Authentic Malvani food is very hard to find in the U.S., but living in the Bay Area has made that craving a lot easier to satisfy--and Surmai is one of the reasons why. This restaurant has become one of our absolute go-to spots since moving here last year. The menu may be limited but honestly, that's what makes it special--everything feels thoughtfully made and full of authentic coastal Maharashtrian flavors. On our recent visit, we got the chance to meet the owner, Sheetal Shivalkar, and you can instantly feel her passion for preserving and serving authentic Malvani cuisine. She was warm, welcoming, and genuinely cared about the food and customer experience. It's always special when a restaurant feels like it's being run with heart, and Surmai definitely has that feeling. Some of our absolute favorite dishes here are: * Sol Kadhi * Prawns Kabab * Surmai Rava Fry * Surmai Thali * Special Thali * Triple Schezwan Fried Rice What keeps bringing us back is the consistency and authenticity. The food genuinely tastes like coastal Maharashtra--bold spices, fresh seafood, and comforting home-style flavors. If you want to experience authentic Malvani cuisine in the Bay Area, Surmai is a place we wholeheartedly recommend. read more

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After months of being on my to go to list. I finally made it! :) We ordered: rava pomfret which was to die for. It was so fresh and flavorful. 11/10 The fish thali -fish cutlet was a little too bland with little flavor. The chutney, curries and rest of the plate was good. 7/10 The tandoori prawns were lack luster. Masala was good but the quality of the prawns tasted a little muddy. 5/10 (sorry) Loved the ambience, the decor was tastefully done. Very clean restaurant and surprisingly great smelling for a fish restaurant. You can clearly see the pride the owners have in their place. The chef looked good in her white chef jacket and you could see she was happy to be there :) Was good to see a woman chef. Last but not least the staff was friendly and happy to help. Will be back to try some more dishes. Thank you. read more

4.5/5 stars rating! Specializing in Indo-Chinese cuisine and def did not disappoint. You know it's good when you are only southeast asian eating here LOL. Rava Fish Fry ($19.99) 9/10 OHHHH this was delicious! So flavorful and seasoning was on point, the fish wasn't too dry and it paired so well with the green sauce it came with. I really wanted to try the paplet fish fry so I gotta get that next time I come. Garlic Burnt Fried Rice + Egg ($17) this was also so bomb, they gave us a side of sichuan sauce on the side and it was super spicy, so use to your liking! This was a perfect mix of Chinese fried rice and biryani that's how I would describe it. I could eat this whole bowl if I could, paired so well with the fish as well! Service was good and everyone was super nice. It's def an unassuming restaurant in a tucked away plaza on Lawrence, and glad I was able to try! read more

Surmai - Surmai Rava Fish Fry and Burnt Garlic Fried Rice - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Being on my list for a long time, we finally got to try this out. On a Friday evening we got there just before rush hour and were seated promptly. Service was very quick and the servers were attentive. Food was amazing. Ambience was good too. We got the Surmai Thali, shrimp thali and the Special Thali. All were great. Would have skipped the tomato Saar if that was an option. Pandhara and Tamda Rassa were a huge hit. Mutton was perfectly cooked and tasty. Rice flour Bhakri was the best I have ever tasted in US. Dessert options were a little disappointing. Would have love Ukadiche Modak or Puran Poli or Gul Poli offered to give a more Maharashtrjan effect. Next time more dessert options please. read more

Surmai - Special Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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This place transported me back to Mumbai!! We got here around 8 pm on Friday and were able to snag the last few tables, their menu has all the seafood options you would find in a Konkani restaurant. The restaurant has a simple ambience, the star of the show is clearly their food. I would highly recommend getting one of the thalis, it comes with fried fish, curry, dal, rice and kadi. I got the prawns thali and my husband got the paplet thali. They were both so delicious. We though the portion size was great for the price. I wish I lived closer so I could visit this place more often! read more

Surmai - Prawn thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

As someone that grew up in Mumbai and lives in Denver, I really appreciate good seafood. Surmai was one such place we were excited to visit during our week long stay in SF. We tried many things - majority of the items we tried were good. I got the surmai thali and I loved how fresh and soft the rice bhakri was. The solkadhi was so authentic. The surmai was good but I wished it was a bit fresh, the flavors were good though. My husband got the pomfret fry and that was good. We got the crab masala and the masala was so hottt but so tasty! Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here and hoped the fish would be fresh. Service was good. read more

Surmai - Surmai Rava Fish Fry - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Ahh I really wanted to love this place but I felt like the flavors just weren't hitting. I got the Triple Schezwan Fried Rice with egg which came with a side of Manchurian Gravy which I was very excited about since Gobi Manchurian is my favorite dish. My partner got the pomfret fish fry thali. However, similar to another review, I felt like they were just a little too spicy and also had a strange bitter aftertaste, almost like it was slightly burnt. The egg on top was a little bland and didn't really go with the rest of the dish (which also had egg mixed into the rice). The manchurian gravy was great on it's own (borderline a little too spicy but I feel like that is the manchurian way) but mixed with everything else was weird. I didn't taste anything Schezwan in the fried rice. Service and ambiance wise was honestly great. Everyone was very nice! I also loved the decor and the water pitcher + matching glasses that they had at every table. read more

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For people that want to try different kind of Indian food this is the place! This is coastal region food from the west of India. Order fish thalis (platters), fried fish entrees and appetizers. We have been here several times, this time we got triple schezwan fried rice and fried prawns (Kolambi fry). Triple schezwan fried rice with chicken - was close to the authentic taste one will find in Mumbai. Chicken manchurian served on the side was succulent, well spiced, garlicky and a perfect compliment. Rice and noodles mix was tasty as well. The best of the lot was fried prawns - 8 good sized prawns coated with dry spices and rice flour and sooji (cream of wheat) coating. juicy, succulent inside and perfectly crispy on the side. The chutney served with was fresh! and not one of those been sitting around chutneys that just taste stale. Thank you! read more

Surmai - Kolambi Fry (Fiied Shrimps) - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Arrived at 5:45 on Monday evening, there were 2 tables already taken. I have been here before and remembered that the food was good. Decor is simple, rows of chairs for 2 or 4 that can be combined for larger group. Service is courteous and friendly. Ordered burnt fried rice with egg extra, Surmai fried fish, and chicken tikka masala with nan. We also ordered chicken biriyani. I enjoyed the fried rice, the sambal on the side is a nice touch but it altered the flavor. Fried fish is thin and maybe because of that it's quite dry. Some pix in other people's reviews look thicker. Nan is tasty, chicken biriyani is not bad either but on the spicy side. Overall, I would like to come to try other dishes. read more

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The food is so delicious. There are so many choices on the menu. I had to limit myself and promise myself I'd return to try other options. There was plenty of seating but there was also a line. Naturally because the food and service is top notch. There is plenty of parking in a lot just outside of the restaurant. In addition to returning to Surmai, I am excited to try their sister restaurants: Puranpoli, Solkadhi and Frankie. read more

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We really wanted to love this place but the fried fish was not fresh, and way too fishy. It threw off the whole meal for me. The coconut side dish and shrimp kadai curry was REALLY good though. The spices in the curry were really hitting and the shrimp was super fresh. read more

Surmai - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I'm so glad we came here! This was a feast galore! Surmai, pomfret, mutton masala, even the bhakri made from rice flour - basically ticked all the boxes on my list. The thali was massive- enuf for 2 people actually- big portions. Definitely come here if you're a fishie (fish +foodie) One word- drool! read more

Surmai - Surmai Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Surmai delivered a great dining experience. We really liked the ambiance, and the service was quick and efficient. The fish and prawn dishes were excellent. Standouts included the pomfret fry, surmai fry, and prawn kabab, all cooked very well and full of flavor. The mutton curry was also excellent and comforting. The clear highlight of the meal was the solkadhi, which truly stood out and paired perfectly with the food. read more

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Some highlights and some misses We walked into this unassuming restaurant for some Indian fare. They have good variety on the menu, with a good mix of proteins. Apparently, they are known for their fish. PSA, everything here is well spiced and borderline too spicy. If I were to come back, I would probs ask them to tone it down. *Surmai Rava Fish Fry - two clean cut fillets. they showed us the whole fish before they cooking haha. It was very well spiced, came out hot and tender. however, it was slightly fishy *Special Thali - The pawns were probably my favorite. spicy, crispy, and succulent. Second was probably the Mutton which came in a rich spicy sauce. Chicken was decent. I didn't really enjoy any of the soups or dessert drink - all of them were savory and slightly creamy? maybe just not for my tastebuds. *Chicken Tikka - tender meat, but pretty vanilla *Garlic Naan - delicious, but nothing special read more

Surmai - Surmai Rava Fish Fry, Chicken Tikka, Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Visited Surmai for a weekend lunch with friends and had a great experience overall. We ordered the airmail thali, egg curry, chicken thali, and an extra sol kadi. The thali portions are generous, especially the Surmai thali which includes two well-fried pieces of fish, flavorful fish curry, sol kadi, bhakri, and rice. Everything was well-prepared and satisfying, and we all enjoyed our meals. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout, and while the ambiance is simple, the space is clean and comfortable. read more

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We ordered delivery and tried a few things. The triple szechuan fried rice was a great base for our other entrees. The curries we tried were flavorful and delicious. The real standout was the Rava Fry! Definitely try out their fried fish! It was delicious! Will definitely have to come back to try it fresh and piping hot in person! It was already amazing even cooled after delivery, so I can't wait to try it straight from the kitchen. read more

Tried Surmai in Sunnyvale and the fried fish really stood out. Perfectly breaded, light, flaky, and decadent without feeling heavy. Easily one of the highlights of the meal. The chicken tikka masala was creamy, well-balanced, and very satisfying. Exactly what you want when you're craving classic Indian comfort food. The fish curry, while clearly well prepared, had a flavor profile we weren't personally used to, so it didn't hit the same way for us, though others might enjoy it. Service was great. Fast and friendly, which made the experience even better. Overall, Surmai is a solid spot if you're craving good fish dishes alongside Indian food, especially if seafood is what you're after. Definitely worth checking out in Sunnyvale. read more

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FANTASTIC restaurant! Food was outstanding and service was excellent. I've never been to an Indian seafood restaurant before and this set the bar! My table of two ordered the Surmai thali, Kolambi Masala, and a side of garlic naan. Everything was phenomenal and flavors were bold and definitely on the spicier side. I love getting thali because there's so much variety and this didn't disappoint! I especially loved the bhakri (rice flour bread) that came with the thali, which I'd never had before. I loved the chewy, almost mochi-like texture and it was a great vehicle for the curries. The fried fish that came with the Surmai thali was a little bit fishy but the lemon wedge helped. The garlic naan was perfect with its pull-apart softness and light garlicky aroma. Service was great. They kept checking on us and made sure we were taken care of. We were the only non-South Asian people there! Lots of parking available. Restrooms are clean. Lots of seating available; we came on a weekday dinner with no wait but it was definitely busy. Would definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

Surmai - Surmai Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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The seafood is really good. The chicken is not so good. But best seafood goan indian place

Ah this is a tricky one. Wanted to love this restaurant, and while it was sort-of good, it was not great. I have not seen this type of Indian cuisine in a lot of major Indian cities - most restaurants showcase food from northern or southern parts of India. This one features dishes from the western part and I was very excited. We ordered a whole lot of different dishes- Konkani chicken masala Machchi cha kalvan Pandhra rassa Tambda rassa Rava fry surmai Rava fry pomfret Rava fry kolambi (shrimp) Prawn masala fry Solkadhi Special of the day - chicken biryani My favorites of the lot were the prawn masala fry (tasty), Rava fry pomfret (fresh), and chicken biryani (complex blend of spices, flavorful), solkadhi (was salty, but after we diluted it, it was perfect). The rest didn't have the authentic flavor that I was expecting. The surmai also had a fishy taste and didn't seem as fresh as it should/could be. Service was quite efficient even though the restaurant was full. The only dish that arrived after we had finished eating everything was the pomfret Rava fry so that's something to keep in mind. Decor has some nice elements from that part of the world, so try and look out for them. Overall, the reviews were mixed in our party - half the people enjoyed it and half were a tad disappointed, like me. read more

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I am by no means an Indian food expert, but this place was superrrr good. Also kinda different from all the other Indian places I've been to. I particularly liked the fish platter dish (forgot what it's called), but the fish tasted so flavorful and it was fried really well. The fish curry was also amazing and pretty unique compared to any other curries I've had. Overall the whole meal definitely hit the spot for both spice and flavor. Also got to try bhakri for the first time and absolutely loved it - it was so chewy and paired so well with the curry juices. Would for sure come back again! read more

Surmai - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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If you want real Maharashtrian fish done right, Surmai is the spot. I don't say this lightly, but I've eaten fish in Kokan (Maharashtra) and I still found Surmai seriously impressive. The fish is flavorful, well-seasoned, and the rava fry hits exactly the way it should. What I always order: * Surmai rava fish fry (top pick) * Pomfret rava fish fry * Kolambi rava fry Best combo on the menu: fish fry + bhakri. You get two bhakris in one order, and it pairs perfectly with the fry. Simple, but it just works. Thalis: I've had multiple thalis and they've all been solid. The chicken thali is good too, but this is one of those places where the fish is the main reason to come. One skip: The egg curry was average and felt a bit oily for me, so I wouldn't order it again. Service & Ambiance : Staff is helpful and friendly. I visit regularly whenever I'm craving fish. Weekends can have a wait, but weekdays are usually smooth. Solkadhi is a must. Parking is easy with plenty of space. read more

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WOW! This place amazing for seafood with the authentic flavors! 5/5 for service - despite just 2 servers, they were very friendly and taking care of the roomful of tables 5/5 for food - the crab and mutton masala was spicy and kadai paneer was good for the ones that don't enjoy spicy food. The fried fish was incredible 4/5 for decor - the vibe was perfect for a place that focuses on food - everyone busy chatting and enjoying their food - acoustics were well managed / not too loud Feedback for areas of improvement- the naans are like pita bread - but chapati and bakhri are genuine. Ice cream - best was falooda flavor the sitaphal and tender coconut was just sweet and cold. Decor - same picture of peacocks was repeated in the entire restaurant (except for the beautiful Shivaji painting near the ordering area) Will be back with many other friends again! Loved it! read more

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I've heard so much about the Indian seafood specials here that I was pumped to finally try. We ordered: - a citrus drink I forgot the name of but it gave me more beet and tamarind vibes than citrus - still good but very new to me - the prawns appetizer: incredible spice blend and accompanying mint chutney - the Surmai fish fry: a fish filet with spice and crumb breading with mint chutney. The fish spice blend was intriguing and well balanced with the mint chutney but watch out for bones - surmai thali: a combo plate with the same breaded fish fillet, a peanut(?) thin soup, lentil dal, some sort of beet(?) buttermilk refresher, white rice, and some sort of flatbread. The flavors were all so new and varied - galub jamun: bc I can't not. Whatch out it comes out hot (in temperature) If I went again I wouldn't order both the surmai thai and the fish fry, as it was too much of the same fish fillet and some variety would have been good. But always get the prawns. Logistics: - indoor seating only - plenty of strip mall parking outside - it was empty at 5:30 but very busy at 6:30 - stop by what's More Cake after for a crepe cake slice if they're still open read more

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We make it a point to stop by Surmai every time we're in the Bay Area, and it never disappoints. The food is always flavorful, and true to authentic style. Our favorites are Kokum juice, prawn thali and Surmai thali. Portions are generous -- more than enough to fill you up for the day. The service is always efficient. This place is definitely worth trying! read more

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I've had takeout from this restaurant a few times before, but this was my first time dining in for a weekday lunch. Finding a table was easy, and the service was warm and efficient--our food arrived fairly quickly. Being from Mumbai/Pune, this cuisine is close to my heart, and I found the flavors to be quite authentic, with generous portion sizes. The dining experience was far superior to takeout, as the fish retains its texture much better when served fresh. The kolambi fry was perfectly crispy, and I really enjoyed the bold flavor of the burnt garlic fried rice. My wife ordered the veg thali and appreciated the variety, noting that the flavors were spot on. Overall, a great experience! read more

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Very few places even in India get the rave fish fry right. This was excellent. And such a generous thali. Two pieces of fried fish and additional piece in the fish curry. I couldn't finish it all. I will say I didn't care much for the bhakri being a rice person myself. I think it goes better with chicken. Anyhow had a lovely lunch on a weekday with some excellent service. Can't wait to go back. read more

Surmai - Surmai Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I had a great dinner with a friend here a few days ago and a fantastic first experience into Maharashtrian cuisine. Shoutout to our server Trely who was attentive and answered all our questions. Plenty of seating inside, a little strong of incense smell but not unbearable. You can see their Specials menu up front which is updated regularly. Trely told us they get their fish imported from Mumbai regularly and it sure tasted like it. Had the Special Thali which included fried prawns, Konkani chicken masala, and mutton masala as the proteins. Sides of tambda rassa, pandha rassa, and solkandhi as the sauces. A heaping serving of rice and a bit of rice flour bhakri & salad for carbs. A very balanced array of food. You could honestly get away with just this and some dessert for dinner. Tasty all around, a tad salty, would get again. We also had an Egg Curry combo with garlic naan, the Mutton Kheema special of the day, and a full Surmai Rava Fish Fry. It was a feast. The egg curry to me was negligible -- overkill if you're already getting two curries in your thali. The kheema went well with the paav, but as it's minced would be fantastic with a side of rice. I was told the Rava Fish is a kind of salmon native to India. It came with an inviting green sauce and went well with some fresh chapati. Think Indian fish taco vibes. Fatty, delicate, flaky, and delicious. Favorite dish of the night. Would order again. I had a nice chai and a solkandhi for my beverages. Not a fan of the latter. It was my experience with solkandhi and while a very pretty pink drink, not something I'd get again. Super pungent and salty. I couldn't taste the coconut notes. Trely said it's the same as the sauce from the thali. Follow your heart and get a mango lassi if you like sweet drinks. Overall a very fun time. I'd gladly return and will venture out to try their other sister restaurants. read more

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If you find yourself craving regional Indian cuisine and authentic Marathi food, you have to give this place a try. I loved how attentive they are and how their servers point you in the direction of the right things to order. Our servers was mindful of my friends dietary preferences and brought out the best chicken kebab for him. I truly haven't enjoyed plain old chicken kebab this much in a while. The staff truly wants you to fall in love with their food and repeatedly ask you(without being intrusive) if the food is upto our standards. My kolambi prawn fry was a new kind of dish for me but I'd order it regardless if it were my first time too. They do justice to Indian seafood so it's that's what you should go to this place for. The ambiance is standard so don't expect bells and whistles. Just quality Indian food served with attention and quickness! PS don't forget to order the solkadhi read more

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This is the first time I tried maharastrian non veg food along with my friends who were trying this cuisine for first time too.I was amazed by their food options.many options fish and chicken/goat.Good potion size for protein. I ordered the special thali and loved everything about it.my friends got pomfret thali and they serve you a whole fried fish.they were happy too. Service was quick given the restaurant was bustling with people. Ambience is okay . Huge peacock wallpapers on all the walls. read more

Surmai - Special thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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This is the updates of the reviews. The after taste of the foods were considerably delightful, and make you want to try other items. read more

Surmai - Customer enjoy their Paplet Rava Fish Fry - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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everything about this restaurant is amazing. First of all, their fish is shipped from India, and it tastes extremely fresh and super flavorful! It took maybe five minutes to get the food and it was a perfect blend of spices, but not too much! But be careful of the bones in the fish! The green chutney was also 10/10! we pretty much were drinking it. Additionally the workers are extremely sweet. We got to talk to both of the owners and the servers and they were extremely kind and also super funny! this place feels like an extremely homey area and i would love to go again! read more

Surmai - Surmai Rava Fish Fry - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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This was our first time trying Surmai and we were really in the mood for some seafood so came here for that. The service was really good and we were seated immediately followed by quick orders. We ordered Surmai fish, pomplet thali and Kolambi Shrimp. The shrimp was literally one of the best shrimp dishes we have ever had. The flavors were great, crispy, nice and juicy. The Surmai fish (king fish) was ok and was little bitter. We liked the thali but probably will opt for a different one next time to try something else. I wish the various fried fish dishes had different flavors and were marinated differently. They literally all had the exact same marinade and so you don't really feel like eating a different dish. Would def come back for the prawns. read more

Surmai - 8 Piece Kolambi Fry - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Craving some coastal Maharashtrian cuisine? Look no further! We went here on a Saturday for lunch as a group of 6 and were seated after a 15 min wait. We had the Surmai thali, Special thali, Kolambi masala, and Surmai fry with rice and rotis, and of course, Sol kadhi. The thali has rice and bhakri with either fish or chicken and mutton accompanied by some Sol kadhi. The fish curry that came with the thali was okay, but the rest of the thali was good with a decent spice level. The group enjoyed the Kolambi masala for its spice and flavor. The Surmai fry had 2 pieces that were quite large and more than adequate for 2 people. The service was prompt and courteous despite the restaurant being quite full. The special thali was okay, with the fried shrimp being the favorite but I'd recommend sticking with the sea food offerings when you visit. Will look forward to trying their other offerings next time. read more

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Our friend treated us to this great Indian restaurant for joining a new job. We were together 8 people - 4 kids and 4 adults It was first come first serve and we were seated in 10 minutes on a Saturday evening around 7 pm. It was very loud and noisy inside the restaurant. Being an Indian and knowing this cuisine type we kind of knew what we wanted to eat. We ordered two types of shrimps for starters Kolambi shrimp - mind blowing crispness and taste Shrimp tikka - very similar to tandoori chicken - 10/10 Kokum for drinks - very delicious mocktail Main course - medium Konkani Chicken Masala - 9/10 Mutton Masala - 10/10 Rice Bhakri - never had this before, it was a very light bread, loved it! Surmai fish - amazing pan fried fish dish We will definitely go again and try some other dishes read more

Delicious first visit to this restaurant! I went with the kolambi thali and all the food was wonderful and plentiful. Fried shrimp, cooked shrimp in a flavorful, thick curry, tomato curry (my favorite! bright and tangy taste), daal, rice, bhakri (rice flour flatbread), and solkhadi (coconut milk drink). My partner ordered the Surmai Thali which came with all the same items except fried fish and a fish curry instead of the shrimp dishes. There was a nice heat to the spice combination across dishes. Nice, casual dining area. Easy strip mall parking. Efficient service. Will return! read more

Surmai - Shrimp Thali and Surmai Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

My first-ever meal at Surmai... the indoor ambiance, endearing service, and bathroom cleanliness were all top-notch! The surmai thali and the "pomfret" thali were both delightful visual treats, as my dinner pics would attest. The fried Surmai fish pieces were marinated in lip-smacking spices; however, the semolina-basted pomfret was bland and somewhat disappointing. The curried lentils daal and the pink solkadi were superb! Our server Trely Oliver's gracious hospitality, bubbly conversation and charismatic persona, greatly enhanced a memorable birthday dinner experience! read more

Surmai - Semolina-basted silver pomfret: "Paplet Thali" - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I was excited to try a restaurant representing seafood from Maharashtra. Really nice staff and seating area. We had the Machi Cha Kalvan and Surmai Rava Fish Fry. The Kalvan was not great, it was a heavy sauce with a bit too much starch, and few pieces of fish. The Rava fish fry was better, but it suffered from poor fish quality, which dragged down the dish despite a good spice profile. Prices were pretty high relative to the quality. I don't think I'll return. read more

Beer only, no wine or any other alcohol and no option for corkage. Beginning of the night and they were already out out of the burnt garlic fried rice so I don't know if they actually have it at all. Special thali- good deal and flavors. Chicken tikka masala- mushy Crab masala- really good and flavorful. They had Dungeness crab the day we went. Garlic naan- this tasted like Trader Joe's microwaved. For dessert, we shared the mango pulp which tasted artificial. We also tried the rose ice cream and butterscotch ice cream, and they both came way too melted. $160 for dinner for two adults, and 1 child. There are way better options in this area. read more

This is authentic Indian restaurant with great Thali dishes, seafood and more, catering to Indian diners from the state of Maharastra. There are many things on the menu that non-Indian diners may not be familiar with and that are not described in the menu. But do your research, or come with someone who has spent time in India, or just ask the wait staff for recommendations. The food here is very spicy. Just be prepared for that. We loved it, but those curries were the spiciest dishes I've eaten in a long time. In the Indian tradition, be prepared for proteins not to be deboned before they are chopped up and put into your curry. I'm not sure what the protocol is for eating that way, but I guess you just have to take a bite, then remove the bones from your mouth. One of our breads was undercooked, but everything else was perfectly prepared. and they have a very nice Indian ice cream selection to cool down your pallet after the meal. This includes a saffron pistachio ice cream, we really wanted to try, but they were out. It doesn't say "saffron pistachio" on the menu; it gives the Indian (Hindi) name for everything so we Googled most things on the menu to see what they were. Still, the ice cream we did order was excellent. I would say that they should have an "Americanized" menu as an option, but they really don't need it. The place was full. All tables inside and outside were occupied and there was a line to get in. The patrons were 95% Indian, and many were dressed in beautiful Indian clothing. The cornmeal-crusted shrimp that came with my Special Thali dish was amazing, and my wife absolutely adored her whole fried fish. Maharastra is coastal, so this place specializes in seafood. Our waiter gave great advice on what we might want to order and helped us make the best decisions, even on our beverage options. The only beverage I recognized was the mango lassi. But we tried new this and we enjoyed ourselves. read more

Surmai - Special Thali - Indian Near Me - Sunnyvale, California