It's exactly as it says on the can - a "modern" Indian restaurant. Please do not expect traditional Indian food.Also, please do not expect South Indian food given the name of the restaurant. The food is a modern re-imagining of north Indian cuisine despite there being reference to thalis and whatnot. There is no rice in the Thali meal for some reason.As a modern Indian restaurant, the food is good. Especially the butter chicken and roti options are quite good. If you are an Indian like me and drop in expecting some pure Indian fare, you'd be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Texan
Sam Weitz
Wonderful creative delicious food and drinks, excellent service. Can’t wait to come back and try more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stuart Smith
Excellent choice of breakfasts, mostly Indian street-food style. The Railway Omelette with lamb is especially tasty. Friendly, efficient service, although it was rather noisy in the kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chops
Jaffer Ghouse
A modern Indian restaurant. If you are coming here for traditional Indian fare, you might be disappointed but if you are looking for the Indian flavors with a twist, then you should try this place.What we ordered:1. Delhi chat - a combo chat of famous chat items (dahi balle, aloo tikki) on a single plate. Was great. Tamarind chutney needs to be a bit more sweet.2. Earth thali - was okay. Only the butter chicken and naan was good.3. Texan - almost everything was great. The lamb chop with aloo tikki was a stretch and did not work for me.4. Masala Chai - 0/5 - this was a ready made Chai pack mixed in hot water. Did not have the creaminess of the whole milk. A good Chai needs time and this was very disappointing.5. Chai pie - very intresting and liked it.Thalis should come with some rice, just comes with a naan.Overall, worth a try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dr TMJ Indra Mohan
Food not upto the mark. Noisy atmosphere.Cost and quality no match.Vegetarian options: Selective but not tasty. Needs high upscale improvement.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options
Kero W
I am torn about Pondicheri. Firstly, I should say that I bought Anita Jaisinghani's book Masala, and it has been a revelation. I have been making a new dish from the book every week since buying it in December, and it has become an obsession. Given how much I absolutely love her recipes, I was so excited to go to her restaurant, expecting it to be extraordinary. Having visited 3 times, I have found it somewhat disappointing. The food is hit-and-miss - some exceptional, some so-so. The naan bread is really quite special. The service is a bit confusing, half self-service, half table service. And the price, in my opinion, is a bit higher than expected for the quality of service and food. I can't say that I won't be back, but I've definitely enjoyed making her recipes more than eating at her restaurant.
NaTisha Simone
The food was absolutely divine. It exceeded my expectation. I had a steamed oat milk tea with spies, cardamom , turmeric . It was the most memorable experience.Vegetarian options: It was tasty and well worthy every penny!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options, Samosas
Amy Truong
The food was so good I forgot to save all my photos and videos ? but the service was amazing, the food is well seasoned and full of flavor. We sat outdoors during nice weather and it was beautiful! The happy hour drinks were delicious and colorful as well! So happy we tried this place out and I can’t wait to come back again too! We usually eat Indian cuisine so I’m glad this place held up to the flavors!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Chicken with Lemon Rice, Texan
Lisa W
Food is always good here and the servers are nice, but the waitress today was a little rude. If I had the option NOT to tip her I would have.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Gia Guidry
Most delicious Indian food in Houston! Atmosphere is delightful. We sat outside on a spring day… so nice!Vegetarian options: Many delicious vegan and vegetarian options here!
Furious! $48 for everything in the included picture. No rice with our meals, two pieces of naan bread. Absolutely horrendous experience. Upon inspection the ordering system is so convoluted that it seems that you have to specifically request rice with your meal but it is not automatically included. Nonsensical at this price point, worst Indian food experience my wife and I have had in the US, we feel cheated.Two stars because the host was polite and the interior of the restaurant looked nice, it seems like a high quality place but we just happened to have an awful experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
luis tome
We just had lunch today! Spectacular! I haven’t had flavors like that since I was in India 20 years ago! We got the earth and Texas thali, the dosa and some samosas. The food was fresh, flavorful and not very oily. Nice atmosphere. Staff was eager to please. Kudos to you, Pondicherry!Parking: Parking garage in back of restaurant is free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Samosas, Earth, Texan
Mica Signing
After trying some of the recipes by the owner, seen in the Houston Chronicle, I came across her debut book in this morning’s paper. We finally ventured over to visit on (of all days…) Meatless Monday. We were surprising pleased with our server’s suggestions of a mushroom salad with naan, the combination variety of dishes aptly named “earth” as well as a deeply savory, lightly sweet & spicy dish with peanuts, that escapes my memory. The naan was bright yellow with exotic black sesame seeds and provided a perfect pairing to dip up every last taste of our dishes. One in our party is a total meat & potato’s type, so even though we didn’t miss having meat tonight with all the flavorful tastes we enjoyed… we will definitely be back to sample the fried chicken on Tuesdays. This is not your typical Indian restaurant; it is an experience you just have to venture out to for yourself!Vegetarian options: I’m not a Vegetarian or Vegan, however I did not feel like I was missing out on Meatless Monday… if you think you might, I suggest the mushroom salad with naan… the mushrooms were so smoky and moist they melt in your mouth like a good Texan steak and with just the right amount of chewiness. Or a combination Thalis is good tooDietary restrictions: I’m on a health kick and our server did not have any difficulty suggesting a few dishes to fit my “low/no sugar/fruit, low fat, low/no carb” aka “lean and green” preferences#leanandgreen
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options, Earth Thali
Pepper Ramirez
My and my Pops went to check this place out for Breakfast/Brunch. The food was good and the atmosphere was awesome! Many things were self-service, but everyone on staff was so cool. This was definitely an interesting breakfast food adventure! I can't wait to go back for lunch or dinner!
The person taking the order was rude, when the order was received it was cold and when reported he handled it rudely. He could have offered to re heat or at least microwaved it or replied politely that sorry certain food gets cold faster. Quantity was inconsistent, But the taste of the food was good.
It's exactly as it says on the can - a "modern" Indian restaurant. Please do not expect traditional Indian food.Also, please do not expect South Indian food given the name of the restaurant. The food is a modern re-imagining of north Indian cuisine despite there being reference to thalis and whatnot. There is no rice in the Thali meal for some reason.As a modern Indian restaurant, the food is good. Especially the butter chicken and roti options are quite good. If you are an Indian like me and drop in expecting some pure Indian fare, you'd be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Texan
Wonderful creative delicious food and drinks, excellent service. Can’t wait to come back and try more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent choice of breakfasts, mostly Indian street-food style. The Railway Omelette with lamb is especially tasty. Friendly, efficient service, although it was rather noisy in the kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chops
A modern Indian restaurant. If you are coming here for traditional Indian fare, you might be disappointed but if you are looking for the Indian flavors with a twist, then you should try this place.What we ordered:1. Delhi chat - a combo chat of famous chat items (dahi balle, aloo tikki) on a single plate. Was great. Tamarind chutney needs to be a bit more sweet.2. Earth thali - was okay. Only the butter chicken and naan was good.3. Texan - almost everything was great. The lamb chop with aloo tikki was a stretch and did not work for me.4. Masala Chai - 0/5 - this was a ready made Chai pack mixed in hot water. Did not have the creaminess of the whole milk. A good Chai needs time and this was very disappointing.5. Chai pie - very intresting and liked it.Thalis should come with some rice, just comes with a naan.Overall, worth a try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Food not upto the mark. Noisy atmosphere.Cost and quality no match.Vegetarian options: Selective but not tasty. Needs high upscale improvement.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options
I am torn about Pondicheri. Firstly, I should say that I bought Anita Jaisinghani's book Masala, and it has been a revelation. I have been making a new dish from the book every week since buying it in December, and it has become an obsession. Given how much I absolutely love her recipes, I was so excited to go to her restaurant, expecting it to be extraordinary. Having visited 3 times, I have found it somewhat disappointing. The food is hit-and-miss - some exceptional, some so-so. The naan bread is really quite special. The service is a bit confusing, half self-service, half table service. And the price, in my opinion, is a bit higher than expected for the quality of service and food. I can't say that I won't be back, but I've definitely enjoyed making her recipes more than eating at her restaurant.
The food was absolutely divine. It exceeded my expectation. I had a steamed oat milk tea with spies, cardamom , turmeric . It was the most memorable experience.Vegetarian options: It was tasty and well worthy every penny!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options, Samosas
The food was so good I forgot to save all my photos and videos ? but the service was amazing, the food is well seasoned and full of flavor. We sat outdoors during nice weather and it was beautiful! The happy hour drinks were delicious and colorful as well! So happy we tried this place out and I can’t wait to come back again too! We usually eat Indian cuisine so I’m glad this place held up to the flavors!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Butter Chicken with Lemon Rice, Texan
Food is always good here and the servers are nice, but the waitress today was a little rude. If I had the option NOT to tip her I would have.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Most delicious Indian food in Houston! Atmosphere is delightful. We sat outside on a spring day… so nice!Vegetarian options: Many delicious vegan and vegetarian options here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Earth Thali
Restaurantji Recommends
Furious! $48 for everything in the included picture. No rice with our meals, two pieces of naan bread. Absolutely horrendous experience. Upon inspection the ordering system is so convoluted that it seems that you have to specifically request rice with your meal but it is not automatically included. Nonsensical at this price point, worst Indian food experience my wife and I have had in the US, we feel cheated.Two stars because the host was polite and the interior of the restaurant looked nice, it seems like a high quality place but we just happened to have an awful experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We just had lunch today! Spectacular! I haven’t had flavors like that since I was in India 20 years ago! We got the earth and Texas thali, the dosa and some samosas. The food was fresh, flavorful and not very oily. Nice atmosphere. Staff was eager to please. Kudos to you, Pondicherry!Parking: Parking garage in back of restaurant is free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Samosas, Earth, Texan
After trying some of the recipes by the owner, seen in the Houston Chronicle, I came across her debut book in this morning’s paper. We finally ventured over to visit on (of all days…) Meatless Monday. We were surprising pleased with our server’s suggestions of a mushroom salad with naan, the combination variety of dishes aptly named “earth” as well as a deeply savory, lightly sweet & spicy dish with peanuts, that escapes my memory. The naan was bright yellow with exotic black sesame seeds and provided a perfect pairing to dip up every last taste of our dishes. One in our party is a total meat & potato’s type, so even though we didn’t miss having meat tonight with all the flavorful tastes we enjoyed… we will definitely be back to sample the fried chicken on Tuesdays. This is not your typical Indian restaurant; it is an experience you just have to venture out to for yourself!Vegetarian options: I’m not a Vegetarian or Vegan, however I did not feel like I was missing out on Meatless Monday… if you think you might, I suggest the mushroom salad with naan… the mushrooms were so smoky and moist they melt in your mouth like a good Texan steak and with just the right amount of chewiness. Or a combination Thalis is good tooDietary restrictions: I’m on a health kick and our server did not have any difficulty suggesting a few dishes to fit my “low/no sugar/fruit, low fat, low/no carb” aka “lean and green” preferences#leanandgreen
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options, Earth Thali
My and my Pops went to check this place out for Breakfast/Brunch. The food was good and the atmosphere was awesome! Many things were self-service, but everyone on staff was so cool. This was definitely an interesting breakfast food adventure! I can't wait to go back for lunch or dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Vegan Options, Naan V, Samosas, Morning Thali, The Texan, Texan
The person taking the order was rude, when the order was received it was cold and when reported he handled it rudely. He could have offered to re heat or at least microwaved it or replied politely that sorry certain food gets cold faster. Quantity was inconsistent, But the taste of the food was good.
Service: 1