Desi Indian Lounge

Went here today for Mother’s Day high tea. Didn’t know what to expect for an Indian high tea but it sure did not disappoint. The decor is nice and very welcoming staff. I have an allergy to nuts and they made a whole separate tray of treats for myself. The owner, Deepak came out to check up on us and see how we were enjoying our visit. The drink options were varied and nice. You can get a chai tea or you can get a mango yogurt mix drink. As well you can get this coconut Sakura drink which has a fizzy texture to it. As for the food and treats for the high tea - this is by far more filling than any other high tea I’ve ever attended which was a refreshing change. Some of the foods reminded me of The Empress back in Victoria - had a half sandwich with cucumber and cream cheese and dill - which is so tasty and light. There was also a chicken bao which was interesting for a high tea. There was also a tofu croissant which was my favorite. There is a henna tattoo artist who just moved here two years ago and she was telling us how she is an engineer but that henna art is her passion. Very friendly and personable. If you are looking for an upscale but not pretentious place for good eats, then this is the place to go.

If I could give more than 5 stars to this place, I would've given 100 more stars. Appetizers 20 stars, Dinks 20 stars, Main course 20 stars, Desserts 20 stars and finely service 20 stars. This is my new favorite Indian restaurant in town. A absolute must try for everyone!!

Amazing! Would highly recommend! We went for the Mother’s Day, high tea, an incredible deal for the amount of food you get the amazing service, the beautiful atmosphere and the option to add Mendhi for only $5 (and it was absolutely beautiful). We were also given a gift of bracelets for each mother! Beautiful assortment of food. Definitely leftovers to take home. One person had a nut allergy and they changed that item out for something that he could have. The drinks were amazing and it was so nice to be able to try a little bit of everything!

Dining at Desi Indian Lounge felt like stepping into a culinary journey across India, without ever leaving Vancouver. The space itself sets the tone—stylish, intimate, and inviting—but it’s really Chef Bal’s inspired creations that leave the lasting impression. We began with the Kerala chicken pepper and the Bombay pomfret fry. The chicken came alive with earthy black pepper heat mellowed by a perfectly judged blend of spices, while the pomfret was crisp on the outside, tender within—simple, coastal flavors elevated with finesse. The Malvani chicken transported us straight to Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, rich yet balanced, while the Dal Bukhara offered a slow-cooked, soulful counterpoint—creamy, smoky, and deeply comforting. The Rajasthani lamb shank was a true showstopper: fall-off-the-bone tender, bathed in a bold sauce that carried the warmth of desert spices. Dessert was where the magic really unfolded. The Motichur cheesecake was an indulgent fusion of tradition and decadence, the malai ghewar a delicate nod to festive sweets, and the foxtail millet pudding a revelation—nutty, wholesome, and yet utterly luxurious. What impressed me most was how every dish struck a perfect balance: flavors layered but never overwhelming, accompaniments chosen with care, each plate a reinvention that still respected its roots. You could sense the imagination, passion, and expertise behind it all—Chef Bal infuses age-old recipes with subtle, modern twists that never feel forced. Adding to the experience was the warm, friendly service from manager Deepa and the presence of visionary owner Deepak, whose passion for hospitality shines through in every detail. In a city where Indian dining often leans heavily traditional or overly westernized, Desi Indian Lounge brings a refreshing change. It’s boutique, it’s thoughtful, and above all, it’s soulful. Every bite made us pause, savor, and smile. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a celebration of heritage, creativity, and the joy of sharing flavors reimagined for today. Can't wait to be back!!

I came across this restaurant while looking for places to eat closer to my hotel I stayed in (Residence Inn downtown). After seeing their great ratings at 4.7, gave it a try with family. It was Monday, February 23rd evening around 7pm when we walked in, there were max of around 14-16 people in the entire restaurant. After we're seated at the table, we didn't have any server approach us for about 15 minutes. Then one server (male), asked if we ordered anything and we said no. We gave our drink (one) and food order. One of the item we ordered was a papadum, which is generally served very quickly before or at the beginning of the meal. Surprisingly, they did not bring the papadum much later after we finished our appetizer. Appetizer: I specifically asked the server about his recommendation for a lighter salad to which he said, definitely go with the tandoori pear salad which is their most selling and I ordered that. That salad just did not make any sense of how they even came up with the idea. Pear itself is very blend fruit, does not have any distinct flavor, except sometimes the crunch element to it. They added some sort of Indian spice to it but it still did not taste any good at all. The yogurt was mixed with a heavy dose of turmeric making it a yellow color yogurt which again did not have any unique taste or texture to it. Arugula is a very strong green leaf and that in few bites, over powered rest of the dish. The whole dish was a disaster in itself. Jack fruit curry: I am not sure what kind of jack fruit (non-sweet or sweet) they used for the curry, but despite ordering medium spice level, it did not taste good at all. It lacked quite a bit of seasoning to it. Jack fruit itself was very blend, some pieces were bit hard to chew while the others were soft and easy to bite. Another disappointing dish on the order at all levels. Butter chicken curry: My family liked it, chicken was soft and tender, gravy was good along with right seasoning, good textures. The only dish that really worked well. Tandoori roti and garlic naan were good. I'm surprised they don't have Tawa roti on the menu which is much more softer and easy to eat than tandoori roti and naan. Papadum along with both tamarind and mint sauces were good. Dessert: Malai Ghewar disappointed at few levels. First, the cream cheese was a very bad idea as the taste and texture of it threw me off completely. It just did not go well with the rest of the dish. The honey comb like structure was ok, it had nice crunch element to it and did not soak up much oil. The ice-cream like element was good, had a nice cardamom flavor to it. Otherwise, the whole dessert didn't come together at all in terms of taste, textures and flavors for me. Mojito drink was decent. Food: It's an expensive restaurant for sure but their food quality does not match up to the prices whatsoever. Service: Despite being weekday (Monday), with less number of guests in house, their service was much delayed for us. It took more than 20 mins to get an item like papadum after finishing up salad and main courses were served very late after salad. I placed the dessert order with the rest of the items but they forgot about that. I had to remind them that I was waiting for it, then the server told the kitchen staff about it. The entire bill was at $120.82, which is quite a bit for the level of food quality and service offered. First impressions were very disappointing for me and would not recommend this place to anyone.