by Beth R.

I've never eaten here, but the grocery store is a regular stop to get authentic pita bread(not pocket bread...yuck!)  -- it's in the freezer section with the naan. This is the only place I've found that regularly stocks it. I also love getting the reasonably priced spices and tea. The aisles are narrow, the shelves are crowded and not particularly neat and the cashier can barely be bothered to help you -- but  it's a great resource in a handy location.

by stacey l.

I think the service in this place is awful.  the prices are so so, but I prefer the shop in union sq to this one.  If in the area...better to get some of the Indian spice staples from the self serve at Harvest...at Shalimar you'll spend $4 on one spice, use 3 tbsp in the next 6 months and then you'll have to chuck it.

by Liza H.

A great place to buy spices. The variety is unbeatable, it will make Whole Foods selection look  for lack of a better term................Bland.  The prices are spectacular.  You will be best served to share your booty with friends, as old spices lose their zing.   The mango kulfi is wonderful but not often in the freezer case.

by Ruth P.

This is my favorite central square indian buffet. Not the best indian food, but good quality for a very good price. If youre too lazy to go to one of the nicer places in boston this is definetly a good bet.

by Mary M.

You gotta be the least bit adventurous to eat here.  The stuff's not even steam-table food, it's all stone cold and if you get it heated it'll be in a microwave, generally with uneven results (hence the volcanic-to-chilly temperature range of the goat curry I had last week).  It's all adequately tasty for what it is, though.  Prices for entrees aren't spectacular -- there are a lot of steam-table places charging about the same or a little more for the same dishes, only adequately heated -- but the appetizers are a win: better than average quality at lower than average prices.  All in all, I think twice about sitting down to eat here, but it's a great place to get some samosas or pakoras if you're eating on the run.

by Jimmy H.

Spices are expensive at the grocery store. It usually costs you $7 average per small ass jar/bottle. Now Shalimar is the solution to your problem. All spices are dirt-f-in' cheap! Big ass bag of curry power for a few bucks. And also, watch out the chilli powder. Its hotness is quite lethal. I love it though.

by Rah R.

I popped in to try the cafe at the back of the store but was extremely disappointed by both the service, the food and the value (~$8 for a take-out meal...not  horribly expensive, but better stuff in the area).  You'd think if a place was attached to an indian grocery store they'd have good/fresh food....unfortunately not the case.  I think i had the saag/palak paneer and tandoori chicken.  average at best on each.  The guy behind the counter preferred to answer my questions only by pointing at the board above rather than answering my questions...even if they were stupid questions, that was kind of a jerk move.

by Spencer n.

This review will be short and sweet. The food here is really good and much cheaper then what you find downtown. The food itself could get 5 stars. BUT there was a mouuuuuusssseee! MOUSE! in the motha effin dining room! Is it bad that im still forgiving them for that because the food was really good?

by Lee H.

Used to be the best Indian lunch buffet in the Central Square area, but those days are gone. The selection is still about the best I've seen, but the quality is less exciting. Weird decor.

by Jason P.

I've been buying stuff at their grocery store for years, but only yesterday did I finally try their take-out--and it was pretty darned good.Got a chicken curry, a vegetable samosa, and a selection of the indian sweets they have on display behind the counter. All were good--although the various bite-sized desserts, many based on chickpea flour and a heavy hand with ghee, are an acquired taste (which I have acquired). The curry was quite flavorful, but not at all spicy. The onion chutney they provide with the meal provides plenty of fire for those that want it, though. The samosa was also fine and fresh-tasting. However, both the curry and the samosa could have used a bit more salt.I would make one recommendation for those doing takeout--bring the food home, put it in a dish and reheat it yourself, rather than letting them nuke it (apparently in its styrofoam container at times according to a reviewer below). Doing it that way worked out nicely for me. I'll certainly go back for lunch in the future, and bring friends.

by lothari o.

I got mild food poisoning here once. I'm intrepid though, and go back for the desserts, which are OK, not great. The sugar cane juice is delicious. The food just isn't up to par with all the Indian restaurants in the area.By the way, I'm rating the store, which has a cafe, not the restaurant across the street. Other people appear to be rating the restaurant.

by Aaron W.

Great cheap buffet.

by Greg S.

My favorite after-work-grab-dinner-to-go place in Central Square. I particularly miss this somewhat surly yet totally heavy-handed and quick kid who (apparently) used to work behind the takeout counter in the back. He never smiled. Ever. But so what. The food is great. Delicious! And cheap. My usual was saag paneer and chicken tikka masala with rice for $5.95. You end up with leftovers, too. The curries are great, too, if you don't mind bone-in chicken or goat. (yep...I said goat).There's also a small dining room for eating in and a huge selection of indian sweets. I have no idea what's in most of them but they're great.Despite the grouchy old guy who now occasionally works in the back who starts mopping up way too early and grouses for various reasons, I still love it. He's the only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars.At least the kid was just quietly discontent. Not bitchy like the old guy.

by Alexis K.

They have a better selection and better pricing than either of the tiny Indian grocery stores in Coolidge Corner. I didn't go there for groceries but for food. Very cheap food, some of the best Indian I've had in this area. Maybe not the best atmosphere (kind of dirty) and certainly not the largest variety of of food, but you really can't beat the prices for the food.  I have no complaints about service. The guy behind the counter was very sweet.

by Jessica R.

Shalimar is a small grocery store that sells Indian food and spices.  It is really the only place to go to buy any spices you have never heard of that your indian recipe calls for.The other reviews on this posting are somewhat confusing because they are for the restaurant across the street.  On one side of the street is Shalimar the Restaurant (546 Mass Ave) and on the other side there is Shalimar the grocery (571 Mass Ave).

by Colin N.

Got some lunch there today. $5.50 for chicken curry. When the guy asked me if I wanted it heated, I said yeah. He put the styrofoam container in the microwave for 3 minutes. Am I going to die?The amount of food was pretty good. I've got half left in the fridge for when I get hungry later.It's not the classiest place to get indian takeout, but it's pretty inexpensive and the quality of the food is good.

by Allix T.

Big specialty store that sells a good assortment of any kind of spices you might need. Their huge selection of instant lunch kits is also awesome--especially if you're sick of the usual microwaveable fare that most of us take to work.The highlight though? The express food counter at the back--cheap, quick, and really yummy (in spite of the food being reheated/nuked).  Check out the veggie pakoras with coriander chutney.

by Kassia K.

The selection at this Indian grocery/café is decent, though it could be better. I was happy to find things like jaggery (gur), rice laddus, muruku, somph, dosa batter, and curry leaves when I went. They also carry imported copies of Filmfare magazine, which makes me very happy. What I really love about this place, however, is the café - it has the best selection of chaat items in Boston. Pani puri, samosa chaat, and pav bhaji (among others) are all available here. The pani was lacking on the spice kick, but I still drank all of what was left over. The samosa chaat is great, though still not as good as what I've had in India. The only problem I've noticed is that the quality of the chaat varies depending on who makes it. The last time I ate there, an old man put the chaat together, and his spice combination was much better than the first few times I'd eaten there. They also microwave a lot of items they've pre-prepared, so it's definitely better if you go when they've freshly prepared the samosas or aloo tikka.Shalimar Café also has a sweets counter. I had some a few years ago on Diwali - from what I can remember, they were quite good. I've sort of lost my appetite for Indian sweets, but I'd still recommend trying them out. They have gulab jamuns, rasgolla/rasmolai, chum chum, a selection of burfis, jalebi, etc.

by Hubert H.

I can only speak for the back of the store eatery which houses a deli serving a wide variety of standards like tikki masala and daal. I actually had already eaten beforehand so I was fortunate to sample the meat and vegetarian samosas which were of a high quality, but not textured inside or delicate enough outside to be great.The inside of the eating area has a cool raised area that you can eat with your friends and get a view of the ... deli. The menu is slightly difficult to navigate.Oh, the guys who dished our food are really nice and patient with us.

by Katia M.

Shalimar is not only fun to say, it's the best market market to get your daal, rice, and Indian spices.  The wonder of mixed spices in panch phoran.  The spicy goodness of sambar.  The popping wonder of black mustard seeds.  Oh yes.  Cinnamon!  Peppers!  Curry!  Garam masala!  Star anise!  Thanks for helping me in my quest to learn to cook this great cuisine, Shalimar.

by Isabella R.

I am always on the hunt for good Asian grocers-especially those with Indian and/or Thai ingredients. Shalimar is great because its so easy to get to in central square, you can eat something delicious in the back, and you can go to pearl art craft just next door.            Do you need another reason? Well, the store is small but has most things you need for an Indian feast-spices, chutneys, basmati rice, some fresh produce, fresh paneer, teas, and other hard to find things. Then you can go in the back of the store to the deli counter, get an order of aloo tikki with tamarind,mint and onion chutneys, cool your mouth with a mango lassi and a fresh Indian sweet, something pistachioey, creamy, or cardamomy.

by Tristan S.

Cool Indian grocer; all sorts of awesome obscure Indian and regional spices and sauces; great place to stop if you're attempting to prepare your own Indian food.  There's a video section which I've never checked out, other than to snicker at some of the covers, though I have picked up some Indian electronica and drum and bass CD's at Shalimar that are pretty cool (if you don't know what you're looking for and are just curious, see if you can find a younger staff member to recommend something).The little food place in the back has pretty good samosas and pakoras, which they make en masse and thus have down pat.  The chutneys are great, especially the onion chutney, which is IMHO good enough to eat on its own (though I will admit that I have been known to drink hot sauce straight from the bottle, sans food), but the dishes themselves are fairly bland and not as rich as one would expect from other local Indian places.  But this Shalimar is really more a grocer than it is a restaurant; the restaurant one is across the street...

by Annie P.

I like this Shalimar because you can either access from busy Mass. Ave. right off the T or just through the Harvest parking lot. Avoiding all contact. Go to the counter. There will be a grumpy looking guy who never speaks that will take your order. He pretty much gives you a chin or points at you to tell you when to order. To make him a little happier just order it To Go and eat it at your home or someone else's home... you do that by telling him he doesn;t need to heat that up. It's better any way. They always half ass heat it up with their microwaves. Don;t get me wrong though... everything is refrigerated and pretty fresh. If you end up doing it yourself.. 5 minutes usually does the job. Side sauces include some neon green thing, some brown thing and some red sliced onions chunks. Really good.  Mad flavors. I'd go for the chicken tikka masala and vegetable samosa. Cheap.The store is good for mint leaves for mojitos. Only a buck something for a big bunch. Oh and they have a Western Union there. (signs posted all over the place)

by Rohit S.

One word Chaat!What is Chaat? Its the Indian equivalent of taco bell or Mickey D's but better. Very popular if you visit Bombay and normally sold out of a roadside cart. Chaat is a generic term for simple fast food some hot some cold, normally cheap, normally vegetarian - you will not find this stuff on most Indian Buffets!My suggestions:1. Try the pani puri, literally translated means "water puri" 2. If you are brave and can handle raw onions, try the bhel puri, a true classic3. Punjabi Samosas ( the round looking vegetarian samosas with potatoes inside. Ask for extra tamarind chutney4. Alternative to #3 try the samosa chaat, warning, it is spicy and your stomach will not like you, but it is worth it - thisis actually not the best samosa chaat so if you haven't had this before stuck with the previous choices5. Other good options, dahi batata puri (yogurt potato puri), chole tikki chatOh and by the way, the place is hard to find, walk into the store and walk all the way to the back.I should mention that at first glance you may be put off by the look of the place, it looks a tad dirty, but I believe that dirt simply builds immunity, plus the spices and chillies will kill the germs :-)

by Tom E.

Forget Teavana and it's pretentious selection, unearthly prices and ridiculous serving system, Shalimar is where to get your good tea fix at value. I have no clue about the food they serve, the spices selection looks good though. Me, I go there for the tea.If you know what you're looking for then you can usually get it here. For less than 5 dollars I got a big box of Jasmine tea that Teavana would have run a credit-check on me for. They also sell the classic Indian black teas as you probably guessed - Darjeeling, Ceylon and Assam (or 'Irish breakfast tea' as only America seems to need to call it!). I also spotted that they even sell the PG tips English breakfast Pyramid-shaped teabags that everyone back in Britain loves.Oh yeah, and the staff are good fun if you ask them about cricket.

by Ligaya T.

Total cost of my lunch: $2.67.That's two samosas with three homemade chutneys -  tamarind, mint and onion. AND a bottle of Maaza lychee juice. With ingredients bought from the store I attempted to assemble my own version; bought the frozen variety and a plethora of sauces. But alas, the taste was off and I was not satiated. So I will make my quotidian pilgrimage to Shalimar. Yes, it's disorganized and a bit dirty. But where else can you obtain 24 different blends of curry in vacuum sealed pouches ready for the eating, saris and bangles, Indian films and music, Ganesh tchotkes,  bulk coriander and cardamom pods and even fresh kaffir leaves? Last time I was there I bought coconut and fantasized about drinking its sweet juices. When I went to break it open I realized it was pre-cracked and therefore had been steeping in a pool of its own discharge for days. Certainly you shall not have such a tragic experience. Cuz "that's what yelp is for, to help you through it, nothing else can do it." Cheese aside, you really should go. It'll taste good and you'll be amused!

by Jennifer N.

Everything you need -- spices, dals, masalas, parathas, and sweets -- in two aisles- not bad.  Also, you can get a pretty good veg samosa in the back for under $1.  And there's convenient parking.

by Stacey H.

Sweet Jesus this store rocks! After a recent trip to the Middle East I needed to test my newfound culinary knowledge by dabbling in the art of Tandoori Chicken making. Little did I know that stumbling into Shalimar Indian Food Spice would change my life. I found all the necessary spices at dirt cheap prices as well as fresh mint and a plethora of other amazingly cheap finds:-large bag of almonds for $5, check!-fresh naan in the back cafe, check!-more sauces and chutneys than you can shake a stick at, check!Oh and if you feel inclined to buy a sari or other fancy shmancy Indian garb you can do that too. They have a colorful boutique within the store.  Imagine that - a store within a store!Shalimar - get ready to add me as your #1 fan.

by Kiwi H.

Food and spice wise, this place is fantastic. Actually, it's amazing for spices, and for someone like me spices are very, very, very important in any good kitchen. Nuts and sauces and breads and things to mix together and marinate things in, yum. The prepared foods are delicious and cheap and it's so great to get the easy-to-prepare foods and things there, definitely a nice change from typical frozen quick-meal dinners and tasty to boot. Nice tea selection too, though I like Timeless Teas on Newbury for that quiet little tea-heaven charm.The goods though, are a slightly different story. I mean, it's cool that they sell some shishas/argileh/hookah pipes and supplies here, but for better price and quality I'd either check out the internet or somewhere like Arax's in Watertown for more selection (and better prices for what you're getting, usually) as well. It's also cool that they actually sell some accessories etc here but the bangles are really expensive! My Pakistani friend wouldn't let me even buy a few because she said it was too painful to watch me spend that much on them when she could get me some for a whole ton cheaper - and then I thought about it and even I could get way cheaper ones next time I went home. So, pretty to look at but personally I can't spend that much on those things knowing I could get them for less at home or elsewhere.BUT foodstuffs-wise, this place is wonderful. Yum. 3.5 stars for the place overall.

by Becky P.

I discovered the cafe in the back of Shalimar last year. I was quite excited to see them begin renovations to expand their dine-in seating area. The food is good, not excellent, but good for the prices and convenience. I've had: the lentils, the chickpeas, and the curried veggies. The chickpeas are my favorite with the curried veggies a second and the lentils as third. The chickpeas still had a good bite to them, and were perfectly seasoned. The veggies have just enough spice without being too spicy for my palate. I'm looking forward to a time when my meal won't need to be microwaved in its styrofoam container, often resulting in unevenly heated entrees, but by the looks of the renovations it seems to be soon.The different young men working the counter have always been very helpful in describing the different menu offerings to me and giving friendly suggestions. The mango lassi is creamy and sweet, and the pastries are varied. A great place to stop for an easy lunch, or to grab take-out for dinner after the gym.

by Alex S.

Extraordinarily greasy, poorly seasoned, microwaved Indian food lacking any sort of heat whatsoever. Probably one of the most disappointing lunches I've ever had. I felt like I had IVs in my arms, pumping in the cooking oil. That's right. In both arms.Sure the portions are huge, but I didn't even want to eat it. Everything was red hot on the outside, and ice cold on the inside...just a very unpleasant combination. I didn't even think it was worth $6, and that's saying something. Considering how many superior places there are in the neighborhood, in the same price range, I will never go back for a meal.The shop does have loads of excellent curry pastes, chutneys, spices...just about anything you can imagine, really, and at excellent, bargain prices. I'll definitely be hitting up this place for all of my Indian cooking needs. Because my Indian cooking is better than Shalimar's. And that's just plain crazy.

by Sutanuka L.

Great place to shop for Indian spices.. The Bhel Puri made at the back of the shop is delicious(in the Chat Section).

by molly f.

A fabulous Indian grocer that is well stocked well-informed about all their offerings. Come here regularly for lentils their back section of prepared indian foods...its fun to walk around the shop while snacking on some papadum!Everything here is really fresh..and cheap! A great place to stock up on spices you need for curries, chais, etc...love that this place is RIGHT down the street!

by Kerri O.

This is where I get a bunch of my teas and spices.Why?  Fresh and cheap.  I used to live 1/2 block from here, so it was SUPER convenient.  It's also extraordinarily cheap to get take out here.  All I could want, for about Ten BucksSo, I pick up tea and spices, and grab a couple of Samosas for the ride home, and I'm one terribly happy camper.  I match this trip, with a jaunt to pick up art supplies, at you know where, and it's worth the ride over.I miss Central Square.There is absolutley nothing wrong with that

by Sarah M.

I went to Shalimar India Food Spices to try and find tea masala seasoning.  They had it, but it wasn't very good.  I just wasn't very impressed with this store.  They had a ton of stuff crammed into a small space, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me.  Also, there was nobody there to help you with the hot food items.  There was a frozen food section but to be honest a lot of the items are available at regular grocery stores and I think they're cheaper there too.

by Samantha D.

I wish I could give this four stars, and maybe I even should of, but unfriendly and unhelpful employees really color the memory of an experience at a store.  With that said, this is a nice and convenient little shop with many of the basic Indian foodstuffs I need to make my home cuisine.  I appreciated the well-priced spices and variety of beans, dals, and rices.  I will possibly go back here for practicality, but will be looking around for a place where patrons are treated nicely.

by G J J.

Good spice selection. Actually sells spices in bottles and jars. Bit overpriced for some things. It's well worth it.

by Brian S.

I'm a huge fan of Indian food, but due to a tight budget I decided to venture into cooking my own rather than ordering out all the time. This place has a massive selection of Indian specialty foods and common kitchen food items. I really appreciated seeing the wide variety of spices, pastes, grains, and beans they offer. Being someone who has difficulty storing the spices that come in bags, I was very glad to see glass bottles of various sizes with corks that you could buy to store your various spices and herbs. Prices are better than what you'll find in supermarkets, especially on the spices.Their collection of ready-made Indian dishes (the ones that come in a box) was pretty impressive, so if you aren't ready to dive completely into Indian cooking there are plenty of alternatives. My only complaint food-wise was the lack of decent produce. The whole store in general is pretty crammed due to the small size of the property, so it may be they just focus more on the dry goods to save space. I ended my shopping trip in the back of the store where The Dosa Factory makes take-out or eat-in Indian treats.As others have said, I would have given this place five stars if it wasn't for the unfriendly and often unavailable service.

by Brian S.G J J.Samantha D.

I'm a huge fan of Indian food, but due to a tight budget I decided to venture into cooking my own rather than ordering out all the time. This place has a massive selection of Indian specialty foods and common kitchen food items. I really appreciated seeing the wide variety of spices, pastes, grains, and beans they offer. Being someone who has difficulty storing the spices that come in bags, I was very glad to see glass bottles of various sizes with corks that you could buy to store your various spices and herbs. Prices are better than what you'll find in supermarkets, especially on the spices.Their collection of ready-made Indian dishes (the ones that come in a box) was pretty impressive, so if you aren't ready to dive completely into Indian cooking there are plenty of alternatives. My only complaint food-wise was the lack of decent produce. The whole store in general is pretty crammed due to the small size of the property, so it may be they just focus more on the dry goods to save space. I ended my shopping trip in the back of the store where The Dosa Factory makes take-out or eat-in Indian treats.As others have said, I would have given this place five stars if it wasn't for the unfriendly and often unavailable service.Good spice selection. Actually sells spices in bottles and jars. Bit overpriced for some things. It's well worth it.I wish I could give this four stars, and maybe I even should of, but unfriendly and unhelpful employees really color the memory of an experience at a store.  With that said, this is a nice and convenient little shop with many of the basic Indian foodstuffs I need to make my home cuisine.  I appreciated the well-priced spices and variety of beans, dals, and rices.  I will possibly go back here for practicality, but will be looking around for a place where patrons are treated nicely.

by Brian S.G J J.Samantha D.Sarah M.Kerri O.

I'm a huge fan of Indian food, but due to a tight budget I decided to venture into cooking my own rather than ordering out all the time. This place has a massive selection of Indian specialty foods and common kitchen food items. I really appreciated seeing the wide variety of spices, pastes, grains, and beans they offer. Being someone who has difficulty storing the spices that come in bags, I was very glad to see glass bottles of various sizes with corks that you could buy to store your various spices and herbs. Prices are better than what you'll find in supermarkets, especially on the spices.Their collection of ready-made Indian dishes (the ones that come in a box) was pretty impressive, so if you aren't ready to dive completely into Indian cooking there are plenty of alternatives. My only complaint food-wise was the lack of decent produce. The whole store in general is pretty crammed due to the small size of the property, so it may be they just focus more on the dry goods to save space. I ended my shopping trip in the back of the store where The Dosa Factory makes take-out or eat-in Indian treats.As others have said, I would have given this place five stars if it wasn't for the unfriendly and often unavailable service.Good spice selection. Actually sells spices in bottles and jars. Bit overpriced for some things. It's well worth it.I wish I could give this four stars, and maybe I even should of, but unfriendly and unhelpful employees really color the memory of an experience at a store.  With that said, this is a nice and convenient little shop with many of the basic Indian foodstuffs I need to make my home cuisine.  I appreciated the well-priced spices and variety of beans, dals, and rices.  I will possibly go back here for practicality, but will be looking around for a place where patrons are treated nicely.I went to Shalimar India Food Spices to try and find tea masala seasoning.  They had it, but it wasn't very good.  I just wasn't very impressed with this store.  They had a ton of stuff crammed into a small space, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me.  Also, there was nobody there to help you with the hot food items.  There was a frozen food section but to be honest a lot of the items are available at regular grocery stores and I think they're cheaper there too.This is where I get a bunch of my teas and spices.Why?  Fresh and cheap.  I used to live 1/2 block from here, so it was SUPER convenient.  It's also extraordinarily cheap to get take out here.  All I could want, for about Ten BucksSo, I pick up tea and spices, and grab a couple of Samosas for the ride home, and I'm one terribly happy camper.  I match this trip, with a jaunt to pick up art supplies, at you know where, and it's worth the ride over.I miss Central Square.There is absolutley nothing wrong with that