Masala Art
397 Dagu Lu,
Nanjing Xi Lu
near Shimen Yi Lu
大沽路397号
近石门一路
6327-3571
Open 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Price Y200-Y299 per couple
Accepts International Credit Cards
- City Weekend
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This modern, upscale eatery has bounced back nicely from a kitchen fire in late 2009, and is decked out in earthy tones and an old-school chandelier. It's manned by a waitstaff that know how to please. The menu boasts classic Indian fare from all regions, each delightfully distinct from one another. Come here for an authentic lamb rogan josh.
- Contributor
Description
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
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cityweekend
Most Recent Reviews
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Love their food, and the choices you have are great... authenic. But not sure about their service. The waiter served us was so slow, and unattentive. Had to remind him several times about my second drink!
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After reading the mixed reviews. I've decided to try Masala Art cause I've been dying to find a place with great butter chicken.
I went in without reservations but I thought since it was raining out on a Tuesday night the restaurant shouldn't be that busy. Wrong, the place was packed! Great atmosphere but seems like the empty seats they had they were a bit slow on cleaning the dishes out of the tables to seat me.
They asked me to sit by the bar and after about 20 mins and my friend had arrived we got taken to the other side "Good Times" ?!?!?! I didn't want to sit in there! It looked more fast food then a nicer restaurant on the other side. I figured, fine...... I'm here it's raining might as well eat. After waiting for about another 20 mins to try and flag down a waiter to order a bottle of wine I gave up. I got up and left.
BUT! I did do the restaurant justice by giving them another chance. I ordered in a few weeks later to try their curry and butter chicken. Although I give them full credit on their portion size everything just tasted like a mess.
Honestly I don't know what the hypes about but plenty of better Indian places in Shanghai.
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We ate there for dinner around 5pm on a Thursday and the place was as to be expected empty since it was so early. The server was a bit rude at first scoffing at the items I wanted to order. I was surprised by how he outright told me things I ordered from different pages of the menu were wrong and so I asked him for his suggestions which were lots of dishes and extra orders of rice. There were only two of us so I stopped and told him we wanted some soups as an appetizer, a curry, a chicken tikka and some nann. He kept trying to get us to order some extras but we stood firm. I know it's a business so I wasn't upset at the waiter for trying to get more revenue and the dishes we ordered we're fantastic and promptly delivered. The Chicken Tikka Misala had an amazing spice to it that wasn't overpowering and the chicken itself was very tender. We also had a fish curry that the waiter insisted on which happened to be kind of bland but not bad. Think of chunks of white fish in a yellow curry sauce. There was no real flavor to it. We also ordered cheese nann which was fantastic. I would give more stars but the waiter really took the fun out of letting me order the dishes I wanted like Samosas and Dosas. I understand that he might have thought he was trying to improve my experience but since I'm the one paying for it, if I want three types of Dosa and a mash potato curry then all they should say is, great sir, I'll have that right up for you.
Still, pretty good Indian food, pushy staff equals only 3 stars.
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Love the food here.. There are so many tasty vegetarian options on the menu. My favorite is the yellow Dal, it is incredible!
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This is a good one. This restaurant got great atmosphere, nice menu, good service and most important extremely delicious food for acceptable prices. Couldn't find anything wrong with it. This is now me and my wife's favourite Indian restaurant.
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The papaddums, naan and basmati rice were great. The curries were not. Sweet, unspiced and in one case bland. I can only think it's tailored for the local market, however the presence of many Indians thoroughly confused me. Won't be going back unless there is a secret password to get a medium to hot, interestingly spiced, unsweet curry. Something like a Methi Ghosht.
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Ditto on Chor Bazaar. Too bad it's so far away.
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Rude waiters, attitudes in Masala Art, same experience here. BUT try Vedas, Indian Kitchen or Tandoor, it's all the same arrogance in these Indian places. My only vote in Shanghai goes to Chor Bazaar, huray !
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Totally agree. Good food, snobby service.
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Awesome food despite the tiny portions for the price.
It is just me or are the waiters PLAIN RUDE? I may not speak Hindi, but I know they are mouthing off at our table when they walk away, look back at the table, mouth off in Hindi.
Oh and charging us for water? Pretty silly guys.
Seems like Good Times has closed down.. Booooo
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The owner of Good Times and Masala Art seem to be directing all the dining traffic over to Masala Art the other night.
I like the dosa at Good Times and the more casual atmosphere, though the menu seems to have been revamped with a mixed bag of Western and Indian dishes.
Back to Masala Art: the warm decor was welcoming and I didn't even mind being seated on the lower level, where I waved to the friendly chef in his window.
The tandoori potato appetizer is stuffed with chopped spinach and small bits of cheese. It is heavy but delicious, and consists of four large pieces served with a fresh salad that you have to ask them to l leave for you.
The butter chicken patiala is rich in flavours and spicy too. An original flavoured lassi cools the taste buds without the extra sugar.
I would try more of the vegetarian curries next time as the tomato-based kofta curry is excellent though much milder in taste compared with the butter chicken, and almost on the sweet side.
Expect to spend at least RMB200+ for two to share an appetizer, a couple curries, naan and rice (no alcohol).
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Excellent, attentive service and delicious Indian food. Their curries are rich and creamy and packed with herbs and spices. Only downside is that they come in tiny little bowls and so are quite pricey for what they are.
My favourite is the Fish curry which has super fresh, tender fish in a rich red curry gravy. Delicious over white rice, or better yet, their Briyani, which is rice cooked in with herbs and spices so it's bursting with flavour.
I adore their Gulab Jamun though their Kulfi ice cream didn't quite do it for me. Interestingly, Good Times next door is under the same ownership as Masala Art, but at cheaper prices ;)
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Food was the best Indian food we had in Shanghai. Tandoori chicken was so tender and just the right amount of spice. Portions were good. Price not to bad. 350rmb for 2 of us. We did not have alcohol with dinner. Will definitely go again
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Wonderful spot. The staff is freakishly attentive and polite, the food is authentic (good portions) and simply delicious. I've scoured the streets of shanghai looking for the best food/deal in town, and Masala Art satisfies both wallet and stomach. Try a few things not on the menu - they make a mean Lamb vindaloo and sesame chicken...
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Along Yandang Road, we entered this Indian restaurant, with a nice decor. The waiter was also Indian and speaks with an Indian accent. Quite interesting..
We ordered a briyani, a dal, some curry and naan. The serving of food was fast, much to our delight, can't wait to go back home after this meal to rest.
The food were very tasty, one of the best Indian cuisine I have eaten in Shanghai.
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Been twice and both times I left extremely satisfied. The staff are very polite and pay attention to every detail. The food is excellent if not a bit expensive. Highly recommend the Lassi and anything under their chief specials.
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overpriced food, below average service and food. will never think of going there again or recommending it to anyone. * nice art pieces on the walls
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The food was terrific. And with the nearly all Indian staff, the place has authenticity. The Sag Paneer was solid, and the curry dishes were slightly under-seasoned but authentic. Our waiter was very courteous and we were able to order off the menu items, like Onion Kulcha. We have recently moved away from Da Gu Lu and will truly miss Marsala Art.
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Well I don't know about "fare from all regions", I don't recall there being any South Indian dishes at all. We seem pretty safely into the "North Indian tandoor/biryani/standard Indian restaurant" routine here. It's pricey (especially the overly thin nann bread, 16¥ a unit if memory serves), and the portions are not immense (think 5 moderate cubes of paneer swimming in sauce), but the service is very courteous and although I personally find the spicing a bit tame you could do much worse for Indian food in Shanghai. I don't crave going there but I wouldn't say no.
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food was upscale and service was attantive as well as tandoori dishes was very fresh.we all were happy but pricy.any way it worth.No free water aspectation their.HA HA
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The food was excellent. And the service was impeccable. I highly recommend this restaurant.
-Second Bite-
Eight months ago, Masala Art took home our 2009 City Weekend Editor’s Pick award for Best Indian Cuisine. Five months after that, the restaurant burned down, victim to a smoky kitchen fire that knocked out both it and the club next door. The unlucky neighbors have since been replaced, but Masala Art is back in business, and they haven’t lost a beat.
Inside, everything’s been nicely redone with a few new tables in front of the semi-open kitchen in the back. Service here is as good as ever, with English-speaking staff going the extra mile. They’re also somewhat generous, but this isn’t necessarily a cheap meal. Servers bring over complimentary Indian house salad and a belly-scratching appetizer of crisps with tamarind, mint and chili dips, but the seemingly free 500mL bottle of water is ¥6 a pop. Rice (long grain basmati is the only option) is a stunning ¥18 a bowl.
The restaurant’s north Indian menu has stayed largely the same, and so has the food quality. On this visit we ordered up samosas (¥28), Masala pork chops (¥68) and the butter chicken patiala (¥58) and eggplant, garlic and onion curries (¥48). The samosas are average, but both curries score well above that. The butter chicken patiala is especially good. Mild but full-flavored with huge chunks of chicken breast submerged within, it’s authentic and filling. The star dish, however, is the Masala chops. They’re juicy and succulent with the meat just begging to be ripped off the bone. It’s also got a healthy kick of spice to it.
If you’re looking for some good Indian food around Dagu Lu, this is still a great place to go. Just go easy on the rice or you won’t have any money left for DVDs.
■ Geoff Ng