I have to be the longest-returning customer at Tandoor - The Clay Oven, as I've been making the pilgrimage to this spot since they opened nearly 30 years ago. It is a legendary New Haven staple that captures that perfect "never judge a book by its cover" energy--an unassuming, converted diner on Chapel Street that serves some of the most authentic Indian cuisine on the planet. For decades, this has been a mandatory stop on my monthly Chapel Street circuit. I hit up Alternate Universe for my comics first, then walk the 500 feet over to Tandoor to handle my business. This place has seen many a first date of mine over the years; it's a litmus test for me if you don't like Indian food, you won't like me. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is classic and grounded, but the food has the kind of soul and precision I've come to expect from the elite NYC spots like Gandhi Cafe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's rare to find a place that maintains this level of quality and consistency for so long without falling off. If you appreciate a spot that focuses on the craft and treats you like family, this is the real deal. read more

Service was meh. She got some of my order wrong but quickly rectified it I ordered chicken tikka Marsala with Chai tea. I asked for mild not knowing their spiciness. FYI. Mild means no spice Chai tea did not have any taste. Was like drinking water and milk. read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - 15) Chicken Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Extremely casual dining in a caboose style freestanding restaurant.......Why not?[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great value AYCE option available that is always a great idea with Indian Cuisine, with all the robust flavors you do want to try everything!! Table server available, and fully equipped for take out as well! The clay oven accomplishes any dish!! read more

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Excellence ! Great service Affordable and delicious My wife and I had a great dinner Great vegetarian options [[HIGHLIGHT]]Least likely location for such good Indian[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Not your typical can stand Indian read more

$17.95 lunch buffet! Yay! Tandoor chicken, tikka masala, chicken madras, goat curry, saag paneer, a couple vegetable curries, rice, chicken biryani, a fried onion patty, soup, naan, and then rice pudding, the sweet round dessert (sorry I'm not well versed in Indian fare), and a salad bar with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. A humble neighborhood restaurant set bewilderingly in a double-wide classic diner building, with retro curved chrome walls and bar stools and such. The servers are nice. read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - lunch buffet - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

MUST MUST MUST TRY! This has been a place I've seen many times . I've gone to neighboring restaurants that were good but this is a hidden gem in plain sight. Now, it looks off putting because it was an old diner and doesn't have the flair other Indian restaurants have in New Haven, however, look past all of that and go. Staff is nice and attentive. They do have parking in the back but didn't see that sign until walking up to it but there is street parking. Their menus are placed on table under glass so you can start looking at all the goodness right away. Now for the food. I've had mango Lassi before but never this amazing. It tastes very fresh. We ordered ginger ale and were given cans so I believe all of their sodas are cans which is fine. They do have beer and wine only so if you are looking for craft cocktails i suggest you eat here and get those drinks elsewhere. The vegetable samosas are a nice size and very tasteful. You get two so if you have more than 2 people in your party you want to order more. The lamb kebab, basmati rice, chicken curry and garlic naan were so good and fresh. Next time we have to try the cheese naan. The prices are very reasonable and we even brought food home which I am sure tastes even better the next day. I will be back! read more

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AMAZING North Indian food in New Haven! We stopped twice in a week and loved everything we got. We tried their onion naan, mint naan, aloo naan and garlic-onion paratha along with navaratna kurma, malai kofta and saag panner. They were generous enough to include basmati rice both the times we ordered and the last time they even added a bowl of rasamalai!!! Love these small gestures, thank you team Tandoor :) Their food tasted delicious and authentically Indian. I hear they have a buffet during lunch..if you are from this area and enjoy Indian food, I urge you to give them a try. read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven has several choices for Indian food, and while Tandoor isn't my favorite it's worth a visit and I've eaten there many times over the years. read more

Place was in an old diner which was cool. Walter said this used to be a diner town so a bunch of restaurants is in old diner setups. They had mild, medium, med-hot, hot, v-hot, vv-hot, vvv-hot as their spice options. And let me tell you ..... hot is HOTTTT so be careful with your spice level! - Lamb Samosas 2 pieces $6.95 more lamb than filling - Okra Bhindi Masala $14.95 usually don't get okra but this was really good. Didn't have the stickiness okra usually has - Chicken Biryanis $16.95 "hot" was soooo spicy - Garlic Naan $4.95 thicker than usual but still good - Mango Lassi $4.95 watery but the flavor was there read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - LR: Chicken Tikka Masala ($17.95), Chicken Biryanis ($16.95), Tandoori Shrimp ($18.95), Okra Bhindi Masala ($14.95), Garlic Naan ($4.95) - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Nooooo!!! I'm sorry to say this about Tandoor -- because this was my favorite spot -- but this is just a health hazard. I ordered 2 onion naan, saag with an extra container of rice. I normally love their rice so much that I always wish I got a second container. Not this time. The rice was incredibly old and soggy, like soft and wet. So I went ahead and prepared rice at home. I thought, no worries, I'll make rice and I'll just eat the naan while I wait for the rice to be cooked, then I could happily eat my rice with their saag. I happily munched on my naan and until I saw I saw tiny hair-like fibers on it. It stopped me in my tracks. I'm unsure if it was hair, fur, or fiber glass, but there were tons of it on the naan. I took a closer look and the hairs seem to glisten when light reflected on them. Am I going crazy? Out of politeness, I called Tandoor to let them know what I found. I thought, well, if I was the owner and someone found something like this in my food, I'd want to know. There could be a begrudged cook back there! I told the guy on the phone my findings and I said perhaps the naan fell on the floor and someone still put it in the bag. His response about the hairy naan: "That can't be, our floors are very clean." So, Tandoor, this is my last visit to your establishment. If it was a stray hair, I would have thrown it aside and kept on eating, but this? This is something else. If anyone knows if something like these fiber-glass hairs on naan are normal, and I'm just losing my shit, then let me know because I really like tandoor and I'll remove this review. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it! read more

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Rude customer service . We asked for spoons when we got the take out and the guy said we should have asked right at the time of ordering . Who's eats papri chat without spoon. Also the mango lassi tastes like made from old possibly spoilt pulp and papri chat did not have papri. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only good thing is the old retro bar ambiance[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] but [[HIGHLIGHT]]there is a reason why it was empty on the the biggest night in new haven. Graduation night[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . read more

The food here is AMAZING!!!! I had the lunch specials... chicken tikka Marsala & Garlic Naan with the Mango Lassi!!!! I swear I would come here once a week just for the Mango Lassi. Absolutely delicious- reminds me of the mango drink from my country. The aesthetic is cute it's in an old mobile trailer. Service is great and fast. Thank you! read more

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92. Garlic Naan Chicken Tikka Masala Food was great serving size was also pretty decent!The service was also very nice kept friendly conversation... I will definitely be back ! read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - 15. Chicken Tikka Masala Lunch Special good serving size plus excellent taste - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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The service is terrible. We had to wait an hour for our food and they got the order wrong. Also, when the food finally came, it was cold. I give them an F. FAIL read more

Very solid. We were craving Indian food and glad we found this place. Dishes were executed exceptionally - the Gobi Manchurian was still crispy under the sweet and tangy sauce, the Mattar Paneer was aromatic with a slight sweetness that balanced the flavor such that the curry was both rich and versatile, and the tandoori chicken had the taste the fire in the meat and vegetables which is a sign of any good tandoori dish. Service was good and was not too crowded which makes this all the sweeter. Highly recommend this as the go to spot for Indian in New Haven. read more

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We hd gone to the Indian place down the street previously but they were full and my daughters friend had recommended tandoor. So we went in with low expectations due to the emptiness and the worn down look outside. Naan and paneer tikka masala were excellent. Probably best naan we've ever had. Lamb biryani was ok but not quite the flavor im used to. Overall we really liked it and are going back tonight for the naan and paneer. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Good service and cool atmosphere being in a diner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Mango lassi and garlic naan were delicious.

stopped here the night before the harvard-yale game, surprisingly one of the only places with open tables. the place looks a typical diner from the outside and might throw you off with the windows inside, but this place has great indian food. loved the lamb saag and the biryani was very yummy, but the mango lassi stole the show for me. BEST I'VE TRIED SO FAR. if you're in the new haven area, this place is definitely worth a look read more

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Indian restaurant in a cool vintage diner. I got the lunch buffet ($17.95) which was no-frills and just good enough. Tandoori chicken and chicken wings were both pretty gamey, but I enjoyed the paneer and the chana saag. The naan was hot and fresh, one of the employees was going table to table serving it. Scratched my Indian buffet itch, but not sure I need to go back. read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Buyer beware, my order was hijacked by another restaurant, do nor buy from yelp site go to the Tandoor the clay oven website directly. I ordered from what I thought was tandoor in New Haven which has excellent food. When I placed the order I did not get a confirmation. I waited a bit but nothing came. I called the restaurant directly and they said they did not have my order. I realized I was scammed and ordered directly. Food showed up from the yelp order, it was terrible and there was no business name on the receipt. Somehow another restaurant stole the order. I paid with pay pal which makes it impossible to get your money back. SCAM ALERT! read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - this is the receipt from the nasty food we got from the imposter - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Amazing!! the food was everything I hoped and the service was great too. Will definitely be back.

I have been a fan of this particular Indian cuisine, since the days of India Palace on Howe Street. Now housed inside the old Elm City Diner (an historic metal diner from days of olde), the food here is phenomenally good. The spices do not overpower like some places, but the flavor is there in full force. I am also a fan of when they do their buffet, because then you can sample multiple dishes like the chicken tikka masala, samosas, Pappadam, Naan, etc. read more

The food is decent, the portions are quite generous, and the service is alright. We came with a party of 6 and got varying spice levels. I got the "hot" while other friends got "medium hot" and one was brave enough to get "very, very, very hot." Hot was towards the end of my limit as someone who enjoys spicy food. Medium hot, and probably even medium, would be good for people who are trying to be slightly adventurous but aren't used to eating spicy food. Don't get very, very, very hot unless you are ready for a painful dinner. I mean, it's also a nice challenge if people want to try to finish the dish together. read more

The food is a great price and delicious and my order is always accurate. This is my go to place for Indian food.

The exterior may not seem particularly glamorous, but don't be fooled: Tandoor serves delicious, high-quality Indian food that will satisfy any craving. My boyfriend and I recently tried out their lunch buffet, and from our dining experience today, I think we just found our new go-to Indian spot in New Haven! The first entree I tried was the Chicken Tikka Masala, which is my go-to dish at all Indian restaurants! While the chicken was deliciously juicy and the tikka masala rich and buttery, I noticed that the tikka masala wasn't as spicy as I would've liked. The tomato and cream flavors were more prominent, but again, this is my personal opinion (and I'm a huge fan of super spicy chicken tikka masalas.) The second highlight of their menu is the chicken biryani - the curry is infused with the rice, creating the most wonderfully aromatic dish. The chunks of chicken are also quite generous. I think they also toss in some golden raisins in the chicken biryani, which elevates the flavor profile. Wow. I normally avoid raisins like the plague, but these soft-cooked raisins complemented the spicy chicken biryani so well. The lamb / goat (?) curry was also extremely flavorful and well-spiced. The coconut vegetable curry is a rich vegetarian dish. Tandoori chicken was fragrant, but a little more on the smoky side. Finally, there is free naan to accompany the buffet meal, which is an absolute game-changer! Their naan is soft, fluffy, and richly buttered. The interior looks a little tired, but it does have an eclectic "old diner" atmosphere. Considering the high quality and tastiness of food, as well as friendly service, I will be sure to visit again soon! read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - My boyfriend's plate, with naan, basmati rice, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, and coconut veggie curry - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We had a couple of terrible experiences with the Sunday buffet from a hospitality perspective. The two guys who manage have this annoying habit of constantly staring at your food plate. Two things were atrocious, first, the baldy guy thumped the bill when we got up to get our second serving, and I questioned my friend who paid a generous tip for this idiot. Second, he watched us serve pudding in our bowls and kept staring until all 4 of us sat back at the table, and worse he commented, "You must really like my food". His body language was very uncomfortable for us and it ended up in a disgusting and annoying feeling. read more

The BEST Indian restaurant in New Haven. I've been trying to find an Indian restaurant that isn't fusion. The food is authentic, the staff is welcoming, and they even gave free muruku and kheer at our last takeout order! I recommend this place to everyone! read more

Damn. The service was good, the owner was nice. but damn... the food was soo crappy. The paneer was so rubbery, that I could feel the effort with each bite. The Naan was so thick and non-crispy I can make a better one on a pan at home. And the damn chai.. it was a chai latte filled with cinnamon. Any Indian who calls this chai should be banned from yelp. read more

Go eat food here, please do yourself a favor. I ordered take out on a cold day - saag paneer, Chana masala, and garlic naan. They are super generous with the amount of food provided, I literally ate leftovers for 3 days! The saag was lighter in color (maybe some cream added?), and tasted delicious, with paneer-a-plenty. Chana had a nice edge with onions, cilantro, plenty of spices. I could taste the cumin seeds which was so nice. The naan isn't crispy or chewy, kind of between those two textures, and they put the garlic mash (as I like to call it) in between two layers, it's unique and I reeeeally liked it. Again, the amount you get is so much. AND they gave me papadum at no charge. They have a lunch buffet as well, for $11 - which looked incredible. I would do that if I was in the neighborhood again. Thank you Tandoor, I truly hope to be back soon. read more

Delicious!!!! Everything was very good. We ordered Assortment of apps Chicken madras Chicken curry Poori ( a little too greasy) Garlic naan Chicken tandoori Mango lassi Raita I have no complaints. We will definitely order again and I recommend to others. Oh yeah we ordered from UberEats, food came piping hot! read more

The food was mediocre and the owner of the restaurant was a bit arrogant would not return

I went for dinner on a Sunday night and there was no wait. There's another Indian restaurant within walking distance but this one had a different and fun appeal to me. On the outside it looks like an old American diner, but on the inside they decorated it to have a cozy Indian atmosphere with string lights, embroidered work, and great color. What an interesting and innovative juxtaposition. While we were going for dinner, the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $11 attracted us to the door. There is such a wide variety of meats and flavors on the menu. Make sure to be adventurous, you can't go wrong! Mango lassi is a great addition to soften the spice. You'll have enough food to bring home for leftovers too! read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - Shrimp Madras - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Met a couple of friends for lunch---we all had Chicken Tikka Masala, medium spice. Delicious!! We had roti which was excellent . We will definitely be back!! read more

I have eaten here for years. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion. The buffet is always delicious. Fast, friendly service. I have not eaten dinner here, but imagine it is equally as delicious. Best chicken tikka masala, anywhere! Delicious chutneys, naan, lime pickle, and all your favorites. read more

Tandoor The Clay Oven - Indian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This gave me food poisoning. The restaurant wasn't the cleanest I should have known, but I've been sick for the past 2 days after eating there. The service was fast but I'm never going back again I feel so sick read more

It was so late, but we were dying for some Indian food. So close to closing but they actually made the food. When I tell you how amazing the food truly was! And the portions were on point. So thank you Tandoor for the wonderful food. read more

The online ordering and delivery were easy and efficient. I got the following: Naan: Very good, a little thicker than typical naan and not greasy with the plain version. It was a perfect sauce vehicle. I would be interested to try the garlic naan. Vegetable samosa: I got mild, which had no spiciness (as expected). Good amount of fry without being overly greasy or salty. Saag paneer: Excellent, one of my favorite Indian dishes and they do it well here. Chicken korma: Delicious sauce, good amount of chicken. No spiciness again as I ordered it mild. Mango lassi: Sweet mango flavored drink that went well with dessert. Overall I was very happy with the food and plan on going back. Even my wife who isn't a huge fan of Indian cuisine liked it. read more

All-you-can-eat lunch special for $9.95... how do you beat that. On sundays they serve the okra in oil with onions. Soooooo good. I like to get the lamb with the naan. I also get a side of the rice if I want to. I also get the spinach in the sort of white saucer thing. It's a type of curry. In addition, I like getting the orange curry with the tofu pieces in there. I like to end it off with that donut ball they got going on in that sweet sauce. I just had it today and want to go back for it right now. read more

My usual goto for authentic Indian food . The sauces look like they were actually made in the kitchen and bot canned ready made.

I don't usually spend time for writing review. Ordered by uber eats. They pack your superhot food in the "plastic" container!!!! Not recommended. read more