My girlfriend and I came here based on her recommendation, and I am glad we decided to give it a try. The food was cooked nicely and tasted delicious. The staff was friendly and very accommodating. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 4/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they did a great job maximizing the space they have. The ambiance and decorations are a very nice touch, and everything feels clean and well kept. Service - Even though we came on a Friday without a reservation, they were able to seat us within 20 minutes, which we really appreciated. Overall, the service was excellent. What We Ordered - Plain Paratha - which was not as good as the paratha I have had at other restaurants Saag Paneer - which was very good Lamb Karahi - which was also very good Final Thoughts - I would definitely come back if we are in the area again to try more items from the menu. read more

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We came here with a reservation on a Saturday night. We got to order immediately and the ambiance was very nice. The orders did take very very long to come out, over 30 minutes. Our cocktails came out after our appetizer as well. The service was not as good as it could've been. The bathrooms are clean. We ordered the samosa chaat which was sooooo good and flavorful. Then for main we ordered butter chicken with rice and garlic naan which was very good as well. The best butter chicken I've ever had in my whole life. I ate as much as I could and I couldn't get enough! I asked for mild spice and they delivered on that. The sauce was rich, flavorful, buttery, and seasoned. I will never forget about this place. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Samosa Chaat - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We really really really enjoyed the butter chicken. The flavor was so rich and and seasoned perfectly and tangy and it just was the most perfect sauce in the entire world. The samosa chaat was really good too as an appetizer. The garlic naan and kerala parota were delicious too. The channa masala was also good but the butter chicken was arguably one of the best Indian dishes I have ever had!!! Highly recommend. The place is pricier than other Indian places I've been to but it was delicious. The margaritas are also very strong . The bathroom and restaurant is clean but the bar area takes up most of the space. The service was alright, it did take us about 30 minutes to get our food. also the margs had so much alcohol in them read more

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Great spot for Indian food. Good portion sizes. Ample seating inside. The gobi manchurian was spicy, tangy, and crispy. Tikka masala was flavorful and creamy. Chicken biryani was tender, and I liked the sauce it came with. read more

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Thanal is our go-to spot for Indian takeout, but we finally dined in for the first time during Restaurant Week. It felt like the perfect chance to try some dishes we don't usually order while getting a good deal. Overall, the Restaurant Week menu was a solid value (up to $18 worth of extra food). While the dishes we ordered didn't quite beat our usual favorites, everything was still tasty. The restaurant itself is clean and well ventilated. It's also baby-friendly--they have high chairs, and although it can get a bit loud when busy, our little one didn't seem to mind at all. Big bonus points for convenient onsite parking with validation. It was freezing out, so being able to park and walk right in was a huge plus. The staff were very professional. One dish came out undercooked, and our server fixed it immediately. The Restaurant Week drink specials were just okay--I'd probably skip those next time. Since Thanal is already a regular in our takeout rotation, we'll definitely be ordering again soon. I'd also happily dine in again during the next Restaurant Week. read more

3.6 stars. Got my fix of butter chicken. Portion sizes were a little small for my liking. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Butter chicken and naan - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Delicious. Out of the hustle and bustle of center city. A cute place with great food and a decent drink menu. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Chicken Vindaloo and Aloo Gobi - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Everytime I walk by Thanal the aromas are so enticing and inviting! I finally went in for dinner on a recent Wednesday night and was so impressed. They take reservations but I don't think you need one on a weeknight. The service was a bit on the slow side but that is the extent of my criticism. The decor inside is a bit eclectic but it has a cozy tavern feel. They have a decent selection of beer, wine, and a lot of fun cocktails and mocktails. The Thanal craft cocktail was a hit in our group! We ordered food family style. We had the prawn appetizer which comes in a lovely thick gravy and goes well with all the breads but particularly with the Kerala parotta. The tandoori salmon was spectacular, and the Malai kofta was rich and comforting. We got a goat biryani which was good but not great, and a variety of naan and kulcha. I cannot wait to return and try more off the menu! read more

It was average - nothing exciting! Not too many people inside so we were seated quick. The food was fine - I wouldn't say anything exciting! read more

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fantastic authentic indian spot with lots of variety! my friends and i shared the cheese naan, chicken 65, and the samosa chaat. we really enjoyed the samosa chaat which resembled a deconstructed samosa but with perfectly crispy little samosa pieces. i ordered the butter chicken, and my friends had the malai kofta and the baingan bharta. i enjoyed the butter chicken, it was so flavorful and rich. every bite was decadent. they gave us plenty of rice, but we also ordered the garlic naan and the tandoori whole wheat roti. we really enjoyed our food, our only complaint was that we expected a little more heat. even the items advertised as spicy tasted pretty mild albeit still delicious. the restaurant was spacious with plenty of seating, classic in decoration. service was fast, food was out very quickly. we did come at the tail end of dinner -- we arrived at 830p, the restaurant closed at 930p. all of our food was out just a few minutes after 9p, and we definitely felt a little rushed to wrap up. we got out of their hair as fast as we could, but we also weren't the last table to leave. overall, i had a great experience and would come back when the indian food craving hits again! read more

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When traveling I attempt to find well reviewed local restaurants. Thanal Indian Tavern met that goal easily! After a long flight, it was a lovely 1 mile walk to Thanal from my hotel. I was able to be seated right away (one of the benefits of solo travel). Service was fast and friendly. I ordered the lamb Biryani and Garlic Naan, along with a tasty mango Margarita. The food was excellent. Tasty, hot, full of a perfect blend of Indian spices that I just can't match at home. While I wasn't even sure my hotel room had a refrigerator, I was happy to take my leftovers with me. Turns out, the hotel DID have a refrigerator, and I was able to extend the meal into the next mornings breakfast! Next time I'm back in Philly, this'll be an easy repeat visit! read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Lamb Biriyani, Garlic Naan, and Mango Margarita. - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Really good food, but I was encouraged to get mild and definitely wish I got spicier. The chicken was very moist and tender, however the naan was more brittle and burnt than I would have liked. It seemed busy inside which was nice, but the music was too loud for conversation. The service was also a bit slow. Maybe coming back for lunch would be better! read more

Went here for lunch during restaurant week. It was 3 courses for 30 bucks which was a pretty good deal. The food came out pretty fast which was pretty nice. I still think this place is the best Indian restaurant in center city. We got a mango lassi. The mango lassi wasn't too sweet and had a good amount of yogurt which made it pretty nice. The garlic naan was the perfect amount of garlic and was the perfect amount of fluffy. Our appetizers were Chicken 65 and Samosa. The samosa was so tiny! I wish they would have given more than just one. I did like the oil it was fried in, I could tell it was clean oil and not oil previously used to fry many dishes. The chicken 65 was so juicy and the oil used to cook it was also super fresh. I did find it weird they never asked us for what spicy level they wanted our dishes to come out as. Malai Kofta and paneer tikka masala were our entrees. The malai kofta was very delicious. I liked the consistency of the potatoes in this dish. I also liked the use of cardamom. The paneer tikka masala was nice as well. I really liked the bell peppers used in this dish. The dish was full of paneer pieces as well. Our dessert consisted on Rasamalai which was very creamy. I really liked how it wasn't too sweet. I also really liked the pistachio crumbs that were put on top of the Rasamalai. read more

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Very polite & attentive hosts. Clean restaurant, nice music. Food was fresh, hot and mild which is so good. Our rasam soup was good & spicy, as it should be. My jaljeera drink was perfectly spiced and chilled. Spinach & kale chaat was bland-ish but it suited me. Since I'm not spicy food lover Butter chicken was flavorful Chana masala was super good , so was karahi paneer. Rice fresh and fluffy and tandoori rotis were the best We loved it, will definitely come back again...SOON read more

Grabbed dinner here with some friends this past weekend. The appetizers came super quick and were delicious. We had samosas as well as the fried cauliflower, which came with two delectable dipping sauces. Service was a bit slow as far as putting in our dinner order, though I think the staff may have gotten a bit mixed up and thought the other waiter had already taken our order. Once we put our order in, the food was pretty quick! There were four of us, and we ordered 2 apps and 4 entrees to share, which was more than enough food and we had leftovers to take home. Portions are pretty generous. One thing to note is that there were a lot of whole spices still remaining in the dishes, which wasn't my favorite. On occasion I would bite into a whole star anise or clove and have to spit it out. I will say it's definitely a bit on the pricier side for Philly. Staff was friendly and the place was welcoming and clean. read more

We ordered a delivery several weeks ago. The food arrived cold. We had been tracking the driver and he actually came into our neighborhood then left with the food to go to another neighborhood before he came back our way. Even though my husband complained, we haven't even received the courtesy of a response from either Thanal or the delivery service they use. Not recommended for delivery. read more

One of the best Indian restaurants in Philly! Thanal is a must-visit! Ambiance & Service: The interior is very nice and there's lots of seating. Lucky was our server and she was very attentive and friendly! Food: - Spinach and Kale Chaat - the best app! The greens are perfectly crispy and the sauces are sweet and tangy. - Paneer Tikka Masala - loaded with flavor and spice! They stick true to their spice level - I always order a medium and I like spicy food! - *they previously had a truffle and olive naan that was incredible! I wish they would bring it back!* TL;DR: Service is fantastic! The Spinach and Kale Chaat and the Paneer Tikka Masala are both delicious! read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Paneer Tikka Masala - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ordered takeout, quick wait, fairly busy for a Sunday night. Highly recommend the Kodi Vepudu starter. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Tandoori wings, Kodi Vepudu, Samosa Chaat, and garlic naan - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mike and I chose to eat lunch here because we liked the food when we came last year. There is a set menu for 15USD. I chose goat, Mike chose chicken. It was okay. Nothing special. Some of the small plates were spicy, some bland, and the salad was flavorless . Service was stifling. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Set Lunch - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4.5 stars This place has been our go to Indian restaurant for the past few years. Food: definitely recommend the appetizers, I think these are best eaten fresh at the restaurant as they are crisp. The entrees are okay, bullet naan is excellent. Ambience: always packed!! Great service and service. read more

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Onion pakora was good but don't love the dipping sauce. The chicken tikka masala sauce was good but not spicy enough. I asked for medium but it had no spiciness to it. The curry was on the sweeter side. The chicken pieces were not seasoned so it tasted like plain chicken. The garlic naan was great! Crispy, buand garlicky! read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Chicken Tikka Masala Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Thanal Indian Tavern is our new favorite Indian Restaurant in Philadelphia!!! The food was fresh, favorable, and came out pretty quick. We got the chicken korma, chicken karahi, butter chicken, garlic naan, and cheese naan. My children absolutely loved the cheese naan and butter chicken. Chicken korma was my personal favorite. It's creamy and flavorful with a spice. I would have preferred it to be a little more spicy, but that's my request during our next visit. We look forward to coming back very soon. Highly recommend you guys get both the garlic and the cheesy naan! read more

Restaurant was partially busy when we walked in. The waitress led us to our reserved seating quickly. The decorations were tacky with its blinking colored lights. We ordered our food out of the restaurant week menu. The vegetarian samosas were fresh and packed with a delicious mixture of potatoes, peas, and spices. The paneer tikka masala was average. It wasn't near the quality found in better restaurants. Chicken 65 was spicy but dry. The mango lassi was fresh and lightly sweet. The butter and garlic naans were fresh and moist. The Rasamalai was excellent with its lightly sweet flavor and pistachio toppings. The Malai Kafta was delicious read more

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Ordered delivery from this place for dinner after reading all of the reviews. Overall the food was good with decent portion sizes but we were not blown away. We ordered the lamb vindaloo and tikka masala. Both had a bit of a kick to them with the lamb vindaloo being a fair bit spicier. We also ordered the crab naan and walnut naan. We felt the crab naan was not worth the extra price and did not seem to be anything special. The walnut naan, however, was totally worth it and was delicious albeit a bit on the sweeter side which might throw some people off. I also felt that there was about half the amount of rice as I would like for the amount of vindaloo provided. Overall I would return if ever craving Indian food. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Lamb Vindaloo and rice - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Was fine. Would give it 3.5 stars if possible. Had a paneer dish with LOTS of oil. It seemed Iike half the container was oil. They also didn't have an option to request silverware and made my DoorDash guy wait for 15m read more

Very nice location and very welcoming atmosphere for this neighborhood Indian restaurant. The staff are extremely friendly and very attentive. I got the Chicken Tikka Masala, and it was cooked to perfection, very favorable and spice level was on point. I also ordered a cocktail and it was mixed and presented perfectly. I was in Philly on a business for only a few days this week and I liked this place so much that I came back to eat again during the same trip. read more

We had the dinner option at Thanal during Restaurant Week. Décor -the restaurant looks very clean but the décor is very outdated. The word map wall took me back to the 2010s. For its location and prices on the regular menu, I expected a bit more elevation with not only the décor but the plating. Service was fast! Basil Rasam - very spicy and aromatic! The pepper corns at the bottom had a good kick to them. Mulligatawny - definitely a thinner daal, this was really good and not that spicy Kale and Spinach Chat - this is probably one of the top ten things I have ever eaten, instead of samosas, it was fried kale and spinach!!! What a cool twist! I'll be ordering to go this weekend for my mom. The tamarind ... mouth is drooling. Fish 65 - the portion here was enormous. I really like Fish 65 compared to Chicken 65 because the batter isn't as crispy and you can enjoy the actual meat. Highly recommend this dish! Chettinadu Goat Curry - pretty solid and flavorful. Lamb curry - we didn't get that many pieces of meat in this compared to the goat curry. I also felt the lamb was a little tough when I expected it to be more tender. Hot gulab jamun with ice cream - the gulab jamun did not come out piping hot which I was craving and the icecream is very mid. Rice kheer with berry compote - the kheer wasn't that sweet which I actually was okay with. I was excited about the berry compote and thought it was creative fusion concept but the berry compote did not have much flavor and didn't really add to the dish. read more

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Stepping into Thanal Indian Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, the first impression is undeniably modern and youthful. The vibrant ambiance and the presence of a full bar set the stage for what seemed like a promising culinary adventure. The journey commenced on a high note with the appetizers. The Chicken 65 was an absolute standout, reaching new heights in flavor and texture. Each bite revealed a perfect blend of spices, with a crispy exterior that complemented the succulent chicken inside. It wasn't just good; it was among the best I've ever had. The flavors were a harmonious dance of aromatic spices, delivering a tantalizing kick that left a lasting impression. The Apollo Fish was very good, but didn't quite reach the same culinary zenith. The fish, though flavorful, suffered from a slight sogginess that detracted from the overall experience. Imagining it fried, akin to the superb Chicken 65, would undoubtedly have elevated this dish to new heights, allowing the spices to meld with a satisfying crunch. Unfortunately, the high hopes took a nosedive with the entrees. The Butter Chicken in particular was a letdown. Overpowered by an excessive amount of cardamom, it failed to showcase any other flavors. The Malabar Fish Curry, while not bad, lacked the depth of taste and suffered from the same soggy texture as the Apollo Fish. Perhaps a different cooking method, like frying, could have brought out the best in both dishes. The Mango Lassi was a refreshing interlude, slightly redeemed the dining experience. Its freshness and well-balanced sweetness provided a delightful respite, serving as the perfect accompaniment to the array of flavors on the table. The dessert continued the trend of letdowns. The Rasmalai, usually a favorite, fell short of expectations. Soggy and excessively sweet, it failed to capture the delicate textures and nuanced sweetness that define this traditional Indian treat. In the end, Thanal Indian Restaurant offered a mixed bag of culinary experiences. While the starters showcased the kitchen's prowess in delivering bold and flavorful dishes, the main courses stumbled in execution. With a bit of refinement, especially in the case of the Butter Chicken and Malabar Fish Curry, this establishment has the potential to rise to greater heights. For those willing to navigate the menu strategically, a visit to Thanal promises glimpses of Indian culinary brilliance. (Quick note- The service was fine, nothing warm and personal, just strictly professional which i had no issues with.) read more

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This place was pretty average. I had reservations here with a friend on Sunday 4/23 for lunch. Reservations were not necessary at all as it was pretty empty. The staff also seemed pretty confused when I mentioned my reservations after walking in. The male host then started showing me to a table then just abruptly walked in the other direction. So I just picked a table myself after standing in the middle of the resturant for a bit because I thought my host was coming back. I ordered the butter chicken and my friend ordered the chicken tikka. My butter chicken was okay but nothing special. My friend's chicken tikka however looked undercooked. Overall for the price point I expected a larger portion and some more flavor. I don't see myself coming back here. I've had much better indian food. Skip read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Anjeer Kofta $20.49 - spicy was good! The dish came with three balls of "dumplings of cottage cheese, fenugreek, potatoes, and figs in a creamy sauce." Never had this before but really enjoyed it. Would get again. I mostly tasted potato and not much of the cheese but my friend said he could taste the cheese. Spicy Crab Naan $7 - if you like crab cakes you'll like this. Never seen it on a menu before. It was good! Our garlic naan $4.5 order came with a white yogurt like sauce this time. Really enjoyed it. Idly Podi $10.5 - was spongy and came with a nice sauce that complimented it. Also enjoyed dipping them into the curries. If you eat any level of spice at all, get spicy. It's not very spicy but you can taste a bit of spice. The "medium" spice we got previously in a couple dishes last time was not spicy at all. read more

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It's pretty standard Indian restaurant food (which is still to say very tasty) but the amazing Restaurant Week and happy hour deals keep me coming back. Service is always fast and the restaurant has ample seating and isn't cramped. The Restaurant Week lunch is an especially great value - an appetizer, entree with naan or rice, and dessert for just $20 that either leaves me with leftovers or completely stuffed. I love the spinach chaat appetizer, a blend of deep-fried spinach, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and flavorful sauces that is filling enough to be a small meal itself. I've liked the lamb vindaloo and Malabar fish curry entrees which have a bit of spice but not enough to turn me off. I tried the malai kofta during my most recent Restaurant Week lunch and found it a bit too densely creamy while the three koftas didn't feel as substantial as the other entrees. Amazing garlic naan as well, but I also always like rice with Indian food so I like going with someone else and splitting the rice and naan with them. read more

loved it. had Butter chicken and rice. amazing. chicken soft and masala creamy. I am gluten free but the garlic naan was apparently delicious read more

Great food! Great service! Small, super clean dining room. The food was sooooo good. Some of the best tandoori chicken I've ever had. read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We made a reservation for 2 a few days in advance with no trouble finding a good time slot. It was restaurant week and they offered a 3 course meal with an appetizer, main course, and dessert for $20. For the appetizers, we got the Samosa and Kodi Vepudu. The Kodi Vepudu was phenomenal (and a little spicy) and you get a whole plate of it! The Samosa was delicious, but you only get one piece. For the main course we got the Chicken Tikka Masala, Fish Curry, Garlic Naan, and Roti. I was a little confused because from the menu it looks like you're also supposed to get Basmati Rice. The Tikka Masala was super creamy and tasted amazing. They were also very generous with the amount of chicken and fish. I also really enjoyed the Garlic Naan. It was delicious on its own and tasted great with the leftover sauce from our entrees. For dessert we got the Gulab Jamun and the Rice Kheer. The Gulab Jamun was super sweet as expected. The Rice Kheer was good but a little plain tasting. It had a great texture because the rice was perfectly undercooked, but I wish they added a little more flavor. For $20 this was an amazing experience. I cannot emphasize how good the value is. I highly recommend the Kodi Vepudu, Chicken Tikka Masala, and the Garlic Naan. read more

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Ordered takeout from here! Put the order in online as soon as it opened and was able to pick up about an hour later. Food was still warm when home. Butter chicken and biryani were my favorite dishes. I am allergic to mustard oil, so they were kind enough to label my food. They made sure there was no cross contamination! Will definitely get takeout and maybe dine in for drinks at some point read more

The food here is amazing! And the portion sizes are perfect for sharing with friends! We ordered 6 dishes for 5 of us and it was the perfect amount of food to still have some we could take for lunch the next day. There wasn't a single thing here I didn't like, they have cheese naan that reminded me of the naan bread equivalent of a mozzarella stick, sooooo much cheese it was so good dipped in the sauces from the entrees! read more

Thanal Indian Tavern - Indian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food at Thanal is good but delivery service continues to be a nightmare. Their preferred delivery service Sauce took almost an hour and a half from my call in to delivery and food was ice cold and inedible. Calling their driver yielded a lie about being nearby. Waited a week but Sauce never got back to me as promised about refunding My $150! Very disappointing, And my second terrible experience with Thanal's recommended delivery service. read more

I'm giving the review for because of the dedication of our server and the quality of the food unfortunately it really should be a 3 1/2 and the difference is the kitchen having issues with pacing of the meal everything came out at one time which ruins going out for dinner and making it an event plus food gets cold sitting on the table specially when you're sitting outdoors. After running through some questions with the server and confirming menu and some yelp reviews, we opted to pass on appetizers this evening and go for two dishes. One, a very common dish for us, that being the butter chicken which is smoked chicken in a rich buttery tomato sauce; has nice tender cubes of white meat chicken and the gravy has a sweet finish to it. A good dish. Or premium dinner dish was the Malabar fish curry, fresh fish cooked with coconut milk and tamarind sauce and Karala style. This dish was absolutely outstanding we kept drinking up the gravy after we finish the fish and we were dunking or garlic naan into it nonstop. Hi point for this restaurant was their ability to adjust spice levels, funny enough they told us the starting was it around three or four level that was bland, so we went for 4-5 on spice and it was just the right amount. Again my only criticism was that both dishes came out at the same time as we wanted them paces out. our server even said she was going to put it in course one and course two, but that didn't happen and that ruins and rushes a night out. Next time we literally order one at a time. See my food pictures read more

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Came here during restaurant week and it was definitely worth the money. The butter naan was very fresh probably the best I have had in a while. We really enjoyed the lamb chops and butter chicken. They have a great soup, appetizer, entree, and dessert selection. The staff was very attentive and kind. We came on a Saturday and were able to find street parking right outside the restaurant. Parking might be difficult depending on what day and time you come. Overall, I recommend this restaurant. read more

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Philadelphia has tons of Indian options, a lot of them in center city. Definitely get a reservation if you are planning on dining in, it fills up fast. The restaurant itself is quant but very clean with ambient lighting, minimal decor to reflect its an Indian restaurant, not necessarily a bad thing. Full bar which isn't always the case at Indian restaurants with several draft beer selections. We orders the spiced crab naan just because I doubt it's available at any other restaurant in the country. It was good but probably not going to a repeat order, could use more crab to say the least. The butter chicken was terrific l, very creamy and flavorful. The goat curry was phenomenal, and larger portion than most places. Plenty of actual tender goat meat to mix in with the curry. The paneer was crunchy, very well cooked and had plenty of flavor. Garlic naan is hard to screw up. The bill it self wasn't bad considering it's Indian food in center city with inflation as bad as it is now. Will go back if I'm in the hankering for some fairly authentic Indian food. read more

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