The Cottage Cheese - urban indian

I recently visited The Cottage Cheese - Urban Indian in downtown Toronto for a large gathering, and I still can't believe restaurants with such poor food quality exist. As someone who loves exploring different cuisines and restaurants, I was extremely disappointed with the experience. If I had known what was in store, I would have avoided visiting altogether. The only two dishes that were somewhat enjoyable were the Crispy Okra and Bombay Bhel. Unfortunately, everything else we ordered — including Chicken Biryani, Lamb Biryani, Chicken 65, Paneer Shashlik, Chicken Pate, Chaat, and Gulab Jamun — was below average, lacking the authentic flavors one would expect from Indian cuisine. Nothing about the food stood out, and it honestly felt like a poor imitation of Indian food. While the plating and ambience were decent, they don't make up for the lackluster taste. The drinks were good, but the food was so disappointing that I see no reason to return. If this is the standard, I’d rather cook at home than spend money on an unsatisfactory dining experience. That said, I want to emphasize that the service and staff were excellent. The servers were incredibly patient and attentive, ensuring we were comfortable throughout. However, good service cannot compensate for food that misses the mark. I strongly urge the restaurant to focus on improving the quality and authenticity of their dishes. For now, I cannot recommend this place and am left thoroughly disappointed.

December 20, 2024 on Google

Great spot for Indian food near the Kensington Market! We’ve been wanting to try this place for awhile, and it lived up to the hype. We ordered the papad, pink samosa chaat, daal and the saffron chicken korma, with some garlic naan on the side. ALL were flavourful and high quality (esp. the korma)! We’d go back and try a completely new slate of dishes! You won’t go wrong stopping here if you’re hungry for Indian.

December 6, 2024 on Google

Came here with a group of 6 friends. Had a wonderful time and the food was absolutely amazing! The chef gave us a a plate of crisps (some sort of appetizer) for free and we enjoyed it so much. I just loved the interior design of the whole place and all the colours!

October 19, 2024 on Google

Food was 😋 & well cooked, we really liked lamb dishes as they were having Smokey flavored and well done. It’s reasonably priced but ambiance can be worked on. Servers are good. Only point I would like them to improve upon if considered is cutlery’s should be tapped in napkin or kept on table instead of table. Rest all is well. Keep it up

August 18, 2024 on Google

Came here for Summerlicious. Service was good but there is a strict 1.5 hour dining time. They gave us a free mushroom pakora to start which was a nice gesture. Unfortunately, the fried chicken was coated with a thick batter. The inside and outside was bland, no seasoning. Other appetizer items were average. Enjoyed the garlic naan and lamb rogan josh. The mango fish curry was a bit too sweet and the fish was dry. Mango lassi was delicious but not sure if it was worth $12 for the size.

August 5, 2024 on Google

A crowd favourite! I had the pleasure of picking a restaurant for my team at work and I stumbled across the cottage cheese a few months ago and I knew this was the place to bring them. The cozy cottage vibe restaurant, hence the name, has the cottage theme all over it. The atmosphere had this wonderful cover songs of music that wasn’t so loud but really got into the zone of being relaxed at the cottage. I was a bit nervous because my team are not fans of spicy food but every dish we tried wasn’t spicy but had wonderful flavour. They served a bonus Amuse-bouche it was a lentil patty with red chutney and a sweet jam. We’ll definitely come back and highly recommend to more friends and colleagues.

August 3, 2024 on Google

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary here and it was so special. Not only is the food absolutely delicious -- such different and unique flavours to your typical Indian food restaurant -- but the service and hospitality was next level. We felt so taken care of the entire night! It was a really special evening. I can't wait to eat here again!

August 1, 2024 on Google

The Cottage Cheese: A Delicious Journey Through Indian Cuisine After following The Cottage Cheese on social media for over a year, I finally had the chance to dine there after moving back to Toronto. It exceeded all my expectations! The staff's genuine warmth made me feel right at home. Their menu encourages a flavorful exploration, so I opted for three dishes. Each portion was generous and bursting with fresh ingredients. The staff's attentiveness throughout the night, with different servers checking in to ensure my enjoyment, truly impressed me. I am still dreaming about their crispy okra, which was spicy enough to suddenly improve my breathing capabilities 😂 I can't wait to go back and embark on another delicious journey through their menu!

June 23, 2024 on Google