Tabla Indian Restaurant Debuts Second Atlanta Location in Buckhead
Guests in the Buckhead area do not need to travel far to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine, served with a modern twist. The second location of Tabla has opened in the Modera building along Pharr Road for lunch and dinner.
Photo Credit: Jaclyn Rey
“Guests are going to get an elevated Indian dining experience,” says owner Sandeep Kothary. “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.”
The original Tabla in Midtown has operated since 2013, serving flavorful Indian cuisine in a contemporary ambiance. 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 curry 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.
Guests can look forward to an impressive cocktail list of Indian-influenced concoctions. 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.
When asked about the motivation for opening a second location, “We thought it was the next logical process,” says Kothary. “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 modern look draws in guests with 18-foot coffered ceilings and an emerald green wall with gold trimming. The 2,800-square-foot space holds a large bar edged with elegant 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 says. “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 is located at 3005 Peachtree Road, Suite 400 and is open Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-11 p.m.; Sunday 4:30-11 p.m.; and is closed on Monday. The restaurant follows all City of Atlanta COVID-19 guidelines including socially distanced seating, the option of a print or paperless menu, sanitizer availability, masked staff and regular thorough cleanings.