Divani Indian Bistro — Restaurant in Los Angeles

We walked here on a Saturday evening from our apartment nearby. The location is convenient on the Venice Pier, and we chose to dine in their outdoor area with outdoor heaters.

While the outdoor area and overall ambiance were welcoming and attractive, our experience with the service and overall taste of food was lacking. Initially, since we were only one a couple of tables who were seated, the service was excellent. We ordered cocktails and received them quickly, and the bartender was able to meet our customized drink requests.

We ordered the Farmer's market salad, coastal shrimp pepper fry, glazed baby back pork ribs, Divani's Lamb chops, Bombay fried chicken slider, and chutney set to start. And for dinner, we ordered a sag paneer with tandoori chicken. This was for five people.

The appetizers were pretty good except for the farmer's market salad. The dinner itself was bland. Nothing overly memorable except for the shrimp and the fried chicken sliders.

As more and more people were seated around us, that's when things started going downhill. It took them 15-20 minutes for the second round of cocktails. And at one point, we had to ask for water refills probably three or four times before we actually received them. And it took upwards of 15 minutes to actually get the refills. To add insult to injury, the non-English speaking busboy tried to take our empty water cups along with the empty food plates as we were waiting for the water refills. We decided to skip desert and take our leftover entrees to go.

Additionally, every other Indian dish I've tried from every other restaurant made me want to eat it for lunch the next day. But the leftover entrees we had from Divani gave me the opposite feeling. It's unfortunate because we really wanted to like the place given our love for Indian food, the high ratings, and the proximity to our apartment.

This place seems like it needs improvements on the service side and quality of their food.

Menu:...

-INCREDIBLE- My experience at Divani Indian Bistro was absolutely exceptional! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted and seated in their lovely indoor area. The ambiance was perfect for a relaxed dining experience.

-FOOD- It was out of this world! We indulged in a variety of dishes including the chicken Rogan Josh, chicken tikka masala, and the standout dish, the salmon – which I must say was the best I’ve ever had! The ramen was an unexpected delight and truly the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

-SERVICE- But what truly set this experience apart was the incredible service provided by our waiter, Emily. She went above and beyond to ensure that our experience was nothing short of amazing. Her friendly demeanor and genuine care made us feel truly welcomed. She even engaged us in a delightful conversation about California, adding a personal touch to our visit.

-FOOD2- Additionally, the naan, especially the rosemary and garlic naan, were absolutely divine.

Overall, Divani Indian Bistro exceeded all expectations. If you’re looking for a fantastic dining experience with top-notch food and exceptional service, look no further. This is hands down the best Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to. Highly...

I can’t say enough about this place. We were looking for somewhere to eat after a long day of exploring and were struck by the aesthetically cozy and friendly environment at Divani. Everyone from our greeter to our server to management went above and beyond to create a special experience for us. The food itself was incredible. We ordered 8-9 plates to share and were impressed by every single dish. The biryani in particular was the most aromatic and flavorful I’ve ever had. In addition, I have significant dietary restrictions and not only were there many gluten/dairy free options available, they were more than willing to customize classic dishes that I never get to enjoy in a way that made them safe. The owner saw us salivating over a couple of mango lassis being carried by our table as we were paying the bill, and brought out a platter of mini lassis for us to enjoy on the house. What’s more, when he overheard me lament my dairy allergy he brought out a special coconut-pistachio pudding dessert just for me—also on the house. All in all, we were blown away by our experience and will absolutely be returning. A must-try for out of town visitors and...