Mama's Sizzler Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in North Island

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1000/10 A Rare Gem of Hospitality!

We had the absolute pleasure and privilege of celebrating a special birthday dinner at Mama’s Sizzler Restaurant & Bar, and from start to finish, it was nothing short of phenomenal. This wasn’t just a dinner—it was a whole experience, wrapped in warmth, love, and impeccable service.

We were a group of over 20 women just for food no alcohol, and despite the last-minute nature of our reservation, the response and service we received were simply outstanding. From the first message to the moment we (reluctantly!) left well after closing time, everything was handled with grace, care, and true hospitality.

Sandeep, one of the lovely owners with her husband, is a rare heart in the hospitality world. She made us feel like we were visiting family rather than dining at a restaurant. She welcomed us with open arms, genuinely allowed us to decorate the space to our liking, and even helped us set up and pack down. That kind of support is almost unheard of these days!

A huge shoutout as well to Emily, a beautiful soul whose presence and attentiveness did not go unnoticed. The whole team was kind, gracious, and on point with every request—nothing was ever a bother. Every guest felt warmly welcomed and cared for.

The food? Just as incredible. You can taste the love and heart that the owners pour into every dish. Delicious, fresh, and comforting—perfectly matching the vibe of the venue itself: cosy, inviting, and full of soul. Considering the size of our group and our orders being placed upon arrival, the team produced freshly made meals for all and in a timely manner. We had some honest good cooks in our group and they said the food tasted excellent.

Our setup was square tables setup in a long line on the floor space, between booths for other diners and also the bar. The size of the restaurant is perfect, not big or small, just right for intimate and large gatherings. We had a couple of speeches and no mic is needed. There was no additional cost for our own birthday cake or table decorations.

We may have overstayed our welcome (oops, sorry Sandeep! 😅), but it was only because we truly felt at home. This evening was unforgettable, and it wouldn’t have been the same, if it wasn’t at Mama’s Sizzler.

We’ve found our new go-to spot, not just for special occasions, but any time we want to go out to eat and enjoy a meal. Thank you so much...

Note: This is the first time I've ever left a 1-star review anywhere. I wasn't planning to, as my friend had already left one, but I felt compelled to share what happened afterward.

After my friend posted a review mentioning that we found two small pieces of plastic in our food, the restaurant called him over 19 times within a span of 3 hours. When he finally answered, they threatened to take us to court and accused us of lying and that we planted the plastic. They should have camera footage, which we welcome them to share, it would clearly show that we never planted anything nor argued about it.

We booked a table for four using First Table, but only three of us could attend. The restaurant kindly agreed to still honour the 50% discount on four mains. We ordered three curries (which were all delicious), a goat biryani, and several sides. Halfway through the biryani, I noticed a small piece of plastic sticking out. I pointed it out, and one of my friends had already chewed on another piece and put it to the side, thinking it was part of the dish. We immediately informed the manager, who took the dish away (she didn't even apologies btw). We didn't ask for a replacement and simply suggested they remove it from the bill (most places would have easily apologised and remove it from the bill). The dish was only $12.50, so it makes no sense that we would be lying to not pay $12. The manager said she couldn't remove the dish but would "give us 50% off," which we were already getting. We didn't argue and paid the bill without issue since it’s only $12.

We left the review because plastic in food is a serious safety concern, especially for kids. The food was great (except the biryani and the plastic), but the way the restaurant handled the situation, both during and after, was extremely disappointing and unprofessional.

Funny thing is, if they would have apologised and asked us politely to take down the review, we would have. But instead they decided not to take accountability and decided to harass, threaten and lie - for this reason we we'll never be going back...

We had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant. We reserved through First Table for four people and paid the reservation fee accordingly. One friend couldn’t make it, so three of us showed up and asked the staff if we could still order four mains since we had booked for four. They confirmed that was fine. One of the mains we ordered was the Goat Biryani. Unfortunately, while eating we found not one but two plastic pieces in the dish — and since we were eating quickly, we may have already swallowed more before noticing. We informed the staff, and the dish was taken away. However, there was no apology, no explanation, and no manager came over to address the situation. When we went to pay, we were told we still had to pay for the dish with plastic in it. Only after we questioned this did the staff say the “best they could do” was a 50% discount — which felt meaningless since First Table already gives 50% off mains as part of the deal. Food safety should be taken very seriously, and at the very least the contaminated dish should have been removed from the bill or replaced. Instead, we left feeling both unsafe and unvalued as customers. This is the first one-star review I’ve ever left for a restaurant, but I believe diners deserve to know what happened.

Updates on 26 August 2025: After posting this honest review, the manager repeatedly called our friend 19 times within three hours during work hours. Instead of offering an apology, she told us she would “take action” against our review — which felt like a direct threat rather than a resolution. We were sincerely hoping for a professional apology and accountability, but instead received unreasonable and...