Passage To India — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

Passage to India or Passage to the Inferno?

After hearing that this establishment had close links to a hidden gem of a curry house on the east coast of Edinburgh, the Curry Kings decided to roll the dice, as they often do, with a smirk and a wink.

The ordering process was like a surreal Lynchian dream—simple and enticing, with familiar dishes leaping off the screen, promising a feast that would make our taste buds pirouette with joy.

The delivery driver arrived, smiling like a character from Twin Peaks, earning a solid 5 stars for the uncanny, yet pleasant, experience.

The dishes themselves were a visual delight, a tableau that David Lynch himself might have filmed...

The starters—onion bhajis and vegetable pakoras—kept the dream alive, exactly as we had imagined in our strange, culinary reveries.

But then, the nightmare began. The butter chicken, a classic dish, seemed to have been tampered with by forces unknown. Full of diced vegetables, it was dry and underwhelming, as if dragged through the Black Lodge and back.

The Ceylon, arguably the best dish, was a mix of sour and heat that transported me to an early summer daze, with one foot in the sunlight and the other in a shadowy corner. Yet, the meat was again a major disappointment, a phantom of what it should have been.

The North Indian dish promised so much, with a look that could tempt you to forsake all else. However, the lamb was as tough as old boots, and one of our guests jokingly produced a sledgehammer to try and tenderize the beast.

This was the one we thought would fill the void, the missing piece in our culinary puzzle, but alas, the search continues.

This might fool the pre-theater crowd and one-stop tourists, but your friendly neighborhood Curry Kings will hold you accountable.

The search continues after a poor start to the 2025 curry trail, as the haunting echoes of disappointment linger...

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at A Passage to India, and it was an experience I won't forget anytime soon. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality. The atmosphere was inviting, with soft lighting, elegant décor, and the comforting aroma of spices in the air.

Our server, Nish, was outstanding — attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. They made thoughtful recommendations, and their passion for the cuisine was evident in the way they described each dish.

The food itself was nothing short of exceptional. Every bite was a burst of rich, authentic flavor, perfectly balanced and beautifully presented. The butter chicken was velvety and tender, the lamb biryani fragrant and packed with spices, and the garlic naan was the perfect accompaniment to soak up all the delicious sauces.

What truly set this experience apart, though, was the personalized service. Nish went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and satisfied, checking in without ever being intrusive and making sure we felt well taken care of.

I can't recommend A Passage to India enough — whether you’re a connoisseur of Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, this place is a gem. Huge thanks to Nish and the entire team for making our evening...

Excellent Food and service and even my kids enjoyed the Food. This Indian restaurant was suggested to us by Steve while we were browsing at Royal Mile. I have tried various Indian restaurants in UK and love to eat the food at an Indian restaurant again when the food tastes close to the original i.e. India. I would rate it 9 on a scale of 10 as genuine taste close to what you get in India. But one thing you have ask before ordering is just ask the manager that you want it to taste like India or same as Punjabi style back home and I was totally obliged. We ordered chicken biryani, Butter chicken, Paneer Makhani , Dal Bukhara(Makhani) with Butter naans which were not even on the menu. We just walked in no appointment and Were welcomed by the staff who were very friendly. If I lived in Edinburgh then Passage to India would have been my to go Indian Restaurant. People of Edinburg are lucky to have such an amazing restaurant locally whose food tastes close to same as we get in India. Genuinely Authentic Indian food outside India. I thank Steve for suggesting this...