The Taj Indian Cuisine Ltd. — Restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie

Worst experience we've ever had. We ordered 2 appetizers, 4 curries, a chicken biryani, rotis, naans and 2 beers.

One of the appetizers was supposed to be a sizzler but the dishes came out barely warm. We didn't voice any complaints and waited for our mains. The curries, when they came, were warm enough but the serve sizes, we felt, were very small. I literally counted 8 small pieces of paneer and chicken in the 2 curries. The 3rd was a dhal which was again more cream than lentils. The chicken biryani was advertised as boneless but came out with 2 drumsticks. The rotis were half raw. And we felt the 2 beers we ordered might have been served wrong since they tasted the same.

We asked our server about the biryani and after some consultation with the kitchen, we were told that the "boneless" was a printing error. We complained about the rotis and they promptly decided to replace those. The unfortunate part was that our curries were now completely cold while we waited for a new batch. They offered to make us a boneless chicken biryani but after looking at the serve sizes of the curries, we decided it wasn't worth the steep cost and declined their offer. We also let them know that we wouldn't pay for the biryani.

After the second batch of (now overcooked/ slightly burnt and papad like) rotis were here and we started eating, our server (we assume on the direction of the owner), asked us if we want the bill. We told them we would wait till everyone is done eating. We weren't even asked for any desserts. It seemed like they were ready to have us gone.

We also noticed that the couple who own and run the business, came around to see who we were. However, they did not come to the table to speak with us. We noticed they were more involved on tables where customers were more content with their experience while we were purposely ignored.

By the time we were ready to leave, the restaurant was empty of all other customers. We took this as an opportunity to let the owners know of our personal experience at their restaurant as we are not one to post online reviews. We asked our server to see the owners. When the lady came out, we tried explaining what went wrong but instead of listening to what we had to say, we were met with hostility.

Not a minute into the conversation, her husband comes out and the first thing he decides to yell out is "what the hell is happening here!?". He was completely out of line, rude, almost violent, and completely unwilling to listen to what we had to say. Instead, he complained that we were the only ones complaining today. He decided it was good manners to call my father a drunk just because 2 beers were served to our table. The fact was that my father hadn't even had one, not today, not ever in his life. He threatened to call 911 and tried intimidating us with security cameras. It was clear to us that they were the least interested in any feedback that wasn't positive.

We have eaten at many restaurants but never has anyone responded with such violent hostility towards simple feedback. Should we have made an issue in front of other customers? Maybe that would have allowed others to see their behavior. Is it too much to ask for warm, properly cooked food? Is it our fault to expect boneless chicken when the menu advertises it as such? Or is it the chef's prerogative to serve us whatever they desire? Is it not possible that the wrong beer was served to us? Is posting an online review the only way to give your honest feedback? In this case, perhaps so.

Just because of how big and diverse the Indian cuisine is, we could very easily agree that every restaurant has a slightly different recipe. Yes, we didn't love the flavor of the food we were served but that was never an issue. The least we expect is a fresh, warm, cooked meal. It also would have been nice if the serve sizes were better.

If the owners had the humility to hear us out, the above paragraph was the only point we were trying to make. Instead, the issue this entire review is about is their customer service. I would never recommend...

So this review will be a 2 parter, first to address the most glaring flaw, the racism. The use of the term Hakka to describe their Chinese fair.

See, my wife is Chinese-Hakka. My daughter is thus half-hakka. These are an established people, with over 80 million ethnic Hakkas worldwide. They have their own language, unique culture, and foods. There is a large diaspora in Canada, Thailand, India, Taiwan, and other south East Asian countries. This is something quite google-able. My wife speaks Hakka. My wife's mother is from India, from Calcutta, and my wife grew up with both traditional Hakka and Indian food. There is definitely some blended Asian influences in some dishes shared.

Now why would you think I would bring this up? Well, the owner doesn't seem to understand that Chinese-Indian food is not automatically Hakka. He also doesn't think Hakka are a people with their own language or their own customs. I know this, because he told me this to my face, infront of my Hakka wife.

Now this wouldn't just be offensive, but he's also conflating Mandarin (and Szechuan with Hakka, which are not mutually exchangeable. Hakka does not mean Indian/Chinese fusion just some Hakka dishes being a fusion dish. Now this normally wouldn't be a problem, some people market use other people's culture to promote an entirely different culture all the time. Look at Mulan, who used traditional Hakka structures to represent an entirely different people. But the fact that when I pointed this out and he assured me that my wife's culture didn't exist, he defended himself stating he had more travel experience than me, and he had 30 years of experience in the food industry, which automatically trumps the 30+ years of experience my wife has, at being her own ethnicity and culture, apparently. Well I can tell you, I also have a lot of travel experience, and from this experience, I can tell you Hakka are indeed a people with a vibrant culture and language. Their food is delicious and bears little resemblance to anything this man has claimed to be Hakka.

I ordered chili chicken (laat gao gay in Hakka) and I asked for Hakka style noodles, which he immediately tried to correct to Szechuan or mandarin. Well, the noodles the were fine but they weren't Hakka noodles. I've had a lot of different versions of Szechuan noodles, Hakka noodles and the like from different restaurants. Shout out to old school Kim Kim in Scarborough, and that one Hakka joint upstairs, in downtown Toronto, which name escapes me, which are both ethnically Hakka. Wong in Scarborough is definitely a superior noodle that is less greasy and more filling.

As for the chili chicken, I would compare it to a very sweet dog food, which description lists as fried chicken covered with sauce, but I would describe it more as shrivelled up soggy day-old chicken nuggets from Burger King, drenched in sauce that I would say is both salty, yet somehow flavorless.

Last I ordered an Indian dessert. My wife particularly enjoys the jalebi, an orange Indian dessert. It's sweet and reminiscent of my wife's childhood, but unfortunately was plagued by being stale, as if they were made a few days ago and left out or in the fridge. Little India in Toronto would be a far better experience for it, but what really rubs the salt in the wound for this piss poor experience is the cost.

The cost of the food was 44$ for a single noodle dish, a cup of chili chicken and this dessert. The noodle dish was actually what I expected in term of quantity. It wasn't bad, filled a decent sized container and for the north seemed like what I would expect to spend.

Chili chicken (see photo) was about a cup and a half of sauce, chicken and a pathetic amount of peppers for 14.99$ now would I call this worth it? I would have liked to see the container at least half full. It was a rather insulting amount of food for what is essentially 4$ worth of ingredients.

Last the Indian dessert was 6$ and was completely unreasonable for what I would call garbage tier Indian fair. Overall, bad showing...

This enchanting restaurant nestled in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie has indelibly etched itself into the memory of its discerning clientele. From the moment we crossed its threshold, it became evident that we were in for an extraordinary dining sojourn. Manmayi, our waitress, distinguished herself with her impeccable service, exuding a profound mastery of the menu that was nothing short of remarkable. She adeptly navigated the labyrinthine offerings with consummate finesse, guiding us through a cornucopia of culinary delights that were not only delectable but also presented with a meticulous artistry, a veritable symphony for both the palate and the eyes. What's more, the expansive menu offered an embarrassment of riches, ensuring that every gastronomic predilection found ample gratification.

A salient facet that unequivocally elevates this establishment is its unwavering commitment to the culinary tradition of Halal, endowing it with an aura of inclusivity that transcends culinary boundaries. Connoisseurs of authentic Indian cuisine, in particular, will find themselves ensconced in a veritable epicurean paradise. The flavors on offer were nothing short of authentic and harmoniously balanced, eschewing any excesses in oiliness or capsaicin-induced fervor. A culinary opus that elicited fervent admiration was the Chicken 65 – an unequivocal tour de force.

The holistic dining experience that unfolded was nothing short of a spectacular gastronomic odyssey. Each dish, freshly concocted and delivered to our table, transcended the realm of mere sustenance. Our host, astutely cognizant of the nuances of our culinary proclivities, bespoke a personalized gastronomic journey, proffering recommendations that bespoke a profound appreciation for the culinary arts. Such meticulous attention to detail is the veritable sine qua non that has catapulted this establishment into the echelons of the highly acclaimed.

The opulent portions of Lamb and Chicken repasts, accompanied by fragrant rice, verdant vegetables, and delectable Naan bread, assured an encore in the form of leftovers to be savored at a later juncture. Despite the bustling thoroughfare that flanked the establishment, we elected to partake of our repast al fresco on the patio, a choice made easy by the superlative gastronomy and service that defied the ambient cacophony. Sapna, our affable server, not only epitomized friendliness but also donned the mantle of an epicurean oracle, providing invaluable counsel in the realm of victual selection.

Adding a dash of whimsical charm to the proceedings was the resplendent, dented copper cutlery, bestowing upon the milieu a shabby chic allure. A felicitous surprise awaited us as the waitress graced our table with warm plates, thus elevating the culinary experience to one of sensory delight. Suffice it to say, a subsequent sojourn to this esteemed establishment is not merely a possibility but an eagerly anticipated rendezvous with gastronomic...