Hotel Rukmini Reviera

The staff were polite, but that couldn’t rescue a disappointing South Indian thali at Hotel Rukmini Reviera, beside Dwaraka A/c Veg. Restaurant & Tiffins. I came with a friend, hoping for a hearty Andhra and South Indian meal, and nothing on the plate met basic expectations. The rice and curries lacked freshness and flavor, the sambar was bland, and the curries seemed watered down. The vegetables felt as if they’d been made well before serving. Dry pooris and sweets that tasted refrigerated added to the letdown. The way the food was presented didn’t have the warmth or charm I’d expect from this kind of restaurant. I can’t tell if this is typical or if we caught them on an off day, and perhaps their tiffins or à la carte dishes are better. But for the price and reputation, I expected much more. I wouldn’t recommend the restaurant for an authentic, flavorful South Indian thali. There are better vegetarian places nearby that put more care, taste, and freshness into theirs.

I waited about 15-20 minutes after ordering at Dwaraka Chats and Juice Counters, then found out they hadn’t even started preparing it. No one had updated me or apologized, and I was told to wait longer. When I asked for a refund, a staff member dropped the coin on the table instead of handing it to me. It felt disrespectful and unprofessional, and left me disappointed as a customer. I’m asking management to look into this and improve service and customer handling.

We were seated upstairs, where the ambience was very well looked after, and the staff were friendly and hospitable. The restaurant is in the heart of the city, at Lakdi ka Pul. We ordered masala kulcha, aloo paratha, stuffed kulcha, and Paneer Kolhapuri. The dishes tasted good, though there was some confusion with the order and they took a while to arrive. The prices are what you’d expect from a fine dining restaurant. I believe this is one of Hyderabad’s best restaurants.

Poor customer service at the quick service stand and eat restaurant area. The new hires aren’t good, and customer service seems to be their last concern.