Lyallpur Sweets Botany — Restaurant in Ōtara-Papatoetoe

Lyallpur Restaurant is a treasure for anyone in search of wholesome, authentic Indian vegetarian food. This 100% vegetarian restaurant truly embodies the concept of “Good Mood Food.” From the moment you step in, you’re welcomed by a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly complements the vibrant flavors of the dishes. The menu is packed with a variety of vegetarian delights, ensuring there’s something to please every palate. We began with the chaat platter, a lively combination of textures and flavors—sweet, tangy, and spicy—that brought together crispy and fresh ingredients in every bite. The paneer tikka was another highlight, with its perfectly marinated and smoky flavor, capturing the essence of traditional Indian cooking. For the main course, we opted for the dal makhani, aloo gobi, and malai kofta. Each dish was a beautiful blend of spices and flavors that made the experience unforgettable. The dal makhani was creamy and rich, while the malai kofta had a smooth, delicate texture and was served in a sauce that was seasoned to perfection. The aloo gobi was well-cooked and spiced just right, allowing the natural flavors of the vegetables to shine through. The freshly baked naans and rotis were the perfect complement to the flavorful curries, and we also tried the vegetable biryani. This dish was aromatic and hearty, with well-seasoned vegetables and rice that left us truly satisfied. To end our meal, we enjoyed gulab jamun for dessert. The mango lassi was refreshing and smooth, while the gulab jamun provided a beautifully sweet and rich finish. The service was exceptional, with attentive staff eager to help with recommendations and answer any questions. It’s clear that Lyallpur takes great care in providing an enjoyable and memorable dining experience, with every dish prepared to delight the senses. For anyone craving flavorful, high-quality Indian vegetarian food, Lyallpur is a must-visit. The experience is one that nourishes both the body and the spirit—highly recommended for vegetarians and...

Ordered a dry Soy Manchurian dish takeaway this afternoon. Opened the dish at home and was utterly disappointed to find very unappetizing looking gravy stuff which tasted even more horrible. So much for reliability, totally hopeless. Being a frequent family customer at your restaurant, I expected something decent but you not only let me down, you cheated. Shame on you. The single star rating is only for the prompt service. (Edited a year later.... They seem to have pulled up their socks somewhat. My son shouted us lunch from this joint recently and it was far better than my previous experience and with the same prompt service. In all fairness, three more stars to their credit. (Edited 20 December 2024): Visited Lyallpur restaurant, now under new management, for dinner. Little has changed. Requested our favorite Soya Manchurian dry but was told by the counter attendant that they only have Vegetable manchurian now. So ordered an alternative Soya dish. Dinner was 'okay'. Before leaving, requested another person on the counter to include Soya Manchurian in the menu, only to be informed to my surprise, that it already was. After being told of my experience, he was apologetic and said the person who took our order was 'new', and assured us of a dry soya manchurian dish on our next visit. There is not going to a need visit for sure. Unfortunately, another disappointment...

Pathetic is word coming to my mind. We went there with no other customers to serve. Then comes a family who happens to be known to the staff. They started talking, fine no issues with it. When I want to get water the Jar was empty so I went to the guy who was talking with that family. He responded after couple of minutes, fine with me as well. However after bringing to his notice that we need water and after he said I will get someone to replace the Jar. He didn't bother for 5 minutes to ask his staff and kept on talking with his known family. Never going there again. Poor very poor service.

CHANGE FOR GOOD ( 28/ 7/2025)

"360° TURNAROUND! I'm blown away by the transformation at this place! 11 months ago, I shared my disappointing experience, but they're clearly listening and have worked tirelessly to improve. Over the past month and a half, I've visited 4 times, and each experience has been better than the last. The food quality and taste are fantastic, but what truly impresses me is the exceptional service and warm welcome. It's clear they've prioritized customer satisfaction, and I couldn't be happier! If you're looking for a place that's genuinely committed to excellence, look no further. Highly...