The Grand Palace - Indian Restaurant in Sydney — Restaurant in Sydney

If we could, we would leave 0 stars. We went 10/07. The restaurant is underground, and the atmosphere is claustrophobic with loud music and can overall be best described as dungeon-esque. We overlooked this as we thought perhaps this was a very traditional Indian setting.

Once seated, we ignored the hole in the table and the fact that we had to ask for new plates as the ones on the table had dried food and fingerprint stains all over them. Even the new plates were not fully clean but we regretfully ignored this. In hindsight we should have left right then.

We really tried to enjoy our experience as at first the servers were welcoming. We ordered pani puri, chicken tikka masala and lamb shank masala + 2saffron rice as well as a classic virgin mocktail.

The pani puri was underwhelming, we did not finish what was served of it. The lamb shank masala: The curry was thick from the amount of spice poured in it. The mouth feel was somehow clumpy, powdery and greasy all at once. The meat was way too overpowered by something that tasted like bay leaf. It instantly made us feel sick. Then the chicken tikka masala was better than the lamb shank, but for a ‘fine dining restaurant,’ it was 2/10 at most. We asked for it to be more spicy, so instead of adjusting the spice levels in the gravy itself, they added raw chunks of fresh chilli inside. It was a bit bland in comparison to the lamb shank which was way too overpowering.

We packed the chicken tikka masala to go as we didn’t want to waste any food. The lamb shank was left unfinished as it tasted too bad to even consider taking back. Regardless, we still had to throw away the to go box on the way home as we felt that we got food poisoning. My friend was hauled over outside the restaurant trying not to puke. I’m surprised we made it all the way home before puking.

Overall, this is definitely not the place to go for a fine dining experience. At the checkout, we commented that the food was underwhelming and that the spices were just not right in quantity and harmony. We only complained about the lamb shank masala. The response received was condescending. The waiter smirked and said, “Is this your first time trying Indian food.” No, but it was our first time having Indian food that bad.

We were then told that they would do better next time. There will be no next time.

We came here because of all the great reviews. Don’t make the same mistake we did, save...

This is our 'Go To' for the best Indian in the city, and beyond. Secluded away from the hustle and bustle, deep in the belly it seems, under buildings and streets, you descend down a well lit stairwell. When you step into the restaurant, the sense of stepping into India 🇮🇳, is evident. Carved, solid timber furniture, doors, canopied ceiling, will give you the Indian ambience if the aromas from the kitchen already haven't. You can see the chefs 👨‍🍳 in their white hats, through a glass panel, cooking and preparing food. You are greeted by a smiling Host who will sit you down at your preferred table and you can begin to peruse the menu. You know it's going to be good food as the restaurant fills with Indian business men and women during lunch hour. The food of course has great variety catering to almost every dietary need. I cannot go past the Entree of; Rajasthani Mirchi Vada as an Entree or a main for myself. Plus I chose the Palak Patta Chat as my actual Entree this time. My friend had the best Onion Bhaji which are quite large and just as delicious. I often have eaten a proper Mains, as there are so many to choose from so Vegetarians and Meat Lovers, will not be disappointed. My friend always chooses the Chicken Vindaloo as the sauce is rich, thick and has all the right flavours. Whether you want Vegetarian, Seafood, Chicken, Beef, Goat, you will find plenty to select from. Naan, Roti, Paratha, Biryani, Rice, and even chicken nuggets with chips if your little ones are not up to the bountiful, bombshell of flavours and heats, you'll be experiencing at the Grand Palace. One of my favourites is their Peshawari Naan. It's delicious, if you can fit it in! Service is polite and prompt. Staff are friendly and very accommodating paying attention to their customer's requests and needs. If you are looking to experience some true, authentic Indian food then the Grand Palace is definitely worth a visit whilst in our beautiful city of Sydney. Light train stops right at the door so transport is so easy. We come here every 4-6 weeks. One thing I personally find very important when eating out; is the continuity of quality food and service. The Grand Palace has achieved...

I’ve had Indian food in the mainland states, Hawaii, the UK, Hong Kong and now here in Sydney Australia and I can say hands down this is now #1 with and establishment in the UK as #2. Completely blown away by the entirety of the experience here. The quality of food was a 10/10 🤌🏽💋Chefs Kiss So vibrant and flavorful, perfectly balanced. The ambiance of the space is decorated beautifully and the team members are very kind. I highly recommend the Triangle Samosas (11/10) with the creamy mint sauce AND the tamarind as well as the Paneer schnitzel (9/10) (make sure you squeeze that lemon all over those 4 pieces and that every bite gets a little bit of the sauce on it. For a drink I got the lychee cocktail (11/10) and for dinner my husband got the chicken biryani (10/10) which I normally don’t partake of but this chicken biryani was SO DELISH that I had to have some instead of ordering a side of white basmati rice. We shared our dishes and it was so incredibly delicious that we went back for a second time. Few nights later. The first time we went, I ordered the butter chicken (10/10) and the second time I tried the chicken tikka masala (9/10), both were so yummy but I definitely prefer the butter chicken and that’s now my go-to for the next visit and many more to come. We also shared a cheese garlic naan and dipped it in the chicken tikka masala and the butter chicken sauces. This place will be a tradition every time we come to Sydney and will be on our recommended places to eat for friends and family members. The food is too good to waste or leave behind, so we packed up our left overs nicely and handed it out to a homeless person a couple of blocks down the road. When we told him it was Indian food, he lit up with the biggest smile. With 2 appetizers, a cocktail, 2 beers, 2 entrees and 1 naan and a 20% tip, it was $61 USD per person. Worth every penny especially for this quality of food. It’s always a gamble on how well your stomach will hold up when trying new places out and/or the quality and freshness of the food and I am happy to report that I did NOT get bubbly guts either time we ate here. So WIN WIN for me and my hubby! (He’s wayyyyyy more...