Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar

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116 N West St # 100
Raleigh, NC 27603

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(919) 833-2823
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Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar - Raleigh, NC
Reviews
( 10 )
( 3 )
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( 0 )
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Best

We at Mantra would like to take this opportunity to thank all visiting guests who wrote in about their experience when dining at Mantra. All your feedback gives us insight into ho...

Worst

All reviews seem positive

Thanks to all the feedback, from Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar 5/22/2012

We at Mantra would like to take this opportunity to thank all visiting guests who wrote in about their experience when dining at Mantra. All your feedback gives us insight into how we can further better our service standards, so that guests have a pleasant experience while dining at Mantra. Thanks Gamer Rawat P.S.- Look forward to seeing you all again at Mantra. more
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Great experience 5/14/2012

After hearing so many great things about this restaurant, I finally went. The signature aloo chaat is flash-fried potatoes topped with sweet yogurt, tamarind and date chutney. It was so light, so airy, and so crisp; it immediately disintegrates in your mouth. Another signature dish, malai kofta, paneer pasanda, dum aloo and stuffed bellpeppers was incredible, For dessert, I chose my favorite, gulab jamun--round balls made of dough and milk solids with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream so fantastic. At Mantra, not only did we receive three incredible courses, we were also approached by the chef towards the end of our meal and conversed with him momentarily. I think that's really generous of him to take a couple of minutes of his busy time to see how our experience was at the restaurant. What a great experience. Be sure to go if you love Indian cuisine or have never tried it. But beware. Once you dine at Mantra, any other place is sure to disappoint. more
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I was welcomed into the restaurant and quickly offered 5/14/2012

From the chill of the outdoors and through the curtain I was brought into the world of Mantra. My fear was that it would be too hipster for my taste, but I was welcomed into the restaurant and quickly offered a seating option despite the tables being filled. Since i was at the chef’s table I felt that I was being given a royal treatment with a round table seating arrangement with a chandelier and portrait of the chef who greeted us during the course of our meal. I took a few moments to take in the restaurant before I opened the menu. I was wonderfully overwhelmed by the menu options of Mantra. I love Indian food, but can easily fall into the palak paneer and naan trap. I wanted to try a little bit of everything...from the appetizer menu, so the waiter pointed me to their non-veg. & veg. platter which consists of a sample size of a couple of appetizers listed on the menu. After consulting with the chef I opted for the chef’s special menu which featured the aloo chaat, lobster masala, lamb shank, the “popular chicken tikka masala” and the bread basket. While in my dining experience at Mantra, the chef approached the table to get our opinion on what we thought about his entrees and if we needed anything else to better the dining experience. It was a treat! more
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So delicious 5/14/2012

Wow! You have to try the Chicken tikka masala. It was so delicious I could have ordered this appetizer as an entrée. The lamb kebabs I order tasted so fresh, so perfect. They really make sure they cook with the freshest ingredients. Rack of Lamb marinated in yogurt was perfectly marinated. For those that are vegan, Mantra offers a variety of entrees that are flavorful. When comparing the prices of most fine dining restaurants with Mantra you won't be disappointed, the price isn’t expensive. more
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Mantra was good 5/14/2012

We are accustomed to eating Indian food and were looking for a place where true traditional Indian cooking is served. We stumbled across Greg Cox’s review of Mantra and noticed that there was a mention of chef Rawat who we have been following for years in the Triangle Area. Chef Rawat has previously cooked for Saffron where we frequently visited and the dishes there were tasteful. When we read that chef Rawat was at Mantra we immediately decided to visit Mantra to see what dishes were being prepared there. Not surprisingly everything we had tried at Mantra was good. more
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The best Indian food 5/14/2012

Wow! This was some of the best Indian food I've had in a long time. This place is good. Not just good for the triangle area but actually really good for anyone who could make it here and try the food. We decided to switch it up from the Cary, Morrisville & Chapel hill area and take a chance on the Downtown, Raleigh. As we entered the restaurant we were amazed at the décor and lighting of the restaurant. We were immediately greeted by the friendly hostess. The waiter immediately approached our table and poured water while introducing himself and asking if we wanted to drink any other beverage other than water. The service was timed nicely making sure that we hadn’t run out of water if we wanted more rice with our entrée order. We have tried most of the Indian restaurants in the triangle area and are assured that we will be returning to Mantra again and again!! more
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The presentation is excellent 5/14/2012

I would like to state that I am a very picky eater, however when I visited Mantra, I was cautious at first but then became a fan of their food (especially the lobster masala and lamb shank). I was just amazed by the amount of food that was brought out. All the entree dishes just filled up the table. And the smell was wonderful! First I tried a bit of everything. the lamb shank was good and spicy, but I left most of it for my husband. He's always loved this dish. The Sikandri Raan is a (very) filling entrée, the presentation is awesome, the lamb rests atop a massive triangular naan! The dal Mantra had a nice smokey flavor to it, and was excellent for dipping the naan. Mantra’s lobster masala is to die for, the presentation is excellent as well as the sauce that accompanies the lobster. The chef (surprisingly) made an appearance at our table and was kind to give us his favorite picks as well as what would pair well with the selections. He was also very hospitable, checking back with us to see how we enjoyed the food and if there was anything else that we wanted to make the experience more pleasant. more
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You will not be disappointed 5/14/2012

Very good! Great service and delicious food! It’s a perfect place to book a party, there’s a booth area within the restaurant that is perfect to throw a party size of 40. My wife and I celebrated our 10th marriage anniversary party within the booth area of the restaurant. The booth area is ideal for throwing a party, it is tucked away from the crowd of the restaurant, and you can still enjoy your party while there are other guests dining within or on the patio of the restaurant. The chef and I collaborated together to come up with a prefixed menu that would be used solely for our party. The foods were aromatically intense and very richly flavored The service was impeccable. And the waiters that were taking care of us were superb meeting all of our demands as requested. The chef’s wife greeted and chatted with us while amusing the children who were in attendance. Mantra is one of my top eateries and party destination in the Raleigh area, the hospitality is very good. You really can't go wrong with what you order. Just make sure to reserve a table/ or space in advance. Recommendations: For starters try the mint scallops, crab masala, chicken malai kabab and lamb seekh kabab For the main course you MUST try the ginger lamb-chops or the lamb roganjosh. The lamb at Mantra is exceptionally tender and flavorful; a truly melt-in-your-mouth experience. You will not be disappointed. more
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This place is amazing!! 5/13/2012

Best Indian food I've had. Mantra has an excellent array of items within their menu. The service and atmosphere is wonderful and the prices are generous. Make a reservation on Friday and Saturday because it is packed. Awesome chutneys! You must try the crab masalat!! I will not go there without ordering it. I even tried to make it at home myself but failed miserably. I have no idea how they make the stuff, but it's really good - probably made at a really high temp. It's so light and has a hint of a little coconut flavor. I also really love the chicken biryani. Their food is not as heavy as other Indian dishes I have tried and it does not give me the same heart burn I typically experience with Indian dishes. This place is amazing!! more
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The best places to dine on Indian delicacies 5/13/2012

Oh my, what can I say!? We had a simply divine dinner here in the Downtown Raleigh area. A friend of ours recommended Mantra and said to be sure and try the Non-Veg. platter as an appetizer. We liked it so much we ordered more! Trust me, it's that good. The 3 of us each ordered a different dinner entree, and then we shared. The Lamb Shank, chicken tikka masala and Kerla fish curry were all terrific. I had the tilapia and the portion size was plentiful. And of course, there was the naan bread which you can easily forget how much you've eaten. But that didn't stop us from cleaning our plates. We ordered dessert as well and I must say the pistachio ice cream was really good. I am an avid food connoisseur and must point out that I have tasted Indian food throughout the U.S. and Mantra in Raleigh is by far one of the best places to dine on Indian delicacies. more
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Mantra keeps me coming back for more 5/13/2012

I am not usually a big fan of Indian food, but Mantra keeps me coming back for more. I go there probably 3-4 times a month and I have never had a bad experience. The server (Manish) always recognizes us and is very attentive. We've been there on a tight schedule before, and they've helped us to get out in time to get to our show. The waiter (Manish) was very informative of the entrees and also selected some staple dishes (such as the Lamb Shank) which was a superb pick, He also picked out the wine which would pair good with the food which was the Vigilance-Cabernet Sauvignon, Mantra is now one of my favorite restaurants because of its excellent food and great service! Mantra will be the place I take guests who are looking for a great dining experience and some authentic Indian cuisine. more
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Very Impressed 2/11/2012

While I am no connoisseur of Indian food, I am the definition of ""foodie""! that being said I can check off the box next to ""Go to place for Indian food"" Atmosphere was awesome, Food near perfect, service could use a tad more polish but that would be me really having to search for a negative comment. more
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Excellent!!! 10/3/2011

Everything was excellent! Food was delicious and came out very quickly. Service was suburb, our waiter made an amazing wine recommendation. Cocktails are unique and yummy. Atmosphere is upscale and relaxing. more
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Menu for Mantra Indian Cuisine & Bar


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Additional information
  • Hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Neighborhoods: Central
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