text: The Blue Taj is perhaps the best looking restaurant (Indian or not) in all of Charlotte. You go inside and the music, the curtains and everything transports you elsewhere. Don't get me wrong - I love the food at Woodlands, but it doesn't exactly transport you. I totally get that there are parts of the world, in Charlotte, India and elsewhere, that are total dives, and I have no problem with that. But for those who have a desire to go somewhere else when you dine, this has to be at or near the top of your list. Copper is right up there too, but where they are elegant, Blue Taj is more magical - like you expect Aladdin to come out and take you on a magic carpet ride (and not the LSD sort). Pretty neat trick being that you're in a strip mall near Ballantyne.\n\nService is generally friendly - though it pales a bit in comparison to the atmosphere. I mean really, what wouldn't? They do keep the glasses filled, though it service tapers off. I don't know if this is an Asian thing, as several other Indian-type places (Situl, Woodlands come to mind) in Charlotte just forget about you later in the meal. Maybe it's cultural.\n\nAs to the food: Very solid offerings. It's not the best I've had in town, but far from the worst. Like much of the Chinese that you'll find around, it does have a tendency to be a bit heavy on the sauce - though instead of the sweetness of the Chinese variety, it's just a thick sauce that can be on the spicy side if you order it that way.\n\nPerfectly serviceable option, and well worth it for the experience.