Reviewers consistently praise Darbar for meticulously crafted flavors and dishes that feel both authentic and thoughtfully modern, from butter chicken and dal makhni to nihari, murg malai, seekh kebabs, and a variety of naans, all prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients. The atmosphere is described as intimate and cozy, with warm, attentive service and a welcoming, family run vibe, and the chef often greets tables to discuss the menu and tailor dishes to spice tolerance and dietary needs, including gluten free and vegan options. The dining experience is frequently complemented by personal touches such as table conversations, seasonal recommendations, and occasional live jazz or a refined beverage program, making it a strong choice for dates and gatherings alike. Many reviews call it a hidden gem and among the top Indian eateries in Montreal, noting high consistency over years and a sense of warmth that balances flavor, presentation, and value. While most responses are glowing, a few criticisms surface regarding occasional slower service, smaller portions relative to price, or limited vegetarian options on some menus, yet these do not substantially dampen the overall impression of a special, chef led dining experience.
Best Indian food we tried in Montreal, we were there with friends last weekend & tried Indian food at two places, Darbar & Le Taj (one which is rated as #1 restaurant in Montreal). Darbar food & the service hands down beat Le Taj. The warmth & love with which chef welcomes you & takes care of you, it feels almost like you are eating at your family home. Space is limited so please do reservation. We will definitely be back for food at Darbar, wont mind driving from upstate NY all the way to Montreal just of the dinner - with regards to Le Taj, not so much.
Quelle expérience gastronomique extraordinaire! Nous avions demandé au chef de nous faire tomber en amour avec sa cuisine à l'aveugle & nous avons été conquises dès les entrées. Les saveurs étaient exquises & l'ambiance était magnifique. Une expérience à vivre.
Extremely warm staff running this charming restaurant. Chef came out to introduce himself & to wish us farewell. Many options including vegan/vegetarian. We tried a variety of dishes & all were delicious .
I am visiting Montréal for work & was looking for a good Punjabi/Indian food! Ate vegetarian thali at Darbar today! A sumptuous meal with a portion each of dal makhani, saag paneer & baigan bharta (went with the server's recommendations), along with butter naan & basmati rice & a couple of veg pakoras! Was my only meal for the day, so ordered a lachha parantha as well. Everything was absolutely delicious! Authentic North Indian flavors! Simar who runs the restaurant (& is the chef) was very gracious, welcoming & super friendly! He runs this business as a passion which was clearly evident in the food flavors! Maza aa gaya yaara! Will definitely come back next time I am around!
I came from Toronto excited to try Darbar & it did not disappoint! We met with the chef to get his recommendations & had the malai kofta & a beautiful sweet & spicy shrimp dish. The food is amazing & is clearly made with love. The ingredients are fresh & local therefore the menu changes throughout the year. I can't wait to come back on my next trip!
One of the best Indian restaurants around (probably the best in Montreal). My family & I ate here last night & everything we ordered was delicious, authentic, & spiced exactly according to your taste. Love the ambiance & decorations (like a place court, as reflected by the name Darbar). Great cocktails & the best mango lassi I can remember having, ever! We started with the Samosa Pakoray then went with the saag Gosht, shahi paneer, Bhindi Bhaji, Chole Buturay, butter naan & onion kulcha, & veg biryani. Everything was great! The chef personally came out to the table to welcome us & manage our experience throughout the night. As a family owned restaurant, they really seemed committed to having each guest have a wonderful experience from start to finish. & the best part on top of the great food was how affordable it was for a family of 4! With inflation & prices going crazy everywhere, this place is a rare exception where you get high quality, authentic, high class food at a reasonable price. Great food, ambiance, price & most importantly, great people. As I'm from New York & have experienced an eclectic & wide variety of Indian food, this place ranks as one of the best without a doubt!
Oct 6, 2024
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Food was amazing with fresh locally sourced ingredients. Traditional hearty dishes with a modern twist & a wonderful backstory to the restaurant. Owner/chef helped us choose our dishes & told us a bit an about the restaurant. He's a lawyer by day & chef by night & you can really taste the passion on his dishes.
Best shahi paneer I've eaten in my life. The chef came out & personally talked to us about how he makes the food from scratch with fresh ingredients & spices. If anyone is visiting Montreal & looking for a 5 star Indian cuisine please be sure to visit here, you won't be disappointed.
My group & I had another incredible dining experience at Darbar. I am a regular at this restaurant, the chef/owner came out to personally greet us & welcome us to the restaurant & go through the menu with us. The service & atmosphere were excellent as well, & my group couldn't stop raving about the food. All items we ordered were on point & came out piping hot, the team also took all of our dietary restrictions into consideration & adapted the menu accordingly. Make sure to make a reservation as this restaurant can get quite busy!!
Highly recommend! We stopped in on a Saturday night without a reservation & they were super accommodating even though it was busy. Maybe call ahead to give them a heads up if it's a weekend night, this place is in high demand! The food was insanely good-- very dynamic flavors, each dish distinct from another. It all felt healthy, fresh, & tasty. The service was lovely & the chef-owner greeted us & gave some background about the restaurant's roots. We came to visit Montreal & it was important to us to support locally owned businesses & Darbar is just that. This is a family restaurant, well worth the visit & the wait if it's busy. Definitely try Darbar.
Sep 9, 2024
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Great food & awesome service, especially from the head chef. No English menu but staff was helpful with translating. Food made from scratch was worth the wait.
Hi - I came from Toronto to Montreal with my parents who had come from India. Wanted to treat them to the best Indian place in Montreal & hence chose Darbar. I had done some reading on Darbar in my quest to find a nice place for Indian dining & was pretty impressed by what I read on the exec chef / owner's hospitality & his background story about parents. The food was good; loved the shahi paneer & butter naan(softest i have had ever); & of course the rasmalai. The garlic naan was a miss. The food is cooked fresh after ordering & takes time which is told at the time of ordering itself. We had also ordered aloo go hi , dal fry & sweet lassi which were good. Because I had told everyone in my family about the stories & posts I have read about the owner & seeing that they went & interacted with every table except ours was pretty awkward & embarrassing. My husband was just asked from afar how the food was but for each table while we were seated ; the owner went & chatted up, explained the dishes & made the guests feel comfortable. Even though the food was good; this experience left a sour taste.
We had an amazing evening at Darbar. The food is excellent: flavorful, authentic yet modern, & well balanced. Cocktails were also good, but what we loved most was definitely the service. The chef/owner was patient, welcoming & gave us great recommendations; we could sense his passion & his love for his craft, which contributed in making the meal a memorable one. We will definitely be back!
The head chef is incredibly inviting & helpful. The food was delicious, & I was particularly impressed with the vegetarian entrees recommended by the chef.
Aug 12, 2024
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Wij kwamen via een Google Review hier terecht en geen moment spijt van gehad, wat een fijn restaurant. We wilde graag op het terras zitten en werden door de chef-kok (tevens eigenaar) direct goed geholpen. Het eten was smaakvol en gevarieerd. Helaas was de lam op maar kregen meteen een advies voor een ander gerecht. Zou er graag naar terug gaan!
Wow wow wow! Writing this just after eating it all, absolutely fantastic. Came with family on vacation, treated very well by the staff & was guided through the menu by our waitress & the head chef. They helped curate a meal to our tastes. Best food & service I have received on this trip & top tier dining experience.
Chef s'adapte aux intollérances & allergies. Cuisine tellement gouteuse 😋. Service plus qu'impécable. Petites poignée d'épice indienne à la réception de la facture juste parfaite! Prix abordables.
I had the pleasure of dining at Darbar this past weekend with a group of 9 to celebrate my sister. The experience there was absolutely amazing & I cannot say enough about how enjoyable our time was! The service was fantastic & everyone truly made us feel welcome & well cared for. The family aspect of the establishment was clear & helped the whole experience feel even more delightful. The head chef, who owns the establishment, was involved every step of the way & made several recommendations, while coming out to explain the dishes when they were served. Every single thing we ordered was fantastic. The experience felt so personalized & intimate & we will be talking about this meal for some time to come. Thank you so much to the team & family that makes up Darbar for such a truly wonderful experience!
