Masala Grill

OK, I will admit to a bias — this is the restaurant where my wife and I had our first date. That said, I have been eating at the masala grill at least a couple of times a year since they opened and have found their food to be consistently excellent. Always high-​quality ingredients and the dishes are nicely presented. Some high points are the rich, luxurious chicken korma and the delicate Naan breads. The only downside is the restaurant’s location, slightly at the periphery of the downtown area. But it is located right up the street from the parking garage and is close enough for an after dinner stroll through the town. The prices are not rock bottom, but the quality is there and slightly higher prices are the norm in Princeton, where it is expensive to run a business. Bottom line: strongly recommended!

Very tasty food and with an extensive menu. I like the lamb dishes in particular. My only gripe would be that their spiciness (which you can customize) sometimes falls short of where you would like it.

Do not eat here. I have been going to Masala Grill on and off since the late 90s. The quality has varied, and when Mehek opened across town (that’s a long while ago by now), I thought the competition might encourage MG to up its game. Having converted to Mehek, I had not been to MG in a year or two and popped in today for take
ut. Every single item was terrible. Chicken tikka had a tiny bit of seasoning on it – I guess when you request «not too hot» they just put less marinade on and microwave it? Samosas greasy. Shahi paneer: like McDonald’s or something. Even the naan was like cardboard. I took a few bites of each dish and threw the rest out. A waste of $ 46. Also. they have not been keeping up with painting and such – looks dingy and even kind of grimy.

Not only was the lunch buffet selection sparse, ⁵⁄₅ meat dishes were dry. And not just dry, EXTREMELY dry. In fact, the gulab jaman was dry too! Not juicy at all. Still the vegetable dishes weren’t bad, the naan was actually very good, and the papadam was extra thin and crispy. The service was a little slow but the ambiance was good. Well lit place that felt very clean. Definitely not my favorite but I don’t hate it. Wouldn’t come back.

Only one to-​go experience so far, but I was happy with Masala Grill.
You can easily double park outside of the restaurant – up a set of steps you walk into the space and can see your car through a big window very easily.
10% off on pick-​up orders is also pretty choice.
I didn’t get a long look, but I had a chance to glance into the dining room as I was picking up my food. On a rainy Friday evening it was still about 50% filled. Mostly young, probably college kids, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
The entrees seemed to be priced pretty well – maybe a buck or two too expensive here and there, but with the take out discount I was ok with it.
The naan wasn’t exactly killer by the time I got to it, but I appreciated that it was already quartered and in a bag that seemed design to keep it warm.
One samosa was fantastic and the other was definitely over-​fried. It actually had a pretty cool taste, nevertheless. The tamarind was a little extra sweet but nice.
The korma was about what you’d expect – big and rich and not a ton of subtlety. But lots and lots of veggies though; I don’t usually end up seeing big pieces of broccoli in a korma.
The saag paneer was good – the spinach seemed very green which was nice – though it could have been maybe a touch creamier. My wife likes her saag with less cream though, so she was very happy.
The rice had a few flavors going on that I liked – definitely not your typical bland stuff.
Going to give it a few more shots for sure.

We totally enjoyed our meal today. The Veggie Mulligatawany Soup that had fresh veggies and spices. My spouse keep wanting more and I let her since it was so good. I also had Tawa Okra. Get dish! My spouse had Chicken Korma and Aloo Gobi. Just one awesome flavor experience after another.

Surprised that this has a three star average. I would say it’s a solid 4 at the very least. Went there late on Friday, just a half hour before the stated closing time. Promised them we would be quick but they graciously welcomed us and told us not to rush. She went so far as to say something like «we will anyway be here and we would love your company.» We had the aloo tiki and a paneer dish which was made vegan with the use of tofu. Appreciated their hospitable, friendly service, the fact that they had vegan options, and the deliciousness of the food itself. Will definitely be back.

Been here yesterday. We had the Mixed Grill Sizzler, some garlic naan and aloo paratha. Very average food. Not recommended.

Masala has an excellent lunch buffet that is perfect for the professionals in the Princeton area. Seating is quick. Dining is quick and delicious. The restaurant is very clean, and the staff are always friendly and very helpful. Prices are very reasonable, the food is fresh, hot and very tasty.

Visiting Princeton for a week and already been there twice in 3 days. Food is very flavorful — just how Indian food should be and the people, specially the owner, are incredible. Can’t for the life of me understand why the reviews are bad. Aloo Tikki Chaat and Malai Kofta highly recommended.

It’s generally pretty simple to impress me when it comes to Indian food. I typically award Indian restaurants 4 or 5 stars. But, Masala Grill under-​performed relative to other spots. I sure didn’t suffer through my food here, and actually nearly lapped up every last morsel. It’s just compared to other «good» Indian food, it lacked flavor. For instance, the saag paneer (spinach + cheese cubes) seemed as though it had been frozen and not freshly prepared. Watery and lacking distinct flavor. The chicken vindaloo also was also somewhat weak in the flavor department, and a smidge too dry. Bottom line — Masala should satisfy your curry craving but temper your expectations.

two hours later and my order still hasn’t been delivered.

Kind of okay Indian food. Very friendly service. The mango lassi was nice.

This is my favorite lunch place in Princeton — The buffet lunch is cheap and extremely delicious. I love their paneers and the delicious naan. Yum!

Had the lunch buffet with my wife. My wife normally is not a fan of Indian food, but enjoyed the food here so that was a nice bonus.
I have to say, there was only 1 person eating when we arrived, and a few more came in while we were there. Not sure if that is due to the location, as it is on a small side street off of Palmer Square. That being said…
The food is quite good, and this one of the better Indian restaurants I have been to. Will definitely go again.

If there was HALF A STAR — I would give it
As an Indian, I am ashamed to call this even remotely representative of Indian food, let along fine dining.
I used to live in Princeton and 6 years ago — it was good… now sorry to say, it sucks! and I gave them the benefit of a bad day… this is the second time in 3 weeks I went back — so it sucks consistently!
The lunch buffet:
1) The kebabs were RAW. we do not serve tartar in India.
2) the cauliflower was RAW… another 10 minutes would have made the difference
3) The daal was cold and lumpy
4) the spinach and paneer — were cooked separately and then thrown in together. Come on! seriously!
5) and the chicken tikka masala… was literally let over chicken from 2 days ago mixed in with store bought sauce…
THIS PLACE SHOULD SHUT DOWN. Go to any other Indian restaurant — not this!
Sorry — I hate giving bad reviews — this is actually my first! this is how bad the experience was

IN SHORT: Masala is the clear winner of the Indian food battle in Princeton, and although it’s less central than its competitor, Mehek, the quality of its service and food are leaps and bounds ahead.
THE STORY: While Masala Grill seems to provide a longer, more drawn out meal than the other Indian restaurants in town, the overall flavor, spice, and texture of the dishes are beyond comparison. Even the least adventurous vegetarian will love the curried chickpea Chana Masala, which comes hot and steamy in a cast iron bowl full of diverse spices. Masala is able to expertly cater the heat to the desired level of the patron, from barely there to in your face, while the kitchen uses a skillful hand with oil, and impressively none of the dishes come separated or greasy. The naan is also puffy and light, an addictive complement to any meal.
The atmosphere is also much more authentic than other offerings in Princeton, and the high ceilings and open dining room lend an airy, comfortable energy to the space. The restaurant is great for dates and groups alike, and the wait staff always seems happy to serve, making Masala definitely worth the trip.

Just had lunch here with a friend, and I have to say that Masala Grill has upped their game considerably from my last visit about two years ago. Everything on the buffet was fresh, delicious, and had just the right amount of spice. The dining room was not crowded and we were not at all rushed. I would definitely come back for dinner. I used to come here years ago, but then I thought the quality (and quantity) of food tapered off a bit. If todays lunch was any indication, the owners are trying hard to capture a new audience, and bring old regulars back.
The chicken Tikki masala was excellent, as was the other chicken dish — perfectly cooked, tender, and not dry at all. The ambience is not especially romantic, but the dining area is bright and cheerful, while service is efficient. I am very glad these guys are showing some renewed effort, since the dining scene in Princeton is quite competitive.

Awful. How could you do so wrong with Indian food in NJ and still survive?
Good area. Lots of Princeton co-​ed whom i am proud of for their achievement to enter this fine school and better yet afford it. My college was nowhere as good and i had nowhere as much money as the poorest kid at Princeton, but MY, wish you had better taste buds.
Somehow the better reviews led a couple of Indian acquaintances recommend we go there for dinner against my better judgement (I was planning on going to peony pavilion based on one good review… no idea if that would have been better).
Ordered bunch of dishes. All bad. Nans soaked with butter. Cost around $ 110 for three people, no alcohol. I should have paid not to eat there.

I’m with Victoria here… I’m surprised Masala Grill does not receive better ratings. I thoroughly enjoy the cuisine here, the menu is broad and well labelled (for instance, vegetarian and vegan items are highlighted), and importantly, the food is lighter and not overly covered in oil and ghee. Maybe that is why people don’t like it quite as much!
I am very fond of their saag dishes, and would highly recommend the organic tofu saag which isn’t something you’ll always see on Indian menus. They have a wide range of items, but this isn’t to say that it’s fusion or anything, just broad based.
I get the sense that the restaurant is a mom & pop shop, as the hostess seems to be the owner. She is very welcoming.
The décor is very dated and needs revamping, and the silverware and plating is one step up from paper plates but that is not that unusual for an ethnic restaurant in the states. I’d recommend the naan over the basmati rice, as their breads seem to be very high quality and the rice is ehh.