Review Esphahan - Agra

Esphahan definitely exceeded my expectations! From the service to the ambience to the food itself, I was truly impressed. We ordered the non-vegetarian thali, and our meal began with a cup of a delicious, gingery lentil soup which was a perfect warm start to the dinner on this chilly November evening. We were the served an appetizer of some of the most tender shrimp and chicken I’ve never had. It set the bar quite high for what was to come. Our thali arrived with samplings of fish, chicken, lamb, daal, and palak paneer dishes along with rice and butter naan. Everything was delightful with the fish curry being a standout for me. They were also accommodating to my guest who asked for a substitution for the paneer. Dessert was also an experience in itself - a journey through traditional Indian desserts and also an Agra-specific sweet called petha. Our servers were all wonderful. I think we had 5 servers attend to our table. A musician playing a santoor created a beautiful and mesmerizing ambiance for our dinner. We had a five star experience and would certainly return again. One small pro tip for booking - we dined on a Tuesday evening in mid-November. I requested a reservation through email about 2 weeks before our trip. Of their two seating options, only the 9:15 pm option was available. I emailed the afternoon of our reservation to see if there were any cancellations for the 7 pm seating. The restaurant emailed me back saying that there was no availability at 7 pm so I kept my 9:15 reservation. We arrived to the hotel at around 6:30 pm to visit the boutiques and walk the grounds (which I highly recommend you do as the hotel is gorgeous). I stopped by the restaurant’s reservation desk at 7 pm to see if there were any tables available. We were promptly seated at a table of our choice. During the two hours we were there, only 4 tables were occupied (so most of the restaurant was empty). I’m not sure why I was told there was no availability but do know that you may be able to snag a table if you simply show up at 7.

Everything about this restaurant was great. The place was clean and smelled good. The staff and greeter was very nice. Our waiter was awesome, the staff also worked as a team in bringing and cleaning up our food. Menu is extensive and seasonal to a particularly high standard. Definitely fine dining.😎 The food was fresh and awesome. Great atmosphere with really nice people. Not much expensive place. Staff was so Great impressed by them 😍 And Also Place good for family and Friends.I love that you get a lot of food as well for the price. Highly recommended. Love this place and will continue to visit.

I had a fantastic dining experience at Esphahan Restaurant . The variety and quality of dishes were outstanding. Each dish I tried was a delightful culinary journey, bursting with flavor. The attentive service and welcoming ambiance added to the overall experience. I highly recommend Esphahan Restaurant for a memorable dining experience.

It was a great experience to visit the place. The ambiance and service at its best. The food was delicious. Had a great time with family. Surely visit again. And will also recommend to others to stay at least once and experience.

The food is absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of flavorful dishes that satisfy your taste buds. The ambience is charming and creates a wonderful dining experience. I highly recommend giving it a try! 😊🍽️🌟

The variety and quality of dishes were outstanding. I highly recommend Esphahan Restaurant for a memorable dining experience. It was a great experience to visit the place. And will also recommend to others to stay at least once and experience.

I had an absolutely fantastic experience at this hotel. The staff were incredibly welcoming, the room was comfortable and well-appointed, and the amenities were top-notch. The food at the on-site restaurant was exquisite, and the location was ideal for exploring the city.

The dining at this hotel was a memorable experience. The outstanding food, pleasant music, impeccable service, and inviting ambiance combine to create an enchanting evening. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a well-rounded and delightful dining experience.

Esphahan definitely exceeded my expectations! From the service to the ambience to the food itself, I was truly impressed. We ordered the non-vegetarian thali, and our meal began with a cup of a delicious, gingery lentil soup which was a perfect warm start to the dinner on this chilly November evening. We were the served an appetizer of some of the most tender shrimp and chicken I’ve never had. It set the bar quite high for what was to come. Our thali arrived with samplings of fish, chicken, lamb, daal, and palak paneer dishes along with rice and butter naan. Everything was delightful with the fish curry being a standout for me. They were also accommodating to my guest who asked for a substitution for the paneer. Dessert was also an experience in itself - a journey through traditional Indian desserts and also an Agra-specific sweet called petha. Our servers were all wonderful. I think we had 5 servers attend to our table. A musician playing a santoor created a beautiful and mesmerizing ambiance for our dinner. We had a five star experience and would certainly return again. One small pro tip for booking - we dined on a Tuesday evening in mid-November. I requested a reservation through email about 2 weeks before our trip. Of their two seating options, only the 9:15 pm option was available.

The restaurant exceeded my expectations with its exceptional food. The menu offered a diverse range of delicious options that catered to various tastes. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, showcasing the chef's skill and attention to detail. The flavors were exquisite, combining unique ingredients and bold spices to create memorable culinary experiences.

Whatever I say about this find dine experience will not make justice to how good the food tasted, how amazing the ambience was and how well we were treated by the staff. <br/><br/>We went for the non veg chef’s platter and were nothing but extremely happy with it. <br/><br/>Shoutout to chef Saurabh. What food. Worth every penny. <br/><br/>Must must must visit. For special occasions and otherwise.

The Oberoi Amarvilas itself is an experience in itself while you are here in Agra. The finest hotel in the city with the most magnificent views of the Taj right across from the hotel <br/>The speciality restaurant here that serves North Indian food would perhaps be better than any Michelin Star restaurant that you may have eaten it<br/>For one it’s the slow music that’s playing for you abc it is the traditional Santoor that playing out for you that sets the tone <br/>Each table is set like a perfect setting with the crockery, cutlery, flowers that are pretty much deserving of that 6 star that I cannot give <br/>With the most exquisite selection of drinks, winners and more you can start your meal with the traditional starters that they would recommend<br/>For someone who is a foodie I would recommend the chefs special of the small plates that’s got a hint of fusion in every Indian dish, so be it the salad or even the stuffed paneer starter that’s filled with all the aromatic flavours and tastes <br/>Each dish is very well presented that makes so much for the difference <br/>Don’t miss the traditional flavour of pickles, papad, chutneys and more on the side <br/>There is no concept of a main dish in this preset menu and it’s going to totally linger your senses <br/>For someone who is hungry like my friends the Thali is a great treat and it’s wholesome and is a visual treat too <br/>And if that’s not all, the deserts are going to also stir you right from the Gulab Jamun, Agra petha, Ras malai, chocolate fondue and more <br/>They will have rose petal hand wash done traditional style as you finish!<br/>While in Agra not eating here is quite a waste!

Royal north Indian taste. Me and my colleagues had a lovely and memorable dinner at the Esphahan. We had kebabs, lamb rice and some more dishes. The food was well prepared, balanced masalas were used. Superb place to go

Great Restaurant!..Fantastic traditional Indian food and a great tasting menu as well!<br/>Kebab variety is huge and Kakori kabab is outstanding!

Amarvilas has its definite royal and rich feel. And the same reflects in the food they have to offer.<br/><br/>Delicious food with a royal presentation makes you enjoy the aura and ambience around. The quality of ingredients used is super and above expectation.<br/><br/>Truly a rich experience.

Sumptuous and experimental dining experience. Soft and soothing Indian classical live music . More than just eating the food, it was about the curiosity to explore what’s this dish about. If you want to experience MINDFUL EATING, Must Try : The Tasting Menu , Indian Traditional thali . Courteous and warm people who make and serve , the essence of which reflects well .

Date of visit - 11/12/2017. 9 pm<br/><br/>Me and my girlfriend visited the Esphahan restaurant to finish our Agra trip on a high note. We ordered the Non vegetarian Thali so we could try out a number of items from the menu. The atmosphere was nice with live music playing. But, unfortunately that was the only good part of our experience, other than the cup of tomato and coriander soup we had to start our dinner. <br/><br/>We got our assorted starters which included lamb kebab with stuffed prunes. It tasted ok, and by the time I finished eating it my girlfriend found a piece of hair in her lamb. I was really disgusted by it also the fact bothered me that I already ate mine. The chef came out and apologized to us, and we didn’t want to make a scene out of it either hence accepted the apology. <br/><br/>Her meal was replaced by another one. The rest of the food was ok, we had better Indian food in a lot of places. I wouldn’t have made a big deal but now me and my gf both are suffering from food poisoning and diarrhoea. This is absolutely horrendous that we pay about ₹ 6600 for food which tasted ok and get food poisoning as an extra flavour. <br/><br/>Very poor quality of hygiene and cleanliness.... I am overly disappointed and terribly disgusted.

And Kunnu's Birthday celebrations continued at Esphahan, a restaurant named after a city in Iran signifying the influence of Persia / Iran's contribution to the Mughlai Cuisine, in the very eloquently beautiful fortress-like Oberoi's Ammarvillas - the only place in Agra from where one can See The Taj Mahal from almost every Suite of this Hotel.  <br/><br/>Mixed reviews deterred us from trying this restaurant but thank God we paid no heed to them and decided to celebrate Kunnu's birthday here. While the soft music of Santoor (being played live) serenaded our heart and soul, we ordered Balai ka Jhinga and Chicken Biryani (Avadhi-style of Preparation) while we kept sipping Hoegaarden :P . <br/><br/>We were served khakras (Lentil crisps) and Lentil soup before we started our sojourn. Lentil soup was high on flavors and tasted better because of the garlic.We were zapped by the perfectly charred Tiger prawns that were marinated in a citrusy creamy marination. Very little spice yet the subtle sourness of the marination gelled well with the natural flavors of very juicy prawns.Instead of Chicken Biryani, we were served Mutton Biryani and no sooner had they realised their goof-up, they served us Chicken Biryani and we ended-up liking Mutton Biryani. This Biryani was unlike many Biryani's we have eaten in the past. It was moist yet without the gravy bit, and just perfect on taste and flavors. Very sweet of the restaurant to serve a complimentary Mango Mousse Cake (which was totally delicious) to celebrate Kunnu's birthday. Santoor player managed to play The Happy Birthday song on this very beautiful classical instrument. <br/><br/> Devansh and Tazeem took turns in taking great care of us. <br/><br/>For a 5 Star the prices and quantity were befitting.<br/><br/>One of the most beautiful properties we have been to in the recent times, Esphahan and The Oberoi Ammarvillas are etched in our memories forever.

A complete shame in the name of Oberoi Group!!!! I actually felt like being in the era of British Raj wherein Indians were belittled but that was at least by the Britishers but here it was the fellow Indians!!<br/>Overrated food with pathetic taste!complete nightmare in the name of hospitality! We have  penchant for visiting 5 star properties now n then...i have never come across such horrible waiter n waitress with fake smile n so ill mannered!   GO TO THIS PLACE IF YOU WANNA EXPERIENCE HOW INDIANS WERE ILL TREATED DURING BRITISH RAJ!!

This is the first five pointer in my list . And trust me it is worth every single star you have. Thank you for making my first anniversary one of the best memories ever.<br/>Food, ambience every bit of it makes you feel just a class apart.

Overrated , overpriced and bad service. Racial profiling by waiters. Food was not that great for that price. The taste was ordinary and portions were small. Desserts- rashmalai was average. Portion was alright.

We stayed at the Oberoi on a short stay in Agra. We are Australians and while we enjoy great Indian food in Melbourne, we ate at a totally different level on our vacation in India. The hotel standard is exceptional and a haven from the hectic nature of the Taj. After a long afternoon, we enjoyed a wonderful Thali at Esphahan. We'd enjoyed superb food at the Oberoi in Mumbai ( Ziya) and also at The Oberoi in Udaipur, so we were not surprised at the exceptional service levels and also the quality of the food. Staggering complexity of flavours in even the simplest of dishes ( the Yellow Dahl was simply superb). 2 Thali options ( Vegetarian or Carnivore) and while I'm not a vegetarian, I absolutely loved this option. The Paneer Tikka a standout of 8 dishes. I'm convinced that India is the one country in the world in which I could be a vegetarian, such is the capacity of the creative process in the use of spices. And at a restaurant of the calibre of Esphahan, you're taken to a new level.

This is a nice Indian Restaurant at The Oberoi Amarvilas, and Wife and I went there for my Birthday Celebration. The Restaurant has 2 seatings - 7.00 - 9.00 and 9.30 onwards. We went there for the first seating, but found that since this was an off season, they were not very strict in adhering to it and guests were free to walk in any time. The ambience is lovely, opulent yet charming and understated. They have a lone Musician playing Santoor in a nice, non intrusive way that adds to the back ground and experience.<br/><br/>The staff there is friendly and are happy to offer suggestions. Wife and I went with the Thali - she opted for vegetarian and I opted for Non Vegetarian Thali. We were started off with a sample of their Dal Soup. We were also offered free sample mocktails from their side, a nice refreshing touch.<br/><br/>For the Starters, wife got a combination of their Paraatdar Paneer Tikka (Soft and Succulent), Til Aur Palak ke Shammi Kebab and Rajma ki Tikkiyan, and she loved all 3. I had a combination of Chicken Tikka, A fish tikka and a Lamb Kebab and was happy with all 3. After that we had a portion of Soup - Veg Dal Soup for her and Chicken Soup for me.<br/><br/>For the mains, the Thali contained loads of options. The Veg Thali had Gucchi, Kumbh and Mutter ki Sabzi, Sag Paneer, Baingan Bharta, Stuffed Aloo, Yogurt Raita and their signature Dal Esphahan, which is amazing, having been simmered in Butter and spices for over 24 hours. The mains are occupied with choice of Indian bread and followed by choice of Rice.<br/>In the Non vegetarian Thali, the mains were Bengal Prawns in Coconut Curry, the combination of which was delicious. There was a chicken Korma, which was sweet, yet light on the palette, Lamb, which was nice, Sag Paneer and Dal Esphahan, and Yogurt. I absolutely loved all the mains. The portions are more than adequate for a single person.<br/><br/>For the Desserts, there was a sample size platter of Gulab Jamun, Angora Rasmalai, a Kulfi, and Agra's famous Petha and a Pan Petha, it was a lovely way to end a perfect meal.<br/><br/>The food and the service both are perfect here and we really did not find anything to complain about. The meal is definitely pricey, but you get what you pay for. We would definitely visit again if we were in the city.

If there was a higher rating than 5, I'd give that just for the impeccable service. The wait, hotel staff, the managers are very welcoming and will not refrain from going an extra mile to make your experience worth a while. Firstly, this hotel is country's one of the most beautiful properties. You will be mindblown by the grand entrance that looks like a live mughal miniature painting and ofcorse nothing beats the view of the Taj. We ordered a vegetarian thali, that was more than enough to stuff 3 of us uptil the gut. They served us with a welcome drink, a very interesting soup called "khoru" to start with. Started with appetisers, they are happy to change the options according to your liking, I personally love the paratdar paneer tikka. Main course had a variety of 5 dishes, delicious pulav and a choice of any 4 breads from the menu. Lastly, we were served with deserts, fell in love with the paan petha. Since it was my parent's anniversary, these guys got us a complimentary cake, which was again a very sweet gesture. <br/>One must opt for the 7pm slot, to watch the Taj at sunset, since it's not lit at night. You will not see Taj from the restaurant, but you can catch the view from the bar, over a few drinks before dinner. <br/>A very delightful experience overall with the live santoor playing in the background. I highly recommend this place for a special dinner.

We visited the place for breakfast after a look at the Taj. The breakfast spread was excellent, the egg Benedict was the show stopper. The view of the Taj from the lounge is breathtaking and this place is a must visit.

If there would be a place to enjoy some traditional food it has to be this place in Agra. Thats it the Food is good rest everything is bad. Trust me when I tell you this. Service to ambience to laziness. <br/><br/>I mean we are paying for The food and not eating for free. We had to wait for like hours just to get a starter. Service was horrendous. Nobody wanted to serve our table. I dont know why they were giggling so much.

Reasinable food but outstanding service. The property is a class apart right from the entrance. The dinner hall could have been better set up. The prawn curry with coconut milk and mustard was the best.. Starters were average

Thought we could get a view of the Taj from here .. so was superexcited for this place!.. But when we got on all we saw was a cramped up closed restaurant ..like any other!..hence get so disappointed . Nevertheless we went ahead and decided to order .. stuck to the basics and ordered the mutton biryani !!and thank God , the food saved the day ! Ot was delicious !!the mutton pieces were so nicely cooked , tender , juicy! Went so well woth the raita. Like other normal places where the add rather too much masala to the biryani , this one DINT! Masala felt just right in your mouth 😍!. The bill obviously as expected was in fact more than expected $$$ ...they really have to work on the ambience of the restaurant .