Review Thava Indian Restaurant Monte - Johannesburg

Loved our dinner there. Affordable prices, quick service and very delicious Indian food restaurant right inside the great Monte Casino. Staff is also helpful and polite. Vegetarian and halal food also available along with beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks. Ordered so much food that we had to take remaining in take aways 😂

Thava delivers on expectations. The meal was simply delicious. Portion sizes were good. Hot is a true level of heat! Great service and a welcoming atmosphere.

My friend and I had an amazing dinner there. Our waiter was very friendly, helpful and patient while we tried to figure out what we wanted. You get great snacks while you wait. The management staff are also friendly and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious and great portions. We both had a vegetarian dish, and it was great, which some places fall down on. Will definitely be going back there! We even got a dessert on the house which was scrumptious!

Thava is always a treat when it comes to delicious Indian food. They food is absolutely spot on, the curries never too greasy, the rotis never too fat and chewys, and they always get their mild, medium and spicy ratios spot on. Service is always excellent too. Have been going here since the place opened and not once have we left feeling even the slightest of disappointments. Atmosphere is great too. It is always busy and bustling, at least on all the occasions that I have been here. Recommendations: pick any of their Indo Chinese like chilli panneer, cauliflower chilli or even a manchurian and you cannot go wrong. I've only tried vegetarian here and for that I can vouch for. In snacks, the panic puri is to die for albeit a bit expensive since you always wish the plate had more. We have celebrated my daughter's birthday here, twice in a row. And they have made it extra special with the singing and a house special treat each time. Here's a pic of the soji ice cream they treated my daughter to... it was just... melt-in-mouth divine. Thanks, team Thava. I am impressed as much with how consistent you are in what you do, as I am with your food quality and taste.

We visited for dinner, despite the restaurant being so busy we were never felt neglected. We did wait for a table as we didn't make a reservation but it was nothing more than 10min. The staff and host are extremely friendly and very helpful. The food is delicious!!! Prepared to perfection, definitely a MUST visit if you're feeling for a good curry. The deco is elegant but authentic making eating with your hands normal. We ordered the Chicken chettinadu curry in mild (comes with rice). Tandoori mixed platter for 2. Butter Naan. For dessert we had soji & ice cream. Drinks we got Bombay crush (so yummy).

We had a fantastic dinner here tonight for a 51st birthday. Samuel ,our waiter ,made the evening extra special with his brilliant recommendations. EVERY single dish was outstanding...the highlights were the cheese and garlic Naan breads,the tandoori chicken platter,and delicious Dom Pedro's. Truly attentive service right through...highly recommend.

Arguably one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve been to, the food is amazing and fresh. I love the different variations on naan breads they have on offer. All the waiters are super friendly, professional and really helpful when it comes to recommending dishes.

Was a lovely afternoon at Thava, the service was quick and friendly, food was amazing. A very nice ambiance. Our waiter was incredibly friendly, professional and accommodating. 10/10

We visited this place on a weekend with friends and family. We visited Montecasino and had lunch at this place. The staff was very polite and helpful. We had a good time and the food was good too. It has very nice menu options and the dishes were tasty too. We even had 2 kids accompanying us and even they are nicely. Will visit again for sure

Loved this place! The dishes are rich and full of flavour. The butter chicken was incredible - the prawn curry was just ok and the lamb/ mutton curry was a little spicier than expected but very yummy. Enjoyed the meals.

10/10 Service Received From our waiter Decent was top notch. Food ordered was good. Curry prepared well.

Indian food done right! You are not going to find any bunny chows here bru. We were walking through Monte on our way to another spot we picked for date night but man! Thava was oozing flavours that we turned back to give it a try. What a great decision! Fresh food. Great portions and some of the lightest and tasty naan I've ever had and a true delight! Service was exceptional and the 'cooking cart bar' up front is a touch of street that should be adopted by more restaurants in Monte. Well done, ill be back to try the crab curry and tandoori chicken we saw being served which also looked and smelled exceptional.

We had such a lovely evening and meal here. The managers and waiters were so welcoming and attentive. They really made sure that the meal was top class. Thanks so much!!

Montecasino has welcomed another Award winning Restaurant to its list, adding some spice to the food scene. Thava Indian Restaurant is well known for its branch is Norwood with everyone singing its praises. Now the North also has something to boast. Thava Indian Restaurant Montecasino has launched, along with Gourmet Street, in a Traditional Food Cart. The menu is made up of Recipes that have been handed down from Owner Matthew Abrahams' mother to him, from Kerala where he was born. They use fresh local ingredients and aromatic spices to make their award winning dishes. Along with Chef Philippe Frydman, who is their consultant at Thava, all the Chefs in the kitchen are from India to ensure its authenticity and taste. The sit down menu is a combination of vegetarian, lamb, chicken or seafood dishes; fragrant curries, biriyanis and stews; spicy tandoori and masala dishes, all served with traditional breads, rice dishes and side dishes of freshly prepared chutneys, pickles or vegetables. The Food Cart menu however, features dishes designed for takeaways, such as Tandoori Bunny, Paani Poori, Momos, Vegetable patties, Panjabi chaat, and more. Customers will place their orders with any manager, and thereafter collect their orders from the window or trolley, and they can either sit and eat on the terrace or move and eat their dishes while exploring the casino. The one striking feature besides the lovely artworks, is the approximately 250 year old Wooden Carved door which serves as a stunning picture backdrop. On opening night we got to taste an array of food. My favourites were actually the starters, the Chilli Prawns, Veg Patties and the unusual take on a Chicken Tandoor Bunny Chow. The mains were so aromatic. The Naans were delicious. I enjoyed the Dhal and the Shahi Chicken. The lamb was a bit too tough to eat, and I didnt really eat the fish curry, not too much a fan of coconut milk curry, but the fish itself was tender. I loved that we got Vegetable Pickle, always a winner😉 For dessert, we rounded off with Payasam, a creamy tasting Vermicelli. If you love Indian food, spicy food or just trying something different then you should definitely check out the variety that they have to offer. Thanks to the entire Team for a lovely Media Opening Night. We will be back. Just a note they do state their ingredients are Halaal, but they do serve alcohol. #TheFoodMusketeer #TheFoodMusketeerEats #TheFoodMusketeerDrinks #TFMThava #MonteThava #GottaluvMonte Strategic Public Relations

Absolutely fantastic food and exceptional service from the team at Thava. Highly recommend the special prawn curry!

Bad food - worse service <br/><br/>I placed a takeaway order and with and attendant (who was was very distracted by other customers) who failed to write down one of the main meals I requested (she was too busy taking in a cake from guests who had just arrived and chivvied me off to the side MID-ORDER). We therefore only received part of the order and the quality of the food was very poor. I order the exact same dish from the Norwood branch and have done for many years but what I received was clearly a lower quality (and I received a hot when ordered a medium - same happened with one of the other mains). <br/><br/>Utterly appalled and will NEVER be going back to this branch as it goes about ruining an otherwise great reputation of Thava.

I had dinner with friends on Christmas eve. The service was very good and we always had wait staff checking on us and asking if we needed anything. My vegetable briyani was very good. However, some of my friends said that the food was not that spicy and as flavourful as the curries in Durban. Nonetheless, I would visit again.

We will definitely be visiting again.

We received amazing service and help with Vegan meals. The vegan food was so delicious and we will definitely be back. <br/>This should be on the Vegan hidden gem list.

Indian in italy.. excellent food and unbelievable service. Being an Indian from India never expected that there will an authentic and proper Indian restaurant outside India. I was wrong, from reception till we leave, management made sure that we all entertained well. As a starter we have tried their unique street indian platter and mains we ordered lamb shank chettanad, lamb kasthuri, chicken kadai. Flavoursom and explotion of spices with beautifull paratha made us feel like we are in India. Thank u Thava and team we will see u on our next trip.

Unexpected!!!! Impromptu Friday night dinner turned out to be an absolute surprise . Greeted by hosts you get an authentic Indian feel. Waiter's knowledge and presentation of the menu was great. My husband had the lamb shank seasonal speciality and it looked very appetizing. I had the Thava prawn speciality and was pleasantly surprised. Perfectly cooked and the flavors were amazing. Found the menu a bit overwhelming with choice but with guidance from waiter we defnitely had an amazing meal. We both like hot food but was recommended to order medium and it was very flavour some. Thava is great value for money and both the food and ambiance were great. We will be back

The food is above average, however I was completely horrified and disgusted when I got told that they are unable to accommodate us on an upcoming evening as we were a group of 4 people and they did not have tables large enough ! I have been witness to the management treat and fall all over guests who are on the casino’s VIP list and I have also dined there with up to 8 guests and we were happily accommodated as we were with VIP’s. The change of attitude and service is sad and not in line with an establishment at Montecasino !

We visited Thava last week and it was a pleasant experience. Waiters, managers and front hostesses were friendly and welcoming. Food we ordered were lamb shank biryani, lamb chops biryani, lamb Rogan Josh, chicken chettinadu... All came with rice and we also ordered Naan with it. As starters we ordered the street food pani poori, Palak chat and tandoori prawns..all were very tasty and the quantity were big enough for all of us to share. Desserts were kulfi, fried ice cream and payasam and were wonderful. The decor is classic and elegant. They played a wonderful background music which added a very refreshing ambiance to the restaurant. Will definitely go back to try more and more Indian dishes.

Good food and ambiance. The best service i received so far. Their tandoori lamb chops biryani is the best. Spicy and good quantity. Will recommend to my friends and family.

The manager Vibin is annoying. He doesn't let people enjoy their food. He wants to have a conversation from the time you enter up until you leave. He also likes flirting with the women.

Thava Indian Restaurant <br/><br/><br/>Location : Montecasino <br/>Price : R350-R400 for two (pricing is 10 % too expensive I feel) <br/><br/><br/><br/>This vibrant restaurant opened recently in Montecasino a 5 Minute drive away from home. <br/><br/>It was typically hard to get a reservation as the restaurant is always booming! Today I was fortunate enough to get a booking 🌼<br/><br/>Firstly the ambience was inviting , homely and fresh. Montecasinos style made it feel authentic too. <br/><br/>Secondly the food - @tameez_moosa & I started with India’s famous street-food ‘Pani Puri’ , WOW! It was everything from spice & all things nice. A perfect balance between tangy , sweet , salty and spicy (crunchy too). <br/><br/>For mains we thoroughly enjoyed the Paneer Makhani which was Indian cottage cheese cooked in a delicious cashew + tomato sauce/gravy garnished with cream - served with rice and naan. It lacked a bit of salt however I preferred it that way as too much salt can raise your blood pressure (That’s the Nurse in me talking) 😄😯🤗<br/><br/>To end off the meal I enjoyed a cup of Masala tea - really warming and tasty. (Could have been presented differently like in a teapot however served by the cup seemed more authentic) <br/><br/>For dessert we had the Deep fried Thava Ice Cream (Rich + sweet vanilla ice cream covered in phyllo pastry , deep fried and served with syrup and coconut sugar) , I particularly didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would as the phyllo was cooked inconsistently & the ice cream was store bought. <br/><br/><br/>Lastly , the service overall was good. Staff were attentive and friendly. The restaurant is Halaal friendly however I opted for vegetarian.

A ladies night dinner we choose the recently opened Thava , service was attentive.Food tikka chicken starter kebab with butter naan was tasty but not spicy at all .Tried Pani Puri here for first time and loved flavour sensation of crunch, softness and tangy and sweet flavour as this specific store also has street food on offer

Omg .. it's so crazy delicious..no words to describe. Unbelievable and friendly service . Ordered lamb chops masala and some street Indian starters based on manager suggestions and it was out of this world . Thank u Thava for an exquisite experiance .

The best curry I have had and the service was just fantastic!! The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the staff just want to please you. I will be back.

Thava restaurant is a lovely establishment. The food is delicious, spicy and fresh. If you craving a good authentic Indian curry try out this restaurant. Service is good.

Thava is an amazing restaurant! The staff are friendly, the food is divine and the restaurant itself is gorgeous. I recommend this restaurant to everyone<br/>

24.04.2019 Montecasino has welcomed another Award winning Restaurant to its list, adding some spice to the food scene. Thava Indian Restaurant is well known for its branch is Norwood with everyone singing its praises. Now the North also has something to boast. Thava Indian Restaurant Montecasino has launched, along with Gourmet Street, in a Traditional Food Cart.<br/><br/>The menu is made up of Recipes that have been handed down from Owner Matthew Abrahams' mother to him, from Kerala where he was born. They use fresh local ingredients and aromatic spices to make their award winning dishes. Along with Chef Philippe Frydman, who is their consultant at Thava, all the Chefs in the kitchen are from India to ensure its authenticity and taste.<br/><br/>The sit down menu is a combination of vegetarian, lamb, chicken or seafood dishes; fragrant curries, biriyanis and stews; spicy tandoori and masala dishes, all served with traditional breads, rice dishes and side dishes of freshly prepared chutneys, pickles or vegetables.<br/><br/>The Food Cart menu however, features dishes designed for takeaways, such as Tandoori Bunny, Paani Poori, Momos, Vegetable patties, Panjabi chaat, and more. Customers will place their orders with any manager, and thereafter collect their orders from the window or trolley, and they can either sit and eat on the terrace or move and eat their dishes while exploring the casino.<br/><br/>The one striking feature besides the lovely artworks, is the approximately 250 year old Wooden Carved door which serves as a stunning picture backdrop.<br/><br/>On opening night we got to taste an array of food. My favourites were actually the starters, the Chilli Prawns, Veg Patties and the unusual take on a Chicken Tandoor Bunny Chow.<br/><br/>The mains were so aromatic. The Naans were delicious. I enjoyed the Dhal and the Shahi Chicken. The lamb was a bit too tough to eat, and I didnt really eat the fish curry, not too much a fan of coconut milk curry, but the fish itself was tender.<br/><br/>I loved that we got Vegetable Pickle, always a winner😉<br/><br/>For dessert, we rounded off with Payasam, a creamy tasting Vermicelli.<br/><br/>If you love Indian food, spicy food or just trying something different then you should definitely check out the variety that they have to offer.<br/><br/>Thanks to the entire Team for a lovely Media Opening Night. We will be back.<br/><br/>Just a note they do state their ingredients are Halaal, but they do serve alcohol.<br/><br/>#TheFoodMusketeer<br/>#TheFoodMusketeerEats<br/>#TheFoodMusketeerDrinks<br/>#TFMThava<br/>#MonteThava<br/>#GottaluvMonte<br/>Strategic Public Relations

So glad that Thava is now opened at Monte Casino, saves us the drive all the way to Norwood. <br/><br/>We were served with a complimentary light snack with our drinks. <br/><br/>Food here is never a disappointment- all dishes are delish and authentic. Service is good and staff is helpful and friendly. <br/><br/>Was just very disappointed that not one but 2 of my drink choices and one item that I requested from The menu was not available :-(

Tried food from here twice, first takeout as we couldn't get a table. The lamb vindaloo and briyani ordered hot hit all the right flavours and spiciness.<br/><br/>Our second visit we booked and were seated inside, decor has some rich red coloured walls with beautiful frames. Place was packed and tables quite close to each other. I didn't know how to order from the streetfood section nor was I informed about it from my waiter. Menu is typical north indian and some south indian favourites. The dosa was not spicy and loaded with onions, prawn and chicken starter special was a bit dry a d again losded with onions, butter chicken pretty average and briyani good. The Bombay crush and lassi was definity the highlight, was disappointed that the takeout order superceded sit down. Service was slow but I'm sure within time it will improve as its still early days.

Excellent food and excellent service! Always loved the Norwood branch and thrilled they’ve opened in Monte. Can’t wait to come back for our next visit.

Not usually so generous with my 5 stars but danng son! I am immensely impressed by this restaurant! The chaat! The food. The SERVICE! The delicious drinks! Wow! WoW! WOW! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Very lovely and flavorful Indian cuisine. The restaurant was pretty full for a week night even though it is fairly new, so the ambience was pleasant. Highly recommended

Superb Indian cuisine in the heart of montecasino , very quick and efficient management and excellent varities of Indian menu . I loved their street Indian concept especially the paani poori . Ohoo ya the full kitchen is live , lamb chops masala is a winner with their naan . Thank u so much for the manager and thava who made our brithday dinner a memorable one.