Tikka Lounge — Restaurant in Poway

Decided to give this place a try after having attended a party where the food was catered from here; and let me tell you... it was delicious! We arrived outside of the time where the food is served buffet style; not really and issue since my wife has very particular tastes. We were greeted and asked to have a seat at whatever table we choose; there were many to choose from, due to the aforementioned "outside of the buffet time" hours. The decor is fresh and clean and our server Harry promptly took our order. One thing that you will not easily be able to ignore though, is the blaring Bollywood style hip-hop videos playing loudly on a loop; I'm sure they easily blend as background noise during the hustle and bustle of the buffet hours, but are more than noticable when the restaurant is mostly empty. Not a deal breaker, but just thought inquiring minds might want to know. We were given a complimentary appetizer that I can only describe as a giant, extremely salty, cumin flavored, crispy and light taco shell; please note, I am on a low sodium diet and it may have just been my taste buds in shock. Our entres arrived shortly after, chicken tiki masala and chicken vindaloo; both with a side of rice and salad. My wife loved the tiki masala and the rice, salad was average, but the mango dressing more than made up for it. Wish my delicious vindaloo would have been a bit spicier; I guess I should have said make it extra extra spicy. Overall a pleasant experience, for not alot of $$; I'll have to come back during the buffet and provide a review...

ZERO STAR!!! Yes, i have to say this. yesterday i ordered chicken dum biriyani (i haven't even saw the menu. because, i am too hungry and i simply ordered chicken dum biriyani) which they took more than 40 minutes to serve my order. Basically, having some restaurant knowledge if you order biriyani it will take hardly less than 10 minutes to serve. but here it took more than 40 minutes. when i checked with the owner he says phone order were piled up so it is getting late ( my question is how can only my order will be late? ) the new group who came after me and they ordered (curry, naan, rice) they received first than me. i really wondered why the pre-cooked biriyani is getting late to serve and started doubting it. After i received my order (close to closing hours of the restaurant) the biriyani was not like dum biriyani (which actually it should be) it is just like fried rice and fried pieces of chicken, but as i said before i haven't ate all the day and i am super hungry i just ate without complaining. Today i am having my stomach upset issues and food poisoning happening to me. @owner please don't feed people with the JUNK. if you don't have the item what the customer ordered just say "you don't have it" there is nothing wrong in that, other than just coming up with some junk. Do the customers have to suffer for what they have paid????? it's happening to me today. please change your policies and respect customers. you are not feeding...

Stopped in for my first time. Lounge is clean and neat. I do like the decor of tables, seats, and lights. I ordered the lunch special meal for $9.99. I ordered the curry chicken. This comes with the main entry (curry chicken), rice, Naan bread (i got the garlic version (2 pieces), and a drink, can of diet coke. The Naan is amazing....the curry chicken is amazing...rice is rice.... So food is great, price is good, atmosphere is fine while eating here. Now, it is important to provide effective criticism too. None of these will stop me from returning and trying different entrees. Oh yes, the bathroom is clean. When dining in, it would be nice to eat with plates and bowls, instead of eating out of the to-go container. Eating with the pre-packaged to-go tiny plastic wear while dining in is not so desirable. Regarding the bathroom, yes, the bathroom is clean, but after you wash your hands, the garbage container with lid is near hand wash...when you leave, you cannot unlock and open door with paper towel and throw it away. Need small open lid container to allow customers to throw paper towel away at door.. (the door, near the door handle is the least clean thing in bathroom. Again, my criticism will not stop me from. Returning to eat...