Sura Indian Bistro

4.5

88 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary Indian

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

Vegetarian-friendly
Good for groups
Good for special occasions

At SURA Indian Bistro, discover India's multi-cultural culinary dialogue, centuries in the tasting, nestled in the heart of Philly. Be it the Biryani from the southern part of India or the famous Amritsari Fish from Punjab, each dish tells a story of flavors, meticulously crafted to transport your senses across time and tradition. Our exclusive personalized service will surely bring you back to us again and again! Book your reservation today!

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Indian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Indian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 478-8777
Website
https://www.surabistro.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
FIRST Floor- The bar & lounge area is ideal for 45 guests seated. SECOND floor- Ideal for 50 guests seated. THIRD Floor North Room- Ideal for 20 guests seated and the South Room is Ideal for 45 guests seated. BUYOUT for the entire restaurant is ideal for 160 guests.
Private party contact
Sam: (215) 478-8777

Location
1726 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120
Neighborhood
Center City
Parking details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

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Experiences

Date Night Experience
$350.00 per party
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
Engage in a pleasant evening right with your beloved at the new Romeo and Juliet table at Sura Bistro. Celebrate togetherness with a picturesque view, and enjoy an evening of fine dining, making your date nights special than never before. Five Course Meal Two Cocktails or Two Mocktails per person

Offers

Happy Hour Offered at the First Floor Bar
Multiple dates available
Mon - Thu - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Treat yourself to an array of freshly crafted selective cocktails infused with the exquisite blend of fruits and herbs at reduced prices. All wines, draught beer on tap are half price and all cocktails are $7. AMRITSARI FISH FRY 7 North Indian-style fish fingers coated with Chickpea Flour & Carom Seeds. LASOONI PALAK PAKODA 5 (V, Gf) Crispy Indian fritters made with Spinach, Chickpea Flour, Garlic, and Cumin Seeds. CHICKEN 65 7 Chicken sautéed in a tangy '65' sauce with cilantro & sesame. VEGETABLE SPRING ROLL 5 Golden, crispy wrappers filled with a fresh, finely chopped vegetable medley.

Popular dishes

MULLIGATAWNY SOUP (V, Gf)$8.00
Creamy vegetable and lentil soup blended with freshly ground spices
NATTU KOZHI SOUP (Chicken Soup ) ( Gf)$10.00
Spiced tomato soup simmered with turmeric marinated chicken.
INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)$8.00
Freshly chopped cucumber, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes and herbs.
PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$12.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.
CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$15.00
Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)$12.00
Crispy vegetable fritters made with seasoned chickpea and rice flour.
VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)$8.00
Fried turnover filled with potatoes and green peas served with chutney on the side.
CHICKEN 65 (Gf)$12.00
Fried, battered chicken thighs seasoned with curry leaves.
TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)$12.00
Marinated chicken wings that are slow cooked in the tandoor.
FISH PAKORA$14.00
Crispy breaded tilapia made with seasoned chickpea and rice flour.

CHAAT

Chaat is a category of Indian street food that is a harmonious combination of sweet, savory, and crunchy. (VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

SAMOSA CHAAT$12.00
Deconstructed samosa topped with chole, onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.
SPINACH$12.00
Crispy chickpea battered spinach topped with onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney, and date chutney.
TIKKI CHAAT$12.00
Smashed potato patty topped with chole, onions, tomato, and cilantro. Drizzled with yogurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney.

TANDOOR / GRILL (Gf)

A tandoor is a large clay oven that is traditionally used for baking and cooking. Please allow 15 minutes preparation time.

PANEER TIKKA$16.00
House-made paneer marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI GOBI$14.00
Roasted cauliflower marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend. (VEGAN OPTION AVAILABLE)
CHICKEN TIKKA$18.00
Smoked chicken breast marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI CHICKEN$18.00
Half chicken marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend
PAHAADI JHINGA$23.00
Grilled tiger prawn marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
TANDOORI S ALMON $23.00
Grilled salmon marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB CHOPS$25.00
Coriander crusted lamb chops marinated in ginger, garlic, yogurt and freshly ground spice blend.
LAMB SHEEKH KEB BS$21.00
Minced lamb with herbs rolled and roasted on a skewer
CHARRED OCTOPUS$24.00
Grilled octopus smoked with southern spices. Served on top of a chickpea puree.
MIXED PLATTER$28.00
Chef’s choice of paneer and meats.

VEGETARIAN CURRY

VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

DAAL MAKHNI$16.00
Rich lentils slowly cooked with spices and cream.
DAAL TADKA$15.00
Smoky lentils tempered in a spicy tomato gravy and topped with traditional tadka. (Spice infused oil)
BINDI MA SALA$16.00
Semi-dry dish featuring okra, onion, tomato and fragrant spices.
CHANA MASALA$16.00
Chickpeas simmered in an onion and tomato gravy.
VEGETABLE JALFREZI$16.00
Indo-Chinese vegetable stir-fry seasoned with freshy ground spices.
BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)$16.00
Smoked eggplant and green peas sauteed in an onion and tomato gravy.
ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)$16.00
Potato and cauliflower combined with aromatics.

CURRY

Choose the style of curry and protein. PANEER $20 | CHICKEN $22 GOAT $24 | LAMB $24 | FISH $24 Served with rice.

TIKKA MASALA
Silky combination of tomato, onion, and bell peppers. Protein will be cooked in tandoor.
KORMA
Nutty puree of cashew nuts and fennel seeds.
SAAG
Creamy spinach gravy with ground coriander.
VINDALOO
Spicy vinaigrette with potatoes.
MADRAS
Roasted coconut gravy with smoked garam masala.
MALABAR
Spicy tamarind gravy with coconut milk.
BUTTER CHICKEN$22.00
Tandoori chicken simmered in a decadent tomato gravy and cashew cream.
MUTTON SHUKA$24.00
Semi-dry sauteed goat seasoned with a special spice blend and curry leaves.

BIRYANI

Biryani is a traditional rice dish that is slowly steamed with freshly ground spices and a choice of vegetables and/or protein. (GF AND VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

VEGETABLE BIRYANI$18.00
CHICKEN BIRYANI$24.00
GOAT BIRYANI$26.00
LAMB BIRYANI$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAIN$4.00
NAAN BUTTER$6.00
NAAN GARLIC$6.00
NAAN BULLET$7.00
NAAN PESHWARI$8.00
KULCHA PANEER$8.00
KULCHA ALOO$8.00
ROTI$4.00
LACCHA PARATHA$7.00
MALABAR P ARATHA$7.00
ASSORTED BREAD BASKET$16.00
An assortment of breads, including plain naan, butter naan, garlic naan, and roti.

DESSERT

KHEER$7.00
GULAB JAMUN$7.00
RASMALAI$8.00
GAJAR HALWA$7.00

What 88 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Philadelphia
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sura Indian Bistro offers a "phenomenal and well-rounded experience" with its "delicious food" and "impeccable service." Guests praise the "authentic flavors" and "modern twist" on Indian cuisine, creating a "romantic vibe" perfect for special occasions. While some experienced service hiccups, many recommend it for its "scrumptious" dishes and "charming ambiance."

88 Reviews

J
Janki
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
The food was overpriced for the quality—it lacked flavor and wasn’t worth the cost. On top of that, the guy at the front was rude, which made the experience even worse. Definitely wouldn’t recommend.
1 person found this helpful
C
Caden
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service and the food was amazing. I will definitely be going back in the near future!
Sura Indian BistroResponded 5 days ago
Thank you so much, Caden! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing experience with both our food and service. We look forward to having you dine with us again soon!
Is this helpful?
R
R
Montana
25 reviews
4.0
25 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant provides a great opportunity for something different before a show. The ambience is quiet and subdued. I enjoyed the food although I missed having papadum served. The staff was pleasant.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 14, 2024
Hello, thank you for the review! We’re glad you enjoyed the quiet ambiance and unique dining experience at Sura. Looking forward to serving you again!
Is this helpful?
R
Robert
Philadelphia
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very well prepared Indian cuisine with very good service. I will definitely return.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 14, 2024
Hi Robert, thank you for your thoughtful comments! We’re pleased you enjoyed our Indian cuisine and attentive service. We look forward to welcoming you back for another delightful meal.
Is this helpful?
J
James
Philadelphia
108 reviews
5.0
108 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All excellent. Lovely setting, very efficient and nice staff and delicious food.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 8, 2024
We appreciate the kind words, James! It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the setting, staff, and delicious food. We look forward to serving you again soon.
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G
Geetika
San Francisco
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on November 1, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Mani (owner/chef) is both terrific and very accommodating. We enjoyed all our food and will go back to Sura.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 8, 2024
Thank you, Geetika! We’re so glad our staff could make your experience enjoyable, and we’re delighted that you loved the food. Looking forward to your next visit!
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B
Bhavna
Charleston
8 reviews
vip
1.0
8 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
They were closed for a private event, we booked on line and when we got there the doors were closed.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 1, 2024
We apologize for the inconvenience. We hope you'll give us another chance to serve you and provide a better experience.
Is this helpful?
P
Pooja
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Sura is the BEST Indian in Philly - we ordered 8 dishes and 3 types of bread as well as 2 of the cocktails and everything was phenomenal! No complaints about a single thing, we had an amazing dinner and loved it!!
Sura Indian BistroResponded on November 1, 2024
Thank you, Patrick! We're always here to make sure you have the best experience. We look forward to having you back!
Is this helpful?
T
Trent
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic Service & Amazing Authentic Flavors of Southern India. It's as if recipes are Homemade & past down generations By far, the Best Indian food within 1,000+ miles.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on October 24, 2024
Thank you, Trent, for the glowing review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the authentic Southern Indian flavors and felt the homemade touch in our dishes. We truly appreciate your kind words and can’t wait to welcome you back for more!
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T
Tracy
Orlando
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 19, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Beautiful restaurant, ordered most items on the menu with my party and it was all good! Service was fair, they did not have much staff at the start of our dining but it got better towards the end.
Sura Indian BistroResponded on October 24, 2024
Thank you, Tracy, for sharing your experience! We're glad to hear you and your party enjoyed the food, and we appreciate your patience as we worked to improve the service during your visit. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again soon!
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FAQs

Sura Indian Bistro offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Sura Indian Bistro also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 478-8777.

Sura Indian Bistro is rated 4.5 stars by 88 OpenTable diners.

Sura Indian Bistro does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 27, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

1726 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5120

Additional information

Neighborhood
Center City
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Indian, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Indian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.surabistro.com/
Phone number
(215) 478-8777
Private party facilities
FIRST Floor- The bar & lounge area is ideal for 45 guests seated. SECOND floor- Ideal for 50 guests seated. THIRD Floor North Room- Ideal for 20 guests seated and the South Room is Ideal for 45 guests seated. BUYOUT for the entire restaurant is ideal for 160 guests.
Private party contact
Sam: (215) 478-8777

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Sura Indian Bistro

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Gift card

Date Night Experience

Happy Hour Offered at the First Floor Bar

CHICKEN

CHICKEN MAKHANI

CHARRED OCTOPUS

SOUP & SALAD

MULLIGATAWNY SOUP (V, Gf)$8.00

NATTU KOZHI SOUP (Chicken Soup ) ( Gf)$10.00

INDIAN KA CHUMBER SALAD (V, Gf)$8.00

PANEER TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$12.00

CHICKEN TIKKA SALAD (Gf)$15.00

APPETIZERS

VEGETABLE PAKORA (V, Gf)$12.00

VEGETABLE SAMOSA (V)$8.00

CHICKEN 65 (Gf)$12.00

TANDOORI CHICKEN WINGS (Gf)$12.00

FISH PAKORA$14.00

CHAAT

SAMOSA CHAAT$12.00

SPINACH$12.00

TIKKI CHAAT$12.00

TANDOOR / GRILL (Gf)

PANEER TIKKA$16.00

TANDOORI GOBI$14.00

CHICKEN TIKKA$18.00

TANDOORI CHICKEN$18.00

PAHAADI JHINGA$23.00

TANDOORI S ALMON $23.00

LAMB CHOPS$25.00

LAMB SHEEKH KEB BS$21.00

CHARRED OCTOPUS$24.00

MIXED PLATTER$28.00

VEGETARIAN CURRY

DAAL MAKHNI$16.00

DAAL TADKA$15.00

BINDI MA SALA$16.00

CHANA MASALA$16.00

VEGETABLE JALFREZI$16.00

BAINGAN BHAR TA (V, Gf)$16.00

ALOO GOBI (V, Gf)$16.00

CURRY

TIKKA MASALA

KORMA

SAAG

VINDALOO

MADRAS

MALABAR

BUTTER CHICKEN$22.00

MUTTON SHUKA$24.00

BIRYANI

VEGETABLE BIRYANI$18.00

CHICKEN BIRYANI$24.00

GOAT BIRYANI$26.00

LAMB BIRYANI$26.00

BREAD

NAAN PLAIN$4.00

NAAN BUTTER$6.00

NAAN GARLIC$6.00

NAAN BULLET$7.00

NAAN PESHWARI$8.00

KULCHA PANEER$8.00

KULCHA ALOO$8.00

ROTI$4.00

LACCHA PARATHA$7.00

MALABAR P ARATHA$7.00

ASSORTED BREAD BASKET$16.00

DESSERT

KHEER$7.00

GULAB JAMUN$7.00

RASMALAI$8.00

GAJAR HALWA$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary