Before covid, Joy and I used to make the trip to Vernon to dine at Utsav. I posted a review back in 2016. Once covid hit, we didn't go out to eat anymore. Since covid restrictions lifted, we've resumed dining out but somehow forgot about Utsav. We remembered yesterday and last night we finally returned. I am very pleased to report that Utsav is still as great as ever! The food is still exceptionally good and the service is still excellent. We were the last couple left in the restaurant and rather than try to hurry us out, one of the owners and chef, Thankachan Joseph a/k/a Joe, came out of the kitchen and joined us in engaging conversation about Indian cuisine and his restaurant. It truly was a most enjoyable dining experience! If you haven't dined at Utsav or if you just haven't gone recently, you owe it to yourself to go and enjoy delicious Indian cuisine, in delightfully colorful surroundings with excellent service. If you're lucky, maybe you'll even get to meet and talk with Joe. read more

We tried Utsav a few months ago for carry-out. Got to the restaurant at the appointed time, then waited an additional 25 minutes for my food. I wasn't thrilled but decided to give them another chance. This time dine-in. Service was good, food was decent, but I thought the prices on the menu were a bit high for a small place with minimum ambiance in a strip mall in Vernon. What really shocked me was that the prices on my bill were not the same as the prices on the menu. Entrees were $1.50 more and sides were $1.00 higher. No mention of it on the menu, by the server, or posted anywhere in the restaurant. Not huge differences - 6 to 15% increases, but I feel a bit ripped off to be shown one price and charged another. I know the restaurant reserves the right to change prices at any time without notice. I reserve the right to go somewhere else. read more

Tried again, better but still lacking. We decided to try them again. Their prices are slightly lower, which is good to see. Quality is still good, the flavors are dialed in and consistently well balanced. The rice and poori were underwhelming. Poori was cold and rice was not fresh. The curry was flavorful, order mild, had a little spice due to peppercorns which was pleasant. Spinach cups were tasty, and kebab platter came out sizzling. Meats were tender, had good levels of seasoning, and were great with the sweet tomato sauce. Price for everything came out to 100, which was an appetizer, two mains, and two breads. Still pricy, but quality is still high as well. Despite the stumbles, it's good to see them improving. It's still kinda pricy for the area, but the quality is still pretty good too. Would recommend they update the menu and clairify their "mandatory 22% gratuities on parties of 2 or more" on the bottom of the menu. Didn't get charged that, and if someone read that without context then that could be an immediate red flag. It's good food at a price read more

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I've been to Utsav in Vernon many times and I feel it is the best Indian food I've eaten stateside. This is a small place with a family owned feel to it. Clean, well kept and welcoming. The staff is always friendly and attentive to their guests. On this visit, we ordered the vegetable samosas which was excellent. My guest is a frequent visitor to Indian restaurants and was surprised at how good they tasted. She ordered the chicken tikka Masala which didn't disappoint. I ordered my favorite, the Lamb Pasanda, which has a creamy cashew and almond sauce which I like with medium heat. I rarely find this dish in other Indian restaurants, so generally order it when I visit here, although when I visit with others we generally share all the dishes and I've enjoyed many of the items on the menu. As a side note, Utsav use to do a great lunch buffet which I would use to introduce friends and family to great Indian food. This ended during the pandemic, but I would love to have them bring this back. I know, shameless plug, but it truly was a great way to try various items on the menu. Overall, I would recommend Utsav as an introduction to Indian food and hospitality to folks looking to try Indian food as well as to those, like me that love the cuisine. Cheers! read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Vegetable Samosas, sorry had already started before taking th picture. Delicious! - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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I visited Utsav again after a multi-year hiatus with my friend Brian, and it did not disappoint. I ordered Amchuri Murgh, a sweet, tangy, spicy chicken, and Brian ordered tandoori chicken, which arrived crackling and fresh off of the grill. The quality of the food was excellent--we also had garlic and plain naan, lamb samosa, and mango lassi. Thankachan Joseph took care of us, and he did a fantastic job--many thanks! The atmosphere was quiet and contemplative, and my friend and I had great conversation over the delicious food. If you're in the Vernon area, you MUST stop in! read more

Outstanding food and service. The menu features dishes I have not seen in other restaurants, such as shamm savera, an appetizer that looks like sushi maki, but is actually spinach cups filled with cheese, served with a honeyed tomato sauce and rice. The lamb samosas are exquisite. Chicken Malabar is perfectly spiced in a subtle coconut and tomato sauce. The dals are very good. The mint and tamarind sauces, raita, and chutney are excellent. The poori is impressively puffy. The rice is buttery. And the gulab jalum is a perfect ending to a standout dining experience. read more

The food is Amazing! The service was wonderful! Highly recommend! They were so respectful. We had the chicken tikka masala, vegetable samosas and garlic naan. All phenomenal! We will definitely be back! We had leftovers.. each meal was enough for 2 meals for us! :) read more

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We had our first date here 16years ago and we just came here tonight with our 2 kids age 11 and 6 for the first time. Never disappoints! We had the calamari Cochin, mala kofta, chicken kodi vepiddu and naaan the service is always impeccabl Joe had served us time and time again Always welcomes us back and often offers a complimentary dessert or port. We have been to most of the Indian restaurants in the state ovet the years and utsav has always been the gold standard for us. Forecet our favorite place. read more

I understand the financial damage from the pandemic!! But to Blatantly triple your prices it's not how you treat your loyal customers!! Your food is good, no Denying!! But a lamb curry is not worth $30. And to not post your price on line, tells me how you can price Gouge. Your prices are out of control. Take care of your customers, and increase your prices Moderately!!! Sorry to say, I will not be returning. How old is your menu on Yelp?! read more

We randomly stopped here while passing on the highway and whoa what a gem ! So so delicious and we know our Indian food. A must stop by !

Been going here for decades and it's still great every time. Staff are very friendly and polite. Mango lassi is top tier.

Utsav is one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to, hands down! They also specialize in south Indian cuisine, which is rare (as well as offering northern cuisine more commonly found). We ate fantastic lamb dishes, including lamb samosas; fish; calamari, and a spinach cup appetizer with a tomatoey sauce that was out of this world. Drinks are expertly mixed, with an extremely generous pour. The service is at another level entirely, welcoming, prompt, polite, and professional. The highest recommendation, you won't be disappointed! read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Calamari, spinach cup, and lamb samosa appetizers! - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

We order from them all the time and the food is great! I'd recommend giving them a try and supporting our local small businesses.

Top 2 or 3 Indian restaurants in the state along with the Wethersfield location. Fantastic food every time! Service is always on point and it's a cozy spot. Great for dinner with friends, date night or lunch when you are craving Indian food! I've never had a bad meal here. read more

Great people and amazing food.!!! When we used to live in Connecticut used to frequent this place all the time. I haven't been in a couple years and we were very happy to see same wonderful people. Believe it or not, the food was even better than it used to be, and it was always good. Tonight we had tikka masala, lamb Saag , garlic, naan, and vegetable Samosa. The mango lassi is always tasty as well. Everything was perfect tonight. The garlic naan is some of the best around. They use a really hot oven that gives it a wonderful crisp. If you like Indian cuisine, you will love this place. I don't mind paying for excellent food service. As I said, it was great to are still around and still nailing it. We will be Back we hope he will check us out as we started. Our new business venture. www.goseatbeltbuddy.com a patented document holder that goes on your seatbelt. Every car and truck should have one. read more

The food is delicious and the portions are very good. The staff is very attentive and nice. Very clean inside and welcoming.

This was absolutely delicious! The customer service was top tier; friendly and welcoming staff. We loved the colorful design and the traditional music. read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Shrimps Tandoori - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

I got takeout from here because their reviews were great and I was thoroughly disappointed. The Chicken Tikka Masala was okay, but it was very tomato forward and the flavor was lacking depth and the consistency was odd. While both dishes had a soupy consistency, The Chicken Shahi Korma was basically water. No thickness at all and had almost no flavor. For the price, the food definitely did not live up to it, and both dishes were stingy with the chicken. There are certainly better Indian restaurants in the Hartford area, I will not be coming back and do not reccomend read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Chicken Shahi Korma - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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We drive an hour to eat here. It's always clean, service is always tip-top, and the food is delicious!

Every bite from beginning to end was exquisite! Cocktails were magnificent, dessert was delectable, and the glass of port at the end of our meal was the icing on the cake. The waitstaff is second to none, and the atmosphere is SO inviting! read more

Went in for dinner the other night based on other reviews. It was definitely a further drive than some other local indian restaurants. I'm not a pro at indian cuisine but by the time i left i realized that amazing flavor profile has been missing from my life for all these years. The mango chutney is amazing!!!! The service was spot on. The owner came out to chat. The partially enclosed booths gave us privacy. I will be back again soon!!!! read more

The best Indian food in CT. Excellent! Delicious food and laid back atmosphere. Attentive service.

Not all Indian foods are spicy, nor are they all based on curry! This is sometimes what I hear when people won't try it. Utsav continues to offer the finest, most authentic Indian food. Their menu is built to bring diners a great selection of dishes for meat/fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Spice levels are determined by each customer and the staff is eager to help new diners find meals to suit their tastes. Service is superior! read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Tawa Tamancha! A delicious, healthy Tandoori dish that's relatively new on the menu with fresh grilled veggies and paneer. - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

We had dinner at Utsav, Vernon on 9/20/25. We arrived late but the restaurant kindly accommodated us, made us feel very welcome, and served us well. We had Mangalorean prawn, Kuttu Curry, and Goat Curry Madras style, with roti and chilli naan. All were delicious, with distinct flavors, and cooked perfectly. The serving size was very generous and we came home with leftovers. Utsav definitely stands above the rest of the local Indian restaurants nearby. We highly recommend a visit. read more

Food was excellent, waiters were attentive and welcoming. Decor and ambiance was down to earth and very clean. I appreciated being asked my "heat" tolerance so that things would not be too spicy and their beverage recommendations was perfect! read more

This is our favorite Indian restaurant! The food is amazing and the service is always excellent. The ambiance is perfect for a get together with friends or a romantic dinner out in a comfortable booth. You must try this restaurant! Always consistently good! read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

The atmosphere is wonderful, the service friendly and expedient. The food is divine. Shall I say more?! Ok! Come have an amazing meal! read more

WOW. We are big Indian Food fans. Previously, our favorite ever was The Spice Palette in New London. I say previously, because Utsav has now taken the #1 Indian spot for us. First I'll say that their hospitality was probably the nicest I've ever experienced. The attention to detail, ensuring you have all silverware, hot plates, the waiter making sure he didn't touch the plates with his hands - only the towel. We ordered: Appetizer - Papad (with onion chutney) & Veg Samosa Entree - Channa Masala & Lauki Rasedar Dessert - Rice Kaheer & a Masala Chai I actually have zero complaints. Everything was appropriately spicy (authentic, not the weak Americanized weeny spices) so if you are weeny, order mild. Outstanding food. Oh, the Garlic Naan was the best I've ever had. I could order just that and be fine. It's beautiful, picturesque, and amazingly delicious. The perfect level of fluffiness with a thin layer of crisp from the Tandoor. Incredible food, can't wait to come back! read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Garlic Naan, Channa Masala, Lauki Rasedar - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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Always a great experience at Utsav. Delicious food and great service. If you are in the Vernon area you should definitely stop by or order takeout. read more

Excellent evening with my sisters. Dinner was amazing, service was on point with everything read more

We ordered beer, mango lassi, lamb mamson, paneer tikka, biryani, garlic nan and rasmali. The biryani was excellent. Best dish on menu. I recommend that. Other dishes were all just average. We have had Indian food all over the country, in India, and abroad. Dishes are $25-$35 so prepare to spend 50-60 a person if you get drinks and desert. Service is great. Ambiance is nothing special. Bit old. Lot of stuff everywhere. read more

Utsav Indian Cuisine - Taj Beer nice and cold! Great way to start a meal. - Indian Near Me - Vernon, Connecticut

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I love this place! The food is amazing and everyone is so friendly. Joe took care of me. I ordered the Balti Gosht with plain naan and was blown away. This is my new favorite! They can also make it with chicken if you're not a fan of lamb. The lamb was so tender and the sauce was very flavorful. I did a medium spice and it was perfect! If you haven't tried the rice pudding for desert, you're missing out! read more

So many reasons to go, so many reasons to stay! The warmth and friendliness of the staff always has me wishing Americans would learn manners, and proper hospitality. Nothing greets you so well as a warm welcome. The manger Thankachan is always a stellar maître'd. He comes to your table to make sure you are pleased and if you engage him in conversation he is charming and charismatic. The kitchen staff always prepare food just to your taste, from mild to spicy. And the flavor?! For us poor souls who may never visit India, the food is already here. No need to search for anywhere else to experience the cuisine. I always leave amply satisfied and usually have leftovers to take home. Since we've been coming here we have never visited another Indian restaurant. Much love to all the staff!!! read more

We got a Mango Lassi, Chai, and a Rupee beer (Basmati Rice Lager) to start - all three beverages were great! The lassi was thick and flavorful and the chai was hot and spiced perfectly. The beer was light and perfect for the food, as I later discovered. We followed that with Lasuni Gobi, Malabar Paratha (parotta), Tandoori Chicken, and Chicken Malabar. As expected, all the items were flavorful and tasty, especially the parotta - properly flaky, as it should be. For dessert, we got the ras malai and the manager gave us kheer on the house - they were both delicious! 10/10, would come again! read more

Truly fantastic service!! The staff is very polite , and attentive. Best Indian food in CT. Every time we're in the Vernon area we make sure to stop in. read more

I have no idea how I've never been to Utsav before since both this location and their other location are so close to me! My husband and I went this past Friday evening for a belated birthday dinner for one of our best friends. The service was absolutely fantastic on every level. There were multiple servers doting on us and they checked in constantly to make sure everything was to our liking. The atmosphere was also excellent and the decor was pretty and the restaurant was very clean. The food was some of the best Indian food I've ever had! The samosas were the star of the show for me as they were enormous and packed with flavor. I loved the three dipping sauces they provided too as most other Indian restaurants only provide a tamarind sauce. I went with my staple, chicken tikka masala, and I chose a medium spice level. There were numerous large chunks of chicken and it was wonderfully creamy with the perfect amount of heat and great flavor. We shared both the garlic and cheese naan and while I enjoyed them both, the garlic was the clear stand out. It was a wonderful meal and we will definitely be back! read more

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The food is always wonderful here. I've never gotten a curry I haven't loved. The staff is consistently kind and friendly. Highly recommend!

A Michelin Star experience in an unsuspecting strip mall! Everything about this restaurant is phenomenal, from the superb service to the wonderful and colorful ambiance, to the explosion of flavor in every bite! Utsav is a truly unbeatable culinary gem hidden in Vernon, CT! read more

Great food and service as always. Joseph always makes you feel comfortable. We especially like the chicken korma and the brianie.

The food is always so good here. And the service is great, too. Very attentive staff. Comfortable booths and tables. But the food is the reason to go to this great Indian restaurant. read more