I've been in twice the last 3 weeks for the awesome lunch buffet. Seriously impressed with every menu item. Based on my two trips, it seems like the meat dishes don't change, but the veggie ones do. Highlights of my meal was the butter chicken, tandoori chicken, and veggie Korma. They also bring fresh baked naan to the table. The bill was really reasonable at $10 a person. One of my new favorite neighborhood spots - I'll definately be back.
(5)
Gavin J.
The food was a solid 4 stars but the wait was very long and the atmosphere wasn't the most pleasant since it used to be a nightclub and had very old furniture. I felt uncomfortable sitting on the old cushion in our booth because it looked dirty and sweaty. My wife and I shared a Tikka Masala and garlic naan with a mango lassi. The lassi was one of the best I have had. The garlic naan was a more fluffy than I prefer and we ordered a medium-heat Tikka Masala but it was not spicy at all. They also made a mistake on one of our orders but we told them about it and they didn't charge us for it. If I'm in the area again I may consider trying it a second time but I will likely try a new place before I come back.
(3)
Missy B.
We were craving some curry and decided to give Spice Bistro a try. We were impressed, and though I've only eaten there once, I think Yelp has underrated this place. The restaurant has almost a fine dining vibe, and it was a pleasant place to have a meal. The food was really good--the portions are generous and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. We appreciated that the waitress took the time to explain dishes to us, educate us about the chutneys they serve, and make recommendations about what to order. My one criticism would be that the service is a little slow. There is no rush for anything and sometimes our glasses got a little low. They always got around to filling them, but you'd never categorize it as "snappy." Still, this is a solid choice for an Indian meal.
(4)
Sean B.
We went on a Saturday and wanted to try several items and ended up getting the buffet. I had read some poor reviews and was not expecting much. The fact is, I thought it was great. Server was kind and refilled waters and cleared plates regularly. The butter chicken has got to be one of my favorite dishes. I put it over rice with some garlic naan. I'm not usually a fan of buffets, but would definitely go back and order an entree.
(4)
John C.
Place has gone down hill especially in service. Never came to take my empty plates, didn't fill our waters. Some of the food tastes stale, the tandoori chicken was burnt to a crisp. Not sure I want to come back here. First time I came was in 2012 and it was awesome. Now just a so-so place without customer service.
(2)
Leanne A.
I love trying lots of different Indian food, so I came in to try the lunch buffet. The atmosphere is kind of funny. It has a fine dining atmosphere, but it is in an old nightclub and is fairly obvious, but still fun. The buffet was somewhat small and had all of the usual items, so nothing to exciting there. Everything I tried, with the exception of the noodles (which were dry) was good. The butter chicken was especially flavorful. The garlic naan was also very tasty. The service was a bit slow considering there were only 2 other tables occupied. But the staff was very nice and they were good about keeping the buffet well stocked.
(3)
J W.
I came here several times for lunch buffet only. Food was okay. The food was mediocre. It was a mix of American and Indian food. I do love their mango pudding though.
(3)
Jordan J.
Love this place. We eat here all the time. Chicken tikka masala, chicken momo's, and the salad with the mango dressing is to die for!! Great service and food.
(5)
Mark R.
We went to the Spice Bistro again. We have been there about 6 times. Each time we had excellent food, excellent service, and really enjoy eating on their patio part of which is covered if the weather is threatening. The interior part of the restaurant is nice too. We ordered the Mulligtwany Soup and the onion nan for appetizers. Both excellent. For main dishes I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and my wife got the Shrimp Korma. Again both excellent. They also have a lunch buffet. I have not been to that but I plan to try it.
(5)
Natalee B.
Went for the lunch buffet and had a great experience. The food was hot and tasted great. The server brought us fresh garlic naan, and kept our drinks refilled.
(4)
David B.
Food was average - and then they double charged my credit card for the food - 2 x $80. Have been trying to get them to refund for several weeks. Kept telling me a manager would call back but didn't. Finally got hold of one today. Sent them my credit card statement. Still refusing to refund. Have now set American Express on to them. Extremely rude in the process. Avoid this place. They did the same to another couple in our party.
(1)
P K.
Terrible restaurant very rude managment. We have been eating indian food for many years. This is by far the worst run indian restaurant in Utah. Be WARNED two couples in our party were charged twice for their food. Even after sending copies of the card statements Spice Bistro refused to refund. This wasnt cheap either - a meal for two cost $82 they were THEN charged another $82. Our party of 15 regularly eat together and we will never eat here again. If they run their front of house service like this goodness know what their kitchens are like. The building is dated and smelly. It's a shame get rid of the management and the building and the chef might have a small chance of success.
(1)
Dayna C.
Great Indian food I prefer it over Bombay house but the atmosphere inside is a little off. I think if they made it more modern and brighter it would be more inviting. It has too many themes going on inside but the patio is beautiful! We normally get out meals to go. The chicken tikka Marsala and lamb curry are so delicious! They have this chicken noodle dish and I forget the name but it is addictive! If they could make it more lively I know it would be busier!
(4)
Alexandra K.
Excellent tikka masala! My husband had the lamb and I had the chicken, very good. I also loved the atmosphere, it reminded me of being back in India. Our waitress was very attentive to our needs and was very friendly. The garlic naan was delicious, especially with the dipping sauces. I will be returning to Spice Bistro again!
(5)
Gianni V.
First time visiting Spice Bistro. First impression in front foyer was let's leave! Front foyer is dark and uninviting. But once in the large dining area we were quite pleased with the ambiance and relaxed atmosphere. Our waiter Niranjan, was most attentive and had a pleasant personality. The food was absolutely delicious and plenty of it as well. Don' let the front foyer fool you. This place is a must visit! My Wife and I will definitely return. Gianni & Kerry Versace
(4)
Joshua S.
Had the lunch buffet around 2:30pm. As expected, some things weren't looking as fresh and vibrant as they should be. But putting that aside, I really liked the chicken curry and the saag paneer. Everything else was just, 'ok'. Noticed they paired down the American menu to just a few items. Glad they did, because I never understood that whole two-kitchen concept in the first place. Great ambience, service was ok.
(3)
Peter F.
I've been here twice now to eat at their lunch buffet and I've been very satisfied both times. On Friday they serve boneless lamb curry that is the best I've had so far. It has a rich and creamy sauce that goes so well with rice and the garlic naan. Their dishes are very flavorful with lots of spices and they make their naan fresh - as you order. I just wish they were located closer to down town. They have excellent food overall and I will definitely come back for more.
(4)
Mark W.
We were given a very limited menu for Valentine's Day. The choices were disappointing and very limited. I have had to flag down the waiter every time my glass of water was empty. They ere blowing up balloons for the dance floor and they kept popping and scaring my wife. Service was terrible. And we went early 5:15pm, so it was not even busy. I will never come here again. The food is authentic, portions were very small. NOT WORTH YOU TIME. FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO DINE!!! The decor is falling apart. The tile on the railing next to our table was falling apart. The toilet in the bathroom didn't flush. If they were going for authentic India they are doing a good job. I'LL NEVER DINE HERE AGAIN!
(1)
Ariane A.
Ordered the vegetable coconut curry and it was so delicious. The lamb saag was terrifying at first glance but still good. The tikka masala was good but I still love India House's the best. The service was on point but the place was empty on a Tuesday at six pm. It was starting to pick up as we were leaving. I'd recommend and go back again.
(4)
Alex G.
Great Indian food! Their tandoori chicken, samosas and mulligatawny soup are all delicious choices! The reason for the 3-star rating is based on the slow, rude service. The couple times I've been in the place has not been all that busy so I felt the service should've been a little more prompt and attentive. I'm a very understanding patron, if a restaurant is slammed and under-staffed I would be willing to overlook poor service for good food, but if you have idle staff and minimal orders there is really no excuse! Overall worth a try for some good, flavorful Indian cuisine!
(3)
Andrew H.
Mediocre Indian Food is the specialty here. I would have rated it 3 stars but $15-$18 an entree is outrageous when the best thing I can say about it is it wasn't bad. Naan is $2 extra but it's a tiny portion. We ordered butter chicken and lamb tikka masala and they tasted nearly identical. It's a shame about the food because the interior is really beautiful and it's a good central location.
(2)
Clark J.
5 stars. Because it's awesome. I came for lunch. Not just a random strip mall Indian Buffett. This place is well-designed. Pleasant and happy. A lot of though went into the design. Then outside patio is marvelous with trees over you everywhere. A gurgling fountain and remains of charcoal wood from fires at night. Service was very pleasant. Food was great. Nothing mind-blowing. It was just as expected. It was inexpensive. I sat for hours in that October shade sitting near the low sun drinking a warm chai and nibbling on naan. The ambience cannot be beat. Going back!
(5)
Chad L.
It was Valentine's Day so I made reservations days in advance. I got a confirmation email as I always do. When we got to the restaurant they couldn't find our reservations. We got stuck at the table in the corner, behind the band (the band was awful). While being seated we were given menus (apparently a special, and very limited, Valentines menu. Part of the reason I chose this restaurant was the online menu had many items that wouldn't cause issues with food allergies). and drink menus. 1/2 hour later someone came to the table and asked if we'd had a chance to decide what we'd like. We both wanted a drink, but foolish us, we told the server what we wanted to eat first. She abruptly walked away as I'm trying to tell her we'd like drinks. Nearly an hour after being seated the hosts comes by and asks if everybody's is OK. I let her know we'd like drinks. She says she can't bring them (I get this, she's under 21, not her fault) but will let our server know. Another half an hour goes by and our appetizer arrives, no drinks. They don't come for another 15 minutes. 15 minutes later the lady at the table next to us had waited long enough for her water to be refilled. She gets up and finds someone to refill their water, not our server, she can't be found. This person then asked how everything was for my wife and me. My wife had to point out that the couple next to us, who was seated after we were, is finishing their meal, and we don't have ours. (When the couple next to us got their meal they didn't have silverware or napkins.) When finally did get our meal the food was fantastic, but I'll NEVER GO BACK. The service was terrible, not rude, just nonexistent. I know it was Valentine's Day, but at no time was the restaurant full.
(1)
Suleiman K.
Best Indian restaurant and service, I have been to many countries and cities and love to eat i each indian food there, this is best is salt lake city
(5)
Howie O.
The space the restaurant is very large and I feel that it is a huge disadvantage when trying to run a business. It lacks the illusion that people are in the building. There were probably over 35 guests in the building while I was dining here it seemed empty. The food was good and the naan was some of the better naan that can be found in SLC. I would thing this place would be great for a large group of people.
(4)
Tai T.
When we first walked in we almost left cuz there was nobody in on a Saturday night at 7pm. Seemed strange. But we stayed and glad we did. Simply delicious. People started to arrive & then music was turned on so it didn't feel as awkward as it did when we entered. Clean and nice looking atmosphere. Friendly service. Delicious food.
(4)
Todd A.
Really don't get poor reviews. To be fair have only been there for lunch buffet but quality of food was outstanding and selection each time was great. The chicken tikka was very moist and flavorful with just enough kick and the butter chicken very tender. Fresh Naan bread brought to the table and over a dozen dishes to choose from is hard to beat for under $10.
(5)
Jeff M.
Rating the restaurant based off of only one item, chicken tikka masala. The food I give a 5 star, the service 3, thus the 4 star rating. Excellent flavors, the chicken wasn't dry, but "spiced" perfectly, rice was good. Highly recommend this dish. My coworkers also mentioned they really enjoyed their meals.
(4)
jessica a.
Ok so we've driven by this restaurant countless times. Why would they want to advertise their business as "authentic indian and modern Anerican cuisine" I don't understand. That sentence alone must have cost them a lot of business. Saw a deal on living social and decided to go in today, my son was sick and we needed something close by home. Boy oh boy were we in for a surprise. The place was lovely and food super delicious! We live less than a mile from this place and had always avoided it, looking for more authentic indian restaurants. So far I've just been in once, for the lunch buffet. I'm usually not a fan of the mass produced taste of lunch buffets, but this one was amazing! Can't wait to try this place out for dinner. My favorite was chicken 65... Glad we discovered this place. And if the owners of spice bistro read this.... Please change that dumb signboard!
(5)
David T.
Nice site lines, great customer service, amazing food, try all of the Naans they are all so good, on the expensive side but regardless amazing.
(4)
Kay P.
Wow this place is expensive for very little food. They give you your main dish but the rice that comes with it is small. Just a few bites of it and you're finished . Is this place good? Sure . Should they charge 17-20 bucks per entree ? No. It's not THAT amazing. If you're going to charge that much at least give me good service and don't make me constantly wave you down for a refill. I went there on a Wednesday afternoon and they had NO ONE eating there yet were too busy to get me some water and a fork.
(3)
K H.
The appetizers were good and fresh. The service was excellent. We had the lamb korma and the chicken vindaloo. The sauce on both was wonderful and spicy. The lamb was a bit sparse for the prices of lamb in the dish and a bit tough but the chicken was wonderful. I would recommend this restaurant for good Indian cuisine.
(3)
Dan S.
Only my 2nd time eating Indian food, so my reference is limited. But we decided to try this, and had read all the recent reviews, which seemed mixed on service and quality. So we went in with low expectations, and at $9.99 for the Friday lunch buffet were hoping to be surprised. We now have a new go to place for lunch. The restaurant dining area is very large, felt empty, but we didn't care, more food for us on the buffet. The served us quickly, and asked what type of nan we wanted, we tried the plain and the garlic. (Both were on point, freshly made, little crispy in part, and well done!)The buffet had all sorts of items I didn't even try, but what I can tell you about is the butter chicken. It was awesome! Tender chunks of chicken in a sauce that is perfect with the rice. I also enjoyed the chicken curry, the lamb curry, and the tandoori chicken was ok, seemed a little dry. But the Butter Chicken & nan made it all go away! The minute one of us got up from the table for more, the servers swooped in and cleared our old plates, and freshened up our waters. This is a must try if you like Indian Food, or if you just want to try for the first time and sample various dishes. Like I said, I didn't even try half the offerings, per the Butter Chicken was soooooo good! The previous reviews about quality and service were unfounded for us, everything was top notch!
(4)
Sam S.
We ate at Spice Bisto awhile back during lunch and enjoyed a pretty good lunch buffet. Lots of options were available at the buffet. The restaurant itself is very nice with comfortable seating. Service was good.
(3)
Sarah G.
Mushroom matter is a must! I'm a meat eater but this dish is my favorite here! Good atmosphere and live music once and a while. Staff is very friendly.
(5)
Lisa P.
We had an awesome meal here. I would totally come back. Great live music and friendly service.
(4)
Boo D.
I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, the food was all really really good. No complaints other than the price, in comparison to other Indian restaurants, they are more expensive. But it would be the perfect place for a date night. I tried this place because they we're close and also I had a coupon. And I probably won't be back unless it's for a special occasion. What can I say, I'm cheap.
(4)
Taylor C.
I have always LOVED this place, never too busy so you get great service and the food has always been outstanding!! I highly recommend the chicken coconut korma and garlic naan!! Yum!
(4)
Hari M.
I tried this place for catering for a party even though many recommended against it. I really liked talking with the owner who was willing to help with deciding the menu. The food I ordered tasted good but the quantity was a big embarrasing problem. instead of the quantity being sufficient for 60 people or that is atleast what I paid for , not even 45 people could eat sufficiently. The quantity was way less and some guests didnot get any food. The Appetizers were 1/4 of a tray and even between 2 starters only half of the party got to try them. Then in main dishes there was 2/3 of a tray with 3 dishes being ordered and enough. Then there was problem with form of payment which had to be a check/cash and could not be paid by card for some reason that I could not understand. Summary : Food is good, disappointed in quantity. If you want to cater food then maybe another indian restaurant like India house or Ganesh might be better.
(3)
Paige B.
Service continues to go down hill. We were the only people here. There is a reason why this place isn't busy anymore
(1)
Minx K.
Very good food since the new management took over. Thursday nights are biryani nights. Hands down the best biryani in town. Oh and do try the paneer pakoras ! Very very soft and delicate !
(5)
Victoria H.
I ate here a few days ago with a group of work associates. It was my first visit. Atmosphere: it's hard to label. It's clean and nice but the place was a ghost town. The tables are comfortably spaced. Service: was pretty attentive. Food: overall good but it didn't knock my socks off. I've had better here in the valley. Prices: very reasonable. This won't be on my 'short list of yummy' but I won't complain if I end up here at someone else's request.
(3)
Harsha T.
Delicious food. Friendly service. One of my favorite indian restaurants in SLC.
(5)
Dan C.
Tried this place twice... The "seat yourself" option doesn't work if you never actually greet your customers - horrible service ensues, despite pleasant waiter and frequent water refills. Food lacks depth, very oily and the worst naan I've ever had...it was doughy and not even warm...bleh... opt for Royal India or Bombay House (short drive to either worth the effort). This place can't last long when there are so many great dining experiences within minutes.
(2)
Lexi S.
I had such high hopes... Just 1 month ago, I was chatting with my pal about Salt Lake needing an upscale Indian restaurant. Something with a great menu (the standard stuff plus maybe something alittle more elegant/unique). A place that is perhaps hip and beautiful while serving upscale food. I have dined at such places in other cities and it truly makes the whole experience more like a night out and less like another weird fast and furious dining moment. Enter Spice Bistro. Promise, Hope, Excitement... Then, Let's start with the exterior...bright and large! Restraint goes a long way in terms of providing the fine dining appearance. A nice logo and understated sign would be a nice way to go. The interior was cheesy...definitely a step up from the run of the mill Indian restaurant around town, yet confused. The entrance is large with a reception-like desk. We were then taken through the bar area, nice enough. The dining area is large and open, which is a bonus. A lot can be done in a space like this...the decor left some to be desired. No real direction...personally I have an aversion to tin wall art. Not sure what they are going for. They have obviously put a great deal of time and money into this so I figure, choose a scheme and go with it. The patio looks lovely, however, I won't be coming back to enjoy it. Let's get into the meat of the evening: I want to start by saying that I have a real problem with the Indian and American food plan. There are way too many options. I know that when the kitchen has that many items on the menu, there is no way they will all be executed properly. Again, less is more...keep the menu small and do it perfectly. You can do American items in a way that infuses Indian spice. The unfamiliar diner can then be introduced to Indian flavor in a familiar way. Service was fine, albeit hovering and mis-informed on the menu offerings. Cocktails-worst I have ever had. Urban lemonade and the grapefruit one(something hound). They either poured no alcohol, or 1/2 an ounce. My drink tasted like grapefruit juice on ice. The lemonade tasted like warm water shaken with a lemon slice. Tandoori Roti (whole wheat naan)- Pita bread Regular Naan- Very good, light and warm Daal- Fine flavor, lentils were a bit under-cooked Chicken coconut Korma- Good flavor in the sauce. Quality of the chicken was below average. I appreciate new business owners, I understand the hard work and everything that goes into such a large undertaking. Having some kinks to work out is an understatement. I do wish them well, unfortunately, we will not be back.
(1)
Katie C.
I wanted to like this place I really did but this was LITERALLY the WORST service I've ever experienced in my entire life. In SO many ways. To name just a few: we waited over an hour for our food and it wasn't busy at all, our waters were not refilled and my husband had to go grab a pitcher himself b/c nobody came by to check on us, we were never asked if we wanted to box anything to-go even though we all had a lot of food left on our plates, he never cleared a single plate from our table, and our bill was incorrect and it took them another 20 minutes to run our cards. We would have asked for boxes ourselves but didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for those! What should have been a 1.5 hour dining experience was 3 hours long because of the SLOWEST most INATTENTIVE service ever. And to top it all off, after telling the waiter REPEATEDLY that I'm allergic to nuts and asking if specific dishes had nuts in them-- I still ended up with a dish with nuts in it. And when I asked him if it had nuts, he said he'd check and then never came back to let me know. Good thing I only took one bite or a could have gone into anaphylactic shock right there. VERY UNIMPRESSED! Also, after giving us the most awful service, they added an 18% gratuity to our bill! While I know it's standard to add gratuity groups, if you give obviously TERRIBLE service I think you should allow the customer to tip what they feel you deserve. Oh yeah, and they charge $3.50 for about a tablespoon of raita (yogurt dip) RIDICULOUS! Other Indian restaurants charge $2-$3 for a dish of Raita the same size as the curry dishes. The only good thing I can say is that everyone did think that the food was good. And the hostess was very nice and helpful. But it was all overshadowed by the TERRIBLE service.
(1)
Becky D.
Went there last night with a friend. The food was delicious. I've eaten at a number of Indian restaurants in Salt Lake, including higher rated places and this place is as good or better. I've been reading the negative comments and wondering how it could be we had such different experiences. The food was fresh and excellent tasting and the waitress was impeccable.
(5)
Brittany R.
Food here is always fantastic! We have eaten here about 4 times and have always loved what we ordered. Service has been good except for one server (SLOW, not friendly or accommodating) but its still better than most and light years nicer than Bombay House. I agree though, there is a weird smell that I think comes from the water fountain. They really need to do something about it. If you sit by the big wall of windows the smell isn't so bad. We'll go back cause we like the food and the service and we can usually find a good deal or coupon to use.
(4)
Annie P.
We tried this restaurant for the first time. The first problem was when we walked in the door and smelled a strong smell of insecticide! We then had terrible service. We had to actually get up and go in search of our waitress on 3 different occasions. Our food took forever, AND our dinner was over before we received the Naan we ordered, and we had to go ask for it as well! The food was ok, but we will skip on this restaurant in the future.
(1)
Cormin U.
I found this place because I've drove past it several times as I was on Highland Drive. I bookmarked it on my Yelp app and finally remembered to try it when I got off of work last Thursday. However, it was 9:45 pm already and they close at 10:00 pm on the weekdays. I called the restaurant just to make sure, because sometimes the information on Yelp can be off. I spoke to a man on the phone who was super nice and he encouraged me to still come to their establishment even though they were closing soon. My boyfriend and I came in around 9:50 pm and we were greeted by a very welcoming woman. She walked us out to the patio, where there was a live band playing. Their patio is so beautiful and roomy. I would recommend reserving this area for small weddings or birthday dinners. At night, they have lights with a curtained area that helps with bugs flying in or cold breezes. Even though we immediately knew what we wanted to order within seconds of looking at the menu, the servers did not rush us through the process. We ordered the Bistro (sweet) Naan, the Chicken Coconut Curry, and the Chicken Chili. All three of them were SUPER delicious! We absolutely enjoyed our food. The only complaint that I would have is their prices are expensive for the portions that they give, but honestly, it's worth it because it's basically fine dining. After the kitchen closed, we ended up needing more rice and they were still willing to bring us some more. Everything about this place was so commendable and I give extra points for upscale places like this that treat customers courteously no matter how they dress or look (I say this because my boyfriend and I were basically wearing pajamas). We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kristy M.
You don't have to worry about slow service with takeout orders! Just amazingly addictive food. Try the shrimp tikka masala or the vegetarian coconut curry. The service is very inconsistent here, but the employees are always professional and helpful. Sometimes, it just seems as though they are quite short-staffed and unprepared.
(4)
Kristal K.
I have not experienced some of the negative things that others have at this place. I actually had a decent experience. My husband and I went for lunch one day just to try it out. I got the Tikka Masala with garlic naan, and it was just "okay". As previously commented, the dish was a bit oily, and the service was very slow despite the fact that we were literally the ONLY people in the entire restaurant. Some bored servers were flirting with each other rambunctiously on the other side of the restaurant, which was a little odd/unprofessional, but other than that the place was a graveyard. I can only imagine what the service would be like had we arrived during the lunch or dinner rush! The prices are a little high, for the mediocre quality of the food. I would say our experience was forgettable, but not a disaster.
(3)
Mark S.
First time visiting this restaurant. We have eaten at 6 or 7 other Indian restaurants in the Salt lake city area. The service was pretty good and the food was served in a timely manner. We had a sampler of the starters and they had cooled off and the grease was over powering. The entrees were served timely and hot. I don't know how to say what the difference was but the sauces were different than other places that we have eaten. We were not impressed enough to put this on or revisit list. I think there is much better Indian food in SLC than we had last night.
(2)
Jen A.
We went here last Friday night, and made a reservation for a group of 4. We had never been before, but someone in the group had a groupon and had heard good things. I was surprised when we opened the door not to be hit with the wonderful smells of Indian food and spices, but with the smell of a bathroom that was possibly backed up. It was very unappetizing. I was also surprised that even though we had made a reservation, we still were asked to wait 10 minutes like everyone else without one. What's the point of making one if they don't honor it? Don't waste your time with that. Once we were seated I felt like the interior decorations were classy, but I thought it was odd to see a TV turned on on the wall in such a low light/high class looking place. We were seated along a wall and again I was hit by a strange smell. Not that of food of any sort, but a sort of mildew smell, like a fountain in the room hadn't been cleaned out for a very long time. The smell lingered the entire night and definitely bothered me and made me less than excited to eat their food. The food was alright. The waitress promised us it was the best Indian food in town "way better than Bombay" she promised. I've been to Bombay, and though Spice Bistro's prices were slightly higher than Bombay, the food wasn't worth it. It was decent food, nothing really to complain about, but I have definitely had much better in the valley, for 1/2 the price or less. This just lacked the depth of flavor and attention to detail. There was something very generic about it. Given the quality of the food matched with the terrible smell, lack of honoring reservations and way too high prices, we won't be back. SO many other great Indian options in SLC to choose from and support.
(1)
Phuong B.
We had dinner here a few weeks ago. We were seated immediately on a Friday night at 6:30. The restaurant was pretty much empty at this time. The decor is nice but you can still tell that it used to be a night club (the dance floor in the middle of the restaurant). Also the chairs are extremely cheap! My 2 year old accidentally bumped into one and knocked it over. Service-- You can tell the staff is still in the training phases. They were very attentive at times and forgetful at others. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and entrees all at the same time and apparently overwhelmed the server because he forgot our drink order. When you have children you know that time is of the essence. He brought out our drinks and ALL our food followed about 40 min later. We were hoping to at least get the appetizer first to hold the kids over but that was not the case. It seems like the kitchen is still working out the timing of the food. With such a large menu-- both Indian and American -- I'm sure it is hard to execute. Food -- I am giving them 3 stars instead of 2 because the food was pretty good. We ordered the shrimp tikka masala and the lamb vindaloo at a medium spice level. They were both well prepared and had nice flavors. My kids had the pasta with pesto sauce. Neither one of them liked it very much and only took a couple of bites. The Indian items on the menu are on the pricey side. The tikka masala was about $18! I think they have some kinks to work out. We definitely still prefer Bombay House. The food there is always consistently good and well priced.
(3)
Cammy T.
Spice Bistro is a great place to check out. This was my new experience for dining at an Indian cuisine and loved it here. The decor looks great, love the band that plays on Thursday nights and the food was delicious!!! I definitely want to come back and try more of their food.
(4)
William S.
Went for dinner on a Thursday night. My son chose this place for his birthday dinner - a great experience. He wasn't disappointed. The place : I liked the space and the decor. The place has more of a modern feel as opposed to a small traditional feel. It is huge which is a bonus for having either a quiet dinner (lotsa space) or as we were with young kids, not having to worry about the things kids do. If you're looking for intimate or crowded, not your place. Service: our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful. She even made my son a special birthday cheesecake slice and sang. Very good service for sure. Food: Good to Very good. Naan was warm and soft - the best we've had. Lamb Korma - loved it - loved the sauce. Lamb was tender. My favorite. Chicken Tikka Massala - sauce was good but didn't care for the chicken (texture seemed like pre-cooked frozen chicken). Also had a chicken curry which was good, nothing memorable. The menu: Extensive list of choices including some atypical ones (fish curry with Mahi mahi) that make me want to come back. Prices are slightly high ($15-17 as opposed to $12-14) but portions are decent.
(4)
Venkata V.
I had my dinner and lunch in this restaurant more than 20 times and here is my review 1. Don't go here with empty stomach, because they really really takes a long time for preparing , at least 30 mimes. 2. Do not order any dish other tan vegetarian or chicken, the reason is they never cook thoroughly the lamb or the other dishes served here. 3. They don't lend an ear to the feedback that you give, not even a polite smile u can expect from them. 4. If we complain any mistakes they start arguing rather to solve the issue and make the customer happy.
(1)
Travis B.
There are a lot of things about this restaurant to like. Unfortunately the lamb isn't one of them. We ordered the garlic naan and the cheese naan as an appetizer. These were awesome, the cheese naan had more cheese than bread (that makes it great), the garlic was there but not overpowering. We also ordered Lamb Saag and Lamb Curry extra hot (like me). The lamb in both dishes was tough and chewy. Lamb is supposed to be tender and juicy (again like me) not tough. The seasonings are great and they are the only thing that keep this at 3 stars instead of 2. The flavors are top notch but the meat was tough. Service was friendly but slow enough that we had to have the water waiter get our other order of naan and the other beer we ordered because our waitress had disappeared for a while. The wine selection while not extensive was a nice slice of wines. If you go take my suggestion and order the chicken tandoori leave the lamb molesting to Wyoming. I'm sorry that's not fair, not all sheep in Wyoming are molested....but all Wyomingans molest sheep that part is true.
(3)
Erik A.
Chicken tandoor is actually chicken wings, with an inedible roughage below. All said I got 6 chicken wings, some dipping sauce and a side of rice for just south of 20 dollars. Atmosphere only thing going here. Wasn't impressed, won't be coming back.
(2)
Kelvin L.
We had a Groupon for Spice Bistro for quite a while and finally got around to using it. Their lunch buffet, at $10.99/person, is very reasonably priced for the quality of food served. I don't remember all the names of the dishes but it went something like the Greatest Hits of Indian Food with Tandoori Chicken, several Curry / meat dishes, a Paneer dish, a lentil dish, a chickpea (?) dish, and a few others along with Basmati and a sticky rice. You could choose either regular or garlic Nan served at the table. Great variety, well prepared, fresh, and a nice balance of flavors. Their salad bar was cool because they had all these neat sauces and there was also an Indian rice pudding and a mango pudding. We would definitely go back for the lunch buffet. Dinner prices were quite a bit higher and while the dining room has some upscale elements, some things, like TVs on the wall, bring it down a few notches. Overall, for lunch, this place is awesome, excellent food, great value, and a nice overall quality of service.
(5)
Rochelle G.
This was my first time trying Spice Bistro, and I had high hopes since I love Indian food and live fairly close. Unfortunately, I won't be returning to Spice Bistro, for the following reasons: 1. Ridiculously slow service. Four of us went to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. We planned on having a leisurely meal. We did NOT plan on spending over 2 hours there, waiting for much of that time. The restaurant didn't seem to be too full (it IS a large space, as other yelpers have commented). It looked like we'd ordered after a large table, but we never heard any apology or explanation of why things were taking so long. It really took an unreasonable amount of time just for our appetizers to arrive. I'd wished I'd timed how long it took, but I can put it this way: about the time you would expect your food to be coming, we waited at least 10 to 15 minutes after that. And that was for appetizers. Then it took another 20 minutes (maybe even 30) for our entrees to come out. Then again, we waited...and waited...and waited for our waiter to return and pick up the check with our credit card inside. He never came back and we finally just stood up and walked over to the hostess table to pay because we were pretty tired of waiting by that point. She then let us know that it was our waiter's first night. Huh. Have someone mentoring the guy maybe? The slow service could perhaps be overlooked in this case, if it wasn't for... 2. Overpriced food. This Indian food was pretty average fare -- nothing to warrant the $17.50 for a Chicken Tikka Masala, etc. Four of us dined and we walked away with an $80+ bill, not including drinks. We ordered one appetizer -- the palatha (which was ho-hum; I've definitely had better) and four entrees. Our entrees were the Chicken Tikka Masala (very average), some lamb curry (pretty good), Saag (really good Saag -- the only saag I've ever liked), and a Tandoori chicken (equal to most Tandoori). Rice comes with the dishes, but that still doesn't warrant these prices. You can find equally good Indian for much cheaper in the valley. 3. Fairly average Indian fare. Like I said above, you can find equally good Indian food for much less elsewhere. What Spice Bistro had going for it: I liked the ambience. They had an outside patio area that seemed nice. Inside had a nice feel to it too. But unfortunately the ambience didn't make up for what ended up being an evening that was soured by long stretches of waiting for overpriced food.
(1)
Ernest W.
Before going to Spice Bistro, I had managed to check out their menu first. And I was sheerly blown away by their prices. This has GOT to be the most EXPENSIVE Indian restaurant I have ever come across! Still, the advertisements were everywhere. You couldn't drive down 215 or 900 East where I live and not get a whiff of the mass marketing. So, needless to say, when a Living Social deal came out for Spice Bistro, I quickly pounced on it, not so much because it was a good deal but because I was just SOOO freaking curious! 1) This place's prices are completely outrageous and 2) their ads are everywhere around the city (Oh, and did I mention mail inserts? They got those too!), and so I should...think rationally and not go??? No!!! My curiosity was just KILLING me at this point! So I went on a Friday night, not expecting too many people since it seems kinda out of the way (at least for me anyway, since it was not Downtown, not Sugarhouse, but Van Winkle Expressway in Cottonwood Heights, which does not strike me as a very happening area). But, to my surprise, it was pretty packed, and I was going to have to wait a good 20-30 minutes for a table, unless I wanted to sit at the bar. Well, I was hungry...like REALLY hungry since I hadn't really eaten all day, so I took the bar. I ordered two dishes, a lamb curry and a chicken bistro, because they seemed a bit out of the ordinary, you know, not your typical chicken tikka, tikka masala, korma, vindaloo, etc. Plus, adding the two together just came out to $30 exactly, which was the value of the Living Social deal. Well, when the food finally came out, after what seemed like an INTERMINABLE wait (at least 40 minutes?), it was...well...how should one say??? Disappointing? The FIRST thing I noticed about both dishes was the vast amount of oil ringing the bowls. I'm sorry, but out of ALL the Indian restaurants I have ever been to, I have never seen curry sauces this oily. Curry is supposed to be creamy and moist but not oily! The oil wasn't even fully integrated into the sauce, apparently. After I was done, you could see a whole film of it remaining on the bottom! Luckily, I was so hungry, I still finished both and kinda pretended that it was no big deal. But it really was. Again, I have never in all my life seen creamy curry sauces come out with that much oil. I mean, is the oil even necessary??? It's certainly not in many of the recipes I've seen! Still, the service was phenomenal. My poor waiter/bartender had to keep bringing me bowls of rice and glasses of water (the rice bowls were EXTREMELY small and it happened to be very dry that day). Overall, yes, service matters, but a restaurant is still primarily in business to serve food, right? And sorry, the food was really not great. With that much oil, and you're charging more than any other restaurant I have ever been to? Methinks not!
(2)
Sam H.
Very VERY good food, great service, reasonable prices and friendly staff. I strongly recommend the coconut fish currey and honestly don't know how it could be better.
(5)
Tim C.
Overpriced and Over Hyped...there is a lot better Indian food at a lesser price out there. Long wait, bad service and got to watch the owner and wife be busy bodies and bossy to a staff that you can tell was not very happy to be there. Do yourself a favor and just avoid it. BTW the owners are about as bad as Amy's Bakery in Scottsdale-he was very upset when I gave them a bad review in Salt Lake Tribune. Enjoy: sltrib.com/sltrib/lifest…
(1)
Chris M.
Great atmosphere. Yummy food. Bananas Foster was awesome! Service is always good (not great).
(5)
C W.
I am so glad to find this place since I have moved away from downtown and can't get to Himalayan kitchen as easily. Had the dal maharani, garlic naan, and one of the deep fried vegetable appetizers (can't remember which one). Everything was totally excellent and I will be back for sure. The service was phenomenal and the atmosphere is very beautiful. The owner was seating customers and checked in with us after our meal. I think she is trying to address the service problems other people brought up in the past. Its always nice to see someone make an effort to improve their business. edited to add- had the buffet for lunch today. Hands down best indian buffet I have been to in the valley. Only two of the dishes had meat, so I was really excited. They also had utah stye scones and a super delicious mango pudding dish. Naan comes free with the buffet, but they make it fresh for you when they seat you.
(5)
Brent W.
I eat indian food all of the time and all over the world including several times in London. Spice Bistro is very close to world class. Although a few minor kinks to work out because they are so new, the food was excellent. The hostess met us at the door and even opened it for us, and did the same when we left.....very classy. The Tandoori and Tikka Mesala chicken dishes were outstanding and match up to anything I have had around the world. The chicken pikora appetizer was the best I have ever had. Normally chicken pikora is fairly dry but this one was the most moist chicken I have ever eaten. The garlic naan was good but I have had better. Also the main dishes were about $14-$15, much less than a past reviewer posted. It does have a large menu but it covers indian food very well. In addition is has a small american part of the menu such as steaks and some pasta dishes. I think this is smart because those who don't like indian food will be happy too. I have to skip eating at indian restaurants before because there was someone in our party that didn't like it.....problem solved! Our waiter was excellent and offered us very good advice on the spice levels of the dishes. For an indian restaurant it has a more modern decor and looks very similar to the restaurant it replaced in that location. I like the feel in it. For a Thursday night it was fairly busy which is a good sign word is getting out. I think a few of the earlier lower rated reviews were from the first couple of months of opening because my experience was excellent.
(5)
Bud H.
My wife and I went all-Indian at this place and it was average at best. In fact, I'd say this was probably one of my least-favorite Indian meals I've had in the valley. First off, the naan was more of a buttery, flaky roll, than it was naan. And although the meat (chicken and lamb) was quality enough, the flavors of both curry dishes we tried just weren't doing it for me. And I love Indian. With more authentic, tasty Indian places around, I just don't see me wanting to ever return to this place.
(2)
Josiah B.
My significant other and I visited Spice Bistro one evening and were first off pleasantly surprised by the lush and cozy ambiance. The service was impeccable, the staff were very friendly without being overbearing. The food was just amazing, my curry was so flavorful and rich, with every bite came a new culinary experience...HIGHLY recommend Spice Bistro!!
(5)
Brett H.
What a frustrating, costly and distasteful experience. My wife and I wandered out tonight looking for a new place to try. We had Thai food on the brain, but finding a Thai place in this part of town that will serve an adult beverage is a little tricky, and for some unfortunate reason, we ended up driving by and stopping in to dine at Spice Bistro (the gods did not smile on us tonight.) Things started off a little slow. The place wasn't very busy, but it was still early, so it didn't raise any red flags.I looked over the menu while we waited to be seated, and although it was a little pricey, we were hungry and the thought of some good Indian food pulled me through the door. Once at the table we waited too long for our server to greet us, but eventually we got some samosas and drinks ordered and we were on our way. The drinks were slow to arrive, and adding to the fun, when the server brought my drink, she informed my wife that they had made her drink without adding one of the ingredients and it might not taste very good but did she want it anyway. (Nice of them to make us feel guilty for thier lack of inventory.) My sweet wife, not wanting to cause a scene, said she'd take it. I tried it - it was bad... real bad. Then on to the food. The samosas were good. Had I known what the rest of the meal was going to be like, I would have ordered a dozen more and called it a night. After another 30 min wait, the main course arrived. The chicken curry was greasy, the lamb vindaloo was fatty and lacked any "heat" (e en though we ordered "medium", and the rice was crunchy and undercooked. Needless to say, we didn't finish what we plated and we took a pass on the to-go containers. With so many great places to get Indian food in Salt Lake, skip Spice Bistro, unless of course you think grease and fat are spices worth paying for. I guess then you might like it.
(1)
Lara B.
I've been looking forward to this place opening, because it's close to my house. We finally got here tonight. Walked in to a rather nice ambiance. The place was almost empty, but it's new, so I'm not surprised. Our waiter was named Jeff, and he was very attentive. We decided to start with the basics, since we'd never been there before. Onion bajji, chicken tikka masala, lamb kurma, garlic and regular naan. The bajji was delicious. The lamb kurma was good, very spicy like we like. The chicken was okay. Not the best I've had, not the worst. The garlic naan was kind of soggy. I don't think either of us ate more than a couple bites of it. There were a few items on the menu that sounded good that I'd like to go back and try. Chicken momo, for one. The beer menu was small, and they were out of our first two choice. The wine menu is expensive. They do have a pretty decently sized American food menu, so if you're craving Indian, and your partner doesn't like it, he has options. Spice Bistro isn't the best Indian in town, but it's not the worst, either. I'd still prefer to go to Tandoor on 33rd South, but I'd pick it over Ganesh or Khan.
(3)
Rubies A.
I am baffled at any positive reviews of this restaurant. My experience at Spice Bistro was so egregious that I was motivated to open an account also on urban spoon just to caution anyone unacquainted with the establishment to avoid eating there unless they are interested in tossing away money on a less than satisfying Indian cuisine serviced by inproficient employees whose conduct suggest that many are under the influence are just simpletons at best. My guest and I were sat and moved multiple times (3) upon arriving and placed into the dining area as the hostess was quite inept and unskilled/untrained at her job. We were than ignored for several minutes prior to being properly greeted by a server whose timing proved to remain off thorough the night and was grandly unprofessional including reaching across my plate to retrieve my companion's water glass to refill it, a gesture she performed twice. Our main dishes were brought out prior to appetizers-the chicken tika masla containing bones. Desert menus were brought out and yet we still hadn't received the above mentioned appetizers- still just minutes into our main dishes. Ordered drinks were never brought out at all but were included on the bill. The worst part of the dining episode was half way thru our meal an unannounced marriage reception began streaming in at a common, busy dinning hour (7pm). A reception including children in sarias playing hide-n-seek around the restaurant, a DJ, a raucous clearing of tables for a dance floor (yes, the restaurant not only has a dance floor but a disco ball above it, tawdry at best), a busser vacuuming under and around our table-a more than blantant "get out gesture," the hostess suddenly viewed by both me and my guest shoving volitle candles up her nose (?), and one owner behind the bar becoming so drunk he knocked over several glasses and later fell from his chair, passed out cold. If your restaurant intends on hosting a reception small suggestion: discontinue taking guests prior to the event. Better yet- close down for the duration of the reception. They continued seating new patrons in addition to entertaining an Indian wedding reception. Astonishing!!! The staff was clearly underdeveloped and underprepared for so many people, ostensibly. Food was foul. Service absentminded. Prices high for repugnant result. Only go if you enjoy chaos, lousy food, and service disinterested in your presence.
(1)
Syed A.
This is my 2nd review for this place. I find it extremely welcoming, with great ambiance and even better food. We went there last Saturday for their lunch buffet. At $10.99 it is very reasonably priced and delicious. As for the negative reviews, I asked the owner and she explained this place is under NEW MANAGEMENT - they have had this place for little over 3 months. I think this just might be my favorite Indian food restaurant in Salt Lake!
(5)
Julie R.
We've been to Spice Bistro twice since they opened. The food has always been delicious and he service from the staff for the most part was great. Try the mixed bread basket with sauces as an appetizer. The variety is yummy and the sauces they bring compliment them very well.
(4)
Laurie P.
The first two times we came here we thought the food was good, and that in time the service would improve. Well, the service is satisfactory, but our favorite lamb dishes have declined. Spicing and overall taste is good but the lamb has been so dry and tough that it was barely edible. Should you decide to go, try something other than one of the lamb dishes (but not the goat, it tasted like sawdust). Also, if you like wine, bring your own (although I'm not sure what they charge for corkage). We ordered a malbec that was priced at $35. I liked it and decided to pick up a couple of bottles at the Utah liquor store. Was I chagrined to discover that the same wine could be purchased for under $10!
(1)
Dani O.
We visited Spice Bistro as a recommendation from some strangers who said it is one of their favorite Vegan restaurants in SLC. We weren't looking for a Vegan restaurant but more a place with a great patio. We were blown away by the ambiance of the patio area at Spice Bistro! We sat at this great little table by a fire place that was romantic enough for an intimate dinner but close enough that we didn't feel isolated. Perfect summertime patio! The menu selection was in some ways overwhelmingly large. Both my boyfriend and I agreed that a large menu can mean that most dishes are okay but there are very few that are stellar because of the variety. We asked the recommendations of the staff and were a little disappointed that they recommended the most popular Indian Dishes. Our server did also recommend the Goat. She said Goat is a specialty of Nepal and the Owner and the kitchen staff are from Nepal so it is a stand out popular entree. Although - they do claim to be able to offer unique Indian dishes due to their American menu that they also offer. Apparently the Steak Tandoori is very good - haven't tried it...yet... We started with the Masala Cashews which were basically cashews with Indian spices but they were actually fantastic. They were a great way to start out the meal and enjoy with our cocktails. They were much better warm then when they cool down though. Also tried the Chicken Coconut Kurma, the Goat Curry and the Baygan Bharta (Eggplant). The Coconut Kurma was okay, nothing to write home about, but we were blown away by the Goat Curry and the Bharta. The Goat had amazing flavor!! (watch out for the bones! Our server did not warn us - they can make for an achy tooth if not careful) The Baygan Bharta was also very good - not pieces of Eggplant like I was expecting but a good mixture of flavors and spice! The Garlic Naan was okay - think we'll try the regular Naan next time. We were absolutely stuffed after dinner but our server sold us on the Bread Pudding. Neither one of us being big bread pudding fans we figured we'd eat a few bites and call it a night. The bread pudding alone is worth a return trip. It was utterly amazing. Not too soggy, good amounts of caramel and just flat out delicious. Owner was very nice - we chatted with him for a bit towards the end of our meal. The entire staff took great care of us. We will definitely be returning to try some of their other dishes as this restaurant grows!
(4)
Spot D.
I rarely write a bad review but this deserves one. Saw it on Groupon thought I'd give it a try. Way overpriced for the quality of food. If you like expensive mediocre food then this place is for you. I will never visit here again and would not recommend wasting your money here.
(1)
Maggie P.
Good food with an alright staff. We were sat right next to a party of 15+. They were loud and I had to raise my voice just to order my food and just have a conversation with my boyfriend. not cool. There were plenty of tables away from the giant party that we could've sat at. BUT, the food was pretty good and the martinis were awesome! it was a bit on the expensive side so I'd go again if we recieve another groupon.
(3)
Scott R.
Bought a groupon wanting to try something different. I was happy overall with my experience. It was very busy for a Monday, but the service was alright. Started off with the vegetable samosa. Cooked perfectly with chutneys that were very good. Then had the lamb vindaloo medium temp. I thought is was good, but definitely not the best I have had. I thought for the pricing it would be a little better. I do really like the variety on the menu. If someone in your party is not into Indian fare. Then they have a lot of other options. I am not in a hurry to come back. But if I am in the area I might come back again.
(3)
Skylar W.
We'll be coming back for sure. The lady and I came here after getting a groupon, and we're glad that we visited. The service was great; we had an attentive server, and the food came out quickly, which was surprising because the joint was so busy. After ditching San Francisco a year ago for a move to Salt Lake, I'm glad we ran into SB, because we hadn't found any great Indian food in SLC until now. Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Aloo, and Aloo Gobi were all fantastic. I haven't tried the American food, but this is definitely the place to go for Indian. BAM!
(5)
John K.
Although there are a few Indian restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley with decent food, very little has been offered to the public in pleasant ambiance, friendly service, and table presentation. FINALLY, I've discovered an establishment that fulfills all of those categories!! Spice Bistro is a delightful surprise to this casual diner. Initially, I was struck by the cool, swanky lounge-like environment, as I entered the restaurant. (I must say, rather hip and modern for an Indian restaurant.) I was sat instantly and the server was incredibly personable and smiley. Upon glancing over the menu, I noticed their wine menu included my favorite Malbec - Layer Cake. Big points!! I ordered their Vegetable Samosa as an appetizer -a light pastry-like dish. Good choice on my part. For my entree, I decided to try something unconventional. I love anything Tandoori, but I've never had a steak option in that manner. I ordered the Steak Tandoori and the Saag Paneer, with the Garlic Naan.... WOW!! Ample, generous portions of delicious Indian cuisine. Served promptly and cooked perfectly! Very impressive! Although my Malbec was sufficient for my dessert, I do have my eye on the Bananas Foster Sundae for my next visit to Spice... which will be very soon!! On my way out, a stopped by the bar (full bar, by the way!) to catch the score on the Jazz game. They have a beautiful bar with two wide-screen TV's to watch any event. The bartender was also very friendly. He was entertaining and made me feel welcome to return. Great place amazing experience. Also did i talk about their nicest patio in salt lake city. Overall, I was supremely impressed with my first experience with Spice Bistro in Holladay! Well done, folks!! See you soon!!
(5)
Megan E.
My husband and I went there because I bought a Groupon for the place and we're both lovers of Indian food. When first walking in, the place is really nice, the ambiance is great there, and I felt like we were under dressed based on our first impression. The hostess was nice, but our waitress...... she was another story. First of all we didn't see anyone for at least 10-15 mins. She came over and apologized about not being over there sooner, but she was acting really weird. My husband and I thought that maybe it was because she was thrown off and gave her the benefit of the doubt. She asked for drinks, but didn't offer up options, after ordering drinks she was like 'OK' then just stood there (this was a common theme throughout the night). I asked if we could have an appetizer (she didn't ask) and she was like 'OK' and stood there again. Both of us said thanks and she was still standing there. She was nice enough, she had a smile all night but she lingered awkwardly throughout the night almost every time she would come around. When we got our food, the guy who brought it out told us that our naan's were the other person's flavor (I got garlic and my husband got onion) he looked and them even and then told us backwards. We didn't notice until about half the order was gone, I just thought their garlic was weak. I ordered chicken tikka masala, I ordered medium and it came out SUPER spicy. I asked if that was their spicy or medium, if it was medium I would try to power through, but if it was spicy I would like another one. She said she would check and came back and said "They're making you one that's more mild" so my husband and I just looked at each other and said, "so... was that spicy or medium?" she said "Oh, it was spicy, I think I put it in wrong". No apology, she wasn't rude about it, but her delivery was way off, I swear she was high on something. The food was really good, except (and this always happens to my husband) there were whole cardamom pods in our food, he bit down on one (he's a big lover of cardamom) and he said it ruined his whole meal because he couldn't get the flavor out of his mouth. He stopped eating, and only ate about 1/3 of his meal, he's a big guy so this is unusual for him. I also had a pod, but didn't bite down, because I was a little more aware because of his incident. Overall, the food was good, we may just order to go next time, but the prices were pretty expensive, even with our Groupon ($30) we ended up with a $45 dollar bill. I recommend Khan's curry house on State just south of Sam's Club in a little strip mall. The food there in unique and the service is superb. I love Mohammed, he always keeps us happy there.
(2)
Elle E.
Loved the food at Spice Bistro as a newbie to Indian food I really appreciated being able to choose my spice level. For those who love an Indian food lover and yet you are not, Spice is nice. With it's equally well done American menu there is something for everyone. No more coin flipping with your date.
(5)
Ronald M.
This was no country chicken sandwich combo meal but it's not to bad. The naan bread was pretty much the best I've had in quite some time. The lunch buffet was exciting to partake of. Offering a multitude of different options to be buffeted by. I will try this place again and I will probably invite the hamburgler.
(5)
Cynthia W.
My husband and I visited Spice Bistro after buying a discount coupon online. We were very happy with our dining experience. The restaurant is nicely decorated, relaxing music was playing in the background. The outdoor patio space was really nice, although it was too hot for us to dine outside. We tried the Indian menu and really loved the food. The prices were reasonable and the service was outstanding. We had an excellent overall experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Michael A.
My friend and I ordered off the Indian menu. There is also an American menu. Spice is two restaurants in one, with two separate kitchens and kitchen staffs. The advantage of this unusual arrangement is if your friend or significant other does not care for spicy Indian food, they can order more familiar food prepared by American chefs. The Indian food was excellent. We ordered the Steak Tandoori, shrimp masala, aloo bindi, and cheese garlic naan. The total bill, with beer and soft drinks came to $60.00. This is a bit pricey, but worth every penny. There is nothing negative I can say about our meal. The service was excellent, the waiter's recommendations were spot on, his attention to our table could not have been improved, the decor is very tasteful in this large space, and the outdoor patio is perfect for late summer dining. The background music was Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, and '60's oldies rather than Ravi Shankar and traditional Indian music. A baseball game was on the TV over the bar. Both my friend and I are experienced fans of Indian food and have eaten it all over the world. This was certainly as good as any, and better than most. We will return and try the other offerings on the extensive menu. We may even try the highly recommended pork chops.
(4)
Fred N.
I went with a friend today for the first time to spice bistro to try it. We had the papadam it was delicious. The garlic naan was missing the garlic. The shrimp curry was good. The pork tandoor was excellent. The waiter was pleasant but he lacks knowledge. I asked him how long he has been working there,he said three months. I felt bad for this guy. It is obvious that he did not have any training and I don't believe he is making any effort to learn. On another note the noise was very loud. If you ask me to go there again for the food I will say yes but not for the other things.
(3)
Gavin B.
We bought the living social voucher and gave this place a try. We frequent Bombay House and India House so we're fans of Indian cuisine. Spice offered a comfortable ambiance with attentive service. Our server didn't have a very good understanding of Indian food so we gathered she was in the training phase. Drinks-terrible wine selection, majority were California whites which was surprising. The beer selection wasn't bad. Both were very pricey compared to India House. Food-our entrees were very tasty. the rice however, was not authentic and didn't taste good. The garlic naan didn't taste like naan at all, more like a poor excuse for flatbread. Overall, we wouldn't go back and pay those prices for quality and authenticity you get. Save a few bucks and get better flavor at India House.
(2)
linda p.
It deeply saddens me to have to write this review. When I saw the restaurant going in I was thrilled to have and Indian restaurant so close by. My gal pals and I decided to go give it a try this evening. First, let me say the service was very good, sometimes too attentive. We wanted time to eat and visit and felt we were constantly being checked in on. I'd rather have that than be ignored and our server was really trying hard to make sure we had everything we needed. The wine we ordered was very nice and the best part of the meal. I ordered the chicken saag as it has always been one of my favorites. I also got an order of naan. The naan was not edible so I simply pushed it to the side. The Bombay House has my favorite Chicken Saag and I was hoping to enjoy Spice Bistro's as well. I did eat a small plate as I had saved up my appetite all day and was hungry. The rest I gave to my dog. We will not return to this establishment and it makes me sad to say that. We had such high hopes....................very disappointing.
(1)
Mike H.
as much as I wanted to like spice, I just could not get into it. the goat curry was decent enough. had a lot of gristle and bone rather than actual meat. we ordered the naan on the waiters recommendation it was essentially a quesadilla with cheese. I would not recommend the naan. I would go back only if every other restaurant around this was closed.
(1)
Christina S.
if you are a fan of spice this place will provide you with various flavors! just be careful not to ask for too spicy because it'll be really really spicy! great ambiance, friendly staff and food worth paying. Nice place to go if you have a group and not everyone is Indian food fan because they have pretty extensive American food choices as well.
(4)
Brad t.
Cozy, Classy, Inviting lighting and decor. IMPECCABLE service!! (Ask for Chris or Wayne) Food is amazing on both sides of menu. The COOL bar will rival Oyster bar soon for after work drinks! Nice wine list too. TRY IT - You will go back!!
(5)
Shabah B.
I bought a Living Social voucher for Spice and the man and I just got back. First off, the place it lovely. Our server, Tony, was awesome. He was knowledgeable and friendly without being overattentive or too chatty. My spouse doesn't always have the best time with Indian food, but since they had American selections on the menu he went. On Tony's recommendation he had the tandoori lamb. It was served sizzling hot on a metal plate and the presentation was wonderful. He ate every bite. I got the chicken saag and have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Both meals were delicious. We also had some plain naan, which was fresh and warm. We had the sweet potato fries (American side of the menu) and they were crisp and perfect. We had a chicken appetizer too, but I can't recall what it was....simply stated, it didn't survive to come home. They have an outdoor seating area that we'd like to try out, but it just wasn't the weather for it yet.We'll go back, we'll bring friends.
(4)
Alana F.
Went to Spice Bistro lastnight, not sure what to think. I thought the food was good, service not so good especially with just two of us. I had the Bistro Kabab my husband the balsamic pork chops w/augratin potatoes (but came with fries). After we ordered it took 20-30 minutes to get our food. When the watiress finally brought it she forgot a knife for the pork chops, it took her 10 minutes to come back w/ a knife. At that point my husband told her he order augratin potatoes she said "oh sorry how about we make it on the house and you can have them to go" My husbands reply was "No, I want them with my dinner" duh!! Also, after we had ordered I noticed a party of 4 come in and sat in our same section with same waitress. I don't know what they ordered but by the time we got our food they had eaten and were gone. Maybe they were in a hurry or something, but it just bothered me. Our waitress seemed to be very unorganized and scattered. Then to top the evening off, (hopefully the party of 4 who did this are reading these reviews) two younger couples came in and were seated at the table next to us. They were waited on promptly but about 5 minutes after they ordered they got up and just left, which I thought was incredibly rude!! Our waitress was pretty schocked. The entire evening was a weird experience.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
Nina Z.
I've been in twice the last 3 weeks for the awesome lunch buffet. Seriously impressed with every menu item. Based on my two trips, it seems like the meat dishes don't change, but the veggie ones do. Highlights of my meal was the butter chicken, tandoori chicken, and veggie Korma. They also bring fresh baked naan to the table. The bill was really reasonable at $10 a person. One of my new favorite neighborhood spots - I'll definately be back.
(5)Gavin J.
The food was a solid 4 stars but the wait was very long and the atmosphere wasn't the most pleasant since it used to be a nightclub and had very old furniture. I felt uncomfortable sitting on the old cushion in our booth because it looked dirty and sweaty. My wife and I shared a Tikka Masala and garlic naan with a mango lassi. The lassi was one of the best I have had. The garlic naan was a more fluffy than I prefer and we ordered a medium-heat Tikka Masala but it was not spicy at all. They also made a mistake on one of our orders but we told them about it and they didn't charge us for it. If I'm in the area again I may consider trying it a second time but I will likely try a new place before I come back.
(3)Missy B.
We were craving some curry and decided to give Spice Bistro a try. We were impressed, and though I've only eaten there once, I think Yelp has underrated this place. The restaurant has almost a fine dining vibe, and it was a pleasant place to have a meal. The food was really good--the portions are generous and it all tasted fresh and flavorful. We appreciated that the waitress took the time to explain dishes to us, educate us about the chutneys they serve, and make recommendations about what to order. My one criticism would be that the service is a little slow. There is no rush for anything and sometimes our glasses got a little low. They always got around to filling them, but you'd never categorize it as "snappy." Still, this is a solid choice for an Indian meal.
(4)Sean B.
We went on a Saturday and wanted to try several items and ended up getting the buffet. I had read some poor reviews and was not expecting much. The fact is, I thought it was great. Server was kind and refilled waters and cleared plates regularly. The butter chicken has got to be one of my favorite dishes. I put it over rice with some garlic naan. I'm not usually a fan of buffets, but would definitely go back and order an entree.
(4)John C.
Place has gone down hill especially in service. Never came to take my empty plates, didn't fill our waters. Some of the food tastes stale, the tandoori chicken was burnt to a crisp. Not sure I want to come back here. First time I came was in 2012 and it was awesome. Now just a so-so place without customer service.
(2)Leanne A.
I love trying lots of different Indian food, so I came in to try the lunch buffet. The atmosphere is kind of funny. It has a fine dining atmosphere, but it is in an old nightclub and is fairly obvious, but still fun. The buffet was somewhat small and had all of the usual items, so nothing to exciting there. Everything I tried, with the exception of the noodles (which were dry) was good. The butter chicken was especially flavorful. The garlic naan was also very tasty. The service was a bit slow considering there were only 2 other tables occupied. But the staff was very nice and they were good about keeping the buffet well stocked.
(3)J W.
I came here several times for lunch buffet only. Food was okay. The food was mediocre. It was a mix of American and Indian food. I do love their mango pudding though.
(3)Jordan J.
Love this place. We eat here all the time. Chicken tikka masala, chicken momo's, and the salad with the mango dressing is to die for!! Great service and food.
(5)Mark R.
We went to the Spice Bistro again. We have been there about 6 times. Each time we had excellent food, excellent service, and really enjoy eating on their patio part of which is covered if the weather is threatening. The interior part of the restaurant is nice too. We ordered the Mulligtwany Soup and the onion nan for appetizers. Both excellent. For main dishes I got the Chicken Tikka Masala and my wife got the Shrimp Korma. Again both excellent. They also have a lunch buffet. I have not been to that but I plan to try it.
(5)Natalee B.
Went for the lunch buffet and had a great experience. The food was hot and tasted great. The server brought us fresh garlic naan, and kept our drinks refilled.
(4)David B.
Food was average - and then they double charged my credit card for the food - 2 x $80. Have been trying to get them to refund for several weeks. Kept telling me a manager would call back but didn't. Finally got hold of one today. Sent them my credit card statement. Still refusing to refund. Have now set American Express on to them. Extremely rude in the process. Avoid this place. They did the same to another couple in our party.
(1)P K.
Terrible restaurant very rude managment. We have been eating indian food for many years. This is by far the worst run indian restaurant in Utah. Be WARNED two couples in our party were charged twice for their food. Even after sending copies of the card statements Spice Bistro refused to refund. This wasnt cheap either - a meal for two cost $82 they were THEN charged another $82. Our party of 15 regularly eat together and we will never eat here again. If they run their front of house service like this goodness know what their kitchens are like. The building is dated and smelly. It's a shame get rid of the management and the building and the chef might have a small chance of success.
(1)Dayna C.
Great Indian food I prefer it over Bombay house but the atmosphere inside is a little off. I think if they made it more modern and brighter it would be more inviting. It has too many themes going on inside but the patio is beautiful! We normally get out meals to go. The chicken tikka Marsala and lamb curry are so delicious! They have this chicken noodle dish and I forget the name but it is addictive! If they could make it more lively I know it would be busier!
(4)Alexandra K.
Excellent tikka masala! My husband had the lamb and I had the chicken, very good. I also loved the atmosphere, it reminded me of being back in India. Our waitress was very attentive to our needs and was very friendly. The garlic naan was delicious, especially with the dipping sauces. I will be returning to Spice Bistro again!
(5)Gianni V.
First time visiting Spice Bistro. First impression in front foyer was let's leave! Front foyer is dark and uninviting. But once in the large dining area we were quite pleased with the ambiance and relaxed atmosphere. Our waiter Niranjan, was most attentive and had a pleasant personality. The food was absolutely delicious and plenty of it as well. Don' let the front foyer fool you. This place is a must visit! My Wife and I will definitely return. Gianni & Kerry Versace
(4)Joshua S.
Had the lunch buffet around 2:30pm. As expected, some things weren't looking as fresh and vibrant as they should be. But putting that aside, I really liked the chicken curry and the saag paneer. Everything else was just, 'ok'. Noticed they paired down the American menu to just a few items. Glad they did, because I never understood that whole two-kitchen concept in the first place. Great ambience, service was ok.
(3)Peter F.
I've been here twice now to eat at their lunch buffet and I've been very satisfied both times. On Friday they serve boneless lamb curry that is the best I've had so far. It has a rich and creamy sauce that goes so well with rice and the garlic naan. Their dishes are very flavorful with lots of spices and they make their naan fresh - as you order. I just wish they were located closer to down town. They have excellent food overall and I will definitely come back for more.
(4)Mark W.
We were given a very limited menu for Valentine's Day. The choices were disappointing and very limited. I have had to flag down the waiter every time my glass of water was empty. They ere blowing up balloons for the dance floor and they kept popping and scaring my wife. Service was terrible. And we went early 5:15pm, so it was not even busy. I will never come here again. The food is authentic, portions were very small. NOT WORTH YOU TIME. FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO DINE!!! The decor is falling apart. The tile on the railing next to our table was falling apart. The toilet in the bathroom didn't flush. If they were going for authentic India they are doing a good job. I'LL NEVER DINE HERE AGAIN!
(1)Ariane A.
Ordered the vegetable coconut curry and it was so delicious. The lamb saag was terrifying at first glance but still good. The tikka masala was good but I still love India House's the best. The service was on point but the place was empty on a Tuesday at six pm. It was starting to pick up as we were leaving. I'd recommend and go back again.
(4)Alex G.
Great Indian food! Their tandoori chicken, samosas and mulligatawny soup are all delicious choices! The reason for the 3-star rating is based on the slow, rude service. The couple times I've been in the place has not been all that busy so I felt the service should've been a little more prompt and attentive. I'm a very understanding patron, if a restaurant is slammed and under-staffed I would be willing to overlook poor service for good food, but if you have idle staff and minimal orders there is really no excuse! Overall worth a try for some good, flavorful Indian cuisine!
(3)Andrew H.
Mediocre Indian Food is the specialty here. I would have rated it 3 stars but $15-$18 an entree is outrageous when the best thing I can say about it is it wasn't bad. Naan is $2 extra but it's a tiny portion. We ordered butter chicken and lamb tikka masala and they tasted nearly identical. It's a shame about the food because the interior is really beautiful and it's a good central location.
(2)Clark J.
5 stars. Because it's awesome. I came for lunch. Not just a random strip mall Indian Buffett. This place is well-designed. Pleasant and happy. A lot of though went into the design. Then outside patio is marvelous with trees over you everywhere. A gurgling fountain and remains of charcoal wood from fires at night. Service was very pleasant. Food was great. Nothing mind-blowing. It was just as expected. It was inexpensive. I sat for hours in that October shade sitting near the low sun drinking a warm chai and nibbling on naan. The ambience cannot be beat. Going back!
(5)Chad L.
It was Valentine's Day so I made reservations days in advance. I got a confirmation email as I always do. When we got to the restaurant they couldn't find our reservations. We got stuck at the table in the corner, behind the band (the band was awful). While being seated we were given menus (apparently a special, and very limited, Valentines menu. Part of the reason I chose this restaurant was the online menu had many items that wouldn't cause issues with food allergies). and drink menus. 1/2 hour later someone came to the table and asked if we'd had a chance to decide what we'd like. We both wanted a drink, but foolish us, we told the server what we wanted to eat first. She abruptly walked away as I'm trying to tell her we'd like drinks. Nearly an hour after being seated the hosts comes by and asks if everybody's is OK. I let her know we'd like drinks. She says she can't bring them (I get this, she's under 21, not her fault) but will let our server know. Another half an hour goes by and our appetizer arrives, no drinks. They don't come for another 15 minutes. 15 minutes later the lady at the table next to us had waited long enough for her water to be refilled. She gets up and finds someone to refill their water, not our server, she can't be found. This person then asked how everything was for my wife and me. My wife had to point out that the couple next to us, who was seated after we were, is finishing their meal, and we don't have ours. (When the couple next to us got their meal they didn't have silverware or napkins.) When finally did get our meal the food was fantastic, but I'll NEVER GO BACK. The service was terrible, not rude, just nonexistent. I know it was Valentine's Day, but at no time was the restaurant full.
(1)Suleiman K.
Best Indian restaurant and service, I have been to many countries and cities and love to eat i each indian food there, this is best is salt lake city
(5)Howie O.
The space the restaurant is very large and I feel that it is a huge disadvantage when trying to run a business. It lacks the illusion that people are in the building. There were probably over 35 guests in the building while I was dining here it seemed empty. The food was good and the naan was some of the better naan that can be found in SLC. I would thing this place would be great for a large group of people.
(4)Tai T.
When we first walked in we almost left cuz there was nobody in on a Saturday night at 7pm. Seemed strange. But we stayed and glad we did. Simply delicious. People started to arrive & then music was turned on so it didn't feel as awkward as it did when we entered. Clean and nice looking atmosphere. Friendly service. Delicious food.
(4)Todd A.
Really don't get poor reviews. To be fair have only been there for lunch buffet but quality of food was outstanding and selection each time was great. The chicken tikka was very moist and flavorful with just enough kick and the butter chicken very tender. Fresh Naan bread brought to the table and over a dozen dishes to choose from is hard to beat for under $10.
(5)Jeff M.
Rating the restaurant based off of only one item, chicken tikka masala. The food I give a 5 star, the service 3, thus the 4 star rating. Excellent flavors, the chicken wasn't dry, but "spiced" perfectly, rice was good. Highly recommend this dish. My coworkers also mentioned they really enjoyed their meals.
(4)jessica a.
Ok so we've driven by this restaurant countless times. Why would they want to advertise their business as "authentic indian and modern Anerican cuisine" I don't understand. That sentence alone must have cost them a lot of business. Saw a deal on living social and decided to go in today, my son was sick and we needed something close by home. Boy oh boy were we in for a surprise. The place was lovely and food super delicious! We live less than a mile from this place and had always avoided it, looking for more authentic indian restaurants. So far I've just been in once, for the lunch buffet. I'm usually not a fan of the mass produced taste of lunch buffets, but this one was amazing! Can't wait to try this place out for dinner. My favorite was chicken 65... Glad we discovered this place. And if the owners of spice bistro read this.... Please change that dumb signboard!
(5)David T.
Nice site lines, great customer service, amazing food, try all of the Naans they are all so good, on the expensive side but regardless amazing.
(4)Kay P.
Wow this place is expensive for very little food. They give you your main dish but the rice that comes with it is small. Just a few bites of it and you're finished . Is this place good? Sure . Should they charge 17-20 bucks per entree ? No. It's not THAT amazing. If you're going to charge that much at least give me good service and don't make me constantly wave you down for a refill. I went there on a Wednesday afternoon and they had NO ONE eating there yet were too busy to get me some water and a fork.
(3)K H.
The appetizers were good and fresh. The service was excellent. We had the lamb korma and the chicken vindaloo. The sauce on both was wonderful and spicy. The lamb was a bit sparse for the prices of lamb in the dish and a bit tough but the chicken was wonderful. I would recommend this restaurant for good Indian cuisine.
(3)Dan S.
Only my 2nd time eating Indian food, so my reference is limited. But we decided to try this, and had read all the recent reviews, which seemed mixed on service and quality. So we went in with low expectations, and at $9.99 for the Friday lunch buffet were hoping to be surprised. We now have a new go to place for lunch. The restaurant dining area is very large, felt empty, but we didn't care, more food for us on the buffet. The served us quickly, and asked what type of nan we wanted, we tried the plain and the garlic. (Both were on point, freshly made, little crispy in part, and well done!)The buffet had all sorts of items I didn't even try, but what I can tell you about is the butter chicken. It was awesome! Tender chunks of chicken in a sauce that is perfect with the rice. I also enjoyed the chicken curry, the lamb curry, and the tandoori chicken was ok, seemed a little dry. But the Butter Chicken & nan made it all go away! The minute one of us got up from the table for more, the servers swooped in and cleared our old plates, and freshened up our waters. This is a must try if you like Indian Food, or if you just want to try for the first time and sample various dishes. Like I said, I didn't even try half the offerings, per the Butter Chicken was soooooo good! The previous reviews about quality and service were unfounded for us, everything was top notch!
(4)Sam S.
We ate at Spice Bisto awhile back during lunch and enjoyed a pretty good lunch buffet. Lots of options were available at the buffet. The restaurant itself is very nice with comfortable seating. Service was good.
(3)Sarah G.
Mushroom matter is a must! I'm a meat eater but this dish is my favorite here! Good atmosphere and live music once and a while. Staff is very friendly.
(5)Lisa P.
We had an awesome meal here. I would totally come back. Great live music and friendly service.
(4)Boo D.
I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, the food was all really really good. No complaints other than the price, in comparison to other Indian restaurants, they are more expensive. But it would be the perfect place for a date night. I tried this place because they we're close and also I had a coupon. And I probably won't be back unless it's for a special occasion. What can I say, I'm cheap.
(4)Taylor C.
I have always LOVED this place, never too busy so you get great service and the food has always been outstanding!! I highly recommend the chicken coconut korma and garlic naan!! Yum!
(4)Hari M.
I tried this place for catering for a party even though many recommended against it. I really liked talking with the owner who was willing to help with deciding the menu. The food I ordered tasted good but the quantity was a big embarrasing problem. instead of the quantity being sufficient for 60 people or that is atleast what I paid for , not even 45 people could eat sufficiently. The quantity was way less and some guests didnot get any food. The Appetizers were 1/4 of a tray and even between 2 starters only half of the party got to try them. Then in main dishes there was 2/3 of a tray with 3 dishes being ordered and enough. Then there was problem with form of payment which had to be a check/cash and could not be paid by card for some reason that I could not understand. Summary : Food is good, disappointed in quantity. If you want to cater food then maybe another indian restaurant like India house or Ganesh might be better.
(3)Paige B.
Service continues to go down hill. We were the only people here. There is a reason why this place isn't busy anymore
(1)Minx K.
Very good food since the new management took over. Thursday nights are biryani nights. Hands down the best biryani in town. Oh and do try the paneer pakoras ! Very very soft and delicate !
(5)Victoria H.
I ate here a few days ago with a group of work associates. It was my first visit. Atmosphere: it's hard to label. It's clean and nice but the place was a ghost town. The tables are comfortably spaced. Service: was pretty attentive. Food: overall good but it didn't knock my socks off. I've had better here in the valley. Prices: very reasonable. This won't be on my 'short list of yummy' but I won't complain if I end up here at someone else's request.
(3)Harsha T.
Delicious food. Friendly service. One of my favorite indian restaurants in SLC.
(5)Dan C.
Tried this place twice... The "seat yourself" option doesn't work if you never actually greet your customers - horrible service ensues, despite pleasant waiter and frequent water refills. Food lacks depth, very oily and the worst naan I've ever had...it was doughy and not even warm...bleh... opt for Royal India or Bombay House (short drive to either worth the effort). This place can't last long when there are so many great dining experiences within minutes.
(2)Lexi S.
I had such high hopes... Just 1 month ago, I was chatting with my pal about Salt Lake needing an upscale Indian restaurant. Something with a great menu (the standard stuff plus maybe something alittle more elegant/unique). A place that is perhaps hip and beautiful while serving upscale food. I have dined at such places in other cities and it truly makes the whole experience more like a night out and less like another weird fast and furious dining moment. Enter Spice Bistro. Promise, Hope, Excitement... Then, Let's start with the exterior...bright and large! Restraint goes a long way in terms of providing the fine dining appearance. A nice logo and understated sign would be a nice way to go. The interior was cheesy...definitely a step up from the run of the mill Indian restaurant around town, yet confused. The entrance is large with a reception-like desk. We were then taken through the bar area, nice enough. The dining area is large and open, which is a bonus. A lot can be done in a space like this...the decor left some to be desired. No real direction...personally I have an aversion to tin wall art. Not sure what they are going for. They have obviously put a great deal of time and money into this so I figure, choose a scheme and go with it. The patio looks lovely, however, I won't be coming back to enjoy it. Let's get into the meat of the evening: I want to start by saying that I have a real problem with the Indian and American food plan. There are way too many options. I know that when the kitchen has that many items on the menu, there is no way they will all be executed properly. Again, less is more...keep the menu small and do it perfectly. You can do American items in a way that infuses Indian spice. The unfamiliar diner can then be introduced to Indian flavor in a familiar way. Service was fine, albeit hovering and mis-informed on the menu offerings. Cocktails-worst I have ever had. Urban lemonade and the grapefruit one(something hound). They either poured no alcohol, or 1/2 an ounce. My drink tasted like grapefruit juice on ice. The lemonade tasted like warm water shaken with a lemon slice. Tandoori Roti (whole wheat naan)- Pita bread Regular Naan- Very good, light and warm Daal- Fine flavor, lentils were a bit under-cooked Chicken coconut Korma- Good flavor in the sauce. Quality of the chicken was below average. I appreciate new business owners, I understand the hard work and everything that goes into such a large undertaking. Having some kinks to work out is an understatement. I do wish them well, unfortunately, we will not be back.
(1)Katie C.
I wanted to like this place I really did but this was LITERALLY the WORST service I've ever experienced in my entire life. In SO many ways. To name just a few: we waited over an hour for our food and it wasn't busy at all, our waters were not refilled and my husband had to go grab a pitcher himself b/c nobody came by to check on us, we were never asked if we wanted to box anything to-go even though we all had a lot of food left on our plates, he never cleared a single plate from our table, and our bill was incorrect and it took them another 20 minutes to run our cards. We would have asked for boxes ourselves but didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for those! What should have been a 1.5 hour dining experience was 3 hours long because of the SLOWEST most INATTENTIVE service ever. And to top it all off, after telling the waiter REPEATEDLY that I'm allergic to nuts and asking if specific dishes had nuts in them-- I still ended up with a dish with nuts in it. And when I asked him if it had nuts, he said he'd check and then never came back to let me know. Good thing I only took one bite or a could have gone into anaphylactic shock right there. VERY UNIMPRESSED! Also, after giving us the most awful service, they added an 18% gratuity to our bill! While I know it's standard to add gratuity groups, if you give obviously TERRIBLE service I think you should allow the customer to tip what they feel you deserve. Oh yeah, and they charge $3.50 for about a tablespoon of raita (yogurt dip) RIDICULOUS! Other Indian restaurants charge $2-$3 for a dish of Raita the same size as the curry dishes. The only good thing I can say is that everyone did think that the food was good. And the hostess was very nice and helpful. But it was all overshadowed by the TERRIBLE service.
(1)Becky D.
Went there last night with a friend. The food was delicious. I've eaten at a number of Indian restaurants in Salt Lake, including higher rated places and this place is as good or better. I've been reading the negative comments and wondering how it could be we had such different experiences. The food was fresh and excellent tasting and the waitress was impeccable.
(5)Brittany R.
Food here is always fantastic! We have eaten here about 4 times and have always loved what we ordered. Service has been good except for one server (SLOW, not friendly or accommodating) but its still better than most and light years nicer than Bombay House. I agree though, there is a weird smell that I think comes from the water fountain. They really need to do something about it. If you sit by the big wall of windows the smell isn't so bad. We'll go back cause we like the food and the service and we can usually find a good deal or coupon to use.
(4)Annie P.
We tried this restaurant for the first time. The first problem was when we walked in the door and smelled a strong smell of insecticide! We then had terrible service. We had to actually get up and go in search of our waitress on 3 different occasions. Our food took forever, AND our dinner was over before we received the Naan we ordered, and we had to go ask for it as well! The food was ok, but we will skip on this restaurant in the future.
(1)Cormin U.
I found this place because I've drove past it several times as I was on Highland Drive. I bookmarked it on my Yelp app and finally remembered to try it when I got off of work last Thursday. However, it was 9:45 pm already and they close at 10:00 pm on the weekdays. I called the restaurant just to make sure, because sometimes the information on Yelp can be off. I spoke to a man on the phone who was super nice and he encouraged me to still come to their establishment even though they were closing soon. My boyfriend and I came in around 9:50 pm and we were greeted by a very welcoming woman. She walked us out to the patio, where there was a live band playing. Their patio is so beautiful and roomy. I would recommend reserving this area for small weddings or birthday dinners. At night, they have lights with a curtained area that helps with bugs flying in or cold breezes. Even though we immediately knew what we wanted to order within seconds of looking at the menu, the servers did not rush us through the process. We ordered the Bistro (sweet) Naan, the Chicken Coconut Curry, and the Chicken Chili. All three of them were SUPER delicious! We absolutely enjoyed our food. The only complaint that I would have is their prices are expensive for the portions that they give, but honestly, it's worth it because it's basically fine dining. After the kitchen closed, we ended up needing more rice and they were still willing to bring us some more. Everything about this place was so commendable and I give extra points for upscale places like this that treat customers courteously no matter how they dress or look (I say this because my boyfriend and I were basically wearing pajamas). We'll definitely be back!
(5)Kristy M.
You don't have to worry about slow service with takeout orders! Just amazingly addictive food. Try the shrimp tikka masala or the vegetarian coconut curry. The service is very inconsistent here, but the employees are always professional and helpful. Sometimes, it just seems as though they are quite short-staffed and unprepared.
(4)Kristal K.
I have not experienced some of the negative things that others have at this place. I actually had a decent experience. My husband and I went for lunch one day just to try it out. I got the Tikka Masala with garlic naan, and it was just "okay". As previously commented, the dish was a bit oily, and the service was very slow despite the fact that we were literally the ONLY people in the entire restaurant. Some bored servers were flirting with each other rambunctiously on the other side of the restaurant, which was a little odd/unprofessional, but other than that the place was a graveyard. I can only imagine what the service would be like had we arrived during the lunch or dinner rush! The prices are a little high, for the mediocre quality of the food. I would say our experience was forgettable, but not a disaster.
(3)Mark S.
First time visiting this restaurant. We have eaten at 6 or 7 other Indian restaurants in the Salt lake city area. The service was pretty good and the food was served in a timely manner. We had a sampler of the starters and they had cooled off and the grease was over powering. The entrees were served timely and hot. I don't know how to say what the difference was but the sauces were different than other places that we have eaten. We were not impressed enough to put this on or revisit list. I think there is much better Indian food in SLC than we had last night.
(2)Jen A.
We went here last Friday night, and made a reservation for a group of 4. We had never been before, but someone in the group had a groupon and had heard good things. I was surprised when we opened the door not to be hit with the wonderful smells of Indian food and spices, but with the smell of a bathroom that was possibly backed up. It was very unappetizing. I was also surprised that even though we had made a reservation, we still were asked to wait 10 minutes like everyone else without one. What's the point of making one if they don't honor it? Don't waste your time with that. Once we were seated I felt like the interior decorations were classy, but I thought it was odd to see a TV turned on on the wall in such a low light/high class looking place. We were seated along a wall and again I was hit by a strange smell. Not that of food of any sort, but a sort of mildew smell, like a fountain in the room hadn't been cleaned out for a very long time. The smell lingered the entire night and definitely bothered me and made me less than excited to eat their food. The food was alright. The waitress promised us it was the best Indian food in town "way better than Bombay" she promised. I've been to Bombay, and though Spice Bistro's prices were slightly higher than Bombay, the food wasn't worth it. It was decent food, nothing really to complain about, but I have definitely had much better in the valley, for 1/2 the price or less. This just lacked the depth of flavor and attention to detail. There was something very generic about it. Given the quality of the food matched with the terrible smell, lack of honoring reservations and way too high prices, we won't be back. SO many other great Indian options in SLC to choose from and support.
(1)Phuong B.
We had dinner here a few weeks ago. We were seated immediately on a Friday night at 6:30. The restaurant was pretty much empty at this time. The decor is nice but you can still tell that it used to be a night club (the dance floor in the middle of the restaurant). Also the chairs are extremely cheap! My 2 year old accidentally bumped into one and knocked it over. Service-- You can tell the staff is still in the training phases. They were very attentive at times and forgetful at others. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and entrees all at the same time and apparently overwhelmed the server because he forgot our drink order. When you have children you know that time is of the essence. He brought out our drinks and ALL our food followed about 40 min later. We were hoping to at least get the appetizer first to hold the kids over but that was not the case. It seems like the kitchen is still working out the timing of the food. With such a large menu-- both Indian and American -- I'm sure it is hard to execute. Food -- I am giving them 3 stars instead of 2 because the food was pretty good. We ordered the shrimp tikka masala and the lamb vindaloo at a medium spice level. They were both well prepared and had nice flavors. My kids had the pasta with pesto sauce. Neither one of them liked it very much and only took a couple of bites. The Indian items on the menu are on the pricey side. The tikka masala was about $18! I think they have some kinks to work out. We definitely still prefer Bombay House. The food there is always consistently good and well priced.
(3)Cammy T.
Spice Bistro is a great place to check out. This was my new experience for dining at an Indian cuisine and loved it here. The decor looks great, love the band that plays on Thursday nights and the food was delicious!!! I definitely want to come back and try more of their food.
(4)William S.
Went for dinner on a Thursday night. My son chose this place for his birthday dinner - a great experience. He wasn't disappointed. The place : I liked the space and the decor. The place has more of a modern feel as opposed to a small traditional feel. It is huge which is a bonus for having either a quiet dinner (lotsa space) or as we were with young kids, not having to worry about the things kids do. If you're looking for intimate or crowded, not your place. Service: our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful. She even made my son a special birthday cheesecake slice and sang. Very good service for sure. Food: Good to Very good. Naan was warm and soft - the best we've had. Lamb Korma - loved it - loved the sauce. Lamb was tender. My favorite. Chicken Tikka Massala - sauce was good but didn't care for the chicken (texture seemed like pre-cooked frozen chicken). Also had a chicken curry which was good, nothing memorable. The menu: Extensive list of choices including some atypical ones (fish curry with Mahi mahi) that make me want to come back. Prices are slightly high ($15-17 as opposed to $12-14) but portions are decent.
(4)Venkata V.
I had my dinner and lunch in this restaurant more than 20 times and here is my review 1. Don't go here with empty stomach, because they really really takes a long time for preparing , at least 30 mimes. 2. Do not order any dish other tan vegetarian or chicken, the reason is they never cook thoroughly the lamb or the other dishes served here. 3. They don't lend an ear to the feedback that you give, not even a polite smile u can expect from them. 4. If we complain any mistakes they start arguing rather to solve the issue and make the customer happy.
(1)Travis B.
There are a lot of things about this restaurant to like. Unfortunately the lamb isn't one of them. We ordered the garlic naan and the cheese naan as an appetizer. These were awesome, the cheese naan had more cheese than bread (that makes it great), the garlic was there but not overpowering. We also ordered Lamb Saag and Lamb Curry extra hot (like me). The lamb in both dishes was tough and chewy. Lamb is supposed to be tender and juicy (again like me) not tough. The seasonings are great and they are the only thing that keep this at 3 stars instead of 2. The flavors are top notch but the meat was tough. Service was friendly but slow enough that we had to have the water waiter get our other order of naan and the other beer we ordered because our waitress had disappeared for a while. The wine selection while not extensive was a nice slice of wines. If you go take my suggestion and order the chicken tandoori leave the lamb molesting to Wyoming. I'm sorry that's not fair, not all sheep in Wyoming are molested....but all Wyomingans molest sheep that part is true.
(3)Erik A.
Chicken tandoor is actually chicken wings, with an inedible roughage below. All said I got 6 chicken wings, some dipping sauce and a side of rice for just south of 20 dollars. Atmosphere only thing going here. Wasn't impressed, won't be coming back.
(2)Kelvin L.
We had a Groupon for Spice Bistro for quite a while and finally got around to using it. Their lunch buffet, at $10.99/person, is very reasonably priced for the quality of food served. I don't remember all the names of the dishes but it went something like the Greatest Hits of Indian Food with Tandoori Chicken, several Curry / meat dishes, a Paneer dish, a lentil dish, a chickpea (?) dish, and a few others along with Basmati and a sticky rice. You could choose either regular or garlic Nan served at the table. Great variety, well prepared, fresh, and a nice balance of flavors. Their salad bar was cool because they had all these neat sauces and there was also an Indian rice pudding and a mango pudding. We would definitely go back for the lunch buffet. Dinner prices were quite a bit higher and while the dining room has some upscale elements, some things, like TVs on the wall, bring it down a few notches. Overall, for lunch, this place is awesome, excellent food, great value, and a nice overall quality of service.
(5)Rochelle G.
This was my first time trying Spice Bistro, and I had high hopes since I love Indian food and live fairly close. Unfortunately, I won't be returning to Spice Bistro, for the following reasons: 1. Ridiculously slow service. Four of us went to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. We planned on having a leisurely meal. We did NOT plan on spending over 2 hours there, waiting for much of that time. The restaurant didn't seem to be too full (it IS a large space, as other yelpers have commented). It looked like we'd ordered after a large table, but we never heard any apology or explanation of why things were taking so long. It really took an unreasonable amount of time just for our appetizers to arrive. I'd wished I'd timed how long it took, but I can put it this way: about the time you would expect your food to be coming, we waited at least 10 to 15 minutes after that. And that was for appetizers. Then it took another 20 minutes (maybe even 30) for our entrees to come out. Then again, we waited...and waited...and waited for our waiter to return and pick up the check with our credit card inside. He never came back and we finally just stood up and walked over to the hostess table to pay because we were pretty tired of waiting by that point. She then let us know that it was our waiter's first night. Huh. Have someone mentoring the guy maybe? The slow service could perhaps be overlooked in this case, if it wasn't for... 2. Overpriced food. This Indian food was pretty average fare -- nothing to warrant the $17.50 for a Chicken Tikka Masala, etc. Four of us dined and we walked away with an $80+ bill, not including drinks. We ordered one appetizer -- the palatha (which was ho-hum; I've definitely had better) and four entrees. Our entrees were the Chicken Tikka Masala (very average), some lamb curry (pretty good), Saag (really good Saag -- the only saag I've ever liked), and a Tandoori chicken (equal to most Tandoori). Rice comes with the dishes, but that still doesn't warrant these prices. You can find equally good Indian for much cheaper in the valley. 3. Fairly average Indian fare. Like I said above, you can find equally good Indian food for much less elsewhere. What Spice Bistro had going for it: I liked the ambience. They had an outside patio area that seemed nice. Inside had a nice feel to it too. But unfortunately the ambience didn't make up for what ended up being an evening that was soured by long stretches of waiting for overpriced food.
(1)Ernest W.
Before going to Spice Bistro, I had managed to check out their menu first. And I was sheerly blown away by their prices. This has GOT to be the most EXPENSIVE Indian restaurant I have ever come across! Still, the advertisements were everywhere. You couldn't drive down 215 or 900 East where I live and not get a whiff of the mass marketing. So, needless to say, when a Living Social deal came out for Spice Bistro, I quickly pounced on it, not so much because it was a good deal but because I was just SOOO freaking curious! 1) This place's prices are completely outrageous and 2) their ads are everywhere around the city (Oh, and did I mention mail inserts? They got those too!), and so I should...think rationally and not go??? No!!! My curiosity was just KILLING me at this point! So I went on a Friday night, not expecting too many people since it seems kinda out of the way (at least for me anyway, since it was not Downtown, not Sugarhouse, but Van Winkle Expressway in Cottonwood Heights, which does not strike me as a very happening area). But, to my surprise, it was pretty packed, and I was going to have to wait a good 20-30 minutes for a table, unless I wanted to sit at the bar. Well, I was hungry...like REALLY hungry since I hadn't really eaten all day, so I took the bar. I ordered two dishes, a lamb curry and a chicken bistro, because they seemed a bit out of the ordinary, you know, not your typical chicken tikka, tikka masala, korma, vindaloo, etc. Plus, adding the two together just came out to $30 exactly, which was the value of the Living Social deal. Well, when the food finally came out, after what seemed like an INTERMINABLE wait (at least 40 minutes?), it was...well...how should one say??? Disappointing? The FIRST thing I noticed about both dishes was the vast amount of oil ringing the bowls. I'm sorry, but out of ALL the Indian restaurants I have ever been to, I have never seen curry sauces this oily. Curry is supposed to be creamy and moist but not oily! The oil wasn't even fully integrated into the sauce, apparently. After I was done, you could see a whole film of it remaining on the bottom! Luckily, I was so hungry, I still finished both and kinda pretended that it was no big deal. But it really was. Again, I have never in all my life seen creamy curry sauces come out with that much oil. I mean, is the oil even necessary??? It's certainly not in many of the recipes I've seen! Still, the service was phenomenal. My poor waiter/bartender had to keep bringing me bowls of rice and glasses of water (the rice bowls were EXTREMELY small and it happened to be very dry that day). Overall, yes, service matters, but a restaurant is still primarily in business to serve food, right? And sorry, the food was really not great. With that much oil, and you're charging more than any other restaurant I have ever been to? Methinks not!
(2)Sam H.
Very VERY good food, great service, reasonable prices and friendly staff. I strongly recommend the coconut fish currey and honestly don't know how it could be better.
(5)Tim C.
Overpriced and Over Hyped...there is a lot better Indian food at a lesser price out there. Long wait, bad service and got to watch the owner and wife be busy bodies and bossy to a staff that you can tell was not very happy to be there. Do yourself a favor and just avoid it. BTW the owners are about as bad as Amy's Bakery in Scottsdale-he was very upset when I gave them a bad review in Salt Lake Tribune. Enjoy: sltrib.com/sltrib/lifest…
(1)Chris M.
Great atmosphere. Yummy food. Bananas Foster was awesome! Service is always good (not great).
(5)C W.
I am so glad to find this place since I have moved away from downtown and can't get to Himalayan kitchen as easily. Had the dal maharani, garlic naan, and one of the deep fried vegetable appetizers (can't remember which one). Everything was totally excellent and I will be back for sure. The service was phenomenal and the atmosphere is very beautiful. The owner was seating customers and checked in with us after our meal. I think she is trying to address the service problems other people brought up in the past. Its always nice to see someone make an effort to improve their business. edited to add- had the buffet for lunch today. Hands down best indian buffet I have been to in the valley. Only two of the dishes had meat, so I was really excited. They also had utah stye scones and a super delicious mango pudding dish. Naan comes free with the buffet, but they make it fresh for you when they seat you.
(5)Brent W.
I eat indian food all of the time and all over the world including several times in London. Spice Bistro is very close to world class. Although a few minor kinks to work out because they are so new, the food was excellent. The hostess met us at the door and even opened it for us, and did the same when we left.....very classy. The Tandoori and Tikka Mesala chicken dishes were outstanding and match up to anything I have had around the world. The chicken pikora appetizer was the best I have ever had. Normally chicken pikora is fairly dry but this one was the most moist chicken I have ever eaten. The garlic naan was good but I have had better. Also the main dishes were about $14-$15, much less than a past reviewer posted. It does have a large menu but it covers indian food very well. In addition is has a small american part of the menu such as steaks and some pasta dishes. I think this is smart because those who don't like indian food will be happy too. I have to skip eating at indian restaurants before because there was someone in our party that didn't like it.....problem solved! Our waiter was excellent and offered us very good advice on the spice levels of the dishes. For an indian restaurant it has a more modern decor and looks very similar to the restaurant it replaced in that location. I like the feel in it. For a Thursday night it was fairly busy which is a good sign word is getting out. I think a few of the earlier lower rated reviews were from the first couple of months of opening because my experience was excellent.
(5)Bud H.
My wife and I went all-Indian at this place and it was average at best. In fact, I'd say this was probably one of my least-favorite Indian meals I've had in the valley. First off, the naan was more of a buttery, flaky roll, than it was naan. And although the meat (chicken and lamb) was quality enough, the flavors of both curry dishes we tried just weren't doing it for me. And I love Indian. With more authentic, tasty Indian places around, I just don't see me wanting to ever return to this place.
(2)Josiah B.
My significant other and I visited Spice Bistro one evening and were first off pleasantly surprised by the lush and cozy ambiance. The service was impeccable, the staff were very friendly without being overbearing. The food was just amazing, my curry was so flavorful and rich, with every bite came a new culinary experience...HIGHLY recommend Spice Bistro!!
(5)Brett H.
What a frustrating, costly and distasteful experience. My wife and I wandered out tonight looking for a new place to try. We had Thai food on the brain, but finding a Thai place in this part of town that will serve an adult beverage is a little tricky, and for some unfortunate reason, we ended up driving by and stopping in to dine at Spice Bistro (the gods did not smile on us tonight.) Things started off a little slow. The place wasn't very busy, but it was still early, so it didn't raise any red flags.I looked over the menu while we waited to be seated, and although it was a little pricey, we were hungry and the thought of some good Indian food pulled me through the door. Once at the table we waited too long for our server to greet us, but eventually we got some samosas and drinks ordered and we were on our way. The drinks were slow to arrive, and adding to the fun, when the server brought my drink, she informed my wife that they had made her drink without adding one of the ingredients and it might not taste very good but did she want it anyway. (Nice of them to make us feel guilty for thier lack of inventory.) My sweet wife, not wanting to cause a scene, said she'd take it. I tried it - it was bad... real bad. Then on to the food. The samosas were good. Had I known what the rest of the meal was going to be like, I would have ordered a dozen more and called it a night. After another 30 min wait, the main course arrived. The chicken curry was greasy, the lamb vindaloo was fatty and lacked any "heat" (e en though we ordered "medium", and the rice was crunchy and undercooked. Needless to say, we didn't finish what we plated and we took a pass on the to-go containers. With so many great places to get Indian food in Salt Lake, skip Spice Bistro, unless of course you think grease and fat are spices worth paying for. I guess then you might like it.
(1)Lara B.
I've been looking forward to this place opening, because it's close to my house. We finally got here tonight. Walked in to a rather nice ambiance. The place was almost empty, but it's new, so I'm not surprised. Our waiter was named Jeff, and he was very attentive. We decided to start with the basics, since we'd never been there before. Onion bajji, chicken tikka masala, lamb kurma, garlic and regular naan. The bajji was delicious. The lamb kurma was good, very spicy like we like. The chicken was okay. Not the best I've had, not the worst. The garlic naan was kind of soggy. I don't think either of us ate more than a couple bites of it. There were a few items on the menu that sounded good that I'd like to go back and try. Chicken momo, for one. The beer menu was small, and they were out of our first two choice. The wine menu is expensive. They do have a pretty decently sized American food menu, so if you're craving Indian, and your partner doesn't like it, he has options. Spice Bistro isn't the best Indian in town, but it's not the worst, either. I'd still prefer to go to Tandoor on 33rd South, but I'd pick it over Ganesh or Khan.
(3)Rubies A.
I am baffled at any positive reviews of this restaurant. My experience at Spice Bistro was so egregious that I was motivated to open an account also on urban spoon just to caution anyone unacquainted with the establishment to avoid eating there unless they are interested in tossing away money on a less than satisfying Indian cuisine serviced by inproficient employees whose conduct suggest that many are under the influence are just simpletons at best. My guest and I were sat and moved multiple times (3) upon arriving and placed into the dining area as the hostess was quite inept and unskilled/untrained at her job. We were than ignored for several minutes prior to being properly greeted by a server whose timing proved to remain off thorough the night and was grandly unprofessional including reaching across my plate to retrieve my companion's water glass to refill it, a gesture she performed twice. Our main dishes were brought out prior to appetizers-the chicken tika masla containing bones. Desert menus were brought out and yet we still hadn't received the above mentioned appetizers- still just minutes into our main dishes. Ordered drinks were never brought out at all but were included on the bill. The worst part of the dining episode was half way thru our meal an unannounced marriage reception began streaming in at a common, busy dinning hour (7pm). A reception including children in sarias playing hide-n-seek around the restaurant, a DJ, a raucous clearing of tables for a dance floor (yes, the restaurant not only has a dance floor but a disco ball above it, tawdry at best), a busser vacuuming under and around our table-a more than blantant "get out gesture," the hostess suddenly viewed by both me and my guest shoving volitle candles up her nose (?), and one owner behind the bar becoming so drunk he knocked over several glasses and later fell from his chair, passed out cold. If your restaurant intends on hosting a reception small suggestion: discontinue taking guests prior to the event. Better yet- close down for the duration of the reception. They continued seating new patrons in addition to entertaining an Indian wedding reception. Astonishing!!! The staff was clearly underdeveloped and underprepared for so many people, ostensibly. Food was foul. Service absentminded. Prices high for repugnant result. Only go if you enjoy chaos, lousy food, and service disinterested in your presence.
(1)Syed A.
This is my 2nd review for this place. I find it extremely welcoming, with great ambiance and even better food. We went there last Saturday for their lunch buffet. At $10.99 it is very reasonably priced and delicious. As for the negative reviews, I asked the owner and she explained this place is under NEW MANAGEMENT - they have had this place for little over 3 months. I think this just might be my favorite Indian food restaurant in Salt Lake!
(5)Julie R.
We've been to Spice Bistro twice since they opened. The food has always been delicious and he service from the staff for the most part was great. Try the mixed bread basket with sauces as an appetizer. The variety is yummy and the sauces they bring compliment them very well.
(4)Laurie P.
The first two times we came here we thought the food was good, and that in time the service would improve. Well, the service is satisfactory, but our favorite lamb dishes have declined. Spicing and overall taste is good but the lamb has been so dry and tough that it was barely edible. Should you decide to go, try something other than one of the lamb dishes (but not the goat, it tasted like sawdust). Also, if you like wine, bring your own (although I'm not sure what they charge for corkage). We ordered a malbec that was priced at $35. I liked it and decided to pick up a couple of bottles at the Utah liquor store. Was I chagrined to discover that the same wine could be purchased for under $10!
(1)Dani O.
We visited Spice Bistro as a recommendation from some strangers who said it is one of their favorite Vegan restaurants in SLC. We weren't looking for a Vegan restaurant but more a place with a great patio. We were blown away by the ambiance of the patio area at Spice Bistro! We sat at this great little table by a fire place that was romantic enough for an intimate dinner but close enough that we didn't feel isolated. Perfect summertime patio! The menu selection was in some ways overwhelmingly large. Both my boyfriend and I agreed that a large menu can mean that most dishes are okay but there are very few that are stellar because of the variety. We asked the recommendations of the staff and were a little disappointed that they recommended the most popular Indian Dishes. Our server did also recommend the Goat. She said Goat is a specialty of Nepal and the Owner and the kitchen staff are from Nepal so it is a stand out popular entree. Although - they do claim to be able to offer unique Indian dishes due to their American menu that they also offer. Apparently the Steak Tandoori is very good - haven't tried it...yet... We started with the Masala Cashews which were basically cashews with Indian spices but they were actually fantastic. They were a great way to start out the meal and enjoy with our cocktails. They were much better warm then when they cool down though. Also tried the Chicken Coconut Kurma, the Goat Curry and the Baygan Bharta (Eggplant). The Coconut Kurma was okay, nothing to write home about, but we were blown away by the Goat Curry and the Bharta. The Goat had amazing flavor!! (watch out for the bones! Our server did not warn us - they can make for an achy tooth if not careful) The Baygan Bharta was also very good - not pieces of Eggplant like I was expecting but a good mixture of flavors and spice! The Garlic Naan was okay - think we'll try the regular Naan next time. We were absolutely stuffed after dinner but our server sold us on the Bread Pudding. Neither one of us being big bread pudding fans we figured we'd eat a few bites and call it a night. The bread pudding alone is worth a return trip. It was utterly amazing. Not too soggy, good amounts of caramel and just flat out delicious. Owner was very nice - we chatted with him for a bit towards the end of our meal. The entire staff took great care of us. We will definitely be returning to try some of their other dishes as this restaurant grows!
(4)Spot D.
I rarely write a bad review but this deserves one. Saw it on Groupon thought I'd give it a try. Way overpriced for the quality of food. If you like expensive mediocre food then this place is for you. I will never visit here again and would not recommend wasting your money here.
(1)Maggie P.
Good food with an alright staff. We were sat right next to a party of 15+. They were loud and I had to raise my voice just to order my food and just have a conversation with my boyfriend. not cool. There were plenty of tables away from the giant party that we could've sat at. BUT, the food was pretty good and the martinis were awesome! it was a bit on the expensive side so I'd go again if we recieve another groupon.
(3)Scott R.
Bought a groupon wanting to try something different. I was happy overall with my experience. It was very busy for a Monday, but the service was alright. Started off with the vegetable samosa. Cooked perfectly with chutneys that were very good. Then had the lamb vindaloo medium temp. I thought is was good, but definitely not the best I have had. I thought for the pricing it would be a little better. I do really like the variety on the menu. If someone in your party is not into Indian fare. Then they have a lot of other options. I am not in a hurry to come back. But if I am in the area I might come back again.
(3)Skylar W.
We'll be coming back for sure. The lady and I came here after getting a groupon, and we're glad that we visited. The service was great; we had an attentive server, and the food came out quickly, which was surprising because the joint was so busy. After ditching San Francisco a year ago for a move to Salt Lake, I'm glad we ran into SB, because we hadn't found any great Indian food in SLC until now. Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Aloo, and Aloo Gobi were all fantastic. I haven't tried the American food, but this is definitely the place to go for Indian. BAM!
(5)John K.
Although there are a few Indian restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley with decent food, very little has been offered to the public in pleasant ambiance, friendly service, and table presentation. FINALLY, I've discovered an establishment that fulfills all of those categories!! Spice Bistro is a delightful surprise to this casual diner. Initially, I was struck by the cool, swanky lounge-like environment, as I entered the restaurant. (I must say, rather hip and modern for an Indian restaurant.) I was sat instantly and the server was incredibly personable and smiley. Upon glancing over the menu, I noticed their wine menu included my favorite Malbec - Layer Cake. Big points!! I ordered their Vegetable Samosa as an appetizer -a light pastry-like dish. Good choice on my part. For my entree, I decided to try something unconventional. I love anything Tandoori, but I've never had a steak option in that manner. I ordered the Steak Tandoori and the Saag Paneer, with the Garlic Naan.... WOW!! Ample, generous portions of delicious Indian cuisine. Served promptly and cooked perfectly! Very impressive! Although my Malbec was sufficient for my dessert, I do have my eye on the Bananas Foster Sundae for my next visit to Spice... which will be very soon!! On my way out, a stopped by the bar (full bar, by the way!) to catch the score on the Jazz game. They have a beautiful bar with two wide-screen TV's to watch any event. The bartender was also very friendly. He was entertaining and made me feel welcome to return. Great place amazing experience. Also did i talk about their nicest patio in salt lake city. Overall, I was supremely impressed with my first experience with Spice Bistro in Holladay! Well done, folks!! See you soon!!
(5)Megan E.
My husband and I went there because I bought a Groupon for the place and we're both lovers of Indian food. When first walking in, the place is really nice, the ambiance is great there, and I felt like we were under dressed based on our first impression. The hostess was nice, but our waitress...... she was another story. First of all we didn't see anyone for at least 10-15 mins. She came over and apologized about not being over there sooner, but she was acting really weird. My husband and I thought that maybe it was because she was thrown off and gave her the benefit of the doubt. She asked for drinks, but didn't offer up options, after ordering drinks she was like 'OK' then just stood there (this was a common theme throughout the night). I asked if we could have an appetizer (she didn't ask) and she was like 'OK' and stood there again. Both of us said thanks and she was still standing there. She was nice enough, she had a smile all night but she lingered awkwardly throughout the night almost every time she would come around. When we got our food, the guy who brought it out told us that our naan's were the other person's flavor (I got garlic and my husband got onion) he looked and them even and then told us backwards. We didn't notice until about half the order was gone, I just thought their garlic was weak. I ordered chicken tikka masala, I ordered medium and it came out SUPER spicy. I asked if that was their spicy or medium, if it was medium I would try to power through, but if it was spicy I would like another one. She said she would check and came back and said "They're making you one that's more mild" so my husband and I just looked at each other and said, "so... was that spicy or medium?" she said "Oh, it was spicy, I think I put it in wrong". No apology, she wasn't rude about it, but her delivery was way off, I swear she was high on something. The food was really good, except (and this always happens to my husband) there were whole cardamom pods in our food, he bit down on one (he's a big lover of cardamom) and he said it ruined his whole meal because he couldn't get the flavor out of his mouth. He stopped eating, and only ate about 1/3 of his meal, he's a big guy so this is unusual for him. I also had a pod, but didn't bite down, because I was a little more aware because of his incident. Overall, the food was good, we may just order to go next time, but the prices were pretty expensive, even with our Groupon ($30) we ended up with a $45 dollar bill. I recommend Khan's curry house on State just south of Sam's Club in a little strip mall. The food there in unique and the service is superb. I love Mohammed, he always keeps us happy there.
(2)Elle E.
Loved the food at Spice Bistro as a newbie to Indian food I really appreciated being able to choose my spice level. For those who love an Indian food lover and yet you are not, Spice is nice. With it's equally well done American menu there is something for everyone. No more coin flipping with your date.
(5)Ronald M.
This was no country chicken sandwich combo meal but it's not to bad. The naan bread was pretty much the best I've had in quite some time. The lunch buffet was exciting to partake of. Offering a multitude of different options to be buffeted by. I will try this place again and I will probably invite the hamburgler.
(5)Cynthia W.
My husband and I visited Spice Bistro after buying a discount coupon online. We were very happy with our dining experience. The restaurant is nicely decorated, relaxing music was playing in the background. The outdoor patio space was really nice, although it was too hot for us to dine outside. We tried the Indian menu and really loved the food. The prices were reasonable and the service was outstanding. We had an excellent overall experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Michael A.
My friend and I ordered off the Indian menu. There is also an American menu. Spice is two restaurants in one, with two separate kitchens and kitchen staffs. The advantage of this unusual arrangement is if your friend or significant other does not care for spicy Indian food, they can order more familiar food prepared by American chefs. The Indian food was excellent. We ordered the Steak Tandoori, shrimp masala, aloo bindi, and cheese garlic naan. The total bill, with beer and soft drinks came to $60.00. This is a bit pricey, but worth every penny. There is nothing negative I can say about our meal. The service was excellent, the waiter's recommendations were spot on, his attention to our table could not have been improved, the decor is very tasteful in this large space, and the outdoor patio is perfect for late summer dining. The background music was Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, and '60's oldies rather than Ravi Shankar and traditional Indian music. A baseball game was on the TV over the bar. Both my friend and I are experienced fans of Indian food and have eaten it all over the world. This was certainly as good as any, and better than most. We will return and try the other offerings on the extensive menu. We may even try the highly recommended pork chops.
(4)Fred N.
I went with a friend today for the first time to spice bistro to try it. We had the papadam it was delicious. The garlic naan was missing the garlic. The shrimp curry was good. The pork tandoor was excellent. The waiter was pleasant but he lacks knowledge. I asked him how long he has been working there,he said three months. I felt bad for this guy. It is obvious that he did not have any training and I don't believe he is making any effort to learn. On another note the noise was very loud. If you ask me to go there again for the food I will say yes but not for the other things.
(3)Gavin B.
We bought the living social voucher and gave this place a try. We frequent Bombay House and India House so we're fans of Indian cuisine. Spice offered a comfortable ambiance with attentive service. Our server didn't have a very good understanding of Indian food so we gathered she was in the training phase. Drinks-terrible wine selection, majority were California whites which was surprising. The beer selection wasn't bad. Both were very pricey compared to India House. Food-our entrees were very tasty. the rice however, was not authentic and didn't taste good. The garlic naan didn't taste like naan at all, more like a poor excuse for flatbread. Overall, we wouldn't go back and pay those prices for quality and authenticity you get. Save a few bucks and get better flavor at India House.
(2)linda p.
It deeply saddens me to have to write this review. When I saw the restaurant going in I was thrilled to have and Indian restaurant so close by. My gal pals and I decided to go give it a try this evening. First, let me say the service was very good, sometimes too attentive. We wanted time to eat and visit and felt we were constantly being checked in on. I'd rather have that than be ignored and our server was really trying hard to make sure we had everything we needed. The wine we ordered was very nice and the best part of the meal. I ordered the chicken saag as it has always been one of my favorites. I also got an order of naan. The naan was not edible so I simply pushed it to the side. The Bombay House has my favorite Chicken Saag and I was hoping to enjoy Spice Bistro's as well. I did eat a small plate as I had saved up my appetite all day and was hungry. The rest I gave to my dog. We will not return to this establishment and it makes me sad to say that. We had such high hopes....................very disappointing.
(1)Mike H.
as much as I wanted to like spice, I just could not get into it. the goat curry was decent enough. had a lot of gristle and bone rather than actual meat. we ordered the naan on the waiters recommendation it was essentially a quesadilla with cheese. I would not recommend the naan. I would go back only if every other restaurant around this was closed.
(1)Christina S.
if you are a fan of spice this place will provide you with various flavors! just be careful not to ask for too spicy because it'll be really really spicy! great ambiance, friendly staff and food worth paying. Nice place to go if you have a group and not everyone is Indian food fan because they have pretty extensive American food choices as well.
(4)Brad t.
Cozy, Classy, Inviting lighting and decor. IMPECCABLE service!! (Ask for Chris or Wayne) Food is amazing on both sides of menu. The COOL bar will rival Oyster bar soon for after work drinks! Nice wine list too. TRY IT - You will go back!!
(5)Shabah B.
I bought a Living Social voucher for Spice and the man and I just got back. First off, the place it lovely. Our server, Tony, was awesome. He was knowledgeable and friendly without being overattentive or too chatty. My spouse doesn't always have the best time with Indian food, but since they had American selections on the menu he went. On Tony's recommendation he had the tandoori lamb. It was served sizzling hot on a metal plate and the presentation was wonderful. He ate every bite. I got the chicken saag and have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Both meals were delicious. We also had some plain naan, which was fresh and warm. We had the sweet potato fries (American side of the menu) and they were crisp and perfect. We had a chicken appetizer too, but I can't recall what it was....simply stated, it didn't survive to come home. They have an outdoor seating area that we'd like to try out, but it just wasn't the weather for it yet.We'll go back, we'll bring friends.
(4)Alana F.
Went to Spice Bistro lastnight, not sure what to think. I thought the food was good, service not so good especially with just two of us. I had the Bistro Kabab my husband the balsamic pork chops w/augratin potatoes (but came with fries). After we ordered it took 20-30 minutes to get our food. When the watiress finally brought it she forgot a knife for the pork chops, it took her 10 minutes to come back w/ a knife. At that point my husband told her he order augratin potatoes she said "oh sorry how about we make it on the house and you can have them to go" My husbands reply was "No, I want them with my dinner" duh!! Also, after we had ordered I noticed a party of 4 come in and sat in our same section with same waitress. I don't know what they ordered but by the time we got our food they had eaten and were gone. Maybe they were in a hurry or something, but it just bothered me. Our waitress seemed to be very unorganized and scattered. Then to top the evening off, (hopefully the party of 4 who did this are reading these reviews) two younger couples came in and were seated at the table next to us. They were waited on promptly but about 5 minutes after they ordered they got up and just left, which I thought was incredibly rude!! Our waitress was pretty schocked. The entire evening was a weird experience.
(3)