If you live near Syracuse University or work in the area near Upstate University Hospital, the VA or Crouse Hospital then you must be familiar with the Royal Indian Grill on 147 Marshall Street. Most notably, they serve a lunch buffet during the week that costs less than $13 and is bar none the best value for your money. I often partake in the take-out buffet during the weekdays and can't deny that its the best option for when I am really hungry and want a satisfying meal. The staff are associated with other well known Indian restaurants in the area (The Clay Oven and the Dosa Grill to name a couple) as denoted by their various polo shirts with the named establishments screen printed on the chest. On various days, I have experienced questionable attitudes from the wait staff but, most of time, I don't dine-in so my experience in this regard is not very reliable. But, be forewarned that some previous reviews have criticized the customer service of the staff and called it into question on more than a few occasions. The buffet has a wide variety of options available and they try to mix up the entrees beyond the usual Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Curry and Tandoori Chicken. On Fridays, they sometimes serve Fish Masala which is a personal favorite of mine. There are also a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options as well beyond the salad bar. In fact, if you ever consider converting to a vegetarian diet, Indian cuisine is the way to go. The variety of options consisting of chick peas, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, eggplant, okra, lentils and cheese are so expertly prepared with herbs and spices that make any traditional Indian dishes absolutely delicious. If you are new to Indian cuisine you can feel confident in the knowledge that the spice levels are very mild (unless you specifically request a certain level of spiciness). Overall, its a great and affordable experience for any foodie who enjoys fragrant cuisine highlighted by herbs and spices that aren't overbearing. The buffet is all-you-can-eat and the to-go option is very filling. This is my go-to option for anytime I am famished and just want something delicious that always leaves me satisfied. You owe it to yourself to try this out. And the price point will never disappoint. What have you got to lose? read more

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I decided to give this spot a try and ordered through a delivery service. (Truth be told, I dread finding parking on Marshall Street, even if it is easier in the summer than when the college is in session.) I ordered the paneer 65 and mutter mushroom. When my order came, it only had the paneer. The receipt on the bag had only the paneer on it, so I'm assuming it was on the restaurant's end. I can understand if they were out of that item, but they made no attempt to contact me and let me know and ask if I wanted to substitute something else. I later called the delivery service and they refunded me, no hassle, but still, this was a major bummer. By the time my food came, I was headed into a meeting and it was too late to order something else-- plus, I wasn't about to pay double delivery fees. I was really looking forward to this meal so it was a bummer that it wasn't what I was expecting, and there seemed to be no attempt at contact. The paneer was ok, but the flavor was a bit on the sour side and I wouldn't call it the best Indian food I've ever had. I'd be willing to give this spot a second try eventually but I'm not running back here after a bit of a letdown. read more

Royal Indian Grill - Paneer 65 - Indian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Ordered butter chicken and garlic naan. The naan was exactly what I wanted. The flavor of the butter chicken was delicious but SO SPICY. I had asked for mild spice, and saw that on my receipt but it was hoo spicy for me to eat! read more

A nice buffet, everything was hot and fresh. I would have enjoyed some appetizer like dishes, maybe samosas added to the buffet and many more vegetable dishes. casual atmosphere, excellent service, reasonable prices. space is small, clean, but too warm on a beautiful fall day. read more

It pains me to leave this review because the food is good for the price if you get the buffet, but the service is god AWFUL and has been getting worse. There's literally no one in sight when you walk in most of the time. You'll discover quickly that it's because the owner has ONE poor guy working as the only host, the only waiter, the only bus boy, and even as a cook literally half the time. The worst part is they are not hiring! No hiring signs and the workers (who are great people) have told me that this is how the owner wants it when I've asked. The owner seems to own several Indian restaurants in town and the business model for this one is LITERALLY bad service in order to cut down on labor costs. I wouldn't be surprised if he's doing other sketchy things-many of the workers arrived relatively recently from India and speak little English and so are pretty vulnerable read more

Food is delicious and staff always friendly . The butter naan is perfect and so is the mango lassi.

This is the best Indian restaurant in town! The food is great and the staff is very professional and welcoming. All around great restaurant. A must try. read more

Good food for the price. Service was really good. The person who served us was very sweet.

Great Authentic Indian food, my go to when I'm Syracuse! Tried the Dinner Buffet but wasn't a fan read more

Eh it was not the best. The naan was hard not really soft. And it was a little pricey for such little food. $35 for 2 people and they don't have many options. The staff was very attentive and out going. read more

The lunch buffet is a must-do! It's like $11 and you can choose from chicken tikka, chicken biryani, seasoned rice, some vegetable sides and a few other things! I really loved their naan too. Such a great deal for a wide variety of food. I have had better Indian food, but for the price the quality will do! read more

Amazing food and quick service. The lunch buffet has all my favorite Indian comfort foods, chicken tikka, pakora, chana masala, seasoned rice, naan, and much more. I got a buffet meal to go which was under $10 and enough for two large meals. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes Indian food! read more

CUSTOMER SERVICE: I thought the staff was just.. not great. There can be more improvement in efforts and drive to serving the customers. We always had to wait 5-10 minutes for water, or a drink, or a refill. Even when we walked in, there was no greeting. FOOD: We got the buffet. I tried the Tikki Masala, Biryani, A mushroom dish (I forgot the name), different rices, and chai tea. The Tikki Masala was a disappointment. I love Tikki Masala and it didn't taste like it. But other than that, I thought the other dishes were just okay. I had an Indian friend come with us and he said the food was trash. Reason why I give this place one star is because they restaurant didn't look appealing; damaged walls, dirty tables (we had to wait to be seated because our table wasn't clean). And can I just really emphasize that the customer service sucks? YES. IT SUCKED. I wouldn't want to come here again. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.. read more

I am ready to give this place a 5 star review. I came here last month. Our host who was also our waiter was rude and behaved as if we were an inconvenience to him. Made the food and experience less enjoyable. Food was good but service ruined it all. Came back today and what a difference, the staff both host and waiter were delightful, food tasted even better than last time. Truly a remarkable change helping for a very positive experience. Will definitely come back here when in Syracuse. read more

Slept on spot on Marshall st, especially for students. $12 all you can eat buffet for students is amazing and it includes all the good stuff (chicken Tika, rice, korma, chickpea masala, salad, naan, much more). It's also strangely good quality for this price, the tika sauce with naan is to die for. Get yourself a mango lassé drink and you're good for the night. Check this spot out asap for quick, quality, affordable food! read more

Food is good. Service not so good. I went in and was ignored while other customers that came after me to be served. Even thought i was there first. Thought that was unprofessional and discriminatory read more

I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, basmati rice, and garlic naan.. this is my go-to order whenever trying a new Indian restaurant. This one did not disappoint. Good portions and delicious naan! Will order again! read more

They got me twice wrong orders, the price on the receipt attach with the food is different with the Uber. Their biriyani less spice, I found white rice didnot mix well. I am so disappointed read more

worst Indian food, ordered samosas, they were dripping in oil and paneer pieces in shahi paneer were hard, got stomach ache after eating.

I will not be going back to this restaurant. Came in around 2pm for a late lunch and explicitly told the man taking my order that I would be dining in. He was rude and dismissive and apparently didn't listen because he came out with my food bagged. When I told him I wanted the food for dine in he just starred at me and did a dismissive apology. To bad, the food was good but I will NEVER be back because of his attitude. read more

Nice small place near hospital, campus etc. They still had a buffet until 8:30 pm but not a lot of hearty options left (hardly any chicken in the Tikka Masala), so I opted for Lamb Rogan Josh. It was pretty good. I like the Indian music with modern effects. It was upbeat. Good vibe, good prices. read more

Royal Indian Grill - Lamb Rogan Josh, garlic Naan, Lamb Vindaloo - Indian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

The only reason I'm giving more than one star is because I've eaten here in the past and enjoyed it. HOWEVER!! The service has gotten worse and worse, to the point where today's server clearrrrly did not want to be working, was lazy as can be, and seemed completely incompetent. That's a lot to say, considering his job consists of bringing drinks, taking plates, and refilling the buffet. As I type this, he walked out the door 5 mins ago and hasn't yet returned. On a side note, I hurt my mouth did to a bone shard in the rice and the "coke" was flat. Also...still trying to figure out what the mango custard was created out of, and the creepy guy in the back needs to stop staring at people. Pretty sure they are spiraling down quicker than a geisha at the Mr. Universe contest. Update, the server returned and is being super nice as he's ringing usup. #justthetip read more

First, I have to say that Syracuse is very fortunate to have many very fine ethnic restaurants to choose from, and most of the ones we have tried have been pretty good, but tonight was a quantum leap up with our meal that we ordered as a takeout. We don't usually get vegetable samosas as they are deep fried, but after reading all of the rave reviews we decided to try and very glad we did. The garlic naan and chicken korma were all the best we have had and we are moving Royal Indian Grill to the top of our list for delicious Indian food. read more

We ordered for pick up through Grubhub. The food was hot when it arrived and very flavorful! I would recommend it to anyone .

Hmm I was not a fan. We were in Syracuse for the weekend for a concert and I decided to try a local Indian restaurant. I ordered chicken mahkani and an order of Naan. Maybe it was a different cooking style or maybe it was just me but I found it to be rather tasteless despite smelling pretty great. The Naan was okay as well but again lacking in any real flavor overall. Pricing was good and the employees were very friendly. Idk what more to say I was pretty disappointed overall unfortunately. Maybe if I'm around this area again I'll give it another try... read more

I ordered a delivery for dinner for the first time during my visit here. The food was great. It was hot by the time I got it. The sauces were also great. read more

We had the lamb biryani, chicken tikka masala and a garlic naan. It was all excellent especially the biryani, very flavorful and the quantity was generous, the to-go container was stuffed. The chicken tikka masala was a nice blend of creamy and tomato not too much either way. I could have used a touch more heat but not complaining. All the food was hot and fresh and was ready quickly. We walked in, placed our order and everything was packed neatly and ready in 10-15 mins. Sturdy plates and individually wrapped silverware sets with napkins were available on request. With two desserts (ras malai & gulab jamun) it all came to $40, a delicious feast! read more

Fantastic flavors in their dishes. Excellent serving size and always hits the spot. Some personal favorites include Lamb Vindaloo, Aloo Gobi and Gobi Manchurian. Also can't forget the quality Veg Samosa read more

Great addition to Marshall St. For $8.95 I had a delicious lunch. I think that price is very fair, especially compared to some of the establishments in the area, which are overpriced IMO. Food was great. The place is small, with only a few tables, so it will get crowded at peak times, keep that in mind if you go. read more

Great food and service. Reasonable pricies and good portions. Very modest ambiance, but clean.

Our order: 2 lunch buffets to go Chicken Tikka Masala Vegetable pakora (Can't remember the name) Potato and mushroom dish Tandoori Chicken Navratan Korma (Vegetable) Vegetable Biryani Rice Naan We tried another Indian place in East Syracuse before this one. We're always looking for our regular Indian place, and since we just moved here from San Diego (where there is lots of great kinds of all food), this place is going to be the new regular spot. I can't stand Chicken Tikka Masala that is too tomato-based, and less cream, but Royal Indian has a great mix. The vegetable pakora was delicious, whereas some other places have way too much fried around little stings of vegetables. I personally loved the Chicken Tikka, although I like it much spicier, so if we order out another time I might get it special order. My girlfriend loved the korma, of which she did say the Eastern Syracuse joint had tastier veggie korma. Overall, this place blows the other Indian place we went to out of the water. Will definitely go back, and I love that they actually do dinner buffet every night. read more

About as authentic Indian food as Taco Bell is authentic mexican food. Taco bell at least tastes good. read more

Royal Indian Grill - Left chicken makhani right mater paneer. Yellow gravy. Not authentic and not tasty. - Indian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

The Royal Indian Grill serves a variety of foods cooked in different styles from all over the Indian subcontinent. As an Indian, I was a little cynical when I walked through the restaurant's doors. However, a taste of the Chicken Makhani (butter chicken) changed my mind. The chicken Biryani, Naan, and mango custard are especially delicious courses that must be tried. The restaurant serves two daily buffets for lunch and dinner, each under $11. For an all-you-can-eat buffet, the price is fairly reasonable and it is certainly worth it. However, in my opinion it would be nicer to see more appetizers in the buffet, like papad. Besides this, the overall atmosphere of the restaurant is pleasant and welcoming. The staff are extremely helpful and eager to serve you. The Royal Indian Grill can certainly be the next great place for Sunday brunch or a simple weekday meal. read more

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Dinner buffet was superior to other Indian buffets I've experienced. Lots of variety including Biryanis, tandoors, 4 meat dishes, many vegetarian options, and a huge basket of excellent, hot naan. Would definitely come back. read more

I was in the area after visiting someone at crouse hospital and i was hungry but the place i wanted to go was closed so i came here and i had this dish (do not ask me to pronounce it) with rice,tofu and sweet onion sauce that was to DIE for! So good! The nann bread was soft and chewy and i had an hour bus ride home so i took it to go thinking by the time i get home it will be crispy,dried out nann bread but even after an hour in a bag it was still soft and hot and yummy! I will be back! read more

The lunch or dinner buffet is okay but badly (cheaply?) flavored. If you get there late in the day the food will look like it's been set out all day. Disappointed that the buffet doesn't have pudding. Service was fine. read more

Awesome spot, friendly staff, and actually open for dine in. They seem to be doing a continuous open instead of open for lunch, closed, then open for dinner thing. Staff served buffet for lunch and dinner which changes at 4pm. Price goes up two dollars, but the food looks the same to me. read more

This place was phenomenal. I truly believe the only types of people who don't love places like these are ignorant Americans who are only exposed to food in the confines of their own comfort zones. The buffet was delicious, medium sized variety. I attribute the "not large" variety to the quality of the food. Each option was incredibly well seasoned, perfectly cooked, and the flavors were mixed together flawlessly. My group also ordered something from the menu which was delicious as well according to my friend. Immediately upon arrival you get complimentary pita freshly cooked and it's bottomless. Yum yum yum! I came with a family from Yemen who said their bread is similar in their home country (which can only mean one thing-authenticity). The grandfather from Yemen is not totally fluent in English and the waitress could pick up on it. She was able to piece apart her explanations so he could follow what she said. We were accommodated in every possible way. Lovely place, I highly recommend it. read more

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We were in the town after a long and tiring drive and wanted to eat indian food that was less spice and oily. I placed an order over call and requested to prepare the food that way and was assured about that. To be honest I wasn't expecting much due to my past experiences. But to our surprise, the food was awesome. Careful use of spice and oil and it was so fresh. Upon that they were generous enough to give us an extra rice box. Thank you guys for your efforts in making our dinner really enjoyable. If we are ever in the area again, we would love to order from you. read more

I just dropped my daughter.. who is studying in syracuse university.. i went to the royal Indian grill.. the service and food is very delicious and very good price! read more