Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Mylapore - Service Sucks!

Here is the summary of a complaint on the poor service @ this outlet that I had sent to feedback@hotelsaravanabhavan.com

I had been to mylapore outlet with my family yesterday to enjoy some breakfast.  On the ground floor (non-a/c) a third of the tables were marked - no service.  I asked 3 of your staff (the ones with ties) who take orders to find us a table...instead of helping us find a table...they sent us to another person (order taking person)  in a different section.

I was asked to go to the a/c section.  When I asked for your manager, i was told that the manager would come only @ 9.30 am.

I met one of the safari suit clad guys...sitting next to your cash counter (just outside your cash counter) and told him your staff were not willing to find us a table.  He just said go to the a/c section.I asked him if you folks have grown so big that you do not care if customers walk out....and he replied...we are not asking you to go out...go to the a/c section if u want to eat.

Your service is too bad...I shall not visit this outlet again and would certainly ensure no one I know goes here either.  

Their prompt response in a day's time - 

Dear  Sir,          As  per  the  complaint  stated  by  you, We  have  enquired  with  our        Branch  Manager  there  &  also  warned  &  instructed  the  service        Staff   there  to  properly  respond  to  Our  Customer  while  asking  for.        Prevailing  Service  levels  will  be  tuned  &  get  corrected  shortly.        We  feel  Sorry  for  the  Happenings.                                              Thanking  You.  With  Kind  Regards,  HOTEL  SARAVANA BHAVAN.   Reco - I may venture there again to see if anything has improved....will update on how things pan out!

Eco Cafe, Anokhi, Chamiers Road

It is attached to Anokhi on Chamiers Road.  It is has a closed section as well as an al-fresco area.  Anokhi sells clothes and other off beat stuff that may interest the society ladies (and guys).

Food - Limited menu..typically short eats, coffee, juices and shakes, sandwiches and pasta and a few baked desserts available at the counter.  We had been there around 5.30 and settled for a cappuccino a chocolate & banana shake and a potato basket.  The potato basket had 2 hash browns and a few wedges and fries...not a big basket really!  It was served with some tomato sauce.  Nothing great.  The cofffee was good and I understand that the milk shake was good too.

Ambiance and Approach - It is a relatively old building on Chamiers Road with dim lighting and comfortable seating.  Ideal setting for a coffee shop where you want to have a quite cuppa or go with a few friends to catch up after a long time.
The place has parking for around 10 cars.  And yes they have a valet service as well.  This place is strictly for those with cars / bikes and not for those commuting in buses and trains although it is but a stone's throw from the Adyar Gate bus stand.

Service - Lazy....this is how I can describe it....goes well with the relaxed setting...I guess you should not be in a hurry if you go here....It takes ages to take the order, serve it, get your cutlery and so on - I guess it goes with the 'theme' and 'target audience'. 

Cost - Cost for the above came to INR 500/- Its an expensive joint.

Summary - Food -  Acceptable; Ambiance - Relaxing; Parking etc - valet service available; Service - Do not go there if you are in a hurry - Lazy; Cost - Expensive.

Reco - I'd go there again when I want to relax over a cuppa....but not to catch a quick bite.

iD, Satyam Cinemas, Royapetta

It is attached to Sathyam Cinemas and serves vegetarian fare.  Ideal place for breakfast before a Sunday movie or a quick bite before or after a movie.  The restaurant is open from around 11 on weekdays and from around 8.30 on weekends.  Btw...iD stands for idli & dosa

Food - South Indian tiffin varieties.  Limited menu - but a range of products available.  Limited number of fresh juices, coffee and tea are available.  A variety of dosas, vadais, idlis and other South Indian stuff are available.  Three chutnies are served at the table with sambar even before you order.  These are coconut, onion and tomato and coriander and coconut chutnies.  All are fresh at any time of the day and delicious.  The sambar is made with shallots and is served hot and is good too.

I had a masala dosa - crispy with good masala (potato based) filling.  Aapam is served with either kurma or coconut milk and I generally prefer the latter to satisfy my sweet tooth.  The pongal was good with the right amount of pepper and cooked to perfection,,,garnished with cashew nuts and crispy fried curry leaves.

Ambiance and Approach - Seating other than at the corners where sofa seats are available are a bit inconvenient due to chairs with wheels.  However, the ambience is 'decent' - nothing to complain about...well lit and can seat around 60 pax with around 10 sitting over the bar type open kitchen at the center.  Warning - if you've parked your car and plan to see a flick, you may either be stranded due to the folks in the vehicle ahead of you going to iD or you may keep others waiting if you go for a bit after the film.  This despite there being ample parking in the cinema complex.

Service - Limited staff and hence service is slow.  However, the staff are pleasant.  However, if you have only 10 minutes for a movie to commence and want to have a quick bite....it would probably take you past the first few scenes and opening credits.

Cost - Cost for 2 masala dosas, 1 aapam and 1 pongal came to INR 240/-. A tad on the costlier side.

Summary - Food - Great; Ambiance - Acceptable; Approach - beware of car parking woes; Service - Acceptable; Cost - A bit expensive.

Reco - I would certainly continue to frequent this place when I go for a movie @ Satyam.  The food is great.

Kajha Biriyani, Vaniyambadi - near bus stop

This is essentially a non-vegetarian, South Indian restaurant located a stones throw from the Vaniyambadi bus stop.  The biriyani at Vaniyambadi is popular and I did not know which restaurant to source it from.  I started making inquiries at Krishnagiri and also again while approaching Vaniyambadi and was directed to this one.  It may be around 2 km off the Chennai - Bangalore highway (NH-46)
Food - The biriyani is made with long grain rice and is quite good.  The mutton is cooked well and falls off the bone.  It is accompanied by a onion raitha and a brinjal based gravy, both of which go well with the biriyani.   There is ample meat in the biriyani and if you are not hungry, might find it difficult to finish the pieces of meat.  The only minus was that there were a few small bone fragments that you need to capture and do away with before gorging into the biriyani.
Ambiance - Basic, non air-conditioned.  I had in any case done a take away and did not eat there.  However, I presume the place would be quite hot in summer.  Parking a car around the restaurant would be challenging though not impossible.
Service - Fast - you come in, are seated, place your order...food is packed and served!
Cost - @ Rs.85/- per plate of mutton biriyani, it is reasonable.
Summary - Food - Good, Ambiance - Basic, Service - Acceptable, Cost - Reasonable.
Reco - I will definitely go there again when I drive thru this stretch of highway.  It is certainly better than the more popular Ambur Star Biriyani and I do not think it is related to the Kajha Biriyani in Ambur.  Certainly worth a detour!

Hard Rock Cafe, St. Mary's Road

HRC Bangalore (or HRC Bengalooru as it is now called), is located off MG Road, off Church St., in a heritage building.

Food (&Drinks) - the Caiproska - a vodka based drink with lime, sugar and mint was quite good - a favorite of mine.  The Mojito (similar to caiproska but has white rum instead of vodka) was also quite good.  The chicken kebab did not seem to be a kebab - not a tandoori kebab..but was quite tasty and the mint chutney accompanying it was good.  The potato skins with beacon was also good, potato skins, with a bit of the body scooped out and stuffed with beacon and cheese and baked..however one potato was a bit under done and a tad raw.

Service - Its a pain getting a table around the bar section..however managed to get it...service is a bit laid back...there are a number of waiters..who display a lot of energy...but are mostly not around tables...however, they serve with a smile.

Ambiance - Has three sections, the bar, the restaurant and the outdoor - for smokers....the former two are typical HRC with a lot of music memorabilia displayed.  The music system seems to have been replaced - certainly sounded a lot better than last time.  They do have free valet parking.

Cost - A pint of KF draft was around ₹190/-, the cocktails come at around ₹360/-.  The kebab had six pieces and was around ₹350/- and the 4 pieces in the potato dish around ₹250/-.  A bit on the higher side..but in line with similar restaurants / pubs.  10% service charges are extra!

Summary - Food - Average, Drinks - Good, Ambiance - Good, Service - Can improve, Cost - Appropriate.

Reco - I'll go there again!

Terminology - ₹ - Symbol for Indian Rupee

Coconut Grove, Church Street

This is a semi alfresco restaurant serving Kerala cuisine.  Liquor is served.
Food - The crab fry a dry preparation with fresh grated coconut and red chili was spicy and tasted good.  There were three crab bodies on offer and a couple of claws.  A good starter.  The aapams were a bit sour...they usually add a pinch of sugar to compensate for the sourness..but this was missing...it was served hot and fresh nonetheless.  The fish molly a mildly spiced stew with fried fish pieces was awesome.  The fish curry was a let down....nothing to write home about - the gravy was predominantly chili chili and chili and turmeric..seemed a bit raw (the spices). (Both the fish dishes were prepared with Seer Fish.)
Service - Service was largely prompt but there is scope for improvement.
Ambiance - Basic furnishing, has an open air area and a covered non air-conditioned area as well.  I did not notice any valet...so you may have to try hard to park in and around Church St....especially during a busy evening or lunch time on week days.  However, it is very close to the MG Road Metro station.
Cost - Quite steep - probably a bit more than similar restaurants on Church St., They do not fleece you additionally towards service charges.  A bottle of KF beer is around ₹190/- and a 60ml bacardi comes at around ₹290/-.  A plate of aapam is around ₹80/- for two pieces.  The gravies cost close to ₹400/- each and the crab dish around ₹450/-.
Summary - Food - Good, Service - Acceptable, Ambiance - not bad, Cost - a bit expensive.
Reco - I'll go there again..not any time soon..and will avoid the fish curry.
Terminology - Aapam - 'hoppers' - a pancake made with fermented rice flour - a staple of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.