Turmeric Indian Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Sarasota

An Authentic Indian Culinary Journey at Siesta Beach's Hidden Gem

Upon leaving the warm, sandy embrace of Siesta Beach, my dining companion and I ventured to a local Indian fine cuisine restaurant, eager to delve into the aromatic and flavourful world of South Asian cuisine.

Our menu choices were ambitious, as we settled on Malai Kofta and Mysore Masala Dosa. The Malai Kofta, a testament to North Indian culinary excellence, was delicious to the core. The velvety koftas, cradling a treasure of dried fruits and nuts within, were nestled in a rich, creamy sauce. The sauce, an amalgamation of tomatoes, cream, and a symphony of Indian spices, had us scooping up every last morsel with the warm, fluffy naan bread that accompanied the dish.

Our South Indian selection, the Mysore Masala Dosa, however, started on a less harmonious note. The dosa itself, typically a delicately crispy crepe made from a fermented rice and lentil batter, was unfortunately a tad overcooked. Its slightly burned exterior resulted in a harder texture than the customary light, crisp exterior and soft, fluffy interior that dosa enthusiasts, including ourselves, crave.

Our experience was not to be marred by this small hiccup, however. A gentleman named Alex(later found put he was one of the owner), whose attentiveness and dedication embodied the restaurant's commitment to customer satisfaction, approached us to inquire about our dining experience. Upon expressing our sentiments regarding the dosa, Alex promptly took ownership of the situation. Displaying exemplary customer service, he ensured a replacement was swiftly prepared and brought to our table.

The new Mysore Masala Dosa was a stark contrast to its predecessor. Its golden, crispy exterior encased a spicy red chutney and a wonderfully savory potato and onion filling. The dosa's textural and flavourful complexities danced on our taste buds, creating a symphony of taste that was a fitting tribute to the culinary traditions of Mysore.

In conclusion, our dining experience at this Indian fine cuisine restaurant was largely a savory sonnet of flavors, and an authentic representation of the diverse and sophisticated Indian culinary scene. The slight falter with the initial dosa preparation was promptly rectified, a testament to the restaurant's dedication to its patrons. Special gratitude is extended to Alex, who truly went above and beyond to ensure our experience was nothing short of stellar. His commitment to customer satisfaction transformed a minor setback into a memorable dining experience, underlining the importance of personal touch in the hospitality industry.

If you find yourself strolling off the sun-kissed beaches of Siesta, with a yearning for spices and flavors that transport you to the heart of India, this restaurant should be your next stop. Remember to ask for Alex, and rest assured that your dining experience will be in the most...

This place is seriously fantastic! My parents and I were heading to Siesta Key Beach for a day trip and were looking for a place to grab lunch nearby. We had 2 challenges: 1) Finding a restaurant with outdoor seating that was dog friendly (I had my little dog with me); 2) Finding a place that satisfied my mom's very picky food pallet (in fairness to her, she's an amazing cook and has high food standards!). She only likes to eat at Mexican, Italian or Indian restaurants when dining out. Needless to say we were a bit limited in finding a restaurant that could address the above 2 criteria.

Turmeric Indian Bar & Grill met and exceeded both of those challenges with flying colors! We were given a nice table outside and the staff were very sweet to my dog and even brought a dog bowl with iced water for him! The food was excellent. We ordered family style and shared Navratna Korma and Paneer Makhani with rice, raita and chili naan. Everything was super tasty and seasoned very well. They also are a legit Indian restaurant and made the spice level for Indians - hot and how we like it! (although am sure they would make it milder for customers who prefer that). The star amongst everything we ate was definitely the chili naan, it was sooo good. The minced chilis were perfectly blended in with the naan and it made for an even better food heat level, we liked it so much, we ended up ordering a second basket. My mom, who as I mentioned before, is very particular with dining out, was very happy. This in itself is a huge compliment to the chefs at the restaurant, they pleased one tough customer! Lastly, the service was outstanding. The staff were very friendly, attentive and fast. I feel bad that I cannot remember the name of the waiter who helped us (his name started with the letter A), but he was amazing. He told us which part of India he was from (Goa) and had a nice chat with us while we were dining. At the end of the meal he even came out and brought a complimentary container of dessert for us to take home with us. It was above and beyond the great experience we already had, and just made the whole lunch 10x better. My parents live only an hour away and they are in a community with a lot of Indians and they have already shared this with their friends and I have no doubt that Turmeric will see them again, and I look forward to visiting again when I am back in town.

Please support this wonderful restaurant and keep them around for years to come! They...

(A Disappointing Experience at Turmeric)

As a long-time repeat customer, writing this review is tough for me because Turmeric has been one of my favorite restaurants. Yesterday, on 11/29/24, my girlfriend, mother-in-law, and I arrived at 9:00 PM for an Indian Thanksgiving dinner. Knowing they close at 11:00 PM, we expected plenty of time to enjoy our meal. We specifically chose Turmeric because of their consistent quality and flavorful food.

As always, the food didn’t disappoint. Every dish was on point, and we were all satisfied with the taste and presentation. However, the evening took a shocking turn around 10:15 PM while we were still dining. Despite the restaurant being open until 11 PM and us nearing the end of our meal, employees began rearranging furniture and sectioning off parts of the dining room.

To our disbelief, one staff member brought out a large floor scrubber and began deep cleaning the floors with strong-smelling chemicals. The overpowering fumes and dust from their preparations completely ruined the ambiance and made it feel like we were an afterthought, even though we were paying customers. The atmosphere we had hoped for—a warm, inviting Indian Thanksgiving dinner—was utterly destroyed.

We wrapped up our meal around 10:30 PM but left feeling disappointed and disrespected. The next day at 5:30 PM, I called to speak with a manager to share our experience. While the manager offered a polite apology and assured me he would speak to his staff, there was no offer of compensation—no credit, gift card, or reimbursement for the unacceptable disruption to our evening.

Even our server seemed puzzled by the timing of the deep cleaning. Why would they prioritize such intense maintenance over creating a pleasant dining experience for their guests still eating? It showed a lack of consideration and professionalism.

While Turmeric’s food has always been fantastic, the way the manager handled this situation was disappointing. For a $200 meal, I expected more than just a verbal apology. Unfortunately, this experience has made it clear that we can no longer return.

If you’re considering dining late at Turmeric, beware: you may find yourself surrounded by floor scrubbers, harsh chemical fumes, and a ruined dining experience.

Look at the picture I’ve attached for reference—this isn’t an exaggeration. This review is real, and I hope management seriously considers the impact of these practices on their...