Tanjore is the medieval capital of the Great Chola Kingdom of the Tamil country. The Cholan period is the most creative epochs of Indian culture, art and overseas trade-often compared in artistic achievement to classical Greece. Travel historian Micheal Wood in his History of India BBC series called Cholas the "Last of the Classical Civilizations".
The name Tanjore evokes the finest in art and creativity. Tanjore region is the Rice Bowl of the South India famous for its lush paddy fields and coconut groves. Here local produce combined with imported pulses and spices provided a rich variety of ingredients for the culinary art to develop and flourish.
The name Tanjore evokes the finest in art and creativity. Tanjore region is the Rice Bowl of the South India famous for its lush paddy fields and coconut groves. Here local produce combined with imported pulses and spices provided a rich variety of ingredients for the culinary art to develop and flourish.
Services
Mrs. Boon Ganeshram owns and runs Tanjore Restaurant with her husband Dr. Raja Ganeshram in Edinburgh. As a native of South India, I know that south indian food can be both healthy and exciting. I found my friends in Edinburgh agreeing with me when they come over to our place for a bite. This is what inspired me to start Tanjore Restaurant.
Tanjore Restaurant is proud to serve you authentic South Indian cuisine that is both wholesome and delicious true to the Cholan tradition. Rice, lentils and other legumes are crushed to make batter for the wonderful dosas, idlies, vadais and uttapams always made fresh to your order. These are served with heavenly sambar (dal soup dip) and perfectly matched mouth-watering chutneys-all created deliciously from original recipes in house.
Reviews (26)
Fazal Shah
Dec 24, 2021
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The Undivided Orchestra
Sep 28, 2021
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Super clean food. Fresh beyond comparison. Staff were really considerate and they were busy too. Had no expectation of being served like I was more important than anyone else at a busy time. But still received our order within 15mins, which is great given that it's cooked from fresh to order. Had such a great experience I'm on my way back there now - which is why I'm on Google maps trying to fathom the route from where I am. Awesome food. Great place. But ignore my review and go have your own experience. 🔴
Craig Bonnyman
Sep 10, 2021
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Taz Choudhury
Aug 29, 2021
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TASTY DOSA, STARTERS AND CURRY
Managed to get a table here for around 6pm on a Saturday night for three people. This is a cash only establishment but there is an cash machine across the road.
Our server was great and she walked us through the menu giving us suggestions on what to order and what would be the best sharing dishes.
To start, we got the potato bonda which was amazing. It had great flavour and paired very well with the sauce that it came with.
The chicken masala dosai was pretty good but I was looking for some stronger flavours.
The parotta was great with the chicken Karaikudi but
Managed to get a table here for around 6pm on a Saturday night for three people. This is a cash only establishment but there is an cash machine across the road.
Our server was great and she walked us through the menu giving us suggestions on what to order and what would be the best sharing dishes.
To start, we got the potato bonda which was amazing. It had great flavour and paired very well with the sauce that it came with.
The chicken masala dosai was pretty good but I was looking for some stronger flavours.
The parotta was great with the chicken Karaikudi but
Rosh
Aug 14, 2021
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It really pains me to make this review because we came two years ago and had an absolutely wonderful time. This year, however, left a lot to be desired, for a start (and this is minor) we weren't able to have the same large dosai from the menu that we had had before "because of covid", fair enough, let's carry on... The service was shocking, when we entered the restaurant was empty, yet we still had to ask for service to order our food. The food was the only redeeming point, obviously didn't get what we came for but the food was still great. We had to ask for the bill twice before being able to
Uthayakumar Soundararajan
Jul 19, 2021
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Another good South Indian restaurant in Edinburgh .
Friendly staffs, very good food and friendly atmosphere. Customers can bring their own bottles, no bar facility at the location.
They make fresh parota at the restaurant that is unusual in general among other places. Fresh and tasty egg parota a must try.
Friendly staffs, very good food and friendly atmosphere. Customers can bring their own bottles, no bar facility at the location.
They make fresh parota at the restaurant that is unusual in general among other places. Fresh and tasty egg parota a must try.
Devina W.
May 25, 2021
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Visiting Tanjore for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to find an Indian restaurant with many dishes that I was unfamiliar with.
Don't get me wrong - unfamiliar can be a very good thing! The food is very tasty and quite good. Ambiance-wise, Tanjore isn't the fanciest, but with food this good I'd unquestionably recommend it to anyone who enjoys excellent Indian food!
An extra benefit: Tanjore is BYOB with no corkage fee :-)
Don't get me wrong - unfamiliar can be a very good thing! The food is very tasty and quite good. Ambiance-wise, Tanjore isn't the fanciest, but with food this good I'd unquestionably recommend it to anyone who enjoys excellent Indian food!
An extra benefit: Tanjore is BYOB with no corkage fee :-)
Mak Co
May 09, 2021
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Divyashree R.
Nov 29, 2019
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Ashok R.
Oct 28, 2018
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K. G.
Jul 07, 2018
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Absolutely fantastic! I love Southern Indian cuisine, but it's somewhat difficult to find restaurants that specialize in it where we live in the states. We were super excited to happen upon Tanjore in Edinburgh and we were lucky we arrived when we did; it seems like you need a reservation after 5:30 or so on a weekend.
Not only was the food incredible, there were quite a few dishes I hadn't seen before. Every dish we tried was delicious, but the karaikudi was out of this world. I also highly recommend the parotta.
Not only was the food incredible, there were quite a few dishes I hadn't seen before. Every dish we tried was delicious, but the karaikudi was out of this world. I also highly recommend the parotta.
James T.
Mar 20, 2018
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Meghna M.
Jan 05, 2018
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We had their South Indian dishes - mini idlis, veggie uttapam and tanjore special dosa. Everything was mouthwateringly tasty! Really good by global standards. Didn't expect to find such a good Indian restaurant in Edinburgh of all places! Pleasant surprise indeed.
Note for vegans: everything we had was vegan/vegetarian!
Note for vegans: everything we had was vegan/vegetarian!
Michelle B.
Apr 29, 2017
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Book Ahead. Bring Cash. Buy a bottle. Get a Dosa. Be happy.
We popped in here as soon as it opened at 5pm on a Friday evening for a pre-theatre bite to eat. Our neighbours actually recommended this restaurant from their many trips up for the Edinburgh Fringe and we were chuffed we found it.
All the tables were reserved ready for a busy eve, but there was one little table near the entrance of the door they could sit us at.
It's a BYOB and only takes cash, but there is a cash point and a newsagent/offie across the road.
We opted for the Mango lasse in the end which was scrumptious. The
We popped in here as soon as it opened at 5pm on a Friday evening for a pre-theatre bite to eat. Our neighbours actually recommended this restaurant from their many trips up for the Edinburgh Fringe and we were chuffed we found it.
All the tables were reserved ready for a busy eve, but there was one little table near the entrance of the door they could sit us at.
It's a BYOB and only takes cash, but there is a cash point and a newsagent/offie across the road.
We opted for the Mango lasse in the end which was scrumptious. The
Erin M.
Nov 12, 2016
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Probably the best korma and Indian bread I've ever had!!!
I'm American and was introducers to Indian/curries in the U.K. 20+ yrs ago. Since then I've favored most curry houses in the U.K. over most I've tried in the USA and always try and eat it during my near-yearly visits, despite where exactly I'm traveling to in the U.K.
For this trip, I spent nearly a month in London and then a full month in Edinburgh for festival month. As such, I was able to try several places in both cities. Unfortunately, most of it wasn't particularly memorable. Then, on my last week, I
I'm American and was introducers to Indian/curries in the U.K. 20+ yrs ago. Since then I've favored most curry houses in the U.K. over most I've tried in the USA and always try and eat it during my near-yearly visits, despite where exactly I'm traveling to in the U.K.
For this trip, I spent nearly a month in London and then a full month in Edinburgh for festival month. As such, I was able to try several places in both cities. Unfortunately, most of it wasn't particularly memorable. Then, on my last week, I
Angelo E.
Apr 13, 2016
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My friends and I were not planning to eat here, but the original restaurant we wanted to go to was full and we just wanted food. This was, however. A pleasant surprise!
I didn't order any of their first course or sides, just got to the main. The majority of their mIns cost below or around £10 so it's totally affordable. They have various vegetarian dishes, seafood and meat curry, as well as Indian pancake and dosa. I wanted to try their soft shell crab curry but they ran out so I opted for their house special. Sorry, I forgot the name but it was basically an Indian take on fried rice
I didn't order any of their first course or sides, just got to the main. The majority of their mIns cost below or around £10 so it's totally affordable. They have various vegetarian dishes, seafood and meat curry, as well as Indian pancake and dosa. I wanted to try their soft shell crab curry but they ran out so I opted for their house special. Sorry, I forgot the name but it was basically an Indian take on fried rice
Mar 16, 2016
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Nice curry and great parotta! My friend ordered Tanjore lamb curry, which was quite spicy but tasty. I had Ambur lamb curry that didn't show on the menu but on the blackboard, and it was good and merely spicy. I didn't try the coconut rice chose, but we all agree the parotta (like a nann bread but more crispy on the surface) goes well with any kind of curry. Price is acceptable.
Ana S.
Oct 17, 2015
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Gouthaman K.
Sep 05, 2015
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Everything about this place makes me want to go back for another meal. I am originally from South India and found this restaurant during my recent trip to Edinburgh and immediately went in after looking at their menu.
I had the Mysore Masala Dosa which is, hands down, the best I've had outside of India. I also had filter coffee with my meal which was pretty good as well.
The best way to judge if I really liked an Indian restaurant abroad is asking myself if I would visit this place if it were in India. I think with Tanjore the answer to that is a resounding yes.
I had the Mysore Masala Dosa which is, hands down, the best I've had outside of India. I also had filter coffee with my meal which was pretty good as well.
The best way to judge if I really liked an Indian restaurant abroad is asking myself if I would visit this place if it were in India. I think with Tanjore the answer to that is a resounding yes.
John K.
Jun 22, 2014
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The food was excellent. I agree with the other reviews on this.
My concern is cleanliness - the waiter dropped utensils on the floor, then picked them up and continued setting tables. He sneezed on the dishes [not ours - I would have sent it back]. He noticed a piece of gunge on my wife's plate and scraped it off with his fingernail [we did get a clean plate].
The toilets were very clean and neither of us got sick but we probably would not go back until the health inspector does a thorough review of this place. Too bad - as I stated, the food was excellent.
My concern is cleanliness - the waiter dropped utensils on the floor, then picked them up and continued setting tables. He sneezed on the dishes [not ours - I would have sent it back]. He noticed a piece of gunge on my wife's plate and scraped it off with his fingernail [we did get a clean plate].
The toilets were very clean and neither of us got sick but we probably would not go back until the health inspector does a thorough review of this place. Too bad - as I stated, the food was excellent.
David S.
Mar 31, 2014
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As a curry lover it is always nice to find somewhere which has a slightly unique spin on (probably) one of this nations favourite things... Tanjore is a real South Indian restaurant, no standard chicken tikka masala or vindaloo here. Instead what is served is a selection of rich curries (I think most contain yoghurt or coconut milk) cooked well, with an emphasis on vegetarian options and fish.
Ok, that is the good, the bad is that the service is just uneven, never unpleasant but perhaps not that interested or simply not aware of where people are in their meals. Others have noted this too, so I
Ok, that is the good, the bad is that the service is just uneven, never unpleasant but perhaps not that interested or simply not aware of where people are in their meals. Others have noted this too, so I
Catriona C.
Oct 10, 2013
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This was a rather surreal experience - I wasn't blown away at the time, but the more I thought about my dosa, the more I liked it, and the more I wanted to go back. So perhaps this is a 3.5 star really rather than a 4.
Anyway, buyer beware - it's cash only and BYOB. Next!
LOADS of vegetarian options - and lots of interesting and exciting sounding things that really got the mouth watering. I couldn't decide between the augergine curry, or a dosa, and I plumped for the latter. Lucky for me, my friend ordered the aubergine curry - perfect! I like a 2 for 1 deal (OK so maybe she got
Anyway, buyer beware - it's cash only and BYOB. Next!
LOADS of vegetarian options - and lots of interesting and exciting sounding things that really got the mouth watering. I couldn't decide between the augergine curry, or a dosa, and I plumped for the latter. Lucky for me, my friend ordered the aubergine curry - perfect! I like a 2 for 1 deal (OK so maybe she got
Alan S.
Sep 30, 2013
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Been wanting to come here since the place opened and finally got organised this weekend. The restaurant looked a bit tightly packed with tables, but once seated there seemed to be plenty of space. Modern Asian decorations with some interesting touches here and there. Nothing too out there and it did manage to conjure up a comfortable feeling to the place. The service was great from the minute we got in through to getting the bill. The menu is extensive with some really interesting bits and bobs I haven't seen elsewhere. The waiter discussed the specials with us and the orders were in.
Papadam
Papadam
Nicola C.
Jul 22, 2013
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Wow, this is authentic. I've never been to India but dined with people who had and even they were very much impressed by Tanjore! From the minute I stepped in the door, I felt like I was in India, at least how I'd imagined a restaurant in India would look. The decor is great with Indian wall hangings on the walls and ceiling, giving a cosey, decorative feel.
I had a masala dosai, something I'd never heard of before but which was recommend to me. So tasty! I love Indian food and I'd say I'm a curry girl through and through. But I couldn't help but get excited when
I had a masala dosai, something I'd never heard of before but which was recommend to me. So tasty! I love Indian food and I'd say I'm a curry girl through and through. But I couldn't help but get excited when
Blythe R.
Feb 15, 2013
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For South Indian style cuisine, Tanjore is the best we've found in Edinburgh, so far. Their dosas have considerable wow factor, and made me a convert to their cause. The place is very welcoming, keeps things nicely informal, and you have a good opportunity to see the chefs at work. Dishes are high on flavour, and represent excellent value.
Overall, we said: "I was highly impressed by Tanjore. For this style of South Indian food, it was as good as I've experienced in the city. This is definitely a place that I'll be visiting again, in the future, so if you like the sound of
Overall, we said: "I was highly impressed by Tanjore. For this style of South Indian food, it was as good as I've experienced in the city. This is definitely a place that I'll be visiting again, in the future, so if you like the sound of
Jason M.
Oct 08, 2012
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Curry = good. Pancake = good. Curry + pancake = great.
South Indian cuisine is becoming more popular these days and with good reason, as it always feels a bit lighter than the usual curry stodgefest.
I think curry is much improved by the additional tastes and textures of dosas, idlis and other doughy delights, especially in combination with the various dips and sauces that always accompany them. Check out my photo to see how huge the dosa is. Everything is fairly cheap so it's easy to try a number of small things, and if you can't decide what to have for your main, just about everything
South Indian cuisine is becoming more popular these days and with good reason, as it always feels a bit lighter than the usual curry stodgefest.
I think curry is much improved by the additional tastes and textures of dosas, idlis and other doughy delights, especially in combination with the various dips and sauces that always accompany them. Check out my photo to see how huge the dosa is. Everything is fairly cheap so it's easy to try a number of small things, and if you can't decide what to have for your main, just about everything