India Garden — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

Quick review = good food but be prepared to wait much longer than expected.

Full review = I'm going to leave my original review here (below), because the food is excellent - however, I have now spent HOURS of my life stood in this restaurant waiting to pick up orders that have been SO much later than expected.

The first time the extra 45+ minute wait happened, I put it down to a mistake on the restaurant's part. In fact, the first time I think they said the oven had broken - which is fair enough. However this has now happened two or three more times since.

Tonight for example, when placing my order, I specifically asked how long would it take and was told "15 to 20 minutes". When I arrived to pick up the order, they happily took payment and told me "it will just be a few minutes". I finally got my food an hour after ordering it. There were lots of other customers who were also stood in the restaurant and had clearly been told similar overly optimistic times. Had I known it was going to be an hour, I would have cancelled the order - but that appears to be the point! They would rather lie and get the order than tell the truth and lose it.

Well you have lost a customer now, as I won't be coming back. The food is good, but it's simply not worth wasting 45 minutes (longer than the agreed pickup time) on a Saturday night stood around waiting.

Original review = I've been searching for a decent curry on the Gold Coast for many years and India Garden is a real gem. Other Indian restaurants often produce bland, tomatoey dishes, designed for the Australian palette, but India garden is much more authentic and full of flavour. The currys always have plenty of good quality meat (again, something other restaurants can be stingy with). Top chefs and top quality food - highly recommended. BTW, the Chicken...

If you have been disappointed by the lack of authenticity (and excessive sweetness) of Indian food on the GC to date, then look no further, India Garden is the 💣 💯 (the reviews below no lie).

And a special mention for the service. The last time we placed a (direct) phone order, they accidently gave us saffron rice. We weren't upset (just wanted to ensure we got our fave Jeera rice), however mentioned it to the young lady (blonde hair) when ordering last Friday (in-house). When we returned to pick it up 10m later, she had upgraded us to a large rice and free papadoms (she had even written us an apology post-it note! - see photo) What a 🔫 💯 (these are the people you want working for you). The owners are always lovely too.

BTW, if you like heat & spice, I recommend this as the ultimate order - way too much for two, but makes for transcendental leftovers.

1/ Naan stuffed with green chillis 🌶🌶🌶 2/ Chana Saag (chickpeas with spinach) - order mild 🌶 3/ Goat (boneless) Vindaloo - order Indian Spicy 🌶🌶🌶 4/ Chicken Chettinad - order Indian Spicy 🌶🌶🌶 5/ Jeera rice (large) - rice with ghee and cumin seeds

Serve with a classic indian salad of chopped 🍅, onion and coriander. Add some tempered curry leaves (buy a plant from Bunnings) to the goat vindaloo.

You're...

BEWARE OF FALSE ADVERTISING

If you boast of being "the best Indian restaurant in Robina" and giving people "the ultimate dining experience", the least you can do is: serve curry and rice in separate bowls, not mix it all in one plate. I would do that at home. I would expect presentation in a restaurant. have a server who is a bit presentable (clean shaven, shirt tucked, in uniform) have better lighting. The ambience is downright depressing.

By all means, DO promote yourself as a reasonably priced, family business that specialises in tasty Indian food - you will have all my support. But when you pretend to be a five star joint.... I cannot emphasise enough how misleading the website, pictures and videos are. Do not be fooled by the generous use of DSLR photography, slow mo footage and desaturated lighting. Especially if you happen to be from India or any part of the Middle East , where we are used to a MUCH better fine dining experience, this will be a huge disappointment. I feel cheated as a customer. I have zero respect for establishments that are dishonest. I wouldn't make the mistake of driving 30min to come here for a fancy lunch or...