Masala Grille

my favorite place in thunder bay, excellent service and food.

Nice decor, okay food bad service.....

Entered the restaurant, a nice spice aromatic ambience with rich Indian kitchen colours welcomed me – Excellent, what else you need in a restaurant where the entrance enhance your craving for something tastier. Yes the décor with silk and embroidered clothes in rich Indian colors of saffrons/reds/browns/yellow are just done marvellous. 5***** There was no body at the guest waiting counter, nor a bell to ring to tell that a customer is waiting for to be seated. I went inside to see if someone can help me – NO. I came back and waited for next 5 minutes and just as I thought about going back some one appeared and asked me if I’m waiting for to be seated. I said ‘YES’. The girl took me to a corner of the restaurant having a table with two chairs. She asked me to be seated till she brings the menu. There were only two group of people eating at that time whole restaurant was empty, it was around 8:30 pm, she would might have provided me with a much better table near the windows but a table at the end of the restaurant were chosen by her. Not a good choice seeing the time and empty restaurant. 0* I ordered two dishes seeing the content of the vegetables in those dishes and the name given to them. It came with a bowl of rice and butter naan as I ordered. Way too much for a single guest, but I was not apprised about the quantity of the dishes etc. Anyways. From the name both dishes sounds like Indian dishes, but here the mistake goes. And as per the hostess it was my mistake that why I didn’t ask her if both dishes are Indiana or Thai. I advised her that since in the menu you put the name of the dish similar to an Indian dish then why I will ask you such a question. Whatever. One dish has an authentic Indian flavour. Not much spicy , just the right kind of taste. But people eating bland food my find it spicy so you may request for lesser spices although that will take away the whole aroma of the dishes. Anyways. Another problem I cited was no spoon was given. It was expected that guest will eat fine quality Indian basmati rice with fork, the way oriental rice is eaten. Another big mistake. Fine Indian basmati rice is eaten with spoon not fork for the simple reason that when cooked each grain will remain separate from each other. So food get 4****. Service get 0*. When I was leaving I tried to strike a conversation with the hostess to praise e about the décor etc. but she was not at all interested to speak anything. So before I say anything further she finished the conversation, which was not started at first place, by saying the second dish which you said was not tasty is prepared as it should be and that is the dish most of our customers like the best. So in a way I was thrown out from the restaurant.  Service again received 0* This is the only Indian restaurant in the region so I have no other option to visit again but I will wear a wig and remove my glasses. I am Indian and I want Indian food once in a while. Whatever…….

Hit or Miss... I've been to Masala Grille a...

Hit or Miss... I've been to Masala Grille a number of times now with various parties - overall I find that the food and the service is unfortunately declining. Two visits ago I was with a party of about 12. Most of us ordered the buffet, as it usually proves to provide a pretty good selection. However, a few friends have special dietary needs and ordered off of the menu. No exageration, their meals took over an hour to come out. The buffet was ok, but two others sent their meals back - bland and cold. The last visit (a friend's birthday) was about the same. The food ordered off the menu came pretty quickly this time; though we had our friends order before going up to the buffet ourselves. This time around the service was very slow, drinks came part way through the meal. It also felt as if some of the staff weren't particularily knoweldgeable about the food itself. On two different visits a friend was told very different stories about an ingredient in the dishes she's highly allergic to. The first time "it's only in the one dish" and the second time "it's in pretty much everything, except this one dish"... I used to enjoy it a lot. The atmosphere is awesome and the place is beautiful. It's great to have such authentic Indian cuisine in town, but lately I have not been impressed with it.

I had a gorgeous experience with this restaurant...

I had a gorgeous experience with this restaurant, my friends and I went there one summer afternoon and left full and happy. The pakoras are a must and the yoghurt salad dressing with naan bread is delicious. Our server was a cheerful woman who smartly suggested the Lassi, which compliments the spicy food all the more.

Having been there a few times before, I was not...

Having been there a few times before, I was not hesitant to take a friend of ours from out of town. I read some of the reviews about service but my experience has been quite different. The service has always been excellent as it was that night. We decided to have the buffet as we had left work and were starving. The waitress came over for the drinks order. I actually ordered something off the menu (Lassi(Yogurt shake) with splenda) and she was pleased to oblige. The food is always satisfying. The vegetable dishes are always fresh, the pakoras are crunchy and the bread warm. They even bring hot bread to your table if it isn't. The ambience is great. They have done an outstanding job converting an old manor into a grand room from British india times. After dinner, I requested the owner for some Chai Tea with spices. She always does a great job with it. We were very pleased with it. Overall, it was a great experience. The best part was the bill which was extremely reasonable at around $25 per person. It has become one of my staple places to go in Thunder Bay for reliably good food and great service.