There is this sit-down restaurant near my house in Adyar which serves Kerala cuisine. Kumarakom it is called. We once had food delivered from this place, with the result that neither of us cared for it much.
However, we read a couple of good reviews for the restaurant and it being near to our place (and thus, a potential can-take-guests-to place) and all, thought we should give it another chance.
Last Saturday was the day. We went to the restaurant and were shocked for find a crowd for more than 35 people waiting outside the rather small restaurant. No matter how much the restaurant host insisted that the wait time was 20 minutes (yeah right), it was quite obvious that we would not be seeing food for at least an hour. So we decided to eat elsewhere.
Today, we decided to be smart and call up Kumarakom in advance to make a reservation. Which was when we were told that the restaurant does not take reservations. Oh well. We then said we lived quite close to the restaurant and requested that our name be added to the waiting list. After all, the current wait time was 20 minutes (yeah right, again) and we would be there in 20 minutes.
Which was when we were told that our names would be added to the list. However, as soon as we showed up at the restaurant in person, our names would again be added to end of the list and we could wait as usual. Huh and double huh!?!
The husband sweetly asked why seeing our faces was very important to the process of adding us to that list and what pleasure the restaurant got out of making us stand and wait outside their restaurant when we could wait in the comfort of our own home. We only got a non-committal mumble in response.
Which is how, we are giving Kumarakom a miss today. No promise of tasty food can make up for such arrogant customer service.
No more Kumarakom for us. And, no regrets.
5 comments:
The way to eat at Kumarakon is get there by 12.30 for lunch, so you beat the crowd and you are not too hungry to wait. Unfortunately a lot of the restaurants in Chennai still don't get the concept of taking reservations.
Ridiculous is only the right word I can use at this context. Cant understand why they can't take reservations via phone calls. No idea what is that they would loose meanwhile.
Sindu - doesn't that seem like a lot of hard-work just to have a leisurely lunch (for which you have to pay, to boot)! Fortunately, restaurants in Chennai are beginning to understand reservations and I guess those would get our business.
Ashwini - Seriously, we were at a loss as well!
Which world are they living in? Can’t take reservations! Uff
Sujatha - I know!
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