Godavari Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in Eden Prairie

I was really torn with what to say about this place because there were some really great aspects but also some really bad aspects.

For starters the flavor of the food was great, no issues there.

The first big issue started when I asked for my dish to be made spicy. Due to previous experiences at other places, I was direct in telling our server that I ate and enjoyed spicy food all the time and could actually handle it being hot so please make it spicy. When we got the food there was literally no heat to it at all. Even my wife who can't handle spicy foods in the slightest agreed that it was perfect for her tame mid-western palate. I should have mentioned it right away and sent it back but the flavor was good and I decided to let it slide.

When we paid on the way out and the host asked how everything was, I told her that it tasted good but that I had asked specifically for it to be spicy and there wasn't any heat to it. Instead of apologizing or trying to offer a discount or something, she said with a straight face, "Oh well I put that down so maybe next time be sure to ask for it to be EXTREMELY spicy." Customer's shouldn't have to risk being served inedible food just because the staff can't/won't follow basic instruction.

This experience was emblematic of the service we got during our visit. While the employees seemed to be polite enough and attentive, most of them didn't seem to particularly know what they were doing. After getting sat down and eventually ordering, another employee same by 10-15 minutes later to take our order again. The only person that was really checking on any of the customers was a guy who was refilling water glasses, who I noticed eating food while he was at the side station where water pitchers were being filled. We ordered a couple of appetizers that included garlic naan, but we never got the naan and had to practically shake down an employee to get their attention and tell them that we ordered it and never got it.

The frustrating part about this experience is that with decent and experienced staff, it wouldn't have been very difficult to have made this experience worthy of 4 or even 5 stars. Check in on your customers, track who's ordered, pay attention to their requests for how they want their food, and don't dismiss them when they point out it was made wrong, offer to make it right or make it up.

Based on this experience I can't recommend this restaurant given how many other Indian options there are...

We ordered GODAVARI" SPECIAL CHEPALA PULUSU AVAKAI and MALAI KOFTA. The food was awesome. I would give them 5 stars, but food is not the only rating that matters. Their customer service is horrible. I made the order through Google orders and when I got there 6:18 pm for an order that was supposed to be ready at 6:04 pm, I was told that the order wasn't there, then the restaurant employee looked at the computer and said "oh sorry, we are just receiving this, the Google servers are slow". I do not buy the fact that google servers are slow. Then they told me that they will get the order ready in 10 minutes, so I waited 15 to go check and I was informed that they are still a few more orders in front of me and will need another 15 minutes. At that point I said, just forget it and refund my money and I will get outta here. The worker disappeared and the rest of the employees had no idea what was going on everytime I asked for an update. Then another employee appeared about 10 minutes later with my food. No communication and zero ownership of trying to make the customer feel better. The food was good, service was bad. I do not think the franchise should be sitting around for reviews like this to pile up. Eventually the poor customer service will outshine their food quality. If things don't improve, I give this place about 2 more years to survive post corona economy and the local business support mentality we are drawn towards because this is after all a national level franchise.

Update 7/1 I have been to Godavari a few more times since my last experience. The food quality has stayed good still. We have sat indoors as well a few times and service is OK. The food quality, and the ability to bring in a large noisy family there and not be looked at weird, has compelled me to update from 3 star to 4.5 stars.

Update 10/1 We have been going there quite consistently and food quality remains good. The service is improving as well. It is a good place for people with kids as the space is quite large and the staff is very kid friendly. I continue to recommend this indian restaurant to...

I recently visited Godavari for dinner, and I must say, the overall experience was quite remarkable. The food was absolutely amazing, bursting with flavors and beautifully presented. The gentleman who served us provided tremendous service, ensuring we had everything we needed and making our meal truly enjoyable.

However, I feel compelled to highlight a significant issue in the service that marred our otherwise fantastic experience. One of the female staff members seemed to lack the fundamental understanding of hospitality and guest relations. Despite India's renowned reputation for warm hospitality, her behavior was quite the opposite. She appeared disinterested and unresponsive to our requests, which was quite disheartening.

At one point, I had to retrieve napkins from the side station myself because she ignored our request. This is not only disappointing but also reflects poorly on the restaurant's standards. It is crucial for staff to be well-trained in hospitality, as it directly impacts the guest experience and, ultimately, the business.

Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident. My team experienced similar issues with the same staff member during their visit last month. I hope the management addresses this issue promptly, as proper training in hospitality and guest relations is essential for maintaining the restaurant's reputation and ensuring a pleasant dining experience for all guests.

Despite this setback, I appreciate the excellent food and the efforts of the rest of the team. With improved training and attention to service, Godavari has the potential to offer an exceptional...