Grand Thai & Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Northland

Had a very underwhelming experience here. Ordered a beer and had to ask for it three times (One other table, already eating and drinking, so they weren’t commanding any attention.) The place was clearly understaffed and the person covering clearly had no idea what they had to do to bring a beer to the table. They also seemed to have had a toddler running around, so they had to contend with that distraction.

Then someone - who I assume was a manager or owner, or maybe also a stand in - brought me a beer in a glass. I had ordered a bottled beer. Surely the bottle should be opened at the table? And patron should be asked whether they wanted it in a glass? I prefer my beer from the bottle. The bottle, having also been chilled, keeps the beer chilled for longer.

Finally, a real waiter appeared. We then learned that the owner, and probably family who work the front of desk and cooks who do the Indian food, were away in India and thus there was no Indian food to be had… 😩 Couldn’t they have put that on the Specials sandwich board at the entrance?

The resto is typical for many such Asian joints - both South and South-east asian eateries: A (very) long list of food, mostly “sauces” and “gravies” for which you choose your protein, and so on and so forth. Which typically leads to mediocre food.

And our food was exactly that - mediocre. I had the Thai pork in basil. There was hardly any basil in the food - so little that I couldn’t determine if it was actually Thai basil. My partner had beef penang curry - also very mediocre. Absolutely no distinctive Thai curry flavour. (To their credit, the meat was tender).

It’s gonna take a lot of encouragement to go back there and try the Indian food. Let me know when the staff producing the Indian...

The Grand Thai Restaurant is a hidden gem off of the normal beat and path in Whangarei. It is located inside of The Grand Hotel with its own unique ambiance and charm.

I read some of the previous positive and negative comments. Below is my experience.

The staff is fairly new but over the top accomodating, personable and attentive. The chef is seasoned, knowledgable and accomodating.

To have the best experience, engage the staff, have no timeframe, and request what you actually want.

I order specific dishes, but also ask the Chef to surprise me, and I have never been disappointed.

I have been to thai restaurants around the world and eaten in Thailand and the food here is spot on, but be sure to request your proper spice level. The restaurants average customer thinks black pepper is too spicy. So my first dish of tom yum soup was elegant and flavorful, but the next time I ordered it as hot as possible and it was beautiful.

All food experiences are based on what you want and what you expect, so be sure to express your expectations, and if you are in a hurry, you should go to McDonalds and miss the opportunity of...

I recently visited this restaurant with high hopes, only to leave feeling frustrated and disappointed. I ordered the vegetarian Pad Thai and specifically requested that no egg be added, as I follow a strict vegan diet. Unfortunately, when my dish arrived, it contained egg, which completely undermined my dietary restrictions.

When I brought this to the attention of the staff, their initial response was unhelpful, as they seemed unaware of the situation. After some back and forth, a chef informed me that the vegetarian Pad Thai automatically includes egg. This was baffling—how can a dish marketed as vegetarian or vegan be served with an ingredient that contradicts those labels?

It felt like they were running a kitchen with a one-size-fits-all approach rather than providing a thoughtful dining experience. The lack of attention to dietary preferences and poor service left a sour taste in my mouth.

I cannot recommend this restaurant based on my experience. It’s essential for establishments to be aware of and accommodate their customers' dietary needs properly. Save yourself the hassle and...