Before I proceed too far, know I'm an easy mark for Indian fare. Pre-pandemic we made it to Swad's buffet once but it was near the end so I don't think I can give it a fair shake, I'll be back for that if they ever reinstitute it. I did however visit Swad over the summer and was thoroughly impressed with their regular menu. The naan was what you expect; Though I did not try more than a couple types (plain and stuffed) I was impressed with their over-all range of offerings. Their appetizers were lovely but for Mrs. T a little spicy (so if you're a spice wimp -- be forewarned). I went with their masala grilled fish and the catfish was delicious and tender. Mrs. T got her usual: the mildest chicken tikka masala that exists and the chicken I poached from her plate was well marinated and flavorful. The bit of her mango lassi I had was also very good. We had some friends with us and so I tried a variety of dishes (but alas, memory fails) -- I enjoyed them all to varying degrees but can't cite what they were. The service was spectacular and also vaguely impressive; The waiter who took our order did not need to use a pen and paper and remembered the entire order without error. The ordering process was precise and polite. Refills were swift and dutiful. Heck -- one of my most adventurous friends even went to order something and the waiter went so far as to warn that it is a very distinct taste that many do not enjoy (a fermented milk beverage) -- that's some dedication to service to identify that! I'm glad I decided to come back after my so-so late buffet experience and hope they restart the buffet so I can give it another chance! read more

We felt very lucky to have just moved to within a mile or so of the best reviewed Indian restaurant in the Madison area. My wife loves Indian so we were very excited to check out this spot on Monona Drive. It was early on a Saturday evening but the place was already filling up. The menu is quite extensive - bigger than most Indian restaurants we used to frequent back East. The service was friendly but at times a bit awkward (perhaps a language issue?). We liked the tasty, complimentary papadam with the different sauces. We ordered two chicken dishes - one our standby Chicken Makhani and the other something new Chicken Shahi Korma. We liked them both though the serving size was a bit smaller than we were accustomed to for the price compared to other spots. They provided extra rice to go along with our leftovers which was a nice touch. Overall we liked the food and we will definitely return. read more

Great food and the friendliest, most genuinely interested restaurant owner you'll ever meet. Wish I could meet there every day!

Normally if we stop in we do in the evening. But today we stopped in for lunch, the lunch buffet was closed. Which didn't bother me, as I know they have tons of great stuff. Parking: Don't worry about parking here, it's a strip mall. So there's a large amount of parking. Seating: When you enter, we've always been greeted and asked how many and shown a table. So if you have anxiety about that. It's very straightforward. Bathrooms: the bathrooms are very clean, single stall. Food: We normally get the non vegetarian dinner for two, but today we went a little crazy. Two nans and two entrees. Exciting. Started off with the cracker and little herb/spice dips(idk what they call it). It's complimentary. It's fresh and we have fun trying new combos of the dips. We had cheese nan, 10/10. It was so crispy and ligh I've always loved this place! It's a relaxed dining, nice music, soft lighting. The main meals we got were the Lamb curry and sesame chicken. With the Swad special nan. The lamb curry was exceptional, it's always very flavorful and the lamb is tender. 10/10. The sesame chicken was new for us. And my choice, it was very good, and the chicken was juicy. 10/10. It came with very good rice, I think jasmine. It was great for absorbing the sauce of the curry. And the Swad nan was very good, it was stuffed with things. So it had a lot of flavor!! This place is a great spot, no matter the time! read more

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This place is very good but coast way to much!! They took the Buffet away and that was well Worth the 18.00 but to pay 25.00 a person for rice sauce and meat is not worth it to me. If the buffet was back I would give 4 read more

I'm so happy that we found a place in Madison that we like. We moved from Ohio to Wisconsin the past year and was struggling to find an Indian restaurant. We got chicken pakora, vegetables pakora, lamb biryani, goat curry, combo basket of naans, and bhindi masala. We greatly enjoyed the favors and the spice level. We got mild to medium spice levels. The naans were oily but interesting and tasty. The meat quality was pretty good. The only thing my boyfriend didn't like was the vegetable pakoras. Overall, this probably will be our to go place for Indian food read more

The malai chicken is an amazing explosion of flavor. The wait staff is polite and attentive. I'm holding back the fifth star because they won't open the lunch buffet back up. read more

Ordered a chicken curry and proceeded to have the worst food poisoning of my life. It was incredibly expensive for an "okay" taste and food poisoning! read more

Great quality buffet. If you are unsure about Indian food, this is a must try. You can experience a large variety. Delicious.

I tried Swad for the first time as takeout because of COVID. I was in the mood for some Indian food and I discovered the good reviews here on yelp. This is what I found during the process of getting food from Swad. I made the order over the phone and the guy taking my order seemed nice enough. When I got to the store and went to pay for my food I was surprised. I guess I did not notice how expensive this Indian restaurant is! I ordered the chicken malai, an order of the chicken momo as an appetizer, raita, chicken tikka masala. The chicken malai was a few chicken breast pieces for $17. That is crazy expensive, I know how much chicken costs, I can see that at any grocery store. The other things were also pricey. Now let's talk about the food. It was good. Honestly, the food was probably a 4/5, but the price (rip-off) is what brings the overall score of the restaurant down to a 3. The chutneys were good too (I tried them all) and the sauce that came with the momo's was tasty. The chicken malai was moist and flavorful (especially delicious when dipped in the raita). I have no negatives to say about the food except for that it was overpriced at least by 30%. read more

I was very happy with my experience at this Indian restaurant. The location in a strip plaza in the small commercial area along Monona Dr. north of Broadway was easy to find. The storefront was nice enough while the interior was also nicely done. It was pleasant and comfortable with decent capacity. I was greeted and seated right away and my personable server attended to me quickly. I was actually rather impressed with the enthusiasm behind the service. The menu featured several Indian favorites. I started with tomato soup, which was better than average. I then decided to try the Chicken Tikka Saag, which is something I had not had in a long time. It was quite tasty. It was accompanied by rice and I also ordered ginger naan to go with it. I was quite happy with my meal. My only complaint might be the fact that I ordered a Masala Chai after dinner. It came out quickly and it was obvious at that point that it originated from a pre-mix. The taste reflected that. While not bad, it was very ordinary. I was disappointed that it was not traditionally prepared. My total bill with tax, tip, food and drink was $31. I was not unhappy with the value this presented. I would definitely try this place again if the opportunity presented itself. read more

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Absolutely delicious! I have taken high school students (World Studies class) to eat here, and Madan, the owner, could not have been more hospitable. He had suggestions for everyone, from the most adventurous eaters to the most timid, and the students gave rave reviews. It's obvious how much love goes into the dishes, and the variety of options is wonderful. read more

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Always delicious. My favorite Indian restaurant in Madison for eat-in and carry out. Wry good lunch buffet with variety and popular favorites line samosas and curry dishes (only on selected days - check website). Owner is very nice and welcoming. Comfortable well-spaced tables, also an adjacent room for larger groups (or if you want to sit near the buffet ). read more

Swad's biryanis are the biryanis I dream about. Swad's curry dishes are the curry dishes I wistfully recall every time I crave Indian cuisine. I can't recall a single dish I tried at Swad that didn't feel like an elevation of that dish when compared to other restaurants in the area. The service is exceptional, and their takeout is efficient. Prior to the pandemic, I would sit at the counter and sip a cup of chai while waiting for my meal. Plus, they always sneak a dessert into your bag for you. If I could open a magic portal to one and only one restaurant I've ever eaten at, I would seriously consider making it Swad in Monona. read more

Excellent flavors and good atmosphere. Not far if you're staying in downtown Madison read more

Everything we had was so good! Started with the three chutneys that they bring out for the table and we couldn't stop eating them!!! The appetizer sampler plate was so fun and all the things on it were so good- especially with the chutneys. Both entrees were also delicious! The battered cauliflower in the gobhi manchurian was crispy even under the sauce and the malai chicken was tender and the sauce and veggies that came with it were perfect. The mango chutney was delish as well and the raita complemented everything so well. The naan... so freaking good Im literally drooling thinking about it. And the ice creams!!!! The mango was classic and delish and the kulfi was to die for!! The pistachio flavor and dried fruit were the perfect way to end the meal. Service was good- people were super nice read more

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Delicious food for the upscale foodie! Very good service, very good food and the esthetics are wonderful!

We haven't eaten inside a restaurant in months. This was the perfect pick! The kadhi paneer was excellent. The chutneys were on point and the garlic naan was cooked perfectly, crispy and still warm and slightly chewy. So good. And of course, the mango lassi... yum. read more

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I have been to every single Indian restaurant in my home town and had almost lost hope at finding anything this good. I moved here and decided to try the place down the street...best Indian food I've ever had. I recommend it to absolutely everyone. The spiciness is amazing, FINALLY I can get proper spicy food, a brilliant chicken tikka and a stellar mango lassi. A little pricey, but it is more than worth it. read more

Swad is great. Super nice staff and the food is very good. I particularly love the tandoori chicken and Aloo Chole.

Talk about some excellent service! Swad is delicious and the service--if possible---was better. The Lassi and Chicken Korma are amazing. Excellent food full of flavor. A great stop! read more

Met up with a group of friends here. The food was good, but our party of 7 was maybe too much for the staff. We neglected to let them know we needed separate checks, so in the end, rather than asking the staff to separate our checks, one of our party paid the bill and we individually repaid him rather than over-burden the staff who seemed to be overwhelmed, especially since this was a Saturday night, and the establishment was filled up capacity. We also had to "play musical chairs" when our food arrived because the staff didn't know who ordered what, and when the took our order, missed one drink order and one order of Naan. I may have been had higher expectations for this restaurant, since the prices seemed a little higher than I'm used to paying for Indian food. I probably will not be returning unless this same group of my friends wants to meet up here again. Basically I would rate the food at 4.5 stars and the service at 3 stars. As another Yelper reviewed, no one checked on us during our meal to see if we needed anything else (i.e., drink refills, dessert, etc.). read more

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High quality food and consistent. Friendly staff that works hard. The number of take out orders they crank out is impressive alone. It's a ton of food for lunch - but you MUST try the lunch buffet (in non COVID times). I love you, Swad! read more

Best Indian food in town. Every time I eat here or order take out I try something new. Every single time without fail it is my new favorite thing I've had there. Flavor, spice, choices, just above and beyond. Most recently ordered the shahi paneer... so good! read more

This is our first trip to Swad. I chose this restaurant based on the favorable reviews. Since Yelpers are such awesome reviewers, I am rarely disappointed. This time is no exception, Swad has terrific service and amazing food. We started with vegetable pakoras. They were very good, not as crispy as I usually enjoy at other places, but different does not mean worse in this case. They were excellent. Our server also brought a tasty, thin, crispy bread whose name I cannot remember, along with three chutneys that were terrific. I ordered vegetable mango and Lori ordered chicken makhani. Both were a tad spicier than we expected. Both were amazingly good. We also ordered ginger nan with our meal, with a side of mango chutney. Did I mention that I like mango a lot? We did not finish our meals, after the pakoras and bread. We'll be having an awesome lunch tomorrow! Lori wanted a bit of ice cream afterward to quiet the spiciness a bit. She thought the mango ice cream was great. Yup, we'll be back! read more

The food here was nothing I've tasted before. Extremely tasty and delicious. The service is good and really nice people. Everything I asked was explained even though the menu can be overwhelming. The restaurant is really clean and has an Indian feel good. I truly recommend ending with the mango ice cream since it's made in house. read more

Hands down the best Indian food in Dane County. It takes a little longer for orders to process via eatstreet. Place your order early. read more

Food, service awesome, ambience okay. Highly recommend worth the trip from LaCrosse, Wi . They offer gluten free and all dishes on their buffet menu that very goof read more

We are obsessed with Swad. My partner didn't think he liked Indian food until he tasted my leftovers one day, and now we order takeout from Swad almost weekly. We love the Tikka Masala (make it spicy), Garlic Naan, Chicken Momo (order it and thank me later), and the Chicken 65. Unbelievable food. read more

I'm torn on this review. The food is 5 stars definitely. Love the appetizer chutneys, lamb sheesh, curries, tandoori. It's all so delicious. But we have gotten to the point that we only order takeout. In the restaurant, there is a distinct male dominance factor among staff. The female workers are definitely treated like third class citizens by their male "co-workers. If you don't mind a side of misogyny with your order, then definitely stop by. Otherwise get your order to go. read more

Super flavorful, great food. I always get lamb mushroom, medium, I like really spicy food but even I can't get it hot here!!!

I am expanding my dining horizons, so tried this Indian restaurant a month ago for the all-you-can-eat buffet. I was impressed enough to come back (May 15, 2018) for another go round. The restaurant is in s strip mall, but only a snob would hold that against the establishment. The place was clean, with some thought given to the decor. The staff was friendly, and the service good. Going through the buffet line, I filled up my plate with both meat and Vegetarian options. The dishes I REALLY liked were: Chicken Tikka Marsala, Abo-Zuchinni, Dal Taka, Sambar, and Gulab Janum. The other dishes were also good: Vegetable Noodle, Aloo Pork, Vegetable Briyani, and Gajar Malwa. I liked that two types of soup were offered; Coconut (sweet) and Rasam (with some heat). I was full by the end of the meal, so only sampled 2 desserts. Both the Cream Caramel and Mango ice cream were delicious. The only fault I can give with the food is the basket of bread that was brought separately to the table to go along with the meal. Skip this, as it was doughy and tasteless (and probably meant to fill you up so you eat less of the more expensive buffet food). A last note. At the end of the buffet line was a wok with a chicken dish. I arrived at 2:00 PM and by that time all that was left in the wok were some vegetables (no chicken). Getting there at the more traditional noon hour might mean you'll have to contend with a more crowded room and a line at the buffet table, but you'll have access to everything. I will go back, as I love a good buffet or smorgasboard. read more

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Swad is one of the best Indian restaurant's in Madison IMO. The current owner worked/owned the old Maharaja that was located on Odana Rd which was also great when it was open; he is super friendly and remembers his customers. Their lunch buffet is outstanding and has many more options than other places in town. The weekend buffet has even more. Everything is delicious but a few dishes that stand out are the Tika masala, vindaloo (basically any curry), chicken wings and samosas, and the battered veggies (usually broccoli or cauliflower). We've also gotten take out also but find, like other Indian restaurants, the buffet is your best value and you get to try a lot of different dishes. Definitely make Swad a must try for Indian food in Madtown. read more

Wonderful food. Great prices for the portions. One order of curry is enough to feed me, my husband and our 1 year old and all be full. Sometimes we'll get 2 and have leftovers. The garlic naan is wonderful as well as the cheese naan. I've never been here in person so I'm unsure about the service or the atmosphere of the business itself. However, I've ordered for doordash delivery many times and plan to do so many times again. Best Indian food you can get around here! read more

Delicious and fresh Indian food that is perfectly spiced! They were also very accommodating to my sons and my dietary needs.

Our favorite Madison area Indian restaurant. The food is amazing! Fresh, flavorful and the naan is fresh and warm. They have a tandoori bar in the buffet and lots of unusual and delicious offerings you don't usually see at most Indian buffets. We will be back again as often as possible. read more

I recently returned to Swad to give the lunch buffet another try. It wasn't bad last time, but there were some things that didn't sit totally right with me. On this more recent visit, my experience was much better. We arrived earlier in the serving window and the food was much fresher and well stocked. Service was more attentive, though there was a small hiccup of ordering drinks and not receiving them until tracking down a server 15 minutes later. Spice level was still on point (a couple notches up from the mild, spiceless buffet offerings of many restaurants), but the naan had a more flour-y flavor than most this time around. I'll happily return for the varied offerings and reasonable price point. read more

Swad - Buffet plate. - Indian Near Me - Monona, Wisconsin

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It's not as good as it was 10 years ago. Not worth the price increase either-I think that was to pay for the extra space, not the food, which has declined. read more

This was my first trip to Swad and the food was great! The lunch buffet was delicious and had several good options to pick from. The fresh naan they brought out with the meal was hot and fresh. Our sever was very nice and friendly. Im a big fan of Indian food and Swad is, so far, the best I've had in the area. Can't wait to go back! read more

I haven't been in since the Pandemic began, but pre-COVID they had a great Indian buffet for a reasonable price. They were not open on Mondays. read more