Panjabi Tadka — Restaurant in Springfield

UPDATE/REPLY TO OWNER'S RESPONSE: Thank you for your answer. I intend to clarify that there is no confusion in my statement. I actually visited your restaurant again recently (after the original review) because I do love the flavor and freshness of the food that you serve. I was attended by a waitress and a waiter.

The waitress was very kind and attentive; the waiter took the order. I ordered my entrée and specified it to be vegan. I explored the menu several times and, even though it does explain which items are "vegan" (or can be made vegan) with a "V", there is no explanation of the rice not being vegan.

The entrée that I ordered comes with a side of rice. Again, I asked for it to be made vegan and was not informed that the rice contained milk. I eventually ordered a side of roti bread to compliment my meal. If you serve a side of rice that contains dairy with a dish that is identified as vegan and are not specifying in the menu nor by verbal prompting that it contains dairy, you are creating confusion and are irresponsibly serving food.

I worked in the restaurant industry (both local and chain-owned restaurants) for 11 years and am well aware of the sensibility of managing food allergies and dietary restrictions. This restaurant is not properly managing this at all (at least during my three years visiting twice per month), even though the owner's response states the contrary.

Only once has a waiter in this restaurant has specified that the rice contains milk at the moment of ordering; and this was when I found out I had been consuming dairy without my consent, three years after asking for the food to be made vegan and being served food containing dairy without any kind clarification or prompting.

Accepting your mistakes and acting upon them helps you improve and evolve, as well as retaining and gaining clients. It is disappointing to know that no effective action has been taken to amend this situation, considering that it can be deadly for some people that are extremely allergic to dairy. It is also unfair and disrespectful to people who follow a spiritual/ethical path that have chosen to not consume animal products.

I sincerely hope the administration of this restaurant becomes more diligent in solving this issue and integrates options that are truly and honestly vegan. Otherwise, offering vegan options is not an option for you. ORIGINAL/FIRST REVIEW:

VEGAN AND DAIRY ALLERGIC PEOPLE: BEWARE!!!

I've been to this restaurant many times during the past three years and they indeed serve delicious food and their service is great. The servers are kind and very attentive. However, it seems that most of them were not well trained or are not informed of critical aspects of dining and the culinary world such as dietary restrictions and allergens. I follow a vegan way of life and enjoyed that the restaurant had multiple options on their menu listed as vegan.

After three years of visiting around twice per month, a server recently told me "you cannot order this plate vegan" even though it was labeled as vegan on the menu. I asked him why, if I had ordered it for almost three years and they always told me it was vegan. He mentioned that the rice that comes as a complimentary side with all dishes is made with milk and has always been made this way in the restaurant, therefore not vegan.

I was disappointed to know that, not only the options they list as vegan are not actually vegan, but people that are allergic to dairy can have a dangerous and life-threatening experience eating these options. I also felt somehow uneased knowing that I had consumed a food item that is not aligned with my spiritual beliefs, without my consent.

I have asked on several occasions afterwards if they are able to change the rice for a vegan option and they respond that they are not, even though they continue mentioning in their menu that these options are vegan. If you are allergic to dairy, are vegan, or follow a spiritual practice that does not consume...

usually never have an issue with my orders nor customer service, but tonight, i was put off. I called and asked what ingredients were used in the rice tonight, (i'm vegan) as in the past sometimes they use milk ingredients and sometimes oil. there was a time when the website clearly stated the rice was not vegan. which i have no issue with, i then just ask them to not put rice with my order. the first woman who answered did not know and told me to hold and then a man took the phone and the convo went as so. "hi how can i help you?" ME : "hello, what did you guys put in the rice tonight?" MAN: what do you mean what did we put in the rice?" ME: "like, what did you guys use to make the rice?" MAN: "we used what we always use in the rice". ME: "(laughing confused) okay, can you tell me what that is?" MAN: "is there a particular reason why you're asking?" (at this point i don't understand what is so difficult about answering my question and he had a slight attitude at this point) I then say ME: "because ii would like to know the ingredients in the rice, is there something wrong with that?" and at this point I just said i don't want to order anymore, thank you, and hung up. I don't understand why I had to go through all that to get a simple question answered, that i ask every time ii place an order. customer service is important, easy and transparent dialogue about ingredients is normal in the restaurant industry and I was completely put off and I will probably take my...

The only reason I gave one star because there is no option for zero star . This restaurant we selected thinking we would get good service and food as the rating suggested . We reached one hour before the closing time , we were informed since we are looking for "table " they could not service us . We wasted 30 min just to find this place since we were coming from Vermont and coming to this place added time and energy which was wasted . If they don't service dining in service to customers after 8:45 I suggest they update their timings and don't give customers false information which results in wasted time and energy . Or if you give only takeouts after 8:45 then that information should be updated rather than giving incomplete information . Just on this note wether the restaurant ratings is good it doesn't matter if firstly even reaching before 60 min prior closing time you're rudely informed by the staff that they could not service you . My suggestion to the future customers call this restaurant before and ask if they are open because god knows that they could refuse you food even if you come two hours before...