Pondicheri

3 star for taste. 5 star for ambience and service. We have been here for brunch , it is definitely not a typical desi taste.

Three stars because our waitress was very nice and the chaimisu was good. Other than that the tables are too close together so I wouldn't recommend a large group, maybe a dinner date or even just eating by yourself. The food portions are way too pricey for what's given. We ordered the Texan thali, the butter chicken, and the pani puri appetizer. I appreciate the fusion sentiment and introducing Indian spices in these dishes but the serving size is so small I can't justify the price per dish.

For some reason, on my last post all the photos weren't attached, so here you go again on how delicious and nice everything looks

This may be my new favorite restaurant in Houston! I am gluten free and I am also a vegetarian. Pondicheri knocks it lot of the park when it comes to options to accommodate my dietary needs! The egg dosa, vishnu thali, and earth thali were phenomenal! The earth thali comes with naan but the waiter happily accommodated a gluten free option for me! That's amazing service and it shows that the waiter 100% took my dietary needs seriously! Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all the questions I had. The restaurant is small but the ambience is top notch. I cannot wait to go back. This will be a regular dining place for me!

I think it's been 12 years since I visited (I no longer live in Houston), but Pondicheri and Indika have been on my radar since their beginnings since I went to lower and middle school with the owner's daughter.We got both samosas to start. They were smaller than expected, I liked the goat more which also has a kick. Between the 3 of us, we got the Tuesday fried chicken special, green masala shrimp, and lamprais curry. Portion size is good, not huge like you may see at more "standard" Indian restaurants. What I enjoyed about the meal is the variety of flavors and textures. I love parties in my mouth, and Pondicheri delivered. We did make a reservation and "reserved" the special which is good because they did run out otherwise tonight. The fried chicken is an Indian take on chicken and waffles. The dwaffle (dosa waffle) has great chew and some crispiness and a savoriness that goes well with the sweet syrup that's also on it. Lamprais was just a unique mix of flavors not quite like anything I've really had before. I only had a bit of the shrimp since I'm technically allergic and don't really like it, but my sister enjoyed it. The utthapum is similar to a fermented pancake and was another flavor I liked.For dessert we got a chai pie bite and the saffron cheesecake. I only had a small bit of the pie bite but was pleasantly surprised by the custard texture which I was wary about. The saffron cheesecake was delicious, from the aromatic sauce to the creamy (I assume) saffron-ness.

I've been to Pondicheri a few times over the past couple years. It's a beautiful spot with yummy "hits the spot" spices and flavors.The atmosphere feels modern and sophisticated. It is located in a shopping area with a free parking garage right next to it. It has indoor and outdoor seating.Lots of cookies and other desserts that would be easy to buy and take out or give as a gift. They also have a small items (jars, sauces, etc) displayed for sale at the front of the restaurant. Staff has always been friendly and informative, which is helpful because the menu can be tricky to navigate for someone not very familiar with the cuisine. I love that the ingredients and meats are locally or intentionally sourced. Highly recommend ordering the jardín cocktail - so good!

If you have not tried Pondicheri yet, get in the car and go now! They have amazing, flavorful food that is always a major hit! I also go for the thalis so I can have as many bites of goodness as I can! And make sure to sip some chai! Upstairs they have a bake lab for pastries/sweets and you can but spices and sauces to be your own inspired chef!

Good food, good ambience!The Earth Thali true to its name had earthy flavors and tasted authentic. Loved the fact that the spices didn't over power the actual greens, lentils or any delicacy.

I came here at the recommendation from a friend who is a prolific Yelp reviewer. I needed a casual place to have a casual business lunch. I was kind of nervous, as my boss is Indian and has been in the US for 25 years.To say that she was impressed would be an understatement! I will definitely be back here.

Not sure what happened today. I felt I was left like there were no services. My plate was never picked, and I did not offer water or anything else I wanted. The place is not disability friendly.The food was ok. But I am very disappointed with the service. Good luck next time.