Known as a Montreal institution, Le Taj has been deeply entrenched in the downtown core for over 3 decades.
The decor at Le Taj represents a true synthesis of the complex, the colourful, the simple and the elegant. Carefully curated with handmade wooden carvings from the early 18th century, juxtaposed with the 12-foot mud wall adorning the backdrop of the dining room - which was in fact the central installation from the Indian Pavilion at Expo ‘67 - the decor often leaves our guests speechless while maintaining a certain feeling of warmth that mirrors the cuisine. At the rear end of the restaurant, our tandoor (traditional clay oven) is visible through a glass wall, leaving guests with a window into the world of our chefs, who can be seen cooking tandoori delicacies from fresh naan to our signature tandoori chicken.
Owner, Vinod Kapoor, opened the restaurant in 1985, with the idea of creating a space where Indian food could be devoured within the respected setting it deserved: white table clothes, fine wine and a decor that highlights the rich cultural and artistic history of his native India. Having previously been a collector and dealer of Indian art and antiques, his keen eye for interesting pieces has made its impression on the ambiance of the restaurant, where most of the artwork is one of a kind (including a piece from the Indian Pavilion at Expo ’67!).
It is with this same passion that Mr. Kapoor, who can still be seen buzzing around the dining room on a busy night, continues to maintain the high quality and exceptional service to old and new clients alike. Over the years, Le Taj has become a staple for many Montrealers and international clients, with a number of patrons having grown up dining with us and coming back over time with families of their own. In that respect, our own family of dedicated staff members - many of whom have been with us since the very beginning - are in large part how we have built our reputation of excellence for over 30 years. With a large number of our regular patrons making up a who's who, and having been as loyal to us as we have been to them and to our classical recipes, we hope to continue our journey in the mastery of culinary arts and service for many years to come.
Le Taj is described as an authentic, elegant Indian dining experience in Montreal with consistently flavorful dishes, generous portions, and attentive service in a warm, vintage inspired setting. The lunch buffet earns praise for taste, speed and value, with especially strong naan and a wide selection, while dinner is noted for a refined atmosphere and a solid tasting menu that keeps long time visitors returning. Takeout also delivers restaurant quality flavors at home, and overall the reviews portray Le Taj as a reliable staple known for quality ingredients, thoughtful service, and a welcoming vibe that suits family meals, date nights and groups alike.
Le Taj Indian Restaurant on Stanley Street in Montreal is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, you're treated like family by the amazing staff to an authentic & unforgettable culinary experience. Kabir & his family truly pour their heart into serving the best Indian dishes in the city, using only the freshest ingredients. Each dish bursts with incredible flavor & you can taste the quality in every bite. It's more than just a meal; it's a delightful journey for your taste buds. Highly recommend! & never any bloating afterwards like other places! Our go to for many years now! ❤?
Nov 7, 2025
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Best & oldest Indian restaurant in Montreal, about 40 years old. The service is impeccable by the amazing & sweet staff. Even the owner goes from table to table to make sure the guests are having fun. The food arrival is always quick either is busy or not. Every single dishes from appetizers to dessert are beyond delicious. Always well flavored, & nicely & tenderly cooked. The restaurant is simply beautiful with the vintage Indian decors. The vibe is happy & satisfying with the service & food. 100% recommended.
I had the opportunity to try Le Taj for the first time today to celebrate my wedding! We went for the lunch buffet which had a great variety of dishes that can please every palate. The service was impeccable! I greatly recommend this restsurant. Thanks to Le Taj, we got to celebrate our special day with a beautiful meal, timeless decor & incredible service!
Le Taj offers a beautifully warm & elegant atmosphere, with vintage Indian décor that creates an inviting & authentic setting. Service was professional & attentive, & the ambiance alone sets a high expectation for the dining experience.
We opted for the'feast' menu, which included a salad, appetizer, main with a vegetarian side, & dessert. The cucumber & tomato salad was refreshing, if a bit oversized. My fish appetizer was flat in flavor & oddly textured, though my partner's papdi chaat was crisp, tangy, & truly excellent.
For mains, the butter chicken had perfectly cooked meat, but the sauce lacked the depth, spice, & balance expected from such a signature dish. My partner's lamb vindaloo, however, was a standout - bold, rich, spicy, & deeply satisfying. On the side, the paneer masala had a beautifully balanced tomato-based sauce, while the saag paneer was watery & underseasoned. The naan was exceptional, & the basmati rice decent, though a bit soft.
Desserts were pleasant but unremarkable - gulab jamun was as expected, & a milk-based paneer dessert was unique but not particularly memorable.
The low point of the evening was unquestionably the cocktails. At $20 each, both the mango mojito & mango martini were disappointing - overly sweet, poorly balanced, & lacking noticeable alcohol & technique. They tasted more like juice than proper cocktails, which felt out of step with the overall experience & definitely a disappointment.
In summary, for the overall modest cost (about $120 per person), the experience was fair - beautiful ambiance, attentive service, & a few excellent dishes made it worthwhile. Still, based on its 4.2-star rating & reputation, we expected a bit more across the board. We've enjoyed more flavorful meals at lesser-known Indian restaurants, & with a few refinements - particularly in the cocktails & consistency of dishes - Le Taj could truly shine.
While the restaurant itself merits a solid 4 stars, the cocktails were disappointing enough to bring the overall experience down a notch to 3 stars. Fix the cocktails.
Le Taj serves food that falls into the'mediocre' category-decent enough for those unfamiliar with authentic Indian flavors, but disappointing for anyone seeking a truly satisfying Indian dining experience. The dishes lack depth & authenticity, often tasting bland or overly adjusted to suit a non-Indian palate.
The ambience is okay-nothing special in terms of aesthetics, but it's functional & clean. The service is very good, with attentive & polite staff, which helps balance out the underwhelming food.
Overall, it is an OK restaurant-fine if you're not too particular about taste, but not a place I'd recommend for genuine Indian flavors. If you're looking for something more authentic, you might want to explore other options.
Jul 15, 2025
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This was definitely a pleasant experience. Went with a group 8. Everything on the money is very good weather you ´re a beginner or expert level diner. Therefore I recommend the Feast, especially if you re in a group. You'll get a triple entrée, a choice of 3 meat dished & de vegetarian ones ALL you can eat! Plus you get unlimited Naan bread ( plain, cheese & garlic) as well as saffron rice with peas or steamed basmati . There s even a dessert. For $65? Well worth it if you want to sample a bit of everything. Staff was friendly & polite. Would definitely recommend & go again, great experience.
Le Taj in downtown Montreal is a true gem for Indian cuisine lovers. With its elegant ambiance, impeccable service, & dishes like butter chicken & garlic naan, it's the perfect spot for a chic dining experience.
We bumped into the this place as we were just walking around to find a place (did not want to use google maps...). The food was really exceptional. It is small restaurant in less crowded street in down town. The ambience is awesome. They asked do you have a reservation & we were like what... but they accommodated us with a 5 mins wait. All the dishes we tried was very good, especially their chicken xacutti!!! They are open only for dinner at this downtown place.
The quality of the food does not justify its price, & the portion sizes were insufficient. Despite the pleasant ambiance & good service, the taste of the Indian dishes fell short compared to more affordable options elsewhere.
Le Taj Indian Restaurant, situated in downtown Montreal, provides a dining experience with both positives & areas for improvement. Its central location adds to its appeal, but there's room for enhancement in the overall dining experience. The Seek kebab starter impressed with its unique spice blend, offering a departure from the norm. However, the Tikka Masala main dish was underwhelming, failing to meet expectations. With some refinement in its main dishes, Le Taj could elevate its dining experience.
My bar for Indian food has just been raised. If my future Indian dishes don't meet the standards I had at le Taj I'll be forever disappointed. Thank you for a great meal
From the moment we arrived, the staff were so welcoming. Our waiter was so incredibly attentive, anticipating our needs, & always smiling. He worked very hard to ensure all of his tables were well-served, but he made it seem effortless. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner, with mouth-watering dishes. The food was the best Indian we've ever had. The owner came over & greeted us too & followed up at the end to ask if we enjoyed the dinner. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fine dining experience!
Le Taj is a wonderful upscale Indian restaurant, delicious food & atmosphere along with a reasonable price. Everyone is very friendly & our Server was most helpful & knowledgeable, giving us terrific recommendations upon consulting our preferences. We were a party of 5, enjoyed appetizers & main dishes that we shared along with wine & beers. We were too full for dessert. The cost was under 300$ including tip. Thank you for a wonderful evening ... We'll definitely return.