Marhaba Restaurant Victoria(Indian & Arabic) — Restaurant in Saanich

EDIT: The response to this review is a blatant lie.

The staff offered no sincere apology, the wait was 25 minutes after the buffet was advertised to be open, and NO free meal was offered (as stated), not that I expected one.

To fail once and earnestly improve afterwards is admirable, to fail and then flat-out lie is a new trend in public gaslighting, and is both weak and deplorable.

Negative five stars.

Original review: I'm a freelance secret consumer for several outlets, and this month I've been hired to review Indian buffets in Victoria, B.C. I'm going to start writing brief synopses of my experiences and the articles/reports I submit, and post them on Google for the public to enjoy.

Buffet Hours: Weekends, 11:30am - 3:00pm

Price: $21.99 per person (notably higher than other local buffets)

I arrived promptly at 11:30am for the weekend buffet at Marhaba Indian Restaurant. At the door, I joined a group of about 20 people who seemed to be part of a large extended family. We were told the buffet would open in ten minutes, which seemed reasonable as staff were still arranging fresh dishes.

However, things became disorganized. A photographer appeared and began setting up a photoshoot around the buffet, further delaying the opening. After 15 minutes, an attendant came to my table (which was in a separate room from the group's) and told me the buffet was ready. As I approached the food, another staff member stopped me, saying the buffet was still not ready and he asked me to sit down again.

Ten more minutes passed. The attendant who had told me to sit down came back and, once again, informed me that the buffet was open. By now, the group had lined up around the buffet, but it remained unavailable.

I pointed out to the attendant that the buffet was now 25 minutes late. I expressed concern that this was disrespectful to customers, to which he replied, "Yes, well, we have a photo shoot today." I suggested the shoot should have been scheduled 30 minutes before opening, and he simply said, "I'm sorry."

My other work requires me to manage a customer service team of 13, and I frequently have to make quick decisions on how best to satisfy any reasonably (I stress that word) disgruntled or disappointed customer. The customer is not always right, but when they are, and you or your staff are not, I believe it's essential to at the very least express some empathy for the customer's situation.

As a critic and consumer, I'm not looking for freebies, but when the other company I work for is late in delivering what we promise, we have a pre-approved sliding scale of discounts that anyone on the team can apply if they feel it's appropriate, all the way from 10% off to free. This allows even the most inexperienced customer service associate to make a logical decision if they feel that the situation warrants more than understanding, empathy and compassion. If only all businesses trusted and empowered their employees as much as our owners do for our managers and staff. And by the way, I was dealing with a manager.

I find it ironic that a promo shoot was prioritized over actual customer service. I left without spending my hard-earned money, won't be back and do not recommend.

Do...

Yesterday marked our first visit to this restaurant, and to say we were impressed would be an understatement. Every aspect—from the ambiance to the quality of food and service—was exceptional.

The ambiance is thoughtfully curated around a gold theme, featuring golden lighting, chairs, glassware, silverware, and even salt and pepper shakers, all harmoniously blending to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The food quality aligns perfectly with this high standard. We ordered Chicken Mandi, Lamb Karai, and Lamb Biryani, each dish clearly prepared with care and authenticity. Notably, the Mandi—a traditional Arab dish—is a rare find in Victoria, and this restaurant serves what we consider the best Mandi we have ever tasted, surpassing even those we have enjoyed in Vancouver.

The Chicken Karai was flavorful, though slightly saltier than our preference, and the accompanying naan was hot, soft, and delicious. The Biryani was excellent as well, sparking a friendly debate between my wife and I about whether it surpassed other local favorites, but both agreed it ranks among the best in Victoria.

Contrary to some earlier reviews mentioning hard Mandi rice, our experience was of perfectly cooked and well-spiced rice. We left thoroughly satisfied, taking leftovers home that provided a hearty lunch today. Additionally, the restaurant offers an extensive selection of Indian and Arabian drinks, which we look forward to trying on our next visit.

In summary, this was a remarkable first experience, and we fully intend to return frequently, with Mandi being our top choice for...

From the moment we entered the restaurant, the staff had seated us instantly. The decor of the restaurant is modern and sophisticated, with beautiful marble tables and cushioned chairs. The wait staff were absolutely amazing, patient, and recommended excellent and exceptional dishes. They were constantly refilling our water and asking how the food tasted; and on top of that they were positive and encouraged us to give them feedback on how they could improve their dinning experience. The food was delicious and delightful with the perfect level of spice and explosive flavours of aromatic Indian and Arabian spices and seasonings. The meals were aesthetically pleasing and the portions were generous and hearty. I greatly appreciate how the wait staff were constantly asking us on how the food was and were genuinely amazing people. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to those who enjoy Indian and Arabian dishes, that are high quality, affordable, and absolutely out of this world. They were always able to understand what we wanted without even needing to say anything! It’s also extremely family friendly and the dishes are filling and cater to kids palates as well. It was a phenomenal and fantastic restaurant that should definitely be on your radar if your looking for amazing halal food...