I normally don't leave negative reviews but I feel a little cheated. We have tried this place twice. Every curry we had was bland and watery. The tandoori chicken had very little spice or seasoning, just red food coloring, ginger, garlic, salt and maybe yogurt or something. It is impossible to pick up any gravy with the naan. We asked for maximum spicy and it barely had any heat. They are charging the same prices as other restaurants but only serving you half the ingredients.
YV
Yineth Vergara
4 days ago
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
¡Excelente experiencia! La comida estuvo deliciosa, todo se sentía fresco y bien preparado. El servicio fue muy amable y atento, y el ambiente del restaurante estuvo súper agradable. Definitivamente es un lugar al que volvería y que recomiendo si estás buscando comer rico y pasar un buen rato. ¡Todo estuvo excelente! ❤️
La atención personalizada del chef y sus recomendaciones hicieron de mi almuerzo una verdadera experiencia para no olvidar
Gracias por dejar en mi tan bello recuerdo
DM
Dustin McMahan
Aug 7, 2026
The food here blew my mind. I’m from Tennessee and was worried I wouldn’t find an Indian restaurant that could live up to the quality and taste of my local joint back home. Boy was I wrong.
I wish I had taken pictures, but the food was too good to do anything but savor it.
I ordered a potato fritter appetizer and veg dumplings in savory umami sauce. Don’t know what I’ll get next time, but I’m willing to bet the bank it’ll be delicious.
If you’re in Columbia and are craving some tasty Indian cuisine, this is the spot for you.
The music, décor, and atmosphere were all fantastic! The food was absolutely amazing—from the paneer, chicken, and seekh kebab to the samosas, rice, chicken curry, dal, and garlic naan. Every single dish was flavorful and delicious.
My husband wanted to try this restaurant before bringing my mom here in a few weeks, and we were genuinely surprised by the quality of the Indian food here in South Carolina!
One thing that really stood out was the hospitality. It’s rare to see both the chef and the owner personally making rounds to check on guests, make sure everything is perfect, and even offer recommendations if you need help choosing dishes.
This place is a must-visit! We’ll definitely be back!
Columbia you have an incredible cultural gem of a restaurant with some of the finest Indian cuisine I have ever eaten. LOTA is fantastic beginning with a beautiful, modern decor. I was here Saturday August 1 and chose the buffet. The aroma and rich color palate of a large offering of flavorful, fresh dishes were presented. The hot, perfectly spiced options were an Indian food lovers paradise. I literally savored every bite. They added fresh sliced vegetables, fruit and many chutneys that placed that extra satisfaction to the meal. Desserts on the buffet include sweet dough balls, gulab jamun, and a delicious rice pudding called kheer. Dosa is also included with the weekend buffet. Chef Ravi is a true artisan of the cuisine and is dedicated to your enjoyment of the experience. He and the LOTA team are attentive, engaging and friendly. I drove 1.5 hours just to try this food for the first time, having enjoyed Indian food for years.. It was far more than worth each mile. Thank you Chef Ravi. I'll see you again very soon.