Passage To India in New Forest

Found this little gem of a restaurant last night on a date night away with my wife, atmosphere was great, service was excellent and the food was amazing, great flavours. Will visit again and recommend to others

Best Indian food I've had in a LONG time and generous portions. Great service as well and very child friendly. Just in Lyndhurst for a few days but one of the highlights of my weekend.

Certainly the best naan I've ever tasted. Each of our group of 4 has something different, but all of it tasted truly fantastic. Quite possibly the best Indian food I've ever tasted. Only one thing, what's with the colour varying lighting? It just distracts.

We had a great meal last night for my sons birthday. They decorated the table and brought out a flame candle etc at end of meal all with out asking. Staff were friendly and attentive. Food was great.

Great service, excellent food, not my local, but will be back if in the area again

From the welcoming elephants either side of the entrance The Passage to India promises something special and it doesn’t disappoint. The clean and comfortable restaurant sets the scene but the friendly, attentive and professional service is excellent, this is only surpassed by the fantastic food. This is probably the best curry house I have been to, all the dishes we tried were fabulous and then the chef came to the table to introduce himself and check if everything was alright, what a lovely touch. Highly recommended on all counts. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Honestly the best Indian we’ve ever had. Absolutely loved eating in (two adults, two children) so we had take takeaway later in our stay! If/when we’re back in lyndhurst this will be our first port of call! Lovely mains, sides, breads and poppadoms!

Simply great. As a tourist not familiar with the area, I tried nearly all places on high street. This was simply the best.

The food here was absolutely amazing, every dish was packed with flavor and tasted incredible. Unfortunately, the experience was let down by one big issue: we ordered 4 Pepsis and were shocked to be charged £24. Even worse, we watched the server pour them from a regular £2 Pepsi Max bottle. That’s a ridiculous 1000% markup and left us feeling really disappointed. Great food, but that pricing was hard to swallow.

Food tasted ok but nothing amazing. Ordered take away and they said it would be 40 mins. When my husband collected at that time and brought it back the food was barely warm. Don’t they have a heat lamp or warming cupboard?

Friendly and welcoming staff serving excellent food. Would recommend their Railway Chicken for something slightly different, with a decent Malbec from the wine list.

Thank you Passageway to India, I currently have lost my appetite due to health reasons and not only eaten very little in the past few months, but not been eating out for even longer. I have been to this restaurant several times in the past and spending a few days in Lyndhurst, with trepidation I thought a return visit just might do me good, Chicken Naga, Sag Paneer and a Mushroom Rice put my faith back in to food…All I can say, this is a dam good curry house, one of the very best I have come across. Please never stop doing what you do best - thank you, thank you M

Turned up without a reservation. Food was excellent and staff very attentive. Best chicken tikka masala and lemon rice I've had by far. Complimentary baileys at end of the meal was a nice touch. Definitely would recommend, you won't be disappointed.

I came on my birthday, I don’t want to say how old, but in all my years , that was honestly the best Indian meal I have had. Great service and welcoming! Highly recommend!

My husband and I went with our 14 year old daughter for a delicious evening meal. We were pleasantly surprised by the outstanding quality of the food. We enjoyed mushroom rice, pilau rice, chicken tikka balti and an amazing lamb muli with tarka dhal and naan. We over ordered but it was delicious. Not like other restaurants - this was proper Indian food, no artificial food colouring and beautiful tasting mains. The mushroom rice was especially yummy!

We went here as a birthday treat. Unknown to me my partner had tipped off the staff that it was my birthday. It was a really nice surprise when the staff brought out a cake with sparklers! The food was very delicious and the service was exemplary. Highly recommend this restaurant 5/5!

An outstanding taste of Indian cuisine 😋 Can’t recommend the lamb shank enough and the quality of all other dishes was equally superb. Staff are so attentive and kind and I greatly appreciated them fitting me in at 9pm on a Sunday, when I expect they were ready to start closing up, thank you Asian friends for your hospitality 🤗 Be aware that service charge is automatically added 💷 my only reason for taking off a star, but well deserved on this occasion 👏

First time here 2 nights ago for pick up, very friendly staff and food was the best Indian we have ever had, massive thanks, our new go to Indian, see you next week. Paul.

Went here for a family birthday meal, very welcoming as soon as you walk in the door, the atmosphere was lovely too. I’ve been here before around 2 years ago, the food is of such high quality It’s going to be a more frequent night out from now on .

Really disappointing. Starters were cold. Mains were cold. Even after saying it was cold they brought more cold food out.

We have returned to Passage of India, time after time. The care and attention put into the quality of the food produces the most delicious curries you can imagine. This restaurant is so consistent and we have been coming here for over 3 years. We simply couldn’t recommend it enough. My personal favourite is the Lamb shank Tamarind! A chef’s specialist!

Dropped in for a delicious takeaway. All the food was excellent, tasty and good quality. The customer service is always great, even just for a takeaway. Food ready promptly and on time. A regular spot and always a winner.

Visited for my partners birthday with a large group of friends, food and service were both amazing and we will definitely be back!

Great food, lovely atmosphere and staff. Made sure that my birthday was a special occasion and helped make it feel special!

A fantastic meal at Passage to India yet again. The best curry around, with lovely and friendly staff and a great atmosphere.

Absolutely delicious Indian food, can highly recommend. Really accommodating with food allergies, in my case gluten free dishes. Good size portions too.

We had been before with a large group and we absolutely loved it! The atmosphere is cozy and warm and the food was incredible. We went for my birthday recently and they made it so special! If you go on your birthday, the birthday boy/girl gets a main and a side for free (must book in advance & show them an ID). The food was great - I'd suggest to try things beyond the safe options (like the classic Tikka masala) because all their options are really good. The paneer dishes are very underrated and the naan is a must! If you want to try something new and you're unsure, try the starter version because a lot of the main dishes come as starters too and it's a great way to try new things without committing too much. They were able to accommodate gluten free with no issues at all and they have plenty of alcohol free options. We're going back this week!

Asked for a lamb shank naga got a lamb fhal instead also asked for non service charge and refused so had to pay an extra £10 for a slightly good curry not worth £84 for 3 people

Probably one of the best Indian to dine in with. Extremely friendly staff made our family of 8 (with 3 kids) feel extremely welcome. A pure lot blissful birthday celebration with the intent to come again.

Service was amazing friendly staff amazing food definitely coming back soon

they are so nice in there and the food is insanely good. my family always go here to celebrate a birthday! we each got a starter and main with a drink and the poppadoms with chutneys too, and it came to about £40 ish each i believe. the chicken tikka masala with a garlic naan bread is my favourite, thank you so much!!

Pet hate of mine is to find that a service charge is included on the bill imo that should be earned and not a given. I had the lamb dupiaza, mushroom pilaw and peshwari nan, 1 pint of cobra and a coffee £40 I'll let you decide if that's expensive. Lamb was imo a little tough the rest was average at best. Avoid imo

Outstanding food with spot on recommendations from staff amd tailored dishes. Medium dansak was spot on and tarka dhal fabulous. Will return!

Really fancied Indian food today and I’ve had some awful food when I’ve looked around in the past. This place was amazing, the food was incredible and the service was great. Would really recommend this place to anyone around the area. So many regulars coming and going, I can seriously see why!

Been a few times and chose to celebrate my birthday there with my partner. The owner and waiters went over and above decorating our table, singing happy birthday to me with sparklers and party items. They offered a complimentary main and side dish plus 2 x liquor of choice. The food was awesome as always and highly recommend chicken patak and chicken pathia. Restaurant nestled in the heart of beautiful Lyndhurst and has an authentic atmosphere and comprehensive menu. Thankyou for an awesome night. Will definitely be back as best Indian food ever had Dilys x

Just had one finest Indian meals I've ever had. The food was spot on, with great service in a lovely setting. I will definitely be returning.

Really lovely Indian that has been consistent with the fantastic food over the 3 visits we've been - the Batak (Duck) Tikka masala and Saag Paneer are our personal favourite dishes alongside a Mango Lassi. Service is always really great- when busy it can be a little slow but I think the food and everything else makes up for it!! Highly recommend!;!

Food was Tasty but the prawn Tikka masala was far too sweet . Naan was good make order a second one .

Venison was amazing unfortunately tarka dhall was like water and not hot enough I didn’t feel overly welcome instead of coffee and desert menu just received a bill but did offer us a drink which was a nice touch. When we left said hope you enjoy your stay we were on holiday but have been coming here for 26 years to this restaurant don’t always assume bald tattoed money is bad money

Really tasty food and great service. Would recommend.

Delicious food and amazing service. Very attentive and friendly staff. 10/10 would recommend!!

Went on a Thursday night for my dad's 71st and the Passage to India couldn't have made more of an effort. Food was really good and a nice atmosphere.

It is always worrying eating at an Indian restaurant with severe nut allergies. The manager was very knowledgeable of safe dishes and the team were very cautious and helpful.

We had a lovely meal here whilst on holiday in Lyndhurst. I have wheat and dairy intolerances and the owner was so helpful in preparing suitable meal options just for me. All staff were charming, welcoming and helpful and all our party agreed that the food was some of the best Indian/Bangladeshi food they had tasted. Would definitely recommend. Not a big restaurant so booking in advance would be good to secure a table.

We are ratting this as one of our Best curry's. Wife rates her chicken tikka as the best she has had.

The service at passage to india was excellent! The staff was polite and attentive, going above and beyond to provide a wonderful eating experience. The food was absolutely delicious, especially the chicken korma and Biryani Overall experience: I had an amazing experience at the restaurant....cheers to the staff and the service they provide too.

We had a very enjoyable meal with excellent service, particularly recommend the naan breads 🤗

Good size portions, really, really tasty food. I will eat here every time I visit Lydhurst just wish it closer to home!

What a lovely holiday find, fantastic special dishes all amazing and great service. This is a real review we stayed in Beaulieu at crows nest which had a lovely log burner and was snuggled into the forest. Really was amazing staff and service and so many layers of rich flavours.

Absolutely shocking - beware...... Booked a table at 7:30, place was packed, ordered food immediately. At 8:30 food still not arrived. Asked the waiter - he had no idea. Decided to leave, and on speaking to the front of house, he suggested that we should've go e elsewhere for quicker service .......absolutely stunned. What a complete shower. Avoid at all costs ....worst experience EVER.

Booked here for a family birthday at the weekend and had an excellent time. We are all big fans of Indian food and had Passage to India recommended to us. All the food was fantastic and the service was brilliant. I can't wait to go back

Goed geadviseerd. Heerlijk gegeten. We hebben genoten. Vriendelijk personeel. Feestje voor de smaak papillen! Klein maar goed knus restaurant. Veel afgehaald, dat is ook een goed teken. 10 met een griffel!🤗 Prijs kwaliteit prima!

Outstanding service. Ask for the chef’s specials! Everything is fresh and you’ll have the best Indian food in the South.

Outstanding. Picked this Indian restaurant over Indian fusion and so glad we did! Chef’s recommendation was bang on, the atmosphere was perfect and the service was excellent. We are on a work trip for one night. This restaurant made that one night worth it. 👍

Absolutely amazing food, sevice was great. Best Indian I've ever had. Highly recommend to anyone who lives in the area or visiting the area

Very varied menu, lots of choice, and the food quality was excellent. Small restaurant, well laid out. Raj was very welcoming.

Food was delicious as it was 2 years ago when I visited. Would highly recommend the food here.

Used to go every week but prices started climbing so now use another

Our first visit to this Lyndhurst Indian and well worth it, despite being excessively busy the food and service was brilliant. The staff were very attentive, plus the owner apologized at least twice for it being excessively busy due to large groups of walk in customers and there for a little cramped, but none of that affected the quality of the food or the service. Extensive menu and all reasonably priced, the amount of rice given with the meals was less than other Indians in the locality, but still enough for a person. Will definitely revisit and would recommend to anyone

Excellent food friendly polite staff a lovely evening

Staff were friendly, welcoming and professional. The food was excellent, one of the best curries we have had! We would definitely return if we came back to Lyndhurst.

We live nearby and decided to use this restaurant as a change to our usual one. We had booked ahead of time but this was not necessary as there were plenty of tables. The service and greeting was friendly and efficient from the very start. Our drinks and food order was taken quickly and attentively. The five poppadoms and pickles etc. were not overly fresh. I would have complained at the time if I had known how much I was being charged for them (£12.50) However, our meals were amazing. We had Lamb Rogon, Chicken Passanda, Chicken Tikka and a Jalfreezi with rices, Naans and a few side dishes all of which were excellent. We had a bottle of wine, a few beers and a soft drink and the bill with a tip was £150.00. We really enjoyed our evening out despite the poppadoms and will certainly be returning here.

Got are bill wrong twenty minutes waiting for a new £4 for a glass of lemonade £10 for wine £8 for a beer being coming here years completely gone down hill food expensive not. Returning

Ate here during a 2 night stay in Lyndhurst and we were not disappointed. The food is of a very high standard with the right level of spicing and extremely tasty. There is also a huge selection of dishes to choose from. The service was rather slow but the staff were all very friendly and the food well worth the wait. We would definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning when we are next in the area.

We visited on a Saturday night without a reservation so we went early (5:45pm) it was quiet. Food was very good, we ordered the tahli, chicken mahkani and a peshwari naan. It was superb.

Ordered on line, then collected. Prompt service and jolly staff. Interior of restaurant looked pleasant as well. Quite a range of less familiar curries which are worth a try. Very happ to recommend.

This is one of the top three restaurants I been too ever! Food was amazing and the owner especially is really a fantastic host. The restaurant is really retro and makes you feel like you are in another country! Really recommend popping in and having a good evening out with family or friends - you won’t regret it honestly. Thanks.

Went twice in a row for takeout. Delicious food, great staff

The food was great, especially the lamb shank masala 👌 Service couldn't have been better either

Had a lovely meal at Passage of India, the food was delicious, perfectly spiced & balanced. I can highly recommend the Goan curry. Service was brilliant and we thoroughly enjoyed.

Amazing food! Great staff and restaurant!!

Very over the top on flavor meal and hospitality was awesome

Nothing to say best restaurants highly recommend 💯 Food 💯 awesome Friendly service

Worst restaurant I ever seen All reviews are fake

Great hospitality, one of the best Indian meals ever. Naan is unbeatable! It was a little quiet dining in on a Saturday evening but plenty of repeat customers were collecting takeaways. A lovely treat for the end of a New Forest break.

Another fantastic meal tonight to celebrate!! Thank you for your kind hospitality. See you soon 😍

Nice restaurant, good food but looks so scruffy from the outside it would put you off going there.

Had a 65th birthday bash here. Staff excellent. Food excellent. Food presentation excellent. This isn’t just ‘another indian’. Also, take your passport on your birthday and your main and side is free! We’ll be back!

Just fantastic, we went as a family of 4 and the team there were superb. The food, stunning, and the service was exemplary. Can’t recommend highly enough.

We have been here a few times. Every time wonderful and tonight was no exception. Great service great food. We love it, we just can't stop going back. It was my birthday today and they made it very special for me xxx

A pound short of 70 quid for a biriani, railway chicken, mushroom rice, 2 pints, a coke and a handful of papadums seems a little on the high side to me even with the ‘cost of living crisis’! Possibly ok for a takeaway - a £12 service charge was added for a sit down, but I won’t be back…

Food is fine - incredibly sugary. Both sauces for completely different dishes tasted pretty much identical. Service is, to be honest, a bit weird and slightly clueless. Asked for a coffee and without asking they put sugar in it. Not too bothered but just weird. Also, seemed a bit confused when I asked for a coffee. Ambience etc is all fine. Some guy in a hat who is either the owner or chef came out and spoke to us. He was a bit weird but fine. Service charge was on bill under strange code. They did not tell us this but was simply included. Pretty sure this is not allowed. Should definitely be discretion of clients. A mandatory 10%...... After pretty average food and service was again a bit strange. You decide.

First time we have eaten here but it won't be the last, this was one of the best Indian meals we have had. Highly recommend

Fantastic meal for an anniversary This place never fails to deliver Food and Staff are excellent

Very tasty food, we went for vegetarian option and lamb shank as a chef speciality, I would say that it was very well marinated and cooked. Service was a little slow and towards the end we were asked to vacant the table what was a little strange as we actually ate very quickly and another tables were still unoccupied. Food was the best part of the experience. Internal decoration and music played at the background were pleasant.

Wondeful Indian restaurant in the heart of Lyndhurst. Fabulous food, we had a choice of starters rather than the usual main and rice and they were all delicious and full of flavour. Our favourite was the venison tikka. Staff were friendly and attentive. Good value for money, would highly recommend.

Food was excellent, came out quick and service was brilliant. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the area

Thank you for your kindness and attentiveness this evening. The meal was lovely. Freshly prepared and beautifully served. We would definitely recommend especially for those with limited mobility as the access was flat and the staff were extremely kind and attentive. Thank you

Last minute weekend break in Lyndhurst and found this restaurant. Service was great, Food was fabulous. We were brought a naan as complimentary extra and it was very good 😋 Would definitely recommend

Highly recommended. Great food and service, pleasure to deal with. We used the takeaway service for a large order with many different main dishes and sides. Everyone commented on how much they enjoyed the flavour of the food, in particular the goan fish curry and coconut rice. Raj was very patient and helpful on the phone while Andrea placed the order on line.

Probably the best Indian meal i have ever had, the food was outstanding & service was just as good. The food was very well presented & arranged on the dish. I had one of the chef's specials & have never tasted anything like it. Well done 👏 Guy, Devon.

Food was superb, service friendly and attentive. Great value. Definitely will return again

We ordered takeaway for a large self catering party staying at Minstead study centre. Raj could not have been more helpful on the phone. The food was excellent - especially the Goan fish curry. Highly recommended.

Arrived at 6:45 being one of the first tables in the restaurant, ordered some drinks and papodums, waited 20 minutes for drinks to arrive, waited another 30 minutes to order mains, then another 45 for mains to arrive. This was all while every other table who arrived after us were being served. Waiters were rude and inattentive. Finally when we asked for the bill we waited 20 minutes and then went up to the bar to pay, and when we said we didn’t feel a service charge was clearly not appropriate they tried to barter us to keep some service charge on the bill (which we did not pay). Could’ve gone to Kerala and back for a curry quicker than we got ours here. Food was alright for the price, Naans were nice, used squirty cream on the curry.

Not a great experience at all, the staff are miserable and have no personality at all, the food was ok but nothing to compliment tbh, chicken wasn't fresh, I'd say probably sliced and frozen then recooked in various sauces. Service charge added on the bill so watch out a pint now costs £7.70 which I feel is way over priced for what didn't even taste like cobra, very weak almost watered down, would I go again. . . . . . No! Would I recommend . . . . Absolutely not which is why I felt the need to write this review, based on my experience I would say avoid this place, it's not worth the money at all

Best curry we have had in years!

Delicious curry in a lovely restaurant. Service was great and attentive. Defo recommend if you are in Lyndhurst and feel like a curry!

Great service, friendly staff use regularly

Wow, this first time came to here. It's a nice and quiet atmosphere 👌 Friendly service and staff. Came here for friends birthday it was great, plus if you have a birthday aslong as you contact them 24hrs notice you can get a meal free, a minimum of two people

Brilliant friendly service and delicious food as always. Highly recommend we wouldn’t go any where other than here Thank you for making my daughters 15th birthday so perfect