Nawabi Hyderabad House - Biryani Place — Restaurant in Wheeling Township

Decent food, uncourteous staff!

Food The food is slightly better (at times) than the other Indian restaurants in the area. Lot of options for South Indian food, and taste better than the North Indian offerings, which has some influence of Southern cooking styles and spices. Have tried a variety from both North and South Indian dishes, most are decent and close to Indian flavors (not Americanized).

Customer Service This is where they kill the vibe. It’s completely ironical to use the word “Nawabi” in their name, and provide the level of customer service they do, if they would have actually served a nawab only god could save them. Seems staff has no restaurant experience, very uncourteous, and chaotic.

I’ve ordered online multiple times, and have had issues with 4 out of 5 online orders, I keep going back as this close by and slightly better food than other Indian restaurants in the area.

Issue #1 – First online order I placed, was allotted a pick time. I was at the restaurant right at the pickup time. It was a busy evening, and I checked with the person managing counter on the left (there are 2 counters), he just asked for my name, looked at the shelf behind him and confirmed the order wasn’t ready yet. I waited for around 20 minutes, checked again, and he said the order was still being prepared. After waiting for another 10 minutes I just happened to browse through the packages that were lying next to the right (dine-in) counter, and saw a bag that had been there from almost the time I reached, I checked the name on it, and yes it was my order getting cold sitting on the other counter. When I complained about it I was told "You did not say it was an online order", well nobody asked me. No apologies from the staff. (Note: They still don’t have any indication on the counters for pickup online/phone orders).

Issue #2 – This time around I went to the right counter as suggested on my last trip. The female asked my name, looked at the bags on the shelf, and confirmed it wasn’t ready yet. Right at that time I just happened to browse through the names on the bags, and voila there was my order. No apologies from the staff.

Issue #3 – There was misleading information on their website, the Uttapam in the Kids menu said Mini Uttapam with an image of 5 mini Uttapams. Once we opened our bag we realized there were 2 plain Uttapams (totally not what was on the website). We called the restaurant and were told, its correct, since the items are from Kids menu they don’t have veggies based on parent's feedback. The person argued the website isn’t misleading. (Note: the website has since been updated with a better describing image and name for that food item). There was no credit offered, no apologies from the staff.

Issue #4 – We ordered Chicken Dum Biryani (Spicy), the Biryani we got was bland, even no salt. I called the restaurant explaining the issue, the staff person apologized and was told “we will cook it properly next time” – exact wording, I had the obvious question of what happens to my Friday Biryani plans this time? The person responded “If you can bring it, we maybe could give you another one”, I went back, waited in the line for around 10-15 minutes, and was attended by someone. I explained the issue, the staff member frowned, grabbed my food and headed back into the kitchen. Turned up 10 minutes later and handed over the bag. No apologies whatsoever, did not even utter a single word. Since they made me go back to the restaurant, for not so good Biryani, on a Friday evening just thought of putting it out there with this review.

In a gist of things, if you are looking for slightly above average Indian food, not wanting to travel far, and trying to develop your patience level, you could pick this restaurant. PS - Better places out there if you are looking for good Biryani (vis.a.vis – “Paradise Biryani...

Worst Customer Service - Disappointed when it comes to food quantity. For $15 they filled only 50% of the box - Street side Veg Fried Rice;

When called about the issue (one of the guys from the restaurant spoke), they checked with the Chef & they said, the chef fills a minimum of 85% of the box. When I said that was not the case (they went back to chef again), they said that they'd fill it up full next time. What about this time where they failed to offer the money's worth ? No answer, and I said I'd bring back the dish back for a refund.

Took it back to the restaurant (yes, took the effort to drive all the way back to show them the proof) for a refund, where they adamantly said it's only that much they'd fill the box - complete contradiction to what was said on the phone (85% fill up) compared to quantity (50%) in the box right in front of his eyes. Despite me showing the pictorial comparison of Kofta Briyani ($14 - 100% box filled) and Veg Street Side Fried Rice ($15 - 50% box filled), he wouldn't accept their mistake. I even pointed out that few months ago when I ordered the same dish, box was 100% filled up. It suddenly reduced in quantity this time. I requested to take back the dish and provide a refund. Matter would have been closed if they refunded for their mistake. Nope, no truth will make them budge.

Compare the quantity fill (the height) between Kofta Briyani & Fried Rice in the picture uploaded. Kofta Biriyani is the dish with lots of gravy at the top, while the other is the Fried Rice

This is total disrespect & feel disappointed as they don't seem to honor the worth of the money paid. I told them to forget the refund, instead offer the fried rice to someone in the restaurant or donate to someone. It’s not worth arguing this much over $15. While I was about to leave, he pleaded to compensate by offering 2 Mango Milkshakes. Told them I’d NOT eat them, sanctity of the food is already lost over the argument & un-acceptance of the truth over the quantity of food for the worth of the money.

I’m one completely disrespected & unhappy customer, NEVER to return.

On the positive note, Kofta Briyani on the same order however was filled 100% of the box & the...

Sorry to give a bad review guys. Hope you ll take the feedback constructively. I hv been going to Schaumburg Hyderabad house for 8 years now. This is first time at Buffalo grove. First off all the place itself is kind of new to Indian restaurants setup. It’s from an olive garden. So the main area was full so we were asked to sit inside one of the side rooms. The room was just like a ooty cottage room- so alone from the main restaurant, no tv no wall pictures. Felt odd. Then 2 customers families came so that’s ok. But honestly it felt odd sitting there and eating. Kindly improvise that room. Next, food taste definitely needs to improve. The pandu mirchi chicken roast was sour, and chicken was just usual chicken breast; not the fried tasty version- also i guess the vinegar taste didn’t go away fully hence sour. The egg curry had no flavor of onions and we could sense raw tomato puree and no salt either. Worst they didn’t bring rice with egg curry we had to keep asking. The shrimp potlam pulav took 40 mins to arrive and worst it was not hot at all.

To further complicate, the person who took our order (tall bearded brownish white skin guy) took the neighbor table order first when we had come first ( he spoke nicely in Telugu to them; we are Tamil). And even worse he apparently screwed up submitting the request to kitchen that our order never got processed for almost 30 mins. With an old person and a kid in my group this was not acceptable. Only saving grace was the chicken lollipop was good, and Mr. Mani did some great service from the time he welcomed us to table to checking us out. he was such a gem! He should move to Schaumburg location, they are exceptional in the customer service he ll be a value addition to their team.

Overall I am never returning to this location. I am happy with our Schaumburg branch. Even if food falls short their customer service team is very good. And food never fell this bad ever at Schaumburg. Even Naperville...