Darbar
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Darbar
Opens Today at 4:30 pm
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Reviews for Darbar
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Display Allchef(119) indian(110) darbar(108) recommend(65) dishes(39) naan(38) family(37) authentic(34) thali(33) flavor(32) highly recommend(27) simar(26)Page 1 of 6 - 102 Reviews
Carrie
Great food as usual- Darbar is our go-to for Indian food that is as authentic as it is delicious- thank you Darba
Cyle
My wife & I eat at Darbar often, & the cuisine is definitely a few steps above your typical Indian restaurant experience. The cocktails are thoughtful & delicious, & the staff are among the most welcoming I've encountered anywhere in Montreal. It's rare to find a place that balances warmth, flavor, & atmosphere so effortlessly - Darbar does it beautifully.
Eleanor
This place deserves nothing less than 5 stars, more if possible
First - the ambiance is perfect: cosy, great smell, comfortable, the colours the music volume - all top notch!
Second - the service! The chef introduced himself to us & he is also the owner & proposed that we have a bunch of share plates brought to the table that he would decide - what a pleasure!
It was all a surprise & everything was delicious, fresh & super flavourful
Fantastic Indian food & cocktails & wine - the place really has it all!
An absolute gem I didn't expect to find at the bottom of st Laurent. I will definitely be back!
Benoit
Food was unbelievable, one of the best indian food i've ever had. Its was full of flavors & the presentation was original. Also, the chef was very hospitable & nice to us.
I found the tables were inconvenient (too small) for the amount of food on the table, & the service was a bit laggy but I also understand that it's a very small location & we got in very late, 1 hour before their close.
Overall a great experience, would recommend to everyone!
Jason
We dined at Darbar on Sunday evening & had a truly memorable experience. The chef personally introduced himself, walked us through the menu with recommendations, & even took our order before preparing it - a thoughtful touch that made the evening feel special. The food was outstanding, the staff were warm & welcoming, & the chef returned during our meal to ensure everything was perfect. Five stars all around - Darbar is an absolute must if you're looking for authentic Indian cuisine in Montreal!
Richard
I had one of the most delicious, flavorful Indian meals ever at darbar the other evening. I am so glad I discovered this special place. The vegetarian thali platter was exceptional, as was my appetizer of sizzling chicken on skewers served with mint sauce. Plus, wonderful chilled white wine on a hot Montreal evening. I will be back whenever I'm in town; so many dishes on the menu are mouthwatering! The staff is so incredibly friendly & gracious, as is the chef/owner Simar. I also love that darbar is off the beaten path. The real deal, authentic, family run. I highly recommend!
Amitkumar
Wait Time & Service:
It took approximately 30 minutes to get a table, followed by another 15 minutes to place our order, & then 30 minutes for the food to arrive. The service felt disorganized, possibly due to being understaffed for an unexpectedly busy mid-week evening. Dishes did not arrive together but were served individually over time, requiring multiple reminders for pending items.
Food & Quality:
We ordered Dal Makhni, Baingan Bharta, & Shahi Paneer, along with Lacha Paratha & Tandoori Roti (not listed on the menu but available upon request).
• The Baingan Bharta was excellent - definitely the highlight of the meal.
• The Shahi Paneer was overly sweet - it tasted more like a dessert than a savory entrée, & we wouldn't recommend it.
• Portion sizes were noticeably smaller than those at other Indian restaurants in the area.
Ambience & Cleanliness:
We were initially seated outdoors but had to request a change due to flies falling into our water. Inside, we were unfortunately seated near the kitchen area, where we noticed utensils being hand-washed & general disorganization, raising hygiene concerns.
Final Impression:
The entire dinner lasted around 2.5 hours, which felt unnecessarily long for a simple meal. While we understand every restaurant can have an off day, the combination of slow service, portion sizes, & questionable cleanliness made for a less-than-pleasant experience.
Brad
Possibly the best Indian food we've eaten. The owner/chef Simar (sp?) made the evening special. He selected our meal & everything was perfection! This is a must if in Montreal! Thank you!
Mathieu
I have been to that restaurant a lot since I moved to the neighborhood but I won't go back. Price went up by a lot: the Thali who was below 20$ before pandemic & 25$ recently just got increased to 30$. They do not put the price on the menu anymore 😫 so you have to ask.
The portions were not as generous as before & the wait staff will try to upsell you constantly (at least 4 times during the service).
Finally, they were not compliant with law 72 when we visited: their terminals are still calculating the tip on the amount after taxes.
There is at least 8 other Indian restaurants within 500 meters. I will try those now.
Md
I visited this restaurant recently & had a mixed experience. The service was excellent-friendly, attentive, & prompt, which I really appreciated. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the expectations. The flavors were very average & lacked the richness & depth typically associated with good Indian cuisine. Given how expensive the menu is, I was hoping for much better quality & taste. Great staff, but the food doesn't justify the high prices. Not sure I'd return.
Samosa: 2/5
Murgh Malai: 1/5 ( It was very salty)
Murgh Tikka Masala: 3/5
Garlic Naan: 1/5 ( Didn't have any garlic flavor)
Mango Lassi: 4/5
Don
As a huge fan of Indian cuisine, I can honestly say our dinner at Darbar last night was world-class. Super friendly service, great beer, delicious appetizers & awesome mains. The chef came by our table a couple of times to check whether everything was OK, & took a few minutes to chat. Really top notch place, can't wait to return.
Christine
Darbar is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. For anyone seeking an authentic, delicious, & truly memorable Indian Punjabi dining experience in Montreal, look no further.
Each dish arrived artfully presented, a testament to the kitchen's dedication to both flavor & aesthetics. & the flavors! These flavors were simply extraordinary. The spices were masterfully blended, creating complex & nuanced tastes that danced on the palate without ever being overwhelming. The Korma shrimp was unbelievable, cooked to perfection & the best I have ever eaten. The Lamb Nihari was aromatic & so tender.
It is clear that only the freshest, highest quality ingredients are used, allowing the authentic essence of Indian cuisine to truly shine.
What truly elevated our experience, however, was the delightful surprise of the chef, Simar, emerging from the kitchen to personally interact with diners. His passion for his craft was palpable as he chatted with us, inquiring about our meal & sharing insights into the inspiration behind his dishes. This personal touch, a rare & welcome gesture, made us feel truly valued & added an unforgettable layer to an already exceptional evening.
We are already planning our next visit! Bravo to the entire team at Darbar for creating such a remarkable establishment!
Shibam
So I went there with a friend, & we tried the following things
1. Tamarind & Cumin Lassi - that is something we tried for the first time & the flavour combination was really really good. Haven't seen this lassi in any other Indian restaurant's menu in Montreal. 5/5
2. Aloo Tikki Chat - that was something made for us outside the menu. The Tikki was really crunchy on the outside, juicy in the inside, along with Chhole (chickpeas), yogurt-based sauce, & pomegranates. The flavour profile was really really amazing. 4.5/5
3. Navaratan Korma - this is the ONLY navaratan korma I loved in comparison to the other Indian restaurants over here. The chef did a trick & put some lemon leaves in the curry, this gave a very distinct lemon flavour in the gravy along with its creaminess. The combination was really good - 5/5.
4. Lamb Nihari - this dish disappointed me a bit. My fault, I didn't specifically tell them I want the gravy spicy. The curry was good in taste. But the only thing I didn't like there was the lamb. It felt like the lamb was not marinated. The flavors of the curry didn't penetrate the lamb meat. Otherwise, a pretty good attempt. 3.5/5.
Lois
The most delicious North Indian food & kind & attentive staff!
Parmjit
Grabbed takeout here while on trip to Montreal. Really authentic Indian food. I ordered the dal makhani which was delicious & overly heavy, with the perfect blend of spices & felt homemade along with the naan.
Nassima
Darbar - I don't even know how to begin.
The restaurant is small, with just a few tables. Super cosy. The chef walks between the kitchen & the dining room, checking in with customers to make sure everything's just right.
In one of his shows, Trevor Noah talked about Indian food & the explosion of flavors he experienced the first time he tried it. I didn't really understand that-until I visited Darbar.
Yes, I went twice in less than 10 days. The first time with my partner, who's not a fan of curry. The second time with my picky pre-adult kids. & both times… we experienced the EXPLOSION OF FLAVORS.
My partner now wants to make Darbar our go-to spot for any occasion. My kids wouldn't stop thanking me for the amazing meals.
Forget the curry chicken or daal you've had before. What you get at Darbar is something else. It's magical.
We are in Quebec, & here is the french version:
Darbar - Je ne sais même pas par où commencer.
Le restaurant est petit, avec seulement quelques tables. Super cosy. Le chef fait des allers-retours entre la cuisine & la salle pour s'assurer que tout va bien.
Dans un de ses spectacles, Trevor Noah parlait de la cuisine indienne & de l'explosion de saveurs qu'il a ressentie la première fois qu'il y a goûté. Je ne comprenais pas vraiment… jusqu'à ce que je visite Darbar.
Oui, j'y suis allée deux fois en moins de 10 jours. Une première avec mon partenaire, qui n'est pas fan de curry. & une deuxième fois avec mes enfants (pré-ados) plutôt difficiles. & à chaque fois… on a vécu une EXPLOSION DE SAVEURS.
Mon partenaire veut maintenant que Darbar devienne notre resto pour toutes les occasions. Mes enfants n'ont pas arrêté de me remercier pour les repas incroyables.
Oubliez le poulet au curry ou le daal que vous avez pu goûter ailleurs. Ce que vous trouverez chez Darbar, c'est autre chose. C'est magique.
Michael
Great restaurant! Delicious & clean tasting food, all dishes were perfectly seasoned & spiced. Portions were on the smaller side from my experience at Indian restaurants, we came out full, but not stuffed.
Special mention goes out to the bangin' bhartha & the chana daal dishes! Loved the addition of kaffir lime leaves in the daal!
Fran
Stellar Indian food. Original dishes with lots of classic flavors.
Great service as well.
We'll be back!
Sy
Hands down the best Indian restaurant in Montreal, & one of my favourite restaurants in the city, period. The owner is so friendly, the food is always amazing, & the cocktails & specialty teas are great too. It's a cozy & quiet atmosphere that works well for conversation, & a great date spot. The menu changes seasonally so there's always a reason to go back to try something new.