Pondicheri Reviews

This is Indian food for those who don't know Indian food. Nice combinations, and conscious of vegetarians, but everything is so high priced. It's in River Oaks, so that explains that but I would not classify this as anywhere near authentic Indian food. Fusion maybe.

Went to this place with my wife during the week. Service was very bad. It took more than an hour to get our food , the excuse? "We gave your food to another table and they didn't tell us, they ate it..." Bad excuse for several reasons. At least the food was good. 7/10 for the food. 2/10 for service We were very excited about this place but sadly we will never return. Nor will we ever recommend it to friends and family.

Tradition of Asian Americans food; very attractive staff, definitely delicious and fresh food for any age group of people. They offers breakfast, lunch and I’m not pretty sure about dinner, this location is for perfect date too! Variety of coffees also tea available. They have wall where they wrote such beautiful quotes which I loved it!

If you are looking for a "hip" place that's trying a bit too hard with their fusion-ish menu, then Pondicheri Cafe is your place. If you're looking for a true Indian food experience, then I'd give this a pass. We read a lot about this place, and the write ups seemed to highly praise the cafe (not sure saying that they serve in stainless steel is a big deal; authentic places will do that. Also other reviewers said the foods are not too greasy, and that is simply not true. They use traditional GHEE in many of the dishes!). Anyway we gave it a try last weekend. We started with the saag paneer samosas (a bit thick and not heated all the way through); then on to the main which we shared a butter chicken curry, sindhi tadka dal and a garlic naan. The butter chicken was fine, as well as the dal. Note on the garlic naan -- they spare no expense on garlic -- it is loaded! So be prepared. There's a full bar that's off from the downstairs dining areas, which would be a nice place to meet up. Not really sure what's missing from this dining experience. It's pricey for what you get. Rustic tables and chairs are not overly comfortable. Menu is just OK. Nothing to get excited about to make one return. I will say, however, that the waiter we had was super attentive and was very helpful.

Just had dinner here with a couple of work colleagues. The service was friendly and professional and the food was fantastic. I'd recommend this place to anyone

An Americanized take on Indian food, this unique and contemporary eatery is one of my favorites in the Upper Kirby area. Yeah, it's not your typical Indian buffet for a low price at lunchtime, but it's a great place to try if you're not a super Indian foodie. There are plenty of vegetarian options of course (in fact, they encourage it on "meatless Mondays") in addition to your standard butter chicken and tandoori lamb. I've been here numerous times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, during the week and on weekends. I've had practically everything on the menu - fresh juices (Naka is awesome!), dosas, thalis (my faves), samosas, chaat, frankies, salads... Never been disappointed. The breakfast items are legit. One of my personal favorites is their morning oats - for just $5, I can enjoy a filling meal that's tasty and healthy at the same time. Their morning thali is a great choice, as is the breakfast frankie with keema. Don't forget to visit the bake lab upstairs. They don't just offer cakes, pies, and cookies, but savory items as well. They offer cooking classes, but they're pricey and fill up in advance.

Great place with fantastic food and very hospitable staff! Drunken monk with old monk was the highlight.

Had a meal there in January 2020. With the high trip advisor ranking I expected something more memorable. Don't get me wrong, Service was sporadic as it is more of a serve yourself situation. Do not go here and expect ambience. It is pretty much devoid of that. I could see using this place as a quick lunch time option. Due to its priciness I suppose it would be a good option for split plates.

I can’t not tell you how refreshing it is to start your day here. I am a juicer and they press your juice while you wait. The fresh baked pastries are delightful. Try everything here once.

First of all, let me say that I love the food at Pondicheri, and at the chef's more upscale restaurant Indika on Westheimer. The menu is creative, the dishes are outstanding. But at a Saturday 2pm lunch--the place was about 2/3 full--it sounded like there was a group of hyperactive children in the back kitchen area throwing dishes, glassware, and flatware against the floor. We had brought out-of-town visitors because we like the place so much, and they were wondering why we brought them to this incredibly noisy place. The waiter was curt and scattered (you order at the counter for lunch). It will be a long time before I go back, because the food is terrific, but the experience of dining there is truly awful.

Visiting the Cafe for last few years. Delicious Food in modern settings. They are open from 7 AM starting from Breakfast to Happy Hours @ Bar till dinner. Also they have pop Dinners. Bake Lab on Second Floor for Pastries and Street Foos is must try. My Favorite:

You should have chai pie. Thalis are great. The food is like a big splash of flavor. Spicy but very enjoyable. Will visit again.

Interesting choices for breakfast/brunch. Walk up to order, find seat and have food delivered to table. Gluten free options marked on menu but, only some of the options are for celiacs. Please ask at counter and explain if you have sensitivity, I was excited for the coconut pancakes but after ordering found out there is cross contamination. The dosa came with a potato cake that I couldn’t eat, and because of sensitivity I could eat any of it as it was all on the same plate. Sad :( one person at the counter was knowledgeable about all this. The food I had was tasty. I would advise asking lots of questions.

Easy in and out and cool vibe. We had pav bhaji and Texas shrimp chaat to start. Next Punjabi dosas, a fried chicken which was a special and if I didn't know better straight from Louisiana and well I'm not sure what else but it was good. We had the kulfi ice cream to round it up. The waiter recommended a cocktail which was an infused whiskey and yummy. I don't even typically like Indian food but can leave here happy. I'm think it's the cilantro options....I love them. Out of everything the shrimp was the best! Definitely valet park quick in and out for five cool bucks.

This is not your typical Indian restaurant. You do not find the usual curry dishes or pandori chicken. The food supposedly focuses on the street food found in the city of Pondicherry. You may find some not to your taste. Been here several times, tried and enjoyed most of them like the samosa, madras chicken wings, pondicheri salad, goa pork and lamb. Some of the chutneys are too sweet for me tough. Unusual cocktails, unique wine list and only local craft beers served. Tried a couple of the wines and beers, all quite good. The place is spacious and nicely decorated. Friendly service except at time on the slow side.

Had heard quite a bit, and yes, wanted to try the fusion food that many seemed to be raving about.. Am a veg - so can comment on the veg items ordered.. Frankie - A combination of brinjals, cabbage, mint and a thepla.. 2* Paneer Item - Paneer was awesomely done - 4* Samosa - One samosa, filled with green chutney 1* Veg Thali - The Puris were of the same flour of the Frankie Thepla. Wrong choice. The corn salad mix - no idea what was being tried there 2* Mango Cocktail - The first one was horrendous - the rum was strong enough to knock anyone out - The waiter was good enough to replace it with a milder one.. 2* The Masala Chai - brewed - but lacked the punch Probably not impressed coz, being a Sindhi, I eat the same style of cooking at home - the theplas, the brinjals, the tomato curry, the chutneys. Probably for some one not used to Sindhi cooking - this would be great, but sorry - many of the Sindhi tastes were just not there.. The 3rd full * is for the waiter who was gracious enough to accept that the drink was messed up.

Indian cuisine with a twist. Not always to my taste, but well executed und interesting. Good atmosphere, friendly service.

The food was very tasty and the large portions meant we took food home. The restaurant was a little too warm and needed the AC working harder to cool the restaurant. Each of us had a cocktail and to be honest, none of us enjoyed them - too much of an Indian twist to them.

The food is absolutely delicious. We've never had a bad dish. The service is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxed (if a little hectic at lunch time). Highly recommended.

I say moderate because it did not meet the expectations after all those cheering reviews. They have an ingenious drink menu but again could work on their cocktails and I wish they had more vegetarian options in their otherwise fancy menu. The presentation and food, in general, was decent, nothing exceptional.

Great Indian fusion food with a great atmosphere. Definitely try the thalis so you can try a little bit of everything.

This was our first taste of this restaurant. my Son and I are extremely allergic to eggs. We mentioned this to the server and confirmed that the food will be safe. They were helpful in finding out the details from the kitchen, but when the food came, I had a reactions. thankfully my son did not have a reaction to what he ate. I was trying to be safe and ordered Delhi Chat.. and being from India, i know chat will be the safest. But somehow it was cross contaminated and I developed an instant reaction. I took all night to clear up. I want to let the restaurant know that they need to take allergies very seriously, next time someone may sue them! for those with extreme allergies, a word of caution when trying this restaurant.

I keep coming back to this super restaurant with a bakery in the upper level. This place never disappoints, great food, excellent menu choices and seasonal variations. Staff is very courteous and obliging. Thanks Cody, Jacob, Gilbert, Jennifer and ofcourse Anitha the owner. 👍

Tried this place after reading it was one of the Top 10 places to try for breakfast in Houston. The breakfast was lovely and fresh. The restaurant is unique in its design and everything was delicious! Our experience with the staff was very good and they were very helpful in explaining any food questions we had. Will definitely be going back.

Went there for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised. Very good selection of dishes and very tasty. Good coffee too. Good prices. Will certainly go back

Ordered the Earth Thalis and the Vegetable Noodles (very spicy). Kinda sad we hit it on a Meatless Monday because we missed the meat in all the dishes, but the Earth Thalis was a big hit. Of the sampler Earth Thalis, the mango salad was amazing, the Sinhi Pantoras was very tasty, the vegetable korma and paneer masala were equally delicious (in spite of below negative review(s) of paneer masala, I thought it was yummy), smoked eggplant was okay, the carrot roti was okay, and the little chunk of carob I think they had there for "dessert" (??) was forgettable. The Vegetable Noodle dish (sorry, I don't see it on the menu for the proper title) was delicious but very spicy. I noticed the spice didn't keep my husband from devouring most of the dish. It was a hearty portion however, with leftovers to take home. Oh and we ordered two sets of regular Naan to go with dinner. Took home a full Naan so one was enough. Kinda wished we'd been bold enough to order the garlic Naan instead.

We had dinner at here on a Sunday night ,and the service was not so great , food is okay very colorful,curry was a little to bland ,nan was excellent,so if you like non traditional Indian food with just a hint of flavor,this will be for you

If you want a quick bite at lunch but Chipotle is not hip enough, I suggest stopping by Pondicheri Cafe. Big menu, fresh ingedients, nice vibe, nice people.

We recently went for a birthday party for my daughter and had a fairly good experience. The food had a great presentation and was very tasty. We found the staff to be helpful and the ambience to be trendy and relaxed. It was a bit hard to find but worth the trip. I would recommend this place for a good lunch. The bakery upstairs also had some wonderful desserts.

Good food. Sat by the kitchen in the corner by the side door. It was so hot with no air circulation. I was soaked. That made the entire experience 4*

We had dinner here and ordered 2 Thali's which we shared. One veg one chicken. Flavours were good and portions plenty. The honey lime soda is a very pleasant alcohol free option. Our server was fabulous as were all the others we encountered. Sit outside if the weather permits. Use the valet parking. We will return.

Excellent food...imaginative menu...setting nothing special, but food worth the visit. Wait staff attentive...everything we had was excellent...a can't go wrong kind of place.

I stopped by yesterday since I was in the area different people had recommended it. Cute place on the second floor. I had an egg, potato tart that was good but a little spicy and a Chi Tea wish they gave a bigger cup of the tea . I also had a gluten free chocolate cookie that was wonderful.

Step out of your comfort zone and you will be rewarded. Delicious chai tea and satiated with incredible sang Paneer omelet. Don't skip this spot.

used to love going here when they had "Meatless Monday's". They've since switched to what they all over sell. They will say "We're so proud of our new menu now, that we don't need different menu's. Our menu now includes enough vegetarian and otherwise dishes we no longer need to differentiate between days of the week." It's total crap. Just go look at the menu us vegetarians have now. I've been doing the vegan thing for a while, and I can spot meat BS from a mile away. They're all about Meat BS. Let's say what we really mean. Pondichrio were having to turn away too many people on the one day a week you didn't serve meat. As always the profits won over the minority of people that actually enjoyed going on Monday.

Really don't think this place is very good the food is average I don't know if it is from the North or the South but I really don't like the flavors and I love to eat Indian food there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Houston only if you are very traditional and good I would not be coming back to this place

This bustling West Ave restaurant serves a variety of Indian dishes, including many unavailable elsewhere in Houston. The friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff can guide you if you're unfamiliar with the choices. Many vegetarian and vegan options, as well as chicken and lamb. The samosas are the best in the city.

Great salad, dal, chana and dosas in various forms; easy to be gf vegan here with a well designed menu. Nice wine by the glass. Beautiful room with huge windows. Rushed but pleasant service at night.

Great meal! Fun location with easy parking in a garage. Restaurant looks amazing. Fun and hipstery. We had a lamb curry that was delicious and the Texan thali- both were awesome! Portions looked small at first but ended up being enough. Plus we had the chai pie. SO GOOD and very unique flavor. I would say its a little too pricey but we had a great time and a great meal.

Overall great food. The thali combo meal had great combinations of food. Everything spiced well and fresh. Taking one star off since we had a reservation for inside at a certain time and they could only seat us outside when we arrived.

Hands down amazing authentic Indian food. Delicious, not too spicy, wide range of selection, and reasonably priced. Must try the sampler platter of you've never had Indian food before. It's both a dish to fall for and to introduce you to Indian food. They also have a bakery that I will go back and try. 2 levels of seating areas both inside and on the patio. They get quite busy and popular so make sure you get the waiting in line app so you don't have to wait and can reserve in advance.

Love the concept and the way they modified or say fusion the Indian traditional food bit crowded and staff need some Indian traditional welcoming value.

Visited after 2 years and yes there were more customers but the staff has not changed RUDE as before. The owner needs to know RUDE staff is turning away the customers.

So I've been to both the Pondi Cafe at the Asia Society Texas and Pondicheri (and the Bake Lab upstairs) multiple times. I love the food. I feel like it is fusion done well, with complementing flavors that meld well together yet can still hold their own - kind of like me (and Indian American kid born and raised here)! I'm writing this review now because after a year or so of begging my family to come along, they finally agreed to come down to Pondicheri for brunch this past Saturday. See, Houston has a vibrant and frankly oversaturated South Asian food scene. Why would we come down from Spring for Indian food when we have 223 restaurants close by, they'd ask me. Also, it may have something to do with them not trusting my food recs after a particularly disastrous restaurant experience somewhere else (but I hadn't gone there before so...). Regardless, my aunt and uncle are very picky about their Indian food, being immigrants etc. Taking them here was a personal risk for me, let's be real. I am pleased to report, however, that they absolutely enjoyed it. Yes, it wasn't 100% authentic (because it's not meant to be) but it had the flavors and tastes of home + the fusion part was carried out extremely well. They really thought out the flavors and balancing tones of the menu. For them, they especially enjoyed the spinach paratha (reminded them of methi ki roti), the railway omelet, the lamb burger, the frankie, and the dosas. The morning thali's daal and saag was complimented on by my aunt (!!!). All of us LOVED the coconut pancakes - tastes like sooji ka halwa and honestly feels like you're sinning, eating it for breakfast. The ambience, of course, is top knotch as usual. Thanks, Pondi team, for keeping my honor in front of my very Indian family. You didn't disappoint! PS: The lamb items are halaal, the other meat items are not.

This is great Indian fusion food place with a great settings and very vibrant. Its not a typical Indian restaurant so food is not authentic but this is not what you expect from a fusion place. There Menu has good south based variety and Thalis. I tried Vishni thali.... its okay. Curry and brussels sprouts were really good but other two are very bland.. like Dal was like a soup and spinach was flavorless green. There Wine collection is good. Typically wait time on weekday is 30 minutes and service is slow so for Thali it took almost 28 minutes.... The big problem is this restaurant is Noise..at 8.30 pm the noise level was almost 100+ decibel so you cannot talk but have to yell. At 9.30 it was reduced to 90 but since there is also lot of noise from kitchen and steel utensil you cannot enjoy the experience. I will try them again for breakfast and update my review

Was in Houston, passing through and met some friends. They like to explore different cuisines, as I and they suggested Pondicheri. Wow, very good. The garlic naan was just that, garlic. Good. I had the Goa pork. Some of the pork was a bit tough but the heat and flavor was spot on. The cumin rice was also a hit. I tasted the butter chicken and it was fabulous. Not hot spicy but very flavorful and the sauce. I could have had a meal out of the sauce and naan. I thought the price was a tad high, but the atmosphere and food were worth it. When I come thru Houston next time, this will be on the top of my list. Service was also very good. Water was filled and the staff were attentive.

I have had the pleasure of either dining in or taking out from Pondicheri many times. great Indian street food with a variety of spice levels. Fine bar to grab a pre-dinner drink or relax with friends. Service is normally very good, but during my last visit, the hostess did not endear herself. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this restaurant.

Great place for breakfast and lunch. Love the ambience. The breakfast keema Frankie was excellent . the green dosa was OK. They have another place on top which also sells indian kaftans, utensils, cookbooks, etc. Will go back for sure.

I tried the rancher thali with the goat kofta substitution for lamb curry. The carrot roti was beautifully spiced light and had a crumbly delicate texture. More than one substitution was a $2 up charge- totally worth trying the Carrot roti vs. Naan (chef attended French culinary school apparently!) The butter chicken had perfect infusion of spices and chicken was tender. The smoked eggplant was good; goat kofta had whole ground spices and was a bit on the spicier side. A mango cucumber salad with peanuts was just the sweet complement needed to balance the spice. The turmeric rice was average and more of an alternative to plain rice-- the rest of this platter is such a rich concoction of spices; you are not left wanting. I would visit here again any day! The decor, presentation, service, temperature of dishes served and spices in the preparations were all perfect. One glass of alcoholic drink and the thali are more than enough for a starving hog-- it came with a $30 tag.

This was truly a great find and an excellent meal. The waitress was friendly with good reccommendations and an honest approach to their "meatless Mondays" menu. Each dish was exciting and enjoyable. We ate family style and split several entrees. We finished off the meal by enjoying the homemade cookies with a twist! The chocolate chili cookie was EVERYTHING!

***Keep in mind, this review is for the Cafe upstairs. A friend and I chose this as a place to catch up over some coffee and snacks. What an absolutely incredible choice we made! The atmosphere was so relaxing and the decor was beautiful. Not to mention all of the choices of things to drink and eat. The rose laddu was DELICIOUS!!! Highly recommend!

Great Indian food! We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a veggie omelet, a chicken wrap and a chickpea hot dog with fries. All were unique and tasty!! The service is very casual where you order at the counter and have a seat at a table. The atmosphere is very lively, the decor is colorful, and service was quick and friendly. The hot chai tea was very good and the iced tea had a very nice "spicy" flavor. The chai pie we had for dessert was excellent and well worth the visit. I am looking forward to a return trip to try a few more dishes. Highly recommend!

Bake Lab is on the second floor of this cafe. Everything on the menu and display seemed better than what we tasted. You can get black coffee (which was not good) but latte etc. only from downstairs. Same goes for food - no chance for cross order. Maybe the owner of both establishments just couldn't be bothered and wanted to force people to visit both places then be disappointed twice.

First, we went to Pondicherry Cafe in the Asia Society Texas Center on Southmore St. I had the Butter Curry Chicken, it was delicious. We also had a dessert, which I cant remember the name, but it was square with lemon and curry. We shared it and came home with 2 more. Did not regret that. So, because we loved that restaurant , we went to the Pondicheri Bake Lab on Kirby St. for breakfast. Again, the food was unusual and we couldn’t get enough! I had the Avocado Dosa which is a crepe with salmon, mushrooms and avocado. Yummy.

Went to this place with family and friends. Had a good time, enjoying the menu and the casual modern atmosphere. The Indian cuisine with the modern western twist is well reflected in the menu - the tastes were quite dissappointing though. We ordered a few thali variations among us and found the consistently lacking authentic flavor. One notable exception though, was the railway omelet, which we all shared and thoroughly enjoyed. If I ever go back to this place, I will stick to the snack menu.

we wanted something different and we were with an guy of Indian decent .. he coached us through the menu and i must say the food was a little spicy but very tasty and very balanced .. also a nice proseco and a good winelist .. also the service and athmosphere were special .. 2 tumbs up .. yes i would recommand this restaurant as a nice alternative

I wanted to taste something Indian after I flew in from India last week... I had Yogi Thali, it is cooked perfectly without loosing the taste of constituent ingredients. Good food. A cup of rice would have gone a long mile, however

Nice place, nice location, love the baking lab upstairs. In fact next time I go may only go upstairs. Service good but not great, gets crowded on weekends. Worth the trip but there are better Indian restaurants in Houston.

the food served here was indian cuisine but with atwist. great taste and good presentation. a wee bit expensive but if you are a foodie do visit this place.try samosas and the thali.if you are apure vegetarian visit it on monday which is a meatless day there.so you can enjoy the food

A few friends picked this place for a work dinner. Great choice! We were comfortable in our booth. Food arrived quickly. Food presentation was neat and clean, and food flavor was savory. I tried a sampler platter called "the rancher" which featured butter chicken, lamb, Brussels sprouts, rice and naan. I recommend it!

Indian street food at its finest. Laid back atmosphere, counter service at lunch and table service in the evening. I have visited many times and highly recommend the food. Hostess can be rude, but the rest of the staff are very pleasant.

So, don't come here looking for traditional chicken tikka masala. This is definitely a fusion place with much more of an American flare. I live just 2 miles from here and my wife and I have been many times for dinner. Tonight, I went with a buddy of mine for drinks and dinner. As has happened on previous occasions, they have run out of pint glasses at the bar. In addition, when I tried to pay for my drinks at the bar with cash, they said they did not have change. No change??!! Really unprofessional and poor planning from a restaurant that has been around for several years. Food was fine and staff was friendly, but some things are just not acceptable. I rarely give an average rating on TripAdvisor, but Pondicheri deserves it fully. Previous visits have been hit or miss. Hopefully they will improve.

The service and food was wonderful. Our waitress, Jocelyn, was friendly, and she gave us her personal recommendations for dinner (but prefaced with all the food was great). We accidentally dropped a spoon, and we instantaneously had a clean fork. The pumpkin momo's were to die-for - so delicious. And, the mocktails were very good!

First visit. Staff was well trained with answers to our multitude of questions (we're from Indiana!) and the decor was perfect. Enjoyed excellent service from Cody...good wine and knowledgeable recommendations were well thought out based on what we told him we enjoyed. Delicious food, reasonably priced and we lingered without being rushed.

My husband and I went here on a date. I made sure to call and reserve a table that day as it was weekend. I received a confirmation message as well. Once we arrived there were two hostesses, one seemed to be unable to look at me or speak to me and only spoke to my husband, the other insisted we didn't have a reservation even after I showed her the message I received she simply didn't believe that I called and reserved. The food is ok, nothing that special, there was no music at all which made the ambiance a bit meh.

Was really surprised by this Indian restaurant in Houston. Fantastic service and excellent authentic food. About a 30 minutes drive from downtown . Recommend highly if you are a vegetarian. The plates are a good choice since the roti comes with several small dishes. Eat with your hands!

Only good thing at this restaurant is ambiance. The food is tasteless and gives a bad press for Indian food. There are lot better Indian restaurants as well as cheaper ones - we will definitely not go back. The garlic naan was bitter, Frankie's were shoogy, samosas were cold, etc. we did not find a single person working there to be Indian!

It was certainly different but in a good way. There was a fair choice of Indian meals but none of them over spicy and a selection of regular dishes some with an Indian slant. We loved the food, the service & the atmosphere.

If you select the link to the menu for Breakfast/Lunch Thali's are list as an option. They are no longer available for lunch. We had a party of two and a luncheon portion of Butter Chicken and Lamb Curry and a couple of Mexican Cokes cost us 42 dollars. That expensive for Indian. I like the food but because its 'trendy' Indian it has a huge markup. On the menu linked to trip advisor the curries/thalis were all about 12 dollars. It would be nice if what you saw was what you were getting. Seems to be a major problem with sites like Trip Advisor and Booking.com...what you see is not always what you get. You pay up front which makes ordering more food difficult as the table service is not good at all. You have to get your silverware and napkins...yet they have system that once again up front prompts you to tip big. There is just a little too much emphasis on taking your money. I guess that is the Indian way. Shame it has the potential to have a line out the door. When I asked them about the differing menus...they said we don't support trip advisor. Yeah? Really? A few bad reviews and you might just.

Pondicheri serves a wide variety of delicious Indian cuisine. There are a number of options of combo meals where tastings of several dishes - each served in its own holder - allow you to experiment and share, especially if each person orders a different combo. Get naan on the side! The chili chocolate chip cookie was not my favorite...

Interesting take on Indian street food. The cashier lady was rude and not helpful, so less stars. Food was flavorful but the carrot paratha was too stiff. Was told refills on chai but the same rude lady rescinded the offer. Hopefully the management will change this

Went for dinner with some friends and enjoyed it. It was a cool evening so we sat outside and enjoyed the "urban view" (think clean NYC street!) Food was pretty good - not necessarily "authentic", but pretty good. I had the Green Masala Chicken Burger with fries (burger was just OK, fries were actually quite good) as well as a bit of the Coconut Pistachio Naan (delicious). After a bit I was tempted by their desserts so I had a chocolate chili cookie and this was AWESOME. I'll probably be back at some point.

We came on a busy Father's Day but got a table quickly. The man at the cashier was friendly and prompt in taking our order, but there is a rude lady that ignores diners. Food light, inventive and portions small. A bit pricey considering a self service restaurant. The Bakery Lab upstairs is a must. Decor fun, teas, juices and desserts inventive and tasty and service excellent. They also serve fond salads and meat dishes.

The food was delicious, the atmosphere very friendly and the service excellent! We sat outside and ordered the Thalys which is a tray with many different small size dishes.

I have only been there once and I was not impressed, I went for lunch and I came away thinking it was expensive and I didn't eat enough. What I did have was tasty and I have heard it is great for breakfast, maybe I will try that one day.

Was intrigued to see what "Indian Brunch" would resemble in Houston. Menu was diverse with something for everyone. Enjoyed my meal - very large portions though. Casual environment - very busy but easy to find seating.

This place is a real gem. I never had breakfast at an Indian place before, and it is great , with such nice flavors. Pondicheri did so well in Houston, it now has a location in NYC. We keep coming back for breakfast. We haven't tried the rest of the menu or the bakery.yet This is a must do!

As a yoga teacher, Im always looking for some healthy eats around town and especially places to go with like minded friends. Pondicheri never disappoints. Get there before 11:30 to be guaranteed a table and avoid the large crowds. Get in line, order, and then find a table. Service is usually very speedy. I've never had a bad meal here, from the delicious samosas to the curries. Today I opted for the vegetable korma made with cauliflower and butternut squash in a rich coconut milk sauce, served with rice. Delicious!

Food was terrible. Service was accommodating. The Saag paneer came with 1 medium piece of paneer, they served 3 people their entrees leaving one of our friends waiting for 10 minutes. Additionally, the food lacked taste and depth in flavor that is expected for Indian food. Scallops were overcooked, rubbery, and caused stomach issues later in the evening. Decent cocktails though.

OMG......butter chicken, saag paneer samosas, shrimp chaat, paneer masala and garlic naan.....we were in heaven. Took a few of the incredible cookies home for later. Definitely one of H towns best!

My friends invited me to dinner at Pondicheri on a recent visit. I had not visited this part of Houston for several years, mainly because I am not really a "city boy" and do not frequent such high-end areas of any city. I was impressed with the expensive shops and high end boutiques, and the restaurant fits right into that mold. From my table, I saw a couple drive up in a $250,000 Bentley (valet parking of course). I digress from the food, sorry. My friends ordered for the table, and we all got a sampler plate with 5-6 items per plate. So I was able to sample many different dishes. Each was flavorful and delicious. The portions seemed small compared to most restaurants, but they were actually what used to be considered a good size for a meal. I left the table full and satisfied. As a guest, I did not pay the bill but I understand the prices are on the high side. The wait staff were effecient but not friendly.

We picked up a delicious take-out order from Pondicheri. Because we were from out-of-town, we did not understand that the bakery is on the mall's second floor, but the restaurant is on the first floor. Additionally, the signage was not easy to spot while circling in a car. The food, however, tasted very good, but it was expensive for what we got.

Restaurant serves beautiful Indian dishes, rich of flavor in an open atmosphere. Went there for the second during my Houston trips. Us certainly one you should visit.

Given Pondicheri's popularity and critical acclaim I wanted to check it out. Went on a Sunday at 11:00 am and it was packed. First disappointment was that it's counter service. Attendant wasn't helpful guiding me on the non traditional menu. I managed to order for me and my two children (12 and 9) and spent $64.00. Then the attendant turned the computer screen around and I was presented with the tip request - 15%, 20%, 25% or other. I open for other. Pomdocheri's dishes are elevated and not for mainstream consumption. My daughter couldn't manage to eat their version of pancakes and my other daughter couldn't eat the butter chicken despite her love of butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. I too struggled to enjoy the fays Thali plate. Despite the acclaim and success I won't be going back. This is not a kid friendly restaurant unless your child has the most cultivated palate.

I ordered Sprouted Moong Chaat and Yogi Thali from Pondicheri Café. Both of them were a huge disappointment for me. - Moong Chat was overly salty sour to the point that it was not edible, and beans smelled like they were stale. - I don't know where to start with Yogi Thali. It came with six items, none of them were prepared by someone that knew how these were supposed to taste. Food tastes great only when the spices are used in the right proportion and clearly Yogi Thali was the opposite of that. This was by far one of the worst foods I have come across in Houston.

The food was so good! Full of flavour. The staff were so friendly. Can’t recommend this place enough!

We took a group of eight there for a party and found it to be terrific in all respects but one--it was very noisy. Our waiter was terrific, made suggestions, tolerated our festive group and served us essentially family style. All the food and drinks were excellent and during our two or three hour meal were provided with excellent service. I think our bill for 8 with drinks, tax and tip was about $300 so while it was a bit of a splurge from my perspective, I though it was a very good value. Everyone was very pleased with the wide variety of breads, appetizers, entrees and drinks. However, this was a college graduation dinner for family that came from locations near and far and we found it difficult to have a good group or even individual conversations as the place is very noisy--I think this can be improved with some acoustical engineering and doing so would make the restaurant so much more pleasant. It's great for drinks and dinner for a small group but the noise was a bit much.

This is great Indian fusion food place. I have been here twice for diner and once for breakfast. It is good value for money. I tried Sayel Lamb (Sindhi style lamb leg slow cooked) and the Texas shrimp chaat for dinner and recommend both. Also tried the Masala Eggs for breakfast, interesting eggs, but not my type for every day food.

Delicious contemporary and traditional Indian food - wonderful Masala and Thali in a nice and modern atmosphere. Unique dishes inspired by the streets of Mumbai. Always an enjoyable place to eat.

I am gonna bring all my friends and family here. Cafe is split level with a bakery upstairs and industrial style indian cafe downstairs. Staff was helpful and informed. Easy breezy.

This place is amazing. Everything on the menu is spectacular have been here for diner and lunch many times. The French bartender is great he must be a mixologist because our drinks incredible. Highly recommend the Vandeloo ribs, any of the Indian thali are really great. Panipuri during lunch is awesome! Try you won't be disappointed

This place has a lot of light and nice vibes. The service is great, fast and with smiles. The food is just OK though, not anything special. We had the seafood thalis and the fish was dry. The starters were passable. Perhaps we were unlucky with the particular dishes we ordered.

My daughter took us here for lunch and it was fantastic. I had the butter curry with chicken, naan, and chutney. The tamarind chutney was the best. Very worth the effort to get there.

Was NOT expecting this pace to be so good. I mean really wow I'm so shocked. Today was my first time there and I can't believe I didn't go sooner. Those photos online DO NOT do it justice. The flavors are just wow so amazing. And they do a no meat Monday's so great for everyone!! Gluten free and vegan options too.

It's a nice family restaurant, with somewhat authentic and fusion South Indian cuisine. The restaurant can be very noisy especially if there are a few Indian families trying to talk over each other at a high pitch. I almost wished I had my headphones handy. The cafe and bakery upstairs has done interesting snacks and food, with an Indian touch of spices. The Madras coffee if okay. Will definitely try out that place again. Food is not really spicy, it's prepared for a mild American pallette.

Pondicheri has become a very popular place for business breakfasts as well as lunches. They serve very interesting food (don't expect plain eggs and bacon!) and the rest of the meal crowd are interesting themselves - so a fun place.

I ordered the lamb chops and they were seasoned and cooked to perfection! The Chai tea was superb. My son had the duck domas and they were spectacular with the tamarind sauce. Waffles were also great with the hand squeezed fresh OJ. The mocha latte was also great!

As long as you don't mind hot and spicy, the food here is excellent. Service is a bit relaxed but always pleasant and helpful. The goat samosas are exceptional as are the spinach ones. You can't go wrong with chicken or vegetarian dishes. Pleasant interior and nice outdoor seating when it's not too hot.

Great! Good portions and awesome flavor, the place it's nice and relax , they have a large variety of currys in the menu,.

This is a an architecturally chic restaurant in a trendy enclave. The aroma of spice when you walk in the door is very inviting. We tried the lamb Rajasthani and butter chicken. Rice was extra. The quality of the meat was good and the sauces good, but not great. I found the service a little intrusive. I hadn't finished eating my meal and the waitress was taking dishes away and asking what we wanted for dessert. We were having a conversation and felt we were being interrupted, almost as if we were being rushed out the door.

Pondicheri Cafe Houston My name is Ankit Just 5 min before I have called pondicheri Houston.. Omg girl over ph was soo rude as if I have asked her kidney.... Pls USA people learn how to speak.... Call time was 20:00 02nd July 2017.... More information --- Seriously that conversation over phone was ridiculous... It was 02.07.2017. Night 20:00 Female attendent.... I was soo hungry... I completely understand she cannot feel my hunger... However... She is in hospitality industry she should know how to respond..... I m not even expecting to guide Me throw entire menu I was just expecting some food thts it........

Anita Jaisinghani was just nominated for a 2017 James Beard Award in the best chef, southwest category. Our recent visit to Pondicheri validated the nomination. With cuisine from across India, Pondicheri exceeded our meager experiences and gave us new favorites. We started with the pani poori, light and crispy dough puffs stuffed with lentils and veggies served with a cumin/tamarind/mint broth. We wanted to try something new and these were a tasty counter to our tried-and-true samosa. For our mains, my Mrs. and I shared the chili shrimp and grilled corn dosa. The menu refers to the dosa as an Indian take on crepes. This is SO much better. Those familiar with Ethiopian cuisine and injera will love these fermented rice and lentil pancakes with excellent chili shrimp, roasted tomatoes, and of course, grilled corn. We also had the Goa pork. Rich and flavorful, the flagrant stew is addictive. The cumin rice, apple/mint slaw, and pickled onions is a nice counter to the rich and savory pork. I would encourage you to get one of the massive nan breads to scoop up all the lovely gravey. We went for lunch but can’t wait to sample the even more extensive dinner menu as well as the breakfast menu. Pro-tip, skip the meters and park in the FREE parking garage right behind Pondicheri.

It was my first time experience and I LOVED IT. I am definitely going back. I have already told my friends and family about it. The food is unbelievably good. I never tasted any better quality Indian food than that. I promise you once you try it, you’ll get hooked. I guarantee it. I am going back to it next week. Whenever I think about it, I get hungry. One piece of advise, when you get naan (Indian bread), tell them you want it dry. They use only when it comes out of the oven and it makes it soggy. I don’t like it that way. Just tell them you want the bread dry and you won’t regret it. Give this place a shot. You’ll love it. Take a date and go. You will love their soup as a starter, the samosas, and the main dish that is a wide selection on their menu. I love Indian food. This place is definitely a 5-star restaurant but they have a lousy small selection of dessert menu. That’s the honest truth.

Pondicheri restaurant is one of my favorite places to eat in Houston. The food is described as Indian "Street" style and it is delicious. Some of my favorite dishes include the vegetable roti, butter chicken and the desi fries. And in the upstairs bake lab the desserts are amazing ... Cookies, cakes, ice cream sandwiches, ladoos, all will make you keep coming back for more. My only complaint about this restaurant is that it used to be one downstairs place and it has been divided into two, requiring diners to eat down and then go up for dessert, not the most convenient arrangement. I suppose space to do it all on the same level became an issue. Still, don't let that stop you. The fresh ingredients and tasty dishes are worth climbing a flight of stairs and more!

Food is visual. And Pondicheri splatters color like an expert. It translates to flavor. I could become a vegetarian if I only ate here. Save a little room for cookies...

I Love Pondicheri! This is a hip place for those folks who love Indian food, but are supremely conscious about where their food comes from and if it is healthy. It is advertised as an organic Indian restaurant. It is a down-to-earth college type of food joint that serves a brilliant menu with a great selection of brew and vino. The menus are ready when you walk in. Take your time and select what you want, then go order from the counter and take a seat. I think it is best to look up the menu online and then be ready once you walk in. If you want spicy, it is. If you want fresh, it is. If you want diversity, it is diverse. (Meaning food, of course). If you want to fill up with a classic Indian dish to include great appetizers and naan, this is the place. The lamb is off the charts. The chicken (all of it) is phenomenal. The naan...is unbelievable. Give this place a try. It is simply a great dining experience.

I had been here for lunch a few years ago, but this was the first time for dinner. The cuisine is a modern take on the flavors and spices of Indian/Pakistani. The food I ordered was moderately spicy with an intriguing mix of spices and natural ingredients. We started with a bottle of wine and an off-menu salmon ball appetizer. It was very tasty. I tried three items from the small plates/happy hour menu: a beet pancake (2) with a spicy eggplant sauce; a chickpea (vegetarian) dog; and, pomegranate dumplings. All were good. The waiter told me the portions would be small, but they were quite filling, so I over-ordered and ended up taking some home. In fact, three of us had leftovers. The dumplings were a little dry but good. Another of our group had stir-fried lamb which he enjoyed. Another had the cauliflower masala, and the fourth person had a dosa, perhaps with salmon. Everyone seemed pleased with their meals. We shared a chocolate rum dessert which was served in a canning jar. It was made in their upstairs bake lab. It was fun and tasty. The wine list has a good selection of reasonably priced bottles as well as by the glass offerings. There is a cocktail list, too. Easy, free parking in the garage, off Kipling/Kirby. I would go back.

There are effectively two parts of Pondicheri the restaurant and the bake lab. The laboratory is upstairs above the restaurant where the bakery is located, a cafe and a large kitchen where the chefs work. It is here upstairs that we found the home-made saffron water and turmeric water, which were surprisingly good and refreshing. Downstairs is modern, simple and industrial in its design. The menu is good and offer a wide range of vegetarian foods. The smells and flavors are very good in the restaurant. The foods are not too greasy and they are very well presented. What is exceptional is that all the ingredients are locally sourced and the farms are listed on a chalk board inside the restaurant. There is nothing bad about this place, we have visited 3 times in as many months and we really enjoy it and the food especially the vegetarian menus!

I am not an expert on Indian food, but the 4 times that I have been there I thought the food was excellent, with a complexity of flavors you won't find elsewhere. There is a nice selection and you can get gluten free and vegan dishes, clearly marked on the menu. There is bakery/gift shop/lunch place upstairs that you may want to visit.

This place is simply amazing, fantastic decor and some of the best Indian food I've ever had (in comparison to some great Indian restaurants I've had in LA, DC, and NYC, all places I've lived before). They have a great selection of beers and cocktails, delicious naan and I really enjoyed the butter chicken. An interesting thing I've noticed is that the large majority of the negative reviews are customers of Indian descent who bash this restaurant as "not authentic," or "westernized." Don't let that deter from you from this place, it is an overall excellent restaurant if you are looking for great food in a beautiful ambience.

Everything is good here. We went there on meatless Monday one time and I wasn’t too happy but it was amazing!! Also, the cocktails are unusual and delicious.

The Whist cocktail was refreshing with our spicy chicken wing appetizer - cool yogurt and green papaya relish cooled things down. Really tasty. Also tried the Texas shrimp chaat - that was a favorite with pickled shrimp and lots of avocado and radish. The butter chicken was delicious, the rancher sampler included a delicious lamb stew (and duplicated butter chicken), and we had a barley, blueberry, walnut salad with grilled chicken (a favorite) and a grilled leg of lamb served over greens, naan and pickled beets and onions w/yogurt raita. Everything was so fresh, vibrant flavor and perfectly cooked. I was so pleased with our first trip...we'll definitely be back!

Unique Indian "Cafe". Indian staples with a twist throughout the menu. Counter ordering and delivery to your table. Apparently they have a very unique and good brunch, although we did not experience it. We tried the Mo-Mo's but found them delivered sitting in a bowl of "sauce" which as ok but a bit overpowered by red onion. Seemed unnecessary with the amount of spice in the sauce. We also tried the daily special with was a take on Paneer Mahkni. Interesting and the paneer was tasty, but the dish left a heavy aftertaste that we did not enjoy. Overall worth a try, although we found it underwhelming and a bit pricey for the product delivered.

What does Pondicherry means? It is a small town in southern India and an union territory of india. Pondicherry was the largest French colony in India. It's also popular for most beautiful marathon trail in india, and famous Aurobindo Ashram It was delighting to find a Pondicherri cafe in Houston. It gives you great flavor of South Indian food , with bit of fusion! For Vegetarians we ordered Spinach dosa ! Absolute delicacy a must have Paneer Frankie served with crispy fries Vegetable curry with tamarine rice also can be ordered with Naan And Papad -chutney for drinks we ordered Thumps-Up an Indian cola to kwench your thirst! Also Mango lassi is recommended For deserts we ordered Gulab jammun donut - delicious , don't miss this.

We ordered the saag curry and saag sandwich- but curry wasn't hot and wasn't served in bowl. Sweet potato crepe a little soggy ditto fries. This was only our second time to try - hopefully it will improve $50 for lunch is a lot to spend if your disappointed

Our food was SO delicious! We enjoyed it very much, but the prices are REALLY high. The atmosphere was good.

pondicheri is absolutely one of my favorite places to go with friends and recommend to visitors who are coming here I kind of upscaled version of Indian street food. It is a casual fun but elegant dining experience with absolutely the best food. Anita Johnson, honey Annie and Manager and daughter Ajna Johnny are communicative and pleasant and lovely will visit the tables and explain the food. I couldn't recommend it more highly. ❤️ Yes, you

My husband was working in Houston on and off for a few years. This was absolutely my favourite Houston restaurant. The flavours and the food were unusual but good. Every visit was enjoyable.

Knowledgeable and attentive waiter. Excellent octopus with a pomegranate suprise in the sauce. Yummy

Great service! Our waitstaff helped us make choices on food and drinks we had that evening. Excellent food. We were so impressed with the cafe that we went up to the bakery and had dessert.

the butter chicken is a most!, I loved the place. Good Decoration, presentation and quickness. The only thing I dod not liked was the restroom with a curtain, they should put doors...

I fell in love with real Indian cuisine after a trip to Kolkata last year. We visited here on Meatless Monday night - a short wait in the bar as we didn't have a reservation (highly recommended). I had one of the sample plates - it was perfect. The staff were helpful and made some great suggestions. We had two vegetarians and one vegan in our party of four so there were loads of choices for us.I will definitely be back on my next visit in Houston.

we went to the restaurant on new year.Such poor taste and overpriced food.They can trick and cheat the Americans but not from people in India who knows the taste of Indian food.Will never go back to there or will not recommend others to go there.My son said my mom cook better food than here.My daughter told me that you should have given the gift card to some one else.I told they will curse us for their entire life

Since our last visit, our dietary restrictions have changed, and we asked to make a minor substitution (anything green instead of a potato cake.) We were told categorically there are no substitutions. None. They are trying a new menu and apparently that's what they need to do. So I need to eat somewhere else while they figure this out. Easy enough; tons of great brunch places in the area.

pondicheri is a slice of heaven and enlightenment rolled into one place. Try their sandwich of the day, fresh juices or baked goods and you will not be disappointed. Call ahead one day to take home a full loaf of their amazing bread with you.

Food was good, service was mediocre at best. Would have rated them higher if the service was better. We ate here with local friends who recommended the lamb burger. When we went to order, they were out and expecting it to be about an hour until they would have some prepared. I heard people all around us ordering this burger, so it must be great. Poor planning to be out of your most popular item at 7 pm on a Saturday night. Our appetizers and dinners were delivered at the same time, there wasn't enough space in the table for everything, very annoying. We ordered ice for our water, which never actually came. After our meal was delivered our server was MIA for about the next 30 minutes. We had to flag her down to get our bill. Annoying. The food on the other hand was great. I had the chicken burger, very flavorful, the salad was delightful and the wings were messy, but great mix of spices.

“Pondicheri" Bake Lab+shop,Kirby, Houston. Well, we had been there for lunch.Situated in the upscale shopping centre it attracts pretty decent crowd,mostly Americans. Its a rare sight to see these locals eat in the stainless steel plates with koteries.(cups) You select the menu,place the order and pay,then you wait in the table assigned for you. The food is served very quickly. Taste...hmmmm... good but the Indian food lack their authenticity. For example,Uppuma comes with dressing of fresh salad. Dosa,aaloo parantha are served with some sauce like thing (named as chutney in the menu) Saag paneer samosa tasted good. The restaurant has nice ambience and has patio seating too for leisure eating. Prices? Just good for the food they serve. Was there with much hype but its ok to visit once for a different experience….. Americanised Indian.....

Over a business trip I ate twice at the restaurant. The real deal stainless steel cups and serving plates like they use in India was a nice touch. The food was great, and flavorful.

Food was great and so was service downstairs . The bake lab upstairs needs to work on their customer service skills. The only reason I’m not leaving a 5 star review is because of the red haired woman with the English accent.

Terrific breakfast place, imaginative fusion food but firmly anchored in the Indian tradition. Full marks for creative recipes. Purists may quibble that the dosa is not thin enough etc but I thoroughly enjoyed the food which is also beautifully presented.

This place is so beautiful! It just makes you feel special. The menu also sounds enticing. I want so badly to like it, but noting I tried here ever blew me away. Interesting feature: The stalls in the ladies' room are separated by curtains, not doors.

This is the most amazing place, I have never tasted such delicious, savory, entrancing food in my life. It is healthy and wonderful. It can also be indulgent. Check out the desserts! A truly unique experience and one that I will remember for a long time. Wish I lived in Houston. I’d be there every week!

I went with my family to visit this place . It was almost full when we arrived, I ordered the Butter chicken that is similar to Chicken Masala, Lamb Fry, The Texan(Breakfast), Samosas (Duck , mushroom) and of course Naan bread, delicious food!. After our meal, we went to the second floor to try some desserts , the almond brioche muffin and the carrot cupcake were good. Nice ambiance, clean, self serve mode, but waiters come and remove dirty plates.

This place is always packed, and it’s easy to see why. Delicious upscale Indian fusion cuisine. The upstairs, Bake Lab, has some delicious treats. Must try the chai pie! Not all of the desserts work, but all of the pastries / cookies I’ve tried have been big hits. If you’re ordering lunch, the butter chicken is delicious, but my favorite are the thalis, which are like combination platters

The title is not an exaggeration or momentous overjoyed exultation. Among all the restaurants I’ve been to, across several cities in US & India, Pondicheri is my favorite. I would classify their cuisine as fusion & experimental. In fact, they’ve a “lab” upstairs, where they regularly keep coming up with novel (or a throwback to really old) recipes. Good service, friendly folks, exotic yet authentic decor.

Pondicherry has tasty Indian dishes that are creative and include large servings. The drawback is that slow service and incorrect orders disappointed the experience. You order at the counter where a credit card purchase requests "an advance tip" for service on the screen. Then after tipping, the service was non-existent. Food came out only after a long wait in what was otherwise a not crowded time period. It did not come out together for the group with whom I was dining. The then server did not know whom ordered what and then another long period before the rest of the group was served. The order was still incomplete. The food server then suggested our silverware was over on the counter, and, of course, drinks are self serve as well. If dining here plan on serving yourself, and there seems to be no reason to tip in this instance and when prices are on the higher end.

Beautifully presented and delicious food! Every one of us raved about our selections on meatless Monday.

I grew up on Indian Food in Trinidad (45% of the population are Indians). My daughter has made two extended trips to India on Business. Neither of us recognized anything on the menu. Mondays are meatless days so I had the three egg omelette with spinach..My daughter had a vegetable combination cooked in coconut, ginger and other spices. We both agreed our food was fine. Just different. Because there were 6 of us meeting for lunch we decided to go upstairs to the bakery where we would not occupy valuable seating needed for the lunch crowd. Upstairs we were able to sit around a large table enjoy the desserts and coffee. All in all it was a nice outing. Just be prepared for "different".

This is one of Houston Chronicle's "Top 10" Houston restaurants, so, loving Indian food, I had to try it. It is a casual, counter-service café with a modern urban décor and vibe. You order at the counter, put a pedestal with your order number on your table, pick up your own water, silverware and napkin at the counter, and wait. I went two times in the past month, and both times service was quick (neither time was the restaurant crowded). My wife and I both enjoyed our food, though I think I prefer a more traditional approach myself. Still, it was fun to see what creative things the chefs did. The second time was by myself, and at breakfast time. I ordered the vegetarian thali and thoroughly enjoyed it. Again, a mix of traditional and creative touches. Overall quality of food was excellent, and very fresh. I'd give this 5 stars except that for the price (which is on the high side), I expect table service, and I also found myself preferring traditional Indian food. But, I think I'll go back at least a couple more times to sample other items on the menu. It is convenient if you are shopping in the Kirby area, and parking is free, though a bit of a walk, at the parking garage across the street.

We went tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. Jennifer, our waitress, went above and beyond to make us comfortable and provide us with excellent service. The food recommendations were DELICIOUS and the Cocktail called Violet was exquisite. We cannot wait to go back!!!!

Thank you Houstonia Magazine! This place is amazing! So glad I came. We had, the chef recommend, Morning Thali, unexplainable how tasty! The Aloo Paratha, just, yeah! The jam that came with it is the jam! It was perfectly, lightly, sweet! Uppma, Indian grits! I love my mommom's grits, but these grits tho! Outstanding! Amazing! It even pleased my food snob son!

My husband and I love coming here for lunch and then carrying out some me wonderful bakery items for the flight home to kids. Recommend Everything but the salads are fabulous!

get ready to dish out some cash. chai was okay not great. too much spices and i'm indian. overpowering masala taste. overall pretty neat place to stop to get snakes...not many indian snakes....chat stuff was okay nothing special.

Loved the food here. Nice selection for lunch - also serving breakfast until 3pm. We had avocado and smoke salmon dosas - so much flavor - really enjoyed our lunch today.

Went there on a Wednesday. Still the place was full. Great food, very good service. Tried Salmon and Pork...they were excellent. Highly recommended...

My daughter and I discovered this place from a Facebook event...a community breakfast hosted by She Hopes (an organization that helps girls involved in human sex trafficking). So glad we tried this place out. Absolutely the best Indian food we've ever had. The flavors were so authentic and flavorful.

I have eaten at Pondicheri many times and have loved every meal I have had here – from Chikfu Frankies for dinner and Dwaffles for breakfast to their innovative desserts like Bournvita ice cream sandwiches, Pondicheri really knows how to make creative and delicious dishes, with lots of vegetarian options. The ambience and service are excellent as well, and I love their plant-filled patio. Prices are quite reasonable too.

Love this spot. Really good food, good service, but if you have Celiac Disease you need to be extra careful, they're not at 100% yet. They're pretty good with it but not 100%. Ask twice, double check, be extra careful - specially with new/young staff (seems to be a lot of turnover, so they have to keep training...which means...). All that said, I've eaten here 20 times at least for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner and so far only 2 trip-ups that I caught gluten coming to me when I was clear about gluten free. They were quick to bring me a new dish, but the fact that it happens means you need to take the responsibility for your safety and not blindly just "order and forget it".

very fun! There were so many great things in the menu, it was hard to decide. We ate family style which allowed us to share.

I've had a great dinner at Pondicheri, but alas, that was before I started doing tripadvisor reviews. So...I'll have to rave about their breakfast, instead. We heard it was good even for breakfast, and that advice was spot on. Busy, but we did have kind a of a late breakfast. You stand in line, place your order, and take a seat. But just a few minutes later out came our delicious Railway Omelets. We coupled that with pista scones, carrot quinoa muffins, fusion drip coffee, and sailed off into Indian-fusion breakfast bliss. I would eat at Pondicheri morning, noon, or night...

One of my favorite restaurants in Houston. Delicious, fresh, authentic Indian Cuisine. A wide variety of dishes on their menu. Every dish is a unique experience. Casual dining for Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in upscale West Ave off of Kirby and Westheimer. Great people watching. Would love to take some of the cooking classes they offer. Have eaten here many times and highly recommend.

I revisited the place after a gap of 3-4 months. Tried different drinks and certainly food too. Everything was superb. My friend who was visiting from Canada also enjoyed the food, drink and the ambience. Great place!

Very good preparation of a variety of Indian dishes. Enjoy the food, but it is a bit too casual for an evening out.

Free parking Cozy place Helpful waiter Goat samosas awesome - wish they offered non dairy chutney to compliment He had the vindaloo rib special with ghost pepper Seafood dosa awesome on the spicy side and coconut chutney offers a cooler balance Wish we left room for Chai Pie dessert

Very impressed by the service, food quality and flavors in this restaurant, cocktails were also excellent! The fact that there is free garage parking right behind the restaurant is also a big plus and this area is nice for taking a stroll to work off some of those calories after the meal. Oh and they sell fantastic cookies which we ordered to go. Very knowledgeable wait staff, the entire experience was relaxing and better than we had expected - we will be back.

Authentic Indian food cooked in Vedic Style. The food is simply authentic and it it served in traditional utensils (brass). This and the modern setting of the restaurant makes it a perfect blend of good authentic food and great ambience. Family friendly and good service.

My wife and I don’t get here enough since we live in Clear Lake and, well there are so many good restaurants in H-town. But this is one of our favs. Hit it again and as usual we left sick from over eating. We love small plates to try different things and they have a lot to try. Can’t wait to go back.

I'm a traditionalist that likes an occasional change! My wife and I both enjoy the taste of India and decided to try the breakfast at the Bake Shop...in short, very tasty and different!!! We enjoyed every morsel! My wife had the BISCUIT & CURRY and I enjoyed the SMOKED SALMON AVOCADO TOAST. Hard to describe, but I would compare the Biscuit & Curry to an American egg benedict (in appearance only), except the biscuit was more tasteful and of course, the curry replaced the hollandaise sauce...I'll leave it to you to use your imagination! The Salmon Avocado toast was just as it read, except it was blueberry toast! I had coffee and the wife enjoyed a cup of masala Chai... Different, but worth the deviation! Try it...you might like it!!

Met a colleague for lunch. Ordered at the counter, with food delivered to our shady patio table. The food was brought quickly and was very colorful and nicely presented. I had a vegan dish: red millet/rice/lentil dosa, with sauteed greens, chutney, avocado. Tumeric soup. Potato cake. The dosa was light and the greens perfectly cooked and seasoned. The chutney was sweet, although I didn't notice any pumpkin seeds. (small).My friend had the Workman thali, with aviyal, saag, marianated greens & carrot roti. Tumeric soup.

Dear foodie readers, here is another one for you....if you love Indian food, this one comes with a twist. Houston has a slew of upscale Indian restaurants, and very casual places as well, but the mid range is a rare bread. This one fits that mold. It is in the hip river oaks district, and has a great vibe as soon as you walk in. They have a big outdoor patio as well, for the days we have great weather. We sat inside this time, which was perfect. Our server even remembered us from another visit, which always adds a nice touch. The food is really good, but don't except the traditional saag or lentils, as mentioned it has a bit of fusion in there, but it does not take away form the mouth watering flavors. Reservations are recommended, it does get busy on the weekends. Foodies, let me know what you think.

Good indian fusion food. We ordered two thalis . we liked the food, but definitely liked the service and the atmosphere!

Here in Singapore we love Indian food, but it can me quite heavy, so add to that the Houston average portion size and it's fair to say I was a little worried about the ability to stand after eating. I shouldn't have been concerned, both in terms of ingredients and portions Pondicheri is perfect. While the tastes are authentic, what Pondicheri do well is modernize the dishes, so you get the flavors but with a very modern slant, try it and you'll see what I mean. We had a couple of the samplers to try as many dishes as we could and every dish was good and some exceptional. The venue is nice and relaxed, quite functional but still with plenty of character. Service was first class, I love it when the waiting staff are passionate about the dishes they have tried and not just reading of a "recommendations script". Will try again for sure.

We had the kebab wrap to start which was a deconstructed wrap with an excellent duo of sauces. We had a curry and dossa for our main meals and everything was really nice. The service and the bottle of wine were spot on!

Visited this restaurant for breakfast. The location is great, ample parking and withdrawn from Houstons hustle and bustle. There is outdoor seating available, which is always a plus. On entering you are required to place your order and pay first, then find a seat at which time the food will be delivered. This can potentially cause problems during peak hours since there is limited seating. Service was quick and without fanfare. It get 3 stars because of the food. Had the breakfast thalis and couple dishes seemed to miss the mark, with flavors that either didnt blend well with the rest of the dish or were absent altogether. Lovers of indian food should be aware, it may not live up to expectations. There is great potential here but the menu can be tweaked a bit.

This place has a very cool vibe and great food, with a fun bar. My favorite dish is from the breakfast menu (which is served until 3pm) called The Hopper, it's like an Indian crepe shaped into a small bowl with an egg inside and a delicious salad on top. As with every dish at Pondicheri, there are so many different fun taste explosions going on! I also love the Thalis which offer tiny silver bowls of many different Indian offerings and a large piece of naan to accompany them. Upstairs is a bakery with fantastic pastries including delicious Indian style chocolate chip cookies with super spicy elements. The bakery also has a juice bar with great juices.