Barsa
Phone: (919) 908-1800
The space that currently houses Barsa New Indian was another Indian restaurant before (Indian Monsoon), but what makes Barsa different is that they’ve designed the menu with a modern, upscale dining experience in mind. You won’t find pages and pages of options but, rather, a concise and focused list of dishes so that everything can be made fresh and prepared with precision. Barsa grinds up their own spice mixes in house, creating a freshness you can taste on the rubs and in the sauces (Indian spices are even used in the cocktails). While you’ll find both modern and unique signature dishes like lobster moilee alongside classics like tikka masala, even the classics will taste like something entirely new due to the cooking techniques and spices. The kitchen is led by chef Vinod Kumar who previously worked at the Michelin-starred Semma in New York. As word spreads, so does its popularity, so reservations are a good idea
Cuisines
- Indian
Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:30 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 9:30 PM
Map
Google Rating
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Had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with the family.
Barsa provides an upscale experience (and reflected in the price), and it does so flawlessly.
We tried the 16th-century paneer appetizer, and the sauce was incredible. Something very unique and new to my seasoned Indian taste buds. Would love to see them make this into a proper curry and add it to the entrees with chicken and other proteins.
For mains, we got the chicken tikka masala, butter paneer masala, and shahi kofta. My dish was the chicken tikka masala, and it was so tasty--one of the best chicken tikka masala curries in the entire area. The juicy, well-marinated, and seasoned chicken rested on top for a nice presentation.
I did try a bit of the shahi kofta. It was too sweet for my liking, but that's just a personal preference. For what it was, it was delicious.
Finally, we completed the meal with the deconstructed Jalebi and a chocolate cake. The presentations were excellent, and we felt we were part of an elaborate experience, with the staff providing a show-like experience with each course. -
The best dining experience I've had in Durham and the best Chicken Tikka Masala I've EVER had. I was greeted with a smile and promptly seated. Sagar was my waiter and he was phenomenal! Very attentive and friendly without hovering. The food and drink were amazing - the chicken tikka masala - star of the night. The chicken was perfectly grilled and cooked. I ordered mine with medium spice heat and it was perfect. The garlic naan was also perfectly prepared. I had an AMAZING peach mocktail with coconut water and lemon juice. Barsa is my new favorite restaurant for sure!! I will definitely be back often.
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Not all Indian cuisine is created equal… this spot proves it.
Stopped into BARSA New Indian and the paneer butter masala set the tone right away. Rich, velvety, and balanced—smooth tomato base, just the right touch of cream, and paneer that stayed tender instead of rubbery. The kind of dish that tells you the kitchen knows what it’s doing.
Then came the twist—the jalapeño cheese naan.
Not traditional… but it works. The heat and cheese cut through the richness of the curry and elevate the whole plate. That balance between classic technique and creativity? That’s hard to pull off.
Even got a small dessert on the house—simple, but memorable.
Service was attentive, pacing was spot on, and the whole experience felt dialed in.
If you’re looking for Indian food that respects tradition but isn’t afraid to evolve… this is a solid stop. -
This was a remarkable meal. The balance of flavors in every course was incredible. They brought out the food with incredible timing. Waiters were incredibly attentive and friendly. They accommodated our gluten and dairy allergies with brilliant expertise. They were also warm and welcoming to our family, including children. Sunny in particular was an incredible host! We look forward to coming back many times!
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My mom and I stumbled upon barsa when we were deciding on what to eat in the Durham area for our weekend getaway. Our experience there was beyond perfect with the help and charisma of our server Sagar he guided us through a dinner that we will never forget. For drinks we got the pistachio rain gin cocktails which was unique and we didn’t hesitate to order a 2nd round. For appetizers we ordered the tellicherry mushrooms and the saffron malai chicken which were well presented and the flavors were amazing. The tandoor chicken literally came out cloudy from the dry ice they put under it for a cool effect. Also the chutney they gave us for the mushrooms was so good that we used it for our naan to dip it in too. For our main courses we got the lamb shank and the duck vindaloo which were out of this world. Both are a must try and had different flavor highlights. The vindaloo had a tomato based sauce that wasn’t too spicy and complimented the duck while the lamb had a thick rich sauce that coated it well and the meat was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. We made sure to not leave any left on the plate and it was the perfect amount of food for 2 people. We even splurged a little bit and ordered dessert and got the crème brûlée and Sagar was nice enough to recommend us the chocolate mousse dessert as well. From the ambiance to the creativity of the food to the friendliness of the staff everything met our expectations and surpassed that. We will definitely be back in the future.
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