The shopping center was coming up around this place, but I was drawn by what looked like an innovative menu. They offered me a lunch and dinner menu, but engendered some disappointment when they explained that numerous items were not available. I wasn't seeking paneer, but that's what I ended up with. It was a well-prepared dish evincing fruity and herbal notes. Ordering a bread with cheese in addition was probably not a great decision on my part and left me overly stuffed, but the onions in it added a mouthwatering aroma. I expect some supply issues with this restaurant being near the beach and relatively isolated. I hope that if I find my way back here, they are able to offer more options. read more

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Hands down the best Indian food we've ever had -- and we're tough critics. Every dish was made with care, layered with complex flavors, and packed with fresh ingredients. You can taste the love in every bite. The red snapper moilee was buttery and perfectly cooked, the rogan josh lamb was fall-apart tender, and the mashed eggplant was unique and delicious. The naan basket was a must, and the mixed grill gave us a taste of everything -- all incredible. Heads up: food takes a little longer because it's made fresh to order, but that's part of the magic. It's absolutely worth the wait. The owner told us Saturdays get packed, so go on a quieter day if you're looking for a more relaxed vibe (or order takeout -- I bet it travels well). If there were an award for best Indian comfort food, this place would win it. Authentic, soul warming and unforgettable- we can't wait to go back! read more

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Have been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time and it did not disappoint! I'm so glad they added this restaurant to Surf City! Inside was nice and had a decent amount of seating! Easy parking! We came around 5:30 pm on a Saturday and were able to be seat immediately. The menu has a variety of fun items that are very unique Indan fusion! We ate family style and ordered a variety of things. Server was very nice and gave us time to look at the menu. I am so glad we did and there are many other things I would want to try! We started with the Lamb Shishtawook and the Bhut Jolokia wings. We loved them both. Both delicious! We then split the butter chicken and the palak paneer with a side of asparagus and green beans poriyal. All such great flavors. The portions were a great size and good price overall. Garlic nan was also very fluffy and warm. Loved this meal and would definitely come back and try some other fun menu items! Great addition to surf city! read more

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Food seasoned perfectly ! Well balance of spices, temperature and spiciness. If you're not big on spicy- tell them Mild because regular spicy might be a bit much for some. I/We like spicy so Indian spicy is what we went for. Marlon's service was excellent! Time between appetizer to main course done well. Calamari was the best one I have ever had in Hampstead/Wilmington area. Place was clean and laid back atmosphere. Appreciate cloth napkins. read more

Delhi Darling - Front: popcorn gobi (pop corn cauliflower) and Masala Crusted Calamari Rings. - Bars Near Me - Hampstead, North Carolina

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...and the food just keeps getting better and better! We started our most recent visit with the Makhana Bhel appetizer, a large, quirky bowl of popped lotus seeds, green mango, tomato with a tamarind chutney sauce. Certainly big enough for a table of four to share and very inexpensive at only $12. Think popped corn in a tangy, sweet sauce with a little heat. For dinner, out two-top shared two entrees; the Tandoori Salmon ($24) was perfectly cooked and featured a green curry and cilantro sauce with jalapeno mayonnaise. While very flavorful, the portion size was a bit on the small size and didn't come with a side of rice. The Tellicherry Cashew Pepper Chicken ($19) was ordered "spicy" (not "Indian spicy") and it delivered a nice heat that didn't overwhelm the dish. The shredded chicken breast was nicely cooked and featured a saucy blend of crushed black peppers, curry leaves and cashew nuts. At the end of our meal, the chef sent over a bowl of Gulab Jamun, known as milk doughnuts. They were so fluffy and sweet, with an aroma of cardamon and rosewater. A great way to end our amazing meal! read more

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Amazing place! I am so glad we have Indian food here now!! This place is incredible. Authentic, delicious food in a cute little spot. And everyone who works here is so kind. I love that when you say you want spicy, you get it. But fear not, you can get no spice if that's your thing. There is something for everyone here. I highly recommend them to everyone who asks where they should go when they're visiting and want to try something new. read more

I'm not even a big fan of Indian food, but wow this food is really good! Only tried the butter chicken and naan, and I didn't want the dish to end! Service was great, the prices are reasonable (especially for a new establishment), and I'm definitely willing to go back and try another dish! read more

If only the atmosphere would match the food. This is a fairly pricy restaurant all things considered and the food is terrific--worth sampling many dishes and lingering over. But the decor and atmosphere is not warm. The brightly lit room with tightly packed tables makes you want to eat and run, or just order take out. It would have been so easy and fairly inexpensive to make it cozier. In NY, even a cheap (but great) hole-in-the wall place will have ambient light, pretty Indian decor touches and flowers. Unfortunately, this place feels devoid of any charm and if you are looking for a dining "experience" you will not find it here. read more

We had an amazing dinner on Sunday night. Lots of ppl are getting to go. All the dishes are full of flavor. My husband enjoy the red snapper dish. It has a mild and sweeter flavor. I ordered the lamb to try bc my son wanted to have lamb for the first time. It was too spicy for him but it was very flavorful and I loved it. The waiter did tell us that it can only be made medium-hot not mild. The butter chicken is "too spicy" for my son but he enjoyed it nonetheless. I did not think it was spicy. The fried okra was delicious. The server did a good job explaining the menu and attentive. The restaurant is clean and has a nice bar. I'm so glad we finally have nice ethnic restaurant in surf city. read more

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Took the drive from ILM to just outside Surf City to try this place. I'm not an expert on Indian food but I like it. I know it is regional and Delhi Darling had an assortment of new tastes. I think it is Mumbai style. Lots of fish dishes. It was all good. If you're used to heavy spice seasoning, this place is different. The use of spice is more subtle. Good selection of Indian beer. We ordered an assortment of dished and all were very good. The décor was a cross between a lunch counter and an asian restaurant. Service was good. Is it worth the extended drive from Wilmington? Not sure, but if you are in the neighborhood or just up for a ride, it is a great stop read more

Good service, we were seated fast and the waiter was attentive. The food was very good and there were a bunch of options. Everything was fresh. Recommend asking your server about the different spice levels. read more

Naan compare to Delhi Darling! Wow! Can I give 10 stars? We are so happy to have you in the neighborhood. We had the garlic naan, lamb shishtawook, and chettinad chicken curry (extra spicy!) and it was SO delicious. Seriously some of the best Indian food we have ever had. If you are looking for traditional dishes from different regions, you have to try Delhi Darling. We were so excited to try everything that we forgot to take pictures! But we did snap a photo of the ale. read more

Delhi Darling - Bars Near Me - Hampstead, North Carolina

So excited to have an Indian restaurant back in Surf City, and this place is the real deal! I've been twice, sampled 5 dishes between friends, and everything was delicious. I like my food a little spicy but I don't want it to hurt me (lol), and this place is authentic with the spice! read more

Delhi Darling - Butter chicken - Bars Near Me - Hampstead, North Carolina

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Such a great place, food was fantastic recommend the lamb and red snapper. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Something tells me they will need a bigger place! read more

The food is excellent. My favorite is the surf and turf curry. One of the best I've had. Actually, everything I've tried there has been wonderful. The only negative, and it's a substantial one, is that the bar pours a tiny glass of wine for the price and the red choices were not good. The last time we went, they had only one cabernet to choose from. Also, we got around a four ounce pour. This happened both times we dined in, so it's not a one time issue. Once they add more red wines to the menu and pour a decent sized glass of wine, they will be 5 stars in our book. read more

Amazing authentic Indian, a true gem with a variety of dishes with bold developed flavors. We can't get enough of this spot. My personal favorite is the Rogan Josh which has tender lamb cooked with a lovely curry. My husband loves the Sunday curry, reminds him of his mother's. We love trying new dishes from the menu. read more

Wow. Picked up on a late/rushed evening - the food was phenomenal. I can't imagine how much better it would be hot out of the kitchen if you dined in. On dining in: the place was packed when I walked in for so late on a Wednesday...that speaks volumes! We tried butter chicken, tandoori salmon, asparagus/green bean poriyal and the naan...everything was equally pleasing. Kids and husband all approved and raved about the flavors. We will absolutely be back...hopefully for a date night so we can up the spice level and try some drinks too! read more

We started off with the Kundapura ghee roast chicken, a small plate, and it was the best thing we had. A very nice serving for a small plate, and the spice was good - not too heavy, but enough to be authentic tasting. We got a naan pizza, the mushrooms Do Pyaza, just to try one of their naan pizzas. Skip the pizza, and just order some naan. The garlic naan we had another time was very good. The lamb shank special was good, but nothing special. The sauce was very mild, almost like plain brown gravy. The meat was tender, but didn't have the flavor we had hoped for. Perhaps the grilled lamb would have been a better choice. The service was friendly and efficient. A bit too efficient, since we asked that the first two dishes come out first, and the lamb later. I'm not sure the waiter understood what we were trying to communicate. Not a big deal, however. It's a pretty plain place, with simple furniture and decorations and no pretense. Which is fine with us. I would have liked to see some attention to detail in the cleaning of the restrooms - I did not want to touch the switchplate. All in all, I'm glad we have this option in Surf City. We won't be frequenting it often, however, because while the food is good, the prices are very high. $90 (including tip) for the above with a beer and one glass of wine is about $30 more than it is worth, in my book. read more

You got to Love a Restaurant that takes your Reservations 2 weeks in advance (October 28th, 2025) and when you show up on the Night of the Reservation for a Birthday Dinner ( November 11th, 2025) only to find out they closed after a 45 minute drive and another email that afternoon to confirm your Reservation. Then you call them to politely let them know to update their Site and Reservation Service (Carbonara) you get a very Rude and Attitude about it. Own your Business and Post your Correct Hours on your Site and Reservations! Do not take Reservations when you are Closed is all I am saying! read more

I probably eat the butter chicken and garlic cilantro naan once a week. the food is 10/10!!

Dinner last night was amazing! The complex flavors exceeded our expectations. The service was a bit slow but worth the wait as the food was clear prepared to order and required time to do it right. The restaurant is clean and has a new and modern style. I highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

The tandoor paneer is the most flavorful sauce I've had. It's very complex bursting with flavor and the garlic non-was the tastiest non-I've ever had and paired perfectly with the sauce. This is the best Indian food I've had ranging from NY to CA. We will be back. read more

Delhi Darling - Best tasting tandoor paneer I've ever had. The sauce is very complex with tons of flavor. - Bars Near Me - Hampstead, North Carolina

The place smells amazing as you walk in. The staff is polite and smiling. I ordered jalapeno cheese Naan, Rupee IPA (beer) and Podi roast potatoes for a quick snack. Food and food was so good worth, every penny. I will be coming back even though I live in a different city! read more

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First time and was impressed with food and service -lamb entree (minced lamb rice and naan ) was excellent -kind of pricy for lunch ($30) but the take out box if full of my leftovers since I couldn't even attempt to finish is all-so a good value once all considered and I will be back -great to have other cuisines here at the beach read more

Incredible food! I've eaten so many various dishes here and it's always top notch! Highly recommend! The butter chicken is one of my favorites! read more

My husband and I order take out from here weekly. It is our go to whether it's a date night or guests are in town and we need to feed a crowd. Never ordered anything bad, and I think we've had most of the menu. read more

We visited last night and I really wanted to love it but it was possibly the worst dining experience I've ever had. The food was OK, not great and not good enough for the price. I expected more. the same sauce was served with every dish, there was no variety. The glasses were dirty. The bar was almost empty..no vodka, no rum, no Sauvignon Blanc, no Chardonnay. There was 1 person working the front of the house and he was doing his best but could not keep up with maintaining the entire front of the house on his own. Really disappointed in the overall experience and hope they can pull it together. read more

Everything here, every time is phenomenal. Great food, great service, great people, great ambiance. As an Indian who didn't get to experience culture and food a lot growing up, this is the best place for that 'home cooked' Indian meal. read more

This is the best restaurant in Surf City! I go several times a month and have tried a variety things on the menu, everything is amazing!

I ordered the Sunday Chicken Curry and Chana Masala. Both dishes were as good as any I had in NYC. Online ordering was easy and ready quickly. Next time, I will eat in rather than takeout. The inside looks nice with a nice bar area. This place is a diamond in the rough! read more

I went here today for a to go order of Qty. 2 butter chicken (they give you the option for mild, medium, and spicy). I also ordered a side of naan and extra rice. The butter chicken was a 10/10, for being way out here in surf city we are glad to have this as an option, especially during the winter. Service was friendly and the overall atmosphere inside is very upscale. Convenient location also between the island, holly ridge. We will return for sure. read more

Honestly a fire experience the staff was chill and very nice. They were welcoming and played songs we liked. The food was also one of the best I had. They very super quick in the service and the food was top quality as well. If u want a true morden Indian experience .... Eat here read more

Wonderful food; we started with the Kathi roll (delicious!)and calamari and had butter chicken and Sunday Curry Chicken as entrees- all delicious accompanied by garlic naan and onion and cheese kulcha. We all chose medium heat, spicy enough for us. Our waiter was efficient and professional and had to cover the entire restaurant-perhaps easy enough in the early going but the place was full quickly. He was helped by one server and bus boy. It was the only drawback. The restaurant was cozy with nice ambience (noisier as the crowd grew). Still a fantastic addition to the Hampstead/Surf City dining scene (mostly American and seafood). read more

Best Indian in the area! Amazing food, amazing service. Please, if you are in the mood for Indian food, COME HERE! We had the Purani Dilli Ka Korma and classic butter chicken. The kids had fish fingers which were well seasoned and margarita naan pizza. 10/10 recommended and we will be back! read more

I would give 0 stars if possible, horrible food, bad service. Barely Indian tasting food, never again! Waste of money

AMAZING!!! We got the butter chicken, saffron rice, okra, lentils, calamari, & 2 types of naan. Every single item tasted superb, super flavorful, and generous portions. If you don't like spicy then I'd definitely say go for the mild level. We got the medium but it's perfect. The calamari are quite spicy too but very flavorful. Upon walking into the restaurant, I was immediately greeted by the staff and loved the simplistic yet authentic environment. I have no doubts this place will do very well & I highly recommend it to all. read more

The food here is absolutely amazing. We get the butter chicken every time, because we're just so inlove with it. The staff is amazing, just an all around good place. You MUST go! read more

Food isn't very good and it's overpriced. Good Indian food doesn't need to be expensive. Your "New" Indian food needs A LOT of work. No thanks. read more

Five stars! Food and service were both amazing. Will definitely be back. Our server Akshay was outstanding. Highly recommend

It's so wonderful to have this restaurant in Surf City. The food is amazing and the service is great. Everyone is very friendly and helpful if you have questions about the menu. I have noticed that on a busy weekend the service is slower so be prepared for that but otherwise it's top notch. read more