For administrative reasons, Restaurant Gandhi will no longer serve wines and alcoholic beers. However, we are pleased to continue offering a selection of non-alcoholic wines and beers for your enjoyment.
Thank you for your understanding and your loyalty.
Step into Restaurant Gandhi and the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal give way to the fragrant spices and the aromatic flavours of the Asian subcontinent. Traditional Indian music plays as you dine, providing a gentle serenade to accompany your meal.
Unlike most indian restaurants, you will feel like you're dining al fresco: soft light, bistro-style tables with crisp white lines, and the yellow walls with their window-like cubby holes recall a sunset over the Ganges half a world away. Gandhi engages all five senses to create a memorable dining experience. For those who prefer a take out, our team will be please to prepare your meal with the same touch of love!
Gandhi offers a warm, inviting Indian dining experience with aromatic, well-balanced dishes that showcase generous portions of tandoori specialties, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, and biryani. The naan, especially garlic naan, is often praised as outstanding, with papadam and chutneys as a memorable start. The service is consistently attentive and friendly, with staff going the extra mile to ensure guests feel at home. The ambiance ranges from a calm, refined Old Montreal setting to a cozy, bustling vibe, with tasteful decor and comfortable linens. The vegetarian options are plentiful and delicious, and halal choices are noted. Some comments mention value for money and occasional longer waits during peak hours, but the overall sentiment highlights bold flavors, authenticity, and care in presentation. Frequent visitors describe Gandhi as a reliable favorite for family meals, celebrations, and casual dinners alike, with butter chicken and richly spiced curries inviting repeat visits.
We loved our meal & the ambience at this Indian restaurant we decided to have dinner at, in downtown Montreal! The restaurant filled up really fast, but because we arrived early, managed to get a table without a reservation. We had flown in from California & our son from England to be in Montreal, & this was a perfect place to enjoy a conversation. The wait staff was very attentive, the food & wine was excellent, & the decor & table settings were very appealing to the eye. I found the tandoori roti, the daal fry & the palak paneer to be delicious, & the chicken dishes (which I don't eat) were enjoyed by others - we found it hard to stop eating actually, so decided not to have dessert :) I'll be recommending this restaurant to all my friends too.
Jun 2, 2025
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I recently had the pleasure of dining at Gandhi Restaurant in Montreal's Old Port, & it was a truly memorable experience-especially since I brought my little cousins along, & it was their first time trying Indian cuisine. The restaurant offers a perfect blend of traditional Indian flavors with the charming atmosphere of the Old Port, making it ideal for both casual dining & special occasions.
From the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by an inviting, warm ambiance that made us feel right at home. It felt like the kind of place where you could enjoy a comforting meal or celebrate a special moment, & it definitely added to the overall experience.
I started my meal with a crisp glass of Chardonnay, which was the perfect companion to the rich & aromatic spices that followed. To kick things off, we tried the Papadam-an irresistible, crispy lentil wafer served with three vibrant sauces: mint, tamarind, & mango chutney. Each sauce offered a unique balance of tangy sweetness that elevated the papadam, making it a delightful palate cleanser that melted in my mouth with every bite.
For appetizers, I went with a selection of traditional favorites, & each dish was nothing short of fantastic. The Chicken Tikka was tender, with a smoky, roasted flavor, & the marinated chicken was seasoned to perfection. The Onion Bhajee, fried in Indian butter, was crispy & rich, with just the right touch of sweetness from the onions. The Samosa had a flavorful vegetable filling, & the Pakora-seasoned vegetable fritters-was crunchy on the outside & soft on the inside, with a well-balanced spice profile.
When it came time for the main course, I decided to let the waiter surprise me with a variety of dishes to truly experience the diversity of Indian cuisine. The Mixed Vegetable Bhajee was a refreshing, light vegetarian dish with a wonderful combination of fresh vegetables & a perfect mix of spices. The Chicken Tikka Masala, a classic favorite, was comforting & creamy, with perfectly cooked chicken bathed in a rich, flavorful sauce.
However, it was the Shrimp Bhuna & Lamb Dhansak that truly left an impression. The Shrimp Bhuna had a subtle, yet satisfying heat, with shrimp cooked to perfection in a rich curry sauce full of layers of flavor. But the Lamb Dhansak… wow. That dish was the real standout for me. The lamb was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, & the curry itself had a perfect balance of sweetness & tanginess, with lentils & spices providing depth without overwhelming the palate.
What made this experience even more special was seeing my cousins-who were trying Indian food for the first time-so excited by the new flavors. Gandhi Restaurant not only gave us a chance to explore incredible dishes, but it also made us feel like we were sharing something truly special together.
Overall, Gandhi Restaurant delivers an exceptional dining experience, with high-quality food, attentive service, & authentic flavors. The balance of heat, sweetness, & richness in every dish is remarkable. Whether you're a seasoned lover of Indian cuisine or someone new to it (like my cousins), this restaurant offers a fantastic opportunity to dive into the vibrant world of Indian food in such an inviting setting.
Stay tuned for my video review on TikTok (@Foxy.appetite) & Instagram (@Foxyappetite)!
Excellent food & service. Higher prices than one is accustomed to paying for Indian food in Montreal but quality of ingredients is higher so food is refined & relatively light... Vegetarian dishes are delicious. Highly recommend the bhindi bhaji which is bright green & lightly cooked (not deep fried or oily). Shrimp dhansak was also very tasty.
I love this restaurant! My husband & I first came here on the recommendation of a neighbor, & now we eat here regularly. I can only speak to the vegetarian dishes, because that's what I mainly eat, but the vegetables are always fresh & perfectly seasoned. The sauces are delicious without being heavy. The service is excellent, & we are always greeted like old friends.
This is one of my favorite spots to visit for lunch or dinner when I am in Montreal. It is such a pleasant little restaurant, with windows along the front & one side of the building, sunny, pleasant, clean, relaxing & friendly! The staff are so pleasant & helpful & quick to help you get your food selected & ordered, but best of all the aroma of all the wonderful, fresh, delicious spicy or mild food dishes wakes up your appetite in anticipation of tasting your order! It is so pleasant & relaxing to sit down here & slowly, peacefully enjoy a delicious meal! The desserts are amazing as are the drinks & lassie yogurt drinks. As well, the location near the Old Port of Montreal is so wonderful I always love to visit the Gandhi Restaurant. If you have a chance to visit & love authentic Indian Food I very highly recommend that you give it a try you won't be disappointed. Anthony
Majority of the reviews has one thing in common - Food lacks flavour, spices & salt in the dishes .Disappointing to see that the issue still persists & restaurant doesn't seem to have made any changes in the kitchen. Your restaurant lies in the centre of Montreal, only way to win the customers is by the flavours !!!
We were there in July 2024. The service was excellent. Wait staff was attentive, friendly. The food was very tasty & full of flavor. We all enjoyed our dishes. I forgot the names of the dishes we had because I don't often eat at Indian restaurants ( because there aren't any near where I live) My brother-in-law had a beef dish that was as flavorful as it was spicy. Beef biryani, I think. Yum! I had a butter chicken & we also ordered naan & a Bhaji. Everything was delicious & full of flavor. My daughter will be visiting Montréal in September & i have recommended this restaurant to her.
A wonderful break from French food. Plenty of mild dishes using familiar proteins. Recommend the thali, a sampler that includes appetizer & dessert for reasonable price. Dessert was beautiful & tasty.
Aug 24, 2024
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I rarely leave a detailed review... But I am also rarely an expert on a place I visit! I grew up vegetarian & have eaten Indian food since I was a baby, & everywhere around the world from Chennai to Syria to Seattle. I feel like people who have left bad reviews about the service might also leave bad reviews about the lack of chopsticks at an Italian restaurant or the lack of French wine at an Irish pub. Service/atmosphere: This place is exactly as you would expect, very authentic: super friendly & helpful head waiter, & mixed engagement from other staff, contrasted with an open kitchen door & the loud clearing of dishes by others. Overall very fast. The food: I had the vegetarian thali (not on main menu... It is a mix of dishes.. always recommend people get). The two dishes (& I ordered an extra one) were unique & full of flavour. I adore Palak Paneer & have had it 100s of times... Their version was delicious. I loved the sauteed spinach (rather than pureed), & the mixed veggies were perfectly cooked (the onion didn't overpower). The naan & raita were a bit average, but the raita they gave with the papadum at the start was much better. I obviously didn't try the meat dishes, but can strongly recommend this place to vegetarians!
The eggplant & okra dishes were missing the tomatoes & quite flavorless. Tandoori chicken was dry & very sparse...four small pieces. Been there a few times...this was most likely my last time.
The last evening of our visit to Montreal was enhanced by our dinner at the Restaurant Gandhi. We were impressed by the large number of choices that were available on the menu. Both of the main dishes that we selected, a vegetarian & a lamb dish were very pleasant. The lamb was cooked with mint--a flavoring that was most impressive.
The staff & service were helpful & pleasant. The evening was a wonderful way to end our visit to Montreal.
Excellent service by Marc Antonio, nice location. Food was good, some dishes better than others. The beef madras was excellent, spicy & flavorful. Also really enjoyed the shrimp tandoori tilapia. The buttered chicken was dry & I did not like the sauce. Atmosphere is nice but not fancy
Jun 29, 2023
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Super friendly staff & wonderful food. We came with three people who had never tried Indian Food- waiter was really helpful in directing us through an order that allowed us all to sample a variety of dishes. My only regret is I forgot to ask for the leftovers bag on my way out!
Excellent option for vegetarians-really great dishes that are normally made with heavy cream that were much lighter than usual but still had excellent flavor. Nice staff, reasonable prices & nice ambiance.
Visiting Ghandi was a memorable experience. Our party of 4 was expertly guided through the menu & all the dishes were delicious. Tandoori chicken, lamb passander, vegetable biryani, okra, & garlic naan. The flavours were distinct & beautifully balanced. The service was attentive without being too much & the atmosphere relaxed & welcoming.
A gem in the heart of old Montreal & a welcome change from French bistro fare. Highly recommend!
The best meal we had in old city Montreal! We were impressed with the service & loved all the dishes we ordered including an awesome special dessert. The variety of Indian dishes was extensive & the spice levels were exactly as listed on the menu. Definitely a must visit if you are in old city.
Lovely dining room & conducive for groups of 6 who like to chat. We ordered a variety of dishes & everyone had a taste of everything. We all enjoyed the food. The service was prompt & friendly. Good choice!
