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    Spice Malabar

    4.6 (118 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

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    Business Info

    SPICE MALABAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Spice Malabar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Potato Palak Lamb Rogan Josh
    Rachel J.

    This place NEVER disappoints. We went, during a winter storm because our town was plowing our area and we had no access to our driveway! As always the service was impeccable and the food were delicious. My hubby and I love going here for impromptu dates.

    Palak Chaat
    Paula W.

    Love this place! The food is excellent. They are so knowledgeable about spices and their food. They give great recommendations. They gave us a dish to try on the house which was something I never would have tried and it was fabulous. We buy a gift card every time we go to remind us to go back! The restaurant is very clean, well decorated and not too noisy. It is always a very pleasurable experience. You are missing out if you don't try this place at least once.

    Masala Chai
    Sarah S.

    Stopped here on a drive from Vermont to PA. happened upon Saturday buffet. The food is excellent and the service is excellent. Very clean restaurant. Everything was delicious!

    Interior dining area of Spice Malabar
    Denise C.

    From the reviews I read, I was excited to try Spice Malabar. I've driven by in the past, as it's in a shopping plaza that I frequent often. The establishment is quite unassuming from the outside and a rather hidden gem. I'm glad that I came in for lunch, as I was pleasantly surprised. The eatery is spotless and has a really comfortable and contemporary vibe. The ambiance is very inviting and the wall murals are really pretty. The staff are all very welcoming and attentive. I got in a little late for lunch but was happy to see that the buffet table was still plentiful and nicely presented. Vegan and non vegan options were available and clearly labeled along with a small description of each dish and their spice level. I appreciate that, as it's annoying when you are unclear as to what you're looking at. Especially if you're like me, and not very familiar with some Indian dishes but willing to try if given the opportunity. I love how fresh the mango salad tasted along with all the chutney options. it's also nice when the cut fruit is actually sweet and I do like melons! It's a win when my favorite tandoori chicken is moist and flavorful. I enjoyed pairing it with a small amount of basmati rice and having it with all the saucy dishes offered. The naan at the table was crisp and hot and the right vehicle to soak up all the marvelous sauces. It's wonderful to taste all the freshly ground spices in each of the dishes I tried. Lastly, to top things off I had some of their creamy and perfectly executed rice pudding. In my opinion it is just so comforting and deliciously fragrant. I look forward to dining here again, as their lunch buffet offerings vary. Additionally, their extensive a la carte menu is on my list to try as it all sounds so tasty. Lunch here was delicious and beyond my expectations. If you enjoy food of varying degrees of spice level, you will be wowed!

    Vegetable Tandoori
    Alex R.

    To answer your question Yelp--What went well?--Well, everything. Everybody is very friendly. Nothing is better than traditional Indian hospitality. Not only is the service first-class and the food tasty, but the atmosphere is simultaneously classy and comfy. Thusly, without overdoing it, or, more like it, over saying it, Spice Malabar is truly on par with the other wonderful local Indian eatery--Karavalli. After dining at one of these magnificent restaurants, other than home-cooked meals, it's just hard to beat it.

    Menu
    Danielle L.

    I tried Spice Malabar recently with a friend. I have never been to an Indian restaurant before and have only had Indian food twice in my life, and her never, so we went out for an adventure. We had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was hip and cute. All the waiters were kind and attentive. We tried as many menu items as possible to get a good feel for the restaurant and food culture. Everything was delicious! My only advice would be to make sure you ask for it hot if you like spicy food and also ask for salt and pepper. They will try to make the food less intense as they try to read their audience. Just say "I love the spice"! Overall it was a wonderful adventure and I will definitely go back again until I make my way through the menu! Thanks Spice Malabar for a great night!

    Bhajia - chickpea battered, vegetable fritters
    Seth P.

    Our second time dining here, last time was with a friend, this time with my mother and this is my personal 3rd time here after a Yelp event last year. I enjo8it so much I want others to experience how good it was. They are soooooo vegan friendly, they even have a separate menu section for vegan dishes. Make sure you let them know of you have dietary restrictions. We were blessed with having the owner as a server the first time we dined here together and he helped us figure out what to have. This time we didn't have the same one on one experience but I'll tell you the wait staff is very knowledgeable and eager to make suggestions. They know their food, the know every ingredient and everything in the kitchen is made from scratch so there is no guesswork for allergens, and ingredients. They even grind their own spices fresh so you can be confident they know what they're serving. From appetizers to the main entrees we were never dissatisfied. We had plenty of food to box up and take home. Their cocktails are excellent and their is Papadum snacks on the table with I think a persimmon chutney and a mint or cilantro yogurt dip, so vegans don't use the green dip on the table! Beautiful murals adorn the walls and there is a small bar at the back of the dining room. When we came in we were seated immediately but by the time we departed there was a short wait for arriving guests. Overall, we love this place and we will keep returning and bring more people to enjoy the experience. If you are in town for business, love Indian cuisine, curious to try something new, or living a vegan lifestyle Spice Malibar is a must try in Clifton Park!

    First plate, truly each bite was a dream.
    Kelly O.

    I cannot get over how GOOD this buffet is. The flavors in each option are so flavorful, the food feels so light and fresh. It's truly absolutely delightful. I attended a Yelp event last year and got ti hear some behind the scenes details about their focus, which was inspiring, but the food is the thing, at the end of the day, and the food is perfect. I brought my husband for the first time and he was wowed. We can't wait to return. Additionally, staff is super nice, attentive, and the space is beautiful.

    Frances L.

    Second time at lunch buffet. Not five stars today. Today, the service was four stars. One server on duty. Never asked if more Tandori bread was wanted. The food today was mediocre. Three stars at best. Examples: --Tandoori chicken was poor; it was small grisly pieces on bone. I have never eaten such awful Tandori chicken. --Some chicken breast pieces in tikka masala were not tender. --Lots of "creamy" food. Little meat of substance. --Other than cabbage, vegetables were over cooked. --Spice level was minimum of medium. --Even Rice Pudding was mostly liquid and blah. (Salad fixings were okay IF you are interested in salad.) I am now turned off to inexpensive luncheon buffets, especially here. The food must be far superior here when ordered from menu. I have not eaten from menu at Spice Malabar; however, I do know from experience that the food off menu at Karavalli has been very good or excellent.

    Take-out order of paneer kurchen and Garlic naan
    Nischinth S.

    Previously have been here multiple times and was disappointed with their biryani. However on this visit we got lamb rhogan Josh, paneer kurchen and garlic Naan. If not for my prior experience the rating would have been a 5. Garlic Naan is one of the tastiest Naan's you can get next to garlic chili Naan. If you haven't had an opportunity to try it, make sure to pay the extra couple of dollars. The kurchen was a right combination for the Naan, with a perfect blend of cheese, bell peppers and onions in a creamy tomato sauce.

    Chicken Tikka Masala, Shrimp Mango Curry, Garlic Naan Bread, Nuts and Raisin Naan
    Kenny C.

    Don't leave reviews often. This restaurant was top notch and would give it 10 stars if I could. Food - amazing. Service - very quick and friendly. Ambiance - quiet/relaxed. Very clean. I don't live in Albany but I will make a point to come back here whenever I'm in town.

    Chicken Tikka Masala

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    1 year ago

    There are couple of Indian restaurants in Albany which are better than this one. This one does not have few tasty dishes served.

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    1 year ago

    Best food and service and I use to be a loyal Shalimar fan. This restaurant bas won over our whole family

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    2 years ago

    Food and service great. Ambiance good. The restaurant is clean. Servers are accommodating. Best Indian food in Clifton Park.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Spice Malabar

    Does this place actually have a buffet in this day and age?

    Sure, NY state approves and its done very well including use of a disposable plastic glove when using the tongs.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Fruit Loop - Pesto Avo Toast

    Fruit Loop

    4.2(75 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This spot is a great quick stop for mornings…read more My wife and I stopped in a few days ago and ordered a smoothie bowl, a bagel, a smoothie, and a matcha. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The matcha was absolutely delicious and clearly made with care -- prepared in a proper bowl and whisked with a bamboo whisk. I asked for a bit of honey, which really pulled the entire experience together. Honestly, I'd give this place a 5/5 based on the matcha alone. The smoothie bowl (I go the one that has banana, peanut butter, honey, and some other toppings) was great overall, though I did have one small complaint: there were a few large chunks of ice mixed in, and I accidentally bit into them. Aside from that, the bowl was flavorful and enjoyable. My wife ordered a smoothie, which was just okay. I didn't particularly care for it, and she unfortunately didn't end up finishing it. The service was excellent. The woman who took our order was very friendly and helpful, and she even recommended the matcha -- which turned out to be a great suggestion. One last note: we had visited this spot about a year ago, and it looks like the interior has completely changed since then. The new layout is bright and welcoming, no longer dark, and features a mostly gray palette with accent plants and furniture that bring everything together nicely. It feels much cozier than before.

    Same vibe as the other shop on Latham but staff weren't as friendly. Not UNFRIENDLY, and it was…read morebusier. My matcha was delicious and I am in love with the decor.

    Photos
    Fruit Loop
    Fruit Loop - Nutty Monkey Bowl!

    Nutty Monkey Bowl!

    Fruit Loop

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    Unbeetable - Ping pong and corn hole

    Unbeetable

    4.7(15 reviews)
    8.6 mi

    Yo, this place is a vibe! Took the fam--me, my wife, and our teenage son--and we all left hyped…read more First off, the staff is awesome--super chill, friendly, and on point with the service. You can tell they actually like being there, which sets the tone right away. The atmosphere is this rad throwback barcade situation--think neon lights, classic games, and a killer soundtrack. Total nostalgia bomb, but with a modern twist. It's big too, so even when it's packed, you've got elbow room. Parking? Easy. Like, right there close. None of that circling-the-block stress. Now let's talk food--vegan menu is . I'm talking about stuff that's creative and familiar. Even if you're a meat lover (like me), you'll find something legit satisfying. Burgers, wings, comfort food faves--just all plant-based and totally crushable. Prices were decent too. Not cheap, but definitely fair for the quality and the whole experience. TL;DR: If you're looking for a spot that's fun, flavorful, and totally current with a throwback twist--this is it. We'll 100% be back. Might even leave the kid at home next time and hit up the bar games properly.

    VEGAN REVIEW What a…read moregreat find! Fun bar, 80's style arcade & a delish all vegan menu. Started with a seasonal hard cider from a local brewery. YUM. BBQ chicken mac & cheese skillet was HUGE & delish. Took a piece of Neapolitan cake home for dessert. Super tasty. Friendly & attentive service. Clean & comfy ambiance

    Photos
    Unbeetable - Nachos

    Nachos

    Unbeetable - Menu

    Menu

    Unbeetable - The bar

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    The bar

    Vegan AF

    Vegan AF

    4.6(57 reviews)
    62.0 mi

    I used to be a vegan for 12 years. Yes, I told everyone . Seriously though, one of the issues with…read morebeing vegan and a foodie is that preparing haute cuisine dishes that are vegan is painstakingly time consuming. Try making seitan at home from gluten "flour" to see what I mean. This place though nails it. This is basically a high end restaurant that happens to be vegan. Full bar, wine selection, the works. In my opinion this is the best restaurant in Brattleboro. Menu items that stand out in no particular order: - Arancini cakes. These were heavenly. They are nicely crisped up at the bottom giving them a bit of a smoky flavor - Seitan salad: fully loaded salad with nice mix of flavors. Can be a bit on the spicy side for some people. - Swedish meatballs: my kids loved these. Come with perfectly crispy Brussels sprouts and herbed rice. 10/10 - Chicken riggies: this was also perfect for kids. The sauce for the rigatoni is very well put together. Basically this place is all hits on my list. Will be sure to stop here next time we are on a ski trip.

    We went over to Brattleboro for dinner at this lovely Vegan restaurant. You do need to get a…read morereservation. We were seated right away in their outside patio. It had a great vibe. For the food, we tried out a many dishes to share. My favorite was the chili. For what it's worth, the dishes we had with the vegan meat had the same taste, except for the salad. We also got some mock-tails that were delicious. I really enjoyed the food and if I'm ever back in this area I'd try it again. Price: $80 (including 20% tip)

    Photos
    Vegan AF - Dining room

    Dining room

    Vegan AF - Chorizo Sliders

    Chorizo Sliders

    Vegan AF

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    burrito burrito - $3 taco tuesday

    burrito burrito

    4.6(60 reviews)
    10.2 mi

    I often find myself wishing Buffalo had a good burrito place. Burrito Burrito is a dream come true…read moreand it ticks all the boxes. All vegan? Check Housemade meat and cheese? Check Yummy sides? Check Unique items? Check Burritos the size of your forearm? Check Fresh ingredients? Check Deep fried burritos? Check Foil wrapped magic you can eat in the car? Check The classic seitan burrito recreates the experience of a white kid taco night in the 90s - ground seitan beef, lettuce, fritos, queso. I'd had those taco nights on my mind lately and this hit the spot. The BBQ jackfruit burrito was also great - I had a few bites of my spouse's. Non-vegan spouse was 100% satisfied with burrito. Fried pickles were great and rumor has it this special will be around awhile. They're as thin as french fries and they must use some sort of sorcery to get them evenly battered and coated. These were perfect for sharing with someone who normally hate fried pickles because they're too thick and who hates mayonnaise. Burrito Burrito must have designed these just for us because these come with a red pepper crema instead of an aioli. Diagnosis: delicious.

    The ambiance was amazing. The food was overly salted…read more We ordered 2 burritos and the portions for the burritos was huge. The flavors were certainly very varied as there's many fillings for the burrito but I really struggled with how salty it was. The guac is watery whereas I prefer a traditional guac with lots of avocado.

    Photos
    burrito burrito - $4 Rice & Beans

    $4 Rice & Beans

    burrito burrito - Free coffee with breakfast

    Free coffee with breakfast

    burrito burrito - Seitan burrito on a picnic at Prospect Park

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    Seitan burrito on a picnic at Prospect Park

    Pulse Cafe - Vida Bowl  - $16.50

    Pulse Cafe

    4.6(242 reviews)
    71.3 mi
    $$

    Love this place. Everytime we visit my Mom in Easthampton we drive to Hadley to eat at Pulse. It's…read moregreat for both vegans and non vegans because they offer items that are so good my family can barely tell the difference. This time we ordered a Large Blanco pizza which was great because there was plenty to take home for lunches throughout the week. I had the Tex-Mex burger for the first time. It came with a choice of house-made black bean burger, Impossible patty or Beyond patty. I chose the Beyond and I'm really happy I did because it was so good. Normally I would suggest a Cubano sandwich but they were out chick'n and waffles is great too. But today the burger really hit the spot. I had my choice of fresh greens or roasted potatoes which was a no-brainer. These potatoes are the best. I ordered a second order for my Mom to take home. She loves them. Imagine biting into a firm roasted potato skin with a velvety buttery mashed potato inside. Yeah, it's that kind of good! Today was a bonus, I accumulated enough points for a free small pizza of my choice! Heck yeah, that heats up nicely back home for lunches at work during the week. We might have loaded up on desserts... cookies, chocolate mousse, cupcakes, rice pudding, pastries. Oh yes, it's dangerous! There is seating inside and outside in nicer weather. Order at the counter and pay, take a number, find a table and they will deliver your meal to the table. Don't forget to tip your servers! Also check out their grocery and refrigerated section!

    What a treat to find someplace 100% plant based with such an appealing menu!…read more My adult daughter has been vegetarian for 30+ years and so often when we dine out she is stick getting the same boring veggie burgers or salads that most restaurants offer for vegetarians. The restaurant is low key - if you are dining in, you order at the counter, are given a number and your food is delivered to your table. We enjoyed sitting by a wall mounted fireplace that created a nice ambiance for our night out eating delicious and healthy food. Plant based is definetly the healthiest way to eat in my opinion so it is fantastic that it is available and delicious ...check them out!

    Photos
    Pulse Cafe - Dining area

    Dining area

    Pulse Cafe - Blueberry pancakes, chicken and waffles

    Blueberry pancakes, chicken and waffles

    Pulse Cafe - Service area

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    Service area

    Café Joust  - Mean Mr Mushroom

    Café Joust

    4.7(19 reviews)
    44.7 mi

    The most interesting things about this place are the cups and the decor. Drinks are weak and the $4…read morevegan chocolate chip cookie was small, burnt, and so bad I threw it out after one small bite. I was super excited when I realized most of this place is vegan, but was disappointed by flavor. The mocha was okay but lacked significant flavor and the vanilla bean latte must have had actual beans used because it was also lacking flavor but had a mysterious crunch. It's a cute place, though, and maybe other items taste better....

    Vegetarians rejoice!…read more Where do I start? How about with the best damn sandwich I've had in years. This place was recommended to us, as my wife and I are vegetarians. I ordered the Fontina Panino (vegan sausage, fontina cheese, arugula and fennel mustard on ciabatta) and a cortado to drink. We take out seat in the very cool back room, and only after 5 or so minutes the drink and food arrives. Now I am a complete foodie, really tough on everything I eat, but after one bite I was in love. To the point where I asked Lauren, the owner, what mustard they were using, and then ordered a panini press when I got home hoping to recreate the magic. Perfectly chewy bread, just the right balance of sweet and savory, and that mustard. Truly amazing. My wife ordered the avocado toast which she said was perfection. I wish I could bundle this place up and ship it to New Haven because I'd be eating one of those sandwiches every week. As for everything else: The service was great. The atmosphere laid back and funky. Everything was reasonable priced. LOVE LOVE LOVE Cafe Joust!

    Photos
    Café Joust  - Inside from front

    Inside from front

    Café Joust  - The Rice Bowl
Brown Rice, stewed black beans, pico de gallo, shiitake bacon, fermented veggies, and super seeds.

    The Rice Bowl Brown Rice, stewed black beans, pico de gallo, shiitake bacon, fermented veggies, and super seeds.

    Café Joust  - Matcha boba

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    Matcha boba

    Spice Malabar - indpak - Updated May 2026

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