Taj Indian Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in South Kingstown

The food here is really, really good. Just don't call the server's attention to anything that isn't right... like a dirty glass, an unwarranted and unexpected extra charge on the bill, or a menu item missing ingredients. Our server came out of the gate okay, but later felt quite comfortable saying that I complain a lot -- as if the mentions were not valid. Now, I would like to think that perhaps it was a language barrier issue, but when we pointed out the additional charge on the bill, he took the bill back and said to just forget it, that he didn't need the money (?). When I tried to calm him, smiling, and saying I would never not pay, he took the entire item plus the extra charge off the bill. I wouldn't hear of it (we ate it!) and added it back -- to his tip vs. the food portion of the bill. So essentially, he was able to pocket the $6 cost of the garlic naan. I'm not sure who he was exactly (owner or employee), but I'd have to guess that the delicious food is what draws people back. Here were the issues in more detail: A downright dirty beer glass that we unfortunately poured half a bottle of beer into before noticing (also unfortunately, my husband actually took a sip from it -- ewww.) An order of Naan which had butter and garlic all over it. We don't like garlic, but we ate it anyway and it was delicious. On the bill was an extra charge of $2 for garlic on the Naan. When we questioned it, he told us we should have said 'plain Naan' (?) and then asked why didn't we say anything when it arrived at the table (we didn't know that wasn't the default Naan). We ordered a rice pudding because the menu description stated it had nuts and fruit. Here is the description: "Rice, slow cooked in milk, topped with dried fruits and nuts". I mentioned that I was disappointed that it had no fruit at all. He said some people don't like the fruit, but he would add it for me next time -- so I guess I will never be getting the fruit -- because I am never going back again. The customer, in case you didn't know, is your bread and butter. Taj, it was nice (food) while it lasted.

Update -- I forgot to mention that we sensed the waiter wasn't happy from the start because we ordered one entree to share. He kept waiting for us to order more and then questioned us about it. We are not overeaters and never leave this...

I read Raj Patels review and assume it was written by a competing restaurant. How else can you have 28 5 star reviews and one 1 star?

• Update There are now 3 1 star reviews all written by the same person with the same poor English expressions.

Evidently Raj ( I'm sure its not his real name), Tracy Morgan and Stephany Smith have no scruples. Their reviews should be removed. I am willing to meet you there and pay for whatever you order. If you still don't like it keep your review. If you have changed your mind update your review. You cannot lose but at least you give this new restaurant a chance. WHAT DO YOU SAY?

I have eaten Indian food at least 3 times a month for 50 years in Boston, Miami, NYC, LA, and London to name a few places. This is one of the best ever. Here is my review.

• Open under new Ownership * My wife , daughter and I recently went to visit the Taj Indian Restaurant located in the Commons in Wakefield, and boy are we glad we did. Our usual Indian restaurant located in downtown Wakefield has had serious staffing and quality problems since opening after the pandemic so we thought we would give this one a try. We arrived around 5:30 and were immediately seated by a young lady with family ties to Nepal. She told us the restaurant had changed hands around late July 2021. The do not yet have their liquor license so it is BYOB which is fine with me as I prefer my own wines anyway. The menu is an extensive one with a few new items as well. For starters we ordered the Cauliflower 65 which is a sweet but tangy fried Cauliflower both Chicken and vegetable Samosa’s, Steamed MoMo’s and a Chicken Pakodas. All were excellent, cooked to perfection and served piping hot. For main courses we had Chicken Vindaloo, Chicken Tikka Marsala, and Lamb Biryani. Again all three were cooked perfectly. We added pesto Nan to the first course and Garlic Nan to the main course. The portions were large enough that we had a second dinner the next night with the leftovers. Give this place a try and I guarantee you will...

Prepare to be taken on a rollercoaster of disappointment at the restaurant that claims to be the pinnacle of Indian dining in our county. Once you step in, the ambiance of unmet expectations hits you harder than a gust of monsoon wind. The service, or lack thereof, is orchestrated by a manager who could give lessons in rudeness and condescension to schoolyard bullies. It’s like they’ve attended a masterclass in making even war zones seem like serene gardens.

Picture this: an early dinner for my hearty party of 8, fresh from our escapades in Rhode Island. Our intent? A quick refueling session before continuing our exploration. But lo and behold, ordering just appetizers and drinks led to the manager channeling the spirit of a thundercloud. Apparently, we had committed the cardinal sin of not submitting to their culinary dictatorship by ordering entrees. This culinary despot even claimed our modest choices were singlehandedly shattering the restaurant’s ability to function, despite the fact that a mere 40% of the place was occupied and 14 lonely tables sat there like lost souls.

And let’s talk about the food – or as I’d prefer to call it, a tragic attempt at mimicking authentic Indian flavors. If you’re on a quest for genuine culinary delight, this place is less North Indian nirvana and more culinary purgatory.

But the plot thickens. Our server, a main-course evangelist, took it upon themselves to “guide” us towards dishes we never intended to order. As if this wasn’t enough, the pièce de résistance arrived in the form of an inconspicuous $18 service charge sneaked into the bill, disrupting the meal like an unexpected plot twist in a suspense novel.

In summation, if you’re in the mood for a truly original Indian dining experience, replete with a warm, welcoming staff and food that transports you to the streets of Mumbai, this restaurant is not even on the same map. Consider this a heartfelt cautionary tale: save your taste buds and sanity, and look for culinary...