Essence of India

Tallahassee, United States

4.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 850-656-7200
Website:
www.essenceofindiafl.com
Address:
1105 Apalachee Pkwy Ste A, Tallahassee, FL, 32301
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.5 miTallahassee Amtrak Station
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
Yes
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Tallahassee) 15:10 Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Nearby

Near this location:
210
ft
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20 reviews of Essence of India

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Place rating: 5
Woodbury, NJ
I visited Essence of India with my family on our trip down to Tallahassee. It was well worth the stop! We had an amazing dinner of mixed tandoori platter with garlic and cheese naan. My partner ordered butter chicken with sesame naan, which was mouth-​watering delicious! We ordered mango lassi as our drinks and then mango chutney and cucumber raita yogurt as our sides. It was so very satisfying and we felt so content and happy after we finished eating our meals! We will be back for some more soulful food for sure:))!!!
Place rating: 5
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Chose to stop-​in right before leaving Tallahassee. We don’t regret it! Lunch buffet was amazing with fresh, tasty food.
Service was also great. Waters were always being refilled.
Place rating: 5
Orlando, FL
Great food. Great service. Lots of variety on menu. Waiter was friendly and offered lots of suggestions that turned out to be very good.
Place rating: 4
Tallahassee, FL
We ordered takeout, the chicken vindaloo and chicken madras with garlic naan. Everything was very tasty, though some of the naan arrived a little greasy. I imagine it would be even better in person and look forward to trying soon.
Place rating: 2
Tallahassee, FL
This review is purely based on lunch buffet-​not ordering off the menu. Many different items on the lunch buffet but everything seemed very thinned out yet a little too salty. A few items were not hot enough-​barely warm. I prefer the quality around the corner at Mayuri.
Place rating: 5
New Haven, CT
I love going home to visit my parents in Tallahassee because we always get to make a stop at Essence of India. Food made with love and definitely the best in Tally! The entire staff is attentive and makes an effort to ensure I have tried something new every time.
Place rating: 5
Tallahassee, FL
My favorite Indian joint in Tally. Great food, Friday buffet spread is my favorite (goat curry). Mostly eat the veggie dishes and love them
Can’t go wrong here
Place rating: 5
Tallahassee, FL
Whether you’re going to eat in or to the all you can eat buffet, this place is a great choice and I commend you for even considering it. I’ve tried both and have never left disappointed. The buffet provides options from soup and salad to vegetarian, vegan, and omnivores. Bring your appetite and have perfect naan with some butter chicken or even chicken curry or if it’s meatless Monday for you, grab a plate of Channa masala.
The menu offers a myriad of options, divided into what type of meat you may want today or even a whole page of options for you non meat eaters. Servers will set you up with chutneys and drinks and even give you suggestions if you are overwhelmed with decision paralysis (who wouldn’t be?!). They’re quick and attentive and always refill your drinks without asking. PLUS they remember you and your preferences, very nice and personable.
You can’t go wrong here.
Place rating: 5
Jacksonville, FL
The spread at Essence of India is nothing short of phenomenal. I’m absolutely floored by the quality of food I received upon my first dining experience.
On a Tuesday night, I was one of three tables dining in throughout the course of the meal. The space is well kept, and I’m on the fence whether the décor is elegant or more of a Bollywood theme. But honestly, the cuisine steals the show.
The Naan bread was rich and the texture spot on. For me, the kicker was the diced onion/​tomato purée mixture brought out upon sitting. The waiter recommended adding it onto any dish. Especially, rice or naan. Sweet and spicy goodness that I can eat out of a jar with my finger.
You guys know by now I’m a curry-​eating fool. Hence, naturally, I ordered curry. The beef curry was everything and more that I had hoped for. Huge chunks of beef were incredibly tender. The dark sauce was rich and the texture thick. Adding white rice periodically made this beef curry some of the best I’ve ever had. Seriously.
My perception of Indian cuisine in Tallahassee has taken a 180 degree turn. I was solely set on the other joint down the street. I guess it’s not a bad problem to have when you have multiple 5-​star Indian restaurants in town.
Place rating: 5
Tallahassee, FL
By far the best Indian food in Tallahassee!!! Absolutely delicious, and reasonably priced. Lunch Buffett is fresh and flavorful!
Place rating: 4
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Absolutely wonderful experience here. Food was delicious and service was excellent. I was able to watch the game while still having a restaurant feel. The music was also very good! They need to offer free naan bread and slightly bigger portions, otherwise this place is tops!!!
Place rating: 5
Norman, OK

If you need more info… Out of town and waiting on my take out but I have high hopes!
Place rating: 5
Tallahassee, FL
I love love love the food here! Everything is hot and fresh! I love the warm bread and crisp spices! I also love the traditional menu
Place rating: 5
Tallahassee, FL
I am obsessed with this Indian restaurant. It is delicious and always liked everything. The vindaloo and tikka masala are really good. If you want really spicy ask for Indian hot!
Place rating: 4
Dearing, GA
I got the lamb curry, medium spice, with garlic naan and I was delicious! The curry was «holy-s***-spicy» so next time I think I’ll go with mild. But still very very good!
Place rating: 4
Tallahassee, FL
I have been to essence a few times for their lunch buffet and it is definitely my favorite in Tallahassee. They have a great selection and the na’an is very good! Everything seems to be fresh and authentic and I would recommend it to someone who has never tried this type of cuisine.
Place rating: 4
Tallahassee, FL
I have always loved Essence, but I gained a new appreciation for their delicious food while traveling and realized that I was really just looking for their food in other cities. The food never disappoints, and they are always very accommodating about making sure to give me ample vegan options, even if it requires going off menu.
The wait staff is nice, if a little disorganized at times, and my girlfriend and I have come to love watching the head waiter go everywhere at a sprint.
Vegetable curry, samosas, and roti are on point. Reportedly the chicken dishes and naan are of similar quality.
Place rating: 4
Panama City, FL
A very good local Indian restaurant/​buffet —
I visited Essence of India for the first time recently, and was very pleased with my experience. This eatery is tucked in the corner of the New Leaf plaza on the parkway.
It was $ 9.99 per person for a Saturday buffet. We were greeted promptly upon entering and seated in the dining room, already bustling even at 11:30am.
The restaurant, as compared to Curry Pot, had a much more pleasant vibe — whereas Curry Pot is kind of dark and subdued, the large windows at Essence of India allowed for a much brighter dining room and good visibility.
The buffet itself was medium-​sized, but had a good selection. All your staples: Tandoor chicken, naan (which was delectable), basmati rice, paneer, chutneys, yellow curry chicken, chili chicken, lentil stew, and a number of dishes I was not familiar with (if you’re like me, every time you eat Indian food, as a relative novice, you constantly compare things to your existing culinary experiences to try to understand what you are eating — like I’m pretty sure I had the Indian equivalent of vegetarian nachos).
Drinks are served in nice heavy glasses. Refills and plate removal were frequent and unobtrusive. Some of the guests were a bit weird, but that’s to be expected in Tallahassee, home of the leather sandal brigade.
Service was friendly, and while there was an older man up at the cash register, our server took our check for us so we effectively paid at the table.
Also, bathroom was adequately clean and had a hand dryer, no paper towels. Hey, I’m giving you every bit of knowledge I have here, use what you will!
Bottom line: I’ve yet to try all the Tallahassee Indian restaurants, but I’m confident that Essence of India is a worthy choice when craving Indian food.
Place rating: 4
Tallahassee, FL
One of the pioneering Indian restaurants in TLH. This restaurant offers a lunch buffet of Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
Throughout the week, however, diners can enjoy a «prix-​fixe» lunch option that includes a salad, entrée and dessert. The price simply cannot be beat.
During previous visits (perhaps a dozen or so over the past 8 years) I was struck by how uncongenial the staff was — but during this past visit, the opposite was true. Not only were staff and owners attentive and pleasant, but table service was swift and virtually invisible. My wife and I both noticed the difference.
Tallahassee now has at least five indian restaurants from which to choose — and this one is a strong contender that we enjoy.
Place rating: 4
Tallahassee, FL
I end up here regularly. For a vegetarian, their menu has many wonderful choices and I’ve always left satisfied and full!
Never been during lunch time rush, but even in time is enjoyably quiet with quick service. The waiters can be a bit abrasive, but mean well — its hard as wait staff not to seem intense when there are just a couple tables in the evening.
Despite what others have said, you’re served good portions of food. I always suggest getting naan with your meal as well, lots of choices for every kind of dish and pallate!