by Lynette S.

i love this place and was surprised to read such a mix of reviews. i went with a large group recently and we had a great meal. we ordered a decent bottle of wine too. wine by the glass is extremely reasonable, as are all prices. the naan is soft and delicious...the same host/waiter has served me each and every time i have gone. usually he is pleasant enough. you can also sign up to get a decent discount on your birthday....bet u didn't know that!The place is beautiful inside (a lot of visual stimulation as everything is super-decorated and colorful...) Some of the booths and tables are cozy and tucked away.I've always had a good meal here.Once I was so excited to eat here that I forgot to put money in the meter and got a ticket!! my lunch buffet went from 6$ to 6$ + 30$ ticket! OY!!

by J T.

The food here is pretty good.  The service is GREAT!  The employees are very nice.  :)

by Delilah W.

The food here was divine, and on food alone I'd rate Haveli five stars.  There was a lot of confusion with the flustered wait staff though, not to mention the bartender taking twenty minutes to make a cosmopolitan as he meticulously picked up each liquor bottle and read it, comparing it to the recipe on the paper in his hand.  I maintain that it was some of the best Indian in greater Cambridge/Somerville, but they suffer from organizational chaos and some communication difficulties.

by Jessie S.

I am a relative virgin when it comes to Indian food. Only until recently did I really give it a chance because I had it made up in my mind that I didn't like it. In fact, what I don't like is curry, but I do like other types of Indian food.Haveli is my neighborhood Indian restaurant (one of them!) and because it is cheap and convenient, I have ordered take out from here several times.  The amount of food we get for the price is pretty darn good. I am addicted to naan and always get their garlic naan. It is good but not as good as I have had it at other places. Their onion naan is also good and really interesting as the onions are huge chunks in the bread. The take out process is fast and they have always gotten our order right. I am an idiot when it comes to remembering the names of the food but I believe I always get some sort of palaak paneer meal.  This is what I got when I came in for the first time in person with a group of Yelpers. (my meal had spinach and cheese in it). When our group of 10 came in, we were pretty much the only ones there. This means that we were loud and rambunctious and that our service was really good. Although the ordering process was a little disorganized, the waiter made sure several times that he had everybody's order correct. He repeated it back to us, which I thought was really great since a lot of restaurants get the order wrong when there is a big group of people.The orders that had rice had to share a big plate of rice. I think it would have been nicer to have your own individual rice especially since I had to take some of my meal home. It was hard to even to attempt to split the rice for leftovers, so I didn't. But again, for such a large group the process was fairly smooth and our waiters were extremely nice to us.The inside of Haveli is somewhat overwhelming. There is shiny, splashy decor on every inch of the walls. Lots of elephants and gold and shiny things. They also had a little TV playing Indian music videos (like Punjabi Dhaba), but it didn't really work in this space because it was so high up and you couldn't really hear or see it very well.  I love how cheap it is too! For 2 of us it cost about $25.  Yay!I enjoyed my experience here and as my neighborhood joint I am sure I will be ordering much more take out in the future.

by JJ G.

The food we had here the other night was ok.  Mediocre really, but sadly, that's what I expect from "Indian" cuisine in Cambridge.  Completely eatable, but nothing to jump up and start yelling about.The saag was bland, the samosa was frozen and not properly thawed and the onion pickle, which usually is my favorite condiment, was getting rather long in the tooth.  The decor is pretty and the location is good, with parking in the back and an easy distance to walk from Central Sq.  All pretty standard stuff.What was unusual about our experience at Haveli was that we walked in and were ignored.  We waited a few minutes, then went into the little bar, where we continued to be ignored.Finally the guy frantically trying to fill drink orders seemed to become aware of us and told us we would have a 20 minute wait.  Having nowhere better to be we waited, and watched a few people leave, and then another couple came in and were also ignored.  And another- same thing.  We all waited, silently, and in a small amount of discomfort, and the solo waiter finally seated someone- and to my frustration it was someone who had come in after we had!So, maybe the food could rate more than 3 stars, but by the time we got to consider it I was already feeling a little fed up.The wait isn't why I won't go back, though.  That's all about the food.

by kyle c.

5 stars for it being my favorite indian food in the boston area, minus 2 stars for the mouse running around the entire dining area.

by Brittany M.

Good food, great prices, it is what it is!  It's more of a family restaurant, but I think the service is really great!  I've never had to wait for a table and I always take home leftovers.  The chicken tikka masala is great, but I think the korma is my favorite.

by Rob L.

Haveli was stop number two for my roommate and I on our tour of local Indian buffets. We went on a weekday in mid-June.Haveli has more seating space than the other Indian restaurants I've tried in the area (India Palace, Punjabi Dhaba, Kebab Factory) and it wasn't very crowded that day. However, there were a few people scattered about, which is good when you are eating a buffet. You want the food to be consumed so it will be replaced by fresh refills from the kitchen.The choices were pretty standard (chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, tandoori chicken) but with 3 or 4 other options that I see less often. About 7 or 8 entree/vegetable dishes in all, and a couple appetizers (pakora). Naan was located in the buffet itself. I prefer when it's delivered to your table, because it's usually hotter and fresher that way.They also had the normal salad, selection of sauces and chutneys and a couple dessert options.The quality of the food was quite good, a bit better than India Palace over in Union Square.The decor at Haveli is really cool - they clearly put a lot of effort into it, with tapestries and designs covering almost every square inch of the walls and ceiling.Price: $6.95 per person. This is a dollar cheaper than both the India Palace and Kebab Factory weekday buffet price. That makes it my #1 choice so far.I plan on coming back here for dinner sometime.Next stop: Kebab Factory

by Josh D.

Y'know, there's a point where you realize that you're kind of a regular - when you recognize that short waiter guy (and recognizes you) anytime you stop in... We've done the (really awesomely priced) 3-for-$25 dinner, which includes bread, tea and dessert, here multiple times, and it's always enough to leave with a bloated belly.  Its a good place with a great view into Inman Square.  For my money, its maybe the best Indian place in the area.

by Kathy K.

I am so very happy with the buffet at Haveli as it is always fresh, extensive, well-maintained and well priced.  Also, the atmosphere is pleasant enough, although not tremendously upscale or flashy.  They serve wine and beer, so they it is a nice dinner place as well.After eating here and at Punjabi Dhaba, my vote goes to Haveli for several reasons.  I find the chaos of Punjabi to be tiresome, the wait for your order sometime extreme and the food inconsistent.  Too many dry chicken experiences over time.  Go to Haveli, sit and absorb the buffet.  If this place was in walking distance to MIT, it would be mobbed at lunchtime every day.

by Daniel J.

The food from Haveli is really more delicious than the overly crowded Punjabi Dhaba up the street. I have no idea why people flock to the worse place except that it has a more upbeat sign and crowds beget crowds, I suppose.The atmosphere *can* be kind of depressing inside, since it's so big and often kind of empty. I prefer to pick up and take home for comfort-deliciousness.

by Allix T.

UPDATE:Oh my former favorite--what has happened to you?  I was so excited to share this place and their good food with my vegan man friend only to find that the formerly genial maitre-d/server has suddenly become surly, nasty, and downright rude to his customers.  He practically yelled at us (two vegans) for asking not to have raita with our meal.The meal was tasty but the service was awkward...downgrading your rating and not so sure I'll be returning...Your lost customer (and former number 1 fan),AxT-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------Pretty decent Indian fare with a fantastic lunch buffett. Great place for vegetarians too--lunch features mostly vegetarian fare in the buffett and costs $6.95. It's an awesome deal.

by Jill S.

I love this place!! It's so pretty, the service is amazing, and the food is delicious and a good deal too.  Fill out their form when you leave and they'll send a friend a coupon for a free entree! No kidding, we did it.  Take this with a grain of salt, because I have had Indian food (in a restaurant rather than someone's house) seven times now, and all three have been at Haveli! Yeah!  So if you're new to Indian food like I was, maybe that means you'll like it!  I also brought home leftovers all seven times.  We had Tandoori Chicken, which arrived with veggies on a sizzling platter, smelled a-mazing, and tasted divine.   We also had oh-so-tender Chicken Tikka Masala which comes in a little metal crock from which you spoon it over your yummy shared rice (of which you can get refills), and Mango Chicken, which is served the same way.  The chicken soup was lovely with mellow spices, so nice on a cold day.  The coconut soup was good, but kind of ho-hum.  Go for the chicken if you're eating soup.   They bring out crunchy lentil/pepper cracker thingies with an onion + something else chutney while you wait for dinner, and it's yummy.  OK, some of the food I didn't like - dessert, as attractively presented as it was.  And I have had them all now.  But I have to assume that it's just my tastes, because everything else rocked.   You can get entree combos that come with soup, dessert, and coffee or tea for like $2 more and it's a super deal if you like Indian dessert.  I have found that I do not, if Haveli is truly representative of it.  But that's OK - I can turn to other cultures for my desserts!  The staff is attentive, friendly, ever-present - ideal.  The menu is very detailed, so we knew what to expect from the descriptions plus the charming staff's opinions.  Such beautiful decor - high ceilings draped with shawls, flowers on the tables, very lovely atmosphere.

by Sophie I.

If you're jonesin' for high quality, cheap Indian food but can't quite handle the chaos that is Punjabi Dhaba, go here.  It's never disappointing.  I always get the Chicken Tikka Masala or the Malai Kofta- both are indulgently creamy and delicious.  I recently tried the Lamb Vindaloo and it was super spicy and fresh.   Full dinners come with rice, soup, and dessert - naan is extra but always worth it. The atmosphere is also good - lots of quirky decorations to look at, extremely friendly waitstaff, and a constant supply of bizarre music videos.  This is my favorite restaurant in Inman.  I believe it's owned by the same people as Punjabi Dhaba, which is also a great place to eat, but this is more of a sit down place.  Also as an added bonus you won't leave smelling like you just rolled in curry.

by Skillet Z.

Since this is the sister restaurant of the crowded Punjabi Dhaba, we thought we would take a group to Haveli for a nice dinner.  The service was slow and had no anticipation of our needs or even what are the minimum expectations of service.Food was unimpressive.  Poori were flat, the tandoori dry and overcooked, the biryani was tasteless mush.  There is much better Indian food to be eaten in Cambridge.

by Joseph L.

My experience at this restaurant was great...The atmosphere was very cool... with the hanging tapestries all over the walls. My waiter said they were all handmade in Rajasthan. (I am not embarrassed to say I don't know where that is, but its very interesting to know they are handmade.)One of my friends had an Indian beer that I hadn't seen around in the US before. He liked it. And Sally I had cocktails from their specialty list. They were delicious.The staff were courteous and the food sumptuous.  Simply the tastiest lamb I've had anywhere.I recently went on Valentine's Day.. and had another great experience. They had a great prix fixe menu... and it was loads of fun. My experience at this restaurant was great... The atmosphere was very cool... with the hanging…

by Dana L.

The food here was pretty good, and not too expensive. I had the chicken saag, which was quite tasty. The naan was decent, if not top notch. All of the food and the decor seemed plenty authentic - it wasn't super upscale, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to take a date here.The only negative was that we saw a mouse scurrying around while we were eating. Sure I like sharing my eating establishments with diverse crowds, but interspecies is a little bit too diverse for me. Your mileage may vary.Including 1 beer each, the meal for 2 came to around $27 or so.

by Billy Bob T.

Four of us walked in and were seated and the waiter gestured to the lunch buffet, as everyone else today was eating buffet. Two of us walked over to the buffet to see what they had to offer; let me tell you, I have seen more options and better-displayed goods at a lemonade stand.So, the verdict was that we would order from the menu and have fresh-prepared food. But we were given no menus as we were not asked from the beginning if we wanted buffet or menu. So, we craned our necks to look for the waiter/host. No one appeared on the floor for several minutes, no one to even pour us water. No service, no fresh options = 1 star. Avoid this place and head to Shalimar of India in Central Sq. (Sure, there are less hipsters in Central Sq, but you'll just have to make up for it by carrying around a copy of Camus or conversing loudly on the sidewalk about Akira Kurosawa.)

by Liz T.

I too am quite surprised by the array of reviews for Haveli. Ive eaten there many times and I have to say the food is fresh, delicious and the staff is very pleasing. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by their decor and the food.I will be back!

by Amy B.

This place is good for lunch or dinner.  I especially like lunch during school season; grab food off the buffet and settle in for an hour of reading and note taking.  The decor is pleasant and fanciful.  Today, I was treated to the Indian music stylings of RB, heavy metal, punk and traditional Bollywood.  Because the buffet is usually small with favorite stand by's of aloo mater, chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, spinach and tofu, curried cauliflower and potatoes, peas, samosas, salad, with yogurt/plum/mint/chutney, etc., the food is generally fresh.  I've been here for dinner, and they pass the litmus test: making poori.  It is poofy (obviously) and buttery (not greasy).  My only complaint is not being seated in the cool, romantic balcony!A good place for studying!

by Erica S.

I must agree with Amanda H... mixed bag! And yes, the fact that they served 3 orders (ordered by 3 different people at opposite ends of the table, mind you) of naan, 2 of garlic and 1 of plain, all in the same basket, was more than just weird. Actually, it was downright annoying.But on to the good stuff-- my food was really good! For dinner, we were given the option to order our dinners either a la carte, or as a full meal, which included a soup, entree, dessert, and tea or coffee. I opted for the a la carte plan as I wasn't starving (for once), but from what I heard around the table, the soup was very good, the dessert not so much.I went for one of the very few vegetarian entrees that did not include cheese-- the Chana Masala, made with chickpeas, potatoes, tomatoes, and exotic spices. It turned out to be spicy, which I loved, but some might not be able to handle. So beware, sensitive palettes! I also sampled some of my dining neighbor's Palak Paneer, a classic made with cheese and spinach, which lived up to my expectations.I'm not going to go running back here, but I had a perfectly fine experience. Though the food was good and the decor is colorful and pleasant, the portions were fairly small, and the service was, well, choppy and confusing. However, they offer a nice big space that I can see being great for large parties, and there is an upstairs private area that I am dying to sit in. But without the table, and with floor cushions. And with a hookah. But they don't have those, so nevermind.

by Joe L.

From the outside, this sad looking pile of white bricks just kind of... exists.  It's nothing to look at and is easily ignored, looking like it should be a medical supply store or something.  However, on the inside, Haveli has turned what was a terribly bland space into something particularly nice.  They have covered their bland, white sheetrock walls with hundreds of square feet of traditional Indian cloth and textiles, creating an interesting, lively and comfortable space.  This is the best thing about the place.Our group of 10 was slowly trickling in that weekday afternoon and the staff was very accommodating for our staggered arrival time.  Granted, the restaurant was empty, save for us at that time of day, but it was nice they didn't make us wait for everyone to arrive before seating us, like so many restaurants do.  Once everyone arrived, our server gave us a few minutes to chat and then started politely taking our orders, repeating every order when he was done.  One server taking every single order seemed an odd thing to do, especially since there were four other employees standing in the wings.  But then, I wouldn't want to share my tip either.When the food started to come out, there was a lot of calling out the dish name, followed by a raised hand by a member of our party.  There was some mixing up of the food, as traditional food names tend not to stick in one's memory.  One further oddity is that the naan, all 4 orders of different kinds, were served on one plate, which resulted in a grab-bag naan rush situation.The food itself was pretty good; a few notches above average.  My lamb masala was rather savory, with just enough spice behind the tomato-y taste, even if it was a little short on meat.  Having order the complete meal (for just $14), it also came with a soup (I got a coconut soup which was damn tasty), some tea, rice (which was served communally anyway) and a dessert (a fairly run of the mill rice pudding served in a Fancy Cat-like dish).  Having not finished my meal, I asked to have it packed to go.  Silly me neglected to check the food before I left, not realizing until the day after I had received someone else's unfinished dinner.  I was hungry that afternoon, so I ate it anyway.So: interesting space, decent enough food and slightly confused service (at least for a group of 10).  If in the neighborhood, I'll probably take them up on their take-out, as I have once in the past, even if they did think I was a prank caller (as I placed my order not 30 seconds after another order was placed).3.5 stars in my book.

by Amanda H.

Ok, so I have no idea what to rate this place, so I am going to go the + - star route, and we'll see what we come up with.Once, while ordering take-out from Haveli, Paul and Joe had each ordered separately.  However, it was almost the same order, so the guy thought he was being fucked with or something, and since Joe put in his order second, asked him if he had just put in an order.  It made us laugh for about 5 minutes.  Considering they don't sound anything alike.  However, they did seem kind of snippy at us because they were closing in a half hour+2 stars for humor-1 star for snippinessThat aside, I do like this place.  We finally got around to actually eating in the place.  The place is beautiful! There's even this little section upstairs for a private party.  So adorable.  Lots of colors and patterns everywhere +4 stars for decor.  Anyway, we had one server, and half the time he looked like he was going to have a heart attack.  It was a little discombobulating trying to order, and some of us were getting complete meals.  It was a mess.  And some people got skipped over, etc.-2 stars for disorganizationThe prices were pretty good.  They had a la carte, as well as the complete meal, which included rice, soup, tea or coffee, and dessert.+1 star for price.When the food came out, the Naan that three of us had order all came together.  Is this normal? It was like 3 orders of Naan, I think one was plain, and the other 2 were garlic. Seemed a little weird to me, since they weren't even all the same kind.....Oh well-1 star for confusing Naan presentationI got the Chicken Korma.  It was really good.  I wish it was spicier, since I like my Indian food to be spicy.  They never asked me if I wanted it spicy or not, I don't know if it's because it's not suppose to be spicy, or they just forgot to ask.  Otherwise, it was really good, the sauce mixed nicely with my rice.  The chicken itself was pretty good, not the best, but still good.+3 stars for food-1 star for not giving me spicy optionsDessert was meh, I got this carrot cake like dessert.  Me and Evelyn's dessert was mixed up at first.  It was nice and hot, but I didn't think it was anything to write home about.  I'd rather just go across the street to Christina's instead0 stars for meh dessertsIt took forever for our waiter to pack our stuff to go.  We weren't in a rush or anything, but they still had this harried look about it.  Plus, they ended up giving Joe Jess' meal instead, which was kind of annoying. - 2 stars for confusionSo, all you mathematicians out there, if I am doing my math correctly, then we have a grand total OF: 3 stars! I think that is a fair assumption.  I would come back here though, but I might just stick with the take-out option....

by Q S.

So good!I shared a dish with one of the other people who came with us and we got the Veggie special.  It came with two soups, and a choice of three veggie dishes (from a really good selection), vegetable biryani and naan.  Everything we ordered was delicious and the price was only $24 for two people.

by calvin c.

Haveli has some of the best Indian food in town! The great décor, friendly service, and reasonable prices just make it taste even better. The food at Haveli and at India Pavilion, their other location, is better than any other Indian food I've tried in the Boston area. My favorite is the Anda Paneer (hard-boiled eggs and cheese in a creamy mildly spicy sauce) with lots of rice and Naan (Indian flatbread) on the side. It's great if you're new to Indian food or just don't like things too spicy. The Saag Paneer (cheese in a spinach sauce) is popular with all of my friends, though I have yet to try it. For something sweet, I suggest a Mango Lassi, a sweet, fruity mango drink. It's great as dessert or just with dinner.

by laura a.

we were in the mood for indian, and wanted to have a beer with our food, so we headed to haveli (owned by the same people who own punjabi dhaba). it was pretty tasty. not over the top amazing, but definitely solid. we shared a large beer and the vegetarian dinner for two, which i really liked. instead of sharing two regular dishes, it lets you share three dishes which were slightly smaller..more variety! i loved the chana masala, my husband loved the okra and the paneer was pretty good. dinner for two ended up being around $30, which is really reasonable. i'm curious to try their tasty-sounding dosa brunch!

by H N.

3.5 starsI've been going to Haveli for about 10 years, since it was Akhbar. The quality has gone down a bit in that time, but the food is decent, the prices are good particularly if you get the complete meals rather than a la carte, and the service is good. AND, bonus for Cambridge, they have a small parking lot.

by Linds L.

I am an enormous fan of Indian buffets.  I am also an enormous fan of not being fat.  So that said it's been a while since I've actually eaten an Indian buffet.  And truthfully I've never been to an Indian buffet that I haven't enjoyed.  We went one Friday afternoon for lunch (I was sick ;) ) and ate our faces off.  It was delicious.  They had a great selection and some items that you won't find on every Indian buffet.  It was so good and I wish I could eat here once a week, or even once a month.

by Shaina G.

On a busy night in Inman this past Saturday, Haveli was not, but Dave and I trotted in anyway, because I was starving and couldn't bear to wait 30 minutes for a seat in Muqueca ::sad face::Despite it's emptiness, I was excited for a meal at Haveli.  The walls decorated in elaborate rugs and the smiling faces on waiters and waitresses lured me to the booth.  Maybe I ordered the wrong dish, maybe I had too much beer earlier in the day, maybe I didn't really want Pakistani food tonight?  Well, I've eaten tandoori chicken before and it didn't have the fall-off-the-bone texture I was hoping for.  And I've had naan, too, but it's typically served much hotter (temp-wise) and softer.  And there was a serious lack of ecroutrements to bring all the separate, dry-ish pieces together.  What.  No green sauce or tamarind or extra chutney?Boooo to Haveli... I really like Punjabi Dhaba and Kebab Factory (area Indian selections) much much more.

by Virginia Su m.

"meat-lovers combo?" can i have that with a fat lady in a hair-net, please? ha, what a name. it made me giggle.  ...or maybe my 22 oz. taj mahal lager FOR 5.95 made me giggle... can we say good beer price points?joking aside, for 27 dollars my fella and i got the afore-mentioned combo. this included 2 soups, a goat dish, chicken tikka masala, sizzling chicken tandoori, and an order of naan. all delicious! i got the chicken soup, which was nice. it was light, savory, and punctuated with strong notes of cilantro. i liked my fella's soup better though- the lentil soup. lovely! substantial, memorable... just a great little soup. the naan was perfect, our samosas were delightful, and the chicken tandoori was fantastic! the flavor really permeated the soft, delicious chicken skin, and the meat was moist and wonderfully flavorful.just for the record, haveli is far superior to the food i've had at punjabi, ESPECIALLY the chicken tandoori.the service- absolutely perfect. a man i would describe as...  elegant and well-spoken, was there at perfect intervals, clearing our plates, taking orders, refilling this and that- he was completely on top of it. love when that happens.3 and a half stars.

by Kris M.

I don't know if this really deserves as low as a 2-star rating (2.5-3 maybe?), but I was seriously under-impressed with Haveli.  I came on a Sunday a little after noon for their buffet brunch.  The restaurant was empty, save for one other person.  In Inman Square, if your restaurant is nearly empty for brunch around noon, that's a sign that something isn't quite right.The place was really richly decorated, which I enjoy seeing, but I don't go to restaurants only for the decor.  The buffet had a lot of the traditional choices and I tried a little bit of everything.  Most of it fell flat.  The chicken tikka masala was bland and tasted like tomato sauce, the tandoori chicken had a oddly sweet taste and little kick, the naan was a bit too hard, the samosas were dull - everything just felt lacking.  Their masala dosai was not bad, but not as good as I've had.Maybe this is just indicative of the buffet options, and normally-ordered food is better, but I left unimpressed.  With places like Punjabi Dhaba in the area, Haveli needs to try harder.

by Albert H.

Dosa with sambar was excellent here and I loved the bright atmosphere.  Very warm and welcoming place, and the prices were very reasonable.  It's a great location for public transportation and there are two excellent beer bars across the street.  With so many places offering just northern Indian fare I was pleased to have found this spot.

by Calli C.

While driving to a friend's place in Central Square, we took a wrong turn and pulled into a parking lot to turn around. However, the tantalizing smell of curry and tandoori lingered in the air, prompting a spontaneous stop for Indian food.Maybe it was because I had been craving samosas (and that delicious sweet-spicy sauce it comes with, what is it called??) for weeks, but we were seated immediately and ordered a bunch of samosas and chicken tandoori naan. I could eat naan from Haveli all day for the rest of my life and not be tired of it - warm and chewy and flavorful. Also, they do not skimp on the sauces, as the waitstaff refilled ours even though we were clearly just ordering appetizers and not entrees.Minus one star because it took forever for them to bring us the check. But while we were waiting a few of the servers brought out some steaming plates of food and began to eat at a table near us - perhaps slowly punishing us for not being able to stay longer and enjoy the gustatory delights. Don't worry, Haveli; I'll be back soon.

by Huan z.

- Beautiful Decoration- Free Small Parking Lot- Many choices of Alcohol- Big menu and Delicious food

by Nick H.

BAM 4 stars! But hey, I'm just a southern-bred white guy, so what do I know about Indian food anyways? When I lived in Somerville, I went to Haveli maybe once or twice a month - for buffet, if not take-out. The buffet is really good, not extraordinary; I'm a fan of the tandoori chicken legs, but I suppose it's hard to screw that up. Everything else is a tasty mix of different vegetable dishes and I think Chicken Tikka Masala (not a fan, in general). For take-out I usually got either Chicken Korma or Chicken Mango - both are trusty standbys. I first tried Chicken Mango at Haveli's brother restaurant Gandhi in Central Sq. and got hooked worse than a junky on a heroin binge. Good times. Unfortunately Gandhi Restaurant is no more but thankfully Haveli has a similar menu.So, kudos to you all at Haveli - your food and parking lot are much appreciated.

by Nick H.Huan z.Calli C.

BAM 4 stars! But hey, I'm just a southern-bred white guy, so what do I know about Indian food anyways? When I lived in Somerville, I went to Haveli maybe once or twice a month - for buffet, if not take-out. The buffet is really good, not extraordinary; I'm a fan of the tandoori chicken legs, but I suppose it's hard to screw that up. Everything else is a tasty mix of different vegetable dishes and I think Chicken Tikka Masala (not a fan, in general). For take-out I usually got either Chicken Korma or Chicken Mango - both are trusty standbys. I first tried Chicken Mango at Haveli's brother restaurant Gandhi in Central Sq. and got hooked worse than a junky on a heroin binge. Good times. Unfortunately Gandhi Restaurant is no more but thankfully Haveli has a similar menu.So, kudos to you all at Haveli - your food and parking lot are much appreciated.- Beautiful Decoration- Free Small Parking Lot- Many choices of Alcohol- Big menu and Delicious foodWhile driving to a friend's place in Central Square, we took a wrong turn and pulled into a parking lot to turn around. However, the tantalizing smell of curry and tandoori lingered in the air, prompting a spontaneous stop for Indian food.Maybe it was because I had been craving samosas (and that delicious sweet-spicy sauce it comes with, what is it called??) for weeks, but we were seated immediately and ordered a bunch of samosas and chicken tandoori naan. I could eat naan from Haveli all day for the rest of my life and not be tired of it - warm and chewy and flavorful. Also, they do not skimp on the sauces, as the waitstaff refilled ours even though we were clearly just ordering appetizers and not entrees.Minus one star because it took forever for them to bring us the check. But while we were waiting a few of the servers brought out some steaming plates of food and began to eat at a table near us - perhaps slowly punishing us for not being able to stay longer and enjoy the gustatory delights. Don't worry, Haveli; I'll be back soon.

by Nick H.Huan z.Calli C.Albert H.Kris M.

BAM 4 stars! But hey, I'm just a southern-bred white guy, so what do I know about Indian food anyways? When I lived in Somerville, I went to Haveli maybe once or twice a month - for buffet, if not take-out. The buffet is really good, not extraordinary; I'm a fan of the tandoori chicken legs, but I suppose it's hard to screw that up. Everything else is a tasty mix of different vegetable dishes and I think Chicken Tikka Masala (not a fan, in general). For take-out I usually got either Chicken Korma or Chicken Mango - both are trusty standbys. I first tried Chicken Mango at Haveli's brother restaurant Gandhi in Central Sq. and got hooked worse than a junky on a heroin binge. Good times. Unfortunately Gandhi Restaurant is no more but thankfully Haveli has a similar menu.So, kudos to you all at Haveli - your food and parking lot are much appreciated.- Beautiful Decoration- Free Small Parking Lot- Many choices of Alcohol- Big menu and Delicious foodWhile driving to a friend's place in Central Square, we took a wrong turn and pulled into a parking lot to turn around. However, the tantalizing smell of curry and tandoori lingered in the air, prompting a spontaneous stop for Indian food.Maybe it was because I had been craving samosas (and that delicious sweet-spicy sauce it comes with, what is it called??) for weeks, but we were seated immediately and ordered a bunch of samosas and chicken tandoori naan. I could eat naan from Haveli all day for the rest of my life and not be tired of it - warm and chewy and flavorful. Also, they do not skimp on the sauces, as the waitstaff refilled ours even though we were clearly just ordering appetizers and not entrees.Minus one star because it took forever for them to bring us the check. But while we were waiting a few of the servers brought out some steaming plates of food and began to eat at a table near us - perhaps slowly punishing us for not being able to stay longer and enjoy the gustatory delights. Don't worry, Haveli; I'll be back soon.Dosa with sambar was excellent here and I loved the bright atmosphere.  Very warm and welcoming place, and the prices were very reasonable.  It's a great location for public transportation and there are two excellent beer bars across the street.  With so many places offering just northern Indian fare I was pleased to have found this spot.I don't know if this really deserves as low as a 2-star rating (2.5-3 maybe?), but I was seriously under-impressed with Haveli.  I came on a Sunday a little after noon for their buffet brunch.  The restaurant was empty, save for one other person.  In Inman Square, if your restaurant is nearly empty for brunch around noon, that's a sign that something isn't quite right.The place was really richly decorated, which I enjoy seeing, but I don't go to restaurants only for the decor.  The buffet had a lot of the traditional choices and I tried a little bit of everything.  Most of it fell flat.  The chicken tikka masala was bland and tasted like tomato sauce, the tandoori chicken had a oddly sweet taste and little kick, the naan was a bit too hard, the samosas were dull - everything just felt lacking.  Their masala dosai was not bad, but not as good as I've had.Maybe this is just indicative of the buffet options, and normally-ordered food is better, but I left unimpressed.  With places like Punjabi Dhaba in the area, Haveli needs to try harder.