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.
🌱Vegan Friendly🌱 Très bon restaurant indien. J'y suis allée déjà plusieurs fois. Le Baingan Bharta est excellent. Je l'aimerais juste un peu moins piquant car j'ai demandé non piquant, on m'a dit qu'il allait être juste un petit peu mais c'était déjà beaucoup trop piquant pour moi😉 Tour est une question de sensibilité gustative 😉 Le personnel est sympathique. Belle décoration.
Great food experience. Service is amazing Ambience is perfect. We were 10 team members & ordered different variety. Restaurant staff & manager confirmed that all food is Halal.
This is one of my favorite Indian restaurants in downtown Montreal. I haven't been here in a while & was in the mood for Indian food. Reservation was easy via google. You get a message 2 hours before your booking to confirm or cancel your reservation which is cool. Don't be fooled by the look of the place (needs a refreshment), the food is amazing. Their mango lasse is probably the best in town & so is their garlic naan, always fresh & out of the oven. I tried their chicken kebab appetizer for the first time & it was delicious 😋 It was tender & had the right amount of spice for most people. I would've liked it a bit more spicy but I'm the exception rather than the rule 😁 If you like fish don't miss their Salmon Tikka, it's my favorite dish, perfectly cooked & spiced. I've had the chicken tikka masala & lamb biryani here before & they were amazing. This time around they were both good but different. I don't know if the recipe was changed. It was well cooked & was good but not what I was looking for I guess. I was full so didn't get my favorite dessert, Ras Malai. You should definitely try it. Instead, I had chai latte which was heavy but really good. I needed my nap at that time, the postprandial coma was kicking in 😂😂 Overall, it was a good experience as always. Highly recommended.
May 7, 2024
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The interiour & the staff were nice & welcoming, even when the place started to get really busy & crowded. Never felt like we were an after thought, especially with the upscale interiour & design. Although food was good, I felt it didn't correspond with the price asked. Just another fancy downtown restaurant where they serve adequate food with a location tax. Nothing really out of the ordinary to compensate for the price.
Even though the food was average, the prices & the quantities proportional to them are not really good. I would not recommend it if you are on a budget.
I have been to le taj on different occasions over many years but recently during my visits i noticed the quality of food is not the same anymore. The food quality has degraded alot specially avoid going to valentines days occasion as the menu is limited & the prices what they charge for fixed menu is ridiculous. They serve chicken soup made of yellow daal which was really bad & we do not expect such quality of food from there.
Very average food, or should I say below average? Well let's go with'Below Average'. We tried garlic shrimp, chicken malai Tikka, butter chicken, chicken curry & veg biryani. Supposed to be'Cheese Naan' was actually'Paneer naan'. The only item we liked & enjoyed is'Gulab Jamun'. Must try. Nothing significantly bad, but definitely the taste didn't live up to the hype. Had to wait for more than 1.5 hr on a Saturday evening. Will definitely recommend a reservation. Not worth it. Disappointed. Do not recommend it to someone with taste buds for authentic Indian food. Difficult to find parking. Has nothing to do with the restaurant though. Plan accordingly.
Amazing food, service, & atmosphere at a Montreal landmark! The owner of 36 years watches over everything & there are servers who have been here since the beginning. That means they are treated well, & as a customer, that comes through in excellent service!! Our server at our first visit was "Gourmet"! & he gave us a Gourmet experience! We return regularly now, & I can say ALL servers deserve praise. So thanks Le Taj!!!
My absolute favourite dining experience for fine Indian cuisine. Outstanding service & food! The perfect table was reserved for my business meeting with my client. The Butter Chicken is out of this world! I highly recommend Le Taj for any occasion. Lovely atmosphere, amazing cuisine & service. Don't forget to try the homemade Pistachio Ice Cream!!! Simply outstanding. I am always happy to continuously bring my real estate clients here before & after visits~! Candis Noble (candisnoble.ca)
Excellente expérience culinaire. Les saveurs sont aux rendez-vous. Belle ambiance chaleureuse. Notre serveur a pris le temps de bien nous expliquer le menu & de nous faire quelques suggestions.