Really enjoyed my meal here. Great service and lovely food. The Kashmiri lamb rogan josh was excellent, and the porathas were delicious. I had the paneer to start, which was very good too — next time I’d just ask for it all to come out together. Highly recommend. I can't really comment on the atmosphere as it was a Monday but it was still relaxed, quiet but with enough noise to have your own conversation.
michael ingrey★☆☆☆☆
Possibly the worst Indian meal I have eaten.Chicken Tikka more like soup
Chicken Korma sweet and awful, onion bhajais not cooked properly, bombay potato and aloo gobi in a sauce. £70+ Looked at reviews most from year+ ago and well liked.
It has gone completely downhill.
Dont waste your money.
Paul Whitlock★★★★☆
Great staff. Great lhassi
Lamb chops were a bit tough & lacking the usual pep.
lisha sharma★☆☆☆☆
I’m writing to express my extreme disappointment with both the quality of food we received and, more disturbingly, the appalling customer service I experienced when I tried to raise my concerns.
My family and I are currently on holiday in the area and staying in a self-catering cottage. We were looking forward to trying out some local food, and after speaking to a polite gentleman from your restaurant, I placed an online order for takeaway with the intention of possibly ordering again during our week-long stay.
I was told the food would be ready in 40 minutes — my husband arrived on time, but the food was not ready and he was left waiting over 1 hour and 15 minutes. He had to chase multiple staff members before someone finally handed over the order.
Even more disappointing was the food itself:
• The paneer makhani was off — sour to the point of being clearly spoiled. As someone familiar with Indian cuisine, I can say with confidence this was not a case of “flavour preference” or strong spices — it tasted spoiled.
• The veggie platter was missing the paneer tikka listed on the menu. The onion bhajis and beetroot & black bean tikki were completely burnt and charred — visibly blackened. I have photos to support this.
• The sambar was literally just a container of mixed vegetables with no dal, no broth, and no flavour — simply unacceptable by any standard.
• The only edible item in the entire £43 order was the vegetable biryani.
We are travelling with our 3-year-old daughter and had relied on this meal for our evening dinner, opting not to cook in our self-catering accommodation. What we received was not only uneatable, but concerning from a health and hygiene perspective.
I called your restaurant to give feedback, and initially spoke again to the same polite gentleman who assured me he would look into it. That was appreciated. But what followed was beyond belief.
I received a call back from a woman whose attitude was rude, dismissive, and combative from the moment she spoke. There was no apology, no willingness to listen, no professionalism — only immediate defensiveness.
She began by justifying every item:
• “That’s how the bhajis and tikkis are supposed to be.”
• “The curry was cooked at this time, so it can’t be off.”
• “The chef said everything was fine.”
When I explained that I was simply trying to provide feedback on a genuinely poor and possibly unsafe experience, she repeatedly told me:
“Don’t talk to me in that tone.”
“Don’t threaten me with a review.”
“Don’t show me attitude.”
And lecturing me on my tone.
Let me be clear — as a paying customer, stating that I would be leaving an honest review based on my experience is not a threat, it is a right. The fact that she viewed it that way says everything about how your restaurant handles complaints.
To receive not even a single apology, no acknowledgement, and be spoken down to — as if I was being unreasonable for expecting edible food — is frankly disgraceful. If this woman is the owner or represents management, I have serious concerns about how this business is being run.
This experience ruined an evening during our family holiday and left us scrambling for food after spending £43 on a meal that was largely binned. I do not write reviews lightly — but this needed to be shared.
Anna Joicey★★★★★
My grandads favourite restaurant, the daal palak and paneer palak are both amazing but the true stand out is definitely the parottas. Flaky, buttery and steaming hot they are a must have. My grandad always has the elms chicken, which changes every so slightly each time he orders it, a good sign that everything is made fresh and from scratch. Staff are friendly and polite, creating a homey atmosphere, a little gem hidden in Retford. Love this place!
Alejandro Nicolez★★★★★
Amazing food and great portions. Excellent staff.
Ponnu Anu★★★★★
Excellent food and service . Staff were very helpful . We will visit again
Lorraine Sulman★☆☆☆☆
Having read all of the reviews we were looking forward to our takeaway. The flavours were good but it was much much too salty. We both had completely different meals so it wasn't just a one off. Sorry will not be going back.
Ashley Walton★★★★★
All 6 of us were very impressed with the quality of food, presentation and service. We had a fantastic night and will definitely be back. Thanks for everything.
Siobhan Willows★★★★★
Great service. The staff were friendly and hospitable. The food was amazing. The decor is beautiful; you forget you are in Retford.
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FAQs
What is the address of Rithul Indian Restaurant at Elms Hotel?
Rithul Indian Restaurant at Elms Hotel is located at The Elms Hotel, London Rd, Retford DN22 7DX, UK
What is the phone number of Rithul Indian Restaurant at Elms Hotel?
You can contact Rithul Indian Restaurant at Elms Hotel at +44 1777 949491
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