We visited Samudhra for a family dinner and quickly realized this is not your usual casual dinner spot it has an elevated, polished vibe, so dress to impress when you plan your visit. The food was absolutely amazing, with flavors that were perfectly on point in every dish we tried. They also accommodate jain food upon special request. Their homemade paneer is a true standout and something we would definitely return for. Portion sizes were decent, making it ideal for a relaxed sit-down dinner with family. Prices are slightly on the higher side, and you might experience a bit of a wait once the order is placed, but the taste and ambiance make it well worth it. Overall, a wonderful dining experience and a great place for a memorable family night out. read more

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This is one of the few upscale Indian restaurants in the area. The ambiance strikes a nice balance - lively enough to feel energetic but still conducive to conversation. My only issue was the dim red lighting, which made it difficult to appreciate the vibrant colors of the dishes. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the generous portions help justify the cost. The butter chicken was great and well-executed. The malai kofta, however, really needed naan to shine - it didn't quite hold up on its own. As for the drinks,, let's just say they don't skimp on the pour. ;) It's more of a 3.5-star experience. But since I have to round, I'm giving it 4 stars because of the service staff. read more

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Went for dinner to Samudhra and the experience was good. We kept it simple and ordered Kodi 65- we ordered this twice, it was so good, Salmon 65, Mutton Biryani, Haleem and Ragi Muddha with Natugodi. Mutton birysni definitely didnt cut the mark for me, it was bland and lacked flavor. Haleem was so good! Drinks that we got- Mirchi Margherita, Aam Panna and Samudhra Mule. read more

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Twice now I've ordered Tikka Masala to go only to find Malai Tikka in my bag when I got home.

What a wonderful find in Franklin township. We came here for lunch on a Monday and the place was packed. I guess that speaks a lot about its popularity. We ordered the non veg thali and it came out very promptly. The mocktail that I ordered was a little too sweet for my taste. Now when it comes to the non veg thali, omg, every dish was an explosion of flavors. It had everything ranging from fish, shrimp, chicken, mutton to dessert. Service was top notch and the ambiance was great. They kept refilling our food promptly whenever we needed. Definitely recommend and I will definitely come back!! read more

Samudhra - Non veg thali - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

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Kindly check their timing on the website properly. We came around 3:30 and only limited items from the menu were available which i don't complain, every establishment have their own standard and timing. Overall good experience in the high end restaurant. The seating arrangement and ambience is just amazing. read more

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I had one of the worst dining experiences at this restaurant. My wife and I drove all the way from Boston and stopped in for dinner, dressed in appropriate casual attire pants, a sweater, and shoes. After taking our details and seating us, a staff member abruptly approached and asked us to leave, claiming I was wearing sweatpants, which was completely inaccurate. Despite calmly explaining that I was wearing casual pants, not sweatpants, the staff refused to listen. It was clear they had no real understanding of what "smart casual" means. Ironically, expecting customers to wear suits to an Indian restaurant just to eat curry is absurd. I will never return, and I certainly won't recommend this place to anyone. Also, I seriously doubt the legitimacy of their 11,000+ glowing reviews on Google feels suspiciously inflated based on our experience. read more

We visited this restaurant for our anniversary lunch today and were really looking forward to a nice experience. Unfortunately, within a few hours of eating here, both of us became very sick and experienced severe vomiting. This completely ruined what was meant to be a special day and was quite concerning from a health perspective. We hope the restaurant looks into food handling and hygiene practices so other customers don't have to go through the same experience. read more

I had an issue with this restaurant a few days ago when I walked in with two friends on a slow week night. We were told there were no seats in the dining room, only the lounge area at a high top. That was fine until I walked by the dining room to use the restroom and noticed numerous open tables and all guests were of Indian ethnicity. Returning to my table, I realized everyone sitting in the lounge area was white. I think it's more than just a coincidence. It's downright racism in practice. We will not be returning. read more

the first time i came here, i tried the vegetarian meal thali, which was an assortment of south indian vegetable curry, roti of choice, rice, and a sweet. my first time trying the place, it felt very authentic, like a home-cooked meal. however, i will say there are other comparable restaurants that i would try next time. on my most recent visit, i tried the chicken tikka grilled dish, which really blew me away. next time, i would try more of these tandoor dishes. it really stood out. what was especially great was the strong, intense spiced chicken that had a perfect, unique flavor profile, paired with an incredible tikka masala sauce. it was the correct portion for one person and a comparable price to the vegetarian meal. the wait can be a little long, usually i'm able to be seated right away, but the food can take up to 30 to 40 minutes depending on how busy they are. i would definitely recommend checking out this spot; it's a nice upscale indian restaurant in the area. read more

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Picked up take out from here yesterday.Loved the food.Very authentic and tasty. Tried kodi 65,kodi ghee roast and murgh dum biryani. Loved all of them.My fav is kodi 65. The flavor,Spice level and everything is on point.They packed the food meticulously. read more

Samudhra Premium Restaurant NJ located in Franklin Park, New Jersey It is an upscale restaurant which serves contemporary regional cuisine of India in a muted color scheme in the sleek dining vibes which provides an ideal backdrop for the kitchen's rout of boldly seasoned dishes. In Samudhra everything is made from scratch to be as delectable as what precedes them. They prepare their food in Desi Ghee( clarified butter) Chef Dheeraj ( Executive Chef) and it's team features incredibly unique dishes that combine creative innovation with honored traditions of the region. We tried Paan Martini Negroni Mumbai Velvet martini Dahi ke Kebab Kodi 65 Macchi Tikka Lamp chops Hyderabadi Dum goat biryani Dum ka Murgh Phool Makhana Masala Cheese and chilli Naan Laccha paratha Samudhra Delight Falooda If you're looking for a upscale Indian restaurant in New Jersety complete with crowd-pleasing dishes and excellent service..Samudhra it is ... Prior reservation is a must read more

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Food is delicious! Both thali options have a great variety and large portions. Reservations definitely recommended. The dining area and lounge are decorated very nicely. Staff is friendly, our server Vikas went above and beyond to make our dining experience wonderful. Planning to dine here again for sure. read more

Samudhra - Lounge - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

Bad service, not worth the effort to come here dressed up ! Took our drink and denied it, won't refill it. The manager is off the charts in the hospitality business ! Feel bad for the servers. I got my customers here, and they made it awkward. Not coming here again. Saving grace: food was fine. read more

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, we drove from Downingtown, Pennsylvania to New York specifically to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. On our way back, we made a special detour to Samudra Premium Restaurant just for their biryanis, expecting good quality food based on their "premium" branding. We ordered two mutton biryanis, two chicken biryanis, and one goat sukka for takeout. After nearly 3-4 hours of driving back home, we opened the boxes excitedly--only to be met with complete disappointment. Both mutton biryanis were clearly undercooked, and the goat sukka was equally terrible. The meat in the goat sukka was extremely tough, rubbery, and impossible to chew--we couldn't even bite into it. It felt like they used very poor quality, old meat. The dish was completely inedible and had to be thrown away. This was Thanksgiving--a day meant for gratitude, family, and good food. Instead, because of this terrible food quality, the whole experience left us with such a bad feeling on what should have been a happy holiday. After all the effort and travel, we expected at least a satisfying meal. Instead, we ended the day frustrated and hungry. For a restaurant that calls itself "premium" and charges premium prices, serving undercooked biryani and poor quality, inedible goat meat is shocking and unacceptable. I really hope the management takes this feedback seriously and improves their standards, especially for takeout orders that customers are traveling long distances to pick up. read more

ALWAYS READ REVIEWS - please. Based on a recommendations, we decided to have a surprise dinner with a family of 10 people. I saw the rating but did not read the reviews. My mistake. They have a dress code. My teenage sun wore black track pants. The manager would not let us in. I had to leave and drive my son to Target to get pants so we could enter. As home is about 1 hr away. This has occurred to multiple people - check other reviews. And honestly... it's not that great of place. In the middle of southern Jersey there are many other quality Indian restaurants within a mile. Ambiance is similar to other local restaurants. The food tastes fine but the wait staff is not attentive. Automatic 18% tip and the audacity to ask for +2-5% above this was kind of silly. Sadly I can't recommend this place. Save your money and go someplace else. read more

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It is with great disappointment and concern that I share my recent experience at what was once considered an upscale and premium dining establishment -- Samudhra. Unfortunately, the restaurant has clearly fallen from the standards it once upheld, both in terms of food safety and customer service. My visit to Samudhra was not only underwhelming, but deeply disturbing due to a shocking incident that I believe deserves public awareness. During my meal, I ordered the Paneer Bullet appetizer, a dish I've enjoyed many times in the past. However, to my absolute horror, I discovered a large piece of rubber embedded within the food. Upon further inspection and bringing it to the attention of the staff, it was confirmed by the chef that this rubber piece was in fact part of a kitchen glove -- something that clearly should have never made its way onto a customer's plate. The presence of such a hazardous foreign object in food speaks volumes about the deteriorating kitchen hygiene, lack of proper inspection, and overall negligence in food preparation protocols at Samudhra. To make matters worse, the management's response to this serious lapse in food safety was shockingly inadequate. Instead of taking immediate, responsible action, they simply offered a complimentary ice cream -- a gesture that felt both dismissive and insulting in light of the potential health hazard I narrowly avoided. One can only imagine the consequences if someone had unknowingly consumed the rubber piece. What if it had been swallowed? What if it had caused choking or internal injury? What if it was a child or an elderly person? The thought is genuinely terrifying. What truly pains me is that I trusted Samudhra based on its former reputation as a premium brand -- one that prided itself on quality, elegance, and superior culinary experiences. That trust has now been completely shattered. It is not just about one poor dish or a careless mistake; it's about a systemic failure in food safety and quality control, which puts customers at risk. I will never be returning to Samudhra, and I strongly urge others to exercise extreme caution if they choose to dine there. Always check your food thoroughly, even if you're eating at what used to be a reputed place. Things have clearly changed -- and not for the better. Samudhra is no longer the quality restaurant it once was. The care, class, and culinary excellence that once defined it are gone. I hope this review serves as a wake-up call for both the restaurant's management and for fellow diners who deserve nothing less than safe, high-quality food when they choose to spend their time and money dining out. Choose wisely. Stay safe. And think twice before trusting a brand name -- because at the end of the day, reputation means nothing without responsibility. read more

1 Star Review - Extremely Unprofessional and Disrespectful Experience I'm writing this review while still waiting at Samudhra Indian Restaurant in Kendall Park, NJ, because this situation is simply unbelievable. I placed a pickup order at 4:54 PM, and they confirmed my pickup time as 6:30 PM. I drove 30 minutes to get here, arriving exactly on time -- only to be told I'll have to wait another 40-50 minutes for my food. No phone call, no text, no update, and definitely no apology. What's even more disappointing is the manager's complete lack of empathy. When I asked what happened, he gave me a dismissive response, as if it was perfectly fine to delay a confirmed order by nearly an hour. No explanation, no offer of a drink or discount, nothing at all. Just a cold shrug. For a restaurant that enforces a strict dress code and charges premium prices, they show zero professionalism or respect for customers' time. You expect fine dining standards here, but the reality is total chaos and indifference. I planned my evening around their promised pickup time, and now I'm sitting here, wasting nearly an hour extra for food that was supposed to be ready long ago. It's incredibly frustrating. If you value your time and basic customer service, avoid Samudhra. There are many other great Indian restaurants nearby that actually appreciate their customers and honor their commitments. Writing this while still waiting -- that's how bad this is. Never coming back. read more

Strong appetizers - loved the aloo tikki, tandoori paneer tikka, and palak chaat. Main courses were standard and good. The mocktails had good flavor but they were a bit too sweet. The ambiance was upscale so dress well. read more

Nice upscale restaurant in Franklin Park, NJ. Enjoyed dinner Sunday night here. We tried Mirchi Bhaji, Dal Makhani and Tawa Paneer with roti and chill-garlic naan. All the dishes were tasty, right proportion and appropriate price point. Service is attentive and quick. I have come here for a GNO few months back and have also enjoyed their lunch-thali in the lounge. Both the experiences were pretty decent. The restaurant is definitely worth a try if you are in this area read more

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Fantastic! Delicious! Perfect! Service was over the top! The staff was moving smoothly and swiftly. They accommodated my 2 yr old without hassle. I'm glad there was a dress code because the atmosphere felt high end with reasonable prices. This was one of the few Indian restaurants where I can use fork and knife and now worry about getting my hands covered in food. If I want to eat with my hands, I'll eat at some forgettable restaurant. Food was top notch! The ingredients tasted fresh and decadent. Many delicious dishes to choose from, but you cant go wrong with the paneer! I wish I had more pictures but everyone at the table was scooping up all the food! My wife and I will return for a date night as soon as we find a babysitter. read more

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Really waited for a long time to try them out. It's a large place and they require reservations - and we finally made it for a family event. Our expectations were high and we sure were disappointed. The food is industrial and lacked any "empathy". It was ho-hum in terms of preparation and while the servings were HUGE the volume didn't make it up for the uninspiring taste. Apps were all refried - thought for a large place with so much patronage, they would make them fresh (and not reek of industrial, large scale operation). Patrons like to drink - a lot - here. We feel most patronize this place for their bar and not so much for the food. Oh yea, a big redeeming factor - they do have good outdoor seating. We made use of it; otherwise, the inside is fairly stuffy (and - you guessed it, a large scale operation). read more

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Honestly, for an Indian restaurant in the middle of NJ in a strip mall.....it's awesome!! I think the food is delicious. It's flavorful and the portions are a decent size (as they should be for the price). The service varies but I've noticed that it is on the faster end of things even on the busier days. The chicken Biriyani and the gulab jamun are my absolute favorites! The drinks are on the weaker side but I've never been to the lounge. The prices are on the higher end of restaurant prices, but I feel like the food is worth it. Folks complain about the dress code but I guess if that's the ambience they want to promote then that's their prerogative. Just be aware that they do note what the restrictions are and if you don't follow them they will turn you away - but any restaurant would do that so it's your choice if you want to dine there after reading them. They impose the rules how they see fit. read more

RACIST. RACIST. RACIST! I had heard from more than one person that this restaurant is racist/prejudice towards non-Indian people. Well, I experienced it for myself. I went there with a friend, there was some people waiting in the lobby, so we went to the bar, we sat down at the last two empty seats at the bar. Then someone comes over to tell me those two seats were reserved. I've never heard of bar seats being reserved, but I said fine. Less than five minutes after we were back in the lobby, an Indian couple walked in, I heard with my own ears the couple say "we don't have reservations", and the maître D went and sat them at the bar in the two bar seats where they removed us. I have also placed a call to the Better Business Bureau, and I'm filing a complaint with the New Jersey division of civil rights. My experience, coupled with the few other stories I have heard similar to this, this needs to be addressed immediately. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! read more

TLDR= Delicious Food + Great Service and Atmosphere = Wonderful Experience. I was responsible for finding venues that would accommodate our graduation party of 11 (8 adults and 3 kids under age of 5). As an out of towner, I searched multiple platforms and read countless reviews before picking Samudhra. The research was worth it. The vibe was trendy. The service was amazing and the food was simply delicious. The best part (for our party at least) was they had a kids menu that tailored for the little ones. I can't tell you how relieved the parents in our group were. It's not often you'll find a place that can cater to the range of ages and preferences. read more

We had a bad experience. We drove from Philadelphia with our kids. It was very cold, and the kids were hungry. The restaurant did not allow our children because of the dress code. My daughter was wearing normal pants and a full-sleeve top. We felt very upset and frustrated after traveling so far with kids in freezing weather. read more

We recently went to Samudhra to celebrate an occasion. It was our first time at the restaurant and we really liked the service, ambiance and food. The Old Fashioned was one of the best I have had, the appetizers (particularly the chicken makhani kabob) were very good. Our main course did not disappoint either. Mahesh was our server and he was very prompt in taking our order, explaining how long dishes would take to come out and periodically checking on us. Samudhra is the place to celebrate an occasion with their drinks/ appetizers/ service. It is not your every-weekend kind of place. So when you are celebrating anything next, I would suggest going to Samudhra and enjoying the hospitality. read more

Don't waster your time with this restaurant who pretends to be a premium restaurant with smart casual dress code and no show / cancellation fee of USD 40 per person but cannot serve one of their signature dish (Biryani) to customers for Thursday 7:30PM reservation. And Pricing menu is outrageous. Curd Rice is $4 cheaper than signature Murgh Dum Biryani. Will never step-in again. read more

well wanted to go Samudhra for a long time but as it's a 50-minute drive, I was chucking the plan. Yesterday I got the chance and decided to have the experience of this fine dining. I was aware of the dress code, but I was in CROCS, and I got in, In fact, I saw one guy in shorts, so not sure how strictly it is followed there. Big entrance..!! The dedicated receptionist is there to take you to your tables. just make sure you are 'presentable'. we didn't have reservations, but it was a weekday, so we did not have to wait. we got settled and in no time, the server was there to take our tables. bar code is there to scan the menu (I guess I am still old school, it's annoying to scroll up & down your 6-inch mobile screen). So whenever I go to any famous restaurants, I ask for their specialty (bestselling dishes), below items are based on Server recommendations. Khandari Machli - well presented, soft fish with batter fried... batter was a little bit blunt though, but in a way, it's good. I can taste the fish rather than the batter - 3.5/5 Gosh Sukha- I had better in Rajni, Parsippany. but it was equally good. the only thing I want them to change is, to remove bone pieces. 4/5 Punu Gulu- I don't know how to explain it, South Indian folks must know it, see the picture though. My veg friend liked it. 4/5 Hyderabadi Murgh Dum Biryani: coming to my favorite topic BIRYANI. the server came to us while we were having appetizers and informed us- "Sir if you want to order biryani, pls order now as we have a limited quantity. I was like -' what!!' - So I 'BOOKED" my biryani well in advance. so, it seems Ghost Biryani is famous here and people booked it while making reservations, and that's why goat biryani was sold out. anyway, I had Murgh dum and although it was light in taste, somehow, I liked it. Perfect long-grained rice, soft in chewing, mix of spices, pieces were well cooked, I liked it (and yes no charge for onions- lemons :P- 4/5 Tawa Paneer - best veg items on their menu I believe. Veg folks who love paneer- go for it. 5/5 Andhra Kodi Kura Chicken - The server suggested it, but yeah it was okayish... 3/5 Price: Every item in the range of $20-26- so it's not that expensive. Portion: It's huge! We could not finish our main course items, so we packed the rest. Service: It was very prompt, you didn't have to wait for anything, or for any dish too long. they are very quick. bringing more water, suggesting try this with that, very courteous- definitley5/5 Ambiance: dim light, cool decor, dark orange themed, but at the same time, it's very loud. I understand it is fine dining but let's except we are Indians and we are loud. :D Restrooms: clean, well maintained. I can see their lunch options, where they serve unlimited thali for $20-24, wish I lived nearby. I want to try their thalis. Overall it was one good experience and IMO it's 4/5 read more

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Went on a weekday to have some Thali and it was good ! As always good service ... loved different types of Thali and it wasn't very expensive ! It wasn't too crowded too. Their reservation and cancellation procedure is a bit crazy ! It was super empty but the reservation site showed only few seats ! Business tactics ! Anyways I like the food here . Thumbs up read more

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Tried the veg and non veg unlimited lunch thaali. The non veg thaali had no vegetables at all and only non veg food which makes it even better Loved the shrimp curry, chicken dry and pumpkin sweet which tasted nothing like traditional pumpkin Ambiance is great and so is the location. Thaali is definitely worth the price! read more

Samudhra - Outside - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

Disclaimer: There's a dress code, essentially biz casual. Just watch out in case they decide to refuse service. I went here for lunch with a coworker and ordered the Non-vegetarian Thali. It was my first time trying Thali and it came out fast, within 5 minutes. For those who have not had Thali, I would recommend it especially if you are indecisive like me of what to order - it's a bunch of different kinds of smaller dishes including fish, chicken, goat, and shrimp. (No Beef) My coworker ordered the paneer tikka and it came in a massive dish. It can easily serve two and I'd recommend getting some naan or roti to soak up the gravy. We also ordered the Hyderabad chai and it was only ok, very milky. Might be a preference thing though so give it a try if you like it milky. Overall, a positive experience for a first timer here. read more

Samudhra - Thali - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

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The food was so delicious! Ate so much. Paneer bolt was great with chutney. Biryani was yummy. Candy and Ramesh were very polite and very attentive. They found out it's our anniversary, they insisted to have little celebration! It's s made our day! Just go and enjoy guys read more

Nothing makes you more happy than completing your checklist and when you are a foodie, you like visiting new food joints. There was a wonderful word of mouth for Samudhra and I had been trying to visit this place to get the same experience and certainly it was a delightful one. The ambience was excellent. The staff was excellent and highly professional. Kudos to the team. To begin with we ordered some cocktail. I am a person who like trying out unique cocktails with the the unique name, I had ordered Paan Martini which was the best cocktail for the night. Must try. My friends ordered Mumbai Velvet Margarita and Mirchi Martini. For the appetizer I ordered Punugulu. It was delicious and comes with good quantity. For main course I ordered Nizami Handi, I found it okay and felt would have been better. It comes with rice on the side. My friend highly recommend me to try Panasakaya Pulao rice as it is made with jackfruit. I tried it and it was great in taste. Lastly, for the second round of drink, the server suggested me to try Kala Khatta Martini and it was really nice. Thank you for the suggestion. All the best to the team of Samudhra. Cheers and love, Amey read more

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Utterly appalled by Samudra's blatant ageism and rigid dress code enforcement!!! My husband, a regular, was kicked out for alleged 'track pants' during weekday lunch ???? And get this - it wasn't even a track pant! The staff's cluelessness and hypocrisy are staggering. Clearly, they need to revamp their policies and treat patrons with respect. Won't be returning to this dump anytime soon!!! read more

Had reservations in the lounge on a Friday night, we were seated immediately. The restaurant and lounge were both packed. Service was great, the waiters came by often for food and drink requests. The samudhra martini was excellent, not too sweet, and not over powering with an alcohol taste. Spinach chaat had a nice flavor, slightly sweet with crunchy spinach and sev. Chicken 65 app was flavorful as well. The chicken tikka masala dish was tasty, and surprisingly spicy. The gravy was thick, not runny and flavorless like other restaurants. It comes with naan, rice is a separate order. Highly recommend for a nice meal out. read more

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Pretty ordinary experience for all the hullaboo pertaining the dress code and credit card mandate for pre-booking. Zhinga 5 pieces for 30 bucks was like grilling in the backyard with simple masale. For the price point you need to make it special!!! Chicken drumsticks were ok. Again not exemplary. Shocker was the palak chaat. So sweet that we could not even taste the paneer makhni after that. May be we ordered the wrong stuff which are not their strong offerings. Regardless it was very basic experience. I can name 5 restaurants on rt 27 with better taste. Making things pricey doesn't make it better!!! read more

We had thali vegitarian and non vegitarian. It was great, sevice also and we tipped big! The only thing is you can not talk home leftovers. read more

Samudhra - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

Decided to go here for a special occasion. First off the dress code , to dress chic I immediately saw people in shorts and slippers. Had reservations but we were asked if we wanted to dine in the lounge, which didn't seem like a bad idea. The ambiance is nice and great for pictures and had some nice music videos playing. Ordered the drinks and food after we settled down..Drinks were very weak and let me tell you, I didn't order a mock-tail . I ordered a chicken entree very bland and no flavor at all. Practically left it untouched...would not go , would not recommend. read more

Samudhra - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

Exterior of the restaurant did not have a great appeal because it was located in a strip mall. The interior was unique with the theme of whites and reds. My family was celebrating a 60th birthday for a friend and we were welcomed and seated in the corner booth with a few chairs. Furniture was being changed and replaced. Menu had lots of variety. Highly recommend the Ghost Pepper Chicken,Palak Chaat, and Salmon Tikka for appetizers. As for dinner the Hyderabad Chicken Biryani and Delhi style Butter Chicken were great. Portion sizes were large and plentiful. Only wished it was BYOB. read more