Oxtail Indian Cuisine & Unlimited Pizza — Restaurant in Alberta

Stopped in for dinner with a friend on a Thursday evening after hearing great things about Oxtail Restaurant. When we arrived, we were the only ones there, but within a short time, two other tables had filled up. Given the quality of the food and the depth of the menu, I wouldn’t be surprised if this place gets much busier in the near future.

We started with the beef samosas and tamarind chutney, then shared the butter chicken (medium spicy), beef vindaloo (medium hot), basmati rice, and a masala lemon-aid. The butter chicken and vindaloo came with unlimited naan refills, which was a great touch. The samosas were average in size but extraordinarily crispy and packed with flavorful filling—so flavorful, in fact, that the tamarind chutney wasn’t really needed, though it added a nice hint of sweetness for those who like contrast. The masala lemonade was interesting and a little unusual to my Western palate: sweet and carbonated, with distinct notes of ginger, turmeric, and cumin. Still enjoyable, and definitely a unique complement to the meal.

The menu is surprisingly extensive for a small-town location, offering a wide variety of choices. Prices are on par with other Indian restaurants, but the portion sizes are noticeably larger—especially considering the high quality of both the food and service. The staff were incredibly friendly, personable, and knowledgeable, offering thoughtful recommendations and helpful insights into the dishes, ingredients, and spice levels.

The food strikes a great balance between authenticity and accessibility. The staff mentioned they aim to keep the dishes as authentically Indian as possible while still being approachable for Western palates—and it shows. The butter chicken was rich and creamy with generous chunks of chicken breast, while the beef vindaloo delivered a satisfying heat and tang, with tender beef and large pieces of potato in a bold, spicy gravy. Both dishes came with plenty of sauce—perfect for mixing with the basmati rice and scooping up with naan. Speaking of naan: it was exceptional. Baked fresh in a clay oven, it arrived at the table hot and piled high in a basket, with the perfect chewy-crispy texture. Honestly, the naan alone is worth the visit.

The space has clearly been upgraded since its Turner Inn days, though the decor is still fairly basic. A bit of ambient music to match the cuisine would have been a welcome addition, but that’s a small detail. During our visit, the buffet tables were being replaced, and staff reassured us that the layout would continue to be accessible for guests with mobility challenges. The entire space was spotless—the floors, cutlery, dishes, and stemware were all clean. The washrooms were brightly lit, well-maintained, and designed with wide doors suitable for walkers or wheelchairs.

For two people ordering à la carte, our total came to $58.54. As someone with a big appetite, I was seriously impressed—not only were we both completely full by the end of the meal, but we had enough left over for a full take-out container the next day. The value for money here is excellent. And if the buffet matches the à la carte quality, it’s probably one of the best food deals in town. Definitely worth a...

If I was to compare the food, the service, the kindness of the staff as well as the gracious and caring owner of Oxtail Indian cuisine in Diamond Valley I would say this has the equivalent makings of a Rolls Royce automobile !!!! The food that I received from this wonderful gem of a restaurant was prepared and delivered to my table with essence of perfection and the taste from someone who cooks from the heart... Every bite of the delicious food that I received was met with delicious succulent juicy flavor full of delicious spices and authenticity of the region the food was from... This restaurant specializes in dishes from the Punjab region of India !!!! The food also matched the graciousness of the owners hospitality that I received from the moment I walked in the door!!!! The rest of his staff was equally gracious and kind as well as enthusiastic which tells you they all believe in the product they are delivering to there customers tables and with there take out service !!!! I have been to many Indian restaurants including some very prestigious Indian restaurants, including a few that have obtained the prestigious sought after Michelin Star... This amazing gem of an Indian restaurant has all the makings of the recipient of multiple Michelin stars in the future based on the knowledge of the staff and the authentic flavor's that flowed onto my taste buds with every single bite of there delicious and passionate combination of flavors !!!! The dish that I received was a signature dish which I would recommend for anyone who is new to Indian food or a seasoned Indian foodie like myself and that dish was called. " Chicken Methi Malai " You will be memorized in pure foodie heaven once you take even a single bite into this delicious dish !!!! I also had the Mango Lassi which was fresh, savory, flavorful, smooth and creamy, absolutely decadent and such a sweet treat after my delicious entrée here at Oxtail Indian Cuisine topped off with a traditional Kheer for desert, which was also absolutely creamy, rich and absolutely delightful !!!! I looking forward to coming back again to this wonderful establishment of fine Indian Cuisine to take on the rest of there well detailed and organized menu that offers a fantastic selection of dishes regional Punjabi dishes !!!! The owners names are Gary...

I wish I'd taken some pictures before I dug in and ate everything. I'll make sure to do so next time... because there will be a next time... I was on a random drive around the surrounding area of Calgary doing some photography, and I happened on this gem by complete accident. I'm sure glad that I did, I haven't had a good kulcha since before COVID, so many Indian places just don't want to go to the effort, or don't have a tandoor to do it right, so I miss out most of the time I go out. While I have no one to blame but myself for the mild heat level on the beef coconut curry (because of course the coconut would counter that quite nicely...), I have zero regrets, it's also been a while since I had a really good coconut curry with such a delicious coconut aroma and flavour to back it up. The mango lassie was superb and really, the only thing I wish I'd done differently (and will be correcting for my next visit) was going alone so I couldn't really justify getting a variety of plates to share and try more of their dishes. I don't know what I was expecting when I happened to walk into this empty Indian restaurant on a Sunday afternoon, in little old Diamond Valley (on the Turner Valley side), but I am glad that I got to experience what felt like a family-run business, cooking family-honed recipes with great care and great taste. I know more than just a couple friends that I'll be trying to drag along with me in future for a visit, as it's well...