Santoor Grill
“After trying the Chicken Tikka Masala, my husband is now an Indian food convert.”
“Everything from the naan to the basmati rice is great!”
“We've loved going to Jackson Diner, but you can't beat the parking here, and the food is comparable, and definitely better than most places we've tried in Jackson Heights and Curry Lane.”
Santoor Grill
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Great lunch Buffett (only $11 during the week). Been here numerous times and it Gets packed during lunch time. They have many many choices to choose from. Their chicken Tikka masala is my favorite – filled with succulent, tender chicken breast with delicious creamy sauce. The only downside is the tandoori chicken was a bit cold. But overall one of the better Indian places to go to for lunch on Union Turnpike.
Came here for the lunch buffet, $10.95, with my mom.
The food was cold and the breads were soggy. The dishes are not covered and have an old crusty film on top. We had to ask them to bring fresh new food.
The masala dosa was good, the naan was great. The veg curry, chicken tandoori and butter chicken were good. The food was good, not great. I shouldn't have to ask them to bring fresh food.
When they made fresh masala dosa the waiter brought it to our table first which was nice but he didn't have a serving utensil, he said that's okay use your fingers… Hmmm not very sanitary.
* I wish they had samosa
I asked if masala tea was included in the buffet and the server said yes. We got the bill and we're charged $6 for 2 teas. This was not authentic, it tasted like black tea with a small amount of mix. Way too expensive.
This place is great. The buffet has everything you want from a decent Indian restaurant. Everything is fresh and constantly restocked. The chicken tikka masala is delicious, as is everything else, but that is my favorite. The kheer is so good. You will find yourself getting 2nds and 3rds for dessert.
The waitstaff is tentative and welcoming and everything is always neat and clean looking. I definitely recommend giving this place a try. Plenty of free parking in the back lot. 🙂
I had just finished a brisk 4 mile run when I returned home famished. You know it's true love when one's wife sees the hunger in your eyes and belly and offers up the words "Indian buffet?" as the solution.
Twenty minutes later, without any need to circle for parking thanks to ample spots in the Glen Oaks shopping center where Santoor resides, I was ready to embark on 22 courses of subcontinental splendor.
There is always the thrill of not having to wait for your order to exit the kitchen and simply walking up to the buffet, creating another heaping plate and repeating the process ad infinitum.
At Santoor I was relishing my chili chicken in less than three minutes from point of entry. If there's one trait that distinguishes the cuisine at Santoor from what I also enjoyed at another nearby buffet, it's the level of spice. This chili chicken had an extra kick to it that required me to moderate stuffing my face, which is probably a good thing big picture-wise but short term just one of the obstacles to overcome in the sport of all you can eat indian buffets.
And the surprise discovery of the day was one of culinary and cultural significance. And it's reason enough for me to come back for more.
Bhatura, that fried bread which is chewy and a little sweet in flavor is just like bake, a West Indian staple served with shark or salt fish or whatever you'd like. The ancestor of bake, from the old world, spotted as a buffet item at Santoor and absolutely delicious. It's like an archaeologist seeing the connections between the Venus of Willendorf and Kim Kardashian in their respective societies.
Goat curry, tandoori chicken, dosas, every item I sampled was fresh and defied the risk of buffet overexposure, when once fresh food has sat for too long without being replaced. Not so at Santoor.
Another plus is the availability of kheer for dessert. The cream rice pudding had me coming back for another bowl and tempted me to use a full size plate instead of bowl so as to maximize my serving. Tempting but violating the buffet code undoubtedly.
So you can stuff your face for less than $12 in a comfortable, clean restaurant with friendly staff and ample buffet selections. Why am I not going there again today?
Been coming her for yeeeeeeaaaaarrrrrsssss. Has to be more than 10 – 15 yrs. Whenever I think of Indian food, I think of Santoor. Whenever I'm in the mood for curry, naan, roti, chana….i think of Santoor!!! If i ever had to move outta Queens, I'd be soooo sad!
This is THE BEST Indian food I have EVER had! I have tried Indian Restaurants in the city…Astoria…Long Island…NOTHING compared to this place. I would DIE if this place ever closed.
My usual:
– Chicken Tikka Masala
– Chana masala
– masala dosa
– naan
– mango lassi
– kheer
No…I don't usually get them all in one visit. It's whenever I go…once every couple of months or so.
This place has the most authentic Indian taste you're looking for. I absolutely love this restaurant. I have tried expensive/upscale Indian restaurants in the city…and it can't even compare. Manhattan restaurants I've tried ALL tend to water down the sauces and use very little seasoning. It's bland. Not Santoor!
Even though I've been going there for years, I know the owner by face and not by name. He is a great guy…very pleasant, friendly and professional. He, along with the servers are very attentive and give you the best experience.
Again…I can't live without this place. I urge you all to try this place if you haven't already!!!
I honestly love this place for Indian food. I never want to try any other Indian restaurant. I just want to keep coming back here. This is authentic Indian food.
I tend to come here for the lunch buffet which is amazing and so filling. I love the assortment of food you get in the buffet and it's affordable for great food. The servers are very nice and welcoming here. I sometimes order take out if I have an Indian craving. I order the Palek Paneer and the Chicken Tikka with naan. It comes with basmati rice and it's so good to mix the rice and the sauces from the dishes. I also tried to samosas.
Came here for lunch buffet around 2:00pm. There were only about 5 different selections for the buffet, not including the naan, rice, salad and soup, and each tray was only about half full. Both the chicken dishes were delicious but the naan lacked flavor.
The restaurant was about a quarter full and gave off a very clean feeling. However, I was very disappointed by the lack of selection.
Pretty decent Indian food. They serve up all the standard faves and their buffet is always a good option as it has plenty of items from which to choose.
Today, however, we ordered a half tray of chicken biryani and it was very generously packed (if not overflowing) with food. That is a very nice problem to have! The biryani itself was piping hot and tasty. It was accompanied by a nice sized container of raita and also a cup of mixed pickle. The latter two items are nothing to rave about but does the trick as far as accompaniments go.
There are several Indian restaurants in the area and Santoor is easily in the top few. It has also been around for quite awhile and has a devoted following. They are busy on weekends and always packed on Sunday afternoons. Parking is available around back if you can't find an empty meter out front…or don't want to feed the meter to begin with.