“Taj’s owner, Sai Guntaka, was working with Optimum Construction on the fit-out when he approached our team to help with the finishes and interior design of the new South Portland space. He wanted to incorporate classic Indian references into the design while creating an elevated atmosphere that would be a clear upgrade from the former spot—something closer to the exciting new restaurants in Portland than a standard Indian buffet.

“When Sai came into our office for a visit, he was immediately drawn to the walnut finishes, so we leaned into that to drive the rest of the materials. Right off the bat, we wanted to incorporate as much seating as we could fit. The banquettes wrap around the perimeter, and there’s plenty of flexibility in adjusting how the tables are arranged. Sai tapped Mike Rich Designs to create a mural that was initially supposed to be in the dining room; instead, he painted the back wall near the buffet that reflects off the glass so you can see it from almost any spot inside the restaurant.

“The bar was an exciting addition to the new space, since the rest of the program was remaining the same. We considered a few different countertops but ultimately selected one that’s near black and introduced a glossy green tile on the bar front. At the back of the bar, we installed an antique mirror behind the custom vertical shelving that makes the whole space feel larger. There’s some nice lighting on the inside that gives it an upscale feeling, and we added a soffit overhead to help make the space more intimate.

“Taj’s lunch buffet is famous—it’s one of the first things I heard about when I moved to town—but what most people envision as a lunch buffet spot is very different from what they think of for a nice dinner. Finding materials to fit both was challenging, so we used the space’s lighting to dial in the atmosphere. We installed dimmable LEDs that create intimate zones at night and used plenty of uplighting to add a nice glow around the dining area.

“This was, without a doubt, the fastest project I’ve ever worked on. We had a month to design and finalize everything before the first subcontractor was on site, and in two months it went from an empty white box to a fully built-out restaurant. As an architect, it can be frustrating to see how long things like submittals and verifications normally take, so it was fun to be part of a fast-paced project where everyone was on board and understood that decisions needed to be made quickly.”

—Jason Jirele, commercial studio project manager, Woodhull