Competitive drive reaping rewards at Indian Star

PROUD: Ray Singh is delighted to put another award on display at Indian Star. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 291013BF10

Ray Singh and his team at Indian Star Restaurant must be getting used to winning awards.

Last year the eatery was named Rotorua's outstanding restaurant and came second in the outstanding chef category of the Rotorua Hospitality Awards. This year it was named outstanding takeaway.

Its victory in the customer service category at this month's business awards came six years after it won the awards' hospitality and attractions category. It was also a finalist this year in that category.

Yet owner Singh is not resting on his laurels and believes entering awards helps maintain the restaurant's high standards.

"You need to check your performance," he said. "Are we still good or not?"

Mr Singh said Indian Star, on Tutanekai St, was currently ranked third out of 138 Rotorua restaurants on travel website Trip Advisor.

He said in today's world, that was important.

"I ask [customers] how they found us, 50 to 60 per cent say they check Trip Advisor before they come here."

He said about 80 per cent of the restaurant's customers in winter were tourists, in summer they were 80 per cent local.

Despite tough conditions and Eat Streat being a temporary construction site, Mr Singh said it had been a surprisingly good winter with figures up.

A large part of that was due to his staff and the award-winning customer service, he said.

"I have been to every single restaurant in Rotorua, my expectations are quite high," he said. "We see ourselves through our customers' eyes."

Mr Singh said Indian cuisine had grown in popularity since he moved to Rotorua and bought Indian Star 12 and a half years ago.

"Back then there was only two Indian restaurants in Rotorua," he said. "Now there are seven, with two more set to open."

Indian Star is also in the Rotorua Central Mall foodcourt (since 2007), has a takeaway outlet on Otonga Rd (for nearly two years) and 20 months ago Mr Singh opened an Indian Star restaurant in Hamilton.

Mr Singh said he had an excellent team of staff and "if you have a good team then you can do anything".