Vimal V
Google
“All style, all shine… and sadly, not enough substance.”
Easy to find with plenty of free parking. The large green hoardings are clear and visible from the road, so no confusion there. The entrance, however, is a bit clumsy—awkward doors, slightly confusing, and not very clean. But once you step inside, it’s a whole different story.
The interiors are genuinely impressive. Chandeliers, large tables, spacious booths, and a lot of breathing room—something most Indian restaurants in Scarborough struggle with. The ambiance is inviting, charming, and relaxing to the point that it actually takes a moment to settle in and absorb the space.
The menu is very elaborate, covering a wide range of vegetarian dishes from both North and South India. We ordered the North Indian thali, South Indian thali, and a few parathas. The food took some time to arrive, but when it did, it looked grand and abundant. They are definitely not skimping on quantity. The plates and utensils matched the upscale vibe too—large, fancy, and visually pleasing. Variety-wise, there’s a lot going on, and presentation is strong.
Unfortunately, that’s where the positives stop.
The pulao rice was undercooked. I was dining with a colleague and noticed his plate had an extra paratha while mine was missing one—even though we both ordered the North Indian thali. I chose to stay diplomatic and not bring it up, partly to avoid awkwardness and partly because it shouldn’t be something the customer has to point out.
The kofta curry tasted slightly stale. My wife ordered the South Indian thali and was disappointed with several items, especially the sambar and rasam, which were both below average. Even the kesari, while visually impressive, lacked the richness and finish of a well-made dessert—it looked good but didn’t deliver.
It felt like the restaurant invested heavily in ambiance, utensils, and portion size, but somewhere along the way, lost focus on the most important thing: taste.
The waiter was polite and helpful when present, but kept disappearing. Given how large the dining area is, getting her attention wasn’t easy, which further affected the experience.
Pricing is nominal—around $20 for a thali and $10 for parathas—and for the showy ambiance and fancy serveware, it almost feels justified. But the food quality and service don’t live up to the setting.
There are other vegetarian spots nearby, like Subhiksha down Eglinton, which may not look fancy at all but more than make up for it with consistently excellent food.
I don’t see myself coming back here for thalis again. That said, I might risk another visit to try their tiffin items—hoping the execution there is better than what we experienced this time.
