Madras Pavilion

We went to this place for the first time. We were seated promptly but the waitress sounded very rude and very unattentive. Medhu vada tasted like made out of kerosene. We waited for 25 minutes to get the noodles for our kid. South Indian Thali was below average. Sambar is just ok. But the noodle tasted good. I was waiting for my desert and coffee to come for ever. Finally I have to ask her to bring my dessert and coffee which is part of my Madras Pavilion special meal. Talking about coffee - it is a big cheating because I was able to see waitress making the coffee by boiling the milk in the microwave in the corner and adding some instant coffee mix. PLEASE do not call this as original madras coffee. Please do not insult madras coffee. We are not planning on going back again.

Pros: Noodles was good

Cons: vada ,Dosai,sambar and other south Indian very bad

I've been there twice and both times the food was very tasty and freshly made. The dosai was fantastic. Much better than any other Indian restaurant I've tried in Austin. This was recommended to me by my Indian friends, and I can see why. Try it for yourself!!

We were loyal regulars... long story short, we were financially hijacked at the register by an insanely high price at the register for a so-called "Special Buffet". They jacked up the price to $10.99 for a buffet that's normally only $8.99. This wouldn't be such an outrage if they put a sign up that notified customers of this increase (before they're at the register).
Their excuse? "It's a long weekend (Thursday)."

Pros: Delicious

Cons: Price and service

It is the worst Indian Restaurant in Austin for the price they charge. Never order Sada Rava Dosa which is a complete waste for $6. None of the waiters can speak proper English and the food is also probably cooked by some local cook. Food is stale and leftovers of some days atleast. Avoid as much as possible if you can.

My brother and I went for Buffet lunch on Dec. 27, 2006. First of all it was quite repelling to use the melmoware type plates and "katories/cups" that have surface scratches, look yellow and look unclean and infact my brother pointed out a "hair' in one of them to a staff in the restaurant.

The south indian dishes are recognizable because of their shapes and names but not by their taste. It is certainly unpalatable from many angles to me especially being a south indian.

Pros: none

Cons: unclean, taste not representative of the item, not tasty

i moved frm bay area last month to austin ,whn i enter the restaurant ,i feel back home to india. restaurant is almost accupied all the seats but i got my food at time as well taste very good .best dosa u can't find any where in austin.

I was in Austin near the Arboretum for a conference in November. Madras Pavillion was on the list of local restaurants the hotel gave me at check in. What a joy! I ordered one of the dinner plates - a sampling of many menu itesm. What came was a heaped bowl of fragrant rice and a platter with at least a dozen small bowls of ... stuff to eat. It was all delicious! I'm not doing it justice. I can't recall all the names of the items, but everything was tasty and unique. My suggestion? Forgo the buffet! Order a platter and sample everything! If I'm ever in Austin again, I'll absolutely eat here once more!

If you have eaten real Indian food this place is not for you. When I came from India and came to this place I vowed not to come back.

Pros: setting

Cons: food

Went to this restaurant because of the high rating from the viewers. So I had a high expectation. When I entered the restaurant, it was packed with Indian folks. So I thought "Wow, this place must be it!" ...However, (I'm sorry to tell you this) they could not live up to my expectation. I know a better Indian restaurant (unfortunately, they are not located in Austin). My Indian friend said this place is "just ok". Now I know what she means. The food seems to be fresh and waiters/waitresses seem to be friendly. I'm not saying the food is bad at all. I'm saying 9.7 rating is too high. So my quest for a better Indian restaurant still continues...

Hmmm, the only item on the buffet that tasted fine was the lentil soup, otherwise it was all overhyped baby food. Come on, get a grip on taste! Go to Shalimar on N. Lamar and Rundberg instead. I rest my case.

Pros: lentil soup, and that is that

Cons: bland mush mush

A great buffet is fast and well-priced for a weekday lunch. A dosa (amazing flatbread stuffed with potato-based filling) is included with the meal - order regular or spicy versions from your waiter. Even avid meat-eaters enjoy this veggie restaurant. All your favorites, like saag paneer, eggplant, and lentil dishes are on the buffet, plus some delicious things you may not have tried before. Fruit salad is always lovely for dessert.

Pros: buffet and check-out at the register are good for a speedy lunch

Cons: can get crowded with Dell folks between noon and 1 PM

i went there last weekend restaurant is bust but they alot me tabel in quite impressive way .food look so fresh and delisious, wright time on table with pleastfull of wait staff doing the best .palak panner(cottage cheese with spinach) a out standing dish must try .mago lassi&kulfifalooda(home made ice cream with roseflavouredmilk)are lovable one.and it is good for groups &family not only for wide verity of there menu as well as for there price

Pros: food &service

We went with a group of six people, only one of whom was a vegetarian. I was extremely skeptical but the food was amazing! The waitstaff was very patient and friendly, and even though they don't serve alcohol in the restaraunt, they let us bring in a bottle of wine to drink with dinner. I would definitely eat there again, but not without someone who knows their way around the menu.

Pros: food, service, price

First the Bad: No place for fine dining and the waiters may not understand what you want
Good: Good south Indian vegetarian food in Austin. The dosas are good (a bit too oily), the accompanying Sambar (lentil soup) is average. the chutney are OK. Nice and fluffy idlies. Trying north Indian dishes here is asking for trouble.

Pros: Inexpensive

Cons: bad interiors

Well, I have just found my favorite Ethnic Restaurant in Austin. The buffet was amazing....a good selection of different types fo foods, and good service makes this a great place to dine.

I LOVE Madras. The food is great and the crepes are light and filling. The service is excellent and we never have to wait to be seated. The lunch buffet is always pleasing. We've been there more times than we can remember. I've taken so many of my friends there for the first time for Indian food and all of them love it now.

Pros: Great Food, Inexpensive, Great for first timer

It was my first time eating this kind of Indian food. I got Madras pavilion special (I think that was the name of the dish), and I had a quite interesting dining experience. Overall, flavor was good but I kinda got tired of taste toward the end. I wish it had little more variety. It might take me a while to get used to those flavors and style, but I'll definitely come back to try out different dishes.

Pros: Service

There are reviews that give this restaurant a 3, whereas the food they talk about is not offered at this restaurant. They are mistaking this for some other place.

I can assure you that this place deserves a uninhibited 10 overall !

Pier

Pros: Authentic food, Consistent Quality, Kosher

Definitely the place for vegetarians who love spicy food that's not boring. For the price, it's the best deal in Austin bar none when you go during the buffet. There is no atmosphere but it's the food that's most important right? If you want atmosphere and good Indian food then go to the Clay Pit but you'll pay a lot more for the same food.

Pros: Excellent taste, Inexpensive, Good Variety

Cons: Lack of Atmosphere

I have been dining at MP about three times a week for almost a year and have never had a bad experience (and I'm a very picker diner who doesn't hesitate to complain). The food is always fresh and hot, the selection is always incredible, and the service is always prompt. The buffet cannot be beat! I'ts all vegetarian, but everyone I've taken there has loved it. I recommend it highly.

No complaints here. We've been to this restaurant three times, twice for the buffet and once for an evening meal, all three times were wonderful eating experiences. The food is well presented, imaginatively made and delicious. The restaurant is clean and well lighted. We found that the waiters were very attentive to us and willing to pile more food on our already over-full plates. I can only imagine that the service might have suffered when they were busy, but it was not something we experienced. For those who want a different vegetarian eating experience, this is it.

The first 3 times, my husband and I visited Madras Pavillion with an Indian friend who would order for us and would make recommendations. But after our friend left Austin, we kept going back again and again. And we have come to the conclusion that one doesn't need a guide; no matter what you order it's going to be good. The food is so good that non-vegeterians don't even miss not having meat on the menu. We have taken many friends to this place and they have all loved it.

The first time I went to the Madras, my friend and I spent the hour following our meal sitting on the couch, pleasantly stuffed, savoring the taste that was still left in our mouth. Since then, this restaurant has become one of our favorite indulgences. After living in Chicago, I never thought I could find similar food in Texas as I could on Devon St. Madras proved me wrong. Yum, I'm off to eat my leftover Vegetable Maglai!!!!

Pros: amazing food, inexpensive

Cons: poor ambience