was some of the best indian food i have ever had, including a week spent in india. Had the palak paneer, shrimp korma, onion kulcha, raita, and all were superb. Also the service was excellent, I made a mistake in ordering and accidentally ordered two spinach based dishes and they took one of them back to exchange for something else, which was brought out within minutes. Happy tummy!
(5)Billy I.
Delicious. Nice, unique selection. Great to have an alternative to Kashmir. Good energy.
(5)Benjamin W.
Went to Mela with the wife on a Friday evening when we were feeling in the mood for some Indian food. Things were a bit busy/hectic when we first arrived, and we had a bit of a wait (10-15 min) for our reserved table to clear out. Probably a good sign, though. You don't want a half-empty restaurant, especially of this size (cozy to small) on a Friday night. Nonetheless, the service was good-- water refilled frequently and the food came quickly. Also, they put a real slice of mango on the mango lassi glass--the mango lassi is highly recommended by this reviewer (more on this later). Unfortunately, my better half was feeling a little worse for the wear, and we had to leave before really getting into the meal, which we both were finding quite good. Our server was very solicitous and I had to convince him that we weren't unhappy with the food or the service or anything like that (though the bathroom seemed a little dingy and could have been jazzed up a bit--a minor complaint). When he brought back the food in boxes, he included a container with a complimentary mango lassi and when we were leaving gave us a certificate for ten dollars off our next meal (as long as we spend $40), which I thought was a nice touch. Overall I'd definitely recommend the place, and the food and service we had were laudable. And try the Chicken Qorma with some garlic naan to take the heat off.
(4)Elena A.
I am actually really sad to give Mela two stars because the food was absolutely delicious, especially their entrees. We had chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo which were both perfect with rich and spicy sauces. The garlic naan was incredible! However, this is hands down the worst restaurant experience I've received in Boston. The service is super slow. If you go there, order everything in the beginning and ask for check right away and I strongly advise you to double check everything on your bill. We ordered tea which we never got but somehow it ended up on our check ;) Also, desserts are beyond disappointing - the chocolate mousse cake was stone frozen, and I am not even exaggerating - a stone frozen cake from your next door supermarket that was just pulled out of the freezer. It was not edible and we sent it back (and were still charged for it ;). I am not even going to mention other little screw-ups here and there throughout the dinner, but it was basically a disaster service-wise, pretty much unacceptable. I would cut them some slack if at least it was busy, but honestly, how can you screw up this much when there are only three tables with people? Ugh. I am really sad for this place because they clearly have no idea about how to run this beautiful space with great location and amazing food. I will be trying other Indian restaurants around here, but won't be back to Mela. I'd still suggest though trying it out at least once, but stay away from desserts, order everything at once and double check your bill. And mentally prepare to receive bad service :)
(2)Steph M.
Great Indian food in the South End. I have only done take out and haven't had a sit down meal in the restaurant, but everything that I've had has been very good. Also the host/front desk staff are very friendly and helpful.
(4)Steve N.
how diverse is this neighborhood getting? Mela fits right in and fills a void that i can't believe has gone empty this long. got there around 6pm last night and found parking on street after making only 2 passes. we dodged a major dog-lick (they were EVERYWHERE!) and got a seat right away on the bar side. the space is nice, although a little tight and the tables a little small for the serving dishes they are using (not big, but funky). first up, the service was a little over-exuberant. we had just been seated and not even looked at menus when an amuse was delivered. the amuse, while decent (potato fritter with tamarind sauce, mirco greens) was brought way too soon. for the next ten minutes our waiter, politely, kept inquiring about our readiness to order. it got a little too comical so that last time he came, i told him that we aren't ready just for laughs. i originally thought this rush was because we arrived at 6 and i thought that they might of been trying to turn the table for 7-730 reservations. not so as when we left at 745ish the other side of the place was only half full. anyway, i got a Tamarind Margarita that, while being yummy, was a cloudy and had pulpy bits floating around, i'd re-think it's presentation in a clear daiquiri glass. the grrl got a reisling by the glass that was solid. for start she had the meat samosas which were not to heavily fried and pretty decent. i had the fried prawn poori. this was my 'must return to have again' dish. i had seen the photo of this dish in the Globe and been curious about it since. i must say that i was leery because dishes sometimes don't live up to the press things sometimes get when the photographer is there but i must say that this looked (and tasted) exactly as described. a lot of tiny tender shrimps (that are so easy to over cook) mixed veg and fresh beans (small limas?) served in a puff of wheat dough. amazingly yummy. there was a smallish salad on the side but it was not needed at all. for main she had the chicken tikka masala which is her measure of any Indian place and declared it very good, not as good as our favorite (Kebab Factory) but really good. the tomato cream sauce was a bit lighter and probably just as creamy but with the presence of pieces of pepper and onion that detracted for the overall good mouth feel. I had the lamb shanks. while presenting good flavor and spice the meat was not tender enough and the three partial pieces of shank lended more to picking up with fingers and gnawing, not knife and forking. rice was serviceable but a little dry and under seasoned and the plain naan was nothing special, maybe a bit too much charcoal crunchiness. will be back for at least the prawn poori and maybe something from their tandoor.
(3)Sheila B.
This was a very good Indian restaurant. I actually went there 3x times in a month, with different groups of people and a party pof 16. The service was mediocre, the food was really good. The best value was the 3 course price fix menu, veg or non-veg for two. This is the best value for the dollar. This place is definitely not cheap. I would like to see the chef get a little creative by doing a daily special or something. I was impressed to see he did prepare a mouse bouche.
(4)Daniel C.
Nice menu, and I definitely like the idea of "modern Indian" with pork and quail dishes, which are unheard of on a traditional Indian menu, in my experience. The decor was also very enjoyable, with lots of eye candy that really contributed to the experience. My main complaints are with regard to cost and service. The menu was definitely a bit pricey next to similar restaurants, with several dishes over $20. This may just be the Tremont markup, I'm not sure. Also, I found the service to be rather mediocre. A couple of different servers were always bugging us with trivial things ("Wouldn't you like to start the buffet now?"), but then after clearing our plates, just left us for a good ten minutes without inquiring about dessert or the check or anything else.
(3)Josh S.
We had tickets for a Company One production a few doors down, so we thought we'd take advantage of the Groupon we purchased a while back for Mela. My favorite Indian restaurant in Boston is Ghazal in JP, but Mela now ranks second. We got sangria, which was good but the taste of alcohol somewhat overwhelmed the fruit flavor sangria should have. We ordered the Mulligatawny Soup and Fried Prawn Poori as the appetizers. The soup was good, but the Fried Prawn Poori was absolutely delicious. As our entrees, we got the Lamb Tikka Masala and the Gobhi Charchi. I don't eat lamb, but my partnered liked his dish, and I thought the Gobhi Charchi was great. We also ordered the Aloo Naan, which we liked. The only reason I am not giving five stars is because there was a 30 minute lapse from our finishing our appetizer until our main course arrived and they forgot the Aloo Naan, which we had to remind them about. The server apologized on several occasions, which was nice, but the lapse was too long. We will probably give them another go the next time we have tickets for something at the BCA.
(4)Amy K.
I have been here 2x when visiting Boston and have loved it both times. The first time was for the lunch buffet, which was great and included champagne and watermelon juice (which matches the sparkley pink tables). Then I went back for dinner another time. My favorite thing was the goan shrimp curry, the shrimp were great and the sauce was perfectly spicey, the heat didn't overwhelm the other flavors but it had a nice warming after effect.
(4)Sofia A.
The 2 starts are for the service being super slow. We went for lunch, there were probably 3 other parties and mainly having the buffet. We ordered a la carte and took over 30min to get our appetizers. However, the food was good and tasty.
(2)Lee L.
The food is very tasty and the prices are reasonable (especially for the lunch buffet and the dinner for two). After Tamarind, it's my favorite Indian restaurant in Boston. There's no need for a reservation, and the dining room is usually relatively peaceful and quiet. The staff are attentive and efficient. Highly recommended!
(5)Laura A.
wow, i was really surprised at how much i enjoyed my meal here! i don't know why i had a weird prejudice against it. maybe because it looks all stylish and modern and is on tremont and the meals are more $ than i'm used to for indian places i assumed it was way overpriced! my boyfriend and i went here for the weekend brunch buffet, which is inexplicably called "brunch" when there's really nothing brunch-y about it and it starts at 11:30 AM so really it's the weekend LUNCH buffet. it used to have a sign up calling it a "champagne brunch", which they've since taken down and sadly there was no champagne to be seen with our brunch :( sometimes eating at an indian lunch buffet, it feels like the food can taste cooked without much care. damn, if that's the case here then the regular entrees must be amazing! i was surprised at how fresh and delicious all of the vegetarian entrees tasted. i had aloo chole, spinach paneer and a cauliflower/potato dish. they were all excellent. the paneer in particular was not overwhelmingly creamy, it was just right. my only problem with the veg offerings is that i think every buffet should have a lentil option, (but maybe that's just me) and this one didn't. also, i had a samosa but i didn't think it was all that tasty - instead of having mushed up potato innards it was chopped up potatoes, so it didn't taste like a usual samosa. my boyfriend thought his food was fantastic...he had goat, CTM and something else..tandoori chicken, i think. and of course gulab. i will definitely come back here, maybe for takeout next time i'm craving indian. i think their slightly higher prices are definitely justified considering the quality of the food.
(4)Douglas B.
I absolutely love Mela. The service is always top notch and for the South End, this spot is very reasonably priced. Their naan (especially the pashawari) is a great addition to any meal you get, For an entree, I definitely would recommend either the chicken korma or the chicken tikka masala. Five stars for sure...
(5)Julie B.
went here for their lunch buffet. they had a reasonable number of options, but the chicken in the tikka masala was dry, and they had a beef kafta dish with meatballs that i'm pretty sure they stole from IKEA. they were pretty good though. one of my friends, however, was disappointed that hey didn't have any paneer or curry dishes. also, it took us a while to get some naan, but when we got it, we got a heaping of it. there were two HUGE pieces (one garlic, one regular) that were obviously fresh, and very delicious. overall, a solid 3.
(3)Jillian M.
Having worked in the South End for years, I have tried all the overpriced cafes in the area, few of which are worth even mentioning. So as you can imagine, I was thrilled when Mela went in down the street. Since day 1 I have been in love. The buffet is really exceptional, considering its a buffet. Its all freshly prepared, seemingly good quality and downright yummy. It costs about the same as a sandwich at any cafe in the area and comes with fresh hot, delicious Naan... garlic or regular. The service is fantastic as well. My only complaint would be that the tables are very close together, so you may have to deal with some ridiculous South End conversation, but its totally worth it.
(5)Mario R.
Outstanding indian food. Probably the best in Boston. Was recommended to me by the concierge at the Taj hotel. If you like spicy Indian food this is the place!
(5)Julie C.
Mela just keeps getting and better everytime I come here. the staff is awesome and so attentive and nice and very humble. Its cute. The food can not be more awesome. Love the lamb coconut curry, chicken tikki masala, and butter chicken!! (medium spicy please!) Aloo tikka is a nice way to start off your meal ( spicy potatoes fried with a really nice dippng sauce) the wine list is really reasonable. You can get a decent white or red for $30. For dessert, you must get the coconut sherbet. OMG!!! its served in a coconut half shell and is a perfect ending to your meal. they also had these mini cupcake trios which i want to try next time but the sherbet was calling my name. And for an added bonus, if you score a restaurant.com gift cert for $25, it literally pays for your bottle of wine!! ( this is especially awesome if you are able to buy the certs when they have the $2 or $3 sales) Fine Indian dining! Love Mela!!!
(5)Marceline V.
So, I was looking for something tastey for lunch and remembered seeing a GroupOn for Mela and since I was in the area I decided to give it a try... I should add that this was my second time trying Indian food... I came in figuring I would try the Lunch Buffett and I was definitely glad that I walked in! I had the garlic nan, Baingan Bhartha (eggplant), and the Chicken Tikki Masala. The meal was delicious and the waiter was very helpful! A great lunch...would go back again!
(4)Meridith H.
In short, although the food is good, the prices are not in line with the overall experience at Mela. The decor, flatware, and menu all say "fine dining," but the waitstaff are in matching t-shirts instead of a uniform. Most of the waitstaff are also, as illustrated below, socially awkward (or just plain unfriendly) and appear to have little to no training. I walked in without a reservation, and received several glares and a prolonged awkward silence. I asked if this (no reservation) would be a problem, happy to walk back out and find dinner elsewhere. Staff mumbled, "Yes," while poking at the computer. I was then immediately seated. My parter ran late by about 15 minutes, during which time I was treated to more unfriendly looks by the staff. Immediately after my partner arrived, someone arrived to take our order (yes, I was ready, but my husband had just sat down & opened the menu). The waiter who ultimately took care of us seemed to be the only person in the place who knew what he was doing (a great example of a diamond in the rough). I had the malai kofta, which, to be fair, was excellent. My husband was happy with his dish, as well. This indicates that there is a lot of great stuff going on in the kitchen; it's too bad that the dining room experience diminishes enjoyment of the food. P.S. The dining room is way too crowded; waitstaff could barely get by to serve dishes, and anyone who ventured to the restrooms encountered a pedestrian traffic jam on the way back to their table. Taking out a few excess tables would do wonders.
(1)Vishal B.
Over hyped average food.
(2)Baking M.
We revisited Mela individually and as a group, and both times were fantastic. The restaurant can be considered pricey, however we have had a few coupons from online deals giving us more incentive. Mela is located on Restaurant Row and owned by the One World Cuisine (Diva in Cambridge, Kashmir on Newbury, Mantra in Downtown Crossing), it could not be more convenient for standby for our favorite Indian dishes. The lanterns and white sculptures and copper set the ambiance. I think the restaurant is a well decorated one. In addition, we always get a table and are greeted by friendly staff wearing brown shirts with Pure on the front. The mulligatawny soup, made with lentils, vegetables and spices is warming and a nice start $4. The time we visited a duo, we received an amuse, the other visit, when dining as a group we did not. Meat Samosa, spicy turnovers stuffed with minced lamb and spices, with a small garden salad with carrots, cherry tomatoes served with special dressing. I love the sauces that come with the samosas and give additional flavor to them. Two samosas for $5 Although we had plain naan, I highly suggest the fresh garlic naan. We tried the Malai Kofta, vegetable balls cooked in a nut sauce with fresh herbs and spices. I really enjoyed the creamy sauce and there was only two vegetables in the dish, which is a bit meager for $15. As an old standby, we ordered Palak Paneer, cheese cooked in a creamy spinach sauce. It is nice to have a range of choices from Mild to Hot for $14. Next we tried the Daal Makhni, lentils sauteed in butter, spices and topped with coriander $13. The lentils were hearty and the coriander gave that added hint of freshness. I know there is a population which have a negative reaction to coriander and I am glad I do not. The smooth raita yogurt with shredded cucumbers, potato & mint was cooling when we needed to cut the heat of the spices $2. The Lamb Korma, cooked with nuts and raisins in a mild creamy sauce was really delicious and each bit had the sweetness of the raisin $17. I enjoyed the Garlic Beef beef cubes and garlic in a curry, however the meat was a bit gristly and fatty. The flavor and heat of the curry was so good I just isolated the curry to eat with the basmati rice $14. In addition to kheer, we tried the Ras Malai for the first time, a cheese patty, cooked in a milk syrup, almonds and nuts. From here on out, I am sticking to the sweet, cardamom laced rice pudding.
(5)Mary Jo C.
I was a bit skeptical walking in to Mela since there were virtually no Indians dining which typically means so-so food. Boy was I wrong! Everything was on point - from the flavors, to the plating, service, and atmosphere. We ordered the Veggie Samosas, Lamb Shank Curry, Chicken Tikka, and Palak Paneer. Everything was tasty but the lamb shank was in a league of its own. Portions were hearty which is hard to find w/Indian restaurants. It's a bit pricier than most Indian spots but worth it.
(4)Kim P.
A fine place for a Sunday brunch if you have a jones for Indian food and want to try something new, which was my case. Not the best I've had, but the prices were reasonable. Would have loved some masala tea gratis as I've had from other places, but it was worth $3.00. I don't think it's worth driving over to the South End if you're not local, though. You cannot enjoy the food if you're hopped up on parking rage...So, get your mind right before you venture over there.
(3)Nit S.
Used a groupon for a vegetarian thali for two a long while back. The food was much better than I expected. It was rich and delicious! I loved the kulfi at the end; it didn't taste like other kulfis I've had. I wouldnt mind going back for that thali.
(4)J H.
I have been here twice now, both times with Buywithme coupons. We have ordered the non-vegetarian dinner for 2 and you get to choose from a variety of entrees and desserts. The food is good, I've gotten the chicken vindaloo and a shrimp dish that has peppers and mushrooms. I'm not a big fan of the basmati rice, it's not as fluffy as I'd prefer it to be. The service here is really slow; all said and done, it takes about 2 hours. If you aren't pressed for time and in the mood for Indian, I definitely recommend trying this place!
(4)Countess O.
sunday nights are meant to be indian takeout nights. mela had 4 stars, looked promising. and i'm not super elitist about indian food, as long as it doesn't give me butterflies in my stomach. so we ordered from Mela. there were three levels of spiciness to choose from, and we chose spicy for all the dishes we ordered: the food came in a timely fashion and the deliverer even managed to find our technically illegal building without calling even once. at zero delivery charge too. the order went something like: - everything biryani: pretty solid and self explanatory. even had chunks of beef which were overcooked and dry. also, beef in indian food is just plain weird. - saag paneer, which went by an alias on the menu but we successfully blew its cover. now, the star of this review: GARLIC NAAN (see pic). since we ordered takeout, we specified for the naan to be 'extra hot' so that it wouldn't be a sheet of unbreakable ice when it arrives (thanks a lot, boston). and when we undressed its tin foil, it was charred. i flipped it over, also charred on the other side. in my pic i tried to distinguish front and back yet failed to do so, since the amount of carcinogenic carbon is virtually identical on both sides. so i just assigned random sides. Mela, for future reference, in re: to naans, "extra hot" does not mean DEATH BY FIRE. i'll probably not order from this place again unless Mela gets its naan right, i mean, an indian restaurant incinerating its naan is basically like a french restaurant serving moldy hairy baguettes, an italian restaurant serving tadpole-infested olive oil, and a chinese restaurant serving general Tso/Gau's chicken.
(2)Michael C.
Some very good Indian food in the South End. Having had tons of Indian food on the west coast where the quality is generally much higher, Mela is up to Par! I had the Butter Chicken, which comes with rice, although the menu does not readily indicate this. It was delicious! also had the garlic naan, which went perfectly with our meal.
(4)Janae G.
I went here for my birthday dinner. It was pretty good seeing as I haven't had Indian Cuisine probably since the second grade. The beau and I got Chicken Tikka & Pakora which was pretty good. CT was a hing dry, but the flavor was good. CP was tasty. I got the lamb curry and the beau got the beef curry which were also good, not great and not bad, just good. The highlight of the dish was the Peshawari Naan, it stood out and made everything mingle well. Overall, I liked it. The waiters were a bit involved LOL my bf had to "shoo" them away more than twice, but it didn't detract anything from the quaint little eat-in. It was nice and cheap (I was told)...
(4)Craig S.
Went in at 2:55 for a lunch buffet that closes at 3PM not only did they let us in they were super nice about it. Good thing about Indian food is the longer it simmers the more flavor it has - going this late was a good idea. Everything we had was pretty amazing. What I think were warm curried lamb balls were delicious despite my description. Cix Tikka Massala was spicy and comforting as was the lentil prag gash (I think that's close). Tried a new dish of Mushroom light cream soup it was awesome, will def get it again. .....and then the Garlic Naan came hot out the oven- easily the best I've ever had. So excited to move to the neighborhood so I can make this a regular spot.
(5)Eddie B.
The best Indian food in Boston area. Have been here few times, for lunch buffet and dinner. Everything we tried was excellent. Also, the make best chicken tikka masala I've ever tried.
(5)Amir K.
Mela always has a groupon which makes its prices very reasonable, the food is always cooked perfectly and very delicious. Be careful with the buffet, its dangerously addictive.
(4)KJ W.
Delicious and ample amounts of food! The customer service is amazing! The naans and fresh and flavorful and the curries are well balanced. This was the third time I have been and I will go back without question!
(5)Steph P.
My colleagues and I love to come to Mela for the lunch buffet. Mela is a 10 minute walk from our office and we can walk there, have lunch and walk back in our allotted hour lunch. The buffet is varied and has 5 or 6 entree options as well as vegetable pakora, basmati rice, soup and salad. I really enjoy the beef kofta and saag paneer. The servers bring your choice of fresh naan to the table and there is even rice pudding for dessert. The restaurant is comfortable and always able to serve our ever expanding group as we get more and more coworkers wanting to come with. The buffet is only $9.95, but look for their Groupon for only $7.
(4)Kate J.
We had mango lassi, chicken vindaloo and beef korma. The korma was ok. Lassi and vindaloo were way too sour. I'm a little disappointed given high hopes after reading other reviews. Nice ambience though but that's about it.
(2)Quinn B.
My favorite Indian restaurant anywhere. This is *the* go-to place for my fiancée and I. Beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes are all great. The frequent Groupon promotions they run ($20 for $40 worth of food) are good deals, as is the lunch. Kind of a hidden gem in that it's rare you run into a long wait. Service is usually great but on rare occasions it's been very slow.
(5)Jessica D.
Great Indian food in South End. Nice environment and friendly servers. Chicken tikka masala is to die for...naan is fresh naked and fantastic.
(4)Julia L.
I went with three other friends - two of them got the buffet and two of us ordered food. First things we noticed, the decor was beautiful, with pink curtains and white decor. There was plenty of light streaming in and created a very endearing atmosphere. The lunch buffet seems like an excellent deal at around $10 per person, but the Indian friend said Tantric on Stuart St. had better food for the same price. Me and my friend ordered the meat samosas, chicken vindaloo, a lamb dish, and badami kulfi. Everything was pretty good, but the bread that they serve as appetizer was a true winner with me. Soft, fluffy, and right out of the oven. Everything else was decent except I didn't really like the badami kulfi. It was my first time trying it, but it was too crystalized and sweet for my taste. Our portion of the meal ended up around $45 for an appetizer, two dishes, and dessert, which is on the pricy side for lunch, but good thing we had a Groupon. Would come again for the lunch buffet, but probably not regular menu.
(3)Jolene S.
Got to stop in for brunch special (come hungry and it's an awesome deal). Esp. liked the chicken tikka/tandoori chicken, eggplant, and gulab jamun. (~$16/person w/ tax+ tip, hard to beat) Would avoid the goat curry here+skip the samosas too. Didn't have space for the dosas, but I think those might be good too--they went fast and by the time there were more, I was already stuffed. Very good option for this area.
(3)Megan B.
This is a great place for an indian food date night. It's small but romantic inside and the food is delicious and easy to share. They have an awesome lunch buffet for $10 and I even found a groupon now and paid $7.
(4)Josephine L.
Mela is just....weird. It's got tons of room, yet sets up the furniture so you are no more than 6 inches apart from your neighbors and have to hear their loud, geriatric, "What's that, Ethel?" conversation about why their lives are better for being college professors. The menu is huge but offers little in the way of truly different or unique Indian creations. The prices are on the expensive side, yet they offer a Dinner for 2 combo that's jam-packed with stuff. The service is attentive and perfunctory but not friendly in the least. A study in contrasts. The boy and I did the Mela Non-Vegetarian Dinner for 2. Mulligatawny Soup: Hot and salty. Hit the spot. Meat Samosa: Like eating eraser bits (you know, the stuff that comes out when you rub it on the paper) in a fried encasing. Accompanying tandoori pieces were rubbery and dry. Entree 1: Chicken Korma. Very peppery, less sweet and tomato-y. Not bad, but not great. Entree 2: Points for having Butter Chicken on the menu. Not Tikka Masala, that British invention, but good ol' Butter Chicken. Don't know why Boston Indian restaurants seem to not serve this. Mela's is creamy and delicious, and the chicken is quite tender. Naan: Thick and a little too doughy. And charred like a pair of 4th of July BBQ tongs. Dessert: Kheer for the boy, Ras Malai for me. Quite good, but the boy says he's had better kheer. They never gave us tea or coffee. FAIL. $45 well spent only because we had a voucher.
(3)Pete J.
Right up there with my previous piece of sage advice, "Never go to a restaurant single digit days after it has been Grouponed" is "Never go to a restaurant the week that a Groupon expires" You would think that I would learn from my own mistakes, but no, some people (me) have to learn the hard way. So it's a Tuesday night and the place is packed. Fortunately I had had the foresight to call up a few hours before to make a reservation (I haven't done that in a while - isn't everybody on Open Table now?) Our table's not ready so we head to the bar. Now, this was supposed to be a romantic dinner for two, but my co-worker's wife was out of town, so I took pity on him and let him tag along with girly and I. They seemed to be either very short staffed, or completely overwhelmed, but watching the servers was like watching the keystone cops, running around and banging into each other. No hostess as such, just each one of the servers popping behind the counter when the need arose. Needless to say, they kind of forgot about us, but when reminded they were able to seat us. When this was going to be a party of two, I had gone online and researched the menu and had decided to get the non-vegetarian dinner for two, which is a great deal for $45. Two cups of soup, two samosas, a mixed grill plate, a choice of any two curries, naan bread and dessert for two and coffee/tea. I asked the server if it could be customized for three people, but he said no, it couldn't. He did suggest that I purchase an additional samosa and an additional curry dish, so that's what we did. The mulligatawny soup, was a bit bland (he brought 3 cups). The samosas were dry, the mixed grill plate consisted of assorted tandoori style meats, but they were a bit dry also. The naan bread was excellent as were two of the three curries. The butter chicken was delightful and highly recommended, the shrimp marsala was also really well made. The lamb vindaloo was a bit disappointing though, not enough spice and the flavour was dull. Dessert was a choice of any two from the dessert list. We had the kheer, which is a sweet Indian rice pudding, little watery, but good. Also the ice cream which was tasty and unique. We didn't get offered tea or coffee :( Service was neither good nor bad. He seemed to forget about us for long periods of time, but that was understandable given how busy the place was. But he was pleasant when he was with us. I think that minus the pandemonium of the expiring Grouponers this place would be a cool hangout in the South End (assuming you can get here by car or T, but that's another story). Most of the food is decent, the butter chicken is the standout winner. Unfortunately, they seem to want to be the #1 choice of every coupon-cutter as I see they are on restaurant.com now also and I think I saw them on buy-with-me as well as Groupon, of course, so I don't know when it would be any less busy than it was.
(3)Monique S.
Although we had reservations, there was not a table for us. But they were prompt at clearing the first available table and seating us. It took while for someone to come help us, but after that, all was good. The Malai kofta was delicious, not too salty and very flavorful. The chicken saag was ok, leaving something to be desired (chicken was a bit dry). The Naan was huge and a little crispy. I prefer softer naan. The mango lassi was delicious, although it was a bit watery and less creamy. The place has a great atmosphere and modern decor. The location is prime South End real estate. Overall, a good experience.
(4)Sarah M.
3.5 stars. Went to dinner in the South End for some Indian food with a $40 Google offers Groupon type thing. The space was on the smaller side, but quite cute, and we were promptly seated at a table by the window. Maybe this should have been a first flag - south end...thursday night...no wait. Maybe not a red-flag...perhaps yellow. The menu had all your standard items, but the dish i wanted, shrimp vindaloo (medium-to-spicy) was not on the menu. Upon request they were able to make this for me so that was quite nice. My boyfriend ordered the malai kofta (spicy), which is his staple dish. In addition we went with veggie samosas, garlic naan, and a side of raita. Some of my favorite places in the city give you complimentary papadums when you are seated, but that was not the case here. sadness. Our samosas came out in a timely manner, and we large and quite good. My only complaint is that they were a little skimpy on the condiments - the typical green, brown/purple, and orange chopped onion ones (sorry i do not know the proper names). There were smudges of them on the plate as opposed to the typical little ramekins you get at other places leaving my boyfriend and i scraping them onto our appetizer. I typically like to use them throughout my meal, so this was another bummer. Our dishes came out soon after we finished our appetizer, and i have to say i was impressed with the portion sizes. A bit larger than i feel is typical. Both of our dishes were good, but that is really about it. The malai kofta was no where near as spicy as we usually like, and my boyfriend said that the texture of the veggie-balls seemed a bit off. My shrimp tasted good, but also i was saddened at the lack of kick. All in all it was a good experience, but there are far better places in the city without the South End prices.
(3)Amy B.
I ordered takeout from Mela this evening using Foodler. First, I placed my order around 7:15 and the automated system told me delivery would be about 8. At 8:30, I called Mela and was told the food was en route. At 8:45, the driver arrived. The driver was VERY nice and apologized that the food had taken so long, and included a $10 off of $50 coupon in my bag. The food was also still warm. So while I probably would have ordered elsewhere if I'd known it was going to take so long, I guess there was no real harm done. Unfortunately, I just really did not enjoy the food. I ordered aloo naan (stuffed with potato and spices) and butter chicken, medium spicy. The aloo naan was ok, but greasy and I did not like one of the two dipping sauces that came with it (too sweet). The butter chicken was really lackluster. This is one of my favorite Indian dishes because of its rich and full flavors, but this particular version was almost bland. The chicken itself was moist and tender, but the sauce was utterly forgettable.This too was a bit greasier than I've come to expect for Indian food in the US. Yes, I know the dish is called "butter chicken," but usually the sauce doesn't have a pool of grease floating on top. The bag of food also included a packet of crispy bread (roti, I think?) broken into chip-like size. Those were tasty, but really not that different from salty American tortilla chips. I probably will not give Mela a second try. At its price, I'd rather spend a few dollars more per entree for Kashmir for high-end Indian food. If I want delivery Indian food, India Samraat is less expensive and more flavorful (and has delivered faster than promised).
(2)neeraj c.
Bleh. Poor tasting food. Avoid the goat curry. Not traditional tasting and yuck. The mulligatawny soup was bland. The Chapatis were middle eastern pita breads. Seriously! I would avoid this place for the way below average taste of food.
(1)Garrett B.
I attended an end-of-semester dinner party here the other evening. This place has a lot going for it, but a few flaws gives it three stars. This place gets 5 stars for decor. It's gorgeous. Everything from the mood lighting to the framed photos of India is well done. I ordered the chicken korma and vegetable samosas. The samosas came out piping hot and were really good. No complaints there. We ran into some problems with our entrees. Usually at Indian restaurants, I'm fine ordering a medium heat version of a dish. My dish was delicious, but too spicy for my taste. Half way through and I was gulping water constantly. If I come back, I'll definitely order my dish mild so I can enjoy it even more. I docked some points for the price of the food. As some other people mentioned, I feel like the price for quantity is high. You are definitely paying a premium for the atmosphere and location of Mela. Service was ok. They were very diligent about some things, but not others. It took a while for the food to come out. I want to try to the lunch buffet which seems to be a better deal.
(3)Johnny G.
My favorite indian food in Boston. They are great when it comes to accommodating special requests and the lunch buffet is a great deal. My only knock is that they cook all the rice in margarine. Margarine: the condiment that is one molecule away from plastic. No rice for me, thanks.
(4)Anna L.
I've eaten here several times and had positive experiences every time I've been. Even my husband who only recently started eating Indian food really enjoys it. Some of our favorites include the chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo and the palak paneer. Their cocktails are only OK, so I usually stick to wine or beer. The staff is friendly, but there aren't many tables, so I'd recommend a reservation. They do offer a 40% discount on food through Savored - which I highly recommend!
(5)Julie N.
Having always wanted to try Indian food, a Groupon got me in the door of Mela. Wait, so how am I a Yelp Elite without every having Indian food before? Uhm, hmmm, yeah... that's not tell the big guys about that. I've finally come to be okay with the fact that my husband and I are only 30 but we eat as early as my 90 year old grandfather. Having said that, I really truly do enjoy an empty dining room and eager staff awaiting to start their night on the job. It's a good trade off. This place is really cute, maybe a teeny bit in need of some fresh curtains and decor, but nothing you can't look past. The menu was rather large but I stuck with recommendations of Meat Samosa, Chicken Tikka, Goat Curry, and Chicken Tikka Masala. The samosa's were fantastic. There were like 36 different levels of flavors and pairing it with their sauces made it into something extremely noteworthy. The chicken tikka was as dry as the day is long. The goat curry was so far overpriced at $17 for a bowl full of bones (literally it was impossible to find meat on the plate and they literally gave us full bones on the dish). But, the chicken tikka masala won the dinner. It's incredibly rich and when paired with the onion naan and rice, it pretty much blew my head off. The Groupon helped the final bill, but not by enough. I found this place to be good but far too expensive for what it is and though I'm really excited about trying more Indian food, I don't think I'll go back here for a long time.
(3)Ashley E.
Mela is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to! I've been here a few times (for dinner only) because I can't get enough of their chicken tikka masala. I also love their chat papri (not spicy, but the spices they use are so memorable and cravable), the vegetarian samosas (the meat ones are good to, but maybe not the best I've ever had), and the shrimp saag. I thought the garlic naan was great - came out to our table warm and chewy. The last time I was there they brought us a free mushroom soup and I was blown away. I never would have thought to order it, but it was soo delicious that I will definitely order it the next time I go! Overall, the prices are great and the food is so tasty and there's always enough for leftovers so I will continue to return again and again!
(5)Elle J.
Unfortunately I have to downgrade them. I have been disappointed the last 2-3 times that I have been there. I feel that they are cost cutting and the quality has gone down. My favorite dish used to be the vegetable jalfrezi but the last few times they the paneer was not properly cooked, the variety and flavour of the vegetables were lacking and I received chapati that was noticeably not fresh. They told me that it was just made, which it was clearly not, but they brought me another order. One bad experience would not have made me downgrade the restaurant but after another two visits it was obvious that this was the new standard.
(2)Does I.
We went to George's island before coming here, reading the reviews and hoping this would atleast be average. Well, all I can say is that the malai kofta was so hard, it reminded me of the cannon balls on display at the visitor's center in George's island. They were super hard, and super dry inside. The naans were the worst I have ever had at any place, the service was the worst I have ever seen in any indian restaurant. The chaat was bland, the butter chicken was just average. Any indian restaurant would be better than this place which is cramped, always busy and definitely not worth spending time finding the parking and then walking 5 minutes to find this place. Definitely not worth it, definitely overpriced, definitely super duper over rated. Even the New Hampshire indian restaurants are better than this.
(1)Sherwood H.
I frequent this establishment at least once a month. The staff is pleasant and efficient, and the food is consistently excellent. If you are looking for good Indian food and a friendly environment, you can't go wrong at Mela.
(5)David H.
Brought an Indian visitor here for lunch - she was interested in how Indian food tastes in the US. Unfortunately, she was not impressed - she said it lacked authenticity, though she liked the decor. Server seemed uninterested in her work, went through the motions and could not even answer simple questions - like whether animal fat/lard was used in the cooking. Four of us each had a entree and garlic or regular nan. I had chicken vindaloo, nice portion, chicken and potatoes over white rice. Tasted fine, but I'm no expert. Will try again.
(3)Jess N.
Mela, where reservations mean nothing. We called and made a reservation for 8 on a Friday night. "No problem." Well I guess nothing is truly a problem if you don't apply time to it.... we waited for about an hour and were seated at 9PM. Somehow we were seated before the couple ahead of us, which resulted in death glares. (Fortunately, we survived.) My boyfriend sat down at the table and immediately started complaining about the uncomfortable chairs. I sometimes wonder if restaurant owners forget that to taste the food, most people prefer sitting comfortably. Anyhow, we were starving by this time and ordered a non-vegetarian dinner for 2 ($45), which came with lentil soup, an appetizer for both of us, 2 entrees, another plate of miscellaneous meat and a side of rice. There was so much food that we had left overs for another meal and snack!!! Talk about an amazing price.
(3)Raquel F.
Turned up at Mela on a Friday at 8pm without a reservation. Had to wait 25 minutes, but it was certainly worth it. My party of four girls ordered one of the 2 person dinners and a couple more pieces, and we were stuffed! Mela also has a mango drink that was simply divine.Total bill was around $80, which was very reasonable for the amount we ate. The staff was excellent, and predicted our every need before we had time to request (e.g. an extra place setting for an additional guest). Will definitely be returning.
(5)Sarah F.
We had a good meal at Mela - not great, which is exactly how we felt when we came away from this restaurant last time. We are big Indian foodies so we might be fussy about some dishes being prepared the way we like. The Mulligatawny soup was a disappointment - very thin and not spicy in the least. We prefer spice and substance to our lentil soup. The main dishes were good, but we were asked if we wanted them to be mild,, medium or spicy which is a sign right there that the dishes aren't being cooked traditionally. The sauces were all tasty (perhaps the masala was a little acidic) but they used white meat chicken in the korma and that is also a sign of inauthenticity. None of the tandoori tenderness, just tough and overcooked white meat. We also ordered a modern Indian dish: duck jalfrazie which was interesting and pretty good. The wait staff here is awesome and the atmosphere is great. It is a popular spot with a vibe so a fun restaurant to visit for sure.
(3)Jeff F.
This is officially my new go-to for Indian food in Boston. Here's the rundown stack-ranked: - Chicken Tikka Masala: Excellent - best I've had in town - Chicken Vindaloo - we enjoyed it - Lamb Mushroom Do-Piaza: can't believe my old man made this call - it didn't catch my eye, but found out this was one of their specialty dishes. Exceptional Call - recommended! - Garlic Naan: solid - 22oz Taj Mahals: perfect I have to admit that the service was the least impressive part of the meal (essentially echoing a few other reviews.) I need to get back here for the lunch buffet.
(4)Jen K.
I really enjoyed seeing a little bit of the South End and visiting Mela, although there were three issues that arose during our meal that cause me to drop it down to three stars. Things started off well when we were seated at our reservation time and quickly offered a small taste of soup while we looked through the menu. Our party of three ordered the combination dinner with meat for $45 (pay $10 less for the vegetarian option). Although it says it is for two, we still couldn't finish the meal and had leftovers. Of all the dishes we ordered, those with lamb were the standouts. The meat samosas, chicken tiki masala, lamb vindaloo, mixed grill and naan were quite good. I thought the mulligatawny soup was a bit of a disappointment. Dessert was also quite large and I could barely make a dent in the kheer. On to the issues. My biggest piece of advice for future diners is to make sure you are seated in the main dining room and not the smaller area next to the kitchen. For the majority of the meal, our group thought a woman at a table next to us had her phone on and was receiving constant twitter updates because of this really annoying tweet, tweet noise. It became comical, because my friends were hoping I'd go over and confront the diner (fight! fight!), but that's not my style. But after all the agitation, it turned out it wasn't the diner. It was the hinge of the swinging door into the kitchen. It swings one way and you get a loud boing noise and it swings back the other way and tweet, tweet. The most distracting thing ever! For the other issues, we had a fly in one of the water glasses and while the restaurant has lovely décor and lighting, the bathroom is really a mess. It is like you are walking into an entirely different restaurant. All of these things can be fixed and we left management a note on the comment card, so hopefully they will address the issues. For the meager investment of an oil can and a fresh coat of paint, I'm sure future diners will thank you.
(3)Kirk D.
Food was delicious, i would have given 5 stars but the service was slow. The staff were friendly and it was a younger crowd. Definitely the place to have some wine, good food, and good conversation. We had a groupon for 85 dollars for four of us and it was hard to spend it all. Go for the smaller groupon if its 3 or 4 people or the big one if you have 6 or so at the table. Delicious food and great ambiance!
(4)Spencer H.
This was my first time here and although the food was pretty good, the service ruined it for me. My party of 3 had to wait nearly 40 minutes before getting our food and the waiter claimed it was because they had to fulfill the to-go orders first. At least try to accomodate.
(2)Chris C.
Really enjoy the food here, both delivery and dining in. Stopped by the first time because of a Groupon and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The only thing that prevents me from giving them 5 stars in the price, which is a bit on the high side for what it is.
(4)Manpreet K.
I went in to order take-out from Mela last weekend. I was told the order will be ready in 15 mins or so. It took them almost 40 minutes to get 2 entrees and bread ready. I was offered soup couple of minutes before the order was ready. It was surprising since the place wasn't even that busy. Besides the wait, the food was mediocre at most, esp for the prices they are charging. The Chicken with spinach and black lentils were just okay. I ordered the garlic naan and the onion kulcha, wanting variety in the bread selection. Both the breads were exactly the same, except one had onions. Mela doesn't really have anything to hold my attention. I'd rather drive to Allston and order from a small restaurant, that's not only cheaper but has quality Indian food.
(2)H. G.
This past summer, I took my parents here for the weekend buffet. What a spread! I've never been to an Indian buffet that included naan and gulab jamun. My parents were raving about it. Since then, they're always asking about Mela like it's a friend of mine: "How is Mela?" "Have you been to Mela lately?" "Is anything new going on with Mela?" Anyway, other than the buffet, I've eaten here probably a dozen times. Some of my favorites: butter chicken, aloo choley (potatoes/chick peas), shahi bhindi (okra), and daal makhni (lentils). This is a fantastic place for vegetarians, as the veggie dishes are usually even better than the non-veg ones. And the prices are very reasonable. They have a vegetarian dinner for two ($35) and a non-veg dinner for two ($45). No normal couple should ever be able to finish either (maybe Tom & Roseanne when they were married). The veg dinner, for example, comes with mulligatawny soup, samosa, choice of 2 entrees, rice, naan, raita, dessert and tea/coffee. So much food. The only thing that stresses me out about this place is that I'm worried it will close soon. During the week, it is often woefully empty while inferior places like Addis, Pops and Stephi's are packed. I live right across the street, and sometimes I watch over the place like Jerry did with Babu Bhatt's "Dream Cafe."
(5)Alex S.
I have had nothing but wonderful experiences at this restaurant. For dinner it has a rather romantic atmosphere with dim lights and candles. I always bring my fiance here and despite the fact that she isn't totally in love with Indian food, she enjoys coming here. I would always get the chicken tikka masala. The chicken is made very very tender and the sauce is very good. It is one of the best I have ever had and if you get it in the "hot" form, the hotness gives it a very good kick. I highly recommend getting it hot. Dessert: The Rose Ice Cream is just awesome. Hard to describe. It feels like I am eating vanilla ice cream but with a rosy smell. Hard to describe but I like it very much. We always come here for their dinner for two special. It is an AMAZING deal. You basically get an appetizer, soup, 2 entrees, tea/coffee, kebob and dessert for 45 dollars. For a restaurant of this caliber, it is an absolutely great deal that is hard to beat. Service: Their service is nice and prompt. The waiters are nice and polite. Overall 5/5 stars
(5)Jamie F.
Nothing like hot Indian food to warm you up on a cold winter night. I discovered Mela from a recent groupon purchase and finally had dinner here on New Year's Day. With cute décor like hanging paper lanterns, maroon-colored drapes, and dimmed lighting, the atmosphere was romantic; however, the cramped seating area and uncomfortable straw chairs detracted the experience a little. I LOVE watermelon so I was ecstatic to see watermelon daiquiri on the beverage menu. To my surprise, it was tasty and fresh despite the fruit not in season; it even came with a small watermelon slice! Sweet! The pistachio shake was also very good with a creamy texture. I'll definitely order one of these drinks again next time even though I didn't quite fancy the $4.50 price tag. There's a saying that if you must try authentic Indian cuisine, get the butter chicken because it's the most popular dish in India. Naturally, we ordered it and it was delicious - definitely my preferred sauce for dipping naan. We actually did not like the samosas very much. I preferred a crunchier dough, and the lamb meat filling was too gamy for me. The lamb korma was also good and not overly creamy, but darn that gamy lamb!!! The bone-in goat curry was not that great because it tasted more like ketchup than curry. For each dish, you can order a specific degree of hotness (mild, medium, or hot). I'd probably go for 'hot' next time; 'medium' did not produce that runny nose effect. Overall, it was a positive dinner experience. The extremely polite, attentive, and friendly service was what really edged this review to 4 stars. I still think Indian food in general is overpriced, so my next visit to Mela will be for the lunch buffet.
(4)Laurinda U.
Was here yesterday for the lunch buffet with three friends. I mentioned Yelp and totally got $10 off! One of the better Indian buffets for $10. It comes with a free basket of naan (nice and buttery), soup and salad option, and 6+ curry options which is very tasty.
(4)Libby T.
i'd heard great things about mela, so i picked up the groupon when it came around. as far as indian food goes, i've had much better... and the food was sometimes cold, but pretty presentation.
(3)Nik B.
What really pushed this place to 5 stars was the service. I entered by myself and was immediately sat down at a table. Once my friend arrived, we were immediately served a complimentary soup. We ordered the Vegetarian dinner for 2, which was awesome. Not only was it a lot of food and a lot of variety for $35, but it was also all delicious! The samosas are brought to you first. They are perfectly made. Fresh, and lots of delicious potato and green pea filling. Next you are brought the mulligatawny soup. It's also very good. It's not too dense with the lentils, and has a great ginger and coriander flavor. Next up: main courses. We got the Palak Paneer and the Baingan Bhartha. Both of which were completely delicious. The Baingan Bharta consisted of pureed egglplant among peas onions and other spices. t was really flavorful. The Palak paneer was creamed spinach with indian cheese cubes. The spinach was really nicely cooked. It was all surprisingly hearty. Then were was dessert and coffee. We got the gulab jamun and the kulfi. The kulfi was pretty standard, but the gulab jamun was PERFECTLY cooked. Definitely recommend it. The syrup that came with it was also spot on. The coffee was a great way to end a large meal. I will definitely come back to Mela whenever I can, this was a great deal.
(5)Mark W.
This is for the lunch buffet. I've gone to a couple indian buffets and this one though wasn't the biggest was quite tasty especially for the price. The garlic naan was great there. They had about 6 different entrees and rice. All them the normal dishes like a spinach paneer dish, tandoori chicken, some type of lentil curry, beef korma, chicken tikka, etc etc. Overall for 10 bucks you can't really complain. The service is prompt and attentive. I don't think my water even got half way down (borderline annoying but better than being empty all the time).
(4)Sherry T.
I really like this place. It has a good decor and when we went, it wasn't really crowded. This usually means that a place isn't that great but in this case, that was not the case at all! For us, it meant the waitstaff was relaxed (not flustered) and attentive. We were seated right away. The menu was pretty good and it offered a lot of options at different price points. It's actually waaaay more than I would normally spend on Indian food (seeing as I get it free at home and if I do go out, I stick to buffets). We actually ended up here because a friend had found one of those coupons where you can get $20 worth of food for $10, $40 for $20, etc. I know some people look down on coupons like this because it may spell out that a restaurant is desperate for business and not very good. In this case, we were willing to take a gamble because we were on a budget. And I was not disappointed! My sister and I ordered and shared the chaat papri and the tandoori mixed grill. Both were excellent. The chaat papri I had had before and it tasted pretty typical but since I find papri chaat typically tasty, this was not a bad thing! The tandoori mixed grill was so good. With tandoori meat, there's always a danger of the meat getting dried out. Not here! The meat was juicy and flavorful. They covered it all with some sauce and that just added to the dish. Even though we shared our food, we both left full---I was a little worried that it wouldn't be enough because we're good eaters but it was great. I suggest that you order sides of rice to accompany some of the dishes. Overall, with our coupon and having shared, we left paying about $10-15 each. Not bad for dinner.
(4)Cecile B.
We really like this place. It's small and best on weekdays when they aren't too busy. We always order the dinner for two. Plenty of food and the opportunity to sample a variety of items. During the week, they bring you a little welcome munchie, though not on the weekends. Family friendly place too.
(4)Joanne C.
I came here on a coupon I had purchased on Ruelala, $20 for $40. I had never been to Mela before. The restaurant is relatively small, the decor was pretty nice, and there was a small bar area. The business was packed. We arrived on a Saturday night at 815pm. Luckily I had made a reservation. The crowd was full of young, trendy people, the decor was fairly impressive and cozy especially on a winter night. We ordered 2 curries, Vindaloo lamb and butter chicken. Both curries I thought were overly sour. The presentation of the dishes was good but I feel like I've had better Indian food before. My major complaint would be the cost. I thought the dishes were expensive. We ordered 2 curries, 2 glasses of wine and a naan bread. The total came to $60 before tip. Had it not been the coupon which helped, I would think that's overly expensive for the quality. It's a trendy Indian restaurant, the service was good, the naan bread was very good. Maybe it was just the curries that were not so good. But how could you go to an Indian restaurant without trying the curries? If you're going purely on the food, just OK. Otherwise on a social night out, pretty good atmosphere.
(2)Christina G.
I quite enjoyed the tasty Indian meal I had here. Mela is a chic little place with a great menu and some delicious food and cocktails. I enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Samosas, and grilled naan. I'm not sure how it stacks up against other Indian places in the Boston area since this cuisine is still new to me, but it seems like a good option if you are right here in the South End. Apparently they have a great (and cheap) lunch buffet that seems worth checking out.
(4)Kevin M.
Did the weekday lunch buffet today, the selection was small and the salad/dessert station was subpar. On a positive side the items that were carried in the lunch station, thought limited, were all served really well with excellent flavor. Look for a GrouponNow before paying full price.
(3)Lisa H.
Love this place. All of the food is amazing. I especially love the Chicken Tikka Masala. Probably the best Indian food on the Boston side of the river.
(5)Clarice P.
Mela quickly became, not only my favorite Indian restaurant, but, one of my favorite restaurants of all time after finding it on restaurant.com . Since my boyfriend and I discovered this little gem, we've been back multiple times and always look forward to our next visit. We may not know REAL Indian food but the food here is incredible, whatever it may be. The garlic naan is amazing and the chicken tikka masala is mouth-watering. I've also tried a couple of the lamb dishes and they were delicious as well. The servers are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is cozy and fun! We LOVE Mela!
(5)John A.
I've never had food that tasted like this before! Mela got an easy five stars after my first few bites. I had the Malai Kofta and it was absolutely incredible. It was made with vegetable balls and "exotic spices" in a unique cream sauce. Let me tell you it was certainly exotic and delicious. The naan was also warm and fresh and the basmati rice had a perfect texture and was a nice complement to the meal. Another aspect that made Mela memorable was the excellent service. The waitstaff was very attentive without being overly intrusive. I feel like that's a bit of an art form that few waiters are able to attain. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to suggest dishes and translate for us. These guys have awesome, professional service from the moment you walk in the door. It should be mentioned that Mela is located in a rather small space. They cram a lot of patrons into the restaurant and you're likely to be sitting very close to other guests. This place may not be the best restaurant for diners looking for a more quiet and private atmosphere. Other than that, Mela is top notch.
(5)Beth H.
Bought a buywithme coupon the other day and tried the place. My friend is a vegetarian and we ordered the okra and the eggplant. Both were good but the okra was by far the best along with the garlic naan. Will probably try it again some time when i'm around the area and craving Indian.
(3)Add D.
Went here on a weekday. Opted for a la carte instead of buffet. Bad service - very slow. The ambiance was horrible - we were seated next to the restroom. They do not turn AC on to save money and we were sweating - inside! at least 85F. Butter chicken and Malai Kofta tasted the same - which means they have same gravy for everything and they will ask you mild/medium/hot to add some spice to it - eeks. Coming from the subcontinent, I know good Indian food when I find one and this is certainly not the place - not worth the hype. P.S. they don't have plastic glasses for lassi to go, so they gave it to us in a container! who serves lassi in a container!
(1)Alexis W.
Delicious food -- actually spicy when I requested it that way. Had the house eggplant dish, potato-stuffed nan. More food than I could eat, but that's OK. I ordered through an online delivery system and it arrived precisely on time. My only complaints: 1. They ignored my request to redeem a coupon for a free mango lassi. No lassi. 2. They included no cutlery. (Normally I'd cheer, for home deliveries, since it's so wasteful -- but not when the delivery's to a hotel, which I clearly indicated on the online info. I submitted).
(4)April M.
I've eaten here twice so far, both times take out, so my review doesn't encompass anything regarding the atmosphere or customer service/waitstaff of Mela. In fact, I've never even been there (delivery and then someone else picked up for me)! What I can, and will, review on is the FOOD. It's decent Indian food. I thought the samosas were on the dry side, but still very tasty. The naan has been superb both times. And the chicken biryani I got was absolutely scrumptious! I couldn't get enough. I got "mild" and it was just spicy enough to leave a little after-burn while allowing me to still enjoy the meal without having to take breaks in between bites. The people on the phone have been friendly and easy to communicate with on both instances and have been accurate as far as pricing and wait times for the order. I will certainly be ordering from Mela again in the future and maybe, just maybe, some day I'll actually step foot in the place.
(4)Colleen H.
Having dated an Indian guy for a few years, I have to say this place is pretty delicious -- love the chicken biryani. They'll actually make it hot if you ask for it, even if you're a white girl. I've noticed a few places won't actually make it spicy unless you've got a brown guy with you... I think they put sugar in it instead. So Mela is really beautiful inside, lots of copper and motifs. Perfect for a date if you're looking for something intimate, and the presentation of the food is quite lovely. The lack of star here goes to my service last night. I've been here a few times and the service is kind of touch and go. Sometimes they're really attentive, and sometimes they take FOREVER to take your order. I ordered a tea before my meal, for instance, and it came after they cleared our table. I even reminded him when our appetizer came, and he just insisted that it was coming. But again, the food is great so I keep coming back!
(4)Jenn G.
Only giving 4 stars because I've only been once and it was for the lunch buffet, so I can't really account for service. But as far as food it was greattttt
(4)R N.
I ordered delivery (biryani) and was told that delivery orders take an hour, so strike one there. Well, it did show up exactly after an hour (my hotel was a mile away from their restaurant) but along with my order they were also kind enough to provide some value adds to their service. i.e. body hair!! yeeeks...I brushed my teeth a few times now and am conjuring up thoughts of clean beaches and white horses to drive the "hair" part out of my brain. the food - wasn't terrible, but clearly there has to be better Indian restaurants in a large city like Boston. The lassi too was terrible in the sense, it was (semi bitter) yogurt with a mango flavor. that yogurt sure had seen more youthful days. The food was bland and portion size clearly topped quality. I guess I got thrown off a bit after I went to their website and read some reviews, which I now conclude seem to be a little "inspired". Not pricey, but overall a supremely disappointing experience!
(2)Michelle J.
Indian food + Buffet-style + 10 minute walk from work = Win. This is my favorite place to go when I want to take a long/special lunch break on a workday. Come here ONLY for the buffet. And the garlic naan. I've never had trouble getting a good seat. Usually we get seated right next to the window, which is great for lunchtime people-watching. The restaurant is small, but cute and well-decorated. They like to play Arabic music for some reason. The waitstaff are very eager to serve you water. The all-you-can-eat buffet is fantastic and not too expensive (I think around $10-$12 / person?) Typically they offer about 7-10 entrees, rice, samosas, and rice pudding. They always have chicken tikka masala and some version of a paneer dish. There are always at least 2 vegetarian options. Their food is flavorful--but quite mild--which I like. With a typical meal, I usually love about 85% of what I'm trying and feel "meh" about the rest. I've never outright hated anything I've tried. And hey, if you don't like something, just leave it on your plate and get something else. That's the beauty of a buffet. When I come to Mela, I can't help but eat until exhaustion. There's nothing better than spending the rest of the workday in a happy Mela food coma.
(5)Sue M.
Great place for Indian food!! The weekend lunch buffet is consistently good. Try the garlic naan and the Mela goat curry, simply awesome! Reasonably priced and good quantity as well. The only downside is that the restaurant can get quite busy and the seating is just a little cramped.
(4)Huan z.
Defiantly one of the top Indian restaurants around Boston area . Very clean and relaxed atmosphere: Nice lamps hanging on the ceiling. Curtains soft up the conner. Contemporary Metal Wall show off it's character across the curtains which gives a mixed taste. Wicker chairs are comfortable to fit yourself in. Waiters were very well mannered. They asked if the curtain need to be closed or open. They checked if you need water and time. Food were very well prepared and delicious. Garlic Nan was one of the best I had. It reminded me the Nan I had in Kebab factory in Cambridge. It's just right, not too soft and not too crispy. The coconut curry chicken smelled very good and tastes even better. Rice was very well cooked. Two Thumbs up! P.S. The bathroom trash can is over-rated since you have to press a button for it open automatically.
(4)Fiat V.
I love going there for the luncheon buffet! Great (authentic?) food from the region, (I guess). Small, quaint, and cozy setting. Not wide variety nor selctions and the menu for the buffet always seem to be the same every day. None the less, I love the naan bread they serve: soft and moist. The servers are VERY attentive and super cordial! I always enjoy going here to treat myself on Fridays. Not a bad price for lunch buffet. The Positives: Great service, quality of food, and coziness of the ambiance. The Negatives: Same daily selection of the buffet.
(4)Megan E.
Great, reasonably priced Indian food The portions were generous and perfect for family style. The Tiki Masala was delicious-very saucy and right amount of spice. The garlic naan was awesome and so were our other dishes. All tasted fresh and well made. The service was great, my only complaint was that it took 30 minutes to be seated even though we had a reservation. Also, we used the instant coupon on the facebook page and it worked great! We will definitely be back!
(4)Binh L.
There is good reason why this place has 4 stars out of 5 with the number of reviews it has. Service: Amazing! Food: I ordered the Chicken Vindaloo. The chicken was so tender that I could use a fork to knife it effortlessly. The best Chicken Vindaloo I've had up to date. My friends ordered the Chicken Masala, the beef, and Tandoor Chicken. All dishes received verified passes by my brown friends. I definitely recommend this place. :)
(5)S C.
Awesome food experience, complete with delicious hot appetizers and cool lassi. Service can lag in speed and accuracy but if you're there for something like a leisurely weekend brunch, expect to go home satisfied with the food and the prices
(4)Tammy H.
I'm still reeling after my experience here. I'm such a lover of South and South East Asian food, and this place is certainly among my top 2 fave Indian places now. The short of it is, food=fantastic, decor=makes me like pink, and service=best I've ever seen! --FOOD-- We did the dinner for two, like many others did. You, too, should do it. Papadams - Came with the usual mint and tamarind chutneys, and I think it was the best tamarind chutney ever. Pistachio Shake - oh. my. god. Mulligatawny Soup - Simple. Good. Slurped it right up. Meat Samosas - Huge pieces, perfectly browned, lukewarm, probably pre-cooked, and hard to eat. If I were you, I would throw out those South End restaurant manners and just eat with your hands. Naan - I kept asking myself, "What is that amazing fresh baked smell??" These smelled quite amazing, and there's no garlic in it! How can anything without garlic smell that good!? Grill Meat (Tandoori) - Not as dry as I've had it before, so that's a plus. Lamb Mushroom Do-Piaza - This was a verrryyyy well-made dish. The meat itself wasn't chewy, which is amazing for stewed curries. I suspect they cook it on the side, but nonetheless, it was a pleasant surprise. Madras Machai (swordfish curry) - I'm dreaming about it! Perfectly cooked swordfish chunks that actually tasted like good quality fish. My fave dish of the night.! Badami Khulfi (ice cream w/ saffron and nuts) - The taste was good, but it was really really icy. Coffee - Gotta include this, 'cause weak-ass coffee means laziness. But the result? They passed just fine. As for spiciness, the bf and I both did "medium," but the bf could've gone for "hot." If there's any way we can describe it ... - "mild" - can't really do spicy - "medium" - can use Sriracha and Tobasco with little problem - "hot" - can't taste the Sriracha/Tobasco! Also, if you don't like spice much, a friend suggests ordering the Butter Chicken. --SERVICE-- So! For the (few) mediocre parts of the meal, the service more than made up for it. We were eating with a few of the bf's colleagues. A couple of them were late, but they seated us anyway! I haven't had that treatment in a long long while. Also, no one was pretentious, waiters were reliable and friendly, everyone looked super sharp and professional, and the manager kept walking around as a sign of reassurance. At one point, the manager came over and asked if I wanted a chair (I was sitting cozy on a booth with the bf and a colleague). I actually liked where I was sitting, so I declined, but he seemed super concerned for my comfort. It felt so incredibly well-run.
(5)Josh M.
Mela is a nice find. The food is excellent, the ambiance is simple yet appealing, and the staff is attentive and helpful. The Mulligatawny soup was great - a bit of a bit but also offering a hint of sweetness. Very good. Samosa's were a check plus. For dinner we ordered a hot stone cooking meal - which was very cool and highly recommended. It was as if someone found a way to fuse Fondue with Hibachi cooking. A hot stone comes out with raw meat and you cook it on the table. I also ordered the chicken coconut curry which was quite tasty. The plain Naan was a bit bland - I'd go with a Naan with some flavor if I went back. Overall, a very good experience. Mela didn't truly distinguish itself from some other Indian restaurants I have tried but it was a nice experience and I would definitely go back.
(4)Boston T.
I usually tell people abut the Hot Stone cooking which sets them apart from the others. However, it is too overpriced and the waiters aren't well trained. Many of them ask to see the name on the menu as if they didn't know the name of the dish. Also, once my friend and I went and we tried our best to tip a decent amount, even though we were short on money. I went back because I had forgotten something and the waiter was complaining saying we get most of our salary from tips and otherwise we only get ~$3/hour. It's decently cooked food, but the other factors don't make me enjoy it too much. I probably wouldn't go here if I were to dine out with friends.
(3)Daniel P.
Just ate her for dinner tonight. It was so good that I felt like I should right a positive yelp review right away. Great location right on Tremont in Back Bay. Perfect place for a date. We got the dinner for 2 which came with soup, samosas, naan, mixed grille (two types of chicken, two types of lamb), two entrees (we got a chicken tikki and shrimp something), two desserts and coffee or tea. All for $45. The food was amazing, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Will definitely go back.
(5)Jarrett G.
Best indian food lunch buffet in Boston!
(5)Erica T.
Came here for the weekend buffet. One thing that stood out was the excellent service. The servers are so kind, polite, and on top of it. The buffet had about two appetizers, three main dishes, and four or five curries, salad and fresh fruit. A nice selection I'd say! There was a guy making the fresh bread with potatoes in it. I don't know what they're called, but they're really good! The veggie samosas were huge! Stuffed and the flavor was good. However, the tandoori chicken was on the dry side :( . BTW, they had watermelon water. Unique and fresh! They also serve complimentary FRESH (&warm) Naan with garlic! Nice thick slices that go perfectly with all the buffet dishes. Yes, that is the point of it I guess. Makes sense. For about 1 or 2pm on the weekend, it was probably 1/2 full, but patrons kept coming in and leaving. I will be coming here again for the buffet.
(4)Hubert H.
A decent place, but probably overpriced considering what you get. This writing concerns only the buffet. The best part is that for the buffet, they bake you a FRESH piece of naan. Comes out soft and warm and that's the way it should be. The saag paneer - spinach too flavorless and not fresh. The beef with cream sauce - not enough beef - whatever beef was there looked like meatballs. Daal a bit watery. Vegetable pakora - needs more vegetable. On and on like this. On the flip side, the seating is pleasant and a nice place to sit and chat.
(3)Nicole M.
This is the best place (in Boston, pre-Bombay move to the South End, because Bombay still gets my vote as all-time best in the area) in town that I've been to for Indian. The space is small, but very atmospheric. Love the decor and ambiance. We showed up on a very snowy Saturday night, and were able to be seated right away. It was the perfect mix of not packed but packed enough. The service might be the top 5 I've ever experienced in Boston. Wow, are they attentive, but not overly so. We went in hungry, but knowing that we wanted to take home leftovers, so we ordered a lot (for us anyway). I started with the tomato soup, and hubby had the meat samosa. My soup had a different texture than I was expecting, but the flavor was spot on. Next time I go back, the soup could be the only thing I eat, as the portion was huge. I only had a little bit because I wanted to save room. The samosas were reported tasty as well. For meals, I got (boring, I know but I love it!) chicken tikka masala and he got chicken vindaloo, with a special request for white meat only. What a difference it makes. His had a great spicy flavor, as did mine, though mine wasn't spicy enough. Next time I'll go for hot instead of medium. Naan, of course, and jasmine rice were both perfectly cooked. I had the pinot noir and he the rioja. The pinot was really light, which I would ordinarily not like, but when combining with all the spicy flavors, it ended up suiting my palate just right. The rioja was great, too, and I'd order that with a more mild option. And just because we weren't completely uncomfortable and busting out of our jeans, we ordered the rice pudding to share for dessert. Standard rice pudding. We asked for everything but the samosas (because there were none left) to be packed up to take home, and when we got home, sadly they left out my soup. Oh well. Just another reason for me to go back!
(4)Anastasia Z.
This place was delicious and classy. It's in the South End, a cute area of town. The lighting was perfect (I love their hanging lamps!), all the waiters/waitresses were polite, and we were seated immediately (though I did make a reservation). The food was ready in under ten minutes, too! I ordered the vegetable korma and ate it with rice and garlic naan. They were all DELICIOUS. Seriously good. The naan was hot and fresh and the korma has a really good mix of veggies (paneer, zucchini, chick peas, etc). My only complaint? I ordered garlic naan and the basket showed up with two HUGE pieces of delicious naan. But we were charged X2 Garlic Naan. The waiter told us it was because we had two pieces, but that wasn't our fault at all since I only ordered one. It was a little ridiculous but no big deal since, when I said something, they took it off of the bill. I highly suggest trying Mela...I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Megan A.
The food, hands down, is fantastic. Very fresh, not greasy, and has wonderful flavors. We had the chicken tikka masala, Naan, lentils, lamb, and some sort of spinach dish. The restaurant is very small and very cramped however. Not much room to move around or really enjoy a lengthy dining experience. The staff rushed us a little because they had a huge line out the door. I suggest getting here around 7 and plan on heading to another destination for drinks/dessert after.
(4)Ander J.
Great Indian restaurant. I've come probably 5 times and never been disappointed. I really like the lamb korma and seafood saag dishes. Naan and soups are good too. They have a "dinner for two" option, which gives you a large amount of delicious food - definitely cost effective and recommended. The only drawback to this dinner option is no substitutions. I love the tomato coconut soup but it's not available with the deal, even when it's only $1 more than the soup you actually get. Same with desserts, not all are included. I'd give 5 stars if they were a little flexible there.
(4)Lynn J.
ATHENTIC INDIAN FOOD...*smile* I've dined there 2x now, and had good experiences both times. The food is flavorful and the service is efficient. The prices were a bit high, but in keeping with the Back Bay area. One drawback...All 4 entrees we ordered came with meat and/or fish in a sauce and rice on the side...but NO VEGETABLES in the main dish itself. (2 came with a "side salad," which was simply a cup of dressed, iceburg lettuce with a cucumber & tomato.)
(3)Joanna F.
Came in on Friday night at 5:30 and was seated immediately. The service was attentive and the vegetarian menu for 2 was more than my friend and I could eat. Two bowls of soup, two veggie samosas,naan, raima, two entrees of your choice, two desserts of your choice, coffee and tea all for $35 is RIDICULOUS (in a good way) especially by South End standards. All of the food was fresh and delicious. The decor was quiet and inviting. I'll be back.
(4)Scott L.
I'll try to focus on the positives first by saying the food was delicious. Ordered the tikka masala and the butter chicken. Both were fantastic. Unfortunately the portions were tiny and the delivery was about 25 minutes after predicted (55 min total) and that was from the South End to the west side of Southie. Speed up delivery, bump up portion size and I'm a repeat customer!
(3)Natasha A.
I was very impressed with Mela. Their food is just a tad better than most other Indian restaurants I have tried in the Boston area. Their saag was a bit more garlicky, their vindaloo more flavorful. They also have some non-traditional dishes on their menus such as seafood, beef and even a duck dish. We ordered their dinner for "two". Really its more like dinner for 4 or 6, or leftovers for 2 more meals for 2. It came with soup, samosas, 2 dishes from their curry's menu, a tandroori mixed grill plate, dessert and tea/coffee all for $45. Everything was excellent except the tandoori was a tad dry. Service was very attentive and friendly. Looking forward to returning.
(5)Ro C.
This place was very acceptable. I had the chicken korma and I enjoyed it. Hearty chicken chunks, flavorful sauce. Yes. I partook of the salty lassi and it was ah, salty, no kidding. It was a bit briney, which wasn't what I was expecting - I was looking for more of a savory drink - but ah, I survived. The chicken naan was pretty good. I enjoyed the spring rolls we had as an appetizer. The staff was very patient while we spent a two hour hour lunch chatting and enjoying our food. Major props for their patience! I might come back later with an empty belly just for the buffet :)
(3)Nishant G.
Expensive, but delicious!
(4)stephanie c.
Came here on Saturday evening for dinner-delicious!! Ambiance-very small, cozy, dim lighting with red/orange drapery and windows overlooking Tremont street. Cute date spot, intimate setting. The place is very small and incredibly packed and busy. We had a dinner reservation, but beware because regardless...you will have to wait. Love the interior decorations. Modern, sexy, and chic. Service-This is where they lost a star. Polite, but not friendly. We ordered cocktails when we sat and never received them till we were practically done with our meal. Had to check on them 3 times. Not cool. The waitress never smiled, made eye contact, or develop any type of conversation. They all seemed to be pretty aloof. Food-Delicious!! Everything we had was excellent (with the exception of side of pickled vegetables). We ordered Chicken with Coconut Curry, Shrimp Masala, Lamb Vindoo, Butter chicken and Naan. Everything was incredibly tasty, fresh, and not too heavy. Portions were okay, but they did seem pretty stingy about the amount of meat in the dishes. It seemed to be 75% sauce and only 25% shrimp/chicken. Wish they were more generous with the substance considering each dish was approx $15-20. Nonetheless, we stuffed ourselves dipping naan and rice into the sauces. I do have one strong suggestion-Stay FAR away from the side of pickled vegetables. I was thinking it would be a light tangy side to the curries and meat. I have no clue what that thing was but when I placed it in my mouth, it was the most foul tasting thing ever!! I immediately spit it back out. It was horrendous. Stay away from that. Overall-cute spot, love the ambiance, food was tasty but wish they put mroe meat in the dishes and the service could use some "happy pills". I'll definitely be back though.
(4)Micah C.
Really good Indian food at a moderate price. We tried this place for both lunch and dinner and we both preferred dinner. The lunch buffet was definitely good but not enough spicy dishes as we like. Dinner was much better b/c we could control how spicy each dish was. The chicken curry was pretty good, the saag wasn't bad either. Great naan for sure. But still, I've had better or similar. Try it if you want good Indian!
(4)Brian S.
The food was very good, but I just can't give it four stars. Mainly because 2 of the other 3 people I was with had their credit cards compromised shortly after dining here. The server came back with the first two credit cards quickly, but the other two took much longer. Now we don't have any proof but it seems very suspicious that this would happen. Other than that, the food was good, service was OK.
(3)Daniel L.
They're a little pricey for Indian, but since I ordered a few groupons, Mela and I have grown close. If you like vegetarian, the Navrattan Korma and Baingan Bhartha are good. Try them a little spicy with garlic naan. I've been pretty happy with everything that I've tried. The Saag and Vindaloo are great choices for meat dishes if you're trying to break away from Chicken Tikka Masala.
(4)Chris C.
Really enjoy the food here, both delivery and dining in. Stopped by the first time because of a Groupon and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The only thing that prevents me from giving them 5 stars in the price, which is a bit on the high side for what it is.
(4)Steph X.
Mela is my favorite Indian restaurant, by far. I've been going there for the past year and a half (sometimes for takeout, sometimes to dine in) and have yet to have a negative experience. Yes, there will sometimes be a wait, and no, they will never ever be rude. These are the reasons why I love Mela: 1. Their food is rich, delicious, fragrant, well-seasoned, and always comes out piping hot. The chicken tikka masala is a must have, with fresh cardamom, thick sauce, and juicy chicken. Their food is always impeccably prepared and I can no longer go to cheaper Indian places because it's never as good! 2. The decor/ambiance is great 3. Their service is impeccable. I've never had a server who has been anything less than incredibly gracious and kind. They will always acknowledge you when you walk into the restaurant, and they are always attentive with the water glasses. EDIT: After going here regularly over the past 3 years, and ordering take out on many occasions, I'm taking away a star because their dishes are often inconsistent. While their food is really really good, when it's good, I've received some overly watery curries on more than one occasion, which is really unappetizing and unacceptable. Still love this place, but please don't water down your curries!
(4)Jazzie F.
I like Mela, a lot. I have been going here on and off for the past 4+ years. Probably ever since it opened. I didn't like it at first, it had it's quirks. But mostly the place has improved since those days. I go here, at least once a month now and this placen isn't cheap. Although the portions are generous and staff isn't all total 'tards. If you go at a busy time, say, Friday night you'll have to wait around a bit but otherwise, the service is quick and I am usually full and happy. I hope this place stays the same. I def. recommend it.
(4)Eric F.
Stopped by for dinner recently with a Groupon and I thoroughly enjoyed the discounted dinner for two. My friend and I had the Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Vindaloo - both were nicely done and reflected the spice level we specified (always a plus when the chef gets that down accurately). We plenty to split between us with the accompanying samosas, rice, naan, mixed tandoori grill, and lovely Rose Kulfi. Very reasonably priced, Groupon'd or otherwise, with ample portions and good variety.
(4)Hillary M.
I wasn't planning on eating here, but saw they had a lunch buffet and went in. I think only one other table was taken, but this was at 2pm on a weekday, so I'm not terribly surprised. All the food tasted hot and delicious and I adored the garlic naan. The price was great, too. Good service, etc. I brought the baby and there was a great window seat sort of thing by my table that she hung out in, she enjoyed nibbling some naan, and the spacious, clean bathroom had this shelf thing that was perfect for changing her diaper. I love a place with a changing table for the kid! Overall, a very nice lunch.
(4)Anjana S.
Attentive servers, good food choices and tasty... Not too loud and jarring music like in some restaurants but good mellow instrumental music hits playing at a decent volume. Price on the high side, but for a good choice of dishes, its worth it. $13 for a buffet per person. Good ambience. and good silver ware used.
(5)Meridith H.
In short, although the food is good, the prices are not in line with the overall experience at Mela. The decor, flatware, and menu all say "fine dining," but the waitstaff are in matching t-shirts instead of a uniform. Most of the waitstaff are also, as illustrated below, socially awkward (or just plain unfriendly) and appear to have little to no training. I walked in without a reservation, and received several glares and a prolonged awkward silence. I asked if this (no reservation) would be a problem, happy to walk back out and find dinner elsewhere. Staff mumbled, "Yes," while poking at the computer. I was then immediately seated. My parter ran late by about 15 minutes, during which time I was treated to more unfriendly looks by the staff. Immediately after my partner arrived, someone arrived to take our order (yes, I was ready, but my husband had just sat down & opened the menu). The waiter who ultimately took care of us seemed to be the only person in the place who knew what he was doing (a great example of a diamond in the rough). I had the malai kofta, which, to be fair, was excellent. My husband was happy with his dish, as well. This indicates that there is a lot of great stuff going on in the kitchen; it's too bad that the dining room experience diminishes enjoyment of the food. P.S. The dining room is way too crowded; waitstaff could barely get by to serve dishes, and anyone who ventured to the restrooms encountered a pedestrian traffic jam on the way back to their table. Taking out a few excess tables would do wonders.
(1)Vishal B.
Over hyped average food.
(2)Baking M.
We revisited Mela individually and as a group, and both times were fantastic. The restaurant can be considered pricey, however we have had a few coupons from online deals giving us more incentive. Mela is located on Restaurant Row and owned by the One World Cuisine (Diva in Cambridge, Kashmir on Newbury, Mantra in Downtown Crossing), it could not be more convenient for standby for our favorite Indian dishes. The lanterns and white sculptures and copper set the ambiance. I think the restaurant is a well decorated one. In addition, we always get a table and are greeted by friendly staff wearing brown shirts with Pure on the front. The mulligatawny soup, made with lentils, vegetables and spices is warming and a nice start $4. The time we visited a duo, we received an amuse, the other visit, when dining as a group we did not. Meat Samosa, spicy turnovers stuffed with minced lamb and spices, with a small garden salad with carrots, cherry tomatoes served with special dressing. I love the sauces that come with the samosas and give additional flavor to them. Two samosas for $5 Although we had plain naan, I highly suggest the fresh garlic naan. We tried the Malai Kofta, vegetable balls cooked in a nut sauce with fresh herbs and spices. I really enjoyed the creamy sauce and there was only two vegetables in the dish, which is a bit meager for $15. As an old standby, we ordered Palak Paneer, cheese cooked in a creamy spinach sauce. It is nice to have a range of choices from Mild to Hot for $14. Next we tried the Daal Makhni, lentils sauteed in butter, spices and topped with coriander $13. The lentils were hearty and the coriander gave that added hint of freshness. I know there is a population which have a negative reaction to coriander and I am glad I do not. The smooth raita yogurt with shredded cucumbers, potato & mint was cooling when we needed to cut the heat of the spices $2. The Lamb Korma, cooked with nuts and raisins in a mild creamy sauce was really delicious and each bit had the sweetness of the raisin $17. I enjoyed the Garlic Beef beef cubes and garlic in a curry, however the meat was a bit gristly and fatty. The flavor and heat of the curry was so good I just isolated the curry to eat with the basmati rice $14. In addition to kheer, we tried the Ras Malai for the first time, a cheese patty, cooked in a milk syrup, almonds and nuts. From here on out, I am sticking to the sweet, cardamom laced rice pudding.
(5)Manpreet K.
I went in to order take-out from Mela last weekend. I was told the order will be ready in 15 mins or so. It took them almost 40 minutes to get 2 entrees and bread ready. I was offered soup couple of minutes before the order was ready. It was surprising since the place wasn't even that busy. Besides the wait, the food was mediocre at most, esp for the prices they are charging. The Chicken with spinach and black lentils were just okay. I ordered the garlic naan and the onion kulcha, wanting variety in the bread selection. Both the breads were exactly the same, except one had onions. Mela doesn't really have anything to hold my attention. I'd rather drive to Allston and order from a small restaurant, that's not only cheaper but has quality Indian food.
(2)H. G.
This past summer, I took my parents here for the weekend buffet. What a spread! I've never been to an Indian buffet that included naan and gulab jamun. My parents were raving about it. Since then, they're always asking about Mela like it's a friend of mine: "How is Mela?" "Have you been to Mela lately?" "Is anything new going on with Mela?" Anyway, other than the buffet, I've eaten here probably a dozen times. Some of my favorites: butter chicken, aloo choley (potatoes/chick peas), shahi bhindi (okra), and daal makhni (lentils). This is a fantastic place for vegetarians, as the veggie dishes are usually even better than the non-veg ones. And the prices are very reasonable. They have a vegetarian dinner for two ($35) and a non-veg dinner for two ($45). No normal couple should ever be able to finish either (maybe Tom & Roseanne when they were married). The veg dinner, for example, comes with mulligatawny soup, samosa, choice of 2 entrees, rice, naan, raita, dessert and tea/coffee. So much food. The only thing that stresses me out about this place is that I'm worried it will close soon. During the week, it is often woefully empty while inferior places like Addis, Pops and Stephi's are packed. I live right across the street, and sometimes I watch over the place like Jerry did with Babu Bhatt's "Dream Cafe."
(5)Alex S.
I have had nothing but wonderful experiences at this restaurant. For dinner it has a rather romantic atmosphere with dim lights and candles. I always bring my fiance here and despite the fact that she isn't totally in love with Indian food, she enjoys coming here. I would always get the chicken tikka masala. The chicken is made very very tender and the sauce is very good. It is one of the best I have ever had and if you get it in the "hot" form, the hotness gives it a very good kick. I highly recommend getting it hot. Dessert: The Rose Ice Cream is just awesome. Hard to describe. It feels like I am eating vanilla ice cream but with a rosy smell. Hard to describe but I like it very much. We always come here for their dinner for two special. It is an AMAZING deal. You basically get an appetizer, soup, 2 entrees, tea/coffee, kebob and dessert for 45 dollars. For a restaurant of this caliber, it is an absolutely great deal that is hard to beat. Service: Their service is nice and prompt. The waiters are nice and polite. Overall 5/5 stars
(5)Jamie F.
Nothing like hot Indian food to warm you up on a cold winter night. I discovered Mela from a recent groupon purchase and finally had dinner here on New Year's Day. With cute décor like hanging paper lanterns, maroon-colored drapes, and dimmed lighting, the atmosphere was romantic; however, the cramped seating area and uncomfortable straw chairs detracted the experience a little. I LOVE watermelon so I was ecstatic to see watermelon daiquiri on the beverage menu. To my surprise, it was tasty and fresh despite the fruit not in season; it even came with a small watermelon slice! Sweet! The pistachio shake was also very good with a creamy texture. I'll definitely order one of these drinks again next time even though I didn't quite fancy the $4.50 price tag. There's a saying that if you must try authentic Indian cuisine, get the butter chicken because it's the most popular dish in India. Naturally, we ordered it and it was delicious - definitely my preferred sauce for dipping naan. We actually did not like the samosas very much. I preferred a crunchier dough, and the lamb meat filling was too gamy for me. The lamb korma was also good and not overly creamy, but darn that gamy lamb!!! The bone-in goat curry was not that great because it tasted more like ketchup than curry. For each dish, you can order a specific degree of hotness (mild, medium, or hot). I'd probably go for 'hot' next time; 'medium' did not produce that runny nose effect. Overall, it was a positive dinner experience. The extremely polite, attentive, and friendly service was what really edged this review to 4 stars. I still think Indian food in general is overpriced, so my next visit to Mela will be for the lunch buffet.
(4)Laurinda U.
Was here yesterday for the lunch buffet with three friends. I mentioned Yelp and totally got $10 off! One of the better Indian buffets for $10. It comes with a free basket of naan (nice and buttery), soup and salad option, and 6+ curry options which is very tasty.
(4)Libby T.
i'd heard great things about mela, so i picked up the groupon when it came around. as far as indian food goes, i've had much better... and the food was sometimes cold, but pretty presentation.
(3)Nik B.
What really pushed this place to 5 stars was the service. I entered by myself and was immediately sat down at a table. Once my friend arrived, we were immediately served a complimentary soup. We ordered the Vegetarian dinner for 2, which was awesome. Not only was it a lot of food and a lot of variety for $35, but it was also all delicious! The samosas are brought to you first. They are perfectly made. Fresh, and lots of delicious potato and green pea filling. Next you are brought the mulligatawny soup. It's also very good. It's not too dense with the lentils, and has a great ginger and coriander flavor. Next up: main courses. We got the Palak Paneer and the Baingan Bhartha. Both of which were completely delicious. The Baingan Bharta consisted of pureed egglplant among peas onions and other spices. t was really flavorful. The Palak paneer was creamed spinach with indian cheese cubes. The spinach was really nicely cooked. It was all surprisingly hearty. Then were was dessert and coffee. We got the gulab jamun and the kulfi. The kulfi was pretty standard, but the gulab jamun was PERFECTLY cooked. Definitely recommend it. The syrup that came with it was also spot on. The coffee was a great way to end a large meal. I will definitely come back to Mela whenever I can, this was a great deal.
(5)Mark W.
This is for the lunch buffet. I've gone to a couple indian buffets and this one though wasn't the biggest was quite tasty especially for the price. The garlic naan was great there. They had about 6 different entrees and rice. All them the normal dishes like a spinach paneer dish, tandoori chicken, some type of lentil curry, beef korma, chicken tikka, etc etc. Overall for 10 bucks you can't really complain. The service is prompt and attentive. I don't think my water even got half way down (borderline annoying but better than being empty all the time).
(4)Sherry T.
I really like this place. It has a good decor and when we went, it wasn't really crowded. This usually means that a place isn't that great but in this case, that was not the case at all! For us, it meant the waitstaff was relaxed (not flustered) and attentive. We were seated right away. The menu was pretty good and it offered a lot of options at different price points. It's actually waaaay more than I would normally spend on Indian food (seeing as I get it free at home and if I do go out, I stick to buffets). We actually ended up here because a friend had found one of those coupons where you can get $20 worth of food for $10, $40 for $20, etc. I know some people look down on coupons like this because it may spell out that a restaurant is desperate for business and not very good. In this case, we were willing to take a gamble because we were on a budget. And I was not disappointed! My sister and I ordered and shared the chaat papri and the tandoori mixed grill. Both were excellent. The chaat papri I had had before and it tasted pretty typical but since I find papri chaat typically tasty, this was not a bad thing! The tandoori mixed grill was so good. With tandoori meat, there's always a danger of the meat getting dried out. Not here! The meat was juicy and flavorful. They covered it all with some sauce and that just added to the dish. Even though we shared our food, we both left full---I was a little worried that it wouldn't be enough because we're good eaters but it was great. I suggest that you order sides of rice to accompany some of the dishes. Overall, with our coupon and having shared, we left paying about $10-15 each. Not bad for dinner.
(4)Cecile B.
We really like this place. It's small and best on weekdays when they aren't too busy. We always order the dinner for two. Plenty of food and the opportunity to sample a variety of items. During the week, they bring you a little welcome munchie, though not on the weekends. Family friendly place too.
(4)Joanne C.
I came here on a coupon I had purchased on Ruelala, $20 for $40. I had never been to Mela before. The restaurant is relatively small, the decor was pretty nice, and there was a small bar area. The business was packed. We arrived on a Saturday night at 815pm. Luckily I had made a reservation. The crowd was full of young, trendy people, the decor was fairly impressive and cozy especially on a winter night. We ordered 2 curries, Vindaloo lamb and butter chicken. Both curries I thought were overly sour. The presentation of the dishes was good but I feel like I've had better Indian food before. My major complaint would be the cost. I thought the dishes were expensive. We ordered 2 curries, 2 glasses of wine and a naan bread. The total came to $60 before tip. Had it not been the coupon which helped, I would think that's overly expensive for the quality. It's a trendy Indian restaurant, the service was good, the naan bread was very good. Maybe it was just the curries that were not so good. But how could you go to an Indian restaurant without trying the curries? If you're going purely on the food, just OK. Otherwise on a social night out, pretty good atmosphere.
(2)Christina G.
I quite enjoyed the tasty Indian meal I had here. Mela is a chic little place with a great menu and some delicious food and cocktails. I enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Samosas, and grilled naan. I'm not sure how it stacks up against other Indian places in the Boston area since this cuisine is still new to me, but it seems like a good option if you are right here in the South End. Apparently they have a great (and cheap) lunch buffet that seems worth checking out.
(4)Kevin M.
Did the weekday lunch buffet today, the selection was small and the salad/dessert station was subpar. On a positive side the items that were carried in the lunch station, thought limited, were all served really well with excellent flavor. Look for a GrouponNow before paying full price.
(3)Lisa H.
Love this place. All of the food is amazing. I especially love the Chicken Tikka Masala. Probably the best Indian food on the Boston side of the river.
(5)Clarice P.
Mela quickly became, not only my favorite Indian restaurant, but, one of my favorite restaurants of all time after finding it on restaurant.com . Since my boyfriend and I discovered this little gem, we've been back multiple times and always look forward to our next visit. We may not know REAL Indian food but the food here is incredible, whatever it may be. The garlic naan is amazing and the chicken tikka masala is mouth-watering. I've also tried a couple of the lamb dishes and they were delicious as well. The servers are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is cozy and fun! We LOVE Mela!
(5)John A.
I've never had food that tasted like this before! Mela got an easy five stars after my first few bites. I had the Malai Kofta and it was absolutely incredible. It was made with vegetable balls and "exotic spices" in a unique cream sauce. Let me tell you it was certainly exotic and delicious. The naan was also warm and fresh and the basmati rice had a perfect texture and was a nice complement to the meal. Another aspect that made Mela memorable was the excellent service. The waitstaff was very attentive without being overly intrusive. I feel like that's a bit of an art form that few waiters are able to attain. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to suggest dishes and translate for us. These guys have awesome, professional service from the moment you walk in the door. It should be mentioned that Mela is located in a rather small space. They cram a lot of patrons into the restaurant and you're likely to be sitting very close to other guests. This place may not be the best restaurant for diners looking for a more quiet and private atmosphere. Other than that, Mela is top notch.
(5)Beth H.
Bought a buywithme coupon the other day and tried the place. My friend is a vegetarian and we ordered the okra and the eggplant. Both were good but the okra was by far the best along with the garlic naan. Will probably try it again some time when i'm around the area and craving Indian.
(3)Add D.
Went here on a weekday. Opted for a la carte instead of buffet. Bad service - very slow. The ambiance was horrible - we were seated next to the restroom. They do not turn AC on to save money and we were sweating - inside! at least 85F. Butter chicken and Malai Kofta tasted the same - which means they have same gravy for everything and they will ask you mild/medium/hot to add some spice to it - eeks. Coming from the subcontinent, I know good Indian food when I find one and this is certainly not the place - not worth the hype. P.S. they don't have plastic glasses for lassi to go, so they gave it to us in a container! who serves lassi in a container!
(1)Alexis W.
Delicious food -- actually spicy when I requested it that way. Had the house eggplant dish, potato-stuffed nan. More food than I could eat, but that's OK. I ordered through an online delivery system and it arrived precisely on time. My only complaints: 1. They ignored my request to redeem a coupon for a free mango lassi. No lassi. 2. They included no cutlery. (Normally I'd cheer, for home deliveries, since it's so wasteful -- but not when the delivery's to a hotel, which I clearly indicated on the online info. I submitted).
(4)April M.
I've eaten here twice so far, both times take out, so my review doesn't encompass anything regarding the atmosphere or customer service/waitstaff of Mela. In fact, I've never even been there (delivery and then someone else picked up for me)! What I can, and will, review on is the FOOD. It's decent Indian food. I thought the samosas were on the dry side, but still very tasty. The naan has been superb both times. And the chicken biryani I got was absolutely scrumptious! I couldn't get enough. I got "mild" and it was just spicy enough to leave a little after-burn while allowing me to still enjoy the meal without having to take breaks in between bites. The people on the phone have been friendly and easy to communicate with on both instances and have been accurate as far as pricing and wait times for the order. I will certainly be ordering from Mela again in the future and maybe, just maybe, some day I'll actually step foot in the place.
(4)Colleen H.
Having dated an Indian guy for a few years, I have to say this place is pretty delicious -- love the chicken biryani. They'll actually make it hot if you ask for it, even if you're a white girl. I've noticed a few places won't actually make it spicy unless you've got a brown guy with you... I think they put sugar in it instead. So Mela is really beautiful inside, lots of copper and motifs. Perfect for a date if you're looking for something intimate, and the presentation of the food is quite lovely. The lack of star here goes to my service last night. I've been here a few times and the service is kind of touch and go. Sometimes they're really attentive, and sometimes they take FOREVER to take your order. I ordered a tea before my meal, for instance, and it came after they cleared our table. I even reminded him when our appetizer came, and he just insisted that it was coming. But again, the food is great so I keep coming back!
(4)Jenn G.
Only giving 4 stars because I've only been once and it was for the lunch buffet, so I can't really account for service. But as far as food it was greattttt
(4)R N.
I ordered delivery (biryani) and was told that delivery orders take an hour, so strike one there. Well, it did show up exactly after an hour (my hotel was a mile away from their restaurant) but along with my order they were also kind enough to provide some value adds to their service. i.e. body hair!! yeeeks...I brushed my teeth a few times now and am conjuring up thoughts of clean beaches and white horses to drive the "hair" part out of my brain. the food - wasn't terrible, but clearly there has to be better Indian restaurants in a large city like Boston. The lassi too was terrible in the sense, it was (semi bitter) yogurt with a mango flavor. that yogurt sure had seen more youthful days. The food was bland and portion size clearly topped quality. I guess I got thrown off a bit after I went to their website and read some reviews, which I now conclude seem to be a little "inspired". Not pricey, but overall a supremely disappointing experience!
(2)Michelle J.
Indian food + Buffet-style + 10 minute walk from work = Win. This is my favorite place to go when I want to take a long/special lunch break on a workday. Come here ONLY for the buffet. And the garlic naan. I've never had trouble getting a good seat. Usually we get seated right next to the window, which is great for lunchtime people-watching. The restaurant is small, but cute and well-decorated. They like to play Arabic music for some reason. The waitstaff are very eager to serve you water. The all-you-can-eat buffet is fantastic and not too expensive (I think around $10-$12 / person?) Typically they offer about 7-10 entrees, rice, samosas, and rice pudding. They always have chicken tikka masala and some version of a paneer dish. There are always at least 2 vegetarian options. Their food is flavorful--but quite mild--which I like. With a typical meal, I usually love about 85% of what I'm trying and feel "meh" about the rest. I've never outright hated anything I've tried. And hey, if you don't like something, just leave it on your plate and get something else. That's the beauty of a buffet. When I come to Mela, I can't help but eat until exhaustion. There's nothing better than spending the rest of the workday in a happy Mela food coma.
(5)Sue M.
Great place for Indian food!! The weekend lunch buffet is consistently good. Try the garlic naan and the Mela goat curry, simply awesome! Reasonably priced and good quantity as well. The only downside is that the restaurant can get quite busy and the seating is just a little cramped.
(4)Huan z.
Defiantly one of the top Indian restaurants around Boston area . Very clean and relaxed atmosphere: Nice lamps hanging on the ceiling. Curtains soft up the conner. Contemporary Metal Wall show off it's character across the curtains which gives a mixed taste. Wicker chairs are comfortable to fit yourself in. Waiters were very well mannered. They asked if the curtain need to be closed or open. They checked if you need water and time. Food were very well prepared and delicious. Garlic Nan was one of the best I had. It reminded me the Nan I had in Kebab factory in Cambridge. It's just right, not too soft and not too crispy. The coconut curry chicken smelled very good and tastes even better. Rice was very well cooked. Two Thumbs up! P.S. The bathroom trash can is over-rated since you have to press a button for it open automatically.
(4)Fiat V.
I love going there for the luncheon buffet! Great (authentic?) food from the region, (I guess). Small, quaint, and cozy setting. Not wide variety nor selctions and the menu for the buffet always seem to be the same every day. None the less, I love the naan bread they serve: soft and moist. The servers are VERY attentive and super cordial! I always enjoy going here to treat myself on Fridays. Not a bad price for lunch buffet. The Positives: Great service, quality of food, and coziness of the ambiance. The Negatives: Same daily selection of the buffet.
(4)Megan E.
Great, reasonably priced Indian food The portions were generous and perfect for family style. The Tiki Masala was delicious-very saucy and right amount of spice. The garlic naan was awesome and so were our other dishes. All tasted fresh and well made. The service was great, my only complaint was that it took 30 minutes to be seated even though we had a reservation. Also, we used the instant coupon on the facebook page and it worked great! We will definitely be back!
(4)Binh L.
There is good reason why this place has 4 stars out of 5 with the number of reviews it has. Service: Amazing! Food: I ordered the Chicken Vindaloo. The chicken was so tender that I could use a fork to knife it effortlessly. The best Chicken Vindaloo I've had up to date. My friends ordered the Chicken Masala, the beef, and Tandoor Chicken. All dishes received verified passes by my brown friends. I definitely recommend this place. :)
(5)S C.
Awesome food experience, complete with delicious hot appetizers and cool lassi. Service can lag in speed and accuracy but if you're there for something like a leisurely weekend brunch, expect to go home satisfied with the food and the prices
(4)Tammy H.
I'm still reeling after my experience here. I'm such a lover of South and South East Asian food, and this place is certainly among my top 2 fave Indian places now. The short of it is, food=fantastic, decor=makes me like pink, and service=best I've ever seen! --FOOD-- We did the dinner for two, like many others did. You, too, should do it. Papadams - Came with the usual mint and tamarind chutneys, and I think it was the best tamarind chutney ever. Pistachio Shake - oh. my. god. Mulligatawny Soup - Simple. Good. Slurped it right up. Meat Samosas - Huge pieces, perfectly browned, lukewarm, probably pre-cooked, and hard to eat. If I were you, I would throw out those South End restaurant manners and just eat with your hands. Naan - I kept asking myself, "What is that amazing fresh baked smell??" These smelled quite amazing, and there's no garlic in it! How can anything without garlic smell that good!? Grill Meat (Tandoori) - Not as dry as I've had it before, so that's a plus. Lamb Mushroom Do-Piaza - This was a verrryyyy well-made dish. The meat itself wasn't chewy, which is amazing for stewed curries. I suspect they cook it on the side, but nonetheless, it was a pleasant surprise. Madras Machai (swordfish curry) - I'm dreaming about it! Perfectly cooked swordfish chunks that actually tasted like good quality fish. My fave dish of the night.! Badami Khulfi (ice cream w/ saffron and nuts) - The taste was good, but it was really really icy. Coffee - Gotta include this, 'cause weak-ass coffee means laziness. But the result? They passed just fine. As for spiciness, the bf and I both did "medium," but the bf could've gone for "hot." If there's any way we can describe it ... - "mild" - can't really do spicy - "medium" - can use Sriracha and Tobasco with little problem - "hot" - can't taste the Sriracha/Tobasco! Also, if you don't like spice much, a friend suggests ordering the Butter Chicken. --SERVICE-- So! For the (few) mediocre parts of the meal, the service more than made up for it. We were eating with a few of the bf's colleagues. A couple of them were late, but they seated us anyway! I haven't had that treatment in a long long while. Also, no one was pretentious, waiters were reliable and friendly, everyone looked super sharp and professional, and the manager kept walking around as a sign of reassurance. At one point, the manager came over and asked if I wanted a chair (I was sitting cozy on a booth with the bf and a colleague). I actually liked where I was sitting, so I declined, but he seemed super concerned for my comfort. It felt so incredibly well-run.
(5)Josh M.
Mela is a nice find. The food is excellent, the ambiance is simple yet appealing, and the staff is attentive and helpful. The Mulligatawny soup was great - a bit of a bit but also offering a hint of sweetness. Very good. Samosa's were a check plus. For dinner we ordered a hot stone cooking meal - which was very cool and highly recommended. It was as if someone found a way to fuse Fondue with Hibachi cooking. A hot stone comes out with raw meat and you cook it on the table. I also ordered the chicken coconut curry which was quite tasty. The plain Naan was a bit bland - I'd go with a Naan with some flavor if I went back. Overall, a very good experience. Mela didn't truly distinguish itself from some other Indian restaurants I have tried but it was a nice experience and I would definitely go back.
(4)Boston T.
I usually tell people abut the Hot Stone cooking which sets them apart from the others. However, it is too overpriced and the waiters aren't well trained. Many of them ask to see the name on the menu as if they didn't know the name of the dish. Also, once my friend and I went and we tried our best to tip a decent amount, even though we were short on money. I went back because I had forgotten something and the waiter was complaining saying we get most of our salary from tips and otherwise we only get ~$3/hour. It's decently cooked food, but the other factors don't make me enjoy it too much. I probably wouldn't go here if I were to dine out with friends.
(3)Daniel P.
Just ate her for dinner tonight. It was so good that I felt like I should right a positive yelp review right away. Great location right on Tremont in Back Bay. Perfect place for a date. We got the dinner for 2 which came with soup, samosas, naan, mixed grille (two types of chicken, two types of lamb), two entrees (we got a chicken tikki and shrimp something), two desserts and coffee or tea. All for $45. The food was amazing, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Will definitely go back.
(5)Jarrett G.
Best indian food lunch buffet in Boston!
(5)Erica T.
Came here for the weekend buffet. One thing that stood out was the excellent service. The servers are so kind, polite, and on top of it. The buffet had about two appetizers, three main dishes, and four or five curries, salad and fresh fruit. A nice selection I'd say! There was a guy making the fresh bread with potatoes in it. I don't know what they're called, but they're really good! The veggie samosas were huge! Stuffed and the flavor was good. However, the tandoori chicken was on the dry side :( . BTW, they had watermelon water. Unique and fresh! They also serve complimentary FRESH (&warm) Naan with garlic! Nice thick slices that go perfectly with all the buffet dishes. Yes, that is the point of it I guess. Makes sense. For about 1 or 2pm on the weekend, it was probably 1/2 full, but patrons kept coming in and leaving. I will be coming here again for the buffet.
(4)Hubert H.
A decent place, but probably overpriced considering what you get. This writing concerns only the buffet. The best part is that for the buffet, they bake you a FRESH piece of naan. Comes out soft and warm and that's the way it should be. The saag paneer - spinach too flavorless and not fresh. The beef with cream sauce - not enough beef - whatever beef was there looked like meatballs. Daal a bit watery. Vegetable pakora - needs more vegetable. On and on like this. On the flip side, the seating is pleasant and a nice place to sit and chat.
(3)Audrey P.
The food here is authentic and tasty. The service is friendly, but sometimes a bit slow depending on how busy it is. You get great value for the portions. Just watch the level of spice. On any given day, the medium can be served hotter than desired. We went with mild and it was perfect. We even spotted a celebrity chef dining here inconspicuously, so if it's good enough for him, it's even better for us! The decor and ambiance are noteworthy. Just get there before the rush if you can! Take out works when it is too crowded.
(4)Greg C.
Good quick lunch buffet. Service was a bit slow but it was crowded @ lunch.
(4)Nicole M.
This is the best place (in Boston, pre-Bombay move to the South End, because Bombay still gets my vote as all-time best in the area) in town that I've been to for Indian. The space is small, but very atmospheric. Love the decor and ambiance. We showed up on a very snowy Saturday night, and were able to be seated right away. It was the perfect mix of not packed but packed enough. The service might be the top 5 I've ever experienced in Boston. Wow, are they attentive, but not overly so. We went in hungry, but knowing that we wanted to take home leftovers, so we ordered a lot (for us anyway). I started with the tomato soup, and hubby had the meat samosa. My soup had a different texture than I was expecting, but the flavor was spot on. Next time I go back, the soup could be the only thing I eat, as the portion was huge. I only had a little bit because I wanted to save room. The samosas were reported tasty as well. For meals, I got (boring, I know but I love it!) chicken tikka masala and he got chicken vindaloo, with a special request for white meat only. What a difference it makes. His had a great spicy flavor, as did mine, though mine wasn't spicy enough. Next time I'll go for hot instead of medium. Naan, of course, and jasmine rice were both perfectly cooked. I had the pinot noir and he the rioja. The pinot was really light, which I would ordinarily not like, but when combining with all the spicy flavors, it ended up suiting my palate just right. The rioja was great, too, and I'd order that with a more mild option. And just because we weren't completely uncomfortable and busting out of our jeans, we ordered the rice pudding to share for dessert. Standard rice pudding. We asked for everything but the samosas (because there were none left) to be packed up to take home, and when we got home, sadly they left out my soup. Oh well. Just another reason for me to go back!
(4)Anastasia Z.
This place was delicious and classy. It's in the South End, a cute area of town. The lighting was perfect (I love their hanging lamps!), all the waiters/waitresses were polite, and we were seated immediately (though I did make a reservation). The food was ready in under ten minutes, too! I ordered the vegetable korma and ate it with rice and garlic naan. They were all DELICIOUS. Seriously good. The naan was hot and fresh and the korma has a really good mix of veggies (paneer, zucchini, chick peas, etc). My only complaint? I ordered garlic naan and the basket showed up with two HUGE pieces of delicious naan. But we were charged X2 Garlic Naan. The waiter told us it was because we had two pieces, but that wasn't our fault at all since I only ordered one. It was a little ridiculous but no big deal since, when I said something, they took it off of the bill. I highly suggest trying Mela...I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Megan A.
The food, hands down, is fantastic. Very fresh, not greasy, and has wonderful flavors. We had the chicken tikka masala, Naan, lentils, lamb, and some sort of spinach dish. The restaurant is very small and very cramped however. Not much room to move around or really enjoy a lengthy dining experience. The staff rushed us a little because they had a huge line out the door. I suggest getting here around 7 and plan on heading to another destination for drinks/dessert after.
(4)keith l.
Food the other night wasn't very good, two and a half stars maybe. But the service and customer service were great. Our vegetarian appetizer sampler was incredibly salty, and we just didn't like the pakoras (which was just our preference, not crazy seasoning). The waiter noticed we left almost all of the pakoras on the plate, and at the end of the meal they actually comped us the app. Totally unexpected - we hadn't even mentioned the salty aspect to the aloo tikki and samosa since we're stupid wimps. We were very touched, and impressed. He also gave us some extra rice for our packed up leftovers. I've had the lunch buffet here a few times and was happy, so I was surprised the dinner food wasn't so great. My fiancee said the Daal Makhani was at best on par with the foil pouch version from Trader Joe's. She likes the TJ's version, but...it comes in a pouch. For $3. Not $12 or $13. The chicken tikka masala was dry, and while flavorful, wasn't very memorable. I think I'd be willing to go back, mainly to see if the food can live up to the customer service. I'm also a really big fan of other restaurants of theirs I've tried (Kashmir and Bukhara), so I'm hoping the other night was an aberration....
(3)Yifan L.
I've been here twice, and overall really enjoy Mela. Though it's a small space, the atmosphere is really nice, with Indian reliefs on the wall, a giant Buddha face, and beautiful lanterns. It's romantic enough for a nice date, but lots of people seem to go to catch up with friends. The dishes are a bit pricier than I usually pay for Indian food, but are very well presented and quite tasty. I found the saag to be a bit too salty, but otherwise have enjoyed everything I've had there (the spicy stuff is actually spicy too!). I recommend getting the vegetarian meal for two...such a good deal! You get naan, soup, samosas, 2 dishes, rice, and condiments for $35. Mela also always seem to have a little sampler-of-the-day that they will serve you while you wait for your food to arrive. I guess the main reasons for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is that most things are a bit pricier than they should be, and that the saag's flavor was overwhelmed by its saltiness. Also, the last time I went, I sat at a cramped table and must have gotten my chair kicked about ten times by people and staff walking by. However, our waiter was really friendly and managed to maneuver around our table without kicking it at all, so big props to him :)
(4)Ali S.
Delivery FAIL. I ordered from Mela at 8:11. At 10:00 I became impatient, but they assured me they "would be there any minute." I had plans at 11:00. At 10:45 I wanted to cancel the order, but they said it was "already made." At 11:15 they canceled on me- actually I believed they asked me if I "wanted my food that day."
(1)Matthew H.
After having been to several other restaurants with the same owners as Mela (Kashmir, Diva, Bukhara), I had high hopes for this place. The good: the atmosphere is very nice and the service was quite attentive and friendly. They also bring you a cup of delicious curried soup before your meal arrives. The naan was also very tasty. The bad: my chicken tikka masala just didn't taste like tikki masala. While the ingredients seemed high quality, the sauce tasted sour and really didn't meet my expectations. My date ordered chicken saag and it was pretty unremarkable as well. Perhaps we just didn't order the right dishes, but overall the food left something to be desired.
(3)Marilyn T.
I was a little skeptical at first, wondering how authentic a pristine and modern Indian place on Tremont could be, but I was happily surprised during the weekend brunch. It is a bit pricier than the Somerville places I regularly go to (Kebab Factory, Namaskar, Diva), but the ambiance is definitely more unique. The serving ware is very modern looking, and the inside is mostly white, with accents of bright textures decorating the walls. It's a small space with a small buffet spread, but there are a good number of items. The salad selection was very fresh and featured a lot of fruit, which was nice. they also had sambar soup, which not every buffet has. The warm dishes were the standards like saag paneer, chicken tikka masala, etc, but they all had a lot of flavor and spice. Most importantly, I didn't get the post-MSG stupor that I usually get. Water is refilled quickly, and dishes are cleared as soon as you're done. It was a nice change, and I liked that it's so accessible.
(4)Ben K.
I went for a casual dinner with a friend the other night and was delighted and wow'd by this place. Unlike many other Indian places, there was a stylish and calming ambiance that felt inviting and warm. The service was prompt and friendly- beginning with a complementary Mulligatawny Soup (lentil-based soup) instead of the typical papadam basket. We ordered veggie samosas (crispy and flavorful), the rogan josh (YUM!), and my new favorite the Malai kofta. It was more than enough for two hungry diners. While the prices were a few dollars more per entree than other places, the ambiance, flavors, service, and quality of the food made it very much a worthwhile dining venture.
(5)Mark W.
Excellent Indian Cuisine. I travel to India often and this is pretty authentic. Great service, nice ambiance. I recommend.
(4)Christine J.
I live right down the street from Mela so I am a frequent customer. Being Indian myself I have had a hard time finding a good Indian restaurant in Boston that meets my needs, but Mela goes above and beyond. Let me start off by saying, if you want the gritty, home-cooked Indian food this is NOT your place. Mela is more of a refined Indian restaurant where they take things and put slight spins on them. Everything seems to taste a little lighter and fresher. I highly recommend going in for brunch on the weekends. It's only $12 and buffet style. They serve all sorts of appetizers, entrees and desserts! The menu changes from day to day, but when I've gone they've had masala dosas and a pani puree station. They typically always have chicken tikka masala and another meat dish. Then for dessert they always have mango lassi, gulab jaman, and a rice pudding type of dish. Apparently now they have an organic menu, which I can't wait to try!
(5)Meredith K.
I went here for dinner with a friend and was overall very impressed. Everything was delicious! As soon as we sat down (before we even ordered!), they brought us cups of cauliflower soup. I had chicken saag, garlic naan, and a mango lassi. I can't say enough good things about the naan and the lassi. Both were fantastic. I really enjoyed the chicken saag and rice too. Our waiters were very polite as well. I have two complaints (hence, the 4 stars). First, I thought the restaurant was a little too loud - my friend and I had to strain to hear each other and make ourselves heard. Second, while service was quite prompt at the beginning, they took a long time to bring our check. In general though, I really enjoyed the food here and would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Kathe T.
I really wanted to like Mela, but given the prices (yes, it's the South End) I was expecting a bit more. I had first tried their food at the Boston Local Food Fest in the fall and was pleased with it given the concessionary/catered style of the event as a whole. When I saw a deal come up on Rue La La, I thought I hit the jackpot and was excited to experience Mela in its own environment. Sadly, I remember liking them better at the food fest. I ordered the mulligatawny soup, which lacked the lentils and vegetables (all of them)- the broth was tasty. We had also ordered samosas (veg for me and meat for the man); the server was kind enough to offer just doing one of each rather than getting two orders - awesome!!! Except that when they were brought out - 2 meat, 0 veg - about five minutes later, he did bring over a veg samosa & apologize (without us saying anything). For my entree, I ordered the Vegetable Biryani, it was ok, spicy (my fault), but ok... I never did eat the leftovers.
(2)Fiddos J.
As used as I am to the disappointing fare the passes for Indian food in the US, Mela manages to underperform even by those very generously low standards. Firstly - the good points - the service is good and friendly. And the $45 dinner for 2 is good - atleast conceptually - if not in execution. Now the problems. The chicken tikkas or tandoori or whatever that was supposed to be - was awful. the chicken was dry and tasteless. The only "tandoori" aspect of it was the listless desultory tinge of red. The taste of boiled chicken. And while there's nothing wrong with boiled chicken - Indian food is very definitely NOT about boiled chicken. We need flavor in our food. The goan prawn (shrimp) curry was ridiculously hot - but entirely flavorless. And I am not someone who subscribes to that cliched canard that you can't taste any flavors in spicy food - that's just not true. It means that you're eating "spicy food" as defined by Mela - which means "we put insane amounts of chilly powder in our food while going easy on everything else". The ras-malai was dry and at least a few months wrought - and the kulfi was frozen hard, glassy and also a touch stale - not the fresh creamy rich soft delicately fragrant treat from the Mughal table. I really wish sponsor an H1-B visa for a good chef from India and open a decent restaurant. I'm seriously tired of this second rate Brick Lane "chicken tikka masala" crap. The British first pillaged India and then destroyed our food (for those of us living abroad), as a final act of malice.
(2)Bassel A.
Went there without a reservation and were told there was a 30 minute wait which was fine. We sat at the bar for about 20 minutes before the bar tender finally showed up to take our order. We ordered a bottle of champagne and he couldnt find any champagne glasses (they were right behind him) and he went off to the kitchen and grabbed two wine glasses. He then proceeded to grab the bar rag and wipe down the drinking part of the glass with the dirty rag. I couldn't believe it. I told him I was all set with the champagne and waited for the table. The service was good at the table and the food was decent. Nothing special and I've had better Indian food, but it wasn't bad. If it wasnt for the champagne experiance I would go back. Note - the dinner for 2 for $45 is a pretty good deal. You'll have lots of leftovers for an Indian lunch the next day.
(3)Miao L.
I have to say I'm very disappointed after my dining experience here. Food wise, we ordered the non-veggie platter as appertizer, lamb vindaloo, chickken tandoori and nann, and they are nothing special to me, which is ok. However, their service really sucks. While I was waiting for my friend, the server refused to let me sit down at a table, while there are 80% tables unoccupied. Then after we sat down and the server repeated our order, he actually points to each of me and my friend when repeating each of our orders! That just threw me off~ When he brought over our orders, he wouldn't rearrange the plates to make room for the new dish, rather I and my friend had to do that for him. For me, when dining out, service is important. I'm asking too much for an Indian restaurant with price at the lower side, but at least no finger pointing, please~
(2)Jennifer J.
Got delivery on 11/4/2011. The person who took our order was very nice. The food was excellent. Vegetable somosas were great. Palek Paneer was good. Butter chicken was great. Garlic naan was great. Has coupons you can use. Delivery only took 30 minutes. Will definitely order from here again.
(4)moises j.
What a great place. Garlic Naan, butter chicken, and the fried potato appz were awesome! The price and ambiance are good for the price, I could see why there were so many takeout orders while waiting for my seat. I love Indian food and I can honestly say this was the best Indian food I've had in Boston. I haven't tried all of the Indian food places here, but it's sure one to get my vote.
(5)Erdan L.
My indian friend told me there is really no good Indian food in Boston. Looks like it is true. By the way, it is way too warm inside the restaurant.
(3)Bindiya T.
Definitely one of the Boston's best North Indian food. I have had better Indian food in US but only in New Jersey. This restaurant is as good as it gets in Boston. It's a bit pricey but the food is totally worth it. I would any day do Mela a-la-carte, than a cheap Indian buffet. I have never tried their buffet though, so I am not sure how good it is. But judging from their food quality and taste I am sure it's good. It's highly recommended from someone who has had Indian food all her life!
(5)Stephanie L.
Delicious! We had the garlic naan, eggplant (Bhurtha) and the mela non-vegetarian platter which included meat samosas, chicken pakora, lamb / chicken / beef chunks with tamarind and mint sauces. Everything was very delicious--especially the lamb and eggplant. I liked how the Bhurtha wasn't too oily or anything. The naan and the beef chunks was a little burnt for overall great meal. Service was great--also refilled the water. I would definitely come back to Boston just to eat this meal again--delicious!
(5)D H.
I've been here a few times now for dinner. All around very good Indian food. Better than other places closer to where I live, like Haveli.
(5)Erica K.
The food is amazing! They have a large variety of vegetarian options and the portion sizes are massive! Prices are really good too. Customer service was really friendly and the food preparation was fast. The establishment is clean, cozy yet roomy, and the decor is nice. I would definitely eat there again.
(5)Loan L.
I was very impressed with this place. I was with a party of 4 on a Sat night and we were hoping to have dinner at Masa. I had some family in from Cali and wanted to show them a nice tapas dinner, but since I failed to make reservations, we didn't get to eat at Masa. We walked around and stumbled upon this gem. The place is quite small and as we were leaving, a customer told us that the food is very good and that they give you a lot of food. When we were seated, the server gave us some sort of fried cauliflower and it was delicious. All four of us ordered the 2 person combo dinner which includes some soup, kebab-like appetizer, our entree and desert. We all ordered different entrees so that we can taste them all. My favorites were the lamb with mushroom and the butter chicken. Both entrees, the meat was so tender and very flavorful. I had a mango mimosa which was a great palette cleanser ans also very good. The desserts which we all picked different ones were equally as good. My fav was some sort of sweet dough, the rice pudding, and the ice cream. And then we all had chai tea, which was also included with the combo meal. The food was fantastic and our server was very nice an attentive. Besides the food and service being great, the atmosphere was very cozy. I recommend anyone going there on a Sat night to make reservations. We were lucky to get a table because someone had canceled. There was a line after we had sat down.
(5)Thuy L.
Cozy and intimate are the two words I would use to describe Mela. I've passed by this restaurant so many times and meant to stop in, so one night, my friends and I did. I came in without reservations on a random tuesday night. I was the first to arrive and was seated immediately at a pretty cozy table by the window and about a foot away from each surrounding table. I could hear the conversations from 3 tables away. Service was okay. Food was okay. It actually felt like this restaurant was trying to be something that it is not, a high class restaurant. When you enter the doorway and have no wear to wait except for the three pillow-topped chairs right in front of the door, you cannot be a classy restaurant. It cannot be in the same ranks as Kashmir. I still like Tantric's food, service, and ambiance better. I ordered the Paneer Tikka Masala while others at the table ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Vindaloo. Everyone said they liked their meal, but on the way home, my stomach was definitely having a different opinion.
(2)Ridhima S.
Picked up butter chicken, aloo chole, and garlic naans from Mela today. The butter chicken was okay, I've definitely had much better. There was one spice that was overdone in the aloo chole- I can't put my finger on it, but the dish overall tasted strange. The naan was okay, although some of the parts were burnt. And the papad had uncooked pieces- yuck. Based on this experience, Mela is definitely over-hyped. We were expecting much better food, especially for the price.
(2)Lea C.
Let's run through the "White Girl Gets Indian Food" checklist: papri chaat? Check. Chicken? Check. Garlic naan? Check. Samosa? Check. Pakoras? Check. Mela is owned by a company which has a ton of differently-marketed Indian restaurants all over the city, but I have only been to Mela so far. I am a fan. It's got a very sexy, modern vibe. The chandeliers are beautiful, the light is dim, the presentation is on clean, modern white plates, and and there's a hammered-copper bar. So I'd definitely put this into the "night out" Indian category. Two of my good Indian girlfriends and I did exactly that as we kicked off a night of debauchery at Mela one Saturday. The bad news is that it's not accessible by the T, which is the same for most of the worthwhile things in the South End, so I always end up driving to restaurant row on Tremont. If it's later or earlier on a weeknight, street parking won't necessarily be a problem. But on a Saturday night, forget it. There is of course valet...but the valet is $14, so bring cash and be annoyed that valet costs $14. Mela gives you a shot-sized cup of soup as an amuse (was it Mulligatawny?) that is insanely delicious. They had a very creative cocktail menu, which is something I have never before seen in an Indian joint. We ordered the vegetarian appetizer platter, all of which was standard fare and good. I ordered the papri chaat, which had lots of tomatoes and was very light. I followed this with chicken vindaloo which was very tasty and tangy. One of my gfs had a vegetarian curry dish which was so spicy I couldn't try it (but she loved it), and the other got lamb shank curry, which she didn't like because she said the lamb was very gristly. The garlic naan was fantastic and generously portioned. As with every time I have Indian food, I took about half of it home, and the take-out containers are plastic, which helped in the safe transportation department. I'd say it was on the higher end of average as far as price goes. I would definitely go there again for a date or another girls' night out. Thumbs up.
(3)Neal K.
I had the meat samosas, garlic naan, and lamb saag... all of which were amazing!! One of the best indian restaurants in boston, 4 stars just because it's not the cheapest/best value I've seen for indian.
(4)Colene B.
Delicious entrees. I had one of the Modern Indian entrees - Subz Panchmael - with fresh vegetables (peppers, artichokes, asparagus) spiced with green cardamon and the balance of flavors and crispness of the vegetables were perfect. My husband greatly enjoyed the organic Kerala Salmon curry. The service was excellent. I may not have not tried Mela if it were not for the Groupon special, but we will definitely be back.
(5)Kevin C.
This place, straight up is amazing, I stated going there back in 2008 and anytime I have a long lunch break I am there. It is small so don't try to bring a group larger then 10 people but its also quiet there so you could bring a date. The architecture features and the art and great. I took a group of friends there a few weeks ago and we were late but they hadn't taken down the lunch buffet which is really the only thing i have every had or needed there. They let us finish off the buffet and then they even prepared extra items for us. It was an amazing feast. if your looking for some Indian food during lunch and your in the south end this is the best place around. All the items in the buffet are great, if its your first time try it all because there isn't anything you want to pass up. do NOT waste the space in your stomachs on the salad bar, it just isn't worth it, you will regret it.
(5)Collin N.
Definately recommended. Great Palak Paneer. Whenever I get their lunch buffet, I'm too stuffed to bother with dinner.
(4)Srey S.
Went there the day after Christmas. Restaurant was pretty empty with only one to two other tables. The decor is nice though the chairs are uncomfortable. Staff was attentive (but then again we were one of three tables). We had poori, kerala fish curry, and beef vindaloo. The fish dish was very well done. Poori was good. The beef however was kinda tough, both dish were ordered medium level of spiciness--though they both tasted mild. I don't mind mild but would enjoy more flavor. The shocker though is how awful the rice was. It looked like its been sitting there for way too long and were not fresh, long grains like you'd expect. I tried to explain to the waiter, after all, it's the day after Christmas, maybe they were not cooking rice batches as often as usual. Upon notifying the waiter, he suggests we note it in the comment card. Really? I've just informed you, this is the part where you take action. At some point later, the waiter came back and told us he informed the manager and offered us some Naan instead, which we declined, as we are done with dinner. Overall, we are not impressed enough by the menu or quality of food to come back, which is quite disappointing for us because we would like to dine in the South End more often.
(3)Mark D.
Without a doubt, this is some of the best Indian in town. I've eaten at this establishment more times than I can count, and I have yet to have a dish that I cannot recommend. Last evening I decided to order from them via Foodler.com (free delivery!). I ordered the chicken tikka masala, aloo choley, a chapati and the coconut sorbet. The chicken tikka masala is wonderful. The masala is rich and full of flavor. I ordered it medium hotness, and it was great. If this is your first time having Indian, just an FYI, its not jam packed full of meat. But the portion is just enough for one person. It was the first time I ever ordered the aloo choley (I usually stick with the dal makhani--which is just absolutely amazing btw if you love lentils). The dish was very tasty. I had enough to bring to work today for lunch too. The chapati was ok. It was supposed to be served with butter but they didn't give me any or didn't butter it as far as I could tell. But it was fine nonetheless. The coconut sorbet was WOW. I've sampled the cardamon chocolate mousse before (its ok), but I just wanted something light to top off my meal so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'll be honest here... every time I go to this place, from now on I'll be ordering the coconut sorbet! It was served in a half coconut shell. It was rich and creamy and extremely refreshing. Has to be the best sorbet I've ever had in my life. Definitely highly recommended! If you happen to stroll over to the restaurant on Tremont, its well-kept, with an exceptionally friendly staff. Two thumbs up high for this place!
(5)Jessica H.
good food for dinner but kind of pricey. try to find a groupon code for this place!
(4)Mel S.
Ok, I've been wanting to come here for a long time. Finally was able to go on a Sunday night with the hubby. Service: We got there around 6. Place was not busy yet, we sat down by the bar area. As soon as we sat menus were given. While we were scanning through the overwhelming menu, another couple sat right next to us. We got our water then they got their water. The waiter then took their order first (hey! we arrived before them) then he took our order right after. No biggie, (we thought )maybe he'll put in our order first so it doesn't really matter. Nope! that's not it. The other table got their food way before us. They were halfway through their entree by the time our appetizers arrived. It never even occured to the waiter to ever check on us. Food: We ordered the vegetarian sampler, only ate half. The coconut curry lamb was really heavy. The cubed beef curry wasn't so cubed, it was more like ground beef. Garlic Naan was however, really good. Maybe we just didn't really know what we should've ordered from here. We will come back for a second try. But the first experience was a big disappontment. Stay tuned for the the updated review.
(1)Casey H.
We went to Mela this past Sun for a late lunch. We ordered the vegetarian special for two and had the samosa, saag paneer, and malai kofta. These were all decent. Not great, but decent. The malai kofta was better than the saag paneer. However, the dessert was horrible. It was pretty clear that the rasmalai had been frozen and was fairly icy when served. I would give the food a 3/5 stars based on the many Indian restaurants I've been to in multiple cities. The service was a 1/5 stars. First off, the place was empty around the time we went so there should have been no excuses. I had to ask my waiter multiple times to refill the water glass and he basically disappeared for the whole meal. However, the worst part was that he forgot to include the tea/coffee that was supposed to be included with our meal/dessert. When we tracked him down to ask about it, he said that it would take about 10 mins to brew. Overall, I don't think we will be back to this place.
(2)Tapan P.
Love their lunch buffet. I love how you can get a variety of food when you have a buffet- but I hate how I tend to over-eat in spite of constant promises to myself that I won't.
(4)ChianWen T.
Mela is a kind of place that makes the South End cute. I loved sitting by the windows and just enjoying the typical postcard architecture of the South End. 5 stars for the ambiance. Our waiter was so gay, sweet, and friendly. He really made us feel like two princesses. I totally wanted to box him up and take him home. 5 stars for the waiter. The food was good, I think. Though I need to go back one more time when I am not sick to determine if it is really a 5 star place.
(5)Hanh R.
Although the restaurant is small, it made for an intimate dinner. We did not have to worry about trying to hear one another while we ate. We ordered the dinner for two which I think is an awesome deal (sure beats Restaurant week). We could not finish it. There was so much food and it was all delicious! My sangria was wonderful. The service was phenomenal too. We just had a wonderful dinner experience and would return again. We had the left overs for lunch the next day and it reheated nicely.
(4)Anastasia R.
This was a top to bottom fantastic dining experience. We were greeted by a tall Indian gentleman with a Mandarin collar and a smile who showed us to one of the lovers' tables at a bay window. The largest wall in the room we were seated in was covered in strips of copper that were raised into decorative curls in places which gave the room a wonderfully warm glow and a fantastic aesthetic. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. We sat down and ordered a bottle of still water while we looked at the cocktail menu. I got some pomegranate martini and the gf got a mojito. These were truly some of the best cocktails I've had in Boston, and it was a pleasant surprise. Not too sweet, sour or boozy tasting. We got the non vegetarian meal for 2: Complementary tasting of garlic potato soup (I love it when they do that) Cup of lentil soup 2 samosas and a small salad with some delicious lemon dressing A meat platter... (this plate is usually why I get the vegetarian option. It's just lots of meat on a plate) Our entrees - I had Rogan something which was a lamb dish and the gf got the lamb korma. Naan Dessert. - pistachio ice cream and that dough ball soaked in syrup thing The food was all excellent, but what gives this place its 5 stars is the service. We were brought our courses with immaculate timing, and any time I did want something I would look for our waiter and he would bring me what I needed without me even asking. Magic? Perhaps.
(5)Nadia G.
Slow, unfriendly service. Mediocre food. Really mediocre food. Small portions. Totally ovepriced for the quality. Not much more to say. Not coming back.
(2)Brad P.
What makes this restaurant worth five stars is not just that the food is very good but that it is reasonably priced and well proportioned. So often portions are small and overpriced, or you have to buy rice on the side, at Indian places. We ordered Lamb Saag, Okra, Eggplant and Chicken in coconut curry, as well as samosas and naan, and it was all as good as we've had in any but the highest priced Indian places. The lamb was tender, and the samosas were well stuffed. The service was good, too, friendly and nice atmosphere. We'll go back.
(5)J P.
I loved the food!
(5)Natalie B.
Ended up at Mela because of a RueLaLa coupon that had been given to me by my mom (who, incidentally, doesn't have indian food very often.)I typically stay local to Shanti near my house, but I decided to spread my wings. Called ahead and made a reservation and it was accepted - and still waited about 20 minutes to be seated. Their takeout business seems busy and a focus for them. Decor was far more interesting and trendy than you would see in typical indian restaurants. They clearly try to stay ethnic while aligning with the 'trendy' expectation of the South End. Service was eh. Friendly, but much, much too busy to give everyone attention. This might be different on a typical weekday night and I went on a Thursday, so perhaps that was part of the reason. It's also quite noisy and loud and I don't think that it can be helped. It's quite small and every sound seems to echo and the kitchen is right off the dining room, so that doesn't help. I had Vegetable Biryani and Aloo Naan and both were good. The biryani was much lighter than I've had in the past at other places - and I've had it everywhere. Didn't feel heavy or oily or saturated - it was just light, which was great. And the aloo naan was a little heavy, but good. Hard to make a comparison, as I almost never have aloo naan elsewhere. I agree that the service leaves something to be desired but speaking for just the food, it was a good choice. If you're looking for the complete dining experience, you may be disappointed but I recommend for the food.
(3)Rekha M.
I love it when someone does something creative with Indian cuisine. Mela did, without going overboard. Everything we had was very good... the chat, the goan shrimp curry, the papadum. Nothing was greasy, so we came out feeling good, too. The service was really nice and unintrusive. My group of seven were very happy. I look forward to returning. UPDATE: I returned and the service and ambience were still great, but the food was definitely three stars. Too salty,, for one thing. Papadum still delicious.
(3)Terry P.
So disappointed. Visited for early Saturday dinner and took forever while we were the only customer in the house! Glass of wine was less than half full. Could see dusts on the light fixture right above our table. Salad was stale - could see the dried lettuce right in front of our face. Hot stone lamb was a unique experience but the shrimp cold appetizer - Jinghat Chat - was odd - taste was not together. Port Vindaloo was okay. Service was good and accommodating however I won't be coming here again unless I have to. I went there with great expectations of 4 star from Yelp reviewers and am very perplexed as to what happened.
(2)Dana L.
This is solid Indian food - well presented and tasty. The decor is nice as well. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Kebab Factory, except that Kebab Factory has grains and beans in the table, and this place doesn't. I ordered the beef saag, and we got the onion kulcha and the peshawari naan. I would say that the bread was quite exceptional, and the saag was good. It is rather rare that the bread impresses me more than the rest of the food, but for some reason it did in this case. And I'm not often a fan or naan or kulcha - a lot of places do it wrong. The Peshawari naan, however, was divine. Recommended. It came to around $50 for two people, although there was probably enough food for three (we ordered two dishes and two breads.
(4)Charoline D.
Wow ok, now I know I'm not probably the best judge of Indian food since I've had it so few times, but we had a pretty amazing time here. With my 3 dear friends, we ventured in here after a long day of T-hopping and being corralled around at the Bizarre Bazaar/Bazaar Bizarre (?). I initally wanted to go to Addis, but a peek through the door showed the oodles of people waiting to be sat, and it was only 4:45! We had wanted to try something different that we weren't used to, and I was the only one with exposure to it, and it was weak at best. We entered to find salmon snakeskin covered bench seats along the wall, a copper plated wall, interesting lighting and plenty of seating. That would ordinarily make me nervous, that this place wasn't hopping, but the 3 Indian-esque boys at the front enjoying their meal sort of confirmed to me that this would do just fine. We sat, were served water, and started scanning the menu for appetizers. I really enjoy spicy dishes, but my 3 counterparts teetered more on the edge of things being cooked to "medium" spicyness rather than me with my "I want it so hot that it singes holes in my small intestine" preference. We started with an order of Aloo Tikki, some deep fried spicy potato pancakes served with two sauces. I couldn't tell you what either sauce was but we lapped up everything we could with some Aloo Paratha, a tortilla like flat wheat bread griddle cooked with butter. For dinner, Kara and I both ordered Beef Vindaloo, I asked for mine "hot" and she went for "medium". My hetero-lifepartner Lyndsay ordered the Beef Coconut Curry and Joyce went for the Chicken Tikki Masala. We were promptly brought a large bowl of jasmine rice to share and we dug in. Mine was perfectly hot, and not to the point where it was inedible. Lynz's was pretty perfect as well, it was just the right amount of coconut where it came off as more of a note of flavor rather than being overwhelming. The guy who served us water got to be somewhat irritating as he kept coming back to the table, but then stopped when I finally needed it. Oh well, he never came back with Joycee's lemons either. When dessert came around, we all Ooooed-and Ahhed at the prospect of coconut creme brulee and cardamom chocolate cake. 3 of us ordered the creme brulee and Lynz had the cake. Wow, the creme brulee was light and tasty, the caramel perfectly burnt on top with the custard lightly hinted with coconut, but Lynz's chocolate cake was OUTERWORLDLY. It was mostly a very rich mousse cake, the cardamom wasn't as present as I had expected, but nonetheless, the cake was amazing as Joycee and I kept lifting our spoons over to Lynz's plate to "help her". It was the sort of chocolate that seemed relative to a ganache, where it enters the mouth as a rich fudge, and then it's remnants are difficult to lick off the spoon.
(4)Erika M.
The only reason this is getting 3 stars instead of 2 is because we met an awesome couple there (Aaron and Stephanie!) sitting next to us.... The decor was great, but I don't eat decor...unless it's edible, of course. The service was great...the prices were reasonable...however, the "runs" weren't. Sorry folks. Both my husband and I suffered from major IBS FIF(from Indian food) on Valentine's day night. Dan actually threw up. The romance was boiling over that night! And by romance I mean shit. If it means anything, the food as delicious on the way in. I will likely try this place again because I love to torture myself...and I love Indian food.
(3)Jon H.
Couple of friends and I headed to some brunch places in South Boston, but after facing huge lines (upwards of 2 hour wait times) we stumbled upon Mela, and were pleasantly surprised. First off, this place has all you can eat for brunch. I don't know how it is usually, but 15 bucks a person after tax and tip for a great stuffing indian meal is fine in my book. To start off, you order your naan as you sit down so they can freshly make it. They give you a couple regular naans and some garlic naans, which are all cooked perfectly, served hot, and just the perfect balance between chewy and crisp. On to the buffet. This is the mother of indian buffets. Not because of the huge selection (its tucked away in a small corner of the main dining room, but because of the quality of the dishes offered. First off, there's a guy making potato veggie dosas fresh, which are crisp and covered in a coconut chutney. Now, I focused one dish on the staples (samosas, rice, paneer), but I won't review those. Why? Because I ate about four plates of chicken masala, coupled with this wierd fried dough they have on the side. PURE HEAVEN (that's why I ate four dishes of it). The masala is spiced to perfection, the chicken is tender, and the sauce is plentiful for dipping naan and the fried dough. I had the watermelon juice and everything else too, but just for this dish alone I will pay the 15 bucks and eat four/five dishes of it. Honestly, if I had known that I was eating at a buffet for brunch, I would have prepared accordingly and ate even more! Just a really fun experience, good food, great atmosphere (lots of natural light through the windows), really clean restaurant, and fast service. Good times all around! I can't believe I just discovered the wonders of South Boston!
(5)Ira H.
We tried this place for dinner last Sat eve. when Addis Red Sea had too big of a line. I'm glad we did. Staff was kind and friendly. Menu had many choices you don't see in a typical Indian/Pakistani restaurant. Ambiance was lovely. We ended up picking the $45 (for 2!) combination plate. It is a great deal as mentioned in a previous review and we had a big bag of nicely packed leftovers to take home. There is a vegetarian combination choice as well. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the fact that the tables were pretty close together and the host kept packing all the parties to one end of the restaurant when they could have spread the guests around and given us more space. Also, there was some server confusion for example, the bartender originally thought he had no salt available for my margarita and then came over and apologized saying that was yesterday after I had changed my order to a beer. The Margarita turned out great by the way. I will definitely be back.
(4)Sana N.
Ok, so the decor is very, very nice and the manager there is very, very nice too. However, the food is not so nice. The portions are large but the food tastes really uninspired. One of the naans was a bit too burnt. My friend asked one of the waitresses if they could bring out any dessert with a little candle stuck in it (we were celebrating a birthday) and the waitress snapped "No!" okaaay. We weren't sure if that "No!" meant: "No,we don't have any candles" "No, we won't/can't do that" or "No, get lost!" Then we had two different waitresses come to our table, each asking if we wanted dessert. Also, the restaurant is a bit cramped, if you want to have an intimate dinner, you don't want to come here. On our way out, I noticed a restaurant patron change her baby's diaper in one of the big windows, so i am assuming there is no changing table in the bathroom. All in all, the food and the service can both use some proper seasoning.
(2)Steve S.
I really liked this place...Havent had really good Indian in a long time in this town. First, Mela is in the South End on Tremont Street. Liked the interior, which is authentic in an upscale ethnic type of way... nice drapes with Indian(I am assuming) carvings on the back wall. Kitchen is in close proximity to the dining area First, Mela has an impressive menu of Indian food as well as the staples of Chaat, Vindaloo and Tikka. I rated Indian restaurants by how well they serve Chicken Tikka. I have eaten it in a number of different places and it is never the same...usually, its overcooked. Curious, because, it is just grilled chicken and spices. Melas interpretation was excellent Vindaloo is a challenge around here as well. Either the portions are too small, too spicy or bland...Mela again was excellent..right portion with just enough spice Indian food is not standardized like Chinese, so you really never know from place to place....Mela, however, is certainly worth a look Almost five stars
(4)Jennifer M.
I ordered take-out from Mela one night and got my favorite: chicken tikka masala and garlic naan. Both were exceptional and I will order from them again. They also didn't take too long to deliver to Back Bay, so that's always a plus in my book.
(5)Heather D.
Excellent Indian restaurant in the South End. First off, this place is absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant is draped in rose-colored organza drapes and cream light fixtures which bathe your fellow guests in a pearly glow that only makes them look more attractive. The crisp white tables and modern furniture add to the ambiance. The food was top-notch. The waiter started by bringing us a complimentary amous-bouche, a Dal type soup in an espresso cup. It was a nice touch. We ordered the garlic naan, the Coconut Chicken Curry and the Butter Chicken Curry, both spicy. The Butter Chicken Curry was definitely a stand-out, with a rich tomato-y sauce that was perfect for dipping with delicious naan. Mela has an intriguing cocktail list, and I couldn't help but try the tamarind margarita. It was the priciest drink at $11, but it almost knocked me on my ass, and was worth it. My boyfriend enjoyed his mango lassi as well. For me, this place is in the higher part of the two-dollar-sign range, so more for a special night out. I think it would be great for someone's birthday. One of the standouts on Tremont Street.
(4)Bella D.
Although I'm American, I went here two days ago with my husband and his cousin, both of whom are from India. This is NOT the most authentic Indian food out there. The chicken tikka appetizer was basically grilled chicken pieces you dipped in some cilantro sauce rather than the chicken being marinated and cooked the way it should. The three of us also ordered the lamb biryani. ALL THREE OF US were extremely disappointed. This is not good biryani, nor is it really authentic. We each asked for the spice level to be just a little under 'hot', which was more like a very, very mild with no kick at all (so the spice has been tailored more for American taste). There were no green chiles in the biryani, no hard boiled eggs, and they added mushrooms, raisins, and carrots, which ruined the entire dish. The lamb was extremely dry, and both my husband and I agreed they used goat meat rather than lamb. Whatever it was, it was like chewing shoe leather and did not have that distinct lamb taste. In fact, the entire dish was pretty dry and bland, a far cry from traditional biryani. The biryani cost us $16.00. This place was filled with American diners, so that should be your first hint this place is just a farce. Mela is more of a hot spot for young Americans on dates rather than for someone who wants to experience a home-cooked Indian meal. If you are looking for TRUE INDIAN food, this is NOT the place. For the record, the service was not the greatest, nor the friendliest.
(1)Alicia B.
When my BF and I ate here on Friday the 13th, it was my birthday. But, Mela didn't know this. They treated me like any other patron... and good thing, too, for if this is how they treat a "normal" customer, then I can vouch for them, saying they provide top-notch service. No, I'm not the type to flaunt my birthday around. I think it's more special when the occasion is shared between a select few. I'm sure, though, they wouldn't have pulled a TGIF and gathered around the table to clap their hands and sing out of key. Even though we had reservations, there was no wait. We were shown immediately to a table. We did ask to sit at another table, not wanting to crowd the couple at the window. Mela obliged, thankfully. The table needed to be cleaned, but we didn't mind. It actually, IMHO, added a bit of upscale service to the experience - having your table set right in front of you. I admit, I felt kinda special. Then, we were immediately served a fruit "salad." Rather, it's small pieces of fruit in a yogurt glaze. I noticed I got 3 pieces of pineapple; my BF had more variety. Interesting. Later on, I noticed the same thing happened to a new couple beside us. I looked over and wondered if she cared that she was given 3 pieces of pineapple. Obviously, it came from a can. You can't disguise the syrup-y taste. But, that was just a random observation of the night - not a knock against Mela. We ordered two of the Ramsay Pinot Noirs. Excellent and easy to drink. They're $10 a glass; so keep that in mind! The app we ordered was SUPERB. Whatever fig-ish sauce it comes with is amazing. I so recommend you try their veggie samosa. Amazing! For my entree, I went with the Lamb Saag, medium spice. My BF ordered their Duck Jalfrazi. Say that five times fast. We also, of course, indulged in an order of their naan, which is $3 extra and comes with one piece, freshly made. If you love naan, be careful. You could easily rack up the money just indulging in this treat. We didn't wait long for our entrees to come. Love the dishes they're served in! Speaking of ambiance, this place has it. Love some of their decor choices. While it can, I imagine, feel cramped on a busier night/time, it's worth checking out. The vibe is very relaxed and casual, with a touch of pure class. Back to the food... Lamb Saag = really great! It was chunks of lamb meat in a spinach-type sauce. At first bite, I thought the spice level may out-do me, but given a few bites, I was adapting. I admit, though, I needed to eat more rice than I wanted, to neutralize the spice party in my mouth. I ended up picking the lamb out to eat that first. Then, I used the naan with the spinach sauce. Addicting! (I'm craving it now as I type this. YUM!) My BF really liked his dish, though he could tell it was made with heavy cream. So, what may appear to be healthy could hide some hidden bulk calories. Good to know. Then again, isn't it worth it? I tried his dish and liked it, but I definitely prefer the Lamb Saag. So, in summary: + Order the Veggie Samosa + Be mindful of your personal spice level. Medium is HOT to some. + If you use a restaurant.com gift certificate here, be mindful that you MUST spend $50 ON FOOD before you can use it. Drinks don't count. +Not a place for groups, though we did count a party of 6 dining at the same time of us. We were able to use the GC, thankfully. It's very cool that hot places in The South End let you use these popular gift certs. Sure, they are stipulations on what you order and what days you can go, but, hey, you can save like $25 off your bill. So, with the GC and 18% gratuity factored in (another stipulation of the GC), our tab was a little over $50. Not bad for all we had - 2 drinks, an app, 2 huge entrees and an order of naan. I'm delighted this this place is close to where we live. If visiting friends are craving Indian cuisine, I know exactly where to take them. Or, we could always call in the order for take-out!
(4)Meghan M.
I don't often seek out Indian food but visited Mela for their brunch/lunch buffet at my dad's request. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, and buffet style at that! We arrived somewhat close to closing time and the food was still plentiful and fresh. I liked everything I tried and the ambiance was quite nice as well. I did feel like the service was lacking though (even though it was help-yourself)...Our drinks, which we asked for 3 times, didn't come until we were almost done with our meal. I doubt it's that bad during dinnertime but I can only comment on my experience. I left very full and happy so I really can't complain much. I'm definitely going to give Mela another shot but probably not until another Indian-food-loving friend/relative motivates me to.
(4)Diana B.
Loved the decor! Good food and service =) Had the Chicken Tikka Masala and Nann. My friend had the Coconut Chicken Curry. We both thought the food was De-Lishh
(4)Anas Q.
Mela was a nice chance encounter, so to speak. The food was superb, it can't get any better than that. Really well done. Service was attentive and the food came fast. Really good place for a meal if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
(5)Jillian Y.
What luck! I stumbled across Mela post-SOWA on a Sunday afternoon. The food, as I expected, was amazing. We had the shrimp do-piaza and the coconut curry shrimp and both were incredible, perfectly spicy with large, succulent (and plentiful!) shrimp. The aloo naan was perhaps the best I've ever had, and the service was prompt. The negative (thus, the missing star?) 1) The chairs at this place are the most UNCOMFORTABLE I could possibly imagine. I'm 5'6" with an average torso, and they cut right into my mid-back. After an hour of sitting here, my back was in pain! I don't get it, honestly. 2) Despite the restaurant being empty, and it being post-brunch, they seated us next to the ONLY other party in the restaurant, a party which (not the restaurant's fault) stayed for our ENTIRE MEAL. We couldn't even have a conversation. Seriously, have some consideration and forethought and seat us elsewhere. But seriously, it obviously didn't affect my thoughts on the meal...
(4)Lee D.
Great service, delicious food, great price. Seriously, every item on their menu is fantastic.
(4)Archana V.
Mela never disappoints! If a non-Indian friend of mine wanted to try Indian food for the first time, I would bring them to Mela. The ambience is classy and nice, the restaurant is clean and they have a pretty extensive menu. The portions are much bigger than most Indian restaurants and they have wide variety of naans to choose from. I've never tried their cocktails but the choices look very interesting and I'm looking forward to trying them in the future. They usually offer groupon/livingsocial deal every three months or so which is definitely a plus.
(4)Shruti M.
Ugh. This place is terrible. I went here and while I did not expect my mother's cooking, I did expect something halfway decent considering the decor and atmosphere. How sadly disappointed I was. I ordered the Chicken Biriyani which came with raitha. OK I'm sorry...a cup of plain yogurt is not raitha..it needs a little something more! I asked for medium and felt like I got mild (if that). The Biriyani had mushrooms and assorted vegetables in it, which is not typically how its made. Its supposed to be a chicken and rice dish, with some sauteed onions and nuts as garnish. I saw no onions and there were no nuts. The chicken had no flavor to it, basically the entire dish tasted like it was yesterdays leftovers mixed together and given a fancy name. We also had the pashwari naan ( Naan with coconut inside)... truly nothing to write home about. The wait staff was EXTREMELY efficient. They basically hovered over our table the entire night. At one point, the guy came to refill my water glass as I was reaching over to drink from it. He actually stood near the table and waited til I put it down so that he could refill it. I sincerely doubt I will be back
(1)Erin B.
I had a groupon for this place to try it out and I will definitely be back! Nice ambience and waitstaff. The food was some of the best that I have had since I moved to Boston- wide selection of dishes and you can adjust the spicy-ness to your tasting.
(4)Erik D.
My office is nearby so my team goes there a few times a month. Pretty great indian food, we usually go for lunch and the buffet doesn't disappoint. Order your nan as soon as you sit down for it always takes a little while. Their lassi is great too. Highly recommended !
(4)Amanda M.
A few of us from work decided to go for the lunch buffet. The buffet is $10 per person and is served from around 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This may sound strange, but I didn't really know what the dishes were, but they all tasted good. There were veggie turnovers and some really great chicken dishes as well as some tasty meatballs. I enjoyed sampling the various items and the garlic naan that was brought to the table. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with flowing curtains, immaculate white furniture and an interesting metal wall sculpture. It is small, but comfortable and there is a small bar area on one side. The only strange thing is that it was around 1:30 pm when we went for lunch and we were the only ones in the place. The servers seemed reluctant to pay any attention to us and there were about 10 servers hanging around with just the four of us dining. I will definitely be back for another round at the buffet!
(4)Mona L.
Love the Makhni Paneer. And the Mango Lassi, and naan. That's all I've ever had but overall, the service and the food is always good here.
(5)Kyle S.
Be careful with the hot plate stuff.. It's really good but the fat from the scallops will burn up really fast!
(4)Steph G.
I'm giving this place 5 stars for service and speed. Food is about 4. Boyfriend and I easily got a table on a Friday night, and within moments of being seated, were served complimentary tastes of chicken soup. It was phenomenal (but not to be confused with their chicken noodle soup, which is less than awesome), and will become a staple in our fridge come winter. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and kind, and our food came out faster than I thought possible. For starters, the naan is out of this world. While I'm no Indian food aficionado, I know a good naan. We tasted the chicken tikka masala, the chicken vindaloo, and the rogan josh, and were impressed with all of them. The raita was a lovely, crisp accompaniment. We also sampled the desserts--while the chocolate cake was alright, we definitely preferred the galub jamun and have come back several times just to savor those little orbs of pleasure. Overall, the prices are great, and we will definitely be returning for more lovely meals in a gorgeous setting.
(5)Tarryn V.
The chicken korma and sadwallah (sp?) are amazing. We order from mela more often than anywhere else in the south end. Hint hint always get extra rice for to go orders.
(5)Anna F.
The atmosphere, service and food are five stars. Where the loose that last star is a weak masala tea and less than stellar prices. This place is definitely a date venue. The lighting is dim, the decor decadent, and the food divine. I've now been to all the One World Cuisine restaurants- My fave is Cafe of India with Mela a close second. Kashmir, though all are in the 4 star range. This mini-chain is the most reliably good Indian food with solid service and atmosphere- not sure why you'd go anywhere else, Kasmir, Mantra, Diva, Mela and Cafe of India are all jewels in the crown of East Asian dining in Boston.
(4)Maeve K.
This place is delicious. I went with four people and we each ordered different things (chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, beef vindaloo, seafood masala) and aloo naan and regular naan, and none of us could decide which was the best. All of the meat was tender and the sauces were so flavorful. What really made this place stand out though was the service. They did not leave a dirty dish on the table and constantly refilled our water glasses. Everything was so respectful and efficient, and we came on a busy night with no reservation and the host was so nice and hospitable. They are a bit pricey but they have a pretty good buffet deal that I've never gone to but would consider it given how great the food is!
(4)Sean B.
Fantastic food - and great for vegetarians and vegans!
(4)Brittany H.
I returned to Mela recently to use up another coupon I had from a few months back. My second trip was MUCH better than my first! On our first visit, we had the tikka masala and coconut curry chicken -- the coconut curry was okay, and I didn't care for the tikka masala. This time we ordered the palak paneer and the lamb shank curry, both of which were delicious. A little spicier than anticipated but it was definitely welcomed. Our naan wasn't burnt this time and the wait staff was very busy but attentive. The place is a little far for us to travel, so we probably won't frequent Mela, but I would definitely return if I was in the area.
(4)peggy c.
It has been a while since I've been to Mela, but I've always had good experiences here. The decor is oddly but pleasantly decorative and refreshing- a simple translucent curtain drapes the large windows while stone relief and copper facade add a distinctive flair to the interior. Mela's a good place to catch up with friends or for a date. The place is a little small so if you plan on going with a group call ahead for a reservation. They're pretty accommodating - my friend had a going away dinner here for about a dozen people, and they created a special menu for her, which was rather sweet. From what my Indian friends tell me, the food isn't that authentic but it tastes great. I particularly like their biryani - actually it's the only place in Boston I'll get biryani. I tried it at a few other places and were kind of disgusted (i.e. Kashmir), but the biryani at Mela is fresh and flavorful. They also make their own paneer so though I'm not a huge fan of paneer, it's quite delicious. Lastly, if you like your food REALLY spicy, you're in luck - just ask them to make it "Indian hot" and they'll happily comply. Mela is definitely one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Boston.
(4)Arestia R.
When I'm in the mood to eat Indian food out, I'm in the mood to head to Mela. It's a cool little spot great for dates or eating with friends. The menu is varied and the naan is hot and good. The portions are great, too and perfect for splitting with friends. The service is a little hit or miss, so don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)Colleen T.
The decorating is cool, both modern and archaeological-leaning, and still somehow misses twee. I liked the warm copper and red hues. We were seated at a fantastic table, right in the bay window, with a view of the street (which was perfect--especially since it was Halloween night and we got to watch the little Spidermen and fairy princesses tromp by on their way to the next candy stop). The vegetable samosas were pretty ordinary but then it's a kind of ordinary dish, and the sauces it was served with were nice. I had the lamb saag and it was good, but I shouldn't have asked for the medium spicy, because it was actually quite mild. My husband had the kerala fish curry and he ordered it hot; it had a great flavor and was really outstanding, not at all painful or difficult to eat. (I like things spicy and highly flavored, not burning so much that there is only pain, no real taste.) The food was good-to-excellent, the staff was friendly and responsive, and though no one asked me if I wanted another martini, that was probably all for the best. We will definitely be back.
(4)Brett W.
Hands down the best Indian restaurant I've been to! The food was amazing - I ordered the Lamb Coconut Curry and it was very good and very filling. The portions are great, and the server even came around and offered us more rice (Yes please!!). For dessert I ordered the Gulab Jamun, and it was a perfect way to end the evening. Service was 5 star - very friendly and very quick! I would definitely return!
(5)Adriana L.
Really good! I ordered the Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan because I had a coupon for foodler. My food came sooner than I had been told and was great. The naan was smothered in fresh garlic, which I loved, and the entree was really rich and satisfying. I actually had leftovers! That never happens.
(5)Dorothy T.
I've been to quite a few Indian restaurants and tried a lot of different dishes and Mela is incredibly authentic and delicious! I've been here quite a few times and every time I was beyond impressed with the service and the food. If you're going for dinner and have an appetite, I would recommend the Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Dinner Combo (not quite sure if that's what it is called). It comes with soup, veggie or meat samosas, mixed tandoori grill, your choice of whatever curry you'd like, dessert, and coffee or tea. It's a ton of food for only $45 for 2 people! Needless to say, we had leftovers for the next day for lunch and dinner! Their soups are all really really good and the Tikka Masalas and Coconut Currys are exceptional! Your meal always comes with an abundance of basmati rice which is cooked to perfection (and you can get free refills if you want them!). The Garlic Naan is really really really good. Overall the food is delicious, and you can definitely tell that they take pride in their culture and the food that they serve. Their cocktails were pretty good...more generous than other places I've visited. I ordered the Indian Summer and it was not only delicious, but they put very little ice in my glass and extra everything, to the point that I could barely finish it! That's my kind of cocktail! The service is exceptional. The servers and owner are always really kind and courteous and very attentive to their guests. Don't be surprised if you never find your water glass empty! Bottom line...there is something for everyone at Mela and if you haven't tried it yet, get over there! It's delicious and truly a gem in the South End!
(5)Thomas S.
I've dined at Mela just under a dozen times. Mela is really as good as it gets for the kind of restaurant it is. It's your small local, neighborhood indian restaurant that is actually cool. Interior is nicely decorated and the atmosphere is pleasant. The prices are reasonable. You could do a whole lot worse than taking your date for dinner (or lunch) here. Vegetarian options are decent.
(5)Jessica F.
Second to review. F yeah!! (Ok not so much...) Anyway, after much anticipation and waiting, I stopped in to try out Mela last night. I walk by their windows everyday, and had spent months peering through openings in the paper covering the windows to get a glimpse of what was going on inside. Without much fanfare (as the previous reviewer noted, only a paper sign saying "Open" alerted us of their opening in mid-Dec.), Mela has given the South End a strong addition and needed variety to the neighborhood culinary scene. The decor is very well done: modest, but with powerful accents (white cut paper bubble hanging light fixtures, sectioned copper covering one wall, large white-on-white Indian wall sculptures). White modern china and white cloth napkins adorn the tables, and gauzy curtains soften the huge windows facing Tremont Street. And, the owners were able to keep the Nightengale's liquor license, so there is a full bar, complete with several stools if you want to wait there. Admittedly, I am not the most adventurous eater of Indian food (I stay away from goat thank you very much), but since I seem to eat the same things again and again, I think I have good points of reference. We had samosas to start with - quite tasty, but unfortunately they brought the vegetable version instead of the meat version that we ordered. We ate them anyway, but were a bit disappointed. Our mains were chicken masala and chicken coconut curry, which both came with very lighty & tasty basmati rice. A side of naan completed the meal, and with a glass of wine and a gin & tonic, our bill came to about $80. (We had enough to take home for leftovers, which I always factor in the price as well!) All in all, the food was great. Didn't "blow my mind" either, but given what they are advertising - traditional Indian, with some creative dishes, at modest price points, I think Mela totally hits their target. The service is attentive, plentiful and speedy, the food was fresh, tasty and ample and the menu offers many choices. The chicken masala was super tender and moist, with deliciously flavored sauce. The chicken coconut curry could have had a bit more coconut, but overall, quite good. Naan was hot and soft in the right places, just how I like it. My only negatives are decor related. It feels like they overlooked the importance of the bathroom as part of the whole restaurant feel (I am a stickler on this - big pet peeve to go from a v. nicely designed restaurant into a crap bathroom with bad lighting - total mood killer!) They could spend a few hundred bucks on modern light fixtures, a better paint job and few decorative accents to tie it all together. Also, the cutlery and glassware are very cheap dineresque - a disconnect from the china and napkins. I'm not saying put sterling silver down, but again, more modern accompaniments would be better fitting to the overall feeling. Overall, solid food, solid decor and solid service. At their prices, I see Mela as welcome addition with a good life in the South End. Will look forward to going back (but not too often or all of that naan and masala will blow me up like a balloon!!!)
(3)C C.
I'd gladly give this place a 5, but....let's start from the unhappy end. The service was very very bad on the Friday night I invited my friends to go try out this "new chic indian restaurant in the South End" with RESERVATION made, and ended up waiting 1:15 hours for the table. 1:15! Apparantly this was a new management; they looked rather daunted by the amount of crowd and had given away RSVP tables to walk-ins earlier. If it weren't for the frigid cold weather that night, we would've easily walked out to any other restaurant on Tremont St. We were all so mad and hungry. Service was slow. After standing 85 minutes we finally sat down; still, waited 10 minutes until someone came to give us some water. Even more hungry and searingly mad. Then the food came. Anger and hunger what? who? where? The food here was absolutely delicious, plentiful, and inventive. Now that our satisfyingly indulged tummies conquered over our emotions, we started appreciating the intimate interior setting. We sat next to a large French window inside this cute nice restaurant. Reminded so much of the hidden dining gems in the Village down in NYC. Oh yeah, the price mirrored those in that city too. But it was well worth the food, and I came to understand why people linger in here long past their meals. Would totally recommend the restaurant, but maybe want to go during lunch or less busy nights. Hey at least the story has a happy ending. Wouldn't want it the other way around.
(4)Nisma B.
Mela's brunch is perfect for the person who wants to try new things with minimal cost (on their wallet and stomach). Like most restaurants in Boston's South End, its dinner menu boasts a mighty expensive and elegant adventure that dissuades most curious beginners from even attempting. However, its reasonably priced brunch offers many different kinds of medium spiced curries, appetizers, and desserts. Instead of locking you into one hit or miss expensive choice, the brunch allows you to figure out your personal favorites commitment free. Mela's brunch includes an array of traditional curries like Goat Curry, American favorites like, Chicken Tikka Masala but also a few interesting creations you'll only find in the trendy South End, like Paneer Mahkani with Cherries. Though their creations may be inspired by the economy (like sticking the extra maraschino cherries in the brunch curry) they are adventurous and different nonetheless! Also, they offer South Indian items like Dosa (an Indian style potato filled crepe) and Keema (a ground beef and potato curry). The deal breaker for me is the season appropriate unique juice (watermelon in the summer) they offer as an option over cocktails most commonly consumed and spent on during brunch. Their condiment selection appeals to the mild, spicy, sour and savory hearted. Their décor juxtaposes rough hammered metal and tulle/ribbon netting (and yes, they finally got rid of the receipt paper that tied the curtains together). On nice days the sun floods through casting mellow shades of dusty rose, burnt orange and bronze glimmers. There are few Indian restaurants that offer fresh ingredients and a delightful ambiance that is often required of any nice dining experience. This has unfortunately led most beginners into the realm of Indian "fast food" at the Prudential Center as their first and last attempt. Bad Indian food casts a fatal label to all Indian food (unlike bad Chinese food, which has been embraced as a greasy guilty pleasure for late night and weekend hangover cures). Most bad Indian food victims tragically never recover... Mela's brunch is continuing to fight the good fight by offering a spectrum of traditional to contemporary tastes while catering to a charming weekend brunch atmosphere.
(5)Jason F.
really cool interior, nice pictures and other stuff adorning the walls. started off with the garlic naan which was really good. shared the chicken tikka masala, and the butter chicken. both were excellent, and the service was great as well. definitely
(4)Tod K.
Amazing food! And what a service! We showed up on a Friday night. It was busy so we had to wait a bit longer. We got a free appetizer on the house as well as a few samples compliments of the chef.
(5)Nicole B.
so i ordered delivery from here tonite...it never came. i ordered for my boyfriend while i went out for the night. i let him know it was coming. good thing i did because 2 hours later i get a text that the food never came! when i call they told me they called me to deliver it but couldn't. i asked what the problem was...they had the address so what was the problem? they couldn't answer me...just "call my manager in the morning." when i persisted to find out what the issue was he hung up on me. asshole. my boyfriend called foodler and made it so the money was never charged from my credit card which was good. but i will never order delivery from mela again. fine, they screwed up. shit happens. but it's how you handle yourself after that decides things. f them!
(1)Austin F.
Drove up to Boston to see some friends who are from India, and as I always do, I requested they take me to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Mela was recommended to us by a friend of my friends so we decided to try it. Upon entering the establishment you are overcome by the intoxicating scents of fine Indian spices and greeted by the excellent staff. The kitchen is semi-open to the dining area but the noise isn't too loud as to not be able to hear the table's conversation, but gives you a since of being in someone's home back "in the old country". Several (approximately five) main courses were ordered from the vegetarian menu, and all were excellent. The course size was plenty to feed two people with all the trimmings of Naan and rice. While here, be sure to order the Mango Lassi, a fresh mango and yogurt smoothie. The spiciness of the dishes were not overpowering, but struck a perfect balance between flavor of the spice and the natural flavor of the vegetables. In short, stop here and try it! Parking is difficult on a weekend night, but there are valet services available.
(5)Amanda S.
Lamb Vindaloo + Rogan Josh + Aloo Chole are my favorites. This is definitely a great Indian restaurant--delicious food and great service (they bring a small appetizer along with your menu before you even order). A cute little South End restaurant. The only thing I would say is that because it is small, it can feel crowded because the tables are all so close to each other. Otherwise, no complaints. :)
(4)Jen D.
My husband is always asking me if we can go for indian and up until I experienced Mela, I always had my taste buds burning for some other sort of cuisine. Well my friends, I cannot stop thinking about our lunch there last week! It was by far the best indian buffet I've encountered......granted my experience is limited so take that comment with a grain of salt. Get the naan with garlic - seriously you will not be disappointed. It comes out fresh, not reheated like some junky indian places I've been. Pricing was point on too $10 for the lunch buffet.
(4)sara m.
What a great date spot. It was my boyfriend's birthday and he really loves Indian food but there was never an Indian restaurant that I thought was "special" enough for a bday dinner. Mela certainly is special dinner worthy. The decor is pink and copper and glow-y. We both had the tamarind margarita, it was like something you would get at your favorite cocktail bar, great flavor and strong! We also had masala seafood, most places have seafood on the menu but its never their standout, this was spicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It is a little more pricey than most Indian restaurants, but for the south end it was reasonable.
(5)Shivani G.
My brother and I went to this place last Friday. It's the first Indian restaurant we've seen in the South End, so we were intrigued. We had the shrimp chaat and the chicken saag. The veggies in the shrimp chaat were a bit too chunky to go with the subtely of the sauce. (if you go and order this dish, write a review and let us know if the veggies were chopped smaller because I mentioned it to the waiter). The chicken saag was phe-no-me-nal! It's the best saag I have ever eaten in a restaurant. The accompanying paratha was also decent. I would definitely go again if only to eat the saag. I did think it was pricey for the food, but then again, it's the South End.
(3)Winnie C.
I came in on Saturday afternoon around 3 for lunch and it was empty for most of my visit. We ordered a shrimp appetizer, jumbo shrimp entree, beef curry, coconut cream brulee, pistachio shake and watermelon daiquiri smoothie. The shrimp in the thin bread bowl was better than I expected, nice flavor in the bread, shrimps and mushroom were a nice size. The jumbo shrimp was nice and mildly spicy (as I specified). Both of the drinks were delicious and the watermelon one was very fresh. The dessert was really sweet and something I would definitely order again. Service was pleasant, but there was one waiter that we had some trouble communicating with. Overall, even though Indian food isn't my thing, I give it four stars.
(4)Kasey F.
I love Indian food and I was referred here by a friend of mine saying it was the best he's had. He was definitely right! The servers were extremely nice and polite, very attentive. I've seen reviews that pointed out the opposite of their customer service but I've never encountered it there! My food is always cooked as I order it. I've gone in with groupons/coupons and they always honor it. Only negative remark was one night I dined in someone ordered something that is grilled at the table and since the place is so small with little ventilation I was choking for air at my table.
(4)Preethi C.
I was pleased to see an Indian restaurant open up in restaurant row in the South End & made it a point to stop by for lunch buffet one afternoon. I was struck by the decor, which was a mix of contemporary and traditional Indian motifs - it was tastefully decorated & very relaxing. The service was attentive at filling my glass and taking my order. At $9.99 the buffet was a great value, and I was happy to see that quality was not sacrificed in the least bit - the masalas were authentic and the ingredents were fresh tasting. The curry gravies were thick and not watered down, as many buffets tend to be. The typical Indian restaurant fare (palak paneer, chicken tikka, etc) were available along with some non-typical dishes such as Goan vegetable curry & a Beef curry dish, both of which were delicious. I highly recommend this place & can't wait to try their ala carte menu as well as their $12.95 weekend champagne brunch - what a great value on restaurant row!
(4)Sophia E.
Mela is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, let alone in the South End. The Indian cuisine is impeccable and completely affordable. The atmosphere is causal and relaxed and the service is amazing. On the weekends they have this amazing buffet special called the Spectacular Brunch Buffet. For only $12.95 you can stuff yourself silly with vegetable samosa, coconut chicken curry, chicken vindaloo, paneer makhni and so much more.... My tummy is growling just thinking about it. The only draw back is that the restaurant is a bit small with few tables. Which sometimes can cause a line to grow.
(5)Molly M.
Great Indian food in the South End. They understand the differences between mild, medium and HOT! (I like it hot.) My favorite is the butter chicken. Mela makes terrific naan. The waiters are nice, even if they are slow. I don't know of much service of the South End that isn't fairly slow, though, so I expected this. When I lived in the South End, right around the time they opened, I was eating there about once a week and my tummy was very happy!
(4)Marissa P.
Really nice place! Beautifually decorated... love the curtains! Wonderful location. Nice selection of drinks. The food's very good, but not spectacular. Their nan did not impress me, but besides that I thought everything was very good. The service wasn't so great... Another thing that's nice about this place though is that it's not your average Indian cuisine.. it's "modern"... so, some things are very different and you won't be able to find elsewhere.
(4)Liza H.
Lovely room and location. Bias relief carvings, copper and mango organza curtains make for a breezy interior. On to the important stuff, food. The lamb do-piazza and pork vindaloo were very good. The menu had some 'confusion food' items with gold leaf and what not. I am a purist and still have nightmares about accidently biting tin foil. That stuff's not for me. Although I am pleased to see some Western and Southern style food on the menu. I am glad I checked it out, however, you'll find me at my usual haunts of Namaskar and India Quality
(3)Hector D.
Good stuff. We came for dinner and had some of the red curry chicken, some naan, and white rice. The food was great and the service was good. The only thing was that the soda was flat and the temperature in the restaurant was too hot, but we will definitely go again.
(4)Dave D.
Best Indian in the city. No question. Great prices, good service, nice decor. Perfect for vegetarians (well, duh). Even the leftovers are better than most places' fresh meals.
(5)Christine S.
We ate at Mela with some friends a week ago, and overall the experience was great. After moving to Boston from Fresno, CA two weeks ago, we really needed some delicious Indian food. The restaurant is beautiful, with soft lighting and an interesting copper wall treatment, plus giant spiraly-paper lanterns that make for pretty lighting. The meal started out with a complimentary tasting of hot and sour chicken soup, which was delicious. My husband and I split the vegetarian dinner for two special (a steal at $35), which includes mulligatawny soup, vegetable samosas, choice of 2 veg entrees, rice, naan, raita, dessert and tea or coffee. For one entree we chose the Shahi Navratan Korma, which is fresh vegetables in a creamy sauce with nuts and raisins. It was absolutely delicious with many layers of spices and flavors. The heat was the kind that builds over time, but never got unpleasant (and I'm not much for spiciness). The waiter did ask us what level of spiciness we would like for each dish, and we ordered "American medium." This makes me think there's probably many higher levels of heat you can get over and above what the average American can tolerate. The Daal Makhni was also delicious, as were all other dishes in the meal. My only complaint was that the vegetable samosas weren't anything special (and I LOVE samosas). It was disappointing because everything else was so delicious and obviously carefully prepared and spiced. The samosas just kind of tasted like they were reheated leftovers from lunch. I'm hoping that was a fluke because this is a restaurant I would love to go to again. One other snag is that our waiter forgot that our dinner included dessert and coffee/tea. We reminded him about the dessert but we forgot the coffee. Other than that the service was good, and the desserts (Badami Kulfi - a nutty ice cream - and Gulab Jamun - a fried dough ball in sweetened condensed milk syrup) were absolutely delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant - at the end of the meal we had enough leftovers for another meal for both of us.
(4)Katie M.
I just found the best deal in boston. (Let me preface this by telling you I've only been in town 2 months) This deal is amazing though. For $45 dollars, my fiancee and I both got 2 soups (creamy and spicy), samosa (which I love), a plate of various tandoori meats, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. Needless to say, I had to be rolled out of there. The food was very good. That naan bread is to die for (I'm pretty sure its fat free right?) :) I had the coconut curry chicken which was creamy and delicious. For drinks, I would skip the Bollywood martini and just have the mojitos (surprizingly minty and sweet, not too sour). When we first ordered the combo dish, we thought is was going to be $45 per person and we were really surprized that it was $45 for 2. Great food and a lower bill, what more can you ask for!
(4)Billy I.
Delicious. Nice, unique selection. Great to have an alternative to Kashmir. Good energy.
(5)Nit S.
Used a groupon for a vegetarian thali for two a long while back. The food was much better than I expected. It was rich and delicious! I loved the kulfi at the end; it didn't taste like other kulfis I've had. I wouldnt mind going back for that thali.
(4)Benjamin W.
Went to Mela with the wife on a Friday evening when we were feeling in the mood for some Indian food. Things were a bit busy/hectic when we first arrived, and we had a bit of a wait (10-15 min) for our reserved table to clear out. Probably a good sign, though. You don't want a half-empty restaurant, especially of this size (cozy to small) on a Friday night. Nonetheless, the service was good-- water refilled frequently and the food came quickly. Also, they put a real slice of mango on the mango lassi glass--the mango lassi is highly recommended by this reviewer (more on this later). Unfortunately, my better half was feeling a little worse for the wear, and we had to leave before really getting into the meal, which we both were finding quite good. Our server was very solicitous and I had to convince him that we weren't unhappy with the food or the service or anything like that (though the bathroom seemed a little dingy and could have been jazzed up a bit--a minor complaint). When he brought back the food in boxes, he included a container with a complimentary mango lassi and when we were leaving gave us a certificate for ten dollars off our next meal (as long as we spend $40), which I thought was a nice touch. Overall I'd definitely recommend the place, and the food and service we had were laudable. And try the Chicken Qorma with some garlic naan to take the heat off.
(4)Elena A.
I am actually really sad to give Mela two stars because the food was absolutely delicious, especially their entrees. We had chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo which were both perfect with rich and spicy sauces. The garlic naan was incredible! However, this is hands down the worst restaurant experience I've received in Boston. The service is super slow. If you go there, order everything in the beginning and ask for check right away and I strongly advise you to double check everything on your bill. We ordered tea which we never got but somehow it ended up on our check ;) Also, desserts are beyond disappointing - the chocolate mousse cake was stone frozen, and I am not even exaggerating - a stone frozen cake from your next door supermarket that was just pulled out of the freezer. It was not edible and we sent it back (and were still charged for it ;). I am not even going to mention other little screw-ups here and there throughout the dinner, but it was basically a disaster service-wise, pretty much unacceptable. I would cut them some slack if at least it was busy, but honestly, how can you screw up this much when there are only three tables with people? Ugh. I am really sad for this place because they clearly have no idea about how to run this beautiful space with great location and amazing food. I will be trying other Indian restaurants around here, but won't be back to Mela. I'd still suggest though trying it out at least once, but stay away from desserts, order everything at once and double check your bill. And mentally prepare to receive bad service :)
(2)Steph M.
Great Indian food in the South End. I have only done take out and haven't had a sit down meal in the restaurant, but everything that I've had has been very good. Also the host/front desk staff are very friendly and helpful.
(4)Steve N.
how diverse is this neighborhood getting? Mela fits right in and fills a void that i can't believe has gone empty this long. got there around 6pm last night and found parking on street after making only 2 passes. we dodged a major dog-lick (they were EVERYWHERE!) and got a seat right away on the bar side. the space is nice, although a little tight and the tables a little small for the serving dishes they are using (not big, but funky). first up, the service was a little over-exuberant. we had just been seated and not even looked at menus when an amuse was delivered. the amuse, while decent (potato fritter with tamarind sauce, mirco greens) was brought way too soon. for the next ten minutes our waiter, politely, kept inquiring about our readiness to order. it got a little too comical so that last time he came, i told him that we aren't ready just for laughs. i originally thought this rush was because we arrived at 6 and i thought that they might of been trying to turn the table for 7-730 reservations. not so as when we left at 745ish the other side of the place was only half full. anyway, i got a Tamarind Margarita that, while being yummy, was a cloudy and had pulpy bits floating around, i'd re-think it's presentation in a clear daiquiri glass. the grrl got a reisling by the glass that was solid. for start she had the meat samosas which were not to heavily fried and pretty decent. i had the fried prawn poori. this was my 'must return to have again' dish. i had seen the photo of this dish in the Globe and been curious about it since. i must say that i was leery because dishes sometimes don't live up to the press things sometimes get when the photographer is there but i must say that this looked (and tasted) exactly as described. a lot of tiny tender shrimps (that are so easy to over cook) mixed veg and fresh beans (small limas?) served in a puff of wheat dough. amazingly yummy. there was a smallish salad on the side but it was not needed at all. for main she had the chicken tikka masala which is her measure of any Indian place and declared it very good, not as good as our favorite (Kebab Factory) but really good. the tomato cream sauce was a bit lighter and probably just as creamy but with the presence of pieces of pepper and onion that detracted for the overall good mouth feel. I had the lamb shanks. while presenting good flavor and spice the meat was not tender enough and the three partial pieces of shank lended more to picking up with fingers and gnawing, not knife and forking. rice was serviceable but a little dry and under seasoned and the plain naan was nothing special, maybe a bit too much charcoal crunchiness. will be back for at least the prawn poori and maybe something from their tandoor.
(3)Sheila B.
This was a very good Indian restaurant. I actually went there 3x times in a month, with different groups of people and a party pof 16. The service was mediocre, the food was really good. The best value was the 3 course price fix menu, veg or non-veg for two. This is the best value for the dollar. This place is definitely not cheap. I would like to see the chef get a little creative by doing a daily special or something. I was impressed to see he did prepare a mouse bouche.
(4)Carole H.
There was a crazy long wait but it was well worth it (note to self, don't go places the first week a groupon is in effect!). This was some of the best indian food i have ever had, including a week spent in india. Had the palak paneer, shrimp korma, onion kulcha, raita, and all were superb. Also the service was excellent, I made a mistake in ordering and accidentally ordered two spinach based dishes and they took one of them back to exchange for something else, which was brought out within minutes. Happy tummy!
(5)Daniel C.
Nice menu, and I definitely like the idea of "modern Indian" with pork and quail dishes, which are unheard of on a traditional Indian menu, in my experience. The decor was also very enjoyable, with lots of eye candy that really contributed to the experience. My main complaints are with regard to cost and service. The menu was definitely a bit pricey next to similar restaurants, with several dishes over $20. This may just be the Tremont markup, I'm not sure. Also, I found the service to be rather mediocre. A couple of different servers were always bugging us with trivial things ("Wouldn't you like to start the buffet now?"), but then after clearing our plates, just left us for a good ten minutes without inquiring about dessert or the check or anything else.
(3)Josh S.
We had tickets for a Company One production a few doors down, so we thought we'd take advantage of the Groupon we purchased a while back for Mela. My favorite Indian restaurant in Boston is Ghazal in JP, but Mela now ranks second. We got sangria, which was good but the taste of alcohol somewhat overwhelmed the fruit flavor sangria should have. We ordered the Mulligatawny Soup and Fried Prawn Poori as the appetizers. The soup was good, but the Fried Prawn Poori was absolutely delicious. As our entrees, we got the Lamb Tikka Masala and the Gobhi Charchi. I don't eat lamb, but my partnered liked his dish, and I thought the Gobhi Charchi was great. We also ordered the Aloo Naan, which we liked. The only reason I am not giving five stars is because there was a 30 minute lapse from our finishing our appetizer until our main course arrived and they forgot the Aloo Naan, which we had to remind them about. The server apologized on several occasions, which was nice, but the lapse was too long. We will probably give them another go the next time we have tickets for something at the BCA.
(4)Amy K.
I have been here 2x when visiting Boston and have loved it both times. The first time was for the lunch buffet, which was great and included champagne and watermelon juice (which matches the sparkley pink tables). Then I went back for dinner another time. My favorite thing was the goan shrimp curry, the shrimp were great and the sauce was perfectly spicey, the heat didn't overwhelm the other flavors but it had a nice warming after effect.
(4)Sofia A.
The 2 starts are for the service being super slow. We went for lunch, there were probably 3 other parties and mainly having the buffet. We ordered a la carte and took over 30min to get our appetizers. However, the food was good and tasty.
(2)Lee L.
The food is very tasty and the prices are reasonable (especially for the lunch buffet and the dinner for two). After Tamarind, it's my favorite Indian restaurant in Boston. There's no need for a reservation, and the dining room is usually relatively peaceful and quiet. The staff are attentive and efficient. Highly recommended!
(5)Laura A.
wow, i was really surprised at how much i enjoyed my meal here! i don't know why i had a weird prejudice against it. maybe because it looks all stylish and modern and is on tremont and the meals are more $ than i'm used to for indian places i assumed it was way overpriced! my boyfriend and i went here for the weekend brunch buffet, which is inexplicably called "brunch" when there's really nothing brunch-y about it and it starts at 11:30 AM so really it's the weekend LUNCH buffet. it used to have a sign up calling it a "champagne brunch", which they've since taken down and sadly there was no champagne to be seen with our brunch :( sometimes eating at an indian lunch buffet, it feels like the food can taste cooked without much care. damn, if that's the case here then the regular entrees must be amazing! i was surprised at how fresh and delicious all of the vegetarian entrees tasted. i had aloo chole, spinach paneer and a cauliflower/potato dish. they were all excellent. the paneer in particular was not overwhelmingly creamy, it was just right. my only problem with the veg offerings is that i think every buffet should have a lentil option, (but maybe that's just me) and this one didn't. also, i had a samosa but i didn't think it was all that tasty - instead of having mushed up potato innards it was chopped up potatoes, so it didn't taste like a usual samosa. my boyfriend thought his food was fantastic...he had goat, CTM and something else..tandoori chicken, i think. and of course gulab. i will definitely come back here, maybe for takeout next time i'm craving indian. i think their slightly higher prices are definitely justified considering the quality of the food.
(4)Douglas B.
I absolutely love Mela. The service is always top notch and for the South End, this spot is very reasonably priced. Their naan (especially the pashawari) is a great addition to any meal you get, For an entree, I definitely would recommend either the chicken korma or the chicken tikka masala. Five stars for sure...
(5)Julie B.
went here for their lunch buffet. they had a reasonable number of options, but the chicken in the tikka masala was dry, and they had a beef kafta dish with meatballs that i'm pretty sure they stole from IKEA. they were pretty good though. one of my friends, however, was disappointed that hey didn't have any paneer or curry dishes. also, it took us a while to get some naan, but when we got it, we got a heaping of it. there were two HUGE pieces (one garlic, one regular) that were obviously fresh, and very delicious. overall, a solid 3.
(3)Jillian M.
Having worked in the South End for years, I have tried all the overpriced cafes in the area, few of which are worth even mentioning. So as you can imagine, I was thrilled when Mela went in down the street. Since day 1 I have been in love. The buffet is really exceptional, considering its a buffet. Its all freshly prepared, seemingly good quality and downright yummy. It costs about the same as a sandwich at any cafe in the area and comes with fresh hot, delicious Naan... garlic or regular. The service is fantastic as well. My only complaint would be that the tables are very close together, so you may have to deal with some ridiculous South End conversation, but its totally worth it.
(5)Mario R.
Outstanding indian food. Probably the best in Boston. Was recommended to me by the concierge at the Taj hotel. If you like spicy Indian food this is the place!
(5)J H.
I have been here twice now, both times with Buywithme coupons. We have ordered the non-vegetarian dinner for 2 and you get to choose from a variety of entrees and desserts. The food is good, I've gotten the chicken vindaloo and a shrimp dish that has peppers and mushrooms. I'm not a big fan of the basmati rice, it's not as fluffy as I'd prefer it to be. The service here is really slow; all said and done, it takes about 2 hours. If you aren't pressed for time and in the mood for Indian, I definitely recommend trying this place!
(4)steve s.
a terrible restaurant. very badly managed. a 7:00PM reservation that was honored at 7:45. overcrowded entrance overflowing with angry unseated reservation-guests. Indifferent services, entrees served 10' apart, botched orders. a very unpleasant experience.
(1)Angela C.
Deelish Indian food! I had the lunch buffet which was deelish and prices reasonable! My only critique is i didnt have room to try everything!!! :-) The atmosphere is bright and attractive, Thumbs up would def eat there again! Easy to find on Tremont St, in the South End....
(4)D P.
I am changing my review after going to Mela last night for dinner. We had ordered Vegetarian specials for two which includes Samosa for appetizer, choice of 2 vegetarian dishes, rice, naan, raita, dessert, tea/coffee. I asked the waiter if we could get Garlic Naan instead of plain naan and they can charge the difference of $1, he said 'NO', nothing can be substitued. He could have been more polite or allowed the substitution with charging us extra $1. Anyway, we ordered Garlic Naan anyways. The appetizer (samosa) and Chutney(sauce) was so blend. Probably the worst Samosa in Boston. We picked 'Bhindi (Okra)' and 'Malai Kofta' for main course. Malai Kofta was really good. Bhindi wasn't bad taste wise, but I was turned off seeing plenty of 'head' of the Okra. For those of you, don't know Okra, when you cut Okra, you remove head and the tail part. Usually when you buy frozen Okra, you see both of it being there. Which again was the reason why I was turned off. If I come to the restaurant ordering Okra, at least the vegetable should be used fresh, not frozen. Finally, for the dessert we had a choice of 4 dessert to pick what we wanted. I ordered Badam Kulfi (Almond Ice-cream with Cardamom made Indian style) -- It was so hard, I had to ask for a knief to cut ice-cream. The taste of Kulfi wasn't correct either and let me not forget, I ordered Masala Tea --which was NOT indian tea at all. The place is tiny and so crowded and at one point there was too much smoke which was also a turn-off. (I think there might be some dishes they bring sizzling on a pan like Mexican place).. I couldn't wait to get out of there. All in all, I would only recommend this place to go on a less popular night or perhaps for a lunch buffet.
(2)S S.
Another example, where i wanted to give the place a two and a half star. The location is great . I love the south end. This place is really small but i like the decor, fun orange organza curtains and interesting statues of indian dieties. The food is decent and the service is decent. I was dissapointed cos i expected "good food", only one vegeterian options in the "modern indian menu" part and the traditional indian fare wasnt anything i would write home about. With such great location and cute interior i would expect them to step up a notch with food. Its something you could eat at any indian resturant, ans still pay more.
(3)Aaron M.
Honestly, I would love to give this place five stars. I've had their excellent lunch buffet a number of times and had I not had such a crappy experience the other night I would have done just that. Unfortunately, things went awry the other night when I decided to introduce my girlfriend to their delicious Indian cuisine. What we got instead of a tasty feast was poor and slow service, bland food (except for the goat), and near-vomiting stomach sickness that hit both of us by the time we were enjoying our dessert. I was so disappointed in what I thought would be a sure thing. I'm still going to try the buffet again to see if this was a fluke but I'm going advise everyone to stick with lunch there where the atmosphere is much more relaxed, friendly, and stomach sickness free.
(3)eliza b.
Mela was a nice place, went with a friend and had gift certificates to try it out. I'm a picky india eater; but the food was good, cooked to order and they are sensitve to "newbies" when it comes to the heat. They do have alternatives and seafood items for them. Pretty place, modern decor, nice staff. Found a new delish martini...Lychee Martini..next I'll order a pitcher!
(4)Len R.
a little pricey, but it's in the south end. no dry food for me, though the service was lacking - we were the only people here on a weekday and the server kept interrupting us mid-sentence to ask us questions. on a busy night, sure, but can't you wait 5 seconds when you're empty?
(5)Christine C.
Honestly, the Masala is too buttery, however the quality of the meat is very good. I was not impressed with the naan. It basically sucked, and they did not have a good variety of flavors. The place itself is decorated very nicely and the seats were comfortable. The staff was a little off, they did not speak English well and did not understand or know what San Pellegrino was when we asked for sparkling water.
(3)Alan N.
went here on new years day for my post new years hangover meal. got there around 2pm for the brunch buffet. they had veggie pakora, old fried broccoli, mushroom saag, lychee paneer, lentil something, goat curry, chicken tikka masala, and chicken tandoori, and some other salad stuff we didnt try. also they give you fresh garlic naan which is nice. for $12.95 it was sufficient. the food was pretty room temp which sucked, or maybe i just like my food really hot. the best was actually the spinach and mushroom pakora. if the mushroom saag was hot, it would have been great on my naan. the chicken tandoori was also good but i think because i got there late it was a little dry. the chicken tikka was good over my rice, but nothing special about this place. good if you like indian food, and good if you like all you can eat.
(3)Ryan L.
I am generally a budget Indian buffet eater and tend to avoid pricier places but when I came here with some out of state friends, it was a rock solid culinary experience. With the higher price you do get a nicer chic ambiance but the food also matches the decor. We had several meat and veggie plates (standard chicken tikka masala, saag, an appetizer plate, and a lamb sausage curry) and they were all excellent. Being that it was dinner, it could be the reason why the food was better but one of these days I will have to try to make it up there for the lunch buffet. I only wish the parking was better in the South End.
(5)N. B.
As someone of S. Asian descent myself, I'm very particular about eating at an Indian Restaurant. Particularly the style of "punjabi" food that is in most indian restaurants. My rule is, If I can make it better myself I wont bother. If its loaded up with cream (when did it become okay to load up amazing fresh flavorful food such as Indian food with heavy cream and dilute its flavors??) i'll move on. But I've ordered take out from Mela before and enjoyed it, and so when two friends (who are not S. Asian) wanted to eat out Indian food, I thought why not here? I used to eat at Bukhara Grill (also owned by the same group) and thought it was great too. The service was great, and we were immediately greeted with a small watermelon drink. I had a Iliachitini (Iliachi is the word for cardamon) which was fun. The food was again standard. I had a Bhaingan Bharta because it is one of the few dishes without cream in it. I ordered it spicy so I did get a good amount of flavor. Nan was pretty fresh. But to be honest the food came out pretty quick....a little too quick, actually, that I'm sort of suspicious. Something tells me that Eggplant was cooked to softness earlier in the day.... But the food is NOT worth its price. It is again, standard. In fact, my husband ordered lamb and in his bowl of soupy sauce, was only TWO pieces of lamb, for around 20$!! I actually had to cook for him again when we got home because he was still hungry!!! Although the service was great, the atmosphere is lovely, for the value its not so hot. For making me cook for my husband again when we got home...0 stars!!...balances out to 2 stars. BTW we also came to this place because it was one of the few places available last minute in the S. End on a saturday night. So others must be thinking the same thing. Put more food in your servings, and less creamy sauce and get your 4 stars like you deserve!
(2)Pooja N.
Made a reservation for Saturday at 8:30 and were seated instantly. Service was great. We ordered the non-vegetarian dinner for 2 and got one appetizer- it was definitely enough for 4 people. Food was delicious and the drink selection was great too. Great experience!
(4)Connor T.
Not only is the food way overpriced for the poor quality, but their driver never even showed up with our $40 worth of food.
(1)Eric W.
Is it overpriced? Well, certainly; this is Tremont St., after all. So, expect to break your wallet, but also expect the food to be a cut above. We went for the brunch buffet on a Sunday which you might not expect to put the food in the best light, but it was still prepared with enough care to make it memorable. For a buffet, the dishes were especially spicy and there was a nice balance between vegetarian and meat dishes. They also offer to create omelets on which we passed, but I'm curious enough that I might just return.
(4)lori m.
i really like it here. it's cozy and adorable and the food was phenomenal. we got the garlic naan, chicken tikka masala and chicken saag (ordered both HOT). this was a perfect place to grab some hot and spicy indian food on a cold winter night. everything was amazing. everything but the service. the waiter took forever to get our drink order....and to take our food order...and to brink us water. when we asked him for anything he stood there awkwardly, contemplating whether or not he should actually do it. i'm still going back. the food was too delicious not to.
(4)Ashley M.
went to Mela two nights in a row this weekend and its one of my new favorite spots in the city. its a typical teeny-tiny south end restaurant. the walls are decorated in metal plating in the back and windows layed with sheer curtains in front. very attractive. the metal plating and small space makes voices reverberate so its a little loud but still very intimate. service was only ok... seems like the servers have a hard time hearing too. HOWEVER, after having read mixed reviews i was very pleastantly surprised. i ate vegetarian my first night and non-veg the second. everything was excellent. it truly is 'modern' indian so if you're looking for class punjabi food like you get at most indian restaurants, this is slightly different. can't remember what the veg dish was under the modern indian choices but it consisted of asparagus, peppers, etc in a very unique sauce. also tried - goat curry, a modern duck dish, mustard lamb (you cook it yourself on a hot stone), and a variety of other dishes. per a reviewer's rec went with the mango creme brulee for desert. everything was great. even the wine (and you don't normally expect good wine with indian food). can't wait to take more people there.
(4)Jim M.
Great Indian food! The staff did a terrific job, and I got a free round of drinks for pointing out that they had Guinness listed on the menu as being from England, not Ireland. Anil is the host, Jay the bartender, and both were terrific. Try the Mango martini or the tamarind margarita: fresh fruit makes it taste like a smoothie, packs a kick like a shot of absinthe.
(5)Dan M.
They've go t really great little lunch buffet which I indulged in today. Very nice. Good variety. The food was flavorful and LIGHT. I appreciate LIGHT enormously as Indian cusine can often be very, very heavy. Service is fast and efficient and wait staff are professional and super polite.
(4)Joseph M.
I live close by to Mela so go frequently. My favorite dish is the salmon kebabs, although I admit that a few times, they were a bit fishy and too bready. But usually they are good. Other dishes have always been consistently good. The staff is always helpful. I read through several reviews here, and frankly some of the 1 and 2 star ratings were for issues that are not necessarily within the control of the restaurant. Yes, it's a bit cramped and there is nowhere to wait for a table except in a nook or on the street - oh well, it's a small restaurant in the south end! No worse than many others. Save your "top secret" meetings for the board room! I have always found Mela's food to be on par with the better Indian restaurants. My partner is a big fan. He thinks the restaurant is very clean (which is important to him) and he really enjoys their food.
(4)Gregory M.
Enjoyed the meal, and the environment, even though we were at the table closest to the kitchen. It's also hard to find an Indian restaurant with a good wine menu, but this one has it. You deal with the usual South End parking ordeal (so have an extra 20 in your back pocket for valet), but you can make a night out of it and roll your stuffed belly over to one of the nearby bars (Beehive if you're looking for the most trendy place right now, though I don't get the hype unless you really have a thing for deer antlers).
(4)Meg N.
Went here because I had a coupon (thanks Rue la la!!) and I am so very glad I did. We tried the "special dinner" (non-veg version) and it was quite good...and very filling. For drinks we ordered one of the specials...very good...but would have liked if we received the drink before dinner and had a little time to enjoy it. The waiters were very nice and all the food came out hot, which is always good. Soup course was good as were the samosas. We loved the curry, rice and naan section of the dinner best. My friend really liked the grill. We both would have enjoyed a few vegetables (even with the non veg option). For dessert we had rice pudding, as they were out of the ice cream -- dessert was definitely the weakest part of the meal...although still pretty good. Overall we both enjoyed the meal a lot and would go back.
(4)David D.
I fucking H8 buffets. They remind me of Fung-Wah bus rides, bad dates, and terrible food. Mela's lunch buffet isn't bad. I just had lunch there (alone :( ). I don't even like Indian food. I have no idea why I walked in here, but out of the 10+ options, I liked most of them. Fuckin' yummy-yummy. My only complaints: The tables were a little too close to each other. I didn't feel like I was having lunch alone. I could hear the WORST wasp conversations. The Tomato and Coconut soup kind of tasted like Spaghettios with coconut mixed in. :'(~~. And right before I left, 2 men walked in and they had ponytails. I guess that's not the restaurant's fault, but I waited around for a minute, and they were still served. That's not cool.
(4)Derek B.
Go here for Indian food in the South End! I've been here for their brunch buffet. Some of the best Indian I've ever had. The garlic naan is to die for. The chicken tandoori is stellar. The service is very good and its usually pretty easy to get a table (at least during brunch hours). 5 star experience!
(5)Sarah S.
Went last night and had a really tasty, really lovely dinner. All the dishes ordered (we were a party of 5) were delicious...highlights included chicken tikka masala, the appetizer sampler, and coconut curry chicken. I also loved the decor and ambiance of this place. It's sort of dreamy and romantic without being cheesy. They also have a surprisingly interesting wine list--I loved my Cabernet from Chile. The best surprise was the value. I expected to be paying a little more considering the location...but it was very reasonable. Two of the people I was with got the 'non-vegetarian dinner for two' for $45, and it was an unbelievable amount of food! I will definitely be back here and I also want to try the buffet as well....yum!
(4)Rozina K.
Having grown up in India and with a mother who is the BEST Indian cook in the world (admittedly biased) has hardened me into a tough critic of Indian food. With that being said, last night I had one of the best Indian meals I have ever had! We decided to go to Mela for some yummy vegetarian food (to offset the artery clogging effects of the burgers we had at lunch). The restaurant is small but cozy, with pretty organza curtains that give the place a homey/girly feel. I also really like the pictures on the back wall of native Indians in their daily lives. We started the mango lassi which was absolutely delicious but could have been a bit colder. It wasn't too sweet which was perfect. We also ordered the aloo choley, malai kofta, aloo paratha, and raita. Unlike other Indian restaurants, spicy meant spicy which I love. The aloo paratha closely resembled my mom's (which is HUGE compliment). Both the aloo choley and malai kofta were very flavorful and decent sized portions. I've had better raita (yogurt with mint) but it was acceptable. The south end is lacking in terms of Indian restaurants but Mela is a great option. Minus one star for the waiter who tried to hurry us by telling us that they were closing in an hour within 30 seconds of us sitting down, and for the inflated prices.
(4)Shang S.
I ordered from here often for work and have had their lunch buffet, and it's very solid Indian food, and the decor is super-modern too, which makes for a great spot for either a casual lunch meetup or even dinner date.
(4)L P.
LOVE this place. Everything is phenomenal. It's the best indian food in the South End, by far. (Bombay club is not even in the running... avoid.) I have eaten here at dinner (their dinner for two is outstanding and SO much food!) lunch and weekend buffet... outstanding and very reasonably priced. Also, there take out is just as good as the dine in. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED HERE!
(5)Chris M.
I had high hopes for Mela but it didn't turn out to the be the experience I thought It'd be. I can't remember what my partner ordered but I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and Veggie Samosas. The Somosas were great actually but our main dishes were SUPER salty (we didn't even take the left overs). Also we were in a small corner next to another table that got some sort of seafood type dish that was cooked on a hot plate at their table. This isn't Mela's fault but it smoked the entire corner and we left smelling like smokey fish... which also didn't make for an enjoyable dinner. I would give them another chance but we live in JP and have Bukhara so why would we go any place else?
(3)Brad S.
Excellent restaurant. The food was very good. I HIGHLY recommend the butter chicken. I came with 4 other friends and we got a bunch of dishes and shared them. Everything was good. The service was a bit slow, but the food made up for it.
(4)sean g.
Some of the best indian in the city! a higher quality than the vast majority of indian places. The non-vegetarian dinner for two is a deal, well worth it. the peshwari naan is the best. small dining room but intimate, modern and upscale. Great spot for a date. Very classy and delicious!
(5)Margarita B.
Since my original post, I've been back, and must say I've changed my mind. I loved the food this time around- shrimp korma and lamb saag were fantastic and extremely flavorful. Garlic naan is also delicious - piping hot, right out the oven as it should be. Will definitely come back again.
(4)Sarah P.
Thank you, Yelp, for helping me find this little gem. The chicken korma was very good and filled with spices, even my mild version. My friend had the butter chicken, which also comes highly recommended. The only complaint I had is that no one paid attention to me when I first arrived, which was a bit awkward as I waited in the teeny entryway for my friend to arrive.
(4)Clare F.
Girl buys Rue La La groupon for Indian Restaurant. Girl forgets she has said groupon until 2 weeks before it expires... its like a free dinner, right? Mela is solid Indian food. The portions are generous and delicious. B and I started with the vegetarian platter, which gave you an ample tasting framework of all of India's glorious fried goodies - samosa, onion bhaji, and some other tasty treats. They were laid out on a platter with dipping sauces, but I would have appreciated the dipping sauces being in some sort of separate container rather than spilled onto the plate. For dinner we had palaak paneer (our old standby to judge every Indian restaurant we ever visit) and the dish that is fried balls of deliciousness in a masala/korma sauce (name is escaping me and the Mela site is down to check). Plus basmati rice, and we had more than enough. I insisted on Peshawari Naan as well, and it did not disappoint. It was less sweet than in other restaurants which B was happy with. Mela has a super cute interior, and we were seated right by the window, which has pretty sparkly cushions as a window seat. We could see the comings and goings of the South End without the wait for an outdoor table at Stephi's. The staff packs you in there pretty tightly, getting to the restroom was a bit of an obstacle course, but all was fine. As a nod to its all Indian staff, they have a bowl of the candy-covered anise seeds for when you leave for breath freshening. I don't eat the stuff, but B said it was awesome. Will definitely have to try it again.
(4)Linda E.
The restaurant is decorated nicely. The service was a bit slow to begin with, but it soon picked up its pace. The eggplant vegetarian dish and the spicy garbanzo bean vegetarian dish was delicious. A friend and I got the meal for 2 for $35 which came with samosas, rice, naan, tea or coffee, and a dessert for each of us. I was so full by the end. The food was delicious. I wish the waitress had taken us more seriously when we asked for spicy, she kept repeating medium, but we wanted spicy, it came out with a little kick to it, but I could have handled it a bit spicier.
(4)Deanna D.
I've been back to Mela numerous times for their delicious lunch buffet and I always leave happy! The service is usually fast, friendly, and efficient. They always keep the water glasses full. The decor is bright, vibrant and airy which makes it a great lunch spot. The selection is standard but changes frequently. The Pakoras and Samosa are tasty, well seasoned, and the sauces are also great. The Palak Paneer and daal is not the greatest but it still good. The okra and eggplant dishes are usually great. The Chicken Tikka Masala is flavorful and tender. For desert they typically serve kheer which is usually tasty. The spice on most dishes were great and the freshly baked garlic naan was lovely! A great value for only $10 keeps me coming back for more!
(4)David C.
Mela may not be the best Indian buffet I've been to in these parts (hello, Kebab Factory!), but they do carry some interesting dishes that you might not find elsewhere (their tender chicken pakoras spring to mind quickly). They also do the basics very well, and the service is overall pretty genial. Seating isn't always ideal, but for the stomach and wallet-friendly price of an all-you-can-eat buffet, I'm willing to put up with someone's butt in my face every once in a while.
(4)Lily H.
I had been wanting to try Mela for the longest time but had been postponing my food adventure for a while, which I regret because Mela is so good! Well, their recent LivingSocial deal gave me that little push so I made a 7pm reservation for a couple girlfriends and I on a Friday night. We arrived right on time and were immediately seated at the far corner or the restaurant away from the cold breezes that would rush through the entrance. The tables began to fill up rather quickly, and not too much longer there was a crowd of people waiting at the door. The restaurant is not that big so if you unfortunately happen to get seated at a table adjacent to the door, you'll probably have people standing over you watching you and your party scarf down the delicious food. However, people, have no shame! We ordered Butter Chicken, Seekh Kebabs, Chicken Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer, Raita, and 2 orders of Garlic Naan. Of course they came with enough basamati rice to soak up the sauces in every bite. They were all extremely flavorful and delicious. The butter chicken and chicken tikka masala tasted very similar, however, the chicken in the butter chicken was more tender. The naan came out hot and fresh. The service at Mela is excellent. Our waters were constantly being filled and we were checked on an appropriate amount of times, even considering how busy the place was. Also, I had ordered Peach Bellinitini cocktail (which was really good) but the server had misheard my order and returned with another another -tini drink, which did not taste like peach, nor was it remotely good. Though it'd be left untouched the entire night, he let me keep the drink and brought out the correct one with no problem. Dine at Mela if you want some good food with good service in a nice atmosphere. But don't expect this place to be the one for your quiet romantic outing on a Friday night. Even though the walls are warmly decorated, the tables/chairs are relatively close together and you might have to speak up a bit to hear the one sitting right across from you.
(5)Emily W.
I've ordered from here a bunch more times and never had the super slow delivery experience again. I do love their food, though it seems overpriced. Dining in the restaurant is the way to go here - the decor is nice and the price seems more worthwhile for an in-house experience.
(4)G S.
The best Butter Chicken I've had. Service was great. Nice atmosphere, clean facility. Large portion size. Will be back!
(5)Kerri M.
I just can't get enough of this place. I first discovered it this past December and I've been minimally 10 times since then. It's probably one of the most consistent restaurants I've ever been to; the service and food are always great. I usually get the chicken tikka masala and my boyfriend gets a lamb dish, either the shank curry or lamb tikka masala. The meat in both is always so tender and delicious. The Peshari Nahn is also amazing!
(5)Bella B.
Love this place and keep coming back, out of all the Indian restaurants in Boston. Not only is the food consistently excellent, but the ambiance and service are great too. They do a lot of groupons etc, but even without the prices are good for a nice little casual date night. The chicken korma's my favorite. Careful, "medium" is pretty spicy so if you want "medium on the mild side" be sure to say so!
(5)Andrew A.
Delicious and reasonably priced. Lots of food for your money and great service. A neighborhood gem!
(5)E. F.
Thanks Yelp for steering us to this place while we were visiting Boston! We were greeted with the amazing scent of Indian food as soon as we walked in the door. Yum. The place is a bit cramped and was pretty crowded but we settled into a table in the corner. Our waiter was pretty good. He forgot about our tea but was very apologetic about it and got it out right away when we reminded him. My boyfriend and I got the vegetarian meal for two. It is a TON OF FOOD for the price. ($34, I think?). Two soups, two samosas, naan, rice, two veggie entrees (we got malai kofta and a dish with lentils... I forget the name), and two desserts. Malai Kofta was tasty. Not the best I've had, but definitely close. The lentils were phenomenal. Just spicy enough, perfect texture. Yum, yum, yum. One sad thing... you can only pick your desserts from the first 4 on the dessert menu. So just beware if you pick the meal for two. :-) Otherwise, YUM. So glad we went here.
(4)Samantha B.
this place was adorable. stopped by for a quick bite and a tall glass of taj mahal. we ordered appetizers: vegetable samosa and chicken pakora. both were great! of course we had to had naan bread and it was delicious. hoping to come back here one day and have a full indian meal.
(4)Andrea M.
God, I love Mela. Atmosphere: Cute, sort of boutique vibe. Very softly lit with pretty tables and windows. Small enough to feel intimate but not so small that it feels crowded. Service: Very professional and polite. Aside from being attentive and fast, our server also was incredibly graceful when I made an idiot out of myself. I accidentally ordered the Jalfazi with meat in it, instead of the vegetarian one. I dug in, and when I realized there was pork, and I had ordered the wrong thing, the server immediately brought me the vegetarian version, and he actually apologized to me, even though he did nothing wrong. Then, we used a $10 coupon, and he said we could reuse it next time for our "trouble." (Meanwhile, it's my fault I ordered the wrong meal.) That's amazing service. Food: Always flavorful and very dependable. Nothing ever falls short. My favorites are the (vegetarian) jalfrazi, mulligatawny and aloo paratha. My boyfriend had the Tamarind Margarita, and it was a well-crafted mix of savory and sweet. Misc: Mela is also one of the more affordable options in the South End, and delivers.
(4)Anne G.
Love the food, especially the saag paneer and chicken tikka masala. We haven't had anything we didn't like. The only reason I gave four instead of five stars is that the service can be slow. It may be that they are trying not to rush you, but we've been there for dinner early when there were only people at one other table. It still took a long time to be asked for our order. Depending on what you get, the food can be slow too, though sometimes it comes quickly. We find it worth it because the food is so good.
(4)Matty B.
I visited from out of town and we came here with a groupon. The food was delicious. We each ordered a curry/entree dish and each were well portioned, coming with rice. We also ordered the samosa appetizer, which was a great way. They also have tons of Flavored Naan. Price was perfect for environment. Drinks were a little pricy, but the restaurant is decently upscale, so that makes sense. The restaurant is in two halves- a bar and a restaurant. They seat tables in the bar so it was a little cold and less intimate. If you were to make a reservation, I would recommend you request the restaurant room. Place is great for dates or small parties.
(4)Chris K.
I went to dinner here with my friend, and we were so disappointed by the lack of spice/flavor with the food (I requested "Hot" and my friend requested "Extra Hot Hot" for our entrees). Both of our entrees were quite mild -- really disappointing. We ordered the muligatawny soup (delicious), samosas, two entrees, and rice pudding. The best part of the meal was the soup -- the rest of the meal items I've had better at other cheaper Indian restaurants with much friendlier service. The wait staff here is unapologetic about keeping you waiting even after you've been waiting far too long to order your meal. My friend and I are glad that we tried this place, since we've been curious each time we pass by Mela, but it's not worth returning.
(2)Greg L.
Two stars because they have a Vegetarian meal for 2 for $35 (Meat is $45) which includes soup, app, 2 veg curries, rice, naan, and desert. Not a bad deal. We got palak paneer and gobhi charci, both were very salty. Samosas were good and the naan was fine. Service was ok.... Overall very blah for South End cuisine.
(2)Robin D.
The food was truly delicious, and the wine was wonderful. Our server was really inept, though he was kind. Ambience was warm and inviting. This was a special birthday dinner, and Mela turned out to be a great choice. Recommended!
(4)Raj S.
Bleh! The first time we went for a buffet a few weeks ago it was really good. This past weekend, many dishes were cold. They somehow managed to mess up the tandoori chicken! I mean, come on! But the chole-batura, dosas and gulab jamuns were great. Chicken curry was nice too but nothing special. The odd thing is the first time we went close to closing time and food was warmer.
(3)Alex P.
I don't know what it was about this day when we visited, but this place was absolutely hopping with a wait about 30 minutes. Since we had walked all the way out there, we decided to stick around for a bit. The only problem was there is no waiting area. The other problem of this evening was that they were either pumping heat into the joint or there was a fire in the back. Either way, it definitely was not a comfortable environment for eating food, let alone spicy food. Thankfully, the food here is very good and there is plenty of it. I ordered the rogan josh (getting the picture yet?) which was tender, had a strong yet not overpowering flavor and was the level of spiciness I had asked for. I find this to be a rare occasion when they hit what you ask for and something that is difficult to do, which saved the evening and the meal. I will have to give it another try on a cooler night without a wait.
(3)Erin C.
I'm in love with Mela. I had a groupon to use so off the date and I went. Apparently everyone in Boston also had the exact same Groupon to use on the same date so the place was slammed. There was a nary a spot to spare. After waiting for about 30 minutes we finally got the idea to ask if we could use it for take out even though it specifically says for dine in only. They were happy to oblige our request. Stars all around for service I say! I went with the Paneer Makhni with just a little spice and my date got the lamb curry with TONS of spice. We also added in a few orders of garlic naan. When we finally got home to sit down and eat I was a bit nervous that nothing was going to be as good as it would be in the restaurant. Holy crap...I was wrong. Everything was perfect! The sauce was just the right amount of heat. The naan was warm, garlicky and squishy. Just the way naan should be. The rice was cooked to perfection. We sat in silence while eating which is always the sign of a great meal. Two thumbs up and a promise to return from me!
(4)Julie C.
Mela just keeps getting and better everytime I come here. the staff is awesome and so attentive and nice and very humble. Its cute. The food can not be more awesome. Love the lamb coconut curry, chicken tikki masala, and butter chicken!! (medium spicy please!) Aloo tikka is a nice way to start off your meal ( spicy potatoes fried with a really nice dippng sauce) the wine list is really reasonable. You can get a decent white or red for $30. For dessert, you must get the coconut sherbet. OMG!!! its served in a coconut half shell and is a perfect ending to your meal. they also had these mini cupcake trios which i want to try next time but the sherbet was calling my name. And for an added bonus, if you score a restaurant.com gift cert for $25, it literally pays for your bottle of wine!! ( this is especially awesome if you are able to buy the certs when they have the $2 or $3 sales) Fine Indian dining! Love Mela!!!
(5)Marceline V.
So, I was looking for something tastey for lunch and remembered seeing a GroupOn for Mela and since I was in the area I decided to give it a try... I should add that this was my second time trying Indian food... I came in figuring I would try the Lunch Buffett and I was definitely glad that I walked in! I had the garlic nan, Baingan Bhartha (eggplant), and the Chicken Tikki Masala. The meal was delicious and the waiter was very helpful! A great lunch...would go back again!
(4)Jason B.
A freezing cold Monday night is an interesting time to visit any restaurant. Since they are likely to be slow both in terms of customers, the waitstaff can be prone to slacking off. Armed with a Groupon, we ventured out into the freezing after-work Monday blah night to have some yummy Indian food. We were the only diners in Mela at 6:50 p.m. on Monday, and were quickly brought to a table in their small but elegantly appointed dining room. The walls are covered with panels of beaten copper, artfully arranged in textured layers, for a sculpture-on-the-walls look, and which lightly reflects the dim, intimate lighting for a nice, ambient glow effect throughout - a classically romantic feel. The service on this Monday night was a little spotty. Our waiter asked if we preferred bottled or tap water, but did not take a drink order. After he poured our water, and gave us a small sample of Mulligatawny soup, he walked away, not to return for some time. He did eventually return, and took our orders, including the initial drink order. After a fairly short wait, the kitchen delivered our vegetable samosa appetizer, a solid, if unremarkable offering served, attractively plated, with two sauces - a sweet/sour and a cilantro-yogurt. The onion kulcha, an unleavened bread, was the highlight for me - a homemade flatbread baked with bits of caramelized onion - a texture and flavor surprise all around. Our entrees arrived with a nice big bowl of basmati rice to share. The Madras Machali, ordered non-spicy, came as ordered, without the fire, and was a plentiful bowl of swordfish chunks and veggies in a powerful curry sauce. The Lamb Shank curry, a "chef specialty", ordered very spicy, was indeed full of fire. Unfortunately, there were no veggie accompaniments here, and the lamb shanks, though expertly braised, had obviously been done some time ago. Some were warm, some cool, one of them had obviously been heated only on one side - half warm and half cold. Also, the shanks themselves were very fatty, a couple of them offered no better than a 50/50 meat-to-fat ratio. Overall, while the meat that was present was very succulent, it was a very low-value dish. During our meal, our waiter did not come by to ask if we would like another drink, despite the fact that our glasses were drained and sat on the outer edge of the table in the universal signal for "we'd like another drink". By the time the manager came to clear our plates, we just decided to take our full bellies and totter off into the cold. I was a bit disappointed that a "chef's specialty" was so uneven, but we will keep Mela in mind for another meal - I am convinced that with such a great atmosphere on which to build that they can create a positive dining experience, and I would like to give their kitchen another chance.
(3)Shannon O.
Slightly slow on bringing the check (hey, for lunch buffet, that should be the EASIEST part of your job), and they completely forgot to bring me the drink I'd ordered, but the food was good and fast, the two criteria I was working with that day.
(3)Corey C.
The food: Really good. The atmosphere: Neat. The service: Horrendous. Had to ask for the same item 4 different times, which was ultimately never received. We asked if we could still have them to go, our server (Ashmita) said, "Our kitchen is too busy now." Really?! (the only reason for the 2-star rating)
(2)Julie N.
Having always wanted to try Indian food, a Groupon got me in the door of Mela. Wait, so how am I a Yelp Elite without every having Indian food before? Uhm, hmmm, yeah... that's not tell the big guys about that. I've finally come to be okay with the fact that my husband and I are only 30 but we eat as early as my 90 year old grandfather. Having said that, I really truly do enjoy an empty dining room and eager staff awaiting to start their night on the job. It's a good trade off. This place is really cute, maybe a teeny bit in need of some fresh curtains and decor, but nothing you can't look past. The menu was rather large but I stuck with recommendations of Meat Samosa, Chicken Tikka, Goat Curry, and Chicken Tikka Masala. The samosa's were fantastic. There were like 36 different levels of flavors and pairing it with their sauces made it into something extremely noteworthy. The chicken tikka was as dry as the day is long. The goat curry was so far overpriced at $17 for a bowl full of bones (literally it was impossible to find meat on the plate and they literally gave us full bones on the dish). But, the chicken tikka masala won the dinner. It's incredibly rich and when paired with the onion naan and rice, it pretty much blew my head off. The Groupon helped the final bill, but not by enough. I found this place to be good but far too expensive for what it is and though I'm really excited about trying more Indian food, I don't think I'll go back here for a long time.
(3)Ashley E.
Mela is the best Indian restaurant I've ever been to! I've been here a few times (for dinner only) because I can't get enough of their chicken tikka masala. I also love their chat papri (not spicy, but the spices they use are so memorable and cravable), the vegetarian samosas (the meat ones are good to, but maybe not the best I've ever had), and the shrimp saag. I thought the garlic naan was great - came out to our table warm and chewy. The last time I was there they brought us a free mushroom soup and I was blown away. I never would have thought to order it, but it was soo delicious that I will definitely order it the next time I go! Overall, the prices are great and the food is so tasty and there's always enough for leftovers so I will continue to return again and again!
(5)Elle J.
Unfortunately I have to downgrade them. I have been disappointed the last 2-3 times that I have been there. I feel that they are cost cutting and the quality has gone down. My favorite dish used to be the vegetable jalfrezi but the last few times they the paneer was not properly cooked, the variety and flavour of the vegetables were lacking and I received chapati that was noticeably not fresh. They told me that it was just made, which it was clearly not, but they brought me another order. One bad experience would not have made me downgrade the restaurant but after another two visits it was obvious that this was the new standard.
(2)Does I.
We went to George's island before coming here, reading the reviews and hoping this would atleast be average. Well, all I can say is that the malai kofta was so hard, it reminded me of the cannon balls on display at the visitor's center in George's island. They were super hard, and super dry inside. The naans were the worst I have ever had at any place, the service was the worst I have ever seen in any indian restaurant. The chaat was bland, the butter chicken was just average. Any indian restaurant would be better than this place which is cramped, always busy and definitely not worth spending time finding the parking and then walking 5 minutes to find this place. Definitely not worth it, definitely overpriced, definitely super duper over rated. Even the New Hampshire indian restaurants are better than this.
(1)Sherwood H.
I frequent this establishment at least once a month. The staff is pleasant and efficient, and the food is consistently excellent. If you are looking for good Indian food and a friendly environment, you can't go wrong at Mela.
(5)David H.
Brought an Indian visitor here for lunch - she was interested in how Indian food tastes in the US. Unfortunately, she was not impressed - she said it lacked authenticity, though she liked the decor. Server seemed uninterested in her work, went through the motions and could not even answer simple questions - like whether animal fat/lard was used in the cooking. Four of us each had a entree and garlic or regular nan. I had chicken vindaloo, nice portion, chicken and potatoes over white rice. Tasted fine, but I'm no expert. Will try again.
(3)Jess N.
Mela, where reservations mean nothing. We called and made a reservation for 8 on a Friday night. "No problem." Well I guess nothing is truly a problem if you don't apply time to it.... we waited for about an hour and were seated at 9PM. Somehow we were seated before the couple ahead of us, which resulted in death glares. (Fortunately, we survived.) My boyfriend sat down at the table and immediately started complaining about the uncomfortable chairs. I sometimes wonder if restaurant owners forget that to taste the food, most people prefer sitting comfortably. Anyhow, we were starving by this time and ordered a non-vegetarian dinner for 2 ($45), which came with lentil soup, an appetizer for both of us, 2 entrees, another plate of miscellaneous meat and a side of rice. There was so much food that we had left overs for another meal and snack!!! Talk about an amazing price.
(3)Raquel F.
Turned up at Mela on a Friday at 8pm without a reservation. Had to wait 25 minutes, but it was certainly worth it. My party of four girls ordered one of the 2 person dinners and a couple more pieces, and we were stuffed! Mela also has a mango drink that was simply divine.Total bill was around $80, which was very reasonable for the amount we ate. The staff was excellent, and predicted our every need before we had time to request (e.g. an extra place setting for an additional guest). Will definitely be returning.
(5)Sarah F.
We had a good meal at Mela - not great, which is exactly how we felt when we came away from this restaurant last time. We are big Indian foodies so we might be fussy about some dishes being prepared the way we like. The Mulligatawny soup was a disappointment - very thin and not spicy in the least. We prefer spice and substance to our lentil soup. The main dishes were good, but we were asked if we wanted them to be mild,, medium or spicy which is a sign right there that the dishes aren't being cooked traditionally. The sauces were all tasty (perhaps the masala was a little acidic) but they used white meat chicken in the korma and that is also a sign of inauthenticity. None of the tandoori tenderness, just tough and overcooked white meat. We also ordered a modern Indian dish: duck jalfrazie which was interesting and pretty good. The wait staff here is awesome and the atmosphere is great. It is a popular spot with a vibe so a fun restaurant to visit for sure.
(3)Jeff F.
This is officially my new go-to for Indian food in Boston. Here's the rundown stack-ranked: - Chicken Tikka Masala: Excellent - best I've had in town - Chicken Vindaloo - we enjoyed it - Lamb Mushroom Do-Piaza: can't believe my old man made this call - it didn't catch my eye, but found out this was one of their specialty dishes. Exceptional Call - recommended! - Garlic Naan: solid - 22oz Taj Mahals: perfect I have to admit that the service was the least impressive part of the meal (essentially echoing a few other reviews.) I need to get back here for the lunch buffet.
(4)Kim P.
A fine place for a Sunday brunch if you have a jones for Indian food and want to try something new, which was my case. Not the best I've had, but the prices were reasonable. Would have loved some masala tea gratis as I've had from other places, but it was worth $3.00. I don't think it's worth driving over to the South End if you're not local, though. You cannot enjoy the food if you're hopped up on parking rage...So, get your mind right before you venture over there.
(3)Winston G.
Had the Sunday lunch/brunch buffet here-- it was around $15.00 with tax/tip, which was a bit pricey for an Indian lunch buffet, but still decently priced (maybe because I had just gotten back from Europe) They had a diverse selection of foods out, including samosas to start and a variety of the spinach and cheese, some veggies, goat, and chicken tikka masala. The food was decent-- but the best thing that Mela has is their naan. I found their garlic naan to be delicious, and probably some of the better naan I've had. It was a bit thick, but the fact that it was fresh and fluffy made it awesome. Also, I am a huge sucker for chai tea, and Mela happened to have it-- unlimited. Would like to try this place out for dinner, as I would think that it would be pretty good, and the dishes would be much fresher!
(4)Bill U.
Great food! Lamb with coconut curry is delish.
(5)P C.
I went there last week after looking at the reviews here. I have eaten indian food at lot of other places. This place is mediocre at best. I was there during afternoon, non-rush hour on the weekend, slow service, unfriendly staff etc. Food didn't impress at all. There are a lot of other options in the area.
(1)Scott S.
The words "expensive" and "indian food" should not be found next to each other. Yet this place is pricey. So not off to a good start. The food was decent, but I have to raise the standards because, again, you are paying a premium. And in that respect, it only gets 2 stars. The mulligatawny soup wasn't very tastey (neither of us finished ours), the meat samosas were dry and relatively tasteless, the nan came with no dipping sauces, and the desserts weren't good either. I did like my entree, so not going to give this place only 1 star. The decor and service weren't good also. The place is small and cramped and only has ONE bathroom for both sexes (that's right, one door with one potty). The service was abominal. Water glasses not refilled for 25 minutes (and this is spicey indian food guys!!), and had odd communication with the waiter. Host even ignored us as we entered and had to say, um, i'm here for my reservation..... A higher priced place MUST have good service and decor!! I give a thumbs up to Tantric and Mantra (owned by same company as Mela btw but a MUCH better experience) instead!!
(2)Aditi R.
6 minutes away from my place. 2 1/2 years and a days upon days of yearning for mom's food and I resisted the urge to go to this place. Horrible decision. The mango lassi was mango-ey and oh so yummy. The garlic naan was soft and the basmati rice melted in my mouth. The paneer was fresh and the curry it was cooked in was amazingly tasty and they did not joke around when I said to make the Chicken do-piaza spicy (which I loved). And the portions are great for the price - easily have some left over for another meal. Lastly, the badam kulfi for dessert - not great, but good enough to close out the meal. Total? 9.22 + tip. My only regret? Not buying enough buywithme's to have more of these less than $10 bills for a feast. Regardless, my indian food cravings will know where to go from now on :)
(4)Fahad B.
Here's a short one to save you some time Cozy place (read: small) and Aesthetically pleasing The food is very good Helpful staff Definitely a great place for a date Done.
(4)Mary Jo C.
I was a bit skeptical walking in to Mela since there were virtually no Indians dining which typically means so-so food. Boy was I wrong! Everything was on point - from the flavors, to the plating, service, and atmosphere. We ordered the Veggie Samosas, Lamb Shank Curry, Chicken Tikka, and Palak Paneer. Everything was tasty but the lamb shank was in a league of its own. Portions were hearty which is hard to find w/Indian restaurants. It's a bit pricier than most Indian spots but worth it.
(4)Jeff M.
Mela is pretty average. I'd definitely go back if I was in the area but would not make a special trip out of it. Best thing here is the naans and the service. Samosas were fresh, but average. Chicken tikka masala was nice and on the creamier side, but only slightly. I tried the 'New Indian' lamb shank curry. I had a lamb shank curry at Benares in London and let me know tell you the two versions are worlds apart. Mela's lamb shank was not very tender. Like is mediocre.
(3)Aboud Y.
I went once and was generally underwhelmed...not my favorite place. Nothing was awful. Just meh. So that's it. Mela=Meh
(2)Namrata A.
Positives - interesting choices on the buffet like big samosas, fish pakoras, chole bature, small dosas, and other items - good service - nice decor - food was not oily as many places can be Negatives - would like more flavor in food - felt cramped inside - $14 per person for an indian buffet is ridic priced especially because the food was not spectacular
(3)Allison S.
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in Boston. Delicious and rich dishes. My faves are the cauliflower with potatoes and the veggie korma. MMM... Very attentive staff. One of the few places in the south end that you can drop in without a reservation on a friday night. The dinner for two is a great deal - only $35 for 2 entrees, an appetizer, soup and desert.
(5)Timothy A.
The best Indian food I have ever had. My whole family agreed it was an amazing meal. Staff is friendly and attentive.
(5)Jacob M.
Good food. Good service. All at a good price. They had me sold at their lunch buffet deals. For party of three, the third person eats for free. How awesome is that. Their saag paneer and tikka masala are really good, and garlic naans are amazing, although their chicken tandoris are hit-and-miss sometimes. And their samosas.. Get their samosas. it's a must. Overall, a decent Indian restaurant with great service.
(4)David S.
I went here with 8 of my coworkers for dinner. Half of the table were native Indians who were vegetarians. I'm basing my review on my experience and what they offered in terms of feedback. Food: Overall, we were very pleased with the dishes we had. The food was tasty and spiced to an Indian palate, not an American one. I had some of the Saag Paneer and ordered the Sahi Bhindi for myself. The Bhindi was quite good with none of the sliminess or greasiness that can come of the dish. The Saag Paneer was also quite good and wasn't overdone with the overabundance of cream that occasionally plagues this dish in other restaurants. The order of Gulab Jamun that we had could have been better. It was served piping hot, which I really enjoy, but it could have used a touch more orange water in the syrup. It was rich and sweet but lack that orangey aroma that I really enjoy. The only thing I really found subpar were the bread offerings. Our garlic naan was a little on the stale side and my aloo naan just didn't seem to contain enough aloo. I ordered some mixed pickle to go with my dish and it didn't taste like it came from jar. That impressed me. Service: We had one waiter serving a table of nine and he did a good job making sure that we were served with a clockwork precision. I will go so far as to say that it was the best service I have ever experience in an Indian restaurant (service is usually sadly lacking). When we asked if he could divide the bill up evenly along all 9 credit cards he happily did so (we have to expense our meals individually and this request often can't be accomodated). Decor: Refreshingly modern. You can definitely tell it's an Indian restaurant with given the thematic notes, but these are subtle and tasteful. The overall look is clean and modern but very warm and inviting. So despite not being wowed by the food ( a solid 3 in my book) the service and decor bump up Mela to a 4 for me.
(4)Ashley O.
The food was great, and the setting was really nice. We were sat by the window to the street, and they were great about clearing our plates and making sure we had a clean one every time we went up for more food. I wish the service was a bit more attentive - we had to get up to order a soda, get more water, and to get the check.
(4)Sean D.
Dining room is nice, the staff is friendly. Food was good. Tandoori tends to be a bit dry, and although most of the meat was, the chicken was fantastic. We had the non-vegetarian meal for two ($45) and it was more than we could eat. A soup each, meat samosas (dry), tandoori with mixed meats, but no veggies, big bowl of basmati rice, two curry entrees and two desserts. Soup was delicious and the seafood masala was wonderful. Naan is the size of an elephant's ear. Everything was pleasing and the timing was relaxed (although I would consider it slow if we had somewhere to be). The only disappointment was that one of the waiters dripped sauce on my shirt while clearing the table, but didn't tell me about it. It was brought to my attention later by a friend. Personally, I find this to be rude. Granted, we all make mistakes, but at least tell me about it (and maybe offer to comp my glass of wine for the dry cleaning expense). I'd recommend Mela to a friend if they were looking for reasonably-priced Indian.
(3)Josh F.
Nice atmosphere. Decent flavor but the chicken was a little over cooked and dry.
(3)Maya T.
Friendly staff. Food was good and came out quickly. Nice decor. Will be back.
(4)Miranda B.
Favorite restaurant for dinner and delivery! Best Indian food I've had since being in London!
(5)Tim N.
Definitely impressed with this place. The food looked and tasted very authentic and very good! The service was spot on, the space was comfortable, and the prices were more than reasonable. But it was more than just these things. Mela was spot on with the little things too. - Mela has a small coat check right at the front, and they were happy to hang up our coats for us upon arrival. This was nice, considering the number of restaurants I've recently been to that have no place to put your bulky winter coat. - Before ordering anything, we were treated to a small cup of their ginger soup. It was rich and spicy and delicious. A nice way to start off the meal. - They were very accommodating with food allergies. There was a sign posted in the dining area stating that customers should alert their server to any dietary restrictions. My server was very knowledgable of the ingredients on the menu, and was able to help me choose a dairy-free entree. My recommendations would be the Aloo Tikka Appetizer (fried potato pancakes) and the Chicken Vindaloo entree. Both were delicious, generously sized, and reasonably priced. All in all, a great experience and I hope to return here again someday!
(4)Nani S.
So I'm hearing Indians and Non Indians sing praises for Mela's Indian fare but I have a few complaints. The awesome thing about meal would be its ambience. Love the pastel colored walls and the beautiful chandeliers. Another hige bonus?- A massive lunch for just $10 Flaws: The food was below average, Chicken tikka masala had some good curry but the meat was pink! (gross!) the tandoori chicken was dry, the naan was average and the pakoras were hot and alright. But the desert- kheer was yummy! The right amount of sweet with great texture, I wanted to go for seconds but was full with the other not so great food.
(2)Jiwon K.
They have very good naan and service is pretty good. I ordered the saag paneer and lamb vindaloo and both were very good. Price is reasonable so I would recommend to other people.
(4)Ross G.
It's VERY good! A bit spicy, but they gave me a free cup of pea soup when I came in (haven't got anything free in eons) The service is on point, and excellent (way above par for Boston) I ordered my favorite indian dish chicken Tikka Masala and some poori bread for dipping. It was outstanding, and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Aravind P.
Horrible food. Worst Indian food I ever ate in all of Boston in the 12 years I lived here. And I am not even picky about food. As a benchmark, this is my first 1 star review ever.
(1)Steve L.
This place is amazing though the prices are a bit high for the portion given. $10 daily lunch buffet is very satisfying though Groupon does not apply for dine-in!
(4)Matthew P.
I went here the other day before going to the movies. I've always heard great things about it so I thought I would give it a try. I was pleased overall. Before I walked in I was concerned about having my clothes smell for the rest of the night because, well, it's an Indian restaurant. Fortunately this was not the case. It has very heavy incense which was refreshing. It was a little weird not to smell curry or really any food at all but I can't complain. We got the nice window seat overlooking Tremont St. that I had always coveted. The servers were very nice and they even brought out a complimentary soup in a tiny cup for us to try. We got three apps, a vegetarian meatball thing, a lamb curry, the tikka masala, and the garlic naan. We asked for it to be extra spicy. As what usually happens whenever I ask for it spicy anywhere, it turns out it wasn't. Not really in the least to be honest. We asked for the tikka masala to just be medium because someone in our group wasn't a fan of the spicy foods. She could taste no difference between the spiciness of any of the dishes. Next time I'll be more adamant maybe? Overall it was a nice experience. The food was a little on the expensive side though. Fortunately, we had a coupon to go with the meal so it wasn't as expensive. I love Indian food but I'm totally fine going to cheaper Indian restaurants. I just don't think the food we got should have been that expensive. Other than that, if you enjoy Indian "fine dining" I'd recommend coming here.
(3)Kristin C.
I've been there twice for their lunch buffet. Both times the food was flavorful and fresh. The service is quick, atmosphere is nice, and the price is right. I'd definitely go back! p.s. Get the garlic naan. It's delicious!
(4)Samantha E.
As per some yelp recommendations, I ordered the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and chicken tikka.... It was INCREDIBLE! A little pricey buy the food was so good I stopped caring. I'll definitely be ordering from here again!
(4)Brian L.
Everything I've eaten here has been delicious. The prices are reasonable for a date night, the staff is eager to help. Despite all the great things about it, the restaurant is rarely busy too. This is our go-to Indian restaurant.
(4)Moksha M.
Horrible service - never being to a worse place in terms of service. Food is meh! We could see a long line of takeout orders being prepared - so definitely doesn't seem like a local's fav to dine in. I would never recommend this place
(1)Le T.
Good customer service. Brought the manfriend here because I ate here once in college with my roommates. Thought it was interesting that they have the hot stone grill so wanted manfriend to give it a try. :) That was basically what sets apart this Indian restaurant from the rest. They are aiming to be "modern". I thought the seafood hot stone entree with salmon and scallop was great. Very fresh to the taste.
(4)Chris L.
I came here on a Sunday for their weekend lunch buffet with a group of my friends. It was $13 for all you can eat Indian food plus made to order garlic or plain Naan. We were greeted with a big smile and the service was excellent throughout the whole meal. I'll start off by saying this is the cleanest Indian restaurant I've been to. All the plates and tableware were spotless and had no greasy residue on it at all. The watermelon juice was very refreshing and was perfectly sweetened, if at all. I tried many of the dishes and all of them were decent. here are my thoughts! -The pani puri was average. Nothing spectacular compared to some of the stuff I had before. -The goat curry had a very flavorful sauce with tender pieces of meat, but some pieces were large and dry--the chunks of goat without bone. -The chicken Tikka Masala was very flavorful but being made with all white meat so some pieces were dry. -The tandoori chicken was average and could use a little more spice in the marinade as well. -The fried chicken pieces were very good. Crunchy and battered with a nice spiced chickpea flour -the vegetarian dishes were greasy, but had a nice flavor profile to it. Overall, I feel that the Indian food here is a good balance and easy on the stomach. It is just spicy enough to please everyone but not catered towards those looking for 100% authentic Indian food. I will definitely be back!
(4)Vignesh S.
Poorest service. Never again! Just got back from the restaurant. The experience was bittersweet - more bitter than sweet. The service was terrible, overpowering the good food that it was. Greeted by a grumpy cat in the guise of a woman. Oh! Did I say 'greet'? Strike that. I'm not sure if it was karma or the manager doesn't pay well, we were served by a horrible(fill-in all synonyms) waiter who doesn't seem to serve us with what we need unless we asked him minimum 3 to 4 times. Found it hard to even get a spoon, waited for 10mins to get it. When we asked other waiter, he replied "I don't serve your table". Way to go! In the end, our celebration for a birthday & job went down the drain. I'm sure they served "Non-Indians" better. Do they pay $2 more/dish? Just curious. EDIT: Looks like all those reviews that complained about terrible service go in to the "Not Recommended" section. Check it out!
(1)Lynn W.
We have had two wonderful experiences at Mela so far. We went at the recommendation of a friend of Indian descent - she said the food tasted like food her mother would make. Having spent a month living in India myself, I have to concur. The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. We first went for dinner, using a Groupon. The food came out right away, the spice level was just as requested, and the servers were extremely professional. We also loved the ambiance of the place - it is very romantic and elegant. The second time, we tried their lunch buffet. It was great - way better than I expect from a lunch buffet. Large selection of dishes - three protein dishes, four vegetarian dishes, appetizers, soup, fruit, dessert... Everything was delicious. Milder than you get at dinner when you can adjust the heat to your personal taste, but that is to be expected at a lunch buffet. The daal (lentils) were some of the best I've ever had. As an added bonus, they give you a fresh serving of the naan of your choice! Also, as a pleasant surprise, the host recognized us from dinner the previous week. He was so gracious and kind. Mela is definitely going to be a part of our ongoing rotation of restaurants!
(5)Nancy C.
My friend & I went to Mela because I had a $25 off a meal of $50 or more and also because we were craving Indian food (or at least I was). At 5pm on a Sunday, the restaurant was mostly empty. We were greeted right upon entering, promptly seated and handed menus. The menu was extensive but not overwhelmingly so. They offer a range of dishes, from traditional chicken tikka masala to organic and modern specialties. We got goat curry (extra hot), Baingan Bhartha (eggplant - also extra hot), chicken tikka appetizer, pashwari naan, and a mango lassi. This added up to $50 perfectly, plus about $3 for tax. The portions are huge. It comes with a massive bowl of rice, which is much needed for the curry. I really enjoyed the goat curry - even though there are some bones (obviously), there was a large amount of meat as well. WARNING for those who can't handle spicy foods - ask for this to be "mild" because although I enjoyed the "extra hot," my friend said it was too spicy for her. The eggplant was flavorful as well. Its texture is slightly strange (it's mashed eggplant), but the peas definitely help give it some chew. Overall, the service was spectacular, the decor was nice, and the food was really good. It's slightly on the pricier side if you don't have some sort of deal, but I think it's worth it, especially as my friend and I brought about half of our meal home.
(4)M L.
Not the most authentic Indian restaurant we have been to but definitely fills the void when we are in a tikki masala mood. Two of our favorite dishes to get here are the lamb coconut curry and chicken tikki masala. One item on their menu that is definitely a must have is the garlic naan! We can literally eat that all day. We won't be recommending this place as a must-go but it has nice decor inside and is pretty clean. If you want some Indian food in a nice environment but don't mind it not being extremely authentic, then this is the place! Definitely hit the spot for us the other evening we were there.
(3)Abby R.
I came for the lunch buffet, and while there's nothing to complain about, I can't find anything to rave about, either. Its best feature is that it's $12 after you tip, and it's all you can eat, which is a hell of a lot better deal than WholeFoods' indian food. The most mediocre thing was the Chicken Tikka Masala, unfortunately. This favorite of indian buffet-goers was sadly pretty bland here, which I'm aware is a pretty big insult in an Indian restaurant, but so it is. It could have been that particular batch, but the masala tasted like a thin tomato sauce with no spiciness at all (even though Tikka Masala is meant to be mild, it usually has a hint of heat) and weak flavoring. Ok, so maybe there was something to complain about, but as I said, it wasn't bad, just mediocre. The garlic naan was delicious, but it took until our second plate to arrive. But at least when it arrived it was plentiful. The Veggie Pakoras were delish, and the mint chutney was actually some of the best I've had, no lie. I was drowning my Pakoras in it. The Saag Paneer was a bit bitter, but the Paneer was good. The Muttar Masala was alarmingly watery, so much so that you couldn't get the sauce on the slotted spoon. It was basically a soup. I would definitely come back to see if the Tikka Masala was just having an off day, but mainly I would go back because it's a decent buffet and I love Indian food.
(3)Jason F.
You don't need to be Indian to tell that this place is sub-par. It's a shame, because if there was a decent Indian restaurant in my neighborhood I'd eat there every other day.
(2)jyoti a.
Undoubtedly the best Indian food I have had in years...the place is a little small, limited seating...so u r literally in each other's face if it's crowded...but they serve with a sincere smile and are very friendly...the food is great...very close to authentic Indian...could do a little better in the vegetarian selection
(4)Chris M.
Came for a late dinner. The portions are huge and the food is very tasty. I had the vegetable samosa, Garden salad and the Mela Biryani. It was all very good. Nicely spiced. I'd come back often if I lived in Boston.
(4)Brian B.
One of the best chicken tikka masala's I've ever had. Spices were perfect. And I've had Indian food all around the country. Friendly staff. We got the buffet and thought it was a good value. Would definitely go back.
(5)Gulam A.
I am sooo full as I am writing this review. One of the best indian buffets I have tried. They do not compromise on the quality of food at buffets, unlike most other restaurants.
(4)Shisham K.
A restaurant to me is all about experience of delicious, mouthwatering food & the service. I am totally a food lover! And never in my life , I have left any place without eating. Last night, I made a reservation of 6 & was confirmed the time. Happy & excited We reached Mela at the given time. However , the place was full, sooo we patiently waited there. We waited there for more than 40 mins.... & was assured we would get the seats in five mins. But our patience ended when people who arrived later got the seats & we did not! We raised our concern with d manger in a polite manner but he barely seem to care!!! And asked to wait even longer..... Management & politeness are probably two alien words for the manager of Mela. Disappointed is how I felt about the whole experience!!! I hate to write this, but the manager sld learn basic politeness & some management skills!
(1)Sam M.
Mediocre Service and Food at Mela. They took forever to bring our Naan, when the restaurant was practically empty. Extremely limited buffer menu options. They were serving daal as soup. I would not recommend Mela to anyone. Service was horrible and sever questioned us on why we tipped so low. Well, you have to earn your tip. 3 people from our group had stomach pain after having Mela food :( There are better alternatives in Boston.
(1)Charlie B.
I think one of the two best Indian restaurants in Boston. Good Naan, Rogan Josh, Chicken curry. Lunch buffet is solid for reasonable price. Good Service, Nice decor. Recommended hands down
(4)Carrie F.
First time here and loved it! We had the Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Saag and the Beef Coconut. They were all so good! The sauce on the beef coconut was my favorite of the three and the lamb in the saag was so tender. I think I would do lamb curry next time. But would order all three again for sure.
(5)Jim W.
Curry Dinner special was really tasty and a lot of good food for 2 ppl for $50...minus a star because my gf and I were rushed by our waiter to finish our courses...if the foods ready, bring it out, that fine but don't be pulling my half eaten app off the table with my fork still in hand. Still will go back though.
(4)Mika S.
Great atmosphere in a fantastic area in Boston! I loved the modern Indian decor of the restaurant and thought they did a great job with the food plating. Although it seems trivial, it's small details like that, which enhance my experiences at restaurants. The waiters were also very attentive, but not over-bearing. We ordered the Garlic Beef, the Butter Chicken, the Pickle and the Peshawari Naan Bread. The beef was unbelievably tender, with a nice curry, although I wish I had picked something a little spicier. The Butter Chicken was by far the best, with deliciously sweet undertones that paired very well with the Peshawari Naan bread (which was also slightly sweet). Overall everything was reasonably priced, although this was the first time i've been to an Indian restaurant that charges you extra for Naan Bread.
(3)Niles d.
There are few times in life when you want to end your dining experience before you even start your meal but today is one of those days. I have ordered in the past many times from Mela for delivery as well as eaten in the restaurant but today's experience may prompt me to switch to one of the other local Indian restaurants for my future orders. Somehow my electronic order's tip was erased and I didn't notice it prior to the indignant delivery man showing up at my door demanding it. I fear I shouldn't eat the food because I'm not sure what he's done to it prior to its arrival on my doorstep. Normally I would have expected to have the delivery person pleasantly hand me my food and then politely say something like "I noticed you didn't include a tip on your order, was it because of a bad experience or did you plan to pay it in cash?" And I could have easily rectified the problem. Or "I know we charge a delivery fee but a gratuity for the driver is also appreciated if you'd like to add one at this time". However, holding the food hostage scowling and demanding "you need to pay me your tip in cash since you didn't put it on the order" somehow presupposes that I WANTED to tip the angry delivery person. I did tip him at the door (called the electronic service and had them adjust the order to include the tip) but now that I have my food I'm wondering, "What did he do to the food prior to arriving at my residence?" And why is Mela employing such short tempered frustrated or irritable delivery folk? If I don't come in to work tomorrow or show up in the hospital consider this my manifesto to bad delivery people and holding food for mandatory tips.
(1)Anjali N.
So Mela is one of those "Indian Restaurants" that is really not Indian. We ordered the prawn puri and chicken tandoori, and when I asked our server to make it spicy she just gave me a puzzled look. When the food came ( it looked amazing! ) , I realized it has been very heavily americanized...not really Indian. The spices hadn't blended into the tandoori at all and the chutney with it was just gravy from a curry - very bland. The prawn puri was quite good but I would have liked it a little spicier. All in all. I wouldn't go back. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're into authentic Indian cuisine. The ambience of the place is really nice though !
(1)Norina N.
I came here with my coworkers for lunch buffet, the selections were limited and food were not so good. I have tried every single dish, and I didn't like any even one, very disappointing. Service was nice.
(2)Tasty Bee Review S.
Mela is still a great tiny place for an Indian cuisine. The food is always delicious, went there yesterday around 6 pm. The music and the stuff - all wonderful, fast and super polite. The dinning experience was slightly spoiled by the company of 9 loud males which arrived after we had ordered stuff (otherwise we would have left). In a small space like Mela's two halls: their voices and laughter sounded like thunderstorm. I've been to Mela at least 10 times by now. Food is great. But next time I will take-out. The space is too tiny.
(4)Tamara W.
I LOVE this place! Been here a few times out to eat and also done take out; their service is really good (always accommodating and get to you right away) and the food takes like, 10 minutes to make. I think their prices are way too much but since their portions are big i recommend splitting something; I love the shrimp masala... it is my favorite! Also their Saag Paneer is really good, too. All very delicious and the best Indian place in South End for sure!
(5)Jackie O.
Good delivery, almost always correct. The only time it wasn't correct was when I did a pick up.
(4)Ryan Z.
The food here is spectacular and very modestly priced. Pesawari naan is a must and highly recommend the chicken korma.
(4)Rachel G.
We have been coming to Mela since early 2012. Mela is consistently outstanding. Service is friendly, fast, and not overbearing. We are Californian transplants and familiar with the SF Bay area where Indian and South Asian food is truly authentic. Mela for Boston is close as it gets to authentic in this city. We used to love a place called Bhindi Bazaar and their Chicken Malai. It closed down. Then there was A Taste of India in Harvard Square on Brattle St., great Lamb Vindaloo, closed down also. Then of course there was and maybe still is, the Maharaja, but there was a fire and not sure if they are still open. We've tried every Indian place in town, including the ones on Newbury, Bolyston, and Comm Ave. They never impressed us much, due to un-fresh food, unclean food, or just plain bland. Mela is delicious. It has been a surivivor, and it is very much underrated. Unlike many Indian or Chinese food places that either taste great but is bad for you or makes you ill, and UNLIKE pretentious Back Bay gastro-pubs and other frou frou kitchens in the area that holds itself out to be something it is not, Mela's is what it appears to be: modern Indian cuisine. Great food, great chefs, good portions, healthy, and tastey Indian fare. I hope this business keeps on doing well. Our favorites: lamb curry and spinach lamb. Amazing MINT chutney, the best. The goat curry BTW for buffet, excellent. NO other Indian buffet will offer goat or lamb for buffet. :)
(5)Ankur P.
very very VERY average indian placel. CTM is a little dry. unfortunatley, not much competition in the immediate area
(2)Natassha D.
The 2 stars was for the service really I always have good service eating inside the restaurant since Mela's opened on Tremont but a couple of months back I felt like eating some great Indian cruisine did a delivery service I didn't feel like moving at all and I figured why not delivery they were only down the streetfrom my house when I got my food I was told by the delivery guy that the owner does not deliver in dominant Black areas funny I live 5 minutes away it didn't make any sense I could see the milage out area problem. But anyways this will be the last delivery or eat in I spoke with the manager myself and he said he will call me back welp! He never did but that's okay Mela will Never ever get they're racist Hands on my money at all they can employ Blacks but I guess they stop right there when it comes down to delivering food to Blacks...
(2)Sara J.
I have been to Mela a few times now. The food is pretty good and the staff members in the restaurant are pretty friendly. Giving it three stars because: - The food is a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. I could venture out to other areas to get the same type of food for a cheaper price. - When I ordered online once for delivery, they said it would take between 20-30 mins but the food did not arrive until an hour later - very disappointing. Had to call the restaurant twice (the lady who picked up was not apologetic at all) to ask where our food was. Would probably go back again at some point if I'm in the area!
(3)Jenny D.
Had a very good late night meal. Garlic beef was excellent as well as the Chicken Tikka masala. Try the ice cream, but the rice pudding left something to be desired. Service was less than par, but that was from a tired waitress as we were the last customers of the night.
(4)Allison L.
Hey vegans! This is what you can eat on the menu. I asked so you don't have to. :) -subz panchmael -aloo choley -gobhi charchi Have to disagree with the person who said the spice level is nothing to write home about. I get "medium" at every Indian restaurant, and this "medium" was definitely spicier. Our friends who got "extra hot" were sweating a bit.
(4)Deepika R.
I really regret the 1 star but guys trust me, being an indian i totally fess up that the food served is not even close. For dinner i ordered garlic naan which was not too greasy and soft, the only dish which was good. Mutton biryani was a poor dish with jus plain rice , no biryani flavor n pieces of mutton. Not even close to being on the menu actually! Expresso martini was a huge disappointment as well because i definitely have had better and best at other places. Very pricey with kind of so called Indian food. The waiter was in a rush to clear our table even before we had finished eating. Poor waiting. The hostess was great though.
(1)Nick S.
Excellent food, excellent service. Was able to accommodate eleven people with no notice on a Thursday evening.
(5)Carolina N.
Although there's no way that this could be called the best Indian restaurant in Boston, it is pretty great. The service is consistently good, the food is delicious, and it's a great spot for vegetarians. Mela Vegetarian Platter - no idea what the things on this platter actually are, but they are all delicious. My vegetarian friend and I decided to order this on a whim once, and now we always have to have it. Palak Paneer - better than most. The cheese cubes are firm and the spinach is creamy. Absolutely delicious. Garlic Naan - it's great, but no different than at other places. Mela is definitely a solid pick and will not disappoint.
(4)Ryan A.
I ordered from this place yesterday and based on the reviews on here I was expecting more. It was OK. Good but not great and definitely not as authentic as I'm used to eating in South Florida. The Vegetable Samosa was decent but the Malai Kofta left a lot to be desired. I love spicy food so I asked for their hottest sauce and it was mild compared to the more authentic Indian restaurants I've frequented. I'll definitely be looking for a better Indian establishment in Boston.
(2)Joe J.
I ordered a few things from Mela one night late at work and it was a pretty good experience. Got take out, so can't speak to the service, but the food was good. Had the: Tandoori Chicken Beef Vindaloo Garlic Naan I thought everything tasted good, not great. That being said, I would certainly return here for Indian food should I have the craving for it. One caveat...it is sort of pricey.
(4)Cindy M.
Ordered for delivery and I was happy with the outcome. The chicken tikka masala was quite tasty. I ordered before i read other reviews and was nervous while I was waiting for my food due to some of the other posts stating it was bland. It took about 1 hour to get here, but the delivery person was friendly and respectful. I had it delivered to my hotel and I find many restaurants give lower quality meals when they see it is a hotel. Luckily Mela did not think that way and I will definitely order from them again.
(4)Yolanda T.
Classic curries were great, the soups were unbelievable but the meat was dry and the naan was under cooked.
(3)Lieu T.
Went here and used a Groupon deal for $63 which allowed us to order two appetizers, two naans, and four entrees. The decor is so nice; background music is mostly instrumental. We ordered the mustard lamb and non vegetarian platter for appetizers and two garlic naan. For entrees lamb vindaloo, seafood marsala, chicken tikki marsala and prime filet hot stone. The waiter told us to order the most expensive dishes lol! Overall everything was delicious! Standout dishes were the mustard lamb, chicken tikki marsala and seafood marsala. The hot stone filet was good but it's just putting meat and cooking it on a hot stone. Only thing bad about the meal was the Lemelson 2006 wine (terrible).
(4)frank a.
Says open till 11 pm however service was declined at 10:30pm. Poor customer service to say the least. Why would you reject business like that? Food is average. Service sucks. 1 Star. Should have been -1 if yelp had option.
(1)manish m.
Pros- Good food. Cons- Considering how small the seating area is (feels overcrowded if people are sitting next to you) , its pricy.
(4)Kim F.
Twice I have gone with the intention of eating a little and bringing home leftovers and both times they take my almost full dishes and package less than half of it for me to take away. I feel ripped off. The first time I thought that maybe I misjudged what I had remaining. This time I took one small bite of my dish and didn't get hardly any of it in the take away. Why would they do that?
(1)Guillermo M.
Loved this place, excellent food and not too expensive. Had the chicken tikka masala and was amazing with basmati rice and naan. Also to close dinner I had the mango lassi, also excellent. Would love to come back!
(4)Holly S.
I'm no connoisseur but this is the best Indian food I have ever eaten. Excellent flavors and a nice variety of dishes on the buffet at lunch. Ambiance is clean and bright. It had a relaxed, laid back feel to it on a weekday. Decor is light, airy, and appropriate for the restaurant.
(5)David K.
I had higher expectations. It seemed that the chicken tikka masala was not marinated very long. No bad, but didn't have the flavor we were expecting. Don't think I'll return.
(1)Neal P.
If you are in search of authentic real indian food then this is not for you. This is an American modified indian restaurant. I ordered my favorite snacks for appetizers(samosa, chat papri) and I was sadly disappointed. Samosa stuffing looked/tasted artificial and was dry. The chat had very little chutney or spices and was more like a bowl of thick oversized pita chips. The butter chicken, my favorite dish which is usually hard to mess up, ended up just not meeting the industry standard. You might like this if you've never eaten indian food before but if you have chances are you'll say "this isn't close to as good as that other place"
(2)Pb P.
I ordered the coconut chicken curry. It was delicious, the rice was delicious, but it makes me mad that a portion is barely equivalent to ONE CHICKEN BREAST for $13.
(2)Anntheresa O.
Mela is a very good choice for Indian food in Boston.The decor is simple, but the service and staff are very good. I was relieved to have Indian food that had more vegetable , and real ingredients, not just sauce and gravy. I was also impressed with the menu variety. I was very happy to enjoy organic Indian menu choices that were delicious. The food was fresh, tasty, and I will go back soon. We ordered the Organic Spinach and Tofu, (very tasty with good spices ),and also the Vegetable Jalfrezi( sauce was very satisfying).
(5)Sandeep S.
Went for the lunch buffet today. Ample paid parking was available. First shocker was the size of the plates available! Come on guys, what's the strategy behind the small plates stacked for the buffet? One cannot fit more than 3 items on the plate. Pathetic. On to the food. Barring the saag paneer/palak paneer, which was flavor full and spiced alright, the quality of food was a disaster. First time in my life, I witnessed the total rape of the legendary tandoori chicken. How can you use turmeric in the sauteed onions that accompany the TC? TC was on the dry side and was as bland as the 'Gerber foods' my son used to hate as an infant! I did not dare try the 'aloo-bhindi'. What sort of combination is that? Never heard of the dish before and I salute the chef who tried to combine a starchy potato with a '' okra! Bad combo in my opinion. Butter chicken was very very average. Yellow dal (probably chana dal) was the second best dish on the buffet. Naan was hot and fresh and deserves respect. I did not try the kheer, but my wife did and she was happy with it. I guess, the quality/spice of the food works for the people who visit the restaurant because the place filled up fast. Good for the business, but I would certainly not be visiting the joint again.
(1)Corey L.
Stopped in on valentines day w my girlfriend, armed w a Livingsocial coupon. We had reservations, which was good at it was packed. First, initial service was slow as hell, but once he came to take our orders, he was around pretty frequently. I'll chalk it up to it being so busy. But after that, better service than you stereotypically get at Indian places. We shared a non-vegetarian combo, $50 for 2 soups, 2 meat samosas, 2 currie entrees, a plate of mixed tandoori meats, naan, rice, and 2 desserts. They had a similar $55 valentines deal with less food and options, which I think was overpriced. Smart guys. Overall, food was quite good and I think matched the higher than typical prices for Indian, especially considering that it's in a pricey chique area. Regarding the food: -lychee martini: excellent -mulligatawny soup: quite tasty -meat (lamb?) and veggie samosas: good, typical -mixed tandoori platter: lots of tasty tandoori meats -chicken saag: quite good, though asked for medium spicy and it was weak. But he brought extra out, which helped quite a bit. Not too oily or dry -shrimp curry w coconut: a few big shrimp in there, curry was quite tasty -kulfi ice cream: quite good, though pretty darn frozen -galub jamun: tasty and sweet as expected -naan: good combo of light, thick, and not greasy Overall quite good quality food worth the price. Yay good Indian!
(4)Mason Y.
Food was quite good and generously portioned, and the main reason this place has several stars. My biggest complaint is the service. When I went on a Sunday night there were very few customers (fewer than 5 tables) and three waiters. Throughout our entire dinner they were chatting and lounging at the bar watching TV. I had to beckon them to do things every step of the way, from ordering food to getting our check. 4 star meal and 1 star service
(2)D C.
I've been to Mela several times, both for the buffet and ordering off the menu. The buffet is a bit more limited in options than I've experienced elsewhere; for today's buffet, there were only three meat options, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala, and beef kofta. Other options were saag paneer, daal, a mixed veggie stew, garlic/potato soup and veggie pakora. The garlic/potato soup was my favorite thing. It'd be the perfect thing to eat if you were stuck home with a cold. The veggie pakora was pretty tasty as well. But everything else was just a little...off.. I've eaten a lot of Indian food, and it's usually pretty consistent from restaurant to restaurant, in every city I've visited. But Mela's spicing/seasoning is different.. Super-ginger-y daal.. Powerfully coriander-ed saag. And I love heavily-spiced food (hello, I'm at an Indian restaurant), but the flavors just aren't right. The tikka masala was watery and too vinegar-y. Even the chutneys, sauces, and raita were weird; the tamarind sauce was over-sweetened and the onion chutney was missing something. Nothing really satisfied, other than the soup, because the flavors were so off. For whatever reason, whenever I come to Mela, it's pretty much deserted, and the staff seem irritated to have to serve someone. At today's visit, the busser was good about clearing our plates, but it was one glass of water to drink, and we were never asked about ordering an additional drink. And the cook, behind the buffet set-up, as well as the manager (?) were scowling at us our entire meal. I felt intimidated to actually go back up to the buffet because they looked so annoyed. Not sure what was up with that. I hesitate to return to Mela since the food is mediocre and the service is so unwelcoming. Ordering off of the menu, versus the buffet, was better, but still not great. Maybe if I'm desperate, and in the area, I'll stop in.
(3)K C.
The food is great, but the service is TERRIBLE. I would never dine in here again. Our waiter seemed very clearly annoyed that I wasn't knowledgable about Indian food and after talking to us once, he basically ignored us the rest of the night. We had to flag him down whenever we wanted to order, get a drink, check, etc. It looks like management really tried to create a nice atmosphere...and you're surely paying for it...I'm not sure why they wouldn't choose a nice staff as well. Definitely good Indian food - but ORDER OUT!
(3)Liz K.
I'm an Indian food newb, but my partner isn't, and we both LOVED Mela. The place was packed on a Friday night but we were seated quickly having had made a reservation earlier in the week. The staff served our drinks and a out of this world vegetable soup sample. We ordered quite a lot, tandoori chicken, chicken binyani, poori, garlic naan, garlic beef, and meat samosa. It was all fantastic. The portions are generous, the food was hot, and we loved our dinner. My *only* complaint is the service can be a little bit slow. I only saw a few wait staff, so I'm going to chalk it up to a busy night at a popular restaurant. It's a great place, a little bit pricey, but in my opinion well worth the cash.
(4)Marcy Z.
Had $12.95 lunch buffet on Sat. Service was attentive. Presentation was good as dishes were on a bar and under a clear cover on lower counter. Chicken, goat and several hot dishes we could have eaten only a plate of any of them as a single entree choice and been quite complimentary. It was great to try it all!
(4)Irene Y.
A great spot to enjoy authentic cuisine with modern flair. The Chicken Tiki Marsala is some of the finest that I've ever had and you really can't go wrong with their garlic naan and mango lassi (yogurt drink). Their Dinner Special for 2 a great value (pair of the following appetizer, entree, dessert and drink) and they often run Groupon promotions where you can purchase $20 for $40 worth of food (for two) or $40 for $80 worth of food (min 4 people), so it's always a win-win. Additionally, the dinning experience is elegant and refined, without being pompus, and If you want to impress a colleague, date, or supervisor, you will definitely set the bar high. Enjoy!
(5)Olivia J.
Went with M and a friend from Penn for dinner. I've had better Indian food elsewhere. I got palak paneer and tried chicken tikka masala. The spinach in palak paneer tasted too sour. Chicken tikka masala was okay; I think it could have been more flavorful. The rice was too salty. Also, too pricey. The bill for each person came out to be $20 ish.
(2)Sanya B.
Well I am very picky about Indian food since I've had a lot of the good food. So, this place didn't impress me much since the taste was pretty average. The food was what you'd find at local wedding receptions in India. The music they were playing didn't suit my taste and the ambience could've been much better. But, on the brighter side, the lunch buffet was pretty reasonable and in some way the food gave me a sense of home- which probably was why I went there in the first place!
(2)Anabelle D.
Good food, decent place a good service. If you like indian food and you are in Boston this is the place.
(4)Cagen L.
My wife and I wanted to grab some food before seeing a production at the BCA and Mela was convienent as well as several other great resturaunts. We love indian cuisine plus I found a groupon so that sealed the deal. When you first are seated they gave us a small espresso cup with a garlicky soup it was savoury and a very nice touch on a cold night. For an appetizer we got the vegitarian platter. All the peices were good but The pakora were especially tasty. Mela had more varieties of naan than I have ever seen. Chicken, lamb, pashwari, garlic and mary more. We decided to have the chicken; it was good but the meat just felt extraneous to me. (side note: I ate the left over naan as a meal unto itself the next day and it was perfect) For entrees I had the chicken tikka massala and the roast lamb kebab. The Chicken tikka massla was great! The flavor was really good but the chicken was so tender is literally melts in your mouth. The lamb was flavorful and tender, however my wife likes it well done and we asked for that but it was still quite pink inside. I would like to try some more spicy dishes but my wife is not into that so that was a no go. The only criticism of the place is that it it packed really tight, like elbow length from the next table. We requested (and got) a window seat (which was nice) but the next table was really close. Oh, and there was not onion chutney on the table or served with our food and that is not acceptable - that magical stuff is required of all indian restaurants.
(3)Conor S.
The food was great, but definitely keep in mind that their "hot" isn't setting any records. For most non-spicy eaters, medium is no problem at all ("has a kick"). Service was all right, but nothing astounding. Good thing the food was great. We also had a Groupon which made the whole meal an unbelievable deal.
(4)Kristina N.
BEST INDIAN FOOD IN BOSTON OR POSSIBLY THAT I'VE EVER HAD. The atmosphere is modern and it's a very clean establishment. Every time I go, I usually have a Groupon or Amazon Local deal and it's worth it! $20 for $40. I always go with one friend (we've been there at least 4-5 times) and we order the garlic naan, the shrimp curry entree, the chicken tikka masala. We alternate on another appetizer we try on each visit, we've had the meat sampler and the vegetable samosa. The staff are attentive and I love coming to this restaurant! I've told so many friends about how great this place is, and it's become their new favorite Indian spot!
(5)Maha H.
I am very picky with food, unfortunately I was not a big fan of Mela. Although they do make an effort with the food and the portions are a good size, I was put off by the overpowering smell of the spices and food before I even stepped into the restaurant. Let alone sitting there for about 2 hours and then after leaving, despite leaving the clothes hanging out, the smell was still there, everything had to go in the wash :( It is not my cup of tea, however, I guess I am not an Indian cuisine fan
(2)Katie Y.
We have been a quite a few times for birthdays and just dinners with friends. We love the bread and most of them are really good. We have tried the Garlic Naan, Chicken Naan, and Poori. They come onto the table fresh and hot. Also we love the decoration of the restaurant. It's both trendy and includes touches of Indian art(stone carvings in the walls). For dessert we have gotten Badami Kulfi which is very unique and we love it! Sometimes we stop for brunch and it is affordable for a tasting of what they serve for dinner. It's like a self-serve for brunch(because it's a brunch buffet) but for dinner it's more formal and waiters bring the food to you. The soups are a must try since they are amazing! The spices and ingredients go very well together that the soup is exotic. We tried this dish with talapia and it was very good. One thing to note is that during dinner it's quite loud since the restaurant is kind of small and is usually packed with conversational people(that's what dinners are for!) with Indian music playing in the background. This is the only Indian restaurant that we have really went to since it's close to our house so keep in mind we haven't tried other Indian restaurants.
(4)Nicole B.
Best Indian food I've had in Boston! The chicken vindaloo is amazing, and the naan too (garlic or plain). The dishes come with the option of mild, medium or hot spice level. I usually like medium, but I ordered it once and it was SO HOT it was unpalatable. I think this might have been a fluke, but I haven't been brave enough to try it again, so I've stuck to mild and haven't been disappointed. The place is kind of small, but has a lot of charm and ambiance. If you book through the Savored app you can usually get 40% off your bill, too!
(5)Lillie A.
I usually just order the Chicken Tikka Marsala with rice and Garlic Nann - that meal I s very flavorful - haven't tried anything else from the menu as yet
(3)Raajamaathangi K.
Me and my friend went for the lunch buffet. Chicken tikka masala was good. Other than the appetizer (veg pakora), all the entrees for vegetarian options were really bland and was missing something. There was gobi subzi, palak paneer and aloo coconut gravy which were all missing key spices. Overall not worth a second visit
(3)Melanie M.
It's hard to find a good Indian restaurant in Boston. When my group first walked in, we asked for a table of four. That request seemed to confuse the host, and we had to clarify that we came to eat and would like to sit down. Wow. Other than that, the service was okay. The food was fresh and it's definetely one of the better Indian restaurants Boston has to offer. I'm not saying Mela is really good, they just seem a little bit better than the rest.
(3)Pumpkin P.
Excellent Indian food in a nice atmosphere. A little cold with the overblown AC, but the food is so good we didn't mind having to wear our jackets. The service is not great, but again - the food was so delish that the slow service is negligible. I do wish they actually offered the organic menu listed on their site and even printed as part of their physical menu. For months now they've been saying that they're "working on it". I'm not sure what there is to work on (find a distributor!) and it is a bit of false advertising, but at least they are honest about it and not serving conventional food in place of the exorbitantly priced organic menu.
(4)Sumeer S.
This is the worst experience I had in Boston, I can't say about other food but definitely felt like a fool ordering chicken noodle soup, very bad quality of food
(1)Maggie G.
Mela is simply awesome. The Sunday brunch is so good and plenty of options. Not expensive either!! Their dinner menu is awesome, too. We've had the vegetarian dinner for two, but it could easily feed 3 or even 4. We always take a good amount of food home, and leave full! The service is always great. Prompt and polite.
(5)Jon E.
Garlic naan, unlimited lunch buffet and ice tea for $9.99. It's a steal and the food is good.
(4)Ashish J.
Awesome food and great variety. I had the weekend lunch buffet The varitey of apperizers was really great. Got the plain naan which was really soft and freshly baked. The watermelong juice was exquisite as were the desserts (gulab jamun and kheer). The only problem is that it's not that easy/convenient to get to, one has to either walk down from copley or take the 43 from park st.
(5)Brian L.
I'm not an Indian food expert, but Mela was one of the best Indian experiences I've had. We ordered butter chicken, palak paneer, lamb vindaloo and one of the other curries... Brags (+): They got the spiciness levels right!! We were four spicy food lovers, and there's not much more disappointing when you ask for a 4/5 and can barely register anything on the spice-ometer. So some of the spicier dishes we ordered had me sweating a little bit. Pain is pleasure when it comes to spicy!! In addition, the meats were tender, the sauces creamy and delicious. Especially the butter chicken, mmmm. Service was great, nice and helpful waitstaff! Beats (-): Hmm not much wrong, maybe the only thing was that I thought the tables were a bit small, considering you usually get a lot of plates at Indian restaurants (the entrees, naan, rice, personal plates). Variance (~): Funky decor, we were talking about the wavy copper plating on the walls for a while.
(5)Shona S.
Loved this place! Nice ambiance. Clean bathrooms. Took a large group of 16 ppl here 4 grad dinner. They were very accommodating. Allowed us to take the cake to them the day before and were able to take us a hour before the reservation time. Food came out quickly and it was alot if food one dish could easily serve 3 ppl with nan and rice. So it was a very cost effective option. I have had my share of Indian food and this place was decent. Definitely deserving of the zaggat rating. Note: be very aware of how much you order. everything looks soo tastey (im sure its all delish) best bet is to order one of everything u want and share Family style. Lambshank curry, tandoori chicken. Tika masala chicken were all a hit.
(4)G G.
great place ,friendly staff we were served by sonu or soni , very attentive and courteous food was great and flavorful , the hot stone salmon was super good we were traveling from new york and were late , but the staff was welcoming even though we were there at last min , that was nice of them recommended !!
(5)Adam P.
This place has the best coconut chicken curry and butter chicken I have ever had!
(5)Susan L.
I came here on a Monday night for dinner with four friends. When I first walked in, I noticed there was a thin cloud of food smoke that permeated throughout the entire restaurant. By the end of our meal my entire outfit wreaked of indian food for the next two days. Even spraying my parka with febreze didn't get rid of the smell so every time I put on that jacket the next day I had a weird craving for indian food. I would say the food was overrated and just okay, but the portions were decent. Food ordered amongst five: - Chicken Tikka Masala - Sauce was flavorful and creamy, but the chicken was diced a little too big so it wasn't as tender as I would have liked. - Lamb Biryani - Good, nothing special. - Tandoori Combination - An assortment of tandoori meats that included chicken, lamb, and other meats that I don't really remember anymore. (Obviously not memorable.) Everything was SO DRY. Comes with sauce that tasted like tikka masala, but the meat was so dry that it was practically inedible without the sauce. - Paneer Palek - I love spinach and paneer so I was really excited for this dish, but I was disappointed when I tried it. I felt like it was missing some spices that would have made it a bit more flavorful. - Okra dish (forget the indian name) - Good if you like okra! - Garlic Naan and Onion Naan - You really can't go wrong with naan! I would recommend the garlic over the onion if you're deciding between the two. I'm a garlic fiend, so the more garlic the better! Pros: Service was great. Nice ambiance. Decent sized portions. Cons: Food was just okay and overpriced. FOOD SMOKE that made everything including my bag smell of indian food.
(2)Marie W.
Went here for dinner last night and the food was delicious! Decor is also very nice. The food was way better than the other Indian places in Boston that I have tried. The only downside is that we waited about 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. We ordered: -Vegetarian appetizer platter: came out a few different things, all of which were yummy! -Malai Kofta--loved the creamy tomato sauce! Not as creamy as some other places but the flavors were intense and tasted great with nan and rice. -Aloo Choley--potatoes and chickpeas. So tasty. -Sabji Jalfrazi--mixed vegetables. Also very good. -Nan--soft, chewy, warm. The portions were large so that there was at least enough leftover for another meal at home. Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes!
(5)Jill B.
Amazing. The ambiance is great and food is always amazing. Small place, so call ahead for reservations. And there are almost always ww.restaurant.com deals so while Mela is a bit expensive, you can get a good deal. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Vijaya P.
Food was average. Ambience was bad, it was very hot in there and nothing was done even after telling them, they didn't do anything to fix it. I am definitely not going there again.
(2)Steven E.
Forgetting for a moment that the last time I was in the restaurant I saw a mouse - my most recent experience involved Mela taking an hour and a half to deliver me cold food and forget my naan. I then was treated to an ADDITIONAL hour wait for them to deliver the missing naan. Wow. Just wow. Pull it together.
(1)Sakura V.
This is my second visit to Mela. My first time there I remembered the food being nice and spicy, but this time around it wasn't as spicy as I would like even though I requested it to be. Other than that I still had a nice dinner. We ordered a Mango Lassi, Pistachio Shake, Beef Vindaloo, and Atlantic Hot Stone (?) with a side of garlic naan. The Pistachio Shake turned out to be a great choice. It was the perfect sweetness and consistency. As mentioned earlier the vindaloo would have also been excellent if made a bit spicier, but thats my own preference. The garlic naan was pretty good as well. The Atlantic Hot Stone consisted of raw marinated scallop and salmon they were pretty much self served to be cooked on a very hot stone. It wasn't bad, but it was not amazing either, so I don't think it was worth the $24 price. It was an interesting concept similar to Korean BBQ and Japanese Shabu. On another note they had a really interesting drink menu with many choices. I would go back just to try each of the drinks and definitely order more of the pistachio!
(4)M. N.
My boyfriend and I visited Mela for our first time (although we have been living in Boston for more than 5 years now) for the weekend brunch buffet. Given the fact that it is Boston Marathon Weekend, we went early at 11:30am sharp. Surprisingly, there were already 4 parties there waiting for the buffet to start. Once the buffet was served, we were delighted! Every dish was fresh, hot and delicious. We both especially enjoyed the Palak Paneer, Tandoori Chicken, Chick pea curry, bean curry, kheer and the samosas. Of course, the Chicken Tikka Masala and Basmati rice were delicious too. Honestly, I tried every dish there and loved every bit of it! The garlic naan we ordered were very fresh, crispy yet chewy. Mmm! We've tried many Indian restaurants with our friends from India both in Boston and Cambridge but this is now our favourite! The service at Mela which we experienced today was superb as well. Water was always refilled, plates were always replaced and everybody was considerate. Although the price for this buffet is pricey compared to those on Newbury and Cambridge ($13.80 incl. tax), it is definitely worth every bit of it!
(4)Susie A.
We had dinner here last night and brought my parents who were visiting from FL. Wow! What a great surprise! The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous and very romantic. It was also a good sign that on a Monday night, it was completely packed. We had the vegetarian platter to start, 2 orders of naan and each ordered an entree. I had the Malai kofta which was so creamy and delicious! My dad had the lamb coconut curry and couldn't stop raving about how great it was. My mom had the chicken tikka (loved it) and my husband had some sort of mixed platter that came with tandoori chicken, grilled lamb, shrimp and some other meaty lovers delight. I would definitely return here. Also, get a mango lassi! So good! Overall, five stars!
(5)Shesha B.
Me and my fiance had a great dinner at Mela. The food was amazing. We ordered vegetarian appetizer platter which was great! malai kofta and vegetable biryani which were delicious. The best was their chapati which was so soft. Did not have such great chapatis in a while. The service was great. A minor drawback is the place is a little noisy. Overall I would rate this a great restaurant with amazing food and good ambience. My fiance who is from Switzerland enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Would love to go back there. -Saran & Aamani
(5)Iaroslav M.
went here for brunch a couple of times. Nothing exeptional, fish is good,lots of vegetarian stuff. we received our naan while already having a desert, so service can be better (our waitress just simply blamed the kitchen for that-but she just forgot to place the order).Its a great buffet, but only if you go here like once in a while, they don't change the food options very often.Overall, good place to get dinner, not too pricy, kind of romantic at the night.
(4)Em B.
Delicious lunch buffet. Fresh and a good selection. We came in at two, and even though the buffet ended at 3, they continued to bring out more food. The naan was fabulous! Great service, too.
(4)Ian M.
Great food. Fast service. Perfect(!) atmosphere. Good prices. Doesn't get much better. We wondered in around 9pm on Saturday without a reservation and we were seated right away. I got the Mela goat. My husband got the chicken vandiloo. Best part though may have been the Aloo Naan. And we each got an Indian beer (only 2 to choose from). Make sure to order spicy. It won't kick you that hard, and definitely adds to the flavor.
(5)Nikhil P.
I'm Indian. I got this. The food was good, let's not deny. But, there's a big stock range of good Indian food in the city. What is "good?" There's naan that fills you up and is bready. The sauces for the butter chicken are very bright orange, taste creamy, and have bits of chicken that are a little dry scattered within. There is a vegetable dish that has cauliflower and okra, and it glistens with oil and curry powder. And there's a spinach sabji of some kind, that has the consistency of the butter chicken and makes your naan nice and soggy. All well and good, but not necessarily particularly delicious. Notable exceptions from other indian buffets in town? No chai tea, no papad, not particularly spicy (NB: spicy doesn't mean intense peri-oral inflammation; it means flavor... and plenty of it), the keer wasn't fully prepared (vermicelli wasn't gelatinous enough, could have used more cardamom), and nothing particularly memorable. The price was great, the waitress was sweet, the decor was a bit dated but the neighborhood was fun (South End). Three star on the weekday lunch buffet. Probably three star even if you're white. Even if you don't have a single indian friend.
(3)Melissa M.
By far the best Indian buffet I've had in a long time! Last Saturday we went to Kasmir on Newbury. That was good but Mela had, for the same price, a larger selection, better service, better lighting, better buffet layout and great food! Hats off to Mela on Tremont.
(5)Eunice E.
I've been to Mela for dinner a few times now, and I feel like it gets better each time I go back. It's so pretty inside... soft lights, pink curtains, mod white furniture and dishes. But even nicer than the decor? The food, of course! It helps that the food comes out served by very polite, friendly, professional waitstaff. That always makes the experience better. The last time we went, we ended up ordering the veggie samosas, garlic naan, peshawari naan, chicken vindaloo (extra spicy), chicken tikka masala (spicy), and the malai kofta (spicy). Everything came out delicious... not TOO hot, but there was definitely a kick to it all. It was great that the flavours weren't masked by pure capsacin or something, because their spices really are some of the best I've tasted I've tasted in Indian cuisine. Next time, I think we'll stick with our usual vindaloo and our new veggie favourite, malai kofta... which they do EXTREMELY well here. Wow! These nutty, cheesy balls of perfection are awesome. Thumbs up, Mela. Even though we ordered a TON of food for two, we were so hungry and it was so tasty, that most of it was gone by the time our waiter came by to ask if we wanted dessert (sadly, no room). The one small gripe about this place is that their drinks aren't all that good. Shame, since the food is so tasty! I had a sip of my dinner partner's sangria, and it was cringe-inducing. I do recall ordering a drink myself the last time I came to Mela, and being extremely underwhelmed then as well. Oh, well. You can't win 'em all. All in all, though, Mela is certainly worth a stroll through Newbury St., and I'll definitely be coming back again. Their spices... mmm... their spices...
(4)karen f.
I really wanted to give Mela 4 stars but it just didn't live up to that much celestial praise for evening dining options in Boston. First off we had to wait 35-40 minutes beyond our 8:30 reservation. The mgr did offer free alcohol drink for the trouble. The waiter had to bring the mgr over when I shared my free mango lassi offer that's on four square. The mgr said if I had a groupon I couldn't use the 4square deal -is that legal? 20 minutes into dinner, I had to ask waiter again to deliver my lassi. We ordered the chicken tiki, beef vindaloo and the eggplant. It was..ok. I wish I knew when you order the naan you only receive one piece. While a big piece, not when you only get 1/3.. We will keep searching for another great Indian haunt in Boston.
(3)Dani M.
Delicious Indian food! Look out for the daily discounts on groupon. Just go early, around 7:30pm the wait starts. I went around 6:00 and service was fantastic. Had the mango lassi, chicken vindaloo and vegetable samosas. Yum, yum, and yum! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Mike G.
took me nearly 3 yrs to return, food a tad better (awful naan). may check back in 2016.
(3)Amanda F.
If you follow my reviews closely, you know that I'm an Indian food fanatic. I went to Mela today for the lunch buffet. I was hungry after spending the early part of the afternoon wandering around the South End. I remembered seeing Mela on one of my other jaunts in the neighborhood, so I finally stopped in. The buffet had a pretty good variety: Palak Paneer, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, Dal Makhani, Goat Curry (still can't bring myself to try goat meat), something with cauliflower, and a few other selections. It was all good, but not my favorite in the city. (Still trying to figure out who that honor should belong to). I tried Chicken pakoras for the first time. There wasn't much to them, but dipping them in some of the other sauces did the trick Yum! The waiter who took my drink order (Mango Lassi -- very good, but my favorite lassi is still the one that I had in the food court of H-Mart in Burlington) and brought me my garlic naan (so very fresh and delicious!) was extremely friendly, but I didn't see much of the staff during my meal. It took a while to get my water refilled and to get my check. The restaurant is small. The buffet is right in front of the counter where orders come up. It made getting my food a little rushed and hectic. The tables were also really close together. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience. It satisfied my craving for Indian food.
(3)Hongbo Y.
Nice dining environment. Good food. The only issue that I have is that some of chicken was kind of too dry.
(3)Ali A.
Went with a group and they did a nice job of seating us as we trickled in as opposed to the wait-til-everyone-has-arrived mentality so many places abide by. (It's the little things, folks.) Our table overflowed with delicious food, leaving us all stuffed. And with still more food in a doggy bag for the next day! My Beef Vindaloo was amazing. They ask for each entree if you want it mild, medium or hot and let me tell you, the hot vindaloo lived up to expectation. My fellow diners kept their tastes of the dish to a nibble for that reason. Several kinds of Naan and the Veggie Samosas were also super tasty. In the end, the bill seemed small for the amount of food we ate - always a pleasant surprise. However, the service was only okay. Our waitress didn't rush us, but there were times when she couldn't be found for ages. (Come on lady, I ordered that dish HOT. Need. More. Water.) Also, our group was decreased by one due to illness and she seemed perturbed we sat there with an empty chair for 10 min before letting her know. What can I say? We had to catch up! Didn't realize you were so anxious. They don't have valet at the front door, but you can use the valet across the street at Aquataine. Not obvious, so I'm glad I called ahead and asked. Will be back for more!
(4)Monique S.
Although we had reservations, there was not a table for us. But they were prompt at clearing the first available table and seating us. It took while for someone to come help us, but after that, all was good. The Malai kofta was delicious, not too salty and very flavorful. The chicken saag was ok, leaving something to be desired (chicken was a bit dry). The Naan was huge and a little crispy. I prefer softer naan. The mango lassi was delicious, although it was a bit watery and less creamy. The place has a great atmosphere and modern decor. The location is prime South End real estate. Overall, a good experience.
(4)Smita D.
My boyfriend and I found a groupon for this place and after seeing the rave reviews, we decided to check it out for our date night. It was soooo far from disappointing. We got great seats near the window and the waiter gave us complimentary garlic potato soup--how awesome was that?!? And it tasted amazing, perfect for a cold Boston night. Then we ordered the veggie appetizer platter which was delicious in its deep fried goodness. For entrees, I got the shrimp masala and my boyfriend ordered the lamb korma. The portions are huge! It was definitely enough to feed 4 people. The spices were just right and the flavor of the curries and meat were bold. This place hit the spot for sure. Also I'm impressed an Indian place serves beef and pork on its menu; I hope to try those out sometime soon. Overall, food and service were fantastic and you should definitely eat here!!!
(4)Hana K.
My Indian friend from India told me that the best Indian food in Boston was at Mela. Came here for their lunch buffet - totally worth the $13.00 for their unlimited curry, nan and rice. Though the restaurant is very small, the atmosphere was clean, sophisticated and slightly more upscale than your average Indian restaurant. Tips: I've seen them on Groupon several times for their lunch hours. Check it out for discounts before coming in.
(4)Jody G.
Another very good Boston meal! The setting is beautiful and the service is very good. And, the portions are huge! Three of us shared an order of Aloo Nan (unleavened bread stuffed with potatoes and spices), Chicken Tikka Masala (boneless chicken breast chunks in a creamy tomato sauce), Beef Biryani (Basmati rice and spicy beef chunks cooked with nuts and spices), and Gobhi Charchi (cauliflower cooked with ginger, garlic, potatoes, and spices). The last item was my choice and it was definitely my favorite..... although all of the food was of good quality. A bowl of Basmati rice was brought to the table. I love that rice! I don't know how it gets so fluffy.... with each grain so separate and perfect. For dessert I had Kheer (rice cooked in sweetened milk, raisins, and almonds). It was the one disappointment of the meal. It was too soupy, had one lonely raisin in it, and had soggy cashews on top rather than the almonds (or more traditionally pistachios). My son's mango lassi, however, was the best ever. Sweet and slightly tart with lots of fresh mango blended in.
(4)stephanie v.
While Mela would be a 4 stars in other major cities, it gets 5 stars in Boston due to the complete lack of good Indian food in this area (yes, many places to go but none that are worth a return visit). I could eat Indian food all day everyday, that's how much I love it. Mela is the only sit-down Indian restaurant I return to on a regular basis (weekend brunch and dinner). You can always find a groupon or restaurant.com deal, which really makes Mela a no-brainer. I always order the chicken tikka masala or butter chicken, garlic naan, lamb shank curry (under the "modern indian" section) and veggie biryani and always leave happy.
(5)Amar M.
Being Indian, I'm hypercritical of Indian restaurants by default. In general they offer food that I can't really cook at home since I don't own an oil tanker, but every now and then it's something I gotta have. When I lived in the South End, Mela was the closest Indian food option, luckily within walking distance from my place. I've dined in a few times and gotten takeout a few times more. As they say on their menu they definitely take a slightly (read: slightly) lighter approach to the food, and it's noticeably less heavy than some other places. I've had a number of their chicken and lamb dishes, along with some veg options too, all are tasty and spiced according to your tastes (the spicy option always satisfies me). Avoid the biryani, its more like heavy fried rice than actual biryani. Service when dining in is good, the restaurant itself is pretty nice as well. Overall the food is solid, but I have to dock a star for the prices. I get that the restaurant is in the South End, but I don't think I'll ever be able to justify paying nearly 20 dollars for lamb curry or $16 for paneer makhani of all things. Again, the food is good, but not that good and too little quantity. The prices are pretty outrageous unless you end up sharing with a few people. Now that I've moved out of the South End, I doubt I'll ever be back again, the prices are exorbitant. Bonus, papad and chutneys come with takeout orders!
(3)Laura A.
Mela is a good reminder that I really need to get my Hyderabadi mother-in-law to teach me how to cook Indian food. The food at Mela is fine, but nothing to write home about - and that's kind of a tragedy in the South End where there are SO many amazing restaurants. That said, my husband and I have eaten here a few times and ordered takeout (we live nearby) so clearly it's sufficient. Mela will certainly satisfy any base cravings for India food. You pretty much can't go wrong with Mela's bhindi, vegetarian platter or - every white person's favorite Indian dish- butter chicken. It's just not Indian food the way Mumi makes. And Mumi makes some really good food.
(3)Andres V.
Had a groupon for this place and I was not disappointed. My girlfriend and I tried most of the menu and it was great. The staff was nice and very knowledgable and quickly answered any questions we had about the meal. The tables are a bit too close to each other, in part because the place is very small which made for an strenuous eating experience mostly due to the person talking next to us.
(4)Isabella C.
My fav Indian restaurant in Boston. Good price for delicious Indian food. Service is good. Sometimes can be a wait if u go for dinner on weekends but otherwise u get seated pretty quickly
(5)Sarah G.
The two stars are for the food, which was pretty good. The service is what made my dining experiences here so disappointing. I'm not one to belabor service .. I don't need you to bend over backwards for me. My last time at Mela was just painful. Our server was obviously new and was covering a lot of tables. It took a long time for her to take our order, bring out the food, and then finally bring us the check. I'm understanding to the fact that she was probably new but can't really understand why no one came out to help her since there were other staff at the restaurant who looked like they could. There was a guy behind the bar (I think he was a manager), who never once came out to help despite the fact that he could see our waitress struggling. I don't know if he thought it was beneath him but it was extremely irritating. This place has a "bar" that can maybe fit two people, but it doesn't need a "bartender" or whatever he was doing during our entire dinner, especially considering no one was sitting at it and the restaurant was busy.
(2)Maureen D.
Got a reservation on friday afternoon and though they had mixed up the reservation when we got there they seated us in no time! The place has a very interesting decor with copper panels on 1 wall and intricate Indian wood carvings on several others. There are several hanging glowing orbs that provide light over the tables. There is a selection of several Indian cuisine themed cocktails but we didn't try any. Service was prompt and polite and within 20 minutes of placing our order we were dining. We enjoyed a contempary curry vegetable dish with asparagus and artichoke, as well as 2 more traditional dishes which were Savage paneer and lentils. The food was well prepared and well seasoned. Portions were moderate in size. Overall a great experience and a restaurant I will be adding to my standards in the south end.
(4)Arun M.
Went because of all the great reviews. But wasn't impressed. Clean place and good service. But food does not do justice. Would not recommend.
(2)Mindy M.
Went a few weeks ago with my boss who referred to the place as "divey". Seemed like a nice, cozy place with a decent ambience to me. Ordered Shahi Bhindi (okra), Chicken Tikka and Peshwari Naan. It was very good and I would go back if in that part of town.
(3)Countess O.
sunday nights are meant to be indian takeout nights. mela had 4 stars, looked promising. and i'm not super elitist about indian food, as long as it doesn't give me butterflies in my stomach. so we ordered from Mela. there were three levels of spiciness to choose from, and we chose spicy for all the dishes we ordered: the food came in a timely fashion and the deliverer even managed to find our technically illegal building without calling even once. at zero delivery charge too. the order went something like: - everything biryani: pretty solid and self explanatory. even had chunks of beef which were overcooked and dry. also, beef in indian food is just plain weird. - saag paneer, which went by an alias on the menu but we successfully blew its cover. now, the star of this review: GARLIC NAAN (see pic). since we ordered takeout, we specified for the naan to be 'extra hot' so that it wouldn't be a sheet of unbreakable ice when it arrives (thanks a lot, boston). and when we undressed its tin foil, it was charred. i flipped it over, also charred on the other side. in my pic i tried to distinguish front and back yet failed to do so, since the amount of carcinogenic carbon is virtually identical on both sides. so i just assigned random sides. Mela, for future reference, in re: to naans, "extra hot" does not mean DEATH BY FIRE. i'll probably not order from this place again unless Mela gets its naan right, i mean, an indian restaurant incinerating its naan is basically like a french restaurant serving moldy hairy baguettes, an italian restaurant serving tadpole-infested olive oil, and a chinese restaurant serving general Tso/Gau's chicken.
(2)Michael C.
Some very good Indian food in the South End. Having had tons of Indian food on the west coast where the quality is generally much higher, Mela is up to Par! I had the Butter Chicken, which comes with rice, although the menu does not readily indicate this. It was delicious! also had the garlic naan, which went perfectly with our meal.
(4)Janae G.
I went here for my birthday dinner. It was pretty good seeing as I haven't had Indian Cuisine probably since the second grade. The beau and I got Chicken Tikka & Pakora which was pretty good. CT was a hing dry, but the flavor was good. CP was tasty. I got the lamb curry and the beau got the beef curry which were also good, not great and not bad, just good. The highlight of the dish was the Peshawari Naan, it stood out and made everything mingle well. Overall, I liked it. The waiters were a bit involved LOL my bf had to "shoo" them away more than twice, but it didn't detract anything from the quaint little eat-in. It was nice and cheap (I was told)...
(4)Quinn B.
My favorite Indian restaurant anywhere. This is *the* go-to place for my fiancée and I. Beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes are all great. The frequent Groupon promotions they run ($20 for $40 worth of food) are good deals, as is the lunch. Kind of a hidden gem in that it's rare you run into a long wait. Service is usually great but on rare occasions it's been very slow.
(5)Kate J.
We had mango lassi, chicken vindaloo and beef korma. The korma was ok. Lassi and vindaloo were way too sour. I'm a little disappointed given high hopes after reading other reviews. Nice ambience though but that's about it.
(2)Jessica D.
Great Indian food in South End. Nice environment and friendly servers. Chicken tikka masala is to die for...naan is fresh naked and fantastic.
(4)Julia L.
I went with three other friends - two of them got the buffet and two of us ordered food. First things we noticed, the decor was beautiful, with pink curtains and white decor. There was plenty of light streaming in and created a very endearing atmosphere. The lunch buffet seems like an excellent deal at around $10 per person, but the Indian friend said Tantric on Stuart St. had better food for the same price. Me and my friend ordered the meat samosas, chicken vindaloo, a lamb dish, and badami kulfi. Everything was pretty good, but the bread that they serve as appetizer was a true winner with me. Soft, fluffy, and right out of the oven. Everything else was decent except I didn't really like the badami kulfi. It was my first time trying it, but it was too crystalized and sweet for my taste. Our portion of the meal ended up around $45 for an appetizer, two dishes, and dessert, which is on the pricy side for lunch, but good thing we had a Groupon. Would come again for the lunch buffet, but probably not regular menu.
(3)Jolene S.
Got to stop in for brunch special (come hungry and it's an awesome deal). Esp. liked the chicken tikka/tandoori chicken, eggplant, and gulab jamun. (~$16/person w/ tax+ tip, hard to beat) Would avoid the goat curry here+skip the samosas too. Didn't have space for the dosas, but I think those might be good too--they went fast and by the time there were more, I was already stuffed. Very good option for this area.
(3)Megan B.
This is a great place for an indian food date night. It's small but romantic inside and the food is delicious and easy to share. They have an awesome lunch buffet for $10 and I even found a groupon now and paid $7.
(4)Azn B.
A friend and I had an early dinner (5:30'ish) here on Sunday. It's a perfect time for dinner if you prefer a little quiet atmosphere. There were probably about 4 parties total at that time. The service was great. The servers were humble and attentive...not sure if this would be the case if the house is a bit more full. We had a couple of cocktails but forgot the names. They were good and my friend's version was very fragrant. It had a hint of Indian spice with cardamon pods floating in it. He had a second round of the same drink. For the food, we had an appetizer, 2 main dishes and a garlic nan. The appetizer was the meat samosa. This reminds me of 2 mini empanadas with Indian spices, although a bit dry but tasty. As for the main entrees, we had coconut chicken curry and beef korma. They were both very tender and delicious. We wanted them as medium spicey and they came as we like it, just perfect. The bread was fluffy and fresh. In general, the price is a bit on the steep side for Indian food, but we're paying for the location (South End) as Welland the decor was nice. However, we got a great deal through Restaurant's for a $25 certificate at $2 cost, caching!!! A win win all around. Overall, the food was good and the experience was good!
(4)Ayon J. R.
The food is very good. So is the decor and ambience (which is very rare for Indian restaurants). They bill themselves as 'modern' Indian food, but there's nothing really modern about the menu.
(4)TJ N.
I have not had a bad dining experience here yet so it stays a 5 in my book. It serves as my benchmark for other Indian restaurants in the area. My only concern is that it doesn't get ringing endorsement for authenticity from South Asians that i know. Service can be spotty but always polite.
(5)Pete J.
Right up there with my previous piece of sage advice, "Never go to a restaurant single digit days after it has been Grouponed" is "Never go to a restaurant the week that a Groupon expires" You would think that I would learn from my own mistakes, but no, some people (me) have to learn the hard way. So it's a Tuesday night and the place is packed. Fortunately I had had the foresight to call up a few hours before to make a reservation (I haven't done that in a while - isn't everybody on Open Table now?) Our table's not ready so we head to the bar. Now, this was supposed to be a romantic dinner for two, but my co-worker's wife was out of town, so I took pity on him and let him tag along with girly and I. They seemed to be either very short staffed, or completely overwhelmed, but watching the servers was like watching the keystone cops, running around and banging into each other. No hostess as such, just each one of the servers popping behind the counter when the need arose. Needless to say, they kind of forgot about us, but when reminded they were able to seat us. When this was going to be a party of two, I had gone online and researched the menu and had decided to get the non-vegetarian dinner for two, which is a great deal for $45. Two cups of soup, two samosas, a mixed grill plate, a choice of any two curries, naan bread and dessert for two and coffee/tea. I asked the server if it could be customized for three people, but he said no, it couldn't. He did suggest that I purchase an additional samosa and an additional curry dish, so that's what we did. The mulligatawny soup, was a bit bland (he brought 3 cups). The samosas were dry, the mixed grill plate consisted of assorted tandoori style meats, but they were a bit dry also. The naan bread was excellent as were two of the three curries. The butter chicken was delightful and highly recommended, the shrimp marsala was also really well made. The lamb vindaloo was a bit disappointing though, not enough spice and the flavour was dull. Dessert was a choice of any two from the dessert list. We had the kheer, which is a sweet Indian rice pudding, little watery, but good. Also the ice cream which was tasty and unique. We didn't get offered tea or coffee :( Service was neither good nor bad. He seemed to forget about us for long periods of time, but that was understandable given how busy the place was. But he was pleasant when he was with us. I think that minus the pandemonium of the expiring Grouponers this place would be a cool hangout in the South End (assuming you can get here by car or T, but that's another story). Most of the food is decent, the butter chicken is the standout winner. Unfortunately, they seem to want to be the #1 choice of every coupon-cutter as I see they are on restaurant.com now also and I think I saw them on buy-with-me as well as Groupon, of course, so I don't know when it would be any less busy than it was.
(3)Steph P.
My colleagues and I love to come to Mela for the lunch buffet. Mela is a 10 minute walk from our office and we can walk there, have lunch and walk back in our allotted hour lunch. The buffet is varied and has 5 or 6 entree options as well as vegetable pakora, basmati rice, soup and salad. I really enjoy the beef kofta and saag paneer. The servers bring your choice of fresh naan to the table and there is even rice pudding for dessert. The restaurant is comfortable and always able to serve our ever expanding group as we get more and more coworkers wanting to come with. The buffet is only $9.95, but look for their Groupon for only $7.
(4)Josephine L.
Mela is just....weird. It's got tons of room, yet sets up the furniture so you are no more than 6 inches apart from your neighbors and have to hear their loud, geriatric, "What's that, Ethel?" conversation about why their lives are better for being college professors. The menu is huge but offers little in the way of truly different or unique Indian creations. The prices are on the expensive side, yet they offer a Dinner for 2 combo that's jam-packed with stuff. The service is attentive and perfunctory but not friendly in the least. A study in contrasts. The boy and I did the Mela Non-Vegetarian Dinner for 2. Mulligatawny Soup: Hot and salty. Hit the spot. Meat Samosa: Like eating eraser bits (you know, the stuff that comes out when you rub it on the paper) in a fried encasing. Accompanying tandoori pieces were rubbery and dry. Entree 1: Chicken Korma. Very peppery, less sweet and tomato-y. Not bad, but not great. Entree 2: Points for having Butter Chicken on the menu. Not Tikka Masala, that British invention, but good ol' Butter Chicken. Don't know why Boston Indian restaurants seem to not serve this. Mela's is creamy and delicious, and the chicken is quite tender. Naan: Thick and a little too doughy. And charred like a pair of 4th of July BBQ tongs. Dessert: Kheer for the boy, Ras Malai for me. Quite good, but the boy says he's had better kheer. They never gave us tea or coffee. FAIL. $45 well spent only because we had a voucher.
(3)Craig S.
Went in at 2:55 for a lunch buffet that closes at 3PM not only did they let us in they were super nice about it. Good thing about Indian food is the longer it simmers the more flavor it has - going this late was a good idea. Everything we had was pretty amazing. What I think were warm curried lamb balls were delicious despite my description. Cix Tikka Massala was spicy and comforting as was the lentil prag gash (I think that's close). Tried a new dish of Mushroom light cream soup it was awesome, will def get it again. .....and then the Garlic Naan came hot out the oven- easily the best I've ever had. So excited to move to the neighborhood so I can make this a regular spot.
(5)Eddie B.
The best Indian food in Boston area. Have been here few times, for lunch buffet and dinner. Everything we tried was excellent. Also, the make best chicken tikka masala I've ever tried.
(5)Amir K.
Mela always has a groupon which makes its prices very reasonable, the food is always cooked perfectly and very delicious. Be careful with the buffet, its dangerously addictive.
(4)KJ W.
Delicious and ample amounts of food! The customer service is amazing! The naans and fresh and flavorful and the curries are well balanced. This was the third time I have been and I will go back without question!
(5)Sarah M.
3.5 stars. Went to dinner in the South End for some Indian food with a $40 Google offers Groupon type thing. The space was on the smaller side, but quite cute, and we were promptly seated at a table by the window. Maybe this should have been a first flag - south end...thursday night...no wait. Maybe not a red-flag...perhaps yellow. The menu had all your standard items, but the dish i wanted, shrimp vindaloo (medium-to-spicy) was not on the menu. Upon request they were able to make this for me so that was quite nice. My boyfriend ordered the malai kofta (spicy), which is his staple dish. In addition we went with veggie samosas, garlic naan, and a side of raita. Some of my favorite places in the city give you complimentary papadums when you are seated, but that was not the case here. sadness. Our samosas came out in a timely manner, and we large and quite good. My only complaint is that they were a little skimpy on the condiments - the typical green, brown/purple, and orange chopped onion ones (sorry i do not know the proper names). There were smudges of them on the plate as opposed to the typical little ramekins you get at other places leaving my boyfriend and i scraping them onto our appetizer. I typically like to use them throughout my meal, so this was another bummer. Our dishes came out soon after we finished our appetizer, and i have to say i was impressed with the portion sizes. A bit larger than i feel is typical. Both of our dishes were good, but that is really about it. The malai kofta was no where near as spicy as we usually like, and my boyfriend said that the texture of the veggie-balls seemed a bit off. My shrimp tasted good, but also i was saddened at the lack of kick. All in all it was a good experience, but there are far better places in the city without the South End prices.
(3)Amy B.
I ordered takeout from Mela this evening using Foodler. First, I placed my order around 7:15 and the automated system told me delivery would be about 8. At 8:30, I called Mela and was told the food was en route. At 8:45, the driver arrived. The driver was VERY nice and apologized that the food had taken so long, and included a $10 off of $50 coupon in my bag. The food was also still warm. So while I probably would have ordered elsewhere if I'd known it was going to take so long, I guess there was no real harm done. Unfortunately, I just really did not enjoy the food. I ordered aloo naan (stuffed with potato and spices) and butter chicken, medium spicy. The aloo naan was ok, but greasy and I did not like one of the two dipping sauces that came with it (too sweet). The butter chicken was really lackluster. This is one of my favorite Indian dishes because of its rich and full flavors, but this particular version was almost bland. The chicken itself was moist and tender, but the sauce was utterly forgettable.This too was a bit greasier than I've come to expect for Indian food in the US. Yes, I know the dish is called "butter chicken," but usually the sauce doesn't have a pool of grease floating on top. The bag of food also included a packet of crispy bread (roti, I think?) broken into chip-like size. Those were tasty, but really not that different from salty American tortilla chips. I probably will not give Mela a second try. At its price, I'd rather spend a few dollars more per entree for Kashmir for high-end Indian food. If I want delivery Indian food, India Samraat is less expensive and more flavorful (and has delivered faster than promised).
(2)neeraj c.
Bleh. Poor tasting food. Avoid the goat curry. Not traditional tasting and yuck. The mulligatawny soup was bland. The Chapatis were middle eastern pita breads. Seriously! I would avoid this place for the way below average taste of food.
(1)Garrett B.
I attended an end-of-semester dinner party here the other evening. This place has a lot going for it, but a few flaws gives it three stars. This place gets 5 stars for decor. It's gorgeous. Everything from the mood lighting to the framed photos of India is well done. I ordered the chicken korma and vegetable samosas. The samosas came out piping hot and were really good. No complaints there. We ran into some problems with our entrees. Usually at Indian restaurants, I'm fine ordering a medium heat version of a dish. My dish was delicious, but too spicy for my taste. Half way through and I was gulping water constantly. If I come back, I'll definitely order my dish mild so I can enjoy it even more. I docked some points for the price of the food. As some other people mentioned, I feel like the price for quantity is high. You are definitely paying a premium for the atmosphere and location of Mela. Service was ok. They were very diligent about some things, but not others. It took a while for the food to come out. I want to try to the lunch buffet which seems to be a better deal.
(3)Johnny G.
My favorite indian food in Boston. They are great when it comes to accommodating special requests and the lunch buffet is a great deal. My only knock is that they cook all the rice in margarine. Margarine: the condiment that is one molecule away from plastic. No rice for me, thanks.
(4)Anna L.
I've eaten here several times and had positive experiences every time I've been. Even my husband who only recently started eating Indian food really enjoys it. Some of our favorites include the chicken tikka masala, lamb vindaloo and the palak paneer. Their cocktails are only OK, so I usually stick to wine or beer. The staff is friendly, but there aren't many tables, so I'd recommend a reservation. They do offer a 40% discount on food through Savored - which I highly recommend!
(5)Austin J. A.
Mela was one of the first restaurants we ever went to when we moved out to Boston. It's in a nice location, a close walk to Copley Square. We were intrigued enough to try their version of hot-stone cooking because we tend to like that sort of DIY restaurant experience. The hot-stone cooking surface was a big, lovely slab of rock. I thought that for the price (over $20 for four little pieces), the tiny portion was a little unfortunate, but for a novelty experience, it was cool. It wasn't a problem, because not only are the dipping sauces delicious, but we ordered another dish (chicken tikka masala) and some garlic naan to accompany the hot stone lamb. The chicken tikka masala was very good. Their decor is so nice, it's a lovely place to have a date, and the service is good.
(4)Pete B.
The food was fantastic and the service was good too. We had the lunch buffet special and got to try everything from soup and chicken to beef and fried vegetables. They gave us free naan bread with our meal which was a great bonus. Located in a beautiful and quaint part of Boston. Didn't eat very much but left feeling well fed. Great deal!
(5)Sarah G.
The last big meal we had was at an Indian restaurant called Mela. Indian is another fave of mine, so I had my fingers crossed that it would be worth our 20 dollars for 40 dollars worth of food Groupon. It totally was. Although the place was a bit pricey, the food more than made up for it. We got the appetizer platter, which pretty much consisted of a small sampling of each appetizer. Our main dish was Lamb curry, which was off the charts in terms of taste. Spicy but oh so good! The way that Indian definitely should be. We also ordered an Indian bread, not na'an, but a bread that had potatoes in it..we thought we would try something different. It was really good, and it added a little bit of a heavier dimension to the curry. Since this is me, and I'm the ultimate dessert fiend (I think it's the best meal of the day by far) we ordered exotic Indian ice cream. It wasn't like my preconceived notion of ice cream, less creamy. And it wasn't as sweet either, it had saffron in it, and nuts on top. I don't know if I would order it again, but I like to try new things :)
(3)Myrtle T.
Came here for the weekend brunch special. The spices are pretty great, however my biggest complaint was the saltiness of the curries and sauces, especially the saag, and the relative sogginess of the naan. While the flavors were all there and the meats were cooked fine, I felt pretty bad for the rest of the day after eating this food. And I am a pretty big Indian food fan, so this was fairly odd. Also the need to remind the waitstaff literally 4 times to bring my water wasn't great considering the saltiness of the food.
(3)Pratik P.
I am shocked they even call it Indian food. Had gone for the lunch buffet today & the chicken pakora were cold, Pav Bhaji needed identification as it looked nothing like Pav bhaji, all curries were bland. The one star is only for the gulab jamun.
(1)Matt C.
4 stars for the lunch buffet. I have never been for any other occasion but I don't even feel the need to. The lunch buffet is such a good deal. Give it a try and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Take a look on GROUPON NOW and you should be able to snag it for about $7. There have everything you could want across the board on the Indian cuisine and the quality is top notch.
(4)Weleys S.
I asked the waiter what's a spicy chicken dish he would recommend, he replies...I can make any dish mild, medium, hot, and spicy. Not a response you want to hear when you know they are just going to proportionally add red ground pepper based on your request. Chicken was terrible quality, samosa and cutless sucked, and the lamb chops were really good, veg dishes ok. 1/11 plates that we ordered was really good. Only reason the lamb chops were good was because the were cooked medium. First time I'd been to an Indian restaurant where they cooked a medium well meat dish. That last straw, as good as it was and cartilagious the lamb chop, it was the straw to break the gringo Indian food barrier, this is as gringo as it gets. Goal for EVERY Indian restaurant is to make juicy/tender meat in tandoor that is well done, I understand not an easy task but with this place, not at all happy.
(2)Jen K.
I really enjoyed seeing a little bit of the South End and visiting Mela, although there were three issues that arose during our meal that cause me to drop it down to three stars. Things started off well when we were seated at our reservation time and quickly offered a small taste of soup while we looked through the menu. Our party of three ordered the combination dinner with meat for $45 (pay $10 less for the vegetarian option). Although it says it is for two, we still couldn't finish the meal and had leftovers. Of all the dishes we ordered, those with lamb were the standouts. The meat samosas, chicken tiki masala, lamb vindaloo, mixed grill and naan were quite good. I thought the mulligatawny soup was a bit of a disappointment. Dessert was also quite large and I could barely make a dent in the kheer. On to the issues. My biggest piece of advice for future diners is to make sure you are seated in the main dining room and not the smaller area next to the kitchen. For the majority of the meal, our group thought a woman at a table next to us had her phone on and was receiving constant twitter updates because of this really annoying tweet, tweet noise. It became comical, because my friends were hoping I'd go over and confront the diner (fight! fight!), but that's not my style. But after all the agitation, it turned out it wasn't the diner. It was the hinge of the swinging door into the kitchen. It swings one way and you get a loud boing noise and it swings back the other way and tweet, tweet. The most distracting thing ever! For the other issues, we had a fly in one of the water glasses and while the restaurant has lovely décor and lighting, the bathroom is really a mess. It is like you are walking into an entirely different restaurant. All of these things can be fixed and we left management a note on the comment card, so hopefully they will address the issues. For the meager investment of an oil can and a fresh coat of paint, I'm sure future diners will thank you.
(3)Kirk D.
Food was delicious, i would have given 5 stars but the service was slow. The staff were friendly and it was a younger crowd. Definitely the place to have some wine, good food, and good conversation. We had a groupon for 85 dollars for four of us and it was hard to spend it all. Go for the smaller groupon if its 3 or 4 people or the big one if you have 6 or so at the table. Delicious food and great ambiance!
(4)Spencer H.
This was my first time here and although the food was pretty good, the service ruined it for me. My party of 3 had to wait nearly 40 minutes before getting our food and the waiter claimed it was because they had to fulfill the to-go orders first. At least try to accomodate.
(2)Annie G.
My dining partner and I opted to share the 2-person preset menu. For $45, we got a LOT of food. Each person got a cup of spiced soup, a large samosa, a big piece of naan, a platter of meats to share, one curry each with rice, choice of 2 desserts, and tea/coffee. I ate way more than I should have, and we still had a box of leftover curry. I wonder if they'd let you split their 2-person deal between 3 people? It certainly would have been a good way to split all that food... The preset meal comes two ways: vegetarian or meaty. We opted for meat, so our samosa was stuffed with lamb (and beef?), and our curries included lamb rogan josh and beef vindaloo. MMM the vindaloo was so good and citrus-y. It was my favorite part of the meal. The soup was a tad difficult to get down due to its high sodium content. It was pleasantly mealy and thick. I think ground up chickpeas may have been involved. :) The samosa was delicious; I love the green sauce that always goes with it. The meat platter was ok. Some of the chicken was really dry, but there was also lamb and some sort of ground up meat sausage thing. Naan was a good addition to my super salty soup, the dessert was delicious (we got kheer and ice cream [!!!]), and the warm chai at the end was a great way to wrap it all up. Of course, I was super stuffed and wanted to just keel over and food coma, but I thought we got a good amount of food for the price paid.
(4)Devin M.
Myself and two friends were nearby and checked Yelp and found this place. It was AMAZING! We arrived shortly after 6 and were almost immediately seated in an otherwise packed restaurant. I think it we had come a few minutes later we might've had a longer wait. The ambiance is nice. It has a unique interior that's very cozy, but not overly so. When we were seated we were given a friend cauliflower of sorts which was surprisingly delicious. The menu selection was the largest for any Indian restaurant I've been to. My party ordered some meat Samosas (not bad, but I wasn't impressed), Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala and some Kali Mirch ke Tikki as well as some garlic naan and chicken naan. I can honestly say that, aside from the samosas, every dish was the best I've ever had. The naan was the perfect texture. Portions were large enough to feel satiated and still have leftovers and the price was right on par with nearly every other Indian restaurant. It took a little while to receive our food (they brought out two of the dishes and then the last dishes + naan about 10 minutes later which was weird. It was busy though, so could've just been an aberration. Overall, I highly recommend. If I lived in the area, I'd go every week.
(5)Scott S.
We arrived at the restaurant and were told there was a half hour wait, though there were quickly several tables available and no one else waiting...finally, after I asked and the manager remembered that we were indeed waiting, he seated us at one of the empty tables. This lackadaisical service continued. The lighting fixture above our table was thick with dust and the bathroom needed cleaning. The food, while edible had no flavor and was disappointing. Having lived in South Asia, I can say that this is bland and overly Americanized. There are many better Indian restaurants with better food AND service. In other words: don't waste your time and money at Mela!
(2)Bos G.
Once upon a time if you wanted to eat Indian in Boston you had to go to the Back Bay, which is home to more curry houses than any other neighborhood. Fortunately a few years ago a successful local management company that owns several Indian restaurants in Boston opened Mela in the South End. Mela consistently cooks flavorful dishes at a reasonable price. Dinner including an appetizer, main dish and dessert (no drink or tip included) will cost $20.00 - $25.00 per person. However, if you are like me temptations like Samosas and Naan will lead you to order more than you can eat and result in bringing home extra food. Mela recently added a limited organic menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, which I have not tried but wanted to mention. I regularly order the Baingan Bhartha ($13) which is an eggplant main dish that makes my mouth water. If you do enjoy food spicy (no matter what you order) don't be afraid to say you want the food spicy or hot. All main dishes can be cooked mild, medium or hot... I consistently find the medium is not spicy enough for my liking and I think this is simply a practical business decision on Mela to keep their food more mild for the Boston residents. Mela is open for lunch as well as dinner and is relatively easy to get a table except during peak hours on weekends when a reservation are recommended.
(4)Andrea F.
Loved the lunch buffet so wanted to try the menu... Service is terrible and the food is not spicy enough even when you ask for Indian Hot!!!
(3)Amanda B.
I visited Mela last week for lunch with coworkers. They do a buffet-style lunch for $9.95. According to the website, the selection changes daily. The day I visited, I believe there was Chicken Tikka, some kind of Pakora, Palak Paneer, some kind of veggie dish with mushrooms and chick peas, beef meatballs and another dish I can't remember. An ok variety, but it would be nice to have more. I liked the pakora and the chicken tikka the best. We also had naan (because how could you not?) The restaurant is contemporary and nicely decorated, but the tables are super close to each other. There was one other party (of 2) in our area and our waiter sat the four of us directly next to them in the corner. So we had to squeeze in and out between the two tables and wait for the inside person to sit first. Plus, we all had coats and bags so it was tight. i think I saw about five different employees running around during our visit and the restaurant was not even half full. The overall experience was ok. I'd go back to experience different buffet dishes.
(3)Audrey C.
Nothing memorable for me. Reminded me of why I don't like buffets.. even if it's $12 for brunch buffet, it felt like a bunch bunch of lukewarm leftovers. The food is all kind of warm, or cold, not hot. The garlic nan, which I was so excited about, turned out to be cold, thin, and tasteless. I will take quality over quantity. I didn't even end up eating anywhere near $12 worth, because it just wasn't that great.
(3)