Kiran's Avg. Prices (excl. tax, tip, & drinks):  Lunch 19  Dinner 30   Brunch 25   Updt 3/19/2007 Hours: See Profile   4100 Westheimer Rd @ Mid Lane Houston TX 77027 713.960.8472 Reservations You might also be interested in these:     Food Delivery    Indian Food    Online Reservations    ZIP 77027 Profile Description:   Add Review PROFILE     MY REVIEW: I went with friends last night for dinner. The hostess was wonderful as was the bartender. We had a few drinks before dinner and watched the game for a few minutes. The pineapple martini was great! Our food took over 1 hour to come out, and 2 items were missing. I noticed and since our waiter was no where to be seen (he was MIA most of the night), I told another waiter who said he would let the manager know. Nothing happens. 30 mins later, I finally tell our waiter we didnt get everything we ordered and he said I apologize and that was it. I also told him that since we were about done with our food, we no longer wanted those items. Our drinks were rarely re-filled thoughout the night and no one asked us if we wanted any more cocktails after we finished ours, and we wanted more cocktails! One of my friends also wanted more chutney at a point, but she never got it. Then the bill comes - good thing I looked at the breakdown, because they actually charged us for the food we never got! (about $40 woth of food) When I told the waiter, again, he apologized and corrected it. I was pretty mad. I had raved about this place to my friends, then I bring them here and though the food was good, the service was horrible. So horrible that I will not return and if I do (which will be in a long long time), I may just get take out. Earlier, before we ordered, Kiran came out and spoke to us for a bit and she is very charming. She needs to match her restaurants service with her food. She is going for an upscale ambiance but the terrible service will bring her restaurant downhill. I would have thought with all the hassle we went through with them, that we may have gotten a complimentary dessert or some sort of incentive to return after that experience, but we got nothing. NAME: Shivani SUBMITTED: 10/26/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2008 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: We eat out infrequently, but consider ourselves demanding customers. Kirans has never failed to delight us with gracious service, a warm greeting and pleasant atmosphere and some of the most fabulous food in Houston. I believe that she is a craftsman in the finest sense, she pays attention to small details, is obviously in love with cooking and her food shows it. Unfortunately, her buffets, which display some of her talents, are all too infrequent. This is the place to take someone new to Houston. NAME: John w SUBMITTED: 7/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: june 08 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: We've been going to Kiran's for years! It is always delicious. It is a bit expensive but you know you are getting quality food and therefore it is worth it! We love Kiran's use of spices and that she's not afraid to 'heat it up' on certain dishes. Sometimes the service can be uneven, but they are so gracious and accomodating that it can be overlooked. They go out of their way to make sure your dining experience was enjoyable. Kiran's is the only place we go in Houston for Indian food. Definitely the best Indian restaurant in Houston and one of the best overall restaurants in Houston too. NAME: kacee SUBMITTED: 7/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: May '08 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Food: Taste is average at best. Portions are small. Ambience: Excellent. Probably the best Indian restaurant as far as ambience is concerned. Service: Poor. We had to call the waiter a few times. Price: Excessive, for the quality of food and service. Overall, I do not recommend this restaurant. Note: Like another poster, I do not like Kiran sending emails soliciting positive feedback. NAME: Texan Boy SUBMITTED: 7/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: From the outside, it looks like a redeveloped office building (very nicely done though), however the inside looks like a very classy restaurant; you would never know that this was once probably a working space! The booths and tables are set just far enough apart so that the ambiance is nice and you don't overhear others talking. Popadoms (sp?) are served as nibbles, we had samosas to start (lamb) which were nice. Only 2, but they were filling. Mains we had both the lamb & chicken korma which were wonderful, being British I know good Indian and this was cooked very well, and served at the correct temperature - not steaming hot so that it burns ones mouth. Dessrt, we had spiced icecream which was filling and rounded up a good dinner. With drinks, expect to pay around $110 (excluding tips) for a very satisfying meal. Would definately go back. NAME: LoveGoodFood SUBMITTED: 10/9/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: October 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: My wife and I had gone to Kiran's on the eve of Saturday 7-21-07. We had made reservations for 6:30 and later on discovered we needed earlier reservations. We we had arrived 15 minutes before our reservation and they promptly seatted us to our table with complaint. Our waiter, Jeremy, promptly greeted us and took our drink order. The ambience of the place was very posh and clean (perfect for evening for an elegant dinner & theatre). When our waiter came back with our drinks, we had ordered some samosas for an appetizer and he then went over the specials and left us to look over the menu and turn in our order for the appetizer. I had ordered the special tandori duck breast in an orange marmalade glaze. My wife wanted the vegetarian sampler platter for two but wanted it for only one person, which our waiter assured us that it could be done. My wife also asked if she could have two of the dishes with peas substituted for two other items (my wife loves Indian food but hate peas with a passion, go figure but we all have our own food idiosyncrasies). The waiter once again assured us that this would be no problem. The appetizer came and it was absolutely delicious, some of the best samosas I've ever had (they even had the choice of beef, lamb or shrimp as well as potato, which we ended up going with). Our entrees came to us warm and the food was delicious. Although the duck was superb, I was a little remorseful of not getting something more traditional. After the entrees, our waiter suggested the chocolate lava cake for dessert, which after looking over the dessert menu sounded very good although the creme brulee seemed very intriguing. The lava cake was 3-4 inch diameter tort with melted dark chocolate in the middle and served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Although the portion looked small it was the perfect size for two people to finish off a delicious entree. The ice cream very well complimented the warmness of the cake as well as the vanilla balancing the chocolate. The chocolate of the cake was perfect as well; being dark chocolate it wasn't too sweet but just enough to give you that chocolaty taste. The waiter returned asking if we needed anything else and after informing him that we were good just the check when he had a chance, he returned promply (I loathe having to wait to pay for a meal especially if you have plans after the meal). The transaction was fast. The restrooms were very nice and clean in correspondance to the rest of the restuarant. The waitstaff was fast, courtious, and well groomed. The ambience was elegant yet comfortable. My wife and I did see chef Kiran walk around but we never got to meet her. Over all it was a very pleasant experience and we hope to return soon. NAME: BadKarmaBuddhaBoy SUBMITTED: 7/23/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/21/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: We visited Kiran's after our hotel concierge recommended it to us. We were hesitant for 2 reasons. #1 because we had been to this same location when it was Bombay P*alace and it was just ok and #2 because we had our two small children dining with us. We were pleasantly surprised. The food and atmosphere was leaps and bounds better than the former place and they whole staff was so welcoming to us and our children (who are pretty well-behaved, I must say). The owner even came to the table and made sure that the kids were enjoying the food and comfortable. the waiter was fun and full of energy. And the hostess was as warm as they get. The tandoori chicken, and prawns were out of this world. And the Bhengan bharti (Spelling??) (spicy eggplant) was deliciously eye-opening. Staff was awesome and food was even better. NAME: Craig C SUBMITTED: 7/8/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I visited kiran's with a large group of party of 20 on wednesday june 27th,07. It was my first time in an Indian restaurant. Food was excellent and the service was outstanding, our server was exceptional. He had some accent that i am still curious about. The food, service and ambiance are *****(5 star). I would recommend it to anybody and will visit them back soon. NAME: peter jr. SUBMITTED: 6/29/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: This was our first time, and we were very pleased with the experience. We started with a warm goat cheese and spring mix salad. The dressing was delicious! My husband ordered the tandoori sea bass, and I ordered chicken cooked with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. My husband's sea bass was the best piece of fish that I have ever tasted! It was moist, tender, and beautifully prepared -- melt in the mouth goodness! The sauce was spectacular. On the other hand, I was underwhelmed by the chicken dish. The sauce was nothing special, and the dish included only dark meat chicken. I have had much better Indian chicken dishes at inexpensive restaurants. I did enjoy the saffron rice. The naan was overcooked and forgettable. Although the waiter was attentive when we first sat down, he disappeared after our food was served. At one point, we wondered if he had left the restaurant, as we waited and waited for our check. The rest of the staff was very attentive (water was refilled frequently). Overall we enjoyed our dinner, and I left thinking that perhaps I just ordered the wrong dish. So, we will probably give it another chance. NAME: erioladastra SUBMITTED: 4/7/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: March 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I remember that one of the charming things at Indian restaurants in England is that, whenever the waiter performs a function such as delivering a plate, removing a plate, pouring water, etc. the waiter will say "Thank You" as the function is performed. Don't know if Kiran instructed her waiters to carry on this tradition or if they are just old school and do it because they always have. One variation though, now whenever I get the "Thank You", I always reply loudly "You're Welcome" which tends to shake them up a little bit, but amuses me no end. I had doubts about dining at Kiran's. I had heard from a reliable source that if you are Anglo, you get seated in the front room and if you are from the subcontinent you get seated in the back of the restaurant. I didn't have a chance to check this out. The lunch I went for, there were three or four tables with guests and one of the tables had a Sikh with two gringos. Let's get on to the food. First, as noted you can order off the menu and not know you are at an Indian restaurant, foodwise. This was the mistake I made, in that I ordered the fixe price lunch options of a saffron tomato soup (excellent, I would have been proud to have made this myself), a mahi mahi in a broth with asparagus and mushrooms (no Indian flavors here) but served with a delicious basmati rice and several bhajia/pakora. Naan (not as good as H*malya's but then, whose is?) and crispy papadum. Hindsight being 20/20, I should have opted for something more Indian as my entree. But it was delicious. The mango mousse dessert, one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. Just spectacular. Served semi-freddo as it should have been. Waitstaff. Well, I wish they would have come around to ask the standard "food all right?" question. But they pretty much left me alone. Maybe I scared them with my "You're Welcomes"! I can't wait to go back here again. NAME: Jay Francis SUBMITTED: 12/30/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Very delicious. I get Kiran's Feast. It is great. Kiran's is one of my favorite restaurants. The best things are the Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, and lamb(not sure of the exact name). Kiran is so friendly. She is knows all of her customers. Very good. Try it!!! NAME: S P SUBMITTED: 12/27/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2006 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: This restaurant was leveled at O.K. in my book. If I were to ever go back again, I would only get dishes with lamb (they were great). I was impressed by the portion sizes of the entrees (big). My boyfriend and I both eat alot and took home to-go plates. The waiters were horrible. The experience was not so good; but it was different. Try the entrees for two (great choice). Keep in mind the service is horrible and the wait time is long. However, you do get a large amount of food for your money. NAME: Heather SUBMITTED: 12/20/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: This is straight review, nothing canned. If you are expecting authentic Indian food, this is not the place. If you are expecting quality preparation of Indian style food, again this is NOT the place. If you want overpriced Indian style food, with poor service, and lots of pretension, this is for you. We ordered two dishes, Malai Kofta and Daal Makhni. The Daal was underspiced and under cooked. The Malai Kofta looked good and the sauce was decent (a bit too much tomato taste) but not spicy, the Kofta's themselves were still a bit cold. Indian food is supposed to be spicy, not overly so, so it should not be bland. This was BLAND. I think the service is the worst part of the experience. Do not expect your concerns to be addressed. Do not expect your order to arrive all at once. We recieved the Daal first and then Kofta, but the bread came about 5 minutes later. Our waiter did not seem to care, although he did apologize. Overall a very poorly managed restaurant. Substandard food, with unacceptable levels of service. Please do not buy into the "Euro" style of service BS. Bad service is bad service. We have always returned to Kiran's hoping to have a better experience, but we were dissapointed again. I do not think we will be back. Another note...I am on Kiran's mailing list (since she was at Ashiana) and have recieved emails asking for positive reviews. I find this underhanded and somewhat dishonest. I wish her luck, because what Houston is really leacking is a truly upscale Indian restaurant, but so far this is not the place. NAME: DesiRocket SUBMITTED: 10/10/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/7/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I have been going to Kiran when I come to Houston for 3 years. It is a very nice dining experience and has very good Indian fusion food. High end prices if you are used to Indian Storefront buffet type restaurants but it is very elegant. I always enjoy their menu an particularly like their Bhindi and the Kofta. The goat cheese salad is very nice. The service is very stately (if you like quick and dirty this is not the place) and European (meaning slow). Like in India, a meal is expected to take a while so don't expect rushed dining or go if you are in a hurry (get take away if that's the case). I like this restaurant for a nice meal. I highly recommend it as it is consistently good. NAME: Doug SUBMITTED: 9/4/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: The food is the best Indian food I have had in Houston. My lamb vindaloo was great and my date really dug the private dinner in the wine room. The service was also very attentive. I have had a great experience both times I have been here. NAME: David SUBMITTED: 6/19/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Kiran's is, quite simply, the best Indian food in the Houston area. The staffers are friendly and efficient, even on slow nights. If you perceive a problem, ask to speak to Kiran if she is there. We have never felt rushed to order, finish or leave. Try going to one of her wine dinners - what a treat! Her lamb dishes are great, lamb vindaloo is my husband's favorite. We often order the dinner for two to get a variety and have never been disappointed by anything in the dinner. We also had a quiet dinner for two in the wine room - ask to reserve that for a special date. Again, great food, great ambience, great service, and a great chef. NAME: Mike and Mary SUBMITTED: 3/14/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: March/2006 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I'll start of by saying the food was wonderful and will go back for the food alone. The bad was part of the evening was the service. I have eaten at many restaurants and this was DIABOLICAL. I had a client in from London and I heard rave reviews about this place, so we went. It was a Thursday night and not really busy. We both felt like we were rushed into choosing our dishes. Once we had decided, our appetizers came to the table 20 minutes after we ordered. One of the appetizers was incorrect. We got our main course close to 45 minutes after ordering !!!!!!!! The other thing was that we only got one serving of rice between both of us. The waiter gave us a funny look when we asked for another plate of rice. The most annoying part was the waiter kept on reacing out infront of us without saying "excuse me" and refilling our water, and he actually hit my client in the nose with his elbow on one reach and never even apoligized. Once we had finished and the bill was on the table, we were both having a coffee and the waiter kept pacing back and forth like he wanted us out of there. After a few minutes we gave him a card and signed the bill. I'm sure he wasn't happy with the tip, but the service was diabolical. This was my clients first Indian in Houston and he was not impressed one bit. So in review: Food: excellent Price: Most expensive Indian food I've ever had Was it worth the price: No - other restaurants have the same quality food for 30% less. Service: Need I say more Will I go back: No chance. NAME: Honest Review SUBMITTED: 3/3/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: MArch 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Our company hosted a dinner at Kiran's for several guests from the Middle East on 7 February. Our initial reason for selecting Kiran's was the assurance that all the meat served was Halal and therefore acceptable to our Muslim guests. We met with Kiran and her staff on several occasions to plan our event and I want to let everyone know that it was a delightful experience. Kiran is a warm, gracious and charming host who will do her utmost to make your dinner/event a success. We had special requests, i.e. vegetarian only, and these were accommodated with no problems. Our employees and our guests were very pleased with the meal, the ambience and the service. Kiran's staff is very professional and very good at their jobs. The wine list is outstanding as well. All in all, a wonderful choice for corporate events or personal enjoyment. Thanks Kiran! NAME: worleyite SUBMITTED: 2/15/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: February 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: We ordered takeout from Kiran's three weeks ago. We've ordered takeout from them THREE MORE TIMES since then!! It looks like a lovely restaurant inside with very nice service, and always quite busy and bustling, but the only thing I can comment on is the FOOD! We've ordered Karahi, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rhogan Josh and Chicken Vindaloo (as well as Lamb Samosas, Paneer Samosas, and Potato Samosas; plain and stuffed breads). We've enjoyed EVERYTHING, but let me tell you, the Vindaloo had some serious kick to it! The lamb samosas are our favorite samosa so far, but we're anxious to try the crab samosas. My wife is from England and grew up on Indian takeout. We both enjoy Kiran's more than anything we've had in England, but of course we pay quite a bit more for it too. The entrees are plenty generous enough to feed two if you are cheap like us. NAME: Nathan SUBMITTED: 1/30/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: As a huge fan of A*shiana, I was thrilled to learn Chef Kiran had taken over the spot near Highland Village. I went today, my first visit, for the Sunday buffet and it was as wonderful as I expected. Chef Kiran, ever the gracious host, greeted us and even remembered us from many visits to A*shiana - how many restauranteurs do that?!? The food was absolutely fabulous. Spicy dishes were firey yet still flavorful. The chutneys are the best anywhere. The spices and flavors are combined perfectly. Be sure to save room for dessert - they're fantastic, too. I love buffets, as I can get a little of everything, but after a look a the dinner menu, I can't wait to go back for more! NAME: Stacy SUBMITTED: 1/22/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: As a Punjabi would say "Khush kitaa hai oye". This restaurant truly serves North Indian food. All Americans should eat here. Everything was wonderful. Shahi Paneer, Makhni Dal (dark brown lenthils), Chicken Biryani, Lamb Vindaloo and Ras Malai (dessert) was YUMMMY!!! Spend more but eat to your heart's content. 100%, the taste of India. NAME: Rajat SUBMITTED: 11/2/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Exceptional food and service are always consistent at Chef Kiran's restaurants. The best thing that ever happened to Indian food inside the loop was her decision to move closer to her loyal client base from her former West side outpost. I have visited India and lived in London, New York, San Francisco, and Houston, and nowhere have I had more authentic North Indian food. That being said, what sets Chef Kiran apart is her ability to add flair and creativity to some of these traditional dishes therefore giving new meaning to the word “fusion”. One bite of her deliciously moist mussels or her lump crabmeat over vine ripened tomatoes sprinkled with curry leaves and you will agree. I introduced a group of business associates to Kiran’s on Saturday night and the raves never stopped. Of course Kiran came by our table and made sure everyone’s tastes were well satisfied, making suggestions and adjusting spice levels by request. Every dish from starters (salmon tikka, tandoori prawns, potato samosas, tomato saffron soup) to main courses (lamb vindaloo, chicken tikka masala, lamb tenderloins, tandoori roasted red fish, saag paneer, daal, bengan bhartha, channa masala) was a hit. You can come here for meal and feel as though you are eating food in someone’s home in New Dehli or your dining experience can leave you feeling as though you are in a Michelin rated restaurant. The defining characteristic is that only finest quality and freshest ingredients available are used. Chicken tikka masala is a classic example of Chef Kiran’s commitment to excellence. The succulent pieces of breast meat are bathed in what can only be described as an elixir of a curry. Traditional bhindi masala is also a must have when okra is in season. Whether it’s traditional kulfi, gulab jamun, kheer, gajar halwa or one of the amazing fusion creations recently added to the menu, desert never disappoints. The ambiance and service are first rate. I only had to mention the fact that of my guests enjoyed the amazing peshwari naan before a fresh basket arrived steaming from the tandoor. The wine list has grown again since my last visit with some very interesting additions. I am sure accolades will be forthcoming for both the food and the wine selection as success has a way of finding chef Kiran. How lucky Houstonians are to have her call the bayou city home. NAME: They call me a food critic SUBMITTED: 10/31/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: October/2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Weak Points: The Food... This is not an authentic North Indian restaurant. I know that some may disagree, but Indian food is supposed to be spicy, not necessarily hot, but should have a melange of spices. This one does not, many dishes are bland and lack taste, Saag Paneer for instance. I also question if the ingredients are as fresh as touted, the paneer was too hard to be "fresh". And what's the deal with going overboard with the tomatoes? Strong Points: The ambiance, the location, the seating, service was above average, too. Overall: A good restaurant if you like non-authentic Indian-style Food, a mediocre and overpriced Indian restaurant otherwise. A slight improvement over the previous management team, but I really think the current management needs to spend some time researching their recipes, preferrably in New Delhi as opposed to New Jersey. NAME: Rocket Fan SUBMITTED: 10/3/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: September 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: An excellent restaurant with tremendous food, service, and ambiance; a place to relax and enjoy fine wines and a friendly and professional staff. On my first visit, Kiran greeted me (as she does all tables) and I immediately felt at home. I highly recommend this restaurant and bring the children; my friend's daughter loves this restaurant. Try the desserts, too! Fabulous! NAME: willy_ SUBMITTED: 9/22/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: September, 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Some of the best Indian food in town. The Saag Paneer and lamb dishes are fantastic. Service is prompt and friendly. The food and service have improved since Kiran took over. Remember, if you have a problem, ask to see the chef - we guarantee she will make it right! NAME: Mary and Mike SUBMITTED: 8/31/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY