Mela Restaurant

4.5 (461)

$30 and under

Indian

578 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118

Make a reservation

Mela Restaurant

4.5

$30 and under

Indian

South End

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 6, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Charming
Kid-friendly

Boston’s South End has rapidly become a culinary destination in its own right. To find the neighborhood’s first Indian restaurant, MELA on Tremont Street, a unique dining space that has struck a chord with residents here since the day it opened in 2007.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Indian
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:30 pm
Phone number
(617) 859-4805
Website
http://www.melainboston.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paramjit Singh
Catering
Of course we cater!<br /> We provide full catering services on site live cooking showcases, to large scale buffets, to box- lunch service. Some of our specialties include mobile tandoor ovens, live dosa station and make your own chaat station.

Location
578 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118
Neighborhood
South End
Cross street
Union park/Upton<br />
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Just 10 min walk from Back bay station , and 43 bus goes right in front of Mela .
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine

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Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Videos

Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.

sash_eatss
Inside Boston’s hottest new Indian spot 🔥✨ Shrimp puri, chicken do pyaaza & samosa chaat casually stealing the show… 🤌🏽🇮🇳🍽️ . #bostonblogger #bostoninfluencer #wheretodine #indianfoodinusa #bostonfoodjournal
sesamyoil
All You Can Eat Indian Lunch Buffet for only $13 🤭🇮🇳 @melaindianma is serving up a good deal every day during lunch time- $13 on weekdays, and $15 for weekend lunch! The AYCE price includes masala chai tea, the self serve buffet of appetizers and entrees, dessert, and even fresh made naan! My favorites of the day were definitely the goat curry, chicken tikka masala, and the garlic naan is a must get. if you want to spice up your meal, their mango lassi is amazing! The perfect texture and the sweetness complements the savory flavors of curry perfectly 🤤🥭 (price is subject to change, so if you want to be sure, call the restaurant before you go!) follow @sesamyoil for more Boston food recs! #ayce #cheapeats #buffet #allyoucaneat #indianfood #indian #food #foodie #collegefoodie #foodblogger #foodphotography #foodstagram #boston #bostonfoodies #foodboston #bostonguide #bostonrestaurants #tikkamasala #collegeeats
explorewithmeg_
Visited Mela for a delightful Indian feast, and it did not disappoint! We tried the samosa chaat, paneer chili, dal makhani, and paneer makhani—all bursting with authentic flavors and spices. The naan was perfectly fluffy, and each curry had a rich, comforting taste. To top it off, we absolutely loved the house-made mango ice cream and the badam kulfi, which added a sweet and refreshing end to the meal. A perfect spot for anyone craving a true taste of India! #MelaBoston #IndianFood #FoodieAdventures #BostonEats #SpiceLovers #VegetarianFood #MangoIceCream #BadamKulfi

Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated

Subz Panchmael$16.00
Red, Yellow and green peppers, artichokes, asparagus and bean sprouts stir fried with panch phoran flavored tomato and green cardamom sauce
Lamb Shank Curry$20.00
Delicately braised lamb shanks in a delicious saffron and red onion gravy. Best enjoyed with garlic naan
Pork Vindaloo$18.00
A hot and sour specialty from the coastal region of Goa cooked with palm vinegar
Duck Jalfrezi$20.00
Tender pieces of boneless duck sauteed with mixed vegetables & spices

Hot Appetizers

Meat Samosa$6.00
Spicy turnovers stuffed with minced lamb and spices
Vegetable Samosa$5.00
Spicy turnovers stuffed with potatoes and green peas
Chicken Tikka$8.00
Tender pieces of chicken marinated in spices and yogurt and cooked on skewers in tandoor

Cold Appetizers

Chat Papri$7.00
Spiced potatoes with fried wheat wafers, yogurt, sweet & sour sauce
Jhinga Chat$9.00
Succulent shrimp and cucumber delicately tossed in our sweet and sour tangy sauce
Chicken Chat$8.00
Pieces of white meat chicken and cucumber tossed in our sweet and sour tangy sauce

Tandoori

Tandoori Chicken
Tender chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices and baked in tandoor
- Half$13.00
- Full$22.00
Kali Mirch Ke Tikki$15.00
Chicken marinated in black pepper, yogurt and spices, baked in tandoor
Salmon Kebab$18.00
Fresh salmon marinated in our chef's secret recipe sauce, baked in tandoor

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Mela Restaurant.

4.5

(461)

4.7Food
4.4Service
4.0Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

461 Reviews

J
Janet
Greater Boston26 reviews
4.0
Dined on October 2, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely service. While the lamb tandoori kabobs were over cooked, the Baighan Bartha and salmon tandoori Kabobs were excellent. They accommodated our needs to get to early theater and are warm and friendly neighborhood place.
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P
Paula
Greater Boston15 reviews
4.0
Dined on September 30, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The lamb shank curry was fabulous, perfectly cooked, falling off the bone.
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D
David Gold
Greater Boston6 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 15, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was great. Food, service, attention to detail. Good value. Good experience.
Is this helpful?
L
Lawrence Gold
San Francisco16 reviews
4.0
Dined on August 24, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We live in the neighborhood and love coming to Mela to eat or for takeout. Today we ate inside to escape the summer heat. The food was great, prepared to our spice level; the vegetarian samosas and peshwari naan are staples they do well! Service is omnipresent and helpful. So happy to have a well run neighborhood place for good Indian food!
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P
Paula
Greater Boston26 reviews
2.0
Dined on July 3, 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
We were the only party in the restaurant. Also we were seated in full view of the cook/chef. Ordered appetizer sampler (dried up meats and veggies) awful, we were about 1/3 of the way into the sampler and the waitress comes over saying our entrees are ready. We asked that they be held, they were of course all dried out. Should have been paced. I was in a wheelchair, they claim to be handicap accessible. Not true!! Horrible and embarrassing experience!!
Is this helpful?
J
Josephine Gold
Greater Boston30 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 14, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We go here for Sunday brunch every other weekend. Love the authentic India food here at Mela.and the Lychee Martini is a must try. The services are phenomenal and very friendly
1 person found this helpful
C
Chris
Alabama1 review
5.0
Dined on June 10, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love the food there. Very tasty and just amazing. One of my favorite Indian spots.
Is this helpful?
M
Mary Ann
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on May 23, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great Indian food at a fair price. Perfect for pre-theatre dining in the South End.
Is this helpful?
F
Fernando Gold
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 7, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love it. I’m a very loyal client. I have been going for the last 14 years
Is this helpful?
B
Bob Gold
Greater Boston58 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 28, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We have been coming to Mela for almost 8 years now. It's our go-to restaurant after theater events , about 5 a year, at the Calderwood. We have always had a great meal, excellent service and very nice atmosphere. The menu presents authentic Indian dishes with quite a variety, as we try to have something a bit different every time we dine here. The staff is always helpful with suggestions as we ponder the menu, looking for complementary dishes to share. They've even help with cocktail selections if you'd like something not on their menu. Today we had great service from Supreet specifically, who helped us with our choices. We also enjoyed our conversations with her about Mela's history and our own Indian travel. We highly recommend Mela for good Indian cuisine and great atmosphere. We call it our date night for our time in Boston.
2 people found this helpful

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Indian
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:30 pm
Phone number
(617) 859-4805
Website
http://www.melainboston.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paramjit Singh
Catering
Of course we cater!<br /> We provide full catering services on site live cooking showcases, to large scale buffets, to box- lunch service. Some of our specialties include mobile tandoor ovens, live dosa station and make your own chaat station.

Location
578 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118
Neighborhood
South End
Cross street
Union park/Upton<br />
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
Just 10 min walk from Back bay station , and 43 bus goes right in front of Mela .
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Gift card

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

Send a gift card

FAQs

Sunday is a standout, guests regularly praise Mela’s Sunday brunch buffet and many return specifically for that experience, often enjoying the restaurant’s shady patio.

Portions at Mela are generous, guests frequently describe the dishes and buffets as ample and filling, and the restaurant’s dinner-for-two options bring a notably large spread to the table.

Yes, Mela is often chosen for date night, with guests specifically calling it their 'date night' spot and praising the food, service, and welcoming atmosphere.

Yes, Mela offers outdoor seating: guests praise a shady, dog-friendly patio that’s popular for brunch and al fresco meals.

Mela feels warm and inviting, reviewers describe a cozy, unpretentious dining room with friendly, attentive staff, and an open kitchen that keeps the experience lively and personable.

Dogs are welcome on Mela’s patio, reviewers describe a dog-friendly outdoor space and at least one party dined outside with their "fur kid."

Mela Restaurant follows a Casual Dress policy, comfortable, informal attire is entirely appropriate.

Sunday brunch is the sweet spot, guests regularly praise Mela’s Sunday brunch buffet for a relaxed, satisfying visit.

At Mela you can dine in the main dining room, enjoy drinks at the bar, or take a table on the outdoor patio.

Yes, guests note a shady, dog-friendly outdoor patio, making the patio a welcoming spot for diners with dogs.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

Mela Restaurant

4.5

$30 and under

Indian

South End

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 6, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

Mela Restaurant

Make a reservation

Mela Restaurant

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Gift card

Soup & Salad

Mulligatawny Soup$4.00

Chicken Noodle Soup$5.00

Tomato & Coconut Soup$5.00

Modern Indian Creations

Subz Panchmael$16.00

Lamb Shank Curry$20.00

Pork Vindaloo$18.00

Duck Jalfrezi$20.00

Hot Appetizers

Meat Samosa$6.00

Vegetable Samosa$5.00

Chicken Tikka$8.00

Cold Appetizers

Chat Papri$7.00

Jhinga Chat$9.00

Chicken Chat$8.00

Tandoori

Tandoori Chicken

Kali Mirch Ke Tikki$15.00

Salmon Kebab$18.00

Additional information

Gift card

FAQs

What is the best day to go to Mela Restaurant?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Is this a good pick for date night?

Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

Are pets (including service dogs and emotional support animals) allowed in this restaurant?

What is the dress code for Mela Restaurant?

When is the best time to go to Mela Restaurant?

What seating arrangements/rooms does this restaurant have?

Is this restaurant dog-friendly?

Make a reservation

Mela Restaurant

Make a reservation