09/14/09

HORRIBLE FOOD AND SERVICE

by melanie anderson

While taking part in a family trip, we decided to try this place since it was nearby and convenient. Here's the breakdown on how bad the place is.

Bad Service: Upon entering, we were not seated right away but had to seat ourselves. The server finally came by and dropped off menus, but after watching us enter and be seated. We found this insect-looking thing on the drinking straw and a long piece of plastic IN THE FOOD. We finally received the garlic naan halfway into finishing our meal. The waiting time was too much considering we paid extra for the garlic naan.

Bad prices: They charged a 15% gratuity (coming to 11 dollars), service charge (a separate 11 dollars), and overcharged us on the tea (7.50 when it should have been 6). Mind you this is for buffet, where we shouldn't have to give tip at all since we are serving ourselves. We ordered a $13 shrimp dish and were amazed to receive a small dish, the size of a small platter with about 5 to 8 pieces of shrimp. The dishes were overpriced for their size. They even charged us a dollar for chutney! Really, a dollar for sauce? Any other Indian restaurant would have provided that as a given.

Bad Food: The entire family had stomach problems afterwards. The garlic naan was burnt and bitter because it had too much garlic. This was the first time that I've seen flat crispy naan too, usually it's thick and soft.

In summation, there are a lot more options available for affordable, tasty food with quality service. I would never eat here again and would warn others about the hidden costs and cost-saving measures whioh occur at the expense of the consumers. It was just not a happy experience and brought a low point on an otherwise happy day.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: FOOD, SERVICE, PRICE

05/10/09

Wanted It To Be Good!!

by mrgringo23

My wife and I were in San Diego this weekend for a cool escape from the Phoenix heat. Frustrated with an overcrowded Gaslamp district, we headed out of the bustle a little way and found Cafe India. We were seated by a heavily tattooed young waitress and were excited to try a new Indian restaurant as we have our own perennial favorite in North Phoenix. The waitress did not introduce herself and handed us the menus without a word. After she left we looked the menu over and were very pleased with the amount of vegetarian/vegan offerings. We decided on drinks and dinner and waited for her to come back. And waited. An Indian family entered. Another Indian family entered. They were greeted and drink orders were placed. Then their drinks were brought to them. Then dinner orders were placed. Then our ink-adorned waitress began listlessy wiping down tables. At long last she came back and asked us what we had decided on. Thus began a thirty-minute wait as we watched plate after plate of steaming food arrive at the tables of the Indian families. Now before you think that we went in looking for trouble or were looking for reasons to be unhappy, please understand we were stoked upon finding this place and really wanted it to be a good experience! When the food did arrive, the sauce was scalding hot and the rice lukewarm. We had both ordered "Mild" but apparently that equates to bland at Cafe India. The portions were meager and the Iced Tea that was to come with a free refill was never refilled. We were not checked upon between entree delivery and handing us the check. By the time we had almost finished eating, other families were kicking back, reclining and basking in their apparent fullness. Neither my wife nor I were full nor satisfied and we silently paid the 34 dollar check and walked out. I have no problem whatsoever with waiting long periods of time for proper food preparation. What is a problem is when other people enter an establishment long after we do and the clear "favoritism" (thats the nicest term I can use) sees them served long BEFORE we are. Please do not waste your money or your time with this restaurant.

05/01/09

AWESOME healthy food at great prices...

by famosa

i read some reviews here that people wrote. I felt inspired to share my own. The portions are what they should be. If you want a place to overeat at, go to another spot. But this place makes perfect portions for 1 or 2 people to share. I think in America we tend to think that more is better. But health conscious people will say less is more beneficial. for under $10 you can eat a lot in a buffet or just eat enough to satisfy. check out there yoga classes!! they teach belly dance too!!

• Pros: healthy portions, best homemade chai ever!!
• Cons: not enough of them here !!