"Great food - if it shows up"

Summary review by TJ

I don't normally write reviews unless I receive excellent service because I know how hard it's been for small businesses over the last couple of years. The food from India Pavilion is excellent. It always has been. My problem has been missing items. Not once, not twice, but three orders in succession. Someone always goes disappointed and it's become a bit of a game of roulette in our house - who is going to be the one whose meal doesn't show? Sure - a quick phone call and 20 minutes later the missing item arrives - but by then everything else is either eaten or ruined. I had hoped that by using the Foodhub ordering website it might avoid any transcription errors, but sadly not. Couldn't be bothered calling this time as it was only two side dishes missing that we could do without by sharing around to plug the gap. But annoying that you don't get what you pay for. Will be giving them a miss for a while.

Detailed review by FB

EASE OF ORDERING

FoodHub app order online

Using the FoodHub application to order is fine, so long as you understand what you are buying and have no special requests to make. The menu here is very comprehensive, as with most Indian restaurants, and there is precious little in the way of detail accompanying the different types of sauces - ingredients are listed for some but not others, and there's hardly any indication of heat. That's fine if you always order the same thing, but if you like to experiment it can be tricky, relying on Google to tell you more about what a particular dish should taste like and what it does/does not come with.

Additionally, apart from a single small 'comments' box at the end of the order process, it's difficult to request specific changes to dishes.

The online menu has no pictures.

SPEED OF DELIVERY

Within the hour

Delivery was within the hour. The driver was friendly and the food was hot on arrival.

ACCURACY OF ORDER

Missing item

Unfortunately we were missing a starter from the delivery which upset one of our guests. We tried calling the shop directly but gave up after 5 minutes of engaged tones in order to eat the rest of the meal before it went cold. We could not find a way to report the issue via Foodhub later on. Disappointing.

QUALITY OF FOOD

Very authentic and well spiced

We were pleased with the food overall - good portion sizes, plenty of meat although we found the lamb a little tough in places, and well spiced without being over the top. No ill-effects afterwards!

Our only disappointment was the onion bhaji tasting a bit stale and being powdery in the centre.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Approaching restaurant prices

Reasonable value overall although we were a little surprised at the final total once extras were added to the list.

OVERALL

The best Indian food on Bute

Overall a good experience assuming that the missing dish was a one-off. Certainly the best Indian food we've eaten on Bute.

Detailed review by MH

ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES

Typical small Indian restaurant

Typical small Indian restaurant - tables for 4, hive of activity with takeaway customers and delivery drivers in and out the whole time

MENU

Lovely selection

Comprehensive menu with a wide range of options and specials. Not just Indian food - this place also serves burgers, pizza, calzone and kebabs amongst other things.

STAFF

Very attentive

Couldn't fault the service - very attentive staff

SPEED OF SERVICE

Quick efficient service

Drinks and poppadums out within 5 minutes of placing our order. Good spacing between starters and mains.

QUALITY OF FOOD

Great!

Good quality dishes - good portions, especially breads and meat dishes

VALUE FOR MONEY

Fairly typical Indian restaurant pricing

Not cheap but not expensive.