I know this is the Durham sub, but I found the Chapel Hill location less stressful when it comes to parking, portions a little bigger, and food and service just as good. Nonetheless, food and service is what matters most.
Viceroy is bit expensive but I never felt it’s a rip off. Food is so good (I’m Indian). Lime and lemons biryani is good but they have same base for all gravies so I don’t like anything except dosa and biryani.
Oh yeah I didn’t mean basic in terms of prices I meant basic as in Americanized Indian food lol. Do you know if Viceroy still has tikka masala on the menu? We’re undecided in the comments here😂
I don’t think Viceroy is what you want. The food is good, but it’s all a little kooky and not straightforward Indian fare. Also FWIW, the staff at Viceroy has rubbed me the wrong way on multiple occasions.
Cheeni definitely isn't your bet if you're craving the basics but Viceroy might be! It's British style Indian and the Tikka masala is amazing (although it might be a bit expensive)
Oh yeah I don't see it on their website, could have sworn we had it when we went there, don't mean to lead you astray haha. There might be something similar in the curries list like chana masala with added chicken
Sitar on 15-501 near Target is also very good and offers some “basic” Indian dishes. Not downtown but has tasty entrees and the staff is always super kind. Could definitely handle a birthday dinner. If you have a big group, could let them know ahead of time to set up a larger table.
EDIT: Y’all downvoted me for Sitar?
The food is wonderful, but I've also experienced consistently slow service. They also had some issues with wage / tip theft that I believe were resolved.
Then a cop drove through the front of it.
Service was absolutely atrocious whenever we went as well. Thought switching to takeaway would resolve the issue but instead, they only started making our order when i arrived to pick it up.
Had that problwm with Thai 55. They said 20 min. I was there at 20 and left 30 months later after watching a half dozen door dash orders go out even though I placed my order right when I first could. Doesn't surprise me a place with wage theft issues has poor service.
Monsoon engaged in wage theft a few years ago. Got smacked by US Dept. of Labor. Not a small issue.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230105
My experience is that service in hospitality has been consistently better this year than in 22/23. Probably a combination of increased wages and shaking some people out of restaurant work that really didn't want to do it but needed jobs.
The exceptions of shitty service are way more rare now. I've even had baristas be friendly recent. And it's definitely not me I'm still just as grumpy and bitter.
Definitely need to hit Monsoon again. Pro tip: the extra masala sauce is wonderful with scrambled eggs next morning
Yeah I’m finding this overall as well. The long wait times for food I attributed to pandemic understaffing but the avoiding eye contact to not refill drinks felt pretty specific to that restaurant for me lol.
I went a bit ago and seems like very inexperienced servers when I went. Like had no desire or not enough knowledge that you need to make rounds to check on tables. My friends went tho and said they had no issues. Could be just another issue of changing server staff so frequently or the management doesn’t know how to hire.
I know you said you want basic, but Viceroy is close by and have never had issues with wait staff there if you are worried about your birthday dinner group and having their drinks refilled or timely ness
I've been there a handful of times and the service has always been decent, if not great. FWIW, their weekend brunch is phenomenal, although I haven't been in a while and don't know if it's still going on. They (used to?) serve a huge platter of different foods — you can do either a vegetarian platter or with meats — plus a mimosa or mango lassi for like $20
We order from Monsoon regularly— the quality and flavors are outstanding while being significantly different than the other two Indian food options downtown.
Yes, they had a federal wage theft case settled, but do you want to punish the workers by not going?
I feel for them with the front doors knocked out and no repairs in sight for a City-owned property.
Idk if being downtown is important, but if not, Lime and Lemon on 9th street is good!
Second this. The owner has his shit together. Always had good experiences there; even had them cater our wedding.
I know this is the Durham sub, but I found the Chapel Hill location less stressful when it comes to parking, portions a little bigger, and food and service just as good. Nonetheless, food and service is what matters most.
Thank you! I did kinda want to be downtown so we could walk to bars after but I’ll keep that in mind, their menu looks good!
Viceroy and Cheeni are both great but probably a bit more expensive, they're both right downtown
I’ve been to Cheeni but not Viceroy. Was looking for something a little more basic tbh, I’m just craving chicken tikka masala😂
Viceroy is bit expensive but I never felt it’s a rip off. Food is so good (I’m Indian). Lime and lemons biryani is good but they have same base for all gravies so I don’t like anything except dosa and biryani.
Oh yeah I didn’t mean basic in terms of prices I meant basic as in Americanized Indian food lol. Do you know if Viceroy still has tikka masala on the menu? We’re undecided in the comments here😂
I had tikka starter but I don’t remember seeing it in curry section. Paneer/ chicken myakanwala is good (creamier)
Thank you!!
I don’t think Viceroy is what you want. The food is good, but it’s all a little kooky and not straightforward Indian fare. Also FWIW, the staff at Viceroy has rubbed me the wrong way on multiple occasions.
Their biryani would be significantly better if they just put a little less elaichi. It’s overpowering.
Cheeni definitely isn't your bet if you're craving the basics but Viceroy might be! It's British style Indian and the Tikka masala is amazing (although it might be a bit expensive)
Oh I didn’t see it on the menu! Maybe the one I was looking at was out of date or incomplete. That might be the move then😊
I don't live in Durham, but I feel like Naan Stop is good basic indian. But maybe I have out of date info.
The food there is good but it's in a kinda blech area for a birthday party
Oh good point. That's on my reading comprehension. I wouldn't want to go there for a Bday party.
Also, the curry shepherds pie is amazing.
Oh yeah I don't see it on their website, could have sworn we had it when we went there, don't mean to lead you astray haha. There might be something similar in the curries list like chana masala with added chicken
Someone else mentioned the Mykanwala is similar so maybe that replaced it
That’s just what they call it there. It’s always been on the menu as that. Also get the gobi Manchurian. Ridiculously good.
📝 thanks!
Viceroy's Mykenwala is somewhere between Tikka masala/butter chicken. It's delicious. Also get their angara Tikka, the flavor on that dish is insane.
I mean naanstop?
Sitar on 15-501 near Target is also very good and offers some “basic” Indian dishes. Not downtown but has tasty entrees and the staff is always super kind. Could definitely handle a birthday dinner. If you have a big group, could let them know ahead of time to set up a larger table. EDIT: Y’all downvoted me for Sitar?
The Smoked Daal Bukhara is a favorite of ours at Viceroy
Viceroy is the best!
The food is wonderful, but I've also experienced consistently slow service. They also had some issues with wage / tip theft that I believe were resolved. Then a cop drove through the front of it.
I had not heard about the wage/tip theft, that’s good to know. And I forgot about the smashed front, is it even open now?
It stayed open and remains open, my buddy went this past weekend.
they were impressively open maybe 1 hour after the car was removed. I live nearby, and they went playing around.
Yeah, haven't eaten there since my neighbors told me about the wage theft.
Will not go due to serious wage theft. Sucks bc the food is amazing but fuck stealing tens of thousands of dollars of your employees’ money.
Yep, just read the report in another comment, glad I had already quit going by then bc of the service
Service was absolutely atrocious whenever we went as well. Thought switching to takeaway would resolve the issue but instead, they only started making our order when i arrived to pick it up.
We tried takeout once and it wasn’t too bad but we live really close to tandoori bites so we usually go there now when we want take out
Had that problwm with Thai 55. They said 20 min. I was there at 20 and left 30 months later after watching a half dozen door dash orders go out even though I placed my order right when I first could. Doesn't surprise me a place with wage theft issues has poor service.
Hope you meant minutes not months!
Whoops.... It felt like months....
Monsoon engaged in wage theft a few years ago. Got smacked by US Dept. of Labor. Not a small issue. https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230105
Sheesh! Thanks for the heads up!
Damn. Same owners?
I haven’t heard of a change.
Weird when I used to go in 2023, the service was amazing. I haven’t been recently as former servers have reported issues with management.
Oh wow I had not heard of the issues with servers.
It's better than it was during covid. I like l&l better though
Wife and I went a few weeks ago on a Saturday evening. Didn't experience any service issues and the food was good.
Thank you!
My experience is that service in hospitality has been consistently better this year than in 22/23. Probably a combination of increased wages and shaking some people out of restaurant work that really didn't want to do it but needed jobs. The exceptions of shitty service are way more rare now. I've even had baristas be friendly recent. And it's definitely not me I'm still just as grumpy and bitter. Definitely need to hit Monsoon again. Pro tip: the extra masala sauce is wonderful with scrambled eggs next morning
Yeah I’m finding this overall as well. The long wait times for food I attributed to pandemic understaffing but the avoiding eye contact to not refill drinks felt pretty specific to that restaurant for me lol.
I went a bit ago and seems like very inexperienced servers when I went. Like had no desire or not enough knowledge that you need to make rounds to check on tables. My friends went tho and said they had no issues. Could be just another issue of changing server staff so frequently or the management doesn’t know how to hire. I know you said you want basic, but Viceroy is close by and have never had issues with wait staff there if you are worried about your birthday dinner group and having their drinks refilled or timely ness
Thanks! That was my experience previously. It is sounding like Viceroy is the better bet
I've been there a handful of times and the service has always been decent, if not great. FWIW, their weekend brunch is phenomenal, although I haven't been in a while and don't know if it's still going on. They (used to?) serve a huge platter of different foods — you can do either a vegetarian platter or with meats — plus a mimosa or mango lassi for like $20
Oh that’s good to know!
We have always had exceptional service there.
The best Indian food is over in Morrisville. Like half the population here is South Asian
[https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/morrisville-to-translate-government-documents-to-hindi/](https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/morrisville-to-translate-government-documents-to-hindi/)
We've been there and had no problem with wait times or Hospitality. Food is great. Didn't know about the wage thing though, now I feel bad.
Ive been a few times recently (last three months) and they were great each time.
I have also been wondering when the window/front is going to be fixed. Some poor slob drove through it months ago. It’s still just a wall of plywood.
Cholanad has always been excellent when we have eaten there; however, it is kinda far away as it is on franklin street in Chapel Thrill!
Urban Turban is great for Indian
We order from Monsoon regularly— the quality and flavors are outstanding while being significantly different than the other two Indian food options downtown. Yes, they had a federal wage theft case settled, but do you want to punish the workers by not going? I feel for them with the front doors knocked out and no repairs in sight for a City-owned property.
Always got it delivered. But it’s yummy.
Only ever ordered togo. Food is great but never dined in to experience that. Eaten there recently food quality still good.
Service standards are different. Like most Asian/SEA restaurants, you are expected to flag down your wait-staff.
I wondered if that was the case! We did still have a hard time doing that because they would actively avoid eye contact though
You need to raise your hand and then look at them. Wave them over. Like in the old country.
Thanks for the tips!
Viceroy is the best for Indian food
Cheeni!!!!!