Apsara - BEWARE

DINERS BEWARE!

True story:

I went with my friend to Apsara restaurant, located Queen's Park East, on Saturday 5th April for dinner. The restaurant was filled with diners and we were both looking forward to a good Indian meal. Just to mention at the outset that we had both patronized this restaurant a number of times in the past.

We chose our items from the menu and ordered. The service was quite pleasant, and the food was brought to our table in good time. I must say we both thoroughly enjoyed our meal choices. My friend had soup for the appetizer - Tamatar ka Shorba (Tomato soup, and I had the Tandoori Scallops.We enjoyed.

Next for the main course, my friend had the Murgh Curry (chicken curry) and I had the Zinga Kadhal (a shrimp dish)....delicious. Then for the dessert, I tried the Kesar Pista Kulfi (almond ice cream) and my friend had the Bailey's cheesecake. (You will see lower down why I know the exact names of the dishes).

The bill came and I did not look at it, and as usual my friend paid for meals right away. The waiter brought the change which we intended to leave as a tip.

So there we sat remarking on how much we enjoyed the meal. Then I asked my friend to see the copy of the paid bill as I wanted to get the exact names of the shrimp dish and dessert I had ordered, so that I would remember for any future visits to the restaurant. My friend took a quick look at the bill before handing it to me, and then remarked that he thought his chicken dish had been quoted at $99 on the menu but the bill stated $126 ( now remember, he had already paid for the entire meal). I really did not remember the cost of my dishes by the way.

I took the bill to look at the names of the dishes I had ordered, and my friend kept mumbling that he was sure that the menu listed the chicken dish at $99. So I finally said, "let's ask the waiter for the menu and check the price to make sure". We called the waiter and asked to see the menu again. He brought it and on handing it over to my friend, he said "oh some prices have been changed".

Well we checked the menu and it listed the chicken dish at $99 as my friend had stated. We then decided to check the prices of the other dishes and compare them to our paid bill. We then discovered that my shrimp dish was listed at $140 on the menu but on the bill we were charged $165!!! The soup was listed at $45 and we were charged $50. The Naan (bread) was listed at $22 and we were charged $30.

Needless to say, we were both very angry at being ripped off. The price did not matter, as we had already paid the full amount. It was the dishonesty. To add to that, another waitress came and tried to explain that some of the dishes had increased in price. I responded that it fine to do so, BUT the diner MUST BE INFORMED and the prices should be corrected on the menu because I am sure it is illegal to charge a higher price than what is on the menu.

A fair Indian lady - maybe the manager or owner- then also came to our table to "explain" feebly that the prices had not been changed on the menu because "the menu paper is a special one and she had ordered it from abroad and it had not arrived yet, but she would change it on Monday next." Yeah right!!! (A simple note at the front of the menu or the waiter informing us would have been just fine, Lady)She continued that the menu could be "misleading". Well my friend put her right by saying that it was NOT misleading BUT illegal and she better correct it. He also asked for a new bill and his change as he was paying only what was quoted on the menu as no-one had even thought of mentioning any price "increase" to us AT ANY POINT of the evening.

Needless to say, we got our new bill and change ( I have the old bill with me as proof). We also got the extra service charge and VAT that had been added. This was an unfortunate end to an otherwise good evening. It really spoiled it for me and I want to warn other potential APSARA diners -- BEWARE. I related my experience to some friends at a party this week and one couple told me that they also had gone to APSARA recently and were sure that they were charged for an extra item as when they counted the items, there was one extra but they did nothing about it.

This is the thing - the restaurant bargains on diners NOT checking their bill. Usually we do not even look at our bill. Just that I wanted to see the names of the meal items and did take a look this time. So the restaurant gets away with charging more than on the menu or by adding an extra item or two to your bill. And the horrible thing is that ALL THE WAITERS and workers at APSARA know what is going on - because when we asked to see the menu, three of them came to give various feeble "explanations". DINERS BEWARE.

I must also add that when the dishes of food were brought to our table, I had remarked to the waitress that the bowls were MUCH smaller that on previous visits. She agreed and tried to say that there were "one portion" and "two portion" sizes...and maybe in the past I ordered a "two portion" size. NO I NEVER ordered a two portion size in the past. The menu states NOTHING about portions and I never ever ordered double portion. So apart from being conned on the price, the portions have been halved. Are we diners stupid or what???

This is a rip-off and a deliberate con. No matter how good the food is - we should refuse to be conned. In fact, I call for good sense and let us boycott this restaurant until they start being honest- printing the correct prices on the menus and giving the correct portions.

BOYCOTT APSARA until they treat their customers honestly!!!!!! Come on people, stand up for what is right. And I do have the bill if anyone wants to see it.....
My bill was almost $800 with the con. I intend to return and check on them, and then report them to the relevant authorities if nothing has been corrected.
BUT the best action is to boycott them and let them feel it where it hurts THEM - their bottom line!