And except for a prudent caution regarding the fieriest spices, it's the equal of highly touted competitors in New York. Like the architectural marvel it's named after, this Montclair restaurant is worth a special pilgrammage. We dropped in on a quiet Sunday evening. Taj Palace is small, cozy and immaculate. Green plants and indirect lighting complete the pleasant but unexceptional picture.
Service is swift, adroit, and immensely attentive.
So far, Taj Palace may not seem that different from any other presentable restaurant specializing in this complex and stirring cuisine. But the food is sensational. It's bracingly fresh, brilliantly seasoned and artfully prepared. The multitude of flavors, textures and temperatures play a counterpoint on the palate as piquant as sitar and drum. Incidentally, the kitchen employs no additives, and prices are wonderfully low.