Great India Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

While in Adelaide, on the last leg of our four-week holiday, I rang my son Handsome to book a restaurant of his choice of my lunch treat to him when I get back to Wellington. As expected, he Googled for a good Indian restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised, to put it mildly, with the venue and the huge aquarium.

I got there early, I'm always early for dates and appointments, and asked the waiting staff for the table next to the aquarium. Ignoring what I said, he asked how many are there in my party. I said two - my son and me. He pointed and started walking to a table set-up for two. Frankly, I was a bit annoyed, so I barked: Are you saying we CANNOT sit here (with matching death stare). He said, of course Sir, you can sit here. I said GOOD!

Handsome was very satisfied with his order - butter chicken, of course. He always orders butter chicken! I asked what the best item is on the menu and ordered it. Handsome and I were both very impressed! And we were even impressed when we realised that on weekends, lunch is only NZ$12.00 per person, complete with mains, rice and naan bread. What a bargain for the high level of service, the tastefully-appointed venue, and the good quality food. Paolo's favourite Indian restaurant in town, the one in Manners, pales in comparison.

The owner, who supervises the kitchen and mans the cash register, was very efficient and warm. We are definitely coming back! It's just a pity I cannot take my lovely Dianne there, because Indian food doesn't like her, whatever that means.

Para mí,...

This place is not at all authentic in what Indian recipes they are serving. I ordered for a Palak Paneer dish, which is a very simple and age old North Indian recipe know globally and has a standard way of cooking but what Great India served was something not even close to what was expected. I am sure the chef knows how it's cooked, but still he decided to dish me something which was no where close to Palak paneer, just a spiced up watery gravy with cottage cheese cubes.

The worst part is even after telling the attending butler that it was a disaster and disappointing meal considering I was extremely hungry after making a marathon trip from Christchurch by driving up, the reaction was cold showing no courtesy to make it up for their goof up by offering something I would like as a compliment from them. The restaurant manager being an Indian himself was only interested in getting the cheque paid, which again is way to overpriced for the quality and quantity. I am sure since they have lasted for 36 years in business they must have done something right. But it was a horrible experience personally not at all recommended to fellow Indians at least to avoid more such reviews for them, which might affect their loyal kiwi customer base.

Guys don't go Gung ho over your laurels, be genuine in what you are serving. Else those 36 years will start running backwards in no time. And you guys are no where near to be called amongst the best Indian restaurants in New Zealand. I have eaten in much...

The Maître d' spoke briefly with us. He didn't seem to be able to smile and was not warm and friendly with us. At one point, I had to move out of the way so he could reach across the table to get the water bottle and hurriedly pour a spoonful of water into our already full water cups, briskly checking how the meal was before disappearing again.

The male staff didn't smile and barely spoke a word to us, put food on the table in silence and left. They were polite when they talked. The female staff were lovely, named all the dishes as they came out and made an effort to make us feel welcome.

I know all restaurants have their own way of preparing food, but there is usually some connection to other meals of the same time between the different Indian restaurants.

The onion bhaji was so spicy I couldn't eat it.

The butter chicken was not like any other butter chicken I have experienced. The chicken did have the orange colour on the outside of the chicken, but it was the whitest chicken I have ever had. The flavour of the sauce was nice, but again, it was not like any other butter chicken I have experienced before.

The mango kulfi was frozen pieces of almond with slivers of coloured ice holding it all together. It had the consistency of ice cream that had been defrosted and refrozen - icy and like rock. I couldn't easily break it apart...