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Had the worst experience here! I came with my large family and ordered a butter naan for myself because I was allergic to a lot of the dishes on the menu. I was told by the lady that I cannot come to the restaurant and only order naan and not a dish. I told her about my allergies and she assured me that I won't be allergic to the Chicken 65 dish, so I ordered it. I was very much allergic to the dish and had a terrible reaction! She was so rude and unprofessional. Never coming here again.
This was my first time eating at Thanjai but it definitely won't be my last. First off I have to say the servers were very kind and helpful. They checked up on us regular which we really appreciated. There are many vegetarian options so my friend and I were able to enjoy our meal from the vast choices available. We obviously had iddly (non fried) and it was amazing! Their coconut dip is soo good. We doused all the sides over the idly and it was great. The seasoning was perfect and so was the flavour. They have many options for idly so I definitely plan on tasting the other. We followed with a plate of spinach paneer (perfection). The paneer just melts in your mouth. It is a creamy dish so be careful for those with lactose intolerance. We also had the fried cauliflower manchurian and this has to be my favourite from everything. We asked for medium spice intensity, which was respected and was great. I did not think cauliflower would taste this good. I was disappointed that they don't have naan. They said they order from outside but in actuality I think they were Costco naans. I ordered a paratha, it was very thick because it has many layers. I would probably just order the paratha next time with a side of rice but not the naan. We sat upstairs, where there's quite a bit of seating available. They do have a party hall, located in the basement.
While we were visiting Montreal one of our friend planned Thanjai for lunch. It was a little long drive for us as we had to drive from downtown, however it was worth the trip. The owner and staff made our experience excellent. We ordered tons of food and shared the portions. I got chicken Briyani (not the Hyderabad style) and I loved it, the flavor was great with tender chicken pieces. The kids loved the crispy dosas, the curry, the breads, masala omelette and rice was equally delicious. It was an absolute blast to enjoy the authentic South Indian meal. The place is spacious and service was outstanding. The ambience speaks of the town "Thanjavur" which is in South India. Parking is on the street, we were lucky to get it close by.
Finally, I decided to try this authentic South Indian restaurant after hearing so much about it. It was a Sunday afternoon around 6 pm and when I arrived there, it was so busy so the waiter took me to my table and gave me the menus. I went through the menu and then the waiter came back around 5-7 minutes. I decided to go for the samosa chaat and chicken masala dosa. After 10-20 minutes, my samosa chaat arrived and at first bite, I had that tangy, spicy flavour I wanted and the onions added that crunch which was delicious to the palate. I crushed my starter and then within span of minutes, the dosa came and it was so good! Totally authentic food and served with the sauces on the side with the dosa added more flavours. They were consistent, spicy and I paid around $20 with tips. Good for a night out and treating yourself when you want to try new cuisines. I'd return for sure. For sure, you get the quality for what you're paying for
The great thing about Thanjai is that everything is delicious! I got to sample food I never heard about and wouldn't find at just any traditional Indian restaurant. It's a small place that gets full quick, reservations strongly recommended. I tried the onion bhaji as an appetizer, these are like onion rings but less greasy and with a finer crisp, served with tamarind sauce. Everyone comes here for the dosas: thin crepes stuffed with delicious savory potatoes, cheese, tomato and whatever else you like. They are paired with perfect dipping sauces and are easy to eat. I also tried prawn curry and biryani which were very flavorful but there's no kidding around with the spices, despite asking for it "mild", my mouth was on fire. The only drawback was concerning the prices and portions - for 14$ the curry seems expensive and there were very few shrimps, it's not served with any rice or naan either. Worth a taste, stick with the basics, like dosas and you won't be disappointed.
We came here for their famous Dosa and ended up ordering many things to try! We were four people so we ordered several appetizers to share. We started with their Paneer Pakoras and Samosa Chaat. Both were average and I wouldn't recommend ordering. We got an Idly Plate. I wanted to try it from here so I'm glad I ordered it but I wouldn't necessarily order this from here again. Would recommend trying it once though. We ordered their chai which was spot on! It tasted exactly like tea back home! We loved it so much, we ordered several cups of chai through our meal. And then finally we got our Dosas. I had ordered the Mirchi Dosa which has a rare chilli spice added in with the potatoes which makes it very spicy. My threshold for spicy food is extremely high so I wasn't worried. But the Dosa was surprisingly delicious and very very spicy! Will definitely make the trip to Thanjai for this Dosa very soon!! I was pleasantly surprised at the authentic flavours and the spices used! I highly recommend it!!
I came here for my birthday in March with a group of 20 ppl. We requested in advance to be seated in their basement (it's a 2 floor restaurant) but they refused. This is where the giant Jenga pieces start falling for me- oh dear. We were seated at two tables smack in front of the entrance. Traffic was at a max-which took away from the event. We came for the 6 ft dosa but there were "technical problems" with the batter. Seems kind of unrealistic when normal sized ones are coming out at the speed of light. So we were offered two 3ft dosas. Upset (the whole purpose of my event got ruined) we got the two 3 ft dosas. Wait-it gets worse! They decide to give us one serving of fillings and chutney for a table a table of 10! YIKES. So we agreed to pay extra for additional fillings that came frozen/ literally just thawed and plopped in a bowl - I could taste the ice pellets melt in my mouth. Then the cherry on top: the waiter was so overwhelmed my friend helped divide the bill, clean up and pack!!!! Unbelievable!! So in summary: DON'T order the 6 ft dosa or come in a large group. Stick to a normal sized one to have your happy ending.
We travel to Montreal often for business and we are always looking for different restaurants to try. I have had Indian food in the city and was looking for a new place close to the airport. Stumbled upon this place and was very pleased to have tried it. Came back a second time a couple weeks later. I am a fan of the typical dishes like butter chicken (which was very good here as well) but was even more impressed by the Dosa and variety of Dosas to choose from here. I have never had a Dosa before and was impressed. We had one of the fermented ones with potatoes, chili, and onion. Very good. I would say it's a mix between a hash down skillet and crepe. Pro tip- dunk your Dosa in the butter chicken sauce! Mmmmmm. We also had the chicken chettinad which had a unique flavor. Keep in mind this dish was chicken on the bone. Will defiantly return!
They have some seriously delicious and good quality food at Thanjai! I was there last night as part of a large group for my friend's birthday, and while the service was on the slow side, the food more than made up for it. My sister and I shared the samosa chaat and chili chicken while we waited for the 6ft dosa (or so we thought!) We asked for medium spice on the chili chicken and proceeded to lose feeling in our lips and tear up a bit haha but it was so good #worthit. The samosa chaat was a generous portion and great appetizer for 2 people, though it could have used more sauce and the onions should have been chopped more finely. It would be great to have a yogurt dip/sauce prepared when they serve very spicy food! But they were nice enough to accommodate. We had to repeatedly ask for water - they should be more on top of that. Also, we were a little disappointed when they announced that they could not make a 6 ft dosa as advertised, but rather 2x 3ft dosas. Still delicious, more practical but not as show stopping. The fillings they served the dosa with were all delicious (mashed potatoes, coconut, tomato carrot... etc). I like that the restaurant is BYOB, definitely made for a fun night! And overall, great food and I will be going back to try other variations of dosas.
They have mediocre food, last time I came they were playing horrible instrumental music as if I'm in old age home. I thought id have a change of heart, but no, today I ate again, was severely disappointed. Biggest concern is that they have rats. I saw one under my table, someone on Google has also mentioned this. please avoid!!
Overwhelming selection of food, slightly underwhelming service. The menu items also seems to be a bit of hit and miss. For example, a friend ordered the spring paneer dosa which was deliciously flavourful, meanwhile my coriander dosa fell short of expectations and it tasted quite bland---sadly it was more mashed potato than anything else. The server later forgot our dessert order and we had to flag them down to remind them we had actually ordered something. If you're visiting, get ready to flag folks down for service, but otherwise, it's a spot worth visiting and I will be back!
2 months ago
2 years ago
Je suis allé pour le brunch un samedi matin. Une cuisine indienne du sud. Jai choisi le Idly Vada J'avais 1 Vada un petit beignet salé au fine herbes et aussi e Idly des petits beignets blanc. Va vient avec 3 accompagnements pour tremper les 4 beignets. J'ai aimé les trois accompagnemeng du sambar et du chutney. Jai aussi gouté au Dosa Massala un autre excellent choix. Enfin côté qualité prix c'est dur a battre Wow. Le resto est spacieux idéale pour des groupe un mélange de table et de belle banquettes. Excellent service rapide et de bon conseil. Un jolie resto invitant qui nous donne envie de voyager. Je vais y retourner c'est certains pour souper! read more
2 years ago
Had the worst experience here! I came with my large family and ordered a butter naan for myself because I was allergic to a lot of the dishes on the menu. I was told by the lady that I cannot come to the restaurant and only order naan and not a dish. I told her about my allergies and she assured me that I won't be allergic to the Chicken 65 dish, so I ordered it. I was very much allergic to the dish and had a terrible reaction! She was so rude and unprofessional. Never coming here again. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
This was my first time eating at Thanjai but it definitely won't be my last. First off I have to say the servers were very kind and helpful. They checked up on us regular which we really appreciated. There are many vegetarian options so my friend and I were able to enjoy our meal from the vast choices available. We obviously had iddly (non fried) and it was amazing! Their coconut dip is soo good. We doused all the sides over the idly and it was great. The seasoning was perfect and so was the flavour. They have many options for idly so I definitely plan on tasting the other. We followed with a plate of spinach paneer (perfection). The paneer just melts in your mouth. It is a creamy dish so be careful for those with lactose intolerance. We also had the fried cauliflower manchurian and this has to be my favourite from everything. We asked for medium spice intensity, which was respected and was great. I did not think cauliflower would taste this good. I was disappointed that they don't have naan. They said they order from outside but in actuality I think they were Costco naans. I ordered a paratha, it was very thick because it has many layers. I would probably just order the paratha next time with a side of rice but not the naan. We sat upstairs, where there's quite a bit of seating available. They do have a party hall, located in the basement. read more
3 years ago
While we were visiting Montreal one of our friend planned Thanjai for lunch. It was a little long drive for us as we had to drive from downtown, however it was worth the trip. The owner and staff made our experience excellent. We ordered tons of food and shared the portions. I got chicken Briyani (not the Hyderabad style) and I loved it, the flavor was great with tender chicken pieces. The kids loved the crispy dosas, the curry, the breads, masala omelette and rice was equally delicious. It was an absolute blast to enjoy the authentic South Indian meal. The place is spacious and service was outstanding. The ambience speaks of the town "Thanjavur" which is in South India. Parking is on the street, we were lucky to get it close by. read more
5 years ago
Finally, I decided to try this authentic South Indian restaurant after hearing so much about it. It was a Sunday afternoon around 6 pm and when I arrived there, it was so busy so the waiter took me to my table and gave me the menus. I went through the menu and then the waiter came back around 5-7 minutes. I decided to go for the samosa chaat and chicken masala dosa. After 10-20 minutes, my samosa chaat arrived and at first bite, I had that tangy, spicy flavour I wanted and the onions added that crunch which was delicious to the palate. I crushed my starter and then within span of minutes, the dosa came and it was so good! Totally authentic food and served with the sauces on the side with the dosa added more flavours. They were consistent, spicy and I paid around $20 with tips. Good for a night out and treating yourself when you want to try new cuisines. I'd return for sure. For sure, you get the quality for what you're paying for read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Visited first time from Albany, USA. Good authentic South Indian taste. It would have been perfect with an extra kozhambu for the rice. Naan is soft. Desert is sweeter (for me). Will recommend it to anyone. read more
The great thing about Thanjai is that everything is delicious! I got to sample food I never heard about and wouldn't find at just any traditional Indian restaurant. It's a small place that gets full quick, reservations strongly recommended. I tried the onion bhaji as an appetizer, these are like onion rings but less greasy and with a finer crisp, served with tamarind sauce. Everyone comes here for the dosas: thin crepes stuffed with delicious savory potatoes, cheese, tomato and whatever else you like. They are paired with perfect dipping sauces and are easy to eat. I also tried prawn curry and biryani which were very flavorful but there's no kidding around with the spices, despite asking for it "mild", my mouth was on fire. The only drawback was concerning the prices and portions - for 14$ the curry seems expensive and there were very few shrimps, it's not served with any rice or naan either. Worth a taste, stick with the basics, like dosas and you won't be disappointed. read more
7 years ago
We came here for their famous Dosa and ended up ordering many things to try! We were four people so we ordered several appetizers to share. We started with their Paneer Pakoras and Samosa Chaat. Both were average and I wouldn't recommend ordering. We got an Idly Plate. I wanted to try it from here so I'm glad I ordered it but I wouldn't necessarily order this from here again. Would recommend trying it once though. We ordered their chai which was spot on! It tasted exactly like tea back home! We loved it so much, we ordered several cups of chai through our meal. And then finally we got our Dosas. I had ordered the Mirchi Dosa which has a rare chilli spice added in with the potatoes which makes it very spicy. My threshold for spicy food is extremely high so I wasn't worried. But the Dosa was surprisingly delicious and very very spicy! Will definitely make the trip to Thanjai for this Dosa very soon!! I was pleasantly surprised at the authentic flavours and the spices used! I highly recommend it!! read more
I came here for my birthday in March with a group of 20 ppl. We requested in advance to be seated in their basement (it's a 2 floor restaurant) but they refused. This is where the giant Jenga pieces start falling for me- oh dear. We were seated at two tables smack in front of the entrance. Traffic was at a max-which took away from the event. We came for the 6 ft dosa but there were "technical problems" with the batter. Seems kind of unrealistic when normal sized ones are coming out at the speed of light. So we were offered two 3ft dosas. Upset (the whole purpose of my event got ruined) we got the two 3 ft dosas. Wait-it gets worse! They decide to give us one serving of fillings and chutney for a table a table of 10! YIKES. So we agreed to pay extra for additional fillings that came frozen/ literally just thawed and plopped in a bowl - I could taste the ice pellets melt in my mouth. Then the cherry on top: the waiter was so overwhelmed my friend helped divide the bill, clean up and pack!!!! Unbelievable!! So in summary: DON'T order the 6 ft dosa or come in a large group. Stick to a normal sized one to have your happy ending. read more
8 years ago
We travel to Montreal often for business and we are always looking for different restaurants to try. I have had Indian food in the city and was looking for a new place close to the airport. Stumbled upon this place and was very pleased to have tried it. Came back a second time a couple weeks later. I am a fan of the typical dishes like butter chicken (which was very good here as well) but was even more impressed by the Dosa and variety of Dosas to choose from here. I have never had a Dosa before and was impressed. We had one of the fermented ones with potatoes, chili, and onion. Very good. I would say it's a mix between a hash down skillet and crepe. Pro tip- dunk your Dosa in the butter chicken sauce! Mmmmmm. We also had the chicken chettinad which had a unique flavor. Keep in mind this dish was chicken on the bone. Will defiantly return! read more
They have some seriously delicious and good quality food at Thanjai! I was there last night as part of a large group for my friend's birthday, and while the service was on the slow side, the food more than made up for it. My sister and I shared the samosa chaat and chili chicken while we waited for the 6ft dosa (or so we thought!) We asked for medium spice on the chili chicken and proceeded to lose feeling in our lips and tear up a bit haha but it was so good #worthit. The samosa chaat was a generous portion and great appetizer for 2 people, though it could have used more sauce and the onions should have been chopped more finely. It would be great to have a yogurt dip/sauce prepared when they serve very spicy food! But they were nice enough to accommodate. We had to repeatedly ask for water - they should be more on top of that. Also, we were a little disappointed when they announced that they could not make a 6 ft dosa as advertised, but rather 2x 3ft dosas. Still delicious, more practical but not as show stopping. The fillings they served the dosa with were all delicious (mashed potatoes, coconut, tomato carrot... etc). I like that the restaurant is BYOB, definitely made for a fun night! And overall, great food and I will be going back to try other variations of dosas. read more
3 years ago
They have mediocre food, last time I came they were playing horrible instrumental music as if I'm in old age home. I thought id have a change of heart, but no, today I ate again, was severely disappointed. Biggest concern is that they have rats. I saw one under my table, someone on Google has also mentioned this. please avoid!! read more
9 years ago
Overwhelming selection of food, slightly underwhelming service. The menu items also seems to be a bit of hit and miss. For example, a friend ordered the spring paneer dosa which was deliciously flavourful, meanwhile my coriander dosa fell short of expectations and it tasted quite bland---sadly it was more mashed potato than anything else. The server later forgot our dessert order and we had to flag them down to remind them we had actually ordered something. If you're visiting, get ready to flag folks down for service, but otherwise, it's a spot worth visiting and I will be back! read more
3 years ago
9 years ago
When you get inside the restaurant, you can feel it's an Indian restaurant for their color schemes and pictures of their gods and goddesses. I think Thanjai is the only one in Montreal that caters South Indian food. My favorite dish is without a doubt idly. Their repertoire of dosa are vast. Every time I go there, I try different dosas. The service is pretty long either it's super busy or they slow in the kitchen, but the servers are amiable. In the end the food is worth it. Highly recommended! It is untypical type of food compared to regular Indian restaurants who has basically the same menu. read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
Ambience: Thanjai has a splendid and thematic decor and an educative menu on the culture. There is a huge Dosa life size replica on the wall that teases you to come back with friends to eat and share! Definitely coming back Staff: very quick, friendly and attentive Food: Appetizer and Main Appetizer "Masala Vada"$3; it was full of tasty and aromatic spices but a bit too salty and dry in the centre. Overall very enjoyable with the coconut chutney. Main "Mini Dosas" $12; although it there were 4 different types of Dosas I really couldn't tell the difference between them. Still very tasty and filling especially wth the 3 chutneys it's served with. read more
Where do I start... First off, I'm not an indian food connoisseur so what I'm saying here might not reflect its authenticity, but from my experience, the food here lacks in flavour. We had lamb curry, chicken curry, and chicken biryani. All three contained a vast array of flavours, but they still tasted... rather bland (for indian food). Chand palace, in comparison, serve stronger tasting food. About the dosa, everyone liked it, but I found it average: 1. A bit too salty 2. Very oily on one side. Otherwise it was crispy, but my impression of the dosa was similar to eating rice crackers or chips. Pricewise, it is more expensive than the indian restaurants on Jean Talon West. And as usual, I felt bloated after the meal. Probably won't come back. read more
They bring their spices from India. They specialize in South Indian food. They are serious about it. Best Indian food I've had in Montreal. Having been to Southern India 4 times, I vouch for the authenticity. I recommend the different dosas and the biryanis. The curries were also very flavourful. My colleague from India picked this place, and what a place it is! Story goes that the owner, a consultant working in a large firm, started in the restaurant business as a side job, in a little alley with 4 tables. Today they have a mid size restaurant with a private part room, and are planning to open a second restaurant somewhere downtown in the spring. read more
It takes a lot to blow my mind when it comes to food. In Montreal there are many good and great restaurants that can prepare and serve a meal. However Thanjai truly is exceptional. If you are into the real flavours of Indian food you must come try This South Indian treasure. They deliver something intriguing and tongue tingling (flavour wise ). Also it's about a chef who can mix and deliver Indian spices that compliment and can contrast flavours in a meal. With over 60 Dosas on the menu I had to try one. For those who have never tried Dosa it's a crispy crepe type texture filled with potato and spices whereby you break off small pieces and dip by hand in one of the three accompanied sauces. The Dosa I ate for lunch was PHAV bhaji (Mumbai street style). One of the sauces was a chickpea very nice and light. The other was a milk or yoghurt base which was cooler milder and the other was a creamy one. Healthy and flavourful and crazy amazing! After my meal to continue on with the great flavour I ordered two dishes to go for dinner that evening. One was vegetable biryani the other chilli chicken. The chicken was ordered as a medium which was adequate spice level for me. Chicken was in a rich red sauce which was sweet but had some good spice kick to it. The biryani was so flavourful of mint, coriander and cardamom that I need to come back and indulge in more. On the menu I LOL about the spice levels: of Spicy, Super spicy or Supreme spice. I can only imagine the heat level of a Supreme spice. It could be akin to seeing new colours in the air and Hindu characters dancing around you while in a hallucinating dream land. They claim to be able to do a six foot family style Dosa. It would be a great place for a group event for those who are hungry! I asked the people working there if they were from Tamil Nadu and they confirmed yes. Then I complimented them on the fantastic flavours of the meal and said how much I enjoyed it. If you want real deal South Indian food eat here. If you don't then I'll enjoy it thank you! read more
3 years ago
I have been here twice. First time I had mango lassi, dosa, and a curry shared with my friend. Second time I had buttermilk and the lunch only big set of dishes. You won't go wrong if you want to try these. The masala tea is kind of like a hong kong milk tea to my Chinese taste but with a hint of spice. The waitress told me that ginger. I think it's a very old ginger which gives you a subtle spicy taste. That's a nice Indian style. I like it. I like the spices they use in the dishes. Dosa is so unique and worth trying. read more
8 years ago
12 years ago
10 years ago
Very clean, great service and reasonable prices. Had lunch on this occasion. Great for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Large choice of dishes on the menu, decent portions and authentic dishes and presentation. Food is very tasty, fresh and well presented. The waitress is super nice and patient; she will make sure to describe all the dishes if you aren't familiar with them. They will even ask if you prefer the food spicier or not spicy at all. Street parking only with payment at the meter. They accept all major credit cards and have Wifi. read more
5 years ago
When we discovered this gem (thanks to yelp) we came here first with a little trepidation. We love dosa but have been a little spoiled by India, Singapore, and Jersey City. Well this is our second time here for brunch and guess what: we are coming here for dinner too! Yes, it is that good. The staff are awesome. Friendly, very pleasant, and efficient too. For those of you unfamiliar, dosa is like a 24 inch crepe except it is made from lentil and rice flours. You judge them the same way. They should be crispy around the outer 6inches or so, at least, gradually giving way to a softer centre where the filing is. A really GOOD dosa is crispy further and is even crispy on top over the filing. And of course this is precisely what you get Thanjai. The choice of fillings is very extensive. If you like Indian food it is impossible you won't be spoiled for choice. The difficulty is settling on one. If dosa isn't your bag, don't worry. Aside from all the other for bread based dishes (idly etc) there are all the usual curries and rice based dishes. And of course nans. Enjoy. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
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