Mantra Indian Cuisine & BarLoved it !!!After reading some of the reviews, I wasn't sure about giving this place a try. I'm glad I did. If service for most has been hit and miss, then we certainly came on a "hit" night. Ariel (sp) was a perfect assistant. She was spot on with everything from our food and drink selection to making sure we had everything in a timely fashion. We had the meat sampler as an appetizer. Excellent choice! Unique flavors to each. I had a spicy dish, my fiance went mild: perfectly prepared chicken dishes. The food is worth coming here, even if you aren't sure about the service. We will definitely return.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOff the beaten pathWouldn't have expected this great restaurant in the area where it's situated. Food was delicious, service was excellent. We had a party of 7 plus a toddler and they accommodated us very well.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMColeys Mothers Day 2013First time trying this place and it was awesome. We decided to sit outside and wow it was a perfect match. The food was amazing and the staff was very energetic. The glass were kept full and every question asked was answered to my content. I suggest everyone that wants a break away from the norm and desires so delicious food with A+ service try Mantra.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Indian food; a lot ofGreat Indian food; a lot of variety; good portions with nice price point. Very helpful wait staff4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a winner. If you likeAlways a winner. If you like Indian food don't miss Mantra!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI like the Mediterainian andI like the Mediterainian and Indian flavor pallets and this place certainly knows how to apply them. I usually find chicken to be dry in those preparations but this was moist and flavorful only adding to the succulent tastes of the dishes. Also, being able to dictate the 'burn level' of the spices is a great touch.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, friendly serviceDelicious food, friendly service at the bar, great jazz/blues entertainment! A really fun evening!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMI always hit the Jackpot here!There is nothing i could say negative about this awesome atmosphere! The service was incredible. Gretchen handled everything from the bar to the satisfaction of the guest i brought with me. The wait staff was impeccable and timely. No one behaved as if my friends and I were becoming a burden and there were many of us which I always anticipate to be a little unnerving for the wait staff but Mantra staff handled the guest with class and friendliness. The Chef came out to speak with us on several occasions and it just seemed as if we were among family! I will always suggest Mantra to my friends. It is my favorite Indian dining experience in the Raleigh area. The Tandoori Chicken was incredibly tender! The Chiken Tikka was deelish as always!!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently great IndianConsistently great Indian fare, amongst the best in the US, and accommodating staff.
Madras and Vindaloo highly recommended for the spice fiend.
A go-to restaurant when visiting Raleigh.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGood foodI enjoyed the food and that you could customize the spice of it. I have been to Indian restaurants that they say they can make it mild but it never really is mild. I also liked that the tables where in their own little nook and it seemed like you were the only person in there.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Indian food with a twist!We tend to go to the same handful of restaurants downtown and were looking for something different Friday night. Mantra went far beyond our expectations. From Carl at the front door making our 7 year-old daughter feel absolutely special from the minute she walked in, to our waitress helping with drink recommendations. The food was amazing! the ambiance was definitely urban cool. We will be back many times in the futre and will recommend it to our friends!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed our typical wonderfulWe enjoyed our typical wonderful experience. Mantra has become our "go to" for an excellent Indian meal. Service has improved from average to very good over the past few weeks. We commend the restaurant for its extremely reasonable corkage. We have Mantra as one of our "recommends" for dining out in Raleigh to friends and neighbors.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWorking our way around theWorking our way around the menu and so far we have not been disappointed. This is the best Indian restaurant that I have found in Raleigh thus far. The food and service is always outstanding.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMwe just loved it. Spicy sowe just loved it. Spicy so if this is not your taste, so you probably would need them to tone that down, but it was how I like it4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMShort review: - Great food -Short review:
- Great food
- Very courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful staff
- Reasonable prices
- Not crowded
- Nice seating inside and out
Recommended.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Mantra : Great dining!I have been waiting to try The Mantra since I heard about it. I finally got to take my family for dinner and we were not disappointed. Service was excellent, as was the choice of dishes. Everyone enjoyed the appetizers and main courses and the chef was gracious enough to visit our table and inquire how we liked the food. Later on, her presented us with a free dessert selection - which was delicious. I loved the place and had a great time.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for a birthday dinnerBest Indian food I've had in North Carolina. The wait staff is friendly and superb. Great place for a birthday dinner.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was delicious andEverything was delicious and the service was excellent. We can't wait to visit again!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you read some of the negativeIf you read some of the negative reviews about service, you can sweep that care aside now. Visiting Mantra for the first time, I found that they've really spent a lot of energy improving the service side of the business. The manager of the house goes out of his way to make sure you have a good experience from beginning to end.
The restaurant is elegantly, but simply decorated. Complimentary papadum with 3 sauces are a nice start to a meal. Our waitress was very attentive, never letting glasses of water go lower than 1/2 filled. She was also helpful in guiding us through spice levels and splitting a check. Only miscue was some really small pours of wines - barely a 1/4 of a glass. The food was delicious, perfectly spiced and filling.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent. IndianThe food was excellent. Indian is our favorite. Our server was very sweet and attentive and patient because we were talking so much that we didn't order right away. This was our first visit and we will definitely go again.3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is amazing and theThe food is amazing and the restaurant is beautiful. The mixed drinks are really strong.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food, very quietFabulous food, very quiet so great for talking, bar is only ok: out of Indian beer and slow to get drinks out. One of my favorite restaurants.2/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my first experienceThis was my first experience with Indian food and I'm in love! The food was great and the service was beyond fantastic. My husband asked about a special bread that was not on the menu and instead of just saying they didn't have it, they made it! We will definitely be back!!2/12/2013 12:00:00 AM