What is the absolute best Indian restaurant in Toronto?

What i'm looking for is the best Indian Restaurant in Toronto, meeting the following criteria:

1.Taste. It has to taste good, obviously. I prefer something authentic, rather than 'fusion cuisine'.



2.Setting. I prefer a fine dining establishment as compared to a bistro or a trendy bar-restaurant combination. I prefer elegance to trendiness, but I am still willing to compromise on this.



3.Service. I prefer to be served by professional trained waitstaff who know what they're doing, rather than students.



Cost is a secondary concern.What is the absolute best Indian restaurant in Toronto?
Hi there! First off, just a note about the previous answerer's response - there's no longer the veggie Siddhartha in Little India two blocks away from the veggie-and-meat one. The veggie Siddhartha closed down months ago and was replaced by a different restaurant.



However, I do agree that there aren't too many Indian restaurants that are "fine dining" in Toronto, and the highest reviewed ones are often casual places. (I would stay away from standbys like Babar, Mother India, and Trimurti's, who rack up stars at review sites because they have easy-to-please student patrons but are otherwise competent and unremarkable, while better places have lower ratings because their patrons are more discriminating.)



Here are my top 5 recommendations, in no particular order:



Amaya The Indian Room

Closest intersection: Eglinton and Bayview

Example main dish: "Tandoori beef vindaloo - marinated cubes of beef tenderloin roasted on skewers in the clay oven served with a spicy vindaloo sauce %26amp; onion rings" for $21

Why I'm recommending them: gourmet, high-end experience that's been well-reviewed by critics

Link: http://www.amayarestaurant.com



Kama

Closest intersection: King and University

Example main dish: "Lamb/beef nilgiri - a specialty from the Nilgiri Hills. Lamb or beef cubes curried in a fresh mint and coriander sauce" for $15

Why I'm recommending them: lovely high-end decor, tasty food, excellent professional service (when I was there, a year and a half ago or so)

Link: http://www.dine.to/kama



Utsav

Closest intersection: Bay and Bloor

Example main dish: "Goan Fish - curry filet of salmon cooked in a traditional hot and tangy goan curry" for $15

Why I'm recommending them: they're in the fanciest neighborhood in the city, high end, great reviews from patrons

Link: http://www.utsav.ca/index.htm



Mela Indian Cuisine

Closest intersection: Avenue and Wilson

Example main dish: "Lamb Chop - tender lamb chop marinated with Indian spice %26amp; herbs, roasted in tandoori oven, served with Bengal style mashed potatoes and chickpeas" for $21

Why I'm recommending them: they're consistently well-reviewed, and although their setting isn't traditional (no white tablecloths) it's modern upscale, not "bistro" - maybe a little trendy

Link: http://www.melaindiancuisine.com/



259 Host (not to be confused with their less-well-reviewed Host Indian Cuisine sister restaurant)

Closest intersection: King and Spadina

Example main dish: "Australian Rack of Lamb - cooked in a tandoor marinated with roasted spices, medium rare, served with spicy vindaloo sauce" for $22

Why I'm recommending them: consistently well-reviewed, interesting gourmet offerings, however they're leaning towards the "trendy bar-restaurant" combination you mentioned

Link: http://www.259host.com/



I should also note that these higher-end places tend to justify their cost with more creative techniques or unconventional ingredients (especially Amaya and 259 Host), but I wouldn't call them fusion by any means. Kama, Utsav, and Mela have more traditional menus, but probably less exciting.



Also, I listed meat main dishes here, but all five restaurants had great options for vegetarian mains and appetizers as well. (I'm a vegetarian and keep an eye out for that kind of thing.)



Best of luck and happy dining!! :)
I am a former chef and go to many, Bombay Palace on Jarvis St is nice, Sittarahia on Gerrard St in Little India is good to, they have a regular and veggie one 2 blocks from each other, I also go to Saravanna Bhavan in Mississauga, Dabar on King St near John to fits your criteria, I like buffet places as I can pick and choice, both the types of food and portions sizes.



Not many run a white glove french service type operation, all have good food, reasonable service and fair prices,around the same as most other Asian restaurants.What is the absolute best Indian restaurant in Toronto?
I've tried them all and the best is definitely Kama. Across the street from Roy Thomson Hall on the lower level. Ambiance is great, service classy and the food is so authentic.