A little Sunday (mis)adventure: (blog marathon post 26)
So we went to this restaurant in the afternoon. A new one. From the outside it looked great. Bright yellow exterior with a olive green door and a sign board done up in funky font announcing it's name--styled the way UK pubs are--and I admit that's what drew me in, and I decided this was where we would have our lunch.
Once inside it felt like the interiors were trying too hard to be a hip and happening place--a deliberate kitsch of mismatched chairs, tables with high bar-stools and cheap replica of bollywood posters of the yesteryears--their newly minted gloss finish giving away the tackiness like someone who is obviously old trying very hard to look young by wearing a youthful shirt that bulges at the seams and jeans that are a tad too tight.
They seemed to be yet getting their act together as it took my son two trips to the counter and back to be told it was actually self-service, but only one part as you placed the order at the counter, paid the bill and then waited at your table to be served.
They billed us and then discovered that some of the items we ordered weren't available. So we 'swalpa-adjust-maadied' and settled for whatever was available. The place is supposed to specialise in parathas and I would expect them to get at least that right, no matter how new they are. The parathas were nothing but two chappatis trying hard to bond, with some filling in between which was trying it's best to stay inside. I make better parathas than these and I am not even good at making parathas.
We somehow managed to finish them and the mistake we made was that we had already paid for the desserts. We were informed last minute that the Gulab Jamun we paid for wasn't available and so we took Rosgullas. They are normally served in sugar syrup---but I think they ran out of sugar. They were instead served in what seemed like coconut water with a few shavings of almonds thrown in for some flavour. The rosgullas themselves tasted like rubber.
'What an awful place,' I said. 'I am never going back there.'
'This place sucks,' said my son.
'Terrible,' declared my daughter.
'Come on guys,it isn't that bad and at least they are pleasant. How would you like it if your dad opened a restaurant and some people said all this about the restaurant?' said my husband.
'If you opened it, then the service and food would be awesome. No way it would be like this,' said my daughter.
I think she had a point. My husband is a perfectionist that way.
Maybe today they were short-staffed and having a bad day. Maybe their chief cook didn't turn up today. Maybe they are still figuring it all out.
But for me, like a relationship, if I am not happy with something, I take it as a lesson learnt and move on.
If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. I for sure, am not going back to that restaurant.
I am not naming the restaurant, as perhaps someone else may have a better experience than I did.
Again like relationships---someone may not be right for you , but that doesn't mean they are bad.
And that also doesn't mean you have to compromise and settle.
At the end of the day we have to make choices that make us happy.
And give us a sense of our time and money spent well.
__________________________________________________________
Buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibooks
Once inside it felt like the interiors were trying too hard to be a hip and happening place--a deliberate kitsch of mismatched chairs, tables with high bar-stools and cheap replica of bollywood posters of the yesteryears--their newly minted gloss finish giving away the tackiness like someone who is obviously old trying very hard to look young by wearing a youthful shirt that bulges at the seams and jeans that are a tad too tight.
They seemed to be yet getting their act together as it took my son two trips to the counter and back to be told it was actually self-service, but only one part as you placed the order at the counter, paid the bill and then waited at your table to be served.
They billed us and then discovered that some of the items we ordered weren't available. So we 'swalpa-adjust-maadied' and settled for whatever was available. The place is supposed to specialise in parathas and I would expect them to get at least that right, no matter how new they are. The parathas were nothing but two chappatis trying hard to bond, with some filling in between which was trying it's best to stay inside. I make better parathas than these and I am not even good at making parathas.
We somehow managed to finish them and the mistake we made was that we had already paid for the desserts. We were informed last minute that the Gulab Jamun we paid for wasn't available and so we took Rosgullas. They are normally served in sugar syrup---but I think they ran out of sugar. They were instead served in what seemed like coconut water with a few shavings of almonds thrown in for some flavour. The rosgullas themselves tasted like rubber.
'What an awful place,' I said. 'I am never going back there.'
'This place sucks,' said my son.
'Terrible,' declared my daughter.
'Come on guys,it isn't that bad and at least they are pleasant. How would you like it if your dad opened a restaurant and some people said all this about the restaurant?' said my husband.
'If you opened it, then the service and food would be awesome. No way it would be like this,' said my daughter.
I think she had a point. My husband is a perfectionist that way.
Maybe today they were short-staffed and having a bad day. Maybe their chief cook didn't turn up today. Maybe they are still figuring it all out.
But for me, like a relationship, if I am not happy with something, I take it as a lesson learnt and move on.
If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. I for sure, am not going back to that restaurant.
I am not naming the restaurant, as perhaps someone else may have a better experience than I did.
Again like relationships---someone may not be right for you , but that doesn't mean they are bad.
And that also doesn't mean you have to compromise and settle.
At the end of the day we have to make choices that make us happy.
And give us a sense of our time and money spent well.
__________________________________________________________
Buy my books: http://is.gd/preetibooks
The way you described is so funny.I was visualising how you guys completed your food.jokes apart,we all go through this
ReplyDeleteThe way you described is so funny.I was visualising how you guys completed your food.jokes apart,we all go through this
ReplyDeleteHillaroius !! Atleast they offered something good to look at ( nevertheless from the outside). My advice, just go and speak to them once and submit your feedback. I also work in a Hotel. And I know What does an honest feedback mean. If they still dont improve, too bad for them. Nonetheless, in the Bollywood movie "Cheeni Kum" Tabu still keeps visiting a restaurant even if she doesnt like their biryani !!! hehehe...
ReplyDeleteOh my! What an experience. I like to eat out a lot and sometimes have had some crazy experiences too. At first, I would be upset that the food was not served on time, or the taste was not as I had expected. But then at the end of the meal, I think that maybe it was just a bad day for the cook, or like you had written above, the best cook was not in and someone else was making the dishes. Nevertheless, just like in relationships, we have to give it a second chance and if we still have a bad experience, then perhaps the person is not right for us. Hope you have a better experience next time at the Paratha restaurant :-)
ReplyDeleteReally Enjoyed While reading your words mam :) Happy writing :)
ReplyDeleteThe experience may have been a very frustrating one, but it certainly proved the English Idiom "Dont Judge the book by its Cover", right.
ReplyDeleteI too had such an experience. But I like to take risks and went back to that restaurant. You won't believe they took the earlier feedback seriously and this time everything was perfect..!!! :)
ReplyDelete