Taj Mahal Restaurant — Restaurant in England

Went for an early meal with a guest and have to say the food was splendid, exquisite tastes, lovely contrasts of colour and all in all in terms of edible substance, a quality choice to dine. However, the taste left in my mouth when I left wasn't of the food, it was of the appalling experience come the moment of financial reckoning.The bill arrived whereupon I noticed that I had been charged for two chutneys, a blanket term for the mint, chutney and lime accompaniment. I called upon the manager or owner - I cannot believe he is the owner in light of the ensuing episode - and advised that I did not order these items. He advised me that I had eaten them with the poppadoms which is true, but when I ordered the poppadoms the aforementioned chutneys arrived in tandem. I assumed that there were the natural accoutrements to the poppadoms and came within the price of the poppadom. I had certainly not at any point asked for them. Never. Apparently my assumption was spurious and even though I had not ordered these 'chutneys', I was still obliged to pay for them. I'm amazed that the same basis wasn't applied to the customary complementary chocolate that accompanies the bill. Guess I was lucky. Anyhow, I explained again that I had never ordered the chutneys, and so I was not prepared to pay for them. This chap persisted saying that the bill itemised them and that I must pay. I did't quite grasp the logic of that comment but so be it. Now please understand the cost of this fiscal conflict was £1.40. Please understand further that I was not trying to avoid one hundred and forty pennies, God knows the restaurant is expensive enough in its own right but the quality of the food renders that acceptable, it was the fact that these sundries had been foisted upon me without my ordering thereof. I was being told to pay for something I simply hadn't requested. By now the chap's intransigent attitude, coupled with his inability to see his blatantly flawed logic, not to mention one of the worst examples of customer service I have witnessed in recent years, was inflaming the already escalating situation. I advised him that I simply would not pay the one hundred and forty pennies. I should advise this was an alcohol free meal, tap water only, oh with a slice of lime which I also did not order and as with the chocolates, I suppose I should count my blessings that I wasn't billed for those unrequested items. Well, there he stood, titan of customer service that he clearly is, going toe to toe with a customer who was simply trying to explain that it is really not normal practice to bill clients for items unordered. By now, sickened by the events unfurling before my very eyes, astounded by the man's fiscal myopia, his financial short sighted perspective, incredulous that he would rather 140 pennies than an ongoing relationship with customers who whilst not regulars, do frequent periodically the establishment, disbelieving that he failed to see that ceding the £1.40 would have harvested a 10 per cent tip instead which would have covered the £1.40 with a surplus on top, I surrendered my position and paid for items that I never ordered. Needless to say I will never go there again, but needless to say with an attitude like that I doubt he will be there that long anyway. I don't normally write reviews, only when something is so egregiously bad, or coruscatingly brilliant, merits recognition. This alas, falls into the former category. Oh, be warned, if you order a poppadom, for the love of all things holy don't think anything coming with it is free. If it appears on your table, you ordered it. Even if you didn't. Ps Watch out for the chocolates and the slices of lime, I might have given him...

I used their website to order a delivery as they were not listed on Just Eat or Uber at the time I placed the order, which is fine as I’m happy to support local restaurants that use their own systems.

However, my money was taken (£41) but then the order was cancelled immediately by the restaurant, saying they were too busy to fulfill it.

I phoned the restaurant to let them know and requested a refund. They flatly refused and were adamant that they had not received my order or my money.

Oh and then they suddenly appeared on Just Eat and Uber! Funny that isn’t it?

Anyway… I popped into the restaurant the evening after and provided proof that the order had been cancelled along with proof that no refund had been given and once again they flatly refused to refund me. Blaming it on their wi-fi and the ecommerce platform (Stripe)

They mentioned that this has happened before and that I have to wait for a week and I MIGHT get my money back! Well, little did they know that I actually develop websites that use Stripe and I know that refunds can be initiated instantly.

I did as requested, waited a week, because I play fair and still no refund was given.

I had to raise a dispute with my bank (Monzo) to finally get refunded. Not an ideal situation to be honest.

My concern here is that other people will experience this. This restaurant clearly has a problem with their online ordering system and a distrust of...

It lives up to its reputation as one of the best, First and oldest Indian Restaurant in Leigh-On-Sea. Established Since 1972!!! That tells you the whole story in itself. Not only that it is proverbially been kept in time with the modern trend and serving the same great Authentic and modern Indian food to its best Taste and Flavours. Taj mahal is also the one of very few restaurants in Southend that has spent over 43 years serving the local community with it's devoted service provided by the same Family. Wow now that's a true Achievement!

It has gone through many Phasic shifts-which the Restaurant has very proudly and nicely kept displayed inside, always brings a smile and pleasant memories of the past!! Over the Decades of providing service and hospitality, Taj Mahal has also gained and been Awarded many different types of Awards and credits which is also a wonder in it's self that can be seen visible on their halls and walls as...