Shamiana Cuisines of India — Restaurant in North Island

I've eaten at a number of Shamiana outlets across New Zealand, and generally their food is really good and pretty authentic. However my experience at the Lower Hutt outlet wasn't a good one. First of all, and I appreciate that I'm white passing despite having a Punjabi father, upon ordering a Chicken Vindaloo, I was twice questioned by the server on my choice given that as he pointed out, a Vindaloo can be really hot. I assured him I knew this, ordered the curry and took it to my table. He was indeed right that it was on the hot side, however it wasn't the complex, spicy, vinegary heat of a proper Vindaloo, but the taste of nothing else other than cheap Kashmiri Chilli Powder. The chicken, which was actually the only decent part of the dish, didn't even taste like the sauce, having clearly been marinated in an altogether different preparation, hence why it probably tasted ok. I ate everything because I was hungry, but I definitely would think twice before eating...

A very nice and modern food shop in the food court, the workers are nice and friendly to you. The curries (arround 15-18 different curries) are fresh and very tasty. The Nan bread is also very delicious and the rice is very good. You will get a very big plate and also the biggest man is after Curry+rice+Nan not hungry anymore. My favourite is the Chicken Taka Masala, i try to eat there one time in the month, because i like indian food and curry! Dishes are clean,only the plastic knife and fork is not so nice,...

This place has fantastic curry. I highly recommend trying the goat on the bone; it was a highlight of my meal. There was so much meat, it was incredibly generous. The portion of rice was also very plentiful, complementing the curry perfectly. I was thoroughly impressed with the flavors and the overall experience. It's definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a satisfying and delicious curry. I'll certainly be back...