Masala Art in Darlington

Exceptional food and warm friendly staff. Today was Vijaydashani so we were treated to Payasam off the dessert menu. Could not fault this restaurant. Simply superb.

Realy amazing experience.. same as always. Mouth watering food... chef🙌.. chineese yum yum... chicken Lolipop 😘🥰 chilli paneer was cherry on Top.. Thanks to Chef.... Waiting staff were all so nice welcoming from the moment we enter till the end ... always attentive and available to help. 😘😘🥰🥰👌👌

Absolutely amazing taste , less oily and greasy so healthy unlike most curry places. Indian food at its most presentable best .

Wowee! We ordered from here yesterday and were over the moon with our food! The hydrabadi chicken 65 packs a proper punch and the chicken dhaniyawala has the most gorgeous flavour! They were really generous with portions so we had a lot left over and somehow it was even better the next day! Can't wait to try more of the menu

First time visiting masala art, and I wasn't disappointed, the food was to a high standard, staff very attentive and great value for money my only niggle would be giving customers a little bit more time before serving the next course, other than that everything was perfect and we will definitely visit again.

Quoted 45 mins and then delivered in 2 hours 30 mins, owner called at point of delivery when the driver was challenged to explain with no hint of an Apology. AVOID Order places 19:30 and accepted at 19:42 with confirmed delivery of 20:25. drivers first call received at 21:54 when in the area and at our premises at 22:02, first call from owner who refused to acknowledge any issue at 22:13. Food cold upon delivery, suggested refund still not received. Again AVOID For clarity the electric gates close themselves, I feel sorry for any other customers waiting for late deliveries after 10pm on a night as it seems there were no more deliveries in the car when dropped at us and they supposedly close at 10pm.? Seems this is more than 1 customer who has suffered this terrible service and lack of recognition of just how poor this is.

Chicken madras, inedible. Far too much salt

Excellent food, tried a new dish I haven't seen on any other menu and wasn't disappointed, fantastic service, very stylish restaurant and impeccable facilities, would recommend highly

Got a curry last night dreadful full off Greas oil so did not bother with it phoned them back up. sed we will redeliver and they did but second one meat was awful and very strange test avoiding this place from now on. The reviews are not telling the truth.

Very good food and very reasonably priced.

Amazing food, lovely atmosphere, very kind and considerate staff, totally enjoyed our time, 10000% recommend

The best bar none in Darlington, superb 😊👍

Orders a meal was cold and for price not a lot not the best tasting food either

Superb. Food was fantastic, staff really friendly, can recommend chicken 65 starter - ask for spicy if you dare - it was excellent followed by railway lamb. Just brilliant.

Delicious flavours and really friendly staff, very attentive. Found on google and would recommend . Had the Gol Gappe as a starter and chicken chettinaad. Very original and so flavoursome. Spoke to the owner who tols us th spices are specially shipped. I can well well believe it!

Best restaurant in the northeast of England. Gorgeous food and delightful service. 100% recommended

Fantastic service and great food. I chose a dish I hadn't had before and without realising I was advised it wasn't in a sauce therefore a sauce was recommended and it was so tasty. This was our first visit will come back again.

The best Indian restaurant in darlington

Food was unexpectedly good. The restaurant was nearly empty and we didn't expect much but everything we ordered was tasty. Service was also great.

Food fresh and very tasty, good atmosphere 😃

Great service, recommendations for what to eat with which meal. Lovely food, good atmosphere , a joy to visit. Thank you

An extremely pleasant Owner I would highly recommend this establishment.

Best Indian food in Darlington! Super fast service, very kind staff, and food is finger licking good. Highly recommended.

Fantastic food, definitely ‘as sold’ ie artistry in the food esp. the starters. We went v early before seeing a film (530pm) so only one other couple there who left so we did have the place to ourselves - so I recommend going early for your tea! You’ll get great attentive service in a simple but smart & clean surrounding. The artistry in the food means I recommend this as an eat-in place (note I have no experience of takeaway from here, maybe they achieve the same!). Would definitely go back again.

The most amazing Indian food i have had in Darlington for a long time, truely very special place. Small restuarant but great service and the food is the best, correct amount of spices making each dish very special. The chicken lollipops are a must, but then every dish i had i would recommend. Will be back very soon.

Amazing real Indian food with great swrvice start to finish. I have had a few takeaways over the last couple of months and thought i would give restuarant a try and did not disappoint. Food quality and taste was the best from an indian i have had in Darlington. Small restuarant means lots of attention. Chicken lollipops were absolutly fantastic and the mains were also very good in terms of spice and quality. Well done Sanjay and the team, will be back very soon

First time visiting The food was very nice great flavours very authentic. Railway lamb…excellent

Went for lunch, was really impressed by the food. Would definitely recommend !

We had an amazing time, great food, great service. Nothing more to say. Thank you.

Fantastic! Delicious food. Highly recommended

Brilliant staff along with excellent food. Would return again.

Fantastic Indian food. Spice level is spot on ! Loved the experience!

Very very nice Lovely food excellent service Nothing a trouble Definitely coming back again

Compliments to the chiefs. Only complaint the king prawn not fresh. But still 5 star meal.

Masala art is an excellent and delicious foods, especially Krishna ans Sanjay was a great dealings. 10/10

Delicious food, lovely evening. 5/5 from start to finish. Give this place a go guys

The food was amazing. One of the best I have eaten. Starters lamb chops, Chilli Chicken and Nan were superbly done and presented.

An absolutely gem of a place if you are after authentic, creative and imaginative Indian cuisine. Sanjay has never ever disappointed us in last 2 years. Keep it up!

First time here, and wow ! Food was delicious, service friendly and attentive, it’s now my favourite Indian restaurant. We ordered the set menu and the food was unreal. Looking forward to my next visit !

Really great food & service thank you

I DIDN’T MOVE TO DARLINGTON FOR AN INDIAN RESTAURANT BUT I’D HAPPILY STAY HERE FOR MASALA ART! This isn’t our first visit to this excellent restaurant and it certainly won’t be our last. The service and explanation of the menu from Sanjay was great, interesting and informative. We had a portion of Gol Gappe to share which is something I’ve seen recently on a Rick Stein programme and it didn’t disappoint. Recommended to eat in one mouth full as it explodes in your mouth with some fantastic flavours but remaining a light pre starter and a change from popadoms and pickles. We then had prawn purée and lamb chop starters. Again these were amazing, my wife commented that it was the best prawn purée that she’d ever had which is some accolade! I had the lamb chops which Sanjay marinates for 24 hours with his own blend of marinade and they were tremendous. Main course for me was railway lamb which I’ve had before and it certainly didn’t disappoint! My wife had South Indian garlic, chilli chicken which she really enjoyed. The big difference with Masala Art is that you can taste the difference between the dishes, each one has a unique flavour and unlike a lot of “Indian” Restaurants Masala Art doesn’t use a base sauce for all the dishes. This clearly makes each dish individual which creates a unique taste experience. I’ve eaten curries all over the world and I’ve got to say that without doubt this is the best I’ve ever had, please don’t take my word for it though and get yourself down their and enjoy everything Masala Art has to offer. Sanjay and the team will look after you, give advice when needed and make this curry eating experience exceptional!

This isn’t our first visit to this excellent restaurant and it certainly won’t be our last. The service and explanation of the menu from Sanjay was great, interesting and informative. We had a portion of Gol Gappe to share which is something I’ve seen recently on a Rick Stein programme and it didn’t disappoint. Recommended to eat in one mouth full as it explodes in your mouth with some fantastic flavours but remaining a light pre starter and a change from popadoms and pickles. We then had prawn purée and lamb chop starters. Again these were amazing, my wife commented that it was the best prawn purée that she’d ever had which is some accolade! I had the lamb chops which Sanjay marinates for 24 hours with his own blend of marinade and they were tremendous. Main course for me was railway lamb which I’ve had before and it certainly didn’t disappoint! My wife had South Indian garlic, chilli chicken which she really enjoyed. The big difference with Masala Art is that you can taste the difference between the dishes, each one has a unique flavour and unlike a lot of “Indian” Restaurants Masala Art doesn’t use a base sauce for all the dishes. This clearly makes each dish individual which creates a unique taste experience. I’ve eaten curries all over the world and I’ve got to say that without doubt this is the best I’ve ever had, please don’t take my word for it though and get yourself down their and enjoy everything Masala Art has to offer. Sanjay and the team will look after you, give advice when needed and make this curry eating experience exceptional!

Great curry and service. Lots of dishes you won’t normally see, and very knowledgeable staff.

A wonderful evening. Very friendly staff and food was delicious. Highly recommended.

I was not the customer with the chips that was pointed out in the response. I actually ordered a curry which was quite decent as shown in the review as 4 stars in the food part. The issue was not with the food but the service being quite dissapointing, and it is being reinforced by the way that this review was dealt. Slight word of advice... Honey attracts more bees than vinegar. If a customer has an issue try to speak to them and see what can be resolved to bring them back as a customer and improve the review, rather than attacking them and mistaking them with another customer, as people who read a response like that may be less likely to visit your restaurant.

Exceptional food and amazingly attentive staff.

Lovely experience, food is exceptional and staff are outstanding. Can’t wait to go back !

Best in Darlington, superb service, great food, with a diverse selection of great Indian food. Highly recommended.

We called in here on spec. Menu had a great choice of food, staff friendly and attentive. Assisted in what food went best together. Pickle tray was beaut, hubby's curry had a "good bite" to it (high praise from him) my masala grill (waiter advised me starter size would be best for me as a small eater) was gorgeous and ample for me suggested the potato allo as a side and it was good too . We both had a drink🍷🍻 with the meal. Bill was very good around 25 per person will definitely be going back although next time we will book as it was lucky that we were able to get in as it was nearly fully booked.

Absolutely delicious food and great service (try the Lamb Chops - incredible!!)

Best indian food ever . I asked the manager to make it proper indian style because i am indian . The manger was really polite and supportive and made best food i ever had in darlington . The manager and staff are polite and giving best services and food is delicious. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lovely authentic curry , would highly recommend. Loved the lamb chop starter especially. Had the chicken tikka dansak which was great

Brilliant atmosphere, curry excellent 👌

Tell the staff anything you’d like and they will direct you in the best way. Lovely people, lovely atmosphere, and will point you in directions you didn’t realise you wanted. Top class, the ‘tasty Sanjay’ shots are fantastic

Was recommended Masala Art by my Indian work colleagues and we paid a visit last night. I wasn't disappointed. There are items on the menu that you won't find on other Indian food menus in town and everything I had was delicious. They boast many fusion dishes too, where they carefully combine traditional Indian food we are all used to, with Chinese spices and sauces (highly recommended). We spent 2 hours sampling the different starters and having a few drinks before having a main. Very relaxed, clean and tidy and staff are extremely polite and knowledgeable. Looking forward to spending more time here.

Had a lovely takeout meal from here. Generous delicious portions and wonderful service. My food came out in good time and the staff were so kind and helpful. Thought the biryani was very good.

Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff and superb food. Will be returning 😁

Restaurant is nice but the takeaway option is really bad , not even a small pot of sliced onion, will never return

Excellent food and really great service. Really handy after a night at the cinema - just 5 minutes up the road on Houndgate. Will definitely return

Got a takeout set meal for 2 ! Lots of food for the money but I’m surprised at some of the reviews as I found it to be one of the worst indian meals I’ve ever had , all the main dishes were not marinated in the sauce it was basically poured over the chicken and lamb when we ordered as far as I could tell , tasteless and bland , if you like Indian food find another restaurant!

Amazing food, waiter really attentive and helpful. Will be back

Cosy place and nice food… Especially the naan bread and spicy chicken masala.. Yummy 😋👍👍👍

ORDERED A TAKEAWAY TO BE DELIVERED AT 6.05PM AS WASN'T DUE HOME UNTIL 6PM, FOOD ARRIVED AT 5.10 WHICH MY DAUGHTER AND WAS OBVIOUSLY COLD BY THE TIME I GOT IT, CONTACTED THE RESTAURANT BUT HAD NO REPLY, WASTE OF MONEY.

Excellent meal with work colleagues Thanks Sanjay and Krishna Beat Indian in Northeast

Very good food. The biryani was cooked like a proper biryani.

Great atmosphere, delicious food and friendly staff. Thank you!

Best Indian I have ever been to. Been multiple times and ordered various things from the menu, always top top standard curries, breads and rice. Definitely a must visit

Excellent as always, by far the best Indian restaurant in Darlington, wish we lived nearer but always come here when visiting, the staff are absolutely amazing.

Never had a better meal, service second to none, will never go anywhere else, 20 stars

I must say that I can highly recommend this restaurant and takeaway. The food was excellent and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The food is the best that I have tasted in a long time. I didn't book in advance,so was pleased to be able to just turn up and get a table. I will be visiting again soon and am looking forward to another good meal and pleasant experience.

A lovely meal. Good service. Thank you.

Lovely restaurant in Darlington centre. Friendly staff, very attentive. Food was very tasty, plentiful and great selection of dishes. We were asked “how hot would you like that” which kept options open for everyone to try dishes that were customised. Great for vegetarians too - plenty of choice. Owner Sanjay is very friendly. Go and visit today!

I've been to some incredible places for curry and this has to be up there with one of the best! The service was great with attentive staff and the food was incredible! We'll definitely be back.

The service was great. I've been to some amazing curry restaurants and this is up there as one of the best. The food was absolutely incredible!

What has happened to this restaurant? The last time I visited this restaurant the experience was quite good unlike this last visit. To be fair starters were OK. Then down hill from then . My wife tried some spicy dish with a strange name that I can't remember. However my main meal was chicken jalferezi. We both ordered side dishes of rice, bombay aloo and a rhoti bread. The portions were massive and tasteless. I must add I have been a fan of curry for years and have tasted different styles of cuisine but I did not enjoy this experience. To be honest this restaurant along with others in Darlington seem to be below standard. Personally I think my own home cooked curry is better. I am still on the trail to find something better. Disappointed. John G Durham.

Without doubt the best Indian food I've had for years. Great staff and service too. Also, flanked by two other great venues - Vesuvio Wine Bar & Restaurant and House of Hop.

A beautiful restaurant that is incredibly welcoming. Best North Indian food here in krakow!

Second time 4 of us have eaten here and the food has yet again been amazing, delicious. Masala Art really take pride in their food and quite happily adjust dishes to personal preference and take the time to explain how the food is made. Darlington is so lucky to have the quality that Masala Art offer and we’ll certainly be back for more.

Excellent and authentic Indian food!! Highly recommended!!

Real Indian tasty food in Darlington ... no extra red colour in Currys and vegetables. Friendly staff.

Simply the best. Proper design food...Indian food made by Sanjay and his team...DELICIOUS. The only other place I've eaten food this good was in Southall. Darlington folk, go visit this place...cherish this place...its amazing.

Food was great and the staff were amazing.

This is an excellent curry house, I have visited quite a few times and never been disappointed. It is a genuinely Indian restaurant so you will find dishes which will not be on the traditional BIR curry house menu. The Sunday Indian street food menu is absolutely outstanding, I find myself wanting to order it all. Very pleasant and helpful staff and the owner/head chef is always happy to chat with diners. Definitely the best curry house in these parts.

The best Indo-Chinese food and a must go for all those who love and miss Indian Chinese food in the UK.

Always a good sign when people who have lived in India are as appreciative of the food as I was! We were a group of 16 and we had great food and friendly service

Had a great curry here. Chicken madras was spot on as was the service from the lovely Hannah. Great ambiance about the place with excellent background music.

Delicious food, great with family. Brilliant service, friendly behaviour, very welcoming. The atmosphere was great and welcoming. Lots of variety in good food, and lots of cultural experiences. They introduced different types of food based on our tastes and preferences. Waiters were very welcoming, and service was great. Lollipop chicken was delicious, and freshly made. Very spicy, like we asked for. They asked how spicy we wanted it. Lots of food to choose from on the menu. Definitely recommend to people who enjoy Indian cuisine, would go again.

First time at this restaurant and would definitely recommend it to anyone the food was delicious and the staff we great friendly and very helpful would definitely go again and soon

Enjoyed the evening out with family. Food was delicious 😋

Have eaten here before and really enjoyed the experience. The food was excellent and service was great. Have had takeaways too and they were really good too so as the choice in the restaurant was more extensive decided to have another eat in meal. Sadly, this experience was not as good as our last one. Despite the fact that only one other table was occupied, it quickly became apparent that they were very busy with takeaway orders. After a good 20 minutes my wife asked if our starters were on the way and was told they wouldn’t be long. 10 minutes later, she asked again and this time a dish was delivered that we hadn’t ordered as an apology for our starters taking so long. While the gesture was appreciated, it was not what we wanted. A few minutes later, my wifes starter arrived but still no sign of mine. After a few more minutes, my wife became increasingly angry as my meal still hadn’t arrived. She complained but was told that the delay was because the food was cooked fresh. That’s all well and good but we should have each received our meal at the same time, not minutes apart. After a brief altercation with someone who seemed to be in charge and who was totally unapologetic, we left in disgust. I doubt we’ll be back. If you’re going to run a restaurant, please get your priorities right and concentrate on those people eating in if you make more money on takeaway meals, shut the restaurant!!

As an Indian it is really hard to find good authentic Indian food outside of India. Masala Art truly lives up to its name as every dish we tried was bursting with flavour and spices and was so delicious. The lamb chops especially were one of the best I’ve ever tried. We were well looked after as Sanjay and the waiters were very polite and really took care of us recommending dishes to try. We managed to get a table at 10:30pm as we eat late so we were pleased to see the kitchen open until late when most other restaurants would close much sooner. We will definitely be back soon to try more dishes on the menu, especially the Indo-Chinese dishes which sounded amazing. A wonderful experience, would highly recommend Masala Art!

Purely Indian authentic foooood, it’s just delicious, yummilicious😋. Amazing ambience; excellent hospitality; quick service. Special thanks to the Chef for such mouth watering dishes. 👏👏👏 Samosa chaat - the stuffing was just crazy Vegetable Biryani reminded me of Hyderabad 🥺 Chicken Biryani, South Indian Chicken Chill Fry was damn interesting.We were the last customers for the day😅 All I would tell is - Go, order your food, eat it and feel it

fantastic food, can't wait to go back.

My wife and I decided to eat out this week and we do love a bit of spice in our lives. So always looking to try somewhere new we decided to try Masala Art in Darlington. Let's get straight to the point . Absolutely delicious. Tender meat , delicious perfectly spiced sauce ,friendly service and a very happy couple left with full bellies and a smile knowing we had found an absolutely fabulous restaurant. If you want authentic food cooked to perfection then please don't walk past this place as it is simply the best in Darlington that we have tried so far . And we have tried a few .

Visited this new restaurant recently, it is just behind Boyes in Houndgate so there is plenty of parking nearby. I am sure there used to be an Indian restaurant here before but i may be mistaken, anyway this has recently opened so gave it a try. It is small so booking would be advisable especially on a weekend, service was very good and the food as you would expect, not bad but not fantastic for a Darlington Indian. Portions aren't the biggest but overall good value for money and i would visit again.

First time for a take away from Masala Art - we have eaten lots of curries in many cities- this curry was amazing - fresh, tasted fabulous, vegetable dansaak was excellent I have to say - Masala Art is the best in town right now in our opinion !

No spicy salmon was really spicy, but it was still very tasty. Very friendly staff. A small, but great place to visit

True and authentic Indian Restaurant...

Nice food and staff must try once

Don’t no what to say other than WOW visited hear with family and friends and can honestly say it’s the best Indian food in the local area hands down in a league of it’s own. From the minute we walked through the door the service...