East India Co Grill & Bar
821 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR, 97205
East India Co Grill & Bar Menu
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Address :
821 SW 11th Ave
Portland, OR, 97205 - Phone (971) 254-3383
- Website https://www.eicpdx.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
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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Nick M.
I liked the live sitar player - the decor was a little 1970s, and the menu was not adventurous, but what they had was competently prepared. I crave better Indian food in Portland, and were this a town with really good South Asian restaurants this would only get three stars, as it is I guess it gets an extra one for the lack of better competition.
(4)Courtney D.
My paneer korma was not very good. Where is the spice? Where is the complexity. The korma was a white liquid which was first for me. The price was far too high for what I received. The service is pretty decent. Everyone that works there seemed pretty nice. I just wish the food was good.
(2)Pragya S.
I am a vegetarian so for me its OK. My husband eats meat and he says the same thing about the food. Its just like any other Indian place but its far more expensive. I wouldnt go there and eat the same food that I can eat at my other fav Indian places like Swagat and Chennai masala which aren't as expensive as this one.
(2)Sarah M.
The food and the atmosphere here are the draw. I'm a real tea purist and their Chai is excellent. Authentic, served hot, and perfectly spiced (sans sugar of course!). Everything food-wise we have sampled is wonderful, and we have been here a half dozen times. But, as the other reviewers have noted, the service is the one thing that leaves something to be desired. We are always trying to make eye contact with the flurrying- by wait staff, and it's a challenge. Worst is the handsome older woman whom I think is the manager. She's so official looking, that I assumed she was important, and I flagged her down once when our waiter was taking too long, and she pandered to our needs but then promptly forgot about us. Seriously, this place needs to get a clue about service. Reading the reviews I cannot believe they told a party that they had to leave after an hour and then proceeded to take 45 minutes to serve them their food. I would have stiffed them for that kind of rudeness.
(2)Krista P.
OH. MY. NAAN. Look at that bread. It is is SOO fluffy. Seriously, that is the best Naan I've ever had. I ate so much of it that I'm pretty sure my boyfriend was embarrassed. And I didn't care. Apart from the naan (YUM, did I mention?) everything else was great. A nicer Indian place, more modern looking than most. We ordered chicken tikka and chicken korma, and both were great, though I probably wouldn't get the korma again. However, I'm not a big korma fan anyway, so that's not saying a lot. Go here immediately. Order naan. Dip it in something. Nom nom nom.
(5)Trina U.
We had friendly and prompt service in the restaurant, but I didn't like the 18% gratuity that was automatically added to my bill. My family of five has never been subject to an automatic gratuity. Since I don't cook, we eat at a lot of restaurants, and this automatic 18% charge is a first. Good thing I always study the bill when it comes out or we wouldn't have seen it - we weren't warned, and I don't recall seeing a notation on the menu. We don't live in the Portland area, but travel there occasionally and I do not plan to return.
(2)Todd B.
Going gluten free has been so difficult as gluten is in everything. Indian food has become a staple for me as most of its gluten-free and the flavors help to satisfy my food cravings. This place is the best! And, they have gluten-free Naan if you call ahead to request it!
(5)Dan H.
It was Friday night date night and Sue came up with the idea to eat Indian food. I hadn't had Indian in a long time and really hadn't had much Indian food in Portland since I moved here. Most of the Indian I have had has been off of food carts. Not to say there is anything wrong with the Indian food on food carts here, but I was looking for a change and going to an actual brick and mortar Indian restaurant was just what the doctor ordered. This is a bit on the upscale side. I'm not positive, but I'm guessing you won't find an all you can eat buffet here during lunch. Just a hunch. Anyway, we each ordered a dish along with some Spinach Naan ($5) and that was plenty of food. Plenty enough that we each ended up taking some home with us. I had the Saag with Garbonzo (Chana) beans ($14). Saag, or palak, dishes are spiced spinach with onions & tomatoes, common in northern India. Sue ordered the Aloo Gobi ($14). Fragrant cauliflower with new potatoes, stir fried with ground spices & tomatoes garnished with cilantro. After the fried chicken I had the night before, this was the perfect meal to cleanse my palate. We shared our dishes along with the Pulao Rice and the side of vegetables that came along with the meals. They serve family style here which makes it easy to taste everything. It all tasted very fresh and very good. As I said earlier there was enough food here that we each ate a good amount and were too full to eat the entire dishes. Ended up having a nice lunch out of this on Saturday.
(4)Dop T.
One of the best places for Indian food in town. It's definitely not the kind of place with waiters running around with plates. Rather, it has a nice relaxed ambience; perfect for couples and groups. Their vegetarian/meat menu is varied. Try their egg biryani - the best I've ever had in both the countries, US & India. Paneer tikka masala was great too- the paneer was marinated well. We had it with Lachcha Paratha (layered wheat paratha).
(5)Tim S.
Just moved to Portland and ate here recently. I loved the food. The atmosphere and vibe was great. Before we ate here we first checked out the Indian restuarant down the block, looking in to that place was not appealing at all. Without any questions we knew that east india would be better. All in all we had a great time. If you are looking for a good night out with a good atmosphere and food, east india co is a sure pick.
(5)Pamela M.
My husband & I are avid Indian cuisine lovers and we always love to explore the Indian food scene in every city we visit. Despite spending several summers of my childhood in Portland, I was restricted to eating southeast Asian food. This extended vacation to Portland was my chance to take a brief hiatus from my relatives delicious Vietnamese home cooking and venture out to discover Portland's eclectic food scene. Our first stop was East India Co. for lunch. We ordered the Viceroy's lunch special for $12.95. Our four course lunch included: samosa chaat, seekh (lamb) kebab, and curry with rice and naan, and dessert. The meal was delicious and reasonably priced. The ambiance was romantic, beautifully decorated, and a great place for business lunch or a date. This restaurant is definitely not the typical hole-in-the-wall Indian restaurant that we usually frequent. Besides the lovely interiors, the service was great. When we first arrived, I told the owner and server this was my first time experiencing Indian cuisine in Portland. He and the owner checked with us a few times throughout our meal to make sure everything was prepared to our liking. The owner took great pride in his restaurant and food and wanted us to leave feeling that our Indian cuisine craving was satisfied. Little did I know after this dining experience that I would have repeat GREAT food experiences again and again during my stay in Portland. Thank you East India Co for introducing me to the amazing Portland food scene (outside of southeast Asian) and service!
(4)Cheri B.
The food was so hot today - chicken vindaloo - that my mouth was so on fire, if I would've eaten more than 2 bites I would've gotten blisters
(2)Richard L.
Our group of 23 had dinner this past week at Est India Co. Working with the chef, Sandra created a multi-course, delicious meal that satisfied our vegetarians, gluten-freers, and meat eaters alike. Service was professional and friendly. Their special okra dish was wonderful, the naan was perfect, and the spicy chutneys were good complements. We will be back! As mentioned in some of the other reviews, their lunch is a real bargain.
(4)Mike G.
My wife and I had a wonderful meal last night at East India. In our opinion its the best Indian restaurant in Portland. The atmosphere, service and the food is a cut above the others. We had the Bhel Puri and grilled mushrooms to start. Both were excellent. We then shared the Bhengen Barta, Chana and Tandoor Chicken and Tandoor Roti. Everything was just spot on.Bold yet subtle flavors. Sandra, the manager, and her staff were friendly, responsive and informative. All in all, it was a great experience. If you want Indian food that is truly fine dining, go to East India Co.
(5)Kate F.
Came here early one night and just sat at the bar. The place was pretty empty. I was starving so I ordered the padapi chat, the chicken korma, and some naan. The chat was delicious, I already see some pictures people have posted on yelp. The presentation was beautiful and the flavors were great. It was hard not to eat the entire thing, all the sauces together were delicious. The chicken korma was also really good. Im not used to korma tasting like that, but I still thought it was good. The naan was the star of the show. That was amazing naan, which is hard to describe why it was so good. I love how well the baked it, naan gets overcooked a lot, but this was cooked perfectly and sooo tasty. Definitely recommend this place for some good Indian!
(4)Judith S.
Not recommended for large groups. The service was slow, waited over an hour for our food and even then some people had finished eating before all the food had been brought out. Food was only so-so. I missed all the yummy veggie side dishes usually available at Indian restaurants. 18% gratuity is automatically added (so there's no motivation for good service), they won't split the check and only take 4 credit cards per table. This meant it took a long time to pay and get out of there, by which time I was hungry again. I won't be back.
(2)Ai M.
Prior to the Zelda orchestra, my friends introduced me to a new Indian restaurant. It is conveniently located right next to the street car, and easy to spot. Being a college student I've gotten used to the rushed meal off a street vendor so it was a nice change to visit a restaurant. The decor was toned down lighting and earth tone orange and black color, which made it a relaxing environment. Server was very attentive, and made sure we were properly taken care of. My favorite was the naan which was moist, tender and absolutely delicious. I could have made it a meal all by itself! I can't handle really spicy food, but my main dish was mild and packed with flavor, so I felt completely satisfied with portion and quality. Although I was too full to order dessert, I'd love to come back again just to get one!
(5)Desiree L.
Great little gem! I was waiting for an appointment and thought I would get a quick bite and found this place on the backside of the library. The happy hour menu was extremely reasonable and had lots of fun drinks and snacks to choose from. The food was delicious and the bartender was very friendly and made my visit enjoyable. Definitely on my favorite list. It also has a lot more room for dinner than you might think by looking on the outside. Great for a romantic dinner too!
(5)Jaime C.
After the server spilled a drink on me, you'd think that the manager would feel like moving me to a table where I wanted to sit. She could not move me to any of the numerous empty tables. They must have been for someone who was more important, so I left. Never got to the food, but I'm having a lovely dinner at the Indian restaurant across the street (which prices its entrees about 30% lower, and has nice accommodating staff). I can't recommend a place that can't 'make it right' when the make a mistake.
(1)Sara M.
This is my second experience at this restaurant. There are so many things that factor into my 3-star review. First time going here I didn't eat so I can't judge on that, but the service was bad. Apparently the food was worth going back again so we went back last night. (Thursday) There were probably about 4 other people in the restaurant and the waiter asked if we had reservations, by chance. Uhhh....*crickets chip* We were promptly seated and on our way to eat. The Good: This time, the waitress was very attentive and honest. We ordered mild, medium, and no spice at all between the table and she made sure to tell us that it would be flavorless if I got no spice (again, I am a wimp) So I got it regular (mild) And the food turned out great. Everybody was happy with the food and the Naan is tasty and like a cloud. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a stained glass ceiling/window and just all around Indian theme. The Bad: The size of the meal is a little expensive if you're asking me. You can always get extra rice if you can find the waitress, but it just isn't much. My tikka masala was $18. I could find that somewhere else for cheaper. The booth seating here is SO uncomfortable...very stiff and the bench is literally 90 degrees so it boosts you forward. Just awkward. Would I come here again? Yes, but I wouldn't go out of my way, I don't think.
(3)Pela S.
Last week, my brother and I went twice to East of Indian restaurant which is located downtown. I enjoyed there, and I spent a good time. Everything was wonderful. First of all, the restaurant atmosphere was fabulous and romantic with yellow soft lighting even though the tables were small. We were pleased because there was lovely Indian music in the restaurant. Everything's make you feel you are in India. In addition, the food was tasty and delicious we ordered Biryani Lamb which is a traditional India dish made with herbs and spices. Also, we tried Makhani Shrimp that is creamy and spicy serves with white rice and boiled vegetables. Also, the services were quickly and the waiters were kind and friendly they stopped many time to ask if you need something. Finally, the price was not cheap but not so expensive for two people it costs $ 40. Next time, l will take my friends out to this restaurant.
(4)Eva B.
Great indian food, saag spot on flavor, shrimp big, delicious. Husbands lamb, fall apart good, korma melted around the lamb goodness. Tried spinach naan, since garlic naan not on menu and we enjoyed. Finished with a steaming cup of Chai, yum!
(5)Kira F.
YOU MAY FIND MINE HELPFUL... Negatives 1st: I have gone to East India Co Bar & Grill twice and both times I was rushed through my meal. The 1st time my wife and I showed up on a Saturday around 6pm. They were noticeably unhappy that we hadn't made reservations, but we didn't realize that was necessary. They gave us a table and told us we had 30 minutes to eat before they would need the table. The fact that they gave us a time limit and then brought our appetizer 15 min after sitting down, meant we had 15 min left. We were served our entree within a minute of our appetizers. Which one did we want to get cold while we ate the other? So we hurried to eat, but still tried to enjoy the meal. Then we were half way through eating our appitizer/entrees that came at once, when we were stopped mid-bite and mid-conversation, to ask if they could make us desert. We quickly looked through the desert menu and order our desert. We were, again, still eating, when they showed up and looked confused as to where to put the desert on our table. I should have asked them to take it away until we were finished with our meals, but instead I just moved our dishes around. We finished our meals and they removed our dishes...which helped. We were sharing our desert when they laid the check down and walked away. I wasn't going to order anything more, but why didn't they at least ask? Doing that made me feel rushed again. We had 5 minutes left of the time they allotted us when we put on our coats and leaving a 20% good tip (because I always do). Can you imagine eating that fast at a nice restaurant?! 2nd time... We really liked the food, so I made a reservation for 5pm on Valentines Day 3 WEEKS before hand. Our meals were $35 a piece. On the day of reserving a table they did not tell me their would be a "special valentines day menu". We instead were told that in our reminder phone message on the 13th. So if $70 had been too expensive, then where in the world could we have gone for a nice Valentines Day meal w/o a reservation in Portland?? We were seated at the same time as another couple. We were the only 2 couples in the restaurant at that early date/time. They gave us a red rose and champaign for valentines day, which was a nice touch. The service started out great, but as soon as we got our appetizers (each person had to pick their own), everything started to speed up. That is with the exception of the cocktails we ordered, that came slowly. We got our entree before our tiny appetizers were finished, we got our desert before our entrees were finished! Arrrrgggg! Crazy thing was that I could see that they were serving other couples even faster than us. Everyone I could see was being rushed. I will NEVER go back to that restaurant on a special occasion!!! Valentines day is a very special and romantic day/date night for my wife and I wanted to spend more time looking into my beautiful wifes eyes while eating than staring at my food scarfing. So ridiculous! If they didn't have AMAZING Indian food, I would never go back, but I LOVE food and I love Indian food and they have the very best I have had in Portland. So, if what you want is super fast service, barely enough time to taste your food, tension from feeling rushed, little conversation with your dinner mate, and completely delicious food, then go to East India Co. Positives: Incredible food, friendly servers, water glasses that stay full, gorgeous decor, romantic and fancy date night appearance to restaurant. Next time I go....they are going to slow down or the manager is going to get an earful of complaints in front of other patrons. I pay a lot to eat there. I only go there for a special occasion....now that has to change. I expect to be treated like I deserve to enjoy my meal at my own pace.
(3)John L.
I've been looking for a some good Indian food in Portland and finally found something pretty good. It's a bit overpriced for Indian food but if it's good I can't help myself. The crackers they put out are pretty good but they get spicy after a few. I liked the chutney and tamarind sauce. The samosas were large, cut in half, drizzled with some sauce. They were pretty darn good, but it's hard to mess up a samosa.... I thought the papdi chaat was just ok but my wife really liked it. All the chicken dishes we tried were really good. Chicken tikka masala, kerala masala with chicken, and the makhani with chicken. The aloo gobi was decent. The garlic naan is awesome! The rice it comes with is a bit small, we had to order several extra pots and they charge you for each one. The desserts are definitely their weak spot. they are ok, but nothing special. Tried the masala chai creme de pot, 3 stars. Kulfi (ice cream), 3.5 stars, and the chocolate chili cake. 3 stars. They were not finished with a group of 6... need I say more.
(4)Kisar D.
The reason I am giving it 4 stars is that service was struggling there a little bit when we first arrived. We had an open table reservation, so we were seated fairly quickly, but then we were not greeted by a server for a little while! The manager did uncork our wine and provided us with a wine cooler, but we wish the server would of addressed in quicker manner. Other than that, we thought the food was really good! One of the biggest concerns with one of my guests was if the food was going to irritate her stomach, and it did not, so that was a huge plus in her book. We thought the chicken was very tender, the samosas were presented well, so it was very tasty. We will be going back in the near future. This is our first time having Indian food here in Portland, Oregon, so this was a great treat.
(4)Simone G.
Simply put, PERFECTION. Thank you for making my Birthday so very special. This was the first restaurant we have been to in Portland that wow'd us. The interior was exquisitely done, the service was exceptional (thank you to the beautiful hostess, server) not sure what her title was, but she was beyond wonderful. The bartender was kind, as was the gentlemen who cooked or prepped the meals. The food was phenomenal, words just can't describe our experience. The entire evening felt as though we were in India enjoying the food, culture, people and life. We were taken to a place far away, and rewarded an experience of a life time. At the end of our spectacular meal, the lovely hostess surprised me with a delicious cheesecake dessert. It made my birthday that much more special with a unexpected twist ending. To say this is hands down the best in Portland is an understatement. East India Co is in a league of their own. If you haven't been, make this fine establishment a MUST! Thank you again to everyone we encountered tonight!
(5)Jessica R.
After trying this place and reading the reviews after left me in a ball of confusion. I remember the name of this place after meeting a drunk Indian man at a bar telling me where to get good Indian food and this place lives up to the standards. A lot of the past reviews had mentioned how bad service was and the wait, but I did not experience any of these problems at all. My Indian friend and I arrived on a Friday around 6pm without any reservations and we were seated very promptly. The service was so good that my glass of water was never below the halfway point throughout the entire evening. Our waitress was really nice and kept checking up on us to make sure everything was OK. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was very classy and the decor was not overdone or tacky at all. The mint chutney was very surprising after the first tasting the tamarind chutney because had such an unexpected kick to it and the crazy thing was that it was actually spicy! Usually, it is safe to say that not much places that add the right amount of spice because they have to cater to those who do not eat spicy foods, but I am truly glad that they did not skimp on the spice factor. For entrees, we ordered Chicken Makhani, Garlic Kulcha, Beingan Bartha, and Daal. It also came with a bowl of basmati rice and side of vegetables. Overall everything was very good. There was a good amount of spices in every dish and I highly recommend the Beingan Bartha due to the bold flavoring of simple ingredients. The down sides to this was the price as well as the small portions of the naan.
(4)Sherry S.
The place is good, great ambiance subtle music, fine dining, and the food is good. We were a group of 3 at East India co. I guess they were a little short staffed, but the waitress was very patient and humble. Ye service seemed to very good, and it shaped to a wonderful experience by the end of the dinner. The server took, a lot of time, to plate the dinner, yet it came out well. Rotis seemed a little no so fresh, but the veg curry was decent. The mushrooms were okay, and it's an okay-okay portion, I guess just suffix for two. For the food they served I found the place a little over pricy. May be it's the location n ambiance that costs so much.
(3)Mihal F.
My party of 3 arrived at 5:30p on a Saturday evening without a reservation. The hostess informed us that she would be willing to seat us but it was a packed house for the night and we'd have to leave by 6:30p. We agreed, it wouldn't take us that long to eat, and we had a play to see at 7:30p. We decided what we wanted promptly after being seated and even double checked with the waitress to make sure that what we were ordering didn't take too long to make. She assured us it didn't. We ordered at 5:40p. 45 minutes later, at 6:25p, we were served. The food was decent, we certainly got sufficiently full (and more than sufficiently gassy!!). Was it worth the 45 minute wait? No. Was it worth the $55 price tag for 3 people. HELL NO. Were any of the tables full by the time we left. No...no, they were not.
(2)Mimi F.
Ordered Murg Tikka (Grilled Chicken) - MILD - for my 4 year old son & 9 year old daughter. Ordered MILD, but when the chicken hit their lips, they screamed in pain - raging hot. Too hot for me as well. Not to forget to mention there were only 3 minute pieces of chicken and we were charged $13. I was told they do not modify anything, it comes as it is made. Not family friendly, overpriced and rather grumpy.
(1)Alex P.
Judging by all of the other reviews we just went there on an off night. We went last year and I thought it was alright, nothing great and I never thought I'd end up back there. However, a miss-communication with my significant other landed us there once more. We made reservations and the seating was wonderful (We had one of the big booths to ourselves) I ordered the mango lassi cocktail and that was delicious. However, the first hint that the evening might not go so well was when the waitress came out balancing the drink. I could see that she was spilling the drink as she walked towards our table because it was obvious that the glass was filled to the brim (keep in mind we're seating in the back) she takes the drink all of the way to the table only to spill a good amount all over my phone and wallet. Instead of apologizing and offering to clean it up she just brings us two small bar napkins to clean up the mess ourselves and proceeds to mutter something about the "bartender always filling the drinks up too much". We then had the wings for appetizer. They were disgusting. It just tasted like someone had slathered cheap red curry powder on them and stir fried them I ate HALF of one. My boyfriend said "meh" and half picked at four of the wings leaving one untouched. We then had two entrees. Normally, we eat half of our own entree and then swap so that we can both eat different things. I had about a quarter of the lamb and then when we swapped I ate ONE literal bite of the sauce and ONE bite of the paneer. I couldn't stomach it. It was like cheap cream of mushroom soup that had been sitting under a heating lamp for three days and build that greasy film over the top. Needless to say, we did not take the food home when they offered us doggie bags. Nor did I feel comfortable asking for a refund considering that my boyfriend had eaten about 1/4th of his dish and I had eaten about 1/4th of it. In total we had about half of the lamb dish together and the other dish was pretty much untouched. I think we left one piece of the naan too. I might go back for cocktails but no way am I having the food again. Neither of us felt like spending more money on that place so we went and got dessert somewhere else. And now that I'm done complaining. I'm going to write a glowing review for the place where we had the desserts that salvaged our date night.
(1)Christine P.
The food is great...the service is rude and terrible. I came in to complain after placing a to go food order and it turned out that the manager (Sandra) was the rude one. I guess if you have someone that rude managing your staff, they have no motivation to provide you with good service. It's a shame...the food is wonderful.
(2)John H.
Enjoyed a lovely dinner with the wife last Friday. The house infused ginger vodka made a lovely cocktail. Loved our choice of Sag paneer and chicken tikka masala AND the naan. Lovely stuff. We will be back!
(4)Claudia G.
I love this place! I rather wonder it doesn't have a better rating! East India Co. is great for lunch. They have three set menues at very affordable prices, that allow you to choose one plate of curry and rice, and then decide how many side dishes you want - the most extensive set includes soup, samosa, and dessert (among other things that I'm probably forgetting). Most days, for the set menu, they have three kinds of curry (vegetarian, chicken and fish) and you can also choose one of your appetizers' main ingredients to be paneer (Indian cheese) or chicken. I think their samosas are spectacular. The service, from my perspective, has been invariable polite. The restaurant is quiet and elegantly furnished.
(4)Mary D.
A group of 7 of us went for dinner at the East India Co on Christmas night. Several of us, having worked in restaurants in the past, knew our best bet would be to arrive for an early dinner, before it got too crowded. The restaurant was half empty upon our arrival and we were seated immediately at the first table, next to the bar. The hostess was great and easily the best service of the meal for us. To celebrate the holiday, 6 of us ordered a variety of the East India Co's signature cocktails. Two of them arrived 20 minutes after ordering. Since the rest of the cocktails hadn't arrived, my friend and I asked for Kingfishers which should have been easy enough to grab from a fridge somewhere. I also knew I'd want a beer after my cocktail and at the pace the drinks were arriving it seemed smart to get the order into the queue. At this point our appetizers arrived. We'd ordered samosas for the table and my husband ordered chicken wings. The appetizers were tasty. Although it took forever, at long last the rest of our cocktails arrived along with the two additional beers. The cocktails were very good. Once the appetizers were eaten we ordered 4 more Kingfishers. 25 minutes after our appetizers were finished, 5 of the 7 ordered entrees arrived at the table at varying temperatures. Mine the Malai Kofta was cool on the top but scorching in the bottom of the bowl...not sure how that happened. Everyone else had lukewarm food. My husband who had ordered shrimp...which was emphasized it in a discussion with the server when he placed the order...wasn't brought food. Five minutes later one of the missing entrées arrived but not the husbands. The server asked if we still wanted the shrimp. We assured him we did. 10 minutes into our food we reminded the server of the four Kingfishers we'd ordered. ...and that was it.. We never received anything else. The shrimp entrée never arrived. The beers never made it to the table. The rest of us finished our food and waited. Still nothing. Finally we had them cancel the beers and cancel the entree and we left. The restaurant offered us nothing in return for the endless waiting and entrée mess up. (Our meal took over 2 hours and we're not slow eaters.) My husband didn't even get a beer on the house while he waited for the shrimp entrée that never arrived. The server never apologized for the waiting and even had the gall to add in the 18% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. (Which would have been fine if the service had warranted it.) To be fair, the restaurant did start filling up, but not until after we'd placed our orders. The busyness should have had little impact on the pacing of our drinks and food. East India Co was truly the worse dining experience I have ever had. At the price point they are asking it needs to be a complete dining experience and ours was completely abysmal.
(1)Jordan E.
Went to East India last night with my adult son and daughter on her birthday. We've all eaten here before and liked it previously. However this time II found it quite disappointing and will think twice before I go back. The ambience, as usual, was excellent. Nice booths, clean areas, the right level of lighting, and quiet jazz playing in the background. Service was friendly and reasonably attentive. So far so good. However, the waiter clearly did not know the food, did not get the order right, and misinformed us a couple of times. We started with Papdi Chaat, an appetizer of garbanzos and potatoes spiced with chaat. It was very good and all of us liked it. My son liked his Masala Mojito. We also had the complementary papadum with tamarind and mint sauces. Fine. Then we get to the main entrees. My son had the chicken makhani or butter chicken. He liked it but I tasted it and found the chicken to be tough and overcooked, and the sauce was bland. Compared to the same dish at the now defunct Plainfield's, this was low grade. My daughter had the saag paneer, her favorite Indian dish. She liked it. I tasted it too and found it relatively bland (she likes things mild) but it was ok. My dish was the muchli ka tikka, grilled king salmon marinated in garlic, mustard, curry, fresh ginger, and lemon. Sounded delicious. I try to eat low sodium (have some heart issues) and specifically asked the waiter to make sure the chef didn't add any salt when he prepared it. The waiter said it was very good and would make sure that the chef didn't add any salt. It was very, very salty. The waiter apparently had never tasted it and knew nothing about how it was prepared. The manager (owner perhaps?) came over to ask me if there was a problem. I said it was overly salty. She said that was in the marinade and that they didn't add any extra salt when grilling it. My son tasted it and also found it very salty. The saltiness obliterated all the other nice sounding spices. Note the salmon was nicely grilled but the saltiness and ignorance of the waiter kind of ruined the dish. I also ordered the mixed green and mango salad. I asked for the dressing on the side. The waiter said it didn't have any dressing so no problem. However, it did have dressing --- so much that it was kind of drenched. The greens were also a little wilted and the mango was not quite ripe. Bad salad and again ignorance on the part of the server. We'd also ordered the aloo gobi (cauliflower with new potatoes, stir-fried with spices, tomatoes, and cilantro) as a side dish. It was excellent except the waiter first brought us a different dish, forgetting what we had ordered. For all his "good intentions" he made a lot of mistakes. For the birthday girl (it was her 35tth) they brought out a complementary piece of mango cheesecake with a little candle. Very nice touch although we all found the cheesecake to be quite (overly?) sweet. All in all, it was a very average experience to me. Inconsistent food and food preparation, poorly trained server, nice surroundings, good intentions, mediocre results. Oh --- the bill with tip was over $100. Was it worth it? Not to me.
(2)Chiemi N.
The first time I dined at East India Co, was back in June for the Portland Dining Month. They did a prix fixe menu, $25 for 3 courses. The food was excellent! The service, not so much. The waitresses rarely smiled, and at times, I felt like we were annoying them. I really enjoyed the rosemary naan that came with the meal. Actually, I think it was my favorite part of the meal! I returned with a large group of friends for lunch. Since I had a large dinner the night before, I opted for the Colonel's lunch. For $8.95, I got the lentil soup, naan,choice of chicken or veggie curry and basmati rice. I chose the chicken curry. The naan was plain, and not as good as the rosemary naan I had previously. The lentil soup was really tasty, the few lentils sprinkled on top were crispy and added texture to the soup. The chicken curry was delicious. My friend that sat next to me ordered the Viceroy's lunch. This included everything that I had, plus an appetizer of Samosa Chaat, which she shared with me, the presentation was beautiful and I loved the flavor. She also got a Kebab that she said was tasty. She also got the dessert that resembled rice pudding. The dessert seemed to be bland to everyone that received the dessert. The service this time was excellent. The food was good. The restaurant interior is beautiful and inviting. I'd definitely would go back again. My friend that is from India was not very impressed by the food, but to this Westerner, it was some of the best Indian food that I've tried. And Indian food is one of my favorites! I'd like to try happy hour sometime...
(4)Jim N.
I really like Indian food, and I have to say I really enjoyed East India Co. The ambiance is nice, the service is-- attentive, and the food was pretty darn good. Add that all up and you get a nice rating and a good experience. We decided to go all vegetarian and frankly the meal from the Somosa's to the Vegitarian Masala dish (the name escapes me at the moment) was very tasty. We will be going back for sure.
(4)Ruwama R.
Excellent combination of food and service!! and Authentic Indian food!!
(5)Paul A.
This restaurants new ownership is totally missing the Big Picture about charging a fair price and retaining its long term customers. They are way over priced for Indian food. I have been a long term customer, as the old ownerships provided a great ambiance; good service at good price. But the new ownership is nickel diming you for everything you order. However, I am really disappointed with the new ownership's philosophy of charging for everything which is normally part of main dish (e.g. Main dish $16-18; Rice $4 + small bread $3.00 and not to mention a charge for extra gravy $5.00 and even extras for onions. Oh, maybe next time they will stick us for water & ice too? If it wasn't for the service staff and the chef, I would have abandoned this restaurant a long time back. I do want to share some positive comments & say East India's Happy Hour food, price and service is the bright spot of this restaurant's patronage.
(1)Laurence B.
Portland is not the mecca of the Indian culinary world. We've actually found it really hard to find an Indian restaurant where the food wasn't lack luster in some way. But last night, we may have found it. East India doesn't have an extensive menu, and it's relatively unassuming, for a Saturday night, there were quite a few tables open. But don't let any of that deceive you. Take a seat, and order their cucumber cocktails - it's very refreshing! We ordered some chaat to start with - samosa and chile was spot on, the papdi chaat needed a little more tamarind and it would have been perfect - but the presentation was definitely nice. So the key for us was the mains. Typically, we find that the makhani and the vindaloo have the same base at many restaurants, which is beyond off putting - it's like going to an Italian restaurant and having Alfredo and marinara taste the same. Here, the chicken makhani was that beautiful curry, buttery and layered, while the vindaloo was a deep red,rich and spicy. (Just add a little bit more salt to get the flavored to brighten up). We will definitely be back to try more of the items on the menu. And if you haven't tried this place, you are missing out!
(4)Faisal A.
This is one place where you can really trust the bad reviews. The owners attitude is the worst I have ever experienced. When we alerted her of a problem with the food she treated us like we were there just trying to eat for free. The waiter acknowledged how ridiculous their manager can be and they got a nice tip for that. Too bad part of the tip goes in that stingy owner (who accepts tips as an owner? An Indian). Never returning.
(1)Michelle Z.
I was here on a trip to Portland before and it was AMAZING! Great appetizers and splendid drinks at the bar. Fast forward... Not so much. Even with nobody in the restaurant (should have been my first clue) they were incredibly unaccommodating. If it wasn't for the memories of my great experience a few years ago, and that my guest really wanted Indian food - I would have left. I needed my bill split out: my items on one receipt and my guests items on another. They absolutely refused to do that. They said that everything had to be on one check no matter what. I asked if they could ring them up as if they were on two separate tables; No. Maybe they could ring it up as two separate people taking to-go orders; also no. This is difficult as I've been traveling with work for WEEKS. Reconciling a food bill that I needed to pay for with my own card, for two different people will be just one more preventable thing I'll need to take care of when I get home. *sigh* After that, nothing but rude service from our initial server. We and one other table where the only guests, but no one came to visit our table with any regularity. It was hard to understand as there were more employees than customers... The food was only average. The only thing that really stood out was the level of spice. If you want your food spicy, they don't mess around! I also had the Masala Mojito. I'd hoped it would be different then a normal mojito, but it was just a standard mojito with a jazzed up name. This place gets 2 stars: +1 for being awesome a few years ago (I can't deny that!) +1 for food that was happily spicy! -1 for service level -1 for not being accommodating to a weary traveler (when I'm sure they could have been) -1 for the fact I walked in in an amazing mood left there feeling really upset I won't come back here on a future trip to Portland.
(2)Anshul S.
I wish i could give 0 rating, the service was poor the food was pathetic, too pricey, don't waste your money there rather eat at food truck or flgo to Bollywood Theatre to experience the actual Indian food
(1)Patti F.
I've come here more than a few times, and always enjoyed the food/service. This time was a little different: Food = very good, great quality Service = good, however 4 times the server interrupted our conversation to see if we were ready to order. Not that we were taking extraordinarily long to order, but were actually mid-conversation all 4 times when the server interrupted us to see if we were ready to order. Then actually when we were ready to pay, sigh, the server was no where to be found. Odd. Overall I'm still a fan - it was just a bizarre experience service-wise this time around.
(4)H. M.
This is by far my favorite Indian restaurant in Portland. I can't believe someone said Swagatt is better. It's like comparing a real restaurant to McDonald's. I've been here twice now and every dish I had was fantastic! I will definitely come back.
(5)Kerri L.
My ardent wish is to be allowed ownership of East India Co. Grill and Bar's elegant lighting fixtures, but since that most likely won't happen, let me tell you about my lunch at East India Grill. We can start with their decor since we already know about my potentially nefarious plans for their lighting fixtures. The space is understated but rich in color all the way from the foyer clear back to the kitchen. Dark and rich earth-spice tones are used throughout and lots of modern art is featured. You walk through the beautifully-appointed bar area into the dining room and the decor is continued on in there. Besides the beautiful beaded and sparkly light fixtures, the dining room's ceiling is taken up by a bold red and orange stained glass ceiling shaped into a dome. If they want to let me have this piece, I'd be more than glad to take it off their hands. Furniture and seating pieces are modern style and in dark wood. Lots of nice texture is added in the textiles used for napkins and placemats. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and it was delivered in a metal bowl with the rice shaped into a pyramid. The preparation was subtle and spicy, allowing all of the flavors to come through equally. The chicken chunks were very tender. I adore chicken and rice, but this is not your mama's average chicken and rice; it is well beyond it. The Naan bread was some of the best I've ever had, and the peachy iced tea as delicious. The amount served was perfect and made me want to take my time and savor all the flavors. The price at $8 for the lunch entree (as well as $3 for iced tea and $2 for Naan) was commensurate with the quality of the meal and worth it to me to enjoy, almost a small vacation, at the end of a busy week. The only reason East India Co. Grill & Bar is getting four stars is the service. The actual service was politely correct and performed flawlessly but distant and chill. I understand the restaurant is trying to maintain a truly upscale atmosphere by staying on the formal side, but really a smile and bit of chat would not be out of place or ruin the effect of what they're trying to project. The dishes and decor will make me return. That way I can scope out the lighting fixtures and domed ceiling and make mental measurements should they ever call and ask me to come over and pick everything up like right now. I definitely would come back simply for their whole restaurant experience (and not just the lighting fixtures) if they'd just soften up a bit, smile, and chat.
(4)Zak W.
This food is way over priced. I ordered the chicken tikka masala which is priced at $18. It only comes with a little bowl of chicken masala, a spoonful of rice, and a side of some old mushy peas and carrots. Usually the nann bread will come customary with the meal, but not this place. That would cost you an extra $4 for some small pieces of bread. To say the least, I was still hungry afterwards. You can go to a Indian cuisine food cart nearby and receive a lot more food for way cheaper. Also the food was very mediocre. Nothing to brag about. I only gave this place two stars because the dinning experience was nice. The place is like an upscale restaurant, and there's a busboy going around to fill up your cup of water every time you take a sip. However, because of the extremely overpriced and mediocre food, I do not recommend this place. Honesty, if you've ever had good indian food, you'd know that this food was sucky and not worth the money whatsoever. Don't waste your time or cash.
(2)Olivia O.
Such a great restaurant - such great food. Such terrible service. If you get Sandra, the manager, as your server, do anything you can to get switched out. Today she accused my table of having lied to her when they gave us the wrong order. She could not bring herself to apologize or be gracious, instead she threw our new orders at us and kept on attacking us, telling us we lied, that she checked with the kitchen and she KNEW the order came out perfect and acted like we were trying to scam her out of $5 worth of naan. I can afford naan - I don't need to argue with a vindictive manager about whether or not my party ordered the correct kind or not. She asked us why we didn't return it right away. She could not simply apologize and go away. She came back to argue with our table THREE times, demanding the last word, never listening, always talking. She completely ruined our meal. If I ever come back I will make reservations through open table and demand I not have her as a server, or order through delivered dish, to go. If you go, ask for the young gentleman with the glasses, Josh, or Renee, an older woman with a pony tail who is always very charming. If you get Sandra as your server, write down everything you order and don't let her leave your table until you are 100% sure everything she put down is correct. Sandra does not write down your orders - I saw she came to our table without pen or paper. She does not value taking note of what the customers order and thinks she can remember everything. This is a huge mistake, because she puts in the wrong order and then accuses the patrons of lying. I asked a bus boy if we could please have another server, because Sandra insisted on returning to our table each time and arguing and making a scene. This was an important dinner for me, and I brought two friends to show off what used to be, until today, our favorite restaurant in the area. You can see from most of the reviews that the food is great, and that it is *only* Sandra who is untrained and unprofessional. If I owned the restaurant I would have her retrained or put her in the back where no one has to talk to her. Can you imagine, if this is how she treats her customers, how poorly she must treat the other employees? I wish I could have taken a picture of her so you could know for sure which waitress to avoid. Somehow though I think it will be painfully obvious who I am talking about. It is a crime to send such an unfriendly person out into such a good restaurant. East India, don't let her anywhere near your customers! She's going to drive all your business away. Promote the water boy to manager - he apologized and was so gracious. Promote the young woman with the pixie hair cut to manager. She also came by when she saw the manager had shouted at us and was very sweet. And don't let her give excuses. If you make a mistake, even if you think the customer is lying, just apologize and fix it. Don't argue or shame the customer. Don't tell the customer they are lying. Don't ruin an entire table's meal so that she can be so cheap and rude over $5's worth of naan. I hope East India changes their attitude and service. You destroyed my meal and I was a frequent customer, bringing in new customers you could have kept if you hadn't humiliated all of us.
(1)John A.
The best chicken vindaloo in town. Got the right heat to it. If you order the wings make sure you place them before you meal. It takes. But for them to come out. The interior is nice and had no issues with the service.
(5)Vaughan M.
I spent the summer of 2010 in Portland, and this quickly became my favorite Indian restaurant in Portland. I've been keen to get back here ever since, and did so tonight. I no longer feel this is the best Indian restaurant in Portland - I've upgraded my opinion to believe it is the best Indian restaurant in the USA! My reasoning: 1. Fantastic food - quality of ingredients and flavors is outstanding! 2. Unusual menu - yes, they have the 'usual offerings' but also many atypical items. Tonight I tried a tandoori mushroom appetizer - exquisite! And the Goan Shrimp Curry - wonderful. 3. Very nice setting and ambiance - a cut above the typical Indian restaurant. 4. Great service - many Indian restaurants don't get the concept of great service. As a Brit, I regret that they learned poor service from the Brits - that's a shame. East India Co. has learned great service from somewhere! 5. Great bar! They have come up with some innovative Indian-themed spicy cocktails - go with the food a treat!
(5)Paul S.
This is one of downtown Portland's hidden gems. Great happy hour menu, generally healthful dishes with lots of flavor, good selection for vegetarians. The ceiling in the main dining area is impressive!
(5)Cara D.
The food is pretty good, though overpriced. Especially considering you can get even better food at Swagat that is less expensive. The ambience is very pleasant and unique, however. The service is another story. From the moment we walked in, we had the feeling we were a burden to the bartender, Francis. She definitely seemed displeased that we were there wanting drinks and food. Luckily, we had a different server at our table who was very nice and helpful. However, there were several open booths when we first were seated and we asked if we could switch to sit at a booth instead of the table they initially sat us at in the middle of the restaurant. Francis came to tell us that we could not sit at any of the open booths because they were reserved. As we ate dinner, we observed that not one person got seated in the booths we had been denied access to. This was mystifying. I'm pretty sure I never did anything to Francis to deserve my apparent ranking on her $h!tL!$t. I don't think I'll ever be back.
(2)Brikky K.
Delicious curry, large portions, and decent prices can't complain about the food at this place. Recommended if you have a craving for heavy curry.
(4)Shawn T.
Had my first meal at East Indian Co. I had a chance to try a little of everything and was very impressed. The lamb shank is something no one should leave without trying!
(5)Gagan A.
Being straight up east Indian and raised in this culture, I know my Indian food. That being said, this place is legit. Actual Indian cooks in the back make your food the way it's meant to be. Never a doubt about the chicken makhni! You choose the level of spice and enjoy. Next up are the lamb chops, which I heard were out of this world. Believe me, of the countless Indian restaurants in PDX, this one has flair reminiscent of my mom's home cooking. Don't believe me, try this place and tell me what else is better than this...
(5)Desi N.
TL;DR Good food, great drinks, terrible terrible terrible service. The cocktails are pretty good, an Indian spin is always welcome. Careful with the Tamarind Ginger one, it might be a little too sweet and tangy for most taste buds. The food was also good. As an Indian, who has spent a lot of money eating at restaurants around the country, this was one of the better meals I've had. What's bad is the service. And it was not just me. It took them a good 20 minutes to show up and give us our menu. Another 15 to come get our drinks order. Once we ordered our main course, it took then over an hour to get this to us. Sure, mistakes happen, one customer gets the raw deal and that's life. But I was not the only person to wait for ever. I saw people around me get the wrong order, wait for ever and leave, because no one showed up to take their order. Someone was so tired that they asked the bar tender "How much is your prosecco?", left cash on the table and walked away. From when we walked in, to when I walked out it was 2.5 hours for a couple of drinks, an appetizer and an entree. If you are a foodie with a lot of time and patience and I mean A LOT! this might be your place. Don't tell me I did not warn you.
(1)Mylee K.
Subtly unique flavors differentiate this Indian restaurant from others we've frequented. The fare you hope for is available but it's somehow richer, creamier. Even the rice is somehow "better." My only disappointment was the weak Lentil Soup, but the Masala was insane...my husband kept scooping my sauce over his own rice. A good sign. Just rare and wonderful. The service was impeccable, graceful, timely, gracious. The atmosphere is beautiful -- lighting, cushions, sheer drapes, thoughtfully arranged tables and booths, gorgeous ceiling, music, historical family photographs along entrance wall. An oasis and refuge. Plating is stunning...details like pyramids of rice and heavy, ornate, hot bowls. I imagine the location is ideal for downtowners. If we lived here, we'd be regulars.
(4)Nicholas P.
I took my wife here for Valentine's day, everything on the menu looked delicious. Every dish was of great quality and tasted great from every spicy level. The decor was understated classy elegance, so you can either dress up for fun or dress casually. The service was good, and food came quick considering how busy they were. Slightly on the pricey side, but good to go to once in a while when I want to take my gal out.
(4)A G.
I have come here for dinner twice and while not wowed not unhappy either. Yesterday we went for happy hour and it was a let down. We ordered their Bhel, Chana chaat and Kati roll. For $6 they serve 3 spoons of Bhel. Being Indian I know how inexpensive it is to make this dish, so why are you trying to fleece your customers? I dont mind being charged but please provide good value. The chana chaat was ice cold, which Indian food is served so cold? again something that is so simple and cheap to make they cut corners on both quality and quantity. The Kati roll was very good. Secondly the service, while extremely polite, not a smile or welcome. I realize you are trying to maintain an upscale ambiance, but that should not replace genuine warmth and welcome. Suffice to say, not going back again.
(2)Vi E.
Delicious! Quick service and flavorful food. The bartender Frances is awesome! Make sure to get one of her famous bloody Mary's! I had the tiki masala and naan, awesome. Definitely coming back for the butter chicken. And the hot fresh Chai tea for desert was great!
(5)Trish C.
My husband and I were very disappointed in our meal Saturday. The quality of the food was a c- at best. I understand the kitchen was down a chef but that should not reflect the quality of the food which was marginal at best. The staff was sweet and the atmosphere pleasant but good food is what restaurants should be about!
(2)Misty S.
I just had a wonderful lunch at East India Co.! This was actually my first time visiting the restaurant but I've had their food catered by work several times before - great food! The restaurant is beautiful and very inviting. When you first walk in the bar is on your right. There wasn't anyone up front so we kept walking until we were greeted. Super friendly. It was quite busy but there were a few open tables - we were seated immediately. Even though it was busy it wasn't very loud. It was nice and calm and people were happy and getting taken care of. I think we had about 3 different people waiting on us - they were all super polite, very efficient, and really made you feel like they care about giving you a great experience. My friend knocked over her full glass of water (she's a bit clumsy) and someone was out there in under 10 seconds to clean it up and making sure she was ok. No scene was made. He didn't make her feel bad. Very classy. The low down- So, it's not a buffet. Our water was poured once were seated and the guy said, "your soup will be out shortly." I was confused. Soup? I didn't order... But he was right! Soup bowls were brought out and soup was poured for us... It was a pleasant surprise. We ordered a samosa to share ($2 one ball cut in half perfect for sharing), and chicken tikka masala and aloo gobi from the lunch menu ($8 each). We decided to share since the CTM and AG came in little bowls on two separate plates of rice. We forgot to order naan ($1) so we flagged someone down and it was brought out to us in a minute... Maybe less. The food and soup were delicious! We were asked how spicy we wanted our food, medium was perfect for us. Our glasses of water were always being filled, the food was great, the atmosphere was nice, the service was exceptional, and since it was lunch, we got all that for a whopping $9.50 each before tip! That's definitely a good deal in downtown Portland. I see many more lunches here in my future.
(5)Gregg S.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever eaten. The food is incredible. BUT, it drives me insane that the service is so bad. The servers barely acknowledge you. They never smile. And, they are so so inflexible. I love the food here but the service makes me insane.
(2)Devin D.
Finally made it to the East India Company with a group of colleagues and it was fantastic! We sampled many of the sides (all delicious) and I enjoyed the Paneer Tikka Masala for my lunch. Many thanks to Sandra and Sara for providing such wonderful service to our group. The atmosphere of this restaurant is also very special. I can't wait to bring members of my family out for dinner.
(5)Prashant P.
This review is based on one experience only. "The best kind of food is the food of one's childhood." The British east India company was a commercial enterprise that was responsible for colonizing the indian subcontinent before handing it over to the monarchy and plunging India into 150 years of slavery. Understandably, the name irked me. So I found myself delaying my first dinner at EIC. Finally relenting to my palate and disappointed with other indian restaurants in Portland (except the new India food cart, that place is great!), I decided to invite friends to try out EIC on a Tuesday evening. EIC is a charming restaurant. The soft lighting, the creme curtains, the pictures of 1800's India all work to transport you someplace even before the food has arrived on your table. For drinks, we tried their mango lassi with vodka and a kingfisher beer ( a must try). Appetizers were chicken tandoori and pakooras. Both very well made. We had the paneer tikka masala, shrimp curry and a biryani. We were recommended a rosemary naan which was delicious. The tandoori roti and garlic naan were authentic. Quantities were ample and our server was polite and had good recommendations for us. I forgot to enquire into his name or would highly recommend asking for him. All in all, a good experience that surpassed expectation. I will definitely return.
(5)Iris C.
Food is good but service is horrible, especially the Indian manager lady in the restaurant who refused to provide booth to two people even if the two seating booth was available.
(2)Megan B.
East India Co. is the best Indian food I've found in Portland. I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, but I've never hated a dish I've tried, and the dishes are consistently delicious. My husband likes all his dishes very spicy, and they're quite accommodating when it comes to adjusting the spice levels. Besides the food itself, one of the things I enjoy most about East India Co. is that you can make reservations online through Open Table. With or without reservations, we've never had to wait long, and the service is fantastic here. There's never an empty water glass or an empty plate sitting on the table too long.
(4)Divya R.
3 stars for the food, (-10) for the service. Wish Yelp had an option for rating a restaurant (-7) stars, but they don't; so 1 star it is.
(1)Karthik R.
We ordered the tandoori platter and chicken vindaloo. Great taste and flavors. Only thing i would complain is the portion size. You get a small cup of rice for a decent size bowl of curry. No naan, you will have to order them seperately. Also, the tandoori platter you get 4 pcs for $14 with a side of baked potato and peppers. Our friends ordered the samosa chat which was great and malai kofta was good too. Only advice is give customers the option to choose rice/naan with the curry.
(4)Vanessa E.
Being new to Portland food scene with a San Franciscan tongue, I was excited to go out and about to explore what Portland had to offer my palate. My boyfriend and I decided to have dinner before catching a movie so we headed to East India Co. We picked this joint because it was walking distance from our apartment and we have been passing by this place for a year now. I didn't care to read the review just yet as I wanted to just spontaneously taste without the opinion of other reviewers in my head to avoid my expectation. Right when we walked in we were greeted by elegance, it is definitely not your typical indian restaurants. It looks very classy like one of those hotel restaurant/bars. Very dim lighting and I think they even have chandeliers in the dinning area (not quite sure as we didn't sit there, heres why..) We were approached by their host as we walked up the the bar segment of this restaurant. We asked for table for two so he asked us to follow him bcd at the dinning segment. We then suddenly stopped in the middle of the dinning area because there were no tables available (here I am thinking...shouldn't the host know if the there are open tables?). Well I didn't fuss since there were plenty of seat by the bar (right when you walk in, the bar is the first thing you will see and the dinning area is at the back of the restaurant). So we sat down on the high tables across the bar. After 5 minutes, the bartender/waitress gavel us the menu. My boyfriend and I opened the menu and was surprised by the price of the food. I am not used to paying more than $10 for a very delicious indian meal and I have eaten in a lot of Indian restaurant. So, I told my bf that maybe there is something special about their food or the way they prepare and cook it. So we both decided to move forward and order. We waited 15 minutes before the bartender/waitress came back to take our order because she was making drinks. She apologize for letting us wait and moved on by taking our order. We ordered lentil pepper soup for appetizer, Muchli ka Tikka (Grilled Fish, it was salmon), Chana Pindi (chick peas), and naan for entrees. The soup was really watery with 5 pieces of lentil floating about which was a real disappointment. I was expecting a savory and hearty lentil soup like all the other indian restaurant I've tried. Then we moved on to our entrees. The salmon was perfectly cooked--or I should say grilled or broiled. However, it lacked the flavors it was advertising. I did not taste the spice that was in the marination (roasted garlic, mustard, curry, fresh ginger & lemon). It tasted like grilled salmon with salt & pepper =( Next was the chana pindi, now this was pretty good but it is not amazingly to die for chick peas! The flavors were very subtle and light. My overall experience deserves a two star because of the price of their dinner menu and their blandness in flavors. I could have just cooked it myself! What you're paying for is definitely the elegant ambience not the food! There is nothing exciting about their flavors that is worth the price or worth it for me to come back too.
(2)Carol F.
I think this is the best indian food in portland. it is expensive and they don't have the usual appetizers but the saag paneer is phenomenal.
(5)James B.
Best Indian food so far in PDX. Varied menu spanning several regions from north to south. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of the bartender, and chatted with the owner as well. He convinced us to try the Indian wine, it was delicious!
(5)Leslie W.
This is an unexpectedly elegant and lovely restaurant. The service is much better than we're used to in Portland and the traditional menu has both value and variety for lunch. I haven't yet been here for dinner but I've been several times for lunch and much prefer East India to the cheaper vats of food at the nearby buffets. The only thing I didn't like was the rice pudding, which was a bit grainier than is my preference, but by that time I was so full it didn't matter.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Let me start by saying we used to be somewhat regular visitors to East India, and were very much looking forward to our New Year's Eve reservation (this would have been our second year in a row at their New Year's Eve buffet). As we were about to head out the door to dinner, I happened to check my email and saw that I had received an email from Open Table stating that East India Co had canceled our reservation. Whaaaaa??! The email said to call the restaurant with any questions about the cancellation, and since I hadn't canceled our reservation, I most certainly had questions. I was on the phone to East India within ten minutes of receiving the email cancellation, and was told that I had called to cancel my reservation. Um. No. I hadn't called. In fact, the fact that I was calling to question why my reservation had been mysteriously cancelled makes it pretty clear that I had not called to cancel my reservation. I was told rather rudely by the woman who answered the phone that she had talked to me when I cancelled. When I told her that that wasn't possible as I hadn't called, she yelled for a coworker who I could hear insisted that *he* had talked to me when I called to cancel. To add insult to injury, they'd already (in the space of ten minutes?!) managed to fill my reserved slot and were 'fully booked'. When I asked what they could do to make this right, since I clearly hadn't called to cancel, she said sorry and that was it. I let her know they'd just permanently lost my business. The lack of customer service was absolutely appalling - insisting that they were right, and no attempts to make up for their mistake. My husband and I went to Swagat instead and had a fantastic New Year's Eve dinner. Heck, you get much better customer care at the Indian food cart around the corner. TLDR: They cancelled my reservation, told me *I* had, and then refused to make it right. Thanks for nothing, East India Co.
(1)Wayne L.
I booked my reservation for Christmas dinner at 7pm, arriving to see a bunch of folks already lined up. Knowing this was Christmas, we were okay waiting, but then we started seeing our hopes fade away as the clock turned to 745pm. If you can't handle a long crowd queue, don't take on this many reservations.
(1)AJAY A.
Fake Indian food. I am from bay area and so bars are high but this place sure tries hard but fails at last. If you need to tone down the Indian food, you don't need to serve bad indianish food. Rather serve true, homely meals and it will be toned down enough for milder palates.
(2)Fatima M.
Very good food.... recommend the tandoori salmon with garlic naan. Family owned, friendly staff, low key but charming ambiance. Would eat here again.
(5)pradeep s.
While on business trip to here, i asked for best Indian in Portland area and was recommended by one of the colleague. I took few of my Japanese colleagues to this, everyone loved the food. I ordered an King Salmon grill and it was definitely wild salmon, fresh with perfectly grill with mild Indian spices., Loved it and would would highly recommend this. Another friend ordered a Murg Biryani from menu, He was very disappointed. Biryani is no way near to original Indian styles.
(4)Elaine P.
Fundamentally it comes down to service and this place is the amateur hour. I waited at the bar for 15 minutes next to someone who I didn't know only to be informed that there was no bartender. Unacceptable. And during the wait they were taking calls, and dealing with delivery people. Sorry I cannot return to this place. And I was there a month ago and the bitchy waitresses were the pits! THE END!
(1)Divya K.
Went it and experienced the worst ever experience of food service this year. Oh God, the lady (think she is the owner) is so rude and knows nothing about serving. She just stood in one corner and asked for drink like she is upset with the customers. One of us decided to change the order right after we order (less than a minute delay while she was still there), she gave a horrible look. She is a curse to restaurant and must be specialized in "how to avoid customers" to be very frank, writing anymore to this lady and about this restaurant is waste of time. Owner, If you are reading this :- Get rid of this Indian lady ASAP. She is the main reason you not having repeating customers. She is a disgrace and a shame to this restaurant. And to the lady: if you are the owner, get out of serving business, you are the sole reason for all negative reviews about this restaurant.
(1)Katie D.
A great restaurant in Portland. During my visit to Portland we decided to stop by East India Co., must say very impressed by the ambiance. Food was good and so was the service. The owner stopped by our table and made sure everything was good, this is definitely a plus point for the review. Whether you are a local or visiting portland must try this place for sure.
(4)B P.
Loved it....Nice decor.....reasonable prices......fresh quality food......friendly hostess.....bitchy waitress..... I would go back.
(5)Preeti M.
Why are all the great Indian restaurants everywhere but where I live?! Great decor/ambiance and they got my dish right. No complaints. Would recommend to anyone visiting Portland. 4 stars due to being overpriced.
(4)Ravi K.
To begin with, the best Indian food I ate in Oregon, and the worst service I have experienced in this state. I made a reservation with this waitress a Indian lady over phone, who was rude. We were 4 and showed up on time. She showed up (Same person over the phone) and got us a table after making us wait for 7-10 min, and sent another waitress to make us sit. That is it she never showed up until the end when she wanted to charge us the 18% gratuity automatically for 4 of us. No one came to take our order, the guy who filled the water for the second time felt bad and asked for appetizers. Then we waited for 35 mins, he showed on the 36th and told us that he failed to put the order in then and that he is fixing it now. No one came to take the order for main entrees all this time. Finally the owner/manger passing by us inquired and started taking it - He was rude as well. The order was served by a different person who doesn't know who ordered what. The waitress in context was rude at every opportunity she got. For a good restaurant in taste, they don't have even a mediocre service to give a complete experience.
(1)Jen S.
This place is SUPER pretentious. It unfortunately does not strike the sweet spot between "chic" and "friendly," and instead goes straight towards "trying too hard." I showed up without a reservation, so the hostess said it would be about a 15 minute wait. My dining companion and I sat at the bar and ordered cocktails while we waited for a table, and unfortunately the cocktails were really watery and bland. After about 20 minutes, we checked in with the hostess again, and she told us that it would be a while. With our watery cocktails, possibly indefinite wait, and overly-glamorous decor, we decided to leave and go around the corner to India House, which was FANTASTIC.
(2)Sonny B.
Great ambience, poor service and the food is consistently mediocre. Been there 3 times, won't go back. The worst thing about the last visit, aside from having to wait 20 minutes just to have our order taken, was the manager (Sandra). She wanted to argue with us about not one, but two stones found in the lentils. Didn't seem to believe us. Unsympathetically said, "let me know next time your in, I'll adjust your bill". There won't be a next time. Too many other Indian places to try, to waste time on this one again...
(2)Chanchala R.
Ok... You don't wanna go here. If you do go here, remember to take even your new born's ID, otherwise anyone else sitting in your table with you won't be able to get a drink! The wait staff is too slow in taking the orders and they are very rude.. way rude...
(1)Santosh M.
Great food and experience every time I go here.
(5)Paul P.
Unassuming from curb appeal but the food and drinks reveal this restaurant jewel. Service was great. I didn't see any of others' references to poor service. I made reservations but it wasn't necessary on a Tuesday night. Food was excellent and spicy but not blistering. I enjoyed the lassi cocktail. Other references to the fantastic naan proved accurate. We love Indian food and this place will get a repeat visit.
(4)Evelyn S.
My first visit to East India Co was for a private Yelp party which was super wonderful, so I decided to invite some of my Indian Food Loving Friends to join me for lunch. I booked a table for a party of 12 at Noon on a Saturday through their online reservations with ease and efficiency. We arrived and were shown to our table. We were the only diners, for the next 1/2 hour or so. For lunch they offer three price options, all of which include soup, fresh baked Naan, Curry of the day (you choose from Chicken or Veggie), and Basmati Rice. About 5 of our party chose the $8.95 Colonel's Lunch option which consisted of the aforementioned. The rest of us chose the $12.95 Viceroy's Lunch which include the aforementioned with an additional choice of Fish for the Curry. Plus a Samosa Chaat as an appetizer and a choice of Murgh Kebab (Chicken) / Seekh Kebab(Lamb) / Paneer Kebab(Cheese) plus dessert. Everything was very tasty, my favorite was the Murgh Kebab - flavorful and spicy chicken kebab. I would love to have this as my main meal and skip all the rest when I go back. The Samosa was fine, but not the very best I've ever had. I opted for the Fish Curry of the day, which contained very good fish, but lacked something when it came to the flavors of the curry. The Naan at this place is the best I've tasted in a long time, super fresh and fluffy, straight out of the Tandoori Oven. The Mango Lassi and Chai that some people ordered were very much enjoyed. They do have a full bar but none of us partook, mainly sticking to water and ice tea.
(4)Food H.
Pros: Great location, at the heart of Portland, great decor, a decent collection of spirits, dishes were just ok. Cons : We went in a group for a friend's birthday and wanted to get our own birthday cake and they aked $3 per person. Probably its common for any of Portland's restaurants. The food was similar to any Indian restaunt, nothing exceptional. They had hard time to manage a large group of ppl.
(2)Linda C.
We've eaten here several times as it's our favorite Indian restaurant in the area. Nice decor inside, great range of cocktails and really tasty Indian food.
(4)Gagan G.
This is our first visit to Portland and wanted a good India restaurant to have our dinner. We checked on Yelp and selected East India Co. Based on the reviews. We were pleasantly surprised! The service was exceptionally good and the food was just amazing! I would go back to the restaurant whenever I am in Portland. They have two chefs, one for the breads and second for the curries, both of them are very talented. They came out and met with us as my wife wanted to thank them personally. We have travelled quite extensively and would rate East India Co. As one of the best Indian restaurant
(4)Shrek M.
There was a mix up with the scotch that I was billed for. Our waiter was resolving the confusion when the manager intervened. He brought with him two bottles of scotch, and set them on the table in front of me. He then pointed to the expensive one and said "Have you ever seen this bottle? It is different from this (the other bottle)". Although I felt such a dramatic gesture was quite unnecessary, I agreed to pay for it. He left. We were on our way out. The manager walked all the way over to us and asked me if everything was alright. I said "You didn't have to bring the bottles to my table. I don't think its the right way to resolve the mix up". What happened next was quite strange and quite humiliating. He yelled out - "I know you are affluent. I am sorry but I do not have time to waste on this". Deciding not to create a scene, I left the restaurant without another word. I am NEVER going back again
(1)Lindsey M.
I've been going to East India Company for the past 4 years. I absolutely rave about this place and the quality of their food. Sadly, I was greatly disappointed in the service of lunch on a recent experience. Not only had I made reservations for the event, the service was the epitome of a joke. It took 10 minutes to ask for our drinks, they forgot about our mango lassi's, they tried to serve us soup (twice), they brought us out the wrong appetizers, they served us naan without the meal, etc. After telling them we were in a hurry and were still waiting for our food (three times), we finally got our main course 50 minutes after ordered. The manager came by to ask how the food was, and it was good (as it always is), the food was just exceptionally late and the service was terrible. She asked if she could get anything for us and we asked for boxes which came 15 minutes later. A simple work-day lunch turned into an 1 hour 40 minute debacle. I sadly don't think I can recommend this place. I hope they turn things around with service.
(2)Chelsa S.
This place is FABULOUS!! From the great ambiance to the wonderful customer service and food, I go here often! The staff is always very friendly & accommodating, and the owner is a very kind man! the menu prices are reasonable, and the food is AMAZING!!! Hands down has the BEST NAAN, but my favorite is their lentil soup and samosas! Do yourself a favor and check this place out sometime, its delicious, and I am telling you the wonderful customer service keeps me coming back as well!
(5)Pita C.
The service was quick, the food was amazing, and the price was right! I recommend the entree, where you get a little bit of everything.
(5)John B.
So far the best Indian food I've had in Portland. The dishes are fresh, and taste made-to-order, not your typical overcooked buffet line fare. The curries have complex flavor and just the right amount of spice. Samosas are wonderful, naan is hot, fluffy, and crispy. I've been about 6 times for lunch, have not yet tried dinner.
(5)J J.
Lunch was good. Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan. I asked for "pretty spicy". It was pretty mild. To me, a good masala is rich and a bit creamy. This was neither. Thus good, not great. It was better than the other Indian places I've been to in Portland, but not nearly as good as those in NYC, Atlanta, or San Francisco. Bottom line: if you're in Portland, and you want Indian, come here. If you're an Indian aficionado and you want to see how it compares to Al Khyber in Delhi, don't go.
(3)Amin J.
The food was great. I give it two stars because of the terrible service. There was this old lady our waitress, she was not nice at all; somewhat rude. And they added automatic for party of 5!!!! I would definitely won't go there again. A part of dining out is receiving a good derive which didn't happen to us...
(2)Lina S.
AMAZING, this was my first time trying Indian food and this restaurant sure did leave a great first impression. The food was delicious and the environment was clean and well decorated. The staff was a little iffy we asked for two beers three times it was never brought to us but were charged for it, the lady even questioned us like we were lying about it even though she was the one that didn't do her job. But anyways I'm not judging the restaurant by the waitress and I will defiantly be back just ask for a different waitress :)
(5)Kat N.
So i'm not vastly familiar with Indian food and I'm trying a lot of places to get a taste for the cuisine. So far this place is pretty good. I like the flavors a lot and the portions are pretty fair for the price. I've only done delivery with East India Co., but I've had great experiences both time. The first time I ordered their lunch special and I thought it was a hefty price for lunch, but after seeing what I got - it was well worth it. It was enough food for THREE lunches! This time around I had their papdi chaat with that thin, crispy cracker (I don't know what it's called) and it was SO good! Their spinach naan is very good, also. Even their plain naan was tasty. Fluffy and not too heavy. I would definitely eat here again, but I think i'm going to have to make it into the restaurant to try their dinner.
(4)Christine H.
I gave this place 3 stars at first, even though I wanted to give 3.5 (but that's not an option). BUT, I just ate my leftovers from last night....yum! Even better the second time around. I love when that happens. Below is my original review from last night. I went here for the time tonight as part of a meet-up group of about 11-14 women. I ordered the Lamg Saag with a side of garlic naan and sampled some of the Paneer Saag and onion naan. The food was good and I wouldn't mind going back again, but probably wouldn't rush to go back or suggest to go there again. Not that the food was bad at all, there's just so many options in Portland. I am interested in trying some of their other dishes, but would probably like going there for lunch or take out better. The service was ok, not great, and our server came to take our drink orders five minutes after I had gone to the bar to get my own drink because I didn't feel like waiting. We were there on a Thursday evening and it was not very busy. And granted, I understand the whole paying the bill with group of 14 strangers is bound to be a challenge; but their odd "we take up to 4 credit cards and the rest has to be cash," deal is just....well...odd. Anyway--I liked the food. It was good or a little bit better than just good, but the whole experience didn't blow my socks off.
(4)Michael F.
Excellent food and Service. Truly an indian treat.
(5)Rachel H.
EICo has got a few great items on their menu, and falls into what I like to call "fancy Indian". It's a bit dressed up, there are some interesting takes on things, but for the most part it's the usual fare, just slightly different. The ambiance is nice, it would be a good date spot. The grilled mushroom appetizer was a nice change from the usual samosa-appetizer menu, although for something in that style I prefer the mushroom duxelles at Indish. My husband loves this place because they do have paneer tikka, which is a plate of firm cheese that has been grilled in dry spices with onions and peppers, and comes sizzling. Like Indian fajita, I guess. My feeling on food in general is that there are really only two kinds of food - that which highlights the main ingredients simply, and that which covers them up with many spices so that you're not even sure what you're tasting. Neither one is intrinsically better than the other, of course it's all about the execution. EICo is of the latter style. I was very surprised to have such a heavily spiced (not hot spicy, but spiced) saag paneer, a dish that most people enjoy for the simple flavors of the greens and creaminess and cheese. I was more surprised that it was done so well. It's probably not traditional, but it was delicious. $13 seems like a lot for a veg entree, but it does come with pulao and the lentil stew of the day. The first time we ordered, I didn't realize it came with rice and I ordered the peas pulao, which is covered in crispy, sweet deep-fried onions. YUM. The desert menu is where this attempt at modernity fails the most. The rasmalai is solid, good stuff. But why, why would you serve gulab jamun with ice cream? Masala chai creme de pots is a nice idea but the execution wasn't all that exciting. Probably the most disappointing was the chili chocolate cake. I like spicy chocolate, I like cake, what could go wrong? Meh. Dry cake with unbalanced, flat flavors is what. Oh well. Overall a nice attempt at something different. While not every execution is successful, it's someplace we'd visit again.
(4)Alicia P.
Come in here for a post-movie dinner. It was happy hour, but their real menu was still available and more what the date and I were looking for. The service was excellent, as we sat at the bar tables and the bartender served us our food. He checked in on us, but gave us time to chat without being intrusive. As more post-work groups came in they all seemed pleased with the fancy cocktails they were drinking and the bartender was keeping up. The food was great, he warned us the tandori was spicy and it was very very spicy. The paneer was amazing, better than I have had it before. The prices were pretty on par with most Indian restaurants in Portland and the dinning area and the restroom were spotless and aesthetically pleasing. I would def go back and hope to sit in the back cabana style booths next time. This was a great place for a date.
(5)Alex K.
The BEST Indian food in Portland. Hands down. The spices used in the foods are of the utmost quality. The flavor is unbelievable. Every time I've come here I have been wowed. This is also a magnificent date spot. The atmosphere is fantastic and romantic. I took a well traveled lady here and she was so impressed with all of it. Let me spell it out for you: Flowers + EIC = Sex.
(5)Gini S.
The East India restaurant serves excellent food, full of flavor. The staff is very helpful, and are able to serve a table of 8 with no problem.
(5)M W.
This is definitely the best Indian food I've had in Portland. There are only a couple of places trying to offer upscale Indian fare in an attractive setting, and this is the ONE that succeeds. The bar area is small but bright; the dining area is intimate and darker. Each dish I've had has been excellent. The food is always fresh and often inventive, while the restaurant still offers "traditional" Indian dishes, most of which are South Indian cuisine. There are a couple of negatives: first, it's the priciest Indian restaurant in town, though it's worth it. While there's nothing wrong with the service, I've never had an especially friendly server. Everyone does their job appropriately and leaves you and your companions alone. If you want a server who is looking out for you and will go the extra mile, you'll probably find it lacking here. If the entrees were $9 a pop, that would be one thing. But at $15-17, it never hurts to show you care. Second, don't start your experience here by getting take out. It's not nearly as good. I'm not sure why, but it's not. Don't just sit at the bar and get happy hour plates. They're tasty, but it's not the same as a full meal in the dining room. Once you've had a proper meal here, you're unlikely to go back to your standby Indian restaurant, even if you could get two meals for the price of one here.
(4)Mindy S.
Started off well with a fantastic cucumber/gin/jalapeno martini from a skilled and friendly bartender. My friends arrived and we were seated, only to wait about twenty minutes before the waitress even took our drink order. Dinner took almost two hours for the six of us, and we did not even have appetizers or dessert. Food was ok. The garlic naan was the best part of my meal. Our server basically would not let me order the Vindaloo Chicken, she just kept saying that it was really spicy, they could not tone it down - and I did not even say that I was concerned it was spicy. Frankly, the curry I ended up ordering was bland. I don't know if other people had recently complained, or what the issue was. Paying the bill was a fiasco. Will visit the bar again. Doubt I will return for dinner. Awful service from our server.
(2)Mikki V.
Perhaps the worst Indian food I've ever had, and some of the most expensive, too (we ordered it delivered via Delivered Dish, so perhaps the prices were inflated by D-Dish and not accurate to their actual menu?). Maybe their meat dishes are better, but all of the vegetarian dishes were bland and gross, minus the sag paneer, which was servicable at best (it's on par with the stuff you get in a box at Trader Joe's) . Do yourself a favor and skip this joint. Oh, one caveat: my husband ordered the chili chocolate cake and said it was good. So I guess there's that.
(1)Devon D.
Lunch time! Two people, two FIVE COURSE lunch specials? Stuffed, didn't even come close to finishing, and got outa there for $30. Though each plate had a unique and intriguing flavor, OMGoodness the Tandoor lamb chops stole the show. That being said, I wouldn't order the vegetable curry again, and I'd rather pick a bunch of small plates than have a set, giant amount of a coursed lunch. Overall, a nice experience.
(4)Sameer P.
Really good food, nice ambience, and good portions for an economical price(lunch)! Definitely a worth a try...
(5)Olivia T.
Attention short people (like myself) be very careful when you sit on one of those high chairs at East India Co. for their happy hour. I involved in an incident involving the high chair and my short self. Here's what happened... My friend and I came here for happy hour on 4th of July and the bar area was mostly empty at five pm on Saturday evening. They don't have many seating options for the bar area, either you sit on the bar stools at the counter or the high tables with high chairs. The only low table with lower seats was occupied when were there. I hopped on the chair no problem. We got our menu and the nice bartender told us that the drinks are $1 off for happy hour and he brought us the happy hour food menu as well. The Happy Hour food price can't be beat, $3 for pretty much Indian version of tapas. There are only five items on the menu, I think they keep it simple and sweet. I ordered the Alcohol version of Mango Lassi and the "Lhassani Murgh" which was Chicken Wings in a garlic-yogurt marinade and grilled in tandoor. My Asian belly was crying for rice so I ordered a side of Basmati rice which only cost me $2. My vegetarian friend ordered the "Aloo-Kaju Cutlet" which was Potato Croquette with Cashew nuts and spices. We chatted and felt almost like at home since no other customers were there. Our drinks and food came. The chicken wings portion was pretty big for $3, paired that with the rice you got a complete meal. I love the chicken wings. It was spicy and tasty. The rice was just cooked perfectly. Not soft, not hard, just right. It was a good complete meal. My friend was pretty disappointed with the portion of her food. She ordered another vegetarian dish since she was still hungry after almost finished her meal. She ordered "Pakora" which was Besan Crusted, 'ajowain & jeera' spiced, vegetable fritters. Served with Tamarind Chutney. The fritters came pretty fast and she said she liked the Aloo better than the Pakora. I was stuffed after I gobbled down my food. We stayed for a little bit and chatted away. When it was time to go, I was trying not to fall when I got up from the high chair. I successfully did that, but the chair wasn't so lucky. The high chair fell on the ground and made this BANG! noise. Those nice servers thought it was me who fell and they kept asking if I was okay. I told them I was fine and it was the chair who suffered. I learned my lesson that next time if I ever had another Happy Hour here, I will sit at the bar counter on the bar stool instead of those high chairs. I really don't want to torture their chairs again...poor chairs...
(3)Pooja B.
Average food and customer service!
(3)Harlan M.
Excellent food, very fresh - the secret in this cuisine. At first they were very busy with large parties and we were scared our service would be compromised - but we shared our concerns with the waitress and she pulled it through. Once we got our food we were sold on the place and will return. Go.
(4)Jim L.
I soooo want to give this restaurant a higher rating as I love the decor, the tables, the fact it has an actual bar, the presentations, and the menu. Unfortunately, I cannot. The main problem is the food and that is too much to ignore. In essence, the food has been dumbed down and has lost the unique flavors and aromas that India has to offer. How so? I believe it is the lack of spices in the dishes. Whether it is coriander, cumin, tumeric, saffron, garam masala, cilantro, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, chili pepper powder, or whatever---the dishes taste like they have 1/2 the spices necessary for the dishes to taste appropriately Indian. We had the vegetable samosas which were presented beautifully with a beautiful tamarind sauce but the mint chutney was poor and i prefer mint chutney with a yogurt base. The problem was the mint/cilantro ratio was off. We had the Lamb Vindalho, the Chicken Korma, the Aloo Gobi, the Mutter Paneer, the Okra dish, and both Garlic Naan and the Paratha. Most everything was weakly spiced and both the Chicken and the Lamb were overcooked. For me, the leftovers are one of my favorite things to look forward to the next day because the flavors and spices intensify..Not this time. Even the leftovers were sub par. My advice...kick up the spices, slow down the development of each dish's masala, and PLEASE, no american music--I want to hear Ravi when I am in an Indian restaurant!.
(3)Tanya C.
Food was pretty decent but a bit pricey. The place is pretty dim and nicely decorated so its a nice date place. But I've had better indian food before at a much lower price.
(3)Andrea T.
I love this place! Coming from Austin, TX I have missed good Indian food. I am so glad this was the first place I tried in Portland. The Naan is fabulous, we had to wait a while for it bc there was trouble with the oven but it was well worth wait. All the food we tried was delicious, the server was friendly, the bartender was great, and the decor is beautiful.
(5)E E.
The food here was fine (that is what earned it one star). The service is some of the worst we have experienced in Portland. It may be that we were unlucky with our server. If you look through the negative reviews on here you will notice that many refer to a "sour" "unfriendly" "very cross" and "surly" waitress and it seems this is who we were unlucky enough to suffer. We came here for my birthday and will not be going back to see if things improve. A compulsory 18% service charge is also added to the bill. Maybe they need to do this because the service is so poor that people regularly under tip or maybe the service is poor because the servers know they do not need to make an effort. The icing on the cake was when our waitress added an extra 18% on top of the compulsory 18% when she ran the cards. We had to get the manager to sort this out because as was typical for the evening, our server was nowhere to be seen.
(1)Markus H.
A friend asked me to join her for lunch at the East India Co this past week. I had walked past the restaurant countless times without truly taking it in. As many other reviews have pointed out, the entrance is fairly inconspicuous and leads to a narrow bar area. Once the bar area opens up, it turns into a nice dining area with ample space, nice lighting, and an interesting layout. The furniture and paint job give off a newness I rarely enjoy at restaurants but for some reason work well here. I ordered the Viceroy Lunch special and was very pleased. Lunch was served in a few courses (I selected chicken for all as I wasn't feeling too well and didn't feel the inclination to venture too far) and each one was more delicious than the next. The chicken curry was slightly spicy with bold flavor. The chicken was a touch over cooked, but it was easily forgotten when combined with the incredible naan bread. Hands down this was some of the best naan I've ever had. Our waiter shared that during dinner they serve a garlic naan that is killer and might draw me for a return visit. The Chicken skewer was a little light on the portion size but had a wonderful smokey flavor and was cooked perfectly. As I walked back to work after lunch I felt great. I couldn't quite put my finger on why. The food was tasty, but nothing I'd brag about to friends and family. The atmosphere was normally something I would laugh at, but for this restaurant it worked. The service was friendly and attentive, bringing water and naan whenever we ran low. I didn't anticipate I would have enjoyed my meal as much as I did. I don't know if I'll be back for dinner, but it's a great little lunch spot if you are looking for an escape. *This place gets an extra star for the food presentation. Everything came out looking great.
(4)M O.
I eat here about once a month. The food is always pretty good, but customer service varies. Sometimes they're incredibly on spot with everything while at other times you just have to get up and corner someone to pay and leave.
(4)Stefanie S.
Way overpriced and no people showed up for happy hour. The appetizers were tiny and not even worth the 3$. Probably way better places around the city.
(1)Nora X.
Expensive. For Portland mediocre Indian food for dinner at least. It's a very pretty place, the napkin rings are rhinestone encrusted, and I really like the side booths with the draping fabric and the cushions. The food is also presented well, or at least the samosas and paneer sag were. The food itself was mediocre, it really wasn't bad or terribly wonderful. Nice ambiance though, even if it tries to be a little fancy. and cute bartender :)
(3)Erin S.
Amazingly fresh and wonderfully spiced. We had the chicken mahkani, Gobi Mutter and Aloo Gobi. The food was wonderful, the service was prompt and we didn't experience any attitude. I think it's the best Indian I've had in Portland and we'll definitely be coming back.
(4)Rache S.
In a nutshell: nice atmosphere, mediocre food, terrible service, skip the wine. I had dinner here last night with three girlfriends and the signs were ominous from the start. Our table was ready at 6:30 but once we were seated it took nearly 15 minutes for someone to bring water to the table. We then to flag a waiter down in order to order wine, and flag a waiter down again to order dinner a half an hour later. Clearly they were short staffed as the restaurant was surprising full for a Monday evening, but a simple "I'll be with you in a minute" would have been appreciated. It took forever to get our food with three of us ordering off the winter tasting menu and one order of chicken tikka. The food was okay, but was lacking the complex flavors and rich spices typical of Indian food. Although the atmosphere was nice, that's no excuse for bland food. But the highlight of the night was when my friend asked that her riesling, which she had taken one sip of and thought was awful, be taken off the bill. Keep in mind that this is a friend whose husband owns a restaurant so she's really forgiving when it comes to issues with food, service, etc. The waiter first smelled it and said he thought is was fine, then he told her it looked like she had already drank half of it, then he finally walked away with the glass only to come back with two bottles to pour her another glass of wine she didn't want. Finally my friend asked to speak to the manager who took the wine off the bill. I had the pinot gris which was also not very good, but the restaurant did have some interesting looking cocktails that might have been a better choice. Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant and I will not be eating there again.
(2)Sarah W.
Lunch at East India Co. was delicious. The waiter brought crisp flatbread with Indian condiments to start. Then, we all ordered the Colonel's Lunch which included a spicy fish dish, rice, a delicious soup and fresh, warm, soft naan. So good. We finished it off with a traditional Indian dessert: milk doughnuts served in a warm honey, saffron sauce with vanilla ice cream. YUM! The service couldn't have been better. Attentive, knowledgeable, and professional. East India was a great place to spend a rainy lunch hour. I would like to go back for happy hour (which goes until 7pm!).
(4)Kyle G.
Family owned, true home style Indian food. This place is awesome!!
(4)Beth S.
Was here once and enjoyed it. My husband thought it was too expensive (surprise). He was also wondering why there were no Indian people dining there, just working there. To him that is usually a sign that it is not great Indian food. He had the briyani and enjoyed it, but was expecting more for the money. I had some vegetarian cashew dish that was to die for. I guess it could have been slightly more spicy. I hope to return to have the same delicious dish I had the last time, but I wish they would change their name. It just seems to name a restaurant that serves Indian food after an oppressive entity just seems wrong. It was decorated very nicely.
(4)Lindsay L.
The restaurant has a lot more ambiance then you can imagine from the street. The bar is rather long and slender but the back dining room is intimate and well decorated. The food was well prepared and the servers were energetic and very efficient!
(3)nanners r.
Went for mother's day brunch based on online buffet menu advertised as such. It had julebi listed, which I love. We made reservations about a week or more in advance for the two of us. When we got there, they sat us at a tall table for two at the bar. My mother has hip problems and can't get up and down from the tall stools, so I let the hostess know this. She was pretty surly and said she could bring a short chair to the table but that my mom then wouldn't be able to reach the table. Really? Is this a solution? Finally after complaining again to a very sweet waitress we were told we could sit at a table by the front door, though it was obvious they were not happy about it. They did not offer to help move our plates or drinks. The hostess glared at me everytime I passed her. Nice. The food was disappointing. First off, no julebi. Apparently that was last year's menu. There was one good fish curry, the rest was meh. There were 3 meat dishes (a flavorless chicken, overcooked mutton, and the tasty fish curry), three veg, a sad salad, rice w cranberries and dried fruit in it and chopped up apples. Dahi vada was dry and flavorless. Pav bhaji was pretty good. Naan was ok. They did come by to the tables w some other chaat (pani puri) that was pretty good. Instead of julebi they had spongy (not in a good way) and flavorless gulab jamun. The star of the whole meal was pista kulfi. It was delicious. but could not save his disasterous meal. Overall, would never go back. $18 for a buffet that did not warrant the price. You can get much better at Lentil Garden or even Swagat. To add insult to injury, they added gratuity to our bill. There were only TWO of us. WTF?
(1)Linda R.
Very attractive decor ... muted colors, attractive lighting. Prompt service. Chicken tikka masala at the medium spicy level was tender and flavorful wthout being too hot. Husband's tandoori chicken also delicious. Extensive wine list. They apologized 4 times for forgetting to bring the naan with the meal. Appetizer, two entrees, bread, 4 glasses of wine were $79. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items.
(5)P H.
Really enjoy it here. Very nice atmosphere. One of the few indian places that I'd take out of town guests. Food is very good and service is excellent.
(5)jennifer h.
We loved it! Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff and wonderful food. Wish we would have eaten here last night. Servings are a little small if you have a huge appetite...but delicious everything. We ordered xtra naan and xtra rice.
(4)Erika B.
I expected this place to be fantastic based on all the previous reviews. My opinion is that it was overrated and over priced. The food was lacking any depth of flavor. The portions were incredibly small. The service was rushed and intrusive at times. I will continue my search for good Indian food in Portland.
(2)Jessica T.
Short version: food was mediocre & greasy, prices weren't great, and the bartender's political tirade was a real turn off. The Tolstoy: I was in Portland in early November for a business trip. I found the East India Company on Yelp and it looked pretty good, so I put it on my short list of places to try while I was in town. I had a lot of business stuff to take care of, so I called my order in for pickup and drove my huge-ass rental car over to get my food. [I got a crash course in Portland public parking when I arrived. In the rain. I actually had to ask for help because what the kiosk told me to do and what I actually HAD to do were slightly different. (Many thanks to the kind stranger who helped me out.)] When I arrived, the owner was at the bar chatting with a customer. The restaurant is well decorated. It was full of shiny and sparkly things that I like to look at. I couldn't tell whether or not the restaurant was busy - couldn't see the seating area from where I was - but I didn't hear a buzz of conversation so I think it might've been pretty quiet. My food was waiting for me, which was nice, and I proceeded to pay for it. Being from SoCal and unused to this whole "sky water" (rain) phenomenon, I made a small joke about it and how it was so silly of me to expect nice weather in November. The bartender then began a tirade about how this weather was bad and nasty because it was a sign that McCain was doomed to lose (in the election; it was election night) and that he'd better be prepared to lose and the weather was a condemnation from on high against the whole of the Republican party. Yeah. That was unexpected. And uncalled for. But whatever. I suppose that's what I get for making a joke about the weather. (?) I ordered a bunch of food because I was going to keep left overs around for the next night. I didn't get to do that, though, because there wasn't much worth eating again. Here's a review of the food: Vegetable pakoras: Really lousy. It was more like a beer batter than any other pakoras that I've ever had. Vegetable selection included cauliflower ... and canned black olives and canned mini corn cobs. That was weird. It wasn't good. It was soggy and greasy and not the quality I was expecting for $8. Vegetable samosas: Pretty good. I read a review that the "samosas" is really one 'samosa' cut into four pieces and served over a chickpea masala. This was actually very good. Maybe not worth $8, but good. Paneer Tikka: Not very good. I love paneer, but I don't think it translated to kebab very well. It was a good idea, but it fell short of tasting good. Also, not really worth $12. Malai Kofta: Good. This I actually liked a lot. The flavor was what I was expecting and the portion was generous. I got what I was expecting and what I wanted in terms of price & taste. Two of the four dishes I bought were good but not great, one was good in theory but not in practice, and one was absolutely lousy. Factor in the high-ish prices and venomous bartender moment, and I wouldn't recommend East India Co for dinner. There's a hole-in-the-wall Indian/Pakistani joint here at home that has better food, better prices, and no attitude. If you're thinking about trying this place, you ought to pass.
(2)Rian M.
Indian food is new for me. Other than a few American-ized curry dishes from the grocer I had no point of reference for East India Co. Unassuming from the street, the restaurant opens into a large pleasant space in the back away from the street noise. We ordered the Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken), Saag Paneer (a spinach dish) and Naan (amazing bread). Our entrees came with balsamic rise and, unexpectedly, a very spicy soup. Everything was delicious and ranged from a mild spice to more intense heat. The portions were perfect and we took a second order of Naan to go. Our visit was early on Tuesday, so the service was prompt. I definitely will visit East India Co again to try new dishes and will have to figure out how to fit Indian cuisine into the crowded mix of great food in town.
(3)Maria D.
this is the best Indian food I've found in Portland yet. I've had some really really good Indian food in my day and I haven't found any 'comfort' or 'divine' Indian food in Portland yet but this place is good. The atmosphere is a little fancy. It's a nice restaurant, a little expensive for dinner, but the lunch scene is where its at. Lunch is inexpensive (similarly priced to the food carts a few blocks down) and infinitely better quality. The main dishes were fresh and delicious with medium spice and the samosas and naan were simply the way they are supposed to be which for some reason is not the case in most Indian places in town.
(4)Michelle H.
I never knew that Indian food could be so sexy. The dining room is so intimate--so classy. I usually get nervous around cloth napkins and tablecloths, but taking the edge off with paper that we can draw on makes a world of difference. We gathered around a large table, preparing for our feast. Drinks were flowing, but they weren't all that fabulous. They were over the top, and not in a good way. The creativity is apparent, but some of the flavors are so strong and clash so much that it takes your breath away. Stick to what you know and love--now is not the time to live life on the edge. The service was fun and quirky, if a bit slow, but we had no where to go. We were enjoying ourselves. The food, once it arrived, was fantastic. Big enough to pass around the table so everyone gets a bite or seven. Spicy when it needs to be, hitting the right spots to tantalize your taste buds. I have never had such succulent lamb in my life. It melted in my mouth and made me weak in the knees. The only downfall was the naan--for four or five orders that we had at the table, we really didn't end up with a whole lot. We laughed...we cried--over spicy lamb...and then it was over. They had no problem splitting our check up between the nine of us. They didn't even bat an eyelash. Sure it's expensive, but you're not going to eat it everyday. Well, you could I suppose, but I'd be out of cash in no time. I know there are other more affordable places to cure my Indian hunger pangs, but in need of a classy experience I'd be at East India in a heart beat.
(5)Pooja S.
I was impressed by the level of detail the owner of this place has gone through... from the interior to the vessels the food is served in, right down to the napkin holders which are children's bracelets.. We started by having the sharabbi lassi and right away i knew we were in for a great meal. After asking the waitress where the chef was from we found he was from Punjab. From the tandoori Paneer to the Malai Kofta to the Saag Paneer everything was delish. So much so that we ate as much as we could to the point of feeling extra stuffed because we didn't want to waste any food. This has to be one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to in the US... not praise which is given lightly from an Indian ;)
(5)Lyn B.
We are from Vancouver, BC - where there are a lot of South Asian restaurants - and were looking for a reasonable Indian place in Portland to have dinner. This lively restaurant exceeded our expectations. The flavours are varied and delightfully layered. It's truly spicy in the right ways - as opposed to being just overspiced. The Vindaloo finally met my partner's standards for "proper hot". The Sagh Paneer and the lamb curry was among the best I have ever had. Service is good and the decor is pleasant. On Saturday night the place was buzzing, so don't expect a quiet, secluded atmosphere. Try the kulcha - stuffed naans. All in all one of the best Indian places I have been to anywhere. Top marks!
(5)Megan B.
After reading the glowing reviews from other patrons, I expected to have a great meal at East India Co. On my vacation to Portland, my husband and I dined here for lunch, and it was even better than I imagined. Here are my impressions of East India Co. Let's get the less exciting stuff out of the way first - I truly appreciated the décor. With a mix of modern and traditional, east and west, the indoor décor was very classy, especially considering the less than impressive simple storefront. It made our dining experience feel that much more luxurious. I don't think you could easily come here for an hour lunch, as we were there for at least 90 minutes. Luckily, we were on vacation and in no rush. The staff service was good (not amazing like everything else), especially considering how many courses they had to bring. Now on to the best part - my husband and I each ordered a Viceroy Lunch, which was a four course meal with salad and naan on top of everything else. The samosa's to start with were fantastic, and I really enjoyed the flavor and texture of the paneer kabobs that followed, but best of all was the amazing curry. By the time I had reached the curry and basmati rice course, I was already getting full, yet I couldn't stop eating until every last delicious drop was gone. The dessert, which was just ok, was also completely unnecessary after such a gigantic meal. The reasonable prices were simply icing on the cake. While I typically don't spend this much on lunch ($13 for the Viceroy), the meal ate more like a lavish evening dinner, in which case I would have expected to pay 2 or 3 times as much. Bravo, East India Co! You are the reason I want to return to Portland again soon.
(5)Danielle K.
O...M...G.... I don't know. Maybe it's been too long since I've had Indian food (a year or more), but this stuff was amazing. Like the clouds-part-and-light-shines-down-on-a-dish-of-ÂSaag-Paneer kind of amazing. Like angels-stop-harping-so-they-can-sing-about-the-Âlamb kind of amazing. Everything from the mango lassi to the Murg Makhan to the Murg Tikka was, as Andrew C. might say it, ON POINT [insert party snap here]. There was adequate spice (heat and other) in all the dishes, and all meats were incredibly tender (I had no idea lamb could taste like THAT) and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Service was quirky yet attentive, the ambiance sexy but not overplayed. The drinks...interesting and not the greatest...but the bartender incredibly cool and personable. The prices--high, and almost worth it. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Okay. I'm going to go have sweet little dreams about papadan and Murg Korma. *faints*
(5)Sabrina H.
I must say, Indian food has now become my absolute favorite! This was certainly a fantastic birthday dinner. Came here with eight others and most of us ordered different things. That allowed for tasting of great dishes that I would order the next time I showed up. At least now it was all wrapped up into one time so I now have chances to try others. All of those dishes though I would get again! The drinks were alright. I had the Juhu Silk which is basically all rum, yum! Everything is expensive too but I think it's worth it when it involves perfectly cooked lamb and chicken along with delicious curries. Going back to the large group...Michelle H. had called ahead to get tables put together for us. They were very happy that they were called. It's not always necessary though! The bill was also seperated for each individual person before we even asked! I wish I lived closer so I could eat here for lunch too. Is it wrong that I'm salivating just writing this review?
(5)ruthie m.
This is the best north Indian food in PDX. The service leaves something to be desired and they are really big on reservations, even though they never really seem necessary when you get there. Their Malai Kofta is the best I have ever had anywhere! They do divine things with their bread and dessert too and their samosas could be a meal in themselves.
(5)Alex P.
Muy good. Everything about this place is perfect. Waiters are nice, food is a good mix between exotic flavors and comfort food. Good balance unlike many of the Indian places in Portland. And they actually have something on the ceiling other than those crappy asbestos tiles you see in offices.
(5)Steph K.
Delicious Indian food...loved the naan bread, the saag corn and the Gajjar Ka Halwa (it's a carrot dessert that is SO much tastier than it sounds, it is a must-try).
(5)Chloe B.
Love the awesome food the staff is very friendly and the owner is a true gentleman. Can't beat the Lamb chops
(5)Joe M.
This place always alludes me every time I walk by in downtown. I was craving happy hour before seeing Pink Martini and the Oregon Symphony perform live. One of my friend's and I headed over to the Indian restaurant and I was expecting it to be packed. When we arrived, there were only 2 customers at the bar so we got seated right away. The bartender promptly brought us cold glasses of water and talked about the happy hour menu. The menu itself has only 5 items listed but for $3 a piece, we were willing to give it a try. I ordered the Pakora(fritters) and the Lhassani Murgh(chicken wings). My friend also ordered the Lhassani Murgh and he ordered Baingan Bhartha(zesty dip). They had some beers on tap so we each had a Stella Artois that came with one of those fancy glasses. The atmosphere is very nice; great Indian soothing music was playing in the background. A few minutes later, my fritters and the zesty dip arrived. The chicken wings were still cooking but there was no hurry. The fritters were not greasy at all and had a nice bite to it. The chutney was very mild, not spicy at all. It certainly gave the fritters a nice sweet flavor. The plating was impressive, looked very fancy and elegant. I loved the grilled eggplant dip and the fresh and warm Naan that came with it. It had a lot of flavor and even tasted great with the Pakora. The wings finally arrived and they come with 6 pieces. A dry rub is used instead of a sauce on the wings. They are cooked in a Tandoor grill so I knew they would be delicious. My instinct was right, they had the right amount of heat and spice without overpowering the taste. They can be messy even with the dry rub but I enjoyed the dish anyway. We ordered some more wings and we were certainly full after that. When the bill came, I was surprised to see that even the beer was only $3 although was not specified on the menu. Service was great, comfortable, and enjoyable. I will definitely be coming back here to this fine Indian Cusine!
(5)Kitty P.
I just spent the last two years rollin' with my home Indians (see photo!) and wanted to go somewhere Indian, delicious and fun with my classmate, Sanjay and his wife for happy hour before a movie. The place is really pretty, and our server was super kewel, but there really weren't any tables in the bar and it's hard to enjoy appetizers for four all lined up in a row. So we decided to go have dinner in the restaurant. Anyway, all the food was fantastic and I highly recommend this place, but it really rubbed me the wrong way that they made us actually "walk away" from the last of our appetizers AND PAY in order to move into the dining room. I can see the business reasons behind this, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. Could there be a "drop over $100 and we'll let you drag along your last satay skewer" clause please? Do go, and try the chicken wings and fish fingerling appetizers - AMAZING! Probably a better place for happy hour with your sweetie than a big group. Gorgeous main dining room with huge padded booths.
(4)Tom A.
Phenomenal. How has this place slipped by so many of my friends? It's right on the streetcar line, but tucked across from the back of the main library, a couple blocks off from the big crowd of ethnic diners. On our way to a show at the Schnitz, six of us had dinner here and there was not a single disappointment in the group, unless you count that we didn't have time to stay for Gulab Jamun and coffee. The first of us got here a little after five for their happy hour specials ($3, 4 to 7 PM) which were excellent and augered well for the meal to come. When the rest of the party, including Ms. A and the offspring, got there we moved from the bar to the dining room. The single large room is stylishly decorated and lit, with a high, modernly designed ornate ceiling, dark tandoor-hued walls and shimmering fabrics draped to soften the sounds of ones fellow diners. We didn't dawdle with appetizers, moving straight to beverages and main courses. I had the Murg Makhani, or 'butter chicken', a succulent stew of tender curried chicken which was out of this world. The boy knew he wanted lamb but couldn't decide which of the many offerings to settle on. His Mom, who once wanderered through Kashmir, encouraged him to get the Rogan Josh (which in my brain keeps rearranging itself into Josh Groban), a lamb shank slow-cooked in Kashmiri spices. He wasn't so sure but he got it and devoured it with the kind of gusto only a teenage boy can muster. The curry dishes and the chutneys and sauces are served in beautiful copper bowls and rice is molded into small pyramids. It's those kind of details that take a good meal and elevate it to a spectacular one. The cocktails were the only hit-or-miss part of the affair and that you might write off to being just a little too adventurous. I had a drink special so new its name seemed to be evolving as it was being mixed. The last-heard title was Tamarind-Ginger Tantra, which I think is pretty apt. Tamarind pulp muddled with ginger-infused vodka and some tonic, I think it was. Although the ginger gave it plenty of bite, somehow the tamarind wasn't rich enough to give the drink the complexity I wanted. The Madrassi Margarita is pretty much a top shelf 'rita, but with muddled cilantro, which might not be such a great idea after all. On the other hand, the kids got mango lassies that were off the hook. I went for the adult version, a Sharaabi Lassi, taking that same drink and shaking it with a generous pour of Absolut Mandarin. That, old chap, is a dangerously delicious concoction. Some of us have had brilliant Indian dinners in Srinigar, some in London and some in Southeast Portland, and we were all quite impressed with East India Co. Next time, by Jove, we are staying for dessert!
(4)eshwar k.
Yup i'm Indian. food was terrible. and all i wanted was decent indian food-- my expectations were pretty reasonable. the m.o. here is "make the entrees pricey and people will be convinced it's good". didn't work.
(1)Das K.
I find it interesting that so many people give this place 4-5 stars... I can only assume that they have never had real Indian food (meaning from India, from an Indian's homecooking, or from one of the very rare real Indian restaurants in town). Now if I had never been tainted with real Indian food, I would give this place 4 stars... and it is a great place to take uninitiated potential devotees that may have a hard time with anything spicy. The atmosphere is very nice (especially sitting in one of the booths), the bar and wine selection are good, and the presentation of the food was good. The waitress we had was on the job for the first night, so couldn't really answer many questions, so we just flowed with it. We ordered the fish tandoori, some mattar paneer, palak paneer, samosas, and one more appetizer I can't remember. Overall everything was OK, and tasted find, but I like much more flavor in my curries and this was really Americanized Indian food with a nice atmosphere for us to enjoy. I have not been back... however if I had some people in town that had never had Indian food, I just might take them here (not too far from the house) so they can have a first step into Indian food with a really nice looking atmosphere. Make the food more authentic and I will be back.
(3)Raj S.
So food is okay, as tasty as other reputed restaurants like Swagat etc. However, simply surprised by ridiculously high per plate price, you can get better food (and more as well) in half that price. Moreover, even they charge extra for another plate of paapad, the waiter announced that fact loudly, seems they have lot of room left in building customer service. Will I go there again, maybe not?
(1)Brian C.
It's pricey which is why I give East India Co. only 4 stars - but the food is great. Okay, I'm not Indian but I have eaten Indian food across the U.S. as well as Montreal and London and this place is good. I also know multiple Indian folks who swear this is the only Indian restaurant they'll eat at in Portland. The grilled mushroom appetizer is one of my favorites - great spices and possibly my favorite mushroom dish anywhere. The grilled fish entree is also spectacular when it comes out, cooked perfectly every time and amazingly tender with superb flavor. I also highly recommend the grilled lamb chops (although small they are incredibly tender and flavorful) as well as virtually any of the curries and most items I have tried on the menu including naan of course. Make sure you specify the level of spice however - I had a vindaloo dish that was virtually impossible for my Western palate to consume without significant discomfort - but if you like it spicy just ask and they'll give you what you want.
(4)Aishwarya S.
Very bad service. I will never want to go back again, very harsh and cold service. The food was okay, but I will definitely not go back there.
(1)Elizabeth E.
I think its best to tell this dining story from the end to the beginning. Amidst the sweet soft lighting, the bright white table-cloth and the romantic mood of Portland's best new Indian food restaurant, I indelicately splash bright yellow bean curry all over (1) myself, (2) the floor, (3) my dining companion, and (4) the beautiful white table cloth. Ta da. But even that klutzy maneuver did not mar an otherwise perfect meal in a great new restaurant. Desserts are unique, perfect for sharing, and superb. The other dishes are also richly flavorful and delicious - highlights include the murg makhani (main course) and the simla sambuk (appetizer). The garlic naan is divine and may well slay even the most vicious of vampires. Attentive servers manage to be both on top of everything but laid-back (which is a very nice pairing of qualities, and helps you feel not-so-bad when you splash curry everywhere). So when you get there, enjoy the service, order up a red cyclone cocktail, if you want something alcoholic, or a perfect mango lahassi if you don't. Then relax and enjoy the ambiance - which East India has in abundance. Favorite element: the care and attention to details is obvious at East India Co, from the artwork on the walls, to the selection on the menu, to the delicate and perfect napkin rings, everything feels that it was not only lovingly selected but it is also classy & well-suited to the dining experience.
(5)Min T.
Alcoholic drinks with an Indian twist? Plus one. Decor? Plus one. Service? Plus one. Food? Well, let's address the food. We started off with the samosa which was one cut into fours. It was good though kinda pricey to just get one. I ordered the chicken korma which was good though I'm not entirely sure worth the $16 it was priced at. I've definitely had more creamy korma before. There was a good amount of chicken and I appreciated they shaped the rice on my plate into a pyramid shape. Fancy pants. It was served with a pretty good peas and cabbage side (sides change daily). I also got an order of garlic kulch which is really just like garlic naan ($3). I ordered the lassi with vodka and it was served in one of those cute stemless martini glasses. It wasn't sour, it was brown and it was very strong. I enjoyed it. Skylar's cucumber pepper drink was also very strongly made but I could see how she didn't like it after a while because it was definitely more cuke than pepper. Drinks were $7.50. We had the chili chocolate cake which was rich and well made. For $5, it was a nice way to end the meal. I liked the fact the waitress asked us if we wanted separate checks. Several others came by to help clear plates and fill water glasses. The manager (owner?) came by to ask us how the meal went and I appreciated the gesture. The restroom is unisex and well-kempt. I loved the sink faucet. The decor was definitely on the tasteful side. I wouldn't mind coming back here for happy hour and sitting in the front bar. There's a cute sitting area right by the front door as well. I spent about $37.
(3)Nate S.
So, this review is based on two experiences...one for dinner, one for lunch. First, the food is phenomenal. The best indian i've had since my time in London...and that's quite a compliment. They have incredible naan bread! The food is refreshingly solid, and not like the stodgy curry you'd get from a lesser place. I'm relatively new to pdx, but this is a favorite for sure. For dinner I had some shrimp vindaloo (not for the faint of heart), which was very nice. The naan bread, once again, is phenomenal. Best paneer naan i've ever had. The curries are lovely and sophisticated, like most things i've had there. For lunch I had the "viceroy" lunch. All lunch there is a pre fixed menu, but it's great. The kebab was lovely, and the chicken curry was wonderful (even though I had a bone in mine...!). My one bone to pick (yup, pun intended...). Is the service. It is terribly lacking. Food comes out far too slow for lunch, and often times we were left without a full drink glass and empty plates on the table. Should be the opposite of that, no? Both times it was as if we were a second thought to our servers, who often dissapeared for long stretches of time. When the bill was dropped off, it was literally dropped off. I've had better interaction with fedex delivery drivers who leave a package on my doorstep, ring my bell, and leave. There is no pleasantry exchange, or any other kind of acknowledgement that I was a valued customer. With such great food, it's a true shame that the experience isn't better. Three stars for great food. It would have been no less than four stars if the service was...serviceable.
(3)Autumn B.
Yeah...this place is okayish. Meh, really not impressed. It looks nice, atmosphere is lovely. The food was just so mediocre. I've had Indian food from food carts that was way cheaper and waaay more delicious. Also I had two or three women coming by to serve my friend and me which was weird. If I ever do go there again, which I won't unless a friend of mine reeeallly wants to, I'll bring markers or crayons or something cause they cover the tables in paper. That at least can be fun. Hah! Oh, but the naan was pretty fabulous.
(3)Adam P.
I'm pretty fussy about Indian food. Having worked in the UK, and lived in Boston for much of my life I've had access to some top notch Indian resturants...so let's just say I had high expectations. It's a smallish pace, but being new and a random weekday, it was not crowded. East India has both booths and tables, and a full bar as you enter the resturant. Thier wine list is not huge, but most of the selection can be had by the glass. And many folks drink the beer there (and yes, the Kingfisher beer comes in the large bottle). 6 people in my party, and we ordered appetizers and 7 main courses - I only managed to get my hands on a Samosa which was was warm and flakey...and vegetarian which I prefer in Samosas. W I tried all the main dishes - everything from the lamb Vindaloo to a cold yogurt dish whose names escapes me. The naan (we had onion AND garlic) was soft and fragrant. The rice perfect. **But most importantly they will actually serve you spicy food!** Oh, and finally the bill, after ordering drinks, apps, and dinner was only $40 per person. Pretty reasonable in a city that not exactly cheap anymore.
(5)Nader A.
I decided to take My Lady out for a little pre-birthday Happy Hour at the East India Co; I guess this place has been open since late 2007, but the first I heard of it was just a few short weeks ago, and being a complete Indian food slut I had to give it a try. As I said, we went for happy hour (Mon-Sat 4-7pm) because I figured this would be a relatively cheap way to get a feel for the restaurant on the cheap so we could decide whether we had to come back for dinner soon, or write it off altogether (the latter not likely since, did I mention I'm an Indian food slut?). We had invited some friends to join us, but we weren't sure how many could make it, so thought "we'll just find a table for 4 and pull up extra chairs if we need them". There was just one flaw to this plan: there are no tables for 4 or even 3; there are only high tables for 2 along the wall opposite the bar, and one low set table with two lounge-like chairs at the end of the bar. Because there are scant few feet in between the tables and the bar - and this "bar area" is actually the entrance to the restaurant, not some lounge in an out of the way corner - you couldn't even pull up an extra barstool to a table or you'd completely block foot traffic into/out of the restaurant. We decided to belly up to the bar, and if anyone joined us we'd just fan out and take the whole place over. As one couple, then another, joined us it became extremely uncomfortable and awkward. Read this and believe it: East India Company is a great happy hour spot for a couple, but any more than that is almost impossible. I kinda got ahead of myself because before any of our friends arrived we sat at the bar for a good 10 minutes before we were able to order anything, or even get a drink of water. I won't ding them too much for this because the earnest, though inexperienced, fellow behind the bar informed us that he was just "filling in" and seemed to struggle with a couple Mojitos and Absolut Mandarin Lassis. When we finally did get to put in our order he told us they had happy hour drink specials, but that he didn't know how to make them...given that the happy hour menu only listed food I'm not sure if he was mistaken or if they actually have drink specials also, but we ended up just ordering a glass of house red (some cabernet I believe) and a delicious Indica IPA from Lost Coast Brewing - I've enjoyed many bottles of the Indica before, but I think this was the first time I've had it on draught and I'm so stoked they had it. Other beer choices were standard, sub-par options like Stella Artois, Widmer Drop Top, and the like. We also ordered 4 of the 5 happy hour food items (all of which are are super cheap at just $3). The Lhassani Murgh (garlic yogurt marinated tandoori chicken wings and drumettes) and Baingan Bartha (grilled and minced eggplant, tomato, and onion curry with roti wedges for dipping) were absolutely fabulous; but the Aloo-kaju (potato cashew cutlets) and veggie Pakoras were only so-so. The former looked like little mozzarella sticks, but with a bland mashed potato like filling rather than cheese, and the latter was decent but with some odd veggies like olives and baby corn, it seemed a little non-traditional for a pakora. The chutneys were all delicious however, and the portion sizes were quite generous for $3. I can easily see myself returning to East India Co for happy hour food and drinks before a romantic dinner in their elegantly decorated dining room, and when I do I'll update my review and hopefully be able to give then another star. This place shows a lot of promise for an upscale Indian dining experience, and the happy hour is great too as long as it's just you +1.
(3)Adrienne T.
Oh my, what a place. Coming from the Boston area, which has a large number of both Indian people and Indian restaurants, I feel justified in assuming the role of Indian Restaurant Expert. This place was a treat. It was definitely the most upscale Indian place I've been to. I was a little apprehensive... usually the fancier the restaurant, the less more watered-down the food. But the food was great. Based on another Yelper's review, I got the samosas to start. Different from how I've had them in the past, but very nice nonetheless. And the Navratan Korma was delicious! The sauce was creamy but not too rich, and the vegetables were nice and tender. The service was great, too - the manager came by my table several times to check on me. Rather than feeling irritated by human interaction, as I normally do, I was pleased and felt welcomed by his attention. So if you're in the mood for some high-quality Indian food in a sophisticated, dare I say romantic, atmosphere, give this place a try!
(5)Ari D.
The atmosphere was delightful and the food was delicious. I had the chicken, the "Murg Tikka" with "Lachha Paratha" Naan. I tried my boyfriend's lamb, the "Seekh Kebab", it was great too! My parent's were newbies to Indian Food (which is a toughie), and the waiter wasn't very helpful in aiding them in their menu choices. He was very sweet, perhaps just a bit timid. They both ending up ordering the same thing and I think they could of enjoyed their first Indian Food experience a lot more had they more information about the food they were eating.
(4)Z Z.
The food was good but I have had much better Indian food. I would totally go back but only after I have tried other Indian places in Portland. The samosas were actually delicious, I loved them. They came with these delicious garbanzo beans that we so fantastic! I also tried the pakores which I did not like at all. They were so bizarre, they consisted of different fried veggies but they didn't have any spices or anything else to them. One of the veggies were olives, how bizarre is that? Yeah, that one was a big ole mess, it was just so bad! The peshawari naan was really good, I loved that it actually tasted like nuts and raisins rather than just tasting like a regular naan that is just stuffed full of them. Paul got the chicken biryani and he liked it but said it wasn't five stars. He agreed with me about the pakores, the look on his face when he bit into one and said "its an olive!!!!!!!!!" was priceless! The interior is really beautiful, I loved how the walls were red, black, and grey and that there were exposed beams on the ceiling. I also loved the stained glass on the ceiling, really beautiful. I wasn't too impressed with the waitstaff but whatever, I have dealt with much worse! Overall, good food, not fantastic by any means but totally worth a try!
(3)Polly R.
A fantastic meal. 4.5 stars. The service was perhaps a bit uneven, but friendly and well-intentioned. Oustanding chicken tikka masala ( which my husband orders every time we go to an Indian restaurant, so we've had a few) and superb fish korma. Full bar and nice wine selection. We also had been here for lunch a week ago and were very happy with that, tho dinner was much more special.
(4)Tasha D.
Wow! That pretty much sums it up. Everything in the East India Company is splendid. The dcor, the food, even the restrooms are cool. Attention to detail was obviously in their minds when they started this place. The shape of the plates, the comfortable seats, the music, everything! The Paneer was absolutely divine and the portion sizes were perfect, so I got to enjoy most of my lunch of salad, samosas, main, naan, and the mango dessert. I did take a little bit home with me. Oh and the rice! My god, I could even eat just the rice plain and be happy. It was all so good. I have not been this impressed with the food at a restaurant for a very long time. Oh, and fellow vegetarians, this place is very veggie friendly (as most Indian places are)! I know this place is going to get very busy very fast, so go soon, so you can enjoy no wait times and excellent uninterrupted service. But they do deserve to be very popular and very successful. Yum yum yum... My ONLY "complaint" and this may be because it was lunch, is that the courses came out very fast, so that I didn't have time to fully appreciate the amazingness of each dish before I was presented another amazing dish to comprehend and explore. My taste buds were overwhelmed, but in a very good way. I would like at least 2 hours to fully indulge in the entire meal. Because it was so friggin good.
(5)Aimee S.
I went to the East India Co. for my birthday last night and was very impressed. The decor of the restaurant is stylish but doesn't try to be hip and the food is awesome. It's the best Indian place I've been to in Portland. We started off with the grilled mushrooms appetizer and Tandoori Murgh Salat. Then we ordered garlic naan, spinach naan, chicken korma and lamb vindaloo. The chicken korma was amazing and the both types of naan were very good. The East India Co also has a happy hour, which I intend to take full advantage of. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Chad M.
Most authentic Indian food in Portland..really tasty
(4)Ll P.
Great food! And wonderful ambiance. The naan is amazing as well.
(4)Ed H.
We did happy hour here and enjoyed it. The service was great at answering questions and not pushing anything. They have a happy hour menu for $3 that will appeal to some. However, we chose to order a few appetizers inside. The mushroom appetizer is highly recommended. We paid $33 + tip for 2 drinks and 3 appetizers, which was enough food for two of us. The place has a nice decor. The bar area up front is deceiving because the restaurant is actually pretty big and wraps around the back side of the building. Also, the location is nice and peaceful. It was popular, but not crowded like places in more central downtown. We were very relaxed and enjoyed the setting and will go back.
(4)Lauren B.
We walked into this very pretty restaurant on a whim while on vacation, in the mood for Indian food. I had the Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken) and it was flavorful with just the right amount of spiciness. The presentation was a little different than I'm used to (they put the rice on an entree plate for you, rather than having a bowl on the table for everyone to share), as was the atmosphere/ambiance, but the food was delicious!
(4)Emily M.
VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED. Service was slow and snotty. The food was awful, for the first time ever I sent a meal back to the kitchen because it was the sorriest excuse for korma I have ever had - since when did rich and creamy korma taste like dry ranch powder mix? This prompted the chef to come out and berate me in front of the other customers and my dining companion. I was polite and even left a very large tip for the waiter who ignored me for 20 minutes when I arrived - I'm assuming so I wouldn't be served during happy hour and therefore get happy prices. I will never, ever patronize this establishment again and I recommend nobody else go there either unless you want to pay for over-priced barely passable indian food served by the slowest most self-righteous staff in Portland. My advice is pass on this place and eat at India Oven in SE Portland on Belmont!
(1)Willow W.
I've been on a mission to find good, or even excellent Indian food in Portland, and so far have found only adequate. This place begins to reach above good, finally. The meal was preceded with poppadoms and dipping sauces. We enjoyed the Saag Paneer, which was slightly spicy, and Murg Korma Chicken. I have yet to meet the match of the best korma sauce on the west coast--Eugene's Anatolia. This one was decent with rice, but better with garlic naan because the flavor of the bread added something to the sauce. The dishes are interesting traditional style metal bowls with intricate handles. Both came with the vegetable of the day, which was spicy cabbage and peas--mediocre. We also enjoyed a mango margarita with cilantro. The service was good and the ambiance was clean and well-designed--fascinating old photos from around India lined the walls. I'd definitely like to return and try more entrees.
(4)Ramneek K.
Didn't like the service. I ordered papdi-chaat and didn't like it at all. Main course was also not good. Prices are very high.
(1)Mark A.
Great butter chicken. Amazing garlic naan. Good service.
(4)Laura D.
To start, I haven't had Indian food from a restaurant in years, mainly due to the abundance of delicious food carts that boast cheap yet insanely good naan and curries. Me and my boyfriend split the samosas, butter chicken and garlic naan. Delicious, comforting and just the right amount of food for two. Wash it down with a dreamy mango lassi and my introduction to upscale Indian at East India was everything I wanted it to be. The staff were attentive and the food was presented beautifully.
(4)Shirley C.
Went to the East India Co. for dinner tonight. A couple of friends (one friend is from India) suggested this place. Our friends did not steer us wrong. The meal was very good, the dishes had excellent flavor and the right amount of heat to them. The dining room was very stylish and the wait staff very attentive. You are probably wondering why I didn't give them 5 stars I wish I could give them 4.5 starts.....the menu was kind of small so there were not a lot of choices and the desert was only so, so. I would suggest staying away from the rose water soaked donuts, mushy, yuck. The rest of the meal was very good.
(4)erica p.
We were here for a big family dinner on Friday and the food and service was very, very good. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and sweet and was wonderful at going with the flow with grandmas, kids, grandkids, etc. Not five stars because I do feel like the pricing is high compared to other equally good or better Indian food in Portland - you're paying for a very pretty atmosphere here.
(4)Connie C.
This place was quite a surprise. The tiny entrance led into a huge and beautiful dining room. Much fancier than the Indian restaurants I'm used to. Maybe this was the reason that I thought it would be horrible because it would try to be Americanized. We decided to get the butter chicken & chickpea curry to share. The complimentary poppadums came out with the usual suspect dippers of mint & tamarind sauces. Then the food came. The chicken was melt in your mouth & the sauce was creamy & perfect for rice-soaking. The chickpea curry was nicely spiced & hearty. The naan was brushed to a glisten with ghee. It was warm, fresh, and slightly chewy. Dunked in the butter chicken sauce for perfection. My date didn't eat nearly as much chicken as the chickpea & I realized he was trying to become a vegetarian. Opps. At least he was a good sport! Haha. Nonetheless, there was not a drop or bite left on either plates. The waiter was attentive though not the most friendly. He did keep our waters filled though. This place is the real deal w/ great Indian food & look to match! (See pics for the experience.)
(4)Kathie H.
Went here several years ago , thought it was great. So when we got back to Portland was looking forward to a great taste experience. What a disappointment! Everything tasted like it had been on the lunch buffet and just warmed up. The tandoori took 5 minutes to serve and all the items on the platter were soggy. Methinks I will go elsewhere.
(1)Alice C.
Go for the garlic naan!!!!! I had the vegetable vindaloo and it could have been better if they had added better types of veggies (frozen peas and carrots and tiny pieces of cauliflower just doesn't cut it) with their delicious curry. Good thing I had a super nice server who realized I wasn't crazy about the veggies and got me more curry to go with the tasty naan.
(4)Sophia C.
While East India Co can claim it's the best place to have Indian food in Portland, it's definitely not the best that I've had. Oh, how it makes me miss the Indian food in Seattle! The lamb dish that I got off the menu (staff recommended) was good but not outstanding, and as with most Indian restaurants, the naan was superb. The service, however, brings the rating way down. My boyfriend and I walked in and waited to be seated. After a couple of minutes, we actually had to flag a waiter down to seat us (they weren't even busy!!) with the staff giving us the "you should feel lucky that we're feeding and serving you" snobby attitude, something that we encountered repeatedly as we ordered, asked for refills for our water, and asked for our check. Ugh, the food doesn't make the treatment worth it. I'll take my appetite and cash elsewhere.
(2)Judith H.
My friend and I met at East India for lunch. It was my first visit & I'm now I'm a raving fan. The service was great, with the young waiter patiently explaining the menu for me. For lunch they offer either a lunch entree or small plates of yummy items. I had the small plates of salmon & mushrooms, plus nam & a ball of tasty something - samosa ?? - delicious. I'm looking forward to taking my family. There's a bar in the front of the restaurant and dining area in the back. Everyone was very nice. & welcoming.
(5)Kelly C.
Probably the best Indian food I have ever had, along with the best service at an Indian restaurant. The waitstaff - which might have included the owner - made sure our dinner was served family style even though we ordered separately and that I was aware that the others' food was very spicy. While some waitstaff at Indian restaurants exaggerate the flavor of the food, here they were right - it was VERY spicy. Though my curry was not as spicy, it was also full in flavor. They also brought us as much extra rice as we wanted, and made sure our water was always full (even though we had cocktails, too.) The restaurant is beautiful, too, and very cozy - you would never know it from the outside or even the entry!
(5)Ashish K.
What green chutney!! I've never seen an Indian restaurant being so bold here in the states. I have a decent tolerance for spice, and that green chutney almost made me cry (not for the spice, but in anticipation for the rest of the food) We ordered the paneer tikka masala. It was an authentic paneer tikka masala. Most places would simple thrown in paneer cubes either sauteed in butter or boiled in the gravy, but these guys, they actually made paneer tikka, and the added the gravy, it was just amazing! The paneer was a little tough, but the flavors were so perfect so you can disregard that. We also got dal makhani and it was real good as well. This is an amazing little gem, I'm sure to visit again! The nan was awesome as well.
(5)Rahul J.
We decided to walk in for dinner one Thursday evening - Big mistake! I saw more people in the restaurant than I saw in Portland all day. Must be good we thought...after a long 40min wait, we were ushered to our table (we were served some papad, chutneys and water after 30mins while we waited which was appreciated). One we sat down, it was all uphill. Drinks: Masala Mojito was delicious and packed a punch. The Mango Magretia could have used a bit more tequila. The Hefeweisen beer went well with the spicy food. Appetizer: The tandoori mushrooms were very good. Meaty, juicy and well seasoned. Main Course: Tandoori Fish Tikkas were made from Halibut and were great - perfectly made - tender, moist and well seasoned. Main Course - Paneer Makhani was good. We ere informed that the Paneer and Yogurt is made from scratch, Veggie Vindaloo was spicy and tangy - just the way it should be. We ate this with Tandoori rotis, naan and rice. Service was slow but attentive. The manager made it a point to come by and speak to us about the delays as well as spoke to us on a personal level asking us if we were locals or visitors and took the time to provide information on local attractions. Always a big + Overall, the food was one of the best Indian meals I have had in the U.S. Value: EIC is pricey for an Indian restaurant. We paid Manhattan prices in Portland but the food was well worth it!
(4)Deanna N.
After moving here from Cali 12 years ago, I had yet to find good Indian food in PDX. Not only does this place deliver and includes tons of veggie/vegan options the decor is romantic. The booths are divine. The staff is extremely helpful. Our only complaint the first night was the korma was not spicy enough. They quickly made a side hot sauce that spiced it up. Which is fine catering to the American palate, but be sure if you want it spicy - accent on the word "spicy." I loved the tandoori mushroom starter and this was spicy goodness. And of course the garlic naan also was my fav. I had a friend bring it to go to a book club and she was the star. And the napkin holders are little Indian children's bracelets....
(4)Brendan T.
I love this place! The attention to detail in the decor and the food make this one of my favorite Indian restaurants anywhere. The chicken Makhani is exceptional and I can't get enough of the Bhel Puri...
(4)Prashant R.
This is one of the finest dining places if you are looking to eat Indian food. We usually have bhelpuri which is very good in taste. Vegetarian entrees like Bainghan bartha, bhindi pyaza are just delicious. The garlic kulcha is yummy. The experience is just wonderful every time we visit. The wait staff provides excellent service. I would suggest make reservations if booking during weekends.
(4)Shantanu B.
Good food. Nice ambience. Tasty drinks. Efficient service. BAD ATTITUDE! There is an Indian lady there, she seems senior staff. Not the manager though. She has now twice pushed all my wrong buttons. Once she was rude when they closed early inspite of a confirmed reservation. She sounded like she was calling me stupid for not having called to confirm the reservation. Two days ago she was rude and condescending when I asked her to split the check over 4 CCs rather than their practice of three. I requested politely that we do it four ways given the size of the party and that she might have told us about this practice when we sat down itself. She called the manager who seemed to understand my frustration and was ok with using 4 CCs. Decent chap - good customer service. So, all in all, other than that one woman who is condescending and rude, I like the place.
(3)Sara J.
I decided to try this place out after reading so many great things about it online. It did not disappoint! The restaurant is fairly small, with a lovely bar area in front (something you don't always see in at Indian restaurants) and then tables for regular dining in back. Looks like they had a nice happy hour menu too, although I wasn't there for that. It's quite a popular place, and although I showed up without reservations and managed to get a seat, it was rather late in the evening and I'd definitely recommend calling for reservations ahead of time if you don't want to eat at the bar! Clearly lots of people know about this place and show up for meals! The menu is beautifully laid out, with a number of offerings for vegetarians that you don't always see - paneer tikka masala, for example. They did a nice job juxtaposing meat and veggies or paneer to make their dishes desirable by all. The naan was warm and fluffy, which was perfect, and I loved the mango lassi. The appetizer I got had nice flavor to it, but it wasn't my favorite type of curry (a personal preference, as my date loved it). The main dishes are served with rice and a side of mixed vegetables, which were scented with cinnamon and other spices. I enjoyed the aforementioned paneer tikka masala, which had a wonderful charred flavor to it that gave it so much depth. Definitely the highlight of the meal. The restaurant did a nice job taking traditional Indian food and putting a new spin on the dishes, making them seem creamier and more approachable for those just experimenting with Indian food, while still keeping enough spice and tradition to appeal to those who regularly eat it. It's not a place for those who love Indian street food, as the dishes here are kind of fancied up from those basic dishes, but everything was tasty.
(4)d g.
You Must add 18% tip ? Really? How sucky is your service or how bad you pay your employees? If you are representing India... Don't forget the culture of Hospitality. Don't act like Bombay Cricket club and try to create an artificial demand for your restaurant... Don't forget your are in service industry space... Not VIP limo service. There ain't no reason to wait for these Indian (con)Fusion food when we can go to Bollywood and get the true Indian experience.
(1)Teresa C.
After nearing telling everyone I know how great this place once we visited again a couple of months ago. I am sad to say it was quite disappointing. They no longer served my favorite dish; well that too bad for me, pick something else. However not only the change in menu but the quality of the food and service seems to be suffering. I have recommended this place to MANY people but alas no longer. The food at Swagat in NW Portland seems to have take its place with superior food and service. Which is sad because the location and ambiance of East India Co are delightful.
(2)Maria P.
Great high quality, fresh and careful prepared food. Amazing rice and curries. Very good service!
(5)Harsha R.
As much as I thought I won't be coming here again after my previous experience, I found myself having dinner at East India Co recently. Had anything changed? No. Did I splurge $30 again? Yes. Am I any wiser? Yes, or at least I hope I am. So this update may seem identical to my previous review but such was the experience. To reiterate - The service was really nice and professional. The paneer tikka was awesome. Presentation of dishes, like for instance the papri chaat (an appetizer) was interesting. It was really nice to look at. Unfortunately, never judge a papri chaat by its looks! Simply put, the feeling you get when you eat a chaat was missing. The entree was bland. This time around, the culprit was the chicken korma. I suppose they have a business to run and have to cater to a diverse clientele. But when a bunch of Indians order, for the love of spices, please adapt! All things considered, I suppose a one star increase is justified but that is as far as I can go. Final word. Will I come here again? Only if I am seriously craving for their paneer tikka.
(3)Robert L.
Not as good as the other reviews suggest. may be worth trying again. Food presentation was excellent. Food taste was average. Service was average. So nothing really wrong.
(3)Lisa W.
5 stars for out of this world Murg Makhani (butter chicken) and Saag Paneer (homemade cheese and spinach) 2 stars for happy hour food: lhassani murgh were a little on the charred (in a bad way) side and papdi chaat was just not very exciting. 5 stars for happy hour food prices: All items on HH menu $3. 4 stars for the really cool faucet in the bathroom and 5 stars for Luke the bartender, who made a whiskey drinker outta me
(4)Zubar U.
As good as it can get in Portland.
(3)Karen E.
We were looking to kill some time, have a few drinks and some happy hour appetizers settling on Indian food. Walking into this establishment I felt under dressed. Very nice padded seats along with a dark wood bar was very inviting. Happy hour here is from 4-7. All items are 3 bucks. We ordered all 5 of the selections. The chicken wings were my favorite, in fact they nicely replace Pok Pok's wings! The wings were cooked in the tandoor oven. Yum! The veggie platter was good though I thought the breading was a little spongey. The eggplant dip with naan was really tasty and spicy. It tasted really good with the veggies. The potato platter was really good and was the sweet offering to cool down the palate. The potato pieces were rubbed with spices and a sweet sauce was paired with them. The final plate was fish fingerlings. Deep fried again in the same batter as the veggies but it worked better. The fish pieces were tiny but tender. All really tasty nibbles and flavor bombs that left my mouth happy. The drinks are an interesting collection and my Hubby tried two different ones. I had a mojito with raspberry added to it. The bartender had never made one like that and took to the challenge readily enough. She did a great job and made the perfect mixture on the first try. Now for the stuff that made our experience fall short of 5 stars. There was only one bartender and she felt compelled to explain to us how it was supposed to be her day off but she was called in and the bar wasn't stocked properly. Hubby wanted a drink that needed ginger so it took her an eternity to make it, as well as a gentle reminder. There were 3 wait staff standing around doing nothing but she was running all over the place. And they just watched her. Even the owner or boss was twiddling his thumbs. We had to ask for the check twice and for some reason we were brought free chicken wings to eat when the bill was finally presented. We were ready to leave! So instead of wrapping the wings for us so we could have them later they just took them back. Okay.... So it was a weird experience but some tasty drinks and happy hour food at a great price made it worth it. I would for sure eat here again and just order the wings!
(4)sanjar a.
Great food. A little bit on the pricey side but settings call for it. Very well designed restrooms.
(4)Senthil R.
The food at East India is very good. The settings is excellent with a pretty good bar. I have been there 3-4 times and have been pleased with the food. However I can give it only 3 stars because the service is very slow. It took them over an hour and 30 mins when only one other table had any guests. They also ended charging tips twice (party of 8) and also had other charges for food we did not order. This made me wonder what was on my bill the other times I was there.
(3)Jonathan D.
The place has a nice setup but the food is only okay. It did not live up to my expectations. With Tandoor Kitchen just a few blocks away, why would someone go here. It is very much worth walking a few blocks to Tandoor on 4th and Oak, Better food and a better value.
(2)ToniAnn M.
I will start with the positives. --The interior decorating is certainly the jewel in this restaurant's crown. The white booths with sheer "drapes" and beautiful ceiling are just a couple of things that are pretty impressive. --The food is very good. I'm not saying I was doing back flips as my socks were knocked off, but it was good. The "Crab Cake" appetizer was delightful, truly a pleasant surprise. The Murg Makhani had tender chicken in a creamy, velvety sauce, & even though we were first time customers, I ordered off the menu, requesting Lamb Saag. The lamb was so tender, & well cooked...... & both dishes were seasoned & spiced very well. --I didn't find the pricing to be as offensive as some. We each had a cocktail, split the appetizer, & we each ordered an entree (one off menu) & our bill was $57. I really didn't think that was bad at all. --Friendly service. Very pleasant & attentive. The negatives. --I have to agree with previous reviews that the drinks are sub-par. We didn't order anything complicated, but again, agreeing with a previous review, they were "out of balance" & just didn't taste very good. --Probably the biggest reason for the 3 stars..... Initially we were sat at a table with a dirty tablecloth. Granted, the table tops are covered with paper, but the cloth had obviously had food spilled down the side, & I noticed it immediately upon sitting down. We asked to move to a different table, which we did. However, the table was cleared, & re-set without the tablecloth being changed even after we told them it was dirty!!! Not cool.
(3)Vikram S.
Frankly, they could have done with a better name, but I think this place has a lot of things going for it. Good ambience, and some good stuff on the food and drinks menu.
(4)Jodi H.
Another good place to eat for lunch downtown. This rating is a combination of the food and service. For the food I've give them a solid 4 starts for the service 2 stars. I've eaten here 2 times in the last few weeks and both times the food was very good but the service was always lacking. I think if they spent some time training the staff on customer service and the menu that would help alot. I will be eating here again for lunch.
(3)Lisa D.
I took a group of 5 here for dinner tonight. None of these folks had ever had Indian food! They are now fans and so am I. Excellent service, presentation and food. Would definately go back
(4)Mary M.
This was the 3rd stop for a group of friends doing the 3-course for $25 Portland June Restaurant Month. Visiting a different restaurant each week. We were well informed from friends who had recently visited here about the slow wait for service, and we were prepared, and OK with that. We didn't experience too much of a slow wait which was nice. We were served papadan with two sides-one, with a kick, the other a fig sauce, for initial starters. For the 3 course starter we all chose the Chicken satay with spiced mushrooms, the Chicken satay was good, but the spicy mushrooms and chutney made the dish. We next had the curried fish dish- I loved it! I'm not a big spicy fan, but it was just right for me. It was served with a pyramid of rice and a potato salad dish, along with a big basket of Rosemary Naan, which was delish! Finished off the meal with a Raspberry frozen desert, which was perfect to cleanse the palate. Service here was mixed, I'd call it Bipolar! one moment nice, the next moment, "surly" as one other poster here commented, but I'll come back again.
(4)Jennifer K.
This place was beautifully decorated, I especially loved how the ceiling was painted black. I was welcomed with a cheery man who led me to my table. It was lunch time, so I decided to go with the Viceroy's Lunch. It consisted of an appetizer, kebab, curry dish, naan, and dessert for $12.95. All the flavors were well balanced, and the right amount of kick. I will be going back for more.
(5)Gil N.
So we were downtown all day doing laptop work at Peet's, and then wanted some dinner, but weren't sure what would be open on a Monday. We did a Yelp search on "downtown Portland" and thought that East India Co sounded good. We were on foot and passed by Habibi on the way, which was another place that had gotten good reviews, and we stopped to debate whether or not we should just eat at Habibi. But we decided that we wanted Indian food and kept going up the street to 11th and on to EIC. As we stepped inside, however, we were daunted to find that it seemed much more upscale than our slouching-around-with-backpacks attire was suited for. We turned to leave, telling the maitre'd that we would come back when we were more suitably dressed. He followed us to the door, coaxing us to stay by telling us that our attire was perfectly acceptable, and then promising to put us in a booth where nobody would be able to see our backpacks or sneakers under the table. Because of a wheat allergy, we had to ask about the ingredients of certain appetizers, and the friendly young waiter deferred to the expert -- we were visited by a mysterious moustached man in a suit, who advised us to order the marinated mushrooms, an appetizer special not on the menu, which turned out to be eye-wateringly spicy for me (I'm the original Spice Wuss), but very tasty, and I alleviated the sting with sips of chai. [When I read this review to My Dinner Companion, he was dismayed that I had not mentioned his particular enjoyment of the mushrooms and insisted that I put in extra points for them on his behalf. Voici!] My lamb korma (a combination also not on the menu, but requested from the kitchen by the waiter) was great -- creamy and subtly spiced, and it was accompanied by a stack of rice in the shape of a pyramid, which made me laugh. MDC said his lamb vindaloo was also really good and really spicy as well (he's opposite of me, very fond of the spicy dishes). My overall opinion was that the food was perfectly satisfying, but the truly charming thing was how solicitous everyone was of our satisfaction -- the waiter, the maitre d', and the Mysterious Moustached Man each stopped by twice to make sure that everything was going well and that we were happy with our selections. That's one basic thing that makes going out so different from staying in: of course you can cook similar food for yourself at a fraction of the price, but the point of a nice restaurant is that you don't have to do any cooking or cleanup and there are all those people from the kitchen to the lobby making sure that you relax and enjoy yourself. And we did.
(5)lil h.
This is by far the best Indian food I've had in Portland. I prefer it to Bombay, Vindalhoo, and all of the food carts I've been to. Very clean & fresh ingredients. Great atmosphere. Fine service. I just had my first lunch, and look forward to trying dinner
(4)Marki V.
. __________________________________________________Â__ | Portland | | 19/12/07 | |Anbulla Amma, | | I went to a new Indian restaurant last night and | |the food brought back memories of our home. Restaurant is called | |East India Co, and yes it is named after the British East India | |Company that colonized us. It's ok ma, its all history now! | | | |Ma, I've never seen a beautiful Indian restaurant like EIC before! | |Dining area is warm, big yet cozy, comfy booths, cool brass sink in | |the restroom! | | | |Ma, I was talking to the owner and I guess he was born/grew up | |in Japan and he had restaurants in Japan! But food here is no | |Indo-Japan fusion....no Tandoori sashimi or Naan nigri :) | | | |Ma, their menu is short but got all of our favorite North Indian | |dishes. I started with the Malabar Kekada (crab cakes) and it was | |perfectly spiced. | | | |Since I went with my buddy I got to try two entrees, Butter Chicken | |and Malai Kofta. Butter Chicken was yummy and slightly $$ (15$). | |Malai Kofta reminded me of our days in Bombay, it was so good. | | | |Ma, remember how u always say no ones perfect? EIC is also | |not perfect, their Naan wasn't fluffy. But I am not going to let that | |stop me from giving them a 5 star rating on yelp.com . | | | |I was too full to try their Rasmalai ma! I know that's my fav but I just | |couldn't, may be next time. I did pay more than what I usually pay in | |other Indian restaurants but I felt like it was worth it. | | | |Ok ma, I know I was supposed to tell you when I am planning to get| |married in this letter, but it is getting late here so I will write that | |in the next letter. | | | |\| Anbundan, /| | \ Marki / | | \_________________________________________________ / | | | | | | To: | | Mrs. Mama Marki | | 711 Chennai Avenue | | Chennai - 600011 | | Tamil Nadu, India | | __________________________________________________Â___|
(5)Steven A.
The East India Company looks unassuming from the outside, but contains a real gem. The decor and ambiance are pleasant and the staff are courteous and knowledgeable. Most importantly, the food is both delicious and presented in a pleasing manner. I am reasonably knowledgeable about Indian food and the menu seemed traditional and presented a good variety. Entrees are moderately prices (~$15-20)
(5)John G.
Ate here during a recent trip to Portland and thought the food was awesome. They have some unique Indian dishes that you don't normally see on Indian menus (why we picked this place), and I've eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants. First off was the Corn Saag which is a vegan version of the Chicken or Panner saag, and it was very good (of course corn is my favorite vegetable so I might be a bit biased). The also made a spinach naan which was one of the best naans I've had, but again I love spinach. My wife had the Kerala masala which again everyone thought was great. Not a curry you normally see on Indian menus and it's made with coconut milk/curry leaves and had a great flavor. I had read many of the yelp reviews before going here and was worried about the cranky lady server and the service, but our service was great. The person that waited on our table was the manager and he was super nice, so again we were very happy.
(5)Jen V.
Great deal for a HUGE lunch of tasty Indian vittles. Friendly staff explain the options well when you order, and each dish when it arrives. Looking forward to returning ...
(4)jason b.
I'll give this place another shot despite my 3 star rating. But my first impression was very mixed. It was 6:15pm on a Monday and I had 45 minutes to grab a drink and a snack before a meeting and this place was nearby, why not try it, right? Despite the large, clean restaurant being nearly empty, it still took several minutes for the bartender to make her way over to me. I ordered a bourbon and 2 snacks from their happy hour food menu (5-7pm). She prepared the drink immediately and it was a good one at that! The food order however, was lost so it took until 6:55 to get my snacks. She did give me another drink for free which was very nice (I was drinking top shelf bourbon), but I was still late to my meeting. Oh well, accidents happen so I'm not going to crucify them. The food itself was excellent; the spicy eggplant dip was piping hot and went well with the whole wheat flat bread. The tandoor chicken wings were also very good, too bad I had to wolf them down so fast. One thing was quirky about this place though... three times I noticed people coming in to eat and as the hostess greeted them she always asked them in a stern tone, "Do you have reservations?" The place is virtually empty mind you... blank stares... it's 6:30pm on a Monday.... "Uhhhhh, no.... do we need them?" Then she would seat them promptly, then within minutes I would see the people grab their coats and get up and leave... 3 times this happened! Maybe they were out of food in the kitchen or something, I never found out but it was odd. Regardless, I'm not knocking them for that. I'll try this place again but for a proper dinner when I'm not rushed and we'll see if we can get them another star or two.
(3)Carin H.
4 stars for food, 2 stars for service. The couple before us, us, and the foursome after us were all asked if we had reservations; none of us had, and we were all shunted to the bar. It was 5:30 pm and the dining room was empty. They got a lot fuller before we left, but seriously, not even one 2-top is available for a 5:30 walkin? We were told we could order off the dining room menu, but no one brought one, even though the parties before and after us had received menus and water. The food was really tasty, but the pakore were a bit greasy and lacking in crispness. This review is based on only one visit - I guess I'd give them one more try before completely writing them off.
(3)Scott E.
Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. Lunch is very reasonably priced and the best Indian food I've had in Portland.
(5)Ashkan J.
I love this place ! Wonderful service and friendly staff . Manager was really kind and made us feel Welcome. Great appetizer and I would strongly recommend their homemade ice cream.I would say this place is the best Indian restaurant in town .
(5)Christina N.
wow. I really don't understand all the good reviews of this place. This was seriously the worst dining experience I've had in the 6 years of living in Portland. The food was ridiculously spicy even though we asked for it mild. But the service was the really terrible part....they gave us attitude from the moment we walked in and it took a loooong time for everything (ordering, food to come out, check). When they asked how the food was and we answered "it's really spicy"...they laughed and said yeah, our food is spicy. They didn't offer to do anything about it. We ordered everything vegan, but yet they felt compelled to bring us our side vegetable cooked in butter...and when we asked about that...they again laughed and said yes, there is butter in that...next time you should ask for it without butter. Um, we asked for everything vegan, which means no butter. wow...terrible place with terrible food and terrible manners. never going back!
(1)Laura N.
Only open for about a week now, I was expecting this unassuming Indian restaurant to still be working out the kinks...and to fully disclose: I was invited to sample a free tasting menu, so I am biased by the fact that I didn't spend any of my own money. Upon walking in, I was instantly enamored by the warm space - I frantically racked my brain: "what on Earth was in this location before?" A great space with such a perfect location right off the street car and max line...? I'm already concerned that out of convenience alone it might become a weekly ritual. The bar area was cozy...but not in the "hmm...what I really mean is small and cramped" way. It would be a great date spot...perhaps for a quick after-dinner cocktail and dessert. Small touches like unobtrusive teardrop chandeliers, white booths, and hanging curtains made the open dining room in back feel very intimate for such an open and high ceilinged space. And then there was the food. My table mates may just think that I only eat once I month the way I inhaled both my kachumber salad and scallop appetizer. I faintly remember the spicy red pepper coulis that the scallops were tossed in, but in an instant I was seeping it up with my naan and onion kulcha. I regrettably agreed to have my plate taken away...no more room in my belly or even cheeks to stuff the delicious spiced pulao rice. This easily could have been enough for me - but the entree was still to follow. Yet unfortunately by this point, my delightful food coma kicked in and I was only able to enjoy a few succulent bites of my fish and lamb shanks. For shame Laura, for shame. I couldn't even look at the dessert sampler or masala chai...knowing that I wouldn't be able to properly enjoy its glory. So...I just sat back and cried into my glass of perfectly paired red zinfandel, while plotting my next return. (is tomorrow too soon?!?) To conclude - the only thing that had kinks in it was my embarrassingly small stomach. The food, the service, the atmosphere, and the company were all pristine. ...and oddly seductive...
(4)Jack K.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. The best meal I've ever had in Portland is the makhani with chicken at the East India Company. I know people say that some meals are better than sex, but that was just a phrase until the makhani. The atmosphere and service are also very nice. If this place ever closes, it will leave a huge hole in my life.
(5)Oindrila M.
Congratulations to East India Company! They have finally managed to get on to my "STAY AWAY" list. This was my 3rd visit to the place and surprisingly each time they managed to provide poor service than the time before. My 1st visit: Food was good. Service was fine. Nothing much to complain about. My second visit: Food was ok. The chicken makhani was kind of bland and the side of vegetables that came with it were watery and tasteless. It was the middle of the week and the restaurant was almost more than half empty yet the wait time was almost an hour! My 3rd and pretty much my last visit unless all the other Indian restaurants in town decide to shut down: Did not even have the good fortune to get seated inspite of having a reservation! I made reservation for saturday evening 7:45pm. We arrived at downtown and it took us a few more minutes to search for a parking. So by the time we walked into the restaurant it was 7:51pm. We stood near the bar waiting for someone to come and help us. Stood there for a full 7min before the bartender decided to take pity on us and came to check our reservation. Then he looked at us weird and disappeared. It was 7:58pm. We stood there confused. Then another lady appeared and walked up to me and said to me with a very cross look on her face "You are more than 10min late. So we gave away your table to someone else. Sit at the bar. I'll see what I can do". A quick note: there were several empty tables available. I felt like a school kid being punished by the teacher for showing up 10min late for class. Only, in this case I was 6min late and the other 7min was spent in waiting for them to come out and help us. And besides we were standing there from 7:51pm. How could they have waited for us for over 10min?? Anyways, we sat at the bar as ordered by Ms. Grumpula. Clock started ticking but still no table. After about 25min of waiting and almost dying of starvation we asked Ms. Grumpula how much longer was it going to take. She said "A party is about to leave. You'll get it when they leave". Note: the empty tables were still empty and no one had showed up to claim them. We didn't know when this party was going to leave. And after paying a penalty of 25min for only a 6min delay, we decided we had been punished enough. So we walked out. Thanks to East India Company I did learn my lesson. And I hope to remember this for the next time someone proposes this place. I would have liked to give 3stars for the good food I had on my 1st visit, but given the poor service on my last 2 visits, it reverts my rating down to 0.
(1)Patrick K.
Consistently the best Indian Food near downtown Portland. I found it quite by accident 2 years ago. The Chicken Tikka Masala is some of the best I have found, likewise with the daal and the naan. Their Samosas are heavenly and served in a strikingly handsome fashion. The service is always impeccable! Highly recommend it and reservations are generally a good idea any night to avoid disappointment.
(5)Jeff H.
One of the more expensive Indian restaurants in the area, but the food did not live up to expectations. Had vegetable pakore that was a bit bland and followed that up with vegetable korma that was even more bland. Had some of another entree dish that was decent, but with that I also got a bite of some spice that practically burned my taste buds off. On the positive side, the rosemary naan was excellent. The service, atmosphere, and wine list were good, but I don't plan on returning for over-priced mediocre food.
(2)Bobbi I.
I had dined at East Indi Company years ago and when an opportunity arose to meet a friend for lunch I suggested it. I had the Paneer Tikka Masala Lunch special that came with Lentil Soup, Basmati Rice and then we added on some Naan. To start with the Lentil soup was creamy, spiced nicely and like no other lentil soup I have ever had. It was absolutely delicious. Then on to the Paneer Tikka Masala, I ate every last bite. It was spiced Medium and while Medium is usually not very spicy this actually had a little zip to it. I don't think I would go any spicier. I ate every last bite and then when dinner rolled around wished I had leftovers as I was still craving this delightful dish. I had craved it so much I actually ordered more from D-Dish and had it delivered the next week for dinner. The Naan was perfection too. It gets a 4 star for food and for service. It was a great experience and a place I will go back to over and over again.
(4)Michelle C.
The good - The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice. It's a little fancy. It would be nice for a special occasion. The OK - The food was average. I had the paneer makhni. The sauce was average. There were way too many cubes of paneer - around 15 (yes, I counted). If you like a lot of cheese, then this may be a bonus. For me, it was a negative. My husband's meal was good. He was happy with the number of vegan options. The garlic naan was ok - nothing more than average, if that. The bad - Now for the big negative, the price. I think my meal was $16. This is way overpriced for what I got. I've had excellent dal makhni for $8. In the end, you're paying for the environment: the fancy napkin rings, the nice glasses, the posh booths, etc.
(2)Deepak S.
Bad experience.. while the samosa chaat was outstanding, the hospitality (lack of) was a stand out.. Granted we entered the restaurant near shutdown time, but they could have refused service instead of showing faces. Vegetarians beware: mistakes happen as our paneer makhani was chicken laden. The order was removed from the table without an apology. Overall, like indian history suggests, east india company is here to loot our wealth and leave us unsatisfied..
(2)Raja S.
Went there on a weekday, quite empty. Found a nearby street parking. The service was good (not great) and the interiors (decors) were great. The food was ordinary, with some being good (Papdi Chaat, Tandoori Chicken) and some pretty ordinary (Gosht "Hydrabadi" Biryani). The cocktails were horrible (some chai based alcoholic drink, another one that I don't see on the online menu).
(3)Shereen R.
My parents are from Kerala, India and my mom is a very experienced and talented cook. This restaurant is the closest thing to her cooking I've found in Portland. Simply amazing.
(5)Alyssa G.
Fabulous food, as beautiful as it is delicious. Excellent service.
(5)Suraj M.
Awesome Lamb !!.. great ambience...Loved the desserts too :)
(5)Jose B.
Four of us met there for happy hour before sitting down to dinner. The happy hour snacks were interesting and very good. We ordered three little plates to share and that was plenty. For dinner we all selected an entree from a different part of the menu and everyone was extremely happy with their selection. the service was friendly and efficient. Would definitely go back and next time would like to try a bottle of wine from India!
(5)Stephan D.
We've only ever ordered EIC as take out, but has been consistently good and timely. The ingredient quality is what makes the standard Indian fare here really shine. From the meat, to the produce to the oils, it is clear that you are eating food made by people who care about what they are doing. Their chicken tikka masala is a great stand by if your eating with someone who has a cautious pallet and they are very conscience of spice level requests. The breads truly top notch. The garlic naan will haunt your dreams with visions of delight. Everything they cook in the tandoor is gold. This place will remain a staple for a long time.
(4)Addie N.
I'm surprised after reading other reviews on here-- or maybe I came on a good day and didn't get the "surly" waitress everyone is referring to. The food here is probably the best Indian food I've ever had. We came for lunch, however, since there was a Vegan in the group, we requested to order from the dinner menus, which they did with no problem. The only reason why this place is not getting a 5 is because the server did not know the dinner menu as he always worked lunch, so couldn't answer some of our questions. We ordered a couple of dishes and shared-- the Chicken Makhani and the Josh Rogan lamb dish. OMG, I still dream about the food we ate here, especially the lamb. The person I shared with (who grew up eating Indian food in England) concurred this was an amazing meal as well. The Vegan in the group was very pleased at all of the food offerings available to her, although I did not sample any of hers.
(4)Eric R.
First real sit down Indian restaurant we've been to so don't have anything to really compare it to. We loved it. I'm already craving more Tandoori chicken.
(4)Tom M.
Was between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Food was quite tasty. Service was better than some of the other reviews suggested. Be careful though, had an 18% gratuity added on without mention on a party of five.
(4)Songphon M.
A place is well decorated. I can't imagine that the small front door could lead you to such a cozy place inside. You have to get in to feel the vibe. The food was fantastic. All veggie dishes were done in perfection. I also really loved Malabar Chili Fish. This one is a must try. Last but not least, for the dessert, you may want to try Gajar Ka Halwa which is sweet carrot salad.
(4)Dan N.
If I could give 4 1/2 stars I would. In short, we ordered apps, drinks and dinner. My usual experience at Indian restaurants is that I ask the waiter if there is any dairy or eggs in a certain dish and the waiter clearly doesn't understand English, the definition of 'dairy', or the extent of the question and tells me "Sure, sure, everything is fine". At East India Co they have a vegan menu as well as staff that can enunciate answers to questions. In short, I felt good eating here because I was confident that the food was vegan. That aside, the wait staff really seemed to care about my dining experience as well as the restaurant as a whole. I was serviced by the two bartenders. Service was slow for sure, and our meal spanned over 2 hours, but it didn't bother me. Judging by other comments you may want to come here at a time when you want to enjoy a prolonged meal with friends. Food was mostly good. For appetizers, the cashew rolls were good but the pakore not so much. The mixed drinks were spot on. Beer selection is limited but the tamarind ginger something-or-other mixed drink with ginger infused vodka is yummy. Dinner was good and food was clean. I imagine that this food is somewhere on the spectrum far right of americanized Indian food but a bit left of authentic Indian. In any case I enjoyed a different take on some of my favorite Indian foods. Bonus points for good design taste and color selection with the interior and wares. Food presentation was also above average. Basically this review is not a five star because the meal didn't blow my mind in any way. Sure, it was good and tasted fresh, but it wasn't exceptional. Prices here are reasonable. Atmosphere is upscale. People working here care about the place and customers. Worth a visit and you can decide for yourself if the taste of the food is to your standards. I have no reservations about coming back.
(4)Kerry R.
My husband and I had a great experience at East India Co. Our waitperson was extremely nice and friendly, and Pradeep also came over to chat with us and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. The food was delicious. We've also searched for good Indian in Portland without much success, but East India's dishes were definitely above the usual standard and the presentations were pretty. The chicken tikka masala was unusual in a good way--it had a unique, slightly smoky flavor that really worked for me. In fact, everything from appetizers to dishes to wine was wonderful! Go there.
(4)Laura K.
AMAZING Indian food...you can have your fill of spicy and sweet here. Really good naan, really good chicken korma, really good and very spicy lamb vindaloo!! The house wine was only $5-6 a glass...very reasonable. Great atmosphere--big and spacious, but still intimate and sensual. Easy to talk to your table mates--they have large round tables for groups and smaller tables for dates. Leftovers for days and days.
(4)Philip K.
I was scared for a moment when we drove past it, the first thing you see is the bar, and it was empty. I didn't realize the main sitting area was at the back, so for a split second I thought, they're closed or deserted. We arrived at 8:03 for our reservation, we had to wait another 10 minutes while they got our table ready. As soon as we sat down they cleared out, I guess they know about me. I attempted to order a beer and forgot my ID, they wouldn't serve me without one and I wasn't walking back to the car, my bad. Though really, I have some greys, they should let it slide, but rules are rules. We had some samosas and some kind of deep fried vegetable thing that came with mint chutney and the red sauce that. Both dishes were great! Really good. My mother ordered a vodka infused smoothie thingie that for the life of me I can't remember what it's called. Mango vodka LASSI!?! I think or something like that, had a taste, after looking around to make sure no one was looking of course. I got the lamb kebab, so good, so very good. My rice was in a pyramid shape, and the potatoes were also soft and delicious. I had a taste of my step dad's chicken tikka, also amazingly good. The only thing that bothered me was the waitress and not for the ID thing, but we had to wait for our reservation, and she tried to sit another couple before us for some unknown reason. When we were done with the appetizers she came over and saw the plates were empty asked if we were ok and left them there, I know, maybe a little snooty of me, but you're supposed to expect that at nice places right? Then she did keep coming back and asking us how are food was doing every 15 minutes or so, if we are talking and eating and not looking for help, just assume we're good and let us eat in peace! A little too attentive bordering on annoying. But, I would come back for sure, the food is great!
(4)Trevor L.
I've now eaten here ten plus times and it is consistently great. They pay attention to the customer and in particular the level of spice someone wants which is often asked bur overlooked in most Indian restaurants. Try the lamb vindaloo extra spicy for a real treat. Enjoy.
(5)Peri P.
One of my favorite indian resturants in Portland! Been here many times with groups for occasions and we were always seated promptly at our reservation time and food was served at proper temperature. The wait for food is a bit longer than average, but acceptable. I have consistently found food quality and taste very good and not too heavy or creamy, which some Indian restaurants do, especially low quality ones. The ambiance is nice and is good for celebrating occasions and going with groups.
(4)Jeff T.
I've been to East India several times and generally had a good experience. My wife and went this past week and while the experience was fair, it didn't live up to our past experiences. After being sat, we were passed between two different servers, none of whom ever told us their name. When we did order it took almost 30 minutes to be served our starters (which were a part of a price fixed menu). The meal moved fairly smoothly after that, but watching the servers, there never seemed to be a rhyme or reason who was serving what tables. I'll likely go back, but if the service is such again I'll probably not go back. It's a nice spot and no need to not be served food so slowly.
(3)Bob S.
I had a similar experience to Kitty P. here a while back that completely soured me to this place. S.U. and I were meeting another couple for dinner on a weekday evening. We planned to arrive during happy hour for a few drinks and then stay for dinner. I arrived first. As a bike commuter, it takes me a few minutes to remove my yellow jacket, and get helmet and accessories stashed before I'm presentable. When I walked in, the host (tall thin South Asian fellow) looked me up and down like I was a total bum and asked if I was here for happy hour. I said yes. Hmmmm! I was made to feel that I was trying to take advantage of something. There was almost no seating left in the bar, the only place that HH was allowed and the dining room was empty. I said that I would be joined by three others, that we would be staying for dinner and would it be possible to get a table. Did I have a reservation? No? Absolutely not I was told. So I ordered a drink at the bar while I waited, the entire time being made to feel that I was taking advantage of them by coming for the happy hour. The others arrived, they also asked if we could move into the empty dining room. As Kitty P. said, it's hard to enjoy appetizers for four all lined up at the bar. I was ready to leave at this point. having already felt mistreated as a bike commuter, and as a happy hour partaker. I was convinced to stay. S.U. negotiated a table for dinner and they required us to close out the bar tab before moving to dinner. It was then that we found out that most of the drinks we ordered were not included in the HH. We did manage to have a very nice dinner, with very nice service. At no time, however, was the restaurant full. Why have a happy hour if you're going to treat people like crap when they come in for it? Why not be up front about what is and what isn't included in the happy hour? If there are seats in an empty dining room and the bar is full and the tables aren't booked, move people to where they will be comfortable!! Also, There is no reason a bar tab must be closed before moving to a dining room. I've eaten in a million restaurants, 5 star and dives, that will transfer it So, if you make a reservation, and everyone gets dressed up and you don't try to 'take advantage' of the happy hour, go ahead and pay a premium price for a decent Indian meal. You won't see me there.
(1)priya p.
There are few reasons I'm giving two stars. I was in Portland for the weekend and I really wanted to have good Indian food. This one had lot of good reviews on yelp & other websites so we decided to go there but it was a BAD EXPERIENCE!!! "Poor customer service" Friday evening it was very-very crowded which is fine but they didn't even greet us properly. There was this indian lady who gave us strange looks & said "wait" & just left. We stood there in a cramped up corner where noone came even to tell us how long the wait time is. Then someone came & said - 'we don't have high chairs' ( I was with my 3 year old & 8 month old baby). I was kind of offended but still I tried to convince myself that they have a busy evening & so probably it's happening. After long wait a lady came to show us our table. She was very nice! There were more than 15 tables I guess & I saw only 1-2 people who were taking orders & serving food. After every order we waited for at least 10-15 min. For main course this wait time is on but for drinks & desserts??? C'mon! This is not it! We waited for almost half an hour because their machine had some problem & they couldn't take payments. After 30-35 minutes of trying it was resolved. They didn't apologize. Wait! They did...but I could see their faces. They didn't even mean it! They didn't even ask us to sit down & wait. We were standing like fools & they were not bothered at all. They charged heavy gratuity!!! FOR WHAT??? They didn't even had courtesy to at least not charge gratuity for manus us wait for 30 minutes after dinner!!! Poor customer service!
(2)Stanley T.
OK, I admit it - I've become more stingy with stars. Once was a time I might have given 5 to EIC. But it did not approach perfection - it was very good. I had lunch today - my first visit, so that's all this review is based on. This is (by far) the nicest, most aesthetically pleasing Indian restaurant I've been to. Also the priciest - I agree with Don B's take on this. I ordered the Colonel's Lunch, which (@ $9) is a bit more reasonable. Starts with some kind of crisp bread appetizer with a mint chutney and a tamarind chutney (both house made and tasty). Next is a choice of a vegetable or chicken curry of the day. I did the chicken. Comes with basmati rice, salad, naan bread & khadi (a yogurt based stew). All of this was very good and plenty of food to fill up this boy. Haven't tried the India Chaat House yet - it's on my to-do list. I've heard the food is wonderful and reasonable. But it's somewhat of an apples & oranges thing - I wouldn't be going to ICH for the same sorts of things I would be going to EIC for. Anyway, what I had was worthy of 4 stars. I'll try them for dinner sometime when the situation warrants and update the review on that basis.
(4)Mandie T.
Don't waste your time here - the food doesn't make up for the horrific service. It was terribly disappointing. When we came in the hostess asked us if we had reservations and sighed when we said no. I thought the place would be full, but it was not even close to a full house. On top of that, the servers were obviously trying to get us to leave and were actually quite rude while appearing to be nice. The food was overpriced for the quantity and flavor. Considering my guest is Indian and he said it 'wasn't the best' I'd say it wasn't anything close to authentic.
(1)Rebecca H.
There is another Indian restaurant called India House, or something like that, down the street. When 3 people from our party were almost an hour late, we thought, "Hmm, I wonder if they could be there?" My husband ran over there, they finished their appetizers, and then met us at East India. So be sure you go to the right place! We got there on time, and I had the cocktail with green chili and cucumber. The bartender warned me it was hot, and it did make my lips tingly, but I liked it! Husband had the margarita with mango, he liked it. He then had several Kingfishers and I became the designated driver. The bartender saw us watching him and I think he thought we were waiting on our drinks, but really we were trying to find members of our dining party, two of whom we were meeting for the first time. We told him that, rather than have him think we were staring to get our drinks, and he then met every patron with, "Are you meeting people, here for happy hour, or here for dinner?" He found the people we were meeting and saved us embarrassment! Hooray! We were put in a small booth in the back, but the manager moved us to a larger table when he realized there were seven of us. Very nice! We felt bad get two tables dirty but they didn't think twice about it. The waiter was helpful and nice, and remembered an order for seven with no mistakes, and didn't write anything down. Impressive! Great service, no complaints there at all. The food is pricey. I'm not sure what makes it considerably more expensive than other Indian places. We had lots of dishes, including samosas, shrimp, tandoori chicken, lamb, some vegetarian stuff, biryani and naan. We each ordered a dish and passed it around the table, and all were totally stuffed when finished. The only dish I can't recommend is the lamb, it was rubbery. We got there at 6:30, hung out in the bar, sat down at the table at 7:00, were joined by the others at 7:20, at which time we moved tables, and then sat there until 9:45pm. Not once did we get the "move it on" stare. There is a happy hour 4-7, drinks are around 8 bucks but the food dishes are 3 dollars each. The bartender is friendly and efficient, and makes good drinks. Can't forget to mention the beautiful glass red star in the ceiling. And the bathrooms! I love that sink! The spout is cool and the sink is deep enough so water doesn't splash all over. There is beautiful sari fabric hanging on the walls. I didn't see any coat hooks, for the coat hook people in the crowd. Three stars for drinks, good food, and great service, but I do think it is overpriced. I might go back for happy hour, but not a full meal.
(3)Llanes I.
Delicious food, service needs improvement & bit pricey for their little portion sizes. But real great tasting food.
(3)Patrick S.
Lunch menu has been totally changed and downgraded recently. No longer do they have a curry of the day. Naan is now extra. No brown rice anymore. Only 2 choices of chicken curry, both mediocre. No more vegetables served with the lunch special. I do not think we will be back, at least for lunch, with this new menu.
(1)marcia g.
We are beginners at Indian food and so cannot tell you how this rates with other Indian Restaurants in the area. All we can say is that we were highly impressed. Arrived at 6:45 pm on a Thursday night in the middle of summer. Clean walk through bar opens up into a wonderful room, decorated beautifully. Other tables were eating but not full. Wonderful acoustics. Friendly staff helped make recommendations and my husband had the ghost lamb dish while I had chicken masala. Both were wonderful. Excellent service, ambiance, waitstaff, food. We cannot wait to go again. Upscale surroundings, price was $50 for 1 appetizer, 1 beer, 2 dinners, no dessert. We thought it was very reasonable.
(5)Josh V.
I almost thought this place was closed when I tried to go there for dinner on Saturday night. The entrance is relatively narrow and not brightly lit. That area was devoid of people, but I looked in and saw a few people sitting down inside, so I ventured in. Once I got up a short flight of steps I saw the actual dining room in the back was busy and there were a few people at the bar. As I was dining alone, I grabbed a spot at the bar and asked for a menu. The bartender was nice and provided good service throughout my time there. He even made me a fresh pot of coffee instead of giving the old stuff what would have been much quicker for him. My drink (forgot what it was callled) was good. The food came out pretty quickly. I had the tandoori chicken. It was flavorful, but just a touch dry. It came with small amounts of rice and potatoes. The naan was moist and tasty. The entree portion was not huge, so I'd suggest getting an appetizer or some naan to help you fill up. The prices were reasonable.
(4)K N.
Food was good but not great. One thing i really hated was the time they took to do basically anything. First time I was there with my gf and we waited forever to learn that our order was misplaced. We ordered two dishes and it took them about 2 hrs to get them to us. The staff was friendly though and even offered us free drinks for their fault. But if you are in a hurry, you may need to avoid going here.
(3)Jeannine R.
The food and the service are so great!!! I went with a group of 5 people. We had everything family style & got to try a bit of everything. Their naan is fabulous! Everything was absolutely delicious! Loved the relaxed, non-rushed atmosphere. Definitely going back!!
(5)Will D.
This place is amazing. Incredible food, great service, wonderful ambiance! All gor an amazing price. We enjoyed the lunch special. They brought several delicious courses! It was truly a refreshing experience! I would recommend East India to everyone! I'll be going back soon!
(5)kelly s.
Yeah, I'm that dude who orders general tso's at the american chinese restaurant and chicken tikka masala at the indian joint, but they better be the best! Long story short, ORDER THE FISH, ORDER THE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA, fresh fluffy naan, clean, nice service, a little quiet sometimes, but not to the point of being awkward, and they make an effort with decor, like a restaurant owner who had a lot of expereince did the work himself, B+/A- Decor- relative to other Indian restaurants in portland for cleanliness and effort in Decor: A Food: A+ (not overly americanized, but all your favorites are there with more complexity than most)
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