Best Indian Dining Options

[spine64]

My daughter is returning from camp in two weeks, and has given me the task of finding the best Indian restaurant in Toronto. As we are driving in from Huntsville, we can explore any area of the GTA. I appreciate any assistance.

Cheers

[Googs]

I know I'm too late, but if you're close to Zucca, you're close to Jaipur Grille. I have no idea why it doesn't get more love on this board.

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Jaipur Grille
2066 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S2A3, CA

[octal57]

I will second Jaipur Grille. Aside from Amaya, one of the few places that combines good (not great) food, ambiance, and service. Jaipur Grille also has a selection (beyond the standards) that I don't think other places (aside from Amaya) can match.

[ebay3392]

Somebody recommended Aroma to me which is located in downtown core. Any comments?

[garfield]

I would recommend Little India on Queen Street West and Jaipur Grille.

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Little India
255 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V1Z4, CA

Jaipur Grille
2066 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S2A3, CA

[hal2010]

If you want very good standard North Indian fare, Copper Chimney is recommended.
Lahore Tikka is an interesting experience. The kebabs are great, but the curries are quite greasy. Don't expect fine dining, but the atmosphere there takes me right back to India every time.
Amaya is a safe bet, but expensive and bland.
Maroli is good for South Indian.

[foodyDudey]

How does a a Pakistani restaurant with sub-standard food make youy feel like you are in India?

[pakmode]

Hal's referring to the atmosphere. Not sure if you've been. But from the riksha out front, to the tents, multicoloured shawls, decorations, ornaments etc. LTH tries its hardest to create the ambience you would find in Indian/Pakistan. During some weddings, they will take an empty block of land, raise a gigantic tent, and host hundreds, if not thousands, of people inside.

[foodyDudey]

I've been to many weddings in India (Bombay) but they were not like that. Probably the Christians there do it a bit differently.

[pakmode]

Yea probably, though I've heard the use of halls/banquets facilities is becoming the norm in Pakistan. These times they are a changing...

I still remember some of the massive pots I would see the cooks making rice/pilau/biryani in. Literally 5ft X 5ft big.

[meatnveg]

Copper Chimney (Avenue Road)
Mt. Everest (Bloor St W)

Be warned, Monday is Indian independence day and these places might be jammed on Sunday.

Do not go to Banjara. Lahore TIkka House is also good (might be closed on Sunday for Pakistani independence day)

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Banjara
796 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1L7, CA

Copper Chimney
619 Kingston Rd W, Ajax, ON L1S6L8, CA

[juno]

My long-ago experience of the nosh at summer camps in Ontario suggests that, if pressed, your daughter will regard ANY restaurant you take her to will, by comparison, be wonderful, Indian or non-Indian. Anything - after a summer of camp cuisine - is a guaranteed five-star-quality winner. However, if she insists on diving into the pleasures of Indian food immediately upon entering the GTA from the north country - even before you both get home and have to deal with the dirty laundry - you'll find that Copper Chimney is easily accessible off the 401. Just take the Avenue Road exit, drive a couple blocks south and you're there. Easy parking on the side streets off Avenue Rd. Alas, Copper Chimney didn't exist when I escaped from summer at camp years ago. But it's now my favorite Indian spot - it helps that I'm just a 10-minute drive away. Tasty, fresh, zingy (if you want it so), careful cooking, good, personable service, and easy-to-take prices. You'll find it deservedly gets mostly praise on this board.

[spine64]

Copper Chimney sounds like a winner. I know the area, which will make it easy. I ventured up to camp country, Lake Rosseau, and we dined in Huntsville at 3 Guys, mediocre at best, but a change of pace for my daughter.
We will be dining Friday evening. I will check the particulars, hours of operation and see if reservations are required.
Thank you

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Copper Chimney
619 Kingston Rd W, Ajax, ON L1S6L8, CA

[spine64]

Well, it appears that our choices are not 100% guaranteed. My daughters first choice was Zucca, Italian, but they are closed for the Holiday weekend.
Might be time to reconsider our options. Is there not a "go to" Indian restaurant?

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Zucca
2150 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 2A8, CA

[callitasicit]

Lahore Tikka House.

[elvisahmed]

+1 for Lahore Tikka mind you its not a fancy place and serves non westernized version of food from the sub continent and no alcohol and is know for being under construction (5 year by last count)

[callitasicit]

To elaborate, best naan in the city as well as tasty curries and kababs.

[elvisahmed]

If the OP is adventurous I recommend the Brain Massala (very authentic as commented by associates from India) Unfortunately the Nihari is very average.

[iMarilyn]

Aren't brain masala and nihari Pakistani dishes?

[elvisahmed]

Well Nihari is Brain Masala or Bheja fry isn't and is served on both sides of the border

[greenduck]

COpper chimney and Amaya are both excellent. Go there.

[hski7]

I've been to Amaya (Bayview, not Express) twice recently and it has deeply disappointed. The service was rushed, the food uninspiring and the overall tab too pricey IMO. It used to be something special and now in my mind is just run of the mill Indian. Won't be heading back soon.

[evansl]

Second the Amaya isn't so great sentiment. Below average food for above average price.

[Googs]

Agreed. Precious menu and drinks. Yawn.

[iMarilyn]

@ spine64: " Is there not a "go to" Indian restaurant?"

Not on this board. ;)

[pakmode]

Lahore Tikka House hasn't been the same for me lately.
Had stomach problems the last time I ate there.

For better/cheaper food, drive north to Makkah Restaurant on Danforth Ave at Donlands.

Stick to their beef kabobs and tandoori chicken tikka.

They use real charcoal for their tandoor oven so everything comes out with a nice char and smoke flavour. Their tandoori chicken and tikkas are very well marinated.

Their curries are decent - but greasy. The naans are fantastic as they also come out of that tandoor oven.

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Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[foodyDudey]

I agree - Makkah has decent food but many of the curries are quite oily. But anything from the tandoor is very good. That's where I order takeout Indian food from.

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Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[garfield]

Bihari Kababs are excellent ! In fact I never tried anything else from Makkah.

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Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[hal2010]

I tried Makkah tonight. I really wanted to like it but I won't be back soon. The channa masala was watery and bland. Aloo muttar was grey peas and a few potatoes in a watery sauce. The beef kebab was stringy, had three big bone chunks in the 1/3 of it that I ate, was incredibly tough and it had a funky taste. The chicken tikka was sort of gummy inside and may not have been cooked through - hard to tell because it was all dyed red. The flavour was fine and it had a nice char, just texturally challenged. The naan wasn't bad.

Maybe I hit them on on off night.

[pakmode]

To be honest, I haven't been to Makkah in awhile. It's been fairly consistent over the years, but time changes most things.
My new go-to spot is Raby's, which is further north, on Don Mills/Overlea. So far, so good. Hopefully it stays that way.

[anamika]

Lahore Tikka house has been around for a long time. One of the oldest in Gerrard street. I do not like it. I hate the styrofoam plates and cups. Place is not even clean. Curries and rice are too greasy.

[Luvtooeat]

Here are a few places that are good

www.the-copper-chimney.com - 2050 Avenue Road, Toronto - [phone]

www.melaindiancuisine.com- 1921 Avenue Road, Toronto - [phone]

Banjara Indian Cuisine 796 Bloor St West [phone]

Let us know where you go and how it turned out

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Banjara
796 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1L7, CA

[spine64]

A great start. Thank you

[chillihigh]

Mid/Up town: Copper chimney
Downtown: The Host
Mississauga/Brampton: Anjappar chettinad, Nirvana, azuba.
Markham/richmond hill: Chauhan's.

[greenduck]

Was recently at The Host's Richmond Hill location for the first time and was deeply disappointed. I've heard goodthings for years but had never been. Service was pretty much nonexistent (there were only 3 guys working a nearly full room). The pakora app was greaseless and tasted of fresh spices but the rest of the meal consisted of dry chicken, lackluster channa masala and sad salads. The naan was quite good but overall, especially considering the money spent, I would rather go elsewhere

I suggest Copper Chimney for mainly North Indian fare or Anjappar Chettinad for South Indian.

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Anjappar Chettinad
3090 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M1J2H1, CA

Copper Chimney
619 Kingston Rd W, Ajax, ON L1S6L8, CA

[foodyDudey]

The RH location of Host was very good around 1999 - 2001, but there are almost no Indian reataurants that are still good 10 years later. I don't think that location is worth a visit any longer unless they improved greatly. There is a decent Indian place on Yonge just south of Elgin Mills called Bombay Poori.

[designergirl]

FABULOUS FABULOUS FOOD & atmosphere! Love the owners too! Great all around service and food!

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Ambiyan
149 Main St, Markham, ON L3R, CA