Marinades Indian Restaurant Cairns — Restaurant in Queensland

I'm taking time to write this lengthy review not out of spite, but to genuinely warn others from making the same mistake we did. I have dined at hundreds of restaurants around the world, with a particular fondness for Indian cuisine, and I can honestly say this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had, both in terms of food quality and the astonishingly unprofessional service.

We visited Marinades yesterday, lured in by what appeared to be promising reviews. But now, when I checked the reviews thoroughly, I found that most of the reviewers had only posted one or two reviews in total, which raises serious questions about their authenticity.

We started with a Tandoori Chicken Tikka to share. Immediately, we noticed a disturbing aftertaste, almost like perfume or some overly pungent, unnatural spice blend. It was off-putting, but we decided to give the mains a chance, hoping things would improve. I ordered the lamb biryani, which the waiter confidently recommended, while my friend went for a chicken curry (possibly a Kadai).

What followed was an absolute disaster.

The food tasted vile, the meat in both dishes had a deeply unpleasant flavor, as if it had spoiled and someone had attempted to cover it with excessive spice or, frankly, cologne. I genuinely wouldn’t serve that food to an animal, let alone paying customers. I tried a bit of mine, my friend had one bite of his, and we knew we couldn’t eat another mouthful.

We politely raised the issue with the waitress, who brought over another staff member, not to help, but to present the bill. Yes, while we were still in the middle of explaining that the food was inedible and nearly untouched (90% left on the plates), we were essentially told to pay and leave.

We asked for a manager. Instead, a man arrived claiming he wasn’t the manager but had “worked there long enough to handle the issue.” His behavior was rude, dismissive, and utterly devoid of any professionalism. He actually told us he had eaten the same food from “the same pots” earlier and it tasted fine. The implication? That we were lying or overly picky. He seemed more interested in defending the kitchen than addressing a clear and serious customer complaint.

Then, to escalate things further, the chef himself came out while we are still dealing with this rude waiter, not to apologize or seek feedback, but to challenge us. His attitude was aggressive and condescending, asking us what was wrong with the food in a confrontational tone. Before we knew it, we had four staff members gathered around our table, publicly arguing with us and accusing us of creating a scene, when in fact, they were the ones who escalated the situation. Their handling of the matter was not just unprofessional, it was outright intimidating.

To top it all off, both my friend and I woke up today with stomach issues, further confirming our suspicion that the food was not only badly cooked, but potentially unsafe.

In summary: Marinades serves shockingly poor food, hides behind fake reviews, and treats customers with contempt when concerns are raised. This is not just a bad restaurant, it is a health hazard and a textbook example of how not to run a business. Based on this experience, I sincerely hope it is either drastically reformed or shut down before more people fall victim to its awful standards.

Final Verdict: Unsafe food, disgraceful service, and a deeply unpleasant experience. Avoid...

After a long and exhausting day exploring the rainforest, my Mum, my wife, and I were in search of a good Indian restaurant in Cairns central. Based on online ratings, we decided to dine at this place, hoping for a hearty and flavorful meal to end our day.

Ambience & Service

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the staff and promptly guided to our table. The hospitality was commendable, with the staff being both courteous and attentive throughout our visit. The restaurant had a pleasant ambiance, creating a comfortable dining atmosphere. The décor was simple yet inviting, and the overall cleanliness of the place was well-maintained.

Food & Drinks

For our meal, we ordered a variety of dishes, including Paneer Tikka Masala, Daal Tadka, Lahsooni Naan, Cheese & Garlic Naan, Onion Laccha Salad, Mango Lassi, and Masala Soda.

The Paneer Tikka Masala had a decent flavor, though it lacked a bit of the richness and depth we were expecting. The portion size was satisfactory.

The Daal Tadka was comforting and well-cooked, though not particularly extraordinary.

The Lahsooni Naan and Cheese & Garlic Naan were soft and flavorful, pairing well with the gravies.

The Onion Laccha Salad was fresh, adding a crunchy and tangy element to our meal.

The Mango Lassi was refreshing, thick, and well-balanced in sweetness.

The Masala Soda was a good addition, though nothing out of the ordinary.

Value for Money

While the food quality was decent, we found the prices to be on the higher side. However, given the restaurant’s central location, this was understandable. The portion sizes were reasonable, and we didn’t feel shortchanged, but the price-to-taste ratio could have been slightly better.

Overall Experience

The restaurant provided a pleasant dining experience with good service and a comfortable ambiance. The food was decent—not outstanding, but certainly enjoyable. If you’re in Cairns and craving Indian food, this place is a viable option, though it might not leave you completely amazed. The warmth of the staff and the inviting atmosphere made up for any minor shortcomings...

Tonight I tried it for a second time as I was extremely disappointed on my first visit and I thought I'd give em 1 more chance. My reasoning was last time was in the middle of a heat wave and maybe it would be better now as it's been cooler in Cairns and if I go again I won't see sweat beading from all the kitchen staff like last time so there is maybe a possibility of getting a decent Indian meal. I was hungry. I have yet to experience great Indian in Cairns and have been on the hunt as I moved here from Adelaide a year ago where there are many exceptional Indian dining experiences avaliable. I know the owner is going to write a lengthy dispute against my totally honest rating as I can see what he's done when anyone else complains. Reality is your naan is horrible, like some sort of greasy burnt pancake made of uncooked batter. I assume it's the regular as I immediately flashed back to last time on seeing it. The curry tasted better than last time but not great. I couldn't finish more than half. Butter chicken should be your best dish. It's easy to produce high quality good tasting at home but this was more like a post used by dated heat and eat from a servo. Finally the rice was cold and of low quality. I think the business is struggling. I think they are skimping on quality only going for absolute cheapest ingredients. I would not recommend it to anyone. I've tried all of the restraunts at the Marina and you can tell the ones that serve good food based simply on the patron capacity at peak operating times. You had a chance to redeem yourself Marinades. The first time I was there I complained about beef vindaloo and the boss man offered me a discount. He thinks people complain so they can get 10 percent off? No no no. I only go out for dinner as an attempt to find great food. What you are doing will be sure to bankrupt this business. If you reply to this fair review I will copy and paste it to further platforms. And spend time to share my experience about your sub par overpriced slop to as many people as I can. Thankyou for...