Banana in Broadland

Can't claim to be a staunch regular, but I have used Ali Spice as a takeaway about once every 2 months since it opened in 2010. Food and feeling of being a valued customer has always been exemplary. Up to my last two dishes, my go to was always a chicken balti, a 2 chilli spice rating, the last one I had from Ali's was so spicy it was on the verge of being inedible, ah well just a one off, i fancied a curry last night and found I could not face ordering my old faithful balti, i ordered a tikka massala and was told 20 mins to collect, i arrived in the prescribed time and drove 10 minutes home to find the dishes i ordered were just about warm, fine i could heat up in a microwave, but i have never had to do this before, something has changed lately at Ali spice, and i don't just mean the prices! Unfortunately I will be going elsewhere for my curry from now on.

5 of us came to a prebooked table on Friday night, at quite an early time slot. The restaurant was fully booked but only 2 waiting staff were working plus the owner behind the bar. The issue came because of the takeaway orders. Because all the food for an order is needed this took priority over restaurant customers. This was not helped by the owner ignoring people picking up and leaving it to already very busy waiting staff. So we had a long wait between starter and mains and getting drinks orders. If I had chosen a desert I'd have still been eating when my 9pm taxi arrived. Staff were lovely, food excellent but if you can't cope with a full restaurant and takeaway then don't take orders! This service devalues your restaurant and unnecessarily put your team under pressure