Derbar Indian Restaurant

Was a bit worried about recent reviews but with 3 Carnivores, 2 Vegetarians and 2 Vegans felt an Indian Restaurant was the safest bet. We weren't disappointed. We had a wide selection of dishes which were all excellent. My wife had the Tarka Daal and Vegetable Fried Rice which were both delicious whilst I had Chicken Jalfrezi and a Paratha. The Jalfrezi was very tasty, a perfect heat, too hot for most but not ludicrous and the paratha was flaky and perfect. Will definitely go back if we are ever in Banchory again.

Having seen the previous reviews I was sceptical but keen for a curry so I went. The restaurant is bright, clean and a nice place to eat. I had the vegetable pakora and the Chicken Tikka Bhuna. Both were delivered, the tikka bhuna was outstanding with so many complex flavours. The service was friendly and efficient. I read that others have had challenges with service, but I think they have to remember this is a very remote Highland village and not top end London. I think the people of Banchory are lucky to have such good Indian food in this remote and beautiful place. Thank you.

Throughout our meal, we were constantly asked if we were finished, even while we were still eating. Once the other diners left, the music was turned off and the staff started speaking loudly about us still being there, even though they had asked us multiple times if we were finished. This was only about 10 to 15 minutes after we received our main course. We were also halfway through an overpriced bottle of wine that cost £24.95, which you can buy at Tesco for £6. The staff laughed when I told them we could hear everything they were saying about us. When we asked to speak with the manager, he blamed a staff member and made unpleasant, personal comments about her. He became agitated and complained about having to drive back to Aberdeen after work. We were shocked and suggested he do something to make up for the terrible evening we were having. Instead, he accused us of valuing money above all else, even though he was eager to take our money and rush us out the door before we finished our meal. From the beginning, we felt like an inconvenience until we left just before 10:30pm, even though their closing time was advertised as 11pm. The service was unprofessional and the food was mediocre. There is a much better take away just 50 meters away with no sit-in option. It's clear that customer care is non-existent at Derbar. Interestingly, a friend of mine had a bad experience when they went there the following evening. They were the last people there and their plates were being cleared while they were still eating. It seems like this is how they regularly treat customers, so it's surprising that they are still in business. Overall, our experience was surreal and disastrous, and we definitely will not be returning.

I must say, this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. I had planned to enjoy a long overdue dinner with a close friend, but instead we were met with non-existent customer service and a lackluster atmosphere. The wine was overpriced and marked up by 400%, and the staff seemed more interested in rushing us out the door than providing a pleasant dining experience. It's baffling how businesses like this manage to stay afloat when they clearly prioritize profit over customer satisfaction. Throughout the meal, we were repeatedly bothered by staff, talked about in front of us, and made to feel unwelcome. The restaurant had no atmosphere, was freezing cold, and served small portions at high prices. The manager's excuses did nothing to address the numerous issues we encountered. Needless to say, I will not be returning to or recommending this disappointing establishment.

We dined at this restaurant on a Friday evening in March 2022. The menu offers a wide variety of Indian dishes as well as house specialties. They serve Kingfisher lager on tap. The service and food were both outstanding. The restaurant has a bright and modern atmosphere. The only downside is the set of stairs leading from the street to the entrance. It appears that there may be no disabled access available unless there is another entrance that we are unaware of.