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.
La cuisine est vraiment excellente & ça vaut la peine d'y aller! Par contre, il ne faut pas être pressé car le service est plutôt lent comme d'autres l'ont mentionné. Nous avons attendus environ 1h30 avant de recevoir nos assiettes. C'est vraiment le seul gros bémol car les employés sont tout de même bien sympathiques!
Jun 29, 2024
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Once again, I am eating in my Punjabi home from home in Montreal. There is no comparison. This is THE most genuine, wonderful restaurant that I visit in my jog around the globe. Thank you to you all, Simar & family
I love this place & eat here whenever I'm in Montreal. The spices, smells, textures & everything about it. Most places I have a particular dish I always order because I know it will be good. Here I want to try the whole menu. If you can't decide, get the thali plate, nice assortment that changes daily.
Warm & friendly service! Extremely attentive & kind. Wonderful choices with healthy vegan, meat or seafood options & each dish has a unique flavour. Authentic cuisine. Fun wine choices & enjoyed the terrace. Can't wait for our next visit!
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.
I enjoyed my food & drink at Darbar. I really enjoyed the fact that the head chef is out & about. The head chef was actually the person who took our orders & gave his personal recommendations. I didn't like that when the chef was taking our order, he was very excited to tell us the types of naan (& make recommendations) but he doesn't mention that the naan costs $6(or $8) extra. So when I got hit with an $8 naan charge, I felt blindsided & a bit taken advantage of. I would've gotten the rice with my butter chicken instead. I also didn't love the time it took to be served, but I think that's more a personal thing. I'm sure some people love the time between dishes to give time to schmooze, but I was antsy by the time the main course came. It took over an hour after the appetizers to get the mains. Overall, I don't have any complaints about the food itself, I just feel like it was expensive for what it was. I think it I had known about the naan I would've done things differently & been a happier customer. Or at least I would've anticipated the charge. I complained & they took off $2, but I should've been more assertive about it. I didn't leave feeling good about it. I guess my feedback if the staff read this: when presenting the types of naan, mention the added costs. Specially if you get the impression someone is new.
What a treat! The food was mouth watering incredible! The chef & owner was so hospitable & welcoming. He not only was in the back, but was also managing the front & serving. Treated us to a new dish he's curating on the house. Presentation, taste & texture of all of the dishes were on point. A hidden gem in Montreal. Definitely coming back. We ordered: tikki chaat (not currently on the menu), chicken saag gosht, lamb nihari, the most incredible malai kofta (nothing like I've ever tasted before), & bhindi. For dessert we had mango cotton candy kulfi with bits of spicy red chili chocolate ganache, & bourbon flamed gulab jamun.
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!!!
As per the prices charged here, food is not that great! I ordered Non-veg thali & Tandoori Prawns. Thali was sufficient for one person meal it includes 2 sabji, dal makhani rice, roti, papad, & 1 piece of tandoori chicken. Tandoori Prawns was ok it was smelly & too lemony. But they have good options for Cocktails.
Jun 3, 2024
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The madras curry was phenomenal, unlike any curry I've had. The cocktails were also exceptional & very well presented. The service was also very friendly & warm, & the chef told us about the ingredients in our dishes. Would recommend!
i absolutely love it here, the atmosphere & service is out of this world, you literally feel so loved & cared for here haha & the food is amazing! I'm so glad I found this place
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
Nous avons dîné dans ce restaurant raffiné qui propose une excellente cuisine. Les mets sont savoureux. Nous nous sommes partagé une entrée composée de brochettes de poulet. J'ai adoré le poisson Jogan Josh. Les desserts sont à tomber.
