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

An impromptu family dinner at Samudhra was a great plan. We were greeted with warmth. Thankfully, we got a table as soon as we walked in. A super clean restaurant, high energy ambience and great staff. It is a busy restaurant so I would ask you all to make reservations. We ordered : Drink ~ 1. LYCHEETINI : Grey Goose Vodka, Lychee Puree, Pineapple Juice, Lychee Fruit. 2. SAMUDHRA SUNRISE : Organic Orange Juice, Vanilla Syrup, Grenadine, Sparkling Water, Rosemary. ( I loved it!) 3. SAMUDHRA MARTINI : Grey Goose Vodka, Blue Curacao, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Organic Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Cherry Appetizer ~ KHANDARI MACHLI : Fish fillets coated with chef's special batter and cooked to perfection. You must try this! Very very flavorful. Main Course ~ 1. DAL MAKHANI : Black lentils cooked with butter in traditional Indian spices. O my god. Best in New Jersey for sure. 2. MASALA METHI PANEER : Cottage cheese cubes cooked in fenugreek leaves with a tasty cashew gravy garlic and onion. Didn't go too crazy about it. But my family liked it a lot. I thought the gravy could have a little more fenugreek flavor. 3. LAL MAAS GOSHT : This bone-in goat dish is cooked in a variety of spices with a burst of red chilies cooked in clarified butter. It was tasty , but it had too much heat. The staff did let us know while we were ordering. If you can eat spicy, do go for it. Rice and Garlic Naan was Complimentary. Dessert ~ JUMBO JAMUN : Luscious, extra large-sized Indian festive dessert made with milk solids and condensed milk filling. It' a must must must ! I give 5 stars for our experience last night. read more

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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

I went with my family here for a big birthday in which the service was of the utmost poor quality. The "high standard" that is held by the said management, and the prices which suggests that its a high quality restaurant, are definitely not in line with the actual service. The waiters made us ask them multiple times for water to bring to the table. The food was average to good. We brought a large ice cream cake for the birthday party, and we repeatedly told them to put it in the freezer before we gave it to them and they brought it out dripping warm, melting from every corner, as if they had left it out or put it in a fridge. There was no care or apology until we made a big fuss about it. They did make it a point to mention on their policy that "[they] dont charge a cake cutting fee" but yet bring out a completely unpresentable melted cake that we spent a lot of money on and care to bring. This was only the cherry on top. Prior to this incident, they wouldn't allow us to bring in balloons or cupcakes for a birthday party which we told them this reservation was for. Their servers would bring out big rolling carts from the back to take away plates in like it was a street kitchen/restaurant (nothing wrong with that type of restaurant but that's not the price and ambience we paid for). They half cleaned the table between our apps and entrees and cake. We had to ask multiple times to bring rounds of water for the guests, because they low key refused to bring them multiple times, with one waiter saying "I will bring them when you guys sit down for dinner." Which makes no sense, we asked for the water now not like in an hour when we have dinner. It seems the owners probably pay the workers in peanuts because again there is a discourse between what is charged on the bill and low level of service they provide. The general manager offered some unapologetic words at the end for the lack of service and melted cake. There was no compensation on the bill, only an offer to give desserts or coffee. I would advise never to have anyone throw a birthday party at this sorry place. food is decent but the service is terrible and their rules are ridiculous, like they are some top notch 5 star michelin restaurant in manhattan. Save your money and go to a place that actually has well trained staff and gives that level of service to match. read more

Samudhra - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

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Went here to have a food and wearing travel casual pants and the manager said I cannot eat there with travel casual pants because of their strict dress code policy. Never ever have I seen an Indian restaurant that did not allow an Indian to eat because of the dress code. This is ridiculous in this day and age. read more

This place brings a completely different vibe for somebody looking for an Indian cuisine but is interested in an upscale lounge setting. The ambience and hospitality of the hostess and team was very impressive. We ordered the mirchi margarita and couple of beers for drinks. We all ordered a mix of veg, meat and seafood Thali's between us. (We were a party of 6). A good note was the thali served had unlimited refills of every item. However, the only had a small menu served on the thali compared to rest of the similar places across the US. However, I'd love to stop by here again. read more

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Whew !!! Finally we were served dinner, after a 1 hour 30 minute wait ! Sitting back , chatting , people watching, looking at your phone, eyeing food at other tables ... all this put together couldn't keep us entertained , especially when you are hungry & food is being served at your neighboring tables !! No updates or information about the delay of our food. That's our experience at Samudhra in a nutshell & this was my first dining experience here. ( have done many takeouts in the past ) . We were there to celebrate an anniversary and to start the evening the reservation was mixed up . We had called & made a reservation for 7.45pm . At 7.20pm we called to check on something and they told us there was no reservation in our name for today. Finally they figured out that the reservation was made incorrectly for Sept 17th. The person on the phone said they had a table available, but we had to rush there immediately. All this for reservations!!! First off their cancellation policy of charging your card $40 per person for no shows or cancellations later than 4 hours is unheard of in the suburbs. Fine dining restaurants in big cities probably charge such a fee, but they demonstrate service & customer care in all aspects of the definition. We walk in, get seated, and our waiter Sid takes the drinks & appetizer order. Appetizers came In promptly followed by a slightly delayed 1st round of drinks. A lady walked up to our table to check on how we liked the food & drinks & said she would be stopping by again to keep checking on our experience. That's the last we heard from her ! 2nd round of drinks never seemed to appear despite a reminder. After a 15 minute wait & a 2nd reminder Sid emerged with our drinks . Appetizers were Chicken 65, Mutton Sukka , Masala peanuts, Paneer Tikka & Palak (Spinach) chaat. I must say everything tasted really good. We were relishing the food and enjoying our first dine-in experience , till the entree order was placed. Didn't anticipate the entire Samudhra experience would take a 180! Entree order was taken around 8.25pm after which we were left in the lurch . No news from Sid for a long time nor was there any sight of food. Sid reappeared briefly like a firefly and before we could ask or check on the food status he disappeared. Around 9.30pm it started to drizzle and everyone sitting outdoor including us rushed inside . We were seated at another table and were told food should be served soon. Thus, we also got to experience life inside Samudhra! Nice ambience with beautiful lighting & decor.But no word about our food . At last , Bammmm.... Dinner was finally served at 9.50pm ! We were too famished and tired to attack ! Chicken Biriyani was luke warm ,so was the Dal and Jeera rice. Paneer curry was just fine. We had initially asked for extra Saalan with Biriyani which never made it. We had to remind Sid and he promised to bring it soon. He finally did bring the Saalan after we finished our dinner. My sister in law asked for the Manager and very politely explained our bad experience . She stressed that it was their anniversary dinner and it didn't really go well. To which the Manger's response was , she understood what we felt ,she personally wouldn't have liked to wait for 1.5 hours for the food, and would convey our feedback to the Management and the verbal empathy ended with her getting us the check. The Manager , didn't care to even offer to take part of the entree or drinks off the check nor was there any acknowledgment of our sisters anniversary with a wish or a little dessert . It's not enough to call yourself a Premium Lounge / fine dining restaurant. Customers should feel it not just by the food, ambience & look of the place .It should be about Service & most importantly Customer experience . Customers should. be made to feel important , their point of view valued and their experience or feedback not just be heard , but some immediate action be taken to make the entire experience premium. We are aware of possible staffing issues at restaurants given the Covid situation. But in this case, neither did our waiter nor the Manager or the lady who stopped by our table initially , kept us updated of the delay in serving dinner. It was almost like they took us for granted and we had to pay the price for their staffing or kitchen challenges . It was really a bad evening and Samudhra didn't offer to do anything to fix our bad experience. Giving it 2.5 stars because the appetizers & drinks were good ! read more

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Initially, since this place is formal wear... I was not allowed in.. after a long discussion, they finally gave in! Plus points. Bending the rule alittle due to my situation. We came here a while back and were very pleased. This time, the food was equally has good and service as well. We ordered chicken tandoori, paneer rolls, spinach chaat, masala peanuts, paneer tikka and malai kofta... the naan is so soft and crispy and thin. The tandoori chicken was so tender and juicy but lacked a few good spices and was not that flavor full... for a place that has such nice interior and full bar, along with its food and service.. I would give it a soild 3.5/5 Lambchops were really good though!! read more

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Not at all worth the price!! Way too expensive for that quality. Chicken is very chewy and still pink inside. I don't recommend to anyone. There are better high end restaurants with good quality. read more

My buddy that lives in Jersey recommended this place and made reservations for us. It is rather new and fancy inside for a Southern style Indian restaurant. Service was impeccable. Food from the beginning to end just kept getting better and better. Some of the best Southern Indian food that I have had in the Eastern part of the US. Leftovers got better the next day. For sure will be back here as there aren't many Americanized Indian items on the menu. read more

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We were pleasantly surprised by the food because nothing was overcooked and that was a huge relief. Almost every Indian restaurant on Rt. 27 delivers dried out chicken and shrimp. I will not however rate a restaurant highly just because they didn't screw it up. They cooked it correctly so the food was good. Judging from the lack of business on a Thursday night (there was just one other table besides us at 7pm and the lounge was empty) this place might want to reconsider their pretentious attitude toward their clientele. I understand it must be a pain when people don't show up for their reservation but that $40/per person fine is egregious and really off-putting. Then you are bombarded with warnings about their dress code. Then you get a text demanding you reconfirm. Then you have to text them when you arrive even though there are two or three people at the door to check you in. The prices are way out of line for a strip mall Indian restaurant in Franklin Park. $7 for naan- really ? Charge for extra rice ? Come on. So if I were them and wanted to stay in business, welcome your guests instead of trying to intimidate them. Drop the ridiculous $40/person fine and deal with the no-shows like every other restaurant on the planet. You should be happy people are considering your place and do everything you can to entice them to come through the door. read more

I went here for lunch and decided to try the thali, apparently they give you what they have in back, not what's listed. I don't eat goat so they replaced it with an appetizer. The chicken curries had bone in them, nothing I was familiar with and I didn't like the flavor. I asked if I could bring it home to my husband , maybe he would like it. They told me no, I was not eating it, I asked if I could get something else . They told me no. The older man was rude and obnoxious, I have never been treated like that. I didn't like the food and the service was horrible. He needs to get trained in customer service. I would hate to say I was treated that way because I am a different race but it certainly felt that way. He cursed at me in my way out. I say stay away from here! read more

Samudhra - Thali non vegetarian, I tried but it was a fail in every way, and I love Indian food! - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

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we were sent an email of how to dress, when we got there people were dress like crap we felt over dress I guess dont follow there policy. I have to say the food was great , the manager went to all the table and wish and great everyone for Father Day except ours, my wife and 3 adult kids all well dress. You can hardly communicate with the server cause they speak under their breath. Very expensive. We had better mango lassi for better price. Definitely will not be goin back there read more

The Resturant is just amazing ! The food was absolutely great and definitely work a visit. * They check temperatures before entering. * Sanitize each table after it customers leave the table. * all customers are asked to wear mask * they have unlimited Thalis only for lunch * to go boxes are biodegradable Ambience is very pretty ! Service is awesome. The food is made with all organic and fresh ingredients. read more

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I had previously enjoyed dining at this restaurant, but my recent visit was nothing short of disappointing. The ambiance and menu promise an upscale, authentic Indian culinary journey, but the reality fell far short of expectations. **Service:** The service was profoundly rude from the beginning. Upon ordering the Thali, we were curtly informed that sharing would not be allowed and that it wouldn't be unlimited if shared. While this policy is understandable, it could have been communicated far more courteously. **Food:** The most disappointing aspect was the food itself. I ordered the Natukodi Pulao, which wasn't ready, and was told there'd be a 45-minute wait. Despite agreeing to wait, the dish took over an hour and a half to arrive, and when it did, it was bland and lackluster--simply rice with a hint of coconut milk and dried-up chicken, devoid of any spices or flavor. The Egg Curry that came with the Thali had onions and tomatoes that weren't even cooked to a translucent level; they needed to be cooked to a brown, palatable combination, but instead, the dish was underwhelming and served cold. **Management:** The manager's response to my complaints was dismissive. Instead of addressing the issue, I was essentially told the recipe was followed, indirectly suggesting I was lying about the lack of flavor. This attitude is unacceptable, especially in a premium restaurant. **Thali Service:** The service for the unlimited Thali was equally poor. Re-order items were not brought promptly, and the server rarely checked if we wanted more, making us feel unwelcome and as if they were unwilling to provide the service we had paid for. The Jalebi was salty. When questioned, the server's response was that someone with salty hands must have handled it. Later, the manager said vinegar was used in the preparation--a shortcut that ruins the authenticity of this delicate dessert. It seemed it was warmed in the microwave. In conclusion, not only was the food unsatisfactory, but the service and management's attitude were also disappointing. With high prices and upscale branding, I expected much more. They need to re-evaluate their customer service and food preparation standards to match their premium pricing and claims of authentic cuisine. I won't be returning anytime soon, and it's a shame to see what once was a delightful dining experience degrade to this level. read more

My husband found this place and didn't tell me about it until we reached the restaurant. He wanted to surprise me with what Samudhra has to offer. All I knew until then was - it's an Indian restaurant and they are apparently fully booked - he persuaded them and we ended up getting bar space. Honestly I loved sitting at the bar - I love seeing bartenders shake those drinks and adding their secret, signature ingredients. I soon realized Samudhra is famous for their Thalis (platter). We ordered chicken thalis - some items that stood out were :: snake gourd chutney, it was tasty, had great texture to it - more like a South Indian preparation. I liked the Rasam, on a cold day like it was rasam rightly deserved a place on that thali. Tandoori Chicken was okay - I have had better. I didn't like their dal as much. Fried egg really had no reason to be on that plate - there was no curry with it and it just felt like last minute decision to fill the space - another disappointing item on the plate. In the curries - both mutton curry and chicken curry were amazing. Mutton was specifically much tasty and tender. Reminded me of eating mutton back home. Yogurt is a staple thali item - and their was set nicely and was tasty. My hubby did ask for some sugar on the side to mix it with yogurt - staff was accommodating to get him that. Pakora was tasty and crisp. Butter naan was okay - I've had better. Kheer (payasam) was tasty - only item I asked for a repeat on Staff was super courteous and professional. They knew what they are doing and what they are serving. In occasions they didn't, they gladly checked with chef on our questions. Since we sat at the bar, we spent quite some time talking to the bar tender - Saatvika - she was awesome! A BIG SHOUT OUT TO HER for doing what she does - I haven't seen many Indian bartenders and was happy to see her behind the bar and running it so efficiently!! Saatvika gave some good information about the chefs and their speciality. I loved watching her make some drinks! Oh, and our cocktails - she did a great job with those. Between my husband and I we tried Mango monk, spicy mango margarita and a purple sapphire! All were good - mango monk was the best. Give this place a try - and if you haven't tried thalis before, this is your place to do so. It's unlimited btw - you can ask for a refill on any item. Unfortunately we were full too soon to enjoy that luxury read more

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*Amazing ambience, perfect food!* Came to Samudhra for the first time after hearing gabout it from a few of my friends. I was not disappointed! Loved the Veg and Non-Veg thali with unlimited refills. The staff were very attentive and ensured everything was perfect. Every dish in the thali was delightful. Will come back again soon! read more

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

I had liked this place in the past and recommended it to tons of friends and family. But what an utter disappointment it has turned out to be recently. I am an Indian and have probably tasted out so many Indian restaurants in NJ that I can say I know what a chicken or mutton curry should taste like on a basic level. The non veg thali I ordered had almost white tandoori chicken smelling like raw ginger garlic and raw chili powder. The chicken curry and mutton curry looked like pieces floating in red oil. I did mention this to 3 different people at the restaurant and hoped they would at least not argue with me about how that's how it shd taste like. Anyways for the premium price they charge I expected at the very least a better response in their attitude. One manager was decent and made an attempt but what can he do if the food is bad. If you all have some money to throw down , just go to some other Indian place . read more

Samudhra - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

I have been to this place multiple times and have never been disappointed. We have always gone in with a reservations so we are aware of their dress code, which they make it very clear when reserving. I also like how the restaurant has a long hall way before the dining area, keeping the cold air away from the dining area during winters. The front staff is very professional and cordial. I have been to their main dining and the lounge and would recommend both. The lounge is great for grabbing a drink and finger foods due to how the seating is. I would recommend the main dining for a more full fledged experience. I have been here for both lunch and dinner and tried various dishes. The hyderbadi chicken biryani is definitely their star dish as they try to make it as authentic as possible. Their amazing staff and attentive service is what sets them apart from other Indian restaurants. They are truly a premium experience. read more

4 months ago Excellent Food, amazing ambiance and very good service. We would certainly recommend this place to everyone. They have great veg, non veg and seafood options plus their mocktails are excellent read more

Samudhra - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

We hosted a ~30-person birthday dinner at Samudhra for my MIL and were blown away with how great the service was and how smooth everything went! The semi-private area of the dining room was great in that it had a barrier between the regular dining room; it helped us feel private, but also festive. The ambiance (lighting, decoration) was nice and made us feel like we were having a party vs. just having a dinner in a big banquet hall. The service was absolutely impeccable! Vikas, Sid, Sachin, and Ishwar were incredible and helped us keep our event flowing. They introduced themselves to us at the beginning and checked in to make sure everything was running smoothly. They listened to all of the requests we had to pace out the meal and during dinner, they would also make sure to personally offer people more naan or more appetizers from the table if they were worried that people had not able to reach it. They also made sure to clean off all the tables before we cut the cake, which was a great touch. I would wholeheartedly recommend Samudhra for a large birthday dinner and generally for their food. Enjoy! read more

We really had a bad experience. We ordered food which was uncooked , requested them to check they came back and said it's perfectly cooked . They did some drama and they told they will pack it , they charged me . The service is bad and the way they treated us is bad. Food is also bad. read more

Amazing food amazing service. Very accommodating, friendly and attentive. Food is flavorful and authentic. read more

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My DD raved about this place a month ago when she went with her friends, so we decided to give it a try. Samudhra is an Indian resto/lounge located on Route 27 in Kendall Park. The decor is very modern and simplistic think white walls which sets it apart from the traditional decor of drapes, golden statues, and frames of the mom-and-pop Indian restaurants close by. They have their own online reservation system where you can reserve your table, but you'll have to leave a credit card deposit. M dw and I decided to take our chances and go in person seeing that there were tables available. This is for Sat lunch. Even though we didn't have reservations we were seated right away but in the lounge section (21 and over). Now, the lounge has a real lounge-like feel with dimly lit red lighting, and a large projector projecting Bollywood movie. Really feel like I'm in a club. We ordered the non-vegetarian Thali which is an assortment of small dishes set on a round serving tray. The bonus is that these are unlimited!! Each dish tasted great, and you can taste the flavors of different spices be it dahl, mutton, masala, etc. You also get choice of fresh garlic or butter naan bread. We got 2nd servings and we left full and satisfying. Our server Sid was prompt, courteous. and very attentive. When we left, I peeked into the dining room, and it was full!! Check out pics. I would definitely go back but this time sit in the dining room just to avoid the red lights and music. Oh, they have Happy Hour at the lounge everyday (discounts on drinks). read more

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Truly had an amazing experience at Samudhra! We were in the lounge area which has a great vibe with comfortable seating and great music. Even though we went on a Friday night the service was perfect and all the food and drinks came out in great time. The cocktail selection is great with lots of interesting drinks, wish I could have tried them all but the ones we did get were amazing. Highly recommend the mirchi margarita and the rose'mari me. All the food was made exquisitely even down to the Naan--truly the garlic naan was the best I've ever had at any Indian restaurant. The chatpata gobi was the perfect balance of spice and tang. The murgh malai kofta was absolutely divine, the chicken was cooked to perfection and the seasoning was amazing--even the sauces that accompanied it really added to the overall flavor amazingly. For our mains we had the chicken biryani and palak paneer which also a hit. The portion sizes are very generous, definitely enough for 4 and we had leftovers after too! Overall we had a wonderful time, everything was perfect and I can't wait to go back again! read more

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Go for the Palak chaat but stay for the ambiance and service at this one of a kind Indian lounge. Putting out dishes that tantalize the tastebuds. No need to order spicy because the food is perfectly balanced. Kodi roast was some of the best I've ever had. The curry leaves and masala were spot on. Right amount of spice and tang. Goat sukka had potential and might need another try. Tasted a little gamy and old. But the spices were good and flavor of the masala was fresh and spicy. Laal mas gosht is not for the faint of heart but sure to delight a chili head. Be sure to get the garlic naan. Bold and full of flavor with a double dose of heat. Keema ragda patty was a nice interpretation of an Indian classic, ragda patties. The pomegranate seeds are a nice touch. The ragda is plentiful and just like what your mom would make. Pizza naan looked great with a tart tomato sauce hidden peppers and onions topped with melted mozzarella. Little soggy on the bottom but I think kids would enjoy it. Drink menu was like no other for an Indian restaurant with some craft cocktails and terrific beers and wines to cool the heat. read more

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Full disclosure - My review is purely based on my three different visits to this place to eat their unlimited South Indian thalis. We sat by the bar and lounge once, once in the regular dining area and the other time we were a group of 17, so requested the outdoor seating. Visit 1 - Unlimited south Indian thali Visit 2 - Biryani, chicken appetizers, paneer tikka, naan, and tandoori chicken Visit 3 - Unlimited south Indian thalis for 17 people This review is based purely on their thalis. The only reason I would go back to this place again is only for the 'paisa vasool' (worth every penny) thali. The nonveg thali priced at $22 and the seafood thali priced at $25 is indeed amazing. None of their dishes on their regular menu are worth mentioning. Just mediocre food and overpriced. The place tries really hard to be upscale with their dress code and their unnecessary overboard pleasantries (not that being nice is bad, but you know what I am talking about). Thali - the chicken curry, mutton curry, fish fry, shrimp curry, shrimp Manchurian, paneer masala are really good. They do have a great drink selection though. Good cocktails I heard (from my friends who tried them) and I loved their Indian beers. I will definitely be going back to them seeking a food coma on a weekend afternoon for some good beers and a belly full of nonveg thali. read more

great service and the food was delicious too. they keep up the formal ambiance really well with the dress code and overall atmosphere! highly recommend read more

Samudhra - paneer, garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

The food here is good. I would recommend to get chicken dumb biryani. The service is pretty good and the ambience is very good and modernized. Taking out is a good option here too. read more

Party: 2 people Pros: - Great ambience especially in the lounge - Amazing service - very quick and neat - great quantity Cons:- None Recommendation: - dahi ke kabab : 9.5/10 - palak chaat : 10/10 - Tawa Paneer subjee : 100/10 This is the handsdown the best subjee I have eaten in US. - cheese chili naan : 10/10 Will go again - 100% (Reservation recommend) read more

I would not give this place anything more than 1 star! I came here on Wednesday night for my husband's birthday and they seemed pretty busy due to Diwali being the following day. I approached the hostess to place my name on the waitlist if there was one. She said we needed to have a reservation and went on a spiel about leaving a voicemail and how they get back to you. Then mid-conversation tells me to wait because she wants to attend the other two guests that were in the lobby prior to me. She asked me to wait till they decided whether they wanted to sit in the dining area or lounge. Despite having two hostesses and one host, I was unable to get my name on the waitlist for over 15 minutes after arriving at the restaurant. They were so inattentive? Their focus shifted between attending the customers who enter the restaurant and the ones that are still waiting to be placed on a waitlist or to be seated at their table. They need to focus more on the task at hand and completing that rather than juggling multiple things at once. After finally being seated in the lounge area, (which has strict rules like all guests at the table have to be 21 or older) I waited for over 20 minutes to have a server come to the table (tables are short and small and the chairs are way too big so you're hovering over your plate) so I can place my order. I ended up going to the hostesses outside because no server had come to our table yet, and also so I can confirm if the order had to be placed via an app or I had to keep waiting. They assured me that wasn't the case and the server would come to the table. The hostess ended up taking our order afterwards because she realized the server never came around. DRESS CODE: They follow a smart casual dress code which means no flip flops, pajamas, gym clothes. However, I noticed just by sitting in the reception area for like 15 minutes that even if you're there in sneakers and jeans, they are not as attentive towards you and can be rude. I personally noticed that they did have a table open in the dining area but upon asking the host if there was any availability to be seated in the dining area instead of the lounge, was told that it was all reserved. The table was still available when I left so I'm not sure what the real reason was for not seating us there. VIBE: Trying to be upscale and trendy, but going overboard with the unnecessary dress code Overall, I was very disappointed with the service and not sure if I would come back again, especially if I need to reserve online with my credit card to hold the reservation read more

Don't know what to call this place. Is it fine dining- definitely NOT!!! Does the food have authenticity - definitely NOT!! This just seems to be a pricey restaurant, but the service was good - which is usually missing in Indian restaurants. place was crowded on a weekday so there is something i am missing. read more

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Do not go here by any means. ambience is not great and waiters look miserable. Terrible service. They have highschool kids working for them as their front employees that have no idea what they are doing. and one general manager who boasts he is a multimillionare and does this job for fun yet cant do anything for issues because he has no power. Long story short. We made a reservation for a large party here and they had so many restrictions to the point where it miserable being there but we had already put in a non refundable deposit for the reservation. for example, they asked how we wanted our seating arranged but then went ahead and moved it back to how they wanted so they could squeeze more guest into the room. we had to seek out the waiters to reorder food and drinks - they never came by on their own. they asked us if we wanted any special songs to be played and when we asked for a birthday song to be played they just ignored us. they charge such high prices for everything but then their waiters dont even clean or present the area properly. we brought a cake for a birthday party and it was melted by the time it was brought out because the waiter put it in the fridge instead of freezer despite us telling them it was an ice cream cake and needed to be put in the freezer. they have no regard for being in the service industry and are only after making money. it really is terrible. read more

Horrible service, horrible food in a strip mall restaurant. Restaurant wants to pretend to be high end by enforcing a very arbitrary set of dress codes. The mood was ruined by how many families were turned away by a very snooty twenty something in a tatty suit. I looked around at the clientele and wondered who this dress code was aiming at because the diners all wore cheap trainers, ragged jeans and untucked shirts of varying colors of polyester. We were close to the entrance so we tried to discern what the distinction was on who they turned away. It was clearly race. All of this ruined the meal for us and we won't be back. read more

My friends and I had a terrible experiment at this place , they have an insane dress policy , our teenage boys were wearing very nice stylish joggers and that apparently is a strict no , which century are these people living in ? This restaurant is in middle of nowhere in Jersey strip mall which basically means not a high end place and from where do you even get the attitude to impose a super insane dress policy .. apparently jeans are the only bottoms allowed , ridiculous much ???? Racist much ? Indian Kurta with leggings is ok but no joggers , really ? Please grow up and get your mindset into this century !!! read more

A desi friend recommended this restaurant so we had to check it out. The decor was really modern and cool. Stylish. Flatware and dishes too. The wait staff was pretty friendly, professional and knowledgeable manager too. My chai was essentially a milk tea. Which is fine if that is their style... I know I would love it so much if they use cardemon spice pod. -I love saag paneer so much , my saag , it was beautiful to look at and delicious to taste. -My rice was fine and my naan was buttery and yummy. -My chicken tikka was so spicy. Yeah, I hate to be a pest and complain but the price of the dish was high. Waiter tried to help. He suggested using raita. Even with 3 raita yogurt I couldn't lighten the intense chili spice hotness. Both my dishes were requested " MILD" and the saag was perfect... I'm so bummed that my dear friend couldn't be nourished by the chicken tikka. I got kheer with mango kulfi.... it was pretty and rich and yummy. read more

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The moment I heard about a new Indian Restaurant coming up in the Franklin Park area, I was like alright just another addition to the existing array of restaurants that line up on RT-27, but wait a minute, Samudhra is not your typical Indian restaurant you are used to go for a quick meal. It's a beautifully designed place serving a delicious fare. Like everyone has been saying, it's upscale, it's warm, it's energetic. The place has been done very tastefully, and can be seen a lot of thought process behind it. We sat in the main dining area, which is separated by a wall that offers a semi private space for larger groups. The service was great and to the point. Now coming to the most important part, the Food! We got a few cocktails which were just ok, the $8 watermelon mocktail was not acceptable, two tiny chunks of soggy watermelon, a lot of syrup and some sparkling soda I guess. We ordered a lot of appetizers (see below) which were pretty much a hit or a miss, and we were so full, that we ended up not ordering any curries or naan, but with a Hyderabadi palate, how could we not try the Biryani :) Here's how the food fared. Paneer Tikka Kabab - Soft, flavorful & perfectly grilled Dahi Ke sholay - Dahi felt like sour cream, bland and not much to mention. It was compensated as we sent it back. Mirchi Bajji - Served Andhra style with chopped onions and squeezed lemon juice Chatpata Gobi - A variation of Gobi 65, the flavor was good, but the Gobi was undercooked. Tarkari Kabab - Not acceptable, even after it was taken for a replacement. They just couldn't get it right to grill. The inside was tasting like raw veggies and flour. It was compensated! Kodi 65 - Highly recommended. Not too spicy, juicy chicken chunks, a different take on chicken 65 Machi Tikka Kabab - Salmon cubes marinated in Indian spices and grilled in Tandoor - Superb! Lamb Chops - If you like Lamb, go for it. You'll love it. Murgh E Kalmi - Highly recommended! Tender & juicy leg quarters with a very flavorful masala that coats the chicken Jhinga Masala - Large shrimp, sauteed in a spicy South Indian style masala, was in between an appetizer and an entree The gosht biryani was way too dry and the rice was dry too. Do not expect a Hyderabadi Biryani. The subzi pulao faired better than the biryani, and our vegetarian friends liked it. Moving on to the desserts, the Qubani ka Meetha was delicious, rich and presented in a way that enhanced the joy of eating this Hyderabadi dessert :), however the Malpua Rabri disappointed badly, the Malpua was like a fluffy bread and the Rabri could've been way thicker, it was like flavored milk not a Rabri. All in all, Samudhra was still promising and since we did not try any of their curries the rating is only for the appetizers and desserts. Oh, by the way the ambience, service and the food presentation were in tune with the prices :) ! We will probably give it another shot for a special occasion! read more

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Food, Service and Ambience - all 3 are GREAT at this restaurant. The biryani here reminded us of pure Hyderabadi biryani, so we drove from Maryland to NJ multiple times just to try their biryani, and they were always consistent with the taste and the quality, and never disappointed us. read more

Indian restaurant with variety of flavorful food items! I really liked the Tawa Paneer in entree. Other appetizers like lasooni gobhi and tandoori paneer were also good. Overall, staff is very friendly and good ambiance. But the lounge area is not dinner friendly. I only recommend sitting in lounge if you are getting drinks and for casual meet ups. It was also very loud inside lounge. read more

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My friend took us here, and they were so nice and accommodating even though they were closing. The lounge area was so fun and interesting, a teleprompter projecting Bollywood songs on the wall. There were so many different types of drinks, and next time if I come to visit NJ again, definitely will go earlier to try their other food! Thank you to Mahesh for being such a lovely server, being patient with us the entire time. AJ felt just like a friend, and besides the mysterious blue cocktail... they were all such fun drinks. We asked her to surprise us, and surprise us she did! Sanah took our requests to change the music back to Bollywood, and she came out of the white walls to talk to us about it (where she was doing all the music and teleprompter stuff) like a ghost--adding yet another surprising, humorous element to our evening. Thank you Simran for letting us in, managing such a fun and wonderful place. I HAVE TO COME BACK!! A shame I live on the other side of the country, but I will be back. read more

Samudhra - Goat Biryani - Indian Near Me - Franklin Park, New Jersey

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