Greater Indian & International Restaurants Charnwood, Canberra

User Reviews of Greater Indian & International Restaurants, Charnwood

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2 of 2 readers found the following review helpful

1.5 Not Recommended

Food 2 Ambience 1 Service 1 Value 2

Wow! What an experience! There's nothing quite like a stand-up argument to finish off a meal. Nothing like the parting words "you are stupid people" to help you digest. That's assuming you can digest large lumps of gristle in the alleged "butter chicken." Or perhaps bread that arrives 20mins after the main course was served- to the delightful aroma of what can only be described as 'kitchen fire.'

To be fair, the lamb rezala was reasonably good- at least the three miniscule pieces of meat that actually came with the dish, hidden by an ocean of sauce.

Despite being the only customers in the place (that probably should have told me something...) the 'waitress' wasn't actually able to be found for love nor money. That in hindsight was actually a good thing, as whenever she did appear, it was usually to herald some prophesy of doom. Apparently, "the 'chef' burnt the bread twice" is technically referred to, in the Indian restaurant trade, as "the aloo paratha thing isn't doing its thing proper." Either that, or she'd come back to drop various items of cutlery on my dining companion.

After being told the bread wasn't going to be coming unless I wanted it served with a complimentary sauce of flame-retardant chemicals, I naturally cancelled the order. Of course it was to my (not so) great surprise when - on one of my frequent trips to the kitchen (dodging firemen along the way) to find the waitress that I was informed that the bread would be coming shortly.

Following the excitement of the meal (and let's not forget - the show), I proceeded to the register to pay the bill. Here I was to discover (after having to wrestle the details of the bill from of the waitress) that I was going to be charged for the bread for which I had cancelled the order. Now began the fun. The staff repeatedly yelled that I was "stupid." Well that maybe true, but I am not stupid enough to pay for an item that I cancelled the order for. And I wonder who was more stupid, the person who should pay for items that they did not want, or the person who made me wait several minutes whilst they tried unsuccessfully to plug in the EFTPOS machine.

Or perhaps the person who yelled at me to "leave the restaurant" after having given up, paid my interpretation of the bill, and was walking out the door. I have to say that every part of me was telling me to just walk out of this place on several occasions, but a morbid part of me was begging me to stay to see what would happen next. All in all, a very memorable evening.

So food rating- ok, if you like gristle and bottled sauces
Ambience- uncrowded, with a down-to-earth, smoky feel
Value for money- Calculate your own bill!!!
Service- ummm... there was Service??

P.S. Have a look at the ‘rave reviews’ on their own website. Love the one about “great food and wine.” Not bad for a BYO only restaurant…