The Thali 塔哩印度料理 — Restaurant in Neihu District

would like to suggest to reconsider if you are planning to dine at Thali in Neihu. We received the worst service experience I have ever encountered at the restaurant. We arrived promptly at 11:30am for our reservation of 6 adults.

When we arrived there was no one at the restaurant and we were told to sit at a small table of six. We were out for a family celebration so we anticipated to order more food and drinks.

I politely asked if we could change to the larger table and the server, Kira barked back stating that if we wish to sit at the table we need to pay more, instituting a minimal spend of 300 NTD per person for a total minimum of $2400 ($300 x 8 persons). We found it odd that there is a minimal spend on lunch at a restaurant that is empty.

When my 71 year old mother asked again whether it would be sufficient space he said “do you think I would give you a table that couldn’t fit all of you and the food? Do you think I am looking to embarrass myself (打自己的臉嗎？)?”. It was rude and totally unacceptable to say such words to an elderly.

We decided to leave and as I was leaving he confronted me at the doorsteps and said “do you think you’re the only person who speaks English? You don’t think I know English?” Again, he was rude and uncalled for. Is it necessary to speak to me about my speaking in English to my husband who is not fluent in Chinese?

The server was unprofessional and treated customers with disrespect. I hope the managers of the restaurant can better address his attitude and choice of words when speaking to not only customers...

They have a fairly wide variety of dishes from both the north and the south. The place was bustling at noon on a Sunday and the air was filled with spices. Service was prompt and courteous, they definitely had enough staff to take care of everybody, although it also felt slightly hectic. Here’s my breakdown:

Kolhapuri fish - 4 stars The good: I could definitely taste an amalgam of different spices, and it was just creamy and sour enough to strike a balance. The hotness didn’t kick in at first, but became steady and enjoyable. The okay: The fish portion was moderate, not too much, not too little, and seemed fresh, but was a tad overcooked for me. Wish list: A bit more sour, a bit more spicy (they said medium hot, but it was medium-low for me), and a bit thicker consistency would be nice, which would make me want to keep eating more.

Methi naan - 4 stars The butter aroma was spot on, and the portion was just right for one curry dish. I wish the fenugreek aroma was stronger, and the naan was slightly crispier.

Masala tea - 3 stars Not enough spices and not strong enough, although by no means weak. I wish sugar was not pre-added but offered on the side.

Service - 5 stars Nothing to complain at all. Efficient and friendly without being overbearing. I had requested the masala tea to come at the end of the meal, and it came within a very reasonable amount of time without my prompting.

I would definitely like to come back, hopefully with company so I can try many other things. (Sorry, I completely forgot to...

Are fresh spices getting sparce in Taiwan?

Unfortunately I have to revise my earlier review... The Thali used to be a, IMHO, 5 star restaurant. Super authentic, full of flavor, back then. But since they moved it appears that authenticity degraded a lot. I get it that the local palate is different, but it's disappointing to see "authentic Indian" getting watered down to possibly serve the local market. If the owner cooks himself, it used to be the real deal, but if one of his (local?) Chefs takes over, it just doesn't cut it. My latest order was one of the worst I ever had from them - the "masala" papad was a papad with dry tomatoes, cucumber and cilantro; no black salt, chilli, lemon at all. The "tandoori" cauliflower was obviously not in a charcoal tandoori but just blackened by a (gas?) flame and the med-spicy Madras lacked all spices except for the sweetness of coconut or maybe sugar. Conclusion? If you dine in and can can convince the boss to cook for you, go for it, by all means! If not, maybe...