Swad Indian Kitchen — Restaurant in West Vancouver

I really enjoyed Swad! I had a reservation here at 5:30 on a Saturday with some friends, and we were about 15 minutes late due to traffic, but they didn't seem put off which was a relief, probably because they weren't too busy yet, although it was getting there by the time we left. The ambiance inside was so nice; the decoration was elegant and classy but not overstated, the lighting low and warm, and the chairs comfortable. The vibe is a little upscale (more than we were expecting) but not inaccessible at all. I ordered the Reshami Paneer, a Pudina Parantha, and a Salty Lassi - all were excellent. I haven't seen this paneer dish at a restaurant before and really liked it - it was zingier than similar paneer curries like kadai paneer or paneer tikka masala and tasted very vibrant. I ordered medium spice and it fell just about where I expected it to. The level was good for me, although I could've handled a little spicier - if you're used to the medium spice level from super authentic places, this was a little less than that, but I think about average for the majority Canadian or American Indian restaurants. Others in my group ordered the butter chicken and palak paneer and had good things to say. My one friend is sensitive to heat and ordered his butter chicken mild, and said it was fine for him. The parantha was very flaky and almost doughy on the inside, just how I like it, and fragrant with the mint. The lassi was nice and smooth, not too heavy, and made a nice accompaniment to my meal. Our food came out in a very timely manner after ordering. The à-la-carte mains and breads are decently-sized portioned for one person, but the rice sides, which others at my table shared, are enough for 2 people each. Our waiter was very personable, but he really tried to push us to order appetizers and desserts, which would have been fun and cute if that was what we wanted, but we had a pretty clear idea of what we wanted and did have somewhere to be after, and I think we all felt awkward declining. It was also a challenge to get his attention to get the bill once we were finished. When we were ready for the bill, he seemed a little puzzled by our request to have it split - it was no problem for him to split it evenly 4 ways, but we had all ordered our own entrees and breads and I had gotten my own drink; the rices were the only thing that was shared. But I guess the dishes are intended to be shared so that's what they assumed we did. Everything was close enough in cost that we just went with it, and our totals before tip came out to $26 per person, which isn't bad at all considering the quality of food and the general dining experience. I think these little awkward things we encountered can largely be attributed to our expectations being a little off and them not getting much of a uni student crowd. The experience...

I had a really upsetting experience at my usual Indian restaurant today. I went to pick up food my daughter ordered, and right away they asked if I’d brought a bag. When I said no, they told me to go get one because of their "policy." I offered to just take the food without a bag, but they refused.

While I was trying to figure this out, one guy got really aggressive about me “pointing” at him (even though I wasn’t), and the owner told him not to bother talking to me. When I said I’d been coming there for 15+ years, she basically told me that I could just cancel the order if I wanted It was deeply disappointing, especially because of the man’s rude manner. In my frustration, I even suggested calling the police, but he simply replied, “Go ahead.”

My daughter called to complain, and they apologized and said it was a misunderstanding—asked me to go back. For her sake, I returned. The man who’d shouted at me gave a very insincere apology and handed over the food with a dessert.

They said they thought I was a delivery driver. But honestly, is it ever okay to treat a delivery person, or anyone, with such contempt? Was it my appearance (coming straight from a Thai massage, hair a mess) that made them think they could treat me poorly? And if it really was a misunderstanding, why did my receipt say “Customer Pickup”?

One more thing, years ago, I saw that same man harshly scold a server right at the counter. So I guess showing respect and basic courtesy isn’t their thing.It showed that some people were not treated with the respect everyone deserves. This is more than poor service, it is a failure of basic decency.

(Edited) At no point did I “point fingers.” The issue was not about bags or policy—it was about the way I was treated with hostility and disrespect, even after explaining I was picking up a customer order.

If this has truly been your policy for 10 years, then failing to distinguish a customer pick-up from a delivery driver shows a lack of professionalism. The so-called apology was just a brief call, a dessert, and a request to remove my review—which was not sincerity, but an attempt to save face.

Our family supported Swad since it first opened, even through COVID, because we valued the food and wanted to support a local business. Sadly, after this experience, we will not be returning.

After you commented on my review

Do you really think so? If I hadn’t gone back, you never would have apologized, and even then, it wasn’t sincere. I used my finger to point? Ha! You still don’t understand what you did wrong, do you? You called my daughter and said you offered Kheer as a “service” just so she would tell me to remove my review? Does that make any sense? What do you think would have happened if I had actually called the...

All I can say is WOW! Make this a regular spot, it will blow your mind! Food is over the top delicious!

If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Swad Indian Kitchen is the place to be! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with the warm ambiance and the inviting aroma of flavorful spices. The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the exceptional service provided by Sahib and Reema! The service was right on point.

The pakoras were flavour bombs! They are such tasty little bites! The chicken tikka was sizzling hot! It’s juicy bites of chicken cooked to smoky perfection - bold flavour in every bite! It was flavour-packed!

The flavour of the Chicken Kuku Paka was spot on! It’s cooked in luscious coconut sauce infused with fragrant spices…it’s the ultimate comfort food for a curry lover!

The garlic naan was so pillowy soft and fluffy. Infused with garlic and topped with herbs, it’s a perfect match for the chicken curry!

The vegetable pulao was so flavoursome and hearty! It’s a delightful blend of colourful veggies, fragment basmati rice and warm Indian spices! It’s major comfort food energy.

The mocktails (Pina Colada & Virgin Shikanji) are the perfect balance of bold, fruity, and refreshing flavours to elevate your sip! From tangy twists to fruity bliss, the mocktails are made to refresh you.

And the mango kulfi was creamy, dreamy, and irresistibly refreshing! It was summer on a stick!

Their patio is the perfect spot to soak in the summer sun!

If you're craving authentic Indian cuisine, paired with top-notch service, look no further than Swad Indian Kitchen. Be sure to ask for Sahib & Reema – they truly elevated our dining experience....