Guests in the Buckhead area will not need to travel far to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine, served with a modern twist. The second location of Tabla will open in the Modera building along Pharr Road for lunch and dinner on Tuesday, March 16, according to a press announcement this week.
“Guests are going to get an elevated Indian dining experience,” Sandeep Kothary, owner of Tabla, said in the release. “I want guests to have the experience of Indian food—the design, service, and cocktails. It’s going to be a completely different style of dining from anything people have experienced in the Atlanta area.”
At Tabla Buckhead, guests will be able to enjoy favorites from the Midtown menu along with new dishes exclusive to Buckhead, giving them new options to discover. Small plates like lamb chops, duck confit samosas, and chicken malai kebabs are offered, as well as many different types of curries and main dishes like tandoori chicken and parda biryani.
Menu items exclusive to the new Buckhead location include Rajasthani kharagosh (braised rabbit loin in a spicy tomato- and onion-based sauce), baluchi murg tikka (spicy grilled chicken marinated in ginger, garlic and yogurt and finished with an onion katchumber) and gobi mausllam (whole cauliflower baked and finished in a cashew gravy).
Popular dishes carried over from the Tabla Midtown menu include kukuri bhindi (crispy okra and red onions), lassoni gobi (crispy cauliflower with chili and garlic), amul cheese naan, butter chicken cooked in a mild tomato sauce and dal bukhara (black lentils cooked with ginger and garlic).
Lunch specials at Tabla Buckhead feature thalis, a popular form of eating in India that includes three entrées, rice, bread, salad and dessert. Indian-themed wraps and salads also are served for lunch.
When it opens, Tabla Buckhead will have the same cocktail menu as the Midtown location, serving the Bollywood Tiki, Chai Old Fashioned, and Delhi Mule, as well as wine and Indian beers. Later, Tabla will introduce cocktails unique to the Buckhead location. While Tabla Buckhead awaits its liquor license, the restaurant is offering guests the option of bringing their own alcohol.
Kothary and his family have been in the restaurant business since 1994, running several successful restaurants that gave them a name in the Indian community. The family opened Tabla in Midtown Atlanta in 2013, which thrived so well that they expanded in 2018. The family signed the lease for the Tabla Buckhead right before the COVID-19 pandemic and are now ready to welcome guests.
“We thought it was the next logical process,” Kothary said regarding plans to expand to a second location. “The lunch scene is a strong component of our business and so is the lunch scene in Buckhead. We hope it will be a great fit.”
Tabla Buckhead’s 2,800 square-foot space includes 18-foot coffered ceilings and an emerald green wall with gold trimming, and a large bar edged with tile work, and three highboy tables are positioned in front. An open kitchen invites guests to see chef Rawat at work, and a 12-seat separate dining room offers private dining. The exterior patio allows for seven to 10 tables, adhering to social distancing guidelines. The Tabla team plans to build a patio canopy to create an all-weather outdoor space with ceiling fans and electric heaters for cooler weather.
“The appreciation from our customers is the most gratifying part about being in this business,” Kothary said. “We get a lot of repeat business and also a lot of first-time diners. We are always grateful for the promotion we get from the community.”
Tabla Buckhead, at 3005 Peachtree Road, Suite 400, will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
