So, we heard the food was good, and since we had a 5-day Indian wedding, we wanted to go to a reputed place that could handle catering for all our events. Did a tasting - loved it, and signed them up after coming to an agreement. Part of the agreement was that we should be able to taste everything that is on our menu, for a cost which we were willing to pay. And since we reserved them a year out (having paid them a $1000 in cash, without a contract, as a down payment) being able to taste all the items spread across the year was not a big deal - it was agreed to. We came in for second round of tasting - and it was still good. Then, close to the wedding, we reminded them about the remainder of the tastings - and they told us to come in and pick it up to go. We did, and that it where it started going downhill! The food had a different look, and a different feel to it. We tasted the food, and it was amazing, and but tasted all too familiar. It tasted like one of the other Indian restaurants in town. So we went straight to that restaurant, and ordered the same items. Exactly the same. Now, when we had compared Eclectic (also the same people who own Esplanade) prices with other restaurants, we were warned by them that there has got to be something wrong with the ingredients that other less expensive restaurants use. And that compared to them, Eclectic uses fresh real meat, and the best ingredients. We were taken aback when we were presented food for tasting from a local restaurant with an eclectic tag on the box. We asked this other restaurant owner if he supplies food for Eclectic, and sure enough, he said, they do it on a regular basis. Whenever eclectic has large orders, that this restaurant is who provides the food for them. And when they can't make the order, this other restaurant in town makes their food. I wish to not take names for I don't want them to loose their business. We confronted Eclectic about this, and they got defensive, and confessed to ordering part of their menu from them. We said that we had paid a premium price, and that we wanted them to cook all our food, and not get another restaurant's food which we could have gotten ourselves at half the price. We were promised that that is what would happen. Now, they probably didn't have the capacity or the talent to cook in big proportions, so when they did, it was a major major dismay. On one event, the rice was overcooked, dry, hard, and cold. On another event, we ran out of food, although the quantity cooked for was apparently much greater than the guests we had. And on the reception day, our major entree was an Indian rice dish, extremely soggy, all rice grains broken and jammed together and people actually had to come forward with their disappointment over the food. We ordered Pizza for all our guests and had them delivered to their rooms later that night. It was a terrible experience. So, if you want Indian food, don't go with Eclectic... they will cook for you when you come in for a tasting, but for your event, they will outsource from other Indian restaurants in the city unless you confront them about it; which, if you do, they may cook for you, but it will suck! You only get married once, and you want it to be memorable - in a good way. BY the way, didn't get to taste all the items before they went on my menu either. read more
