Spice Merchant
Restaurant - Indian in Henley-on-Thames
Thameside
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 2LJ
Contact Numbers
Reviews
Fabulous Dining Experience
I visited the Spice Merchant with my husband and two grown up children last weekend and I felt compelled to write a positive review as I whole heartedly disagree with the other comments - we had the best Indian meal we can remember and the restaurant itself is beautiful.The attentive staff explained exactly what each dish was on the menu and the lamb chops really were amazing - very unusual for an Indian restaurant we thought.It is true that this restaurant is definitely not a curry house - which we took to be a very positive thing. If you want contemporary Indian food in an elegant setting then this is the place. If you want a cheap korma then I would recommend the other curry houses in Henley.Looking forward to our next visit!
A User - 11/01/2009 | report this review
Oh dear!
When opening up in a small town that already has four established Indian restaurants, the Spice Merchant needed to get it right. It is aimed squarely at the "fine dining" Indian experience and opened for Regatta week a couple of years ago. First experiences were that it was extremely expensive (read an average of £100 a head - for a curry!)The chef is a little up himself and insisted on dishes appearing randomly on the table - so that his cooking times wouldn't get messed up. This meant one of our group getting his main as the rest were finishing desserts. Since then, the food has gone downhill - quickly. Despite draping the place in banners advertising deals, and the addition of a boat that can be chartered (at a hell of a cost) for river-borne curries, the place remains empty. Clearly the people of Henley don't forgive bad eating experiences, and the Spice Merchant has driven them away.The ambience and decor are nice. The food and price are horrendous. What a shame.
A User - 11/09/2008 | report this review
New chef required...
Ordered a take away from Spice Merchant (unsurprisingly the restaurant was deserted) for the second time in six months yesterday. My first experience was not good, but thinking it might have been an off-day, decided to give the place a second chance. I certainly won't be making the mistake a third time. Circa £15 for 5 king prawns coated in a gelatinous, congealed sauce – which in its original form must have been derived from mango chutney. The chicken jalfrezi was worse. I'm convinced it was made using a ‘cook-in' sauce modified with dozens of strips of red pepper, lumps of chicken, paprika and a token whole green chilli to add some authenticity. 70% of our meal was thrown away. Don't be fooled by the enviable riverside location, contemporary interior and elaborate packaging – the quality of the food is dreadful and over-priced.
A User - 09/07/2008 | report this review
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