Taj Grill — Restaurant in Buffalo

This was one of my worst experiences in a restaurant. I am adding a picture of the bill below.

Me and a group of 7 other friends went to this restaurant based on Google reviews after a long road trip, trying to find some good food on a tiring journey. The food was bland and when asked about it, the staff said they have been running this place since 2012 and it has always been like that.

I’m confused on how they have been doing it for 13 years and yet do not know on how to let the customers know the different levels of spiciness they offer. They kindly let us know about 4 levels of spices and we chose one and when we complained about it, they told us that there were around 7-9 levels and they just chose not to let us know about it.

Moreover, The staff were rude with us, food wasn’t good and when we asked for the bill, they added a gratuity fee of 40$ without letting us know prior. When asked about it, even the staff was a bit taken aback on where it was mentioned and took a minute to find it in the Menu.

When we were trying to talk to them, the only response the staff was giving us was to talk to their owner and were not trying to resolve the issue what so ever. And the best part, the most used line by them was “This is how we earn money.” Not entirely sure on how much they want to charge customers because there’s even a 3% extra charge if you want to pay by card.

Food reviewed individually below :-

Gobi Manchuria : Forgot to cook the cauliflower and just tossed in a mixture of food color, ketchup and flour (Disaster)

Taj Samples : Somehow the second best they could serve us today with one of each of their specialities starters (Average)

Chicken Biriyani : Who puts broccoli and green peppers in Biriyani. Meat was bland and felt dry (Bad)

Cicken Tandoori : The third best food item I had today. Was tasting better than the other items. (Average)

Lamb Biriyani : Same inputs as Chicken Biriyani. Also the biriyani was very oily and yet somehow, the meat was dry. (Disaster)

Dal Tadka : Quite bland for Dal Tadka with very less flavor (Average at best)

Paneer Methi Malai : How can a curry thats supposed to be sweetish mild taste just like a can of tomato puree? (Bad)

Naan : Pretty sure i ordered Naan but got Butter Naan and pretty sure it has a lot of soda to make me feel full (Bad)

Tandoori Roti : It’s called Tandoori Roti for a reason and this was definitely made on a pan or skillet (Bad)

Pepsi : Definitely the best item we had today.

Not sure how this place such a high rating for very bad and NOT authentic food. Would not recommend this place for any people trying to have good food or good...

I recently dined at Taj Grill, and unfortunately, it was a thoroughly disappointing experience. The issues I encountered during my visit have left a lasting negative impression, making it imperative for me to share this cautionary review.

Firstly, the restaurant's insistence on a 20% mandatory tip is nothing short of unacceptable. The staff forcibly charged this amount, leaving me feeling coerced and taken advantage of. Tips should be earned based on exceptional service, not enforced as an additional charge. It significantly inflated the overall bill, making this dining experience unnecessarily expensive.

Moreover, the quality of the food did not justify the exorbitant prices and mandatory tip. The chicken biryani, chicken makni, butter chicken, and garlic naan were lackluster at best. The flavors were bland, and the dishes lacked the authenticity and richness one would expect from an establishment of this purported caliber.

Adding to the frustration, Taj Grill imposes an extra 3.75% charge for those who choose to pay with a credit card. This practice is nothing short of a money-grab and demonstrates a lack of transparency in their pricing structure. It's deeply disappointing to see a business resort to such tactics, which ultimately undermine the trust and satisfaction of their customers.

In summary, I strongly advise against dining at Taj Grill. The unwarranted mandatory tip, subpar food quality, and additional credit card charges cast a shadow over what should have been a pleasant dining experience. Save your money and seek a more genuine and customer-friendly dining...

Tonight I decided to give Taj Grill a second chance. A few weeks back I went to their lunch buffet. When I arrived the gentleman at the counter was checking someone out but said he'd be with me in a moment. As I waited a table of 9 diners all arrived at the counter and over the next ten minutes or so they were checked out one by one since they were paying individually. After they were all gone I was told I could sit wherever I wanted. I was not impressed, but realized it was obviously a busy lunch time rush. Tonight I went to have dinner, I was seated immediately and given menus and water. After 15 minutes no waiter came to my table. I asked the young man pouring water if I had a waiter and if so could I have them come so I could place my order. He was suprised that no one had done so and said he'd get someone right away. A waiter walked past me to clear tables then headed straight to the kitchen without stopping to take my order. I looked around and saw a total of six tables including mine and three waiters. Patrons that had arrived several minutes after me had drinks and orders in. I waited a few more minutes then simply left. I admit the food has been good in the past but the...