Khyber Restaurant

02/14/09

Outrageous prices for inferior, tasteless food

by perseus7401 at Citysearch

Was on a business trip in Houston, and as we enjoy indian food, we stopped at this restaurant for lunch buffet as it was close to work. Decorations were good, and that's all about this restaurant had to offer.

There was a total of 8 dishes on the main buffet. 4 vegetarian dishes, and 4 meat dishes; there was some salad and dessert. We sampled all dishes and none of them had any flavor that was close to indian food. Granted, I eat out at indian restaurants at least once a week, so I have a decent idea what good indian food is. Maybe if you never had indian food before you will believe this food is good, as it has some hotness to it, but the unique flavors of Indian food are nowhere to be found in any of the 8 dishes we tried. On the positive side, dessert was good.

Then we got the bill, and before taxes and tips, it was close to 15 dollars. I don't mind paying this amount of money for quality, tasty food, but to know that I have had tons of better indian food in more expensive cities, this definitely put the nail in the coffin. This restaurant is a complete disgrace and ripoff. If you want inferior, indian food, by no means, run to this place. If you know better about indian food, stay away.

• Pros: none
• Cons: taste of food nonexistant; high price for the quality of food you get.

11/28/08

bombay brasserie in rice village is better

by chillieruben at Citysearch

still crappy food for exorbitant prices and awful service. A friend of mine knows the owner and says he hates Indians coming to his restaurant because they complain and don't tip. How sad that he feels that way about his own people. I will tell all my Indian friends about this.

If you can't afford Kiran's or Indika's, but live inside the loop, try Bombay Brasserie, its pretty good and their buffet (11.99) is more than decent. It's a lot closer than Hillcroft (little india) where better Indian food exists.

• Pros: inside the loop
• Cons: everything: food, service, price

10/17/08

LET THE BUYER BEWARE!! CAVEAT EMPTOR !

by MWZ at Citysearch

I have had mixed experiences with this restaurant but today was the last straw. Basically let us just say that if you are a friend of Mickey Kapoor you are treated like royalty, but if you are just an ordinary diner the service is GHASTLY!!! We came into this establishment within the time period stated on the hours for lunch. However, it was rather obvious that we were going to be rushed through our lunch so that the waiters could start clearing up the luncheon buffet. No sooner had i eaten my meager portions of food than the waiter was all over us trying to railroad us out of there. I would have liked to perhaps get a few more items but there was no chance of that. I find this buffet to be rather boring , the menu NEVER CHANGES and the selection is not a good representation of Indian food compared to what I have had elsewhere. The vegetable selection particularly is rather lacking in imagination and variety. This restaurant basically is remaining in business primarily due to its convenient inner loop location rather than the dining experience. I have always found the waitstaff to be unfriendly verging on downright rude. The prices are outrageous for what is provided and I am tired of being overcharged simply because a business owner thinks he can get away with it based on the neighborhood. I think I will entertain myself with the owner's amusing comments on his billboard from now on and save my money for a better meal elsewhere!! Very disappointing indeed!

• Pros: Amusing comments by owner on his billboard directed at neighboring restaurant
• Cons: Rude attitude of owner and staff, poor selection of food both in quantity and quality

06/07/08

Would have given no stars if possible.

by atomsatium at Citysearch

Uck. Horrendous service, nasty manager, blah food.

I came despite the bad reviews (and agree with a previous reviewer that the good reviews here are total BS written by Khyber-related parties) 'cause back in the day, 5-6 years ago when I used to frequent this restaurant, it was actually somewhere worth eating.

Don't make the same mistake I did.

I won't go into the myriad ways my party's visit to Khyber ROYALLY SUCKED, but I urge you to take my word for it:

Eat somewhere else. Eat anywhere else.

Stay home and eat saltines - you'll have a better meal.

Make sure you click to the next page to read the more reviews. They're not good, and there's a reason. There are a bunch of reasons, actually.

Yuck.

05/27/08

To be avoided

by frequentdiner100 at Citysearch

Weak-flavored food served off temperature by surly, rude and inattentive wait staff for prices that are not at all reasonable. Table and paper menus were dirty. Waiter was largely absent and when present was rude. Attitude only improved when check was presented and it was obvious that tip-tallying was soon to begin. There are many far better Indian restaurants in Houston. This one does not deserve any business and should be put out of its misery so a new place with more competent management and employees can move into the space.

• Pros: None
• Cons: see review, too many to list here

05/24/08

PHENOMENAL FOOD!!! Buffet is great; menu is great; Mickey is great!

by houtexanguy at Citysearch

We have been going here for about 10 years. Delicious chicken masala. Wonderful vindaloo. Tasty lentils and potatoes. The naan is to die for (but don't--you'll miss the INCREDIBLE rice pudding!). And then, there is Mickey, the owner. Funny, serious, politically savvy and always interesting to talk to. He, along with the other professional staff who have been with him for years make this a fabulous example of northern Indian cuisine and a great place to enjoy a meal. Touche!

• Pros: Great food, great wait staff, Mickey!
• Cons: Cons? Well, I'll tell you once I have visited Huntsville!

05/14/08

WORST SERVICE EVER!!!

by theIndian at Citysearch

Everytime I come here these guys are total jerks. If your wondering why I come here at all, well its because its closer than most Indian places on Hillcroft. These people cater to unsuspecting bland non-Indians willing to pay outrageous amounts of money. As far as some of the good reviews on this page go, I wouldn't put it past the manager and staff to have written most of those glowing reviews.

However, the worst part is one of my student's dad's is friends with the owner and says he hates it when Indians come to his restaurant. I always had my hunches from previous rude/ or lack of service towards me but not towards other non-Indians at my dinner table. I hope these bastards get sued and put out of business!

On another note, Bombay Brasserie in Rice Village offers coupons in the Houston Press for buy one get one free entree. They have better food and better service. I am taking my business elsewhere.

• Pros: nearby /inside the loop
• Cons: everything else, especially service

03/06/08

Expensive American Indian

by garywise at Citysearch

Had lunch there last week, first time in 10 years. What happened?

$14.95 for a less-than-spectacular bland-ish buffet and unengaged, distant staff?

Nah, not ever again. I don't care if dinner is better, why would I risk it on that performance?

Really, really average and expensive.

Shame, as once it was great.

• Pros: It was open
• Cons: Expensive, bland buffet

02/25/08

Eat ANYWHERE else!

by mrsesquilo at Citysearch

I have eaten at Khyber many, many times, and though it's too expensive for what you get, and the food is not as good as many other Indian restaurants, it's still decent-tasting, and the location is convenient.

Last week, though, my family went for lunch and had one of the worst experiences I have ever had in a restaurant. The waiters were EXTREMELY rude, we were charged full adult buffet price for the tiny bit of food my

2 year old ate, our plates and flatware were removed from our table and our check plunked down unceremoniously before we were even able to get second servings, and we'd each only taken a little taste to begin with.

When leaving I started to approach the podium to discuss it with the owner, he scowled at me and practically waved me out the door dismissively. The restaurant was near empty though it was well within what should have been the "lunch rush," and now I understand why.

We did nothing to prompt this behavior (if that's even possible). We were quiet, cordial, neat, appropriately dressed, and ate in moderation (barely ate at all, more accurately). In return we were treated horribly - it was really just inexplicable, surreal, beyond the pale.

We'll never eat there again. Not if it's the last restaurant on earth. Khyber's lost a loyal, vocal and well-connected customer who'd have otherwise (continued to have) given them a lot of business.

Keep driving down Richmond to India's, where the food and the service are absolutely impeccable, or try one of the other myriad Indian restaurants in the vicinity . Khyber doesn't deserve your hard earned money, and you deserve a LOT better.

• Pros: Location.
• Cons: WORST service ever!

01/13/08

Very good experience overall

by shmi at Citysearch

My husband and I have been here a few times, and we have been pleased with it overall. Sometimes the service is a bit slow when it's crowded (Friday and Saturday nights), but that's to be expected, I guess. The portions for the vegetarian dishes are very generous - we always have a ton leftover. The saag paneer is solid, and the bengan bhartha is awesome. The shrimp dishes are also good.