Gate Of India

In Short – Just steps from the busy Third Street Promenade, this restaurant hideaway is warmly lit and decorated with intricate, brocaded tapestries. The menu features a selection of classic Indian fare such as chicken tandoori, naan loaded with toasted garlic bits, and mango chutney. But the hip international clientele comes for the house specialties, like fall-off-the-bone ginger chicken swathed in spicy-sweet paste, and coconut curry bobs with vegetables in a thick, heady sauce.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:: Save room for the dessert specialty, gajar halvah, a blend of pureed carrots sweetened with syrup made from ginger and milk, then topped with slivered almonds.

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User Reviews (32)

ambiance	66.66999816894531% positive	“understand we might be paying for location but ive been to phenomenal indian restaurants which were decently priced, with friendly service and generous portions plus they had toilet seat covers.” “On the upside, the food was very flavorful, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.” “The service and atmosphere were good, but the food was overpriced.” “The ambience was great since there was no one around!” “It is an overpriced buffet ($10.99+tip $2.00 - very generous and never again), perhaps because of the location.” “It doesn't rate high for ambiance and the servers are FOB Indian (and sometimes Mexican) but the Malay Curry, Tikka Masa, and Sag Paneer are the best around.” “After paying as much as I did for the vindaloo and $3.00 for mediocre rice, It is unfortunate that a restaurant in a location like that would have the nerve to pull a stunt like $3.00 refills.”
drinks	33.3299994468689% positive	“first of all, my sister asked for a cold turkish coffee, she snapped at us telling us that turkish coffe supposed to hot and warm.” “The service can tend to be a little slow and distracted, but if you are content to relax and talk over drinks while you wait, then you will enjoy the experience (order Indian beer, as the wine is pricey and tastes like it came from a box).”
food quality	46.20999813079834% positive	“Tandoori chicken was cold but it was perhaps because we went there at around 2:00pm.” “Mediocre food and high prices: $13 for a small bowl of chicken tikka masala; $2 for a fountain dispensed soda with no refills.” “When we reported the inconsistent service and poor food, we were generally ignored.” “food was good but i went with 2 other people and we got 2 orders of samosas, saffron rice and 3 dishes, plus nan.” “Today i went with my girl friend for dinner inside gate of india, and the scenery was authentic enough, we were given our waters right away and off to a pretty good start.” “On being asked about the status of the food which was ordered some 20 mins back, we were counter questioned if we wanted good food or bad food!” “The food was overpriced and cold.” “I'm a big Indian food lover and I have to tell you best Tikka Masala and Coconut Curry I ever had.” “The service was prompt and the food good.” “Prices are not the issue although what you get for minimum $50 is: extremely poor service, mediocre food, and a Nasty Owner who took our order and barked at us that everything is a la carte.” “So all in all, bad service plus bad food plus overpriced menu is a recipe for disaster.” “If you desire indian food make the short drive to Pradeep's at Montana and 14th (Pradeep's is great, don't skip the carrot and coriander soup)!” “On the upside, the food was very flavorful, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.” “Its absolutely disgusting food.” “It's a great restaurant for a group and I highly recommend that you sample a variety of the dishes.” “The food I ordered was not prepared how I asked, not a huge deal, but again the service was slow to correct the mistake.” “No one goes to a restaurant to eat bad half cooked food, for heavens sake!” “We enjoyed our meal here!” “The food is great, very flavorful and tasty.” “Stay away from this place - it is not authentic indian food by a long shot!” “The service and atmosphere were good, but the food was overpriced.” “After paying as much as I did for the vindaloo and $3.00 for mediocre rice, It is unfortunate that a restaurant in a location like that would have the nerve to pull a stunt like $3.00 refills.”
menu variety	66.66999816894531% positive	“It's a great restaurant for a group and I highly recommend that you sample a variety of the dishes.” “Spend the extra dollars and order off the dinner menu.” “So all in all, bad service plus bad food plus overpriced menu is a recipe for disaster.”
overall	100.0% positive	“It's a great restaurant for a group and I highly recommend that you sample a variety of the dishes.”
service	37.880001068115234% positive	“When we reported the inconsistent service and poor food, we were generally ignored.” “they actually are quite friendly with a good sense of humor.” “service was not too good, waiters and staff not friendly at all.” “The food I ordered was not prepared how I asked, not a huge deal, but again the service was slow to correct the mistake.” “The service was prompt and the food good.” “The service and atmosphere were good, but the food was overpriced.” “Prices are not the issue although what you get for minimum $50 is: extremely poor service, mediocre food, and a Nasty Owner who took our order and barked at us that everything is a la carte.” “So all in all, bad service plus bad food plus overpriced menu is a recipe for disaster.” “understand we might be paying for location but ive been to phenomenal indian restaurants which were decently priced, with friendly service and generous portions plus they had toilet seat covers.” “The service can tend to be a little slow and distracted, but if you are content to relax and talk over drinks while you wait, then you will enjoy the experience (order Indian beer, as the wine is pricey and tastes like it came from a box).” “The service was bad (the waiters were okay) but the woman host was so bad and nosy it became stupid!” “The service was extremly slow, non-existent.” “rude service” “We were tag-teamed by two slow, rude waitresses.” “the waitress was very annoying.” “it definitely wasn't worth the rude treatment we received.” “It doesn't rate high for ambiance and the servers are FOB Indian (and sometimes Mexican) but the Malay Curry, Tikka Masa, and Sag Paneer are the best around.” “food was good but i went with 2 other people and we got 2 orders of samosas, saffron rice and 3 dishes, plus nan.” “Unlike the other reviews, we had decent service (keep in mind this was during lunchtime and there were less than 10 other people besides us there).” “Rude staff.” “As no good people should be subjected to such disgrace.” “The staff are rude, do not have any idea of how to serve.”
value	34.84999895095825% positive	“it definitely wasn't worth the rude treatment we received.” “understand we might be paying for location but ive been to phenomenal indian restaurants which were decently priced, with friendly service and generous portions plus they had toilet seat covers.” “The food was overpriced and cold.” “Mediocre food and high prices: $13 for a small bowl of chicken tikka masala; $2 for a fountain dispensed soda with no refills.” “The service can tend to be a little slow and distracted, but if you are content to relax and talk over drinks while you wait, then you will enjoy the experience (order Indian beer, as the wine is pricey and tastes like it came from a box).” “It is an overpriced buffet ($10.99+tip $2.00 - very generous and never again), perhaps because of the location.” “The service and atmosphere were good, but the food was overpriced.” “So all in all, bad service plus bad food plus overpriced menu is a recipe for disaster.” “Spend the extra dollars and order off the dinner menu.” “The food I ordered was not prepared how I asked, not a huge deal, but again the service was slow to correct the mistake.” “taste was good but totally not worth the price at all.”
wait time	27.079999446868896% positive	“Stay away from this place - it is not authentic indian food by a long shot!” “Details of how extremely poor experience was are too long to list.” “On being asked about the status of the food which was ordered some 20 mins back, we were counter questioned if we wanted good food or bad food!” “It wasnt 10 minutes until they brought out the samosas, they were pretty decent sized and with good sauces, this gave us good hopes for the main entrees.” “The service was extremly slow, non-existent.” “We were tag-teamed by two slow, rude waitresses.” “The service can tend to be a little slow and distracted, but if you are content to relax and talk over drinks while you wait, then you will enjoy the experience (order Indian beer, as the wine is pricey and tastes like it came from a box).” “The food I ordered was not prepared how I asked, not a huge deal, but again the service was slow to correct the mistake.”

03/21/12

BEST LUNCH BUFFET

by Mike Overton

Best Buffet in Santa Monica. Yes I've tried the other ones. They don't have the Flavor that Gate of India has. Do you want a Treat. Order the Mango Lasse for a Drink. Out of this World. I do

know they had some Bad Reviews but they were

Old 2008/2009 and I know the problems were Fixed ! Try it. You'll like it. I Did.

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03/07/12

BEST INDIA RESTAURANT

by john carr

BEST LUNCH B UFFET IN SANTA MONICA. This is a Great place to enjoy a lunch buffet while enjoying a beautiful view of the Ocean. How can you beat that. You can also order off the menu. This is "NOT" fast food where everything is sitting in a pan getting old. When you order it they make it. To many people are used to Mc Donalds. If you want quick try the lunch Buffet. If you want a Great meal that is an experience then Order off the Menu.

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06/27/11

OK but overpriced

by JuliaLeopard

The atmosphere is pretty bad during daylight and the whole place is very empty until about 8. The lentil soup is mediocre and I personally believe that some of the dishes were too "cheddery". Everything is very much overpriced and you have to pay individually for everything. Also,they have no wheat naan which is a negative for me. The place isnt bad.

Pros: No wait during the daytime

Cons: Highly overpriced, a little cheap looking, no wheat naan, not great food and terrible bathroom.

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01/04/11

Worst Restaurant

by IzZa

Took forever to get service. Didn't leave tip so they charged my debit card $8 on my behalf as tip. Have copy of receipt. Going to complain and file a report with merchant.

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03/21/10

We enjoyed our meal here!

by Travel4Food

My husband discovered this place when he and a friend were in Santa Monica on Oscar night and The Lobster restaurant on the Pier was closed. We returned here together with another friend to celebrate a graduation. They are both South Indian, from Kerela, so we know about Indian food. Surprised about the other reviews, we were more than satisfied with our food.

We found the food to be very good. The place was packed for a Saturday night at 9:00 pm. The service was prompt and the food good. We ordered okra, eggplant, Goan-style shrimp, garlic naan and rice. We also asked for raita as a condiment.

The main entrees were well seasoned (we asked for them spicy) and the naan soft, fluffy and perfectly browned. The only disappointment was the rice, which was sticky (seemed to be cooked in a hurry) and the raita, which was not seasoned, but sweet. We will be returning.

Gate Of India

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What People Are Saying About Gate Of India

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Editor's Tips

03/21/12

BEST LUNCH BUFFET

by Mike Overton

03/07/12

BEST INDIA RESTAURANT

by john carr

06/27/11

OK but overpriced

by JuliaLeopard

01/04/11

Worst Restaurant

by IzZa

03/21/10

We enjoyed our meal here!

by Travel4Food

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