Flames Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Tampa

Terrible Food and Service.

My family and I recently visited Flames for a meal. We read the reviews and thought it would be a nice place for an outing.

After shortly arriving we were greeted by our server and he was very polite and showed us to our table. We ordered our drinks and proceeded to wait. About 15 minutes later the drinks finally showed up. It should never take a restaurant 15 minutes to bring you some water and lemon. After this we placed our order for some appetizers and ordered some mango lassi. We waited around 20 minutes for a 3 lassi's and they forgot one. 25 minutes later they still had not bought my mothers lassi out and I was quite annoyed with the fact. The waiter was quite rude and tried to make excuses about how they have to make it by hand, I know how to make mango lassi and it does not take that long to properly make it. He looked at me as if I were and idiot and did not know what I was talking about.After 10 more minutes of waiting we finally received our lassi. We asked our waiter to put our order in and he said he would be right back. 10 to 15 minutes later he reappears and proceeds to take our order. After this we wait about 25 minutes for appetizers to come out. This was no big deal though. We ordered the tandoori platter and vegetable pakora . The tandoori platter for 27 dollars was miniscule. The chicken was dry and flavorless and the shrimp was very soft and mushy. Normally shrimp should not be mushy, it should be a tender and have a little bite to it when you bite into it. The vegetable pakora was mediocre at best. They did not serve it with any of the chutney and dipping sauces that normally compliment pakora. I was quite disappointed with the appetizers and brushed it of as I was more focused on the curries.

About 45 minutes later the first dish arrives. It was the lamb korma, it smelled delicious. My cousin who ordered it had got up to use the restroom. The waiter comes back about 3 to 4 minutes later and takes the lamb korma and doesn't say anything to us. He takes it and places it on the table next to us. He didn't tell us that there was a screwup or apologize. I thought that was very rude and I became quite disgusted at this.

15 minutes after that the rest of our food came out. Everything looked great and smelled good. However the food was terrible. Everything tasted identical. We could tell the difference between the lamb korma and the lamb rogan josh. The nan was not even hot and crispy. It was warm and soggy. The food didn't lacked the heat and the spice of typical Indian Cuisine. My father asked the waiter for some Indian chilies to help spice the food up and he told us that they did not have any, that they are too hot to cook with. Are you kidding me? Instead they bought us jalapenos. I don't understand how an Indian restaurant can make Indian food and not use traditional Indian chilies.

Overall, the food sucks, I wouldn't even eat here if it was the last restaurant on the planet. The people leaving 4 and 5 star reviews are delusional and they have no idea what real Indian food is and tastes like. Please do yourself a favor and never come to this restaurant save your self the ridiculous prices and go somewhere else. If the owner reads this he should ashamed of the restaurant, his employees and the quality of food being served. It...

In the quest for exceptional Indian takeout in Tampa, Flames emerges as a culinary haven, nearing the pinnacle of gastronomic perfection within the city limits. A meticulous perusal of their menu unveils a diverse selection catering to both vegetarians and carnivores alike.

Hailing from a lineage steeped in Indian culinary traditions, my yearning for the quintessential flavors of Chana Masala and Dal Makhani found partial satiation. Flames' rendition of Chana Masala, experienced on a Friday rendezvous, was a gustatory journey back to the streets of Delhi—a delectable chorus of chickpeas enveloped in a luscious gravy. A revisit on Sunday only reinforced the enchantment, with a tinge of disappointment at the elusive Dal Makhani, perpetually sold out.

The Vegetable Biryani at Flames is a culinary masterpiece that demands recognition in its own right. This aromatic and flavorful dish is a symphony of moist textures and classical Indian spices, artfully woven together to create a sensory delight. Each grain of basmati rice is infused with the essence of carefully selected vegetables, resulting in a harmonious blend of tastes and aromas. The biryani stands out for its perfect balance of spices, allowing each ingredient to shine without overpowering the palate. From the first fragrant whiff to the last satisfying spoonful, the Vegetable Biryani at Flames is a testament to the artistry of Indian cuisine, leaving an indelible mark on the discerning diner's memory.

Venturing into meaty realms, the Chicken Tikka Masala presented itself in a sumptuous, velvety gravy, an elixir of flavors that one could metaphorically bathe in. The Lamb Kadai, cooked to a sublime tenderness, dissolving effortlessly upon contact with the palate, revealed culinary prowess.

Yet, a nuanced critique surfaces in the form of portion size vis-à-vis price. While the servings lean towards the modest side, the compensatory abundance of quality flavors becomes the undeniable trade-off. Despite this, Flames beckons a return, facilitated through the Uber Eats app, with a palpable desire to personally visit the establishment, extending commendations to the chef for the unparalleled Chana Masala.

In summation, Flames stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, a recommendation echoing through the realms of Tampa's...

We ate dinner in the restaurant on a slow dine-in, but very steady dine-out/pick up evening. Let's start with the good. We had the samosas, which were delicious. The sauces served with them were also good. The Chai tea was alright. We ordered a beer and it took about 12 minutes for it to arrive. We ordered chicken briyani and chicken vindaloo. The briyani came out and we waited about 15 more minutes, without eating any of it, before another server stopped by and asked if we were waiting for something else. We told her we didn't get the vindaloo. We had also ordered garlic Naan and cheese Naan. They hadn't arrived either. She apologized and went to the kitchen to check and see what happened. Finally, about 20 minutes after getting the briyani, the vindaloo arrived. Several minutes later, the Naan arrived. Everything was very good, though the vindaloo was nowhere near as spicy as we are used to. It was just annoying to have to wait so long for our other entree to arrive. The male who sat us and began our service (and seemed to be the manager, but I could be off base with that) never came back to the table again. I didn't ask to speak to a manager. I used to manage restaurants and I believe that if a server knows there's a serious issue, it's up to them to ask the manager to talk to the table. That's just my personal way. Nothing was taken from the bill for the long wait, which we didn't expect since we didn't ask for a manager. All in all, we would have had a pretty good experience if the service and food timing were better. The female server definitely did her best to make us feel attended to when she took over our service, so thank you to her for that! If we lived closer, we'd still order here for pick up, to be sure. Since we drove 35 minutes to try this restaurant from Riverview, we probably won't return. Don't skip eating here for pick up, but definitely ensure everything is accurate. Just in case. The briyani was delicious, and the garlic Naan is...