A highly regarded Indian restaurant with standout curries, biryani, vegetarian breadth, cocktails, and community spirit, though peak-time reservations, takeout delays, and uneven service require planning.
Taj Indian Cuisine delivers strong food quality anchored by praised spice balance, tender proteins, and excellent tandoor breads, though inconsistent execution across dishes and service channels prevents a higher grade. Service knowledge shines during attentive moments, and the artsy interior with mural and patio design elevates the suburban setting beyond typical. Reliable buffet value and broad vegetarian selection cement its appeal, but operational variation during busy periods keeps it from approaching grade A territory.
Taj Indian Cuisine turns an unglamorous shopping-area address into a lively destination: the room is modern, polished, and often packed, with an attractive patio and a cocktail program that reviewers find unusually ambitious for an Indian restaurant. Diners commonly describe the welcome as warm and the food as arriving hot and quickly; one recurring impression is that the place feels like a neighborhood favorite that has grown into a serious night out. The cooking is broad, aromatic, and contemporary without abandoning familiar Indian foundations. Curries, biryani, tandoor breads, paneer, and buffet dishes receive the most affection, while Indo-Chinese offerings and creative specials add range. Spice calibration is not perfectly predictable, and a minority of diners report salty, bland, tough, or mismatched dishes, especially through takeout or on older visits. The restaurant’s community food program also gives the experience an unusually generous sense of purpose. Families are genuinely welcome: reviews describe enjoyable meals with small children, outdoor seating, generous portions, and a dedicated kids menu of noodles priced at $7.99-$8.99. Vegetarian diners have especially strong choice, with more than 20 current vegetarian entrees, but picky eaters may need the kids noodles or mild familiar curries rather than the more adventurous Indo-Chinese, dosa, and spice-forward selections.
Area vibe: Primarily suburban-commercial with retail strips, residential neighborhoods, and some waterfront areas.
Safety: Generally safe with well-lit commercial streets and steady local traffic in evenings.
What's nearby: Near Route 1/Clarks Pond Parkway retail corridor, shopping plazas, offices, and commuter routes to Portland.
The safest route includes a samosa, a well-liked curry or biryani, and one standout bread, with a weekend special worth knowing about.
Plan ahead for peak periods and expect a lively, adventurous menu, with slower takeout and a higher final bill if drinks or premium grills enter the order.
A modern patio-equipped room and ambitious cocktails make this feel more like a night out than a basic shopping-area meal, especially when it fills up.