Clay Oven Indian - Lexington

**Vegetarian options:** There are plenty of vegetarian choices. We particularly enjoyed the butternut squash curry and the okra curry. **Kid-friendliness:** While we didn't bring our kids (since our 3-year-old and 7-year-old are not fans of seasoned dishes), there was plenty of seating available for families.

We were extremely disappointed with both the quality and quantity of the food. The prices were very high relative to the portion sizes we received. The service was lacking; our server seemed rushed and didn’t have time to attend to us properly. We ordered a virgin mango mojito but instead received a mango lassi. The mixed grill platter was too small, and the chicken had an unpleasant fishy smell, while the lamb was overly tenderized to the point of being unappetizing. The Chicken Hyderabadi was overloaded with garam masala and was not appealing whatsoever. The rice was of poor quality, made with subpar basmati. The pav bhaji bruschetta was not what we expected; it was just standard pav bhaji. The ambience was also unpleasant, as we could hear arguments from the kitchen, which was quite disturbing. I would not recommend this restaurant.

I have a severe intolerance to spicy food due to a digestive issue, so I always request my dishes to be not just mild, but "extra mild," or as mild as possible. For the first few years, they accommodated me well, serving deliciously creamy and mild dishes. However, during my last two visits, despite my clear requests for milder food, the dishes have been noticeably spicier, leading to stomach troubles. The second-to-last visit was manageable but still caused some discomfort. The most recent visit, however, was quite frustrating. I emphasized again that I need the dish to be mild, yet it was even spicier than before. I could barely finish it and later suffered from severe heartburn and nausea, which disrupted my sleep. The first instance of overly spicy food seemed like a one-off, perhaps due to a misunderstanding, but the second time indicates a worrying trend. It appears that the dish has become less creamy and is missing some ingredients it used to have, making me suspect they are adding more spice to compensate for this. Additionally, my partner and I are both vegetarians. For years, we had requested a bit of paneer added to our dishes for extra protein at no extra cost, which we appreciated. However, during our second-to-last visit, they suddenly charged us $3 for this, which was surprising since they had never done this before. When my partner inquired about the charge on our last visit, the staff couldn’t provide a clear answer, suggesting it might be around $2, but the bill still came to $3. Furthermore, the dish usually includes almonds and cashews, but last time, there were none at all, which was disappointing since it's one of my favorite aspects. We also noticed that the rice portion was considerably smaller, which changed the meal's overall texture. In short, we're now paying more for smaller portions and fewer ingredients, and the food is now too spicy for me to enjoy without risking my health afterward. Prices have risen as well, so we're shelling out about $5 more per dish, or $8 if we include the paneer—a significant increase, especially when a nearby restaurant serves a similar dish with paneer as a standard ingredient and larger portions. I understand that the pandemic has significantly impacted restaurants, and inflation has raised food prices, but it feels like we're being overcharged while also receiving less in terms of quality and quantity.

Best Indian food in Boston! The restaurant is very neat and clean. Foods are very delicious. Recommend goat curry. They have a good vibe as everyone is so friendly. Highly recommend lunch buffet and weekday price only costs $21. Will come back next time!

Food was phenomenal to a point that each of the 8 adults in the table agreed this should be a regular in our restaurant hopping list.Service was quick and the servers took care of bringing the food on time.We will be visiting this place often.