Overpriced hipster dosas. I'm noticing that overpriced hipster [insert food] is becoming a thing in NY. We had high hopes for Dosa Royale...very high hopes. And, good thing off the bat: service was outstanding, and I don't want to take anything away from it. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of misses, and it didn't sit well with me. I went with my roommate--we each got a cocktail, and then we split the "Dosa Royale" and the "Onion Rava." The Dosa Royale is supposed to be a mix of three items--spinach and paneer, masala dosa (spiced potato), and mixed vegetable. They let us sub in sweet potato, as it was the special of the night. The Royale arrived and it was MASSIVE. We needed to see the fillings, so my roommate opened it up...and I'm glad she did. I don't know if this was normal or not, but ours was maybe about 30% full. Yes, that's right--this giant, $18 dosa was 30% full. On top of that, ALL of the three varieties were mushed together, with little to separate them. Oh, and the spinach and paneer? Well, they didn't put paneer in it. Thankfully, they brought some out. I mean, really? Come on, guys--that's just an amateur mistake. The sweet potato, what was actually in there, was good. I couldn't even tell if we got veggies because of the mushed up mess. Spinach was decent, and the paneer (when we finally got it) was good. The onion rava, though, was bleh. I mean, I just wasn't impressed. Whereas the filling (what little there was) of the royale was good, the rava was just kind of a weird, chunky mess. The gunpowder sauce, which cost an extra $1, was mediocre. They also give you sauces with the dosa, and honestly, everything was kind of a let down--the mint/coriander chutney was watery and tasted inauthentic, the coconut one was bizarre, and the red/orange one (not sure what it was) was pretty decent. I understand Dosa Royale is relatively new, but if you're going to charge these prices, you NEED to have the food to back it up. $18 for a massive, mostly empty dosa is unacceptable. I'm undecided if I'll go back. This was a pretty disappointing experience--both for my palate, and my wallet. read more

THE GOOD: I LOVE dosas--love love love--and these are close to the best I've ever had (in terms of the plain dosa itself, filling aside). If I were just judging this place on the dosa batter and preparation I'd give it five stars! Another five-star aspect is the samosa appetizer. It puts the mushy, microwaved grease-balls that I've had at other local Indian places to shame. I honestly didn't know samosas could be this good. The cilantro and tamarind chutneys that they come with are also superb and generous. My husband ordered one of the chicken curries and the sauce was truly amazing! I made him let me dip my dosa in it and couldn't get enough. I really appreciate the glassed-in kitchen. It shows that there is nothing funky to hide, and makes me trust the food and the people preparing and cooking it. THE BAD: The biggest con of this place, which admittedly may be unfair, but I just can't overlook it, is the space itself. I know that many restaurants in NYC are long and lean and require their patrons to move creatively (think side-shimmy, table-pulling-out, butt-bumping-water-glass style). I can deal with this, but the tables are just way too close together that it sucked the happiness out of my experience. Maybe it was plain bad luck to be nestled into a seat next to people who spoke loudly about inane crap. It happens. The fairer con that I have is that the dosa came with small smears of chutney and a soup but no spoon. The waitress was competent, but a little joyless and ready to rush us through the meal (she was quick to remove plates and glasses a little too soon). The masala potatoes (that I ordered in my dosa) were good but not amazing, and the paneer was shredded and lacked full flavor. THE UGLY: I wouldn't normally reveal how cheap I am, but for you, Dear Yelper, I will because I think my issue is indicative of a problem with Dosa Royale in general, which is that it's amazing food all wrapped up in a too-small package (not including the dosas, which are ample and priced well). $9 for a glass of wine is ok. $9 for a glass of wine served in an extra small coupe glass is a little embarrassing--both for me as a drinker and whoever came up with this idea. Ok, so it makes them more money, but when the bottle is $36, I expect more than a 4 oz. pour for $9. A little place with big taste, but strangely stingy touches. Go for the dosas and samosas!! read more

Solid neighborhood restaurant with great food and friendly service. It is pretty overpriced for what you get, although the flavors are very nice. The fish curry is fantastic. Great spice. So is the chicken 65 appetizer - a new addition to the menu and now favorite. I'm not crazy about the dosas but I finally found that, for me, the best choice is the vegetable with paneer. It's basically the dosa royale but a smaller version. The lamb curry tends to be a little on the dry side, and the chicken curry is pretty nice. I like the thali a lot but noone will ever share it with me so I don't get to enjoy it as often as I like. It's not for everyone, I suppose. The service is five stars. Everyone there is very friendly. The bartenders remember you. The chef will bring out his special batch hot sauce on certain nights. It is a very warm environment that most "hipster" (to use a word common to many of the Dosa Royale Yelp reviews I've read) restaurants lack. I'm looking forward to the summer when they open the backyard! read more

The dosa, curry and samosa chaat were fantastic! I will definitely come back again. The service was also great and made us feel at home. Very well priced for the amount of food we had. read more

This place is a hidden gem. I am coming back here cos it's a happy neighborhood and this place, for its food. Rava onion Dosa= amazing. Chutney= wowness. Kadai paneer = mind blowing ! read more

This place has a beautiful and quiet backyard and very delicious food at reasonable prices. It's become a go-to for my family. Get the lunch special curry and any of the dosas. Very friendly staff also!! read more

These folks charge for chopping onions and green chillies! Pretty pathetic and something I've never seen at any other Indian restaurant in the city. Nice enough ambience, though food was extremely bland- can't recommend it to a Desi or any lover of authentic Indian food. read more

Delicious South Indian food in a sea of mediocrity. Their dosas and samosas are the freshest in the city. The Chicken 65 is addictive. Their chai and filter coffee are legit. I love sitting in their beautiful, serene, green garden and eating the foods of my childhood. read more

Dosa Royale - Drinking tea in the garden. - Indian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Extremely poor service. Had to wait an hour and 15 minutes just to get our order, and the dosas still came out cold. People who came in after us were getting their food and finishing it before we got any of our main entrees. On top of everything, they built in a 20% tip; they deserved nothing. Will not be coming back. read more

Great place to grab some Indian takeout. The space is great and staff is friendly. I'll make the next visit soon.

I agree with everyone who said overpriced. $16 including tip for spinach curry with chicken and no apps. For delivery stick to the spots that offer an app, entree, and naan bread special for a similar price. Maybe in-person is better. read more

I am very excited for a South Indian restaurant to pop up in this neighborhood! The masala dosa and the onion rava masala dosa were both delicious. I can't wait to go back and try the other South Indian dishes on the menu! Go there and abstain from ordering the usual North Indian fare. You won't be disappointed! Logistical p.s.: Cash Only but they do have an no fee ATM in the back. And huge backyard! read more

Tasty food and good presentation. Waitress not too keen on being friendly, hospitable or pleased with taking questions about menu.

Thrilled to have a south indian place in the neighborhood. The decor is casual and inviting. The dosas were very good - particularly the dosa bearing its namesake. What a lovely masala filling that was. I don't know what some of these people writing reviews were expecting from the service, but then being indian myself, i know what obnoxious classist pricks indians can be. They probably deserved it for waving their hands in the air at the staff as though they were dogs and generally wanting everything changed around to suit their family's tastes. Live on Dosa Royale! Run the bastards out into the streets!! I will be sure to come and enjoy the comforts of home many many times over. read more

One star is also probably on the higher side.anyone who is from india and understands South Indian food should totally avoid this place. Awfull food is all I can say! read more

I've been to great dosa places in Queens, such as Ganesha Temple Canteen and Samudra, and this place is right up there with those. I got as an appetizer the vendakai poriyal, an okra and yellow split pea dish that was amazing, just exploding with flavor and tasting like comfort food at the same time, a difficult balance to achieve. My saag paneer dosa with its accompaniments was also absolutely delicious, not the least bit greasy. The actual spinach and cheese wasn't a soupy mush, the way it sometimes is. You could taste the individual flavors and textures. Even the mango lassi I got had a delicate, not over-sweetened, taste. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing friends with me. read more

Honestly I wasn't a fan. The dosas were just ok but the seating was really bad. The stools or chairs they have are very uncomfortable. Sort of like old fashioned school chairs. The waitress was nice and the food came out promptly though! read more

Another mediocre restaurant to add to the list of numerous mediocre restaurants in the neighborhood. As others have noted, the dosas were subpar. The sweet potato dosa had little filling and sadly, that little filling lacked flavor. I am not a dosa connoisseur by any means, but the dosas at the TriBeCa Whole Foods are heartier, and in my opinion, far more flavorful. Of all the dishes we ordered, the lamb curry was the best - not to say that It was great (it wasn't ), but it wasn't horrible. We also ordered a chicken curry dish. The chicken in the chicken curry was so bland that we could only conclude that the chicken had been cooked in a pan and then dumped into the curry. This may not be the case, but if we are wrong I would love to know how the chicken could be so tasteless. And don't even bother with the lentil donut; this too lacked flavor. The various sauces that accompanied our meal proved to be the one bright spot to this otherwise lackluster dining experience. I love this restaurant's concept, but it needs to work on its execution. read more

went here for dinner on a Thursday night and although it wasn't packed the food was excellent and we didn't get sick. that's pretty much a win for Indian food. i will return. read more

Pretty decent date night, some very good dosas, although a bit overpriced. The staff caters to vegan needs very well, and the mood is always good. However, the interior design is quite troubling as I have had multiple annoying experiences with getting seated with parties of 4. read more

Curry was watered-down and fairly tasteless, the lunch special didn't come with any Naan -or a Samosa- for $10. But don't worry they won't ask you if you enjoyed your meal so you won't have to tell them how disappointed you are. read more

I love dosa, I love Brooklyn. Royale Dosa cannot be the solution to Brooklyn's void of South Indian restaurants. Full disclosure, I lived in India and my standards are based on experience: I want my dosa hot, hearty sambar on the side, chutneys textured with coconut and a kick of chili. While this restaurant was cute, fun, and perfectly located on Court street, the food was a total disappointment. The fish curry had sauce that was thrown on top, high on tomato content and chili, but the fish did not absorb any of the flavor. Often, what makes South Indian fish curry special is tamarind (which gives it a sour twang). Also, tilapia is less than ideal for curry -- masala fish fry would work better. The dosa was cold and cardboard-like. I questioned whether the potato filling had curry leaves or cilantro (essential!). The sambar lacked memorable vegetables and the chutneys were tasteless (where is the coconut?!). The masala chai could have been stronger and the coffee did not meet it's "Madras" namesake (buy the stainless steel concoction filter, warm the milk, it's easy). I love the stainless steel dishes and they've done a terrific job with the space. Friendly staff in a neighborhood that makes eating out fun. Sadly, Royale Dosa needs some help in the kitchen. There are countless people in this city who make amazing dosa. Maybe we can find a good match? Waiting for real dosa in Brooklyn. I won't mind paying for it. read more

Honestly the best dosa I have had outside of Queens or India. Really tasty and fresh. I can't wait to go back- finally good Indian in Brooklyn! This is what I have been waiting for. The okra appetizer was awesome also! It had the perfect ammount of crunch and heat! read more

What's better on a rainy Saturday than having piping hot dosas, lamb curry and coconut rice delivered to your door in 20 minutes? Dosa Royal does not disappoint; the food is always great. There are many wheat-free and gluten-free options. All of the curry dishes are amazing. read more

OMG, THE CHUTNEYS!!! All of the them, but especially the coconut and the ginger. I NEED that recipe... they should just sell them in jars! I got the sweet potato dosa w/ mysore. Might be the best Dosa I've ever had. Perfectly filling. They don't have all the esoteric regional varieties you have at a place like Saravana Bhavan in Manhattan, but ultimately, the more varied and superb chutneys, and Dosa's with more varied fillings like sweet potato and mixed vegetable, plus super nice people, make this my new Dosa spot of choice. Haven't tried the curries, so cannot comment in that regard. read more

I have had consistently amazing experiences at Dosa Royale. Love all the vegan options. Especially round of the cauliflower appetizer. Give it a try the $9 price tag is worth it. read more

This is the best Indian food I've had in NYC. I have often complained that you can't get good Indian food anywhere around this part of Brooklyn. Until now. My wife and I split a Dosa and a Thali and had some appetizers and every single dish was fantastic. Usually I feel like Indian restaurants "dumb down" their food where the flavors aren't terribly complex and the spicing is all mild to non-existent, but at Dosa Royale everything is spot on. They also have a good selection of beers on tap and some delicious sounding cocktails. I stuck to the beer, but my wife had a cocktail that she really liked. Also, it's really great to be able to see into the kitchen and see that it's clean and organized -- and to see all the giant bins of spices. The food is wonderful, the portions are large, it's priced reasonably, the waitstaff was friendly and helpful, and the decor is really clean and understated. I'm so happy that this place opened up in my neighborhood! I can't wait to go back. read more

This place is a great addition to the neighborhood, which has been missing a good Indian restaurant. The dosas and the apps were great and the interior is very nice. Re the interior, my only note is that the acoustics aren't great. It's all exposed brick, which makes for a lot of reverberation and tables shouting over each other. They should install some acoustic treatment or fabric to absorb some of the sound. Also, I came in to eat at 4 pm right when they were about to switch over for dinner with my baby in a stroller! In other words, the most annoying customer for a restaurant. They happily served me. read more

The food is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's unique, complex flavors, understanding of Indian flavors and cuisine. I cannot say enough good things about this place. We discovered it this week and have eaten there 2x and just signed up on Yelp solely to write a review. There is a great little garden outside too. The fish curry with lemon rice, and the spinach and paneer dosa are our top choices so far. This will be a perfect fall place. The decor is clean and fresh, but could use a few hanging plants, softer light and some texture to create some more intimate space. The facade is unassuming and you would not know what it is unless you took the time to explore. If it was able to have a stronger identity and more comfortable environment, it would be full every night of the week. So happy that Dosa Royale is in our neighborhood. read more

Dosa Royale can also be found at Smorgasburg, Fort Greene Flea, and DUMBO Flea ! The flea markets are how I primarily visit Dosa Royale :) Haven't had any of the food yet, but drinks are amazing as well. ~What I've ordered so far~ Cucumber Mint Lemonade : 5/5 !! (So goodddddd and refreshing for $4) read more

I've rated Dosa Royale with 3 stars / "A-OK" because they're offering something slightly unusual (southern Indian); and overall the food is very good. Not unlike other reviewers, however, it just happened that some of the items we ordered we not served (we had to ask for them part way through the meal, only to have them delivered at the end when it was kind of pointless), and that some of the ingredients (like paneer) were missing from the dishes... and I find that kind of suspect: incompetence is one thing, but forgetting to add paneer to a dish that requires it is like not preparing the dish at all. I felt ripped off. Beyond that I found the prices high, even for Carroll Gardens: I paid $12 for the AVIAL, a small dish of vegetables in a curry sauce (approximately 1 cup of food complete) and it didn't even come with rice (or is that something else we just didn't receive?). Beyond the incompetence of failing to deliver the complete order, and having dishes missing ingredients, I found the overall service to be good. I tipped a full 20% because our waitress was friendly and apologetic, but I don't really feel that the staff deserved it. read more

Top 3 favorites in the neighborhood. Been multiple times and the food is always great quality and extremely tasty. Price is reasonable and food is authentic. read more

Great place love the Indian dosa special the masala dosa so crispy and filled with favors

I am not the biggest fan of Indian food, but I love this place. The fish curry is the best. I also like the okra app!

Awful! It has been an hour and a half and the food is still not here and guy on the phone was rude about it.

I was looking forward to trying this new place in my neighborhood. Felt pretty burnt afterwards. The floor staff, all pretty young things, were borderline rude and unhelpful. The bottle of wine we bought ($40) was crap. The fish curry was all chili and salt, pretty much inedible. The music was loud & lame. Waste of money! read more

Vanakkam. Never expected Brooklyn to have a south indian restaurant with such great food and ambience. It is pricey. But it is brooklyn. Anyone who likes indian food, should try atleast once this place. Kotthu parotta - Not great. Would avoid that. The best place is Karaikudi in edison still. Idly - Woohooo.....I would say very good. Rasam - Freshly made and was awesome. Worth a visit. Nanri..! read more

Scouring around for a thirst quencher that was reasonably priced, I was brought to Dosa Royale at Smorgasburg. The mango lassi was fruity but it's more of a smoothie rather than a refreshment. I guess you could say it's a bang for buck if you're hungry and thirsty. The vendors were very friendly and put some extra ice in it when I found the drink to be too warm. read more

We love Dosa Royale - for both eat-in and fast, easy neighborhood delivery. South Indian food - a nice difference from most of the other Indian options in the neighborhood. Great curries, and the cauliflower starter is delicious. read more

Dosa Royale is the real deal and definitely the most authentic Indian restaurant in the neighborhood. Prices are higher but so is the quality. I've never had the dosas but love the curries, which are very, very spicy! My favorites are the lamb chettinad, kolumbu (had it with chicken last time), and the chennai fish curry. Definitely get a side of yogurt or a lassi to help combat the serious heat from the curries! We also had the samosa chaat last time as an appetizer which is chopped vegetable samosa with chutneys, tamarind and cilantro on top. It was really delicious and will probably order it every time now. They also have an assortment of different rices. The lemon rice is particularly good with my favorite fish curry! My only complaint is that I wish the restaurant was more cozy same for the backyard. The design is a little cold and antiseptic with very bright lights (maybe just dimming would make a big difference?) so it's not a restaurant I like to go to but instead I typically get delivery since I really do love the food! When we have eaten there the cocktails were superb and service good. Definitely your best bet for authentic, high-qualify Indian in the neighborhood. read more