The Grand Indian Dining — Restaurant in Toronto

With a 5-star average, I came in with HIGH hopes…and was massively disappointed. There was just one other table there when we arrived and when they left my friend and I were the only ones there. No one came in for the rest of our stay. Despite this, the service was pretty terrible. The staff were inattentive and seemed confused by very simple requests. Beyond that, I was almost always in need of more water and it was difficult to flag someone down.

As I mentioned in another review, I always order the paneer tikka masala when I try out a new Indian restaurant. This place’s version left much to be desired. The sauce had an interesting flavor profile but the paneer did not taste fresh or particularly flavorful. Also a reminder to Americans that the curry dishes in Canada do not come with rice, which is confusing. The only type of rice here was basmati and it was pretty bland. My friend ordered an eggplant dish only to be told that they were out of eggplant. So she pivoted to the palak paneer which was also…okay.

We shared garlic naan which actually did taste quite fresh and good. The samosas were also pretty good—instead of giving you two large ones per order like most restaurants, this place gives you 4 smaller ones. It was a nice twist. Their chutneys were pretty unique…okay, but not great.

Overall, as a lover of Indian cuisine, I was very disappointed all around by this. The naan and samosas spared this place from a one-star rating. But they’re certainly not enough to return for. If you’re looking for excellent Indian in Toronto, go elsewhere (highly recommend...

The food is decent! The Kashmiri Dum Aloo and Chur Chur Naan were delicious!

A small piece of feedback: the service felt confusing and slow. There seemed to be a lot of focus on certain guests (you’ll understand who), and less attention to our table. For example, our garlic naan was forgotten, and when we mentioned it, the server insisted, “I did give you a garlic naan, do you want to add another one?” It wasn’t even busy, just a couple of tables were occupied, so this came across as dismissive.

The space is also incredibly congested. We requested to merge two tables, which the young girl kindly did, but the gentleman with glasses and a small tattoo and the lady with a child seemed visibly upset. The table itself was tiny, smaller than my dress, honestly. While eating, the same gentleman came over and suggested we move to a larger table. We declined and explained that if a big party arrived, we’d clear our bowls. He made a strange expression and walked away. Tbh, we felt guilty at first for requesting the young girl to merge the tables as the food items weren't fitting.

I’d recommend arranging more spacious seating or getting larger tables. Some guests like to try several dishes, and it’s hard to enjoy when you feel cramped or unwelcome. We wanted to order more but decided against it because of the awkward atmosphere.

Please also remember to focus on all customers equally, we tip, too, and were visiting for the first...

Grand Indian Restaurant turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations going in — it’s a small, modest-looking place and I happened to visit pretty late at night. But the food completely changed my impression. Every dish we tried was full of flavor and clearly made with care. The taste was genuinely impressive and far exceeded what I anticipated.

What stood out the most was the chef’s involvement. He personally asked for feedback and genuinely took our preferences into account while preparing the food. That kind of dedication is rare and really added a personal touch to the whole experience. It felt like they actually cared about serving good food and making sure we were satisfied.

Although I didn’t manage to take many pictures — mostly because I was too tired and it was quite late — I can confidently say the food was picture-worthy. It’s one of those places that doesn’t rely on looks or hype but wins you over with quality and service.

If you’re looking for authentic Indian food with heart and flavor, Grand Indian Restaurant is worth checking out. Don’t let the size of the place fool you — the taste...