India Pavilion

When Mohan Singh converted an old pizza shop into India Pavilion in 1979, he opened what would become the first Indian restaurant in the Boston area. Cambridge was different then—there was no Indian dining scene to speak of, and Singh had to introduce customers to flavors they'd never encountered. Forty-five years later, the restaurant remains family-owned and neighborhood-essential.

The menu covers North Indian classics with proper execution. Tandoori dishes emerge from the clay oven with appropriate char. Curries range from mild to genuinely spicy, prepared to order. The vegetarian options are substantial—this isn't a kitchen that treats vegetarian as an afterthought. And the lunch buffet has been fueling Central Square workers for decades.

What makes India Pavilion notable is its consistency. While flashier Indian restaurants have opened and closed around Boston, India Pavilion keeps doing what it's always done: serving solid Indian food at fair prices with genuine hospitality. The staff has been here for years. The recipes haven't changed. The community keeps coming back.

For Central Square, India Pavilion represents something increasingly rare: a family business that survives on quality and loyalty rather than trends. In 2024, they celebrated 45 years—a remarkable run in any restaurant scene.