Matt & Cat's Isle of Wight eating out guide - Latest comments on Purple Mango, Shanklin

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

sue — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:45:33 +0000

Can't make sense of these last few 'reviews'...do they speak English?

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

kj — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:50:25 +0000

people will judge for themselves whether you or I comment.

By the way, I prefer the Maharajah across the road, so am definately not affiliated with PM ( and I'm known to the website owners)

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

Dave — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:38:24 +0000

The purple mango and possibly yourself if as it seems judging by the your response KJ you may be affiliated with the purple mango should learn from these honest reviews and turn them into a positive. Remember anybody who experiences poor service from any business is twice as likely to let others know than if they were happy with the service. Remember also customers are handing over hard earned cash in these most difficult times and are none too pleased when they are taken for a ride and are expected to be happy with the result. KJ says these are pure deliberate attacks on the purple mango because reviewers like myself use words like (supervisor) etc. You can bet your life these are deliberate attacks and if nothing is done to control the (supervisor) etc, i'm sure the purple mango will get a few more.

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

kj — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Use of similar words (supervisor) etc show that these posts are a deliberate attack on The Purple Mango.

Not my favorite Indian in Shanklin....but these posts are pure attacks and nowhere near refelect any visit I have made to the resteraunt

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

Sanjay — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:58:01 +0000

I am from India and just recently visited Isle of Wight with my wife. After enjoying at beautiful beaches of Shanklin, we decided to have Indian food. My wife had been in Maharaja and Spice Lounge but there was no vacancy. We decided lets go Purple Mango. To our surprise they were filling people who are coming and people who had booked their places are waiting. We were made to sit near order place where we saw waiter hidingly taking drinks every time they came. One who liked senior kept screaming all the time on waiters in some Bengali language which irritaed us. The behaviour was pathetic and to our surprise the costly food was even more pathetic. We couldn't eat chana masala and Chilli Paneer at all. We decided to move and then were given bill of 31.90 but we had ordered only 24 GBP. Then one of the menu was given where on some middle page additional note was added minmum order per person 15.95. I was shocked to see the way these people are fooling and cheating with third class service and food out of their complete greed just spoiling the name of India and Indian food. I wish somebody could coniscate their license. I would warn all Indian I know in London about this.

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

Dave — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:18:07 +0000

Staying in a Sandown guesthouse we were always looking for somewhere to eat out in the evenings. After reading the reviews on this and other sites we decided to give the SWAD a miss and try the Purple Mango Indian restaurant in Shanklin instead. "BIG MISTAKE". Although the place was full it was no excuse for poor standards. We were seated in the corner next to the bar and near a wall waterfall. After ordering our food for a family of four I noticed an Asian family of about Eight adults and children all looking over at the waiters every time food was being served. Eventually one of them asked when their food would arrive as they had waited for quite a while. Around the same time a waiter told us because they were busy we would have to wait a little while for our food. This is when alarm bells began to ring. Forty minutes later our food eventually arrived. I must admit the food was very nice although I can't remember what we ate, however the portions did seem on the small side. During our meal one of the waiters was having an argument regarding getting his wages from the manager. Around the same time, as we were sitting next to the counter we could over hear another member of staff having a conversation with a customer on the phone regarding an order that hadn't been delivered. When we got our bill the argument was still going on regarding the waiter's wages and the person who seemed to be the manager then seemed to be paying the waiter in loose change from what looked like the tip box. Also the manager was telling this waiter who we thought might have been french and was very polite that he had to do more work before he finished but the waiter was having none of it.On our bill we noticed we had been charged for drinks we didn't order and full price for one of our orders although it should have been priced as a starter. We were given an apology and told they were busy. Well tough if they were busy, we were paying customers and to be given a feeble excuse for poor standards is a disgrace, The person who appeared to be the manager needs to be replaced as I believe he is the main problem, with a cocky attitude towards his staff and customers alike. These people don't seem to realise the power of the internet and honest reviews can have a detrimental effect on any restaurant. Although we will never visit the Isle of Wight again, hopefully potential customers will read these reviews and make their own minds up. This kind of standard semed to be the norm right across the Isle of Wight and the only meal we were happy with was at the Royal China in Sandown although i'm sure we were overcharged but couldn't be 100% certain as the bill was in chinese.

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

ids — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:11:57 +0000

My husband and I recently got back from IOW and we had the "pleasure" of dining at Purple Mango in Shanklin. My husband had a king prawn biryani and said it was very good while I had the vege selection which was merely ok but nothing spectacular. I share the opinion above that the waiters' english is difficult to understand and organisation is not their strongest attribute. We were first to arrive in the evening so we choose a table that we really liked (table for four) and while we were eating the restaurant became full within a short space of time. After we had only just finished our food but still had half of a bottle of wine left we were approached by one of the waiters who winked to me in a "friendly" way (wrong behaviour to a woman who is far older than him or simply a wrong behaviour to a customer!) and then asked if we could drink our wine quickly because there were customers waiting and he needed the table! After our initial shock and disbelief my husband discussed this with the waiter who refused to understand that this is not the way to behave with customers.
A very average meal for over £40 brings the reflection that there must be an Indian restaurant in Shanklin with better value, food and customer service!

In response to: Purple Mango, Shanklin

paul — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:24:09 +0000

My partner and I visited Purple Mango for the first time on Saturday. We arrived at 7.30 and as we enjoyed our meal the restaurant became busier, only to be expected in the middle of July.I'm not saying we were being hassled, but with half a bottle of wine left we did linger a little after we had finished the meal.without asking for it the bill was brought over and on several ocassions waiters looked expectantly at us. The bill came to £51. I put £60 with the bill and within a few minutes it was collected. As the waiter took it he looked quickly at the money and presumptuously asked me if I wanted the change! With no time to think, and taken aback by a question that I have NEVER been asked before , I said no. As we sat and reflected on my answer, I calculated how much I would have left had the change been brought back. We both agreed that the meal had been excellent and the service good so all the change would have been left anyway. Until these people learn the rules of etiquette we will not be going back.