Essence Of India

1105 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee
(850) 656-7200

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Customers' Favorites

Chicken Tikka Masala
Essence Special Naan
Essence Mixed Grill
Paneer Tikka Masala
Garlic Cheese Naan
Gulab Jamun Dessert
Tandoori Chicken
Vegetable Samosa
Dinner for Two
Chocolate Naan

Menu

Soups and Salads
Chicken Manchow Soup
Gluten-free. Indo-Chinese style soup prepared with vegetables, chicken, and egg drops.
Chicken Tikka Salad
Gluten-free. Sliced chicken tikka with garden fresh lettuce with homemade garlic croutons
Fresh Garden Salad
Gluten-free and vegan. Thinly sliced tomato, onions, cucumber, and lemon with ice-berg lettuce, and homemade dressing.
Hot and Sour Soup
Vegan. Indo-Chinese style soup.
Lentil Soup
Vegan. Lentils seasoned with herbs and spices.
Mulligatawny Soup
Gluten-free. Lentils cooked in a rich chicken broth flavored with curry leaves and lemon.
Mushroom Cappuccino
Gluten-free. Rich, earthy with a dollop of frothed milk to give the cappuccino effect.
Tomato Soup
Cream of tomato in aromatic spices with homemade garlic croutons.

Appetizing Appetizers
Aloo Tikki Chat
Pan grilled spiced potato patties with sweet and tangy spiced yogurt.
Baby Corn Manchurian
Vegan. Crispy fried baby corn tossed in Indo Chinese sauce.
Baingan Bhajiya
Vegan. Sliced eggplant dipped in light spicy batter and deep fried.
Aloo Pakora
Vegan. Potato fritters coated in a delicious, golden, crispy batter, and deep fried.
Chicken 65
Chunks of chicken, onion, and bell papers sauteed with spicy yogurt sauce.
Chili Chicken
Chunks of chicken, onion, and bell papers sauteed with spicy chili sauce.
Chili Paneer
Chunks of cottage cheese, onions, and bell papers sauteed with chili garlic sauce.
Chili Shrimp
Flour shrimp, onion, and bell papers sautéed with spicy chili sauce.
Crispy Garlic Chicken
Chunks of chicken, onion tossed in authentic garlic sauce.
Gobi Manchurian
Vegan. Corn battered cauli flower, onion, and bell pepper sauteed with sweet and spicy chili sauce.
Mixed Appetizer Platter
Delicious combination of alu tikki, samosa, baingan bhajiya, papadum, and onion bhajiya served with house chutneys.
Masala Papadum
Vegan and gluten-free. 2 pieces. Lentil cracker wafer with chopped tomatoes, onions, and tangy spices.
Onion Bhajiya
Vegan. Sliced onion dipped in light spicy batter and deep fried.
Paneer 65
Crispy cottage cheese, onions, and bell papers in spicy yogurt sauce.
Papadum
Vegan and gluten-free. 2 pieces. Lentil cracker wafer.
Samosa Chat
Crispy samosa pieces in yogurt with sweet and tangy spices.
Vegetable Samosa
Vegan. 2 pieces. Seasoned peas and potatoes in a crispy pastry shell.

Mumbai Special Snacks
Bhel Puri Special
Made using puffed rice and amalgamation of spices and chutneys, it is tasty treat.
Misal Pav Special
Popular Maharashtrian recipe, a missal, and pav topped with potato-chiwda mix.
Pani Puri Special
Popular street snack consisting round hollow puri, fried crisp, and filled with a mixture of flavored spices.
Vada Pav Special
Popular Mumbai snack, spicy potato filling sandwiched between buns with sweet, and spicy chutneys.

Specialty Sizzlers
Chicken Tikka
Gluten-free. Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt and Indian spices, and cooked in clay oven.
Essence Mixed Grill
Gluten-free. Assorted platter of essence tandoori specialties.
Kabab e Laziz
Aka lamb sheekh kabab, ground lamb seasoned with spices, rolled on skewer, and chargrilled.
Lamb Chops
Rack of lamb marinated fresh ginger juicy yogurt and spices.
Malai Kabab
Chicken breast marinated in yogurt and mild spice and cooked in clay oven.
Nooranin Machli
Fish. A salmon fish with Indian spices and cooked in clay oven.
Paneer Tikka
Homemade cottage cheese marinated with yogurt, and Indian spices, cooked in clay oven
Special Tandoori Wings
Chicken wings freshly marinated with Indian aromatic spices, and cooked in clay oven.
Tandoori Chicken
Overnight marinated chicken in yogurt, and aromatic Indian spices, and cooked in clay oven.
Tandoori Shrimp
Fresh shrimp marinated in yogurt and Indian spices, and cooked in clay oven.

Dinner Special
Dinner for 2 Special
Includes soup, samosa, chicken appetizer, onion bhajiya, papadum, choices of two curries: (vegetable curry, chicken curry, lamb curry, or beef curry) served along with rice, butter naan, and a desert.

Delightful Vegetarian Specialties
Aloo Gobi
Vegan. Cauliflower, potatoes, and peas cooked with herbs, and spices.
Aloo Mutter
Vegan. Potatoes cooked with green peas, fresh herbs, and spices.
Aloo Palak
Vegan. Potatoes cooked with spinach and fresh herbs and spices.
Cabbage Foogath
Vegan. Shredded Cabbage sautéed with onions and Indian spices.
Dal Fry
Vegan. Lentil tempered with onion, tomatoes, fresh ginger, and garlic.
Dal Makhani
Creamed black lentils, delicately seasoned with fresh ground spices.
Dal Tadka
Vegan. Yellow lentil splits cooked in Indian spices with a tempering with ghee and spices.
Eggplant Bhartha
Vegan. Roasted eggplant chopped and blended with herbs and fresh ground spices.
Hyderabadi Baghare Baingan
Stuffed baby eggplant cooked in roasted whole spices and coconut sauce.
Kadhai Bhindi
Vegan. Stir-fried okra cooked with tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and ground spices.
Mutter Methi Malai
Green peas cooked with fenugreek and Indian spices in a creamy sauce. Add paneer for an additional charge.
Mutter Paneer
Homemade cheese cubes cooked with fresh peas, herbs, and spices.
Palak Paneer
Homemade cheese cubes cooked with spinach and fresh herbs and spices.
Paneer Tikka Masala
Clay oven cheese cubes and herbs in rich tomato creamy sauce.
Peshawari Chole
Vegan. Aka chana masala: chickpeas cooked in dry spices, onion, and tomato sauce.
Paneer Shahi Korma
Homemade cheese cubes cooked in mild creamy sauce with nuts and raisins.
Vegetable Malai Kofta
Contain gluten. Small vegetable patties cooked in a fine creamy nut sauce.
Subz-Shahi-Korma
Fresh vegetables in rich creamy sauce.

Delectable Chicken Specialties
Butter Chicken
Tender boneless chicken pieces simmered with indian spices in a creamy coconut milk and butter sauce.
Chicken Bhunna
Succulent pieces of chicken cooked with sliced onions, bell peppers, herbs, and tomato sauce, fresh herbs, and spices.
Chicken Chettinad
Tender pieces of chicken cooked in rich coconut gravy.
Chicken Jalfarezi
Juliennes of chicken marinated in fresh spices of sauteed tomato and bell papers.
Chicken Korma
Boneless pieces of chicken cooked in a rich almond flavored sauce.
Chicken Madras
Chicken cooked in South Indian style with fresh coconut and roasted ground spices.
Chicken Mango
Boneless pieces of chicken cooked in mango sauce with Indian herbs and spices.
Chicken Methi Malai
Chicken cooked with fenugreek, Indian herbs, and spices in a fine creamy sauce.
Chicken Vindaloo
Chicken cooked in a fiery red-hot curry sauce, a Goan specialty.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tender boneless chicken pieces broiled in tandoor, cooked in a fresh creamy tomato sauce herbs and spices with diced onions and green papers .
Chicken Xacutti
Tender chicken cubes cooked in dry coconut and South Indian spices.
Essence Chicken Curry
Boneless chicken pieces cooked in delicately flavored curry sauce.
Kashmiri Chicken
Mildly marinated chicken breast cooked in Almond base curry.
Murgh Tandoori Masala
Grilled tandoori chicken in a creamy tomato gravy sauce.
Murgh Shahi Saag
Boneless chicken pieces smothered in a creamy spinach puree and fresh herbs.

Lucious Lamb and Goat Specialties
Essence Goat Curry
Chunks of young goat meat with bone in a delicious curry sauce.
Essence Lamb Curry
Tender pieces of lamb cooked in delicately flavored curry sauce with fresh ground spices.
Goat Kadhai
Chunks of goat meat cooked with fresh ground herbs, and spices.
Goat Masala Fry
Bone-in goat meat cooked in North Indian spices, onion, green pepper, and sliced tomatoes.
Lamb Chettinad
Tender lamb pieces cooked in heavy coconut gravy.
Lamb Jalfarezi
Lamb cooked in special gravy with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.
Lamb Kadhai Gosh
Cubes of lamb cooked in wok with exotic spices.
Lamb Mushroom
Lamb pieces cooked in thick curry sauce along with sliced mushrooms.
Lamb Rogan Josh
A delightful lamb preparation, succulent pieces of lamb cooked in sauce made from fresh yogurt, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and fresh spices.
Lamb Saag
Boneless lamb pieces smothered in a creamy spinach puree and fresh herbs.
Lamb Shahi Korma
Tender pieces of lamb cooked in rich cream sauce with nuts and raisins.
Lamb Vindaloo
Goan specialty with tender pieces of lamb marinated overnight and cooked in piquant sauce.
Lamb Xacutti
Lamb pieces cooked in dry coconut and special South Indian spices.
Lamb Masala
Lamb cooked in a fresh creamy tomato sauce herbs and spices with diced onions and green papers.

Juicy Beef Specialties
Beef Korma
Chunks of beef cooked in curry sauce with nuts and Indian spices.
Beef Methi Mali
Beef cooked with fenugreek, Indian herbs and spices in a fine creamy sauce.
Beef Mushroom
Chunks of beef and sliced mushrooms cooked in thick curry sauce.
Beef Nawabi Palak
Chunks of beef cooked along with spinach, tomatoes, green peppers, fresh herbs, nuts, and raisins.
Essence Beef Curry
Chunks of beef cooked in curry sauce with herbs and Indian spices.

Scrumptious Seafood Specialties
Essence Shrimp Curry
Shrimp cooked in curry sauce with fresh ground spices.
Fish Masala
Chunks of fish cooked in fresh tomato sauce with onions, bell peppers, and fresh spices.
Kadhai Shrimp
Shrimp tossed in wok with exotic onion, and tomato gravy.
Lobster Masala
Lobster cooked in rich tomato sauce and herbs.
Malabar Fish Curry
Chunks of fish cooked in creamy coconut sauce with herbs and spices.
Meen Moillee
Mahi-Mahi fish cooked with fragrant coconut yellow milk.
Shrimp Masala
Gluten-free. Shrimp sauteed in fresh creamy tomato sauce with diced onions, green peppers, ginger, and garlic.

Wholesome Rice, Noodles and Biryani Pulaos
Beef Biryani
Beef cubes cooked with onion, raisins, nuts, and ground spices along with rice.
Chinese Fried Rice
A basmati rice cooked with aromatic seasonings and vegetables.
Essence Chicken Biryani
Tender pieces of chicken cooked with onions, nuts, raisins, ground spices along with rice.
Goat Biryani
Goat meat cooked with saffron rice, and aromatic Indian herbs.
Hakka Noodles
Noodles made from unleavened dough boiled and stir fried with sauces and vegetables.
Jeera Fried Rice
Long grain basmati rice cooked with herbs and cumin seeds.
Lamb Biryani
Rice cooked with tender pieces of lamb, flavored with herbs, nuts, and ground spice.
Paneer Biryani
Cottage Cheese cubes cooked with onions, nuts, raisins, ground spices along with rice.
Plain Yellow Rice
Vegan and gluten-free. Long grain basmati rice cooked with herbs.
Peas Pulao Rice
Vegan and gluten-free. Fried rice sauteed with green peas.
Saffron Rice
Vegan and gluten-free. Aromatic spice with fried onions, almonds, cashews, green peas, and raisins.
Shrimp Biryani
Rice cooked along juicy shrimp, onions, ground spices, herbs, nuts, and raisins.
Special Nawabi Biryani
Rice cooked along with lamb, chicken, beef, shrimp, vegetables, onions, nuts, raisins, and fresh ground spices.
Schezwan Fried Noodles
Noodles sautéed with freshly cut vegetables, and chili paste.
Schezwan Fried Rice
A basmati rice cooked in spicy chili sauce and vegetables.
Vegetable Biryani
Garden fresh vegetables cooked along with rice, ground spices, nuts, and raisins. Add paneer, fried rice, or noodles for an additional charge.

Side Dishes
Achaar
Spicy Indian mixed pickle.
Cucumber Rayata
A cool, soothing yogurt preparation with grated cucumber and spices.
Curry Sauce
A versatile curry sauce for dipping or spicing up veggie or meat dishes.
Mint Chutney
Homemade with fresh mint, herbs, and spices.
Papadum
Grilled lentil spiced wafers.
Plain Yogurt
Homemade yogurt.
Tamarind Chutney
Special homemade tamarind chutney.

Freshly Baked Indian Breads
Tandoori Roti
Vegan. Whole wheat bread baked in clay oven.
Naan
Light and fluffy authentic Indian bread baked in clay oven.
Butter Naan
Light and fluffy bread cooked in clay oven and special butter on top.
Chocolate Naan
Indian bread stuffed with chocolate baked in clay oven.
Aloo Naan
Leavened flour bread, stuffed with potatoes, peas, and fresh herbs baked in clay oven.
Aloo Paratha
Wheat bread stuffed with boiled potato and spices.
Bullet Naan
Unleavened bread topped with cilantro and green chilies baked in clay oven.
Cheese Naan
Leavened bread stuffed with cheese, cilantro, and fresh herbs, baked in a clay oven.
Garlic Cheese Naan
Unleavened bread stuffed with garlic, and cheese, baked in clay oven.
Garlic Naan
Naan stuffed with freshly chopped garlic baked in clay oven.
Lachcha Paratha
Multi-layered wheat bread topped with butter.
Onion Kulcha
Fluffy bread stuffed with onion.
Essence Special Naan
Naan stuffed with fresh fruits and nuts.
Keema Naan
Minced chicken keema with herbs and spices.
Mumbai Breadbasket
Chef's choice of three kinds of naans.
Rosemary Naan
Naan stuffed with freshly chopped rosemary baked in clay oven.

Tempting Desserts
Gajar Halwa
Sweet pudding like dish.
Rasmalai
Rice Pudding
Sweetened creamy rice.
Mango Mousse
Dense and airy dessert.

Beverages
Coffee
Chaas
Hot Tea
Chai.
Indian Masala Chai
Mango Juice
Mango Lassi
Milk
Mineral Water
Orange Juice
Salted Lassi
Sweet Lassi
Soft Drinks
Choose one from (Coke, Fanta, Ginger Ale, Lemonade, Sprite).

Children's Specials
Kids Paneer Makhani Special
Exquisite dish which has thick gravy made of almonds, low fat yogurt, and spices.
Kids Paneer Korma Special
Homemade cheese cubes cooked in mild creamy sauce with nuts and raisins.
Kids Malai Kabab Special
Chunks of grilled chicken with ground cashews, almonds, malai, or fresh cream.
Kids Kashmiri Chicken Special
Large pieces of chicken cooked in onion & nuts gravy and whole ground spices.

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Recent Reviews

this place food is amazing everything we ordered was beyond delicious take my word you won’t be disappointed these people aim to please i wish i took a picture i will be dining with them again
October 2025
The food and service was absolutely amazing! It was the best Indian I’ve ever had. They gave us extra rice and ramadans!! It felt like I was eating at a family gathering everyone was so friendly and wonderful. Will definetly be returning.
October 2025
I have eaten at a lot of Indian restaurants across Tampa, Tallahassee and New York City. This place is top tier, very good butter chicken, naan cooked in a real tandoori oven and always good customer service
October 2025

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Essence Of India

1105 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 656-7200