Nirala Sweets & Restaurant, Sunrise FL — Restaurant in Sunrise

CerAfter a night of striking out at three other venues which were either closed (thanks to cricket matches at Curry Cafe), permanently shut down (Indian Chillies/Ghiza), or simply too sketchy to consider (Saalan, which shouldn't even be listed as a "restaurant"), we found ourselves at this authentic Halal Pakistani/Bengali restaurant.

The ambiance was distinctly genuine, primarily catering to a Desi-seeking audience rather than American tourists. This fact was made evident by the well-prepared dishes like the perfectly spiced Samosas, rich and flavorful Goat Saag, succulent Beef Curry, aromatic Biryani rice (offered as a side), creamy Paneer Tikka Masala, buttery Garlic Naan, and a delicate, fluffy side of basmati rice.

Their dessert menu was an impressive showcase of baked Indian/Pakistani sweets of various kinds. The variety intrigued us, and we bought a small assortment to indulge in at home, each offering a unique taste of the region.

Service was courteous and prompt. Our Haitian waitress was a delight, providing helpful suggestions and tending to our needs. She quietly hinted that leaving a tip on a credit card might not reach her, an insight we appreciated.

But our experience took an unfortunate turn when it came to the bill. We discovered a distasteful 15% "dine-in fee," an addition that seemed both arbitrary and excessive. This was coupled with a misleading 4% credit card service fee, disguised as a "cash discount." These practices felt almost like a betrayal, clashing sharply with the warmth and authenticity of the meal.

The food was undeniably excellent, and we had initially planned to return, perhaps with friends to share the culinary experience. But the unpleasant surprise of the owners' monetary policies left us with a metaphorical bad taste. The prices were already a touch high, a fact we could understand due to the Halal certification. But to add a dine-in fee in a restaurant that's designed for that purpose and is neither opulent nor particularly well-decorated seemed almost underhanded.

Would we go back? It's a question we've pondered. The culinary delights are tempting, the authenticity unparalleled in our experience. But the bitter aftertaste of the owners' greed lingers, casting a shadow over what could have been an extraordinary...

The owner and one of his staff tried to take extra money from me on two occasions. First just a few days back we ate there and when I came to the counter he calculated and told me verbally its $40.21. I paid and I went out. However, felt something was wrong so upon discussed this with my wife who was with me we concluded there was no way it would be take much.

So I went back inside and asked him for the bill. He then gave me a bill of $38.30 and I told him boss you took $40.21 from me. He said wait let me check. He was getting a little annoyed by this so he printed and then gave me a bill of $40.16 (attached). Please see how he has adjusted the tip of $4.94 in the bill. I told him boss I already gave a tip of $5 in cash to the lady waiter to which he said no I should not have.

I then asked him to refund it to which he responded, sorry cannot be done as its already in the system. I left as people were waiting outside. After reaching home, I decided that I am going to go back to him the next day as the place is just 5 min away from my hotel .

Next morning being a weekend (Saturday), I ordered a Halwa Puri take out so that he would adjust the overpayment on this order. When I reached there, there was another person (with a pony tail), and I asked him how much to which he said $10.16. I asked him how much is one order of Halwa Puri, he said its 7.99 (receipt attached) and then the remaining is tax. I said Florida tax is 12% (as I am basically from New Jersey) to which he said sorry made a mistake and total is $8.56. I then proceeded to show him that I was charged extra previous day so he said he made mistake .

He then adjusted and then charged me a balance of $4 and some change for the take out order. The reason I am writing this down is because I see may reviews who had very similar experience where Nirala is stealing money from their customers by way of such shenanigan's. I think some Florida residents should file a complaint with the county attorney General so the same can be investigate. I invite the owner to respond to this so viewers can read...

Here’s a polis

Nirala Sweets & Restaurant – Sunrise, FL ⭐️ Overall: 4.5/5

I drive almost 50 miles just for their halwa puri breakfast, which fun fact—they serve again at 7 PM! While I noticed the quality isn’t exactly what it used to be (4/5), the nostalgic taste still makes it worth the trip.

Their variety of desi mithai is beautiful to see—my daughter always points at them and says “cupcake!” I love telling her the real names—jalebi, gulab jamun, chum chum, you name it.

They also stock ready-to-fry frozen items like samosas and kababs, and have kulfi in various flavors.

To my pleasant surprise, the restroom was super clean (not something you expect in many desi spots!). Plus, they offer prayer mats if you need to pray.

The interior has recently been renovated with new lights and flooring, giving it a proper restaurant feel instead of a dhaba vibe.

Their chai is consistently excellent—ask for sugar on the side (5/5)! They’ve also upgraded from disposable cups to stylish serving cups, which I appreciated.

On our last visit, we asked for a recommendation and went with the BBQ platter—includes Bihari boti, malai boti, kabab, and tikka. It was honestly better than my last visit: 5/5.

Beef nihari was a showstopper—three good-sized beef pieces, flavorful, not too oily or spicy, and served with chilies, ginger, and lemon: 5/5.

Qeema naan had a generous filling but was a little bland: 3/5.

Only downside: one person was managing walk-ins, takeout, and Uber orders, which made the wait time longer than usual.

Overall, this place is a gem for desi comfort food, and the updates they’ve made show a clear effort to level up the experience. Will definitely return!

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