5-Star vs. Stand-and-Eat
Yesterday, my cousin's father-in-law had taken us to dinner at The Grand Ashok, a five star hotel here in Bangalore. I don't remember the last time I've ever (if ever) I had eaten at such a place. I know that everytime Drexel recruiters come to Bangalore, they treat the potential lamb ... er, students as well as currently enrolled Drexelites at the Leela Palace (a small sop before looting them out of thousands), which is either a five star or seven star hotel. However, I've never had an opportunity to go there because I am invariably on one of my tours of South India whenever the event happens.
Anyway, so what were my impressions? The food was good (although I've had equally good food for a fifth of the price) but the service was lacking. I would say the best service I have ever had have been at:
1) Vasudev's Adigas Foodline - A chain of self-service stand and eat restaurants in Bangalore, the best of the ubiquitous darshinis. As you're eating, there are workers moving all around carrying trays with glasses of water. No sooner do you finish one than a new one is kept before you. Considering the average meal is Rs. 25 (vs. Rs. 600 at Grand Ashok), it's absolutely amazing.
2) Big Wing Wong Chinese Restaurant - This tiny little restaurant is in Manhattan's Chinatown, i forget exactly where. Walking from the Canal St. subway station, you have to head east on Canal St. past the Little Italy street with Ferrara's bakery and then take a left on one of the streets. It's surrounded by more expensive looking restaurants and we tried it on New Year's Eve when we wanted something cheap and filling to eat before heading to Times Square. The average meal is $5-$8 (no small feat considering that you're in Manhattan and a McDonald's meal could cost you more than that) and the food was filling enough to sustain us on that one occasion from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. I've had food there later as well, but getting to the service, it was exactly as described in Adigas. The service was fast and courteous, but again it was the water that gave it the accolades. As soon as I finished my glass of water, there was a waiter refilling it. I was very impressed.
By now, you probably know why I didn't like the service at Grand Ashok. Yes, it was the water. I think at one point, I was waiting almost 10 minutes with an empty glass of water. It was filled only after we requested a waiter to fill it. Subsequent to our request, the fillings were fairly frequent, but the damage has been done. I think the most important part of restaurant service is the water. Anyone can come and give you food in a timely manner (after all, you've ordered it), but only the best establishments pay such attention to ensuring you always have a glass of water in front of you.
Anyway, so what were my impressions? The food was good (although I've had equally good food for a fifth of the price) but the service was lacking. I would say the best service I have ever had have been at:
1) Vasudev's Adigas Foodline - A chain of self-service stand and eat restaurants in Bangalore, the best of the ubiquitous darshinis. As you're eating, there are workers moving all around carrying trays with glasses of water. No sooner do you finish one than a new one is kept before you. Considering the average meal is Rs. 25 (vs. Rs. 600 at Grand Ashok), it's absolutely amazing.
2) Big Wing Wong Chinese Restaurant - This tiny little restaurant is in Manhattan's Chinatown, i forget exactly where. Walking from the Canal St. subway station, you have to head east on Canal St. past the Little Italy street with Ferrara's bakery and then take a left on one of the streets. It's surrounded by more expensive looking restaurants and we tried it on New Year's Eve when we wanted something cheap and filling to eat before heading to Times Square. The average meal is $5-$8 (no small feat considering that you're in Manhattan and a McDonald's meal could cost you more than that) and the food was filling enough to sustain us on that one occasion from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. I've had food there later as well, but getting to the service, it was exactly as described in Adigas. The service was fast and courteous, but again it was the water that gave it the accolades. As soon as I finished my glass of water, there was a waiter refilling it. I was very impressed.
By now, you probably know why I didn't like the service at Grand Ashok. Yes, it was the water. I think at one point, I was waiting almost 10 minutes with an empty glass of water. It was filled only after we requested a waiter to fill it. Subsequent to our request, the fillings were fairly frequent, but the damage has been done. I think the most important part of restaurant service is the water. Anyone can come and give you food in a timely manner (after all, you've ordered it), but only the best establishments pay such attention to ensuring you always have a glass of water in front of you.
posted by Vivek at 4:31 AM
2 Comments:
ahh big wing wongs.. what fantastic food!! theres a chinese place near my workplace, but it really isnt that good. well i havent tried fried rice there, but i dont think its anything great.
and of course, remember that korean restaurant and their tofu appetizer? mmm
Also, as regards that BBC guy.. he's a moron. Electricity and comfortable hotels? crowds and smells? does he know that china has a "death van"? because many crimes - including fraud i think, are eligible for death penalty, there are so many people waiting to be put to death that they have a mobile van frequenting one jail to another. i hope bbc fires fat-cat corrupt reporters like this who've probably been paid off by the chinese communist governemt.
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