The hype is real! This restaurant deserves all the stars! The food, the service, the ambiance all 10/10! We had reservations for 7:30, but they were able to accommodate us earlier! This place gets packed! Reservations are highly recommended especially on weekends. We didn't order drinks this time, but we started with the Saffron malai Royal, it came out "smoking" & was presented nicely! The chicken was very juicy and tender. We shared the chicken tikka masala which was presented nicely as well. It came with a large portion of rice to share. We also ordered Chili garlic naan & butter roti. The roti was okay. The naan was the star! Garlicky and buttery. Did I taste any chili, no but the naan was still delicious! Best I've had. We ended the meal with dessert, their Burnt Butter Pannacotta is a MUST order! Not too sweet and the pannacotta set perfectly. It seemed to have Smacks (yes the old school cereal) on top with a delicious sponge cake and fruit! It all worked well together! Overall I recommend this spot for anyone who enjoys Indian food or is willing to try it! We will be back to try other items and their cocktails! read more

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Ambience: 4.5 Food: 4 Drinks: 5 Service: 5 Presentation: 5 My spouse and I came to Barsa on a Friday night and had a great time. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the light up menus are really cool! We started off with the cauliflower appetizer and it was huge. We couldn't finish it, but we did take some to go! I would give that a 10 out of 10. We then ordered the chicken tiki masala as well as another chicken dish. The tiki masala was very good. The other chicken dish had a little more spice than I would have liked, and a different flavor Profile, but was still good. The portions were decent and we had leftovers of everything. If we returned, we could likely do one Main + naan as well as the cauliflower appetizer. It was very clear that the food and ingredients were fresh and the presentation was excellent. At the end, we got a dessert that came out on a plate of what may have been dry ice, which made for a really cool presentation of "steam" coming out from underneath the bowl and crawling across the table. It was really, really cool. I noticed some of their appetizers are presented the same way. My spouse got two separate drinks, and I tried each of them, both were very good. The service was great, the atmosphere was beautiful, and I would definitely be interested in returning! read more

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Had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with the family. Barsa provides an upscale experience (and reflected in the price), and it does so flawlessly. We tried the 16th-century paneer appetizer, and the sauce was incredible. Something very unique and new to my seasoned Indian taste buds. Would love to see them make this into a proper curry and add it to the entrees with chicken and other proteins. For mains, we got the chicken tikka masala, butter paneer masala, and shahi kofta. My dish was the chicken tikka masala, and it was so tasty--one of the best chicken tikka masala curries in the entire area. The juicy, well-marinated, and seasoned chicken rested on top for a nice presentation. I did try a bit of the shahi kofta. It was too sweet for my liking, but that's just a personal preference. For what it was, it was delicious. Finally, we completed the meal with the deconstructed Jalebi and a chocolate cake. The presentations were excellent, and we felt we were part of an elaborate experience, with the staff providing a show-like experience with each course. read more

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Barsa New Indian is exceptional! Very complex spices. Lots of plant forward options. The presentation was magnificent. Attentive service. Lovely decor. We loved 16th Century Paneer, and Butternut Squash Kofta, and Spice Box Bisi. read more

Barsa New Indian - 16th Century Paneer - served with fog! - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Visited with my adult daughter and husband. Ambience upscale, not too loud. Accommodated us early for our reservation which we appreciated. The gunpowder lamb chops were absolutely stunningly presented AND delicious. So was the 16th century paneer. The Indian food here was well seasoned and delicious. Loved our dinner of the chicken koftas, naan, and paneer tikka masala. The cocktails were delicious as well. Service great! Sagar, our waiter, was professional and suggested some of the best dishes when asked. They fell down a little on dessert. Would not recommend the deconstructed jalebi which was not deconstructed but served as a waffle. The panna cotta was delicious! We will be back. The meal was so very enjoyable. read more

Barsa New Indian - 16th century paneer (quite spicy) served over dry ice 'fog'. - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What I recommend: The salmon in banana leaves, the jalapeño naan, and the smoked Old Fashioned Barsa is a new Indian spot a few friends recommended, and I'm glad I went. The atmosphere is casual with a touch of upscale, the service is personal, and the presentation on every dish is A1. We ordered a few appetizers, two mains, naan, and some drinks. The cocktails were fantastic, especially the smoked Old Fashioned. Some dishes had slightly muted flavors while others hit the perfect balance of spice, but overall everything tasted good. The salmon wrapped in banana leaves was the standout appetizer, and the jalapeño naan is a must. I'd give this place a 4.5 if I could, but for now it's a solid 4. Properly priced, great vibes, and definitely worth trying. read more

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I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. Beautiful setting, friendly servers (Sunny was awesome), AMAZING food (Mixed Grill 10/10), fun cocktails. May be my new fave restaurant! read more

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Loved this restaurant! I love me some Indian cuisine and was excited about this new spot opening. Came for dinner with a group of 4 and ordered a few dishes to pick at family style with an order or garlic naan. The food was all amazing! Something for everyone in the group (vegan, pescatarian, meat eaters, etc.). Serving sizes were fair. We were full with 4 dishes and Naan. Took home leftovers. The restaurant itself had nice decor and style and the drinks were ordered were also creative and delish. Want to come back and try more drinks and dishes! read more

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Finally made it to Barsa, the much anticipated new addition in Durham! Despite being led by a "Michelin-starred" chef, the ambiance leans more accessible, casual, and comfortable rather than upscale fine dining. The space is open and lively, with tables placed relatively close together, so it can get a bit noisy. It felt more like an energetic bistro than intimate restaurant. The food was delicious across the board, nothing missed the mark. We started with the lamb urundai meatballs and the salmon in banana leaf. Both were well-executed and paired with standout sauces that elevated the dishes. For mains, we went with our usual "test dishes": the Mixed Grill and Kofta. The mixed grill was good but did not stand out. The Kofta blew us away! It was so unique (without the typical tomato base) and served in a rich, flavorful cream gravy that truly wowed us. The menu isn't huge, but it features several intriguing seafood-forward options. I'm eyeing the lobster molee for next time. Portion sizes were generous. Service was fast and friendly. The team seems to still be finding their rhythm a little bit (e.g., our utensils were taken away mid-meal a couple of times and had to be replaced because we didn't finish our course yet), but everyone was really attentive and warm. It also looked like some staff are in training, which I appreciate, because they are hiring local talent! In the Triangle's evolving Indian food scene, we have beautiful ambience and bold flavors at Tamasha, sleek modern execution at Viceroy, and a fun broad regional menu paired with impeccable drinks at Cheeni, Barsa carves out its own niche. I enjoyed their high-quality, creative dishes that remain rooted in firmly in South Indian cuisine. Excited to welcome this unique addition and look forward to returning for more. read more

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5 stars for the food-- the food was fresh and an innovative take on some classics. The beetroot hummus with falafel was a must-have. The falafel was like a bhajiya and had really unique flavors to it. The fried baby corn was also delicious and the homemade paneer unlike anything I've had before. We had the kofta for the main dish which had a sweetness to it that I have not had in a kofta before but truly loved. And the naans were fresh and brought hot to the table! Would definitely recommend coming here for an elevated Indian meal. The service could frankly use some work. First, the space, while beautifully decorated, is very loud and has a lot of echoing. We were sat right in the middle of the restaurant and were screaming at each other most of the meal to have a conversation. I think this may have also led to us getting the wrong order. It took about 20 minutes for someone to take our order, when they did they brought out an appetizer another 20-30 min later (we ordered 3), had to remind them about our other two. During this time they brought an appetizer that wasn't ours to the table, insisted we ordered it. We got two appetizers and then never got our third. Our main dish came out with rice (without naan) before the final appetizer came. At one point they brought us a large tandoori meat tray, we are all vegetarians, and insisted we ordered that too. And then at the end of the meal our last appetizer came out. Overall, I'm willing to give this place another try in a few months because the food was good! However I can tell they need to work out some things with their service. Eager to see what it looks like in a bit! read more

Barsa New Indian - Megh Beet Hummus - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My family celebrated a birthday here last night, and I'm so glad we did! The food was delicious, the service impeccable. Our experience was filled with fun surprises--lights in the menus, a crabapple bubble blown on my Rim Gin cocktail, a happy birthday message visible only after the fog dissipated. It was an amazing night thanks to a skilled chef and attentive staff. read more

I was BLOWN AWAY by the food, ambiance and service at this beautiful Indian restaurant! From cocktails to dessert everything is presented so beautifully. We tired a lot of dishes chestnut pepper fry, 16th century paneer, baby corn, zesty cauliflower, lobster moilee, koftas, moong dal makhni and korma gone south. Everything was absolutely delicious! We were celebrating my nieces bday and the staff put together a beautiful dessert presentation that made her evening! I highly recommend this place. read more

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My son and I visited this restaurant the evening of June 16, 2025. The restaurant opened on May 22, 2025, and my son heard great things about it, so we were eager to try their food. Upon arrival, we were met by the owner, Sunny, who was very personable, greeted us with a warm smile, and escorted us to our seat. We had lots of questions, so he provided us with some great insights on his new restaurant. I love the decor of the restaurant. It has a modernized classy look and feels welcoming. The atmosphere is conducive for various types of occasions. Our server, Murali, was very professional and took great care of us during our visit. He was able to answer specific questions about the menu as well as give recommendations based on our requests. We started off our evening with a few drinks. We ordered the Mango Lassi, Khatta Meetta Badal, and Chaand Shower. The Mango Lassi had a great authentic flavor, was smooth, rich, and creamy. The Khatta Meetta Badal was flavorful and had a jalapeño kick to give a sweet and spicy taste. The Chaand Shower was the best drink that I've ever had. The passionfruit was the highlight of this drink; however, all other flavors were easily identified. It was such a tropical paradise in my mouth that I felt as if I was laid out on a hammock on the beach. We ordered several items from the menu. For our appetizers, we had the 16th Century Paneer, Megh Beet Hummus, and Pan-Seared Fish in Banana Leaf. For the entrees, we ordered the Lobster Mobile and Baarish Ka Lamb. The presentation of each dish was exquisite. Everything was plated well and some even displayed a smoky background. The portion size was perfect and in some cases more than expected. The paneer dish had a unique flavor. The cheese balanced with the spices really illuminated my mouth. The Hummus dish surprised me. I just loved the crispiness of the falafel which was perfect for the beetroot hummus and added to the intensity of the dish. The pan-seared fish wrapped in banana leaf was so moist and had great texture. There was also a hint of flavor from the banana leaf which enhanced the dish. The lobster dish was scrumptious. The lobster meat practically melted in my mouth. All the flavors exhibited in this dish meshed very well and kept me wanting more. My son enjoyed the lamb dish. He said it was incredibly delicate, savory and melted in his mouth. The meat fell right off the bone. Big kudos to Chef Vinod! Every single dish that we ordered was absolutely fabulous! Everything is made from scratch, and there are no artificial ingredients. All spices are made fresh. There is nothing pre-made or bought from a store. This restaurant has its own pastry chef which explained why the desserts we ordered (Kavani Millet Halwa and Burnt Butter Pannacotta) tasted so fresh and rich. This was the first time I had a pannacotta presented quite like that. The flavors reminded me of a drink we make in the Caribbean called Coquito. My son enjoyed the Halwa and compared the flavor to another Caribbean dish called Ducana. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience at this restaurant. Every drink, entrée, and dessert was prepared perfectly and with great consistency and flavors. We enjoyed every minute of it! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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Barsa is one of the hottest new restaurants in Durham, and the food did not disappoint! We visited this new hot spot in the 2nd week of their grand reopening. What I like the most about Barsa is their inventive take on Indian food. You can find many of the dishes you would come to expect from an Indian restaurant, but done in a modern way. Here's what we enjoyed: -Muru Muru Chicken: this was flavorful and delicious! A fun take on a popcorn Chicken dish seasoned extremely well with Indian spices -Pan Seared Fish in Banana Leaf: this was my husband's pick; we thoroughly enjoyed it and it's worth mentioning how tender and flaky the fish was, perfectly spiced! -Seafood Moilee with Lobster: this dish was incredible! I've had moilee at other Indian restaurants in the past, but this dish was done so well! It's a mild curry dish with coconut milk that is so tasty! My only complaint was that the lobster tail was a bit small and I wish I had more! -Barrish Ka Lamb: this was my husband's entree. He enjoyed his dish very much and made me mention of how tender and flavorful the lamb chops were -Butter Naan: just as you'd expect naan to be! This was yummy, buttery, and delicious -Kavani Millet Halwa: this was a very interesting dessert; the official description is " A rich, slow-cooked millet dessert with ghee, jaggery, and crunchy nuts". This was unusual but still a very interesting treat to enjoy. All in all we had a great experience. The restaurant is no frills in terms of the decoration, but the service was attentive. This is a welcome addition to Durham's Indian food scene and we can't wait to visit again! read more

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We were very impressed by both the food and the service. We each had a mojito and shared the cauliflower appetizer, which was so delicious (and filling). For our main entrees we had chicken tikka with garlic naan. They grind up their own spices which was apparent. It was so flavorful! The staff was very attentive and even brought us extra rice to take home with our leftovers. Highly recommend!!! read more

Barsa New Indian - Zesty Cauliflower Delight (mostly eaten) - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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As an enthusiast of flavorful food, I was excited to hear about Barsa's opening. The flavors did not disappoint. I would consider this fine dining with their Michelin Star chef. The service was not overbearing, but attentive, friendly, and there when you needed them. We had the appetizer pan seared fish in banana leaf, Baarish Ka Lamb, and Kaikari Korma. All delicious. I felt that they did a great job with good spice without being too "hot" or rich / oily. Really impressive. Ambiance was very nice--we were there in the evening. I felt the large windows would also be nice during the day. 5 stars! I'll be back read more

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Popped in on a Friday evening. Wasn't super hungry so had the cauliflower appetizer and split some naan with my sis who had the chicken masala. Garlic appetizer was a little heavier than I was expecting but the taste was perfect. A little sweet with some nice heat on the back end. Used some rice to cut the heaviness. Rice was perfectly cooked. Garlic naan was ok, I was expecting a little better taste and fresher. Vibe of restaurant is very cool and the staff is exceptional. read more

Barsa New Indian - Zesty Cauliflower Delight - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great new restaurant in the heart of downtown Durham. Every dish was colorful and full of flavor. The ambiance is colorful as well. We tried the peppered lamb, soft shell crab, lobster moilee, Cornish hen, mango cheesecake, garlic naan, and two delicious cocktails, the Boond Boond and Chaand Shower. Service was slow this day and I noticed tables that were seated after me receiving attention and food first, but I won't hold it against them unless it's a consistent experience. They have a lot to offer so I would return for another experience. There is street parking in front of the restaurant and a parking deck around the corner. read more

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This location used to be another restaurant, where we experienced mediocre food and service. We were curious about the new restaurant and dined on a Sunday evening with a small discount from a local dining club. I have to say the food and service are much elevated, with attention to presentation. Two of our dishes (beet hummus and frost lychee sorbet) were served over dry ice for a nice effect. Food was delicious and service was very attentive at first, but then a little less so as the restaurant filled up. We saw another table order a cocktail that had a bubble on it and everyone oohed and aahed. I read their chef came from a famous restaurant so he has the cred. Nice option for new Indian cuisine in Durham. read more

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My whole family loves Indian food and recently stumbled upon my new favorite Indian spot. It is absolutely Stevie K Certified Legit! We were looking for a dinner spot before a show at DPAC. Drove past here as we were approaching the theater and decided to pull over and eat. I'm so glad we did. The food was fantastic. We split several dishes between four of us and they were all excellent. The karaikudi chicken was exceptional! So full of flavor and just the right heat. We also had chicken tikka masala which is always a family favorite but the karaikudi chicken was the best Indian chicken dish I've ever had. We're talking next level chicken dish here. The imli shrimp was also incredible. One of the best shrimp dishes I've ever eaten. So flavorful and the perfect level of heat. Cocktails were very good as well. Service was outstanding and we even got a ten percent discount when we mentioned we were heading to DPAC. Apparently they have a partnership with DPAC and offer customers who are going to a show a discount. read more

Barsa New Indian - Imli Shrimp - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Delicious dinner with excellent service! Chef Arun was lovely! We'll definitely be back!

Great experience at Barsa! The food tasted amazing and the presentation was exceptional. I didn't think I would be able to handle the spices, but I requested mild spices and was very pleased. It was worth the drive. read more

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Barsa is one of the new Indian restaurants that opened in Downtown Durham. It opened in the old Indian Monsoon location which is ideally located in the heart of downtown. Barsa is not your typical indian restaurant. It is a indian fusion restaurant with some unique dishes, great presentation & flavor. I got a chance to try their food on their opening night and it was a great experience. Everything we tried was amazing. The Chicken Tikka and the Imli Prawns were my favorite. read more

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This is the perfect Indian restaurant if you're looking for both a fantastic meal and a great experience. The cocktails were a highlight--one of them even arrived with a bubble on top! Our group of four decided to eat family-style to get a chance to try a variety of dishes. The waiter was incredibly helpful; I trusted his recommendations and let him choose a couple of vegetarian dishes for us. Every single thing that came out of the kitchen was amazing. I'll certainly be returning. read more

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A five-star experience all around! From the incredibly friendly wait staff, the DELICIOUS food and amazing ambiance it was a wonderful experience. The food was so fresh and flavorful and I really appreciated that they ground up all their own spices, don't use a ton of oil and don't use any food dyes. I will be back for sure! read more

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We were there for my husbands bday celebration and the ambiance , food and service did not disappoint at all, infact it is the best Indian food that I have had in North Carolina. Must orders is their muru muru chicken, banana leaf fish and chestnut fry in appetizers, for main course we ordered the mixed grill, daal makhni and Chettinad chicken. Everything on the mixed grill platter was cooked perfectly with subtle spice but not spicy at all and a lot of flovour specially their mutton chops. In dessert the millet halwa is okay, but the lychee sorbet won our hearts, their seasonal mango kulfi was amazing too. The dishes look as beautiful as they taste, 100 points on their presentation. In short, if you want an amazing and authentic Indian food experience please visit this place. read more

Great food, loved everything we ate. We will be back Chicken pilaf - was awesome Nawabi platter - was really good Malai Kofta - was awesome Beer root salad was good Paneer appetizer was great Falafel with beetroot Hummas was great And cocktails were great too read more

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Barsa is by far one of the best Indian Restaurants I've ever been to. The Zesty Cauliflower in my personal opinion is one of the best bites in Durham. Every detail, from the ambiance to the service to the flavors, was executed with exceptional artistry. The food wasn't just delicious; it was thoughtfully crafted and beautifully presented! read more

Service was amazing! Vibes were phenomenal! Food was breathtaking! Food Menu: Winter Menu December-March read more

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I decided to try Barsa last night and was very pleased. I absolutely love a beautifully plated dish and I have to say everything was plated so well! The food was delicious! I don't usually stray away from chicken tikka masala so I got this as well as a shrimp dish. my server recommended this shrimp dish. The flavor was excellent on the shrimp dish!! I asked for medium spice in the chicken tikka masala and the flavor was great but it wasn't spicy enough for me. Still tasted AMAZING though. I'm currently eating my leftovers. The chef came afterwards and gave us a really yummy dessert that was also beautiful. I will absolutely return. read more

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Barsa was such a neat experience from being greeted at the door to paying attention to detail. It was my birthday coming in today and I felt nothing but special. They offered to take photos of us while I celebrate. We loved it. Our server, SAGAR is amazing! Very considerate and attentive. This is a MUST VISIT kind of place! JEVIAM was an exquisite host and bartender from start to finish between serving us drinks and consistently celebrating our visit We will be back and we will bring friends! read more

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Barsa is a great new Indian creative cuisine located in the heart of Durham. The ambience is bright, bistro style with joy written all over it! Definitely in the run for multiple awards in the future. The flavors hit well, the cocktails are phenomenal with taste, scratch ingredients and presentation. Nearly all vegetarian appetizers were in the deep fried realm and that baby corn deserves a massive shout out. The Dal Makhni with moong is absolutely creative wealth and the dessert with millets/nuts/pistachio was simply outstanding. The chef uses the cleanest ingredients and all spices herbs are made inhouse from scratch which surely and definitely shines in their food. I think Barsa could go a long way if they made a few but important changes to their overall presentation. First, quit the plastic drinkware for water for indoor dining. The food and pricing doesn't match the quality of glasses they use (even the cutlery is superb) so the cheaper water cups get in the way. They need to have better presentation and selection of their post meal fennel mixes. It's served in a grocery store box. What's the point of ending a clean meal with generic plastic container of questionable artificial ingredient fennel mix? I'd give them 5 stars if it had not been for these seemingly minor but important touches. Overall, for food and ambience and creativity, Barsa is a must return! read more

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The food was delicious, the service was great. Our server Sagar welcomed us with a warm smile. Good quality ingredients and a lovely atmosphere! read more

Barsa New Indian - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What a great dining experience. Courteous and helpful staff and management. Delicious food! The presentation of the 16th Century paneer was impressive! read more

Food was wonderful and the atmosphere (decor, music, layout) is well done. The service could use improvement - we didn't have anyone come to our table for about 15 minutes from when we sat down. By the time he came, we asked to put everything in and he did try to push back a couple times on that. We insisted as we were a bit concerned with the pace, but the food came out quickly and the flavor was phenomenal. The waiter did forget my second drink order, insisting on bringing me a sample of his recommended wine and then never bringing the sample or a glass. I would say a little bit of improvement on the service in this place could be a gem. Also- they have a fun cocktail menu with great presentation. read more

Barsa New Indian - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Oh my goodness! I claim to be a connoisseur of Indian food and I have to say this is five stars! A+!!!!! Seriously...It was delicious! I have lived all over the US and this is absolutely the best Indian food I've had! read more

My family and I went to Barsa New Indian this past weekend for a little lunch get-together. My mother loves Indian food, but doesn't have much access to her favorite cuisine where she lives, so we were very excited to check out this new spot in downtown Durham. Upon arrival, we were quickly escorted to our table (we had a reservation ahead of time, but there wasn't a crowd at 12 PM on a Saturday) and greeted by Sagar, our server. First impressions -- the space is lovely! There is thoughtful decor on the walls (and the ceiling!), which gives the space personality without it feeling cramped or crowded. One of my favorite touches was the backlit menus -- while we didn't need the additional light during our lunch reservation, it seems a great idea for dinnertime hours, allowing guests to read the menu easily without the need for smartphone flashlights. Back to the experience itself. Sagar did a wonderful job throughout our meal, making recommendations of his favorite dishes, keeping our waters full, and making sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our lunch. We ordered cocktails, appetizers, and entrees, and we were thoroughly impressed by everything we ate and drank. Table favorites were the crunchy babycorn, zesty cauliflower delight, paneer butter masala, and the chili garlic naan. I'll also give a special shout-out to the bartender who was working that day -- I ordered the rim gin cocktail, which comes topped with a beautiful smoke-filled bubble. I had the poor timing of looking away right before the bubble popped, meaning I missed the delightful spectacle of the smoke dissipating. The bartender noticed I had missed this, so they came back over a few minutes later with a top-off for my drink (for free!) along with the smoke bubble gun to give me a fresh bubble! I really appreciated this extra attention to customer experience. Overall, my family and I had a wonderful time at Barsa New Indian. The food was hot and delicious, the drinks potent and refreshing, and the staff considerate and attentive. We will absolutely be returning to this restaurant. read more

Barsa New Indian - Rim Gin cocktail (sans bubble) - Indian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Run, do not walk, to this superb restaurant. We ate there last night and it was just wonderful. The small plate lamb chops were so tender that they melted in my mouth and the seasoning was spot on - leaving a lovely glow in my mouth. The duck vindaloo was absolutely superb and equally wonderful in spice level and flavor. Naan was pillowy and soft. The service was attentive and very friendly. Craft cocktails were fantastic. Go there, you will be happy you did!! I can see where it might get loud when full, but that is no different than any other restaurant these days. read more

Walked by this restaurant and decided to give it a try that evening. So glad we did! All the dishes were fresh and flavorful. I had the thunder beet berry salad and lobster moilee both of which I highly recommend. read more

I took my team to lunch today and the food was delicious! We had a great experience with Sagar as our host. He and the staff were so courteous and attentive. Definitely worth the visit! read more