Mela Authentic Indian Cuisine

We thought this would be a great place for a date night. We recently moved to NJ from NE, and had a favorite Indian restaurant back in NE. (We both love Indian food). When we showed up, there was literally not another customer in the whole place. At 730 on a Thursday night. Strange. I soon found why. The food is reasonably priced, but it's TERRIBLE! This restaurant is suffering from an identity crisis. It was plain, and very american in presentation and flavor. We know good Indian food when we see (eat) it. The mulligatawny soup was NOTHING AT ALL like real Indian soup. Way to thick, not enough spices (except for gigner), too much ginger, and a weird starchy consistency. The Chicken Tikka was very plain. Almost no sauce at all. It was served on a sizzling skillet of onion and green pepper (not an Indian style at all). The onions weren't even fully cooked. The Vegetable Korma tasted too plain and unsatisfying. There was no excitement at all. The staff was great, and the prices reasonable, but I will never come back. EDIT: It should be noted this restaurant is now under different management and is no longer called Mela.
Nov 27th, 2012

Depressing head waiter and a small rock in spinach. What more can I say.
Jul 12th, 2003

nice buffet though after a few times it gets old.
May 24th, 1998