WALTHAM, MA—The quality of service at Indian restaurants in New England is the most unpleasant aspect of eating out, declares a survey of readers of INDIA New England News, the region’s oldest and largest print, online and video magazine.
Related article: Top 10 Indian Restaurants in Massachusetts
A vast majority of respondents, however, said that they have found an Indian restaurant in New England where they feel comfortable taking their family, friends and business colleagues on special occasions and special treats.
When asked how much would you be willing to pay per person for dinner (not including drinks) for a great, world-class experience at an Indian restaurant, 39 percent said $30 per person; 28 percent, $15; and 11 percent said price did not matter for a great experience and Maharaja like treatment.
The survey was conducted online last month. Here are results of the survey:
Q: How often do you dine at an Indian restaurant?
Daily: 0.44%
Weekly : 29.82%
Monthly: 42.54%
Once in three months: 20.18%
Once in a year : 5.70%
Q: Are you happy with your experience in dining at an Indian restaurant?
Very Happy: 19.82%
Average happy: 65.20%
Unhappy: 11.01%
Very unhappy: 3.96%
Q: Have you found an Indian restaurant in New England where you feel comfortable taking your family, friends and business colleagues on special occasions and special treats?
Yes: 72.44%
No: 27.56%
Q: What do you hate the most about dining in Indian restaurants?
Service: 17.49%
Food quality: 13.90%
Unhealthy food: 6.73%
Greasy: 9.42%
Ambiance: 8.97%
Hospitality: 5.83%
Price: 10.76%
Appetizers: 2.24%
Choices of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic): 3.59%
Menu variety: 10.31%
Cleanliness: 10.76%
Q: What do you like the most about dining in Indian restaurants?
Service: 3.41%
Food quality: 35.61%
Healthy food: 2.93%
Ambiance: 0.98%
Hospitality: 3.90%
Price: 4.39%
Appetizers: 8.78%
Choices of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic): 0.98%
Menu variety: 38.54%
Cleanliness: 0.49%
Q: If you have to choose one most important reason to visit an Indian restaurant, what would it be?
Tasty food : 75.80%
Healthy dishes: 8.68%
A Beautiful experience: 9.13%
Super treatment by the staff : 2.28%
A great ambiance: 2.74%
Fine bar and drinks: 0.00%
Nice songs (music): 1.37%
Live Indian music: 0.00%
Q: For a great, world-class experience at an Indian restaurant, how much would you be willing to pay per person for dinner (not including drinks)?
$15.00: 28.13%
$30.00: 39.29%
$45.00: 15.18%
$60.00: 4.91%
$75.00: 0.45%
$90.00: 0.89%
Price does not matter for a great experience and Maharaja like treatment: 11.16%
Q: How many items would you like to see in a typical Indian menu?
10: 4.50%
15: 11.71%
20: 16.67%
25: 8.56%
30: 15.32%
35: 2.25%
40: 4.05%
45: 1.35%
50: 4.95%
55: 0.00%
60: 1.35%
Fewer the better: 12.61%
More the better : 16.67%
Q: If you have dined in an Indian restaurant, how was the server?
Attentive and available when you needed him/her: 35.91%
Knowledgeable and able to answer your questions about the food and beverages: 20.45%
Ignorant about food and beverages : 24.55%
Courteous: 31.82%
Rude: 10.00%
Q: How were you treated?
You felt you were treated differently than a non-Indian customer : 39.27%
Same treatment: 56.16%
Better treatment than non-Indian: 4.57%
Q: How was the food?
Excellent: 20.44%
Good: 43.11%
Average: 28.00%
Below average: 6.67%
Poor: 1.78%
Q: Overall, were you satisfied with your visit to the Indian restaurant?
Yes: 68.64%
No: 31.36%
Q: When looking for a caterer for an event, party or wedding, what is most important to you?
Food quality: 39.65%
Reliability: 8.37%
Reputation of the caterer: 7.05%
Price: 4.41%
Expertise in various type of regional cuisine: 1.32%
Professionalism : 4.85%
All of the above: 34.36%.
