Spice Bank — Restaurant in Wales

Being a bengali and an indian living in UK for many years now, I feel really sorry to negetively review a bengali establishment; however, at the same time I don't want people to measure indian/bengali cuisine based on their experience here....it was one of the sadest experiences ever I had to endure in the name of indian and bengali cuisine. Not only the food was below average by standards of any cuisine, let alone indian cuisine; the service, also left a lot to desired for. There were two waiters almost gasping to serve over 50 odd guests and at times disappearing inside the kitchen to help prepare food I guess. I found the manager to be slightly impatient and left abruptly when I asked him a question or two reagrding the food...it's almost like he wasn't happy to see someone me!

Food was costly for the quality they represent, to be honest, this place is even costlier than the best high street indian restaurant that I dined at UK.

Here, I ordered a korma - which tested surprisingly similar to sweet bland yellow porridge with boiled chickens added seperately; then the roganjosh, which was even stranger version of undercooked dry chicken chunks - a like of which I have never tested before.

My daugher could not finish the keema naan..when I tasted..I found that the keema stuffing in side the naan was uncooked.

Biryani tested alright... slightly dry..possibly due to reheating...Now the last part which saddened me the most..and that's because this is what asked the manager about while ordering and he wasn't very happy with the question!..I asked whether the Tandoori chicken cooked in real tandoor hearth...and he said 'yes'....I am sad to say it wasn't real Tandoori and I am sure he knew that and yet willingly chose to misled me..by the way, all foods came without any garnish.

Spice bank management, if you guys are reading this...I do understand that restaurant business is not easy; but, no one said you are only allowed to hire middle aged Bangladeshi males to serve food. When in season, please consider hiring local kids...give back a bit to the community as well.. thats what all good indian restaurants does..and it doesn't make the experience any less authentic..and please, get rid of those nasty stinky plastic table covers and consider losing red paper napkins....no one comes to you for a garden picnic. For gods sake, you charge a lot for food you serve, and dish out suspicious hand written bills without any tax code!...please, at least give your local people the experience they deserve...else you guys not only bring disrepute to the cuisine and people you represent, you do disservice to your patrons as well. Our cuisine have lot more to offer...please, show them or someone else will.

Best wishes, Dr...

HALAL OR NOT HALAL THIS IS THE QUESTION! Me and my partner booked a table for two for 7.30 we were told on the phone they were fully booked but could we come at 6.30, so we rushed home to change and arrived on time. just 2 tables were taken a total of 4 people so very quiet. We studied the menu when a gentleman entered and asked is their meat Halal. A big discussion between staff took place and he was told YES. the gentleman left but returned later. we over heard this and my partner said is the chicken Halal then? The English Waitress said yes as she just told the guy, so she said oh ok I don't eat Halal meat so will order lamb then. Nothing was said if this was or wasn't halal. 7.30 came and went but still only two maybe 3 tables at the most were taken. again 25% full. One of which was the gentleman earlier asking about Halal. we ate our meal which came to abut £60 and we were asked by one of the Indian gentleman if everything was ok. we said how come we were told to come at 6.30 when they were clear from busy to be told people hadn't turned up, yes 75% didn't turn up hmmmmm. I also asked how come the long grain rice and Pilau rice were the same. he said they weren't but the waitress had told us they were the same. I also asked about the meat and explained my partner doesn't eat Halal and he told us very reluctantly and angrily that they buy their meat from Bookers and just tell people what they want. The gentleman earlier wasn't aware of this and I explained the THIS MAY BE HIS RELIOUS STATE and needs to know. I was informed I can't speak to his customers. I went over to the Indian guy who was told it was and explained the restaurant dont know where their meat is slaughtered and just say what the customer wants to hear. He said thank you and with this staff appeared from everywhere. I was assaulted by the chef and owner and called the police when I left and made a complaint to the local police. I won't be letting this lie and people have a right to know how their meat is slaughtered and if it is halal or not! so please beware they will serve you whatever they...

The spice bank, the chefs and staff here should be put in a vault and the key purposefully lost!

This restaurant (and that is pushing the definition of a 'restaurant' to the absolute limit) is truly terrible. I have written some bad reviews in my time as the greatest food reviewer in history, but sweet merciful lord, the food here was awful.

Things that taste better include but, are not exclusive too:

Raw sewage Bin juice Cedric's pickled egg farts

I find it truly amazing how this so called restaurant can get away with being so bad. I ordered the mixed meat curry which contained prawns, beef, chicken and lamb... thought it would be an interesting experience but no... no... NO! This is not the experience I was expecting.

The meat was ROTTEN. Disgusting. Rancid.

I literally vomited. On the plus side I did find that key for Houdini's handcuffs I'd swallowed in 1910 as part of his travelling show. Oopsie doodle.

The interior of the 'restaurant' is dilapidated. Moldy. Peeling paint. The bogs were a literal bog...

Staff were rude. Impolite. Vulgar.

What an awful experience! I honestly think drinking a glass of water from the river Ganges will be a more beneficial and a more nourishing Indian meal than anything served here.

Spice Bank 1/5 (there was no...