Awesome food, awesome service. The beef bhuna and chicken do piyaza were to die for. Kingfishers just to keep the heat under control.
Absolutely loved this beautiful gem in Nelson.
Such incredibly yummy authentic Indian food and the atmosphere was great also 😊
Lovely place to catch up with friends while in Nelson from Christchurch will be back again for sure!!
Great work team ❤️
Amazing authentic Indian food. And I've eaten a lot of Indian food! The dishes taste just as though they do when you are in India itself. Full of flavour, good serving size, very reasonable prices, lovely outdoor dining (inside looks good too) and lovely staff. I probably won't be back in Nelson any time soon, but if I was a local I'd support this restaurant with frequent visits.
Quite possibly the best Indian I've ever had. Food was sooo good and service was top notch 😊 Pity we live so far away as this would most definitely be our new go to Indian, every time!
We are on holiday from South Africa and had the pleasure of eating at this restaurant. Excellent food and service. We were warned about the wait but as all the food is freshly prepared it's worth the wait. Nan bread is so light not stodgy at all. I loved the old converted house. All in all a great experience, would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves good Indian food.
because this cafe is so busy I can understand why it can take awhile for service,esp fri or sat night. but if you go at any other time its not such a problem. esp lunch time (nelsons best kept secret). it is a busy cafe because the food is divine I have been a regular for years as have loads of others im sure.foods fantastic and generally speaking so is service
Quite simply the best curry I've had. In Nelson for work for a night and decided on the takeout option. Seekh Kebab is absolutely amazing, vindaloo does what it says on the box, I can't stand vindaloo without hit and this definitely has it. I was warned when ordering that it was the hottest menu option and they weren't wrong. Loved every mouthful! Well done Indian Cafe! Superb!!
Excellent Food, Value and Service - Possibly some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Highly recommend their Mango Chicken and Butter Chicken. Lunchtime platter is also good. Good selection of Naans. Great staff who remember who you are and treat you well.
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We were at The Free House for a drink. They allow you to bring food from outside the establishment and eat it there. They even provide you with plates and cutlery - isn't that great?
We had been told the Indian Cafe - across the road - was very good. As a curry lover, and as I find it very difficult to find a curry that meets my expectations, it was a must try.
We ordered; Butter chicken (medium), Chicken tikka masala (hot), one Garlic naan and a side dish of Raita. The curries each came with rice.
I was told half an hour, and when I popped over to pick it up, it was ready. The building itself was a pleasant surprise. It's a converted house, with each room being used to seat people - had a nice feel to it. I almost wished we'd sat in. The staff were friendly and I manage to score some free popadums because I fixed their stapler - which was nice of them.
My partner had the Butter chicken and said it had a nice kick and was very tasty.
I ordered the Masala. I ordered it hot as medium never quite hits the mark for me usually. The hot was hot, almost too hot but I enjoyed the kick. The curry itself was like a British style Indian curry. Deep flavours, with chunks of onion and capsicum in a thick sauce... just how I like it. I was quite full but kept eating as it was so good to have a decent curry.
The garlic naan was substantial but light. Garlicy but not greasy. Not one of those thick stodgy ones that often get served. And the Raita was a nice addition to help cool my hot curry.
The dishes themselves were large and we could have shared one between us. Neither of us finished our mains, and we only ate one rice. - we hated disposing of the leftovers.
Butter chicken: $16.98
Chicken tikka masala: $16.98
Garlic bread: $3.48
Raita: $2.98
All up it cost us $39.92 (which is 50c cheaper than the prices on the menu - don't know why)
I took a picture of my curry but it looked messy so I haven't included it.
If there is a curry house in Wellington that cooks curries like Indian Cafe, I want to find it!
I would definitely recommend the Indian Cafe if you want a decent curry.
Can't beat Indian Cafe for Indian food in Nelson. I am a regular diner, both eat in and take out and always enjoy their food. The curries are not too creamy and they always get the required spice level right. Fantastic range, including curries I haven't seen before. Can recommend the Lamb Do Pyaza - but really, everything is good.
Found this restaurant using my nose from the amazing fragrances emitted by their kitchen and have not looked back since. The only place in Nelson I would go to for Indian cuisine!
Food is delicious and great value for money lunch or dinner, cannot go past their lunch deal if you want to sample curries that you may not order yourself normally (three curries and rice for under $10).
As the curries are cooked to order, there is a bit of a wait for your food and it would be better if the wait-staff knew more about the food but they were friendly and as helpful as they could be.
Denise the Maître d' runs a tight ship. I've eaten here almost monthly for many years and am never disappointed with the quality of the meals and the friendly professional staff.
They really know how to look after customers properly and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
The Indian Cafe is located in a lovely old villa. The food is fantastic. The dishes are full of flavor and a good size. The Nan bread is hot and soft without being too soggy. I highly recommend the tandoori platter for 2 as a starter, it’s enough food for 3 to 4 people. If you still have food for a dessert you should try the Gulab Jamun. The service was good, but there was an older member of staff training a new employee, she was very condescending to the new employee.
This was a great place for a family Indian meal. The food was good quality obviously and the absolute best onion baji I have ever tasted.
The only factor not to my particular taste was the spices. We ordered medium and there was no heat at all in any of our dishes.
Lovely place though, nice staff and a vibrant atmosphere. I'll go for hot next time for sure 🇮🇳
Best Indian Restaurant in Nelson by a long shot. Amazing prices, great friendly staff and awesome wine selection. Recommend the Original Banquet for an awesome journey for your taste buds. Vindaloo is a stand out.
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The best Indian EVER!!!!!
18 years ago my parents and I went to Nelson for a night. We walked past a tiny little Indian takeaway place and decided to grab some curry and go back to our hotel. We all said THIS IS THE BEST INDIAN FOOD WE HAVE EVER TASTED. We left the next morning but always raved about how great that tiny little Indian takeaway was. My partner and i were In Nelson in April 2023 for a night and we walked past this Indian restaurant, both wanting a curry for dinner we walked in.
Our curry came to the table and as soon a tried it I said to my partner “I think this is the same owner/cook as that one from 18 years ago”. I called the owner over and he explained that yes, they used to run out of a tiny little takeaway place but had moved into the restaurant where it’s now situated.
I FOUND IT……18 years later I got to eat the best Indian food again, I am so happy to have found it and can now finally recommend the name and location to everyone passing through Nelson. Thankyou so much INDIAN CAFE. Your food and service is amazing and I won’t stop recommending this place.
Awesome Indian food! This place really does it well. A nice atmosphere in either the indoor or the outdoor dining experience.
Staff were good, local beverages were very good and the food was great.
All the breads were exceptionally well done - and the curries were amazing.
A great place for families, friends and even couples to enjoy a nice night out (if you are a couple and want to be away from the crowds (or kids) then the booths outside, down the side, are perfect for that romantic date night curry.)
We were visiting Nelson and had Indian Cafe delivered to our unit. It was absolutely delicious. Some of the best Indian food I have had in NZ. Portion sizes generous too.
Delicious food, friendly staff! The Indian Cafe is an excellent place in a great location in Nelson, opposite the former church turned pub! We loved it and would return 😊
Fantastic flavours, portion sizes and value. Beautifully cooked food. Good range of vegetarian and vegan options. Highly recommended!
A friend at home in Wellington recommended. I am in Nelson for the day and decided to try. Lovely food, friendly staff. Will definitely be back.
I have the special, chicken biryani, The portion was too large mainly rice with little other ingredients, and the chicken was too dry.
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