Darbar is widely praised as an intimate, cozy, family run Indian restaurant in Montreal where flavors are rich and dishes are prepared with care and from scratch. Reviewers note attentive service and a warm, personalized dining experience with moments such as the staff coming to the table to explain dishes and tailor them to spice preferences. The menu is described as authentic and varied, with balanced spices and fresh ingredients and occasional seasonal highlights. The ambiance is consistently described as cozy and charming, with real candles, dim lighting, and a mix of quiet dinners and lively jazz on select nights, plus a winter indoors and summer patio vibe. Pricing is considered reasonable for the quality and for sharing plates with friends or family. Dietary needs are well accommodated, including gluten free and vegan options, and staff are noted for asking about spice tolerance and customizing dishes. While most experiences are outstanding, some reviews mention slower service in a small, busy space and a few dishes that were less impressive. Overall, this spot is seen as a standout for authentic Indian cuisine in Montreal and a must visit for food lovers.
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
on Google
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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!
Aug 8, 2024
on Google
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We were delighted with the quality of the food. Everything from the daal soup to the chicken masala, customized aloo saag for me & my wife's lamb curry was delicious!! The mango lassi was amazing. We also had a tea that was out of this world. It was not on the menu, but recommended by our host, it is did not disappoint! We highly recommend Darbar & we will return!
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 :)
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.
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.
Aug 1, 2024
on Google
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My first night in Montreal I ended up here. So did I my second night & my ninth. This place is excellent. Every dish I have ordered has been remarkably flavorful. I dined in. Give it a shot.
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.
Bon, mais sans plus. Trop cher. Mon plat (26$) & celui de Mon mari n'étaient pas servis avec du naan ou du Riz, c'est peu apprécié car ça ajoute Sur la facture. Ils n'avaient plus ce que j'ai commandé & au lieu de me le dire, ils ont juste changé la viande (je ne voulais pas la meme viande que Mon mari, pour Qu'on partage) Mais vu le temps qui avançait, j'ai pris ce qu'ils m'ont donné & m'ont chargé le même prix meme si le mien était plus cher à la base. Bon, chaleureux, Mais trop cher pour ce que j'ai mangé. Entré très bonne par contre (j'aurais pris plus de sauce!)
3hours for food, Yes, that right, we were there for 3 hours. 8ish-9:30 waiting in the line, because we didn't reserve the table, but even if we had, I am sure it wont have made that big of difference. Anyways, now we are on the table & waiting for the order, we gave order after 15 minutes of getting the table, got our drinks in another 20 minutes, & then we get the food in exactly in another 30 minutes. We were with kids, & it's not worth the wait at all. Family behind us, we talked & they had the same reaction, the long wait. Now comes the food, i am comparing it with what we get in Ottawa, not even close in terms of taste, Paneer softness or, quality of rice, naan. Local Canadian may like the food as the review says, because they don't expect it to be authentic.
Underwhelming, tried the Tika, Jalfrezzi & Lamb Nihari. The Lamb Nihari had only 5 little cubs of meat & all the curries were on the sweet side. The interior is dated & in need of renovation. Overall not the best experience, especially for the price.
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!
Nourriture de qualité! Sevice familial convivial!! & puis nous sommes servis en français!! A Montreal ce nest pas acquis parler francais!Je recommande sans hésiter!!! Très belle experience! Miam miam!!@
