Tandoor and Tap — Restaurant in Statesboro

This visit to Tandoor and Tap was absolutely atrocious.

Firstly, we arrived (with reservations) and were not seated until about 20-30 minutes after arriving. Service was a bit slow, but I understand it was a busy Friday night.

And secondly, towards the end of our meal when we were paying, someone in the back alleyway next to the outdoor seating where we were placed revved their car so loud it popped my ears- 5 times. We have a 5 month old that was accompanying us and the loud noise a)scared the life out of him and b) I’m sure damaged his ears to some extent. Thankfully my husband was very quick to cover his ears and after I realized what was going on, I covered his as well. Also, thankfully, I carry some noise cancelling headphones for him that we use for bowling so I popped those on as soon as I could. One of the guests in our party realized that a worker of Tandoor and Tap was standing out back with the whole group of people showing off this boys car-allowing it to happen. Since it was in an alleyway, the noise was amplified by 10. My husband went to go speak to a manager and/or the owner to discuss this issue and it turns out… the manager was the one standing out there letting it happen! AND they also had a baby that was in a carrier closer to the car than we were. When the manager came up and the owner as well- apparently they are related in some way to the guy who had the car- they gave a half-a**ed apology (a simple “sorry” 🤷🏻‍♀️) to everything my husband was explaining to them. This is absolutely unacceptable and 0/10 worst customer service experience in my life. Never will we be returning. Hopefully my son doesn’t have ear damage from this instance.

You forget that the customers are how you get your business-by word of mouth. I would never recommend this place to anyone based off of the sheer disrespect and lack of accountability.

The food could’ve been amazing (not my cup of tea), but the customer service is what brings us back and because of this we will...

Excellent experience all around! The space is lovely, great atmosphere, very clean (there's a step up into the restaurant, so be careful!) The staff is very welcoming, super friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. We dined inside, but there is a very nice back patio, as well.

The menu: OMG! So many tempting offerings, it was difficult to make a decision! We started with two appetizers: Garlic cheese naan - stuffed with cheese and topped with ghee, fresh minced garlic and cilantro. This was incredible. I could exist on this bread alone forever. The other app we shared was the vegetable samosas - two deep fried turnovers stuffed with seasoned potatoes, and green peas. Also very good. We each ordered a cocktail, Coffee Masala, which was amazing! Bourbon, demerara syrup, coffee and cream topped with cinnamon (I think) and pistachio crumbles. It was absolutely yummy, but I would recommend this for after-dinner, as it's hot and would be the PERFECT finish to a great meal. They have a very enticing bar menu and I look forward to going back and trying their other specialty cocktails. They also carry a nice selection of local bottled brews and a house-special on tap. For our entree, we both ordered the half chicken tandoori. The presentation is lovely - roasted in their clay oven and served on a sizzling platter. Everything is a la carte, so we ordered delicious Basmati Jeera Rice - cooked with cumin seeds and whole spices tempered in ghee.

The serving sizes are pretty large (they make everything "family style" so there's plenty to share; the half chicken tandoori dish could easily feed two people. I brought home enough leftovers to have another dinner!

Prices are VERY reasonable, especially considering the amount of food you get.

We were so impressed with everything that we are already planning to go...

This place is a local gem! I worked internationally for 30 years with stamps in the passport to match, so imagine my surprise to sample some of the best Indian food this side of the pond in downtown... Statesboro. That's right. Statesboro.

Tandoor & Tap operates behind an inviting glass storefront in the zero block of East Main by the courthouse. Chic, warm & inviting, we chose to dine at a high-top table in the bar area. There's also a quiet dining room in the front facing Main & a lovely heated patio out back, accessible through the bar or from the parking lot in the back.

The best evenings begin with libation, so I'll begin there. T&T has an impressive beer & wine menu, though the stand-outs are their innovative craft cocktails. Even more impressive is the $5 happy hour EVERY day that generously runs until 7pm. That's right, 7pm. Better yet? The spirits aren't your standard well brands - for example, Tito's Vodka.

The menu is varied, the ingredients fresh, the flavors bold & the presentation enticing. We started with a cheesy naan that was delectably garlic- & cumin-forward. Three of our party of four chose tandoori selections: shrimp, lamb chops & chicken tikka, all incredibly fresh. The yogurt-tamed flavors of garlic, saffron, coriander & ginger were served up on sizzling cast-iron with fresh onion, peppers & lemon wedges. Our fourth chose a creamy, savory chicken tikka masala that was a beautiful melange of flavors (masala, turmeric & cumin) over delicate jasmine rice.

What an incredible find in our adoptive home town downtown! Give Tandoor &...