I never thought I'd see a fast food style Indian restaurant but nonetheless that's what we have here with Tandur.
No doubt many millennials will eat here and feel exotic as they proudly tell their instagram friends how much they love Indian food.
Sorry to burst the bubble but this is not real Indian food. Now don't get me wrong, this is closer to the real thing than I could make at home but that's not saying a lot considering the wide range of spices necessary for authentic Indian cuisine. But why would you go to Tandur when they are far better more authentic options in the Charlotte area?
Maybe this would be a good place for someone who's intimidated by real Indian food. Tandur could serve as training wheels for the uninitiated as long as the eater understands that it gets much better out there.
On to the actual food. You are not given the opportunity to choose a specific spice level so I chose the spiciest option, vindaloo with chicken as my protein. When I asked about increasing my level of spice, I was told that there were extra spices by the napkins. Turned out to be some chili powder in a salt shaker.
My wife's vegetable masala was bland. We both had the garlic naan. Mine was much more buttery but both were too thin. We both had the jasmine rice and it was dry. A nice Indian beer would've brought the star level up to 3 but alas, there was none to be had. I guess if you've always wanted to try Indian cuisine but have always been intimated and maybe you needed something quick so that you could get back to your mall shopping, this might be an okay choice for you. Otherwise seek elsewhere.