Swaad Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Limerick

Review of Swaad Restaurant, Limerick, Ireland Nestled in the heart of Limerick, Swaad promises an authentic Indian dining experience, and it partially delivers on that front. My recent visit left me with mixed feelings, as the restaurant excels in some areas but falls short in others. Here’s a detailed take on my experience. From the moment you step into Swaad, the ambiance is warm and inviting. The decor blends modern elegance with subtle Indian touches—think vibrant wall art and soft lighting that creates a cozy atmosphere. The staff greeted us promptly and were courteous throughout, ensuring we felt welcomed. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and our server was knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful recommendations. The menu is extensive, showcasing a variety of Indian classics, from buttery naans to aromatic curries. We started with vegetable samosas, which were crispy and well-spiced, a promising start. For the main course, I ordered the butter chicken, while my dining partner chose the lamb biryani. The butter chicken was a standout—rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. The balance of spices was spot-on, and the chicken was tender. The biryani was equally flavorful, with fragrant rice and succulent lamb, though it could have used a touch more heat for my taste. However, the portion sizes were a significant letdown. For a restaurant in this price range, I expected more generous servings. My butter chicken came with a modest portion of curry, barely enough for two people to share, even when paired with rice and naan. The biryani, too, felt underwhelming in quantity, leaving us wanting more. This was particularly disappointing given the price point, which leans toward the higher end for Limerick’s dining scene. The naan bread, while delicious and perfectly charred, was also smaller than expected. We ordered garlic naan and peshwari naan, both of which were delightful, but again, the portions felt skimpy for the cost. A side of raita was fresh and cooling, but the tiny serving size didn’t justify its price. Drinks were another highlight. The mango lassi was refreshing and perfectly balanced, not overly sweet. The cocktail menu, featuring Indian-inspired options, was creative, though we stuck to non-alcoholic beverages this time. The pricing is where Swaad really stumbles. Our bill, including two mains, two starters, naan, rice, and drinks, came to a steep total that felt unjustified given the portion sizes. For comparison, other Indian restaurants in Limerick, like Tulsi or Lana, offer similar quality with larger portions at more reasonable prices. While the taste at Swaad is undeniably good, the value for money is questionable. Cleanliness was impeccable, with spotless tables and a well-maintained dining area. The restaurant also seemed to prioritize hygiene, which is always reassuring. However, the overall experience was dampened by the feeling that we didn’t get enough bang for our buck. Would I return to Swaad? Possibly, but only if I’m craving their specific flavors and don’t mind splurging. For those seeking a flavorful Indian meal in Limerick, Swaad delivers on taste but may leave you hungry for more—both in portion size and value. If you’re on a budget or prefer hearty servings, you might want to explore other options in the city. For now, Swaad gets a solid 3.5 out of 5—great taste, but the small portions and high prices hold it back from...

We decided to eat dinner at Swad restaurant in Limerick last night. It’s a small restaurant with a full service bar. There’s an extensive menu with both vegetarian and non vegetarian items, starters, main dishes, desserts and drinks are all available. I would place this restaurant in the median price range. We ordered Mattar Paneer and Baingan Bhaji with Nan and tandoori roti. They start out with serving one papadum cut in two halves with 2 chutneys and chopped onions. I found both the dishes to have a very similar taste, probably the same sauce was used to prepare both dishes. An intelligent chef will always use a different spice mix if two dishes require the same sauce because basically in Indian cooking the chopped gravy sauce is made from a mixture of caramelized onions and tomatoes with ginger and garlic and spices. But I’m not here to give a recipe but just to mention that if two dishes require the same sauce, the chef can choose to treat both differently with spices. So both my dishes had the same taste with just the difference of paneer in one and eggplant in the other. The nan bread was ok. The tandoori roti was also ok. I’ve had better. By that I don’t mean that it was bad tasting. I just mean that the taste was average. I might try a different mix of dishes next time. Like okra and dal - because they’re two totally different dishes they may have a different taste. I haven’t tried their appetizers yet. That’s for next time! If you’re hungry for Indian food and don’t want to put too much dent in your pocket, this is the right place. The staff was very courteous and the server did...

Very bad experience, ill-mannered staff. My family and I (6 of us) are regular customers of Limerick and Dublin branches of this restaurant. We were made to wait for nearly 2 hours for 3 chicken biryanis takeaways. For the initial half an hour, no one took our food order, so we placed the order online. After 30 minutes, we asked for an update, and the staff said "5 minutes", and we didn't hear back from them for the next 30 minutes. There's an Indian guy among the staff who wears glasses, he was extremely rude to us, and he triggered me more than the delay in giving us the order. His attitude was so disrespectful. In the end I lost my calm and asked him for a refund. He stormed into the kitchen, came out with the food packet, and threw it across the counter at me. I would be more than happy if the restaurant took valid action against him, and reached out to me to inform me about the same. We were supposed to head back to Dublin tonight, everything got delayed because of this one incident.

Please note that we absolutely understand rush hours and how busy it can get because we are regular customers. But I request the owner to kindly be more mindful about the staff you hire, I refuse to believe that that guy is qualified to work in the hospitality industry, he has no idea how to treat customers. He had misbehaved with few other customers as well in our presence.

I request the team responsible to look into this matter and take appropriate action. Feel free to reach out to me...