I've lived in the Gaithersburg area long enough that I've tried most of the Indian spots around…read morehere, and Royal Tandoor has become one of the ones I keep going back to when I just want something solid without overthinking it. The place has a warm, comfortable feel--nice décor, good lighting, and enough space that it never feels cramped. I've been for both the lunch buffet and regular dinner, and the food has been consistently good. Their butter chicken is reliably creamy and well-seasoned, the garlic naan comes out soft and fresh, and the lunch buffet has a solid rotation of dishes that actually hold up under the heat lamps. Nothing is trying to reinvent the wheel, but everything tastes the way you hope it will. Service has always been friendly and attentive in my experience. They're good about checking in without hovering, and they've been helpful when I've asked questions about spice levels or recommendations. It's not the most adventurous Indian restaurant in the DMV, but for a local spot that's convenient, consistent, and doesn't disappoint, Royal Tandoor does the job well. It's the kind of place I end up recommending to friends and family when they ask for a reliable option close by.

This is just an awesome place! Beautifully decorated -- with the absolute most gorgeous ceiling…read morearound! -- you sit on stately seating and receive superb service. Sometimes, there is just so much to say that one is left agog -- and so it is for me with this place! I've been several times and to say I've never been disappointed with anything here at all would be an extreme understatement. I just don't quite know how to best sum it all up, so I have hesitated and put off writing this review. It is a place I know I can go to with much anticipation and have my high expectations upheld. The name is very fitting! Some places may say they are royal, and you could be left feeling ... less than that. This is not that kind of place. You will be made to feel like royalty here! The delicious dishes and their presentation is ... just wow! Nothing here is ordinary. Everything here is spectacular! I've tried so many things, I cannot remember them all -- but I do know that I love the Dal Makhani! It's one of my all-time faves, being so rich and creamy, mmm .... The Mango Lassi comes beautifully presented and literally dripping in dark orange goodness against the lighter milky-mango look of yoghurted-up blended mango ripeness! (Don't worry, the drips are all inside the glass!) The starter crunchy rice crips are very fun and tasty, as well. It's overall just really exquisite, what can I say? Very highly recommended -- a total, all-around Yay! :-D

I absolutely love Spice Life. My company took me out to lunch for my 1 year anniversary and of…read morecourse I chose Spice Life. The service and good is always great. We ordered plenty of appetizers. All delicious. For apps we ordered the Salmon Tikka, and the Fish Fry. The Fish fry was my favorite. They used tilapia fish which was very well seasoned. The salmon Tikka was delicious as well as it had great flavor and cooked to perfection. For our entrees I ordered lamb curry spicy and garlic naan. I absolutely love their naan. The lamb curry was good and flavorful but was not at the level of spice that I desired unfortunately. I asked for really spicy and I received mild spice. For dessert we ordered the rice pudding, gulab jamnun, and the carrot pudding. The rice pudding was my favorite. It was very light and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. The carrot pudding and the gulab were good but not really my thing. The ambiance was great. Spice Life is a dine in and take out restaurant. Many people dine in during the evening hours so their weren't a lot of people during lunch time when we visited. However, it was still a good time. They had good music playing and some games playing on the tv. Of course I will visit again soon! Cheers!

Saturday 1/24/26…read more Made a re-visit today to use a $5 coupon I received, which I appreciate, but also I wanted to update my rating as I may have been a bit too quick to crown it in one of my previous reviews. Also, in roughly 9 months, prices have gone up nearly $2 for specific items that I had gotten previously, which isn't a good look. All in all, I still do believe that it's still up there for some of the best Indian food I've had in Maryland, but it's not worthy of the 5-star, as the 4-star fits it better. -- #issa.cheatday

If you're looking for authentic South Indian cuisine, especially the bold and distinctive flavors…read moreof Madurai, this place is absolutely worth a visit. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and creates a warm, inviting atmosphere that complements the dining experience. I tried the Thattai Idli with sesame podi, and it was incredibly flavorful, satisfying, and filling. For dessert, I had the halwa, which tasted wonderfully traditional and brought back authentic flavors. It was a little sweeter than I personally prefer, but the recipe itself was spot on. My friend ordered the Paneer Lababdar, and it was easily one of the best versions I've had anywhere in this area--rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. I'm already planning to come back with my daughters to try their famous Family Dosa, which is so enormous that it's served across four large plates! The restaurant is about an hour's drive for me, and I can honestly say it was well worth the trip. If you're craving authentic Tamil cuisine with generous portions and excellent flavors, this place deserves a visit.

Chennai Hoppers has been on my list to try for a long time, and I'm glad I finally got to cross it…read moreoff. The service was awesome--our water was refilled without us having to ask, and they brought us everything we requested. The Madras 65 Biryani had great flavor. I just would have preferred the rice to have a little more bite since it was a bit mushy. Next time, I'll probably just order the Kozhi 65 appetizer because the picture made it look like it had a larger portion of chicken. The Kaalan Manchurian was very tasty. I just wish I'd ordered some rice to go with it because eating the mushrooms by themselves became a little salty after a few bites. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes, but there were two things I didn't enjoy. First, the jazz music was played on repeat and was a little too loud. I'd rather they lower the volume and maybe play Indian music instead. Kenny G on loop isn't very enjoyable. Second, I was a bit confused about the pricing. A plain dosa without filling was only $1 cheaper than one with a filling, and a side of dal was $11. That's mostly me nitpicking, though. Overall, the food was well-seasoned, the flavors were great, and the service was excellent. I'd definitely return if I were in the area.

Dosa was paper thin…read more Rasmalai nicely balanced Flavorful delight Decor was pleasant Waitstaff courteous The menu has some dishes that will compel my return

Cute mom and pop dosa spot, don't expect great service. The dosas were crispy and delicious and the…read moreMasala potatoes were mildly spicy, but not overpowering. The Sambar and the crispy Samosas were quite spicy. My family came here for a late lunch on Saturday and the restaurant was completely empty. I can see why. The service was stand-offish as both staff members frowned at us and rudely served us. While the food is 4 stars, the service brings it down a notch. If you're in the area craving dosa, try it out but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

The ambiance had a zen feel and the decor was tastfully done with Napalese decorations. (see photos…read morefrom others) Service was good. The staff was attentive and warm. The food ordered was delicious. The chicken momos were moist, juicy, and flavorful with a spicy sauce that complimented the momos. The thali with chicken was delectable. With a variety of small portions of veg, rice, dal, meat, and dessert. FYI They have a lunch special on the thali, and there are specials on their online portal. The only negative is that the entrance is only accessible by stairs. An overall nice experience.

We stopped by for lunch on a relatively quiet day. After being introduced to amazing Nepali food…read morewhile staying near Baltimore, I was highly motivated to try this spot. The restaurant has nice decor and a promising selection of menu items, but the execution of the traditional dishes fell short of my expectations. The Highlights: Timmur Chicken Wings: Absolutely amazing. The flavor profile was excellent and easily the best part of the meal.The Disappointments: Thukpa: I have very fond memories of this dish, but this version was highly disappointing. They altered standard ingredients and added fish oil, which is definitely not characteristic of traditional Nepali Thukpa. Momo: While the dumplings themselves were okay, they were let down by the sauce. What makes a Nepali momo superior is the specific, vibrant momo sauce (achar), but the sauce served here looked and tasted like a generic, store-bought version. Overall Verdict:While the menu features an appealing variety, the execution misses the mark on authentic Nepali cuisine. It has great potential, but they need to stick to their authentic basics.

The food is yummy and the buffet is good. Service is average and ambiance is ok. Go for the food.read more

Minerva in Gaithersburg is not lavishly decorated but we were greeted and seated immediately upon…read morearriving. The staff were attentive, patient, and pleasant. Unfortunately, the dinner Combo noted at the top of the menu as an add-on was not available so we didn't get to taste the wider variety of foods we had hoped. Not sure why that was not available. It doesn't appear to be a lunch only option by the text on the menu. We ordered the Minerva Lamb Special, and the Chattinad Salmon Curry initially. A bit later we added the Paneer Masala Dosa. The food did not disappoint! The lamb was tender and the sauce flavors were not overwhelming but the perfect complement. I normally don't consider salmon to be a good curry protein but this dish was delish! The salmon was not overcooked and it didn't disappear in the sauce. Three cheers for daughter's choice! The dosa was huge with a scoop of paneer curry in the middle. We enjoyed breaking off crisp pieces to dip in the accompanying chutnryb& sandu. We obviously had leftovers and were provided with the perfect containers, including condiment cups for the chutneys and dips, to transport our dinner home for son to enjoy. This place was a bit of a drive for us but I would consider a revisit if in the area again.

I love this place. I get their buffet at least once a month and it's great! The food is great and…read moremy favorite is Chicken Biryani. The staff is also friendly! I highly recommend!

Enjoyed the lunch buffet today at this well-lit, comfortable restaurant. Service (plate removal…read moreand filling water glasses) was very good. There's a nice selection of items in the buffet, including some vegetarian items, chicken and goat. The garden salad actually was excellent - very fresh, with tomatoes, red peppers and carrots. The tandoori chicken was very moist and flavorful. There were a few fried items - although I try to stay away from fried foods, they were very good. The lentil dish was nicely spiced. The naan delivered to the table was "ok," not great. There's even coffee available on the buffet - and it was decent coffee. The price for this buffet was under $20. There are a couple other buffets in Gaithersburg at a higher price point and might have an additional item or two, but this buffet is solid and we'll be back.

A friend recommended this spot years ago, and I'm honestly kicking myself for waiting so long to…read moretry it. We got there around noon on a weekend, and by 12:30 it was packed--always a good sign! The dosas brought real heat (so good), and I've never seen my kids devour chickpeas like they did with the Channa Bhatura. Everything was flavorful, filling, and just hit the spot. Already planning my next visit!

Just stopped by for a birthday yesterday! Great selection of Indian cuisine and the ambience is…read morewonderful! Great service also, although it took a bit long for the food to come out. I enjoyed the beer provided I believe the name was rupee. The desserts were so good!

Their wraps are so amazing! I wish they were a little bigger but they're flavorful! Their dal…read moremakhani is so so so good. Might even be better than Rasika's. I need to try their chaat palak next.

Just had dinner here with the family ! Had an amazing time. Dolma and Ramsey were amazing with…read moreservice. Came and checked up on us frequently and we gave our order at the counter and the food was quicker than expected. Got some goat biryani and chicken biryani. Some garlic naan and goat curry. Was a great experience ! Plenty of parking space outside as well. Ambience is soothing and plenty seating.

Wow!! I do not have enough good things to say about this place…read more To start when you walk in the staff warmly welcomes you. The owner was standing at the host stand and instantly made me feel like family the second I walked in the door. I told him I needed gluten free and he walked me through every single menu item that had gluten free and which didn't. Secondly he then told me his top picks on the menu. I was ordering take out so I put in my takeout order and he was so friendly "come sit at this table! Don't stand around." He then brought me some water. Such great customer service! This guy should teach other restaurants how to do customer service. Now let's talk about the food. I ordered a gluten free margarita pizza add chicken and the bolognese pasta. Both were incredible. Literally not one thing wrong. The sauce on both was yummy and full of flavor. The cheese on the pizza was fresh and you could tell it was high quality and the other ingredients were top quality. This is one of those meals that you start eating and can't stop eating once you start. That's rare for me. Will 100% be back when I'm back in the area. If you're thinking of coming to this restaurant... do it!!

We absolutely love Mamma Lena and its amazing food! We highly recommend this family-owned…read morerestaurant to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine and a warm dining experience. The atmosphere is charming and inviting, making you feel as though you've been transported to Italy. Every visit is a pleasure, thanks to the wonderful ambiance, outstanding service, and consistently delicious meals. A special thank you to Gianni for the many years of exceptional hospitality and incredible Italian food. Your dedication to your customers and passion for what you do truly make Mamma Lena a special place. We look forward to many more visits!