ChaiShai Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Montreal

So nice to see a brand-new, quality, family-run restaurant serving South Asian delicacies! As someone from a Bengali background, and being used to several excellent Bengali/Bangladeshi restaurants in the Montreal metro area, I have quite exacting standards when it comes to Bangla-Indo-Pak food, and my wife has also developed similar tastes. From this standpoint, Maison ChaïShaï has certainly succeeded in providing a fabulous new entry to the growing South Asian food scene here in Montreal. First, they take their tea (cha & chai) seriously. The Kashmiri chai, hard to find in this city, was exquisite and a truly excellent drink. We ordered dal, which was just a tiny bit spicier than we usually prefer (it's always our hope to start very mild and add garam masala or spicy chili to taste if really needed, rather than try to undo a spicier dish), but it was delicious nonetheless, and for those who like things a bit spicy, it will be particularly enjoyable. The butter paneer was prepared flawlessly and was extremely tasty. The naan was also very good, enjoyable even on its own. Rice was well-made, with fried onions and spices (pilau-style) and a great accompaniment to our main dishes. The onion bhajis were excellent, with a distinct flavour profile that differentiates it from bhajis you can find at other local restaurants. They also serve golgappas (pani puri), which we had -- they were tasty and fun to eat! There are other dishes we look forward to trying, and certainly the menu will evolve and expand with time as the place becomes more established. But in just a couple of weeks it's safe to say that this is a really great new spot for anyone in downtown to experience. The decor is also superb, and while there isn't a HUGE amount of seating (and with the pandemic still bubbling in the background, in-person dining may remain an up and down thing in the coming year), they've got a nice interior with a clean, well-lit, beautifully appointed dining area. We give the place 5 stars at this point, because Maison ChaïShaï should be applauded as a fine newcomer to the Concordia University area in Shaughnessy Village, sorely lacking in innovative options. We will be back soon! Thank you for giving us a great new choice for lunch/dinner/cha in our...

If you're wanting to stay warm and grab a coffee or hot beverage in a rather unique café/resto, you have to check out @maisonchaishai. Located at the corner of Bishop & Maisonneuve, this beautiful café resto is decorated in Indian art, drapery and lamps. The menu stands out as featuring some of the best quality Indian food in town -hands down. I tried:

samosa chana chaat- deconstructed samosas topped with onion, cucumber, tomatoes, pomegranate, coriander, green chili chutney. Definitely good for 1 or 2 ppl, packed with flavour.

Dahi puri- fried hollow flour puffs filled with sweet yogurt, green chili chutney, tamarind sauce, fried sprinkles of dough, pomegranate. These guys are taking my number 1 spot in Montreal for this dish. My favourite !

These items are common street food items /apps in South Asian countries.

Mains:

beef seekh Kebab with garlic naan- a garlic, ginger, coriander, mint, marinated beef kebabs. the depth and richness of this dish is unexplainable in words. Really soft and tender beef, not too spicy and goes so well with the bread.

butter paneer with rice , a cheese in tomato cream sauce. I absolutely loved this dish . But for me this is comfort food, this is what I order at every and any Indian restaurant and this place delivered satisfaction!

-Kashmiri chai -can't explain it , try it -it will warm your heart . Staple chai signature. Served as a cold brew as well .

No pic -gulab jamun cheesecake - I ate it all!

So happy to have discovered this place. Hopefully one of many trips. I am so proud of this Montreal...

I would give 0 stars if I could.

I recently hosted a bridal shower at this restaurant and was deeply disappointed with our experience. Communication was consistently problematic, and our initial inquiries about pricing, menu options, and event timings were repeatedly ignored.

Food options were unclear and promises of a diverse menu fell short. What's worse, specific dietary needs (nut and egg allergies) were not accommodated despite clear instructions, leaving some guests unable to eat. We also found that no complimentary gestures were offered, which is usually common courtesy in such establishments.

Service inconsistencies were glaring, with delays and confusions surrounding food and beverage service. Despite the restaurant being informed about our event, they cited understaffing when asked for assistance with basic tasks.

A particularly troubling incident was being unfairly charged for an extra guest who didn't receive any additional food or service. To conclude, we were hurriedly asked to vacate the premises in the middle of our celebration, making us feel unwelcome and disrespected.

Overall, the service was far below expectations, leaving us with an unpleasant experience. It's disheartening that despite hosting an event, most of our requests seemed to be misunderstood or ignored. I hope this feedback encourages the restaurant to improve its services for future customers. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I won't recommend this venue for...