Maharaja is my favorite place in Madison for Indian food.\n\nOK, now I'll tell you why. Maharaja produces some of the highest quality and most consistently good food in Madison. The lunch buffet can be a bit spotty, but the last two times I've been there the selection was plentiful and tasty. Dining there or for take out, the food is the same. I've never been unpleasantly surprised by the quality of the food.\n\nI have made it a point to try a new dish on a regular basis. I have yet to find a curry (with or without meat) that failed to please me. The aroma of the food is what draws me in. My most frequent comment about the food is that, \"it's like eating flowers.\" You can smell as well as taste the various spices in the curries and other dishes at Maharaja.\n\nThe atmosphere of the restaurant is a bit odd. It looks like it used to be a 1970's or 80's supper club. Not exactly what you would expect for an Indian restaurant. The service is very good. The waiters are courteous and attentive. They don't hover yet I don't have to go looking for them when I need something.