The Great India, Christchurch — Restaurant in Christchurch

I have ordered from this restaurant many times, but tonight was the last. They made a mistake with our pickup order, which was placed online through their website and it turned into quite a bizarre situation. I realised the 4 additional rice portions I ordered weren't in the bag. No big deal, I thought. I was in a good mood, good enough to ignore the additional 25 minutes I waited in the restaurant (beyond the time I was quoted for when our order would be ready), and happy to drive back without a fuss for the parts of the order they forgot. I thought it would be as simple as ringing them and going back to pick it up. Then, the person on the phone informed me that they had accidentally given me 4 plain naan instead of the 4 additional rice portions I ordered. We has also ordered naan, so I didn't notice. We had guests over, and the order was for quite a few people, with numerous mains, sauces, and other bits. Instead of just telling us to come back and get the rice, they held it hostage with bizarre request: BRING BACK THE PLAIN NAAN. I was shocked, and double checked what they had asked just to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. So, you've inconvenienced me by messing up my order (which means I have to drive back) and now you want the sweaty bread back that you accidentally gave me, before you will give me what I actually ordered? Yes. I hadn't misunderstood. The unwrtten rule that the customer gets to keep whatever you've accidentally given them was off the table. Were they going to serve the naan to another customer, eat them, or just chuck them in the bin? Were things that bad for people in the restaurant industry? I wondered. My friends and I had gone out of our way over the past two years to support this restaurant with direct orders rather than delivery app purchases, not wanting to cut into their profit. There I was, standing in my kitchen and sifting through stacks of flacid naan, looking for the ones they had mistakenly put in my bag (I had ordered garlic naan, but was on the hunt for plain) before being able to head out the door. My guests were shocked. Kids running around, steaming bags of food. Everyone was hungry. I told the person on the phone that it was a bizarre request and that I wouldn't be ordering from them again, but as hostage situations sometimes go, they didn't back down. I drove back to the restaurant, handed over the fingered naan, and the bag was snatched from my hand without so much as an apology, and I was then given the rice I ordered. Thumbs down. Do...

The Great India is a Great place indeed! If you love delicious curries prepared to what your taste buds can handle then you'll love this place. We dined in and found the restaurant incredibly lively with bouncy Bollywood music bringing the establishment to life. We were greeted by a very warm and hospitable lady at the doors and were given the seat we desired. Our waitress was very professional and had a pleasant personality. We ordered a bit more than what we could chew but this was because the menu was so enticing at whetting our appetite. Each dish was a divine sub continental delight. However, our favourites came from the entrees including the beautifully battered gurnard pakoda and the sensational homemade samosas. Their naan and kulcha breads were absolutely heavenly for mopping up every drop of delicious sauce on our plate and we left replete and super satisfied. The restaurant also caters for takeaways and it looks like this is a popular part of their business. I really hope the locals get behind this wonder establishment. I always love discovering these suburban treasures and I cannot wait to return. Thankyou The Great India, you have a splendid front and back team. Well...

Ordered delivery online, but something like an hour and a half after due time, food had still not appeared. Multiple phone calls (and just hanging up on me twice!) later, it did eventually turn up, but by then we had given up on Indian food and already cooked own dinner. By the time the food was delivered, it was now only luke warm anyway. I asked for a refund but was told they don't do online refunds, and I would need to make a special trip to restaurant to request it in person.

Given I am only paid for the hours I work, taking the time off to request over the counter would cost me the value of any refund - assuming request even accepted!.

I accept that sometimes s*&t just happens, and am sure everyone was doing their best, but this was a very poor experience, and there was no evidence of any system in place, or even any particular desire to make things right for the customer when they do drop the ball.

Can't comment of the food, since we never...