Maharaja Restaurant

I visited this restaurant for the first time on Friday and have to say that it was the best experience of Indian food I have ever had.

We were seated in the downstairs room which felt cosy, the table setting was pristine and the service was second to none.

I told the waiter I was a vegetarian and after asking what my favourite veg was, told me what I was going to have. My starter was a mixed vegetable platter which was divine and I've no idea what my main course was called but that too was heavenly - potatoes, cauliflower, chick peas, peas and paneer all bound together in the tastiest sauce.

My only (slight) complaint was that when people we were waiting for tables, the downstairs area was very crowded and noisy. This was quite distracting but ultimately hasn't put me off so I will definitely be going again.
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Nikki
Monday, January 21, 2008

Made a booking for Christmas Meal with Colleagues for Dec 14th.

Then found these reviews and thought better of it.

Called to cancel and they hadn't even placed the booking.

Are they for real?
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James'' apple
Thursday, November 22, 2007

Service:

Based on the Rabbit Guide to Birmingham we decided to go to the Maharaja Restaurant. When we booked a table on the phone the lady didn´t even ask for a name. When we called the second time, she said it won´t be busy tonight, therefore she didn´t ask for the name. Anyway we gave her our name.

We arrived at 9 pm and the first they asked was, if we have booked a table. Luckily we did. Although tables were free, we were said to go down to the bar until they prepare a table. I don´t book a table to be sent to the bar for spending extra pounds for drinking/waiting. If I reserve a table, I want to sit at that table not wait again 20 minutes to be called.

I had the feeling that I was in a "pls-finish-your-dinner-in-10-minutes-restaurant". They put away the food in a hectical way, waiters were not friendly but fast. When I wanted to pay the person was standing behind my back and watching (which is not appropriate.

Different treatments of the guests has been also a problem. Since you use your hand to eat papadom or naan bread you get a napkin to clean ur hands afterwards in most of the reputable Indian restaurants. Which happened also in this restaurant, but only to the neighbour table, they didn´t even offer us anything.

Service is a 0, for this price. The hectical waiters and the worse treatment I have ever had in an Indian restaurant prove that the rating of 0 is correct. If it has been an fastfood restaurant I would not complain.

Ambiente:

Too small, no Indian music, no Indianlike atmosphere, some old tables and chairs which maybe would suit to a pub, but not to a Restaurant.

Food:

Then we received our starter. As it was mentioned the food was dry and was served with a basic salat which had not at all an Indian touch.

The main meal was basic, it has not been anything special.

If you all think, this review is hard, please have a try at this restaurant.
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Fan of Indian food
Sunday, October 28, 2007

I visited this restaurant with work colleagues early in October 2007. Despite the place being busy and apparently popular I have to say that this is the worst Indian restaurant I have encountered in many years bar none. What is all the more remarkable is that it is in the city centre where competition should be intense. I can only assume it is living on past reputations.

The dank basement bar smelt musty, given this is where the kitchen is located this is concerning, the toilets weren't great either.

Service poor, food very basic, below ready meal standard - which indeed it may be as the waiters were not prepared to deviate from the very limited standard menu. The starter (shami kebab) was very dry (with a side salad that was browning and obviously prepared earlier in the day-at best) and clearly prepacked and the main was poor also (the staff even told me it was similar to my first choice which wasn't on the menu and it was nothing like it). There are many good Indian restaurants in the City Centre, the only way to make the bad ones improve is to vote with your wallets!
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GaryC - View all reviews by this user
Monday, October 22, 2007

"After being stuck in thier pokey little bar - sweat box!, as apparently no tables - thats a laugh, there were plenty, just a way to get you to spend a few quid extra, We then ordered popadoms and a main. The popadoms arrived and before we had finished eating, they were taken away, plate and all, whilst I still had one hanging out of my mouth with WARM mint sauce dripping on the table. The main (Sagwala for me and Tandoori chicken for friend), arrived. I had not ordered rice which they piled onto my plate whilst I was still objecting as I had Nan. The Sagwala looked like something the cat had thrown up - green sloppy thick Pea like with bits of chicken in - the chicken not too bad, and a bit of coriander sprinkled on top to give some flavour to this VERY bland dish. My friends Tandoori Chicken was on the bone and the most dried up thing I have ever seen from an apparently Good Restaraunt. They dropped on the table half way through 2 glasses of coke which we had not ordered and then added to the bill at the end. The salad with the tandoori chicken was limp and uninviting. Toilets are pokey and if I was to be fat I would had struggled to get in let alone get out. The best bit of the meal was the onions with the popadoms - lemon and a touch of salt on them - very nice. The rest was crap, tho the nan was not bad but the smallest thing I had ever seen. When the bill arrived we objected to paying for the drink we had not ordered, after a couple of minutes discussion the agreed I did not have to pay for it, is it not the customers choice to pay a tip not for the restaraunt to slap 10% of the bill on top, most leave a box in the bottom for gratuity, not fill it in for you. Maybe it is for thier rubbish refurb??

Anyways after eating at many restaraunts (indian this is without a doubt the poorest. Have you all tried the FESTIVAL BALTI in the ARCADIAN centre or THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN IN MOSELEY, LAHORES IN MOSELEY. The Maharaja without doubt has nothing on these with their cheap and poorly put together food and impolite, pushy staff. Fo on give it a go at the others. Also the pleasure of listening to rowdy drunks shouting 9/11."

anonymous 16th September
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anonymous balti reviewer
Sunday, September 17, 2006

Good food, stark ambience, very samll place with squashed up set up.. Service a bit overbearing..Depends what one likes.. I suppose I like my privacy when needed..

Over all very good...
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George
Thursday, August 24, 2006

I have never been more spoilt in a restaurant. The staff at Maharaja treat you like royalty--pulling out chairs, unfolding napkins--I've never even poured my own water from the jug on the table!

The food is wonderful--the special dhal is possibly the greatest lentil concoction I have ever had, gorgeous with pilau rice.

Starters and main courses alike include plenty of vegetarian options, and everything is fantastic!
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nik
Friday, February 10, 2006