Kebab Factory (Somerville/Cambridge)

(across from Dali and Toscanini's)

I've ordered delivery from Kebab Factory twice through dining in. Both times I found it to be excellent, and nearly on par with Tamarind Bay. Tonight I ordered palak roomali (an interesting chapati-like spinach bread), tandoori mahi mahi, and vegetable korma. Also, I was happy to discover that a wonderful black daal side was included--best daal I've ever had.

The mahi mahi had extraordinary tandoori flavor and a tasty, though not spectacular, dry marinade. The korma was even better. Its cashew/cream gravy was thick and rich, not weakened with lots of tomato or water. I was happy that they made it reasonably spicy to comply with my "Indian hot" request. The palak roomali was tasty and healthy, but not as memorable as the sheermal (a rich bread you must try unless you're very weight conscious!).

Kebab Factory is definitely worth a visit if you're a fan of Indian food.

[pavV]

Was worried after reading several of these reviews, but had heard good things by word of mouth so decided to check it out. I can't speak to the Indian-ness of the food, but it definitely lived up to its name - the kebabs ordered by my group were succulent, well seasoned, and delicious. Tried the Lamb Seek Kebab (excellent), the Chapli Kebab (chicken breast like pieces which were good but in my opinion not as succulent as the next dish), and the Kali Mirch Ke Tikkey. These came with a small serving of (tasty but not amazing) daal and a tikka masala type sauce as well as rice and a refreshing indian salad (cucumber, carrots, etc with a lemon-salt-pepper dressing). I would definitely go back for the meat items, and I don't even particularly like meat!

[GretchenS]

I went recently with friends and we loved what we had. Don't remember the details, but may have had the same lamb kebab -- whichever kebab it was, it was excellent -- and a whole tandoori roasted cauliflower stuffed with cheese and covered with a creamy sauce that was outstanding. Am blanking on our third dish but it was very good too, as were the two breads we ordered and the fabulous mushroom soup amuse. Unusually for us, there was nothing left to take home and nothing we wouldn't order again. Very pleasant service albeit a tad slow and they forgot our appy altogether which turned out to be a good thing, given how much food we had -- and it was not on the bill. Would definitely return.

Back then this place opened I went there three times in the space of about a year. I believe I tried several different varieties of kebab, a lamb entree, and a soup. Each time the results were execrable and I vowed never to return. The service was indifferent. I should note that each time I went was lunch, not dinner. Is it worth a fourth chance? Should I make a point of going during dinner instead?

I should note that I only eat vegetarian, chicken, and fish, and that I've ordered from there only twice. But I would be shocked if you found this restaurant execrable after ordering the same items as I did.

I'd rate Kebab Factory an overlooked gem in the Indian scene. Food in general is as good as the overpraised Tamarind Bay, sometimes superior. Lunch is an especially good deal. Discovered the weekday lunch buffet last week -- $7.95, if I recall -- and it was delish (and I'm not a big buffet fan, in general). It featured some half-dozen main courses, food was kept piping hot and a few new dishes actually arrived during the 45 minutes or so I was there, including some very unexpected and very tasty steamed Mongolian dumplings. Good beer selection, too, including Duvel, Bass ale, etc. in addition to a choice of three Indian beers.

Mongolian dumplings? Were these Nepali momos by any chance?

Nepali momos -- that could be it. We weren't quite sure of the ethnic origin of the dumplings or the waitstaff. Nepali for both is a strong likelihood. I'll have to ask next time.

Thanks for checking - I'll have to check them out too. Sounds great.

Are Nepalese momos similar to Tibetan momos?

Yep, should be more or less the same.

Yes, same thing. We also call them 'Mumacha' - momo is probably a shortened version of that.

Do you know anyplace in the greater Boston area where one can find Nepalese momos? Or Nepalese food in general? I'm aware of that pizza place with the Neaplese cooks that used to make a few dishes on occasion. But I think that no longer exists. Help!

You're right, that place in Allston is no longer. I went a few times last year and had some enjoyable daal bhaat/alu pakoras and pleasant conversation.

Since the place closed, I really can't find anything Nepali to eat around here, which is odd considering the large Nepali community in Boston. It seems like every Indian restaurant I dine at, is staffed by Nepalis.

I know of one Nepali restaurant in New York City - called Himalayan Yak, in the Jackson Heights part of Queens.

Maybe I'll just have to have Hounds over for dinner at my place. :)

Wow! Count me and my companion in (he has traveled in Nepal)! ^_^

That lunch buffet is one of my favorites ever. It's a great deal, and I've never found a shortage of delicious food to eat. I'll come up with any excuse I can to head that direction around lunch time.

Just thinking about it makes me hungry...

I went there recently for the first time and was underwhelmed. I liked the dal too, and they brought us out little cups of a fantastic spicy broccoli soup as an amuse. I was excited for the meal. Out of the four entrees we tried (unfortunately I can't remember what they were; one was some sort of game, one chicken, one fish, and one vegetarian) we loved one, thought two were okay, and no one wanted to finish the game. I thought it was overpriced for the quality, and the service was terrible -- there was only one other table full, but we were left alone for really long periods with no menus or water. But that was one night -- maybe it's worth another try at some point. There were definitely a couple of good dishes among the disappointments.

i've only had good experiences at kebab factory- they are one of the few restaurants in town with sheermal roti which is absolutely heavenly (with butter and a hint of saffron); i've had their kebabs, dal, saag, etc. i do agree that the service can be slow but i find the food to be one of the better indian restaurants in cambridge.

Last week's meal (my first) there was mixed. My server's English was so poor that everything he said had to be repeated several times before it could be understood. Normally I have no such trouble since I can anticipate the standard questions foreign waiters might have, but this question I had not imagined. The Kebab Factory waiter was aggressively pushing water service, tap or bottled. This is the first time that water for hire has ever been offered me in an Indian restaurant. Coupled with the amuse bouche that started the meal, KF clearly has pretensions. The other problem was lighting and the menu print. It took me two candles to be able to decipher - - barely - - the menu and then some eye strain as well. The romantic lighting cuts down on the available candle power - - an amusing thought in a factory. And the cutesy small font used on the menu plays havoc with my astigmatism. Again a first in any restaurant I have tried.

Once I could decipher it in the flickering shadows and started to order, I was disappointed that my first choice - - tandoori quail - - was not available. The head waiter at this point came over and explained that they are in the process of changing the menu. At what point the change will end, I do not know. I was looking for a mughlai paratha - - bread with minced lamb and peas, as I recall the contents - - but they offered me aloo paratha instead.

The main I ordered, tandoori lamb shank, in its various forms is something I have had at Indian restaurants in London and NYC. Lamb shank is a dish I cook frequently as well. I don't see it often on Indian restos here so I thought it worth a try. The amuse, chicken dumpling with dipping sauces, was OK, but I could have defrosted it at home out of a Super 88 bag. The aloo paratha was superb. Piping hot, good crusty flaky consistency, spicy starchy taste, one of the best Indian breads I have had. On the other hand this particular lamb dish had some problems. Presentation was not one of them, an elegant serving arrived, a tumbler of rice, a tiny tot cup of dal, a bit of mixed salad, fresh and colorful, and the lamb shank with a curry cream sauce on top. The appearance and color of this assembly were first class. I could even tell it in the dark, or maybe I could only tell it in the dark. The taste was good as well, at least at first. The problem was the consistency and deep flavor of the lamb shank. This is a dish that must be cooked long and slow, instead it was cooked high and relatively fast. While quail can take their preferred method of cooking, this piece of meat cannot. I sent it back and eventually took part of it home where I finished the cooking in my own oven.

The best of this meal was better than Tamarind Bay in the high rent district of Harvard Square, but as whole it gets lower marks. I would try it again, either in the day time or with a flashlight so I can read the menu. Then the challenge becomes to pick a way through the dishes to get what they can make well. I suspect that fish and poultry would do better than lamb. On the moment this particular KF is hovering between a KFB and a KFC.