For my 100th review, I wanted to write about a place that I hold near and dear to my heart. Spice Root doesn't make the best Indian food I've ever had, but it is far and away the restaurant I visited most while in college. Did that have anything to do with the fact that there were only four legitimate restaurants in Williamstown accessible from the WIlliams campus without a car? Of course, but that is beside the point. Somewhere along the line, going to Spice Root with family and friends became a tradition. I definitely took advantage of Spice Root's student specials from time to time, but I frequented the expansive weekend buffet more times than I can count. The staff was always friendly and engaging, which stood in stark contrast to the machines serving next door at Thai Garden. My mom and I had lunch there so often in fact that they even started bringing her out tea before she got a chance to ask. Have I found better Indian food since venturing outside the Purple Bubble? Yes. Do I still miss Spice Root and everything it has to offer? Absolutely. read more

So far, this is my favorite place to eat in Williamstown. I came in early during lunchtime and the restaurant was quiet with plenty of space, so I was able to sit and get some reading done while enjoying my solo lunch. As it was a buffet there was no wait for food, but service (filling water, taking plates, and bringing my check) was very friendly and efficient. For lunch they have a great $9.95 buffet, which was a phenomenal deal. Make sure you come hungry! When I was there they had quite a nice selection. My favorites were the channa masala, fritters, and chicken tikka masala. The chicken tikka masala really stood out with a rich sauce - much more complex flavors than I'm used to with this dish! There was plentiful rice and naan, delicious chutneys, and even some rice pudding for dessert. I will definitely be back for lunch! It looks like dinner options are a little pricier, but given the quality of the food still a very reasonable. read more

Pre graduation night dinner. The service was great and the roti, lamb dish and salmon dish was outstanding. Had a great time. read more

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Wasn't expecting a gem like this in a quaint town like williamstown. The food is great - flavorful, well cooked and not oily/too spicy. Looks like they have put in good amount of effort in optimizing the dishes to cater to all palates. We had samosa chaat to start with, followed by dal makhani (which could've been better), paneer tikka masala and chicken do pyaza with butter naan - quite the treat for the hungry monkeys. Since there's always space for desserts, we ended our meal with a portion of gulab jamun - warm, sweet and extremely delightful. The interiors are tastefully done and the service is excellent. Was truly a modern indian dining experience. read more

My boyfriend and I had dinner here while visiting Williamstown one night. I'm a big fan of Indian food in general, and this place did not disappoint. I liked that they broke down the menu into vegetarian and vegan entrees as well as the meat-based ones. Although I'm not vegan, I decided to try a vegan meal with eggplant, onions and potatoes. It was delicious! The vegetables were served in a rich, spicy oil-based sauce that was just mouthwatering. My date had a spinach and eggplant dish that was equally tasty. We really enjoyed our food. The atmosphere is warm and a little funky with orange walls and multi-colored lighting. They had a Bollywood flick playing on the TV over the bar, which was fun but a little distracting seeing all those elaborate dance numbers out of the corner of my eye. My one complaint was that the service seemed very slow, but since the quality of the food was quite good and we didn't have anywhere else to be that evening, I didn't mind. I'd go back! read more

Spice Root provides good Indian food at reasonable prices. We sampled the Lamb Saag and Chicken Korma and found both too be very good but not the best we tried. The service however was excellent and makes Spice Root one of the better Indian food restaurants that I have been too. It seemed like everyone around us was in a good mood. The ambience was light and fun with plenty of bright decorations and an ethnic feel. I can imagine Spice Root being a warm cozy place to get a good meal during the cold western Mass winters. I would definitely stop by Spice Root again if I'm in the Williamstown area. read more

So, Williamstown, Mass for Indian food, who does that? I know. Who has two thumbs and wastes gas for food? This guy! We made reservations, we get there the place was empty. I was scared but it was a sunday. Little did I know there were a million take out orders. They're the only Indian restaurant in town but they delivered. It was actually worth the pretty drive for the food. It was delicious. I had the lamb vindaloo, they asked if I wanted it mild lol. I said no of course and then went one step too far. I said "make it as authentic as the chef wants to." Mistake number one. The Vindaloo was delicious, so flavorfull in the first taste, I went to put my fork back in and a slap in the puss! The heat was killer! It was so good though it was not funny. Everyone else loved the food that they ordered and the lasse was awesome. The palak was great, and everyone elses dishes were fantastic. Two thumbs up!!! read more

Service was excellent but The food was just OK. I debated what score to give, but based on the previous ratings, I was expecting more, so ended up giving it 3 stars. For the service, I was promptly greeted, the staff was always attentive, and everything was timed properly. For food, I had the Chicken Jalfrezi, some garlic Nan, and a couple beers. I liked the portion size, which wasn't too large. The jalfrezi was good, but a little too heavy and greasy. I also thought that The dish had too much meat and not enough vegetable. What really disappointed me was the garlic Nan. It was way too heavy and tasted more like Pizza Hut garlic bread then traditional nan bread. Overall, I would go back, but I now know what to expect. read more

The food here was great. We started out with the chicken wings ( i forgot the correct name for them) which we cooked very well and had great flavor with a bit of a kick. For our main course we had the chicken tikka masala and chicken korma which were both very flavorful and the chicken was cooked well. In addition, we ordered the garlic nan which was scrumptious. Our main course also came with sides of rice. Overall, a great meal. read more

I've eaten here a few times over the years whenever I have a craving for Indian food. It never quite fits the bill but I chalk that up to being a spoiled NYC-transplant. The reason for the poor review is that the staff just doesn't seem interested in running a restaurant and the service is abysmal. Every time I visit the waiter has an attitude and acts as if he can't wait for us to leave. Perhaps they figure that they can treat people poorly since they are the only restaurant in the area serving Indian food. After my most recent visit where my party was literally kicked out the door 5 minutes prior to closing, I'm not likely to visit again. I'd rather spend my money where my business is wanted and where I'm treated like a guest rather than a burden. read more

Great food and service. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Kids love the food as well as they have a variety of foods plus a kids menu.

It's not like mom's cooking, but it sure gets the job done! I do take out from here at least three times a month, and the food is definitely good. The appetizers are a bit pricey for what they are, but the main courses are definitely a good value (for students). I usually get the lamb spice curry, the chicken tikka masala, shag paneer, or lamb bhiryani, all of which are fabulous and not to be missed. The naans, especially garlic and bullet, are also not to be missed. If you are feeling a little adventurous, I highly recommend giving the Indo-Chinese fusion dishes a shot. The proportions are also decent, so it provides a solid value. My only drawbacks are that you must be EXPLICIT about allergens, or else they may accidentally include it. Additionally, some of the more specialty menu items are a little pricey and/or not delicious (still decent). Overall, a good place to get your Indian fix within the Berkshires. Happy eating! read more

I don't know why this place had 4 stars. I visited yesterday and malai kofta was hard and inedible and the sauce had no flavor. The raita was not good. The snack served while waiting for your order tasted like they used old oil. We didn't like anything we had. The only reason I gave them 2 stars is that the service was good. read more

Great Indian food and the waiter was pleasant and very attentive, the atmosphere was also nice.

had lunch buffet here a couple of weeks ago around 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday. The buffet was running low and the items remaining were stiff and cold. It felt like picking through the dregs. We tried to patiently wait for buffet refills which trickled out of the kitchen on a painfully slow basis. While we sat waiting with empty plates the waiter tried to bring us the check assuming we were finished! He appeared tone deaf and walked away when we inquired about the empty buffet. The food was quite average and not fresh. Perhaps it was just a bad luck day, though I don't think I'll head back anytime soon. read more

Found this on Yelp and we went for a friend's birthday. Six people, all Indian fans but one. Even HE enjoyed it! I must admit that the sauces appeared a little "reddish" unlike others that I've had. But the taste was there. We had many entrees and sides and each pleased. read more

We've been here a couple of times over the years when visiting family and it's always been very good. Maybe not the world's spiciest Indian food but it is in Western Mass... We went today at the tail end of lunch and got the buffet. Most dishes were almost gone, but they made a point of restocking everything, just for us, and evening bringing some things by the table (like the tandoori chicken) to make sure we didn't miss anything. That was some five star service! We'll definitely be back next time we're in Mass. All the dishes we tried were great -- I was impressed to see chicken breast not just in the tikka masala, but also the chicken curry -- and the vegetarian chickpea dishes deserve special mention as being really world class. read more

Spice Root is nestled in the middle of Spring Street. It was pretty quiet inside. I was sitting so I faced the street and there weren't many people strolling through Spring Street. My friend sat opposite of me, where he could view the sports updates on the television overhead. We opted for the buffet and it seems that the buffet option is available at all times (or maybe not). The food was decent. Nothing spectacular. According to my friend, the quality is consistent. My favorites were the sag paneer (BUT this dish came *without* my beloved cheese. Instead, it came with garbanzo beans as a substitute. Sad face.) and the fried veggie fritters (think cauliflower and peppers). read more

I miss Spice Root. While my favorite Indian place is in Brattleboro, Spice Root was an easy hop, skip, and jump away from my apartment in Bennington when time was limited. I ate here over the five years I lived in Bennington more times than I can count. They knew me and the friend I always came with by name and knew our tastes. Whether a weekday lunch in the summer or the lunch buffet any weekend during the year, Spice Root offers consistently good Indian at a Rey reasonable price in a clean, bright setting. I love the colored glass lamps near the bar. Everything is good but their chicken tikka saag is the best I've ever had anywhere and I strongly recommend it to everyone. Except vegetarians. Located in Williamstown, Spice Root is accessible by street parking or municipal lot and there are other places on the street for shopping, drinks, entertainment and dessert (ice cream!) read more

Spice Root has an overall pretty interesting mix of foods on the menu and some dishes i haven't seen before in an Indian restaurant.. i did appreciate on the menu how it broke down the vegan and vegetarian dishes - a lot of indian places don't do that and if you don't know how they prepare a dish it could be hit or miss if you are getting a vegan meal or not .. they should advertise more the fact they are vegetarian and vegan friendly - being up here and trying to find a vegetarian restaurant wasn't so easy and the front desk at our hotel couldn't recommend and vegetarian oriented restaurants in the area (hard to believe with all the artsy people up here now!). the decor is a bit bright and looked like an old mexican restaurant that was converted to an indian restaurant. the service was very good; quick to refill drinks and take our order and bring out the food - the place was crowded on the friday night we were there and the food came out quickly. the food was good but not the best indian food i have had; mostly because it wasn't very spicey and didn't have the strong flavors i am accustomed to with the dishes i ordered. overall though, being where they are and serving what they serve - this place is a great find on the pathway north in the middle of nowhere. if you like this kind of food and are up here its a worthwhile stop. there is a thai/sushi restaurant next door that also looked interesting. read more

Literally just returned from a meal here, so the mediocre experience is fresh in my mind. I ordered the vegetable coconut curry and my pops ordered the chicken malai kebob. Both were a little overpriced, I thought, but the portions were also sizeable. The restaurant was not full, but almost; it took nearly 45 minutes to get our food. When our entrees finally came, it took another ten minutes to get the rice. The naan was not the best I've had in terms of taste, but it was extra thick and fluffy, which was a nice touch. My vegetable curry was problematic in a way I've never before experience at an Indian place - it could have used more flavor. The heat was spot on and the spices used were delicious, it just could have used MORE of them (and maybe a hit of salt). I was also puzzled at the rice. Usually Indian places serve basmati or jasmine rice. Ours was brown and quite glutinous and sticky - not a great match for curry, and totally bland. However, the vegetables were fresh and well-prepared, and my dad said his chicken was perfectly tender. The most disappointing part of the whole experience was when a server came to pour my dad a beer and saw that my dad had already been served his beer. Instead of just giving us the already-opened beer he was about to pour, I watched him take it back to the bar and dump it out! He could have taken the opportunity to please a customer who may then have returned, but instead he WASTED A BEER. What terrible business practice. read more

Lots of great vegetarian and vegan options, as expected. However everything we ordered needed lots of salt. Lots. The most surprising dish was the Manchurian vegetable dumplings, in a wonderfully sweet sauce. Ive never had anything like it. read more

Stopped in and had: Veggie Biryani Chicken korma Chana sag Rice Garlic cilantro naan All OK but underspiced and a little expensive (welcome to Williamstown). We did like the fact that the cook had a light hand with the ghee. The Naan is tasty, but looks more like pizza. read more

We love Spice Root! Best Indian food in the area, friendly, consistent, and even our kids love it. Highly recommended!!! Even though they have a full menu, I have to admit, we always get the same thing. But nan dipped in masala sauce to too delicious to pass up!! Chicken Tikki Masala read more

The portion sizes are stupid small. I ate my (literally 3) teeny chicken cubes in my chicken masala and had to go elsewhere to find another dinner. The number of bites I did have were mediocre and watery. read more

Stopped by the Spice Room on a Monday night after visiting Mass MoCA and The Clark. The food was excellent, the service not so much. I ordered Chicken Methi and some nan. The chicken was delicious: spicy but not overpowering. Sadly, my waiter was inattentive; after the food came I only ever saw him again when he came to deliver the food of the table next to me. Granted, I was dining alone and I brought in a book to read while I waited, but that doesn't mean I wanted no service. The table next to me also waited quite a whole for their food. This would have been an easy five stars had the service been better. I would, however, eat at the Spice Root again and would recommend others do the same. Just don't expect a quick in-and-out! read more

Got Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan takeout for just under $19. The food isn't bad, but I've definitely had better (and cheaper) Indian food in more populated areas. The naan was great but the tikka masala had a lot of oil on the top and the chicken was a bit overcooked. Not really worth the price IMO unless you're really craving some Indian and are too lazy to make it yourself. Service was prompt and the people were friendly. Definitely a lot more people dining at the Thai place down the street though. Granted, I've had amazing (and inexpensive) Indian food in New York and Philadelphia so if you don't know Indian food that well...you might enjoy Spice Root. read more

Super friendly service, pleasant atmosphere, totally solid Indian food. Way better than you'd expect for a local know for its love of mediocre pizza, soggy hot dogs, and microwaved chicken fingers. What makes this place really special is the new Indian Chinese menu they've added (cuisine is thought to have originated in Calcutta's Chinatown, doesn't resemble Chinese food so much, but it is a really successful hybrid). The hot & sour soup is amazing, as is the fried rice and manchurian vegetable dumping dish (fried stuff in delicious sauce never fails). The Chili reminds me of a less sweet sweet & sour sauce, very mild, super good with paneer. All in all, I think this place is by far the best restaurant in its price range this area has to offer. read more

Decided to try Spice Root after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp. Went with my daughter, who is also a big fan of Indian cuisine. Went on a Monday night during August, so parking wasn't an issue. Warm, welcoming interior. Seated right away. Ordered the mango lassi (yum!), bhajia (too much breading for my taste), malai kofta (rich sauce that was awesome!), sabji malai (tasty!), and plain nan (very good). Basmati rice came with our meal. Good quantity of food for the price. I would definitely go back on my next visit to the area read more

We loved the visit to spice root while driving back from Vermont to Pennsylvania home. The ambiance was calm and nice. We loved the food and the overall customer experience. Spice level is very good if you eat spicy food. If you are not used to spice food take it less and ask for medium spicy. Bullet Naan was nice and the Malai kheer given as compliment and was yummy! I would definitely suggest this place to anyone. Overall we were very satisfied with this visit. read more

Absolutely delicious. I recommend the House Spice Curry. The naan is also a delicious treat. I just finished my meal, and i'm already dreaming about my next visit. read more

Delectable Indian with a Modern Twist. As an Indian from NYC, bar is high and this quaint place has great service, choice selections of flavors and well presented, fresh and individually unique flavored dishes. Also a surprise Indo-Chinese menu that hit the spot with the Hakka Noodles and VEGAN!! phenomenal read more

Delicious, we went for the lunch buffet amazing

I'm upping to 5 stars because we get take out prob 3x a month! It has become on of our favorites since moving here. I wish the prices were a bit less, but I always get 2 meals out of it, so I can't complain too much ;) First Review This is good Indian food. The service was a bit slow and laid back, but very nice and accommodating. The food has almost an American hint in it, the Masala a bit more sweet than others. I loved the food, it was great. The mango martini was very strong and yummy! read more

Was not expecting to find fantastic Indian food up in the Berkshires, but man was I wrong. Spice Root was legit. Initially the service was a little slow, but we informed the server that we were trying to make a show and he immediately understood and expedited everything. That was really great. We started with some papadum which was very light and crispy yet extremely flavorful. The onion chutney was also great. For my main course I kept it classic and got the Chicken Tikka Massala. It was very good but VERY rich. This honestly could've been good for 2 people with a split appetizer but I was starving so I devoured the whole thing! My dad ordered the Lamb Jalfrezi. He said it was one of the best lamb dishes he's ever had, and after trying some of it I have to agree. It was so delicious. Perfect amount of spice, and perfect ratio of vegtables to lamb. The pot of rice they gave us for our 2 dishes was also very generous. We topped it off by splitting one of those big bottles of Taj Mahal. Perfect Indian dinner. read more

Went in to try Spice Root because of all the great reviews. We were a little disappointed. The food served for the buffet was good for what they had available. We found it to be a little too salty but it had lots of flavor besides that. We tried the chickpea salad and it was ROTTEN. It had such a sour taste I spit it out IMMEDIATELY and informed the servers. They quickly removed it. I was upset how they could even allow that to happen. Stick with the white rice. They had a yellow rice that looked amazing BUT I was spitting out cloves the entire meal. It made the entire experience not as enjoyable. Changed to the white rice and I was MUCH happier. The water they serve tasted like cardboard/mop water. We ended up buying bottled water. Even though with all the problems we had we still think this place is good for their main dishes. read more

I visited this restaurant with family last summer. I had the shrimp tikka masala, and it is was very good, and then I had the mango ice cream for dessert, and it was also very good. The service was also very good, and it was overall a great experience. read more

Called in an order for pickup and the gentleman on the phone was friendly and answered all my questions. I was told 20 minutes and my food was ready the minute I walked in, almost exactly 20 minutes later. The food was also absolutely delicious! You can really tell they care about their product, they even went so far as to poke vent holes in the plastic containers! Will definitely be back one day. read more

This place was soooo good! I was so happy they had a separate vegan menu so I could skip asking the million questions that I usually do. We loved the coconut curry veggies the most. They have a great variety and the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Service was excellent! read more

I am amending my review after three visits in five months (one was lunch, one dinner, and one a takeout order). The staff is still very helpful and welcoming, but the food deteriorated considerably. Chicken and lamb are very hard, samosas poorly reheated, sag paneer is no longer rich in spinach but green and watery. Everything tastes as if it has been frozen a while ago and then quickly put in a microwave. I loved this place but I don't think that I'll be eating there again. read more