BailwalG pure vegetarian restaurant — Restaurant in Bay of Plenty

It's already been half a year since I ate here, but it crossed my mind again, and I want to give them the recognition they deserve. Looking for vegan food late in the evening during our road trip, we stumbled upon this restaurant.

The food was authentic. Not just good, or amazing like in restaurants where they cater to taste buds craving sweet and salt by adding more sugar and more salt. Here the food is REAL genuine Indian. I couldn't imagine getting this quality and authenticity anywhere else than in an excellent restaurant in India, or maybe in the home of an Indian family with excellent cooking skills. I've eaten in many Indian restaurants in many countries, and BailwalG is simply the most authentic I've been to, and by far! Which is probably also confirmed by the fact that so many customers there were Indian themselves: they know where the real Indian food is.

The service was friendly, helpful and humble. Vegan options (and also Jain options) are clearly labeled and there are many on the huge menu! The prices were also inexpensive in New Zealand terms, so we ordered around 10 different dishes to relish this authentic culinary experience, and to have some left for the next day during our road trip.

Humble and authentic. I would give bonus stars on top of the 5 stars if I could. And I could only wish that this genuine Indian quality would be closer to my home as well. If you're vegan and coming to Rotorua: you have to go to BailwalG. And if you're not vegan: you still need to go there!

One feedback point for the restaurant: adding a vegan mango lassi (using coconut milk) to the drinks menu...

The dining experience at this establishment was thoroughly disappointing, characterized by subpar food quality and lackluster presentation. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that the culinary offerings fell short of expectations. The dishes we sampled left much to be desired, with a noticeable staleness pervading the entire meal. As an enthusiast of Indian cuisine, I was particularly disheartened by the lack of authenticity and care evident in the preparation.

Starting with the tomato soup, its unnaturally vibrant red hue hinted at artificial additives, while the texture and taste failed to impress. The momos, a staple of Indian cuisine, were a letdown; their outer coating appeared undercooked, leaving an unpleasant texture in each bite. Even the samosa chat, a classic appetizer, was a disappointment due to its burnt exterior, prompting us to return it.

Furthermore, the main course offerings, such as the lasooni gobi, lacked the promised flavors and ingredients. Despite its name, the dish was devoid of garlic and failed to deliver the anticipated taste profile, rendering it bland and unmemorable.

Moreover, the thali options, typically a highlight of Indian dining, were lackluster. Upon inspection, the displayed thali appeared to have been prepared hours earlier, resulting in a lack of freshness and vibrancy.

In conclusion, based on our experience, I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to fellow diners seeking authentic Indian cuisine. With its myriad shortcomings, from food quality to presentation, there are undoubtedly better options...

I had high expectations and on paper it seems quite unique and different to what other Indian restaurants in New Zealand are offering. Positives: Pure vegetarian menu. Nearly 160 options to choose from. Food ranges from Indian street food, South and North Indian cuisine, Indo-Chinese and thalis-which is a platter of different dishes in one. Doesn’t force you to have rice with curry like every other Indian restaurant in the country. Quite friendly on budget.

Negatives: Food- The taste. While I try to cut some slack here, it just kept getting worse and worse. The chat was decent, although the samosa in samosa chat was undercooked with raw dough. The main course of BailwalG thali was a disaster. The dal makhni had a weird gamy stink, the shahi paneer had a bitter aftertaste. Indo-Chinese was yuck- fried rice felt dead, frozen veggies served with flavorless instant rice. Manchurian was rubbery and the gravy felt like diluted vinegar. This part of the thali was better not served. Naan was good. The service was terrible, it took was 10 minutes to just figure out will someone come to take our order or should we go and do it. Some people had their orders taken, some did not. There was a shortage of menus as well. The interior was dark and shabby. Hygiene issues! A major red flag. Cutlery had soap residue from dishwasher, everything was greasy and smelled like soap. The water bottle provided to us had a black residue on the cap.

Overall this place has all the right ideas but...