Oh Calcutta — Restaurant in Waitematā

🚫 WARNING: AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE! 🚫 So, you're thinking of visiting Oh Calcutta in Parnell, Auckland? Well, let me save you the trouble and the cash! This joint should be renamed "Oh No-Calcutta" because it's a total disaster!

First off, let's talk about the cake incident. We brought our own cake to celebrate a special occasion, only to be slapped with a $13 fee for cutting it on their premises! Seriously? Is this some kind of cake-cutting cartel they're running?

But wait, there's more! We tried to order just one plate of biryani, but oh no, they insisted we order two because apparently, being two adults and two kids means we automatically need double the food. Newsflash: we weren't even in the mood for rice!

Now, onto the food itself. You'd think in a culinary hub like Auckland, even the smallest eateries would serve up something decent, right? Wrong! Oh Calcutta manages to outdo them all in serving subpar dishes that taste like they've been sitting out since the British Raj.

And let's not forget about their obsession with telling you about every single charge under the sun! Want to change tables? Well, get ready to fork over some cash for the privilege, even before you've ordered your food! Talk about highway robbery disguised as hospitality!

To top it all off, they plonked us down at a roadside table, despite our pleas for something indoors. Oh, and if you dare to complain, be prepared for some serious sass from the lady owner herself. Customer service? More like customer disservice!

So, my fellow Aucklanders, heed my words: steer clear of this establishment unless you enjoy flushing your money down the drain and enduring snarky comments from the staff. Oh Calcutta? Oh, hell no! Bottom line: don't bother coming here unless you enjoy wasting money and dealing with rude staff. Save yourself the hassle and find somewhere else to eat!

Please find attached bill for the day to keep the authenticity of this review.

response to your comments

Dear Oh Calcutta, although I must say I find it rather unsatisfactory. While I understand the challenges your restaurant faces during busy periods, the blame-shifting and lack of accountability in your response are disappointing.

Your attempt to justify your staff's actions regarding my late arrival lacks empathy and fails to acknowledge the impact such experiences can have on customers. The fact that my delay was not met with any form of apology or acknowledgment is unacceptable.

Furthermore, while you claim transparency is fundamental to your operation, the lack of communication regarding your policies, including the service fee for bringing my own cake, is concerning. It appears that your commitment to consistency in your approach to all customers comes at the expense of flexibility and understanding.

Your reluctance to accommodate my request for a separate table for the cake, despite the additional table occupancy being solely for the cake, reflects a lack of customer-centricity and willingness to go above and beyond to meet customer needs.

In conclusion, while I appreciate your efforts to maintain fairness to all patrons, I urge you to reconsider your approach to customer service and prioritize empathy, flexibility, and accountability in your interactions...

@ravigupta I came on here to write a review and was shocked to read yours. My partner and I happened to be at Oh Calcutta, trying to enjoy a Valentine’s evening together when we unfortunately had to witness and overhear your condescending behaviour and attitude towards the staff. The only bullying we witnessed was from yourself. I was further appalled that this is the kind of example that you set in front of the children that accompanied you. However your parenting skills are your own business. We, unfortunately, were only a couple of tables away from your corner table and regrettably had no other choice but to listen to your rude and demeaning discussions with the waitstaff. From what we witnessed and heard, Oh Calcutta’s staff were polite, professional and more than accommodating to your demands, despite the rudeness afforded to them.

After reading your review and Oh Calcutta’s response; your complaints appear to come from a place of ignorance in regards to the hospitality industry. Furthermore, looking at your history of restaurant reviews, you only seem to complain. It is unfortunate that you do not understand restaurant etiquette and more importantly New Zealand Food Industry Health & Safety standards. Perhaps then, you would understand New Zealand restaurants have an obligation to the preparation and handling of food brought into their premises, such as cakes. We feel Oh Calcutta’s response to your complaints to be fair and justified. In conclusion, while I appreciate your right to complain, I urge you to reconsider your approach before doing so, to consider other patrons, prioritise empathy and your own personal time management - and perhaps take accountability for that.

@OhCalcutta, despite this patron's disturbance of our evening, the food and service provided to us by your establishment was of an exceptionally high standard. And after nearly 30 years in the business I would not let reviews such as...

I recently visited Oh Calcutta at 151 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland, and I must say, it was a disappointing experience from start to finish. The food tasted absolutely awful, like it had been sitting out for days. Not only was it flavorless, but it also lacked freshness, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

But the terrible food wasn't the only issue. The staff members, including one particularly rude individual who I can only describe as a "liliput guy," were incredibly disrespectful and unprofessional. Instead of providing decent customer service, they were dismissive, impolite, and downright rude. It's shocking that they're allowed to interact with customers in such a manner.

I feel compelled to warn my fellow citizens to steer clear of Oh Calcutta and establishments like it. We shouldn't tolerate this kind of attitude or behavior, especially from businesses that rely on our patronage. It's unacceptable to be treated poorly simply for being a customer.

In a country as diverse and welcoming as ours, we should expect better treatment from those in the service industry. Let's not support establishments that condone such behavior and instead choose to spend our hard-earned money at places that value and respect their customers.

In conclusion, my experience at Oh Calcutta was nothing short of disappointing. The food was terrible, and the staff were rude and disrespectful. I urge my fellow citizens to avoid this establishment and others like it, as we deserve better than to be treated poorly while trying to...