Dinesh D.
Google
The food is excellent. Everything else… not so much.
My experience at Atithi Dining Hall was disappointing right from the entrance, and unfortunately, it stayed that way throughout the visit — except for the food, which was genuinely very good.
Starting with parking: when we asked about it, we were told there is no dedicated parking and that we could “park anywhere.” Parking staff was available, but this information was never communicated to us. The parking staff was more interested in his mobile phone than guiding drivers or helping customers waiting outside.
We visited with a baby and asked for a baby chair, which was not available. While that can be understood, we also asked if milk was available. Even if it isn’t part of their service, the response was unnecessarily rude — just a blunt “no” with a dismissive hand gesture. It clearly gave the impression that customer comfort, especially for families, was not a priority.
Now, coming to the food — this is the only positive part of the experience. The taste and quality were very, very good, and there are no complaints at all on that front. Unfortunately, getting anything served properly is where the real struggle begins.
If someone eats puri and needs curry, don’t expect it to arrive after asking once. Or twice. You have to ask multiple times, repeatedly, for basic items. Even with managers present on the floor, nothing improves. They sometimes ask, “What do you want?” — but whatever you tell them somehow never reaches your table. The intent to actually serve the customer seems missing.
Another strange moment came midway through our meal. While we were barely halfway through lunch, the bill was placed on our table. Maybe this is their way of indirectly asking customers to vacate the table quickly. Either way, it felt rude and unprofessional. A bill should be given after the customer has finished eating — not while food is still arriving slowly. Ironically, after receiving the bill, we still had to wait 15–20 more minutes because the food service itself was slow.
The final disappointment was with khichdi. We asked multiple times for it, as it was the last item we wanted to eat. My wife and my nephew were specifically waiting for it. Despite repeated requests and a long wait, it never arrived. Eventually, we gave up, washed our hands, and left — without the khichdi.
And finally, the parking experience repeated itself. When I went to get my car, the parking staff was not at his desk and was instead sitting elsewhere, busy on his phone. After finding him and asking about my car, he only gave directions. There was no basic courtesy to offer help or assistance. I had to explicitly ask him to bring the car. Even then, the overall experience felt careless and unprofessional.
Leaving a Gujarati restaurant without finishing with khichdi, and ending the visit with poor parking management, says a lot.
