Thali - Indian Cuisine — Restaurant in Porto

Travelling Solo from Canada & was travelling Europe for a month or so , was craving Indian food instead of having so many great other food options I thought of giving a try to this Indian Restaurant. Owner or the guy on the counter was super rude and weird when I asked for table for 1 person - restaurant was not full more than half was empty . His reply was I don’t have table for one “ do you see a table for one “ which was very rude of him . After travelling for more than 50 countries in last 15 plus years I never got this answer and his way was very rude . I was totally polite smiled and left . Again I did not tried the food so can’t comment on that but for service I would give this place ZERO star .

After the reply by the owner - Hence you confirm your attitude and rude behaviour sir after writing that you are not welcomed . They guy never asked Evan do you want to wait or is there a waiting time or some thing . He was straight rude - it’s so Sad that Evan after being in the service industry & serving people food which should be served with love not with anger and hate . You guys definitely start learning to take criticism as feedback to improve . But I guess you lack that maturity and just pick up fights with any one who comments on the review . SO SAD you mentioned you are Indian and wanted vegetarian food - yes I am Indian origin ( Canadian ) well behaved and cultured than you to pick up nationality . Food should be served with love and not hate and anger . And if you start pointing nationalities you will loose and won’t be in business for long . Before cooking the Indian food learn Indian culture of being nice or just be nice in general - forget being Indian . Just be polite and nice Evan if you don’t have space to make people sit :) Good luck again - spend your time on learning good customer service than picking up arguments on your customers...

I love Indian food, though I must admit that I simply can’t handle spicy dishes. At other Indian restaurants, when I request a dish without spice, they’ve always been honest with me: if they can’t prepare it without heat, they let me know upfront. That kind of transparency has saved me from many unpleasant experiences.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case at this restaurant. When placing my order, I was very clear and emphatic: "0 spice, please." The waiter assured me that it wouldn’t be a problem and that my dish would arrive without any trace of spice. I trusted his word, but when my food arrived, I was met with a dish so spicy that I could barely take the first bite.

I mentioned the issue to them, and they brought back the same dish, this time covered in cream, as if that would be enough to extinguish the fire in my mouth. Sadly, the spice remained overwhelming. I asked for another solution, and after a series of back-and-forths, they finally brought me a completely different dish, smothered in cream and cheese—ingredients I can’t tolerate—and to make matters worse, it was extremely sweet.

To add to my frustration, the waiter remarked that the dish would be spicy for me, not for him. But who was going to eat the dish—him or me? I ended up returning the full plate, and they even asked me several times if they could take it back because it was still full.

I ended up not eating, frustrated and exhausted by an experience that could have been avoided with a simple conversation at the start. If they had told me from the beginning that they couldn’t prepare my dish without spice, I would have appreciated the honesty and found another option. Instead, I left the restaurant hungry and deeply disappointed, an experience that still...

Upon my recent visit to this place, I was met with a blend of delightful flavors characteristic of Indian cuisine, but also certain areas that needed refinement. The objective of this review is not to malign the establishment, but rather to provide genuine constructive criticism in hopes of fostering a superior dining ambiance for future patrons.

The dishes, boasting authentic spices and textures, were undeniably the highlight of the evening. However, the dining environment left us in a bad mood.

When feedback is presented with the intention of improvement, it is of paramount importance for establishments, especially those in the hospitality sector, to approach it with an open heart and mind. It is through this lens that I decided to share my observations with the restaurant's owner, expecting that they would be received as means for enhancement.

Regrettably, the interaction with the owner was less than pleasant. Instead of demonstrating appreciation or even a willingness to consider the feedback, I was met with an unexpected level of defensiveness and dismissiveness. Such interactions not only make patrons feel undervalued but also risk damaging the restaurant's reputation in the long run.

In conclusion, while Thali has considerable potential and culinary prowess, there's a clear need for refining some aspects of its overall experience. Moreover, embracing feedback with grace and humility can go a long way in ensuring the establishment's longevity and success in an increasingly...