Jot Mahal Palace of Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Berkeley

People always ask me where a good is and this Indian resturant people has won me over. It is now my go to Indian restaurant. Though Berkeley has no shortage of Indian restaurants (I know this because I have tried most all of them), it is difficult to find that authenticity and consistent flavors. And Jotmahal did not disappoint. The food was all delicious. The naan was soft almost melted in your mouth. We ordered saag (which let any Punjabi tell you is so hard to find good saag) and we couldn't believe it, maki de roti (resembles a corn torrita rolled by hand). The saag was as good as my mom's and that says a lot because my mom makes the world best saag. We also ordered Baingan Bhatra and being a cook myself I have tasted many Baingan Bhatra and people always leave out the step of roasting the eggplant to give it that authentic smoky flavor. This Baingan Bhatra was roasted and cooked with a delicious blend of spices. My sister who hates eggplant but couldn't stop eating this. We also ordered Mala Kofta and the sauce was so yummy. And the Karhi Chicken. The chicken was tender and juicy. We also had chai which was a delicious blend of cinnamon and cardamom. The raita was also delicious. This place is a family run business and I love supporting mom and pop businesses which are getting to be a rare jewel nowadays. We were given desert on the house and it was what I thought to be a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Our host was a sweet young man. He was very helpful and had a wonderful smile. He was very polite and helpful the whole time. At the end of our meal the chef came out and greeted us. He asked us about our meal which was very good. He was a very kind man who has been in the resturant business almost his whole life. You can really see this passion for food carry into the food. I'll definitely be back and tell everyone...

I had suggested Indian cuisine to the family while we were deciding where to have lunch in Berkeley. A lunch buffet seemed perfect for the casual yet sit-down restaurant experience we were looking for--one which granted variety, flexibility, and a good environment to gather for an hour or so around a tasty meal. JotMahal hit all these marks and did not disappoint.

We were immediately seated upon entrance and prompted for our preference of naan: plain or garlic. The restaurant's interior was cozy, quiet, and well-kept. Since it is on the second floor, there is plenty of window seating that gives you a nice and wide street-view. Service was friendly and attentive.

Perhaps most importantly, the food had us all going back for more! There were about eight main dishes in the buffet that were readily replenished, hot from the kitchen. There was also a salad bar and an ice cream machine. The buffet had a selection of both meat and vegetarian curries and dishes, and I was pleased to be able to sample a variety of classic dishes like chicken or paneer tikka masala as well as other dishes incorporating eggplant or chickpeas. All recipes delivered taste-wise and were packed with flavor.

One of my favorites in this meal was the generous serving of roasted garlic naan. Upon delivered to our table, I could not help but immediately tear a piece from the basket. The naan was hot, flavorful, and a perfect vehicle for the other dishes--not sure what more you can ask!

I will point out that there is no chai on dispense like at some other Indian buffet restaurants I have been to--we were only served ice water. However, I did notice some other customers with mugs of what appeared to be chai, so I will have to ask about this the next time I come...

Just stopped in this new family run place opened recently by former chef of Kabana. Sat on the front "tree-house" balcony, opened the windows overlooking roses and tree-lined street while the sun set - beautiful and relaxing. Ordered Saag with paneer which they added for me no extra charge. Rice was light and chai was hot though the best treat was finding Gajar Halwah on the menu OMG! Since visiting Delhi, this dish is a favorite of mine, but takes 5 hours to make (I've done it) so though I always look for it, rarely find it on a restaurant menu. As appropriate it was served warmed - fabulous! Spoke with Gornam, who was "encouraged by my children " to follow his dream ... "I do my best I can do ... haven't taken a holiday in years ... all organic veggies and spices." I told him I was so happy to see my favorite dessert which he said was added at the request of another guest. So grateful! An added benefit, since I was dining alone, was people watching from second storey balcony; was able to greet and chat with a neighbor who walked by, and every now and then when someone would look up, I'd wave to them like a kid in the back seat of grandma's station wagon, too fun! Since Khana Peena on Solano closed, JotMahal is my new neighborhood ...