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.
Excellent service - attentive to food allergies, quick expedient too - delicious food & lovely atmosphere. Classy, chic, very nice. Will be back, a staple in Montreal.
We dined in today for the all-you-can-eat option. The items they offered were definitely tasty, but in my opinion, not worth the $30 price tag.The naan served was especially good soft, fresh, & flavorful. The menu had very limited options, & I was especially disappointed that biryani wasn't even included in the standard menu. Overall, the experience left me unsatisfied.
Jul 25, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
They call it Dall Soup & my expectation was this will not be that different from Dall but basically what I got was 95% water & a few pieces of dall! I heard a lot of good words about this place so my expectation was after i go to them they give me dall but they said this is what it's supposed to be 😕 also no offer to refund …
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.
Notre arrêt à ce resto a été une expérience hors du commun. Nous ne savions pas trop quoi prendre, notre serveur nous a simplement dit'est-ce-que vous me faites confiance ? Oh que oui! Ce fût absolument délicieux ! Tout était succulent ! & que dire du service ! Il était attentionné & si gentil !
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.
Been coming here for twenty years & was pleased that the quality has remained the same when we recently came back. Service great, delicious food. A bit cheap of you guys not to serve papadams anymore at 25 price per little plate. Bring it back 🙏 It costs nothing except a bit if a hassle for the servers & kitchen.
Verdict: seems like uses quality ingredients, fine dining setting, okay taste, small portions, not value for money, servers were rude, hurried us to order (kitchen was closing soon so may be because of that)
Je suis retournée au Taj récemment avec une tante qui m'a initiée dès mon jeune âge & je n'en reviens toujours pas à quel point les saveurs sont inégalables, le service y est toujours excellent & l'ambiance parfaite ! Je suis triste qu'il n'y ait plus les buffets du midi, mais j'irai très certainement essayer leurs nouveaux points de vente au Royalmount & Time Out market qui sont j'en suis sûre, également remarquables :-)
I recently ordered takeout from Le Taj, & it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Even at home, the quality & flavors were top-notch.
The food was packed carefully & arrived hot, fresh, & full of aroma. I ordered the butter chicken, basmati rice, & garlic naan, everything was absolutely delicious. 🤤 The butter chicken was creamy with just the right hint of spice, & the naan was soft & still warm, perfect for dipping.
The portion sizes were generous, & you can tell the ingredients are fresh. The flavors are authentic & comforting, just like what you'd expect from a high-end dine-in experience.
Le Taj really knows how to deliver restaurant-quality Indian cuisine straight to your home. It's now one of my go-to spots for takeout.
Final Verdict:
Authentic Indian flavors, generous portions, & excellent takeout service. Highly recommended!