Barshala - Best Indian Restaurant & Bar in Hamilton — Restaurant in Hamilton

Shrinkflation combined with poor uncooked food at it's worst.

Ordered online for pickup. Order total was $115 with 7 dishes + 2 side orders of bread. We were very disappointed with both the quality & quantity of food.

The $29.99 3 appetizer platter had 9 pieces, 3 each of type. They were served with French Fries. The drumsticks were undercooked and the pink blood could be seen and tasted near the bone.

Comparing this against the Menu pictures which shows 15 different pieces of chicken (pictures attached for comparison against the menu)

The combo plates, each costing $20.99, were again shrunk to the minimum. While the pictures on the online menu show significant quantity (over 8 pieces) the actual combo served had only 3 pieces of undercooked chicken which had to be fished for in overly spicy curry - which filled only half the container as opposed to a full container (pictures attached)

The spicy curry was especially requested to be V. Mild as kids were to have meals as well.

The combo is also supposed to be served with salad but all there was in the name of salad was a few slices of pickled onions.

When confronted, the manager on duty, Ankit, had no response but to say this is how the owner, Mr. Fahuja, had decided would be the quantity and there is nothing they can do about it.

Overall a very poor experience which I would recommend to stay away as the price is not worth the quality or...

I visited BarShala recently and noticed several issues that raise concerns about hygiene and staff practices. Most noticeably, black gram was left outside uncovered, which is highly unhygienic. Food should always be properly stored and protected to ensure safety and cleanliness. This kind of carelessness is not acceptable in any food service setting.

Additionally, I observed that some staff members were not wearing hairnets while serving food, which goes against basic food handling standards. It’s important for restaurants to maintain proper hygiene not just for appearances but for customer health.

I also spoke briefly with an employee named Pranjal, who mentioned she is a student but appeared to be working full-time hours. This raises questions about whether the establishment is complying with work/study permit regulations. If students are working beyond permitted hours or are being paid in cash, that’s something that should be reviewed. It’s possible that other staff may also be working under similar conditions.

I’m sharing this feedback not to target individuals, but to encourage BarShala to take a closer look at its operations—from food hygiene to staff compliance with labor standards. Customers deserve a clean and trustworthy dining experience, and employees deserve to work in a safe and legal...

On our way back to the USA from African Lion Safari, we wanted to wrap up our culinary experience in Canada with flavorful Indian food. Based on a Google rating of 4.7 stars, we decided to visit Barshala in Hamilton, ON. Unfortunately, it was a major disappointment for all of us, including the two kids in our group of six.

The restaurant was severely understaffed, with only one overwhelmed server handling 6-8 occupied tables, leading to slow service and a frustrating dining experience. The food lacked the flavor and preparation we had hoped for. The Dahi Puri was especially disappointing—filled with just a tiny amount of potatoes and drowning in sugary yogurt. There were no chutneys, seasonings, or garnishes that give the dish its signature 'chat' flavor. It was just sweet, and that's it.

The main course wasn't much better. We were recommended the Cooker mein Kukkad (pressure-cooked chicken), but it was overcooked and bland. To make things worse, we spent an extra 45 minutes waiting due to the slow service, and several times we contemplated walking out.

I'm genuinely surprised by the high rating this restaurant has. I'd love to debate anyone who gave them such a score—they must be well-wishers or regulars. In our opinion, this restaurant does not live up to its rating and, frankly, shouldn't be...