Exceptional weekday buffet. Competes very favorably with such Boston-area Indian/Nepali heavyweights as Bukhara in JP and Kabob Factory in Cambridge. Friendly, fresh, resplendent. A quite impressive variety of dishes for $10. read more

Very good for both takeout and dine in. Spice levels are fair and normally pretty consistent. The wait staff and host are very warm and attentive and takeout has always been ready quickly with no items missing. A very good Indian spot! read more

Delivery was on time! Bhindi and Lentil soup was great! The Pakoras were a little on the burnt side :/ but wasn't so bad to ruin my experience with the food quality and delivery! read more

I'm writing this review as I sip my Nepalese tea and relax after an amazing meal. It was my first time experiencing Nepalese cuisine. We ordered the Thali option with a pumpkin curry and daal side. VERY good. The plate came with five different items: a pumpkin curry, a mustard leaf dish, a black bean daal, a potato appetizer, and a sesame and tomato dip. We really enjoyed all of them. We also got vegetable dumplings which were on point! It was enough for two and, unlike an Indian curry, it was light and I didn't feel heavy afterwards. Definitely would recommend and will be coming back! :) read more

We ordered takeout on a Thursday night. The guy came, 20 minutes after the time we were told, dropped of a bag and took off. We started opening the food, splitting up the rice and bread when we realized we'd gotten the completely wrong order. We called and the guy came back with our stuff which was fine, but then he told us it didn't matter if we'd touched things - just rebox them and he'd deliver them where they're supposed to go. I think it's pretty disgusting that they were going to serve people food that we clearly told them had been touched. Not to mention it taking (with the mistake) and hour and 35 minutes to get our food. For sanitary reasons, I would not get takeout from here again. read more

To sum it up: I appreciated the phone call from Masala letting me know they were going to be a little late and I enjoyed their naan and chicken vindaloo. I will order from here again. I find rumors of $3 margaritas to be intriguing. I might actually have to go here. The full Rant/Rave: Ok, so I had my typical "I don't have any food, I'll just order from Foodler" Sunday night moment. As I mention in some of my other reviews, I always order from Foodler, mainly because I don't want to talk to anyone. This method proves to be the most sound for me especially since I order a lot of Thai, sushi, and Indian food. The person on the other end of the phone and I usually don't speak the same language so ordering online negates this problem. I've ordered a roll of sake in the past and ended up with some kind of tentacled being instead so experience has led me to this mode of acquiring food. Anyways, my favorite part about ordering from Masala is that they called to let me know they were running a little bit late but were on their way. If Foodler says the food will be here at 6:00pm and it's 6:10pm, upsetting things start to run through my head: Did they get my order? Is the delivery guy lost? Is he eating my naan? AM I EVER GOING TO EAT AGAIN? But a simple phone call letting me know they are busy and will just be a couple minutes late puts my mind at ease so I can go back to dreaming about my food and queuing up an episode from the latest season of Arrested Development. read more

It's tragic how I will NEVER go back to this place. I would give this restaurant four stars for the food. Because, actually, the food is quite good. I went here with my best friend to use up a groupon I purchased for a dinner for two. The service was slow at the beginning and we were sitting at a weird angle that the waitress couldn't really see us to see if we needed anything and barely checked up on us while we were eating / drinking. The first waitress we had was friendly in the beginning and I said "we have a groupon" made a very subtle face of dissatisfaction. (SERIOUSLY?) Why do you even sell groupons if you're going to do that shit. After we were almost done with our food w/ some left overs another waitress came by to pick up the food. She dropped the oily okra dish on the table, spilled it on the table and on my friend's tie....a) didn't apologize, b) didn't come back to clean the table, c) came back 5 minutes later w/ a dirty rag telling her to clean her shirt, d) ruined her silk tie for life e) gave the biggest fucking attitude f) DID NOT CLEAN THE TABLE...ever g) did I mention, did not fucking apologize? **I** was so upset and it didn't even happen on me, comes back to fill our waters while taking the dessert order, splashed water on my phone (ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?) then says "is something wrong?" I never ever expect good service from an Indian restaurant. NEVER. But this was the worst. It was such a horrible experience, I wanted to just walk the fuck out w/out paying. I am still pissed I left some money on the table for the rest of the bill and tip I wish I hadn't. The second waitress came back after the bitch who spilled shit all over got the hint that we didn't wanna deal with her, and she didn't even apologize even though it was all over her face that she knew what the fuck was going on. read more

I've been here three times now and I always leave feeling satisfied. Their lunch buffet is solid. Indian and Nepalese food for $9 on a weekday? THERE IS NOTHING BETTER. But seriously, they offer a lot of complimentary items that you would often have to pay extra for elsewhere. Firstly, you get complimentary GARLIC NAAN! And it is so so soooo gooood. It usually comes out piping hot (but not always) and is loaded with chopped garlic. I always finish this first because it tastes so good dipped in their Tikki Masala. Another favorite is that they also offer Marsala Chai tea at their buffet! What! And the tea is damn good. That's coming from someone who drinks a chai literally every day. Not sure what they put in there, but it's got a great balance of spices and creaminess. Another bonus is a roti-esque...appetizer(?) that they make fresh for each table. Comes with a very refreshing sauce! Okay so now onto the buffet items. Obviously the TIkki Masala is the best, but Marsala also has a really fantastic variety of food choices. They've got quite a few vegetarian options too! The lentil and spinach dishes are very good. I usually don't like these, but I get seconds of them here. They also have a fish curry dish, which is not my particular favorite, but interesting. Their Nepalese items are really yummy and unique too. One thing to note is that the check in offer and Yelp deal do not apply to the lunch buffet. Marsala should really add some fine print to that to avoid another Harvard professor fiasco, but you can't really complain when the prices are so cheap! Can't wait to come back! read more

It seems as though they have a new chef, as the food from our last 3 orders have been much less flavorful and it seems like they're using less spices and/or not cooking for long enough. Especially the Aloo Gobi. It has been ridiculously bland the last few times I've ordered it. It's a shame because I've been ordering from here for years and have always loved the food. read more

Ordered last night, food was excellent. Dear Yelp: I am very tired and I do not want to write more words.

We came here with a Groupon last night for dinner. The food was outstanding; we shared an order of chicken momo, which came with a really delicious spicy chutney. Then my husband had the chicken vindaloo; I had the eggplant cooked in tomato sauce with fenugreek (can't remember what it was called); and we each had a mango lassi. My eggplant was--OMG, there are no words to describe it. Flavorful, meltingly tender, just absolutely delicious. My husband really enjoyed his chicken vindaloo. The portion sizes are very generous, especially for the prices; we each have enough leftovers for lunch today. The mango lassi was creamy and a perfect combination of sweet and tart. I also asked for an order of gobhi paratha, which they seem to have forgotten about since it never arrived; but that was actually okay because between the appetizer, our entrees and the mango lassi, we had more than enough to eat and the bread probably would have been overkill anyway. I'm taking off one star for the service. I know they just opened, and I have a feeling that they were a little overwhelmed by the huge number of people who came for dinner, many of them probably wanting to take advantage of the Groupon. (For most of the meal, there was a large crowd of various parties waiting by the front door to be seated). The service was quite slow--after we finished eating, it took another 30 minutes or so to get the check. Also, when we first arrived, they seated us at one table and then asked us to move to another. Not a huge deal, since we hadn't even ordered yet, but just another reason to believe that they're still figuring out the whole customer-service aspect. Hopefully, they will sort out their service issues soon, because really, everything else about this restaurant is great. Even with the poor service, we're likely to return; it's close to where we live, the food is excellent, and the value is good. read more

Indian buffet is my shit. Buffet for under $10? Are you kidding me? And to have the quality of food that they serve?? I don't care what you say, that is a STEAL. My go to is always the tikki masala. I love drowning my rice in it and dipping the garlic naan in the sauce (oh yeah - garlic naan included?? Crazy). That's honestly all I need for my meal. The other dishes are worth trying too if you're into vegetables. Then gotta close the meal off with some gulab jamun right? These suckers are so moist and sweet and yummy - you can't leave without trying it. Come through!! read more

Nepali food. If you haven't had it, you should! Nepali food is a lot like Indian, but has less cream and more fresh spices. It is lighter and healthier. They also serve a full range of Indian food. This was our first trip there, so we stuck to the Nepali dishes. This new restaurant is wonderful. Great value (food for price), nice space, excellent service. It is in Teele Square, not far from the bustle of Davis Square, but less hectic. We had the soy bean appetizer at medium spice, and it had a kick. We then had the Chicken Chili, also medium. Tasty. We ordered the Thali style -- which comes with side orders. It made a huge meal for two people when we added bread.. Masala tea was real spiced tea -- not loaded with sugar and cream. I wish them success because I want to be able to go back there over and over. read more

Loved the Lamb malabar! The curry and green beans with the lamb was excellent! I put mango and mint chutney on the side. Delicious! Add to that the Tamarind margarita and a sip of my husbands lychee martini! Best of both worlds. With the warm summer night we were fortunate to sit in the open window seats in front. A perfect summer meal location! read more

Masala, I owe you an apology for not eating your food sooner. Not only do you serve delicious Indian food, you also serve Nepalese food! And not only do you serve Nepalese food (which is so rare to find), it's so good, making it a tough decision for me to decide which side of the menu to order from. I have eaten at Masala once and ordered from there half a dozen times... all in the past two months. A little obsessive, I know. The food is really flavorful and the menu is extensive. From the Indian menu, I really enjoy the Korma sauces and the Palak sauces. From the Nepalese menu, I really like the pumpkin curry and the chicken mo-mo chili dumplings. It may not be in the most hoppin' location, but it joins the ranks of other local restaurants in Teele Square that are worth checking out. read more

My favorite! I am usually there for the 3$ house margaritas but the food is just as amazing! I love the chicken or shrimp tikka masala. The garlic naan is a great appetizer and the lentil soup is perfect, especially on a cold day. The staff is always willing to accommodate customers and if you need a different spice level or a little something changed all you have to do is ask. Masala is a wonderful restaurant with staff who get to know many of their regular customers! I always feel at home when I'm there. If you haven't tried the lunch buffet you should! It's a little different every day and therefore a great way to find what you love! read more

Amazing food, beautiful restaurant setup, but don't go to the buffet. The naan was amazing, the masala chai was perfect, and we enjoyed our entrees. But, the buffet was underwhelming if you want Indian food (half was Indian, half was lo mein etc). Definitely recommend this restaurant, just not the buffet. read more

Tasty food: lamb samosas, garlic naan and masala dosa. Staff was friendly, but a bit slow with the check. It was a little frustrating that they kept coming by the table but didn't remove the empty appetizer plates and platters (which took up most of the table space) throughout our meal though. The prices were low, food was tasty and the dining experience was pretty good overall. read more

I've got a soft spot in my heart for Masala; there are some special memories tied to this place. But memories don't make food and drinks. And memories aren't what Yelp reviews are for... so here goes. The food was pretty decent when I came for dinner. I'm a sucker for good Indian cuisine, and that's what I got here, though I thought it was cool that they offered Nepali food as well, and would totally be open to trying it. Their naan is exceptional, and was really one of the highlights of the meal. That wasn't able to take away from the fact that their cocktails were HORRENDOUS... as in, they tasted like rubbing alcohol. One was blue, one was red. I can't recall their names. That's how bad they were. Usually my memory for monikers is magnificent, but these were just terrible. Anyway, I went back another time for their lunch buffet (sans alcohol, thank goodness), and I was really underwhelmed. It came with their naan, which, again, was quite good, but the dishes they offered were quite limited in selection and flavour. I have been to a scary number of Indian lunch buffets, but this was really unmemorable and unimpressive. There was nothing spicy offered at all, like not even if you thought salt and pepper was a spicy combo, and so I was relegated to munching on naan and... sort of tasteless curry. Le sigh. I really want to like this place more, but it really is only A-OK. read more

Really excellent food. Great service and a neat feature where you can actually see the chefs working on the food. You're going to pay a few bucks more per item then that other Indian places in the area. It's worth it, but it is on the expensive side when you order an app and an order of naan. The three dollar Margarita that everyone raves about is good but absolutely teeny. I downed mine and four sips. read more

Good, true Indian. I got takeout with a friend a week or two ago and we both liked our food a lot. I got a spicy seafood masala and she got the mild chicken masala. Samosas were delicious but I wish they had more veggies (ie. carrots, peas, and onions) in them instead of almost 100% potato or ground lamb. The crust was perfect though, crispy and buttery. The naan was crispy like a chip rather than doughy which was definitely a disappointment. Regardless I'd still come back. read more

Great lunch buffet at a reasonable price ($8.95 I think). I've been here a few times and have always left stuffed. There is a good meat selection, as well as son vegetarian options. They also have deep-fried cauliflower which I liked a to. Garlic Naan is also quite good. If you're looking for a good, easy, and filling lunch Masala is the place. read more

Masala: a very solid four-star restaurant. I've ordered delivery several times and finally made it into the restaurant a couple of nights ago for the first time. As usual, my girlfriend and I enjoyed our food; here are a few of the highlights: - Service was great! I was hesitant after reading other reviews, but all the waitresses were very kind (and sincere), as well as just attentive enough. - The naan stuffed with coconut, cashews, etc. is like crack. Seriously addictive (and of course delicious). - They are always serving up awesome deals. I actually used a 50% off coupon that they mailed me for having ordered delivery before. On top of that, they've got Groupon and Yelp deals to help keep your wallet fat and your stomach full. Minor complaints include the size of the non-veggie sampler app (but the samosa is freakin' killer!) and that my vindaloo was not spicy enough. I know better than to order HOT at an Indian restaurant (especially of that dish) and usually medium does the trick just right. Unfortunately, I assumed they were cooking to Indian heat levels rather than American, but alas, it wasn't bland either. Overall, a nice night out and consistently happy customers. Cheers! read more

UNLIMITED GARLIC NAAN!!! Hot, fresh, and made-to-order. Need I say more? That alone is enough for 4 stars. Lunch buffet is definitely worth the money. I've been there for dinner/non-buffet, but nowadays I only go for the buffet. They rotate the buffet options daily, but there is always chicken tikka, momos, and NAAN. Their chicken tikka masala is decent, but could be more flavorful. I like their palak paneer, but somehow there is never that much paneer with the palak (spinach). Their $3 margaritas vary in quality, from "straight ethanol about to catch fire" to "actually pretty good". Service has always been satisfatory. I'm no Indian food expert, but I've never been let down by Masala. Bottom line: Would recommend! read more

Great lunch buffet! Lots of options for vegetarians!! Food was fresh and flavors were fabulous! Don't forget to get the rice pudding and cold bar! Service was super! Staff helped with explaining the foods! read more

Waitstaff was really friendly. We were seated immediately and service was very prompt. My one complaint is that the kitchen sees that I'm white and decide to baby me with the spices. I asked for the hot spice and what they gave me barely passed for a medium spice. Other than that, it was a good experience. The lamb korma was really tasty (just not spicy!) and my gf ordered the palak paneer (which she said was some of the best she's ever had). The naan was decent, not the best I've ever had. It was a little too soft and could have been left in the oven a bit longer. TIP: We didn't try their house margaritas, but for $3 you can't go wrong, can you?? read more

I come to this place often for lunch, because it pretty close to where I work. Their lunch buffet is pretty cheap ~$10 per person. They have you typical Indian food for the buffet; chicken tikki masala, paneer, tandoori chicken, samosa, and etc. The chicken tikki masala is way too salty, and every time I have it I get so thirsty. I think they way too much msg in it. Also, their tandoori chicken is overcooked and very dry. They don't seem to replenish the food for their buffet frequent, so whatever is left over in the buffet pot is cold and isn't as fresh. read more

Went to the lunch buffet today and was very disappointed. The best part of the meal was the fresh, hot naan; although even that was not perfect. It was a little underdone and could have used some ghee. The cauliflower pakoda was ok but cold. The rest of the dishes on the buffet were pretty tasteless. It is hard to even single out a single dish as none had anything memorable. Mung dahl, some veg paneer, and frozen shrimp something-or-other all were underwhelming. Oh, the rice was well prepared. read more

$3 margarita and veggie momos. Plus I can get a big crispy Dosa if I want it. And when it's warm, you can sit by open windows and watch the street. Did I mention the $3 margarita? Yes, it tastes like a $3 margarita, but still... read more

Literally MARGGGGGSSSS ...But also their lamb vindaloo is really good and I really recommend the Peshwari Naan as a sweet balance read more

The $3 House Margaritas are a blessing in this expensive puritanical town of skimpy $10 beverages and 1 am closures. 3 for the price of one. The dishes are consistently decent. I am deducting stars from my very disappointing delivery experience yesterday, in which I hAngrily waited for nearly 2 hours (I do not live far). When my channa masala and "indian salad" finally arrived, I was horrified to discover that my salad was literally a styrofoam container of chopped onions. and 2 chili peppers. "Salad" can be applied very loosely to many things, but undressed raw onions and 2 peppers does not a salad make. read more

Masala - I don't consider this a salad... - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Masala offers Indian and Nepali cuisine. It's a quaint little spot a block from Tufts. Great place for Grad level collegiate dating or a neighborhood bite. Can't say it was anything special, but did deliver quality Indian food. Had the seafood masala. Claimed to have lobster, but undetectable. Next time I'll try the Nepali cuisine and maybe my ranking will go higher. read more

Masala - Trying s new spot in Teele Square, Davis's step child. Good choice. - Indian Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The food is really good and has authentic Nepali taste. The Buffet lunches have good variety of foods, some you will only find here and they are a great value for money. The staff is is really friendly and its good for both dine in and to go. One of my favorites here that you dont find anywhere else is The Aloo bodi tama (Bamboo shoot curry with black eyed peas and potatoes) read more

My sister and I ordered from this restaurant through Yelp. We had a bad experience with delivery time, order instructions, and actual food quality. Have not gone back since and would not recommend to others. 1) We ordered on a Tuesday night, but it took over 45 min to get food for 2 people. This restaurant is also less than 10 minutes from my place. 2) We ordered the Masala Special Biryani that had chicken, shrimp, and lamb and wrote in the directions "No lamb please. Only chicken and shrimp." They somehow missed the only note on the entire order and put lamb in the dish. 3) The Indian food was subpar. We had the above mentioned Masala Special Biryani, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Mango Lassi. The biryani lacked flavor, but wasn't the worst. The chicken tikka masala was bland, but still not the worst. The lassi was very poorly made and honestly kind of gross. Also, for some strange reason, the restaurant delivers Lassi in tupperware bowls (similar to the ones usually used for curry) instead of cups. In my opinion, there are much better options out there for Indian food at this price range. I would avoid Masala. read more

We've been here at least 5 times and have enjoyed it every time. The service is always friendly and attentive. The ambiance is nice and not nearly as annoying as Diva. The food is reasonably priced and always delicious. Now on to the food: The Mo-Mo Chilli- wonderful appetizer that is spicy yet flavorful. The Lamb and Veggie Korma, Seafood Tikka Masala, and Malai Kofta have always been delicious and enough for leftovers. The Ras Malai and Gulab Jamun are great ending to a meal. We will keep coming back for more! read more

Amazing deal for $9 buffet Great for dinners too Even has shrimp dish Best masala chicken ever Great fresh fruits for desert Naan so fresh you couldnt get a more fresh naan if you stuck your head into the oven as it bakes! We will be back every time we are in Boston! Heck we will come to boston just to come here! read more

My favorite Indian/Nepali buffet of all time. The Indian classics are all there along with some new dishes to sample. The ingredients are fresh and the service is prompt. The tandoori chicken is fantastic. The goat curry too. There is a condiment station with the various Indian sauces and garnishes. Fresh watermelon to finish the meal. Also, the made to order naan is great. Go here if you are hungry and want some legit Indian food. read more

This is the best Nepalese restaurant in the greater Boston area. The lunch buffet is the best. And they serve Momo in the buffet which I have never seen in any other restaurants. The waiters are so friendly and polite. Very hospitable environment. Awesome food. The food looks healthy as well. $3 house margarita is so awesome. I have now become the regular customer to this place. And I m writing this review to let all the yelp user know about this awesome place and I recommend everyone to try out this place at least once. I assure you that you will definitely return again :) read more

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Really delicious Indian and Nepali food, fair prices and generous servings. I especially love the chili momos, onion kulcha (some of the best I've had anywhere), chana masala and aloo gobhi. This restaurant is also very consistent in its quality. read more

Got takeout through foodler. Food arrived fast and hot and the prices were fair. The chicken tikka masala and the garlic naan were delicous. The only thing that scared me was some pieces of the chicken taseted off. Either not cooked through or rotten. I also ordered a "salad" from their menu which was actualy cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion mixed with a light dressing. It was meh...I was looking for an actual side salad. my fault. I'd order from here again, hopefully with no chicken issues. read more