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East India Company Pub & Eatery
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Indian Caterers, Indian [Edit]
349 York AveWinnipeg, MB R3C 3S9
(204) 947-3097
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for East India Company Pub & Eatery
Review Highlights
17 reviews in English
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Review from Dean S.
Thunder Bay, ON
2/4/2012
The buffet is pricey but soooo worth the sacrifice. I don't live in Winnipeg but this place makes me wish I did! I eat here every time I'm in town, specifically the dinner buffet. Love the atmosphere and warm service.
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Review from Norm S.
East York, ON
1/12/2011
I recently had a dinner here with two other out of town business travelers. We found the food to be good if a little overpriced for what you get but the service was atrocious.
We all three had the buffet, there are lots of dishes and a fair amount of variety, there is a bar with several salads, another area with vegetable dishes and a long bar of meat dishes. I did find that the sauces tended to mostly hit a similar flavour note. I enjoyed but was not blow away by the food, I didn't think it was as good as the family run Punjabi joint at the end of my block at home. The buffet was priced at $21.95 which is a little pricey for what works out to be one plate of food unless you are very hungry. I think this is probably a better value at the lunch buffet which is less expensive.
The service was very odd, our first server came and poured water but was unable to answer simple questions, he left the table without taking a drink order. Eventually the host/manager came to check on us and took drink orders. Then a different server arrived with the drinks and made a vaguely insulting joke as he served them. The first server reappeared, delivered bread then popped back a minute later and whisked away the bread basket while one of us had just picked up the naan to tear off a piece leaving him with the whole bread in his hands and nowhere to set it down.
Service during the buffet was also odd with the server refusing to take the cutlery from a diner who didn't want any more food and another server spilling water all over the table and our coats which were sitting on the 4th chair at the table and making a half effort at sopping it up with a napkin. The biggest problem was with the bill. Initially we got the completely wrong bill, then a bill with wine on it that we did not have, then when we asked to server to apply the payment evenly over three credit cards he couldn't do that and had to take the bill away and produce three individual bills, which turned out to also each have errors in them, it eventually took 7 trips to the table to get the bills correct, and then we discovered that we needed to go to the counter to pay the bills with the manager anyway. -
Review from David W.
12/15/2010
Rarely does the word exceptional come to describe the entire experience of a restaurant.
Located in the heart of downtown its easy to miss this seemingly unremarkable place walking along the bleak concrete buildings and skywalks. Once inside you are exposed to a large, beautifully decorated, interior with various handwoven carpets, statues, and frescos. A refreshingly inspiring experience in my year in Winnipeg.
It's with no surprise I'm told celebrities come here when they're in town on films using the city's classic 50s style buildings for films such as Capote and Shall We Dance.
You have your choice of the lunch time menu or the dinner buffet. The only tragic part of the buffet is that it simply extends on and on and you'll never be able to try everything in a single visit.
I cannot get over the price of $22 for what I paid nearly $70 CDN in London for a similar experience. The service, cleanliness, and business practices could only describe a well refined and professional restaurant.
The wide diversity in dishes, spices, and inspired flavours from around India make this place impossible to review dish by dish but you may go with the satisfaction that you'll find several favourites.
Reading more about this restaurant it boasts an impressive history of reviews and awards over the 41 years they've been running as a family business. The restaurant opened in 1970 and has since grown to a second restaurant in the heart of Ottawa that I had the opportunity to try. They've done their best to create an identical experience, but somehow lacked the personal touch of the home restaurant. -
Review from Leila M.
Winnipeg, MB
9/30/2011
This is my favourite restaurant in Winnipeg. I'd eat here daily if I didn't have to use my paycheque for rent, bills, and other non-food-related things.
The décor is beautiful, carvings and small statues everywhere, some of it either antique or skillfully-aged-to-look-antique. The staff is very friendly and will remember you if you're a regular visitor. It's a comfortable atmosphere where you can sit and have a leisurely repast, enjoying conversation or a good book with your meal.
But frankly, the food here is such that I'd eat at East India even if they seated me in a phone booth and had an angry waiter kick me in the face on the way to the buffet. So, let's just get right to the food.
Everything on the buffet is delicious. I have never tried a dish I haven't loved, and that's amazing, given how huge the buffet is. You'd think surely I would have tasted something gross by now, but no. It's all yummy. So here's my best advice of how to whittle down the buffet.
Starchy things: The rice is lovely, but the naan - HOLY WOW THE NAAN. Yes, it costs extra, but think of it this way: Naan will make your mouth happy. Contrast that with, say, dentist appointments, which make your mouth unhappy. Yet the food here costs only a fraction of a single routine dental cleaning. So get the naan. The coconut and garlic are both incredible, especially when paired with either the coconut or garlic chutneys. And speaking of -
Chutneys/Relishes: They're all marvelous. And if you're like me, and get the frequent urge to prove your awesomeness through capsicum, get at least a few jalapeños and eat them in gobs. Then, you too can sing the praises of spicy food, while choking for breath and trying to keep involuntary tears of pain from splashing onto your naan.
Pickles: The two best are the ginger pickle and the eggplant pickle, though there hasn't been any eggplant pickle the last few times I've gone. I think I may have eaten it all in prior visits. Sorry about that.
Salad-y things: The tomatoes. I don't know what the restaurant does to the sliced tomatoes, and I'm afraid to ask. How do they manage to transform the hockey-puck-like tomatoes we get here in Canada into...these? They're crisp-tender, delicious. They taste like they were plucked ripe on a sunny day, and immediately plunged into a savoury marinade of oil, herbs, and Ecstasy. Get you some.
Appetizer-y things: Pakoras. Mmmm. Pakoras. Even if you hate spinach, get one of these and try it out, because all vegetables are improved by deep-frying. Especially here, where the end product is crispy, not greasy or oily at all.
Veggie/legume-y things: See, I almost don't want to tell you how good the palak paneer is, because I'm afraid that if enough people find out about it, I'll go for lunch one day and there will be none left, and then I will cry. (See also, "jalapeños," above.) But I shall nobly inform you that, although my friends rave about the chickpea curry, my heart belongs to the pot of palak paneer. It is SO GOOD Y'ALL. Rich, hearty, creamy, with plenty of nice-sized chunks of paneer. I usually get a small plate of JUST this.
Meat-y things: This is not where you want to have the vegetarian writing the review, is it? Well, I did try the fish curry once, and found it shockingly good. I mean, "fish curry." In Winnipeg!
Now, I come from New Orleans. It's practically written into Louisiana law that we have to loathe seafood everywhere else, and talk about how nauseating and pathetic it is. I was looking forward to hating the fish curry! And wouldn't you know it, it was delicious.
The fish was tender-firm and very nicely flavoured, no "fishy" quality whatsoever, and the spices were perfect, not overwhelming at all. It actually tasted fresh, like a worthy dish with its own merit. (Too often, "stew"-type fish dishes taste of sad attempts to use up fish eyes or whatever awful leftovers were lying around. No such problem here!)
Sweets: Indian sweets are VERY sweet, so try the halwa if you prefer a milder, more wholesome dessert. If you like buttery richness, the gulab jamuns are warm and hearty, and just one will satisfy your buttery-rich cravings for a year. My own favourites here are the rosogollas (flavoured with just the right amount of kewra) and the rasmalai (creamy, milky, a hint of rose). I also had a tiny pot of mango kulfi a few weeks ago, which I had never seen on the buffet before and which was so rich that I can't eat regular ice cream ever again. Or any other food, actually, since I'm still kinda full.
Hopefully, you're reading the rest of this review from your iSmartberry or whatever, while sitting at a table in the East India Company. If not - go! -
Review from R D.
8/10/2011
This Indian restaurant in a busy part of downtown is one of the nicest Indian restaurants I have been to. It is well decorated but not gaudy. The food was very good worth about 4 stars overall. The fish curry, meatball curry and kichiry was excellent. The rice was also light and fluffy. The buffet was the largest I have seen outside of Las Vegas. There had to be about ten salads, six desserts and 20 main courses and appetizers.
So why then only 3 stars you ask. Well for one thing parking was very difficult. But I would not deduct stars for that alone. What really irked and annoyed me is what the waitress did or should I say did not. It is a buffet so we ordered drinks. Then she asked us what kind of naan we would like. I opted for the garlic and my wife the regular. Now what she did not mention is that there is an extra charge for naan. Five dollars extra for the two naan. Now I am not a tight wad and would have ordered it anyway. But I expect honesty to be bestowed upon me since that is what I give others. She violated that unsaid contract which is a total negative to me. MANAGEMENT OF EAST INDIA COMPANY PUB & EATERY TAKE NOTE! -
Review from DineoutGal A.
Winnipeg, MB
10/18/2009
A great place for Indian Food in Winnipeg in a beautifully decorated setting. I love the smell of all the aromatic spices that draw me in when I am within 10 feet of the front door. It's always a gluttonous feast here.
There's a daily lunch and dinner buffet including a salad bar, chutneys, yogurts, 15+ hot entrees (veg & meat), and dessert bar. The dinner buffet is $21.95.
There's always a great selection of their mainstay dishes like their creamy palak paner, vegetable korma, channa masala, samosas, pakoras, vegetable biryani, butter chicken, tandori chicken. And there's always a handful of delicious rotating dishes. Everything is made in house - from the cheeses to the yogurts. Their naan bread is delicious and made to order.
I've never had room for dessert but they always look intriguing.
Service is always very friendly here albeit water refills can lag at times when they're busy. The family that owns this restaurant is always very warm and engaging. This is definitely a go-to place if you want great Indian food in the city! -
Review from A.P. B.
MB
12/15/2010
The best Indian food in Winnipeg. But do yourself a favour, as good as the buffet is, order off the menu from time to time.
One of my favorites is the mixed meats skewer, cooked in the tandoor. Although technically an appy it's hearty enough for a meal especially if you order a side if naan. This traditional Indian flatbread is hand made fresh to order. I love the cheese stuffed naan but the garlic or plain are equally delicious.
The huge buffet does afford an opportunity to try a variety of dishes and you'd be hard pressed to find a fail. They offer all the standards like butter chicken, tandoori chicken, lamb and beef curry, dahl, palak paneeer and usually a special feature on a giant hot pan akin to a wok at the end of the line. Unfortunately this station all too often gets a little dried out overcooked quite quickly.
One of the advantages of the buffet however is the option to tap into the myriad salads and sauces (don't miss out on those spice pickled tomatoes hidden amongst the chutneys).
The buffet also gets you full access to the dessert bar...the rice pudding is not to be missed.
More news and reviews at http://www.SavourWinni... -
Review from Brodie R.
Calgary, AB
10/4/2011
Quick service and great tasty curry! The naan bread is amazing!
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Review from Greg H.
Belleville, ON
10/28/2009
I eat out 6 months of the year and rarely give out 5 stars, but this one warrants it.
I've only been for their buffets which I assume is the standard and most popular... It is, bar none, the freshest and best of any Indian buffets I've eat. The variety is phenomenal and everything I've tried on 3 different visits over the past year has been completely fresh. There is a large variety of sauces and spices to complement and even the desserts are unique and excellent.
The staff has always been friendly, even getting me 'super extra' hot sauce when I always ask for it.
It is on the pricy side but I have no problem paying (over 20$ per person with tip and a drink). -
Review from lorraine r.
Vancouver, BC
8/19/2011
My husband and I have been here a few times as we really enjoy the food. That said, while we are willing to pay the price for the buffet and a bottle of wine we agree that the waiter should let you know there is an additional cost for naan.
The service is horrible and full of "attitude". We may never go back thanks to one waitress who we heard mocking our choice of an inexpensive wine. She told the bus boy that we should have stayed at home if we didn't want to spend extra money and then all four wait staff had a laugh.
The only part of the service that isn't slow is the clearing of plates and giving the bill. -
Review from John I.
Toronto, ON
10/18/2009 1 photo
The best place for Indian Food in Winnipeg, East India Company never disappoints. This full service buffet has a bevy of incredible dishes from India and is truly authentic. Their chefs are incredible and have been trained in India. The restaurant is clean, which is critical for an intensive buffet environment (especially in the day of H1N1). In addition the restaurant possesses white table cloths, modern cutlery and continuous water service (they also have a full bar).
The restaurant ownership brings class, charm and intelligence to the operation. The family who manages the organization are intertwined into all aspects of execution and the attention to detail never fails to impress.
The restaurant is filled with an incredible offering of Indian art and decor. We noticed a wonderful art piece facing the buffet that was etched with magnificent detail. Even the music was inspiring and thoughtful.
This Spice King gives East India Company Pub & Eatery the Royal "Picante" Assent! -
Review from Ashley B.
6/15/2011
I just had the Sunday buffet. It was excellent. They had a huge selection of dishes (many vegetarian) along with a wide variety of chutneys. All of this came with a mango lassee and fresh naan. Delicious food for a good price!
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Review from Bob T.
Winnipeg, MB
8/8/2011
Food was good. Nothing to write home about but the service was horrible. This place needs better service to make people wanna come back.
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Review from John R.
Winnipeg, MB
12/9/2010
Been by here a lot over the last years, and I still think this is one of the best places in this city for East Indian food. From the décor, the service, and the smell when you walk in the door it is a good experience. The food is varied and it is one of the few places that I can say I have never had a bad dish. Yes I will be back to this one.
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Review from mike m.
8/14/2009
i would go out of my way to eat here again.
if you get here before dinner, there is a buffet, and i would recommend it highly. definitely try the "pan" bread they bake it right in front of you, and its delicious!
everything i ate here was exceptional, and the seasoning was perfect too!
possibly the best indian food ive ever had!
the service was slow though from time to time, but friendly. -
Review from Sean M.
Winnipeg, MB
6/8/2010
Best Indian food in the city. The chefs are legit: all recruited from India by the family. It's the best Indian I've had in north America, easily.
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Review from Denise P.
Winnipeg, MB
1/30/2010
My husband is a chef, so he has pretty high standards for food presentation, taste, value for your money etc. This restaurant is one of his favourites. We like the atmosphere, service, cleanliness, friendliness of the staff and the fact this is a family run business. We would highly recommend East India Company to anyone. There is such an extensive choice of food and the price is reasonable for what you receive. Order a side order of Naan bread to go with your meal. This is a great place to go for a special occasion as well. Keep up the great work, EIC! :-)
