I love their food, it's very good and tasty and they change dishes all of the time. Each month they feature three different dishes from different regions of India and will give a little bit of information about it. I find that the service is wonderful, the food amazing, and every once in a while, a newly featured dish will become a part of the menu. Their portions are rather small, so there won't be a lot of left over's to take home for the next day, but the food is quite tasty. If you sign up for their emails, they will let you know what new dishes there are and will let you know what's being taken off the menu. My husband and I don't come as often, because it's not a casual restaurant, and we usually decide where we are going to eat on the fly. However, when we are going out for a night on the town, and we allow enough time to plan, we come here. read more

Wonderful experience at Ajanta. i Haven't been here in years and they have remodeled and modernized the restaurant for an open and airy atmosphere. The host greeted us so warmly and the service was friendly. The food was delicious! We started with daal soup, veggie samosa, saag paneer, butter chicken, jhinge (shrimp) masala, salmon tandoor and garlic naan. Everything was flavorful and tasty. They will work with the spice level you prefer. We forget to take photos because we were so engaged with eating and talking about the food! Best Indian food I've had in a long while! read more

3.5 stars. Business seemed to be rocking on a rainy Tuesday night. I had to get home and since all day my sister was talking to me about Indian food, I decided to splurge and order take out. I got the chicken tikka masala with a side of paneer naan. I ordered it on the drive home thinking I was 20 minutes away. I picked it up closer to 30 minutes later and the food when I finally got it home was piping hot. The food was actually pretty tasty though the portions seemed small. I would definitely order the chicken tikka masala again, but didn't care much for the paneer naan. It also felt more lunch size than dinner size. I'd be willing to check this place out for eat in but the staff seemed pretty aloof. I didn't get the feeling that my take out order + tip was business they seemed to welcome. Or maybe I'm just being overly sensitive since I had to park 2 blocks away and run through rain so a smile and a thank you would have been nice. read more

This is the best Indian food I have ever eaten. Ever. It is not greasy, not too creamy, not overly spicy. All the food seems to have been contemplated prior to my arrival, they are just that good. It is expensive. But honestly it was worth it. Try to make a reservation in advance, they fill up quickly! Oh and the elephant mural is amazing! read more

Met up with a high school friend who I haven't seen in . . . well this century! She was out from NJ for a conference/seminar thing and her husband and beautiful 2 year old daughter joined her for some sightseeing afterwards. Anyway, enough of my mini-reunion! As countless people before me have said, Ajanta has a nice atmosphere with the cool light-boxes and elephant mural. The servers were very accommodating with the young whipper-snapper with a "kids meal" of naan, rice, and milk. They even produced a Mickey Mouse music toy thing to occupy her for about 15 seconds. I guess they get a lot of kids. We started with the tandoori scallops which, for me, were the highlight of the meal. Nicely cooked and the yogurt, cashew, tamarind sauce added some great flavors. I just wish the sauce was warmer. We all did the dinner option which provides rice, a veggie side, 1/2 a plain naan, and some chutney and pickles. I opted for the Lamb do Pyaza, my friend got the shrimp curry, and her husband the sag paneer (spinach with paneer cheese cubes). The spiciness was very inconsistent. They both got "medium-hot" while I got "medium". I though his medium-hot was less spicy than my dish. My friend's shrimps were the hottest and definitely helped me get my sweat on! All of our dishes were good. Nicely seasoned and definitely not watery like others have mentioned. Solid, but nothing made me say "wow, this is the best Indian ever!" The serving sizes were decent, but I thought small for the price of the dishes. I'd say 3 stars overall with food 3.5 stars and a 1/2 star knocked off for the value. I'll definitely put it on the rotation and try a few other dishes when I'm not being distracted by a cute 2 year old. read more

Do pardon the palaver. A generously rated 2.5 experience in all. Chalking it up to another case of overhype. My dude is from the motherland, plus he is a Desi foodie. EHH. Came to celebrate my brother's birthday....had heard so much about this place.....bf wanted to try...nabbed rez at 1930 on Sunday.....full house. First off, service is SO uncoordinated. Customer service and waiter etiquette was nonexistent. We were never welcomed to our table, and after what was about 15 mins, the first lines from the Sikh server was " are you ready to order?!" Rude. Told back house celebrating 2 birthdays. They looked back at me blankly, like I was purple and said they dont do anything special for that. Lame. Starters included non-crispy, deflated samosas, shrimp balls that were just alright, and some dal soup. Ehh....pass on all of them. Ordered dishes for various parts of India--Lucknow, Delhi, Goan prawn curry, a lamb do pyaza dish, some veg from Mangalore, and fish...overall, the curries were just too watery. Someone had it just right: dal tasted like dishwater to me too. No flavor and way diluted, as if they were continuing to add water to create more volume. Bf (from Mumbai) thought place was novel, offering some dishes not easily found at your run-of-the-mill N Indian restaurant, but agreed with me about the runniness. He thought the service was downright F grade, he was so turned off, Our parathas were decent, but the naan was better. Please remember, the place may look nicer than your average restaurant, but the service? It is abysmal here. No organization in the kitchen. The person who served us our dishes was someone entirely new. He had Parkinsonian-like shakes, and we hoped to God he would not spill the hot dishes (small portions) on us. Lesson learned....come for the novel dishes, but be ready not to be wowed out of the park. read more

Incredible dinner. We went there with our friends. The service was excellent, the food was excellent, it wasn't overly noisy, and everything was fabulous. I couldn't have had a better experience. read more

Wow! What a GEM! I took my mother here for her birthday today. We are both huge afficionadas of great Indian food, and this place is amazing. We had the mushroom and scallop appetizers, mixed tandoori (lamb, chicken, salmon and shrimp, which came with rice and a spinach dish bonus. The owner was delightful and not only gave us a bonus mango lassi but also a dessert complete with lit candle. I also loved the chai--super authentic, and unsweetened (exactly how I like it, but of course you can add sweetener to taste). I can't wait to come back here! read more

Before I came here for the first time I was adamant about the fact that I did not like indian food. This place quickly changed my mind and I learned that I do happen to like good indian food. :) This has to be one of my favorite places to eat in Northern California - I absolutely cannot recommend it enough to people. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu, but I tend to lean towards lamb dishes with creamier sauces (read: less spicy, since I'm a wimp). I also highly recommend that you try the Kulfi for your dessert. It is out of this world delicious and will rock your world. Yes, this place is a little pricey, but it is absolutely worth every dollar. It is one of the few places that I don't mind paying extra for the decadence of the food they provide. If you are looking to treat yourself or challenge your notion that you don't like Indian food, this is your spot. read more

I'm grading Ajanta on a sliding scale: for delivery, it's a definite 5; for dine-in, its more of a 3. Now, to explain. Ajanta uses great ingredients, and it shows. The flavors are fresh and bright, unusually noticeable compared to other Berkeley delivery and Indian options. I love that the delivery comes with house made chutneys - they are much milder than the imported chutneys we buy at the Indian grocery store but are a nice touch nonetheless. When I want Indian food delivered to my door, I will call Ajanta before anyone else. What wowed me less about Ajanta is that the dishes seem heavily influenced by the Californian "let the vegetables sing" style. Indian dishes, on the other hand, typically draw their nuance from the seasonings employed. I'm not sure if these styles are by necessity in conflict, but at Ajanta, the result often feels more like fusion than ethnic fare. For some, this might be promising. However, last time we dined in, I ordered a curried fish that tasted more like fish braised in mild tomato soup to me than anything hailing from the Indian subcontinent. On its own, it was decent, but it failed to scratch my Indian food itch and I left feeling unsatisfied. On the other hand, I would definitely recommend dining in at Ajanta for an introduction to Indian cuisine, particularly for friends who might find a more traditionally spicy and sparse restaurant to be intimidating. I also plan to return here for a more standard dine-in meal (e.g. tandoori chicken, saag paneer) that might compare more naturally to other Indian fare. read more

What is authenticity? Is it a mom-and-pop restaurant that hasn't given in to Corporate America? Can it only be applied if a restaurant is owned and operated by people from the cuisine's region of origin? Does it only work if the restaurant is a no-frills hole-in-the-wall? Ajanta challenges you to adjust your notion of "authentic" Indian food. It's a beautiful restaurant with upscale decor that includes a structurally unique ceiling, white tablecloths and silky curtains--exactly the kind of setting that typically screams "overpriced, mediocre, Westernized Indian food catering to bland American palates". Except....It doesn't. Not by a long shot. Ajanta can best be summarized as traditional Indian cooking styles/techniques employed in unique culinary ways with off-the-beaten-path ingredients. My friend and I did the non-vegetarian tasting menu. Tasting menus are hard to find among Indian restaurants in the States, and this is easily one of the best deals you will ever find period. At only $26 per person, you will experience: THREE APPETIZERS: Tandoori Scallops, Chicken Samosa, and Tandoori Portobello Mushrooms - This is not a choice between the three--it comes with all three (one of each for each diner) - The scallops were tasty but a little overdone - The samosa was texturally perfect and the filling was fantastic - The mushrooms were our favorite and the accompanying yogurt sauce was divine FOUR MAIN DISHES: Kandahari Chicken, Lamb Rib Chops, Seyal Machi, and Badal Jaam - The chicken was incredibly fragrant with a distinct Afghan influence (esp. in the pomegranate juice and spices) - The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender. Anyone who has ever tried to cook lamb can appreciate how difficult that is to do. This was quite possibly the best-cooked lamb I have ever had - The cod was unbelievably moist and tender and the heavenly sauce concoction of caramelized onions, turmeric, mango powder, coriander, and paprika is a combination you won't find at many Indian restaurants - The eggplants were dazzling, in presentation and in taste. A Lucknow delight. (SIDENOTE: My friend ordered half portions of the Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag Paneer because she wanted to see what Ajanta's take on "the standards" was like (and let's face it--those dishes are pure comfort food). The TM was thick and creamy--among the best I've had. The SP was too mushy and frankly forgettable.) SEVERAL ACCOMPANIMENTS: Basmati rice, naan, mango chutney, carrot pickles, and hot pickles - Good but obviously nothing out of the ordinary DESSERTS: Choice of Kulfi, Cardamom Gelato, Mango Sorbet, Gulab Jamun - My friend picked the sorbet, which was refreshing, but not something I would have personally chosen (I tend to go for the more exotic, harder-to-find options) - I substituted Ras Malai for one of the options at no extra charge. I love this dessert but I wasn't overly impressed with Ajanta's. The cheese had a frozen-thawed texture and the sauce was a bit too sweet. Still, it hit the spot. God, I love Indian desserts! We complemented our meal with some mango lassi and hot chai. Both were good but nothing extraordinary, so I'd skip them if you don't find them essential. Service was attentive and friendly despite our waiter disappearing halfway through our meal without ever reappearing again. I really have to give kudos to Executive Chef, Lachu Moorjani. His passion for his food is contagious and it just emanates from Ajanta's creative menu. The staff all seem to share that enthusiasm and I found it hard not to feel happy and carefree throughout dinner. And no, I was not drinking. Not a drop. ;) read more

Four stars for the food and great service. Food came out fast. Garlic naan was so yummy. Small portion for the prices. The host was cold. Not hurry to come back. read more

Ajanta - Grill salmon was very tasty. - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Mediocre Indian food with portion size and prices of exclusive French cuisine with all kinds of fruit flies flying around while you eat. Can't imagine what goes on in the kitchen, as the flies are not a result of Buddhist precept of no killing since the restaurant serves meat!!;/.. Only for people who have not been to India or have't had much experience with ethnic food, this place May have some appeal.. .. for me, never again!! read more

Since Solano Ave was a popular dining area for me back in my days @ Cal...I always welcome reasons to check out this area nowadays. Usually I go back for Zachary's, but this time it was to try out Ajanta. I think Ajanta has been around for awhile but it was my first time there. Our party opted to go family-style and we ordered a large array of appetizers and entrees to share. Chicken Tikki Masala, Lamb Korma, Fish Curry, Paneer Kofta and Lamb Rib Chops were my personal faves. For the assortment of garlic/onion/plain naan that we had ordered, I felt the mango chutney and the sauce from the fish curry were truly perfect for dipping. Coupled with great company and tasty, authentic Indian fare...dinner at Ajanta was a great overall dining experience! read more

The interior is very nice. Service wasn't that good. Sometimes it was hard to get their attention. The appearance of the food wasn't that pleasing. The food was pretty good though. For appetizers we had the tandoori scallops and vegetable samosas. The scallops were okay. The samosas was very crispy on the outside and potato and pea stuffing was good. For entrees, we had the chicken tikka masala and the lamb korma. We ordered it medium hot and it was a good amount of spicy. The chicken tikka masala wasn't as creamy as other places but still delicious. The lamb was very juicy and good. I also like how the dinner already came with sides. The naan was fluffy. The rice came with some spinach sauce which was very good when mixed with the rice. Great indian place but pricey. read more

After watching a Check Please, Bay Area episode and, not wanting to eat dinner with my thankless husband and son, I sought out Ajanta for a bit of good food, solitude and kindness. I found all of this at Ajanta. From the Taj Mahal beer, to the Dal Soup, to the Lamb Chops with fantastic chutneys and naan, to the kind people who served it. Thank you for a wonderful experience. read more

I enjoyed Ajanta quite a bit. It's a little more expensive than a lot of the indian food that is abundant in Berkeley but they're going for sort of a creative new Indian thing that they pull off quite well. We had the tandoori scallops that came with some sort of peanut chutney, as well as a tomato based goat curry and a really excellent okra dish. The highlight was probably the garlic impregnated naan which was among some of the best naan I've had. read more

I use to get their email updates about their menu change and it always sounds so great. This place is one of the nicer Indian restaurants in this side of the Bay. It's big enough but not too massive and their decor on the ceiling is awesome. You need to take a peek! Food is delicious and cooked just right. The only "meh" I had with them was that they had put in the wrong level of spiciness for one of our dishes, but they were more than happy to change it. I like that their menu describes where the food is from and what is exactly in it. It really makes a difference which region they are cooking from and so you know what you're putting in your mouth! Bottom line: Do it! read more

Ajanta - Ceiling decor - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good. Smaller portions for a nice price. ($$$$) We r used to bigger portions for less. Yummy food. Yes I would eat at Ajanta again. read more

Ajanta - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I have a love affair with Masala Chai tea and I went in for the first time this evening especially for this tea. I hope Yelp readers have a better experience than I did. The tea pretty much tastes like black tea with milk. Not a masala chai. I also made a specific request of the waiter as I was taking the tea "to go" and as far as I could tell, they did not respect my request. I ended up throwing the tea out. I rarely give bad reviews and this is limited to a beverage experience. The restaurant does seem to be well frequented, but my experience was not positive. read more

Have not tried much Indian food as not very many options in San Diego. Brought my daughter back to Berkeley for the 2010 year and seached Yelp for a good restaurant late on Saturday Night. Found Ajanta and so glad that we did. It was not quite in the neighborhood I was used to, but we were extremely pleased. From the moment we opened the door and found EVERY table full at 8:30 at night, we knew we were in the right place. After a comfortable 15 minute wait we were seated and started to try to figure out the menu. The waiters would point out dishes as other people got their meals and that really made my mouth water. We ended up starting with the Garlic Naan and the mint dip. WOW!! Expolsions in our mouths. Then on to the Prawns in green curry and the eggplant and the vegetable curry. Every dish was beautifully prepared and delicious. I look forward to exploring more Indian food, but I think that we have been spoiled. They typical place certainly will not measure up to the quality of the ingredients and the presentation of this restaurant. Besides the food, the atmosphere was beautiful. The artwork on the walls and on the ceiling were delightful too view. The story about the art coming from some long lost cave art in India was very interesting. Look for it on the menu. Enjoy!! read more

Ajanta - Amazing Aubergine - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

If I could give this place a minus star, I would definitely do so. Whatever the kind of supposed Indian food they serve is a blasphemy in the name of authentic traditional Indian food. Literally. I and my husband visited here a few months ago and we absolutely hated it. I have had bad food at many bad Indian restaurants but Ajanta surely tops the list of worst Indian restaurants. The food was bland and didn't taste good. The price was definitely not worth even a single ounce of food. We ordered chicken biryani and let me tell you, it didn't taste a bit like chicken biryani. What in the name of Ram, Krishna and Ganesha are these people serving here? They served us more nuts and dry fruits in the chicken biryani than actual rice and chicken. FOR REAL! I honestly don't like posting bad reviews and I always find something encouraging to say for the business. But I am really out of thoughts here and I throw my hands up. Solution to the problem- they either need a good cook or good recipes for their dishes. Their new food menu for every month is just a way to lure innocent people/customers who don't know how authentic Indian food tastes and how bad food is being serviced to them at Ajanta. There went my time, appetite and money at Ajanta which I can never get back! If only! read more

Well, this is the third time I've tried this restaurant since it was sold to new owners, and I'm afraid they've struck out. I will not return. Party of five. Two rabbits; two tikka masalas. Different spice levels for each. Spicy and mild rabbit were switched, and spicy was still too mild. BOTH tikka masalas were mild. Chicken was very overcooked. Bone dry. And sauce lacked the flavor complexity I've come to expect from Ajanta. The onion kulcha was good. But the SERVICE, wow, it's just not getting better. Pickles and chutneys come with the dinner, but they give the same amount for 5 as they do for two. We asked for a second and, when the server returned with it, he announced his presence with a glum "Where do you want me to put this." Dinners were plopped down gruffly on top of silverware and napkins without an opportunity for us to make room for them. Before getting the check, we asked if it could be split and were told "yes". The check came five minutes later from someone else with a gruff "We don't split checks." Sayonara, Ajanta. You had a decades-long great run under Lachu. But the transition to new ownership has been an abject failure. read more

This place is legit. I'd actually give it 4.1 stars if that was possible. The food was delicious and tasty. The service was alright--could have been better if they didn't take so long (I asked for some tea but it didn't come for an odd amount of time). Another reason why I'd give this place 4.1 stars is because there was this one Indian waiter with an incredible beard and a turban. I suppose this made the Indian food eating experience more enhanced. I'd definitely come back if I were in the area again and craved Indian food. Lastly, I was in a group of six and there was a big pole separating my date and I. That was pretty awkward. I guess this isn't the restaurant's fault though. read more

I can't believe I haven't been to this place yet! The mailman at my work recommended me and I finally tried it this past week. It was amazing! I can't wait to go back! Service: The servers are very professional, attentive, and knowledgable about their menus. The only thing I can say to improve on is for them to smile a little more. But other than that, I think their service is phenomenal. Food: Chicken Tikka Marsala - Very creamy. Large pieces of Chicken. The chicken was marinated very well, it wasn't dry at all. The spices were blended well and nicely balanced. Baby Squash Medley - This dish contained squash, zucchini, and peas. And maybe another type of vegetable, but I couldn't tell since it was mix in well with the curry. This dish was also very tasty. Very balanced and seasoned well. Naan - Best naan I've had. It had this chewy texture that I completely adore. It wasn't too fluffy or too dry. You just have to try this naan! Marsala Chai - Very good. Tasted the spices quite well. Overall I would definitely recommend this place! read more

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. read more

Ajanta - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Loved the decor. Great service. They were really patient while we ordered. I had a ton of questions, and the table had a ton to order. We did it like family style, and everyone tried everyone else's. Food was amazing. My favorite was the Green Curry Prawn. The Naan was so good too. And the Lamb Saag. Yum! I would highly recommend this place. read more

Ajanta - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was here 6 years ago and it was phenomenal! However, with these new owners, dumbed down ambience, amateur plating and flavorless curry, I'm sad to say as an Indian man that this is one of the worst Indian restaurants I've eaten at in my 37 years. The pub curry in the UK is better than this place. read more

I couldn't agree more with other reviewers when it comes to the food: it really is that good (even the desserts - try the cardamom ice cream). However, I was quite disappointed with the service. There was no consistency to who served us, and they got increasingly rude throughout the meal to the point where we questioned if we had done something wrong (e.g. for the dessert the just threw the cutlery on the table). If you're willing to take some inconsistent service, however, you'll be very happy here. read more

One of my favorite places to eat, hands down. I've eaten here many times over the years and the food is always consistently good. They made the move to serve organic meat and produce sometime ago and I, for one, am happy they have this option on their regular menu! I love the depth of flavors in all the dishes I've had. They have monthly specials that should be tried, but do pay attention to their regular menu as well. Both meat and vegetarian dinners are delicious. As to heat level, they offer different levels of tolerance and will adjust to your preference. I personally fall somewhere between medium and high-medium, but have occasionally have ordered a dish hot. And although it is not listed on the menu, I've ordered it "Indian hot" which has even more heat. I know of someone who said "make it hot, the way momma would make it" and got a chili level that transcended the heat level beyond the roof of his mouth and came through the top of his head. It sounds like a spiritual experience that I want to try at least once. Dinner service. With each order you get a plate with three scoops of rice and a side dish of spinach/potato veg (chickpeas accompany their vegetarian dinners), and half of a naan bread. The main dish is accompanied with a condiment selection of mango chutney, carrot pickles, and hot pickles, that is shared at the table. For a small price reduction, the dinners may be ordered a la carte. I've not done this so I'm not exactly sure what means. My guess is probably no naan, chutney or pickles. My husband and I will often share a salt lassi to tame down the heat in between bites. Otherwise, he will choose from their Indian beer selection and I'll have a glass of the Edelzwicker, Navarro. The Edelzwicker is a blend of Gewurz, Reisling and Pinot Gris and accompanies the spiciness of the food very well. The service is attentive and friendly. On occasion we are able to walk in without reservations if it is toward the start of their dinner service, but found it is better to first call in and confirm that you'll be there in 20-30 minutes. The dining room is intimate, tables dressed in white linen, and the decor is quite lovely. If you enjoy Indian cuisine, Ajanta is not to be missed. read more

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

Ajanta - Dinner - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Was debating between this place and Khana Peena, but since all the yelp reviews seemed so awesome we decided to give this a try. Walked in and didnt realize how fancy this place is, since it served an older crowd and the decor seemed more fancy than the average Berkeley indian restaurant. It was busy and we didnt make a reservation (on a thursday) night so we had to wait a little bit. The host seemed almost shocked that we didnt have a reservation? I dont know. Got seated, was given menus, but it took them like 15-20 minutes just to acknowledge us and take our orders. For an appetizer, we ordered the"tandoori scallops" which were served with a yogurt-cashew-tamarind sauce. It was decent..but I mean it kinda just came with 4 seared scallops and sauce in the middle? Probabaly wouldnt order again. We also got the samosas as well and they were pretty typical, nothing special. We also ordered a lamb dish and the chicken tikka masala (spicy). Each of these dishes came with a plate that had rice and a the spinach puree on top of it. It also came with half an order of naan. Overall, this was okay. I prefer to eat at cheaper indian restaurants that have bigger portions for cheaper and that basically has the same taste. read more

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I had the best chicken tikka masala in my life at Ajanta a few years ago when my brother was living in Berkeley. Overall, I have been to this place for another 6 or so times since then. The food has always been good but the level of deliciousness has been eluding me. I have tried the vegetable samosas and chicken biryani along with the tikka masala and recommend all. This is a solid Indian joint. read more

Ajanta - Indian Near Me - Berkeley, California

We will never go back to Ajanta again. For two decades, the wonderful owner and host Lachu Moorjani dedicated himself to producing fresh, delicious food that honored the vast regional differences among Indian cuisines. He delighted and surprised us with a changing monthly menu which kept us coming in, excited for the next flavor rush. Alas, he retired in the last couple of years, and what remains of Ajanta isn't worth the breath of saying the name. We decided to try one last time last night-- a mistake. Our carryout was just nasty: the "lamb" gosht was actually made with beef stew meat (wow), the pistachio chicken was flavorless, and the "onion kulcha," a delight in the old days, was actually not naan at all but a greasy plain paratha with not an onion to be seen. This is food and management that disrespects its customers. We will go elsewhere for Indian food. RIP, Ajanta. read more

Alas I now live in Georgia. Compared to most Indian restaurants, Ajanta is refined Indian cooking at its finest. I read one review saying that the scallops were rubbery - not in my experience. So light and perfectly cooked, a friend and I ordered and second helping of the scallops. Their spinach and tikka dishes are exceptional. The regional-focused dishes are worth trying! Looking forward to a future return to Berkeley and to experience Ajanta again! read more

This is my go to spot when I want really, really good Indian food. It's usually crowded and reservations are needed. I wish I knew all of the dishes that I like (can't remember the names.) I usually go for the fix priced menu and am never disappointed. I also order their food for delivery for corporate events through EZ Dine and it is always a huge hit!!!! read more

We liked this place, the first time we ate here, a few months back, it was something new, staff was attentive. On our third visit, this past month, had the worst experience. Service was slow, the waiters didn't seem to be interested in working, they all just hung around the back avoiding eye contact with the tables. We finally got some lil ole'man to acknowledge us, he brought over 4 dirty glasses of water, with lipstick still on the rims & pieces of something IN the water. After complaining, the new set of glasses & water were not that much cleaner. Managed to order. Veggie Samosas were good. Chicken tandoori, no flavor at all. Scallops.... this is where it all went downhill, 3 out of the 4 of us ate scallops, & we were violently ill for 3-4 days afterwards. Whatever you order here, do NOT get the scallops. You've been warned. We did report this to the health department. Based on that, we will NEVER come back. read more

I really wanted to like this place. But it was very mediocre. I had better Indian food from a smaller and less expensive establishment. I chose one of the prefixed dinner menu so it would probably be really easy for them to make. To my surprise, I didn't expect that it would be a 5 minute turnaround for my food to be made. This tells me that my food was already cooked and probably​ came from some big pot. If I wanted a Indian buffet dinner, you should advertise it as such. Tldr: felt the food was mediocre and charge too much read more

Have the lunch special :) I have been to India and this is 100 % authentic Indian food. The place is also clean and nice. The service was attentive but the fellow who served us when asked what he would recommend just explained the dished - didn't have a personal favourite (he seemed perplexed when asked this question). Nicely priced - good food, comes quickly and the place is clean. Worth visiting. read more

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Ordered chicken biryani, lamb korma, and garlic naan. The big chunks of chicken are moist and tender, beautiful yellow rice is flavorful and generously topped with golden raisins & almond slivers - well-made! The lamb korma also has big chunks of tender lamb, is delicious, full-bodied, has beautiful color and texture. Lastly, the garlic naan is heaven. Used 24eats to deliver from Berkeley to the Oakland hills, and yet it arrived within an hour, as promised. Thank you! read more