Hi Everyone
Thank you all for your feedback.
In this post, I’d like to share with you the story that has unfolded after the episode of Haleem’s Indian Restaurant was filmed last May. Especially after it was aired on TV3.
First, some background on the business and the episode:
You may recall that the owner Haleem (the chef) with his hard working wife, Ayesha, waitress Mamta and Happy the assistant Chef were all working towards having a successful Indian restaurant.
Haleem and Ayesha were originally working very long hours. This alone can hamper the success of any business. So, taking Monday off was essential for both owners and I’m glad they listened to that advice.
Haleem then hired a chef from India and started opening for lunch. The quality of food however started to go south, and the extra wage cost was strangling the business.
Mamta, the ever attentive and knowledgeable waitress moved out of the area and had to quit. She was a great asset as her hospitable personality really enhanced the restaurant’s concept.
Then sometime around November Haleem and Ayesha’s children moved over to Australia with their grandmother and uncle.
A few weeks later, Ayesha also moved to Australia to be with the children. Haleem stayed behind working and preparing the restaurant for sale so that he can join his family and start again across the ditch.
The night the show actually aired, there was an influx of viewers willing to give the restaurant a try and help get this business on the right path.
Haleem found himself facing a new problem. He had too many bums on seats, not enough food to go around and not enough staff to do the job properly.
He then called me and asked for my help. I managed to bring back Mumta and ended up serving tables myself, as I felt a bit responsible for this sudden, unexpected success…
I am very familiar with restaurants having problems attracting diners but when I saw Haleem struggling to handle a full restaurant I become more determined to help him sell this fantastic eatery. Enter my friend and successful restaurateur Rohit.
Rohit owns a number of Indian restaurants in New Zealand called Shahi, and was my expert helper in this particular episode.
I managed to broker a deal between Haleem and Rohit.
Rohit purchased the restaurant and changed it to “Shahi Indian Cuisine”, Haleem is joining his family in Australia, Mamta is now working for Rohit and the people of the neighborhood still have a great Indian restaurant they can be proud of.
This is still a win win situation and a valuable lesson to everyone involved.
I have to thank all the people who have made a genuine effort to help Haleem and thank you for your interest.
Please feel free to post a comment or to ask any question.
Next time I will share with you the story of RIVER VIEW BAR & GRILL in Helensville. Till then, take care.
John Palino
I wasn’t at all disappointed by this episode. Me and friends loved seeing lots of real life experiences in action. Shocking waste the way the restaurant was run pre-kitchen job…..shame the original owner had to move on as would have like to read about his progress post kitchen job. But a brilliant transformation on the end.
Thank You KK
Really enjoyed Halim’s episode. It’s fabulous to see a reality show that, rather than exploiting people and then leaving them spent and humiliated on national television, endears them to us, guides them to the path of success and then actually follows up. Shame Haleem didn’t make it, but then maybe the restauant business isnt for him. Perhaps now in Australin he may get to spend the time with his lovely wife and family that seemed tragically absent while in the restaurant business.
Cheers John
I didn’t manage to catch this episode. Well I don’t watch TV and so unless it is available online (which it isn’t on tv3’s website) I am unlikely to view it. Anyway just and update on the premisses at that address…
It was Shahi Indian restaurant for a few months. We visited it on the 2nd half of August. The food was good but service was a bit slow and the bill was a bit high. The bill may be normal for Parnell and Ponsonby BUT a bit high for that area. There are a few very good Indian restaurants close by (less than 5kms away) where we enjoy equally good food at a slightly lower bill. Not to mention the average cost per meal at most of the eateries in that particular set of shops is much lower. Yes I realise most of them are real cheap eateries are not really restaurants. Only restaurants are Tusks, Banzai, Zap2, and Apadana.
Anyway Shahi closed and the restaurant has been refurbished and very recently reopened (not sure when but definitely between 5 and 20 Dec). The new place is no longer an Indian restaurant. It is called Cookoo. Cookoo appears to be a chinese BBQ on skewers type place. Not tried it yet as we tend to avoid places when they first open. Leave them a few weeks to settle in, weed out all the bugs etc.
Auckland City Food Grade search shows it exists:
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/services/foodsearch/detail.asp?pFoodGradeID=111
Perhaps Shahi’s lack of success had nothing to do with the price but the fact the last 2 indian restaurants in the venue weren’t very popular. It was an indian restaurant called “Bombay Duck” before it became Haleem’s. In fact I won’t be surprised if people wonder if the same owners were rebranding after all rebranding seems to be very popular for businesses (not limited to restaurants) but that doesn’t necessarily means real change.
Lin