Mumbai Kitchen, a popular Indian takeaway on Bampton Street in Tiverton, has found itself at the center of an online storm after the owner reacted to negative Google reviews with alarming comments threatening harm to critics.
The controversy erupted when Mumbai Kitchen received a series of one-star reviews criticizing the food and customer service, describing some meals as “smelly” and branding the management as discourteous. In response, the owner, Maruf Ahmed, replied via the restaurant’s official Google account with accusations of fake reviews and disturbing remarks, including telling one reviewer to “stop giving me a fake review, or you will die in a car crash.”
The incident gained wider attention following a post on the Spotted Tiverton Facebook page, which called out the owner for making such shocking statements and questioned his ability to handle criticism. While some locals expressed outrage over the threats, many others rallied behind Mumbai Kitchen, praising its food, hospitality, and deep roots in the community.
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Maruf disclosed that the aggressive responses came from frustration after enduring a year-long series of negative reviews, many from newly created accounts with South Asian names—leading him to suspect a rival or someone with a grudge might be behind them. “Every single time one or two were putting these negative reviews… some were from accounts that had just been created,” he explained. “I was so angry. I emailed one of them saying, ‘If you’re putting my business down, I hope you die in a car accident.’ I felt desperate.”
Despite the contentious exchanges, Maruf remains confident in his business’s strong standing, crediting loyal customers who continue to support Mumbai Kitchen. “Our regulars have been so supportive. Many came in to tell us they’ve never had a bad meal here,” he said.
Regular patrons have voiced their solidarity, with one longtime customer expressing empathy for the owner’s frustration: “I’d be fairly upset if people put up fake reviews about my business. I’ve had over 100 meals at Mumbai Kitchen over the past ten years, and every single one has been excellent.” Others praised the takeaway as a treasured local gem.
When asked about the threatening messages, Maruf offered some context, explaining that his aim was to discourage further attacks by instilling a sense of karmic consequence. “If I said something like that, those posting the reviews might think it was bad luck or karma and leave me alone. It came from anger,” he noted. “If I had done something wrong, that’s understandable people will be writing negative reviews, but we haven’t had that.”
Amid the controversy, Mumbai Kitchen is also marking positive milestones. Maruf recently opened a sister restaurant in Taunton, celebrating its first anniversary soon. Back in Tiverton, a new mural inside the takeaway, painted by local artist Peter Wood and featuring regional landmarks and the restaurant itself, has become a local talking point.
“People love it,” said Maruf. “Some locals didn’t even recognize all the places in the mural. It’s been a great talking point.”