Namaste India Palace — Restaurant in Midlothian

I am updating my review after reading the restaurant’s response. For clarity: our party consisted of three adults and two children — a 7-year-old and a 13-month-old infant. I am truly at a loss for words to learn that we were classified as a “party of 5” for billing purposes. It is extremely surprising (and disappointing) that an infant and a young child are being counted the same as paying adult guests when calculating automatic gratuity.

While I understand that many restaurants implement an automatic gratuity policy for larger groups, it is reasonable to expect clear communication and sound judgment in applying those policies. Classifying a toddler and an infant as full-paying patrons in order to meet the threshold for automatic gratuity feels both unfair and misleading.

Had this been clearly communicated upfront or had there been clear signage it would have been a different story. Unfortunately, that was not the case during our visit. Moreover, combining this with suggested tip amounts printed again on the receipt (after gratuity was already added) creates unnecessary confusion for customers and risks double-tipping.

I appreciate the offer for a complimentary meal, but my concern is less about a free meal and more about business practices that treat customers fairly and transparently. I sincerely hope Namaste takes this feedback seriously and improves the way charges are communicated and applied going forward.

I visited Namasthe for dinner and had a very disappointing experience. The food was average at best, and the service was below average. To make things worse, when I checked the bill, I found a 20% charge already added without any clear notice or signage. This is a bad business practice and feels deceptive. Even more concerning, they list suggested tip amounts at the bottom of the receipt based on the total after the 20% was already added meaning if you’re not careful, you could end up tipping twice. Overall, the experience felt like a rip-off. I won’t be returning, and I don’t...

What an exceptional experience from the start to the end. Upon entering, I noticed that the restaurant looked clean and had a rich vibe and ambience. The Christmas decor added to the holiday spirit.

To begin with, we were offered a lime drink which I was told, was to refresh our palate. We ordered Gobi manchurian, Kaada fry, Tandoori mixed grill platter, Chicken biryani, Beef fry, Kizhi porotta- beef, Paal kappa (upon recommendation) and Chole bhature. Here are the highlights.

My neice tried the Gobi manchurian and instantly told its in her top 3 fav food. The 1st being the chicken lollipop.

The beef fry was so flavourful and authentic that it brought back the same taste and memories of the beef fry I had in kerala after a decade. What an impact.

The paal kappa and beef fry combo was so good that I kept on eating it though I knew I have to try my other dishes later on.

My wife started stealing from my plate once I told her how good the paal kappa and kizhi porotta was. The portions were very generous.

Gobi Manchurian and Chicken Lollipop were both served in a banana leaf (look at the pics). Never seen it before in any other restaurant.

I noticed the owner/partner (Jiji) welcoming someone in their regional language. I immediately knew it was a repeat customer. I observed this multiple times where the owner even knew customers by name and welcomed them.

I overheard a customer telling the staff that this time we brought our friend along too. Looks like people are recommending this restaurant to their friends and bringing them along.

The staff (Dilshad) was smiling while explaining the menu and even while passing by.

Overall, all of us had a great experience. Gem of a place for Indian food and a really must place to visit for authentic Kerala food.

5+ stars for the dining experience and the food but heavenly stars for the...

A delightful new addition to Chesterfield has emerged, and it's a haven for South Indian cuisine! The restaurant boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu is a treasure trove of regional specialties, each dish a testament to the unique culinary traditions of Kerala in South India For an appetizer, we started with the Thattukada Chicken. This fiery chicken dish tantalized our taste buds with its bold flavors and succulent, perfectly cooked chicken. Each bite was a delightful dance of heat and savory notes, leaving us eager for more. As for the main course, we opted for a classic, the Chicken Tikka Biryani. This fragrant dish arrived beautifully presented, tender pieces of grilled chicken mixed with fluffy basmati rice infused with the warmth of myriad of spices. But the true star of the show was the Kizhi Chicken Biryani and Kizhi Chicken Parotha (recommended by our highly knowledgeable server). These unique Kerala specialties arrived nestled in a fragrant banana leaf. Upon unwrapping this fragrant parcel, we discovered a symphony of flavors and textures. The rice, steamed to perfection within the banana leaf, held a subtle sweetness that perfectly complemented the savory chicken curry and the flaky Kerala parotta, a layered flatbread, arrived cradling a flavorful chicken curry. Each bite was a delightful explosion of aroma and taste. We were not just offered food but also an experience. It's a place where you can savor the rich traditions of Kerala through their carefully crafted dishes. Highly...