Surmai

We tried this Maharashtrian Coastal Food restaurant in Sunnyvale and were quite happy with the food being served here. The ambience is nothing much to write home about but reasonably clean. We had fried pomfret for starters along with sol kadi and mango lassi. We followed it up with surmai thali, pomfret thali and pandari rassa with rice bhakri as the main dishes. All items were well made and the pomfret fry was a standout. We would have however, liked the rassa in both the surmai and pomfret dishes to be more flavourful and tasty akin to the traditional coastal preparation. The service was quick and efficient!

This restaurant was such a welcome discovery! My husband and our friend shared fish and mutton dishes and I ordered the kadai paneer, which was full of flavor. We also enjoyed the Szechuan fried rice (vegetarian version!) with egg on top- it was so beautiful, like a perfect pot pie. It was full of flavors and I love the combination of rice and noodles and how tender but crisp the peppers were. The sauce was 👌🔥. The spice levels were perfect! The naan, soft and buttery. The mango lassi also was a star, that perfectly presented the fragrant flavors of the mango. Some places they are watery, overly sweet or a strange color- not here! Sweet and tangy. At the end we shared butterscotch and alphonso mango ice creams! Super balanced and delicious. I heard they make them in house so you will want to try for yourself! The staff was very nice and helpful, and there are beautiful art panels on the walls with peacocks and egrets. Will keep this place in mind next time we are in the area. 🥰

Friday evening was as popular. We arrived early without reservation and got a table in five minutes. We ordered a Super thaali and a fish thaali. Both thaalis arrived together in 15 minutes. Fried prawns were definitely the best tasting dish. Fish was good too (not dry not too oily). Fish thaali came with something in a bowl(probably daal) that didn’t taste good. Super thaali had Tamdra Pandra Rassa and Solkadi. Chicken and Mutton were perfectly cooked. Overall One thaali is more than enough for one person. There is also option to order dishes from menu. Worth visiting at least once.

Great food, really loved the kolambi (tiger prawns) fry. We ordered a paplet thali which was big enough for 2 people, I felt there was some salt missing (not sure if it was just me) But the pomfret was delicious. Will be back to try other recipes. You might have to wait 10-20 mins to get a table if it’s a busy day.

One of the best indian (Marathi) food experiences. Never imagined this place was so good. The bold flavors across every dish were exceptional. Crab masala was the show stealer for me, not to disregard the mutton roast that comes in the thali. Top notch food gasm overall.

Being from PNW, Thali at Surmai was one of the best thalis that we had lately. We tried Vegeterian thali and Chicken thali. The rice bhakri was really soft, all curries in the thali were perfect. My wife being from Malvan part of India just loved the chicken thali. We also tried their falooda and that was amazing as well! Definetly looking forward to revisit.

I love coastal Indian cuisine, specially that from the Konkan region of India, and hence I was really excited to visit the restaurant. Went on a lunch on Saturday, and it was pretty full. I was able to get a table for two without any waiting, though. The cutlery and the utensils, definitely remind me of India and so does the ambience. Most of the folks eating their seem to be from the subcontinent, which is always a good sign that the restaurant does not cater to the western palette. My friend who has been here suggested the Thali. I got the special Thali, which is made focused with some rava prawns while he got the Surmai thali which is more fish forward. I also got the Surmai rubber fry on the side. The Bhakri were excellent. We ordered a bunch more. I loved the fish fry, which was the right amount of spicy and crunchy, and it took me back to a lunch I had years back in a coastal Maharashtra town. I love the chicken and the mutton too but it wasn’t as special. The sol kadhi was a complete letdown and was missing the essential freshness and spiciness that you expect from a freshly made sol kadhi. It looked as if it was prepared ahead, and I could hardly taste the coconut. As somebody who loves sol kadhi, I was definitely disappointed and hence not giving it a five star. Having said that, this place probably comes the closest to experiencing an authentic western Indian coastal cuisine.

If you fancy Marathi cuisine, you HAVE to try this out. The food here is absolutely upto the mark. The spice and flavours you crave for as an Indian, you get it all. I tried the special thali and a separate plate of Surmai fry. I ate till I had to stuff my self. It was totally worth it. Inspite of the rush and long waiting queue, the service was really good, really appreciate that.

Ordered from surmai today for a friend visiting. She absolutely loved the surmai fry and fish curry which reminded her of home. We also ordered the tamda rassa which had kick of good spice which I don't find in many restaurants and dal fry which you can't go wrong with.! 10/10 would definitely recommend.

A true authentic Konkani Maharastrian fish Curry rice and awesome Konkani food. Was treated by server from Goan Trely Oliver. Will definitely be my fish place to go every time I visit SCLA

Pros: -Food: Great portions for reasonable prices. I got the Surmai Thali and honestly when I picked it, I had no idea what is in it or what it includes. But as soon as they brought it over, It was a lot for 30 dollars and its savory and aroma from the spices is unlike anything that I have tried before. I ate everything and I had to unbutton my pants to just breath so you know the food was good! -Service: I initially came here because I was pretty hungry and I wanted Indian food. Im Chinese and I was the only one there that Wednesday lunch was so it was a bit funny for me. The service there was amazing and I was happy that I was not being treated differently because of my race so that was a plus :D. But the people here are nice and I am glad that I came here. - Area: Parking is great and the restaurant is clean and sanitary. I love a clean famiy restaurant. Cons: N/A: There is nothing that I can think of that is a con in this restaurant. Just the wait times but it's not too noticeable to be mentioned since it was lunch time. Overall: Nothing, If you want the best Indian food that I have ever tried (which is 5 spots but...) then come to Surmai. Its worth every penny and love the flavor, staff and clean!

Some highlights and some misses We walked into this unassuming restaurant for some Indian fare. They have good variety on the menu, with a good mix of proteins. Apparently, they are known for their fish. PSA, everything here is well spiced and borderline too spicy. If I were to come back, I would probs ask them to tone it down. *Surmai Rava Fish Fry - two clean cut fillets. they showed us the whole fish before they cooking haha. It was very well spiced, came out hot and tender. however, it was slightly fishy *Special Thali - The pawns were probably my favorite. spicy, crispy, and succulent. Second was probably the Mutton which came in a rich spicy sauce. Chicken was decent. I didn't really enjoy any of the soups or dessert drink - all of them were savory and slightly creamy? maybe just not for my tastebuds. *Chicken Tikka - tender meat, but pretty vanilla *Garlic Naan - delicious, but nothing special

Cons - mutton curry's meat isn't that great, didn't feel fresh, didn't taste yummy - lassi isn't good, felt Salty or something.. they should try tasting Zareen's lassy for a hint - plain naan is too expensive Pros - their naan's are made perfect, delicious

This is the updates of the reviews. The after taste of the foods were considerably delightful, and make you want to try other items.

Visited Surmai for a weekend lunch with friends and had a great experience overall. We ordered the airmail thali, egg curry, chicken thali, and an extra sol kadi. The thali portions are generous, especially the Surmai thali which includes two well-fried pieces of fish, flavorful fish curry, sol kadi, bhakri, and rice. Everything was well-prepared and satisfying, and we all enjoyed our meals. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout, and while the ambiance is simple, the space is clean and comfortable.

Ah this is a tricky one. Wanted to love this restaurant, and while it was sort-of good, it was not great. I have not seen this type of Indian cuisine in a lot of major Indian cities - most restaurants showcase food from northern or southern parts of India. This one features dishes from the western part and I was very excited. We ordered a whole lot of different dishes- Konkani chicken masala Machchi cha kalvan Pandhra rassa Tambda rassa Rava fry surmai Rava fry pomfret Rava fry kolambi (shrimp) Prawn masala fry Solkadhi Special of the day - chicken biryani My favorites of the lot were the prawn masala fry (tasty), Rava fry pomfret (fresh), and chicken biryani (complex blend of spices, flavorful), solkadhi (was salty, but after we diluted it, it was perfect). The rest didn't have the authentic flavor that I was expecting. The surmai also had a fishy taste and didn't seem as fresh as it should/could be. Service was quite efficient even though the restaurant was full. The only dish that arrived after we had finished eating everything was the pomfret Rava fry so that's something to keep in mind. Decor has some nice elements from that part of the world, so try and look out for them. Overall, the reviews were mixed in our party - half the people enjoyed it and half were a tad disappointed, like me.

FANTASTIC restaurant! Food was outstanding and service was excellent. I've never been to an Indian seafood restaurant before and this set the bar! My table of two ordered the Surmai thali, Kolambi Masala, and a side of garlic naan. Everything was phenomenal and flavors were bold and definitely on the spicier side. I love getting thali because there's so much variety and this didn't disappoint! I especially loved the bhakri (rice flour bread) that came with the thali, which I'd never had before. I loved the chewy, almost mochi-like texture and it was a great vehicle for the curries. The fried fish that came with the Surmai thali was a little bit fishy but the lemon wedge helped. The garlic naan was perfect with its pull-apart softness and light garlicky aroma. Service was great. They kept checking on us and made sure we were taken care of. We were the only non-South Asian people there! Lots of parking available. Restrooms are clean. Lots of seating available; we came on a weekday dinner with no wait but it was definitely busy. Would definitely be back to try more dishes!

I am by no means an Indian food expert, but this place was superrrr good. Also kinda different from all the other Indian places I've been to. I particularly liked the fish platter dish (forgot what it's called), but the fish tasted so flavorful and it was fried really well. The fish curry was also amazing and pretty unique compared to any other curries I've had. Overall the whole meal definitely hit the spot for both spice and flavor. Also got to try bhakri for the first time and absolutely loved it - it was so chewy and paired so well with the curry juices. Would for sure come back again!

WOW! This place amazing for seafood with the authentic flavors! 5/5 for service - despite just 2 servers, they were very friendly and taking care of the roomful of tables 5/5 for food - the crab and mutton masala was spicy and kadai paneer was good for the ones that don't enjoy spicy food. The fried fish was incredible 4/5 for decor - the vibe was perfect for a place that focuses on food - everyone busy chatting and enjoying their food - acoustics were well managed / not too loud Feedback for areas of improvement- the naans are like pita bread - but chapati and bakhri are genuine. Ice cream - best was falooda flavor the sitaphal and tender coconut was just sweet and cold. Decor - same picture of peacocks was repeated in the entire restaurant (except for the beautiful Shivaji painting near the ordering area) Will be back with many other friends again! Loved it!

I've heard so much about the Indian seafood specials here that I was pumped to finally try. We ordered: - a citrus drink I forgot the name of but it gave me more beet and tamarind vibes than citrus - still good but very new to me - the prawns appetizer: incredible spice blend and accompanying mint chutney - the Surmai fish fry: a fish filet with spice and crumb breading with mint chutney. The fish spice blend was intriguing and well balanced with the mint chutney but watch out for bones - surmai thali: a combo plate with the same breaded fish fillet, a peanut(?) thin soup, lentil dal, some sort of beet(?) buttermilk refresher, white rice, and some sort of flatbread. The flavors were all so new and varied - galub jamun: bc I can't not. Whatch out it comes out hot (in temperature) If I went again I wouldn't order both the surmai thai and the fish fry, as it was too much of the same fish fillet and some variety would have been good. But always get the prawns. Logistics: - indoor seating only - plenty of strip mall parking outside - it was empty at 5:30 but very busy at 6:30 - stop by what's More Cake after for a crepe cake slice if they're still open

My first-ever meal at Surmai... the indoor ambiance, endearing service, and bathroom cleanliness were all top-notch! The surmai thali and the "pomfret" thali were both delightful visual treats, as my dinner pics would attest. The fried Surmai fish pieces were marinated in lip-smacking spices; however, the semolina-basted pomfret was bland and somewhat disappointing. The curried lentils daal and the pink solkadi were superb! Our server Trely Oliver's gracious hospitality, bubbly conversation and charismatic persona, greatly enhanced a memorable birthday dinner experience!

We always make a special trip to Surmai in Sunnyvale whenever we're in Berkeley. It's a bit of a drive, but the vibrant Konkan flavors are absolutely worth it. Dishes like the crab curry, kolambi curry, Konkani chicken curry, and keema mutton pav never fail to delight us. The service is consistently exceptional--Trely Oliver is outstanding , and the chef went out of their way to share the intricacies of Maharashtrian cuisine with my son. If you're craving a departure from standard Indian fare, this place is a must-visit. Walking in, you can't help but notice the lively atmosphere--everyone is fully immersed in savoring every bite. Highly recommend!

Our friend treated us to this great Indian restaurant for joining a new job. We were together 8 people - 4 kids and 4 adults It was first come first serve and we were seated in 10 minutes on a Saturday evening around 7 pm. It was very loud and noisy inside the restaurant. Being an Indian and knowing this cuisine type we kind of knew what we wanted to eat. We ordered two types of shrimps for starters Kolambi shrimp - mind blowing crispness and taste Shrimp tikka - very similar to tandoori chicken - 10/10 Kokum for drinks - very delicious mocktail Main course - medium Konkani Chicken Masala - 9/10 Mutton Masala - 10/10 Rice Bhakri - never had this before, it was a very light bread, loved it! Surmai fish - amazing pan fried fish dish We will definitely go again and try some other dishes

Craving some coastal Maharashtrian cuisine? Look no further! We went here on a Saturday for lunch as a group of 6 and were seated after a 15 min wait. We had the Surmai thali, Special thali, Kolambi masala, and Surmai fry with rice and rotis, and of course, Sol kadhi. The thali has rice and bhakri with either fish or chicken and mutton accompanied by some Sol kadhi. The fish curry that came with the thali was okay, but the rest of the thali was good with a decent spice level. The group enjoyed the Kolambi masala for its spice and flavor. The Surmai fry had 2 pieces that were quite large and more than adequate for 2 people. The service was prompt and courteous despite the restaurant being quite full. The special thali was okay, with the fried shrimp being the favorite but I'd recommend sticking with the sea food offerings when you visit. Will look forward to trying their other offerings next time.

Delicious first visit to this restaurant! I went with the kolambi thali and all the food was wonderful and plentiful. Fried shrimp, cooked shrimp in a flavorful, thick curry, tomato curry (my favorite! bright and tangy taste), daal, rice, bhakri (rice flour flatbread), and solkhadi (coconut milk drink). My partner ordered the Surmai Thali which came with all the same items except fried fish and a fish curry instead of the shrimp dishes. There was a nice heat to the spice combination across dishes. Nice, casual dining area. Easy strip mall parking. Efficient service. Will return!

I was excited to try a restaurant representing seafood from Maharashtra. Really nice staff and seating area. We had the Machi Cha Kalvan and Surmai Rava Fish Fry. The Kalvan was not great, it was a heavy sauce with a bit too much starch, and few pieces of fish. The Rava fish fry was better, but it suffered from poor fish quality, which dragged down the dish despite a good spice profile. Prices were pretty high relative to the quality. I don't think I'll return.

The food is really really good. We ordered for delivery and the food was still hot and fresh. We loved their kolambi prawns and chicken. The paneer was a little hard but the flavor was on point. If you like spicy food the kolambi prawns are a hit.

I've had takeout from this restaurant a few times before, but this was my first time dining in for a weekday lunch. Finding a table was easy, and the service was warm and efficient--our food arrived fairly quickly. Being from Mumbai/Pune, this cuisine is close to my heart, and I found the flavors to be quite authentic, with generous portion sizes. The dining experience was far superior to takeout, as the fish retains its texture much better when served fresh. The kolambi fry was perfectly crispy, and I really enjoyed the bold flavor of the burnt garlic fried rice. My wife ordered the veg thali and appreciated the variety, noting that the flavors were spot on. Overall, a great experience!

I had a great dinner with a friend here a few days ago and a fantastic first experience into Maharashtrian cuisine. Shoutout to our server Trely who was attentive and answered all our questions. Plenty of seating inside, a little strong of incense smell but not unbearable. You can see their Specials menu up front which is updated regularly. Trely told us they get their fish imported from Mumbai regularly and it sure tasted like it. Had the Special Thali which included fried prawns, Konkani chicken masala, and mutton masala as the proteins. Sides of tambda rassa, pandha rassa, and solkandhi as the sauces. A heaping serving of rice and a bit of rice flour bhakri & salad for carbs. A very balanced array of food. You could honestly get away with just this and some dessert for dinner. Tasty all around, a tad salty, would get again. We also had an Egg Curry combo with garlic naan, the Mutton Kheema special of the day, and a full Surmai Rava Fish Fry. It was a feast. The egg curry to me was negligible -- overkill if you're already getting two curries in your thali. The kheema went well with the paav, but as it's minced would be fantastic with a side of rice. I was told the Rava Fish is a kind of salmon native to India. It came with an inviting green sauce and went well with some fresh chapati. Think Indian fish taco vibes. Fatty, delicate, flaky, and delicious. Favorite dish of the night. Would order again. I had a nice chai and a solkandhi for my beverages. Not a fan of the latter. It was my experience with solkandhi and while a very pretty pink drink, not something I'd get again. Super pungent and salty. I couldn't taste the coconut notes. Trely said it's the same as the sauce from the thali. Follow your heart and get a mango lassi if you like sweet drinks. Overall a very fun time. I'd gladly return and will venture out to try their other sister restaurants.

If you find yourself craving regional Indian cuisine and authentic Marathi food, you have to give this place a try. I loved how attentive they are and how their servers point you in the direction of the right things to order. Our servers was mindful of my friends dietary preferences and brought out the best chicken kebab for him. I truly haven't enjoyed plain old chicken kebab this much in a while. The staff truly wants you to fall in love with their food and repeatedly ask you(without being intrusive) if the food is upto our standards. My kolambi prawn fry was a new kind of dish for me but I'd order it regardless if it were my first time too. They do justice to Indian seafood so it's that's what you should go to this place for. The ambiance is standard so don't expect bells and whistles. Just quality Indian food served with attention and quickness! PS don't forget to order the solkadhi

Great Food & Amazing Service from Dixon! We had a wonderful experience at Surma! The staff was friendly, and our waiter, Dixon, was truly amazing - so patient, clear, and friendly. The food was great! We loved the Special Thali for its excellent mix of dishes, and the Garlic Naan and Garlic Fried Rice with Shrimp were delicious. We also enjoyed the Mango Lassi and citrus drink. The only slight oddity was no ice. Highly recommend Surma for delicious food and fantastic service, especially from Dixon!

Came here on a Wednesday night with my friend. Parking is super easy in front of the restaurant. We came at like 6:30 and there was plenty of tables around. I got a kokam sorbat at first cus I wanted to try it but I ended up not liking it and got a mango lassi instead. The service was really quick to help so it was nice. I ordered the special thali and my friend ordered the chicken thali. Everything came out quickly and our server answered all our questions. The food was SOO good, I honestly wish I had a second stomach to finish it all. It was definitely enough for one person and I could take some home. The food was so fresh and just reminded me of home. Would definitely come back!

We had a great experience at Surmai. We ordered the Surmai Thali, which came with fish fry, dal, and two types of fish curries - all full of flavor and really well done. We also tried the Triple Schezwan Rice with chicken, which came with a side of Chicken Manchurian. Super yum! Our server, Trely, was great - friendly, helpful, and recommended the fried rice. Overall, delicious food and welcoming ambiance. We would definitely come back!

Going strong. Improved taste. The Special thali came with distinct & tasty Mutton & Chicken gravies. Paplet thali came with a decent sized fresh Pomfret made to perfection. Both a must try. Neat place, friendly service. Recommend off peak days & hours.

This is authentic Indian restaurant with great Thali dishes, seafood and more, catering to Indian diners from the state of Maharastra. There are many things on the menu that non-Indian diners may not be familiar with and that are not described in the menu. But do your research, or come with someone who has spent time in India, or just ask the wait staff for recommendations. The food here is very spicy. Just be prepared for that. We loved it, but those curries were the spiciest dishes I've eaten in a long time. In the Indian tradition, be prepared for proteins not to be deboned before they are chopped up and put into your curry. I'm not sure what the protocol is for eating that way, but I guess you just have to take a bite, then remove the bones from your mouth. One of our breads was undercooked, but everything else was perfectly prepared. and they have a very nice Indian ice cream selection to cool down your pallet after the meal. This includes a saffron pistachio ice cream, we really wanted to try, but they were out. It doesn't say "saffron pistachio" on the menu; it gives the Indian (Hindi) name for everything so we Googled most things on the menu to see what they were. Still, the ice cream we did order was excellent. I would say that they should have an "Americanized" menu as an option, but they really don't need it. The place was full. All tables inside and outside were occupied and there was a line to get in. The patrons were 95% Indian, and many were dressed in beautiful Indian clothing. The cornmeal-crusted shrimp that came with my Special Thali dish was amazing, and my wife absolutely adored her whole fried fish. Maharastra is coastal, so this place specializes in seafood. Our waiter gave great advice on what we might want to order and helped us make the best decisions, even on our beverage options. The only beverage I recognized was the mango lassi. But we tried new this and we enjoyed ourselves.

We went for dinner and order couple of items like Surmai fry, Pomfret fry, mutton masala, chicken tikka masala, Kolambi (shrimp) masala, burnt garlic fried rice with chicken. I also ordered tea to finish off and change the taste bud but it was like dipping tea with no flavor. Although the service was good but the taste was below par. Seems like the chef has changed recently. Won't be coming back mostly because of taste of food.

Went to Surmai on a Friday evening for dinner and was seated right away, though most of the seats were full. The place is small, neat, cozy and has parking space right outside. Very good service by Trely, who took our order and provided info from the menu. They also kept checking on us to see if we wanted anything more and if the food was good. We ordered a Kolambi fry as appetizer, a Special thali, a side of chapati, Kokum sarbet and Aamras for dessert. Loved the rava battered tiger prawns that came with green chutney and veggies. Special thali is a shareable plate for two and all the sides were yummy, especially the mutton and chicken curries. Also we asked for a side of yogurt for our kid and they gave it for free. Finally the price was a bit above average but the quantity was good too. A nice place to check out for couples, friends and families for a good dine out.

On our visit to Bay Area, this restaurant was on my bookmark to visit. This restaurant specializes in Pescatarian thali which are in Malvani style. Over a weekday this restaurant was crowded but we didn't have to wait too long to get seated. Service was quick. We tried the Prawn thaali and me coming from a Goa, I must say the thali exceeded my expectation. The rice roti, raven prawn dry that were perfectly fried and melting in mouth to the prawn curry which was appetizing along with the sol kadhi, dal and red rassa were worth the salt. There is not a single item on my thaali that I did not relish. Their paan ice cream was too good! Not too sweet but fresh paan flavors bursting in the mouth. Definitely worth trying !

Excellent service and taste. Trely was very quick to pick up the order and get the food. Appreciate. Thanks Trely

Solid spot, picked up takeout on my way home. Veg Manchurian and Burnt Garlic rice was a tasty combo, can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

We love coming here for seafood -- it has quickly become our favorite spot for seafood thalis! The service and hospitality are always excellent. A special mention to Trely, who consistently makes sure we are well taken care of.

Very flavorful Indian food. The shrimp was a tad over cooked, but everything else made up for it

Came here on a Sunday at around 1:30 pm. There was a line at the entrance, but it moved quickly and we were seated in less than 10 minutes. We ordered 2 pamplet thali, 1 surmai thali, kolmbi fry, bangde fry (the day's special), triple Schezwan fried rice and chicken (Indo-Chinese style). All of the Konkan coastal food was delicious. The Pamplets (thankfully the Indian silver pomfret and not the golden pampano) was decent sized and tasted great. For drinks, we had solkadi and a couple of kokum sherbets. The servers are very friendly and attentive. We had a pleasant experience.

The food here is very flavorful and plated very nicely. My friend and I were met with great service from server, Dixon, whom was very knowledgeable about the menu and took the time to explain what the items were as first time guests. The total vibe of the restaurant is very warm and welcoming. It is a plus that the tables are already prepared with plates, utensils, cups, and a filled pitcher of water! Now back to the food we had ordered Thali's which appears to be a platter of food which is filled with rich flavor. To complete this meal we ended with trying the Kesar Pista ice cream delicious and refreshing! I would come back!

Wife is a fish lover and she insisted we drive for one hr to go try the food here. They are open 12 -3 on website but kitchen closes at 3:15. Didn't take the name down on waitlist. They were running quite busy. Inside is a small area so with our stroller we opted to sit outside. There is enough shade /umbrellas for 6/7 families. We had surmai fry - the best one as the name suggests 5/5 Paplet fry - 5/5 Salmon fry - wasn't favorite in the table 3/5 macchi che kalvan ( pomfret) - 4/5 Bhakri - 3/5 felt a bit chewy Solkadhi - 5/5 Kolam sharbet-4/5 Chicken kabab - 4/5 Service was quick and liked that they served side salad with fried fish. Definitely going again even though it's a drive for us!.

Amazing food, authentic Maharashtrian!!!! Service was so good too! Especially by Trely! Ambiance is also authentic Maharashtrian!

Found myself in Sunnyvale for some volleyball with friends and decided to finally stop by Surmai, the sister restaurant of Puranpoli in Santa Clara. Seating was a breeze at 3:30 on a Sunday and the three of us selected a preset table near the pay station. Our water jug was pretty much empty on arrival (which would become a reoccurring theme throughout the meal) - however, every other aspect of our service was pretty solid. Vishal was our server and, seeing as this was all of our first times having traditional Maharashtrian cuisine, was more than willing to answer my questions regarding the menu. I decided to branch out from my trusty mango lassi and try the Solkadhi beverage, a thick, peppery, and tart-savory traditional drink made with coconut milk and kokam that felt like I was drinking a pasta sauce. I must say I did not particularly enjoy this beverage, but its popularity as described by VIshal makes me think this might just be a cultural difference in palate. The food was a different story - we ordered 2 special thalis ($28.99) and 1 paplet thali ($32.99), which were little sampler plates of different dishes on a large platter. The special came with chicken and mutton masala, cornmeal fried kolambi prawns, onion and cabbage salad, rice and bhakri (rice flour flatbread), and a small bowl each of solkadhi, mutton broth, and tomato broth. I absolutely loved the mutton masala - I think it's the best way I've tried that protein ever - and the shrimp was crispy, flavorful, and not overcooked. I will note that as someone who isn't the best with spice, the default spice level was just right for me to enjoy with ample amounts of water. Vishal explained the broths were for drinking throughout the meal rather than dipping (as we initially inferred) and kindly brought us a cilantro chutney that went well with everything on my plate. My friend who had the paplet thali had a fried pomfret fish and fish curry instead of the prawns and masala, the former of which was quite sizable and very flaky. We washed up in their very clean bathroom and left absolutely stuffed. Would come again!

Surmai specializes in coastal Maharashtrian cuisine, known for its hot, spicy flavors, and the chefs here did not hold back! Nearly everything that came on the Special Thali was super spicy from the coconut-based Konkani Chicken Masala (with bone-in thigh meat) and Mutton Masala (with tough bone-in chunks of mutton) to the Kolambi Fry, four tiger prawns coated in Malvani spices and a crispy rava (semolina) batter. The thali also came with a spicy Tambda Rassa (chicken/mutton broth) and a mild Pandhra Rassa (chicken/mutton broth with coconut milk), both of which were hot, unctuous, and flavorful. The one cooling component was the Solkadhi, a cool, pink-colored drink made of coconut milk and kokum fruit, and the thali also came with rice, salad (shredded cabbage and red onions), and bhakri, a chewy, mochi-like flatbread made of rice flour. Overall, the food here was delicious and featured bold, authentic flavors that really make you break a sweat!

We had an absolutely wonderful dinner at Surmai in Sunnyvale! The food (Crab Masala, Prawns Fry, Fish Fry) was flavorful, fresh, and truly outstanding; every dish impressed us. Special thanks to Trelly Oliver for providing such warm and attentive service; you made our evening feel special. Also, big compliments to the kitchen staff and chefs--your talent really shines through every bite. We'll definitely be back!

Amazing well spiced and full of maharastrian flavors. Smoky fried fish goes very well with mint chutney sauce. Servers are very nice and food comes out quick

A decent place to grab Indian food with unique menu options! They specialize in Coastal Indian cuisine, and they also have Indo Chinese food too. I got the Paplet Thali becuase I really wanted to experience their seafood dishes! The Macchi Cha Kalvan was VERY SPICY, but packed with a lot of flavor. The paplet fish was deep fried with a crispy breading. This was delicious! However, the rest of the thali fell short for me. Nothing special. I'd recommend just ordering the Paplet Rava Fish Fry instead of the thali. We also got a Chicken Tikka Masala to share! This was different than others that I have had. The gravy was VERY THICK, which I liked - easy to pick up with naan. The spices were very strong though. Not very creamy, and more tomato in the flavor. Spicy as well!

This might be the most happening restaurant in this quiet corner of Sunnyvale - it was packed to the brim but thankfully the wait was not too long. I'm not usually the biggest fan of seafood but my partner is so we gave this place a shot and ordered the Paplet Thali, the Crab (a temporary special), and the chicken tikka kebab. Everything came out fairly quickly and was packed with flavor. The thali was very authentic and reminded me of a similar dish I had at a roadside thali house in Goa. Even the chicken tikka (which doesn't really belong in Maharashtrian cuisine but was perhaps included to make the uninitiated more comfortable) was charred to perfection and was juicy and tender. Be warned that the default spice level is high so let the waiter know ahead of time if you want to make a change!

A good maharashtrian place ! I was happy to be able to try bakri! The fish is also good .

Was really excited to try this place because of all the raving reviews! Service is direct. The flavors were definitely there, we ordered the shrimp thali and the fish thali which were both flavorful. However, it was pretty salty and for me, I could not tolerate the spice. The salt was more overwhelming for me but the Bhakri was incredible!

Great place @ great service by Trely Olivera @ good food with great fish dishes Uzooooooooo

Awesome Maharastrian seafood thali place. There was no wait at all on a Monday afternoon, and the menu selection was vast. I tried the Paplet Thali and my favorite items were the fish curry and the pomfret fry. It was a huge amount of food so you could share one thali per two people and it's very affordable that way. 100% recommend coming back!

Waiter was really nice and explained things before we ordered. Garlic fried rice was Amazing. Would have loved to take home a bunch of the butter naan. It was right out of the oven warm and made the rice and chicken masala even that much better. I will be back if I'm ever in the area again.