Didi's Dining — Restaurant in Norwich

I initially gave this restaurant 5*s despite several delivery issues (the food is always at least 2 hours late) because the food is very good and high quality with a nice selection on the menu. I can only remember one time I wasn’t super pleased but on average the food is 9/10. The food is pricey but the portion sizes reflect the price so it is by no means a rip off.

However, after a horrible experience in January, I highly doubt I will ever order from here again. The customer service I received was honestly appalling to put it nicely, I called over 30 times and nobody answered the phone, it wouldn’t be the first time, I ordered at 11am and my food arrived past midnight, only for me to realise my order was held up even though we agreed on a delivery time because they wanted to deliver someone else’s order with mine, but I paid a full delivery free with my order? A member of staff then became very short with me on the phone when I called at 9pm when I still hadn’t received my food and told me that I needed to patient? After waiting over three hours for my food? And pre-ordering at 11am? I felt so insulted. When the food eventually came I was actually woken up in the middle of the night when the order finally arrived. I was so angry, I didn’t even enjoy the food.

Another time I ordered and two hours later my order didn’t arrive, only for me to call back and the member of staff said she forgot to place my order? I was genuinely irritated as I could have eaten something else in that time, nobody enjoys eating dinner at like 12am that’s why you order early but it just never comes at a reasonable time. Another time my order was randomly cancelled without earning after waiting over an hour for it. The event that occurred in January was truly the final straw for me unfortunately. Since then I’ve tried several times to give them another chance but every time I pick up the phone to call I just decide to order from somewhere else instead to avoid the unnecessary stress that comes with ordering from this restaurant every single time.

I’m leaving this review in hopes that they take the feedback and do better for future customers otherwise they won’t be in business for long should they gain a competitor, which would be such a shame. The food is amazing and you will enjoy it when and if it eventually comes but they need to put proper systems in place to take note of orders and deliver them in a timely fashion because what they’re currently doing isn’t sustainable neither does it make any sense....

EDIT: Previously 3 stars as food was really good despite being over an hour late. Since my first experience I have tried to order two more times. Because the delivery is so unreliable I ordered a whole 24 hours in advance so they would have plenty of time to cancel. It got to 5 mins before my food was supposed to arrive and then they cancelled. No explanation. I tried one more time, I ordered in the morning for food to be delivered in the evening, couple of minutes before it was due to arrive it was cancelled. They don't answer the phone. This kind of negligence isn't just being busy it is full on carelessness.

FIRST REVIEW:

Ok so I had the same issue as most people here leaving a review. I ordered food at 8pm, delivery est. was 9:10pm. Long wait but ok. Got delayed until 9:40pm. Ok getting hungry now. They do not answer the phone so you can't talk to the restaurant to find out if the order is actually still coming, annoying because I need to know if I should order from somewhere else before everything closes. Food finally arrives at 10:15pm. 2 hours and 15 mins after ordered, 1 hour late from original ETA.

However, when the food did arrive it was really hot and was delicious! Traditional goat curry tasted authentic, fried plantain was great and big portion. Ribs were amazing, fell off the bone, coconut rice was tasty.

If the food arrived on time with no issues I would happily give the restaurant 5 stars. But the fact that you can't even contact them is very problematic. With all the reviews echoing each other with the same problem it really is an issue that should have been dealt with by now.

I would love to order from them again but I would have to do it when I have all day free to wait and definitely wouldn't order if I had company as they are too unreliable with delivery. A real shame as they are losing custom when they should be thriving as the...

Had to edit this review. I love this place; the food they make is wonderful. Initially I gave them five stars but now I have to remove them because they simply don't deliver. I understand the quality of their food depends on the fact they essentially home cook - it's one of the things I love. But having to wait 3+ hours for food you've ordered in advance (so, really, 5+ hours) and being unable to even contact the restaurant because they hang up on you is poor. I realise Just Eat, the service through which most have ordered, have to share the blame a) for how they treat restaurants and b) for not policing restaurants that aren't delivering on the services they promise. I have never had an on-time order from here. Late deliveries have always been over an hour late and the last time I ordered the food never arrived and the restaurant denied requests for a refund. If a restaurant cannot deliver on takeaway orders on the consistent level that this restaurant simply does not even deliver, let alone deliver late, then they shouldn't be offering takeaway. Again, Just Eat have a huge amount of responsibility for not policing restaurants who fail to complete orders - and Just Eat's own reviews should tell them the standard of care delivered by this restaurant - but that does not absolve the restaurant of their own responsibilities to their customers. I'm a big fan of this place's food, I used to be a defender of them in the face of a lot of poor reviews, but now I simply can't. My experience both of their customer service and their inability to keep up with orders to the point of simply not delivering means I have to warn others to avoid...