India Oven Citrus Heights — Restaurant in Citrus Heights

We are vegetarians and dined in for their lunch buffet on a weekend. This review is about what we had as veg options and what we thought about them, then the overall experience, value for money, time and effort. The spread had salad, appetizers, entrees and deserts.

We are mindful about hardships businesses face and faced especially during COVID. We are grateful for us to be able to dinein and to the people providing food for others.

Cost: $20/adult

My ratings out of 5 points max. Salad: 4/5 Appetizers: 4/5 Curry / gravy: 2/5 Rice/entree: 2/5 Desert: 1/5 Roti: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Value for money: 2.5/5 Parking: 4/5 Kids meal offered: 5/5 (half price)

Salad: Cut lettuce cucumber tomato mix, yoghurt raita, mint chutney, sweet chutney and pickles. My take: Nothing special, just normal in Indian buffet places

Appetizers: Pakoras, paneer tempura, sweet corn and spring rolls. My take: These were not back filled timely, I couldn't try all options at once, picked as they became available. Toasted sweet corn was not refilled and disappeared.

Curries/Gravy: Chole masala, Mutter Paneer, Sarso ka saag, Potato beans My take: Paneer alone was fresh, rest of items were bland - didn't taste any richness, didn't find them flavorful for a Punjabi style cooking. Salt level was good.

Entree: Just white rice My take: Very disappointed, rice already became hard from the heated pans & not refilled timely. No special rice like veg pulav or veg biriyani.

Roti: Basket of 3 or 4 Naan pieces were brought to the table. My take: Bringing 4 pieces to a group of 4 is strange. Should start with 6 and refill requested took a lot of time. It tasted fresh and good. Was hoping to see value for money with a variety of breads like kulchas, paratas etc.

Deserts: Rice kheer and Rava Kesari Halwa My take: Both very bad, what's the point of giving us kheer with no flavor or richness for a overly priced lunch buffet? Was expecting more variety. The Rava Halwa was tasting rancid, don't know what they were trying to do.

Owner/Supervisor should taste all items before opening. Among available buffet places, this place is expensive. However, this higher price is not a surprise to us, we were aware of th cost ahead of time. What didn't work was the value we saw for the money, effort and time we spent there.

I hope the business looks at feedback, takes it in the right context and becomes more successful by overcoming issues...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at India Oven in Citrus Heights, and I must say, it was an extraordinary experience! This hidden gem of a restaurant brings the flavors of North Indian cuisine right to our doorstep, and I couldn't be happier to have discovered it.

From the moment I stepped inside, the warm and welcoming atmosphere transported me to the streets of Delhi. The ambiance at India Oven is simply delightful, with its vibrant colors, traditional decor, and soothing music that adds to the overall experience. It truly feels like a mini getaway to India!

The staff at India Oven are incredibly friendly and attentive, making every visit a memorable one. Their passion for the food they serve is evident in their warm smiles and helpful nature. Whether you're a seasoned Indian food enthusiast or new to the cuisine, the staff is always ready to guide you through the menu and answer any questions you may have.

Now, let's talk about the highlight of my visit—the buffet! The buffet spread at India Oven is a food lover's dream come true. The array of dishes on offer is impressive, and each one is bursting with authentic flavors. From aromatic biryanis to rich curries and mouthwatering tandoori specialties, every bite was a delightful journey for my taste buds. The variety ensures there's something for everyone, including vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. I particularly enjoyed the butter chicken and the fragrant vegetable biryani—absolute perfection!

One thing that stands out about India Oven is its convenient location, coupled with ample parking space. It's easy to find and offers a hassle-free dining experience, making it an ideal choice for a casual lunch or a memorable dinner with friends and family.

Overall, India Oven has left a lasting impression on me with its delectable food, inviting ambiance, and exceptional service. It's a restaurant that I would highly recommend to anyone craving authentic North Indian cuisine in Citrus Heights. Whether you choose to indulge in the delightful buffet or explore their à la carte menu, you're in for a treat. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

So, if you're in the mood for an exceptional culinary journey that takes you straight to the heart of India, make sure to visit India Oven. Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavors, and let the warmth of Indian hospitality...

Bad Food. Worst Service. Horrible Attitude.

We (me and one of my friend) went for a lunch buffet today.

I am a vegetarian and but he is not. The food both veg and non-veg was bad.

Starting from service, these guys are either understaffed or least bother of how to serve Indian food. By the time we start with starters they kept cold naans and by the time we started main course those naans were literally rock solid.

The main course is the worst part, even the paneer was very hard to break and taste nothing like paneer subji.

After trying everything it frustrates us so much that I ask one of the managers that "Bro, restaurant is going to close or what?", he said "what happened?", I said "I have never eat such a horrible food in my life". Oh man oh, little did I know he will start accusing me of yelling and telling you shouldn't talk to me like this, I am here for last nine years, I will talk to my chef, your work is done eating now leave.

Basically, they acted defensive after serving bad food, accused us for yelling at them and accused us that we don't want to pay so we are accusing food and service is not good.

We got frustrated, we left by paying 42.99 including tax and with a bad taste in our mouth.

If the owner of this restaurant is reading this review, I want to tell you guys, you are setting a very bad example of Indian food and Indian hospitality. You will survive with old reviews (fake or not is not up to me to decide) but until what time is up to you. And stop acting like a child when criticized. And if you reply to this review defensively accusing anything on us remember no customer comes to your restaurant and want to be...