Bombay Olive — Restaurant in Carbondale

Edited to add additional detail on Google. Original review was three years ago, but I tried going again a few months ago and didn't experience much better service, so I'll keep this. . . . Let me preface this saying the food is very delicious.

That being said, the last few times I went over the course of year, the service hasn't been the best.

This last visit takes the cake.

The waiter openly complained or overly explained the process of serving the food the moment it's ready to my friend. She felt she was being treated like a child, and overall, it was unprofessional.

Then time came for our bills. I had to ask for them, as we waited 20 minutes after packing up our leftovers. The owner came over to ask us if we wanted our bill "together or split." Figuring there's a language barrier, we say split, since one of us only ordered an appetizer and others ordered whole courses, and say we wanted to be charged for what we ordered.

Instead, he says he needs our cards. I politely ask for my bill, as I wanted to make sure I'd only pay for what I ordered, since the waiter wasn't the owner and the owner may not personally know our orders. He insists he needs our cards because he's "already" rang it up. I ask again for my bill, saying I'm uncomfortable without seeing the amount. He insists and persists, saying that I just need to trust him and give him my card. Other customers look uncomfortable this whole time, so I finally hand him my card. So do my friends. Bill comes back, and it's split three ways. We're being charged for the same amount - not what we asked for.

Unfortunate, but I recognize it's just a miscommunication. No big deal. They can void transactions, we'll be charged the right amounts, it's fine. It will take more time, but that's no big deal. None of this is a big deal because it's just a misunderstanding that can be fixed.

I explain to the waiter that our bills were rung up incorrectly, emphasizing that it's just a miscommunication and everything is fine. The manager/owner comes over, and that's when I realize they've added an item to our total that none of us ordered. As I try to explain the situation as patiently as possible, the owner begins insisting we're wrong, we asked for this. We wanted a split bill, he says. When I try to explain his phrasing was confusing (as he didn't offer the third option of us paying separately and we had explained we wanted to do so), it's no one's fault, and any other place could void the transaction, he refuses, insisting I'm wrong, it can't be fixed, and we asked for this. They aren't wrong. The waiter joins in, pointing to my friend's leftover box, saying we're hiding the item he thinks we ordered. I point to all of the serving plates and baskets, reassuring them we did not order the extra item.

So much over explaining, and in the end, we had to calculate our own bills and figure out who owed who whatever amount of money to balance it all out. Luckily, all of us had enough in our accounts to cover the bill, despite being charged what we didn't expect to. The owner and waiter were of no help, and we walked away from the restaurant disappointed and upset, feeling disrespected and disregarded. I can't believe how rude they were, ESPECIALLY the owner. There's no excuse for what happened tonight. It could have remained civil and I wouldn't have left this review.

But alas, the owner decided him being right was more important and threw away any respect for us customers - not just my group, but the surrounding ones, who were uncomfortable with my group's situation and how management spoke to us.

I've heard rumors prior to this that the owner abuses staff members and can be rude, and I'm sad I didn't listen sooner. Don't make the same mistake we did. I'll never come...

I had never had Indian Cuisine before, but had always wanted to try it. So, when my uncle asked I'd like to go an hour away to try it, I immediately said yes. But I could never have prepared myself for the explosion of flavors I would soon be trying.

We walked into Bombay Olive, and we're greeted by a very sweet Indian woman, (who I later learned was named Maria.) The atmosphere was very quaint, and I felt immediately welcomed. I explained to Maria that I had never had Indian food before and she quickly took me under her wing and helped to recommend the Chicken Tikka Masala. Oddly enough she was the third person of the day to tell me to try that, so I knew I couldn't go wrong. We started with Vegetarian Samosas, which were incredible deep fried puffs with chick pea deliciousness inside served with a chutney and a mint dipping sauce. I knew from then that I was truly going to enjoy this meal. Maria had recommended that we try a Mango Lassi (GOD DO IT!) which was a yogurt mango drink which was simply superb. Then we had our main courses delivered... My long awaited Chicken Tikka Masala and my uncle's Chicken Vindaloo, (which was a level 10, the spicest you can get, ) and garlic Naan (a flaky flat bread).

The Chicken Tikka Masala was a creamy chicken dish that was simply divine. The flavor could just take you away... And it was at this place where I decided that my entire palate was confused, as I had never tried food such as this in my entire life. And part of me was saddened for the time that I had wasted up til now having never experienced this. And the other part of me became determined that I would eat this food again... Many times in the life I have left.

I cannot tell you how amazing this experience was for me... Starting right at Maria, who spent a lot of time explaining things and answering questions... To the very decent prices (all of this was just barely 50 dollars,) To the food that I WILL eat again very soon...

So, for me... Bombay Olive wins the Rikki Recommends 2023 BEST of the BEST award. Run, don't walk... Straight to this restaurant for the most profound flavor experience...

One of the worst experiences iv had at a dining establishment. The food was bland, the 'coconut' curry tasted like cambells tomato soup, and the saag chicken had little to no flavor. The biriyani was actually not too bad but everything else was such a disappointment. Even the garlic naan had one single piece of garlic. The service was abysmal. There were 2 servers. One guy who seemed to be doing everything, and a girl who ignored everyone. We didn't get waters until we asked and that was right before our food basically came out. I was asked how spicy I want my food from 1-10, and since I'm not a fan of spicy food I said 1. I was then judged by the girl taking our order saying "really? No spice?" Yes really. Then she forgot our mango lassi, and when our food came out she didn't bring us plates. Our food runner had to signal her TWICE to get us plates. After sitting there for 2 hours waiting for our server to get our food waters etc, I went to the counter to pay because she was just waiting at the front desk not attending any tables. I asked to check out and she gave me the total. I asked what was on the bill and she said she couldn't tell me. I informed her that we never got our mango Lassi and I asked she take it off the bill. She said "oh I can just get it for you now" but I declined saying I just wanted to pay for what came out and left. She said she could go back and edit because she already tapped the pay button. So we had to wait for another 10 minutes for someone else to 'fix' the ticket. When I asked for the receipt she looked to the other server and asked "what about gratuity?" We didn't even get served had to beg for our items and then in front of us demand gratuity on a party of 4? One of which did not eat?

Save your time and money because this was the biggest disappointment and I hope that going further they at least fix the woman servers attitude or at least teach her basic serving skills. Not once were we checked on we had to ask...