Ajanta

I was worried that since the departure of the previous owner/​chef the kitchen of Ajanta had fallen apart. I think I can say that so far the transition has been smooth. I find the savory dishes and sauces to be still tasty and light considering Indian food is often heavy in the US. The only disappointing note was the dessert. I requested a mango sorbet and I was given a frozen tasteless gooey .ouch

It is not everyday that you find an ethnic restaurant like Ajanta that manages to bend the rules a bit (not to mention completely disregarding them, however not the case here), the unspoken rules regarding ethnic restaurants in this country. In the suburban-​like, dull scenery of Americanized cuisine, a completely authentic restaurant in its heart and soul is a rarity. Ajanta was a nice change of pace in that regard: Heavy wooden doors with elaborate carvings, ceilings lamps with convoluted patterns, and Indian artwork hanging from the walls, the waiters garbed in special vests.
Our Tandoori Portobello appetizer came promptly, and coincidently had five pieces (as we were five diners) of juicy portobello mushroom slices grilled in a delicious seasoning. It also came with a yogurt dip with cashews and mint, which at first I thought was a small amount but realized a little goes a long way. It had a bright taste from the mint and a nice tangy bite from the yogurt. However, the presentation was a little unappealing to my taste.
For my main dish I ordered Tandoori Salmon, which came promptly. In fact, I could hear it coming to our table. The dish came right out of the oven, the oil still sizzling and popping, which made for a surprising and «sizzling» presentation (couldn’t resist a pun). The seasoning was wonderful on the fish, which came on a bed of grilled onions and peppers. I do think 20 dollars is a little too much to ask for that dish though, which came with 3 1.5 inch cubes. One thing I should mention is that every entrée comes with rice and naan, and either chickpeas or spinach and potato purée. I thought both vegetable sides were great, and the rice was good also. The naan was a little buttery for my taste, though.
Dessert was kulfi — seemingly a block of condensed milk that rested in the freezer for a while. It was much more than that! It had the consistency of a candy, but melted in my mouth like ice cream. The spices and pistachios gave it a really unique taste, and I really liked it. Did I mention the spices and pistachios were an amazing addition?
Overall a great meal, one star off for the price. It was undisputedly a great experience, and if you’re looking for a break from your mundane culinary routine, try this place out.

Most of the dishes are really very good. Compare to some BIG restaurants in SF this is a much preferable place for me. The price is also reasonable. I have been there twice. Would love to visit again. Until now this is surely the best Indian place in East Bay I’ve been to.

Honestly, the prices should’ve tipped me off. Experience has taught me that if the curry median hovers around $ 12, you’re gambling with your gustatory satisfaction, and the chips are down. That’s dire isn’t it? I don’t gamble, because of experiences like Ajanta, of shit like this.
But the pricing should’ve been my cue, if I’m not going to listen to my gut I can’t very well blame the rest-​kidding, I totally can blame the restaurant.
I will say you know where the extra money goes to. The interior is fantastic, very agreeable arrangement and art, especially the elephant mural that graces half of one side. Cool boxed lighting with correlative art.
Took a while for my food to arrive, given the lack of activity and the simplicity of my order. Plus, they forgot my naan initially.
One cool thing though: each entrée* comes with a healthy portion of rice, thick, creamy spinach, and potatoes. Unfortunately, the rice might’ve been left in the water too long, very mushy. The Chicken Pistachio curry felt ravaged with spices, which I realize is a sorta stupid complaint to make against Southwest Asian cuisine but damn, hella cilantro, and you know what they say about cilantro: fuck cilantro. Also, curry itself was drippy, which made a poor companion to the already lackluster rice.
Garlic Naan came out late, and when it did it was nuked to shit, they cook entire cloves into the thin, pliable bread and the result is an uneven taste, both in regards to thermodynamics and aesthetics.
Expensive, low alcohol content beer was brought out in a borderline-​lukewarm glass, which I never knew was a ‘points-​off’ move until this review.
*=imagine the e with a ’ on top of it, I could’ve copy and pasted but… nah

Most authentic Indian I’ve had in the East Bay. Both of us were gluten free and they knew how to accommodate and make replacements for naan in the dinner plates. We had their pakoras for a starter and they were light and flavorful while the dipping sauce was tangy and sweet. For the main dish we did Chetinad Gosht and Saag Paneer. The Paneer was a wonderful texture and the Chetinad Gosht had a very authentic spiciness with good flavor and meat. For dessert the Saffron Pistachio Ice Cream was SO GOOD. Great way to finish a meal. A note on timing… we arrived on a Monday at 6:30 and it was almost empty. By 7 it was packed and people waiting. So definitely aim for the early side unless you make a reservation.

Lacchu is an old friend of my B-​I-​L from their engineer days at Bechtel. I could go into the story of how Laxman Murjani got interested in starting a restaurant. Indian food was a favorite of mine before I met Lacchu. I’ve dined at his North India and memorably at New Delhi Junction with my infant daughter way back in 1992. It’s more than just the food. No better host. No better food. A commitment to hospitality and quality that he has pursued for three decades. God bless him.

This was our first time here and it did not disappoint. I wouldn’t say it’s as good as Indian can get. We had an amazing meal in London once, and our favorite restaurant in Montréal was Star of India. But was extremely good. We had a samosa, which was flaky and tasty, with 3 very good sauces, and papadum which was fine, but I’m not a big fan. We had an excellent eggplant dish and the vegetable korma, all wonderful. We split a mango mousse that was delightful. It’s a very pleasant dining room. And it didn’t break the bank either. With two small beers, it was just under $ 50, before tax and tip, for two of us. We’ll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. It has excellent vegetarian and seafood options.

Ajanta is as good as Indian food can get. We ordered for home delivery last night and were very pleased with what we ate. This is the first time in the US that I have had Indian food of this quality and taste. Nothing less that 5 stars for this place. It is definitely pricey, but the quality is super good.
We loved the biryani! It was so good and very well cooked. The chicken was fresh and well infused with the goodness of spices and dry fruits. They actually had fried onion on top of the biryani: D
We also ordered gulab jamun and let me tell you. it was PERFECT! The sugar syrup had reached the core and was very well spiced with cardamom.
I am so excited to actually go to the restaurant and try stuff out :)

The two of us shared a few items: tandoori scallops, tandoori portobello mushrooms, chettinad gosht (lamb), and the chicken pistachio korma. The scallops tasted great but the texture was just slightly over cooked. I also liked the flavor to the mushrooms but it was a tad too oily. The lamb and chicken had bites that was cooked perfectly but a few others that was slightly overcooked. Overall the dishes were not consistently though I did enjoy the seasonings and spices.

This is the worst Saag Paneer I’ve ever tasted.
I ordered delivery, and it arrived lukewarm. Which is fine, that happens sometimes.
I get that I’ve had Indian food all over the country and even overseas, and I’ve come to expect variation on the same dish from different restaurants. But this was the worst I’ve ever experienced.
My Saag Paneer was a strange lime-​green color, and it appears to want to be a liquid in it’s natural state, as it seemed to have the consistency of congealed ketchup, except a weird green color that was not appetizing at all. I was also shocked at the small amount of rice provided, given the size of the dish itself. But what the hell, carbs are bad for you, right?
I think I got maybe four bites in, trying to give it the benefit of the doubt. Again, I’m used to variance in my Indian dishes– but Saag means spinach, I think, and this didn’t seem to have anything to do with spinach. There were no leaves to be found, and the odd color suggested it’s been pulverized so much that it doesn’t resemble any food at all, more like baby food. Worse than the texture, there was no spice that I could taste. No heat, nothing that stuck to your tongue. It’s a mystery to me how something can smell so fragrant and get taste so bland. Maybe they perfumed the bag or something.
I gave up on the rice/​saag mixture and tried dipping a bit of Naan in, which didn’t help. Topping that off, the naan was dry and tasteless, the texture rubbery and all wrong. I managed to finish a single piece of Naan, (without any more saag) as I was hungry and I’d spent upwards of 20 bucks getting it delivered.
It was on time, though, and everything I ordered was in the bag. There’s that, I guess.

Naan was great. Chicken tandoori appetizer and lentil soup so so. Excellent mango lassi. I’ll be back to try other dishes.

Excellent food! We tried several main dishes as well as some appetizers and all were superb. The restaurant is also quite nicely decorated and the service was very good.
This restaurant was listed as one of Alice Waters favorite places; what a great recommendation!

My wife and I have dined here a few times and have thoroughly enjoyed our meal. GREAT service for an Indian restaurant.
I’d say the ambiance and service are a solid 4 stars, the food (depending on what you order) is either a 3 or 4.
I was told to stick to «Northern Indian» food, meaning that tikka masala and sag paneer and other staples aren’t the go to orders here (and having tried those, I’d agree).

We got a takeaway from here which was it was at best mediocre. The CTM was flavorless and makhanwala tasted OK but the chicken was fatty. It would have made 3 stars if it weren’t so expensive — but it cost $ 60 for two of us and the portion sizes were small. All style and no substance for us.

The food was tasty but there was a pebble (in a papadam or in the chutney) that I chipped a tooth on! Damn. Service was pretty bad but I forgive such things when there aren’t rocks in my food.

I do appreciate that Ajanta offers organic and sustainable ingredients and gluten-​free options, but I am a little perplexed that they get great reviews and ratings for being average. The food is well prepared, made of quality ingredients, but it is painfully lacking vegetables! Portions are fair. Service is alright, although the staff could be a bit more smiling, welcoming and personal. The place could be cleaner, especially the bathroom. They could also air the place, it smells funky. The path that takes you to the bathroom is also quite encumbered with the staff and the kitchen in the way. Overall it is alright, but they could do much better, hence the lost star.

Best food in the town. The ambience and food with great staff hospitality. The owner is down to earth. We went with family. which is the perfect place for delicious mouthwatering dishes prepared by renowned chefs. Thanks and we surely recommend this restaurant who loves to enjoy delicious Indian food.

Sad to say, since the NEW OWNERS took over a month ago, quality and consistency has stumbled downhill. Flies buzzing around my head and on the food. My curry was mild instead of medium, and my husband’s dish was medium, rather than the high medium he ordered. Basic! The chicken pieces were larger on my dish than before– less of an issue– but the amount of sauce was less. I do know, having patronized Lachu’s restaurant since day one on Solano Ave (and before that at his India Station in south Berkeley.) what’s next. I am happy for Lachu’s retirement, but even keeping him on as a consultant in this «transition» period is clearly not enough. Such a loss, for the best Indian restaurant in our area.

Last Saturday was so sad. I’ve eaten here about 20 times and it’s been so mixed. I’d say sometimes 4 stars but last Saturday was negative 4. There were so many problems. First was that we had to wait over 25 minutes to have our order taken. I asked 3 waiters. Other guests were asking and getting up from their tables. Obviously the kitchen was slammed or they were lacking wait staff. Then when our order came they tried to give us the wrong entrees and tell us that was what we ordered! I heard they changed ownership and I won’t go back until I see better reviews.

This food is exquisitely flavored. The ambiance is slightly formal.

The food was very tasty. We were happy with the experience. We arrived at 5:15pm, and already a line for 5:30pm opening. Evaluation (scale of 1 – 5):
Food — 4
Service — 4
Ambiance — 3.5 (gets loud)
Authenticity — 4 (very good Indian dishes)
Recommend eating here.

It breaks my heart to have to write this. I’ve been coming here for easily over a decade. Tonight was my last night. Ajanta has changed ownership. Not only did they get our orders wrong, the food was bland at best, chewy and unappetizing at worst.
Sadly, the conversations around us by the only other few tables lamented the same, and we heard all of them.
There are SO few good Indian restaurants, and now fewer. I really wish the new owners the best of luck, but these are some HUGE shoes to fill.

The best Indian food ever. I’m a novice, so love Chicken Tiki Masala, Badal Jam, Tandoori portabella mushrooms.

For sure a fan of this place.
Major points for organic meats and spices.
Everything tastes delicious and the staff is friendly and great with people who have food sensitives.
Check it out.

One of my favorite Indian places!
I usually did take out and I only dined in once. I don’t think there was a difference in the portions of food they gave me.
I love their saag paneer, their tikka masalas and pretty much everything that I’ve tried on their menu. They provide very good descriptions of each dish on their menu, so I was never afraid to try new things.
They provide rice and a side dish (spinach and potato for vegetarian entrees and chickpeas for meat entrees). Their default is to provide rice with each entrée, but you can ask to have naan rather than rice with no extra charge.
Their mango lassi is really good! Creamy without being too sugary.
You can also choose the spice levels: mild, low medium, medium and hot.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone!

I have never had a bad dish at this place. The food is fantastic. I like a little burn in my mouth with my food since I am from Texas. My husband, who is not Mr. Whitey, as another review implies are the only customers (it is a mixed cultural bag at this restaurant, just like everywhere else in the East Bay), likes to cry tears from extreme heat while he eats Indian or Thai food. You regulate your own heat at this place. You are not in India, so medium heat in the East Bay may not be the same intensity as in India. They also put a little California flair in their cooking and it may not taste exactly like in India. Worried about that? Ask questions. They won’t bite you, they’re friendly!
The flavors are amazing. Lots of vegetarian options for me. We’ve never taken home leftovers, because there never are any. I grew up all over the world eating lots of different foods. My husband traveled to Asia for Apple all the time, and is quite the foodie. This place has great food. Also excellent service, nice place.

This place was full of older caucasian people, which is the demographic that they cater to. It works in their favor as your sense of smell and taste deteriorates as you age.
Ive never had spiceless indian food until now. When I eat indian food, I expect to be punched in the face with flavor, with the native aromas welling up in my eyes.
This was the exact opposite. I ordered medium heat, which by most indian standards should put you closer to your grave. I received food absent of life. Dead, lifeless food. Zero spice or seasoning.
What a sham, my assumption that expensive indian food liberally uses spice because they can afford it was totally wrong.
I gave an extra star because of the decent service and they seem to give a shit about organic ingredients, even though it doesn’t help them in the flavor department.

Whoever is in charge of this event called Mother’s Day ought to consider tweaking it a bit. A single day on which everyone feels obligated to take their mother out for a meal has proven a dining disaster. The last time I had a Mother’s Day brunch it was at a place that was serving a «special menu» and they weren’t allowing any substitutes, even for mothers. What the day has turned into is one of packed restaurants with put-​upon servers putting out joyless meals and just trying to make it through the all-​day rush. That’s what it felt like in 2010 — 2014 and again last night in 2015.
Ajanta may very well be a wonderful restaurant but the service experienced on Mother’s Day, even with a 7:30 p.m. reservation and probably no subsequent diners was so impersonal that it left me wondering why Mother’s Day isn’t extended into Mother’s Week so that everyone could just enjoy themselves a bit more. Dishes were practically thrown onto my table with little to no explanation, service was hurried, the table was crowded, and I left with the impression that this day, from a service standpoint, was just one to get through. Making any mother — or even any guest — feel valued and welcome wasn’t part of the equation on this night.
So there’s that.
Ajanta has some interesting things going on:
1. The restaurant is supposedly a favorite of Alice Waters;
2. They offer a multi-​course chef’s tasting menu ($ 28.50; $ 25.50 for vegetarian); and
3. Items are rotated off the menu monthly to make room for new menu items.
The tasting menu is a wonderful way to sample a lot of good Indian food. It’s served only for parties of 2 or more and if selected, must be the choice of all of the diners at your table. Although you get to choose the overall level of desired spiciness that choice applies to all of the food served to the whole table. If some like highly spiced food and others do not — the situation at my table — best not to order the tasting menu. On several dishes the suggested «Medium spice» proved to be excessively hot for one member of my party.
The tasting menu includes 3 appetizers, 4 main dishes, an assortment of accompaniments (rice, chutney, pickles), and a choice of 4 desserts. It represents good value even though the portions may be less than they’d be if ordered individually. You won’t leave hungry and you won’t be dissatisfied with the food. With the exception of the desserts (which were quite mediocre) I really enjoyed everything on that menu.
Had I come to Ajanta on any day other than Mother’s Day I imagine my dining experience would have been more leisurely and pleasurable and I would’ve departed with a better overall impression. The tasting menu deserves to be a bit spread out so that one feels they are getting a true succession of dishes rather than a table buffet. Regardless, the meal still set us back considerably and for that I expect warmer, less hurried service. If that’s your thing too, come here for Mother’s Week, not Mother’s Day and I imagine you’ll leave with a far better impression.
* Corkage is a reasonable $ 13.

Fair warning: I am from India and had very different expectations for the restaurant based on the reviews on Unilocal.
It was a mild disappointment – not because there was anything wrong with the food but essentially three things:
— The food has been significantly altered to meet the needs of the western palate, to a point where it almost doesnt taste authentic northern indian
— The BIGGEST beef I had was that the quantities were paltry for the prices they charge! The dishes had been «diluted» and the serving plates had no depth so the quantity while seems adequate when served, when you dig in, it barely is sufficient for one person. And that’s plain wrong!
— The service seemed very rushed. We were 5 adults, but placed on what would have been a reasonable seating for 3 – 4 (max). There were just too many extraneous dishes/​plates that were piled on our table and they’d just drop them and leave. We were constantly moving things around to fit the 5 dishes we’d ordered.
I had mentioned to the maitre d’ that we were there for a landmark birthday of a friend and it they could do something special. He said somewhat sheepishly, that only if we ordered desserts. After the eating experience we decided to go elsewhere for the dessert but they could have still at least acknowledged in a token way our friends big milestone birthday.

Fantastic Indian food. It’s always a treat to go to Ajanta or order delivery. High quality ingredients. A rotating menu and awesome service.
Everything that we have tried there has been great.
Definitely recommended. The owner is a riot as well. Top man.

Amazing experience. The food is delicious, the portions perfectly sized and flavors exquisite. We love Indian food and this is now our favorite Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area.
The spiciness level can be selected from 1 to 5, so I went for 2 and it was perfect for an spice lover but without killing the flavors. Everything tasted fresh and it was delivered at a very good pace.
The service was great and they helped us select dairy-​free options for our entire meal.

A++ for presentation.
The lingcod with the savory sauce was totally delicious! I also love their eggplant dish. The squash medley was so-​so. I wouldn’t get it again.
From the way the restaurant is laid out to design of the food on each plate, they put a lot of care into running their business.
Tip: If you want to be guaranteed a seat without waiting, call for reservations.