I've lived in Berkeley my entire life, and Cafe Raj has consistently been the BEST place to get fresh, authentic, Indian food! While other restaurants have inconsistent service and food quality, my family and I can always come in and be greeted and welcomed by the friendly, outgoing people who work there. They truly care that the people they serve have a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Everyone is very accomodating and almost seems more like an extended family than a business. Another plus is the simple, yet warm and comfortable decor and environment. At many Indian restaurants in the area, it seems one has to be willing to sacrifice service or cleanliness in order to get authentic Indian food-- not the case at Cafe Raj. The place is small but meticulous, and the professional staff give you no doubt that you're getting great quality food-- the kitchen is just off the dining room and the chef frequently peers around the corner to check in and say hello! All dishes are cooked fresh to order, and while this sometimes make the wait time for the food a little longer, it's worth it! In the meantime, you can munch on tasty samosas or sip a traditional nimbu pani or mango lassi. Our favorites are the Chicken Tika Masalla or the Saag (Spinach) Panneer, though we love everything on the menu! If you need suggestions, the diverse, knowledgeable waitstaff are there to help-- some are Indian women with long, flowing hair and saris; others are white or of varied descent-- yet all are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and make cafe raj one of the most talked about Indian restaurants in the East Bay-- and for good reason!!!
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