Definitely not authentic Indian, but very tasty nonetheless. Very unique concept, and a gluten free, healthy fast food option is rare around town.
Worth the visit for sure, interesting idea...
1. Brent's Review :: October 11, 2009 Brent's Rating: 4 Stars |
There wasn't an option for Zero Stars!?
I love Indian, and middle eastern food in general. It's usually full of flavour and spice... Not So Much at Madra's, which apparently has a sad, sad pantry.
My Lamb Masala tasted more like Sheppard's Pie as it was rediculously bland.
The worst part was when the whole 'wrap' fell apart in my hand and onto my, umm, 'plate' (bamboo cutting board).
Madra's Pantry is a terrible mess with bland food. I DO NOT recommend!
2. Never!'s Review :: October 05, 2009 Never!'s Rating: 1 Stars |
had a dosa (roll) sandwich that was off the hook. The sauce was mouth-watering. I have also tried some of the other offerings - not so much luck. The chicken dosa was the best. Yea!
3. Ken Lane's Review :: September 25, 2009 Ken Lane's Rating: 4 Stars |
Stopped in while visiting the Queen St. art walk and could not believe how busy this place was. Food was amazing, tasty, and surprisingly light for such a big portion.
I guess they don't have a kitchen as they ran out of some stuff, but I will definitely be back to try the lamb dosa I saw someone else eating.
Great concept!
4. C.B.'s Review :: September 23, 2009 C.B.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
Best takeout option in the city...mix between burrito boys and subway, but cooler and tastier than both combined...
5. S.D.'s Review :: September 18, 2009 S.D.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
Anyone who would eat butter chicken at madras is a complete philistine. And the price point of these dosas is very odd too...
6. Craig Oliver's Review :: September 18, 2009 Craig Oliver's Rating: 1 Stars |
I'm there 3 times a week for lunch. Place is great. Not sure why the comments are negative, food is great for fast food...I'll keep going, pretty unique stuff
7. Dave's Review :: September 16, 2009 Dave's Rating: 4 Stars |
Waste of time and money - dosa was super awful. Even I could cook better than that, agreed the spicy chicken was quite alright. But what's the point if the Indian dishes taste like #@!$#@?
8. Gail James's Review :: September 12, 2009 Gail James's Rating: 1 Stars |
This place is seriously a continuous disappointment.
The food sucks! It's so inconsistent. The dosas are ok at best. But the last three times I've tried to do takeout, they've totally messed up. The cook likes to stuff the things with potato regardless of how you ask.. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you still dammit seriously I just want a good dosa!
9. Leslie Plewes's Review :: September 10, 2009 Leslie Plewes's Rating: 1 Stars |
Potato sandwiches.
10. Brad's Review :: September 02, 2009 Brad's Rating: 1 Stars |
Beware:
--The food is great but NOT spicy! If you want real Indian head to Gerrard. BUT, this Pantry is definitely worth a visit, and the vibe + food + drinks + park = a nice day at a cool spot...and a good place to get small Indian groceries for home.
--Get there early, they actually close around 9 (not 11:30), I think, and if they run out of food you're out of luck for the day as a guy there was saying that they only use fresh stuff cooked that day or something. Must be an uber cool, hipster thing to do these days! Oh yeah, and cash only!
Really impressive spot. Completely unique. Once the opening kinks are worked out, this place will rock...Apparently trying to get a liquor license?
Really nice staff, especially since they seem quite busy and new.
Best of luck!
11. B-Ware's Review :: September 02, 2009 B-Ware's Rating: 4 Stars |
Great spot!
Light, healthy, flavourful...I actually tried Madras (or 'The Pantry') right when they opened and it was so so. They always were running out of stuff or the dosas kinda fell apart.
I figured I'd give them another chance because they were so friendly and just opened, and I'm glad I did.
Great spot for us girls to have a healthy lunch, although the lassis are so delicious you might have 2!
Seems as though the bugs have been sorted out as the latest round of dosas we had (jerk chicken, spinach with a cheese of some sort, and curry cauliflower) were completely improved. I think they are bigger and crispier than I remember.
Great stuff, I'll be back with the lunchtime ladies!
12. LL Lucy's Review :: September 01, 2009 LL Lucy's Rating: 4 Stars |
My background is Indian, and I went to check out this dosa place to see what was happening here.
I was surprised at the quality of the dosa. Although it is far from authentic, spicy Indian, it is VERY well done!
Only two issues I found were that the potatoes could use a little 'zest' and if you order after many people already have, you will wait a few minutes. It's ok if you're not in a rush because the place is really great to hang out in (even after we were finished we hung around and chatted).
Hopefully with some time the potatoes can be fixed up, but they are still good.
Finally someone has made Indian street food accessible and easy to eat. For a first time effort it was surprisingly above average...
13. Sasi's Review :: September 01, 2009 Sasi's Rating: 3 Stars |
Ate lunch here on the weekend, as I wanted to check them out for a party I am throwing next month. Heard good things from some friends, which I'm always skeptical about, but this place totally matched the quality with the hype. The food is inventive and interesting. It's not authentic Indian, but very flavourful.
Unique and worth a try for sure. It's a great alternative to any fast food joint I've been to.
Well done!
PS Great music! If you want to hear some good, new bands, it seemed like that's all they played! Very cool.
14. Peter's Review :: September 01, 2009 Peter's Rating: 4 Stars |
Meh. I had high hopes for this place, a couple people told me it was good. The service was good, but my favourable comments end there. I was kind of hurting for a dosa, and they had a good selection.
I ordered their version of a spicy chicken. The portion was large, but it was heavy with potato and the whole thing seemed like it was from a loblaws store.
15. Jane Kull's Review :: August 31, 2009 Jane Kull's Rating: 2 Stars |
This is by far the worst tasting dosa I have tried, I don't know how people can say its the best thing since sliced bread! I know the read deal, and the dosas taste nothing like what is served here at Madras. Drunken party people will eat anything when hungry.
16. Gary H.'s Review :: August 30, 2009 Gary H.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
The madras boys need to re-tool the dosa concept. Groovy interior design is one thing. But leave the dosa alone.
17. H. B. C's Review :: August 26, 2009 H. B. C's Rating: 2 Stars |
Cute spot. Great design. Crappy fare.
18. Dan's Review :: August 23, 2009 Dan's Rating: 1 Stars |
I was pretty excited about having a Dosa place in the neighbourhood. I think it's a great unique food that would sell well if priced and prepared like a real South Indian dosa place.
The decor is very very cool. Well done!
Staff seemed pretty nice.
However we found that the 3 different dosas we tried all tasted the same.
The feature fillings need way more flavour.
Although I kind of understand the whole attempt to cater to the burritto crowd, I think dosas get way too soggy for that approach and you can't really take the sides with each bite. Make a traditional dosa and you'll have no competition. Try and compete with Gandhi, but with bland fillings and you will probably face an uphill battle for repeat customers.
19. Derek Menezes's Review :: August 23, 2009 Derek Menezes's Rating: 2 Stars |
Really quite slick. I read about it here, and I've been driving by on a daily basis. So I tried it out, take-out actually. Not bad. A bit on the pricy side, but very quality dosa.
20. Craig's Review :: August 20, 2009 Craig's Rating: 3 Stars |
Awesome spot - really amazing idea. The first time I went in the flavors were a little bland, but they seems to have been working on it and it has become a lot better. I wanted to give them a little time to work out the kinks before weighing in and I'm glad that I did.
I'm glad to have discovered this place and am pretty sure that as they continue working through the growing plains it will continue to get better and better.
21. Dan's Review :: August 19, 2009 Dan's Rating: 4 Stars |
Great design, but the food (that's why we go to these places right?) is lacking in flavor. So for a wannabe South Indian Dosa joint they need to get their act together with this uneventful food. Give me FLAVOUR please. bland bland bland. I went 3 times and they still hadn't nailed it. Fourth time = Chippy's.
22. Jerry Jam's Review :: August 19, 2009 Jerry Jam's Rating: 1 Stars |
Now this is what Toronto is all about! My wife and I have been all over trying street dosa, literally dozens of varieties... without a doubt the best street dosas I've ever had. Too bad they close early.
23. Grant M's Review :: August 19, 2009 Grant M's Rating: 3 Stars |
Simply wonderful.
24. The Big Ticket's Review :: August 17, 2009 The Big Ticket's Rating: 4 Stars |
I didn't expect much coming into this place and was really just looking for any place to sit down and eat a lunch. To my surprise, the food was not that bad! Their presentation and color contrast of their dosa was very appealing. The spicy chicken version was perfect! Warm salmon was good too! I'm not a long time dosa eater, but this was a good first.
25. Charles Chaker's Review :: August 14, 2009 Charles Chaker's Rating: 3 Stars |
What an interesting addition to the best stretch of Queen West! The food is great and it's hands down the best decor I've ever seen in a restaurant. I'll continue to stop in for my veggie fix (their veg dosa is amazing) and I can't wait to rent out the place for my birthday next month!!! Congrats Hanif and Ryan!
26. CLF's Review :: August 11, 2009 CLF's Rating: 4 Stars |
The Dosa is a different style - just a slight reworking of it. Yes, it's different... but not terribly bad. I actually enjoyed the roll concept.
27. Karen L.'s Review :: August 10, 2009 Karen L.'s Rating: 3 Stars |
I found the food to be pretty bland and the staff a little all over the place. I waited a good 10 minutes to get my food. For seven bucks, I left still hungry. Overall, not a great place to eat.
28. Jake D's Review :: August 10, 2009 Jake D's Rating: 1 Stars |
Cute place, nice staff, but for the price the food was mediocre. My friend and I split a few dosas here. I expected much more in the way of flavor complexity and was disappointed by the blandness of the sauce. The texture of the chicken was a little weird too. Almost like reconstituted processed meat.
29. Kate Lam's Review :: August 10, 2009 Kate Lam's Rating: 2 Stars |
Tried the jerk chicken. It was pretty darn good. The restaurant has a really cool, hip vibe. I'm not a hipster, but I certainly felt like one.
30. Phil D.'s Review :: August 09, 2009 Phil D.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
As a fairly healthy and petite female, I have a hard time finding fast food alternatives for a good, quick lunch. After getting sick of salad, I decided to give this dosa place a try. I was not let down. The food was very fresh and the portion size was perfect. The yoghurt drinks (Lassies?) are also spectacular. I'd recommend this place to anyone who wants a good, healthy alternative to a hamburger or a burrito.
31. Jennifer Graham's Review :: August 09, 2009 Jennifer Graham's Rating: 4 Stars |
Chances are that if you like Indian food, you'll love this cool and tasty spot. I've gone a few times for lunch since it opened last month and sampled most of the items on the menu. Everything is delicious and has a really genuine flavor and feel that I haven't experience since I travelled to India. The staff are very friendly and the restaurant space itself is a really comfortable and cozy place to have lunch.
32. Andrew Steven's Review :: August 09, 2009 Andrew Steven's Rating: 4 Stars |
Great atmosphere and the food is excellent. These dosa's are an interesting and healthy alternative to the gut busting effects of typical burrito and taco joints. I will definitely be back soon.
33. Shawn's Review :: August 09, 2009 Shawn's Rating: 4 Stars |
Cool arrangement with great decor - fun but a bit stuffy. The communal table sets the mood. We ordered some dosa wraps to munch on - decent but overpriced.
34. Ken Ng's Review :: August 09, 2009 Ken Ng's Rating: 3 Stars |
This is by far the blandest tasting dosa I have tried, I don't know how people can say its the best thing since sliced bread!
Hipsters will eat anything when hungry.
35. Darryl Henry's Review :: August 08, 2009 Darryl Henry's Rating: 1 Stars |
I think it’s a quite elegant addition to the Queen street area. A bit too design-ey. and The food is too bland. But the space is elegant to the core.
36. Ken Lane's Review :: August 07, 2009 Ken Lane's Rating: 3 Stars |
I agree that madras pantry is a great place! Service could definitely be improved ~ friendly people, just really slow ~ Food was nothing special, in fact, very plain.
... but nice place!! very 'loungy'
37. Terri P's Review :: August 07, 2009 Terri P's Rating: 2 Stars |
Dinner...check. Ok time to round up the co-workers and drive up to Queen W for some deliciousness (is that a word) I was hell bent on finding this place on Wednesday and I did. We got a couple of rolls. Some of the best I've ever had. I will be making this trip as often as I can.
38. Terrence J's Review :: August 07, 2009 Terrence J's Rating: 4 Stars |
Awesome addition to the area! I walked passed it a few times before I saw that it was a cafe - congrats Hanif!
39. Dan Bennett's Review :: August 06, 2009 Dan Bennett's Rating: 4 Stars |
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MBO Toronto :: Toronto Restaurants & Dining Guide
they discovered that the owners of Klaxon Howl liberated their space for a back alley location further up the street (now at 694r Queen St. W., behind Magic Pony).
