Passage To India

"Terrible food experience…. Travelled all across boston just for indian food… but it’s a huge disappointment. I never had such a bad goat curry in my life."

"We went in here at almost closing time so we are thankful that they still cooked for us. We drove for 10 hours straight and were staying in the city overnight. The reviews for this place were raving! Well the food tasted stale and who makes biryani with vegetables? Call it pulao it was pulao. The food wasn’t cheap we ended up not eating it all. Felt horrible throwing it out but we just couldn’t. It was the first stop on our road trip and we didn’t want to get sick."

"UPDATE: I GOT FOOD POISONING. Do you see any yellow lentils in this picture? I paid $22 for yellow lentils and these clowns send me a pint of yellow water with like 30 assorted black and yellow lentils floating in it. I had to mix the entire pint of rice in just to make a watery mushy soup out of it, that's what you see in this photo. I ordered lentils because they're nutritious and tasty, and they serve me oily yellow water and rice, the epitome of unhealthy garbage. The chicken my partner tried had no flavor. It takes 4 minutes to call the number associated with an order and say, "sorry, we're out of lentils, please choose something else" but they didn't bother. Take your money somewhere else!"

"Solid Indian restaurant in East Cambridge. Tucked away in a neighborhood lacking in good Indian food options, Passage to India has stood out as a curiosity for me. Having observed the restaurant's transformation under the same management twice in recent years, I first tried them via takeouts and was intrigued enough to go for a dine-in experience. On my most recent visit, I tried Passage Mixed Appetizers, Shrimp Biryani, Goa Shrimp Curry, and Chicken Tikka Masala. An assortment for samosa, pakoras, and aloo tikki, the Passage mixed appetizers was a satisfying start to the meal. Although a touch over-seasoned, the selection of dipping sauces provided balance. Transitioning to the main courses, I opted for regular spice levels, which turned out to be quite fiery. However, the creaminess of the Tikka Masala's tomato sauce and the toasted nuts in the Shrimp Biryani eased the heat, contributing to a layered flavor profile. Despite this, the spice level was still slightly challenging. In terms of authenticity, Passage to India leans towards a more Westernized interpretation of Indian cuisine, scaling back on traditional spices and opting for a creamier touch to their dishes. This might not appeal to those seeking a hardcore Indian culinary experience, but it gets the job done otherwise. Portion sizes were reasonably modest compared to some local competitors, yet they sufficed for a satisfying meal. So, while it may not be a quintessential Indian experience, it serves as a solid Indian food option in a neighborhood where such choices are limited. It's a place I would recommend to those who appreciate a spicy kick to their meals and a gentle introduction to Indian cuisine."