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.
Darbar deserves all the stars! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm & inviting. The food was simply incredible-authentic Indian cuisine at its finest. The attention to detail in the flavors made each bite unforgettable. You must also try their one-of-a-kind drinks! The service was just as impressive-attentive, friendly, & efficient. They went above & beyond to make sure our dining experience was perfect. If you're looking for an exceptional Indian meal, Darbar is the place to go. Highly recommend!!!!!!!
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!
Oct 9, 2024
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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!
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.
This is the best 5-star Indian restaurant I've been to. You can tell it takes a lot of prep work to make these dishes. So much flavour!! My girlfriend is pregnant too, & the owner even came over to make sure she was eating certain foods that was allowed for pregnant women.
Sep 14, 2024
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Our favourite Indian restaurant in Montreal. The food is outstanding; presentation is lovely, flavours are delectable. Great vegan friendly options as well. We always visit Darbar when our family is visiting from Australia. A memorable evening on the terrace thanks to the great ambiance & hospitality of the staff & owners. Looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend! Thank you Darbar team.
It's was not bad but certainly not good! There are other Indian restaurants with a higher quality of dishes, we were quite disappointed when we went there! On top of this, it's quite expensive so I would not recommend going there
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.
Great little Indian restaurant. They seated us even though it was near closing time. Delicious food. They adjusted the spiciness to our requests. Delicious & innovative cocktails. I want to go back.
Aug 16, 2024
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By far my favorite Indian food, of all the places I've tried in every city I've lived in. I often make the trip from Vermont to Montreal specifically to eat dinner here, walk around St Laurent, & head back to the US. You can feel the love in every dish that hits the table, & when you hear this place's back story & learn more about the amazing family that runs it, you can't help but love the food all the more. Couldn't recommend more :)
This restaurant was by far, our favorite on our visit to Montreal. Amazing Indian food & great recommendations from our server. All of the servers could not have been kinder. The food was delicious & we thoroughly enjoyed our meal.
Very nice location & an incredible service. The owner was taking our orders & was super friendly explained the history of its establishment & overall the best Indian food in Montreal. Definitely worth a second visit.
A friend & I were travelling from London to Montreal & also had two further planned stops in New York & Toronto. Being Indian, we were craving authentic & homemade Indian food! We knew it was a risk just choosing a restaurant on a whim, but that risk certainly paid off! Simran, the chef, was very welcoming from the start. We were even more impressed to learn that all the food was cooked fresh & we were provided with a reasonable expectation of how long the food would take to be cooked. Simran - bring Darbar to London! We would love a restaurant like yours here!!!
Chef Samir , is excellent , we had the best Indian cuisine at Darbar , Montreal in Canada , the flavours were perfect , gave home food touch & great service , best wishes & highly recommend; when at Montreal
The food at this restaurant deserves a solid 5/5 rating. It offers a unique twist on traditional Indian cuisine with a delightful Western influence, resulting in extraordinary flavors. The food actually got tastier since the last time i visited. I've been a patron here since the days when Uncle Sadar Ji managed the place, & his hospitality was unparalleled. Although I didn't encounter the same level of warmth during my recent visit, the restaurant's quality remains exceptional. I'll definitely return & am eager to see them expand to new locations.
Amazing little restaurant. Food is fantastic, & being that Indian food is generally spicy, the waitstaff asks for your tolerance level to make your experience even more enjoyable. My wife & I will definitely be back!
