India Grill — Restaurant in London

A real pity how this place has gone downhill in recent years; when I moved here 20+ years ago a neighbour recommended India Grill as one of the gems of the otherwise nondescript Arnos Grove/New Southgate area.

Back then they were quite right, excellent food at reasonable prices and a lovely, genuine welcome from the lady who ran the place.

Unfortunately my last two visits have been marred by the extraordinary rudeness and hostility of the 40-something man who served my partner and myself.

The first time it happened we thought there must have been some kind of family tragedy or other incident that necessitated the restaurant closing early; we were in there around 8pm, it seemed empty and - aside from his rudeness and borderline aggression when taking our orders, was taking plates away with food still on them that we hadn’t yet finished eating.

Perhaps they needed to close by 9pm for a private family or other reason, we wondered (although there was no sign on the door saying ‘Dear customers, due to unforeseen circumstances we have to close early tonight…’)

Strange, then, that another couple arrived after us around 9pm and were warmly greeted like old friends (NB this is NOT an ethnicity-related issue, this other couple were white British like ourselves. I’ve also read poor reviews here from customers with Indian-subcontinent ethnicity)

These things happen, we told ourselves, must’ve caught them on an off-day and so we returned a couple of months later. The same 40-something man with the short, neatly-shaven hair took our orders, again with hostility and barely-suppressed anger.

I realised after reading one or two other negative reviews that the issue is this: if you just order a main without starters and accompanying dishes, or if you just order a few starters, a biryani each with rice and a mango lassi, he thinks you’re a cheapskate wasting his time.

If the restaurant was full (as I remember it used to be, 10-15 years ago) or had a queue of people waiting to be seated, I could understand such an attitude.

But when the restaurant is 3/4 empty one might think they’d be pleased of any custom at all, even if, like us, we’re not always big spenders (it’s not that we’re tightwads, just that we both have small appetites and typical ‘Indian’ (i.e. Bangladeshi) cuisine I find to be very filling.

The food itself is as good as before, hence my 4 stars, but my advice to anyone planning a visit here is - unless you’re a large group (or a couple) who plan on ordering plenty of starters, sides and mains don’t bother, unless you’re very thick-skinned and can tolerate rude, hostile service.

He gives the impression that he resents doing such menial work because he’s a qualified engineer, architect or similar. Too bad - I wanted to be a footballer or an astronaut, but ended up working in an office.

At the risk of repetition, it’s a great pity how India Grill has deteriorated - I remember all its tables being in use and once or twice having to wait for one to become free. These days (or at least on my final two visits) the place is near-empty. Not surprising, given this hostile man serving people and hovering around your table asking if you’ve finished, grabbing plates and removing them without asking if...

My recent experience at the Indian Grill restaurant was incredibly disappointing, to say the least. My girlfriend and I decided to dine in and ordered a simple meal of poppadoms starter, butter chicken and naans, along with drinks. However, things quickly turned sour when the lady taking our order, who also happened to be the owner, exhibited shocking, unprofessional, and greedy behavior.

Despite our clear request for a single order of butter chicken and naans to share between us, the owner inexplicably refused to accept our order. She kept insisting that the amount of food wouldn't be sufficient for two people, completely disregarding our previous experience of ordering the same meal. Despite our attempts to explain our preferences, she continued to push for additional items on the menu, repeating that the food wasn't enough for two people, making us feel extremely uncomfortable.

Eventually, after persistently refusing to upsell us on unnecessary items, she reluctantly accepted our order. However, the ordeal didn't end there. To our dismay, we discovered that we were overcharged for the items we did order. The prices we were billed didn't align with what was listed on the menu. It felt like a sneaky move, leaving us feeling even more dissatisfied with our dining experience.

The entire experience was a stark reminder of the unprofessionalism displayed by the restaurant. The blatant disregard for customer satisfaction, coupled with deceptive pricing practices, was utterly disappointing. Needless to say, we will never be returning to this restaurant, and I strongly advise against anyone else wasting their time and money at the Indian Grill restaurant. This was by far the worst customer service experience I have ever encountered, and I wouldn't wish it upon...

For people who love good food only.

It's been a while since I visited Arnos Grove. Probably not since I left Arnos school (renamed Bromfield after I left), so decade's. Friends recommended this place to meet for a catch up. I probably choose Indian cuisine once a month, and the fact that I don't post reviews of many of them says a lot. This place is an experience worth sharing.

Forget the shop front and signage, ignore it go in, to where the 1970s meets 1990s internal decor. Your here for the food.

The best Indian meal since my visit to Bradford. Fresh, tasty and authentic looking and smelling. The meats (lamb and chicken) were tender and obviously marinated before cooked. The mixed grill, said to be for one, is a sharer, and the chilli chops, leave you licking your fingers. The Balty Tikka, was NOT a duplication of the Chicken Tikka Masala, neither colours, taste or smel. Nor were the cuts of chicken. All dishes were 10 out of 10. Regarding the colours, Tikka Masala, in many places is so red it is almost luminous, not here. One final mention of the food, I promise, its the Saag Aloo (spinach and potato curry). The portion, a meal in itself. Freshness unquestionable, taste superb.

Another point mentioning, like many restaurants in Londons Brick Lane, you bring your own alcohol and glasses are provided. You should never be disappointed by the wine, just buy yourself a travel wine cooler bag for the...