Unsettling experience at popular eatery

The naan and fish curry were outstanding. I can see why it is called the best Indian cuisine in town. If only the service had been as good! PHOTO/NATION

What you need to know:

  • I inquired about the ingredients in one of the dishes due to allergies, but the waiter said he would have to find out. (He never did.)
  • Meanwhile the chips arrived. They looked a little suspect but we gave the establishment the benefit of the doubt. He dug in and after a few minutes began to complain of a tummy ache and nausea.
  • Later that night after the little one had finally slept, we ate our take-away. The naan and fish curry were outstanding. I can see why it is called the best Indian cuisine in town. If only the service had been as good!

Open House has received glowing reviews, so I decided to take my family there for dinner recently.

The restaurant is decorated tastefully to look like an Indian mansion. It is spacious but extremely popular so make a reservation. The maître d’ personally  seats each guest. His colleague, presumably the manager, walked around enthusiastically greeting regular patrons. 

UPSET TUMMY

The waiters are hard-working; they cleared and set the tables in record time. When our waiter brought us the menu, I asked him for his recommendations, especially for a young child.

He seemed unable to answer my questions so I just asked for fries for the little one and some juices while we figured out the menu.

We ordered naan, fish curry, chicken and some rice. I inquired about the ingredients in one of the dishes due to allergies, but the waiter said he would have to find out. (He never did.)

Meanwhile the chips arrived. They looked a little suspect but we gave the establishment the benefit of the doubt. He dug in and after a few minutes began to complain of a tummy ache and nausea.

My partner took him outside while I waited for our food. When the food arrived, I explained the situation to the waiter and told him to cancel the chips order.

I asked for the bill and for our food to be packed. They brought the bill, which included the charge for the cancelled chips.

The waiter explained, “I spoke to the boss and he said you should be given some fresh chips instead, so we packed those for you.” I was baffled: Why did they decide to replace the chips without any communication?

Secondly, if the manager knew that a customer was experiencing gastric discomfort from their food, why did he not bother to apologise?

Later that night after the little one had finally slept, we ate our take-away. The naan and fish curry were outstanding. I can see why it is called the best Indian cuisine in town. If only the service had been as good!