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 offers authentic Indian flavors with generous portions and warm attentive service in a classic elegant setting, and the ambiance, the kitchen and dependable quality have made it a Montreal favorite for years; diners consistently praise fresh ingredients, flavorful dishes from naan to curries, and a hospitality that feels welcoming whether dining in or taking out; the lunch buffet is noted for value and variety, and the overall experience blends great food with friendly staff and a memorable, comfortable atmosphere.
This was our third visit in the past two years. We now try to go every time we visit Montreal (from Ottawa). Superlative, attentive service. The food is fresh & delicious. The naan bread is to die for! We each had the Thalis meals, my spouse with the Lamb Vindaloo & myself with Chicken Tikka Masala. Both were flavourful & served piping hot. Raita was refreshing. Would recommend Le Taj to anyone looking for Indian cuisine. Just wonderful!
So it was my 14-year-old daughter's first experience with authentic Indian fare, & I'm SO glad we visited Le Taj.
First, the food. The menu offers a wide range of types of food from different regions of India, so there's something for everyone's tastes & diets. We decided to make a meal of various appetizers in order to sample a bit of everything. I'd recommend the non-vegetarian sampler for the carnivores in your group, but the aloo tikke was absolutely delicious too. However the piece de resistance was the oven-baked naan - it's the best I've had outside of India. Whatever they're paying their naan chef needs to be doubled. Seriously.
Next, the service. We were seated right away (we had made reservations earlier in the day). Our waiter had that nice balance of warmth yet professionalism that is characteristic of good restaurants. Service was prompt & the good was hot. He was kind enough to offer some suggestions for after-dinner walking destinations, & we can thank him for the great view of Montreal we took in after a climb up McGill U (although the aforementioned daughter grumbled a bit at having to exert herself, LOL!)
The cost of the meal was entirely reasonable for the quality of the food. This is going to be one of our go-to restaurants whenever we make future visits to the city.
The food was delicious & flavorful & the service friendly & efficient! We had a lovely evening at the Taj, & our 13 year old loved his first Indian meal experience!
Very warm restaurant. We were treated like royalty. The cook even asked if the chick peas were too spicy for us. We said no. The waiter was a gentleman, answered all my questions about Indian culture. In the end we were told about the goddess of money I believe. The bronze statuette weighed a ton. We loved the delicious food.
Jul 5, 2020
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I am a customer at The Taj most weeks. The quality of the food is alway superb well cooked & week presented plus there is a wide choice of dishes on the menu.
I like my Indian food at the spicy end of the spectrum & so the staff bring me extra chillies to allow me to customize my dishes.
The standard of service is excellent from the moment that you walk in the door with a personal greeting.
I look forward to my next visit in 2020 after the holidays.