Dosa South Indian Grill — Restaurant in Bloomington

I noticed a lot of new 5-star reviews suddenly for this place. And immediately got suspicious, wondering if they were fake? Went there for dinner tonight, and if you give them a 5-star review, you get 15% off every visit. So, in a way a lot of these new 5-star reviews are fake, in the sense that people are being compensated for giving a 5-star review. They tried to push me to give a 5-star review, I said I'll just pay the full price, and do it later. I knew though that I wasn't going to give them a 5-star review. So, take the influx of recent 5-star reviews with a grain of salt (or curry).

First the good, the food was decent. I've had better, I've had worse. But, all in all, it was pretty good.

Now, the things that could be improved. When we arrived there was only one other couple in the restaurant, so you'd think service would be impeccable. It wasn't. You'd think when our drinks ran out, they'd be right there to refill them. They weren't. Eventually after five minutes or so, they came by and asked if we needed anything, which then we asked if we could get refills. They still didn't refill them right away. They went and did something else (I didn't see what that was), and then refilled the drinks. At this point we were the only people in the restaurant. So it was very noticeable that they didn't refill the drinks right away. And we could see where the drink station was, and that's how I know they didn't refill the drinks right away, because they didn't go there after we asked for refills.

I will also mention that when they gave us water, it was room temperature. But, maybe that's a thing with Indian restaurants. Because we had gone to another Indian restaurant in the area a while back, and remembered that water was room temperature there too.

Another thing, is when there is hardly anyone in the restaurant, it's so quiet in there, you could hear a mouse fart. I am sure the one other couple that was in there could hear our conversation, just as easily as we could hear theirs. There needs to be some type of background music, or just something to help drown out other people's conversations.

And then the restaurant is in need of a good deep clean. The thermostat was full of grime, and the paint, carpet and fabrics, were looking worn. The place didn't have a vibrant, inviting feel to it. Instead it felt, and looked dim, and depressing. And the parking lot is in bad need of replacement.

Would I go back? I don't think so. At least not right away. Even though the food was decent, the service wasn't. And there are other Indian restaurants in the area that have both decent food and good service, that I would...

The good: the food is great, tasty, use real spices, not over-the-counter spice shakers and salt like some places. The portions are generous and presented on large platters. One entree may be sufficient to split 2 ways or have leftovers. Generous choices on the menu, including well-marked vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free selections. Kudos! The spice levels are on the hot side, so a mild is closer to what I would consider a medium. Wife ordered medium and we had a hard time eating it. The prices are decent and overall a good value by today's standards.

Not so good: some of the same real spices are right in the mix and are inedible and need to be taken out, so not an ideal first-date food as it can get messy. Think whole cardamon pods, cloves, star anise, etc. All not directly edible or chewable.

The bad: The building is dilapidated. The wooden front entryway looks like it can give weight any moment. The parking lot is full of potholes and lacking any striping. The interior lacks any ambiance whatsoever - not one single piece of cultural art, artifact, or statues, like you see in better-established Indian restaurants. Just plain walls - and they have been there for over a year! The tables and seating are beyond dated and the cleanliness does not inspire great confidence. Instead of a glass of water, they give you bottled water from Costco and charge you 25 cents each. No refills were ever offered. The service is meh and lacks any semblance of customer service. Never checked in except when flagged to pay the bill. The VENTILATION IS HORRIBLE and our clothes smelled like we were sitting right next to the grill and had to be thrown in the wash. The air was thick with grill smoke - unacceptable. I only gave it 3 stars as the food is REALLY good. Otherwise 1-2 stars.

Conclusion: If this place were closer to us, I would put it in rotation for TAKEOUT, not eat-in, again because the food is great. Nothing else adds value to this place, at least so far. I hope they make needed improvements and we'll be happy...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dosa South Indian Grill - A Twin Cities Treasure

Over the last 8 years, I’ve eaten my way through more than 10 Indian restaurants in the Twin Cities, and let me tell you—Dosa South Indian Grill is the undisputed king of them all! This place isn’t just good, it’s a masterpiece in the art of South Indian cuisine, where every dish bursts with flavor and every bite feels like a mini celebration.

Now, let’s talk about the Samosa Chaat. Oh my goodness. This dish is a delightful, crunchy, tangy explosion of joy on a plate. The crispiness of the samosa mingled with the vibrant, zesty chutneys is a flavor experience that will have you chasing every last bite like a treasure hunt for your taste buds.

And then, there’s the Kashmiri Lamb Rogan Josh. If you think you’ve had lamb, think again. Tender, succulent, and bathed in the most luxurious, aromatic curry, this dish is pure bliss. Each mouthful feels like it was cooked with love by someone’s Indian grandma—who also happens to be a magician in the kitchen.

Plentiful doesn’t even begin to describe the portions. They’re so generous, you’ll wonder if they’ve mistakenly served you an extra helping, but nope, that's just how they roll! (And I, for one, am not complaining.)

And the service? I’ve never met a friendlier, more attentive team. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like royalty. The staff here strikes the perfect balance between keeping an eye on your needs without hovering like a ninja waiter. They check in at the exact right moments – like they've mastered the art of reading minds.

So, if you're anywhere within 100 miles of this place, make the trip. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you, your stomach will rejoice, and you'll leave plotting your next visit before you even make it out the door. Hands down, Dosa South Indian Grill is my go-to spot for South Indian cuisine, and I’m tempted to declare it the eighth wonder of the Twin Cities...