Stopped in for dinner on a Saturday evening. No wait. The space is cool highlighted by a spiral staircase in the middle of the dining room you'll need to climb to reach the restroom. My partner ordered a mango lassi which she enjoyed. For starters we had Tandoori Wings, Vegan Samosas, and Fish 65. Kind of a mixed bag. The wings were easily the best of the three. They were coated in some sort of seasoning rub/sauce which added a lot of flavor but prevented them from being crispy despite appearances. I would get these again. The vegan samosas were very dry and lacking flavor. The fish 65 was just meh. Strips of fish fried in oil that needed to be changed. Wouldn't get either of those two again. Interestingly, all three apps came with the same sauce on the side. For entrees my partner had Chicken Biryani and Rosemary Naan which she enjoyed and came with a good portion size. I had the lamb pepper fry. My dish was very tasty but very spicy. I have a good spice tolerance so it wasn't a problem but I would caution people ordering this dish. Portion size was small. I would've been hungry if not for the appetizers. Our server was excellent. Very cordial and welcoming. Great guy. Unfortunately he might have been the best part of the meal. I may be back, maybe not. Try it out for yourself though. read more

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Dakshin is legit! I've enjoyed Indian restaurants in most big cities in the US, and Dakshin could go head to head with any of them. They have a large menu with popular items that Americans can expect, and more traditional authentic Indian cuisine. I really enjoyed the Chettinad chicken, which was nice and spicy (but not overpowering) with a complex, warm flavor profile. The vegan samosas and plain naan were perfect accompaniments, and the basmati rice was perfectly prepared. Service was friendly and fast, and the space is really cool, with stone walls and a spiral staircase. The restaurant is relatively new to Syracuse, and I wish them a long and successful run. I'll definitely be back! read more

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They definitely deliver on ambiance and flavor. I enjoyed the decor and the clean interior. Service was fine but I was hoping it would be more attentive. I waited a while for the check and had to ask for to go containers when it was obvious I didn't finish my food. I ordered a cocktail which came out after my food, I would have preferred my drink come first since I ordered it first. The tandoori wings were piping hot and served on a hot skillet. They were juicy but not crispy and full of flavor. They came with a sauce, not sure what kind but it had some spice to it and was a great accompaniment for the wings. I ordered the dum biryani with boneless chicken. It comes in a nice dish and you get a plate to eat off. This was not hot, closer to room temperature so that was disappointing. The boiled egg on top had grey surrounding the yolk like it was over boiled. Those issues aside it had a great flavor. I found the portion of the biryani to be a bit small for the price because there wasn't a lot of chicken, it was mostly rice. It was served with raita which I expected and was also very fresh and tasty. The cocktail was good as well. Neel gagan, it had pineapple, lime, coconut, and blue curacao. This place is not accessible what so ever. You have to step up from the sidewalk to the door, then head down a set of stairs to the dining area. Overall, good but I'm not rushing to go back. I think there are some better options in the area. read more

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Dakshin claims to still be in the soft opening phase. Service was very slow, the server kept reminding us that they were in the soft opening. We had called ahead for a reservation for 7 or 8 a couple days ago. Unfortunately they were not ready for that. Three small tables were set up downstairs for us; we were all very smushed together where one lady was basically sitting on my lap. There was 1 other table in the restaurant occupied by others, then a 5 top followed after us. They were fed and gone long before we got our meals. The restaurant is not easily accessible by someone with mobility issues currently because there upstairs is not open. It is completely inaccessible for someone in a wheelchair. Bathrooms are upstairs and you have to go up a small spiral staircase to get there. It is located in the old Kasai restaurant, and the wood and stone appearance is left over. Beautiful. But, there seems to be no AC, it was very hot today and it permeated thru the restaurant. The food took forever, but it appeared worth it. Tasted good, lots of flavor, but portions seemed small for the price. We also were all aghast when we found out that the vegetable sampler appetizer did not come with dipping sauces for the samosas but the samosa appetizer did come with them, at our table at the same time. It seemed ridiculous that you could think that was a good idea. They also served 3 orders of garlic naan all together in one basket knowing several people ordered it and they were not sitting together. We did not have room for the large plates that were on the tables. The silverware were unnecessary because we got spoons with our food that came out. There were no knives given but everything had huge chunks of vegetables or chicken. We had to find napkins on another table. My soda was never given to me until the end of the meal when I asked where it was. We had to play musical plates and eventually set them up on the ledge out of our way. When it came time to split the check, the server became seemingly irritated and flustered. The server did check on us to remind us that they were in a soft opening and apologize for the wait. But every time we needed something as simple as a water refill, it felt like we were bothering him. I'll give it a while, but I'll be back to see how they change things. read more

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I am by no means an expert on Indian cuisine, but everything was delicious (saag, korma, tikka masala, butter chicken, naan, lassi) and the service was excellent. The downstairs space was a little dark, but that may have been because it was still light outside and the interior lights were not all the way on yet. My son pointed out how attentive they were to food allergies, making a note of everything that included nuts etc. Staff even alerted us to a small water spill and to be careful when we were walking out. read more

This was hands down one of the best Indian dining experiences I have had in Syracuse. Every dish was bursting with flavor, perfectly spiced, and beautifully presented. On top of the incredible food, the service was outstanding. The staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind, they made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Dakshin means South in Sanskrit. I asked the staff what their specialty is and they mentioned it were some items that belonged to Southern India, although I could smell the amazing northern Indian curries like Butter chicken. I'll try them on my next visit to this place. Tried their veg Manchurian today in the appetizer section. It was surprisingly sweet which I din't expect cause it's usually not sweet. The downstairs is open for dine in and takeout. This is the same place where Kasai Ramen used to exist, same interiors with some subtle Indian touches here and there. The quantity was enough for a single person for the Veg Manchurian. I'll update the review once I try more items. read more

This was FANTASTIC. I am counting down the days until I come back, that's how good it was. If you haven't been yet you really are missing out. The Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala were full of flavor and had a nice, but not overwhelming, amount of spice, and the portions were large. I also recommend pairing them with the garlic naan and starting with the veg sampler, that was a great decision. Make sure to plan your visit or stop by next time you're downtown! read more

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The food was excellent, I thought, and the portions generous. I'll certainly be coming back for more. That being said, two things to be aware of: 1) Sunday night they have Karaoke, and it can get pretty loud. 2) They add an 18% gratuity to parties of four or more. This is on the menu but it's easy to miss. And it's not indicated when they hand you the terminal to cash out. read more

Ive waited awhile to write this review because I was so upset! I was in the party with Bailey and everything she said happened ( i was the person sitting on her lap practically). I was very uncomfortable with the way we were treated with the excuse it's a "soft opening". We had a reservation so they should have been prepared. It seemed to me they were focused more on takeout than people eating in. No room on the table for our plates to eat our dinner so we had to maneuver to put extra plates on the ledge to make room. The food was ok but nothing to rave about. I ordered the Dum Biryani with boneless chicken. The chicken was on the very bottom and was very dry with no sauce. The naan was extra and 3 ordered were all together in one bowl so we had to separate them ourselves. The food took forever to come out even though only 3 tables were taken. The waiter came out several times explaining it was a soft opening as if that explained our service. Only the basement was open and I would have preferred eating on the main floor. Hopefully they will get more organized but I don't think I will be back after this fiasco. read more

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Our second trip here and the service and food were excellent. At the server's suggestion my partner ordered a cocktail. I did t catch the name but I think it had guava and vodka. It had a very complex flavor profile and I regretted my (decent) Riesling. The vegetarian appetizers were excellent with a nice variety to sample. The Chana samosa was perhaps the best dish of all. Entrees were a paneer masala and goat vindaloo. The vindaloo was wonderfully spicy but the goat had a lot of bones. The paneer was perfection. I was happy to see the downstairs dining room full on a Saturday night. If the upstairs room is not open, this restaurant is not wheelchair accessible so I would call ahead. read more

2 and a half stars. This review is for a Friday night take-out, so I can't comment on the service or ambiance. The only dish I thought was okay was the chick pea curry. The rice was dry (maybe cooked earlier in the day), the chicken tikka masala had noticeably fewer pieces of chicken than at other local Indian restaurants, and the chicken itself was too chewy. The saag paneer was a strange shade of green, and puréed to a baby food-like consistency. I get that people seem to like this place, but this first order from Dakshin will be my last. One side note: my husband commented on how nice the restaurant decor is. read more

Tried this new Indian spot while they're still in their soft opening phase. Overall, a decent first impression, but some mixed feelings. First, the space: It's located in a beautiful old brick-and-stone building, but from the street it wasn't clear the restaurant was even open. The only sign said "Take Out Downstairs," which made it feel a bit uninviting for dine-in. Once inside, the decor was nicely done, but the dining room was empty except for one other couple--seemed like most of their business was takeout that night. Service was a highlight. Our server was friendly, helpful, and made us feel welcome even in a quiet room. They don't have a liquor license yet, so the bar wasn't open. As for the food: The veggie appetizer sampler was good--crispy, flavorful, and a great way to try a few things. The naan was excellent--soft and warm with just the right char. The saag was the weakest dish for us: bland and overly puréed, almost like baby food. Butter chicken was solid, but a bit on the sweet side. Overall, the place has potential, especially with good service and a strong start on appetizers and bread. A few tweaks to the dishes and better street presence could make a big difference. I'd come back to see how they evolve after the soft open. read more

Great food Tasty, not oily, good portions, reasonably priced Lovely people great service You have to try the sweet lime soda! It will be really special when they get the full dining room open. read more

Very nice atmosphere and music. The dining area is in the lower level with a fun spiral staircase. The menu is very vegan and vegetarian friendly with everything clearly labeled. For an appetizer we had the fried veggies which were lovely. The spicy paneer dish is spicy hot. The garlic naan smelled delicious from accross the room. read more

WOW!!!! 10/10. Absolutely wonderful service & food. Highly recommend this place! My first time here and I already can't wait to come back.

We're in Syracuse for the Fair but decided to find a restaurant for dinner. I need to eat gluten free and was surprised to find quite a number of places to choose from. We went to Dakshin based on the reviews. Were we happy we did! The restaurant is lovely and the service very good. The menu was full of gluten free (and vegetarIan) selections. The waiter brought a basket with papadums and chutney and a green sauce along with a bottle of water. I had a chickpea salad to start. My husband had the mango olive salad. Both were refreshing and tasty. We ordered 2 entrees: Chicken Aamawala and bone-in chicken Ghee Roast Pulao. They complimented each other nicely. The chicken dish was creamy and sweet, the pulao was savory. the chicken was served with plain rice and the pulao with raita. The portions were large. We ended up leaving some of each and still left very full. The value was excellent. If we lived in the area, this would be a favorite restaurant. read more

Dakshin Curry and Biryani - Chicken Aamwala, Chicken Pulao, raita, rice - Desserts Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We got takeout during their soft opening phase. Outside of the big cities, the biryani is one of the best ones I have eaten. I hope they continue with the same level of food. Pity Rochester doesn't have such great outlets for Indian food. read more

This place is excellent! The food was fresh and delicious, some of the best we've had. And there are a lot of gluten-free options, which was great for my wife who had Celiac. Separate fryer also for the gluten-free food. Only down side right now is they don't have their liquor license yet. Highly recommended. read more