Malai Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Finally a much needed Indian Restaurant in downtown st pete!

Went on a Saturday for lunch and got seated right away. The space is big with plenty of table seatings as well as seats at the bar. The decor is minimalistic with rows of tables without much thought to layout, decor, or ambiance. There is plenty of opportunity to decorate, put up tasty/ethic wall art, rearrange seatings so that it doesn’t have a school cafeteria feel, exchange overhead lights to give it a dimmer cozy and intimate feel, and most of all the presence of a host area to triage guests and seatings.

We got the chicken tandoori to start. It came as several pieces of chicken pieces, cooked to perfection. They were very flavorful, very tender, and had the right amount of spice.

For main we got the lamb biryani, and the chicken vindaloo and with side of aloo naan. The lamb biryani had good flavors, but a bit on the dry side and tad oily. The chicken vindaloo was good. Usually not my go-to item. It’s a little tangy, if you like that.

To finish we got roshmalai. It was good but the smell of rose water was too prominent.

Overall good experience. We will be definitely returning to try other items.

Edit: went back a second time. This time it was much busier. I got the samosa chaat from the appetizer menu and the lamb chops. Both were excellent. The chaat was very flavorful, and the lamb chops were tender juicy and delicious!

Once again, definitely needs work on decor, ambiance, and lighting as mentioned above. Also...

Downtown St. Pete finally has the authentic Indian restaurant it desperately needed!!!! After spending eight weeks in India, I can confidently say this place is the real deal. The flavors are vibrant, the spices perfectly balanced, and the dishes are crafted with care. Whether you're craving a rich butter chicken, a perfectly spiced biryani, or silky dal, this spot delivers. My husband and I tried several dishes and definitely recommend it all, but mostly 100/10 stars for the Samosas and the Garlic Naan!!!

Yes, the restaurant is still in its early stages, and while they’re working on their interior design and staffing, the owners' passion for bringing authentic Indian cuisine to DTSP is evident in every bite. The current setup is simple, with booths being installed soon, and they’re aiming for a grand opening in March (SO GET EXCITED and don't complain so much).

Twisted Indian on central has its place for quick bites, but this restaurant is a breath of fresh air for those looking for an authentic experience. Let’s give them the grace they deserve as they grow into their space and establish themselves in the community. The owners are thrilled to be part of DTSP, and trust me—you’ll be thrilled they’re here too. Welcome to downtown, and I can’t wait to see what...

I've been so excited to try this place since they opened. The first try there were no additional seatings due to capacity. The second time was the same but tonight we were lucky.

The service is friendly and skilled. Our server was very organized and quick on her feet. She was handling a lot of tables at once but was accurate and swift.

Appetizers hit the table with little wait and we had time to enjoy them before the main course arrived. The chili paneer appetizer is so good. The heat was perfect.

I got the channa masala and pershavari naan. Two of my favorites. I did order the channa masala hot but it came mild. It was too good to complain though and was fantastic without the heat. The chickpeas were buttery. The naan was fantastic not too sweet just right. My companions also adored their dishes but I'm vegetarian and I could not try them myself.

I will absolutely be coming back. The food was fantastic the location is prime and the service is excellent. The prices are typical for this city.

Portions were shareably generous.

My only feedback is that they do seem to need more service support. Another server or two could really elevate..

I deeply want this restaurant to succeed. Having great Indian cuisine walkable to all my other favorite...