Mary Zawalski

I visited Pondicheri after a spa day and was hoping for satisfying yet light food, and that is exactly what I received. Years ago, I visited the NYC branch of Pondicheri before it closed down. I was disheartened when it shuttered its doors, because it was super healthy yet equally delicious. Now that I’m living in Houston and it’s Houston Restaurant Weeks, I figured to try this one—especially because aviyal was on the HRW menu. Aviyal seems elusive as a regular offering at ANY Indian restaurant these days, so I was delighted to be able to order it here. Pondicheri’s version was elegant: both rich and light at the same time, and it afforded the perfect follow-up to the fancy salad-like bhelpuri. The seeded flatbread served with the aviyal reminded me a little of injera and was scrumptious enough to eat on its own—and I don’t normally care for bread! A red sangria with saffron and a pistachio-lemon kulfi bar completed my meal. It didn’t look like a lot of food, but I left the restaurant pleasantly full. Service is swift and polite; I was done in under an hour. It is a bit noisy inside, so outside dining would be a better choice in cooler weather.

+1

Debashri Manna

Unique experience! My spouse and I went to this modern Indian restaurant for dinner. The ambiance was warm and welcoming. The restaurant offers a variety of seating options, including both indoor and outdoor spaces. The staff was attentive and friendly. The meal serving time was not excessively long. We ordered the following food- Beverage- Black Tea Appetizer- Meena Bazar Samosa (One is filled with chicken, while the other is filled with potatoes) Main course- Texan Thali, Green Dosa Everything we ordered was amazing. However, the Green Dosa was the standout. We never imagined the dosa could be prepared in such a unique manner. The healthful taste created by the combination of greens, avocado masala, and pumpkin seed chutney was astounding. We were so stuffed from the main course that we were unable to taste their dessert. We would love to return specifically to taste their desserts and other experimental foods.

+1

Camie B

I was recommended this place by a friend & it was delish! The restaurant is clean & beautiful inside & the food did not disappoint. I’ll definitely be back! Butter chicken - 10/10 (didn’t like the rice but the chicken was great) Garlic Naan - 10/10 Potato Cakes - 7/10 Black sesame chicken samosa 10/10 Grilled snapper - 10/10 If you’re open to trying Modern Indian cuisine, check it out!

+2

Hannah Combs

Absolutely love this restaurant. The interior and location are so beautiful. Most importantly, they have a huge menu full of vegan and gluten free options that are clearly labeled. It’s amazing to be able to choose from so much different options. Everything I’ve ordered here so far was amazing, really flavorful, and delicious. The baked goods, of which some are vegan and gluten free are always really good. It’s a great spot for a date night or night out with friends and their patio is beautiful and dog friendly. Highly recommend!

+4

I LOOOOOOVE Pondicheri. Lunch, dinner, brunch... it hits the spot.\n\nWhat draws us in:\n:: Woman-owned\n:: Locally sourced (when possible) and high quality ingredients. \n:: They don't use seed oils…

I LOOOOOOVE Pondicheri. Lunch, dinner, brunch... it hits the spot.\n\nWhat draws us in:\n:: Woman-owned\n:: Locally sourced (when possible) and high quality ingredients. \n:: They don't use seed oi…

Always consistently good food and service! Love that it's locally sourced and seed oil free.

Always consistently good food and service! Love that it's locally sourced and seed oil free.

Food , desserts, drinks and Custmer services. Plus a very nice restaurant and location

A nice spot for dinner with friends or family! Drinks and food came out quickly and did not disappoint. The Chai Old Fashioned and the Pollinator were both great. The butter chicken is an option yo…

A nice spot for dinner with friends or family! Drinks and food came out quickly and did not disappoint. The Chai Old Fashioned and the Pollinator were both great. The butter chicken is an option …

Truly some of the best Indian food I've had in the US and defiantly in Texas. The meat was cooked so perfectly, the scallops and chicken were moist and all the flavors were so balanced and unique. …

Great spot for Indian inspired pastries. Make sure you go upstairs to the bakery for the good stuff. Loved the beet roti, pav bhaji kolache, cumin cheese bun, and tandoori chicken tart. There's ind…

Great food, super tasty with fresh ingredients. Awesome for date night. Got the butter chicken and was not disappointed!

Excellent service, excellent location, excellent flavor, excellent ambiance. One of our favorite date night spots! Food is consistently full of flavor, clean, fresh and delicious! I can eat here ev…

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 …

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 drop…

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 drop…

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…

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…

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 blen…

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.

***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 …

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.

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.

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 s…

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.

This is one of our favorite eateries in Upper Kirby, specially if you appreciate modern Indian cuisine, which we do. The Cafe to dine is good, but don't forget to try their Bakery Lab in the second floor, it has some interesting and delicious items. Keep in mind this is not a full service restaurant so you have to order and pay first. But service, otherwise, is good. Four stars only because we are not sure of its convenience for people with mobility restrictions though, but I am glad Google is asking those questions.

Anton S.

Indian fusion food in a very casual setting (you order at the counter and sit down). Everything tasted good. Can recommend butter chicken and sheekh kebab. The sauces are clearly western influenced with fruits & sour dressings, which doesn’t always match the dish imo. The paneer came out a bit too dry and crumbly… Parking is easy.

+4

Brent Sherman

The service was great. While I'm not sure I loved everything I tasted, I enjoy trying new things. The waitress steered us towards the thali as a means of sampling the menu. That was a great steer.

Qurat Ul Ain Farooq

Pondicheri is a stylish Indian-inspired restaurant. It has creative fusion of traditional flavors with modern cooking. It has well-balanced spices, excellent vegetarian and vegan options, and standout items like thalis, dosas, fresh juices, and baked goods from the bake lab. The atmosphere is trendy yet relaxed, making it popular for brunch and casual meals, though some feel portions can be small for the price and the food leans more fusion than traditional Indian. Overall, it’s a great choice for those who enjoy innovative cuisine and a lively dining experience.

+2

Manikandan

Pondicheri in Houston is a vibrant Indian-inspired restaurant that perfectly blends modern flair with traditional flavors. The dishes are creative, colorful, and full of bold spices—don’t miss their thalis or inventive desserts! The vibe is chic yet cozy, great for brunches or casual dinners. Service is friendly, and the presentation is top-notch. A must-try foodie spot! I would say it’s a bit pricey for the quantity of food it offers.

+8

Bhavana N

Visited Pondicheri in Houston and really enjoyed the food. The fresh orange juice was refreshing, the lamb seekh kebab was cooked perfectly, and the naan with butter chicken hit the spot. Ended the meal with pistachio kulfi, which was a good choice. Ordering is simple, you place your order at the front and they bring the food to your table. Overall, a pleasant dining experience!

+1

Sim M

Overall, a good option to try something new in the Indian food space! While the ambience and service were excellent, the food is quite dependent on the dish you order. It could be hit or miss. For example, the lamb dishes were very good (lamb puff, lamb chops). But the Butter Chicken was a miss for me (it tasted more like a Chicken Curry). Maybe ordering a North Indian dish in a restaurant named "Pondicheri" wasn't the best idea! The Texan Thali was a good option to try several dishes in reasonable portions. I appreciated that I was able to substitute the pork product for another item - and kudos to our server for paying particular attention to the dietary restrictions! The chicken kebabs were decent but perhaps getting a crab dish or dosa would have been better. I'd say, paired with good service and ambience, the place and its offerings intrigued me enough to warrant a return visit to try more of the menu! Parking is available in the adjoining garage.

+7

I went with my friend here for HRW. The food was not bad. I had the samosa, butter chicken, and the pistachio ice cream. Samosa was filling. Butter chicken was unique with different blend of spices. …

Still no Bangladesh on the map on the entrance. The "Bengali" fish dish is good though.

I hate to leave a bad review, but the experience here was so disappointing. I'm not a huge chai snob, but the chai literally tasted like water. The fried paneer was in a weird fritter, with way too…

Let me start with the good. Good service good ambiance, the water was cold refreshing and had honey as a sweetener option. \nNow the bad food was bland nothing like an indian restaurant and overp…

Let me start with the good. Good service good ambiance, the water was cold refreshing and had honey as a sweetener option. \nNow the bad food was bland nothing like an Indian restaurant and overpri…

Let me start with the good. Good service good ambiance, the water was cold refreshing and had honey as a sweetener option. \nNow the bad food was bland nothing like an Indian restaurant and overpri…

Let me start with the good. Good service good ambiance, the water was cold refreshing and had honey as a sweetener option. \nNow the bad food was bland nothing like an Indian restaurant and overpri…

Nice place for a relaxing date night!\nWe tried several items and everything was great and delicious!

I haven't been to pondicheri in a few years and recently visited with a group of friends. The Indo-American fusion concept and ambiance are unique here and I would definitely return. \n\nI ordered …

Unsatisfied customer! Appetizers were good. Then... we waited 30 min for our main course only to be told that our food was accidentally given to another table. They offered us a complimentary pani …

The food was good. I like the flavors. But the service is really bad. We never got to order through our waiter. We waited for a long time, but no one came to us so we just asked a waiter who passed…

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, t…

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 …

Alexander Lach

Lunch tasting menu was a miss for me. It’s was fully vegetarian, which I didn’t expect based on the website and past menu descriptions. It was also 7 courses, instead of the 8-10 described. The standout dish was the savory and complex “dosa waffle with black pepper paneer”. The fenugreek soup was a close second, with a warming spice and balanced flavors. Unfortunately the onion tart was too one-note, and the biryani was boring. I respect what they’re trying to do here, and I think I might have just hit them on a bad day.

+4

Seeta

It is important that you check out the menu before you head out to this restaurant. Since this restaurant does not serve traditional Indian food, you will be disappointed if that's what you are looking for. We ordered "Dosa and chutneys" and "Rajma chat". The Dosa did not look or taste like the traditional dosa even though the description said that it was made of fermented rice and lentil batter. The Dosa was quite dry, but the green chutney and sambar were good. The Rajma chat was ok.

+2

food isn't good & the service isn't good. \n\nI ordered the dahi puri and it didn't come with any yogurt (dahi) and they waited 10 mins to tell me that I have to pay for the extra yogurt. By the ti…