Thali

First off let me say the food and service was amazing! The chicken jasmine rice, lamb where tender and very yummy! It has a nice vibe nice Décor. 1 star off because the bathroom was awful!

Excellent Indian food, really friendly service. Probably 4 stars but I added the extra star just because it was so unexpected to find such high quality food in Ridgefield. Don’t be deceived by the fact that it’s under a motel, give it a try.

Our first visit was a few weeks ago and it was top notch. Service was incredibly attentive, food was phenomenal — fresh, zesty and one dish better then the next. Perhaps dinner is different from the buffet but service and food were spot on. The décor is a bit odd and it looks like they took over a modern sort of bar and they are located in a Days Inn so don’t be thrown off — only negative I can think of.

Drove 25 minutes to go eat here, only to walk into a super dark restaurant with the staff sleeping. Said they were closed another 90 minutes. Unilocal lists the hours as opened at the time, but the actual website posted different hours (which were the ones they were going off). No hours posted on the door or windows. Gotta update the hours on Unilocal!Will
Update next time when I make sure to call to ensure they’re open.

Came in as the other restaurant we’d picked was mobbed. A better decision we haven’t made in FOREVER!!!
Service? Great…
Trio of sauces and crisp breads? YUM
Appetizer? Oh MY!
Food? Kick me and hurt me, OMFG Great!
Madame had Chicken Korma, which I liked better than my Coconut Lamb which was Über yum!
We’ll be back… AND they do take out!!!

Here’s the deal. I really want to like Indian food. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by the unique flavor and other times there isn’t enough yogurt in the place to cool my palate. The staff is really helpful and knowledgable. Service is good.

I used to hate Indian Cuisine. Absolutely hated it. Then a few years back when I was a kid, my parents opted to try and get me to like Indian food by bringing me here. Well… it didn’t work well. The only thing I loved was the huge Virgin Pina Colada that my brother and I got to share!
Fast Forward to 2014. My parents tried to convince me to go with them again. Reluctantly, (and not an adult, so I couldn’t throw a hissy fit) I said I would go. Boy, am I glad my taste palette changed!
My family and I now come here at least once a month, if not more. It’s fantastic. And today was even better. I decided to ask for the virgin piña colada to split with my brother that I had had years before. They weren’t sure if they still had the mix, but decided to check anyways. Mind you, I really didn’t care if they didn’t have it. It was just a trip down memory lane that I was fine with missing. They came back explaining they were incredibly sorry that they didn’t have the mix, but I told them it was totally fine!
Now we await our meal. My Dad gets his beer, my mom gets her margarita, and then all of a sudden two small drinks come out. Curious as to what they were, I took a sip and couldn’t be happier. It was Mango Lassi (surprisingly one of my favourite drinks I had never had at the restaurant before). They explained how sorry they were and didn’t want me to be without a drink, and that the Lassi’s were on the house. Never have I ever gotten such good service before in my life, and we were more than happy to leave them a hefty tip after being treated so greatly.
I’ve been coming here so much, and plan on coming back time and time again in the future.

My wife & I visited for Sunday brunch with high hopes as we have eaten before at the New Canaan one. But the Ridgefield Thali is full of disappointment.
As we entered, even though the restaurant was empty with just one family sitting, I asked if we could sit on the table close to windows, but the guy was so reluctant I ended up telling him never mind.
The appetizers were cold. We ordered diet code, which came in a half of a glass (that too at $ 2.50). They served Naan as we sat and when we were just about to go to get our appetizers, which means by the time we will get to main course dishes Naans will be cold. No botheration of asking again for Naans by the server.
Food quality and menu variety for a $ 19 buffet is not that good as well.

I have visited the New Canaan one & it was a very good one. So after having such wonderful food there we decided to visit this one too as it is now in our drive range. Being INDIAN I know what indian food tastes like, but they are not at all serving what they charge for a Buffet for $ 18 and change, the Appetizers were cold & a very few variety of main dishes. The guy who was making fresh dosa’s kept my husband standing while he was preparing the dosa but was willing to serve other people at their table.
Would never ever recommend anyone to visit this location.

Not just the best Indian Restaurant in Ridgefield, it is one of the two best restaurants of any kind in town.
What sets Thali apart is its dedication the regional differences in the cooking of a vast and diverse country. And that takes an attention to detail in the preparation of the food that really shines through.
Always delicious, always worth the trip.

Thrilled with our experience at Thali. I came here with my family, many of whom had never tried Indian food before. Not one of us left unhappy. Everything was delicious, and the staff was friendly and very attentive. The location isn’t the best, but the food is totally worth it. Hopefully we’ll be back soon!

extremely disappointed! If you are reading my review then definitely dont go here as you will regret it. They served us spoilt chicken after 40 minutes of waiting and nobody apologized for it. I noticed the owner looking at us but ignored us until i called him and told him your dish was spoilt and then he just smiled and said i am sorry i will take that out from your bill. it was so humiliating as if we did something wrong. the price is so very expensive compared to some really good indian restaurants in ct like paradise biryani, jaipore and mumbai times. the staff is not trained at all. very bad food. we ordered chicken 65 for starters and it was so bland and masala wasnt even cooked properly. after serving spoilt chicken we had to pay the full amount and return home with a food poison.

Food is delicious — but miss the restauranting basics:
— service: an absolute cluster. Seven people plus host covering a ½ empty dining room with seven seated tables and they’re overwhelmed. Always seem surprised /​annoyed (?) you’ve arrived as well. They do try hard though.
— takeout — tough to order a dinner for two for less than $ 60 for takeout. That’s pretty stiff.
— décor — it’s in a days inn so it sorta adds to it, but an odd combo of 70’s lounge, Indian décor, and Chuck E. Cheese light fixtures
Been here a dozen times — apparently this is just how Thali rolls. Complete cluster overcome by food you come back for. But I’d come more often only if…

So I haven’t been to Thali for a while, but I have to say, I was impressed tonight. In fact, I asked the waiter if there’s a new chef it was so much better than I remember (nope; same chef; he’s been practicing).
Presentation was very nice. The fish tikka was perfect. Subtle but complex spices, tender and moist. The vegie underpinning was okay, but who cared with fish that good.
Chicken tikka masala: tender tender chicken, tasty robust sauce, though a little ‘mealy.‘
Had a great pepper duck dish (angare duck), with spinach and roasted tomato in a brown marsala sauce that was delicious.
Garlic nan superb, and the sauces for the papadum so flavorful (though the papadum itself was bland and not crispy enough).
Started with a kutchumber salad, nicely done in a stack, fresh and light.
The only downsides: the waiter didn’t write our order down, and as we feared, he forgot one dish, so it came out after most of the other two dishes were finished. And the pudina paratha was dry and bland (if there were pomegranates (the reason I ordered it) we couldn’t find them!).
Overall though, a really fine meal. We’ll be back.

I came here for the second time and was completely taken care of once again. The staff is really attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, the kitchen makes everything (except the overnight marinades) to order and can adjust for allergies and preferences, and the food is just unbelievable. I recommend this to anyone looking for great Indian food and a very helpful waitstaff!

Great place. By far the best Indian food I’ve found so far in Connecticut.
Don’t let the location scare you off. Not very high class location — but well worth the visit.
The service is phenomenal. Such friendly staff almost standing over top of you making sure you have everything you need.
If you like and are experienced with Indian food — you will love this place. If not, you’re in for a treat.
We had the usual go to dishes — samosas, tiki masala, garlic naan, basmati rice. All excellent.
I did try the vindaloo. I am a huge fan but sometimes the spiciness gets too much. First, it’s in the menu as lamb. I asked for chicken and they were more than happy to accommodate. I then asked how spicy it actually was and they did turn down the heat a little for me. It was still too hot. The waiter noticed immediately and offered to turn it down even more. It was perfect.
The décor is very odd, some traditional Indian type art mixed in with nu age metal work. Makes for interesting conversation.
The service, quality of food and prices make this place top notch. Highly recommend it — even if you’ve never had Indian before. They are very helpful and accommodating.

I went to Thali with a few of my friends for a girls night out, and my experience was very good. The service is excellent, the wait staff were very attentive, and the food was AMAZING. I would recommend Thali to anyone who likes good indian food.

The food here is good and we like to come here.
One thing I will point out is that the hours listed are misleading. They are not open off-​peak hours from 2−5ish. It’s not unusual for a restaurant to close during those non-​busy times, but reflect that in Hours of Operation on your website. The wife and I were out for a late afternoon bite after a hike and stopped in only to be told they weren’t open those hours. Your website should have accurate info. That’s what people go by.

Bar none, the finest [chain of] Indian restaurant[s] in the State of Connecticut. I was lucky enough to have one in my hometown while I lived in Ridgefield. They’re also in New Canaan and New Haven, so chances are there’s a location near you.
Unlike most Indian places, Thali presents a truly upscale dining environment. As odd as it may be that this place is carved out of an old crappy hotel, you’ll forget you’re at one once you step inside. Be immediately immersed in the avant garde décor, and throw away your cares…
The food, fortunately, matches the presentation. As any good Indian food eater knows, anything labeled «Vindaloo» should be the hottest thing one has ever put in his or her mouth. Thali delivers, with a Lamb Vindaloo that makes you cry tears of simultaneous pain and joy. The rest of the menu is great too, with sumptuous entrees, and delectable desserts. Visual presentation of the dishes is also top notch, with unique dishware and fun garnishes.
It all counts for something, right?
Expect it to be a little more expensive than your average Indian place, but A) it’s better than your average Indian place, and B) it’s freakin’ Ridgefield. If you’re here, chances are you’ve got the creditworthiness to foot the bill.
Enjoy.

Just got done laughing at another reviewer who says this place isn’t «authentic». Gotta wonder how much time said reviewer has spent in India to qualify that remark. LOL! How can an Indian restaurant that is this good, and run by Indians not be authentic?! Ridiculous.
The food and service here are outstanding. The food was fresh and delicious. I could easily give 5 stars to Thali based just on their food and service. But alas I have to factor in the ambiance, drinks and price. The ambiance is… ummm, I have no idea what is going on here. I think they were going for an ultra-​modern, über-​trendy NYC club look. Whatever it is needs to be reconsidered as the existing look isn’t warm, welcoming or appealing in the least. Also, I didn’t care for the 2 or 3 specialty drinks I had. While they looked good on paper, they failed in execution. And the overall prices were high, but given the Ridgefield location, not altogether unexpected.
Despite the décor and price we’d still recommend Thali to anyone who enjoys excellent Indian cuisine, and would visit again if in the area.