Are fresh veggies used much in Indian eateries around DC? Has anyone been back into the kitchens?

The waiter did everything he could do to get away from his tables as quickly as possible. He forgot one wine order altogether, and had to be badgered twice more for the glass of wine!

The food was decent, but not what we usually expect based on previous nights. The service was more like anti-service! The final item just killed it for us. We asked for and received our bill. As happens in groups you sometimes have to split the bill, but if we HAVE to ask the waiter to do that we attempt to consolidate onto as few cards as possible (tonight it was two). We also flip the bill over, write the card type or name, and the amount to put on that card. Many restaurant systems will not let them split out an amount over the total due, so we calculate the split based on the bill gross up for the tip.

Two cards. Written instructions on what amount goes on each of the two cards. Not rocket science. They reversed the amount for the two cards! “OK,” you’re thinking, “this is not a major problem — yet — and mistakes happen.” We waited patiently to flag down our incredible, disappearing waiter… and waited… and finally flagged down another waiter. We explained what happened and told him the charges needed to flipped (the split was 25% : 75%, so the difference was not small). Really, with a computerized system such as theirs, it should have been a simple task. Nearly ten minutes(!) goes by when they (someone different than the second person to whom we handed our cards!) reappear with new credit slips. The dollar amount was NOT reversed per card and the top of the slip merely indicated “reprint”!

Now, we’re patient people but this put me over the edge! I asked to speak to the manager. The (3rd!) waiter balked! I had to become loud and vocal before he would get the manager! If a customer asks to speak to the manager, the response should be “if I can assist, I will, but if you would prefer to speak to the manager I will be glad to summon him.” Calmly (!!!!) I explained to the manager that we have been patrons many times over the last several months, and that this was the first time we have ever had a problem. We then explained what had (twice!) happened to us. After yet another close to ten minute wait, the manager reappears with 3-4 reprints of the credit slip and hands them to us as if he has corrected their mistake. Instead, he took 30 cents from one card and shifted it to the other, but the overall dollar amount per card remained the same. After much protesting and informing him of our displeasure — and our intent to give him a real taste of hell if we were double-charged — he assured us we would not be billed more than once per card for the amount on the credit slips.

We got out of there and immediately called our credit card companies. I have two authorizations to my card from Tandoori Nights; one for 30 cents more than the other charge! I will have to wait 2-3 days for their credit card processing company to actually post the charge(s) to my account, but I am willing to bet I will have to contest one of the charges with my card company.

To think that I have introduced 9 new people to that restaurant based on my first (and very favorable) visit. Like I said, they seem to have imploded completely.

My only good encounters with Indian food is at a small hole in the wall called Ambadi – which was close to nothin’ not even a parking lot. Food was keralite, good avial, Guruvayoor style Krishna greeted the customers, and drove the business into banruptcy 4-6 months after it was conceived.

Amma in WI avenue? — go there every now and then after a nice run, never liked them, don’t know y.

You’re my boy, Al…you’re my boy!

Why do the White people pronounce Basmati as Baas-mun-ti?

Ick, I’m so glad I’ve never heard that.

Tricky things, assumptions. They are often wrong. My family is half vegetarian and half vegan. We are also Malayalee and Orthodox Christians.