05/14/07

Worst in every way, every day!

by eric_w_cam

Worst food, dirty interior, windows and filthy restrooms, no toilet paper, no paper towel, rude service, actually no service at all. You order in front of the counter by the kitchen, people squeeze around you to get a cup of free Indian tea (milk/black tea) from one of the two thermoses on the right of the cashier. My Tandori beef was over marinated to the point of turning pasty. The lamb tandori was burnt, dried and tasteless. $45 for 3 people, and they do not take credit card (poor uncle Sam) . If you happened not to have cash on you or enough of it, you will be sent over to the laundry mart across the shopping center where the nearest ATM machine is, to bring cash to pay for a very gross experience. All that against a tasty Rita (yogurt sauce), so it is your call.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Dirty, loud, smilly, self service, bad food, major parking problem.

12/13/06

Worst restaurant I've ever been!

by jacobq

A stain on the name of indian restaurant! The food was worst I've ever eaten. I couldn't even eat it after tasting a little bit. The food was cold and horrible tasting. Customer service is horrible. Dishes and water cups were smelling bad. The whole place had this nasty small that you normally get in poulty farms and pigeon coops. Me and my wife felt sick the whole day after eating there (even though we ate just a little bit). Just because of this horrible experience, from now on I'll think a hundred times before I decide to eat at an indian restaurant.

• Pros: None
• Cons: All (food, ambience, service, and value)

06/04/06

Most Horrible Indian Food in the Bay Area

by gaganmehra

I went to Shalimar to try the Sunday buffet after reading the great online reviews and in general being a big fan of Shalimar (SF and Fremont).

The food was the most horrible I have ever had. The bread was hard. The vegetables were half cooked. The kababs were cold and hard to chew. The dessert was cold and tasteless too when the kind they had needs to be served hot.

I told the proprietar all this but did not get a reaction. It is a waste of time and money to eat at this place.

01/20/06

Fabulous eatery in downtown San Jose

by netip

My friend took me for dinner to Shalimar a few months back. The food was delectable. I had the buffet, a wonderful treat. Unfortunately the buffet is not offered in the evenings, except for Sundays and Tuesdays. The Manager gave us personal attention and charmed his way, recommending dishes. Chicken Vindaloo and Kadai Chicken have become my favorite. Seek Kabab is the best I have ever eaten. I have been eating Indian cuisine for now 20 years. I threw a party last week at Shalimar. They have a huge parking lot behind the restaurant, with a capacity for 100 cars. The fact that the parking was free and the location was right in downtown SJ was what made up our minds. Now I regularly have dinner at Shalimar, leave my car parked there and then go to the CPA or Camera 12 for some entertainment!! You cannot beat the convenience.

• Pros: Great food, Ambience , Value
• Cons: Buffets too popular

12/26/05

Best Indian food I have ever had.

by billpeller

Best Indian food I have ever had. My wife is Indian and I know good Indian food when I eat it...

I have been eating Indian food across the Bay area for over 20 years. My wife is Indian and a very good cook. She brought me to Shalimar a few years back and I found the food very good and authentic. The owner and head Chef persoanlly greets each guest and makes sure you enjoy the experience.

The buffet is unfortunately only at lunch times. It is the best value I have come across at any Indian restaurant.

During lunch time it is best to make a reservation. Dinners are more relaxed.

Tip: Avoid the chai that is readymade at the buffet table. Ask for a fresh pot of masala chai. It puts Starbucks and all those also rans ( me-toos ) to shame.

• Pros: authentic Indian food, great value, personalized service
• Cons: not too well known

07/22/05

First and Last Visit

by 12dine

I was there at 7:15pm on a Friday night and there was only one other table for 2 occupied. That should have been my first sign. My daughter and I ordered veg samosas that never came. The shrimp was so spicy, neither of us could eat more than a few small bites. The waitress never cracked a smile. I like dining adventures. This was forgettable.

• Pros: No waiting for table, good bread
• Cons: Impersonal service, Scary neighborhood

03/28/05

don't go here!

by jennibee2006

The food was ok, but my boyfriend had never been to an Indian restaurant, and when he asked the management about the food, she acted rude and annoyed. The service was horrible, and the waitress "forgot" to put my order in. Extremely rude, no wonder it's empty!

• Cons: horrible service

08/08/03

a great value

by pbarach

You order your food at the front counter, then it's cooked fresh as you watch. The waiter brings it to your table. Not much for ambiance, but everything we had here was tasty and well-spiced.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Flavorful
• Cons: no ambiance