Swad Tandoori — Restaurant in New London

In the heart of New London's historic district, where Buddhist prayer flags flutter alongside a centuries-old brick façade, Swad Tandoori offers more than just a meal, it presents a meditation on value and tradition in modern American dining.

On a recent winter afternoon, sunlight streamed through the restaurant's expansive windows, casting warm patterns across tables where both college students and local workers gathered for lunch. The interior, with its unpretentious teal wainscoting and comfortable wooden chairs, speaks to the establishment's commitment to substance over style.

The menu prices here feel almost anachronistic in 2025, a complete meal, including tax, barely crosses the $22 mark. This pricing philosophy seems to stem from the owners' apparent belief that good food should be accessible to all, a refreshing stance in an era of inflated dining costs.

A steaming bowl of vegetable soup arrived first, its orange-hued broth carrying the bright notes of fresh cilantro and the earthy depth of well-developed spices. The lamb buna that followed proved to be the kitchen's showcase of expertise - tender meat swimming in a perfectly calibrated sauce, accompanied by vegetables that retained both their integrity and flavor. At a mere $9.95, it's a dish that punches well above its weight class.

The chicken naan represents the restaurant's necessary and sad concession to American palates, a creation that might raise eyebrows in Delhi but finds eager acceptance in blandish Connecticut. Yet even this adaptation maintains a level of quality that elevates it above mere fusion fare.

In the dining room, a peaceful humble atmosphere prevails, enhanced by the gentle whir of ceiling fans and the soft clink of water glasses being refilled by attentive staff. The restaurant's Buddhist influences manifest subtly, in the unhurried pace of service, in the mindful presentation of each dish, in the general sense of tranquility that pervades the space.

What Swad Tandoori offers is increasingly rare: a restaurant that maintains its cultural authenticity while remaining remarkably affordable, a place where the food is carefully prepared but not preciously presented, where the atmosphere encourages lingering but never feels sluggish. In an age of rising restaurant prices and diminishing portions, it stands as a quiet reminder that good food, thoughtfully prepared, need not...

Understaffed and poorly managed. I was so excited to try this restaurant. We arrived at 6 PM, with plans to go to a 7:30 concert at the Garde Center just up the street. Most people had reservations and we did not, so we were grateful to get a table. The host was very kind and apologized for the wait, but our order was not taken for 25 minutes. That should’ve been a sign that we were not going to get our food. Just before 7 PM, lots of other guests still had no food and my wife got her samosas, but they were ice cold inside. I had ordered soup and that never came out. You’d think it would be easy to put a bowl of soup out quickly. At this point, we knew we were not going to get our food in time to make the concert, so we paid for a soda and the samosas and we left. We were so disappointed. They knew they had a restaurant full of reservations for before the show, but they could not accommodate the guests. Do not go here if you are planning to make a show up the street because chances are you will either be late for the show or you will not be able to...

This restaurant has gone by four names in the nearly fifteen years that I've lived here. Regardless, the same gentleman has been working here the whole time and he is fantastic. He is very friendly and personable, and is one of the many reasons that we keep coming back. This place specializes in North Indian and Tibetan delicacies. Everything is freshly prepared and made how you want it. Spice adverse? He has recommendations. Want culinary fire? He has got you covered. Try the lamb vindaloo extra spicy. You're welcome. All the expected sides are accounted for: samosas, kebabs, naans, kulchas, chutneys, and so on. All prepared fresh on site. Lastly, the prices are very good New London prices, not inflated Mystic prices. Several Indian food restaurants and buffets have disappointed me in the immediate area, but Swad Tandoori...