New Taj India — Restaurant in Nashua

This is the 2nd time we had dinner at the Taj India, Nashua. The 1st time we ordered the food mild as I didn't know how hot it would be. It was just okay and felt it was lacking spice but I blamed myself for ordering my food mild.

Tonight we ordered medium spice level. That didn't help. We ordered:

Onion Bhaji which is an onion fritter. We've had onion pakoras before at other Indian restaurants and they were light and crispy, made with a tempura batter. But these fritters were heavy balls of cake-like batter. They were spicy but not flavorful, not oniony. The chutneys were just okay.

Shrimp Tandoori Masala. It was spicy but not with much depth of flavor. It was spicy but almost one-note, lacking that full mouthful of spices.

Malai Kofta. The kofta tasted like they might have been made with bread crumbs instead of potato. The sauce was creamy but it was lacking that full flavor. I've had Malai sauces that were spicy but creamy and sweet. This wasn't like that.

To top it all off, our service was barely adequate, which would have been a non-issue with us if the food had been good. It just seems like they didn't care if we liked it or not.

We won't...

Right, let's get into it then—New Taj India in Nashua. First off, the food is actually quite good. We're talking proper Indian flavors here. It's not the best I've ever had, mind you, but it's bloody close. The biryanis, the tandoori, the masalas—this place knows how to work its spices.

The cocktails are decent. They're not going to knock your socks off, but they're far from disappointing. They've got a solid range that complements the food, so kudos for that.

Service is on point. Attentive without being annoying, just the way it should be. They know their menu inside and out, and they're quick to help with any questions. In a word: professional.

Now, here's the kicker—the decor and the building. It's like stepping into a time machine, and not in a charming, vintage way. It's dated, full stop. If the food is reaching for the stars, the decor is stuck in the '80s. A facelift wouldn't hurt; actually, it's desperately needed.

Still, don't let the atmosphere put you off. The food and service do most of the talking, and they're saying all the right things. I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars. Sort out the decor, and we might be talking a...

New Taj India is a bit of a hidden gem just outside the core of downtown Nashua. Arriving between lunch and dinner crowds, it was a bit quiet. Owner Ginny met me at the door and took care of me from there. The restaurant is beautifully - and authentically - decorated, giving the experience a nice vibe. To start, I dove into an order of soft and sweet Punjabi Nan which comes with a couple of sauces for dipping. Then came Taj Choice, a mixed platter of appetizer items and more sauces; everything was cooked to perfection and delicious. I could have stopped there, but no. For the main came a monster bowl of Taj’s Special Biryani - which I ordered spicy hot - loaded with lamb, chicken, shrimp, almonds, vegetables, cashews, raisins, and comes with a side of Raita to temper the spice. I walked away very happy and with enough Biryani left over for a meal the next day. Highly...