Clove Chill And Grill Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

So, before I start this review in earnest, I just want to start by explaining how the "all you can eat" deal at the Clove Chill And Grill Indian Restaurant works, because let me be honest, in the multiple years I've been doing food reviews here on Google, this was by far one of the most complicated, convoluted ordering systems I have ever experienced. Especially for something as straightforward as "All you can eat".

Let me explain.

So the experience, like it almost always does, starts with a menu.

Your waitress/waiter will explain to you that you are able to order absolutely anything you want off the menu, as long as you adhere to the following rules.

The ordering process is done in traditional course order. However, once you complete a course, you cannot go backwards. For example, you've completed entrees, moved to mains, but now you want to go back and have another entree. No. Not here.

Depending on the course, you are able to make multiple selections from the menu, depending on the amount of people in your party, but once you make a selection, you are locked into that selection, effectively meaning that you can't 'try the entire menu.' So if I order a chicken korma and my friend orders a butter chicken, we are able to reorder those two dishes as many times as we want, but we can only reorder those two dishes. We can't reorder anything else other than those two dishes that we have pre-selected.

The obvious downside to this is if I am feeling adventurous, and I want to try something new, but I don't like what I've ordered after tasting it, well, bad luck. Once you've made your selection, you can't change it.

Both entrees and mains, you are allowed to reorder your pre-selected options as many times as you want, but with desserts, you only get one shot at it. Which is a genuine shame considering that they're pistachio ice cream is absolutely to die for, and I was told by my waitress that I wasn't allowed to have a second serving, as it wasn't in their policy.

So with all of that being said, I think we've established that while it is technically "all you can eat", it's definitely not in the spirit in which it's usually offered.

Price-wise, $32.50 each, it's really not a bad price point for what they're offering.

The food quality was pretty okay without being anything overly special. By far, not the worst Indian we have ever had, but definitely nowhere near the best either.

And in terms of customer service, we really couldn't fault them. Both waitresses that served us throughout the course of our seating were more than pleasant, explained how their system worked to us in a polite manner, explained what we could and couldn't do etc.

Overall, it was an extremely interesting experience. Probably not one I would be in a hurry to go back and have again if I'm honest, I genuinely do believe that the way they advertise their "all you can eat" is a little bit disingenuous, but once again, at the price point they're asking, some people may find...

Unfortunately, Google won’t allow me to give a zero star so the one will have to do. Regarding Clove’s new ‘all you can eat' buffet experience, I note the following:

Firstly, your impression of an all you can eat restaurant … you can throw it out the window at Clove. Who would think there are terms and conditions to an ‘all you can eat’?

When you’re first seated, you’re told you can only choose three entrée’s and only two mains. Upon clarification, this meant it was not ‘all you can eat’, rather it was all you can eat of the three entrée’s and two mains.

Don’t get too excited, you must also finish your entire plate before being allowed to reorder. To put this into perspective, I had one potato left on my plate and I was told I had to eat it, or no other meals would come out.

Now when you have done the dishwashers job of cleaning the plates, you are fortunate enough to get new plates. However, don’t think you’re going to get new cutlery. Yes, you must use the same cutlery with a fresh plate …

I would recommend Clove to reconsider the wording displayed on their signage out the front as some may be led to believe they are entering an all you can eat experience . The food was acceptable for a local Indian restaurant; however, the experience was further ruined by the insensitive waitress who maintained a permanent sarcastic demeanour throughout the night.

Thank-you for a rather...

I have been coming to Clove regularly over the last couple of months. The flavours of the food are refreshing, and caters to any palate, from those new to Indian cuisine, as well as for those who are seasoned spice hunters. Serving portions are deceivingly filling, and everything we've had form the menu has been a winner. The flavours you find as you consume the food is a wonderful experience to behold, and is washed down well with a trusty glass (or jug) of mango lassi, which is also a necessity.

In regard to pricing, Clove maintain a competitive price point for their food in comparison to other Indian restaurants in the area, and in my opinion, is good value for money. I look forward to attending Clove for the coming years; it is a gem of an Indian restaurant, and I look forward to continuing to be a patron for many...