Shiva's is a fantastic spot for authentic Indian cuisine in a warm, welcoming setting. The staff were incredibly friendly, taking the time to explain any dishes I had questions about. With its semi-open kitchen, the aromas drift out onto the street and draw you in. The food is truly authentic and delicious, with an emphasis on rich, full-bodied flavors. I'll definitely be coming back to explore more of the menu. read more

See all

Great food! Tandoori is moist and flavorful. Spices in basmati are complex and delicious.

While this place used to be Walnut Grille that I dearly miss, it's still a good place for food. It's a shame they didn't keep a veg*n menu but at least they have some items to choose from if you are. The staff are friendly & attentive, & still nice ambience. Worth checking out. read more

I really miss Walnut Grille, but still thoroughly enjoyed this new concept, Shiva's Kitchen! I came here recently for the first time when I heard that they were serving some of Walnut Grille's most beloved items. We started the meal with Gobi Manchurian, which was always a standout item and still very much is. I am obsessed with the tangy sauce in the perfectly crisp, well battered and fried cauliflower. We also got some pakoras, which were just as wonderful in taste and texture. The lentil soup was well seasoned and well spiced and very hearty. The dosa was a winner in its lovely flavor, but sadly lacked in not having enough filling. I also really enjoyed the yogi bowl in having very fresh and tasty veggies with wonderful sauces and a marinated tofu. The presentation was elegant. The restaurant itself had a great vibe and very little felt different from Walnut Grille. There are a variety of tables and booths to choose from. The service was friendly even though it was on the slower side. I was bummed they didn't have any vegan desserts available, despite it being listed on the menu. Parking is very easy in the attached lot behind the restaurant. read more

See all

We have enjoyed a couple meals here. Today we did an online takeout order of a weekly biryani special, a bowl and naan. When my partner went to pick up, they said the biryani special was not available and they would refund us for that. They were very rude about it as well. They had my phone number and could have called and I would have substituted something else, but instead, I ended up with an incomplete meal and they lost a customer. And, btw, the full charge is still showing on my credit card. Very disappointing. read more

Food was very good. Service was friendly and attentive. Came at lunch time and it was nearly empty.

We ordered Naan, Gobi Manchurian, chicken tikka Masala and the Veda bowl. Naan, Gobi and Tikka were EXTREMELY good. Well seasoned, has great flavor, will definitely be ordering again. veda bowl was okay, probably wont order again but not bad. Overall will order from again, but definitely try new options to see how the rest of the menu compares. Rating the whole meal out of ten would be 8.6/10. We ordered online on a friday night, food took about 30 min to be ready. We did not dine in but restaurant looked clean and nice. read more

Food and especially service were tremendous! Everything was absolutely delicious. The margarita was surprisingly one of the best I've had in a long time. And the staff was friendly and truly cared about our experience. They gave us extra to take home, then a yummy dessert too! 10 of 10 plus! read more

Earlier this year vegetarian restaurant Walnut Grille was renamed as Shiva's Kitchen, focused on serving Indian cuisine. No longer a fully vegetarian restaurant, but kept many of the same menu items, like my favorite, the Manchurian Gobi.  We were a bit reluctant to go back after mixed reviews on Happy Cow and the fact its no longer fully vegetarian. However, I am glad we went after seeing a review from local instagram Boston Herbivore. We ordered the Manchurian Gobi, Vegan Samosa, Tofu Saag and Tofu Madras. Everything came out piping hot, super fresh and delicious! Manchurian Gobi is crispy, sweet and a nice sweetness. Samosas are solid, super crispy, brimming with delicious filling. Tofu Saag was delicious! I loved the fresh ginger topping too. I had a bite of the Tofu Madras, super creamy from the coconut milk and a nice spice. Overall 10/10 for the vegan options  with so many options for appetizers, entrees, and desserts. A solid 7/10 for food! Everything was delicious! I think next time I will ask for more spice/heat. Food was milder to appeal to a wider audience. I will rate a bit lower, 5/10 for service since we waited 15 to 20 minutes to order and another 15 to pay. To be fair, a lot was going on! And most of the tables were full when we left. Two appetizers, two entrees came out to $67 with 20% tip, which I think is a reasonable price for dinner out! I would definitely come back for the options and fresh, healthy, delicious food! I also feel confident eating vegan here. My experience with most Indian restaurants is that they advertise vegan but then everything contains butter or ghee. read more

See all

Unfortunately has to order out our meals, but I had Apps: BBQ Seitan + Chicken 65 (I enjoyed both, but prefer the Seitan) Meal: Chicken Madras (fantastic) garlic naan+ Chilly cilantro naan (both great, chilly a bit spicy if have no tolerance) Desert: Vegan Carrot Cake (perfect ending to meal) read more

Shiva's Kitchen - Chicken Madras - Indian Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

See all

Been wanting to try this place per recommendation from a friend, and was not disappointed with the food taste. They were able to tone down the spiciness, and wife was able to enjoy the food. The samosa veggie was a bit spicy though. The place looks well decorated but was a bit on the hot side. Kid was complaining that he was too hot towards the end. The service is a bit lacking but they were a bit understaffed and busy. The 4 star is due to how good the basmati rice was. It is so good. read more

Shiva's Kitchen - Samosa - Indian Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

You can smell the Indian food from a couple blocks away and I love it! It's like a calling to us Indians. Smell the food...proceed to restaurant! ahahah Cute little establishment with very friendly staff. quick and efficient service. What we ate: Had the chicken momos which had alot of flavor to it. Lamb Karahi was delicious! itsfilled with lamb and very good Daal fry needed some extra salt to bring out all the flavours but still very good. Garlic naan had good flavor but was kinda flat. I'm used to naan's being a bit more fuller but again - flavour was there and this maybe a style of making naan. They also have a full bar! Overall very good for a random walk in on a Tuesday night. read more

Hard to believe the reviews that this is the best Indian food in the area. We ordered chicken samosas (they ran out), chicken tikka masala (the chicken chunks were huge and very dry, the sauce was good), saag paneer which was very good, and naan which was very good. The two dishes were each served with a side of rice. The service was friendly but very slow and we ended up asking for the check. I thought it was reasonably priced. I'm guessing it was an off night but not sure if I will try again. read more

I've eaten here once and ordered takeout once. The food is ok to good, but service and quality control leaves a lot to be desired. When we ate there in person only one other table filled in the restaurant. There were two or three waiters and the owner was there as well. Nevertheless, it was very challenging to get the waiter's attention to get silverware, a dish that had been forgotten, the check, and to give our credit card. We asked to take food home and we weren't given enough containers or a bag to put the containers in. We decided to give another chance, and ordered take out to be picked up tonight. I got the food home and found that they had entirely left out the rice! I called and they offered me a 15 dollar credit, but I just wanted the rice. I drove back to the restaurant to pick it up--an additional 30 minutes of driving. On the takeout order, even though we requested no cilantro on anything, there was a lot of cilantro on and in everything so the food was not enjoyable at all for the one of us who can't eat cilantro. We love Indian food, but after two bad experiences, I don't think we will be returning to this restaurant. read more

The lamb curry was wonderful/ just enough heat to be fun. The employees were friendly and very helpful. read more

It's not easy or gratifying to write a critical review of a restaurant meal when it appeared that the staff was trying. First time there since last winter. Ordered a cocktail and was told the bar was not open. Server must've seen our puzzled faces, then left the table for a few seconds and came back and said it was open. Basic margarita and cosmo tasted nothing like they should have. Cosmo was served in an ice-water glass. Dishes were ok, not impressive and certainly not the amazing flavor experience we had almost a year before. Any hope for even a decent dinner was dashed when I found a 3-4 inch hair in my chicken vindaloo. Staff seemed to be friendly and working hard but not organized. My review is not meant to harm the business, but to send an alert to the need for management. read more

This was our first time trying Shiva's Kitchen, and we were very happy with our meal. We ordered chicken momos, chicken tikka masala, and madras curry with paneer. The momos were very tasty, but the dipping sauces were just ok. The tikka masala and the madras curry were both delicious, and the basmati rice was very fresh and fluffy. The portion sizes are good, and I think it is slightly less expensive than the other Indian options in the area. The ambiance inside is nice, it was rather empty when we walked in but by the time we got our food it was very busy and a bit noisy. The servers were nice but noticeably understaffed- it took a little time to get the check and to-go containers for our leftovers. But overall we were happy with our experience and would definitely return. read more

Shiva's Kitchen - Chicken Momos - Indian Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

See all

I have eaten here twice and got take out twice. Very lovely Poole and food is authentic fresh and delish. I am picky about Indian food and it's the real deal. My only complaint is service can be slow but takeout was super easy and the woman who helped today was delightful . read more

The food was a 5 and the service was a 3. I loved my lamb boti kebab and the garlic naan and gobi Manchurian I shared with my vegan hubby. The food was outstanding. The service was meh. Any time we wanted something--to order, get the 2 glasses of water we'd ordered, etc., we had to walk over to talk to a waiter or snare him walking by. Our appetizer and naan arrived AFTER our main courses, with no mention of the delay The waiter was pleasant enough when we spoke with him. The restaurant did not appear to be busy. read more

Very good healthy Indian food. Loved walnut grill while it was here. They've retained a couple of items, which is great. Very attractive inside. read more

We ordered better during our second visit. We had the Paneer Tikka from the grill and the Chicken Tikka from the grill. Both were delicious and perfectly cooked. We had some naan (so good). And of course another mango lassi. read more

Good food. Great service. Easy parking. A bit spicy. Else great. Not busy. Would visit again

Great food and great service. Would definitely return. We loved the tikka masala and had sauce for leftovers. Staff was nice and attentive.

I had the Mysore masala dosa for lunch. I was brought a serving of vada with sambar-- a nice surprise. The dosa was very crisp and not too oily-- went well with the chutneys. The filling was ample, less spicy than I was expecting but satisfying. Great service-- brought more of the chutneys (no extra charge either!). read more

Shiva's Kitchen - Mysore masala dosa - Indian Near Me - Newton, Massachusetts

I loved the previous restaurant!, Walnut Grille, and although they've changed to Shiva's they fortunately kept some of my favorite dishes. I'm talking about you roasted cauliflower!! read more

Do NOT do take out from this restaurant. We live close by and would love to support our local and small businesses. This restaurant has good food thats where it stops. The service is horrible if you order online for a pickup they are always 1/2 hr to 3/4 of an hour late. The last 6 orders we have done are always missing an item. They refuse to refund anything. We have left at least $ 80 dollars with them and results. Order at your own risk read more

So great to have an authentic Indian restaurant in Newton ! As a person of Indian origin, a foodie and a great cook if I say so myself ha ha - I think the food here is flavorful and very well made . We ordered the chilli fish for an app which was sweet and sour Indo Chinese style - crispy on the outside and soft and white on the inside - so delicious ! They have a full bar but we didn't order any drinks or cocktails - so can't really comment. Service was pretty prompt and polite and we loved our server Cian from Goa who was friendly, chatty and knowledgeable about the menu. There were 3 of us inc my Mom who is diabetic and a picky eater. She ordered the plain dosa - extra crispy - and I have to say it was the best looking dosa I've seen in Boston! She loved it ! My hubby and I shared the lamb biryani and shrimp vindaloo - both were good . The biryani was moist abd had good cuts of tender meat and was not over cooked , fatty or rubbery . The shrimp vindaloo could have been a bit more spicy - but next time we will ask them to make it extra spicy . The portion sizes were excellent and we took some home ! The restaurant has a neighborhood friendly feel - it's family oriented casual dining abd perhaps not the romantic place you would propose to your significant other ! We spoke to the chef/ owner Shiva Kumar who is from Jamaica - he seemed to have a good handle on Indian cooking . He's the former owner of Walnut Grille in the same location- which was more of a vegan, salad place . I'm very grateful to have " a local Indian" to go to - give it a shot - the menu's pretty extensive with veg abd non - veg items! read more

See all

Finally a really good Indian restaurant in Newton! Got takeout yesterday and everything is fantastic. The chicken madras was sooo flavorful and the whole family (very different food preferences) can't stop eating it. Love that they have brown rice option and it was cooked so nicely. Veggie samosa is perfection. Can't wait to try more dishes. Also the staff are friendly, attentive and caring. read more

My family hates cilantro, so we ordered 2 dishes with no cilantro. Chicken Korma had herbs we tasted and immediately recognized as cilantro, so we called to tell them. They informed us that we were wrong, there was no cilantro. Ordering from here was an expensive mistake. read more

You will never taste "Indian" food this bland anywhere else. It honestly makes me wonder if the chef has ever had Indian food.

Consistently great food, always tasty and plentiful! The dosa is a hit, always the naan , and the spicy dishes are fantastic. Everyone in the restaurant is very kind and patient too! read more

What a delightful place. Fantastic flavorful food. Service was terrific. Run, do not walk, to this place.

The food has uniformly been great, and we have been there fairly frequently. The service is variable, and too often they are understaffed, slow, and make mistakes. Never rude, however, and if you are patient and persistent even a bit of a service issue will not overcome the wonderful food. read more

Good food, very good and friendly staff. They are good with allergy safe menu. I like their South Indian dishes, especially chicken 65 and chicken chettinadu read more

It was our first time dining here and we decided to try it based on it's vegetarian options. We ordered some momos and naan to share, our vegetarian ordered cheese dosa and we also got salmon tikka and chicken malai tikka. Everything we ordered was excellent - we enjoyed it very much. read more

Excellent Indian food, as good as my Indian mother makes. We also enjoyed a vegan carrot cake at the end which was delicious. Same chef as Walnut Grille I hope folks come try their wonderful menu. We had Gobi Manchurian, Saag Chicken, Dal Fast, and a Tofu Curry. All were amazing. read more

Really good Indian food with authentic flavors. Certainly a hidden neighborhood gem. The ambiance was pretty standard and the service was good. But I'd drive quite a distance to get Indian food as good as this! read more

Having long been a rabid fan of Indian food, I was anxious to try this place. very pleasant atmosphere. Being in the company of two vegans, we went vegan for all items. Vindaloo, saag, dosa, naan, samosas-- absolutely top-drawer all the way around. Excellent service, and a great value! read more

Interior was decent and service was good with fairly quick turnaround. Place was packed but we got seated quickly. We ordered a mango lassi, Mysore Masala dosa, Nan & Malai Kofta. Dosa and lassi were good. Nan & Kofta were average. Overall we enjoyed our dinner at Shiva's Kitchen. read more

We were driving by, looking for somewhere new to try for lunch and Shiva's was giving off good vibes. The decor is modern and thoughtful and the service was excellent. Super friendly and attentive. Now onto the food: INCREDIBLE! The naan was warm and crispy on the bottom but chewy otherwise. I tried something new - dal makhani - and it was incredible. The gobi Manchurian also was one of the best we have ever had. And the mango lassi was like silk. It's unfortunate that the rater who had a cilantro issue gave these guys one star because they deserve better. We most certainly will be back, and are excited to have found Shiva! read more