We've been enjoying the feast at India House for the past 12 years and make it a point to have lunch there every time we are in town. The service is fantastic and you're greeted when you walk in and seated quickly. Your drink order is taken when you're seated and delivered in no time. The buffet is kept stocked and is fresh. The naan is made during the day and is never stale. India House is one of the top Indian restaurants we have found in our travels, you'll be treating yourself!
(5)
Jesse A.
Really wanted to give this place 4 stars but couldnt. Perhaps I have been spoiled by the Indian food in California. Came here on vacation, excited to eat, and spent 130.00 for dinner. Paneer Mahkni was tasty. So was chicken tika masala. Lamb korma not so much. Naans were good. The rice is not supposed to be a focal point but was uninspiring. Mango chutney was a super tasty addition. Minus 1 star for poor chai that no amount of sugar could fix and poorly done lamb that ended up the only unbeaten dish. Minus 1 star for the all too common combination of small portions at large portion prices. Overall great service and super nice waiters and staff. High quality ingredients. Good ambiance. Just need to fix a few elements to take it from just another 3 star indian restaurant to a gem in Santa Fe.
(3)
Lynn D.
Decent food and prices, but not as spicy as to what I'm accustomed. Stopped in here to get something to eat on July 18. I have to admit that my review may be tainted by the fact that there was no air conditioning in this place. That said, the food was decent enough: good prices, good-size servings, however it was very mildly flavored. The help was incredibly friendly, and kept my water glass full, but seemed confused when I asked for ice water or for some ice for my water. So, here I was sitting in a restaurant in July, with no air conditioning, and tepid water. Perhaps it's for the best that there was not a lot of heat or spice in the food. I'm honestly not certain if this is just a Santa Fe thing, the lack of spiciness, because I'm from Albuquerque and I'm used to a lot of heat in my food.
(3)
Jim H.
Picking up my Togo. Why don't I just move in here? Consistently great. I eat here at least twice a month and never a bad meal at anything less than excellent service.
(5)
Julie D.
India palace n the plaza is sooo much better than India house on cerrillos. Went there last time today. I go there just for the sag paneer and naan. Last time I went they didn't even have farmer cheese in the paneer, it was potatoes. Nope, that's spot sag paneer. Even the eggplant fish was full of potatoes, I want eggplant. Lost a customer for being cheap Charlie. And it smelled like I was sitting next to a baby diaper.
(2)
Greg V.
This place is not very good. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants around the world and this would be in the lower 25% for sure. My chicken vindaloo was hardly warm and not even spicy, though I asked for it to be hot. They do not make the food to order in terms of spiciness, so they give you some hot pepper sauce on the side. This means all the curries are probably prepared ahead of time and reheated, which explains why mine was nearly cold. The waiters were pretty nice, but this doesn't compensate for the poor food. The place is also in a crummy strip mall area of Santa Fe.
(2)
Michaela A.
This place deserves more than five stars! We needed somewhere that was open late after attending a concert at the Lensic Theatre. We called The India House approx 9.30pm on a Tuesday night and then welcomed us to come and dine before 10pm. All the staff were very welcoming and professional, they made our entire dining experience very enjoyable. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala - yum! and we ordered the Chicken Tandoori - wow! The Chicken Tikka Masala was very tasty and creamy - one of the best we've ever had. And the Chicken Tandoori was OUT OF THIS WORLD - so moist and tender and delicious, sat on a bed of onions on a hot skillet. It is THE BEST Chicken Tandoori we've ever had, and don't think it could be beaten. Just wish we lived closed so we could visit and enjoy very much more often. We were recommended to go to the India House by a local - so thank you to that person and if you are wondering whether to visit - you will be glad you did!
(5)
Michel I.
Had the (sizzling) lamb kabob special, with rice, naan, sag paneer, rice pudding dessert, and chai. All for $23, with tax. Hungry as I was, I walked out with enough food for breakfast as I continue my road trip. Great food , friendly service, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Unfathomably low price. What a gem.
I travel a lot and have eaten a lot of Indian food and this is up there at the top!! Beautiful place,fabulous food,and very friendly, efficient staff!!! The dinner was elegant and extremely tasty but the lunch buffet was perfection! The chef is internationally known and I don't think you can get better. Don't miss it!
(5)
Aaron G.
Amazing food, outstanding service. Don't let the aged exterior fool you. This is Indian food at its finest. I had the Korma lamb. The lamb was cooked to perfection. Moist, tasty. The Korma curry was sweet and excellent. A great variety of dishes to choose from. Great atmosphere. The staff were friendly, prompt and ready to answer any question.
(5)
Laura L.
I, like the rest of Santa Fe, came for the lunch buffet. Arrived around 1pm on a weekday and it was filled to the brim. Don't you guys have to go to work?? The food was decent.. I tried the majority of the offerings (only 10-12 available) and everything was mild, which I was kind of bummed about. No spicy foods? Anyway, nothing was really *spectacular* but for the price ($11.83), I'd go back. The buffet had a little something for everyone, whether you just wanna go veggie or with meat. My favorite off the buffet was actually the chicken curry. I feel like that is such an Intro to Indian Food 101 type of food but everything else just tasted okay in comparison. Everyone also seemed to go crazy over the mango pudding but it was a little too sweet for me. Also the addition of canned cocktail fruit kind of put me off. But anyway.. Service was really friendly and attentive. They were balancing like 10 plates at a time on their arms so that was some entertainment for me as I tried not to look like too much of a loser eating by myself.
(3)
Maritza K.
The lunch buffet is awesome, a lot of Sta Fean's are always there, lot's of choices and they are ALL yummy. These are not the items that would not sell during dinner and they just throw for brunch. These are the same items that you would have at dinner (although for dinner they are huge portions and plenty options) We love the place and the people that run it are awesome. I can't wait to go back next week :))
(5)
Vee S.
Great food good service spice level mild even with spicy option. Recommend paneed makhani with garlic naan
(5)
Roberto F.
This is by far the best Indian restaurant in the State of NM. I live in ABQ and can't wait to come to Sfe to eat here. I'm not a buffet person, but the one in this restaurant is way above average, or you can always order a la carte. The service is great, a very clean place. Keep up the good job!!!
(5)
Willy E.
Vegetarians will appreciate this place and give good reviews too for the choice and quality. Excellent and friendly service and a relaxed setting too.
(5)
S T.
Was cold outside and glad that we found this place for dinner. Great service, food was delicious. We order Garlic Naan, Chicken Soup, Chicken curry and Lamb Sagwala. All are delicious.
(5)
Aimee M.
The buffet is delicious and the service is always great.
(5)
Jennifer O.
Like most people, I usually go here mainly for the lunch buffet. The lunch buffet is definitely a good value, and there's a good selection of dishes, but it's nothing special, and I've been to several better Indian food buffets before (although not in New Mexico). This goes on the books as one of those restaurants that's good for New Mexico, but not good without qualifiers. As for ordering off the menu, or for dinner, I find India House overpriced. most of the entrees run $12-16, which might be okay, except that you have to order your rice and naan separately :/ . One upside to this place was that, if you order chai, they will refill it as many times as you ask. The last time that I went to India House, the wait staff was attentive to the point of being a nuisance/distracting. The second it looked like I might be done, someone would come by to ask if he could take the dishes away, and I've never before been asked if I wanted more water so many times that I actually had to refuse. Of course, there are worse problems to have :p
(3)
Amy C.
Consistently delicious Indian food with friendly service. While I claim to be no expert on Indian cuisine, I have had the pleasure of living in London, England where the Indian food is known to be outstanding. India House in Santa Fe definitely measures up to those restaurants I used to frequent in London. They have a great selection of naan bread, for example, including my favorite, sweet Kashmiri naan. I've noticed sweet naan can be difficult to find, even in larger cities I lived in such as Atlanta and San Francisco. The serving portions are generous, even if you order take-out. If you love Indian food you will love Santa Fe's India House.
(5)
Hamza M.
I was staying at the hotel next door so thought id try them. They are a little expensive relative to the indian/paki food you get in DFW or Washington DC. But they food was equally good. I had bhindi masala and chanay. With naan. The owner was friendly and very cool and i over all liked 5he experience.
(4)
David J.
We enjoy their food frequently,both takeout and dining in. Excellent authentic Indian food, cannot recall a dish we have not enjoyed. Frequently get kormas, saag paneer, and tikka masala. As other reviewers have commented, staff goes out of their way to make you feel like family and are particularly nice to children.
(5)
Greg S.
I would have never tried Indian food until I met the owner. Went to try it once and got hooked. The staff is very attentive and polite. Service is better or as good as any high scale expensive restaurant I have ever seen. Food is excellent! The lunch buffet is the best in Santa Fe. I cant say enough good things about this place. It is now a regular hangout.
(5)
Megan T.
I've only been for the buffet so far and I recommend it. They have the most attentive and courteous waitstaff I've ever encountered. The food is solid but my only gripe would be that they are a bit heavy on the potato dishes. I would love to see saag paneer on the table.
(4)
Lydia G.
I love this place! Everyone there is amazing and super nice! They make you feel like you're family! The food is amazing! The chicken tiki masala is simply to die for. My mother and I have been going there for like 4 months now and we go every Monday. And we will continue to keep going back :)
(5)
Celia N.
Best Indian food in town! Love this place! The lunch buffet is a great deal and I go at least once or twice a month. Consistently amazing food and always fantastic service!
(5)
Krispie P.
Always a great choice for the basic Indian buffet. Excellent service and cozy atmosphere.
(4)
Matt B.
The buffet on the weekend is great value! The restaurant is very busy so the food is constantly being replaced. The staff is very friendly as well.
(4)
Leza M.
DELICIOUS Lunch buffet with friendly wait staff.
(5)
Christiana C.
Love this place. Come regularly for the lunch buffet. It's delicious and the restaurant is beautiful and clean. People complain about the prices but "HELLO!, it's Santa Fe"! Never had a problem here.
(4)
Jenna E.
I need to start with a caveat that I DO NOT like Indian food. I've never liked it. I got talked into (more like guilted) into try this for lunch one day and the most amazing thing happened... I actually ENJOYED it! In fact, I wouldn't be opposed to going back. My long standing dislike for certain types of foods (one of them being Indian) makes this a raving endorsement. Trust me. I went for the buffet so, worst case, I could eat naan bread if I lost my bravery halfway through. This place was DELICIOUS. I could (can) only pronounce about 3 things from the buffet (ya know, besides "chicken, bread, and beef") but everything was so darn good. The selection was semi-limited but still plenty but every single thing I tried was tasty and fresh. The atmosphere was cozy but comfortable and well decorated (it looks so much better inside than the yellow sign on the outside would suggest). The service was good and the price was definitely reasonable for the selection and quality. I will be back and that's no small gesture from me for Indian food.
(4)
Thomas K.
This place just keeps getting better and better. Excellent food; you'll have to ask them specifically to get anything spicy, but the flavors are excellent and subtle. Great service; very gracious staff, and reasonably priced. Personally, I'm not crazy about buffets so order off the menu for dinner.
(5)
Joseph R.
An amazing lunch buffet with two of Santa Fe's most attentive and attractive waiters. While the buffet rarely changes--and this may bore some frequent lunchers--the food is always fantastic. They have the best goat curry in the southwest.
(5)
Ryno C.
You do not step into India here, but step into the kitchen of a very friendly Indian family. Photos and newspaper clippings adorn the walls--it's one of those places where if you do not feel totally intrusive, then chances are you are being totally intrusive. Like any other cheap-ass Santa Fean, I've only been here for the buffet. A rickety cafeteria-style contraption cradles the steaming vats of delicacies whose otherworldly names escape me. Like cattle, we line up and scoop the spicy, gingery, hot stuff down our throats, plates and forks acting only as porcelain runways and silver airplanes. The dining room is dark, even at midday. Packed table-to-table, the dim lighting disguises our shame, and our stomachs, clawing to escape the burn. Watch out! For if you complain, you'll attract the daggered stares of Santa Fe's old-timey liberal elite, being serviced piously by the waitstaff in anticipation that they'll hear those magical words: "Oh this makhani reminds me so much of this fabulous place in Brooklyn!"
(3)
Phil E.
Buffets usually fall well short of the a la carte experience - not at House of India. While in Santa Fe, we had 2 lunches here; the first being ordered from their a la carte menu, and the second being from their $9.95 buffet. Both were magnificent taste experiences from every perspective, and the responsive, genuinely friendly service was second to none. If you were paying 5 star, silver service prices, you would feel you had got incredibly lucky in finding this restaurant, but at the prices you'll pay here, you'll swear you'd died and gone to heaven. Once you move past the slightly tired exterior, you'll be met at the door with the most welcoming of greetings and then encounter a taste experience you won't forget.
(5)
Cynthia L.
Hands down the best Indian food I've ever had... Anywhere. We always hit the buffet which ends at 2:30pm. My 17 month old eats everything here and she is a picky eater.
(5)
Chaya c.
We've been eating here for years. The waiters are always tops in our book and the food is delicious--though to be entirely honest, we keep ordering the same exact items because we love them so much (chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo, with rice and garlic naan on the side). I'm also a fan of their chai. We always go for dinner. In other words, I can't talk about the buffet or how authentically spicy the food is. Besides, I don't much care: I eat spicy all the time. (How hard is it to find chile in Santa Fe?) What I WANT is the delicious taste of these dishes! I knocked one star off this review only because the benches in their booths are getting very uncomfortable. The owner should really try sitting on these benches himself. They are crying to be replaced!
(4)
Roy Z.
I don't know if is authentic Indian or not, but the food was great and the service was great.
(5)
Jon J.
I enjoyed this place a lot. The food was so good and the service was great. The atmosphere inside is great to
I've loved India House for years as I've always had a taste for world foods. After living in Los Angeles for 11 years, I worried that my taste in Indian food may have changed as the market out there is highly competitive and some of the best Indian restaurants in the country are there. After coming back, I can say with confidence that India House is as good as it's ever been. The food is excellent. I'm a fan of the chicken makhani (ordered spicy - woo!) and their samosas, but I can't say a fan of Indian food could be disappointed with any of their dishes. My wife and I have become semi-regulars, and the staff is always very friendly and even remembers our favorites! I really can't say enough about how excellent this place is. For a restaurant that lacks much competition in this town, they definitely act like they've got something to prove, and they prove it well.
(5)
Lynn S.
This place is a gem! The food is exquisite and the staff is very attentive and professional.
(4)
Minerva P.
I've been a fan of India House for many years. India House was always on our itinerary when we visited Santa Fe. I now live in Santa Fe and just discovered that IH has a lunch buffet! Shows you how often I get out now-a-days! Took my boyfriend there because he had never had Indian food. We arrived just 30 minutes before the end of the lunch buffet and I was worried that it might be old and dry. Nothing could be further from the truth. All the dishes were filled and steaming hot. The food was wonderful, perfectly spiced and wonderfully aromatic. What a deal at $10!
(4)
J H.
Buffet was good for a buffet. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. The naan was delicious. Everything had just the right amount of spice. Tandoori chicken, although was only dark meat, was flavorful and moist. Lots of people in there, seemed to be well managed. Trays never went empty. Fresh fruit also looked appealing but didn't have any room for fruit!!! Loss of 1 star because the water tasted like tap. Pet peeve of mine, filter the water for your customers. We can taste the difference.
(4)
Kate S.
Went here based on Yelp reviews and was disappointed. The food was bland and curry was watered down. It didn't even look appetizing. The service was good, however, and it wasn't overpriced.
(2)
Russ L.
Over the decade i've been eating here, the food has always been good. Santa folks are spoiled, as they have world class restaurant in a sleepy little town. I love Indian food, and the very few places that can approach this quality have been in major cities like San Francisco or New York. Even some major cities (Denver, cough cough) don't have an Indian restaurant like this, and it's basically ruined mediocre Indian restaurants for me. This is without a doubt, my favorite restaurant in the mountain west. The veggie pakora, naan, chicken tikka masala, and aloo saag are all amazing. Service is always friendly and extremely prompt, chai is delicious and perfectly spiced, and the value for a lunch buffet can't be beat. Dinner is a little more expensive, but it's worth it. Vegetarians won't be disappointed, either. If you think you might like Indian food, go see what it can taste like. Go hungry. I can't recommend it enough.
(5)
Nicole M.
The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1 is because the ambience is nice and quiet and the people seem nice. I'm probably spoiled when it comes to Indian food because I grew up near San Francisco, but this WAS NOT good food. There was a meat dish that came with meatballs...it did not look, smell, or taste like meat at all. The only thing I really liked from the lunch buffet was the naan and the fresh fruit. I also got VERY sick that night (which I have a sensitive stomach anyways), but if I got sick I at least wanted to enjoy my meal. I really wanted to like this place and I wish I didn't have to give it a bad review, but this food just isn't good.
(2)
Chrissy K.
Love it love it love it! In all honesty, I never liked indian food. Then my hubby forced me to eat there. I LOVED it. The buffet is great, the dinner is better and so worth the price. Hubby and I crave this place all the time. So delicious, we wouldn't eat indian anywhere else! Love the sag paneer, the garlic naan and chicken tikka masala and the chicken vindaloo. The staff are always very sweet to my son, he's spoiled there!
(5)
V J.
* Parts of the Bollywood film 'Kites' starring Hrithik Roshan & Barbara Mori, were shot in and around Albuquerque & Santa Fe... and India House served as the lunch catering partner. The moment you enter the restaurant, you see pictures of the owner with actor Hrithik Roshan, film producer Rakesh Roshan & director Anurag Basu etc... Boy, bollywood is going places!! * We a group of 4 started with paneer pakoras, tandoori chicken wings, cheese fingers for apps. Next we shared bhindi masala, paneer makhani & dal makhani with indian breads like kashmiri naan, aloo paratha, garlic naan etc... Finally ended our stuffed dinners with desserts - gulab jamun, kheer, mango lassi etc...
(4)
Melody A.
My favorite Indian in town! They have the best Chicken Tikka Masala and Vegetable Samosas. The service is always attentive and friendly. You feel like family when you eat here.
(4)
Chrysanthemum A.
India House is a quirky place in the desert of Santa Fe. In the land of chile&pinon, the last thing one expects are samosas and tandoori. India House sticks to traditional food-naan, curries. Neela's in Napa has nouveau Indian cuisine;India House is faithful to standbys. The service is excellent, the food delicious! In the Land of Enchantment, it's a Passage to India.
(5)
Pradeep N.
All I can say is food is not good. I'm an Indian and I know my food and I'll be brutally honest in my review and food is completely bland. Please remember, It doesn't mean that if the food is brought right from the oven with hush hush's that is cooked in a right way. No one in the world cooks a tandoori chicken tikka like this without any marination and tasteless.Indians are known for using the spices very well and next only to Mexicans. No one in the world cooks a tandoori chicken tikka like this without any taste. We ordered a chicken tikka, chicken chilli and channa masala and none of the dishes are tasty and everything is insipid. If you really want to eat good Indian food don't try this one.i've spent worst 45 bucks of my life!
(1)
Leahi M.
For a buffet place, these guys are great. The food is always fresh and the service is awesome. The prices are a bit high for not being closer to the downtown area, but it's worth it. The chai is soooooo yummy!
(4)
leoluca e.
Just got back from India house after reading the great reviews it got on Yelp. It felt like an alternative universe. First, the bathrooms were disgusting and filthy. We watched as one of the servers dropped a spoon on the floor and re-wrap it in the napkin for another customer (this happened right in the middle of the dining room!) A 4 top came in after us and wanted to sit at the 6 seater table, which the server made a scene out of. Service was incredibly bad. We ordered the vegetarian dinner and the fried okra. Everything was so oily, even the rice was coated in oil. The worse was the okra, which was old and re-fried. The okra's soaked up all the oil like a sponge and were slightly black and burnt tasting. It was so hard to eat, we ended up having to send it back. When we complained our server told us they'd sold a bunch of fried okra and the other customers liked it. When we asked if he would eat it, he just kept repeating 'that's how people like it'. After the okra mishap, they just dropped off the check without giving us the dessert portion of our meal. The whole experience was strange. The servers walked around with such an attitude. There was no love in the food. For the quality this restaurant is over priced. I just don't get it? The whole night left a bad taste in my mouth, literally.
(1)
Shannon B.
Very good food! Veggie Samosas were excellent! We visited for dinner on a cold Tuesday night and the place was pretty busy!
(5)
Vikas A.
On a road trip from west to east (CA-NY), having curry in every place possible - felt like I was back in India, awesome ambience, genuinely nice people, excellent food!!
(5)
Hadrian B.
Solo run here, not sure what all the fuss is about. Maybe you could say 4 stars for Indian food in NM. First course of dal soup was missing salt - that worried me. Adding salt didn't really improve it, so I didn't eat it. Waiter never bothered to inquire why, but I won't hassle someone over a $2.00 soup - except secretly, privately on yelp. Mostly because I don't want any intentional harrassment to the rest of my orders. OK so I also had Aloo mater which was pretty good, but felt like it had a whole bag of peas in it, with maybe five or six pieces of potato. The sauce was pretty good though. The naan was really good. Don't get the dessert. My 0.02 from visiting indian joints all around the west / south west.
(3)
Chris U.
We went for the buffet, so there isn't too much to say. We are vegetarians, so can only comment on half the dishes. They were all done well, but not amazingly creative. A well done assortment of dishes.
(4)
kara j.
If you're looking for scorching curries, the lunch buffet is not where you'll find it. I like mild, so every selection was a treat! My mistake was to order the chai though. Too many spices were added ~ something I'm not used to mixed in with my tea. The server was a bit odd in that he took the napkin out of my water goblet, and threw it on the table (fortunately, not the goblet ~ the napkin). The meal was under $10. For a tasty experience, this one can't be beat! *append* February 27 (Thursday) I was hankering for their Tikka Marsala and joined the lunch crowd at around 1ish. The place was packed, but I was seated within minutes. Food was good as usual, but I discovered that going at the height of India House's daily influx, service was slow and trays at the buffet table emptied quickly. It took bit of time for the kitchen staff to replenish favorite dishes.
(4)
Lani S.
Nice buffet. Great service.
(5)
Leigh G.
I treated myself to dinner here on my birthday. I ordered a vindaloo dish, rice, and naan and it was all fabulous, and I ate just about everything that wasn't tied down. The waitstaff was very attentive with serving and checking on my water, and were generally super friendly and nice. My hotel gave me a coupon, and they were very nice despite my bargain shopping ways - always a plus - and even served a free mango pudding at the end of the meal. The following day I returned for lunch on my drive back from Ghost Ranch and en route to ABQ, and although my logic may have been somewhat misplaced, I ordered off the menu because I felt like I was in too much of a hurry to deal with the buffet. What can I say? I'd already driven 100 miles that day and my brain was fried. Anyhow, on day two I had the chicken tikka masala, rice, and naan. (Tell me, why did I think a buffet wouldn't have had this?) The meal was excellent, and once again I gorged myself on its goodness. I never eat at the same restaurant twice when I'm traveling, and this was one of two fabulous Santa Fe restaurants that were so good I couldn't think of eating anywhere else. A great find.
(5)
T J.
Check the health dept reports
(2)
Melanie R.
Food was hot and very well spiced. My eggplant dish was delicious and my husband had the lamb kebob which he enjoyed very much. I love their chi tea and the different flavored nan was great. The wait staff is very professional and friendly. You'll have a fun time and great food when you go there. We'll be back.
(5)
Snowcrash 0.
no wait, but busy lunch buffet service. we don't usually do buffet--sneeze guard or not--but we took a chance. pleasantly satisfied. try the Chai. through the glass window into the kitchen (which looked clean), watch them make fresh nan in the tandoor. very friendly, but not overbearing service. ever item was tasty.
(4)
Kiki L.
India House was where I went for a lunch/brunch buffet pretty much every Saturday morning during my college years. Not just a great way to avoid going to work or going to do homework, India House gave me the comforting, delicious, reasonably priced Indian food that changed my weekend from good to great. India House is a small, unassuming family-run place that isn't some little tacky take-out lunch spot--there are linen tablecloths for god's sake, and the owner and staff are super-nice and greet you when you come in. I have to admit I've never had anything else here but the buffet (because I think it was like only $6 or $7 for all you can eat, so why stray from that?!) but they actually have an extensive full menu of any other Indian classics you could want. The lunch buffet didn't have a ton of offerings and it was always served on two little tiny tables right in the front of the restaurant, but the food was so delicious...the Chicken Tikka Masala was always amazing as was the dal and spicy garbanzo beans...also, their rice is exceptional because it's so buttery and full of saffron...mmmm...and we know my feelings about buttery rice. Shoot, even the rice pudding used to be perfect! We would always come here and stay for about 2 hours with a party of 6 or 7 people and the servers never got impatient with us and were always so accomodating and efficient. This is a quaint, cozy spot with the charm of being perfect for a relaxing, weekend lunch. Not to be underestimated for sure!
(4)
Molly E.
This place rules. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable and the staff are friendly, professional and welcoming. The dining room is clean and nicely decorated, but last time we decided to get takeout. They offered chai while our food was being prepared as though we were guests in their home.
(5)
Sam A.
This is one of only two local Indian food restaurants that I know of that has one of my favorite dishes, Alloo Matar, which is potatoes and chick peas in a nice flavorful sauce. I'm otherwise not a fan of their curried dishes and most of the rest of their offerings, but they are quick and efficient and nice over the phone and in person. They probably think I am an oddball, but in order to get the exact indian/thai food that I have a soft spot for, I will frequently hit up this restaurant for this single dish in order to compliment the dishes I am also getting from other restaurants to complete the meal that I am usually envisioning. Not a diss, and not a full review, but this restaurant has its place in Santa Fe. The lunch buffet is one of the busiest in the entire city, if that tells you anything.
(4)
Tina L.
Santana Fernandes was so much fun. Great find and great food. Awesome service..
(4)
Norm H.
Very good food, prompt service. Great menu, with reasonable prices Clean, relatively quiet. Highly recommended.
(4)
dawn a.
What an interesting restaurant! I went to the lunch buffette 1st, which for $10 is fabulouse. Then I took the boyfriend who had never had Indian food to dinner and we both had very tasty dinners. I cannot remember the name of the dishes we ate because we are new to Indian food but we are hooked...We'll be back! Its always fun to discover something new. I just wish the staff would have tried to explain the menu a little bit to us since we are not familiar with Indian food. For example I asked my waiter what their plum sauces go good with and he walked off and got me some plum sauce. Well just a little bowl of plum sauce but what where we suppose to dip it in? You know Mexican food when they serve you chips its usually accompanied with salsa. But dont" get me wrong the staff are all very friendly.
(4)
Danny Q.
Oh India House, my heart burns for thee. This is the gold standard from which I judge all other Indian restaurants against. The staff here is phenomenal, they are super friendly and are committed to good service. My favorite dishes are the chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, and the lamb korma. This was the first Indian restaurant I ever ate it at, and others just haven't been able to hold a candle to them. This is definitely a treat if you are in Santa Fe. Heck, it's a treat if you're on the North American continent. I'm not a real fan of the lunch buffet. Ordering off the menu is the way to go!
(5)
Emily H.
I've had an Indian Food itch that desperately needed scratching, so we decided to take the kids to India House yesterday evening. As we entered, the manager helped us to our seat, then invited my 4-year-old back into the kitchen. Being the negligent parent that I am, I allowed this stranger to entice my child back to the kitchen, and I'm so glad I did. The kidlet returned to the table a few minutes later carrying two kid-sized cups of mango lassi. Wahoo! Our ordering was quick and easy- the two adults had the vegetarian dinners, one from the daily specials menu and one from the standard menu. The kids had cheese naan and a lamb kebab. The lamb kebab was amazing- perfectly spiced, although a little too spicy for the 4-year-old. The rice was wonderful, the vegetarian entrees were delightful, and the two boys were happy with the variety. I was in heaven- the food was so good. The house staff were gracious and accommodating, and my kids never once begged to play on our iPhones or just leave the restaurant right now please please please. We had the rice pudding and the mango pudding for dessert- both were perfect. As we left the restaurant, I told everyone who would listen that this was my new favorite restaurant. I'm almost afraid to go back because it was just that good a memory. But I've been in the past and had a lovely time, so I'm sure we'll be back again. soon.
(5)
Andrew R.
Best buffet in Santa Fe. Been going for over a decade and never dissatisfied.
(5)
Patrick C.
Who would have thought it, but this was some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Even my 7 year old, who generally doesn't go for the cuisine, ended up loving the Sag Paneer.
(5)
heather g.
BEST INDIAN FOOD WE HAVE EVER HAD!! The only reason i am giving 4 stars is that the service was a bit slow, but in hindsight it was WELL worth the wait!
(4)
G S.
We've done dinner around 6 times, almost always getting one of the specials, which is a good deal (includes endless chai, a serving of naan, and dessert) given the prices of the entrees ala carte. The servers are quirky but friendly, perhaps appearing a little off-putting, but they light up when they see children (not in a creepy way, most have kids/grandkids I suspect). It's not the most ground-breaking Indian food (I've been to some amazing places in greater Boston or the SF Bay Area), but as pointed out, it's "pretty damned good for Santa Fe" which doesn't have the largest Indian community. It's pretty mild in terms of spice, so you may want to ask for it the way you like it. They do not skimp on the dairy - korma and saag paneer are rich and excellent. The chai is awesome; mild;y spiced and rich. Naan is some of the best I've had. Rice pudding is passable, mango pudding is strange (from a mix?), with chunks of your typical fruit cocktail - nary a mango to be seen. High chairs could use a good cleaning and some could use repairs, seems like it's been a few years.
(4)
James S.
This is an update for a restaurant I have been to more than a couple of times. My first review gave one star for getting rudely kicked out by the waiter named Santana, who is nothing like the original and wonderful musician, Carlos Santana. That review was sullied by some dirt in the lettuce from the salad bar that was denied by said Santana. Since then, the management has made up a bit and I have not had any problems munching on the lettuce or other items from the salad bar. The fruits are usually pretty good and sweet. They have cantaloupe and pineapple usually. I will add a second star but not go much further because I cannot seem to get a really open ear to my suggestions that are for maintaining a certain quality of the daal, which is one of my goto items on any Indian buffet. Whereas I had previously experienced the daal to be decent, although a bit bland before, it got even more wattery and lacking in flavor and upon mentioning it to the owner, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that his cook follows a recipe and that there was nothing he could do about it. It's almost as if I was on the yellow brick road (Cerillos Rd) and I could not get through to the Wizard inside, not even to save my life. Nevertheless, I have been here when in a pinch and very hungry and although the meatballs are usually too salty and the daal too watered down, I have slammed down a quick lunch here and the service has been fine ever since my first nightmare experience. On some days they have goat stew which is a nice addition. So, this is the extent of my update. My ex-boss who actually goes by the name Oz will never go here because it "is not authentic Indian food" and to be true yes this is not built to please Indian customers but for most Americans it will do. :)
(2)
rodney i.
In new mexico, taking a little vacation. Driving through Santa Fe, we just stopped in on a whim. Boy am I glad we did. I have had my fair share of indian food in my day. But this was just amazing. Hands down the best Indian food I have ever had. I do not know what they are putting in the food, but I hope they keep doing it. 5 stars all the way.
(5)
Midori S.
Excellent. The food seemed better than most other North Indian restaurants I've been to-very fresh and flavorful. The staff were warm and attentive, and they absolutely doted on the babies in our party. If I'm ever in the area, this will definitely be in my plans!
(4)
Gary G.
REALLY good lunch buffet. They have a dish called Chicken Makhani which is unbelievable. I think what they do is use the chicken tika (which has it's own spice) and then make it from there. I have ordered this dish at other places and nothing compares...
(4)
Thighmaster M.
We went for Thanksgiving dinner as we were visiting from out of town and loved it.. The staff were very sweet, the chai excellent, and the buffet was perfect.
(4)
Vera P.
Love, love this place! All dishes are fresh and scruptuous! I most often get their Chicken Tikka Masala which is out of this wolrd. Great chai and friendly staff that always fills up your cup. One of my two favorite restaurants in the whole world!
(5)
Pia P.
I went here for the buffet and it was ok. I wish they would label which are vegetarian just to be on the safe side. I found one dish to be a bit salty and another oily but maybe it was just that batch. Over all the food was good.
(3)
marlena r.
I thought that the food was good and tastey and there was not a long line.
(4)
Jack B.
I love and miss the buffet at this place. Yummy! I live in Santa Fe for 7 years and loved this place. It is probably the best Indian food I have ever had. Green Chili and this place are the things I miss most about Santa Fe. Oh, and my friends. :-)
(5)
Carmen M.
Food is a-ok, service is hit or miss. Lunch buffet I would give 3/5 stars
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Geary J.
We've been enjoying the feast at India House for the past 12 years and make it a point to have lunch there every time we are in town. The service is fantastic and you're greeted when you walk in and seated quickly. Your drink order is taken when you're seated and delivered in no time. The buffet is kept stocked and is fresh. The naan is made during the day and is never stale. India House is one of the top Indian restaurants we have found in our travels, you'll be treating yourself!
(5)Jesse A.
Really wanted to give this place 4 stars but couldnt. Perhaps I have been spoiled by the Indian food in California. Came here on vacation, excited to eat, and spent 130.00 for dinner. Paneer Mahkni was tasty. So was chicken tika masala. Lamb korma not so much. Naans were good. The rice is not supposed to be a focal point but was uninspiring. Mango chutney was a super tasty addition. Minus 1 star for poor chai that no amount of sugar could fix and poorly done lamb that ended up the only unbeaten dish. Minus 1 star for the all too common combination of small portions at large portion prices. Overall great service and super nice waiters and staff. High quality ingredients. Good ambiance. Just need to fix a few elements to take it from just another 3 star indian restaurant to a gem in Santa Fe.
(3)Lynn D.
Decent food and prices, but not as spicy as to what I'm accustomed. Stopped in here to get something to eat on July 18. I have to admit that my review may be tainted by the fact that there was no air conditioning in this place. That said, the food was decent enough: good prices, good-size servings, however it was very mildly flavored. The help was incredibly friendly, and kept my water glass full, but seemed confused when I asked for ice water or for some ice for my water. So, here I was sitting in a restaurant in July, with no air conditioning, and tepid water. Perhaps it's for the best that there was not a lot of heat or spice in the food. I'm honestly not certain if this is just a Santa Fe thing, the lack of spiciness, because I'm from Albuquerque and I'm used to a lot of heat in my food.
(3)Jim H.
Picking up my Togo. Why don't I just move in here? Consistently great. I eat here at least twice a month and never a bad meal at anything less than excellent service.
(5)Julie D.
India palace n the plaza is sooo much better than India house on cerrillos. Went there last time today. I go there just for the sag paneer and naan. Last time I went they didn't even have farmer cheese in the paneer, it was potatoes. Nope, that's spot sag paneer. Even the eggplant fish was full of potatoes, I want eggplant. Lost a customer for being cheap Charlie. And it smelled like I was sitting next to a baby diaper.
(2)Greg V.
This place is not very good. I've eaten at many Indian restaurants around the world and this would be in the lower 25% for sure. My chicken vindaloo was hardly warm and not even spicy, though I asked for it to be hot. They do not make the food to order in terms of spiciness, so they give you some hot pepper sauce on the side. This means all the curries are probably prepared ahead of time and reheated, which explains why mine was nearly cold. The waiters were pretty nice, but this doesn't compensate for the poor food. The place is also in a crummy strip mall area of Santa Fe.
(2)Michaela A.
This place deserves more than five stars! We needed somewhere that was open late after attending a concert at the Lensic Theatre. We called The India House approx 9.30pm on a Tuesday night and then welcomed us to come and dine before 10pm. All the staff were very welcoming and professional, they made our entire dining experience very enjoyable. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala - yum! and we ordered the Chicken Tandoori - wow! The Chicken Tikka Masala was very tasty and creamy - one of the best we've ever had. And the Chicken Tandoori was OUT OF THIS WORLD - so moist and tender and delicious, sat on a bed of onions on a hot skillet. It is THE BEST Chicken Tandoori we've ever had, and don't think it could be beaten. Just wish we lived closed so we could visit and enjoy very much more often. We were recommended to go to the India House by a local - so thank you to that person and if you are wondering whether to visit - you will be glad you did!
(5)Michel I.
Had the (sizzling) lamb kabob special, with rice, naan, sag paneer, rice pudding dessert, and chai. All for $23, with tax. Hungry as I was, I walked out with enough food for breakfast as I continue my road trip. Great food , friendly service, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Unfathomably low price. What a gem.
(5)Sarah S.
I had a dinner special that included Chai, naan, the entrée and a mango dessert. Everything was delicious and could have easily over-fed two adults. I happily ate the leftovers the next day and will certainly be back.
(5)Alice L.
I travel a lot and have eaten a lot of Indian food and this is up there at the top!! Beautiful place,fabulous food,and very friendly, efficient staff!!! The dinner was elegant and extremely tasty but the lunch buffet was perfection! The chef is internationally known and I don't think you can get better. Don't miss it!
(5)Aaron G.
Amazing food, outstanding service. Don't let the aged exterior fool you. This is Indian food at its finest. I had the Korma lamb. The lamb was cooked to perfection. Moist, tasty. The Korma curry was sweet and excellent. A great variety of dishes to choose from. Great atmosphere. The staff were friendly, prompt and ready to answer any question.
(5)Laura L.
I, like the rest of Santa Fe, came for the lunch buffet. Arrived around 1pm on a weekday and it was filled to the brim. Don't you guys have to go to work?? The food was decent.. I tried the majority of the offerings (only 10-12 available) and everything was mild, which I was kind of bummed about. No spicy foods? Anyway, nothing was really *spectacular* but for the price ($11.83), I'd go back. The buffet had a little something for everyone, whether you just wanna go veggie or with meat. My favorite off the buffet was actually the chicken curry. I feel like that is such an Intro to Indian Food 101 type of food but everything else just tasted okay in comparison. Everyone also seemed to go crazy over the mango pudding but it was a little too sweet for me. Also the addition of canned cocktail fruit kind of put me off. But anyway.. Service was really friendly and attentive. They were balancing like 10 plates at a time on their arms so that was some entertainment for me as I tried not to look like too much of a loser eating by myself.
(3)Maritza K.
The lunch buffet is awesome, a lot of Sta Fean's are always there, lot's of choices and they are ALL yummy. These are not the items that would not sell during dinner and they just throw for brunch. These are the same items that you would have at dinner (although for dinner they are huge portions and plenty options) We love the place and the people that run it are awesome. I can't wait to go back next week :))
(5)Vee S.
Great food good service spice level mild even with spicy option. Recommend paneed makhani with garlic naan
(5)Roberto F.
This is by far the best Indian restaurant in the State of NM. I live in ABQ and can't wait to come to Sfe to eat here. I'm not a buffet person, but the one in this restaurant is way above average, or you can always order a la carte. The service is great, a very clean place. Keep up the good job!!!
(5)Willy E.
Vegetarians will appreciate this place and give good reviews too for the choice and quality. Excellent and friendly service and a relaxed setting too.
(5)S T.
Was cold outside and glad that we found this place for dinner. Great service, food was delicious. We order Garlic Naan, Chicken Soup, Chicken curry and Lamb Sagwala. All are delicious.
(5)Aimee M.
The buffet is delicious and the service is always great.
(5)Jennifer O.
Like most people, I usually go here mainly for the lunch buffet. The lunch buffet is definitely a good value, and there's a good selection of dishes, but it's nothing special, and I've been to several better Indian food buffets before (although not in New Mexico). This goes on the books as one of those restaurants that's good for New Mexico, but not good without qualifiers. As for ordering off the menu, or for dinner, I find India House overpriced. most of the entrees run $12-16, which might be okay, except that you have to order your rice and naan separately :/ . One upside to this place was that, if you order chai, they will refill it as many times as you ask. The last time that I went to India House, the wait staff was attentive to the point of being a nuisance/distracting. The second it looked like I might be done, someone would come by to ask if he could take the dishes away, and I've never before been asked if I wanted more water so many times that I actually had to refuse. Of course, there are worse problems to have :p
(3)Amy C.
Consistently delicious Indian food with friendly service. While I claim to be no expert on Indian cuisine, I have had the pleasure of living in London, England where the Indian food is known to be outstanding. India House in Santa Fe definitely measures up to those restaurants I used to frequent in London. They have a great selection of naan bread, for example, including my favorite, sweet Kashmiri naan. I've noticed sweet naan can be difficult to find, even in larger cities I lived in such as Atlanta and San Francisco. The serving portions are generous, even if you order take-out. If you love Indian food you will love Santa Fe's India House.
(5)Hamza M.
I was staying at the hotel next door so thought id try them. They are a little expensive relative to the indian/paki food you get in DFW or Washington DC. But they food was equally good. I had bhindi masala and chanay. With naan. The owner was friendly and very cool and i over all liked 5he experience.
(4)David J.
We enjoy their food frequently,both takeout and dining in. Excellent authentic Indian food, cannot recall a dish we have not enjoyed. Frequently get kormas, saag paneer, and tikka masala. As other reviewers have commented, staff goes out of their way to make you feel like family and are particularly nice to children.
(5)Greg S.
I would have never tried Indian food until I met the owner. Went to try it once and got hooked. The staff is very attentive and polite. Service is better or as good as any high scale expensive restaurant I have ever seen. Food is excellent! The lunch buffet is the best in Santa Fe. I cant say enough good things about this place. It is now a regular hangout.
(5)Megan T.
I've only been for the buffet so far and I recommend it. They have the most attentive and courteous waitstaff I've ever encountered. The food is solid but my only gripe would be that they are a bit heavy on the potato dishes. I would love to see saag paneer on the table.
(4)Lydia G.
I love this place! Everyone there is amazing and super nice! They make you feel like you're family! The food is amazing! The chicken tiki masala is simply to die for. My mother and I have been going there for like 4 months now and we go every Monday. And we will continue to keep going back :)
(5)Celia N.
Best Indian food in town! Love this place! The lunch buffet is a great deal and I go at least once or twice a month. Consistently amazing food and always fantastic service!
(5)Krispie P.
Always a great choice for the basic Indian buffet. Excellent service and cozy atmosphere.
(4)Matt B.
The buffet on the weekend is great value! The restaurant is very busy so the food is constantly being replaced. The staff is very friendly as well.
(4)Leza M.
DELICIOUS Lunch buffet with friendly wait staff.
(5)Christiana C.
Love this place. Come regularly for the lunch buffet. It's delicious and the restaurant is beautiful and clean. People complain about the prices but "HELLO!, it's Santa Fe"! Never had a problem here.
(4)Jenna E.
I need to start with a caveat that I DO NOT like Indian food. I've never liked it. I got talked into (more like guilted) into try this for lunch one day and the most amazing thing happened... I actually ENJOYED it! In fact, I wouldn't be opposed to going back. My long standing dislike for certain types of foods (one of them being Indian) makes this a raving endorsement. Trust me. I went for the buffet so, worst case, I could eat naan bread if I lost my bravery halfway through. This place was DELICIOUS. I could (can) only pronounce about 3 things from the buffet (ya know, besides "chicken, bread, and beef") but everything was so darn good. The selection was semi-limited but still plenty but every single thing I tried was tasty and fresh. The atmosphere was cozy but comfortable and well decorated (it looks so much better inside than the yellow sign on the outside would suggest). The service was good and the price was definitely reasonable for the selection and quality. I will be back and that's no small gesture from me for Indian food.
(4)Thomas K.
This place just keeps getting better and better. Excellent food; you'll have to ask them specifically to get anything spicy, but the flavors are excellent and subtle. Great service; very gracious staff, and reasonably priced. Personally, I'm not crazy about buffets so order off the menu for dinner.
(5)Joseph R.
An amazing lunch buffet with two of Santa Fe's most attentive and attractive waiters. While the buffet rarely changes--and this may bore some frequent lunchers--the food is always fantastic. They have the best goat curry in the southwest.
(5)Ryno C.
You do not step into India here, but step into the kitchen of a very friendly Indian family. Photos and newspaper clippings adorn the walls--it's one of those places where if you do not feel totally intrusive, then chances are you are being totally intrusive. Like any other cheap-ass Santa Fean, I've only been here for the buffet. A rickety cafeteria-style contraption cradles the steaming vats of delicacies whose otherworldly names escape me. Like cattle, we line up and scoop the spicy, gingery, hot stuff down our throats, plates and forks acting only as porcelain runways and silver airplanes. The dining room is dark, even at midday. Packed table-to-table, the dim lighting disguises our shame, and our stomachs, clawing to escape the burn. Watch out! For if you complain, you'll attract the daggered stares of Santa Fe's old-timey liberal elite, being serviced piously by the waitstaff in anticipation that they'll hear those magical words: "Oh this makhani reminds me so much of this fabulous place in Brooklyn!"
(3)Phil E.
Buffets usually fall well short of the a la carte experience - not at House of India. While in Santa Fe, we had 2 lunches here; the first being ordered from their a la carte menu, and the second being from their $9.95 buffet. Both were magnificent taste experiences from every perspective, and the responsive, genuinely friendly service was second to none. If you were paying 5 star, silver service prices, you would feel you had got incredibly lucky in finding this restaurant, but at the prices you'll pay here, you'll swear you'd died and gone to heaven. Once you move past the slightly tired exterior, you'll be met at the door with the most welcoming of greetings and then encounter a taste experience you won't forget.
(5)Cynthia L.
Hands down the best Indian food I've ever had... Anywhere. We always hit the buffet which ends at 2:30pm. My 17 month old eats everything here and she is a picky eater.
(5)Chaya c.
We've been eating here for years. The waiters are always tops in our book and the food is delicious--though to be entirely honest, we keep ordering the same exact items because we love them so much (chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo, with rice and garlic naan on the side). I'm also a fan of their chai. We always go for dinner. In other words, I can't talk about the buffet or how authentically spicy the food is. Besides, I don't much care: I eat spicy all the time. (How hard is it to find chile in Santa Fe?) What I WANT is the delicious taste of these dishes! I knocked one star off this review only because the benches in their booths are getting very uncomfortable. The owner should really try sitting on these benches himself. They are crying to be replaced!
(4)Roy Z.
I don't know if is authentic Indian or not, but the food was great and the service was great.
(5)Jon J.
I enjoyed this place a lot. The food was so good and the service was great. The atmosphere inside is great to
(5)Duncan M.
This food is no less than spiritually fortifying. Our entrés were... what can we say? The words that come to mind are: delectable, satisfying, nourishing, and invigorating. Thank you!
(5)Pascual R.
I've loved India House for years as I've always had a taste for world foods. After living in Los Angeles for 11 years, I worried that my taste in Indian food may have changed as the market out there is highly competitive and some of the best Indian restaurants in the country are there. After coming back, I can say with confidence that India House is as good as it's ever been. The food is excellent. I'm a fan of the chicken makhani (ordered spicy - woo!) and their samosas, but I can't say a fan of Indian food could be disappointed with any of their dishes. My wife and I have become semi-regulars, and the staff is always very friendly and even remembers our favorites! I really can't say enough about how excellent this place is. For a restaurant that lacks much competition in this town, they definitely act like they've got something to prove, and they prove it well.
(5)Lynn S.
This place is a gem! The food is exquisite and the staff is very attentive and professional.
(4)Minerva P.
I've been a fan of India House for many years. India House was always on our itinerary when we visited Santa Fe. I now live in Santa Fe and just discovered that IH has a lunch buffet! Shows you how often I get out now-a-days! Took my boyfriend there because he had never had Indian food. We arrived just 30 minutes before the end of the lunch buffet and I was worried that it might be old and dry. Nothing could be further from the truth. All the dishes were filled and steaming hot. The food was wonderful, perfectly spiced and wonderfully aromatic. What a deal at $10!
(4)J H.
Buffet was good for a buffet. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. The naan was delicious. Everything had just the right amount of spice. Tandoori chicken, although was only dark meat, was flavorful and moist. Lots of people in there, seemed to be well managed. Trays never went empty. Fresh fruit also looked appealing but didn't have any room for fruit!!! Loss of 1 star because the water tasted like tap. Pet peeve of mine, filter the water for your customers. We can taste the difference.
(4)Kate S.
Went here based on Yelp reviews and was disappointed. The food was bland and curry was watered down. It didn't even look appetizing. The service was good, however, and it wasn't overpriced.
(2)Russ L.
Over the decade i've been eating here, the food has always been good. Santa folks are spoiled, as they have world class restaurant in a sleepy little town. I love Indian food, and the very few places that can approach this quality have been in major cities like San Francisco or New York. Even some major cities (Denver, cough cough) don't have an Indian restaurant like this, and it's basically ruined mediocre Indian restaurants for me. This is without a doubt, my favorite restaurant in the mountain west. The veggie pakora, naan, chicken tikka masala, and aloo saag are all amazing. Service is always friendly and extremely prompt, chai is delicious and perfectly spiced, and the value for a lunch buffet can't be beat. Dinner is a little more expensive, but it's worth it. Vegetarians won't be disappointed, either. If you think you might like Indian food, go see what it can taste like. Go hungry. I can't recommend it enough.
(5)Nicole M.
The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1 is because the ambience is nice and quiet and the people seem nice. I'm probably spoiled when it comes to Indian food because I grew up near San Francisco, but this WAS NOT good food. There was a meat dish that came with meatballs...it did not look, smell, or taste like meat at all. The only thing I really liked from the lunch buffet was the naan and the fresh fruit. I also got VERY sick that night (which I have a sensitive stomach anyways), but if I got sick I at least wanted to enjoy my meal. I really wanted to like this place and I wish I didn't have to give it a bad review, but this food just isn't good.
(2)Chrissy K.
Love it love it love it! In all honesty, I never liked indian food. Then my hubby forced me to eat there. I LOVED it. The buffet is great, the dinner is better and so worth the price. Hubby and I crave this place all the time. So delicious, we wouldn't eat indian anywhere else! Love the sag paneer, the garlic naan and chicken tikka masala and the chicken vindaloo. The staff are always very sweet to my son, he's spoiled there!
(5)V J.
* Parts of the Bollywood film 'Kites' starring Hrithik Roshan & Barbara Mori, were shot in and around Albuquerque & Santa Fe... and India House served as the lunch catering partner. The moment you enter the restaurant, you see pictures of the owner with actor Hrithik Roshan, film producer Rakesh Roshan & director Anurag Basu etc... Boy, bollywood is going places!! * We a group of 4 started with paneer pakoras, tandoori chicken wings, cheese fingers for apps. Next we shared bhindi masala, paneer makhani & dal makhani with indian breads like kashmiri naan, aloo paratha, garlic naan etc... Finally ended our stuffed dinners with desserts - gulab jamun, kheer, mango lassi etc...
(4)Melody A.
My favorite Indian in town! They have the best Chicken Tikka Masala and Vegetable Samosas. The service is always attentive and friendly. You feel like family when you eat here.
(4)Chrysanthemum A.
India House is a quirky place in the desert of Santa Fe. In the land of chile&pinon, the last thing one expects are samosas and tandoori. India House sticks to traditional food-naan, curries. Neela's in Napa has nouveau Indian cuisine;India House is faithful to standbys. The service is excellent, the food delicious! In the Land of Enchantment, it's a Passage to India.
(5)Pradeep N.
All I can say is food is not good. I'm an Indian and I know my food and I'll be brutally honest in my review and food is completely bland. Please remember, It doesn't mean that if the food is brought right from the oven with hush hush's that is cooked in a right way. No one in the world cooks a tandoori chicken tikka like this without any marination and tasteless.Indians are known for using the spices very well and next only to Mexicans. No one in the world cooks a tandoori chicken tikka like this without any taste. We ordered a chicken tikka, chicken chilli and channa masala and none of the dishes are tasty and everything is insipid. If you really want to eat good Indian food don't try this one.i've spent worst 45 bucks of my life!
(1)Leahi M.
For a buffet place, these guys are great. The food is always fresh and the service is awesome. The prices are a bit high for not being closer to the downtown area, but it's worth it. The chai is soooooo yummy!
(4)leoluca e.
Just got back from India house after reading the great reviews it got on Yelp. It felt like an alternative universe. First, the bathrooms were disgusting and filthy. We watched as one of the servers dropped a spoon on the floor and re-wrap it in the napkin for another customer (this happened right in the middle of the dining room!) A 4 top came in after us and wanted to sit at the 6 seater table, which the server made a scene out of. Service was incredibly bad. We ordered the vegetarian dinner and the fried okra. Everything was so oily, even the rice was coated in oil. The worse was the okra, which was old and re-fried. The okra's soaked up all the oil like a sponge and were slightly black and burnt tasting. It was so hard to eat, we ended up having to send it back. When we complained our server told us they'd sold a bunch of fried okra and the other customers liked it. When we asked if he would eat it, he just kept repeating 'that's how people like it'. After the okra mishap, they just dropped off the check without giving us the dessert portion of our meal. The whole experience was strange. The servers walked around with such an attitude. There was no love in the food. For the quality this restaurant is over priced. I just don't get it? The whole night left a bad taste in my mouth, literally.
(1)Shannon B.
Very good food! Veggie Samosas were excellent! We visited for dinner on a cold Tuesday night and the place was pretty busy!
(5)Vikas A.
On a road trip from west to east (CA-NY), having curry in every place possible - felt like I was back in India, awesome ambience, genuinely nice people, excellent food!!
(5)Hadrian B.
Solo run here, not sure what all the fuss is about. Maybe you could say 4 stars for Indian food in NM. First course of dal soup was missing salt - that worried me. Adding salt didn't really improve it, so I didn't eat it. Waiter never bothered to inquire why, but I won't hassle someone over a $2.00 soup - except secretly, privately on yelp. Mostly because I don't want any intentional harrassment to the rest of my orders. OK so I also had Aloo mater which was pretty good, but felt like it had a whole bag of peas in it, with maybe five or six pieces of potato. The sauce was pretty good though. The naan was really good. Don't get the dessert. My 0.02 from visiting indian joints all around the west / south west.
(3)Chris U.
We went for the buffet, so there isn't too much to say. We are vegetarians, so can only comment on half the dishes. They were all done well, but not amazingly creative. A well done assortment of dishes.
(4)kara j.
If you're looking for scorching curries, the lunch buffet is not where you'll find it. I like mild, so every selection was a treat! My mistake was to order the chai though. Too many spices were added ~ something I'm not used to mixed in with my tea. The server was a bit odd in that he took the napkin out of my water goblet, and threw it on the table (fortunately, not the goblet ~ the napkin). The meal was under $10. For a tasty experience, this one can't be beat! *append* February 27 (Thursday) I was hankering for their Tikka Marsala and joined the lunch crowd at around 1ish. The place was packed, but I was seated within minutes. Food was good as usual, but I discovered that going at the height of India House's daily influx, service was slow and trays at the buffet table emptied quickly. It took bit of time for the kitchen staff to replenish favorite dishes.
(4)Lani S.
Nice buffet. Great service.
(5)Leigh G.
I treated myself to dinner here on my birthday. I ordered a vindaloo dish, rice, and naan and it was all fabulous, and I ate just about everything that wasn't tied down. The waitstaff was very attentive with serving and checking on my water, and were generally super friendly and nice. My hotel gave me a coupon, and they were very nice despite my bargain shopping ways - always a plus - and even served a free mango pudding at the end of the meal. The following day I returned for lunch on my drive back from Ghost Ranch and en route to ABQ, and although my logic may have been somewhat misplaced, I ordered off the menu because I felt like I was in too much of a hurry to deal with the buffet. What can I say? I'd already driven 100 miles that day and my brain was fried. Anyhow, on day two I had the chicken tikka masala, rice, and naan. (Tell me, why did I think a buffet wouldn't have had this?) The meal was excellent, and once again I gorged myself on its goodness. I never eat at the same restaurant twice when I'm traveling, and this was one of two fabulous Santa Fe restaurants that were so good I couldn't think of eating anywhere else. A great find.
(5)T J.
Check the health dept reports
(2)Melanie R.
Food was hot and very well spiced. My eggplant dish was delicious and my husband had the lamb kebob which he enjoyed very much. I love their chi tea and the different flavored nan was great. The wait staff is very professional and friendly. You'll have a fun time and great food when you go there. We'll be back.
(5)Snowcrash 0.
no wait, but busy lunch buffet service. we don't usually do buffet--sneeze guard or not--but we took a chance. pleasantly satisfied. try the Chai. through the glass window into the kitchen (which looked clean), watch them make fresh nan in the tandoor. very friendly, but not overbearing service. ever item was tasty.
(4)Kiki L.
India House was where I went for a lunch/brunch buffet pretty much every Saturday morning during my college years. Not just a great way to avoid going to work or going to do homework, India House gave me the comforting, delicious, reasonably priced Indian food that changed my weekend from good to great. India House is a small, unassuming family-run place that isn't some little tacky take-out lunch spot--there are linen tablecloths for god's sake, and the owner and staff are super-nice and greet you when you come in. I have to admit I've never had anything else here but the buffet (because I think it was like only $6 or $7 for all you can eat, so why stray from that?!) but they actually have an extensive full menu of any other Indian classics you could want. The lunch buffet didn't have a ton of offerings and it was always served on two little tiny tables right in the front of the restaurant, but the food was so delicious...the Chicken Tikka Masala was always amazing as was the dal and spicy garbanzo beans...also, their rice is exceptional because it's so buttery and full of saffron...mmmm...and we know my feelings about buttery rice. Shoot, even the rice pudding used to be perfect! We would always come here and stay for about 2 hours with a party of 6 or 7 people and the servers never got impatient with us and were always so accomodating and efficient. This is a quaint, cozy spot with the charm of being perfect for a relaxing, weekend lunch. Not to be underestimated for sure!
(4)Molly E.
This place rules. The food is great, the prices are very reasonable and the staff are friendly, professional and welcoming. The dining room is clean and nicely decorated, but last time we decided to get takeout. They offered chai while our food was being prepared as though we were guests in their home.
(5)Sam A.
This is one of only two local Indian food restaurants that I know of that has one of my favorite dishes, Alloo Matar, which is potatoes and chick peas in a nice flavorful sauce. I'm otherwise not a fan of their curried dishes and most of the rest of their offerings, but they are quick and efficient and nice over the phone and in person. They probably think I am an oddball, but in order to get the exact indian/thai food that I have a soft spot for, I will frequently hit up this restaurant for this single dish in order to compliment the dishes I am also getting from other restaurants to complete the meal that I am usually envisioning. Not a diss, and not a full review, but this restaurant has its place in Santa Fe. The lunch buffet is one of the busiest in the entire city, if that tells you anything.
(4)Tina L.
Santana Fernandes was so much fun. Great find and great food. Awesome service..
(4)Norm H.
Very good food, prompt service. Great menu, with reasonable prices Clean, relatively quiet. Highly recommended.
(4)dawn a.
What an interesting restaurant! I went to the lunch buffette 1st, which for $10 is fabulouse. Then I took the boyfriend who had never had Indian food to dinner and we both had very tasty dinners. I cannot remember the name of the dishes we ate because we are new to Indian food but we are hooked...We'll be back! Its always fun to discover something new. I just wish the staff would have tried to explain the menu a little bit to us since we are not familiar with Indian food. For example I asked my waiter what their plum sauces go good with and he walked off and got me some plum sauce. Well just a little bowl of plum sauce but what where we suppose to dip it in? You know Mexican food when they serve you chips its usually accompanied with salsa. But dont" get me wrong the staff are all very friendly.
(4)Danny Q.
Oh India House, my heart burns for thee. This is the gold standard from which I judge all other Indian restaurants against. The staff here is phenomenal, they are super friendly and are committed to good service. My favorite dishes are the chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, and the lamb korma. This was the first Indian restaurant I ever ate it at, and others just haven't been able to hold a candle to them. This is definitely a treat if you are in Santa Fe. Heck, it's a treat if you're on the North American continent. I'm not a real fan of the lunch buffet. Ordering off the menu is the way to go!
(5)Emily H.
I've had an Indian Food itch that desperately needed scratching, so we decided to take the kids to India House yesterday evening. As we entered, the manager helped us to our seat, then invited my 4-year-old back into the kitchen. Being the negligent parent that I am, I allowed this stranger to entice my child back to the kitchen, and I'm so glad I did. The kidlet returned to the table a few minutes later carrying two kid-sized cups of mango lassi. Wahoo! Our ordering was quick and easy- the two adults had the vegetarian dinners, one from the daily specials menu and one from the standard menu. The kids had cheese naan and a lamb kebab. The lamb kebab was amazing- perfectly spiced, although a little too spicy for the 4-year-old. The rice was wonderful, the vegetarian entrees were delightful, and the two boys were happy with the variety. I was in heaven- the food was so good. The house staff were gracious and accommodating, and my kids never once begged to play on our iPhones or just leave the restaurant right now please please please. We had the rice pudding and the mango pudding for dessert- both were perfect. As we left the restaurant, I told everyone who would listen that this was my new favorite restaurant. I'm almost afraid to go back because it was just that good a memory. But I've been in the past and had a lovely time, so I'm sure we'll be back again. soon.
(5)Andrew R.
Best buffet in Santa Fe. Been going for over a decade and never dissatisfied.
(5)Patrick C.
Who would have thought it, but this was some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Even my 7 year old, who generally doesn't go for the cuisine, ended up loving the Sag Paneer.
(5)heather g.
BEST INDIAN FOOD WE HAVE EVER HAD!! The only reason i am giving 4 stars is that the service was a bit slow, but in hindsight it was WELL worth the wait!
(4)G S.
We've done dinner around 6 times, almost always getting one of the specials, which is a good deal (includes endless chai, a serving of naan, and dessert) given the prices of the entrees ala carte. The servers are quirky but friendly, perhaps appearing a little off-putting, but they light up when they see children (not in a creepy way, most have kids/grandkids I suspect). It's not the most ground-breaking Indian food (I've been to some amazing places in greater Boston or the SF Bay Area), but as pointed out, it's "pretty damned good for Santa Fe" which doesn't have the largest Indian community. It's pretty mild in terms of spice, so you may want to ask for it the way you like it. They do not skimp on the dairy - korma and saag paneer are rich and excellent. The chai is awesome; mild;y spiced and rich. Naan is some of the best I've had. Rice pudding is passable, mango pudding is strange (from a mix?), with chunks of your typical fruit cocktail - nary a mango to be seen. High chairs could use a good cleaning and some could use repairs, seems like it's been a few years.
(4)James S.
This is an update for a restaurant I have been to more than a couple of times. My first review gave one star for getting rudely kicked out by the waiter named Santana, who is nothing like the original and wonderful musician, Carlos Santana. That review was sullied by some dirt in the lettuce from the salad bar that was denied by said Santana. Since then, the management has made up a bit and I have not had any problems munching on the lettuce or other items from the salad bar. The fruits are usually pretty good and sweet. They have cantaloupe and pineapple usually. I will add a second star but not go much further because I cannot seem to get a really open ear to my suggestions that are for maintaining a certain quality of the daal, which is one of my goto items on any Indian buffet. Whereas I had previously experienced the daal to be decent, although a bit bland before, it got even more wattery and lacking in flavor and upon mentioning it to the owner, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said that his cook follows a recipe and that there was nothing he could do about it. It's almost as if I was on the yellow brick road (Cerillos Rd) and I could not get through to the Wizard inside, not even to save my life. Nevertheless, I have been here when in a pinch and very hungry and although the meatballs are usually too salty and the daal too watered down, I have slammed down a quick lunch here and the service has been fine ever since my first nightmare experience. On some days they have goat stew which is a nice addition. So, this is the extent of my update. My ex-boss who actually goes by the name Oz will never go here because it "is not authentic Indian food" and to be true yes this is not built to please Indian customers but for most Americans it will do. :)
(2)rodney i.
In new mexico, taking a little vacation. Driving through Santa Fe, we just stopped in on a whim. Boy am I glad we did. I have had my fair share of indian food in my day. But this was just amazing. Hands down the best Indian food I have ever had. I do not know what they are putting in the food, but I hope they keep doing it. 5 stars all the way.
(5)Midori S.
Excellent. The food seemed better than most other North Indian restaurants I've been to-very fresh and flavorful. The staff were warm and attentive, and they absolutely doted on the babies in our party. If I'm ever in the area, this will definitely be in my plans!
(4)Gary G.
REALLY good lunch buffet. They have a dish called Chicken Makhani which is unbelievable. I think what they do is use the chicken tika (which has it's own spice) and then make it from there. I have ordered this dish at other places and nothing compares...
(4)Thighmaster M.
We went for Thanksgiving dinner as we were visiting from out of town and loved it.. The staff were very sweet, the chai excellent, and the buffet was perfect.
(4)Vera P.
Love, love this place! All dishes are fresh and scruptuous! I most often get their Chicken Tikka Masala which is out of this wolrd. Great chai and friendly staff that always fills up your cup. One of my two favorite restaurants in the whole world!
(5)Pia P.
I went here for the buffet and it was ok. I wish they would label which are vegetarian just to be on the safe side. I found one dish to be a bit salty and another oily but maybe it was just that batch. Over all the food was good.
(3)marlena r.
I thought that the food was good and tastey and there was not a long line.
(4)Jack B.
I love and miss the buffet at this place. Yummy! I live in Santa Fe for 7 years and loved this place. It is probably the best Indian food I have ever had. Green Chili and this place are the things I miss most about Santa Fe. Oh, and my friends. :-)
(5)Carmen M.
Food is a-ok, service is hit or miss. Lunch buffet I would give 3/5 stars
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