Tandoor India Cuisine

Located at 4612 W. Market St. in Greensboro, Tandoor offers a wide assortment of traditional Indian dishes: appetizers, breads, soups, rice, vegetarian and meat dishes, and thali combination platters. There is a buffet during lunch hours, and catering is available.

Saffron remains the go-to name among Greensboro’s Indian restaurants, but it isn’t the only game in town. Tandoor offers a viable alternative at a (comparatively) attractive price.

First, the negatives. Tandoor is located at the far end of a rather sketchy shopping plaza. The décor – light blue walls with pink trim – isn’t the worst you’ll see, but it is dated and stale. The restaurant’s ample seating is also something of a double-edged sword: while you don’t have to worry about being elbow-to-elbow with garrulous diners, the empty tables create a sense of loneliness.

These quibbles aside, there is a lot to like here. You can request food anywhere from mild to Indian hot; medium seemed to strike the right balance. The dishes sampled were well-seasoned, heavily sauced, and generously portioned. Chunks of chicken korma were juicy, and the lamb vindaloo was thankfully none too chewy. Freshly baked naan came in handy for mopping up sauces, and the papadum was downright addictive. Only a bland chicken pakora came in as a disappointment, and not a huge one at that.

Tandoor’s exhaustive 100-plus item menu offers both unexpected surprises (Mango lamb? Crab masala? Biryani with nearly everything?) and compelling values. A $30 non-vegetarian dinner for two included everything listed in the previous paragraph, plus rice, chicken saag, raita, tea or coffee and dessert. That’s a hell of a lot of food for the money. Prices on individual entrees vary, but they top out at $14, and you can find many in the $10-$12 range.

Contrary to some of the negative reviews floating around, service at Tandoor was not a problem at all. Our server was polite and efficient, and the gentleman at the register seemed affable. Lunch might be a different story, but dinner here was a pleasant experience.

Tandoor can’t quite match Saffron’s polish and sophistication, but variety, value, and competent execution make it worthy of your consideration if you are seeking a quality Indian meal.

8/10

Europa Bar & Cafe

Located at 200 N. Davie St. in Downtown Greensboro, Europa Bar and Café offers a full-service bar and a European-influenced lunch and dinner menu. There is a patio with outdoor seating, a mussels special on Tuesdays, and half-priced wine on Wednesdays. A brunch menu is offered on Sundays.

As locations go, Europa’s is tough to beat. The downtown setting is right across from Center City Park and there is plenty of parking nearby. This proximity to the heart of the city goes a long way toward explaining why Europa draws the crowds that it does. Were it located elsewhere, it would probably be struggling to stay afloat.

To its credit, Europa is a good-looking space. The tile-and-wood interior is classy and evokes Old Europe quite nicely. It is not particularly roomy though, and when the restaurant fills up, the acoustics are horrible. The patio is similarly deceptive. You get a great view of the city from outside, but be prepared to pay for it by enduring head-splitting boisterousness.

Europa’s European-influenced menu offers both classics and a few intriguing sounding dishes, but the execution is uneven. A steak au poivre was tasty if a bit understated, but my companion reported her steak (with a flavorful red wine sauce) was undercooked. Both came with frites that were indistinguishable from fast food fries. Fortunately, an appetizer order of grilled chorizo fared better: the bread was fresh and hot, and the dipping sauces (one a pesto, the other a roasted red pepper) were fantastic.

Neither Europa’s service nor pricing were exceptional, nor were they exceptionally lacking. The sub-$15 steak dishes seem like a good deal until the disappointment of the fries sinks in; sandwich and salad pricing (in the $6 to $10 range) was fair. Our server was courteous enough and relatively fast, but he started to appear slightly harried as Europa filled up.

If you keep your expectations in check and arrive early enough, Europa has enough charm and enough options to make for an enjoyable meal. However, the same can be found elsewhere without risking a headache.

6.75/10