1 A, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 07
Open 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Maharaja Palace is one of the few fine dining Indian restaurants in Colombo. The prices are high but the portions are actually quite large now. Their food was always pretty good and it seems they've made some necessary improvements.
Maharaja Palace is one of the few fine dining Indian restaurants in Colombo. The prices are high but the portions are actually quite large now. Their food was always pretty good and it seems they've made some necessary improvements.
We've actually been to Maharaja Palace a whole bunch of times, albeit with some mixed results. One thing we do like is the fact that their management does seem to take customer feedback seriously and make the necessary changes. The prices haven't changed much over the past couple of years but this is still one of the more expensive Indian restaurants, but also one of the classier. Their portions have actually gotten larger, so we'd say three people could manage for around Rs. 1800 per head.
Last time we tried out the mutton dum biriyani (Rs. 1200), and we weren't huge fans of it. This time around though it was far better. They still have the tender chunks of mutton, but this time both the rice and the meat was seasoned well. The rice was light and fragrant with the taste of the spices coming through without overpowering the other flavours.
The cheese naan (Rs. 300) was a new addition to the menu and a fun little twist on the classic butter naan and it works quite well. This probably won't work with all of the usual Indian curries but the soft cheesy center does add a nice contrast of flavour and texture.
The crab meat bhuna (Rs. 1100) sounded pretty interesting on the menu so we thought we'd give it a shot. There's a lot going on in the dish so personal preference will play a big part. The flavours and the spices are intense, which works in some cases, but for me it overpowered the crab meat which should have been the hero of the dish. However, like I said, those who like abundance of spice will probably go for this one.
The dish of the day was easily the chicken korma (Rs. 900) which ticked all the right boxes. I think what we loved most about this dish was how different is was from the usual chicken curries. This had plenty of boneless chicken which were cooked just right, in a well seasoned, thick and creamy gravy which I would have happily just eaten with a spoon.
Maharaja Palace was next up on the chopping block in my perpetual search for good kulfi in Colombo. Their kulfi pista (Rs. 450), unfortunately, was on the same boat as the one we tried at Amriths. Not creamy enough, and served too frozen to hack with spoon.
Service is one area that Maharaja Palace has consistently impressed us with. They've got a pretty huge staff so there's always a manager and waiters on the floor to take your orders. They're professional, well mannered and seem to have a good knowledge of the dishes.
The ambience at MP is probably best described as extravagant on the outside and classy on the inside, which is to say that the exterior can seem a gaudy with the coloured windows, and lights. The interior on the other hand is much simpler in comparison and works more in line with a fine dining restaurant.
Maharaja Palace seems to be heading in the right direction with the changes they've made. The food is good and the service is excellent, so all that remains is to work on those desserts.
Maharaja Palace is one of the few fine dining Indian restaurants in Colombo. The prices are high but the portions are actually quite large now. Their food was always pretty good and it seems they've made some necessary improvements.
There are a bunch of restaurants in and around Colombo that do relatively good, cheap Indian cuisine. However, if you're looking for a Indian fine dining experience, the choices are limited. Maharaja Palace fits that niche quite well, although we aren't quite convinced the food is as good as it could be for the price.
Maharaja Palace is one of the few fine dining Indian restaurants in Colombo. The prices are high but the portions are actually quite large now. Their food was always pretty good and it seems they've made some necessary improvements.
<em>Last night I had the pleasure of visiting one of Colombo’s finer restaurants, Maharaja Palace. It’s a recently opened authentic north Indian restaurant opposite Royal College. The place is absolutely beautiful - decorated with flowers and Indian paintings, expensive looking chandeliers, even the kitchen is a wonder of its own. </em>
Address
1 A, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 07
Directions
Turn right to Rajakeeya Mawatha from Thurstan Road, Entrance is on your left.
Contacts
Report InaccuracyOpen 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Cuisine
Price Range
Dish Types
Ratings Breakdown
Navayuga
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1/5
Dont usually review restaurants but its best to warn others not to waste their time and money at such an unprofessional establishment with unacceptable service standards (especially manager Kevin Cock). This is the first and last time we will visit Maharaja Palace. Recommend to visit Maharaja palace if you want to have ok food with a really bad & rude service with an overall unpleasant experience!!! Also the staff do not know of the promotions being run, nor do they know how to speak professionally… Plus they dont seem to have any clue of portion sizes of their own restaurant…
4/5
Probably one of the best Indian restaurants in Colombo. The food was great, and the service was really good. Chilled ambience, good for a family dinner. Make sure you reserve a table in advance.
4/5
I've been here so many times from the day they opened and the food has been consistently good. The prices really aren't that bad considering you're paying for dishes that can be shared amongst 2-3 people per portion. Their mutton biriyani is easily the best in colombo and the staff are attentive and polite. Overall this is a very good restaurant to have a very good Indian meal
I wouldn't call the food here excellent. It's just so-so, nothing major, certainly not worth the price!
SM
Every time I am in Colombo I visit them. They serve a quality product, with an interesting twist, and excellent service. Like the new decor. A must visit restaurant. Keep up the good work.
they had the worst food i have ever eaten. and the portions were sooo small. i would never go there again!
This place is not the best Indian restaurant in town and is quite a sad addition to the indian cuisine in colombo… They are way overpriced and all the curries seem to have the same taste and same base ingredients… would not recommend going there and would definitely not visit them twice .
Where you guys paid by Maharaja palace to write such a wonderful review?? Nothing major about the food here to rave about, usual fare and I was a bit amused when the dishes came to my table- It was served in porcelain dishes. For me this was a complete let down as ANY authentic indian restaurant should serve in either eversilverware or copper dishes as that's the tradition!.
Trust me, I have done my education in india many years ago and lived there close to 5 years and have travelled extensively to different states as well. Nothing close to authentic indian over here.
I am from Lucknow and on assignment in Sri Lanka. I am a very frequent visitor to Maharaja Palace and wish to state that the food is probably the BEST I have tasted taking into account I come from the gastronomic capital of India. I am amazed at the constant high quality they maintain. Each dish has its unique taste & flavor . The Kebabs definetly live upto the description of "Melt In The Mouth" & my favourite Nann is Cheese too. The ambiance definetly gives you the feeling of dining in A Palace. Service standards need to be lifted. Good things in life are not cheap they say, but I feel that every Ruppee spent at Maharaja Palace is worth it and prices are not exhorbitant in comparison to the other reputed Indian restaurants in the city. I will miss my favourite restaurant as I go back home soon. Thank You Maharaja Palace.
I've been to many restaurants around Colombo and constantly visit many Indian restaurants(main reason being my mother being a vegetarian). This place has the most over rated comments ever as the food is way way below par and to be frank overpriced!….the service level is acceptable! when looking ajay's comment i really feel he is paid to write to these sort of stuff! my advice to any one reading this, just ask a friend of yours who has visited there! you'll get the picture! A genuine feedback!
I agree with most of the comments set out here, stating that the food was mediocre at best! Nothing authentice about the taste and far from authentic, I found that none of the food had the taste of Indian spices, which make the food taste so great! They really should look at improving standards to keep up with heavy price tag that is attached to the dishes. Ended up with tummy trouble the next day and yes, would not go go back. Ever! Seriously, did you guys from Yamu, eat at the same restuarant? Beats me how you get treated with such "excellent" food when us yokels get treated with just plain bland!
I think the review does not do justice to this place - the food is average and it's way overpriced. Not a place for a second visit.
The ambiance and the parking available though is very good.
I am a foodie and I totally agree with the review. Maharajah deserves more than 2 stars. It serves the best Kebabs in town. As for authenticity, the comment by Nirosh that it was not served in Copper dishes is amusing. Anyone can serve bad food in copper dishes. Copper dishes are a gimmick. Also Maharajah has not Sri Lankanized it's food and retains the delicate touch of true North Indian cuisine. I think if you ask the Indians who eat there, they will agree. I suspect those unhappy with Maharajah are either looking for spicier food associated more with the South of India or have been introduced to some inauthentic versions of North Indian food.
Visited the place yesterday.
Ambiance: Excellent
Food: Good
Service: Good
Location: Very Good
Menu: Excellent
The service of staff and the restaurant manager was so poor. We had to request them to pour water to glasses and was done after several reminders. Hyginic levels are so poo that the bartender used his hand to fill ice in to the glass. The restaurant manager does not even know how to smile with customers. Food is average, nothing great, but the service is poorer than a way side shop. Totally not worth the money.
Made the mistake of taking guests from overseas to Maharajah Palace. Ample parking, good location, nice interior and average North Indian food. However my guests were baffled how a restaurant that aims at fine dining could have a TV on the wall with sports!
Walked into the check out the pond they have out in the back and was set aback to see the kitchen staff put in ice cubes with bare hands into juice someone had ordered!
Food arrived late and we did not order it all in the first go so it is not like it was a complex order. Even an hour after food arrived the water still was not poured in the glasses! Wait staff gave no attention, no one came to check on the food or how we were doing and the manager walked up and down probably thinking he was the Maharajah! I had to serve the water and after each request the manager delegated task to another and he to another! We finished, looked at each other and everyone agreed we must leave. Embarrassed I was and decided to complain. When i did, their Indian manager simply walked away with an arrogant "sorry"… A slap on my face would have fared better!
For the high price one pays here (Rs. 1500/= stated average per head in the paid review is false and it comes to about Rs. 2300/= at least per head) for average Indian food brought by service that gets beaten at a Galle Road eating house leaves me with a disappointed BELOW AVERAGE rating.
I have visited this place 4 times.
Tips: go there early during weekend, Hugh crowds.
Certainly, the prices are high but the place must have some charms to attract Hugh crowds …plus for me to make 3 more visits with many visitors.
Went with mixed feelings looking at all the comments.
We were a group of 8. The table was big - width and length - it was difficult to have a conversation around the table without shouting. TVs - don't need them. A big distraction and spoilt the overall ambiance. Music was very nice.
Food was very good. Especially the kebabs!
Initially wasn't sure who was going to serve us but once that was clear, everything flowed in well.
Worth a try.
The worst Indian restaurant in Colombo. The mutton roganjosh was a disaster. Over priced for a very mediocre food.
The worst Indian restaurant in Colombo. The mutton roganjosh was a disaster. Over priced for a very mediocre food.
Mutton biriyani was the best in town! Great aroma and taste. Atmosphere too noisy. Prices high but good quantities which u can't complaint about. Butter naan and fish Goan curry was ok…nothing exceptional.
@Ajay, Is it that Indians have very bad taste in food or is food in India absolutely sh*t? If you call this food 'the BEST', you are joking. Taste some Sri Lankan food, then you can say that you have eaten something!
Not a big fan of Indian food but this was some of the worst I've had in Colombo. Definitely overrated.
Maharaja Palace is the probably the best Indian restaurant in Colombo. The food is excellent and most importantly consistently good. Agree the mutton Biriyani is great and the Kababs are delicious. Service needs to be stepped up and staff trained to suggest items instead of being order takers.
One of the best places for North Indian cuisine in colombo…loved the ambience,service and the food mostly…the building itself has a grandeur about it,was previously a hongkong restaurant,the outside could look mote elegant minus the multi colured stained glass…loved the paneer butter masala and butter naan and garlic naans were superb…even the biriyani was light and nice…being an avid fan of gulab jamun…the one here could do with a bit less sugar but was warm and juicy nevertheless…
When it comes to ambiance, Maharaja's Palace is at a higher level than most other Indian Restaurants. Their private area is superb for a get together with friends or family.
The service is superb and the staff is very friendly and helpful. However the drinks were not up to the standard. The milkshake was very watery and even the others we tried were not up the standard. On the bright side the the cheese naans were quite good, the garlic naan lacked the garlic taste. The most favorite naan of the day was Peshawari an must try if you like a bit of sweetness in naan.
I have dinned in MIchelin star Indian restaurant in London, compared to that standard, PM doesn't tick any boxes except for their price. My best bet on Indian cuisine is Chutneys in Cinnamon Grand. As for YAMU, Could you please tell us how much you guys spend in total plus how many of you lot dinned. This will give better indication as to the cost per person.
We dined at Maharaja Palace last night and it was really, really, really good! Reading the negative reviews below, it's hard to believe you guys are talking about the same restaurant. The food was excellent, the service impeccable, and the price fair - Rs. 5,500 for 3. It's easily the best Indian cuisine I've had to date in Colombo - and we are a family of curry aficionados, often cooking Indian dishes at home. We'll certainly be back.
The food was mediocre but terribly over priced. The ambiance and service was OK.
Make sure to check your bill thoroughly item wise, as errors creep in to the disadvantage of the customer!
After about 3 visits, decided would not visit again.
Very poor customer service.!!! Had the most dissapointing experience ever in a restaurant. Restaurant manager dsnt know hw to smile even & the waiters are the same. When we were giving the order another waiter came with some chutneys & sauce in small containers. By mistake he slipped his hand & dropped one f d containers dripping a chutney all over me. I totaly can understand that such accidents can happen. But the behavior of the waiter was unbelievable. I had 2 request for a napkin or a tissue for more than 5 times. And he didnt have any decency to appologize, nt even a single sorry. We were very dissapointed by their behavior & service. Also the food is not worth the money we paid & one can find way much better indian restaurants such as Mango tree in town. I will never go to Maharaja palace & will never recomend it to anyone I know. THE WORST EXPERENCE I HAD IN A RESTAURANT!!!! The place is a big ZERO.
Food is very good, Place is also very nice even you have private rooms if you want more privacy for family outing.
Very friendly staff expect the restaurant manager. waiters are very corporative.
But Manager has different attitude which is not corporative at all. If you reserve a table make sure you reserve with exact number of people.
In my case, there were two more people than initial reserved number. Since private room was not enough , we requested another table outside, manger’s simple answer was NO. ( All reserved already which was acceptable, but later we realized half of the restaurant was empty on Sunday lunch). No wonder restaurant was empty on Sunday with his attitude while most of restaurants in Colombo are fully packed. Specially Indian restaurants like Agra, Navratna, Mango tree etc.
Beware of credit card offers which Maharaja palace offer. They will somehow trick you to not to give the card offer. He was the worst restaurant manager I have ever experienced in Colombo specially Indian restaurants. Usually staff at most of the Indian restaurants are very friendly. Bottom line, I will never recommend the restaurant to anybody.
Food is very good, Place is also very nice even you have private rooms if you want more privacy for family outing.
Very friendly staff expect the restaurant manager. waiters are very corporative .
But Manager has different attitude which is not corporative at all. If you reserve a table make sure you reserve with exact number of people.
In my case, there were two more people than initial reserved number. Since private room was not enough , we requested another table outside, manger’s simple answer was NO. ( All reserved already which was acceptable, but later we realized half of the restaurant was empty on Sunday lunch). No wonder restaurant was empty on Sunday with his attitude while most of restaurants in Colombo are fully packed. Specially Indian restaurants like Agra, Navratna, Mango tree etc.
Beware of credit card offers which Maharaja palace offer. They will somehow trick you to not to give the card offer. He was the worst restaurant manager I have ever experienced in Colombo specially Indian restaurants. Usually staff at most of the Indian restaurants are very friendly. Bottom line, I will never recommend the restaurant to anybody.
Food is very good, Place is also very nice even you have private rooms if you want more privacy for family outing.
Very friendly staff expect the restaurant manager. waiters are very corporative .
But Manager has different attitude which is not corporative at all. If you reserve a table make sure you reserve with exact number of people.
In my case, there were two more people than initial reserved number. Since private room was not enough , we requested another table outside, manger’s simple answer was NO. ( All reserved already which was acceptable, but later we realized half of the restaurant was empty on Sunday lunch). No wonder restaurant was empty on Sunday with his attitude while most of restaurants in Colombo are fully packed. Specially Indian restaurants like Agra, Navratna, Mango tree etc.
Beware of credit card offers which Maharaja palace offer. They will somehow trick you to not to give the card offer. He was the worst restaurant manager I have ever experienced in Colombo specially Indian restaurants. Usually staff at most of the Indian restaurants are very friendly. Bottom line, I will never recommend the restaurant to anybody.
It was our 4 th visit today. After making a reservation for a table for 6 upon arrival we were allocated a table under 2 air conditions. As it was too cold we asked if we could move as there were many empty tables around, but we're told that all were reserved. When we got up to leave the guy with the coat tells us there is another table! We left anyway…Your customer service sucks.
1/5
Praveens
Dont usually review restaurants but its best to warn others not to waste their time and money at such an unprofessional establishment with unacceptable service standards (especially manager Kevin Cock). This is the first and last time we will visit Maharaja Palace. Recommend to visit Maharaja palace if you want to have ok food with a really bad & rude service with an overall unpleasant experience!!! Also the staff do not know of the promotions being run, nor do they know how to speak professionally… Plus they dont seem to have any clue of portion sizes of their own restaurant…
5/5
Ruvindu
loved the food! service is excellent. 5 of us went to dinner and the bill was 9250, very reasonable.
4/5
Denom Silva
Probably one of the best Indian restaurants in Colombo. The food was great, and the service was really good. Chilled ambience, good for a family dinner. Make sure you reserve a table in advance.