Atithi Indian Restaurant Utrecht — Restaurant in Utrecht

It's a ‘design’ restaurant, so it's very Instagrammable, with nice food and the service was very friendly. But not special enough for us to come back.

They only spoke English, that's no problem and happens everywhere nowadays.

The thing was, it was really cold inside. They told us they turned down the air conditioning, or actually they turned it off, but it was still cold. Even a bit freezing. And the front door didn't really close well either, so that didn't help as well.

The food took a really long time. There were about six tables, so not really busy, and at least half of them already had their dinner. And we had to wait for almost an hour for our dishes. That was way too long, and I was really hungry to start with.

The design of the restaurant is cool, it's very different, retro, especially for an Indian restaurant. They already have three in the rest of Holland, and now the fourth one in Utrecht. But the light was way too bright.

Even the glasses you drink from designish glasses. Big, different. But if you order apple juice like I did, you get a very small bottle from 0.2 centiliters in a huge glass. So it almost looks like you're drinking whisky because there is very little in the glass.

The Malbec was very nice, my girlfriend told me.

The size of the tables is very different from where you sit. If you're in a corner table, the table is really big. And you have a part of the table you hardly use. The other tables were big enough. But maybe not if you have a few of the Shahi Thali dishes which have many dishes in them themselves.

The price for apple juice was €5.95 for the really small bottle. That's way too expensive. We thought the menu maybe showed a cheaper price, like €4.50, which is even steep. So that's maybe a mistake. But I asked the waitress and she told me it was correct.

And again, price for a bottle of water, 0.75, was €4.95. And that's way too steep too for water. I didn't ask for tap water, maybe I should have.

And there were some fruit flies, really annoying, around the glass of wine. For the rest it was a pretty clean restaurant, but that was pretty annoying too.

The food though, was really nice. Not special enough compared to the other new Indian restaurants we know by now. Especially if you compare it to the other restaurants without a freezing air conditioning and not that long of a wait and a bigger menu.

This restaurant started up three, four weeks ago, so they're quite new. Some maybe some things are kinderziektes, as they call it in Dutch. The menu’s were hard to read because they were in very shiney maps.

The Shahi Thali was a big dish with several dishes in it. Good value for money. Only the butter chicken was a bit on the cold side. The rest was okay in temperature.

The biryani was really good filled with lamb. A lot of lamb compared to other Indian restaurants. The flavor of the biryani was nice enough. Not really special. And a Biryani is usually a lot more visible on a menu, but here it’s, weirdly enough, amongst the ‘side-dishes’!

The naan bread was really nice. The paratha bread was not nice at all. It was pretty dry, a bit black. And not as nice and flaky as we know from other restaurants.

So, all in all, it's a nice restaurant, nice food, nice design, but it's too cold, too bright and not special enough for us...

I visited the newly opened 'Atithi Indian Restaurant' next to Utrecht Central Station today and was excited since I had already experienced their food at their Den Haag branch. Glad to now have the same delicious Indian cuisine much closer to home!

The place feels fresh and welcoming. With a newly painted and well-thought-out interiors, there's ample seating across the ground and first floors. A unique glass cabin on the upper floor provides a cozy space for small groups – a great touch!

Staff was warm, friendly, and made the experience pleasant. However, service might need a bit of refining. Drinks took unusually long—my Mango Lassi was served after I had already finished my meals, despite reminding them twice. I saw a nearby guest facing the same issue with Mango Lassi who also ordered it along with me at the same time.

Authentic Indian flavors, no doubt! Pani Puri: Beautiful presentation—six neatly-prepared puris each on shot glasses filled with a perfectly spiced pani. Fun to eat and delicious. Chole Bhatura: Full marks for taste; rich and well-spiced North Indian chole. However, I was surprised it came with only one bhatura. Most Indian Restaurants serve two for the same price. Ras Malai and Mango Lassi: Decent, but not exceptional.

The food is undeniably tasty, but pricing could be more customer-friendly. Main courses don't include basics like rice or naan—charged extra. Given the portion sizes for the main dishes (I saw on other tables) it does feel somewhat overpriced compared to other Indian restaurants.

While a bit on the expensive side, Atithi brings genuinely authentic Indian flavors to Utrecht. A promising new option for Indian food lovers in the area, and with small improvements in service, it can become...

I had an amazing time at Atithi Indian Restaurant in Utrecht. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the warm and welcoming ambience – cozy, elegant, and the kind of place where you instantly feel comfortable. The food was absolutely awesome bursting with authentic Indian flavors and cooked to perfection. Every dish was fresh, beautifully presented and full of taste.

What made the experience even better was the excellent service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely made sure everything was perfect throughout the meal. It’s rare to find a restaurant that combines such delicious food, a great atmosphere, and outstanding hospitality all in one place.

If you’re looking for authentic Indian cuisine in Utrecht, Atithi is truly a gem. I’ll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good food and...