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Reviews for Tulsi Contemporary Indian Cuisine

by Adeshara H.
16th February 2013

Been to Tulsi in Petone for dinner. Great service from all the staff with smile. Being Indian I like strong flavored curry with nice spicy touch to it. I was very much helped choosing the right curry for my taste as kiwis flavors are different to Indians. It was fabulous, very very tasty and seems like they just made it for me I almost licked my plate. Naan was very good, soft and full of freshness. I got shocked seeing all this poor reviews posted. I would say it was so busy when I went in and 30 mins wait time for made to order food is average time for any busy restaurant (well we are not in McDonald’s). I will definitely come back Tulsi, make sure you keep the standards up to the highest. I wanted to give 5 stars but as this is my 1st time at Tulsi Petone I’ll test their consistency for 5 star rating. “Good Luck Tulsi Petone”

by NoodleHair 1.
29th January 2013

Agree with the below reviews, good food but bad service (at the front counter), you would think by now they would have resolved this.. Won’t be returning in a hurry, was nothing to rave about. Compliments to the chef however

by Sarah P.
28th January 2013

Absolutely the WORST indian food we have ever eaten and we are not fussy eaters! Wish I had read the reviews before I wasted my time and money going here. Terrible food and terrible customer service. We asked for both curries to be medium hotness – one was so hot that it was inedible and the other was the correct level of hotness but not very nice. Prawns were chewy and tasted old.

by Shazz
28th December 2012

I have been here a few times, the food is pretty inconsistent in quality. I have had a couple of really great meals, the others have been a complete let down.

The biggest let down for me was the customer service. The person who greeted us was very short. Didn’t smile or show any decent communication. However they waiters were the worst, they were yelling at each other, they were absolutely rude.

I would recommend this if customer service is important to you (like it is too me) I would suggest take-away.

by Huia W.
30th July 2012

Great food, not to long a wait either. But then the waiters decided to have an arguement in their native language over the till. One waiter in particular looked like he was getting quite aggresive (obviously frustrated over something) but still not a great look to the customers and also in front of the children that were dining with their parents.

by Erica T.
7th July 2012

went to tulsi for a late lunch. service was mediocre but mind you it was late in the afternoon and close to their closing time. we had chicken wings. very very tasty although quite small?… would get 2 next time. I had mild chicken Korma which was really really beautiful excellent flavours. Husband had the “Kiwi hot” chicken Madras, and again very very good, nice and hot but not overly so. Another drink would have been nice but alas the staff obviously didn’t agree as they didn’t offer one? bit of a pick up on a service and some friendlier staff and it would be a really nice place.

by Andrew R.
25th March 2012

Poor service, average food, will never go back there again. waited 45 minutes for Entree while takeaway meals were pouring out of the kitchen and had a higher priority. Will be going back to the restaurant up the road where we have always had great prompt service and food.

by kate
12th March 2012

Very bad service!!!

Went here for lunch, ordered the lunch special, $11.90 butter chicken, naan bread and a drink. After our meal we had to call them over, as they were too busy chatting to each other, I asked to have it take away so he put it in a container for me.

But once we went to go pay for it he charged me a $1.00! for the plastic container, but never told me this when i asked to have it takeaway. He was very rude telling me its too late and didn’t apologize for not telling me it would cost extra for a tiny container.

very unsatisfied costumer. wont be going back!!!

by KatyG
19th January 2012

We eat her fairly regularly, takeaways as well as dining in. Usually the food and service is great, but last time we went for my birthday the service was poor. Hopefully this was an aberration and not a sign of things to come. Will still go again, but the service needs to improve on this visit.

by LShep
29th October 2011

Just got a take out order from Tulsi.

The phone manner of the person taking the order was good, he even helped me with the menu and made suggestions so we could get best value for money.

Got to the restaurant to pick up the order, was met in a friendly and welcoming manner, and the transaction went very smoothly in a timely manner.

After a ten minute drive home, the food was still hot and delicious. Very well done.

by Debs
4th August 2011

We went there on a Saturday night as a special occasion. While the service was adequate, the food was mostly disappointing. We ordered the mixed platter….did the Chef have an accident with the salt? Is Indian food meant to be so salty? The samosas were overcooked, nearly burned. When my main came out (Chicken Biryani (sp)), the plate had not been cleaned, and there was sauce and rice smeared on the outer edge of the bowl. Attention to detail would have helped.

by mel r.
19th April 2011

I won’t even rate a star in this place. Our anniversary night started fine until we dine in Tulsi Petone tonight 19/04/2011. It started with a very pushy waiter taking an order. Unhelpful, No customer service, whatsoever that it seems like we shouldn’t be ordering at all. It was totally shocking! We waited for 30 minutes until the food is served. The food is served in very small amounts and we paid 46.00 dollars for two tiny bowl of curry and one small plate of rice!!! for the two of us. I am not really happy and I promise that I will never come back in this place. This is the worst dinner I had in my life. UNBELIEVABLE.

by Martin P.
29th December 2010

I would never go back to this place.
Been three times:
* First was terrible. Food average, service shocking, wait for food interminable.
* Second, lunch with father in law, $5 lunch deal. Food ok, service terrible, wait for food not as bad as first time.
* Third time – went along as part of a group when someone else had booked. Food took an incredible length of time to arrive. Was average when it got there. No apologies at any time from staff.

How do these people stay in business?

by Suzanne H.
21st December 2009

After having a friend rave about tulsi we finally tried it, but apart from a helpful kiwi fellow it was just a horrid experience. The chicken dish seemed to be made from all the left over, chewy chicken bits and also had bones in it. Do not think I will be going back here again

by rhys
7th October 2009

good service and very good food

by Lilli
13th August 2009

We arranged a work dinner at Tulsi with a group of around 30 people. Our group had to be somewhere else at 8:30pm, so the staff at Tulsi suggested we come in at 5pm and assured me this would be ample time for them to serve us. Prior to the dinner we arranged a group menu with the staff beforehand, so things would run smoothly and they would know what to expect.

Needless to say, this was not the case. After being served one drink we were left to our own devices for 90 mins until our entree platters finally arrived. There were only about 6 other people seated in the restaurant.
Our main platters started arriving around 8:15pm (3 hours later!), by which point we had no time to eat them and had to leave.

I understand that we are a big group, but after the staff assuring me more than once that this would be fine, I was quite annoyed.
As staff offered no explanation even when asked directly, and only came round to serve drinks once, it was absolutely shocking service. Will never go back.

by Sally M.
8th July 2009

A group of 12 of us went for a ladies lunch on Sunday and I agree with regards to service.. there was only one waiter who was very very helpful & friendly.. the others, when they appeared, and whom seemed more senior to him, were unenthusiastic and didnt seem to want us there!!??!

But overall good food (one of our ladies who had actually previously lived in India for 7yrs did agree) and good atmosphere, comfy seating, easy flat access.

Prices were good especially for the lunch-time combo.

by Sophia
21st May 2009

I have been there twice and the food is really good but i do agree that service would be a issue.I think they need more staff especially in the evenings as i had to wait for a long time for my meal but the environment is really good.

by Anthony
15th December 2008

I eat vegetarian food and the food here at Tulsi was good.

However the service was terrible. I ordered raita and pickle, which never arrived. Neither did the roti bread, until I asked for it after the main meal had arrived.

They need a system. The person who took the orders didn’t deliver the food. The person who delivered the food kept walking past our table and putting the food on the next table!

by Sarah
1st November 2008

Have been to tulsi many times, the service has been great and food even better!

by jean
30th September 2008

We’ve dined at Tulsi in Petone many times and have always found the food to be excellent We’ve never walked in to find no one at the desk.

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