Okay so yesterday I was seriously craving Indian food but also kinda broke, right? And I remembered Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine – looks fancy but I needed to know if my wallet could handle it. So I decided to do what I always do: get the real scoop myself. No fancy reviews, just hitting the ground.
First Stop: Their Website (Total Frustration)
Jumped online, searched “Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine menu”. Found their site, easy. Clicked on “Menu”… and boom. Big, beautiful pictures of naan and butter chicken, but prices? Nowhere in sight. Like seriously, why do places do this? I clicked every page, scrolled up and down. Nada. Just descriptions making my stomach growl and my wallet nervous. Waste of 10 minutes.
Decided I needed old-school tactics. Pulled up Google Maps, found their location and hit dial. Rang them up. Guy answered fast, sounded busy.
- Me: “Hi, could you tell me how much the butter chicken is?”
- Him: “Yes madam, butter chicken is 18.95.”
- Me: “Okay, and the plain naan? Garlic naan?”
- Him: “Plain is 4.50, garlic is 5.25. Lamb rogan josh is 22.95.”
Took notes super fast. Basics seemed workable. But I needed to see the whole thing, maybe cheaper options.
The Physical Menu Recon Mission
Felt like a spy. Went for an early lunch, right at 11:30 AM. Sat down, super polite waiter handed me the menu. Jackpot! Pricelist included! Scanned it quick. Here’s the lowdown:
- Appetizers: Samosas? 8.95. Onion bhaji? 9.50. Pakoras? 9.25. Solid starters but not dirt cheap.
- Bread Section: Plain naan 4.50, garlic naan 5.25, roti 3.95. Okay, manageable.
- Main Event Curries: Chicken curries mostly $17-20 (like chicken tikka masala 19.50). Veggie ones a bit less, like chana masala 15.95. Lamb ones jumped to $21-24. Seafood hit 26+. Butter chicken confirmed 18.95.
- Rice & Extras: Plain rice 4.95, biryani around 18-22. Raita 4.50.
My Budget Strategy In Action
Okay, time to eat without crying at the bill. Ordered strategically:
- Starter: Skipped. Saving dollars.
- Main: Got the Paneer Tikka Masala (16.95) – figured cheese & sauce = filling.
- Bread: One plain naan (4.50). Didn’t need both rice and naan.
- Drink: Tap water, free!
Food came, portion of the curry was decent, naan was big and fluffy. Took half the curry home honestly. Total before tax/tip: $21.45. Added tax and a small tip, landed under $30. Mission accomplished! Left full, happy, and my bank account didn’t scream.
Key Takeaways for Eating Cheap(ish)
Here’s how to hack Tandoor without starving your wallet:
- Call or Visit: If no prices online, call or just walk in. Ask specific prices. Faster.
- Target Veggie Dishes: Often cheaper than meat/fish. Paneer is your friend.
- Share the Wealth: Curry + 1 naan or rice can be enough for one if you’re cool with decent (not huge) portions. Or split dishes with a friend.
- Skip Apps & Drinks: Water is free. Appetizers add up fast.
- Lunch Specials? Didn’t see one listed, but always ask! Maybe they have one.
Bottom line? Not a dollar menu joint, but totally doable for $25-35 all-in if you’re smart. Share stuff, skip extras, focus on veg or cheaper chicken. Good flavor, didn’t bankrupt me. Win!
