India Grill

Name: India Grill
Location: 2924 E Burnside Street
Portland, OR
Contact information: 503.236.1790
Web address: www.india-grill.com
Hours: Daily 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Reservations Recommended: Not Necessary
Good for: Indian takeout – ’cause the service sucks
Insider tip: Sulky waiters + Average food = Take your service elsewhere

Review: As a former college waitress who spent her weekend nights surrounded by a crazy chef, food and impatient customers, I have garnered a lot of respect for servers. I know when someone is working and when he isn’t. And believe me, at India Grill, they definitely ain’t.

We arrived around 8 p.m. and after about 5 minutes, were lead dirty table. After clearing it, we were left alone for more than 10 minutes before a server approached. Afraid of being abandoned again, we ordered drinks and food together. I tried the mango lassi ($2.50) and the veggie sampler appetizer with 2 veggie samosas and pakora ($5.95). For a main dish I selected crab kovalam ($15.95).

The appetizer was served relatively quickly, however, it was too fast for my mango lassi, which arrived as we were finishing. It was also too fast for the coke my boyfriend ordered…and was never served the whole evening.

The food came before we were finished with the appetizer – an amazing feat, considering how fast I inhale food. Never once during the meal did a server check with us. Ten minutes after we were finished, I resorted to flagging down a waitress and requesting both the check and boxes at the same time.

Of course, it was not to be and after another 5 minutes, the server brought the boxes. After another five minutes – where the waiter asked if we were ever brought the coke – we received the bill . Unfortunately, she sulked away before I could slap down the credit card I eagerly held in my hand.

The food, on a whole, is nothing remarkable, but nothing to complain about either. It is, however, the worst service I have received at a restaurant in Portland. If you’re looking for decent Indian close by and India Grill is your only option, do yourself a favor and order take out.