Capital O 1780 Hotel Belsons Taj Mahal

We drove nearly 20 km, hoping to bring back old memories at a place we've visited for years. After we ordered, they recommended melon juice and we agreed to try it. Then we waited almost 45 minutes. We noticed the next table had been given our order, even though the people there were refusing it, and the server kept putting the food in front of them. The hygiene was disturbing. The staff member serving was drenched in sweat, with sweat visibly dripping from his hands as he handled the plates. A small boy dropped a vada on the floor, and someone quickly picked it up and put it back on the plate. When the other customers refused the food, the plates were left on the trash collection table before being carried toward the kitchen. We worried that the same food might be served to us. We tried several times to get someone's attention so we could pay for the melon juice and leave, but nobody came. We left very upset and disappointed. We used to love this place, but this visit left us questioning its hygiene and service.

The Taj brand is what drew me in. The building is old but has been renovated with a stylish look, and the place sits near Secunderabad in the busy city. It's all vegetarian, with food from breakfast through dinner. A few dishes were good, while others were below par. I'd rate the food 5-7/10 and the service 6/10. A meal here can be expensive, so go if the Taj name and spending a lot on vegetarian food appeal to you. The price gets 4/10, and even a chai costs around 100 bucks. Ordering by scanning a code is the fancy setup these days.

We've been coming here for decades, and it's our favorite regular place for the food and coffee. So yesterday's watery sambar was a real shock. Maybe the weekend Saturday crowd was larger, and the chef diluted it to stretch it for everyone. We love the restaurant and its hospitality, but this kind of cheap trick could tarnish the hotel's good reputation. So disappointing.

We had a lovely lunch here with the family. The prices were reasonable, and the atmosphere and service were good. I'd suggest the South Indian Thali, North Indian Thali, or Tajmahal Special Thali. They were all satisfying and tasted good. The Chinese dishes weren't to our liking for taste or quality.