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Tulsi
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
9 reviews for Tulsi
Yelp just keeps coming through when I'm in places that seem limited in the food arena...I did not expect to find good Indian food out in Amish country, but this place came through well.
The service was great even before we got there - when I made the reservation on the phone, they offered to have appetizers waiting for us when we arrived! The manager was extremely pleasant throughout, sharing just enough personal anecdotes at the end of the meal to entertain and culture us, without interrupting our group meal.
The samosas were that fine balance between a thin, non-oily crispy shell, and a surprisingly fully spiced filing.
The shrimp biryani was almost as good as homecooked, the yellow dal was tasty and smooth, the chicken tikka masala was delicious and spicy, and the lamb vindaloo was enjoyed by all. The baingan bharta was delicious, but very spicy, so watch out for that if you're not down with that. The saag was very good as well. The garlic nan featured abundant garlic and was thin and crispy.
Match that with a full bar and you're guaranteed a great night. If I ever find myself out in Lancaster, craving Indian food, again, I'll absolutely be back.
Worst Indian food I ever had! First of all reading all good reviews about this restaurant I decided to go to tulsi last night, it's so difficult to find this place not because it's inside a motel but cuz of wrong directions their staff kept on giving me again and again, he said I am 15 mins away from Hess gas station while I was only 5 mins away. Finally I was there with my family we ordered dinner and specially told the waiter that we need medium spicey food, we were the only ones there and while waiting for food the only two employees there were playing loud jokes at eachother while watching tv at the bar area, service was very slow and finall after 20 mins of order and the food was on the table bur guess what paneer makhani was so spices and the tandoori chicken was half cooked and looks like like it was left over from lunch buffet, rice was also of cheap quality and naan was so bad too. We left without eating the food and will never return to tulsi again and highly don't recommed to anyone!
Okay, went here for lunch and had an overall nice experience. Service wise... everyone stopped out to make sure everything was to our liking but they did not overbear us at all.. just very polite. The lunch buffet really has a bit of everything and I LOVED the Bharta, there was a goat curry as well which was nice to sample, mild dishes but not bland. The only thing I would fault would be the chicken in the tikka masala had some joint bits throughout so a bit of picking but still all the dishes we nice, on the healthy side recipes and fresh.
Nice interior, nice staff.. I will be back
This place is great. The owner is a young guy who has worked his butt off to create authentic Indian dishes right here in the cultural wasteland of Lancaster. I have been going down the menu, just ordering something random every time, and haven't yet been disappointed.
Chances are, this place will be empty when you walk in. Do not be afraid. Great for an anniversary or meet-up with friends. The staff will also recognize you if you come often, which is a great side benefit.
I was surprised to find a Desi joint in this Amish wonderland, more so cause it was actually pretty decent.
Two words: "Chicken Wings". They kick Hooters' a** big time, although I'd keep going back to Hooters for something else. Chicken Tikka Masala was also very good.
Two enthusiastic wings up!!!
Alright, if you remember my review of Taj Mahal, you can no doubt sense the longing in my words for a good Indian place in Lancaster. Whereas Taj Mahal is some of the most bland, nothing-special ho-hum Indian food in Central PA, Tulsi is its polar opposite, an arch-enemy if you will.
Firstly, the chefs there specifically have toned down the fattiness of Indian food for their cuisine. Now, normally "fatty" runs hand-in-hand with "delicious." That has been one of my personal catch 22s about Indian food: It can be so delicious, yet in order to get the yums, you must also get the Tums. But at Tulsi, they have found a way to make the food much less fatty than other Indian places, but still outshine in terms of flavor. Given, I'm sure if all you ever did was eat at Tulsi, you would probably obtain a nice squishy midsection, but the food definitely looks and tastes more "healthy" for Indian food than I am used to, but equally as yummy as the best I have had.
I have visited on two different occasions, during the lunch hour and ate from the buffet both times. Some items, like Tandoori chicken and Saag Paneer, seem to be mainstays, but they managed to switch up the selection a decent amount both times I was there. I feel as if those two visits enabled me to enjoy most of their menu, although I am sure there is much more to be had.
The service is great. The waiters are very attentive (yes, even for buffet customers), and regularly stopped by the table where I was sitting with coworkers to refill water, clear plates, etc. I can only imagine how good the service would be if I went there in the evening and ordered from the menu.
The inside is very nice, especially given the fact that it adjoins a Travelodge, which is not exactly a bastion of atmosphere. There are traditional Indian decorations among white linens, and the lighting is very non-intrusive and warm. Tulsi is extremely clean(I even had a peek in the kitchen on the way to the restrooms, and it looks spotless in there), maybe even a tad too sterile. I think that it could benefit from a more earthy feel, but it is still very comfortable in the restaurant.
I would definitely recommend this place. Especially if you have never had Indian food (and you definitely wouldn't the OTHER place in Lancaster to be your first experience). I will return to Tulsi again and again, as I still have yet to enjoy ordering off the menu. Great place!
Apparently it just opened in a section of the travelodge and since I generally dont see hotel restaurants as worth much I never noticed. But in this case oh man was it good! Im no indian food connoisseur, but this was fantastic.
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FOOD: We got the buffet. It was evenly distributed with vegetarian and non vegetarian items. Of course I crammed as much veggie stuff in me as I could, especially the veggie fritters. (pakoras)
DECOR: Its an indian restaurant, but its not overwhelmingly decorated that way. There are some touches here and there, some paintings and some decorations, but mostly its a plain ol' restaurant.
SERVICE: Good. The friendly waiter came back and cleared the table often and asked how we were a lot. Usually when you get a buffet, they couldnt care less how you are after they seat you.
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FINAL THOUGHTS: Would I go again? Oh yeah. This time I got the buffet, but theyve got a whole veggie section on the menu that Im going to have to try next time.
This is a new-ish Indian restaurant in the Lancaster area, and it has quickly become the favorite of my family. The menu is standard for an Indian restaurant in America, and the food is consistently good. It's not quite as overly-fatty and creamy the way some Indian food can be. Service has always been good. The pricing is reasonable, and the atmosphere is nice.
I only have a few minor complaints. The whole-wheat breads here (Paratha) are not as good as some places. The Tikka Malasa, also, I don't think is very good. I've had excellent experiences with other dishes, especially the garlic naan, the saag, vindaloo, and the many vegetarian options.
Great food and attentive service
