Ruchi in Southend-on-Sea

Excellent food. New owners extremely clean and friendly owners. Been going every month with friends. Food very traditional.

8 person last minute booking. Decor was terrible and in drastic need for renovation. Blown paint on the walls with flaking paint hanging off, damp walls, old rusty lights missing bulbs, old food dirtied table cloths underneath the top ones which were dirty anyway. Our server got lots of things wrong, forgot items and dropped a full glass of coke on the floor narrowly missing us. Toilets were dirty, cold and hand drier didn't work. Tried to charge us almost double for ordering 4 popadoms but neglected to tell us they charged for the 2 lots of sauces they brought us without asking so got them to remove that, also charged a little extra for one of the meals so reversed that also, a couple of plates were laid out with little bits on them which the server picked off. The state of the kitchen didn't look good either from what we saw but didn't have a detailed look The actual food was pretty good to be fair though, tasted very nice but couldn't wait to get out and would certainly NOT go back again. It was an experience!

I have lived in the area almost six years and for some reason never visited Ruchi. This was a great error on my part. The food was tasty and portions extremely generous, enough to take home for another meal. The staff a warm and very welcoming. Four of us ate and drank for £88 a bargain for such great food

OK it's changed hands since my last vist but we thought the food was really good and fairly priced. Waiter was friendly and pleasant not very busy but its maybe early days ..on the food front no complaints.

Came here to try new owners food. It was very peculiar! The waiters were very strange! The food was not good the worst Indian food we have ever had. The decor is terrible. Atmosphere not good at all. Shabby dirty place now need shutting down. Definitely would not recommend or return. This use to be lovely restaurant, waiters use to know your name, tea light heaters & fresh flowers on every table. Its a disgraceful place to eat now do not waste your money here.

Did not book just walked in Friday night. Spotless clean restaurant. Friendly staff greeted us & the high standard of attentive staff carried on throughout the whole night. Beautiful freshly cooked starters, currys, sides & bread. 4 poppadoms with condiments, 2 starters, 2 rice's, 1 nan, 2 currys (we had 2 full container to take away as we didn't eat it all. Total £45 worth every penny! Took our own alcoholic drinks because they didn't have a licence before but do now even so they happily provided glasses & ice. We left happy & full with leftovers in a bag. *****10/10***** Would recommend & return to Ruchi Southchurch.

Hugely annoying, don't get take away often so not getting what you order isn't on. I paid for mango chutney, popadum and onion salad. No chutney got 2 tubs of mint which I can't bear so paying for poppadoms and salad was a waste of money unlesz i wanted to eat them dry. So I had no starter as a result and what did they say when I called we will give you 2 chutney next time. There won't be a next time and I can't remember last time I could have take away so thanks for ruining my treat

Nice decor, friendly but a bit dear for what it is. Ashanti up the road serve watered down sauces and poppadoms so thin they can’t hold the weight so Ruchi best Indian restaurant between Southend Central & Thorpe Bay

It’s about 18 months since I last had food from here and I won’t again. I requested the order be delivered between 7:00 and 7:30 and it turned up at 6:40! The food was poor quality and not particularly well prepared. £2.50 for a cucumber raita that was a small amount of cucumber with yogurt on top, no herbs, and not even mixed!! The chutney looked more like a sweet and sour sauce from the Chinese. The meat was extremely average and the Dansak was one of the worst I have had (and there have been many).

It took over 2 hours for our order to be delivered!!!!!Food cold! Chicken pakoras so dry that we were not able to eat it.Portions very small. This was our first and last time we have ordered food from this place. Waste of time and money.

Use Ruchi weekly, especially during lock down, usually excellent. However, tonight, dreadful. Ordered a dry veg curry, got a wet curry consisting of one piece of potato and onion. A niramish is not this mess. Only 3/4 full. Chicken was OK, only small helping. I will move elsewhere. 3b Oban Road. Steve Charlton

Ordered a vegetable masala, chicken biryani, curry, garlic naan, papadums and chips. It was all fresh, hot and absolutely delicious!!! Our new favourite Indian...thank you for our extra papadums :)

I’m literally writing this as I eat my freezing cold disgusting food. I have never been so disappointed. Took nearly an hour to get here. The mixed grill was pathetic, smallest I’ve seen, the naan was wet and cold. Truly awful. We are new customers to this restaurant, we will never ever go again! Honestly try somewhere else, in this day and age of the hospitality industry needing customers, give your business to someone more deserving!

I’m not local, but wanted to treat a family member to a meal out after lockdown. Didn’t want my name when booking as said no one else was in that night anyway, (prob wasn’t the best sign at that point! ) Stale chewy poppadoms - I sent back. Replaced easily though and not a problem at all. Waiter explained they were cooked off that morning - it’s now 6.30pm. They were not cooked that day - sorry. Flat soft drinks. Old onion - defiantly not freshly cut as tasted off. Lamb was tough although could just be one off as can happen. I would have left earlier if wasn’t trying to have pleasant meal out & didn’t want a fuss. No napkins given to us, I got up and got ours from the trolley. Very small portions of rice and main dishes. So sad, as we’d looked forward to it. Reading other reviews - seems generally good. Waiter pleasant though, and naan was good. Come on guys, you need to up your game & not make cuts with freshness etc. 😔

We normally order a takeaway from another indian restaurant but thought we would try somewhere different. Unfortunately i was extremely disappointed. Expensive firstly, secondly def not value for money. The currys were swimming in a thin sauce, the small take away cartons were half empty, there was not enough rice for 2 people. Worst indian I have ever had. Such a shame and will not be ordering again.

Favourite Indian restaurant, wonderful food as always

Good but we ordered 4 popadoms and didn’t receive any sauce for them, also our keema nan had the tiniest bit of lamb in. Every else was good.

If you would like to pay over £11 for 2.5 king prawns then this is the place for you!

tasted amazing, was boiling hot and delivery was super quick

Was quite pleasant. Not much chicken in the Madras, but it was tasty.

Very nice meal for 2 tonight. Excellent food and service. A+++++

Over two hours to deliver and food was freezing. Gave them a chance after not giving us full order last time but shocking service. Avoid

The best Indian Restaurant in southend Tasty delicious piping hot could not fault it :-))

Amazing food as usual from Ruchi!

The order that arrived was not owes i did ring the restaurant and they offered no help just said contact just eat who would not answer I demand a full refund

Everything great apart from delivery time, arrived 35 mins early so had to put by and reheat. Minor irritation but would order again

Very nice food, was my first time ordering from here but I’ll be back

Worst Indian I’ve had! Don’t get me wrong this place is normally amazing and my go to Indian but my food last night was absolutely awful! Me and my family spent £40. We got the food only to be missing one rice. We had 3 naan breads and all 3 were burnt. The popadoms taste like cardboard. The amount of water left in the bottom of the rice box was disgusting. All 4 of us left most our meal. Money down the drain! Absolutely awful! So disappointed

The food was good, however the wrong food was given to me. It was a good job I hadn't started to eat it as they came back to collect and gave me the correct food. Due to this error I probably will not order from here again which is a shame because the food was good.

Food was ok.onion bhaji very salty.was all hot and on time.6/10

The service I received from this restaurant was shocking! I received my order and started to serve up when I realised that I had received the wrong order. I called the restaurant to explain that I had the wrong order the man on the phone was rude and didn't apologise he kept tutting and asked me to put the order back in the bag to give back to the delivery driver, I explained that I had opened and plated up 2 dishes, the man's response again in a rude tone was too put the food back in to the tubs my response was that I do hope you won't be sending those items to another customer and that I didn't want my food if it had already been delivered to someone else's house. He said that no my food hadn't been delivered to anyone else's house and would be delivered soon. The delivery driver arrived with the correct delivery and I gave him the wrong order back, again I asked the driver has this order been delivered to another address and was told no. I then opened the new order and was shocked that my order had been opened the poppadoms were all smashed and all the containers had been opened! There are no words to explain how disgusting this is! After complaining I only received a partial refund on this order.

Great meal thank you piping hot

Have always loved Ruchi but I've also wanted to try other Indian restaurants in the area and I always come to the same conclusion, Ruchi is better!

Set meal never comes with poppadoms as stated in the menu always missing on our order this is the fifth time this has happened can’t be bothered to keep phoning up now

Rang the restaurant to see where my order was after it was 20 minutes late. Told me it will be 5 minutes and after another 20 minutes it turned up (total of 1 hour and 20 minutes from after placing order) and after all that it was missing the naan bread which makes the meal for me. Rang them to tell them this and told me to go through just eat and then hung up. Quite rude. I did say this to just eat too and still no refund! Very bad customer service from both the restaurant and just eat.

Always a lovely take out but tonight was a little spicy for the madras and masala was watery abit disappointing as normally amazing food

Only critism i will give is the sauce could be a bit thicker as there was water flooding the bottom of the bowl making it quiet soggy but apart from that best curry going

I normally love ruchi but tonight I was disappointed my masala was spicy I had onions in my pilau rice and little to nothing inside my naan bread was also delivered only just warm

Fantastic food and service . Every time . Very friendly when you collect also

Items missing off set meal poppadoms

The food wasn't taste, watery, some piece of meat in the container

We have been here quite a few times on a Saturday evening with friends who live locally and nearly every time there are only 2/3 tables with customers. The food is okay but so few people means no atmosphere and you feel pressured by staff to eat, pay and leave.

I ordered a dish with king prowns by phone and it arrived with 2 shrimps in it, oslo ordered lamb phaw, 4 pieces of 1inch square lamb in it and plenty of nice spicy sauce.Taste was not to bad but very poor of main ingredients.

Used many times before but Delivery arrived 15 mins and the food wasn’t the hottest!

Good service can take sometime for food to arrive when busy but it’s worth the wait! The passanda, Bombay potato is to die for

Popped in for an early Dinner yesterday and the food was fantastic and the service was exceptional, great value for money

The food is still outstanding. we use as a bench mark .for all other Indian restaurants ,the staff sad shadow,Ali all very obliging ,nothing to much trouble we will never stop using the ruchi ,and would recommend to anyone if on southchurch road give it a try

First time visit recommended by daughter - service was attentive without being overbearing or rushed, friendly staff - great menu variety and choice. All food was fresh hot and tasty - reasonable price for great food - will return!!

Excellent food with great service at a very reasonable price. Great starters of King Prawn Puri and mixed tandoori followed by fantastic Chicken and Prawn Nagi, chana, bhajees and breads. All beautifully cooked, best I have eaten in the area of Southend.Great little micropub opposite for a beer before of after.

Visited with family for lunch, opting to have their buffet. Even though it was relatively quite the buffet was fully stocked and hot. We were greeted with a warm welcome and asked if we would like any drinks and popadoms which we said yes to both. Staff were very attentive and always on hand if need e.g. a top up of the mint sauce. A good value traditional buffet with a selection of vegetarian dishes.

My friends asked me to find an Indian Restaurant where we could meet for Dinner. I chose Ruchi because the reviews on the restaurant website were very good, so learn't a lesson to use Trip Adviser in the future, because on this site it is much lower. I sent a copy of the menu, so our friends would have some idea what was available. We did notice when we arrived that a buffet style dinner was on a Wednesday & this was a Tuesday, so we thought we would have to chose off the menu. However, the waiter told us we could pick what we like from the heated food display in the other room and was a fixed cost. Although the food was good, with only 6 people being served, the bins were not refilled so the food was not as fresh & hot as we usually find. You cannot fault the waiter, who was very pleasant & looked after our every need. My wife found the meat tough. We all felt we would have rather had the menu choice shown on their website as the buffet style is some what the same in every Indian restaurant. It is difficult to find parking locally, but this is the same in most busy roads nowadays. Overall was not impressed and the food did not fit the ambience and style of the restaurant. The boss was at the restaurant, but spent most of hios time on his mobile.

Do not order from here, had to wait 1 hour and 30 minutes for our order, to when it did arrive they missed half the order, when I called up and complained they then told me I had to wait another 45 minutes for the missing items, I told them

The reviews seem fair and props to the shopfront designer. I felt the need to try this glowing diamond of the road. Unfortunately I won’t be returning.

Placed an order for three curries, some sides and mint sauce, had it delivered to me to find out two rices and mint sauce was missing. Rang up Rucci to let them know they said very sorry and hung up on me. He did not give me any information about if it was being delivered or if I had to come down, so I rang back up, he kept telling me they are really busy! Didn’t care we was missing our rices for our curries, so he was allowing them to go cold. Before I could get the chance to ask will it be quicker to collect it or is it being delivered, they hung up on me again, so i started to lose patience, I rang back and they said it’s being delivered and hung up yet again. By this point I was furrous, didn’t give me a chance to ask how long, So I rang back and asked how long as I have no rices with our curries and can’t eat a curry without a rice and he said I’m very busy I don’t know how long and hung up! So now I’m at boiling point! So I left it a minute, I cooled down, I rang back as I had no idea how long the rices will take to be delivered and he said I don’t know how long, it’s whenever the driver gets there and yet again hung up on me. I’m absolutely disgusted with this service! Did not even care or offer to re-do our order, or offer a discount for next time And I left a tip! I’m never going back to this place as I didn’t enjoy the curry anyway and he was just so darn plain rude and obviously just wanted to take other peoples money! And I will Name and shame this person as I’m appalled I mean how many times can you hang up on a customer? And give no information on what’s going on with there part-missing order!

Visited here while staying in Thorpe Bay. Great authentic indian food and well priced. Also very attentive friendly staff that went the extra mile. Great visit , worth going here . Note. This is a nightmare to get to if you're pushing a wheelchair ......so get a cab !

We go in the restaurant at least once a week for the past 7 years plus take aways ,and can honestly say you will have to go a long way to beat the fresh food they supply ,either in restaurant or take out ,and the staff are always clean and polite, and nothing is never to much trouble always a happy smiley face

Poppadoms and chutney excellent onion Bajis was burnt and waiters stairing at me waiters were very rude and kept calling me madam so many times,main course was bland and no taste please avoid this Indian restaurant as there are more better Indian restaurant and takeaway...

They got our order wrong once again, claiming that we did not order the food that we did! Terrible service but good food.

We went for the buffet option for £7.50 per head. We were the only people eating in the restaurant. But seemed busy on take aways side. Food was just average and not very hot. Wouldn't eat here again.

Your food is to die for unfortunately

Ordered from here tonight and waited well over an hour for delivery. The food mainly consisted of onion and sauce, very little meat or veg. One dish was missing and we had to wait ages for them to deliver another one. They gave us just 2 poppadoms as an apology! Food is expensive for what is essentially just lots of sauce. This place has really gone downhill. Save your money and order elsewhere!

Now the place and the staff are all friendly and nice that's not the issue. Food was disgusting, it was cold way too greasy I had a bhuna that tasted milder than a korma and nothing like a bhuna should taste. My plate was swimming in grease and oil and my naan bread was disgusting and soggy. Worst curry I have ever eaten. It's a shame as the staff are nice but I would not recommend eating here.

Brilliant tasty food time after time.

First time trying Ruchi-the food was delicious and delivered right on time. Thanks guys

We went to eat early and were one of three tables at that time. Initial order taking was good and drinks were served promptly. After that popadums and pickles came but main course was a long time coming over 30 minutes.

We love the Tuesday evening buffet and visit most Tuesdays! The staff are so friendly and welcoming and always have time for a courteous conversation. The food is delicious, the chicken tikka masala is the family favourite. It is usual for some of the dishes to run low at times as it is a buffet but it is never a long wait for a fresh portion to be available. Any request for a dish to be replenished has always been immediately undertaken without complaint.

Lovely date night, staff were friendly and helpful, food was hot and quick. Really nice experience. Lovely food very tasty.

Delicious and authentic Indian cuisine with friendly staff highly recommend

It was on time but our rice was not as was not as nice as the as the last time unfortunately we will not be ordering again

We had a takeaway, and this review page doesn't fully deal with that as opposed to an actual visit. Chicken Madras turned out to be lumps of chicken in a sauce with a layer of oil on top. That was it. Once we took out the six lumps, all that was left was a fairly hot creamy sauce. Other dishes were exactly the same but with different flavoured sauce and so we wondered if all they did was pour hot sauce from a main supply over fried bits of chicken. That's what it looked like - and one of the dishes was a chef's special.

I've already complained about the wait time so I was so unhappy when the food turned up cold. I ordered from here last night and was so happy with them but the delay tonight and the food being cold is just awful

Great food, fast delivery & great prices too. We'll definitely order from here again 👌🏻

Absolutely delicious and quick delivery. Thanks

Very good value, arrived on time and piping hot will use again, highly recommended

Very dissatisfied this time the Onion baji was very small you only get 3 but they were very tiny , chicken pieces were also very small this time ? And keema nann had hardly any meat inside ?

Absolutely stunning vegetarian options! Definitely will be ordering again!

Delivery was early and food was lovely, the portion sizes were great, will definitely be ordering from again

arrived early and very enjoyable thank you.

Absolutely love this restaurant. Tasty food on time and hot with lovely staff. Our go to Indian.

For years we've eaten at this restaurant and always satisfied with the good quality of food. Will definitely be ordering take away again.

When my food arrived the delivery guy said some of my sauce had spilt in the bag he failed to mention it was one of my curries so is actually lost a meal as there was very little left in the container, definitely wouldn't order from here again I've had better Indian food elsewhere

Food was ok.. Had to chase them up as food was late. Restaurant didn't seem at all bothered by the time it arrived it was cold.

They didnt check the comments, and portion size has deceased dramatically

Food was great, but I had ordered the food for 8pm but it turned up just after 7pm so it was not very hot when I got home to eat.

Indian is my favourite food so I suggested this place to my boyfriend as I had been here a couple of times before, staff are always friendly, food is always great quality, not a bad thing to say! We will be back :)

I'm not sure if they have a new chef or just a different one tonight but the food was extra good today.. the garlic chicken I've had before but this was even better today.. wolfed it down!

Los domingos tienen un buen buffet libre por sólo £7. 50 y para la entrega a veces, agradable degustación india no grasy como algunos indios pueden ser

Food was far too oily and this was offputting. Will be a long time before I order again

The tikka masala was light with chicken but the korai chicken was loaded with chicken ?

Always a good takeaway although twice now I have left a note to chop my chillies into my madras and they have not done so. Would be fab if they did!

About to phone to complain about the food I've received

The food is delicious arrived before allotted time. The only place I go to for my Indian food.

I went for a buffet so called all you could eat. Went up for my first plate the food was running low not a problem went up for my second plate i had a bit of chicken and i wanted curry all gone no wanted plain naan all gone 80% of the food was gone not even one person was over seeing this, i spoke to the guy at the bar who did nothing about it so i paid and left As i was eating my rice it was not cooked at all it was so hard i went home had diarrhoea will not go back

Food is good portions are ok. Waited nearly 2hrs for my food & i live round the corner!!

We went for dinner after a drink close by and this despite the reviews on the staff. The food was amazing and the staff were the best ever! They were so kind, moved us as we were too cold by the window, advised us with food choice and showed care and attention all along. Every single staff member was amazing. We can't believe anyone would have any complain possible about this restaurant. We will defo comeback!

Phoned for a takeaway a 6:15pm on a Friday and was told it would be 45mins, that was fine as long as it wouldn't be any longer, I was told no it would be there within 45 mins. At 7:20pm I phoned again to see where my takeaway was and was told it was on its way, no apology for the delay. At 7:35pm the takeaway arrived, once again no apology. The food was warm but not hot and the flavours quite bland. Having had takeaways from here before it does seem that the portion of meet per dish is getting smaller each time which is disappointing. Overall a poor experience with service and food. Not sure if I would use again as there are lots of local restaurants not doubt more interested in retaining customers and providing a good experience both on service and food.

Took my freinds out tonight for their birthday, wanted to try The Ruschi. NO warm welcome, the starter lamb was chewy. The waiter came to take our starter plates away, along with the popodoms and dips that we had paid for!.......the waiter left our dirty cutlery to use for the main meal. Main course lamb was very chewy.Never would i go again due to the cocky waiters ......perhaps the owner will see these reviews and know why his restaurant is always empty.

Lovely food...best chicken tikka ever!!

This restaurant has a buffet which the advertising in the window and outside states under 3 free, aged 3-10 half price. We went for the buffet (as we have done several times before) with our 3 children aged 4. 7 and 9 and after asking their age they charged them all full price. When I queried this the man argued that it was only half price for under 3. When I challenged this he got angry, another member of staff intervened and said we were good customers (we used to have a take away every weekend) but the man would only agree to give one child half price. We have not been back since, a shame as the food is good, service in the restaurant is good, one man's attitude and misinformation spoiled it

Onion Bhaji but no lemon or onion or raita with it