Zaan Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Tallahassee

I don't know how we have not found this wonderful gem before now, but we will DEFINITELY be going back.

Their menu is soooo large. I am fairly certain we could eat here once a week for the next year and not have the same meal twice. The staff were very polite, very attentive, and very helpful. They answered every question we had. They made sure our beverages stayed full, and were quick to respond as we made our menu decisions.

We ordered the Hors D'oeuvre Appetizer, and I swear it instantly appeared on the table! And it didn't taste as though it had been pre-made and was just waiting under a heat lamp to be ordered...it tasted completely fresh.

We ordered the chicken fingers and fries kids option for our picky eaters, and it came out very quickly (and the chicken fingers looked so good, I was almost jealous!).

The little one and I both got Mango Lassi's, and my wife ordered the Chai Tea.

The Lassi's were really good, and the Chai was presented in a gorgeous small clay cup and after the first sip, my wife swore she would never go back to "Chai" Latte's ever again. (As I write this, she is trying to find real chai on Amazon to attempt to recreate it...) our server made sure she knew that refills were complimentary, and she said she would have another after our meal.

My wife has always adored Palak Paneer, and ordered their version; I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo. We were also able to customize the level of spice - she went medium, I went Spicy. Our entrees did not take very long to reach our table, and they were presented beautifully, each with a side of Basmati rice. We ordered a basket of assorted naan (cheese, garlic, and butter), and it came out with the entrees as well.

Everything was fantastic!! Both our main courses were perfectly spiced, the rice was just right, and the naan was very good.

Her Palak tasted so fresh, and you could tell the paneer was browned before it was added. My Vindaloo...I have never had a piece of meat that tender before without it being mushy and tasteless. Everything was so flavorful and bright. And the spiciness was heat for flavor sake, not simply for pain.

We, of course, could not finish everything, and requested to-go boxes. They were the best carryout containers ever! They had compartments to keep your rice separate from your entree, they brought us foil for the naan, and our server not only brought me small cups with lids for my chutneys, but he brought two different styles so I could tell them apart!

Here's the kicker. We loaded everything up in our bag, paid the bill (right there at the table no less), and waddled out to the truck. As we were getting ready to leave, I noticed our server come out the door... We had forgotten the chutney's, and he chased us down in the parking lot to make sure we had them!

I can't wait to go back and try some of the other interesting menu choices (and they offer carryout - 🙌).

My ONLY negative...I am a big guy, the chairs have arms, and I was not very comfortable. But I would endure a little discomfort to eat here again, no question. I would probably deal with a lot of discomfort,...

A Disappointing Experience with Arrogant Service !!!!

Dining out is not just about the food—it’s about the experience, the ambiance, and most importantly, the hospitality. Unfortunately, Zaan in Tallahassee fell short on all fronts during our recent visit.

Arrival & First Impressions: We visited Zaan on a weekday evening around 6:50 PM with a group of four adults, an 8-year-old, and a 3-year-old toddler. The restaurant was moderately busy, but nothing seemed overwhelming at first. We were seated promptly, and the initial service appeared promising.

Drinks & The First Sign of Trouble: We ordered four cocktails, and while three arrived within 5-10 minutes, the fourth was completely forgotten. After waiting for 15 minutes, we had to remind the staff, who seemed unaware that one was missing. This was a minor inconvenience, but little did we know it was just a preview of what was to come.

The Unacceptable Delay & Lack of Courtesy : At 7:05 PM, we placed an order for three appetizers, including chicken fingers for our youngest diner. However, by 7:40 PM, there was still no update on our food. The 3-year-old, understandably hungry, began getting restless. Given the situation, we approached the bar to check on the order and request if the child’s food could be expedited.

To our surprise, the man at the bar—who seemed to be the owner—responded with an astonishing level of indifference:

"We cannot do anything; all the people came at the same time." "It is what it is. If you don’t like it, don’t come."

Not only was there no apology, but the sheer arrogance in his tone made it clear that he had no interest in resolving the issue. We’ve dined at numerous restaurants where staff at least acknowledge delays, check with the kitchen, and try to provide an update. Here, we were met with dismissiveness and zero accountability.

As if this wasn’t enough, when our toddler started crying due to hunger, instead of showing any empathy, the owner reprimanded us, saying the child’s cries could be heard from the back of the restaurant. A shocking and unnecessary comment, given that the delay was entirely on their end.

Food & Final Verdict : The appetizers finally arrived at 7:50 PM—a 45-minute wait for basic starters. One of them was decent, but by this point, the experience had already soured our appetite. Since we had already placed our main course order earlier, it arrived around 8:05 PM. The food itself was average at best—certainly not worth enduring such rude service.

Zaan’s food might be passable, but the customer service is completely unacceptable. Delays happen, but it’s how a restaurant handles them that defines the experience. Instead of offering a simple apology or solution, we were met with arrogance, indifference, and outright rudeness. If you’re looking for a pleasant dining experience in Tallahassee, there are far better places to spend...

The service was absolutely terrible. My sister is allergic to nuts. We let the server know and were told they would make accommodations. We started eating the food and she said her throat was itching and she felt like she was going to throw up and stopped eating after 2/3 bites. We asked for the entree to be taken off the tab and we received a flat no. The manager came to our table being very rude and off putting. We told him the situation and he decided to blame my sister for her allergic reaction. We were trying to be very polite and assertive expressing our issue. We asked what the dishes were cleaned with and did not receive a concrete answer. It wasn't until about 3 rounds of back and forth did he mention that they have special allergy dishes. I inquired why that wasn't the first thing mentioned and was met with more turmoil. We even asked to receive a discount for the entree and still received a no. There was no compromise made whatsoever on the fact that my sister could not eat it at all. He also said, "You can pay for it and throw it away at home," which I thought was extremely insensitive when I am a paying customer. I paid the bill to alleviate any further issues being that we are young black women. After paying and asking for boxes for the food, the manager stood watch of our table and began to rush us out of the establishment very rudely. He also came up to us at the table and asked "if we needed an ambulance". Once we walked out, he began to yell three inaudible remarks to us as we walked to the door. We also were talking outside for a few minutes and the manager came outside and threatened to call the police on us. If you live in the Tallahassee and enjoy quality indian food like I do, I beg you please do not spend your hard earned money at this establishment. I am very disheartened and angry that I even have to write anything like this because I was very excited to try a new place before I move but this is absolutely not a place I would recommend to anyone. Can we get the next business in this building please? Thanks for reading, I hope this reaches the right people. (Edit) Mr. Owner, I seen your response, I hope it was deleted because of the inaccuracy of how we were treated. I wish you were there to alleviate the issue, but your manager should either be demoted or let go. He treated us with the utmost disrespect and I would advise to not have him at the forefront of your business, you will lose a lot of customers. From his words he said to us “You can just never eat here again” in terms of taking the one dish I asked to be removed or discounted from our tab. I only asked for one plate. And now I will do exactly what he said. I hope you take heed to what I am trying to communicate with you. I hope you have a...