Spice Village Hanmer Springs — Restaurant in Canterbury

I don't usually write these reviews, but given that we ate here last night based on the posted Google reviews, I'm sharing our experience to provide some balance.

I'll preface this review with an acknowledgement that the restaurant may have been understaffed or extra-busy (not able to validate that other than we saw a fairly steady stream of takeaway meals being picked up).

Our low rating for atmosphere also was for the lower-level area that we sat in; there is an upper level with booths, and most people were seated up there (and the staff were focused on that area of the restaurant - see comments below). That may have been more atmospheric?

Key points: We arrived at 7pm. From the time of our order being taken (10-15 minutes after arriving), it took about another 10-15 minutes for our drinks to arrive. It took over an hour for our food to arrive after ordering (and that may have only happened after I politely questioned the staff for an update on where our meal was - if that was the case, it may have contributed to our poor experience with the meal itself). No wait staff came around the lower level between ordering and meal service, other than drinks delivery and to seat/take orders from the other 3 tables. We did not receive all items ordered (but were not billed for them either). So obviously missed when the order was taken by the waitress when entering it onto her tablet. The atmosphere in the lower level was non-existent. Not helped by another table across from us wondering when the staff were going to come to them/when their food was coming, while the other two tables in that area received their food before us, even though they came in between 15-30 minutes later. This may of course be a function of the food they ordered being quicker to prepare, or batched with a similar order by other tables? The food itself was disappointing. Please note we eat a lot of Indian food in Melbourne/elsewhere as it is our go-to food for eating out. We're also blessed with a couple of exceptional restaurants in our little town west of Melbourne, but I would note we had a brilliant Indian meal in Wellington. So it isn't just an Australian thing :)

• The butter chicken was exceedingly runny (all the ones I've ever had were quite creamy), and the chicken was in large lumps. While the gravy itself was moderately tasty, the chicken just tasted likely chicken :( -- Our other two mains (Zafrani Chicken - Signature dish - and Lamb Bhuna Gosht) were bland - the meat tasted just like meat (again, just bug chunks of lamb in the Bhuna Gosht), and the gravies in both did not have any real distinctive tates/highpoints to them. Very un-Indian

Recommendations: Please inform customers, at ordering, as to the expected wait period for drinks/food to be served, and update them after 20 or 30 minutes if there are delays. This allows customers to make informed decisions about whether they want to stay or go elsewhere. Staff should read back the order so we can ensure it was taken corrrectly. Even when busy, have staff circulate to some extent through the lower level area, some eye contact and a bit of conversation to assist with atmosphere. Obviously a restaurant can't always marinate meats in gravies to infuse some flavour to the meat, or to add some taste to it, but some scarring/tearing of the meat to allow some infusion. And perhaps some pre-preparation of the meats - even a dash of lemon or vinegar just to add a bit of flavour, and to also draw in the gravy a bit more by opening the pores of the meat.

Summary: An unfortunately disappointing experience, and likely our poorest meals in 60 years of collective curry eating. Again, we may have just been there on the wrong night. Keeping your customers informed, and even the briefest of staff circulating in the lower level with some eye contact, would be a...

What an incredible meal! I googled what was available for delivery because we just sold our car and I was too tired to cook. I had never tried Spice Village before, had only been to Indian Springs (which is also very good and has a different selection which is great). Since it came up with delivery I thought I'd give it a go. At first I was disappointed because I always go for Saag Paneer or Palak Paneer when I go for Indian food, but saw neither on the menu. Everything else sounded delicious anyway with lots of veggie options, so I figured I'd go a little nuts and order a whole bunch of different stuff to try and see what I liked. I wound up spending $65.50 for just me! And well.... I liked everything I ordered. My favorite thing was the item I was most skeptical about which was a great surprise (Veg Manchurian).

The workers are really really great too. I put in my order online because I don't use a cell phone, and realized something went wrong when it said my order was finalized but I never put in an address. So I hurried to track down where I'd put my old sim cards, had to make something to open the dumb sim slot of the 9 year old busted screen iphone from the cabinet, bought credit which took 10 minutes because of the busted screen, and then called the shop to hear that they weren't able to do their usual deliveries at the moment due to staff shortage (I don't know why that wasn't online on the third party website that does their online orders, it said free delivery over $50 still. Maybe I missed something somewhere in my rush to get food asap lol). I felt so bad when I finally was able to call them because I had to tell him I would come in, but I have no car and it's a 40 minutes walk. And guess what he did? Delivered anyway! What amazing service. After the whole process of hurrying to get a working phone I was stressed out and feeling bad for the trouble. I was prepared to ask them to fridge it for me and I'd get it on my lunch break the next day but he said he would bring it to me, and I am so grateful because it was SO good. Just ate some leftovers before writing this. Delicious food and really kind, understanding, and great service. Thank you guys so so much! Will definitely order again, and highly recommended. I had ordered the Veg Mughlai (medium heat was great with the creamy sauce, and not too spicy for a white girl), the Vegetarian Platter, Garlic Cheese Naan, and the Veg Manchurian (my favorite). I did not love the samosas from the platter as they were fairly dry as samosas seem to be, but still tasty. I dunk them in sauce anyway and the flavour was nice. The naan might just be the best naan I've ever had out of the 3 countries I've eaten Indian food in too. Thanks so much guys! Can't appreciate you enough. It really made my night, and after being exhausted again from work today, coming home to the leftovers was...

What a massive waste of time. We booked ahead, then arrived in good time and were told there may be a half hour wait. We were hungry, but said 'Okay, no problem, thanks for letting us know.' We ordered. I asked if we could sit at a table with backs on the chairs, but were told the only available table was the high option with stools. Then, for the rest of the night, several other tables sat empty. Half an hour passed. No food. Fine, we thought. Forty five minutes passed. No food. By this point we were getting quite hungry. An hour passed. No food. Plus our backs were starting to ache from the high stools. We began googling other restaurants and options in the area. An hour and fifteen minutes passed. No food. We began asked again if we could move to a lower table. Nope. All the while, Spice Village was sending out large numbers of takeaway orders. Big bags of them. AN HOUR AND A HALF PASSED. We could have watched the whole Toy Story, or March Of The Penguins, or Spinal Tap in this time... We could have gone to a different restaurant, ordered, eaten and returned, and still be waiting... We could have hiked up Hanmer's Conical Hill and come back and still have to wait. Instead, we watched as more and more takeaways went out... Finally, our food arrived. It was okay, pretty average. We were offered no complimentary drinks, no discount, no poppadoms, nothing. The staff were pleasant, but I cannot help feel the business may be understaffed in the kitchen and the management or owners are responsible for this great waste of time. We were not the only table waiting this long. Spice Village, your staff and your customers deserve better. Looking down through your reviews I can see other people had to wait two hours. Seriously, what gives? I paid the full price...