Desi tadka — Restaurant in Ottawa

I was excited about this new place, as we love Indian food.

I chose several dishes, plus naan. Pricy for two at $87 with tax and tip, but since they’re new, their site offered a 20% off code for your first 2 orders. Unfortunately, the site wouldn’t accept the code, but I ordered anyway, and drove to Bells Corners pick it up.

See this description from their site for one dish:

“MIX VEGETABLE Mix veg curry is made by cooking a mixture of vegetables together in a traditional Indian onion-tomato gravy. The dish is characterized by multiple flavours due to the addition of many vegetables which also makes it quite nutritious."

On opening this dish, we saw chunks of paneer cheese inside. It was really a cheese dish with veggies.

I’m careful looking at menus due to lactose intolerance. Many of their items contain cheese, each mentioning the cheese, so ordering one that didn’t say it had seemed safe enough.

I called the restaurant to complain about both the cheese, and their naan being doughy and undercooked.

I was passed to the owner. I explained why I have to avoid cheese. His response was to defend the dish & their menu. I should’ve known it would have cheese in it because it is a veggie dish, and "across India this is how they eat". He said it’s normal to treat cheese as if it’s a vegetable, and I should expect it. I said cheese isn’t a vegetable - he did agree but said it was normal in a veggie dish, so they don’t mention it. I said they need to be clear on the menu. He said it was up to me to inform them of any allergies.

Lactose intolerance isn’t an allergy. I can eat it, but I need to know so I can take Lactase pills. If they don’t mention the cheese, things could end up bad later.

I also mentioned the naan. He said something about Covid staffing issues. I said that’s not an excuse for it not being cooked. He agreed but claimed he wasn’t blaming Covid, just mentioning it.

When people report trouble in a review, others say they should work it out with the restaurant prior to a review. I tried that - right away. Instead of an apology and an offer to right things, I got aggressive excuses. Apparently I’m to expect food to have cheese in a veggie dish with no warning, and I should also expect undercooked naan due to staffing issues.

Frustrated, I said he should’ve apologized instead of making excuses. He insisted that he didn’t make excuses, and asked what I wanted, offering a 20% discount on another order.

I said that due to his response, I won’t order again, so a discount won’t work. He asked what I wanted. I suggested refunding those dishes. He said OK, but couldn’t do it over the phone - I’d have to come in. I’d ordered online so it was the only way. I understand he has a technical limitation but I shouldn’t have to go back. I was also uncomfortable going in after that call. I said that I didn’t want to go back, he complained about how long I’d held him up on the call as he was busy and there was nothing he could help me with.

I didn’t get a refund. I’ll survive.

Food review: The other dishes we ordered were good. The Tandoori Chicken was different, but we enjoyed it. The Chicken Roganjosh seemed to use coated chicken - but it wasn’t too bad. The Amritsari Channe was great, and I recommend it. The plain rice was good, but a tiny order for two people. The naan was bad, and not edible.

I understand errors & growing pains for a new business but doubt I’d order again based on this confrontation. He was argumentative - he could have admitted fault and gone straight to a resolution. It was stressful and left me very upset. I’d probably give them another chance had it gone better. I'd certainly rate them higher if they had handled this well.

I hope they fix their menu wording, and find better ways to handle if things go wrong - and solve their staffing issues so they can master the naan. Naan is critical to a good Indian meal.

They have potential to be very good. I don’t want to put people off as they likely have many good dishes. But be cautious about your order, especially if you don’t...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

If you’re craving a genuine North Indian breakfast that transports you straight to the lanes of Amritsar, look no further than this hidden gem. During my recent visit, I sampled their aloo paratha, aloo kulcha, and a steaming cup of chai, and every bite was a nostalgic reminder of the flavors I grew up with in Punjab. • Aloo Paratha Flaky layers encasing a well-spiced potato filling—crispy on the outside, tender and buttery on the inside. The chutney and dollop of fresh homemade yogurt on the side elevated it to perfection. • Aloo Kulcha Soft, pillowy dough kissed by the tandoor, generously stuffed with spiced potatoes. The lightly charred edges and that hint of smoky aroma made it one of the best kulchas I’ve had outside of Amritsar. • Tea Rich, creamy, and robustly spiced—just the way Punjabi chai should be. The brewing technique gave it body and depth, and the sweetness level was spot on.

Beyond the food, the warm hospitality really stood out. The owner greeted me with genuine warmth and humility, checking in to make sure everything was to my liking. Portion sizes were generous without being overwhelming, and the prices felt exceptionally fair given the quality and authenticity on offer.

Whether you’re a die-hard desi food lover or just someone looking for a hearty, flavorful meal, this place is a winner. Can’t wait to go back and try more...

I saw on this restaurant’s official Facebook page that they were offering a buffet today from 12 PM to 8 PM. To confirm, I even called at 11:45 AM and spoke with a staff member who assured me the buffet would be available. Based on that, we decided to visit.

However, upon arriving, the experience quickly turned uncomfortable. The staff clearly appeared displeased with our decision to go for the buffet instead of ordering à la carte. It was awkward and disappointing to feel like we were being judged for choosing an option they themselves advertised and confirmed over the phone.

The girl who initially said the buffet was available came over and told us it would take 15 minutes. It wasn’t the wait that bothered us—it was the clear irritation on their faces and the unwelcoming attitude. At one point, we even noticed them pointing toward us and referring to us as “the customers who wanted the buffet,” as if we were a nuisance.

If you’re going to offer a buffet, either commit to it with proper service or don’t advertise it at all. No one deserves to be treated like that for choosing something that’s clearly listed as an option.

Customer service is just as important as food—and this visit left a very bad taste. I’d rather go somewhere where the staff respects the customers’ choices and doesn’t make them feel unwelcome for simply ordering what...