David H.
Yelp
Tikka Shack was the very first fast-casual Indian restaurant I've been to. I'm not surprised that it's franchised, but I feel a bit privileged when I found out this is only the 4th location and the only one in PA (the other 3 are in TX and AZ). This could be the beginning of something big.
Everything about Tikka Shack feels "corporately blessed" - from the name, menu, to interior design and operation, all appear to have been professionally vetted. The ambiance is trendy, clean, and inviting.
For me anyway, the menu choices are straight forward. They try to model after "build-your-own" a la Chipotle, poke bowls, and playa bowls, but it really boils down to just "what kind of curry" and "what kind of protein." Not counting appetizers and vegetarian, I am pretty much left with just curry, biryani, and kabob to choose from.
On this first visit we ordered one of each, with mixed results. The Tikka Masala Curry with Chicken was underwhelming in every way: portion size, taste, and the meager amount of protein. The Chicken Biryani with spicy option was excellent as one of my favorites, but the star of the meal tonight was the Chicken Tikka Kabob Bowl. The dish looked really appealing, showcasing color palette from Basmati rice, sticks of kabob, garden salad and mango; the included naan was icing on the cake. The best value dish. Highly recommended.
Service was excellent. The person taking orders was very friendly. We actually ordered online for later pickup, but the dishes were made more than an hour ago because the pickup time wasn't printed for the kitchen. She was kind to remake the dishes for us. Oh, she said the "dish was made with love". I didn't buy that but at least that's a good motto to have. Overall a good first impression and a solid 4.
TIP: Don't forget to add the "spicy" option. It makes a big difference.
TIP: Be aware online orders are $2.00 - $2.50 more!