Jolly's Indian Bistro — Restaurant in Vancouver

Avoid their Groupon at all costs because it is a scam! I've been to Jolly's a few times in the past but will never go back again.

First, let me add that the food quality is extremely mediocre, and the price is extremely marked up, probably because of their frequent promotion on Groupon.

I bought their "$23 for $40 for four people" Groupon, which was advertised as being 45% off. However, this was just a trick to get more people into their restaurant. When we tried to redeem our Groupon, the staff did not honour the deal, saying that the Groupon had to be used for exactly four people. Because we went in as a couple, they were unwilling to give us the deal. The fine print did not mention anything about requiring 4 people to be present. This, to me is a clear scam. If you look at their menu, every entree is close to $20, so it is impossible to order only $40 worth of food to feed 4 people. All my previous experiences with Groupons is that the restaurant would honour the VALUE of the Groupon (ie. you get $40 value for the $23 you paid) regardless of how many people are present.

Not just that, say you split the savings of $17 between 4 people, that's $4.25 each. Big whoop. How many people would buy the Groupon if they were more accurate and described it as "$16 for a $20 entree?" cause that's what you're getting if you get duped into coming in a group of 4.

Our bill came up to $47, and they would only let us redeem $20 instead of the $40 value - remember, we paid $23 for the Groupon itself! Meaning we lost money getting the Groupon! In summary, we effectively paid $50 ($23 for the Groupon and $27 for the food after "discount") for $47 worth of food! Absolutely pathetic. They told us we could redeem the other $20 on a later visit. As if I'd want to come back and give them even more money for their rip-off food. I'm not paying over $20/entree again, especially when you can get that stuff from any other Indian restaurant for $13.

This to me is very poor business practice as the owners have no regard for the restaurant's reputation. They would rather make the extra few dollars by misleading customers....

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Jolly’s Restaurant on West 4th, and overall, it was a wonderful experience. The restaurant has a charming and cozy atmosphere, making it a great place for both casual dining and special occasions. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure we felt comfortable and well taken care of throughout the evening.

We started with the Aloo Tikki, which was absolutely fantastic! It was perfectly crispy on the outside, soft and flavourful on the inside, and seasoned just right — a great start to the meal. The breaded prawns were also impressive, light and crisp, and packed with flavour. Both appetizers were well-executed and really set the tone for what we hoped would be a great meal.

For the main course, we went with the lamb, which was cooked beautifully. It was tender, juicy, and rich in flavour, definitely a standout dish. That said, I do wish the portion of rice had been a little larger to complement the lamb, and the naan, while tasty, was more like a mini naan. I would have preferred a slightly bigger serving, especially given how delicious the food was overall.

There was a slight disappointment when we were informed that they had run out of both the Goa fish and the wine we initially wanted. While I understand that sometimes certain items can run low, a restaurant should aim to keep essential menu items in stock, as it's always a letdown when you're unable to order what you'd hoped for. Despite this, we still found other delicious alternatives that made the meal enjoyable.

Despite a few small hiccups, the food was definitely good, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jolly’s. It’s worth trying for the flavourful dishes and warm ambience, and I’m sure we’ll be back to try more of their menu in the future. The staff and overall atmosphere really elevate the experience, and it’s a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. With just a few small adjustments (larger portions of rice and naan!), I believe it could easily be a...

I have eaten at many restaurants in my life, but never have I encountered a dish so inedible, so aggressively salty, that I was left questioning whether I had just consumed food or a cruel culinary experiment. This brings me to my experience at Jolly’s Indian Bistro, where I ordered the Lamb Rogan Josh—an iconic Indian dish that should be a symphony of rich spices, slow-cooked meat, and deep, aromatic flavors. Instead, what I received was a sodium bomb so potent that I’m convinced it could single-handedly dehydrate an entire city.

From the first bite, it was clear that something was very, very wrong. The lamb, which should have been tender and flavorful, was barely discernible under the avalanche of salt. This wasn’t just a case of a slightly heavy hand with the seasoning—this was an all-out assault on my taste buds. It was as if someone had poured an entire shaker of salt directly into the sauce and then decided it still wasn’t enough. The result? A dish that felt like licking the bottom of the ocean floor.

No amount of rice, naan, or water could counteract the sheer intensity of the saltiness. Every bite made me more and more desperate for relief. My tongue burned, my throat felt parched, and I found myself reaching for a glass of water every few seconds in a futile attempt to wash away the suffering. Even after giving up halfway through (because no sane person could finish this dish), the taste lingered like an unwanted guest—haunting me for hours.

If you enjoy having functioning taste buds, don’t eat here. If you’d rather not feel like you just swallowed a mouthful of seawater, don’t eat here. If you have any shred of self-respect and don’t want to waste your money on a meal that could be classified as cruel and unusual punishment, don’t eat here.

I was expecting a warm, comforting meal and ended up questioning my life choices. Save yourself the agony. Find a better Indian restaurant—because literally anywhere else would be...