Review Satya South Indian Restauran - Auckland Central

I love the ambience here. Heaps of vegetarian options too. If you need dhaba feels in Auckland, this is one of such places. No regrets. Just amazing. Must try their Chai with parle G biscuit.

I love my Indian food. This place is nothing like any normal ‘kiwi’ Indian restaurant. I was so impressed with this place I have to go into deal why: 1: the dishes are insane- not big gut full Indian curries but quality food 2: the naan breed and rotti bread was fresh and the poppadoms were fresh out of the oven. 3: the beer selection, and this got me! Over 100 craft beers to select from. Food came out fast. We were there on a Sunday night and the place was full. Go. And enjoy 😉

Excellent food made even better with great service in a cool environment. Met up with some good friends here from New York and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

🍄Mushroom Magic Sichuan Chicken Chilli Fish It's good Yum yum😋 The interior decoration is nice!! The food is a bit salty and spicy. but its perfect for a beer snack

No filler, all killer. Superb menu, great atmosphere, chilled vibe, easy going staff. Don’t be asking for mild / medium / hot, just order from the menu, then enjoy with a hot chai. There are GF and DF options, but get the lamb 😋 Highly recommended.

The best southern Indian food I have ever eaten, simply amazing.

We had tea and it was refreshing and nostalgic for my Indian taste buds but it cost $7 per cup which is on the higher side of the cost spectrum.

Cannot recommend Satya enough! Been to the K Road and Sandringham locations multiple times and they're always delicious, especially the starters. It was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary so we loved the little surprise touch they added to our experience. Lovely hosts and quick service, impressed and excited to go again.

Food, service and ambience - A+ Didn’t quite like the seating arrangements. Starters and mains were delivered at the same Time and there were not enough space on the tiny table to fit 4 basic items. The chair felt uncomfortable too. Best dish - chicken 65 and chicken fried rice.

Hidden gem in Sandringham. Food was very yummy. Perfect tea on a cold rainy day. Chicken manchurian was out of the world. Best I've ever had. Seating could be a little better but compensates with amazing food and ambiance. Will definitely go there again.

It's my first visit to this place and I quite like it. I really enjoyed my meal today Chicken Manchurian with Gravy and rice . The environment would be even good if wall is colour and where Customer who wishes their pics to be taken that could be added to the wall leaving behind their good memories. The seating arrangement it could it better if you could provide comfortable seat so that customers they could relax and enjoy their day with nice music.

We visited the Satya Chai Lounge about a month ago. The ambience of this place was warm, very earthy. The food was very delicious. Tried it for the first, will definitely try again. The only thing that I personally didn’t like was that with the Masala Tea they give ‘1’ Parle-G biscuit! Either they should not give any or if they serve the biscuit with the tea, they should give at least 2. Other than that everything was good.

A magical and fun setting with incredible food and of course spiced chai ☕ Entrance is a tiny doorway leading to a hallway filled with overhanging bottles. Toilet onsite plus a restaurantsink to wash hands after a meal, and seating is benches at narrow tables.

Pretty different and innovative ideas to make best out of waste for the decor and furniture. Food is pretty flavorful and had the authentic taste of the cuisine. I am not a Chai person but a big thumps up 👍for the food. A little attention to the greens (plants) would enhance the look of the place.

We were the only one in the restaurant at 6pm. We were seated one of the early tables that was dirty. The table on either side of us were all dirty. The floor was dirty, the cutlery they provided was not clean. The food was average at best, for the price. The samosas were very poor, stale and dry inside, did not seem fresh and the oil they used was probably too old it was extremely unpleasant. Hope they really tidy up that place. Please get a good cleaner and give that place a scrub down. Your customers will thank you for it.

We went to this restaurant for lunch on Sunday 19 August, 2 days after i arrived from UK,  We were a party of at least 12 people, including 3 children.  I was really shocked at the condition of this restaurant, I didnt enjoy the food nor the set up.  At least 3 people in our group had been there a year earlier and also were shocked to say the least.  Satya needs to improve if they want to attract customers. A former Governor General of NZ and his family were in our party

Tasty food of all varieties, timely serving, nice ambience, courteous staff, nice hospitality, competitive tariff, good house keeping. Triggers mood to frequent this fantastic restaurant.

A Sandringham original. Fantastic food prepared by friendly staff who are passionate about looklng after you. Must try - Dahl Puri, mango lassi, Chicken Korma and South Indian Lamb - we have been going for years and love going back every time.

Great food and very friendly staff. Must try if you are a fan of Indian food, especially South Indian dishes. The Dosa’s were very crispy and served hot with really nice condiments to go with it(sambar and chutney). Their chai lounge which is situated behind is also a great spot to hang out and chill! 😊

A brief review of this place and it manages 2 stars only because the food was good although we didn't receive some items we ordered. Some of the worst service I have ever experienced. The waiter was rude, dismissive and downright shocking. It was so bad it was funny. We laughed about it so it didn't ruin our night. The toilet was filthy, actually disgusting. It has to be said only one of the 3 waiters was rude. I'm sure they know who he is. Improvements needed at this establishment.

Food was blow average, blend tasteless <br/>Butter chicken taste like water even the naan bread was frozen and customer service was very slow and toilets was dirty .<br/>

Based just on the food I might have given Satya a 4 star. It was pretty good, although nothing too special. However the service was pretty bad, there was only 1 other table when I went, who got their food shortly after we ordered, yet it took about 25 minutes for our food to come out. Also our waiter had his fingers all over the cutlery and in the glasses of water, which is a bit off putting. Thankfully the food was really yum though, and hit the spot pretty well. Unfortunately the place itself seems really run down and shabby, which isn’t great. Overall though if you’re looking for some pretty decent Indian and don’t mind potentially slow/bad service and a shabby, run down interior, then by all means try Satya.

The food was ok and they have some hard working people BUT following points to note:<br/>>Food is overpriced,>Shabby interiors>Service is not professional- we had to request for our starter plates to be removed & clean plates be provided for mains. Could see they were a little surprised with the request and possibly wanted us to use same plates for both courses.>Ordered coke was totally flat>Paratha costing $3.50 each is a rip-off ( you can have a Naan at the same price!)>Lastly when I asked for 3 containers for leftovers from 3 dishes, was offered just one. On further request, the business owner (most likely) grudgingly provided 2 smaller containers. Astonished considering our spend was $100+ and that this a standard practice in NZ. <br/><br/>For similar prices, you have lots of great options all around Auckland so not going back.

I have been such a loyalist of Satya since the beginning. I developed a crush on their Murg Badami early on, and it had been a staple in all my orders. Until recently. The meal was bland, tasteless and spiceless. Even the meat was seemingly unsalted. It looked like a hypercoloured dish (unnatural orange red). It felt like it was just microwaved meat and colour added to it to make it appear 'appealing'. Gross. Yuck. I had to throw it away after the first bite. It saddens me to put this review up as I truly believed in Satya's quality and well-prepared meals. So disappointed.

Cool hangout spot with friends! This place is always quite busy so can get a little annoying if you are hungry but the food is worth the wait!

2.5 <br/><br/>There is a lot to like about Satya but sadly after a few disappointing visits, I won’t be going back.<br/><br/>My main turn off here is value for money. It is very overpriced for much the same thing you can find elsewhere. Portions are small. Food doesn’t seem like what you ordered despite reassurance. Very slow service. Interior is shabby and serve ware doesn’t seem very clean. Plates had chips in them. <br/><br/>All of our curries were hot. Even the butter chicken ordered for the child at our table. Hot curry with no air conditioning on a hot summers night... waiting 1 hour for our food. I don’t know what else to say! It wasn’t the pleasant evening we had hoped for. <br/><br/>Saving grace is it’s BYO where other places in the area are alcohol free. I appreciate them trying to do some things differently but sadly they fall short. <br/><br/>

This place was very disappointing. The interior was shabby and not in a good way, it was expensive and the portions were lunch sizes not dinner! It was $5 Corkage per person which was way too much especially since their glasses weren't even clean. The butter chicken was spicy even though I clearly asked for extra mild, another meal not shown in the pictures had to be taken back because it was cold!? Also the rice had to be bought separately! The only thing I loved was the Garlic Cheese Paratha, but even that was too small for the price.

We had visited the chai lounge sometime back and were so impressed that this time we thought we'll visit the restaurant. Sadly it's the total opposite and an utter disappointment. Don't the staff talk at all? Went in, no greetings so we asked if we should sit. Sat down and someone came with menu, not a word said. We waited thinking he would come back to take order. Didn't, so I went up and placed my order taken by the cook. Thankfully he repeated the order back but no emotion, just grumpy face. It seems staff multitask, as the cook bought order out. Everyone looked filthy and dirty, the place was dark, cramped and filthy with tables not cleaned and food on the floor just next to our table. Ordered pani puri, was tasteless, ordered dhai puri, the puri was stale. Ordered masala dhosa, thankfully hat was tasty but the potato filling inside was cold. The masala tea/coffee were good. Went up to pay, again the same grumpy cook. Said $43, put it thru Eftpos and turned away, not a word. Overall, there is nothing to experience here. They take no pride in their work, no customer diplomacy, no regard to cleanliness.  I'm actually surprised that people actually go into this dungeon. Sadly I read the reviews after visiting this place. Same old story and little chance this place will never improve.

It is unfortunate to give this place such a bad review. Actually the food was amazing. The dosas were crisp and perfect. Lots of condiments. The curries were well made. So why the bad review? Dirty plates, poor service and shabby appearance. There is no excuse for this. It wasn’t just us, another table seem to be having problems with the service too. And such a pity considering that they seem like such hard working people and genuinely nice. Hope they use the criticism constructively and improve their service.

Excellent customer service! Delicious food. Quick service. Highly recommend to all food lovers. Good location. Plenty of offstreet car parking.<br/>

Seeing interior I was always how this place would be but one day I was really craving for south Indian Dosa and trying Satya was really good experience.<br/>I have visited this place multiple times for fresh and crispy dosa!!

Dont be put off by the outdated decor or the cold draughty room. Go for the food. Service is fast and friendly<br/>The dahi puri Is actually cheaper than the spice alley although made in the very same kitchen.<br/>Ofcourse dahi puri had to be on the menu. Bursting full of potato and covered in yogurt, tamarind and chaat masala. We ordered paneer dry cooked which was amazing. The chicken started was small bits of chicken cooked to perfection. We finished off with the cheese dosa. Served with raita and Dahl. Staff super friendly.

The ambience was beautiful, the food was delicious and the service was good. It was a pity however that two of us who were dairy free and we assured that there would be no milk, butter, ghee, curd, yogurt or milk in the food, ended up getting quite sick. Other than that, this place is really good.

I ordered Porotta they gave me readymade porotta. I asked again they said it’s made here(maybe). But good place, calm and quiet thus lot of non Indians goes there. heard they don’t pay well for casual staffs(not sure whether true or not)

It was hard to decide on a rating for this place based on the food and ambience as one is 4/5 (the food) and ambience is a 1/5<br/><br/>Let me start by saying if you come here and don’t have the fish curry you’re missing out. The fish was cooked to perfection and the curry was authentic South Indian. <br/><br/>Masala Dosa was great. <br/><br/>Lamb curry was also good and the lamb again cooked perfectly it was melting in the mouth. <br/><br/>Waitress serving us was so honest and we took her recommendations on everything. Such a lovely girl <br/><br/>Downside : ambience is terrible with saris everywhere and also flies flying all over the front tables . Toilet was disgusting also. <br/><br/>If this place could give itself a make over much like the chai alley it would be so much better to visit

Went to have dinner earlier tonight, order curries and saw something new which was garlic prantha, thought to try that. Service was really slow, staff wasn’t welcoming. When got prantha it was one of the frozen one that you can buy from any grocery store. They took ages to deliver the food but what was delivered wasn’t expected. The management is making fool out of the customer. We wasted our time and money. <br/><br/>Wasn’t worth it<br/><br/>Value for money 0/10<br/>Space 1/10<br/>Service 1/10<br/><br/>“ don’t try “

I have been having here for the past three months ,regularly .I somehow feel that this place is deteriorating in its quality ,ambiance.The staff behave so very unprofessionally (could that be like they are underpaid ).This must be eradicated from this place .The idly I ordered was not fresh ,it was prepared many days ago .This is all the situation now .In actual the restaurant serves very tasty dishes ,why is this slack ?worth for money ,really no .

This hidden gem is definitely one to visit! Food is amazing and the staff are very friendly, their alcoholic chai is great for hair of the dog! 100% recommend. My partner and I hosts the Shared Soul Sessions there on the 1st Sunday of every month, we play live music and stricly vinyl DJ sets, bringing you some chill and soulful tunes. 💕

I wish there were more numbers in rating if I could give 😍. There food is so simple and yet outstanding, they put their soul in the food and this is the best part about it. Ambience is not so good but service and food is 10/10 ❤️❤️. This was my 3rd visit and will never stop going there.

One of the best places for south Indian food. Service was slightly delayed both the times but thats because they are always busy. Wait is worth for the food as its delicious and beautiful in a way they serve it. Ambiance is traditional and no faults in that. We often come here for dosa and gulab jamun + on ice-cream.

I never been a big fan of south Indian food because that's not my kind of taste. So never mind to go for south Indian food. But when it comes to Mysore Masala Dosa i really love it and Dahi puri as well.<br/><br/>Food 5/5<br/>Services 3/5<br/>Ambience 4/5<br/><br/>I highly recommend to try these both dishes.<br/>

Delicious!! Food is real authentic Indian food, they have so many dishes I have never heard of before but the friendly staff helped me pick my meal and it was amazing!

Went here last night. Overall pretty disappointed. Service was slow, we had to get the requested high chair ourselves and wine glasses. Orders were written down and how hot we would like our curries to which no attention was paid. My lamb curry was barely warm in heat and temperature.. must have been sitting around waiting for other dishes. The goat curry was a joke, should be renamed bone curry. The scarce meat on the bones was tough. <br/><br/>There are better Indian restaurants in my opinion.

A very popular restaurant where you are served traditional South Indian food.<br/><br/>Make sure you have hours to spend as the service is very slow but totally worth it. <br/><br/>Good ambience, affordable and a decent experience overall. I'll suggest you try the chicken thali :)

Just perfect if you are looking for authentic south indian food. I was happy with the service. Ambiance was not very great but I loved the food. Sufficient quantity provided and the quality of food was good too. You should give it a try!!!!

I first came to Auckland to visit family 5 years ago. They took me to their favorite South Indian Restaurant, Satya. It was incredible! <br/>Well, I am back visiting them again and last night we went back to Satya! The owner & his wife even remembered me. Our meal was superb. Satya prepares every meal with such precision. The spices burst in your mouth. I love this place! Thank you, again, Satya!

Satya in sandringham is not a fancy place, but they do good solid indian food. We went there last Friday for a farewell lunch. we left the place feeling happy and contented.<br/><br/>I haven't been here for a while, i had their thali last time and I really enjoyed it. This time we ordered some chicken korma, lamb vindaloo and lamb briyiani. It cost a little more this time than what I remember, but I guess everything else has gone up in price. <br/><br/>My favourite dish that day was definitely the lamb biriyani. It was so tasty, the right level of spicyness and it went so well with the yoghurt. The lamb vindaloo was next on the list. It was so good and the gravy was thick and the lamb meat were tender. The chicken korma was creamy and rich. It was good... but i am not too keen on korma normally. <br/><br/>I am definitely going back to try their dosa! I was eyeing on the butter chicken dosa...

Very tasty food. If you want to have South Indian food like idly vada and dosa this is the place. Bit expensive however quality and quantity will make you feel satisfied..Try the masala Dosa , it is really worth trying. Service is good. Food is good. Bit pricy but it's worth it. Revisiting gaurentied ..

Satya to me always looked like average Indian restaurant but it always surprised me at how busy it is.<br/><br/>We dined here last Sunday and I can see why it's so popular. The interior is a bit too much,with sarees everywhere the place looks very dull. But the food definitely makes up for it.<br/><br/>The manager was the friendliest person ever and very accomodation with our requests. Between 4, we had a mixed platter, a lamb South Indian curry, rava masala dosa, rava dosa with lamb korma (manager said it is a great combination- and it really was!) and a chicken dosa. From the mix platter everything was good but the lamb and chicken were clear winners. The dosa with lamb korma was so so good. Crisp dosa with a mild perfectly cooked lamb curry, 3 chutneys and sambar. <br/><br/>When the manager saw that the chicken in the chicken dosa was over he got some more complimentary which was from their new lounge menu next door. It was delicious. <br/><br/>Keen on visiting the lounge/bar and also Satya for dining again.

This review is not for the main Satya restaurant but it's little Chai Bar in the back. <br/>This is a cute little space which combines craft beer, cocktails with indian 'street' food. The space itself, is rather quirky but if you're a large guy, it could be quite hazardous. There's stuff hanging from the ceiling and the seating is DIY. <br/>The snacks were tasty and complimented the beers. We were the only people there and therefore, the service was attentive. I enjoyed my experience!

An authentic and very good place for the South Indian food...!! Visited twice to have Dosa and every time the taste makes me to fall in love with the brand... the customer service is full on full...<br/>Excellent ☺️

Venturing into K'road feels a bit off the beaten track for us, even though it is realistically only 3kms or so away – we should really do it more often. Walking into Satya took a bit of a pupil adjustment (we mean the eyes not the students) as the restaurant seemed unusually dark. However, the atmosphere was significantly brightened by the beautiful Saris adorning the restaurant in a stunning display of colour. This Satya is one of four across Auckland (along with Sandringham, Ponsonby and Mt Eden), set up by owners Swamy and Padmaja Akuthota. <br/><br/>The menu boasts an array of northern and southern indian cuisine and we opted for the shared menu. We dug into the delicious and super-popular entrée of Dahi Puri followed by a large spread of curry-based mains - Lamb Spinach, Lamb Vindaloo, Chicken Korma, Fish Vindaloo, Spinach Paneer and the ol' faithful Butter Chicken. The flavours were delicate, layered, delicious and served both hot and timely. We were possibly guilty of overly-enthusiastic curry to person ratio, but we were more than happy to takeaway the leftovers. A popular haunt for dining and more often takeaway. As far as Indian cuisine goes, Satya have quality and flavour nailed.<br/><br/>Check out our individual comments here: husk.co.nz/lunches/satya-south-indian-restaurant-may-2016

Food and Flavour: 4/5<br/>Ambience: 3.5/5<br/>Seating: 3/5<br/>Service: 3.5/5<br/>Value for Money: 3.5/5<br/>Loved the food... quite authentic . Loved the spice level. Had the south indian thali<br/>..wowwwwww. Wish they work on the decor . The silk sarees are killing the look of the place.

We ordered too much cause it was all too delicious and we ate all the food and will do it all again with pleasure.I would not hesitate to order the Bhel Puri again!

There is no way this place is shy of a 5 star rating.The food is amazing, the people are super friendly, service is quick, and price is great.I've not touched on the deliciousness of their feeds; they are all bloody fantastic. Go get some.<br/> <br/>This is Sandringham at its best. If you're after Skycity, go there.

Can understand the lacking in service however they made up for it with the tasty food. Ordered more traditional dishes which were cooked to perfection and packed with a flavoured punch! Another great bonus is the deserts out back (along with Shisha too).

Really cheap and overdone interiors. Someone should tell them to tone it down a bit. Service was okay and food was decent. Nothing too special though. Wont go out of my way to return.

We have been coming here regularly for over a decade. Very friendly service and great food. I would highly recommend this place. It is our favourite local!

My family and I are regulars at satya Sandringham they keep innovating their menu over the years but still have the classics and the quality which we look forward to at every visit! My favourites are the masala dosa which now is presented with a variety of condiments such as roasted nuts and house made ginger Pickle which is so Devine :) for the starter we always get the dahi papdi crispy pastry shells stuffed with potato masala and topped off with tamarin sauce and green chutney this dish has such a refreshing taste with the tangy chutneys and sourness from the yoghurt and of course my nephews and my favourite the classic butter chicken simply rich and delicious at Satya authenticity is what you get on a plate you really get the real flavours of India. The portion sizes are generous. <br/>Satya is known for the unique ambience with the classical South Indian Saree draped inside which make it look like you are in India it's is so welcoming and has a homely feel. Recently they have opened a seperate area which offers a tapas inspired menu, the look and feel of this space is very rustic and brilliant. <br/>The staff are very approachable and friendly, and really take the time to explain the origin and ingredients of the dish.We were looked after from the moment we walked. It is always a pleasure dining at satya and my family and I would definitely come back again.

Worst customer service with highly expensive price. Neither the quality or quantity of the food is good. Unhygienic, lacks the atmosphere to spend time with friends and families. Never going back again. Totally disappointed.

Tucked away down a long, narrow corridor lies a little gem. Satyas newly founded chai joint feels like it has a rich history, due to the carefully decorated interiors - it is unassuming yet decadent, rustic chic. This is exactly the type of place you simultaneously want to tell everybody about and also keep a secret.<br/><br/>There's a wonderful menu of Shisha to choose from, which you can enjoy whilst nestled amongst the fairy lights. For $10 you can enjoy a traditional game of Carrom, which comes with two complimentary cups of masala chai. To top it off, the tasty sharing plates are super affordable and easy to eat while alternating between mouthfuls of grub and working the Carrom board. I recommend bringing a small group with you and combining all of the above elements for a wonderful evening.

Pricy n not tasty at all, go across the street to Paradise where it's miles better n reasonably priced!Pricy n not tasty at all, go across the street to Paradise where it's miles better n reasonably priced!Pricy n not tasty at all, go across the street to Paradise where it's miles better n reasonably priced!

We went last Saturday night, 22 and August. We have been several times previously, and last week's dinner was up there again. 5 of us dined with a diverse mixture of mains, all taste sensations. The décor is I think typical of this type of restaurant, the service is on the whole pretty good, the food makes up for any pitfalls. Definitely worth a visit.

Overcharged us. Forgot to give us our naan. Samosa was cold and soggy (was absolutely covered in sauces) and then the icing on the cake was when my partner had off paneer in his curry! Worst indian take away we have ever experienced

This place wasn't too bad including the food and service but to be honest I'm really guttered about the price of everything. After I had paid I realised that I got charged for an extra glass of wine and rice which we didn't ask for. Very frustrating considering that I'm a student and can't afford to waste my money in silly ways.

Delicious lunch. We normally come here for dinner on Thursday and have vegetarian dishes. So decided to go for lunch today to try some chicken dishes. We ordered a chicken uttapam and chicken curry thali. Uttapam was great and chicken curry was really nice. Thali comes with heaps of rice as this is a South Indian thali, rasam was good too. They were not very busy and only had the chef and one waiting staff but service was prompt and with a smile.

did lunch for 8 people at Satya today. Very polite host and the waiter was good too. The food was delicious! Kitchen is very clean. Food really was awesome. My Three Piece dosa was awesome. Everyone loved whatever they ordered. THank you will return again. Sorry $160 bill went down to $120 after we used the Entertainment Book voucher. Feeling bad for the restaurant but what could we do. We had the voucher so we had to use it :)

I was compelled to write this review after a horrible experience I had there. We waited forever for a table first and we were made to sit on a waiting table next to the kitchen which was full of smoke. While there were two tables that were empty but they still made us wait for about 35 min. After they gave us a third table and as we were ready to order they asked us to move to another table and that wasn't a hospitable thing to do. But we didn't attest, soon we saw a family of 5 enter and it was shocking how they made them sit on a table of two. There was hardly any place for them to sit or eat. Food is obviously way overpriced but Dosa was delicious thankfully some respite. The other two tables were booked for a relative/friend of the owner who didn't turn up until we left. So yeah never going back there.

Really good food and really lovely service. Arrived quite late and they weren't in a rush to kick us out. Great, well priced local byo. We will be back :)

We made our way to Sandringham knowing there is a pleasing selection of not-bad eateries with a sub-continental bent. We wandered around at 4:45 and they opened up just for us. We ate and drank over 2-hours tapas style. The madras fish entree and madras dosa were the best examples of these dishes we've had, which includes eating one or two thousand in India itself. The service and seating is both authentic captivating and curious all wrapped in one. Finally, we scored a very nice bottle of rare wine for nearly nothing which is a credit to their purchasing team. Don't come here for anything other than good flavoursome food-and-service that is a nuanced reference to the beauty, multifaceted marvelousness and dichotomousbess of India itself.

Very good food.Tried their Thali for 1st time & it didn't disappoint us.Excellent customer service by Kamesh. Will definitely go again to try their other dishes.

Some restaurants , regardless of the food they serve, create an atmosphere of inviting conviviality and proprietorial warmth that makes it a pleasure to spend time there. Satya utterly lacks that personality - its dead-beat ambience and phantom service - which I experienced recently and also to a lesser degree years ago, just doesn't make a case for repeat visits. The decor of saris swathing the place, redolently ethnic for some and tacky for others, seems to evoke for me more a doomed marriage pandal than a fetching ambience. I'm all for cultural mixing, and more Pakehas enjoying themselves in Indian restaurants ( though smacking good Indian food is almost impossible to find in Auckland restaurants) but even after considering all the reasons - decent food, a wine list , decor which is not bare walls - I can't fathom why this place is popular with them. <br/><br/>After waiting desperately for the servers to take time out from their busy overworked understaffed schedule (I was about to leave when my friend intervened) we managed to get some food, which though not bad, is simply not good enough to atone. On being asked for a table we were shown one just before the restroom which I instantly rejected - such kind of tables reek of proprietorial stupidity and miserliness in not letting an unsuitable space go empty of dining spots.<br/><br/>Mirchi Bhajjis (chilli fritters) followed in the stalwart tradition of most Indian restaurants in Auckland - instead of a crisp zinger, what you get is a limp apology (same lazy mistake in their Mt Eden branch). 'Satya Fish entree' , to their credit was very soft and moist but the flavouring was mediocre and fish's inherent taste was muted. We had tasted their masala dosa ,rava idlis, and Satya chicken entree in the past - all of these are decent rather than memorable - and didn't inspire a re-order now.<br/><br/>A main course of of Brinjal, coconut, peas and potato was healthy but insipid - lacking the zing (which is distinct from useless spiciness) that Andhra mixes often pack. Spinach tomato kulcha (flatbread with toppings) which was ordered to go with the vegetables - though technically competent, was a dull combination of the ingredients. <br/><br/>Other offerings on the menu beckoned for a better understanding of the kitchen's potential but as said before the soulless front-of-house didn't occasion further  exploration.

I like the dosas here and we have had good service from this one only.<br/>It's very dated tho and the toilets are just scum. The vindaloo isn't very good. Can't wait to try a real one!! But it is the best place for dosas.

My wife and I frequently pass Sandringham and often lunch on Modays. We are elderly and today tried Satya,s South Indian Thali  (Plate). It was very good and tasty. For $16.00 a dish though we shared there was food left over but we tend to eat far less then younger hard working people. Recommend for anyone who likes curries. Good Service,

we love this restaurant, the food is amazing, the staff are fantastic, every time we're there we ask them to recommend something new that we haven't tried and we're always delighted!<br/><br/>we could rattle off everything we liked, but honestly, just ask them! try something new! ya bitch

Came here on Christmas Day where they provide free meals on the day.<br/>I just think it is awesome what they do, very friendly staff and great tasting curry's. <br/>I will return in the year for more friendly service and nice food!

Service at its best, Food at its best, ambience bit dark. However they are really nice and caring team. Also Salute to their charity which they said they will be running free A LA carte lunch to anyone coming on Xmas day. Some things are beyond business.

Great takeaways in a crowded market, we keep going back to it and rate it over other indian places, the dhal puri's are the best indian starters I've had, service in store is low key and very casual though

First time here.  I like the restaurant.  Pleasant and traditionally decorated.  I love the food.  The food was tasty.  The service was good and personal.  I ordered a couple of dishes and they were all delicious.  If you like to try some South Indian food, I recommend this place.  Try it out.  I think you will not be disappointed.  Below are some photos.

One of the worst foods I have ever eaten. Couldn't beleive they serve readymade frozen unhealthy parathas. Waste of time and money especially for vegetarians.

This is a good place for South Indian type dishes. The Rava Idli deserves special mention. The ambience and people skills of staff needs drastic improvement. Will visit again.

Very good food and have been coming here since 2011. However the service of some staff (sply afternoon) and the cook has fallen. We gad a 9month baby and we were not informed about the availability of a highchair until we spotted it outside the toilet. On asking we were told we 'should' have asked for it when we did not know it was available. Also the cook told us 'most Indians keep baby on lap'. A very generalised and racist thing to say. If you do not approach the customer with the option I do not know how the customer gets to know about it. Cook behaviour is very strange. <br/><br/>Lastly, we were the only customer at around 1:30pm and had to wait ages for someone to take the order. Ultimately had to personally go to the counter and place the order. Food is good but there are other places in Auckland that also has good food. Never coming back to Satya

Murg Badami. Just divine.

Awsm food and service. We always go there for South Indian food specially all dosas. In more service by Parm is great and friendly. Quick response for all orders. Recommend AAAAAA+++++..........<br/>Thanks<br/>

Very occasionally you find a restaurant where you feel like you've been invited into someone's home. The service is attentive and genuine and the dishes are cooked with love. My new favourite dish is their murg badami and I would happily order it every visit. I will certainly be back.

Stunning meal, Dahi Puri outstanding fresh and a taste sensation, and Masala Dosa the Sandringham branches special.  Always get the friendliest service, peaceful ambience, & the tastiest Indian on this street.   Satya delivers the freshest, healthiest experience.

Food- NICE AND FRESH.<br/>Service - The owner needs to learn the manners to be good to his staff and to his customers.<br/>I went to the restaurant on 17.05.2015 with my wife and daughter.<br/>We were given the menu card and then given time to select. We order 2 different dish, one for myself and the other for my wife.<br/>We were served 1st dish and then we waited,waited and waited, after 15 mins i approached the kitchen staff, told them we have come as a couple and i have already finished my dish,where is my wife meal.i could see a big question in their face.<br/>Soon the meal arrived. while my wife was eating since i had already had my meal, the senior person, must be an owner or a manager came and said what was the issue. i explained him.<br/>his response, we thought you will share 1 plate at a time? i was so lost by his comment.<br/> the person on the next table,called him and said you meal has a hair in my plate,what should i do?<br/>he walked away with no more argument.<br/>by the way,the other tabled ordered for a coffee,they forgot to serve.<br/>the owner was fuming and shouting at the staff. really not good.<br/>the food was really tasty.

So, today my family and I decided to grab dinner outside. We went to this restaurtant called Satya in Sandrigham. <br/>As we entered, it looked like an average place, but it said it offered authentic "south indian". So I decided to get a Rava Idli, my uncle got paneer and my aunt got dal. We chose to accompnay our food with 2 rotis and a garlic naan (which I always order). <br/>The place was fairly quit so I asked the waiter how long the food will take. His response "5-6 min". <br/>Now as an Indian, I know Idli doesnt take 5 to 6 minutes to cook. <br/>Anyways the food arrived.<br/>The idli was made from the ready made MTR mixes, so was the butter paneer and the dal was undercooked. The naan was frozen paratha with garlic butter on top. Frozen<br/>And the roti was store bought. <br/>And of top of that, the restaurant had the audacity to charge us $50.80 for food, I can make at home, for $15. <br/><br/>So, I rather decide to open my restaurant, sell ready made food, for triple or price<br/>Or I ruin the name of that joke of an Indian restaurant.

We ordered a take away today. It was a simple 2 rasam's (Indian soupy curry) and 2 rice. We had specifically requested that the curries to be without onion and garlic, as we don't eat that because of religious reasons. <br/><br/>Firstly the person at the counter was very rude to us and also to his staff working silently in the kitchen. He was taking the order as if he is doing a favour to us. After taking the payment he did not even give us the receipt, even though I asked for it. He said he was out of printer paper. What a lame excuse and moreover he started screaming on the kitchen hand for not ordering the paper. I am sure he was just covering up and blaming on his staff.<br/><br/>About the food, We had specifically mentioned to him that we do not want onion and garlic in our food and he agreed to cook it accordingly. If you cannot do it just deny or say no, don't cheat just to make a sale.<br/><br/>We took the food parcel and left the place. The food was for dinner so we did not bother checking the parcel until evening. Usually takeway joints and restaurants are honest unlike Satya Sandringham. <br/><br/>In the evening when we opened we smelt a strong smell of garlic and of course we could not eat it. Upon finding this out we called the place to inform about this but they kept denying the fact. It was like banging our head on a wall. Finally we could not even eat the curry. <br/><br/>We decided lets just have rice and yoghurt as it was too late to go out and eat. To our surprise, the restaurant had just packed one pack of rice which is only good for 1 person. Despite of us paying for 2 packs of rice only one was packed.<br/><br/>I have never seen such dishonesty in NZ. I am sure not going back to this place and would surely recommend my friends and colleagues about dishonest and poor practices of this place. Never visiting Satya again.

Today we went to satya sandringham and ordered for 2 plain rasams without onion and garlic. the guy at the counter said it would be possible to make it and we needed to wait for 10 minutes which we did. when we got home and opened the container of rasam i could get strong smell of garlic when i tasted it i was very sure that he had put garlic in the rasam.<br/><br/>i called him and told him about it and he just kept arguing with me that there was no garlic. if it is not possible to make rasam without garlic he just had to tell us. we wasted our money. the guy did not even offer to make any changes when i called him. we are very upset about their dishonesty. i would never recommend satya sandringham to anyone. also we had asked him to pack 2 rice and he packed just 1 but we paid for 2.

After a early Christmas meal we got a bit hungry at around 8pm. We decided to see what was open and we found satya... We went in and discovered that they were running a free menu to celebrate Christmas! So our meal was free and still full size. Can't fault that kind of generosity! Weldone guys and thank you

I've been to the Satya on Kroad but Sandringham takes the cup. The quality of food is fresher and tastier. Staff are kind and attentive. Delicious authentic Indian currys so their mild means medium hot!! With all the spiciness the restaurant could do with better air con than just a couple of fans. I'll be back regardless

Nice small and intimate atmosphere. I was a little disappointed with my rogan josh as it was a liitle bit bland but my friends curry was really tasty. Service was quick and friendly. Overall great value for money. Perfect place to head to if you can't be bothered cooking or want to avoid the crowds of Paradise.

Why you should go to Satya:1) Delicious flavourful food with good heat.2) Service is attentive but not intrusive - just the way I like it3) Cute tableware/food vessels for insta-fooding4) Dahi Puri

Delicious South Indian food, same high quality as k'rd and ponsonby stores, never dissatisfied with a murg badami and raitha. Great wine selection, well suited to the curries

Went out for dinner with 3 friends. Curries not very big, all tasted quite similar. We had to ask several times for our starters, which didn't arrive until the end of the meal. However, the dahi puri was excellent once it did arrive. The pani puri weren't great though - they were quite tough and didn't have the airy crispiness one usually expects. I was disappointed at the price of the food - our bill came to $115, which would have fed us several times over at one of the other restaurants in Sandringham. I think Satya rely on their reputation, but need to lift their game. The restaurant was busier than it deserved to be. Satya's decor is always exciting though.

Great Service, Excellent food, authentic variety<br/><br/>I visited the restaurant thrice now in a  month and being a vegetarian, I was delighted at the quality of the food. I ordered two different dosa varieties and each occasion was surprised by the innovative offering of the  traditional South Indian recipe.<br/><br/>A very fine restaurant and very a nice place to have authentic South Indian food.<br/><br/>I strongly recommend Satya.

Terrible experience tonight at Satya. Half way through our meal the table behind us vacated. As there was a child there I assume there was a mess on the floor. One of the staff then mopped the floor with strong bleach which wasn't very pleasant while eating. We then asked to move because of the smell which would have been sufficient. After being moved the waiter took a can of air freshener and sprayed what seemed like the whole can (not exaggerating either) into the restaurant. At this point we were choking on the smell of that and asked to have our meal take away but the waiter insisted we move again. We reluctantly moved and tried to finish our meal as quickly as possible. I can't tell you whether the food was any good as smell is such an important part of taste and that was overpowered. Worst of all the meal came to $60 and we didn't get to enjoy the taste or the environment. Never going back again!

My husband Rob and I have been dining at Satya South Indian Restaurant for the last 5 years. We are part of the furniture now and wont dine at any other Indian restaurant. Raman is always friendly, always has a seat for us and makes the best authentic Indian meals I have ever tasted. They don't mind if we eat with our fingers and make a mess while doing so. The Thali's are delicious and well presented with Sambar, home made mango chutney, Rasam, poppadom, rice, paratha and your favourite meat or vegetables cooked in a creamy mouth watering sauce. Masala dosa is also a favourite of mine and the venue is fully licensed if you want a nice glass of wine to go with the meal. Nothing is a problem to Raman and his lovely wife. If you want a hot hot chilli meal they will give you a spicy hot meal (if you dare)..

I went there with my partner and son. Costed $82 for the terrible food (too expensive for 2 adults and a kid).<br/><br/>They served frozen supermarket paranthas, which Indian bachelor boys use for home cooking.<br/><br/>I was expecting a freshly home made paranthas not the frozen ones from supermarket.<br/>That ruined our whole night.<br/><br/>My worst experience, will never go there.

Awesome food. If that's only what you look for, this place is for you. Ambience wise there is a lot to work on. Service poor. Worth once in a while but not often.

For a delicious, adventurous and affordable dinner out, you can't do much better than Satya. The Dahi Puri are to die for. I end up ordering them every time and don't want to share. Satya has an extensive menu with a fantastic range of curries. So yum! And it's also BYO! I have been to this restaurant with my husband and also with large groups. We have had great service and superb food every time.

The review below from Katrina is clearly on drugs?<br/>This restaurant has beautiful smiling happy staff, the waiter who served us straight away took us to our seats and when we ordered our entree, he explained how we would eat it - we REALLY appreciated that, and the Pani Puri, which we ordered was SO amazing we were tempted to order more of it!<br/><br/>I ordered the Uttapam, SO SO good. I wolved it down so quickly, it was deeeelicious! My husband ordered a curry which he LOVED, neither of us wanted to share our meals, haha, we were just so happy with our own! We were SO satisfied and even gave a tip (YES we did, which they refused with a smile) cos you just don't get service or food like that these days. <br/><br/>My favourite restaurant, and from travelling Bangladesh, I can safely say their food is definitely not from a jar like the review below suggests, you will not be disappointed! :)<br/><br/>Yummmmm!!!

This was my first experience at Satya South Indian Restaurant, Sandringham. I have always been a fan of South Indian food. The food served there is an abuse to Indian food (in fact an abuse to all kind of food). I have high expectations of the food there but it was such a disappointment. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by flies, then the cook/waiter came to take our order, I still gave it a benefit of doubt and ordered 3 different curries with paratha. The curries tasted like its from the jar, I have a feeling it is from the jar. The paratha was a real shock as it is basically the frozen paratha which has been reheated for us. They did not even bother making the paratha. What is the point of going to a restaurant if we are getting frozen parathas? I did not have problem paying a high price for good food. But this was not worth a penny. We felt cheated and we will definitely not visit this restaurant any more. We strongly recommend that you do not visit this horrible restaurant.

Over priced and overrated.<br/>Could have cooked a better curry at home out of a jar.<br/>The chicken in the butter chicken was not tandoored but a sliced breast cut into pieces into a runny sauce.<br/>The other currys were not great either.<br/>Second bad experience here... there won't be a third time.

Although i like the food at Satya (especially their mango chicken)<br/>the only problem i find here is that the 'hotness' is never consistent.<br/><br/>I always ask for HOT.<br/><br/>Sometimes its 'extremely hot' sometimes its 'medium' sometimes its 'sweet' and once in a while it is perfectly....HOT!<br/><br/>But i keep going back (not too often... 2-3 times a year) hoping that they will get it right!<br/><br/>Funny story though... The last time i went there i ordered 2 different chicken meals and asked them to write on the takeaway container which is which. When i got home i realised they forgot to lable the containers.<br/><br/>And when it was dinner time we both thought we'll taste each others choices.... We then came to realise both meals tasted the same.. Looked the same... There was no difference.<br/><br/>Good job Satya?!!?

We have been there a couple of times but have now found it to be overpriced. Other than that the service is excellent and the thali in particular very tasty.worth a try.

We went to Satya about two years ago and it blew us away. We went today and it was run-down and dirty. The tables were greasy and pulling your own plastic chair in left greasy fingers. The butter chicken was so brown sugary that our girls loved it. The special dry fish curry was not Terakihi as described by the chief - it had the consistency of steak and must have been wahoo (old wahoo judging by the strong "on the off-side" of fresh flavour). The final blow came when paying - two people equals $8 corkage! Dirty and run-down yet we parted with Parnell cuisine money. No longer can recommend! It used to be that they brought colouring pencils for kids and gave them a gift - now - nothing. We had to ask for plates and wine glasses but paid dearly for the dirty glass privilege!

Despite the exterior and interior decor of this restaurant I would have to say this is some of the best Indian food I have had in Auckland.<br/>The Curries here are outstanding.<br/>A classic example of why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

An average, slightly run down Indian restaurant. The service however was good and both the Dahi Puri and Masala Dosa are worth a try.<br/><br/>Not worth travelling past your local Indian for.

Ordered takeaway from here.<br/>The Bhel puri was good. <br/>The butter chicken was awful, tasted like supermarket sauces Chicken jalfrezi was average. Roti was disappointing and garlic paratha, seemed to be the Kwaan brand from the supermarket. Overpriced and very very disappointing. Will not go back.

Gosh darn if you want a really good meal of indian food, then this is a sure fire winner. Visited for my second time just before christmas and the place was humming, the food was brilliant and the service was cheerful and fun. Great meals that are sure to please. Can't recommend this place highly enough

The dry curries (Special South Indian Dry Curry, Murg Badami) are amazing. The Dahi Puri is divine. Sometimes the service is quite slow and disorganised but the food is really special.<br/><br/>Food ****<br/>Service **<br/><br/>Decor is odd, yes - all the restaurants in Sandringham are kind of like that - the Satya on Gt North Rd has nicer decor if that's what you prefer...

Strange, that this restaurant should ever score poorly. With its sister establishment in Newton, it is simply the best Indian restaurant in Auckland. The menu is faithful to its roots, not mass-produced, and service is friendly and reasonably efficient. The small price differentials between Satya and other, cheaper, Indian restaurants one can put down to the fact that quality costs more. Particular favourites include Dahi Puri, Murg Badami, Chicken Palakura.... there's lots more.

Horrible. Really, really depressing. You are better off eating something from the frozen food section at the supermarket. The food was $17+ for mains and they were not good. Very plain. Terrible, old interior. Slow service. I wanted to like it because we drove a ways to get there on recommendation from a friend. No thank you, will never return.

Best Indian curry in Auckland. Your butter chicken is totally amazing and i love the samosa chat.

Very good value. They're always welcoming, but do get busy. The food is superb: try the eggplant and potato curry, dosa or the lamb dishes.

very good food and service. Will go again

Ordered takeaway pickup. Was told on the phone order will be ready in 25mins (rather long for 2 curries). Anyway, arrived on time and had to wait a further 25 minutes.<br/><br/>Food is extremely overpriced. The service and standard just doesn't match the price. Used to order weekly, but have stopped now.

One of the best indian restaurants i had been since i moved to NZ.<br/><br/>Good food and Ambience.

You wont find a better curry than here. The whole atmosphere is fantastic especially for those that have been to India.<br/><br/>Consistently good and I will miss the food now that we are moving from Auckland. Give it a go and you wont be dissapointed.