Matthew C.
Yelp
Got: Lunch buffet ($13) - Lamb/goat (forget which one) saag, chicken tiki masala, chicken curry, naan, paneer curry, chicken biryani, yellow daal, pakora, etc...
Price: $13 lunch buffet, didn't get the al carte items but seemed to be in $12-$18 range
Value: 9/10 for lunch buffet
Good array of American Indian food for the buffet. There were 3 types of rice, pakora, tandoori chicken, fish fry, salad bar, 7-8 trays of curry, couple of desserts. The interior is well decorated and clean with a bar area. The servers were attentive and quick to bring water and naan from the kitchen.
I stopped at Taj Indian on a time crunch. I had around 30 minutes to fully enjoy the buffet before catching my flight. Sat down around 11:30 am and 60% of the tables were already full with lunchgoers. Food was hot, spiced, and comforting to the soul as it rained outside in humid TN. The paneer was in a cream sauce and tasted similar to the chicken tiki masala. Different options for rice gave endless combinations of flavors with different curries.
The standout item was the tandoori chicken and the paneer. The chicken was smokey and charred without being dry. It was still flaky, and succulent, yet smokey with its characteristic flavor. The paneer was creamy with the hints of acidity and sweetness from the tomato pulled the dish together. It was rich without being overly heavy. The naan came out from the kitchen in a basket. This is where I thought some improvement could be helpful. The naan was warm but not hot. Tasted like it sat for a little while. It was fine but was lacking the crispy outside and gluten-chewy, fluffy, soft inside.
Overall, would come back. Naan could have been better but maybe it was a one-off. Great value for a $13 lunch buffet that warms the body and soul . Will be back next time I'm back in TN.
PS. The food was delicious enough to where I was able to try most of the items and eat my fill to catch my flight. Good food = eat fast