Spirit of India — Restaurant in Melbourne

Extremely Disappointing Experience - Strongly Discourage Visiting

My family and I recently celebrated our daughter's birthday at Spirit of India, and our experience was nothing short of disappointing. I feel compelled to share our unfortunate encounter with the hope that others can avoid the same situation.

Firstly, we were slapped with an outrageous $200 cleaning fee after one of our guests vomited at the end of the night. While we understand the need for cleanliness, this fee was excessive and felt like an attempt to exploit our situation. Especially considering that their toilets were below standard and there was a bug in a jar of juice that was served. When we brought the bug to the staff's attention, they tried to dismiss it by claiming it was a piece of bark. Regardless of the explanation, there was something foreign in the juice, and their attempt to downplay it was disappointing. This behaviour is not only unprofessional but also unacceptable.

Moreover, we discovered that our remaining alcohol bottles were taken and hidden behind the counter without our consent. When we requested their return at the end of the night, the staff flatly refused. As above, this too was unprofessional and disappointing.

To make matters worse, our interaction with the male owner was beyond disappointing. He exhibited rude behaviour and used unprofessional language. Incredibly, he referred to our party as a "circus," which is particularly ironic considering that they run a business that profits from hosting events like ours.

We have paid a significant amount of money for our special occasion, yet this is how we were treated. We chose Spirit of India to celebrate a special occasion, hoping for a memorable and enjoyable experience. Regrettably, our visit has left us with an overwhelmingly negative impression.

I hope that our feedback serves as a wake-up call for the management to address these issues and ensure that others do not endure similar disappointments.

Any additional fees or hidden charges should have been in writing and mentioned prior to...

I hosted my baby shower last week at Spirit of India, and it turned out to be a distressing ordeal. Despite booking well in advance and confirming details multiple times, the service on the day of the event was disappointing. An aunt at the venue had assured us that the cost would be $40 per person and promised to provide centerpieces and allow us to select the ribbon color for the chairs. I even visited the venue two days prior to the event to finalize these details. However, on the day of the celebration, they completely reneged on their promises, exhibiting unprofessional behavior.

Moreover, without prior notification, they increased the price from $40 to $44. My husband, unaware of the change, paid the amount they quoted. It was only later that he realized the discrepancy. When we confronted them, they denied ever mentioning the original price of $40, which was misleading. Additionally, they charged us for more guests than we actually had. We had trusted them completely and did not take any photographs of the initial agreement that stated $40. To our surprise, the diary they used on the day of the event was different from the one used previously, showing only the $44 charge.

Both the uncle and aunt displayed duplicitous behavior, and I strongly advise others to exercise caution. I recommend avoiding this venue altogether, as their primary intention seems to be to exploit customers. The food we sampled during the booking was satisfactory, but on the day of the event, it was subpar and not worth the expense. It was 36 degrees on that day and they kept turning off AC. We had to ask them to turn it on multiple times.There are numerous other venues that offer a far superior experience. If you still choose to celebrate your special occasion here, ensure that you document all discussions and agreements thoroughly. My experience was disheartening, and I feel compelled to warn others who are investing their...

Had my brother's wedding reception at the smaller hall (downstairs). Food was above par, I would rate it quite good - but everything else was atrocious. Terrible service, very rude and also hidden charges. Had to follow-up the owner Raghbir Singh and his wife Jaspal Kaur on many occasions about food, number of people etc. They did not advise us they had hired security (in the form of a woman standing by the bar) and charged us an additional $300 for this. They should have advised us about this before. When it was time to pay, they argued and said "I don't care" and walked away. We paid only because we didn't want to tarnish the happy occasion of a wedding reception but according to Consumer Law, if there is nothing in writing, we are not required to pay any hidden charges. For somoene that agreed to pay thousands of dollars, the lack of politeness and customer service was disgusting, only to argue for $300. Though the food was good, the owners manner was not acceptable and will not be going back. They have been known to double book before. Please beware and consider your options before deciding to...