RJ’s Bar & Bhoj Restaurant (Ba Coffee Shop) — Restaurant in Katherine

Terrible customer service, and overpriced food.

I want to preface that I never leave bad reviews for restaurants. If it were a bad experience, I would move on and never return. But Bhoj in Katherine was pretty horrible.

This visit was the second time I stopped here for Indian food. The first time I was turned away at 7 pm because the restaurant was short-staffed. That's fair. I read on the news about the staff shortage.

This time, I arrived a little bit earlier. The restaurant was empty when we arrived just after 5. Immediately, you could feel the negative energy. The server just looked annoyed when serving us. We approached the counter, and the waiter ignored us and handed us only ONE menu without saying anything. I think he was expecting us to order there because when we went to our table to decide, he beckoned me back to the counter with a hand gesture to order there. I felt I had to rush my order, and he did not avert his gaze from his Apple Watch. He also made us pay upfront—just a cold, dismissive attitude from him.

He gave us dirty utensils. It must have been deliberate because when I went to grab myself some clean ones, all the forks and spoons were spotless. He didn't offer any glasses of water—just lousy service. I felt like this huge burden and unwanted being there.

You probably think I'm a big whinger if you're reading this. And I would be. As I said, I would have just left my experience there and never returned, but then I saw how that waiter treated other guests!!

A Caucasian couple entered after us, and suddenly, that same server was all smiles and friendly. They order their meals without paying upfront. "Please have a seat!" He said with utmost sincerity. He walks them to the table and brings them TWO menus (as opposed to one for us). He didn't beckon them to the counter as he did us. He approached their table and asked, "Are you ready to order?" And then he brought them glasses which he didn't for us!

$81 for two curries, dated decor, dirty utensils, and terrible service is flushing your money down the drain. Please don't make the same mistake that I did.

I'm not sure what we did to deserve such bad treatment at Bhoj, but I will never return...

Prepare yourself, you better hope your tongue has a seatbelt because this tasty establishment is about to take you on a spiritual and mouthwatering journey directly to India.

After reading the multiple positive reviews I’m happy to report that my expectations were not only met, but greatly exceeded. Cancel any plans you have after this meal because you will experience a full body food coma that will last for at least two hours (from personal experience).

Specifically, I would recommend the eggplant pachadi but be careful - your tastebuds might explode.

In summary, I don’t think you’ve truly been to Katherine until you’ve been to...

Am a Katherine local and I love this place. For me its our best local restaurant. The food is amazing, the tastes and the smells coming out of that kitchen is just as good as good if not better than any Indian restaurants in Darwin. Have had take away & dined in. Last time I came, we had 15+ of our friends at our table. I wondered how long it would take for everyone to receive their meals. To my surprise everyone received their orders in a reasonable time. Everyone loved their food. DJ, the host, and the lady bringing us our meals, were both very friendly and accommodating. We will continue to come here! Please don’t leave...