Kaveri Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Lubbock

Updated April 17, 2021:

Royal Indian is back BETTER THAN EVER, baby! I just had what I can comfortably rank as the best meal I have had in Lubbock, ever. So flavorful, full of spices, but well-balanced and oh so satisfying. I was disappointed when the former owners closed the doors due to the pandemic last year. Then, I was devastated when it reopened with new owners and the quality wasn't nearly as good as before. Tonight, we decided to give it another shot, and I'm so freaking glad we came. Our meal 100% blew me away.

Our group ordered 2 appetizers and 3 entrees to share between the three of us. The appetizers were so good i could hardly eat my entree! The first appetizer was "gobi manchurian", crispy cauliflower in lightly spicy sauce. Absolutely to die for. I eat a lot of meat, but I would happily go vegetarian if I could eat this every day. The second app was garlic fried chicken wings, which lived up to the name. I wound up neglecting my delicious lamb curry , just so I could eat my naan bread with the garlic sauce from the wings. My husband's biryani entree (a rice dish) was topped with Chicken 65, something I didn't think could be improved upon from the original owners. I was wrong. It was succulent and mild but oh so flavorful...I swear, I don't think I've ever had better food. The three of us ate more than our fill, and still wound up taking a full 3 person dinner's worth home with us. Can't wait to eat dinner here again, and plan to come for the lunch buffet ASAP.

Original review:

Wonderful vegetarian and meat dishes. I was blown away by how flavorful the potato and pea samosas are, that such simple ingredients could pack such a punch! The lunch buffet is good, with nice variety, but I enjoy dinner service more because you can order from an extensive menu (the only tough part is knowing what things are -- dishes are listed by number & name only, with no description -- Google is your friend). I've worked my way through about 10% of the menu and hope to eventually try it all. Nothing I have had has been disappointing. Note: if you choose 'hot' as your spice level, it will be full on nose-dripping, sweat inducing HOT. I...

We came from out of town for a medical appt. It was afternoon when my wife who is American wanted to eat Indian food. We were very hungry. We barely walk in Kaveri, a young man tells us its closed. We are walking out of the restaurant when, I hear a conversation between mother and son in Telugu. (They didn't know I understood their language).

It's ok that the restaurant is closed. I had no problem with it. We were already one foot outside the door. The mother insisted to her son there was food in the kitchen and there wasn't any problem seating 2 people.

This is what bothers me. The son said, "Allaga alavatulu chestay, ilantolu mati mati ki vacchi teenesi potha untaru." Properly interpreted what this inhospitable, rude, entitled brat said is, "If we make it a habit to allow these people, they just will keep coming back to eat our food."

No 1. Lubbock is NOT our home. No. 2. We were 1st time visitors to Kaveri. (We have NEVER met these Telugu Hindus before). All this did not even last 5 minutes. No. 3. We were hungry and my wife who is American wanted to eat Indian food. No. 4. We did NOT go there to beg nor do we want to eat free food. No. 5. Kaveri is NOT doing Lubbock or the USA any favor. There are other restaurants too.

What bothers me is his arrogance, lack of social etiquette and public mannerisms and hospitality. (When it comes to eating food, even the poorest Indian knows common courtesy to offer water to strangers entering their lowly modest home).

We have a problem of illegal immigrants in the USA. But the problem of educated, rich, self entitled Hindu Indian immigrants even if they are legal and who use Amerca's freedoms must learn that there are certain Judeo-Christian values this country was founded on. It's called hospitality.

Ask any minority in India if they have ease of operating a business in a radicalized Hindu country with all the red tape and corruption.

We found a better option. Try Tikka Shack Indian Grub. There were Americans serving there. Well lighted. Service was excellent....

The above picture, posted on Yelp since there’s no pictures allowed here, was Tandoori Chicken we got from Royal Indian Food. In the past we have enjoyed ordering from Royal and we usually order the same thing. tandoori chicken and a vegee curry. We always have it delivered. Normally we are very complimentary and quite happy with our order However tonight they fell way below our expectations. The chicken which is normally plump and flavorful…was quite Boney and dry. We understand that off nights occur.. but this was in such poor quality we had to call the managers to let them know. We were met with such apathy and the excuse was that that is just how chickens come now days 😂😂😂Really!!! Sure hope you are paying really low wages for your management. If not you are getting screwed. We are not the first ones in the last couple of weeks to be giving a poor review. unfortunately we along with your other customers feel we have too been screwed. No one else but your management is at fault here. The longer you get poor reviews, the quicker people will write about their dissatisfaction and the quicker you will close due to lack of clientele. Lubbock’s a smaller market and people talk. Too bad Lubbock enjoys and needs diversity in...