Cafe Tandoor in Cleveland Heights

Last night, a random bandit of four social media friends met at Cafe Tandoor in Cleveland Heights to sip on some wine and share a meal of delicious Indian cuisine.

It was my first time at Cafe Tandoor. Parking was a breeze, with metered street parking available and a large lot in back of the restaurant that was available for customers after 4:30PM. Unfortunately, the restaurant was pretty empty- but that did mean that we were seated right away, and had attentive service all evening.

We were in luck- Tuesday is 50% off wine night. So that $24 bottle of Chardonnay quickly became a steal at $12.

Three of us share a love for Indian food, and two from the group had been to Cafe Tandoor before- so we easily decided on three dishes to share: Butter Chicken with marinated chicken in a fresh, creamy tomato and butter sauce ($13.50); Sagg Gosht with lamb and spinach cooked with onions and garlic ($13.50); and Matar Paneer with paneer (cheese cubes) and peas with tomatoes in a light sauce ($10.50).

The Butter Chicken ended up being the table-favorite, but we had a nice variety of dishes and overall I enjoyed all three. We also shared an order of Plain Basmati Rice ($2.50) and two orders of Garlic Naan ($3.50). Naan just pairs so perfectly with everything. I love dipping it in the flavorful sauces. We ordered each of the dishes at medium-hot heat, with the Butter Chicken having the most noticeable kick. I can see why Foursquare tips suggested that we order it.

Now, here's the best part. Spilt between four people- our individual checks were only $16 and change (with tax). We enjoyed wine, and walked away full. While it doesn't fall into my "Dining Deals" category of being under $10- this was certainly worth noting and could be a great option for diners looking to eat on the cheap. The dishes are all big enough to share, and it's always more fun that way anyway!

I was happy to discover a new Indian place, and some friends to enjoy it with. "R" will tolerate it sometimes, but overall he isn't a fan. Looks like I found some new dining buddies when I'm in the mood for Indian!

Cafe Tandoor2096 South Taylor Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
216-371-8500