Dancing Elephant
166 Main St, Fairfield, ME, 04937
Dancing Elephant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Fairfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairfield for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairfield for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
166 Main St
Fairfield, ME, 04937 - Phone (207) 238-0453
- Website https://www.dancingelephantrestaurantme.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
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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Nancy N.
My family and I decided to try this place last Tuesday night. We have never had Indian food before and thought we'd try someplace new. It was quite a disappointment. The food was mediocre and a bit bland. I blame a bit of that on not knowing what to order and we did not really receive any help with recommendations. There are jars of almost dried up sauces with small spoons for each table to eat with pita bread that made me wonder how sanitary and fresh they were. Service was also very slow.
(3)John W.
Worst Indian food I've ever eaten.
(1)Dana G.
The food was excellent--flavorful and fresh. The service was notably unfriendly--not hostile or rude or problematic (other than taking a very long time to return with the final credit card slip to sign), but just markedly not-friendly. It was odd and off-putting--I don't need a conversational server--neutral is just fine--but the waiter just seemed annoyed by having to wait on us. There was only one other party in the restaurant when we arrived, so it wasn't a function of them being busy. I would try it again b/c the food was good and perhaps it was an off-night, but I did find the lack of any warmth a downer.
(3)Justin M.
Awesome food. Some I the best Indian food I've had around the world. Friendly, fast and a great location. Great service, eat here!!
(5)Carrissa L.
Finally got a chance to try out this new (and only) Indian restaurant in my very own little Westbrook. We went in for dinner on a Thursday night with the kids. When we first got there we were the only ones there, but soon about four other groups trickled in. The place looked great, and they had Bollywood dancing up on the tv, which my daughter enjoyed. After ordering, our food came out at a great pace, with everything super hot and fresh. Our first arrival was an order of Pakoras. They were hot, crispy and delicious, served with a tasty trio of chutneys. They were devoured in seconds. I also got a Mango Lassi, which was excellent. Our garlic Naan came next, and it was also hot and extremely fresh, crispy and soft in all the right places, covered in garlic and sprinkle of fresh parsley. Each of us got a different entree - Chicken Vindaloo, Chicken Chilly, Shrimp Saag and a Lamb curry dish with pickles (can't recall the name right now). We got a range of heat from mild to "bring it". Be forewarned, when you ask for heat, you WILL receive - even asking for medium gives you a good amount of heat. All of the entrees were presented very nicely in silver bowls with a large bowl of white rice for the table, which they happily refilled when needed. The portion size was great, and we all had leftovers. All of the dishes were great, but the real star was the Chicken Chilly. Nothing like an American chili, this featured some really complex flavors in a tomato base chock full of tender chicken, onions and peppers. We will definitely be back as soon as we can. I'm really excited to have such a great Indian place right down the road here in Westbrook.
(5)Jill S.
Fantastic food. The samosa were wonderful. The Garlic Nan was delish. The Shrimp Korma and Chicken Saag were perfect. I look forward to going back.
(5)Brigitta K.
Delicious Indian food. We stopped at the Dancing Elephant for lunch driving into Portland from Western ME and left the restaurant happy and well fed. Price was fair too. (20$ for two lunches and Naan) I'll be back.
(4)Savannah R.
Got a local group-on for this place...included an App, Naan Bread, and 2 entrees. Never been before, the usual place I go is the Jewel of India in Biddeford or Portland. Man, was I pleasantly surprised at how awesome this food was. I thought I loved Indian food when I first tried it at Jewel of India, but man, this really opened my eyes. The spices were amazing, and my favorite part of the meal deal was the Honey Naan Bread...pureed Raisins, Coconuts, Almonds, and Cashews spread in the middle of two pieces of Naan Bread with Honey drizzled on the top..DELECTABLE! The entrees were delicious, with my lamb tender and cooked properly. And the Owner was very sweet and pleasant to talk to. The atmosphere was very pretty inside and the music was very exotic. It was such a wonderful meal, I encourage you if you've never tried Indian Food, to go HERE. And if you have, you haven't properly been introduced until you go to Dancing Elephant.
(5)Sophia L.
I live right down the street and my boyfriend and I finally got a chance to try this out. Honestly, I don't know a lot about Indian food but I can tell you it tasted delish!! We were very impressed with the chicken tandoori (super hot on the skillet) and shrimp tandoori masala. The naan bread was very yummy also. The owners were so very friendly. We will definitely be going back frequently. I am not accustomed to writing reviews, but I really hope this little Indian place stays in Westbrook for a long time. There are not many restaurants here to be happy about...but this is def one of them!
(5)Noah G.
The Yelp description for a two star rating perfectly encapsulates my gustatory experience with the buffet at Dancing Elephant : "Meh. I've experienced better." With so many excellent places to eat (at any price point) in the greater Portland area, there is really no reason to eat bland, unappetizing food. Indian food is my favorite type of cuisine, so maybe I am holding the restaurant to a high standard. Quite apart from the food itself, I would mention that there is a TV, which was playing videos of Indian pop music. I don't know how others feel, but the only type of restaurant where I want to find a TV is a sports bar.
(2)Patricia P.
Our go to for indian was always Tandoor, but If you are looking for above average indi food this is your place. The spot was recommended to us by a friend and with the added bonus of finding a Groupon deal we had to go. The setting is sleek and modern with plenty of room between tables. Even though we were the only ones, service was a bit slow. I would like to think it was due to our server giving us ample time to check out the menu, but when he finally came over it was as if he was walking in slow motion. That aside, he was very pleasant and greeted us with a warm smile. He took the time to ask if it were our first visit and if it was our first experience with Indian food. My husband who is English (their number one takeout in the UK is Indian) laughed and said no. We started with chicken tikka and samosas. Both were very flavorful, although I thought the chicken slightly on the dry side. My dinner came with lentil shop which I found to be flavorless. Our mains were chicken vindaloo which my husband ordered extra hot, and I ordered lamb pasanda, mild. I was disappointed with the pasanda in that i expected mild to have at least a slight heat. My husband said the extra hot was more like a medium to hot. Despite the lack of heat both dishes tasted wonderful. Both had just the right amount of spices and the meat fork tender. If you like marsala tea, I highly recommend it as it was simmered to perfection. All in all we will go again and definitely recommend The Dancing Elephant to our friends. Westbrook's newest restaurant gem.
(4)Christi S.
They did away with the lunch buffet bc it was not a hit. Came in for lunch specials and used my deal chicken. Was good, wish they offered unlimited chai. Ordered: -Saag paneer & chicken tikka masala, chef's special appetizer. Everything was tasty. Would definitely go back for lunch bc it's cheaper than dinner.
(3)Liz J.
We got take out last night, and I really enjoyed it! I had the Takka Saag and my husband had the Chicken Vindaloo. He can tolerate a lot of spice, and when I called in the order I had said, "Make it super spicy!! Like, really hot!" because a lot of places don't spice it up that much...and the verdict was that it wasn't that spicy when we got home. I asked for mine medium, and it wasn't that spicy either. That was the only disappointment. We will definitely go back, the interior was really inviting, so hopefully next time we eat inside!
(4)Carmen M.
Delicious indian food! We received prompt service and had fresh, hot food at a reasonable price!
(5)Michael D.
This is the Westbrook source for spicy Indian food! I was very impressed with this place. The interior was nicely done and the quality of the food was fabulous. It had been while since I had Indian food and should have gone with mild v. medium because it was definitely spicy. I had a lamb curry dish and the quality of the lamb was among the best that I had. I would have liked to see some beers on tap but other than that it was great. I would suggest that if you want Indian food in this area this would be the place to come. It is also conveniently located on main street of Westbrook.
(3)Edmund D.
Thrilled to have this place in Westbrook. Have gone 5 times already in the last 6 weeks. Ordered the lunch buffet 3 times. My advice on that is to look at if it looks a little tired, order from the lunch menu, especially the delicious Keema Mutter with lamb, the best thing I have had on the menu so far. Excellent naan bread, really good list of bottled extreme beer (all 6 are great choices). And the chicken tandoori my wife had on Saturday is the best I can remember having. Best Indian food I have had in Southern Maine so far with the possible exception of the Indian place in Biddeford (which I have only been to once).
(5)Adam B.
Food is excellent. Charming family that runs the restaurant. Timing of courses is not always perfect.
(4)Sarah K.
Delicious, and great service! I'm so glad to have this treasure in Westbrook!
(5)Jenn F.
I have been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed. The food is delicious and have a great balance the flavors. The atmosphere reminds me of more of a sports bar but it is very clean in modern. The food is well worth the trip.
(4)Janet S.
1st time at Dancing elephant. We ordered 2 vegetarian dishes, veggie karma and sang paneer. Both were very good, fresh ingredients and yummy homemade cheese. Garlic naan was also good, light and crispy. The condiments could have had a better heat kick but overall we would recommend this restaurant
(4)Steff D.
It's always nice to get outside of the Portland scene, even if that's just a few minutes away. Seriously craving good Indian food, my friend and I decided to check out the Dancing Elephant in Westbrook, because we had both heard great things about it (both on and offline). Service (4/5): The service was - at the same time - both amazing and annoying. My friend and I had been talking for quite a while because we hadn't seen each other in a spell. Who I can only image is the (moderately disheveled looking) owner came over multiple times to see if we were ready to order. On the third time he patiently asked if we were new to Indian food - he seemed genuinely interested in helping us if we were. I really liked this thoughtfulness he first displayed! We weren't, and eventually placed our order. The only other employee working that night - a young man (the chef) - came over to our table, because my friend has an extremely high-maintenance diet and in the end couldn't order anything off the menu. "Can you make me something gluten-free, carb-free, vegetarian, and without onions? I'm deathly allergic to them," was the crux of what she told him. He looked completely taken aback (FYI: apparently, almost every dish at Dancing Elephant has onions in it in some way, shape or form), but smiled warmly and accepted the challenge (making her a unique curry of some kind). When our food was ready, he personally brought it to her and had her sample it before going back to the kitchen because he wanted to make sure she liked it and would eat it. Pretty awesome, right? On the other hand, what wasn't so awesome was the owner refused to fill up our water glasses (which are REALLY SMALL here). And the one time he did, he angrily slammed them back down onto the table. Didn't really like that part... maybe next time I come here, I'll bring my Nalgene with me. Also both the owner and the chef kept disappearing. There were several times (and we're talking 15 to 25 minute stretches) when my friend and I were literally the only people in the front of the house.... kind of weird, to be honest. Food (5/5): Honestly? This is some of the best Indian food I've had in Maine. - Pappadam (spiced baked lentil wafers) for $3.50 - this came in a basket with four large pappadams. They were the perfect appetizer - crispy and flavorful (especially when slathered with one of the three condiments that made their way to our tables). They don't look like a lot, but if you break them off and eat them in pieces... it really makes for an ideal app. It "wets the whistle" and leaves you wanteing more, without overstuffing you! - Saag Paneer (lightly seasons spinach in a blend og cream sauce, homemade cottage cheese, and spices) for $11.95. Like latte's at coffee shops, saag paneer is my go-to dish and how I judge every Indian restaurant. Dancing Elephant's is divine! The spinach wasn't overly spinachy (you know how it sometimes gets a weird smell when it a) hasn't been cooked right, or b) old), but prepared in a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth kind of way. The cheese cubes were enormous and "meaty" in texture and firmness, while still delicate in flavor. Scooped onto giant mounds of rice, I couldn't have asked for a more satiating, satisfying meal! My only regret? Not getting any mango chutney. But I'll be back.... oh yes, I'll be back (with a water bottle, that is).
(4)Lynn V.
It's so great that when I'm craving Indian; I don't have to go all the way to Portland. The food here is amazing and well worth any wait time. All food is fresh and made to order. Sometimes we had to wait a long while but all in all the food made it worth it. I have had the following great tasting foods; Chicken Tikka Masala Lamb Vindaloo Many forms of Naan Chicken Tikka Samosa
(4)Karen R.
I had never had Indian food prior to my visit to the Dancing Elephant. I was a bit nervous by checking the menu out online of what I should order, and what would be recommended. Luckily I went with friends who deem themselves regulars to this restaurant. We started with an assortment of naan breads and toppings. These were fantastic. Next my friends pointed me in the right direction of what a "beginner" should order as an entree and selected the chicken tikka masala. I was very pleased they chose this selection for me. It was very good! I like how each diner gets their own "crock" and everyone shares the rice. This allows you to choose how little or much you want at one time. You can also choose the spiciness - I chose mild and that was plenty spicy for my liking. I was very impressed by the renovation the owners did to to the place, giving it a modern, comfortable look and feel. I also have heard great reviews about the lunch buffet they have - this would be a great time to try out more of their sauces to get a better idea of what I like and do not care for as much. Over all I was very impressed and and glad to have such a cool place to eat in Westbrook!
(4)Karen W.
Really good lunch with great service. My only complaint is that the prices were inaccurate on the menu. This wasn't explained until my lunch companion asked about the discrepancy, and we were told the menus are out-of-date. The difference of a few dollars wasn't a big deal, but it did feel a bit deceptive to not have accurate information when we ordered.
(4)Jenny M.
We love Indian food and were excited to try this place. It's a nice space and has good ambiance. However, we were disappointed that the pakora we ordered was not delivered -- maybe the server didn't hear us over the music. My husband thought his lamb dish was fine, but my saag had no flavor or spice whatsoever. It was like they gave me a dish of steamed spinach. Maybe that was a fluke, but I'm not sure we'll be heading back out to Westbrook to find out. Next time I'll stick to India Palace.
(2)Jill I.
Love this place my taste buds were dancing, amazing food, excellent music, great service, warm friendly atmosphere. This place has it all. The owner and his wife were so nice they suggested items from the menu sizzling salmon in a skillet with vegetables so good! Good value and they have music EVERY night of the week parking nearby. Grab your friend and go!
(5)Chris M.
First, let me start by saying we were fans until they completely dropped the ball (service wise) on more than one occasion. The food is good - not the best, but good. The staff is nice, which is why it's hard to believe they would provide such horrible service. Our first experience, we show up, the place is empty, I mean there were 3 people in the entire place, myself, my girl, and the waitress. We sat there for like 10 minutes thinking she'd come over and offer tea, water, whatever. No! We waived her over and asked to be served, yada, yada, yada. The next time a younger server took our order - seemed nice enough, but again, super slow service, especially since we were 1 of 4 couples in the place! Some might ask, why would you continue to go back? Westbrook isn't exactly a hotspot for local Indian food. We have one decent restaurant in the area and it's Thai food. However, I digress. Last Friday we called in our usual order. We show up and wait 30 minutes! We finally ask, what's the status with our order? The lady says it was never put in. So we left. I called and spoke with the same lady. Asked to speak with the manager - she took my number and told me he'd call back. 4 days later, no call. So, as much as it pains me to write a bad review about a local establishment, I have no choice, but to do so in this case. We've given them multiple shots to redeem themselves and they still have yet to make it right. Therefore, we will now drive 10 miles out of the way to get out Indian food fix. What a shame!
(1)Brian M.
Excellent meal here the other night. The Samosas were some of the best I've ever tasted. Main course was Chicken Makhrana (sp?) which was very good. Good quality chicken used. Pleasant, efficient service too, and a reasonable pricetag. I've gotten take-out from here before, but this was the first time I've eaten in - will definitely return - best eat-in Indian I've had in the Portland area - 4 1/2 stars
(4)Leah D.
I've been to The Dancing Elephant twice and I love the food, but the service is meh. I usually don't care all the much about the service, but the last time I was there there was some major confusion about seating and we were waited on a little boy that looked to be about 8, which made me very uncomfortable.
(4)Andrew P.
Not my first review of this restaurant, and certainly not my first visit here. I've given this a pretty positive review in the past, and I continue to enjoy coming here. One of the reasons is that they do a pretty darn good job with the food. The other is the entertainment value of what the well intentioned but otherwise borderline inept wait service might forget next. Several times in the past, they've forgotten to bring our appetizers, jumping straight to the entree then sheepishly apologizing when the snafu is pointed out to them. This time, our strategy was to order the appetizer first, and not until it comes do we order the entrees and the Nan. Of course, when half way through our entrees my wife suddenly remembered that they forgot our Nan, I just cracked up. They couldn't be nicer or more humble about their service, but it's not their strong suit. The food is. We'll keep coming back. A little laughter is good for the soul.
(3)Sam B.
I went in to the lunch buffet at the newly opened Dancing Elephant this afternoon, jaw set with determination to not over-eat, to only make one respectably-sized plate of food, to not go back for seconds, to not eat any kheer. Sadly, I failed in my mission because not only did I definitely eat kheer but I ate everything else that was offered (including mango pickles) in such wanton excess that, four hours later, my stomach is still fighting against my waist band. This place is great, the staff is friendly and attentive, and there is enough room to seat the entire city of Westbrook.
(4)Shanna W.
I always get the same entree here, the Malai Kofta. It is not traditionally a spicy dish, but they appease my lust for additional heat most of the time. It alternates from exactly what I want/expect/request, with just the right amount of oomph, that complements the flavor, to being what I consider a perfectly edible dish, but blasé, although as a spice lover that is a personal assessment. My less spicy oriented companions say it's just right in those cases. I also typically go for garlic nan and masala tea which are both delish. The last visit was the off night, while this evening was JUST right! The staff have always been courteous and efficient and the owner, when on premises, makes a point to check in on the patrons, which I appreciate! Four instead of five, only because of the slight inconsistencies in food prep from the times that I've come here, which is really going to be dependent on the person in the kitchen and what they consider spicy or not,
(4)Stephanie B.
The food was good but the place was dead- we went Saturday for lunch. I bet it would be fun with a bunch more people.
(3)Jay N.
The food is okay for this open spaced restaurant in downtown, sleepy little Westbrook, but it runs on the better side. It runs a bit pricey than one might expect but not really gougingly so. The service leaves a lot to be desired, particularly if the owner is waiting on you. :(
(3)Brett F.
I work next door to this restaurant so I've seen the progression from opening day to now. It's come a long ways and currently I'd give my highest recommendation. The atmosphere is much nicer than you'd imagine for an Indian restaurant in Westbrook. It' has a classy, large interior that almost has a lounge vibe. There's a beautiful bar area with a tv and very cheap drink specials. The selection of beer is perfect and the mixed drinks are strong. The food, as a whole, is excellent. A group of us go weekly for the $9 lunch buffet, which usually consists of Chicken Tikka Marsala, a second rotating entree dish, several sides, a soup, and Naan. It's some of the best Indian food I've ever had. The owner is extremely nice and is very eager to please. He even handled a work function of 30 of us with ease (and won about 25 new customers from it). The service as a whole is the biggest improvement from when this place opened. It's one of the stronger aspects of the restaurant now. The atmosphere, food and service are great at this restaurant so please give it a try, I really want it to succeed!
(5)Jessica W.
We just checked this place out last night after driving by it many times, and it was fantastic! Definitely will be back many times! My fiancé is from Scotland, right outside of Glasgow, which is known as the curry capital of Britain, so he knows his Indian food! He loved it and said it rated right up there with the best ones he's had. Everything was obviously fresh, server was very knowledgeable and helpful and explained things on the menu to me since I'm a curry novice. The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated with modern decor and lots of nice woodwork, and looks very classy. There is also what looked like a full bar with a flat screen tv, looks like a nice place for a quiet drink. Good portions, good selection of beer & wine for a low price, and food was very good. For previous reviewers saying the food was bland, I think I may know where that was coming from - the server told us that they prepare every dish with only mild spicing and ask you if you want it mild, medium or hot when you order. So perhaps if you don't mention that you like it more spicy then you would have gotten the mild version..Just a thought! I got mine mild and it was very tasty, the chicken was very tender and overall delicious. The only constructive criticism I have for the restaurant is some background music would be nice, maybe lower the lights a bit, and perhaps a little more generous with the naan bread. Other than that it was great!
(5)Bud P.
Heard a lot about this place and was excited to try. Our waiter was one of the owners and he was very nice and helpful with our ordering. Unfortunately the food was not particularly good. It was kind of bland and the quality of the meat in the chicked Korma was not good. Very stringy and tendon chewy. GROSS. I will rely on Hi Bombay for my Indian thanks
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