The Essence Redefined Indian Food

Reccomend! It's been open for about 2 months & was our 1st time. Service was prompt. The restraunt was clean & had a nice atmosphere. No alcohol served. Extremely thankful for ALL the gluten-free options! The heated plates to help keep our food warm, is a nice touch. Ordered 4 entrees & loved the unique flavors of each dish. Would describe each as very tasty with mild spiciness. Open kitchens are so fun as you get to see all the action. The high ceiling and music could be difficult for older folks or people with hearing aids. (Easy fix if they choose) We made reservations online. Would happily return! 😊

This place is a solid 4.5 stars! If they sustain the quality and flavors, I would not hesitate to give it 5 stars. This is a welcome ( and much needed ) addition to the Walnut Creek / Concord Indian dining scene. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but it is expected since the dining experience is elevated.
I would not call this place fine dining, but it's definitely a notch or two above an average Indian place. Our measure for elevated Indian dining is 1. Cleanliness and presentation 2. Quality ingredients 3. Authentic Flavors .. and this place came through on all three aspects. We tried Chicken Chettinaad and Garlic Naan, and both were on point. Chettinaad dishes are meant to be on the spicier side, and they nailed it! Chicken Biriyani was good, and the cook on the rice and chcken was nearly perfect (although the rose water flavor was a bit overwhelming for my personal taste).
I strongly recommend everyone to try this place.

Delicious Indian cuisine with a fantastic ambiance! The flavors in their dishes are top-notch, though the service might be a tad slow. The music and atmosphere add a lovely touch to the dining experience. Perfect spot for anyone craving yummy Indian flavors!

I have eaten in hundreds of Indian restaurants around the world, including India. I am an excellent Indian home cook myself and a connoisseur of Indian food. I tried The Essence for the first time today. I had the fried fish appetizer, goat curry, and dal makhani. The tandoori naan was perfect. All three dishes were the best I've ever had in ANY Indian restaurant. The Ambiance was clean and neat. The staff were friendly and accommodating. It's literally the only Indian restaurant that I actually look forward to returning to.

The Indian restaurant offered a diverse menu, but the cheese kulcha was overwhelmed by an excess of cheese, compromising its enjoyability. Unfortunately, the malai kofta lacked flavor, and the channa tikki was challenging to chew, also missing the desired taste. The chutney was average, although more sauce options would enhance the experience. Opting for the traditional aloo tikki might be a safer bet for a satisfying meal.