MAUJ 201-243 Ferris Road, Strathtulloh, Victoria 3338

"I’m a fan of classic British comedies. So my interest was understandably piqued when I felt I’d been plunged into the surreally chaotic silliness of one of the most treasured British sitcoms of all time, ‘Fawlty Towers’. Or at least the Indian version. The absurdity almost couldn’t have been more artfully scripted, and began as soon as I stepped into Mauj’s restaurant. “Hello! I have a reservation under the name of Heath at 6.45, for three.” “Do you?” the receiving waiter replied, screwing her nose up in confusion and not even feigning a glance at her reservation book. “Well I hope so, I have an online confirmation,” I mused. “For how many? For who?” she asked, despite me having already offered up this information. “The booking’s for Heath. For three people. At 6.45. For this Saturday night,” I responded, bemused. “Oh!” she paused and pondered some. “Is it for dinner?” Having so many tempting lines at my disposal, I settled on a very responsible, “Yes, it’s for dinner.” Little did I know these baffling exchanges would be the foundational norm for every interaction with staff, and would persist until our group left F̶a̶w̶l̶t̶y̶ T̶o̶w̶e̶r̶s̶ Mauj, bewildered but amused at what we’d just experienced. For the next hour and 45 minutes (no exaggeration, we timed it) we were addressed by the same greeting waiter only twice, despite incessant but polite waves and smiles to request service and order our drinks and meals. Those two fleeting appearances would begin with the brief utterance of, “one minute please,” and result in the waiter scurrying off, not to be seen at our table for another 30-40 minutes. During the periods of absent service, our group’s conversations were mostly futile, as the two 1st birthday events on at the time (yes, you read right) and their voluminous music drowned out any hope for conversation - and any hope for Mauj receiving anything more than a two star review. Children spilling out from their event areas and running around our table/ bumping into us/ crawling under our tables to retrieve their balloons, seemed a particularly new low. That is until the violent eruptive sound of popping balloons began and persisted for the rest of the night - giving us all some small appreciation for what living in a war zone might sound like. A glimmer of light in the darkness of the Mauj experience arrived in the form of a quick cook and delivery time: the wide array of dishes arrived within 20 minutes of ordering. The food was modestly but cheerfully presented. The Paneer Pakora and Onion Bhaji were crisply fried and deliciously cooked. The Samosa Chaat was golden brown and swimming in a healthy amount of chole (chickpea curry), yogurt and chutney - but its flavours were a tad overpowered by its own liberally applied chili heat. The chicken saag main meal with basmati rice was absolutely moorish and a perfectly balanced dish of spinach, spices and mustard oil. The drinks list seemed relatively narrow but diverse, not that we got to try any. Although settling on a Pinot Noir ordered with our meal, we were informed halfway through our meal that they were out of stock. We opted to go without. Scrolling through the Google reviews for Mauj (4.5 stars at the time of this review) I can’t help but reflect on the chasm of difference between my experience and other people’s. Has Mauj recently picked up function hosting and my poor experience was the result of poor staffing or initial teething problems? If so, I’d suggest soundproofing upstairs, more staff, or not accepting diners during functions. It’s clear Mauj can’t handle both. Regardless, this review represents what I - and other diners - experienced. Sadly, there were no apologies for the poor service or offers of compensation, however small, for what occurred. In summary, if you’re in for an absurdist experience that is unapologetically bad that feels almost scripted - but is still adequately priced with decent entree and main meal fare, Mauj has what you need - just don’t expect it to be served up to you any time quickly."

"What a gem! Incredible food, fresh and full of flavour, gracious and professional hosts who are always so welcoming. We have sampled the butter chicken, biryani, naans, and platters. The best Indian food in the West."

"We have attended MAUJ on multiple occasions and were impressed with the quality of food and service every time. The food was cooked to perfection. The staff is very friendly and help you with smile every time. They have enough options to choose for children. Furthermore, their prices were reasonable. I highly recommend this restaurant for dining in or take away!"

"My partner and I went to Mauj on a whim because it was a cant be bothered cooking night. The service was excellent, our server was very attentive. Serving sizes were adequate, we left full and still had some to take home. The photos were of the food we ended up taking home because we just couldn't fit it in. The quality of food was very good, everything tasted great, and was fresh and hot. In fact it was probably the best Indian restaurant we've eaten in Melton. Everything is priced reasonably. Everything came out pretty quickly.the restaurant was clean and had a lovely atmosphere. It was quiet when we went, however if everyone else's experience was as good as ours I imagine it will be quite busy."

"Had a very pleasant dinner here with excellent food, with just the right amount of spicy, and amazing, friendly and professional service! The overall ambience was such a vibe ⭐️"