If you are ever in Chattanooga, we have eaten at India Mahal for years. The food is great. We have taken lots of friends here who are new to Indian food (including our kids' friends!) and I think they have all enjoyed the experience. We enjoy the lunch buffet--but like most Indian buffets, I think, the food is spiced mildly. There is hot sauce always available to spice it up. Their kheer is wonderful!
We have been to Swapna a few times, and it’s pretty good for a buffet, but then it is still a buffet.
We do get up to Chattanooga, so will remember that.
Do you ever go to Sugar’s Ribs? We like that place quite well. They have another restaurant up by Cloudland Canyon, the Cloudland Cafe, and it was quite good as well, the one time we went.