Taal Fine Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Brantford

Best Buffet

My dad and I wanted a quick bite on Saturday the 14th at 3:30. The buffet options are bad in Brantford but I remembered going here around six years ago so decided to try again. At that time it was a fairly new restaurant that was a converted fast food restaurant so the decor was dated but I remembered the food was good. Taals has had a renovation (I think before Covid) and it’s very nice inside. The decor is pretty but not overbearing. It is open concept but also has divided walls when applicable. The gentleman who greeted us was nice, well dressed and polite. Place setting was lovely with a cloth napkin, and the water is served in chilled glass corked bottles, which is super convenient. You can get four full glasses before needing another and it also reduces having to ask the wait staff for more. Washrooms were very clean! Important for any customer buying food, is to note the cleanliness of the washrooms. Solid A+ from me. The buffet itself is nicely laid out, with Veg dishes, meat dishes and sides, and then desserts with an ice cream freezer in the middle. The flow is nice because you can circle around and leave without having to go back the other way. Naan was empty at the buffet and it’s clear why: the basket of garlic naan brought to the table was warm, fluffy and delicious. Perfectly cooked. The food itself was scrumptious with every single bite. Flavourtown, the seasoning was not too hot but mild enough to have a kick. And above all it TASTED FRESH. For a buffet transitioning to a dinner menu, the food was excellent and didn’t taste stale or old. My most important takeaway from this meal was honestly the price. My dad and I went for sushi a few weeks ago and it was $94+tip for two of us. Taal has $21 for lunch and $25 for dinner (I think, please check) and I found that price point perfect. Especially since four hours after leaving I was still full from one large plate of food and a small plate with pakora and a samosa on it. The fact you don’t have to wait for the food, it’s good food, and with the tax gone you can spend $100 on a family of four means you’re getting the best bang for your buck. I live downtown and it’s $18 for a takeout of just butter chicken here, so an extra $3 for a plethora of options wins my business. If I lived closer I would be here all the time. I look forward to returning...

I have been ordering take out and dine in from Taal for the past 10+ years. It’s great to see a local business expanding their previous location to host more guests and expand their menu options. On this occasion, I brought a friend who is also a Taal regular.

Parking: There is ample parking on-site for Taal. I’ve never had a problem with finding a space whether running in at lunch, ordering take out, or dine in on prime Friday or Saturday locations.

Ordering: We sat in the main dining room. Staff know us well and refilled our glasses and cleared plates quickly. We ordered a Mango Lasse and a Mango juice. Both were and always are excellent and fresh.

Menu: We opted for the buffet instead of the menu options. The flow and layout are easy to navigate. There are vegetarian options available. The salad bar is not extensive, but when going for Indian food, we were more focused on getting in on those deliciously spiced and flavourful sauces more than the salad.

Food: All the food was fresh. The Naan was constantly being refilled because it was a busy evening (I’ve never been in when it wasn’t busy, which I believe speaks to the restaurant’s popularity and reputation within the local community. The buffet tables were hot. All food that was supposed to be crispy was light and airy, while the sauces were warm and fragrant. My go-to is the garlic naan bread, aloe gobi, butter chicken (everyone’s favourite), and beef vindaloo. And of course you can't finish off the meal without Gulab Jamun! So good.

Buffet options: It was noticeable that the vegetarian options were kept separate from the meat options. They have also added egg rolls, french fries and other options to appease a variety of buffet patrons.

The samosas are the best I’ve ever had. They make them fresh on site. For 10 years, I’ve only had the tamarind sauce with my samosas, but decided to try the cilantro-lime green sauce, which did not disappoint! We ordered take out the next day. My kids and I will often run in while doing errands and grab some samosas to go. We are there at least bi-weekly, if not weekly....

AMBIENCE: The restaurant offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with elegant Indian décor and soft lighting. The seating was comfortable, and the music added a cultural touch without being too loud. Great for both family dinners and date nights.

SERVICE: Although the restaurant wasn’t particularly busy during our visit, the service felt a bit slow. Plates were not cleared in a timely manner, which affected the overall dining experience. A bit more attentiveness from the staff would have made a difference.

FOOD QUALITY: The food was served at a lukewarm temperature, which affected its freshness and appeal. The dishes lacked the vibrant flavors and creativity one might expect from a fine Indian restaurant. Overall, the food was quite average and did not leave a lasting impression.

CLEANLINESS: The dining area, restrooms, and table settings were spotless. Hygiene standards were clearly maintained.

VALUE FOR MONEY: Considering the average food quality and the slow service, the experience did not quite match the pricing. While the ambiance was decent, the overall value felt underwhelming for what was expected from a restaurant of this reputation.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Taal Fine Indian Cuisine had the potential for a great dining experience, but it fell short in key areas. The food lacked warmth and excitement, and service could have been more attentive—even with a relatively quiet dining room. With some improvements in food quality and staff engagement, it could offer a much more...