Tabla Indian Restaurant Lake Nona — Restaurant in Orlando

I love Indian food!!! I have had some of the best and some of the worst Indian food known to Americans, so I have a wide scale on which to judge this restaurant.

Let’s start with the service, when we first walked in, the host asked that if he lets us in now, can we be done eating by 3:00pm? It was just barely 2pm when we walked in. I responded to the wait “we’ll, that depends on how fast our food comes out”. So right off the bat my family and I are being rushed. So of course, I’m already not getting the best impression of this establishment. Not a good start.

We ordered a vegetable samosas as an appetizer and it was okay. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it just didn’t have an authentic texture and/or taste I was hoping for. For our entrees we ordered chicken saag, chicken tikka masala, and my wife had some vegetarian curry I can’t remember the name of. We also got 2 orders of garlic naan.

Let’s start with the chicken tikka masala. It was good, but not the best I ever had. It tasted as if it had been made with tomato soup base rather than with fresh tomatoes. The chicken tikka masala wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have the authentic flavor we have become used to. And I get that Indian food will vary in flavor and texture, but I was expecting more from this restaurant for the prices it’s charging for its meals.

We also had a bowl chicken saag with our meal. Again, it lacked in taste in my opinion. Saag is supposed to be a curry rich in spinach, the spinach flavor is really supposed to come through when you taste it. This restaurant’s version of saag tasted really similar to a “beef stew” than a curry for me. The authenticity for me of the chicken saag dish just wasn’t there.

The one thing that did stand out was the garlic naan. The texture was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside like naan is supposed to be and it was the highlight of our meal here. The naan was some of the best I’ve ever tasted, like, honestly! My kids would have eaten more of it had we ordered more.

The one thing I really liked about this restaurant was the esthetics and ambiance. It gave off a very high end and modern feel. Unfortunately, I wish the food had been just as high end in flavor and authenticity.

I feel like the flavors at this restaurant really don’t exceed the flavors you would get from a casual Indian or curry restaurant.

I was really expecting more for the prices this establishment is charging for food that’s just “okay” with only its naan as the highlight of our meal.

Probably not coming back here as I don’t feel we got a good value for our money. We’ll have to try some other Indian restaurants. The food here, overall, was...

I am thrilled to write this 5-star review for Tabla, an Indian restaurant that has truly exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the warm, inviting ambiance and the tantalizing aroma of authentic Indian spices wafting through the air.

The menu at Tabla is a delightful journey through the rich tapestry of Indian cuisine. Each dish is a symphony of flavors, perfectly balanced and beautifully presented. The Chicken Tikka Masala was a revelation, with its succulent pieces of chicken bathed in a creamy, spicy sauce. The Biryani was another standout, fragrant with saffron and studded with tender morsels of lamb. The Naan bread, fresh from the tandoor, was the perfect accompaniment to mop up the delicious sauces.

However, what truly sets Tabla apart is the exceptional service. Our waiter, K, was the epitome of professionalism and hospitality. He was attentive without being intrusive, always ensuring our glasses were filled and our needs met. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, and his recommendations were spot on. K's warm demeanor and genuine passion for Indian cuisine greatly enhanced our dining experience.

In addition, the hygiene standards at Tabla are commendable, especially in these challenging times. The staff was diligent about sanitizing surfaces and maintaining social distancing, which made us feel safe and comfortable.

In conclusion, Tabla is a gem of a restaurant that offers a sublime dining experience. The combination of delectable food, a cozy atmosphere, and stellar service, especially from our waiter K, makes it a must-visit for all lovers of Indian cuisine. I can't wait to return and explore more...

Update on 5/10/24: Going to 5 stars based on excellent service from the manager, Kaushal, the pretty person who came from the kitchen to answer my question about the dessert name and its ingredients, and Geno. The lunch specials include a self-serve buffet with the appetizer (Chicken 65 today); soup of the day; salad; dressing and sauces; and dessert. They bring hot freshly baked naan to the table with your chosen lunch special entree.

I got the Matar Paneer (wedges of cheese simmered with fresh peas in an onion and tomato sauce) which came with jasmine rice, a papadum; and the aforementioned buffet. The vegetable soup was one of my favorite items; I decided to try and recreate it the next day. It had cilantro, white onions, scallions, potatoes, carrots and a clear broth in it. The dressing for the salad was made of puréed mango with herbs, so good. And the dessert had saffron flowers on top! I asked the name of it and someone from the kitchen came to tell me it was Shahi Turkra: triangles of bread fried then topped with this saffron tinged cream sauce that was to die for.

2023: Superbly seasoned vegetable curry Goan-style with a delicately nuanced coconut sauce really pleased my palate. This was balanced by their offerings of Indochinese street food which was plated well compared to other street food restaurants in the area. I enjoyed the tandoori chicken on salad. I didn’t realize until later they left off the dressing because the chicken was so flavorful.

Elegant digs mean a pricy evening. Come here for a special celebration or to treat yourself to relaxing me time and savor the flavors like I did. They...