Gandhi Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Winchester

Allergy sufferers take note. I recently attended Ghandi's with a group of 33 for a birthday meal. Whilst the food was nice, and the staff were very helpful and flexible in accommodating our group before the event, there were a few clangers that left me feeling disappointed with our overall experience.

Firstly, despite multiple warnings from us of a serious nut allergy within our group, the guest in question was ultimately served a curry dish with nuts in. The guest asked two different staff members before eating who both confirmed the dish was nut free. This ruined the guest's evening, and they had a sleepless night vomiting. On this occasion they weren't hospitalised, but on another night it could have been a lot worse. Whilst mistakes can happen, especially with a large group, the most disappointing thing is that when we quietly and politely raised the issue with the staff, they claimed the guest must have eaten food from someone else's plate. They also didn't offer any compensation for this and we were still charged the full price for this guests meal (£45 from the set menu, even though they only had a few mouthfuls).

The second issue was a caterpillar was served underneath a lettuce leaf on one of the starters. Again, I appreciate mistakes can happen, but this certainly falls well below the standards of high quality cuisine the restaurant markets itself as serving. We raised this issue quietly to avoid disturbing other guests. Again though, I was more disappointed with how the staff dealt with this issue. At the end of the meal, I had to politely negotiate regarding the bill - ultimately resulting in them giving us only one free drink as a result, even though the guest affected by this incident still paid £45. I was expecting a more sincere apology and an offer to waive the charge for this guest, given it put them off their main course.

On balance, only 2 guests out of 33 had a poor experience, and the food was generally nice and well received, but the nut allergy could have been a very serious issue. I was ultimately left feeling upset with how the staff handled these incidents, they were immediately defensive and somewhat rude, rather than apologetic. I would definitely think twice before returning in future, and I think the staff need to seriously consider the standard of customer service given the high prices...

I've been a loyal customer of Gandhi Indian Restaurant in Winchester for over 15 years, and it's been a truly exceptional experience every single time. Despite moving away, I still make it a point to visit a few times a year when I'm back in town, because no other Indian restaurant compares to this gem.

From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed like family. The staff has always been warm, friendly, and attentive, making each visit feel special. Their hospitality adds to the restaurant's cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal spot whether you're dining solo, with friends, or family.

Now, let's talk about the food—it’s simply outstanding. Over the years, I’ve tried a wide range of dishes, and every single one has been delicious, from the rich, flavorful curries to the perfectly cooked naans and aromatic rice. The quality of the food has remained consistently excellent, and I have yet to find an Indian restaurant that rivals Gandhi’s flavors, even after exploring other options in different cities.

It's clear that Gandhi is a place that values its customers and takes pride in what they do. Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, you’re treated with the same level of care, and you can always count on a meal that exceeds expectations. This restaurant is worth going out of your way for—no matter how far you’ve moved, like me!

Gandhi Indian Restaurant truly sets the standard for exceptional Indian cuisine. Highly...

We visited as a group of two and requested to be seated at a table that could accommodate three people, in case our friend joined later. We were told we needed to be sure about the third person as the restaurant was apparently busy, even though it was quiet at the time.

We ordered poppadums, and while we were still eating them, the staff came over saying that our mains were ready. They removed our side plates and asked us to hold the poppadums in our hands so they could place the dinner plates.

Throughout the meal, two different servers came to ask when the third person would arrive, and we explained that we weren’t sure as he was caught up somewhere. Barely five minutes later, a man who seemed to be the manager approached and told us that we would have to vacate the table by 8:00 pm, even though it was only 6:30 pm. Obviously we weren't planning to spend the rest of the night in the restaurant!

It was extremely embarrassing and made us feel unwelcome, as if we had done something wrong by mentioning a third guest. Every waiter seemed to be watching us, and the overall atmosphere felt uncomfortable.

The food itself was not good, and the service was below par. The only positive was two polite servers, one of them a Bangladeshi gentleman, who were courteous and friendly. Unfortunately, the rest of the staff were quite rude and...