Laxmi's Indian Grille — Restaurant in Wyomissing

I'd like to start this review by saying that I've eaten at this place and have gotten takeout from this place many many times over the years and most of my experiences were fine. I'm writing this review because I have finally had enough and it seems as other customers have as well though I can't speak for them. There were more than a few occasions where I called in a takeout order and made sure that I was very thorough on my order, as there is a language barrier, and asking if they got the order correct and having them confirm it only for them to get it wrong which of course they can't fix after the fact. I've also eaten in and the service is quite slow and customers who are coming in to pick up take out often seem to have to wait an inordinate amount of time. This last visit I went with several other people. There was only one other guest in the restaurant and it still took probably at least 45 minutes to get our food despite the fact that we ordered everything at one time within minutes of us sitting. The waiter brought out our appetizer and when he handed it to me and I handed it to the person next to me, a cockroach came out from under the table and crawled across our table and the wall. Then the entrees came, not together, and they got my order completely wrong despite me again being very thorough with what I wanted. Being starving and agitated I wasn't going to wait to see if they'd make me another one especially because by this time the only person who was working the restaurant was inundated with customers coming to get food and we're all upset. Finally after I was nearly done with my meal, he came by and I flagged him down and told him that my order was completely wrong. He apologized and ask me if I would like him to make me the dish I ordered and I said yes. 15 plus minutes later I inquired as to how much longer it would take considering that we were there for at least 90 minutes by then, and he told me about 10 or 15 minutes. Another 10 or 15 minutes goes past and I again inquire because my guests and I were getting very upset. he once again asked me if I wanted him to put the replacement order in and I was stunned because he asked me three times and three times I said yes and apparently he didn't even bother getting it started so I just told him to forget it. I told him I wanted the check and he did take off my meal. I can honestly say that I don't believe I will ever eat here or get take out from here ever again. There are several other good options for Indian food around here. Oh, and I asked for a bowl of steamed vegetables which they told me they had and what they gave me was a tiny bowl of cold pickled...

Ordered delivery with my mom, who'd never tried Indian food before. Food took 1 hour 40min to arrive. We called at about the 1 hour mark, they apologized profusely and said that they were really busy that night (a Wednesday) but the driver was on his way - our house is less than 2 miles from the restaurant, so the delivery guy should be there within just a few minutes. Fine. Called half an hour later - apparently the delivery guy had car trouble, and someone else from the restaurant had just gone out to "rescue" our food from the 1st driver and deliver it to us (meanwhile, our food was getting cold the whole time). Annoying from our perspective, but hey, stuff happens. Delivery girl was very sweet and apologized again, then told us that our meal was free due to the inconvenience; props to Laxmi's for their customer service - that was classy.

Unfortunately, the food wasn't even worth the very long wait, and it wasn't a temperature problem. The chicken in my tikka masala was hard and rubbery (it'd obviously been frozen and thawed), and the sauce itself was watery (in taste, not just texture). The lamb seek kabob was dry enough to suck the moisture from your mouth. The saag paneer was only so-so, and needed a better cheese-to-spinach ratio. The naan was decent. The rosewater lassi was genuinely tasty; I'd recommend it. The kheer was fine, although nothing to write home about. My mom and I ate about half the food because we were absolutely starving by that point, but then just threw the rest away because we knew we'd never eat the leftovers. Almost $60.00 worth of food, and we ended up glad that we didn't have to waste any money on it after all.

I'll have a heck of a time getting my mom ever to try Indian food again, because this entire experience was pretty much a bust. I'm really, really sorry, because I want to support the Wyo/Reading area broadening its culinary horizons (sorely needed), and Indian food is awesome, but the food we got from Laxmi's was just plain not good.

Two stars because the customer service was good in that they comped the meal entirely and were friendly to deal with (and also because their website lets you order online, hurray), but the food was so bad that I can't do much better than that. I'm sorry, again! Improve the food and you'll have a loyal and very frequent customer in me whenever I visit my hate-to-cook parents...

Up front, i've never eaten there, but just saw this from their recent inspection. I'd be afraid to eat there based on this:Berks

Laxmi’s Indian Grille, 1806 State Hill Road, Wyomissing , November 19: 14 violations. The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate control of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Several foods in the kitchen refrigerators are stored open with no covering. Scoop being stored in the ice machine with handle touching the ice. A large container of chicken curry observed thawing at room temperature on a cart, which is not an approved thawing method. Observed packs of lamb thawing in standing water in a bucket in the kitchen, which is not an approved thawing method. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration at the dishwasher. Floor mats and wire shelving units in the kitchen area have an accumulation of dirt and old food debris. Observed single-service, single-use articles (take-out containers) stored in the front area directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair – cold water is turned off at the handwash sink in the kitchen area due to a water leak. Exit door located in the kitchen area of the food facility has a significant hole at the bottom (deteriorated) and does not protect against the entry of pests. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the front area. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the kitchen area. The handwash sink in the front area does not have single use towels or air drying device. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the front area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Mops are not being hung to air dry. Out...