Taamaraa Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Utrecht

We chose this place for 3 reasons: we were hungry for Indian cuisine; on a Saturday evening close to dinnertime most everything was booked full; and the restaurant was rated 4.9 stars.

Service was terrible. the waiter took our order promptly and we got out drinks, then he disappeared. We waited quite some time for our food - the table next to us arrived after we did and were served before us. We were outside with four other small tables and when I finally got up to go into the restaurant to inquire about our food, the waiter came out and apologized because "the system went down" and out order was lost for a bit. But he reassured us that they were working on it and it would be our shortly. The food was served at close to room temperature. The "dipping sauce" for our appetizer was ketchup. Or at least a fine imitation of ketchup. As for the meals, the butter chicken was okay. The lamb biryani was not good. Something was off. I can't pinpoint what it was...maybe the oil used in the dish was overheated. I really don't know.....it just wasn't right.

I would have mentioned this to our server but he disappeared again after delivering out meals. He never came back once. After sitting a considerable amount of time, I went in for the check. Again, no one asked me how my meal was so I had to speak up and say we were disappointed and I don't know for the life of me how the restaurant averages 4.9 stars. At this point, the staff actually seemed concerned. The manager came out and was sympathetic - I guess - but that was all she offered was an apology.

I'm our way out, another table was complaining about the service, as well. The restaurant was only half full at prime time on Saturday evening. Maybe the locals know things that tourists like me do not.

One last thing......this was my seventh day eating in Utrecht center. This was the only place that didn't provide free water. I'm not cheap, I'm just from a time where a good restaurant would provide water to its patrons and not...

A Flavorful Journey at Taamaraa Indian Restaurant, Utrecht

I recently visited Taamaraa Indian Restaurant in Utrecht, and wow—what an incredible experience! If you're a fan of authentic Indian food, especially South Indian flavors, this place is an absolute must-try.

Delicious, Authentic South Indian Flavors Taamaraa has done something truly special by bringing some rare and traditional South Indian dishes to their menu. Here are a few standouts from my visit:

Kerala Banana Fish Luxe (Meen Polichathu) – This dish was a game-changer! The fish was perfectly cooked, wrapped in a banana leaf, and packed with rich, aromatic spices. Every bite transported me straight to the coastal flavors of Kerala.

Kappa Fish Curry – Comfort food at its finest! The combination of soft tapioca (kappa) and spicy fish curry was just chef’s kiss—so flavorful and satisfying.

Pop Goes Puri (Paani Puri) – If you love Indian street food, you have to try this! These crispy puris,

Indian Tapas & Bar Bites – A great way to sample different flavors! Everything we tried was well-seasoned, fresh, and perfect for sharing.

Ambience & Service Beyond the food, the ambience at Taamaraa is just amazing. The decor strikes a balance between modern and traditional, creating a cozy yet stylish dining experience. And the staff? Absolutely wonderful—super friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to make recommendations.

Final Thoughts Taamaraa Indian Restaurant is a gem in Utrecht! Whether you're craving nostalgic Indian flavors or looking to explore something new, this place won’t disappoint. I’ll definitely be coming back for more.

⭐ Highly...

While in Utrecht, came across this Indian Restaurant which is hardly a walkable distance from the main station.

Staff is courteous and patient while waiting for receiving an order.

Ambience is relaxed and chill and south Indian 90’s music is playing in the background not too loud which allows to talk with the company.

Regarding food: Ordered Mango Lassi, friend insisted the Pani Puri (modified version), Paav Bhaji, and Smoked Daal with Basmati Rice.

So here comes some concern from my side:

Being a Pani Puri lover, I would prefer to have Pani Puri as it’s supposed to be served (original way). Because Replacement of Pani with Butter milk, less to nothing stuffing, and sprinkle of spices - nothing seems to work for me. Though was just trying to keep an open mind to try however it did not satisfy my taste buds.

Paav Bhaji: it was nicely made and buns were soft as they were supposed to be. Suggestion: A slice of lemon would have made it a complete dish.

Smoked daal: Did not understand the purpose of smoked coal in the center with the Daal bowl open. Normally it should have been served as lid on top of it so that smokiness would be tasted with a daal. Rather than daal, it surrounded the area with smoky aroma where other people started asking questions and staff ended up opening the door to let the fresh air inside the hotel.

Also when it was mentioned a basmati rice, I was expecting a whole (akkha) rice but the served rice was a tukda (pieces) of basamati rice which felt unfair. Daal and rice both lacked salt.

Mango lassi was good.

Overall, decent experience but could have...