Restaurant Gandhi — Restaurant in Montreal

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Gandhi Restaurant in Montreal’s Old Port, and it was a truly memorable experience—especially since I brought my little cousins along, and it was their first time trying Indian cuisine. The restaurant offers a perfect blend of traditional Indian flavors with the charming atmosphere of the Old Port, making it ideal for both casual dining and special occasions.

From the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by an inviting, warm ambiance that made us feel right at home. It felt like the kind of place where you could enjoy a comforting meal or celebrate a special moment, and it definitely added to the overall experience.

I started my meal with a crisp glass of Chardonnay, which was the perfect companion to the rich and aromatic spices that followed. To kick things off, we tried the Papadam—an irresistible, crispy lentil wafer served with three vibrant sauces: mint, tamarind, and mango chutney. Each sauce offered a unique balance of tangy sweetness that elevated the papadam, making it a delightful palate cleanser that melted in my mouth with every bite.

For appetizers, I went with a selection of traditional favorites, and each dish was nothing short of fantastic. The Chicken Tikka was tender, with a smoky, roasted flavor, and the marinated chicken was seasoned to perfection. The Onion Bhajee, fried in Indian butter, was crispy and rich, with just the right touch of sweetness from the onions. The Samosa had a flavorful vegetable filling, and the Pakora—seasoned vegetable fritters—was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a well-balanced spice profile.

When it came time for the main course, I decided to let the waiter surprise me with a variety of dishes to truly experience the diversity of Indian cuisine. The Mixed Vegetable Bhajee was a refreshing, light vegetarian dish with a wonderful combination of fresh vegetables and a perfect mix of spices. The Chicken Tikka Masala, a classic favorite, was comforting and creamy, with perfectly cooked chicken bathed in a rich, flavorful sauce.

However, it was the Shrimp Bhuna and Lamb Dhansak that truly left an impression. The Shrimp Bhuna had a subtle, yet satisfying heat, with shrimp cooked to perfection in a rich curry sauce full of layers of flavor. But the Lamb Dhansak… wow. That dish was the real standout for me. The lamb was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, and the curry itself had a perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess, with lentils and spices providing depth without overwhelming the palate.

What made this experience even more special was seeing my cousins—who were trying Indian food for the first time—so excited by the new flavors. Gandhi Restaurant not only gave us a chance to explore incredible dishes, but it also made us feel like we were sharing something truly special together.

Overall, Gandhi Restaurant delivers an exceptional dining experience, with high-quality food, attentive service, and authentic flavors. The balance of heat, sweetness, and richness in every dish is remarkable. Whether you’re a seasoned lover of Indian cuisine or someone new to it (like my cousins), this restaurant offers a fantastic opportunity to dive into the vibrant world of Indian food in such an inviting setting.

Stay tuned for my video review on TikTok (@Foxy.appetite) and Instagram...

TLDR: Do not go to this restaurant unless you want to experience the worst vegetarian food.

I recently visted Montreal with Family. We wanted to see the Old Port after having a nice Indian dinner. We saw that Restaurant Gandhi was nearby and wanted to try out. Though I read the "bad" reviews before, I still wanted to try out. After the dishes we ordered came and tasted, I echo with all the bad reviews here. This is the worst Indian/Desi food I ever had. We being vegetarians, ordered a plate of Samosas, Butter Panneer with Garlic Naans & Vegetable Biryani.

The samosas were half cooked/fried - the flour was still fresh when served. The curry stuffing was pale and no salt or flavor. My kids and I had to put lot of the green-white pudina chutney to eat it.

The Butter Panner was a joke - the panneer was not well done. The gravy was dark red-orange color which means they added lots of color. It tasted like syrup - adding more sugar & condensed milk. No flavor/taste.

The garlic naans were good. Thats the only thing we ate :).

-The Vegetable Biryani - oh my goodness. Its no way close to even pulao or yellow rice with just jeera & salt. Who puts cabbage in biryani? The whole rice was bitter and sour. The gravy/shorba they gave was capcicum (green peppers) with beans, peas and cabbage (again). It added even more bitterness to the dish. Me being a Hyderabadi, this dish is on the top of my list, but not at Gandhi Restaurant.

The items are expensive. The quantity is very less. The butter panneer was CAD$25 for a small katori (small palm bowl) with 6 panneer pieces.

We told the manager/owner that the food was pathetic. He reasoned out that not many people order Biryani at any time and that they do not prepare the traditional way. Well, I do not expect the traditional way, but at least it should taste something closer to the dish. Why then even have it in the menu? I think this restaurant might cater/offer better taste for meat eating customers. I would definitely warn Vegetarians to not go to this place at all.

Only the name...

I rarely leave a detailed review... But I am also rarely an expert on a place I visit! I grew up vegetarian and have eaten Indian food since I was a baby, and everywhere around the world from Chennai to Syria to Seattle. I feel like people who have left bad reviews about the service might also leave bad reviews about the lack of chopsticks at an Italian restaurant or the lack of French wine at an Irish pub.

Service/atmosphere: This place is exactly as you would expect, very authentic: super friendly and helpful head waiter, and mixed engagement from other staff, contrasted with an open kitchen door and the loud clearing of dishes by others. Overall very fast.

The food: I had the vegetarian thali (not on main menu... It is a mix of dishes.. always recommend people get). The two dishes (and I ordered an extra one) were unique and full of flavour. I adore Palak Paneer and have had it 100s of times... Their version was delicious. I loved the sauteed spinach (rather than pureed), and the mixed veggies were perfectly cooked (the onion didn't overpower). The naan and raita were a bit average, but the raita they gave with the papadum at the start was much better. I obviously didn't try the meat dishes, but can strongly recommend this place to...