Brittany B.

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!

Ravi G.

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.

Kassim C.

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.

Priscilla R.

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!

Yolanda Y.

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.

Dee L.

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!

Natasha M.

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!

Arvian D.

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!

Zaneta R.

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!

Priya K.

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.

Sara G.

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!!!

Jason P.

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

Dan M.

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.