Darbar restaurant

We had goat biryani, chicken chapli kebab, and kebab karahi with chapati. Every dish tasted unbelievably good, each with its own distinctive flavor. The chapli kebab had a smoky, crispy exterior with juicy minced meat inside. The biryani was undoubtedly one of the best I have ever had; both the rice and the meat were rich with aroma and spices. The kebab karahi stood out with its unique blend of bold ginger and tomato flavors. Truly Pakistani food at its best.

I had a great experience at Darbar. The food was amazing. I tried the pani puri and it was honestly so good, full of flavor and very fresh. I also loved the way it was served, everything felt well presented and thoughtful. After that, I tried the noodles and their special kebab karahi. Both were very delicious and cooked perfectly. The kebab karahi especially stood out with its rich taste and aroma.

Food was delicious! Had a good amount of variety, and the staff were very attentive. We went for their Saturday buffet. They brought out fresh naan and puri for us. Would definitely go back again

This place was absolutely incredible. The food tasted unbelievably fresh, and the meat was perfectly tender and full of flavor. Every bite was packed with amazing, well-balanced flavors that you can tell were made with care. The hospitality truly stood out — the owners are so loving and kind, and they make you feel genuinely welcomed from the moment you walk in. You can really feel the heart behind everything they do. I highly recommend this spot and will definitely be coming back!

I had such a wonderful experience here! The food was absolutely delicious, served hot, fresh, and bursting with authentic Pakistani flavors. Every dish tasted homemade in the best way, and you can really tell the care that goes into the cooking. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend to anyone looking for genuine, flavorful Pakistani cuisine. I’ll definitely be coming back!

I really enjoyed the kebabs I got shaami kebab as well as sheekh kebab! The chicken Tikka masala was good, the chicken pulau was very good the chicken in it was tender and delicious. The naan was good except for the cheese naan was not good there was hardly any cheese and all you could taste was the naan bread not the cheese. Overall the meal was very good. On a separate order a few weeks later we ordered the shami kebabs again and there was a ton of egg on them like omelette covered kebabs. Please don't add so much egg.

This is a small, family-run restaurant, and I was lucky to get a comfortable booth, which I appreciated. I tried the Sunday buffet ($25.99), which is the only Pakistani buffet I’ve come across in the Boston area. The food was hot and fresh, with dishes like chicken pulao (note: this is the rice included — plain basmati rice is not part of the buffet, so vegetarians or those avoiding chicken may be charged extra), chicken achar, chicken tikka, dal, chana, naan, halwa, rice pudding, and beef keema with potatoes that I especially enjoyed. There was also a goat dish, though I skipped it since I’m not a fan of goat. The chicken achar had great flavor, while the chicken tikka came in very small pieces. The naan was good, though simpler than the butter or garlic naan I’m used to at Indian restaurants. I appreciated that they put a pitcher of water on my table so I could refill myself, but no one came by during the meal until the very end — after 3:00 p.m., when they were shutting down the buffet. That was the first time I was asked if I wanted anything more. When I asked about drinks, I was told I could choose something from the refrigerator. I was surprised there was no drink menu or options like mango lassi, chai, or sauces such as cilantro or tamarind chutney, which I normally see at Indian buffets. At the end, I had a very small amount of leftovers and offered to pay to take them home. I was surprised at first by the $7.99 box charge, but they also gave me a $4.74 discount on the buffet without me asking, so it evened out to about $3.25. In the end, that felt fair. I also paid in cash, knowing this is a small operation, which I didn’t mind. Because this was a $25.99 weekend buffet, I initially expected a little more variety, especially compared to Indian buffets in the $19.99 range. But at the same time, when I think about what I’ve paid for a fine dining tasting, $25.99 feels fair for what was offered. Overall, I’d call it a 3.5-star experience but I’m rounding up to 4. If you live or work nearby, it’s worth stopping by to try. Just be aware that the selection is limited for a weekend buffet, and the service is minimal, so I wouldn’t call it destination dining from downtown Boston — but I’m glad I experienced it once.

After moving from New York City to Boston, my wife and I struggled to find truly exceptional Desi food until we discovered Darbar in Allston. From the first bite, the flavors transported me back to the food I grew up on, rich, balanced, and remarkably fresh. Every dish is prepared with care and authenticity, never diluted or rushed. The owner and his wife are gracious and genuinely hospitable, making each visit feel personal and welcoming. With Ramadan approaching, there is no better place to gather with family and friends. Darbar is a true gem.

This is the most underrated restaurant in Boston and I had some of the best food here. They are a 100% halal restaurant serving Pakistani and Indian food. Seriously every dish was impressive. The owners were also so kind and the service was quick because it wasn't super busy, For food, we got the samosa chat, garlic naan, chicken biryani, karahi gosht (goat), magaz masala (goat brain), tandoori chicken, and seekh kebab. Samosa chat was unlike anything I've had before. It was almost like a deconstructed samosa topped with different sauces and every single bite had so much flavor and texture. Garlic naan and biryani were solid but not the stand outs. The karahi gosht overwhelmed my mouth with flavor. I can't even describe it but i wanted to lick every bite. Goat brain was soo creamy and was fantastic with rice- I was nervous bc its brain but soo insane. Tandoori chicken and seekh kabob came out sizzling and were soo juicy. The chicken was the best tandoori chicken I'veever had. The spices cooked on the grill perfectly I couldn't stop eating it. Sometimes only the outer layer is seasoned but even the inside was just as flavorful. The kabob had the perfect level of spice and was a crazy mix of meat and veggies. They offer a lunch buffet, caters events, and also do private parties. Trust me when i say you HAVE to go to this restaurant. It deserves to be full 24/7.

My friend took me here to try some Pakistani and Halal food. Overall, great food at unbeatable prices. I was initially worried that 3 items may not be enough, but the portions are huge. I was stuffed towards the end.

Really Good service, fantastic review, chicken is super tender, Will recomment and will come again.

Worst Indian food I have ever had. I picked this up to go. I opened it up within 5 mins of picking it up and the sauce was all separated and extremely oily. I did not know my meal didn't come with rice. I wish they would have asked me on the phone if I wanted rice with my chicken korma when I ordered it. The naan tasted like dry packaged pita bread and was not restaurant quality. Best thing I got from there was my Coca-Cola.

Excellent pakistani food, served fresh and hot. The service was really good and efficient, we didn't have to wait much. The ambiance is welcoming and very cultural. Will definitely come again

Food was absolutely amazing! The service could be a little better, but nothing that hindered the experience.

Tried Darbar when I was in the neighborhood with time to kill. My usual favorites of vegetable pakoras and chicken mahkni were full of all the colorful flavors that make me love indian food. The aroma as the mahkni came to the table was just incredible. Prices are reasonable and food was fresh and came out of the kitchen quickly. The menu had a few items I had never seen before, assuming they were Pakistani dishes. I would love to try some of those dishes at a lunch buffet.

I ordered food to go for Iftar and found a piece of mop string in the stale chicken pulao. Disgusting. I'm really disappointed at how irresponsible they can be. Ordered some veggie pakoras, only 4 stale pieces with 2 containers of sauce in the box of pakoras so they can fill the box. It's Ramadan, please be kind and serve responsibly.

Best Pakistani food in Boston. Ordered: Lamb Chops Brain Masala Chicken Malai boti Palak Paneer Everything was delicious especially the malai boti!

Great take-out spot with authentic desi food. Overpriced, so I have been going less and less.

I came with my wife and friend. I am visiting from California for ACP conference. Initially we were not sure about this restaurant. We totally disagree with the previous reviews . Food was very fresh and delicious. Excellent customer service. I will definitely come back here.

the biryani and achari chicken was delicious. we also met the owner who was was really sweet as well.

Sadly, I don't think the general rule of asian restaurants with 3.5 stars applies here. Came here at the recommendation of a friend for dinner and ordered the veggie biryani, chicken qorma, veggie samosas, lachha paratha, garlic naan, chikkar chole, mango lassi and chai teas. We did enjoy the samosas and drinks as well as the breads, however the biryani had, in my opinion, too many whole spices that I had to navigate through to avoid accidentally biting onto a whole peppercorn or clove. Flavor was good, but difficult to eat. The chicken qorma was ok, don't think it was worth the price for the amount, and the chickpea chole was ok as well--my friends definitely wished it was spicier, although their tolerance is much higher than the norm. Overall, this place could probably settle a craving if you're really chasing after some Pakistani food, but I don't think I'd choose this place over others.

Lovely food, really large portions. Service is great! Love the vibe of the place as well. Would recommend the Mutton Kadhai.

Been to this place a lot of times. Good Pakistani and halal food. I love their breakfast buffet on weekends. Great for weekend halwa puri nashta. Their Nihari is great too. Place is cozy and clean. Service is good. This place caters parties and events too.

Had Ramadan Buffet, was really great and delicious The food was really hot and fulfilling

The reviews and ratings are accurate for this place. I had a mediocre experience. There are some pros but several cons. I'll list the pros first. Pros: very friendly, attentive, and professional staff. I felt like I was in a large family dining room as opposed to a restaurant. Second, the sauce for the meat and the red hot relish and brown sweet tamarind dipping sauces were good. Cons: the mint chutney was a bit too watered down and pasty. Rice did not come with the meal which I was bummed about and had to wait a little bit. When it came out, it was more rice than what one person could eat. The chicken that I got could have been marinated more so that the flavor or the meat was deep within the chicken. Sadly, the meat was relatively boring. Then last, but most importantly, the naan. It was so dry and solid that it made me want to cry. The seasoning on top was good but I've never had naan that was steamy and piping hot from the oven. It should be warm and rippable with fluffy grace. Instead it was a dry disk. If there's one improvement they can make, let it be the naan.

[4.12/5] We originally stopped by the day before and one of the owners told us to visit the following day for their Eid Al-adha buffet. I was intrigued how passionate and kind he was, as he took the time to teach me what Eid Al-adha was about. Although we were starving, we decided to wait and boy was I glad because the food turned out to be amazing! Review #042 Restaurant Type: Casual Dining with Buffet Options. My short summary sentence: Eid Mubarak! A time for celebration with lots of food! Food (65%) Taste to price 4/5 Quality to price 4/5 Portion to price 5/5 Average = 4.33 Service (20%) Friendliness 3.5/5 Promptness 4/5 Average = 3.75 Cleanliness (15%) Bathroom n/a Dining area 4/5 Kitchen area 3.5/5 Average = 3.75 Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)] = [2.81]+[0.75]+[0.56] = 4.12 The Pluses... + For $18.99, it's a steal given the variety of dishes you get. They had a little bit of everything that day. I easily ate over the value I paid for. + The owners were very nice. It's a family environment. As soon as you walk in, it feels like a family runs the place which makes me feel at home in some ways. + The food was luscious. My favorite were the GOAT BIRYANI, BEEF KORMA, and TANDOORI CHICKEN. The TANDOORI CHICKEN tasted freshly grilled. Can't beat that. + Waiter was pretty attentive. I like that my water was constantly filled. If you don't know me, I drink a lot of water :p The Negs... - I've been here other times before and it can be a hit or miss. At times their buffet is good and other times it's ok. One thing's for sure is I'll be coming here every Eid Al-adha :) The Neutrals... o The prior times I went, I was always asked if I wanted Nan. Maybe there was some miscommunication by the wait staff or maybe Nan did not come with the day's special? Either way, it wasn't communicated to me. **If you enjoyed my review and need help with the Boston area, follow or add me as a friend. I have tons of reviews like this.

Just ordered some takeout from here and tasted a couple of things from here for the first time and I must say the cooks di a good job of preparing tasty dishes the owners are very friendly and forthcoming and will definitely be back to dine in perhaps for the ayce buffet. I tried the champli kebab and another minced meat kebab and a piece of tandoori chicken which was the tastiest piece of chicken I have had in a long time. I recommend this place to the few who haven't already tried it.

Had dinner here last night. Chiken biryani was good 7/10, not too spicy as we asked for mild. The brain masala was okay 6/10, had a sweet taste to it and was in a minced form vs regular. The naan was good. Also tried Kheer which was good but not amazing - 7/10.

Very disappointed with this place. Here is our order why we did not like it: 1. Seekh Kabab was really good but on the expensive for its size and it comes with nothing. 2. Tandoori chicken leg quarters, it had good flavor but very dry chicken. They completely over cooked it. 3. Chicken Makhni, the sauce was good but again their chicken was so hard, we had a hard time biting it. I suspect it was cooked and kept dry for a while and just thrown in the sauce. 4. Chicken karahi it was tasty and good, its boned chicken and you get very few pieces, it is also extremely oily. 5. Garlic naan, they have the worse naan i have ever taster. It is so easy and cheap to make naan that when an indian restaurant screw their naan big time it is not worth going back. It was also very expensive. The naan was on the thinner side, tasted rancid and was tough to eat. It had A LOT of garlic on it which is great but you still could not taste that garlic that much. I think again here like in the case of the chicken they are using old stuff. We will not be going there again. I was told their chicken tikka is good but we did not get to try it.

So for context, my husband and I have eaten here several times and throughly enjoyed ourselves. But in the past year they have increased prices and reduced portions. Tonight, we order two samosa chats and 1 chicken leg quarter for pick up. My husband ate the chicken leg quarter and I kid you not it was dry as beef jerky and my husband came to the conclusion that it must have been made a couple days ago. Also, the leg quarter was maybe 1/2 the size of what they used to serve. Anyways, just about 15 minutes ago my husband vomitted everything up. So yep, we're never going back again. Over priced, unhealthy food that will likely cause you to regurgitate immediately. I wish we ordered on uber eats because at least we would have gotten some money back.

I would leave zero stars if I could. The food is mediocre for the price and to make it even worse it is not even close to authentic.

Yelp needs a negative star. This place is as bad as it gets. I went there with family. The owner said "sit anywhere, sit on my head, would yah?" in a very rude condescending tone. Just walked away leaving our party of 10 at the door. We decided to sit in a corner. Food was as bad as it can get. Behari kebabs weren't cooked. Chicken tandoori was raw on the inside as well. Other stuff like chicken Karhai could have been okay but it the meat was cold and gravy was hot. Obviously microwaved. Two people got sick in our party. Not food poisoning but upset stomach and throwing up. Service was horrible. At one point the owner knocked a glass of water over my aunt because she said she is doesn't anything boxed up. We did the pull the owner after paying the full bill to tell him about issues with his behavior, service, quality and taste of food. He said he doesn't care and if we don't like it we shouldn't cone

This restaurant deserves 10 stars and all of your business. I have been going here for a decade- yes, you read that right. And they NEVER disappoint. This is the exact "hole-in-the-wall" secret spot nearby that is never busy, reasonably priced, and cooked to perfection. Wether you are a vegetarian or meat-eater, this is the best Indian/Pakistani food in Boston. And I have tried many. Trust me, this is the best Indian cuisine in Boston. Amazing, flavorful food, wonderful staff. Long live Darbar and may it never close!

This is one of the best Pakistani food I've had. I love in Texas and this restaurant is better than the Pakistani food we have here. The customer service is the best and they treat all their customers very nicely and gives great recommendations. One thing that stood out was the naan, their naan was one of kind it's better than any other naan I've had. I recommend their nihari, saag, and mango lassi. If you're ever in Boston this place is must try. If you go, ask for the owner to give you his recommendation! The food was so good we went two days in a row!

UPDATE: 01/25/18 I came here last night and fell in love. We ordered nihari, magas masala, cheese naan, garlic naan, poori, shrimp karahi, chicken makhni and pakoras. A decent Pakistani restaurant if you are looking for Pakistani cuisine. I am not at all an adventurous eater but I had their brain curry, I think it was goat brain? and wow it really didn't taste like brain at all. They really know how to cook this dish to the T! All the ingredients made it taste almost like a soft chicken keema (ground chicken) that just melts in your mouth when eaten with naan. Most impressive dish here. They also do pink Kashmiri tea!

It was awesome to have iftar breaking here in 2015. The owner was so kind, I hope have an other iftar in the next.

Doesn't look like much when you walk past it. However, this place by far has the most delicious Pakistani cuisine I've ever had. The service was great and the food phenomenal.

Absolutely wonderful experience! My husband and I went to the iftar buffet. We had a great time eating authentic Pakistani food. The food was fresh, hot and had just the right amount of spices. The few things that stood out for us were: 1. The chana: Chanas were delicious. My husband has a great time mixing it with samosa to make Chana chat. 2. Chicken tikka: super juicy and not dry at all. 3. Hygiene: for a desi restaurant this place was super clean. 4. Hospitality: the uncle and aunty were super nice. It felt like you had come to their house for dinner. The went and asked if people wanted chai at each and every table. Over all, I enjoyed my experience here. Will come again. 10/10 recommend.

So good. The owners are so kind too. I came in on a Saturday at noon looking for the buffet, forgetting it was Ramadan. They invited me to come eat at the night time Ramadan buffet anytime. I went and couldn't be happier. 3 delicious ayce courses. I think the normal lunch buffet is more regular than this special buffet, but I will be checking it out soon.

This is the best place for Nehari and Paya. Their goat paya is the best. Bihari Kebab and lamp chops are highly recommended

I am used to eating at Darbar in San Francisco which is also a Pakistani/Indian place with a buffet lunch. This place is really good, maybe some of the best Tandoori chicken I have ever had at a buffet or otherwise. The Malai Chicken was awesome as was Kheer (rice pudding) was also some of the best I have ever had! I will definitely be coming again!

Nothing to fancy family run neighborhood restaurant bathroom was clean food was really good

The food never disappoints. The dishes that I have tried like chicken tikka masala, samosa, naan and rice were packed with flavor. They are reasonably priced. Delivery and take out services were efficient. The food still arrives hot and fresh. Thank you for outstanding service!

Right behind my house which makes it so convenient to stop by and have lunch or dinner when my husband and I are craving some delicious Pakistani food and I don't feel like cooking! The owner is extremely kind and knows his spices very well when it comes to authentic Pakistani cooking! Not visually pleasing from the outside, but this place sure does make up for it with their customer service and freshly cooked food!

I moved to the area in September 2016 and have probably come here 10-15 times since to get a lunch buffet plate to go. I went in today (3/1/17) to do the same thing and was told that they don't offer a to go option for the buffet. After explaining to the man that I had done this numerous times before, he agreed and told me it would be $10. I filled the plate with a normal amount of rice/chicken and went to the counter to pay with a $20, expecting $10 in change back. Another employee took my $20 and left to get something in the kitchen. When he returned, I asked him for my change and he again left to talk to the original older man that had given me difficulties about offering a to go option for the buffet. The man told me that I "had enough food for three people" (lol) and that my total was $20. I asked him how even a large plate of food (which this wasn't) would be any different than having the buffet at the restaurant and filling my plate multiple times and all he could say was "eat in - OK". I wasn't in the mood to argue with this man so I just asked if he really believed that $20 was a fair price for how much food I had and he awkwardly wandered back to the kitchen. At this point, I had given up on getting my change to I just left to get back home and eat. As I'm pulling my car out of my parking spot and into traffic, the older man comes out of the restaurant waving me down, expecting me to stop in the middle of traffic. I have no idea what he was trying to do but he stayed outside staring at my car until I was out of sight and it was overall just a really strange experience. It's too bad because the food is good but after this odd behavior from the staff, I will definitely never be coming back.

Let's get a few things straight right off the bat: - Unless you live right next door, don't trek all the way over here (Sketchy Nowheresville, Allston) if all you want is typical Indian food. If you're not interested in anything more exotic than Chicken Tikka Masala or Tandoori Chicken, take your money and head to your local Indian restaurant instead. - If you are here to try something different ("Garsh, I wonder how Pakistani cuisine is different from Indian?"), be prepared for exotic, adventurous items that push your palate and challenge your acceptance of what's edible. - If you are this kind of adventurous eater, Darbar will be a match made in heaven. So it is best to come with a big group of like-minded foodies in order to experience everything they have to offer. Oh, and if you must bring along some prissy vegetarians/vegans, warn them ahead of time that the menu is predominantly meat, but there's a good maybe 20% that's veggie-friendly (though maybe not vegan-friendly). That way, they won't be shocked. I am an adventurous (some might say boundary-less) eater who adores exotic, "ethnic" cuisines preferably cooked in a family-style, homemade way. Darbar is exactly this kind of restaurant, right down to the adorable family with father who makes you feel like a guest in his home (seriously, the best restaurant host ever). I also came with 9 other diehard foodies, most of whom were just as adventurous as me. This is what we ordered (and what you should get): Baalti Gosht - Goat cooked with tomatoes and herbs. They were actually out of it but went and made it specially for us (have I mentioned the host and his family rock?). Came in a freakin' huge bowl and tasted incredible. Sarson Ka Saag - Mustard greens with herbs and spices. Absolutely phenomenal. You may never look at vegetables (or mustard greens, at least) the same way again. We ordered a second one of these because the first was so quickly devoured. Nihari - Beef chunks. Cow meat good. Haleem - Minced beef with lentils. Thick, creamy, good cow-liness. Paya - Oh man oh man oh man, I was practically salivating at the sight of this on the menu. Goat or beef feet soup? YESSSSS, mama! I come from the culture that eats chicken feet for dim sum. I ain't afraid of quadriped soup! God, this was so thick and creamy and savory, but be warned: it's not actually a soup like grandma's chicken noodle soup. You can't slurp it (well, you could try, but it's thick). Malai Kofta - For the less adventurous meat-eaters among us, these yummy chicken meatballs did the trick. And finally.... Magaz Masala - LAMB BRAINS!!! Yes, I said brains! We are food zombies and we eat delicious fatty lamb brains cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices. And know what? It's EXCELLENT! Other things to get that aren't quite as adventurous but still delicious: Lachha Paratha (multi-layered bread), Aloo Paratha (potato bread), Chicken Biryani (thicker and heartier than at most places) and Kashmiri Chai Tea (as creamy and delicious as Masala Chai, but inexplicably pink, thus prompting the evening-long question: "But why is it pink?") In conclusion, if everything mentioned above didn't scare the bejesus out of you, go eat here.

Authentic South Asian food! It doesn't get any more real than this. The service may be lackluster, the ambience almost sketchy, but the food is amazing. Beware that their dishes are very, very spicy and quite oily. I can only take so much without risking serious heartburn or worse. But I'll take that over the garbage most Boston area South Asian restaurants serve. At least you're not stuck with the same old "Chicken Tikka Masala" made with nothing but boneless breast meat.

Food: 3.5/5.0 Service: 2.5/5.0 Value: 3.5/5.0 Decor: 2.0/5.0 Overall: 3.0/5.0 Surprisingly good tikka and karahi and very reasonable pricing. The aloo palak and kashmiri chai were decent but the naan was mediocre. I'd call it an upside surprise v. expectations set by the location.

Hands down one of the best restaurants for Pakistani and Mughlai cuisine. The kebabs are flavorful and juicy, and the haleem (a thick, mashed paste of lentils, wheat and beef, heavily seasoned) is always consistently delicious with their laccha paratha (flaky, thin bread). Their standard North Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala etc are some of the best renditions in town. The palak paneer has such a fresh taste with huge chunks of tooth-squeaking paneer. Service is always prompt and courteous. My wife and I have been coming here for years, and we're always met with a warm smile and service from the owner. Heck, I've even had a birthday party there!

Five stars for everything...customer service, establishment, food, and because they're down the street from my job, why not throw in location. ...not to be confused with Indian food, though similar, Pakistani food is quite different. While the spices for the most part were the same, the food had a different flare, not sure that I can put my finger on it just yet because it was my first time at both Darbar as well as dining Pakistani style. Very refreshing! Lots of heat too!!! I love spicy so I was all about it. The chef that I met, who I'm sure is also the owner, was seriously the friendliest host I've ever had. Very interested in my palette, lol. Sounds weird but seriously...I told him that I was an Indian food fanatic, and also a vegetarian, he then suggested different entrees and made sure that I was a vegetarian and not a vegan, telling me which entrees were had eggs in them. Will definitely be back...oh, and the prices are on par.

The food was flavorful and a nice spice mix, though a bit on the oily side. The big disappointment was the naan, which lacked the soft texture and flavor it should have. If you skip the bread, the rice dishes may be a better option, but I didn't try them. I got takeout.

Great local place to take friends or family. Traditional tasty food. Yum

#Cheap #Poorhospitality I went with my family, and ordered 6 main courses plus an entree which was highly recommend by the owner and wait staff: Chicken 65. I've had Chicken 65 several times, and their chicken 65 was "pathetic". The chef was neither able to maintain the usual crispy strong south indian flavour nor it has correct ingredients - it tasted like regular wings. Besides that, we ordered Haleem, (Yashni) Mutton Palau, Saag, Maghaz (Brain Masala). Palau was a mix b/w biryani and matar palao and it was made with lamb as against mutton as it was advertised. Maghaz (Brain Masala) had a very strong flavour of channa dal, which I believe was mixed with actual brain chunks to save money. I wouldn't recommend saag unless you are a super big fan of sarsoon ka saag, while, there was no garam masala / chaat masala provided with Haleem, which I felt was important ingredient, and lacked the usual haleem flavour. Finally, the wait staff was quite annoying to the point of bothering us consistently with his remarks and questions. Moreover, as we were actually having our food, he was sarcastically pointed out that the my brother's baby girl had made a mess, she's a toddler 10months old, her mother was feeling her rice and a handful of rice grains had fallen down on the table and the floor, he actually removed the baby chair just to have a good look without showing even a slight bit of concern for our convenience. I probably could have said something but decided to kept my calm and stayed quiet just to avoid creating a distasteful scene for my family. And, when the final bill arrived we noticed that one of the items were $15.99 which was the entree, this was actually more expensive than Brain Masala, most main courses were b/w $8-15. I wouldn't have ordered chicken 65 at a Pakistani restaurant but the wait staff insisted and mentioned that this was introduced recently. Clearly one horrible experience, definitely wont go again and neither recommend to anyone!

As others have said, earlier, its surroundings can be off putting, but don;t let them keep you away, this place is solid! I had wanted to check this place out for nearly a year, as i passed by it regularly, but, for some reason, (i think it was the location, and i don't know why) i didn't make the trip over. My loss, because i was missing out on some great indian or Pakistani food (i couldn't tell you the difference, 'cause most places i go seem to do both, and its not advertised which is which). I think my favorite aspect of this place is that is has DINNER BUFFETS on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Darbar also seems to have some menu items that i have not seen at other similar places, they are a bit more "exotic" (see liver and brains), i had the liver inadvertently one night at the buffet, and to my surprise i really enjoyed it, and i don't even care for liver! Well played Darbar, well played. Please don't let the option to get liver or brains turn you off, as they have basic indian options like Chicken Tiki Masala, ect, that is also very good. The service is awesome also, very friendly, and funny as well, willing to crack a few jokes at everyone's expense :)

I went here with 4 of my best friends to get a chilled dinner and experience what one of them referred as a "hidden culinary jewel". We arrived around 8:30pm the place was almost empty. The first thing I noticed was the very simple and plain decor, borderline with cheap. However, I like the fact that they had indian news on the screen and traditional music on the background I was hesitant to order (you always hear of people having tough times with indian food and the place didn't charmed me). My friend took the initiative and ordered all sorts of starters. Oh my, was I wrong! The food was really good (not the chicken tikka though). We ordered Veggie Samosas (good) Beef Masala (excellent) lamb kebabs (very good) lentils (good) Chicken curry (very good) chicken tika massala (good) garlic bread (excellent) Paya (not my favorite) Chat Papri (interesting but didn't like it), among others and some awesome Mango Lassis. Overall the food was better than expected. Employees were friendly (we were the only ones though) and prices accommodating. Good experience overall but don't know if I would ever ask anyone for dinner there.

I would give this place 10 stars if possible. Lovely ambience and such good service. Everyone here greets you with a big smile on their face and makes you feel at home. The food, don't even get me started. We were a party of 12 and ordered a variety of dishes and were not disappointed by any of them. All through our 2 hours at the place, the only conversation we had was about how good the food is. I have been in the Boston area for the last 10 years and by far this is the most authentic it gets to North Indian/Pakistani cuisine. Loved it ! Will recommend it 100 percent.

We went to this restaurant during Ramadan. We wanted to order from the menu but were coerced by the owner into ordering from the aftaar buffet. Afterwards the owner came to our table and started rebuking my Hindu friend for drinking water before prayer time. We told him that she is Hindu and she doesn't have to fast but he kept on insisting that she was being disrespectful. Interestingly he didn't stop a white family sitting next to our table from eating. Another time when I went to this restaurant, the owner when handing us our bill noticed that my friend had some food left over in her plate, he made it a point of rebuking my friend for not finishing her food saying she was brig disrespectful. The owner really needs to mind his own business!! Very bad service!