Passage To India — Restaurant in Salem

I visited the place with two of my friends.We like eating out and trying new places for food.So here's my rating for this place --

Ambiance -- 3 star cozy,comfortable,feels like an old restaurant in India

Service -- 1 star fast but clumsy,you will not have a designated server - anyone walking around will serve - won't care to explain the menu ; if you are new to INDIAN food,better do some homework Water will be constantly refilled,even before you ask. Lady behind the bar is so scary that I dropped the idea of asking for a drink.One server in particular,youngest guy on floor,don't know the name (as no one cared to introduce themselves ) was rude and impatient.He acted weird and did not seem interested in talking or listening as well.

Food -- 2.5 starts well prepared,fresh - Esp the breads.Low on salt and if you are in habit of ordering medium spicy at other INDIAN restaurants,do not do that here.Their medium is too spicy- and that's coming from a guy who eats Indian food regularly,so you can imagine.Mild may be better.Nothing extraordinary but still good

Quantity --- 2.5 stars portions are decently sized ,but if you are big guy with a big appetite ,you may not find it enough.One dish serves only two- barely.

Economy --- $$ Not very economical yet affordable

Overall ---- 2 star ,3 if they only had better service

Possibility of return ---- Only if I am around the area ,looking for Indian food and am extremely hungry without...

I recently eloped and chose this restaurant as our after-ceremony dinner as I needed a place that could make gluten free meals and offered vegetarian options. I’ve enjoyed many of Indian restaurants in other parts of the state and was looking forward to trying this one. I should have trusted my gut that this wouldn’t be a pleasant experience when I got an extremely rude man on the phone while placing the reservation. Every single waiter was pushy, rude, and checked out. They constantly said “yep, yep, yep”, didn’t bother remembering who ordered what, placing dishes wherever was a spot and telling us to pass them, and inserting themselves into the table to move our plates. My party constantly felt confused and rushed. The restaurant wasn't even a quarter filled, and the staff acted like it was inconvenience that we were there.

The food wasn’t anything to write home about. Hot, but flavorless. Everything fried was extremely dark — they would do well to change their oil more frequently. The mixed drinks were large, yet watered down.

I’ve never felt so unwelcome and disappointed at a restaurant before. Their rude behavior and lackluster food completely soured my...

5 Stars – Best Indian Food in the Boston Area!

We visited Passage to India in Salem for lunch and had an incredible experience. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Korma, both part of the lunch special, which made the meal very reasonably priced. Each dish came with rice and everything was delivered promptly and piping hot.

The food was absolutely delicious—flavorful, perfectly spiced, and beautifully presented. The garlic naan deserves a special mention: it had generous chunks of fresh garlic and just the right amount of cilantro, creating the perfect bite. It paired beautifully with the sauces and truly elevated the whole meal.

Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The staff made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The traditional Indian decor really stood out—especially the beautiful gold-toned (yet rustic) bowls and cups. A charming touch that even the kids loved!

The location in Salem is perfect, and we will absolutely be going back. This was hands-down the best Indian food I’ve had in the Greater...