Athidi Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Saugus

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Athidi Indian Restaurant in Saugus, and I must say, it was an experience worth sharing! As someone who lives near Boston and has a passion for exploring diverse cuisines, I was excited to try this place, especially after hearing so many positive reviews about their non-vegetarian dishes.

From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm and inviting ambiance. The decor beautifully reflects Indian culture, with vibrant colors and traditional accents that make you feel like you’re stepping into a cozy nook of India. The restaurant was clean and well-organized, which is always a plus in my book. The staff greeted me with genuine smiles, making me feel right at home,

Now, let’s talk about the food—oh my goodness! I decided to dive into their non-vegetarian offerings because that’s what everyone raves about. I started with the Chicken Tikka Masala, which was absolutely delicious. The chicken was marinated perfectly, grilled to juicy perfection, and then enveloped in a rich, creamy tomato sauce that had just the right amount of spice. It paired wonderfully with their fluffy naan bread.

Next up was the Mutton Biryani, and let me tell you, this dish did not disappoint! The biryani was aromatic and packed with flavor. Each grain of rice was fluffy and infused with spices, while the tender mutton pieces were so flavorful—they practically melted in my mouth. It came with a side of raita that balanced out the spices beautifully.

I also tried the Fish Curry, which was a delightful surprise. The fish was cooked just right in a coconut-based sauce that had a perfect blend of spices. It was light yet satisfying, making it a great option for seafood lovers.

The service at Athidi deserves a shout-out as well. The staff were attentive without being overbearing. They checked on me regularly to ensure everything was to my liking and even offered some great recommendations based on what I might enjoy. Their friendly demeanor really added to the overall experience.

What impressed me the most was how authentic everything felt. It’s clear that Athidi takes pride in serving traditional Indian cuisine made with fresh ingredients. You can taste the care that goes into each dish, which is something I truly appreciate.

In terms of hygiene, I felt completely at ease dining here. The restaurant maintained high cleanliness standards, which is essential for any dining experience.

Overall, my visit to Athidi Indian Restaurant was fantastic! If you’re ever in Saugus and have a craving for some incredible Indian food—especially non-vegetarian dishes—you’ve got to check this place out. With its delicious offerings, friendly staff, and inviting atmosphere, Athidi has definitely earned its spot as one of my go-to places for Indian cuisine whenever I’m in town!, I Will...

We had take out from Athidi last night, and there are plenty of things to like about it, and some downsides. There were three of us and we ordered the Goat Dum Biryani, Kadai Goat, the Andhra Mutton Masala, and the garlic naan. I will start out by saying I expected to have enough for leftovers, though to Athidi's credit, I finished the meal with a full stomach. We all shared the dishes and we've all eaten Indian food all around Massachusetts as well as elsewhere. So given our qualifications, I believe the Biryani left a bit to be desired, the first few bites, the taste of saffron was present but the more bites we took the less the dish seemed to impress us with its flavor. The meat was well cooked and boneless, though the seasoning was underwhelming. I think the flavors were appropriate, but light. The next seemed to be the star of the show the Kadai Goat, often curries don't include veggies, but this has peppers and onions, it was a nice touch and the seasoning was not to spicy, not too bland, with minimal bones. My only complaint was the portion of rice could have been a bit bigger, I'm not asking for much, I just think it would have made the dish a better experience. The next being the Mutton masala which was the spiciest but not too spicy for us, pretty middle of the road for the area, but nothing I would have a problem ordering again. Again my complaint is with the portion of rice. Also, this could be a regional thing but I see a lot of Indian restaurants putting whole cloves in their white rice and I think that would be a nice touch. Lastly was the naan which had a really nice flavor, though it was not fluffy, it had more of a paratha consistency. All this to say I quite enjoyed my meal but some improvements could be made to convince me towards giving 5 stars. I will give this restaurant another chance in the future but I think I'm more interested in the buffet than in...

Located on Saugus Rt 1 with plenty of parking, the restaurant is easy to access. We went in for the unlimited buffet on a weekend afternoon together with visiting relatives from India. They had the right amount of dishes for the tableside unlimited buffet and each dish was perfection! It's hard to find authentic South Indian food in Boston but Athidi has met this unmet demand with authentic lip smacking fare. It's also super vegetarian friendly! My personal recommendations are the veg kheema biriyani, the fish fry and the payasam. With the right amount of spices it is easy on the tongue and gut. My picky toddler had an enjoyable culinary experience and ended it by licking her fingers :) Kudos to the head chef for a thoughtful menu, great execution and also for his warmth. He personally attended to us and shared his recommendations which our guests enjoyed as well. Service is fantastic and we felt so comfortable dining out even with a newborn and a toddler! A few recommendations to the Athidi team -

1. Please serve a small cup of lemon juice/lemon nannari/lemon soda/buttermilk + paan with the buffet Thali. It will give a sense of completion - this was a recommended by our South Indian older guests. I think it would elevate the South Indian dining experience and guests would walk out with their tummy full and their hearts rekindling fond memories of home.
2. Please consider adding decotion coffee, masala tea to the menu too.
3. Adding a changing table in the men's room will be good since the rooms are private anyway. Dads change...