The food was delicious. It's a very small space with few staff and we waited quite a while for our meal, but it was worth it.

I got a chance to try this restaurant only recently even though I have been hearing about the place for many years. It's a family owned place where the husband and wife duo manage everything. The food tastes like authentic Gujarati home cooked food. As the word Shakhahari (Hindi) denotes, it's a vegetarian plate (no egg as well as most vegetarians don't eat egg in India). I like the place and the food and recommend it to anyone who wants to try vegetarian Indian food. read more

This place is simple and clean with AMAZING Indian Food! Everything was cooked fresh to order and the owners were extremely welcoming. You can't go wrong with any choice. read more

I'll start by saying I love Indian food and I have been to a lot of Indian restaurants, so when I say this place is the best, I mean it! This restaurant is a small, mom and pop type place and the owner is one of the nicest people I've ever met. She even offered to make us a vegan dessert on the house! She does everything herself, including taking orders and cooking. Everything is made to order, from scratch, and she takes great pride in that! As a result, everything is absolutely delicious! This restaurant is exclusively vegetarian, but the owner is very knowledgeable about veganism and most dishes can be easily made vegan. I ordered the onion pakoras as an appetizer and they were deliciously flavourful and crispy, but not greasy at all. For my main dish I ordered the chole puri. This might be my favorite meal ever! It is essentially chana masala, but comes with puri (puffed flatbreads), which are so tender and delicious and perfect for scooping the curry! We also got aloo paratha (flatbread stuffed with spiced potatoes) on the side and it was equally tender and delicious. The owner made sure to inform me that it was all vegan and even told me what specific substitutions she made to make it vegan, like using almond milk in the curry instead of cream. This place is almost an hour from my house, but I will make a special trip to come back here for the amazing food and service from this incredibly kind and accommodating woman who takes so much pride in what she does. read more

Never went there before, although we have regularly eaten Indian food. We entered the restaurant mid-afternoon. We were the only customers. Waitstaff/owners took about 10 minutes to come over and take our order. Then the waiting started. One hour later, most of our food arrived. By that time, I was starving. I hadn't eaten since 6 AM. Rice was plain and cold. Korma was the worst I ever had. Sauce was thin and unpleasant tasting. Most of the vegetables appeared canned or frozen. They certainly were tasteless. Portions were small. The others in my party ordered different, equally unremarkable items. Restaurant was COLD. We had to wear our coats while eating. No lights either. Another party came in shortly after us and was not served expeditiously. They also wore their winter coats to keep warm inside. Only the bathroom (1) was heated. We took turns going in to warm up. Price was not cheap by any means. We wasted over an hour waiting for our food. I would not call the owners/waitstaff friendly or personable. If this is an "authentic Gujarati home cooked meal," then I pity those who have grown up with this cuisine. Not only will I never eat here again, I will not eat Indian food again for a long, long, time. read more

Best Indian restaurant we have found in quite a while. We are plant-based so this was a treat. My wife also has a gluten allergy and they were able to accommodate that as well with the appetizer, bread and meal. This little restaurant felt like going to to your favorite grandparents house for dinner. And they can cook. Our only regret is that we live in VA read more

5 stars are not enough and I'm serious! We went there at 12:15 but the restaurant was closed although it says 12pm Saturdays. So I called their phone and a polite lady answered the call, apologized for the delay and said she will be there in 10 min. We went away to explore the town and came back around 12:50. The restaurant was open. There were literally 2 people working in the restaurant. One was the lady who had answered my call (Her name is Rekha) and another gentleman. Ordering food: They have placed different QR codes on each table that lets you place an online order even if you want to dine in. That's unique. It made our life easy and we had paid for the food even before we got it. Tipping was tricky. How do you tip for the service before receiving it? Food and service: Here comes the best part! We felt like we are sitting in our home and eating the best meal of our lives. We got to have the Bajra No Rotlo after so long. Rekha Aunty made it in the traditional manner with her own hands and I highly appreciate it. You must try it with some curry. Everything was made to order so a little delay was no problem. They used fresh ingredients. We ordered spinach pakoras (fritters), kadai paneer curry and Bajra no Rotlo. We asked for some lemons, green chilies and onion on the side and they were happy to serve. Rekha Aunty is a nice lady and she puts her heart into the food she cooks and serves her customers. I told her that we are from Boston and my only complaint about this restaurant is that it is not in Boston. 5 Stars!!!!! read more

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Truly a home cooked meal prepared with lot of love and care! Everything was perfect in terms of flavor as well as quality (fresh ingredients, no excess oil). Everything was cooked fresh for each order. The highlight of the whole experience is the main chef there though. She is a lovely lady who looks after everything personally. Cooks everything from scratch for everyone, looking into whatever personal food preferences you might have. we had a toddler with us and wanted to get something with low spice level for him. She offered to make a pulav just for him which turned out to be loaded with lot of veggies, peas and paneer to make for a complete meal for the kid. She also ensured that the kid's meal comes out of the kitchen before ours. The warmth with which you are served the meal is outstanding. We left the place with our tummy as well as hearts full!! Definitely returning in future. read more

This restaurant is amazing! I ordered a catered lunch for 25 people for a work meeting. Everyone raved about how fresh and delicious it was. The restaurant owners were very accommodating of the needs of a few members of our group who had dietary restrictions and allergies. They took care with every aspect of the meal, from good communication to providing a wonderful homemade meal-- on time and reasonably priced. I highly recommend! read more

Felt like I was at an auntie's house for dinner. The food was prepared with love and care, you can feel it while you eat! I felt so good afterwards! It does take a while to prepare, but they are so kind you want to wait for that home cooked food! Everything was prepared fresh, I can't wait to go back! read more

Without question the best and most authentic Indian food I have ever experienced. I am working through the entire menu and have yet to be disappointed, the Korma is currently my number one with a simple yet perfect paratha. The Owner is a darling, she will make any adjustment you ask and will apply the perfect level of spiciness. I have experienced many Indian restaurants, this one is at the top of the list! read more

We were incredibly happy that we found this restaurant- what a true gem! The food is fresh & made to order, and is delicious regional Gujarati cuisine. Great variety , excellent quality- all created & executed by a very warm, welcoming owner/chef & her crew. One can truly feel how heartfelt their creations & hospitality are - as that definitely shines through the whole experience! I only wish they had a location closer to where we live, but we are definitely going back - with friends! We really enjoyed everything that we ordered. Really excellent food & experience at Shakahari- well worth the trip! read more

if you are looking for good vegetarian Indian food options, this is not the place. you will notice quantity and quality both r very poor In this restaurant and service is very slow ! read more

Amazing Indian vegetarian food in Old Saybrook. It's made fresh to order and in small batches. The menu is small but the dishes are flavorful and light. read more

Exceptional, homemade vegetarian Indian food, served in a warm family environment. Everything is fresh and flavorful, beautifully seasoned and satisfying. The vegetable filled samosas are savory and delicious and the pakoras are light and fluffy (ask for a combination of onion and spinach!). The yellow lentil soup flavored with mustard seeds and cumin is delectable. The service is friendly and attentive. This talented chef combines simple, natural ingredients to make healthy dishes with complex flavors. You will enjoy the many tastes of India. read more

The owner is a lovely lady who makes you feel welcomed. It's like eating home cooked food in a comforting ambiance. Was very happy to have found this place. Particularly enjoyed roti and matar paneer. read more

Shakahari - Matar paneer, roti - Indian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Excellent vegetarian Indian food. One gets the feeling of having Indian home cooking--if one is lucky enough to have a kindly Indian friend or grandmother. read more

I am happy to write that Shakahari is open again! I was concerned that they may not even be open when I saw all of the reviews were from 3 plus years ago. I tried anyways and was delighted to find the warmth and comfort of Indian flavors I was craving. The owner is so kind and I quickly learned that after a fire in the back of the kitchen, travels to India, and Covid they have been closed for 3 years, which explains the lack of recent reviews. I'm happy to share that they have reopened, and the food is just divine. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options which are exceptional. I am looking forward to more Old Saybrook shoreline trips ending with dinner here. I am surely going to share with my friends and family, and I'm cannot wait to try more from the menu! read more

This new vegetarian Indian restaurant is everything I could have hoped for in a town filled with Italian and American food! They have a few appetizers, quite a few entrees, a selection of breads and sides, as well as desserts and drinks. They're menu is vegetarian, but many options can be made vegan, which is rare, but so welcoming! The food is very authentic and very good- great portion size and quality for the price! The owners are very welcoming, accommodating, and friendly. On more than one occasion the own has given me something complimentary. You can tell they really care about their clients. Overall would recommend to anyone looking for great food and a welcoming environment! read more

Shakahari - Chillen Puri and a guava juice - Indian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

So excited to get a chance to try this brand new Indian restaurant that opened next door to us. We got take out and enjoyed some mango milkshakes while waiting. The milkshakes were awesome. Currently they do not have a menu but the woman behind the counter told us they would by next week. So now you just order off of a chalkboard and there's a few options for the day. We ordered some dosas and paranthas - unbelievable! The food was absolutely fantastic! All the cuisine was freshly prepared, vegan and out of this world. We struck gold! This will be our new go to restaurant! Highly recommended :) read more

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Delicious vegetarian dishes! Everything was fresh and made to order. The chef and waiter were warm and welcoming and helped us make our selections. It was just like having mom cook me a nice meal at home. We'll definitely be back. read more

Delicious traditional food in a clean, bright setting with exceptional service. This family run establishment seems to really care about food quality and the satisfaction of customers. We had spinach pakoras and patra to start, which were served with a spicy coriander sauce. The entrees of vegetable biryani and vegetable korma each had a distinctive flavor. The portions were a very good size, and the price of the meal was very reasonable. We can't wait to go back and sample the desserts! read more

Shakahari - Spinach Pakotas - Indian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

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Best authentic Indian food, which will remind you of fresh home cooked food in India. The food tasted so fresh that I could taste the fresh ingredients used in the cooking and savor the layers of flavor. It is unlike other run of the mill Indian food restaurants which serve the typical red gravy dishes where everything tastes same and my stomach always get a bad after feeling. The food here was exquisite, prepared with rich Indian ingredients and tempered with all the right combinations of condiments and spices. I already miss this food and there is no doubt this will be our permanent stop over for relishing some healthy Indian delicacies whenever we are in the area. We ordered food cooked Gujarati style which started with 'Patra' an appetizer made with a folded leaf in chickpea flour batter and seasoned with sesame seeds, poppy seeds and what not. It was the right balance of sweet and sour, served with a green chutney. Highly recommend this appetizer. Then we ordered 'Navratan Korma' which cooked in tomato and coconut gravy, so fresh and yummy! We had freshly prepared rotis and methi paranthas as breads. The rotis were awesome and out of the world and will definitely remind you of Indian homes. The paranthas were equally light and yet well cooked. We enjoyed our lunch thoroughly and wish I could give it more than 5 stars!! It truly deserves it. This place was on our way to Mystic and how I wish it was closer to home. I hope to go back here soon and I am so glad I discovered it. Just wish that Indian restaurants start cooking authentic food like here. read more

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This restaurant just reopened. We found the service extremely friendly and the food delicious. The meal did not taste like restaurant fare but more like delicious home cooking. The best vegetarian food you can find anywhere. We're so glad they're back in business and will be back soon with our grandchildren,of whom one is a committed vegan! read more

Great food and service. Plain interior but worth the visit. Great take out. Lovely owner/manager

Found this place through yelp only on our first trip to Connecticut. We didn't want the hustle & bustle of New Havens or Hartford, just wanted a cozy, relaxed meal. That's what Shakahari is about; cozy, simple and homely! And, the location is Wow! I and my family ordered the saag paneer, poori-chole, aloo-gobhi, tandoori roti and masala chai. Everything was cooked to perfection and was on the lighter side when it came to spices, which I love these days! Rather than just the spices, I could even taste the freshness of vegetables which is rare in Indian restaurants coz they overdo the spices. This is a purely vegetarian place, although I am a hard-core meat eater. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my meal a lot! This place is also different coz the owners make every dish Gujarati (from the state of Gujarat in India) style while most of the Indian restaurants offer North Indian flavors. You should give this place a try if you happen to be in Connecticut. read more

My family and I visited from Phoenix Arizona and found this GEM. I absolutely LOVE Indian food; this place is the BEST Indian food I've ever had at a restaurant. Let me explain why: most Indian restaurants serve the same stuff. You pretty much know what to expect. Shakahari is awesome because they serve home cooked dishes. These are the kind of dishes you would only get if you went to someone's home! They have an organic garden and the eggplant and stuffed peppers fresh from their garden were PHENOMENAL. It's like eating my mom's home made Indian food. My son who is 2 and a half loved everything especially the puri and I would highly recommend this restaurant for a authentic dining experience. read more

Shakahari - Awesome food, ambiance, and service! Organic, Vegan, and Delicious! THANK YOU! - Indian Near Me - Old Saybrook, Connecticut

This restaurant is one of my new favorite local spots! Everything is made fresh to order and it shows. Come willing to wait as it takes time but the service is outstanding and they make you feel at home! Absolutely DELICIOUS food! The Bharela Bangan (stuffed scrumptious baby eggplants) were outstandingly savory. The Cholle Puri was right up there as well in flavor. The owners clearly cook with care and love in the kitchen. It truly feels like a hidden gem in Saybrook and I cannot wait to return! read more

We dropped by today when we were on a trip to Connecticut. It's a small cozy place, and the food served was very good. They all tasted very fresh. We specially liked the biryani which had a nice flavor. My favorite was the rava sira desert - it was served hot, had the perfect sweetness, and was awesome. I will definitely recommend this place. read more

I want to eat these samosas and pakoras everyday for the rest of my life. So many friends recommended I come here and I am glad I did! Clearly labeled vegan options are the way to my heart. If you are vegan, this is a great option for you in Old Saybrook. The service was pretty slow but when we realized that the staff was also literally cooking everything and taking care of service, it no longer seemed to matter. read more

Family cooking in a restaurant environment. This is very different than the butter heavy standard Indian fare. Small menu allows the owners to focus on the quality of each meal. The Dosa was full of flavor and properly fermented. This was the highlight of the meal for me; but it was small! I wanted TWO. The bread was different than what we are used to as well. It was dense buckwheat rather than the regular fluffy white nan. The entrees were spiced perfectly and more thin and less buttery than the "wedding food" we get at most Indian places. Wonderful service; as if we were invited over for family dinner. Prices are high only as the portion sizes are on the small side but the quality is worth it. read more

I don't usually do vegetarian food, but I love the food at Shakahari! The samosas are great, and the Saag Paneer is fantastic. The portion sizes were generous as well! I left with a full and happy belly. The service was a bit slow on my visit, but that's probably because everything seemed to be made fresh to order. If you're still craving some chicken to go with your curry, don't forget that Himalaya Cafe is right next door. read more

Shakahari is stellar, if you have a little while to wait for your food to be made (you should only go when you do have time, because it is seriously worth the wait). We went for lunch on a holiday Monday and grabbed the last table. Having placed our order, we noticed that food came out slowly to each table around us, and figured that since we didn't have anywhere better to be, it was fine to settle in for awhile. This wonderful (and wonderfully friendly) family team makes everything to order, so even the rice will need to be cooked after you place your order. We split an app and shared two entrees and everything was really wonderful: fresh, perfectly spiced, and just the right portion sizes. As a vegetarian, I love going to places where I can order everything on the menu, and based on the tastes I had during my last visit, I'll need to return to order everything else. If you live nearby, or find yourself on that stretch of 95 and craving Indian food, make the trip. It's right off the highway...it really isn't a bad ride from Rhode Island (I say as I try to talk myself out of making a round-trip just for that). read more

We've been back 4 times in just over a week and may have tried everything on the menu by now! All has been great! especially love the appetizer made of leaves and chickpea mush - wow! the eggplant was out of this world as were the breads! read more

Best Indian I've had in a long time. This place was great and the people were very nice. I'll def going going back! read more

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WOW is all I can say. Well I guess I can say more. This was a truly excellent culinary experience. I've eaten a lot of Indian food, and this is second only to my neighbor's home cooking. My friend and I went and ordered quite a smorgasbord. For our appetizer we got the Patra, amazing texture, flavor, really great contrast between the savory and a slight sweetness. For our meal, we ordered and split two meals. The Vegetable Korma, which was veggies in a red sauce, served with rice. And the Dosa, which has always been a favorite. The dosa came with a chutney and a small bowl of daal. We also got Paratha bread, which was a delicious way to eat the korma and rice, and we were served plain yogurt and (spicy!) pickled vegetables. I love those pickles. Everything was simply outstanding, fulfilling, and I had no complaints. The dosa was crispy and the filling the perfect flavor and consistency. I only wish it were bigger! The daal that came with it was very good. We also got masala chai, which was very tasty, especially with a splash of byob whiskey haha! The byob is a great touch. Looking forward to returning here. read more

A delicious and small mom and pop Indian restaurant. I will absolutely be returning. Everything is freshly made and it seems like the menu changes read more

I love Indian food, but sometimes skeptical of vegetarian only. Shakahari totally bucked my perception. The Aloo Paratha bread with the vegetable Korma was supreme. Service was fast and thorough. The restaurant is family owned and very authentic. If you're looking for a solid Indian meal with good people, then this is your place! read more

So very happy that Shakahari has reopened. It is truly delicious food. The owner/chef is so nice and she prepares everything with care, like she is cooking for family. I have already tried many things on the menu and every dish is a new favorite. You do not need to be vegetarian or vegan to LOVE this restaurant. read more

This place is closed! Not suitable for human occupancy says the notice slapped on the door.