Although part of a small franchise running similar restaurants under different names, Taj India offers the taste and feel of a private café with made-from-scratch dishes and a comfortable dining area. The Birmingham lunch crowd regularly flocks to the all-you-can-eat buffet, stocked full of authentic East Indian cuisine. But it's the dinner menu that sets Taj apart from other such restaurants. Upon arrival at your table, you'll find a plate of pappadams (thin, crispy lentil pancakes with spicy and mild dipping sauces). Or start your meal with traditional samosas (baked pastries filled with vegetables resting on a bed of garbanzo beans and various types of chutney). Entrées run the gamut of spiciness, from the milder vegetable biryani to the spicy lamb rogan josh. The Taj also features southern coastal Indian specialties, such as shrimp korma, with tender, small shrimp marinated in a coconut cream sauce, or the fish Malabar with catfish, curry leaves, mustard seed, tamarind and fennel powder. For dessert, try the authentic gulab jamun: dry milk, cheese and fried semolina dipped in warm, rose-flavored syrup. While the wine list is not extensive, it offers an eclectic selection of vintages specially selected for Indian cuisine. Full bar. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Closed between meals.