Thanjai Restaurant — Restaurant in Montreal

See most recent visits below. Old to new... Since this is a new year and restaurants are still closed for dine-in, we ordered about 2 hours before we wanted to pick up our food. When we arrived we had to wait 20 minutes before our food was ready. Don't know why since we did give them enough time to prepare the 3 dishes. Let's start with the Curry Shrimp. It was very good. The shrimps were a nice size, not huge, in a slightly spicy curry sauce. Then there was the Curry Lamb. Won't be ordering that again. The tiny pieces of lamb were dried out and rubbery. It almost tasted like goat. The sauce was very disappointing. The menu description says lemon and raisins with other stuff. No lemon taste and definitely no raisins. Last, but not least, was the Chicken Kothu, amazing. Our favorite dish from this restaurant. The staff is very polite and service is usually better. Everyone one has an off day but this is now the second time they are off. We will go back once we can eat in the restaurant. They specialize in Dosa and Idly but that's more for breakfast or even lunch. Feb 2022 - We finally are eating in the restaurant and it's not going well. We ordered 3 dishes. Kothu, curry chicken, and a paneer dish. We got the Kothu. It got cold before we got the other dishes. Hurray. It finally came. The only problem was the Chicken curry was not hot. So we had 2 lukewarm dishes and one hot dish. Disappointing. April 2022- The food is good but the service is getting worse and worse and the portion size, smaller and smaller. Once again we asked for our 3 dishes to be served at the same time. They were not until I made a fuss. But it didn't seem to faze the waiter. I told him that the owner had promised it would not happen again. But it did. I don't think he even told anyone because he may not have understood the issue. I think it will be a long while before we go back and eat here. Too bad because the food is good. May 2022- Nothing has improved in the last month since our last visit. Portion size is getting smaller and the service is getting worse. The number of stars has gone from 4 to 2. We will find somewhere else to eat Indian food....

Rasam: Rasam is a tangy South Indian soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and a blend of spices like coriander, cumin, and pepper. It's typically served as a starter or mixed with rice. Rasam's refreshing flavor, coupled with its health benefits from the spices, makes it a delightful appetizer or accompaniment to any meal.

Sambar: Sambar is a lentil-based vegetable stew or soup that originated in South India. It's made with toor dal (pigeon peas), vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and drumsticks, and flavored with a unique blend of spices such as coriander, cumin, and fenugreek seeds. Sambar is often served with rice, idli, dosa, or vada. Its rich and savory taste, along with its versatility, makes it a staple in South Indian cuisine.

Kothu Paratha: Kothu Paratha is a popular street food in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu. It consists of shredded paratha (Indian flatbread) mixed with a variety of ingredients like onions, tomatoes, peppers, and spices, often including eggs or meat for added flavor. The mixture is stir-fried on a griddle with spices, creating a flavorful and satisfying dish. Kothu Paratha's unique texture and blend of flavors make it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Biryani: Biryani is a fragrant and flavorful rice dish that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It's made with basmati rice, meat (such as chicken, mutton, or beef), or vegetables, and a blend of aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Biryani is typically cooked in layers, with the rice and meat or vegetables cooked separately and then layered together before being steamed. The result is a rich and aromatic dish with tender meat and perfectly cooked rice, often garnished with fried onions, nuts, and herbs. Biryani's complex flavors and hearty nature make it a beloved dish across the Indian...

We were there for lunch on Canada Day at the Van Horne location and definitely, will not go back again. We ordered a variety of food; idly, dosa, thalis, biryanis and appetizers.The idly and dosa was brought first for 2 of us and it turned cold while the rest of us waited for our food. They don’t know the concept of appetizers! It was the last thing that was served when we had almost finished with the main meal. The ambiance was horrid! There was just no way to have a relaxing lunch with the amount of noise that was coming out from the kitchen or the counter area, they were dropping plates, and vessels, and cutlery, no class at all! and the screaming of children who were there with their parents clearly not controlling them! The onion bhaji was bland, lacking seasoning or salt, definitely not worth the money! 2 of the vegetable dishes on the thali, was potato based! Potato fry and cauliflower with potato. No dhall option, no green option, no eggplant! Again, not worth the money they charged! It’s all about how to maximize profit with cheap items!! the biryanis were passable, small portion, but big prices! There was no attention from the servers whatsoever. They looked harried, running around taking orders. No clearing of empty plates to make room for the next item. No one came to the table to ask about the meal or if everything was ok. The place was cramped, noisy, mediocre food, small portions, very pricey and inattentive staff! And before the owner judge this comment, I have eaten in many, many Indian restaurants in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and small cities in between, not to mention in overseas locations but Thanjai is...