Came in on a Saturday evening with a reservation, seated fairly quickly Dress code: casual Food 5/5: ordered their green dosa, panipuri, Texan thali and their burger. Everything was amazing. Fairly spicy but nothing too crazy. Favorite was surprisingly the burger. Ambiance 4/5: very casual, a bit loud but quirky setting Service 5/5: fantastic service, knew we had an allergy, quick, friendly and helpful Value 4/5: pretty good price for the food about what I would expect from an Indian restaurant Overall 4.5/5: great experience overall, will likely be back to try more curries. They also have a bakery attached that I was too full to try Parking: garage parking as part of the complex read more

Pondicheri - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pondicheri brings an interesting, modern spin on Indian food. They have some nice patio seating as well, so since the weather has gotten nicer, we took the opportunity to bring our dog out for dinner. The ambience is really nice, and service is good. They have a daily happy hour from 4-7, which includes some food specials. Pomegranate dal poori - 5/5, pretty basic chaat item Fish kofta - 5/5 very unique and tasty Texan thali- 4/5 - my spouse wanted both the lamb chop and butter chicken, and she got to have both with this! The lamb chop was really flavorful and delicious. Goa shrimp - 4/5 shrimp curry itself was great, but we weren't a fan of the coconut uthappam Bread pudding with ice cream- 5/5 - really tasty! A good meal and we'll definitely be back! read more

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I LOOOOOOVE Pondicheri. Lunch, dinner, brunch... it hits the spot. What draws us in: :: Woman-owned :: Locally sourced (when possible) and high quality ingredients. :: They don't use seed oils. :: Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are clearly noted on the menu. My favorite dishes are: :: The butter chicken salad--it's one of the best salads in Houston. It's savory, saucy, and a bit tangy and sweet as it's topped with butter chicken, greens, garbanzo beans, chèvre, blueberries, and almonds. :: Saag (which vegans and dairy-free can opt for it cooked with cashew cream and chickpea tofu vs paneer). I get the regular version :: Sunday's thali special :: the GF desserts, specifically the rose laddu ($3/pop) The portions are huge, and it's crazy to notice so many tables leave so much leftover on the table. Y'all... take that to-go! Leftover Indian food slaps. Be sure to go upstairs to check out the bake lab. read more

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Just visited for my first time in a few years, and the food overall fell a little flat compared to what I remembered. We arrived towards the end of happy hour, and the $9 cocktails were a great deal! I had a Chai Old Fashioned which I felt was lacking in spice, just tasted like a regular old fashioned. The lentil dumpling chaat on the happy hour menu was delicious, my favorite thing we tried. For mains we got the butter chicken and saag paneer, and neither was quite as flavorful as I remembered. The service was great, we sat outside on the patio and had no wait for a table on a Saturday night. The restaurant is in a quiet, fancy shopping center off Kirby, with plenty of garage parking and a peaceful outdoor patio. I know they are popular for their breakfast and bakery, so i'll be back some time to try those! read more

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Ordered delivery today - 3 dishes, Pondi Salad, Butter Chicken and Butter Chicken Salad. Only the Pondi Salad was correct, the other 2 had no chicken. Called them but got no help. They wanted me to come there to pick up the missing chicken. Leo S. COUPLE OF HOURS LATER: I received calls from 2 people in management at Pondicheri. They were very kind and concerned. They refunded our payment AND sent replacement of 2 dishes to our home 2.5 miles away. Will order from Pondi again. Food is really good. Leo S. read more

Love Pondicheri for so many reasons! My first visit was during lunch with my cool coworkers. Second visit was with my boyfriend (now husband), a d our recent visits were most memorable after a visit to milk + honey and during Diwali! Pondicheri offers happy hour drink and food specials, including 25% off wine. We tried bone marrow (WOW) and the Diwali thali which was amazing! Great service by Madison & the bartender! read more

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Looking for an upscale Indian restaurant, come here! Rezys needed, but the flavoring for this food is a bit different than traditional Indian food. I died for the parli g ice cream sandwich!!! If i could get that over and over I would Garage parking or valet Separate gender bathrooms Outside seating as well. read more

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I went with my friend here for HRW. The food was not bad. I had the samosa, butter chicken, and the pistachio ice cream. Samosa was filling. Butter chicken was unique with different blend of spices. The pistachio ice cream was alright, it served as a refreshing end to the meal. Service was prompt. There's a complimentary garage nearby. read more

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This spot is supper cute and can accommodate groups. We had 6 in our party and ordered appetizers and main course meals. I don't remember all of the apps but I enjoyed all of them especially the lentil balls (not actual name). For my main course I had the Bengali fish with naan, eh chef's kiss! My mouth is watering just thinking about the overload of spices, flavors and just plain goodness. I would return for that dish alone. My drink was the golden soda. Make sure you stir because at first mine tasted like medicine but once I gave it a good turn around it started to taste okay. It was not to my tastebuds liking so I ordered lemonade after. The service was superb! The server confirmed my entree choice as her favorite and I now know why. Definitely another restaurant added to my Houston tasty foods list! See you next time! read more

Pondicheri - Bengali Fish - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Paneer Bonda were soooo good. Love the way they do the chutney and pomegranate. Paneer texture light and fluffy too. Rajma chaat is a must. Carrot parathas too. Never a bore to dine here read more

Pondicheri - Masala Chai - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The Crushed Poori Chaat (crushed crispy and thick deep-fried flatbread, lentil and potato mix, pomegranate seeds, chaat sauces) was my favorite item because of the textures and the contrast of everything against the juiciness of the pomegranate seeds. I thought the Lentil Dumpling Chaat was similar to small hushpuppies covered in a thick sauce that reminds me of Pad Thai. The Sabzi Burger (thick and fluffy bun, thick black bean "patty", pickled cabbage and greens with chutneys) was a nice variation of a black bean burger. I liked the bread but thought the pickled veggies and chutneys melded too much with the soft black bean flavor. The Earth Thali had several mini parts. The Saag had a deep and simple spinach flavor. The Coconut stew was similar to a coconut curry but with a more prominent fresh coconut flavor. The Carrot kosambri had finely shredded carrots and other ingredients. The Potato cake (thin crusted, thick and moist potato patty) had a smear of something on it and was a good bite. The Naan (golden flatbread with sesame seeds) is not what some may expect as it resembled in taste and texture a yeasty thick flour tortilla. The Butter Chicken was simple. They offer a small chocolate-covered nut bite with a flaming candle and whipped cream for your birthday. Dinner on a weekday is surprisingly busy. You can do Happy Hour in the regular dining area. read more

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I'm not sure what it is about this place, but I've been here about four times over the years, and it just never quite hits the mark for me. It's located in a very upscale shopping area, and the restaurant itself is attractive, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff is friendly, and it's always busy. That said, despite giving it multiple chances, I always walk away remembering why I don't come back more often. The food is just average. It's not bad--it simply tastes like fast Indian food to me. The elegant setting and fancy presentation might give the impression that it's something special, but when it comes down to the actual flavors, it fails. The dishes look great in pictures, but the taste doesn't live up to the visual appeal. read more

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Pondicheri offers a creative spin on Indian flavors, and everything we tried was delicious. The chickpea tofu frankie was packed with flavor and a perfect portion size -- hearty but not heavy. The naan was warm, soft, and full of flavor, easily one of the best I've had. We also tried a house-made mocktail that was super refreshing and perfectly balanced. The vibe is trendy yet laid-back, and the bakery counter is hard to resist. Great spot for anyone wanting something unique and satisfying! Our server was very knowledgeable and we had great service. read more

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This time we were flying out of Houston so decided to try out Pondicheri which came highly recommended. First of, there is plenty of covered parking around which is nice to have. The ambience is great and tastefully done. The menu is unique and refreshing for an Indian restaurant. We got the lamb chops, thali and the ommlette with keema along with a couple of non alcoholic drinks and beer. They have a happy hour till 7 PM so the beer was $5 a pint, nice surprise. The food was mostly good, thali had Undhiyu which is a traditionally Gujrati curry and it was nice. Other curries in the thali were ok. The lamb chops were really good on their but the combination with eggplant raita does not work, at least for us. We might be back again to try the Dosas. read more

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This was an amazing unique experience. Coming from an avid India food lover, the naan and paratha were far from the best I've had, however I thoroughly enjoyed the saag with figs and the butter chicken was good as usual (hard to mess up a butter chicken in my op) the potato cake was a nice touch. The chai pie, however, was excellent. The cookie crust was thick and delicious and the pie custard had such a nice chew to it. Perfectly spiced! read more

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I hate to leave a bad review, but the experience here was so disappointing. I'm not a huge chai snob, but the chai literally tasted like water. The fried paneer was in a weird fritter, with way too many onions. The upside is the bakery upstairs but at $12 for a slice of cake, it felt overpriced. read more

Nice place for a relaxing date night! We tried several items and everything was great and delicious! read more

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The location of Pondicheri is nice. We went on a rainy day so couldn't explore much but got a gist of it. It looked pretty. Pondicheri had a great atmosphere. We tried the pickled pepper pizza. It was super fresh and delicious with a desi touch. The desserts looked interesting but did not try any. Hopefully next time. The staff was sweet. read more

Pondicheri - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is some of the best food I've ever had -- and it's consistently that way. Absolutely delicious. The restaurant is nice, too. Not fancy but stylish. And the service is excellent. read more

We celebrated a friend's birthday and the experimental bone marrow dish that the server recommended was amazing. I actually felt quite energized for several days after. The server was accommodating and knowledgeable. The staff were all friendly. The dark chocolate cake was rich and creamy, perfectly moist with a high end bittersweet chocolate flavor. Not too sweet, perfectly balanced. My niece brought her almost two year old son and he was treated well and enjoyed his dhosa. The vegan dishes were spicy and fresh. The fish ball appetizer was crisp with a nice texture and flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant. The ambience during the day was well lit and modern feeling. Well done and much thanks to the establishment on celebrating a friend's birthday. read more

5/5 | Intentional, vibrant, and full of flavor Came in for Pickle Pizza Friday and tried the butter chicken pizza special built on Pondicheri's house-made naan with spiced chicken, fresh herbs, and pickled onions. Absolutely delicious and perfectly balanced. Started with the Golden Soda (turmeric, ginger, lemon, and honey) so refreshing and ordered the Jardin cocktail with tequila instead of gin. They happily made the swap and still gave me the happy hour price! It was spicy, bright, and smooth. Every part of this meal felt thoughtful, clean, and crafted with care. You can taste the quality and intention in every bite. Pondicheri never disappoints. read more

Pondicheri - Butter chicken pizza - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

The pani poori were delicious and I would definitely order again. (8/10) The chicken kabab was super tender and juicy. (8/10) The dosa was huge and the filling was seasoned very well (7/10) We also go a chaimisu from the bakery side for dessert and it was really tasty and unique. (7/10) The ambiance is nice and parking is garage parking. Service was also very fast. Would overall come back to try other menu items. read more

Pondicheri - Green Dosa, chicken tandoori kabab, Mango Pani Poori Monday - 6 piece - Indian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I haven't been to pondicheri in a few years and recently visited with a group of friends. The Indo-American fusion concept and ambiance are unique here and I would definitely return. I ordered the tofu chick pea stew dish. It was a unique take on Indian curry with tofu instead of paneer. The dish came with a side of tumeric rice and cabbage salad. It was filling and delicious! I had enough for a small amount of leftovers for the next day. I also got the mango lassi and it was tasty. I've heard their desserts are delicious, but didn't get the chance to try them this time. The restaurant is located in a large shopping district. Parking is easy with a large shared garage available and free. read more

Let me start with the good. Good service good ambiance, the water was cold refreshing and had honey as a sweetener option. Now the bad food was bland nothing like an Indian restaurant and overpriced. There were three of us we got 2 Texan and one butter chicken. Non of was will consider this as a choice in the future. We all wanted to get the mango lassi but I said let me get one first then if y'all like it we get more. This was the first time I tried lassi that had Cardamom on it and practically no sugar. Lassi is simple yogurt sugar mango and sometimes milk to make it less thick... they definitely had more ingredients. I have a simple rule that food can be expensive but it has to be good or cheap and not so good. If it's not good and cheap I can not complain if it's good and cheap I will praise But if it's bad and expensive then it does not work. read more

Obsessed! The saffron tea is soooo good too. Perfect for non-drinkers. The food and service were all amazing.

What an amazing evening. Can't say enough about the caring service for a pretty large party. Food as always was just spectacular. No reason to be specific about the food because it was all so good. What a treat. read more

3.5 I've been here a few times but always for drinks/mocktails and snacks, not so much for the food. I finally went back with some friends and checked it out at lunch time. I love this location as it's central to many things, has plenty of parking (parking garage), and I love the decor and vibe of the place- both inside and out. The restaurant is two floors, upstairs is the bake shop, and downstairs is the restaurant. It's a mix of self service, you place your order before taking a seat, silverware, and water are all self serve. They do bring out your food and drinks to you. At lunch time the place was nicely crowded, however my order was placed right away, and the person behind the counter was kind enough to make some suggestions as well. I ordered the pea samosa, and the Sunrise Thali as the carrot paratha, potato cake, fried egg, and sambar caught my eye. I LOVEEEE a good sambar. The carrot paratha was delicious, I found myself wanting more and even thinking about it the next day! The egg, potato cake, saag, and everything else was pretty average. The Sambaar was disappointing, and something I'd likely skip out on next time. The samosa was interesting, I loved the mango achaar served with it. If you're looking for traditional Indian place I don't think this place is going to satisfy you, it is Indian food but with a twist! read more

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Been wanting to go here forever and try this place. It did not disappoint. We had so many things. The top thing on the table was the rajma chaat! It was full of flavor and made our tastes buds sing. The meena bazaar samosa was number one the list and was stuff and fried to perfection. The pani poori was a very close third place. Honorable mentions we the dosas, kebabs and pumpkin dumplings, there were all very good but not as good as the first three. Fresh squeezed oj and mochas made the drink list. The service was wonderful and the counter service answered all our questions about different menu items. We all commented on how beautiful the restaurant was and stood around d admiring the plants and pastries when we were all done eating. Sadly no one took pictures because we dug in as soon as the food hit the table. read more

Still no Bangladesh on the map on the entrance. The "Bengali" fish dish is good though. read more

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Came here for Sunday brunch and loved the setup; order at the counter, grab your number, and find a seat. It wasn't overly crowded, which I really appreciated, and we were able to pick a comfy spot to sit. We ordered the Breakfast Frankie, samosas, and French toast. The Frankie was tasty with a nice kick of Indian spices, but the real stars were the Meena Samosas and the French toast! Overall, great atmosphere, delicious food, and I love that they have plenty of vegetarian options. I'll definitely be back to try their curries and kebabs when I'm feeling like eating meat! read more

This is a solid 4.5 stars. The food is great, wonderfully seasoned (medium spicy), and beautifully presented. The entire clean, organic, sustainable mission is very admirable. Service is a walk up counter, but the line was short. The ambiance is highlighted by giant windows, high ceilings, and lots of natural light. The neighborhood is a mixed use complex with a few other shops and restaurants, and a good amount of self parking. It seems that Everything on the menu is impressive, however I highly recommend the beet soup, and any of the Thalis (we had the Texan and Vishnu). I absolutely want to come back and try out more of the menu soon. read more

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Great spot for Indian inspired pastries. Make sure you go upstairs to the bakery for the good stuff. Loved the beet roti, pav bhaji kolache, cumin cheese bun, and tandoori chicken tart. There's indoor and outdoor seating, and there's free street parking and a free garage nearby. read more

What an amazing experience! Finally got to try their lunch after returning to Houston and it was better than I imagined. Tried the ghee fried chicken with the lovely spices, egg dosa, butter chicken and mango pani poori. Everything came out super fresh and hot! Everything was perfect and the pani poori was crisp and delicious. The egg dosa and spices were amazing and everything melded well together. The butter chicken was good, but I wish it was a bit more robust. The ginger, turmeric lemonade was nice, but I hope there is an option to do it without honey. Definitely my fave new restaurant in Houston and plan to return for more! I also had the espresso upstairs in the bake lab and that was divine. read more

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My family and I have been looking at this place for a while since it's been featured in so many top restaurant lists and articles, but were hesitant because its reviews on Yelp are mediocre. However, the 3 star review this place has is lying! The atmosphere of Pondicheri is comforting, the staff are so friendly, the place is beautiful, and the food is delicious. The stand outs of our meal were the Pomegranate Dal Poori and Texan Thali. I'm a huge fan of dal poori, and this one is outstanding. I love how how the place used pomegranates, and it was like a refreshing flavor bomb that exploded in your mouth. My family also really liked the Texan Thali, which came with 3 curries, garlic naan, a goat chop, and a potato cake. The curries were good, but the best one was the Wagyu Nihari. We were so full with all the appetizers we ordered, but we absolutely cleaned the bowl of that curry. In addition, the goat chop was super tender and flavorful, and the potato cake was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, both were slightly on the oily side. To end off this meal, so many of the desserts looked delicious that we ended up ordering 3 of them. However, we were slightly disappointed with them. Since it was around Thanksgiving, their Chai Pie, labeled "Best Pie in Texas," was replaced by a Pumpkin Chai Pie. It was definitely not the best pie in Texas... The crust and chai layer were very good, but the pumpkin layer tasted like it was straight from a can. In addition, you could barely taste the lavender in the Lavender Lemon Tart, and the nut-date crust was unpleasant to eat, both in taste and texture. But, the Toasted Mawa Cake, which our waitress recommended, was delicious! Definitely be sure to order that one, and maybe the Chai Pie when it's not the holiday season! Overall, I am looking forward to coming back soon. I want to try new things since everything on their menu seems so good. I'm excited to try some other desserts as well, and you should come and try too! read more

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This place has turned into a home base restaurant and brunch place for me and my friends. The food is always delicious, service is pretty quick, and ambiance is cute. Outdoor seating on nice days is a 10/10. Food wise, you can't miss out on any of the small bites (pomegranate pani puri is great!!) and the cabbage momos! Highly recommend for a chill easy Indian dining experience. read more

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LOVE this place! Pondicheri is a really unique restaurant. I wouldn't consider it an authentic South Indian restaurant, but it's more "Indian inspired" fusion. We love coming here for brunch and lunch. The service is always quick and friendly and they can recommend dishes to you if you're unfamiliar with Indian dishes. There's plenty of seating inside the restaurant, both booth and tables, and there is a pretty sizeable patio with seating as well. We always try to order something different. This time, we tried the fried okra, the lamb burger, lamb ribs, and the omelet. The fried okra were so good. They aren't breaded like most fried okra is. They were very light and not greasy at all and very well spiced. The lamb ribs were very tender and had a sweet and tangy tamarind barbecue sauce, similar to the tamarind chutney served with samosas. They were drizzled with mint chutney and yogurt sauce and topped with sesame seeds and pepitas. Next time I think I would ask for the yogurt and chutney on the side instead of on top of the ribs. The omelet was awesome and the portion size was great. Great mix of veggies and the eggs were cooked well and not rubbery at all. The burger was good but honestly was a little blander than I expected. The fries were not my favorite. They were a bit dry and the spice mix was a bit tangy and it just wasn't a flavor profile I enjoy. I don't think I would order these again. But that being said, the menu here is so extensive that you can definitely find a dish that you're going to enjoy. We come here a lot and always enjoy trying new dishes. I haven't tried their baked goods yet because we're usually so full after our meal that we don't have any room for dessert, but I do want to come here just for a cup of masala chai and a pastry sometime. read more

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Our second visit to this location and it did not disappoint. You order at the front upon entry. It's self seating and the inside can get pretty filled up on the weekends. We snagged a table for our group of 4 and had our food delivered within 10 mins. The food was flavorful, tasted healthy and the dishes were composed well with an elegant blend of spicy and savory flavors. After the meal we headed upstairs to their lovely bakery where we packed a few items for the drive home. Love this spot and highly recommend it! read more

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The food is delicious and the service has always been good - counter service for lunch and waiter service for dinner. My wife and I enjoy coming here for a nice meal - full of wonderful flavor. read more

Countless exotic dinner and lunches here with family and on dates, the food is ridiculously delicious and authentic and unique, sometimes I have cravings for this place out of the blue. Love that they have the sweets bakery upstairs for after, so tempting (we can never resist). How this hasn't exploded into a chain idk maybe bc it can't be replicated but wow they would kill it. Long history here. Highly recommend to any and all. read more

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A nice spot for dinner with friends or family! Drinks and food came out quickly and did not disappoint. The Chai Old Fashioned and the Pollinator were both great. The butter chicken is an option you can't go wrong with. My boyfriend got the Texan Thali and enjoyed the variety. read more

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