Beware : New Indian Restaurant Komala Vilas in Sunnyvale
Nilesh P. Junnarkar
I have an experience that I want to share with you all . Most of you
have
heard about the new Indian restaurant called Komala Villas on El Camio
in Sunnyvale, CA
(Near Dhaba or opposite to Bhavika ) . They have a web site too
http://www.komalavilas.com/ . According to the web site description it
is
supposed to be a pure vegetarian homely south Indian food joint . Me
and
my husband went there to try it out on a Sunday morning. We reached
there at
10:55 AM . The owner asked us to wait outside till 11:15 AM after we
registered our name .They also told us that they will start serving
Lunch at
11:30 AM . We waited till 11:15 and we got into the restaurant and got
a
table for ourselves.
All the tables in the restaurant are for 4 people (no two seaters ). The
restaurant was filled half .There was group of 8 people , they joined 2
tables so that they can sit together comfortably on a Sunday afternoon
Lunch.. The
owner went to their table saying that they can't join tables and
demanded
that they separate out the two tables and be seated in groups of four .
Those people (Most of them around in 50's ) said politely to the owner
that they
will adjust and will make it convenient for the people who serve and
requested again . But owner said no and asked them to leave if they do
not want the
food . Those people were shocked and they left .
As we were talking about the shocking behavior one lady (owner ) came
to
our table and asked us if we can share the table we were seated on
with
another couple . I was shocked with that question as lot of other
tables were
still vacant . I refused to share the table , then she said that she
has many
customers who will be coming and they have less tables . We then told
her
we are not willing to share the table and moreover having less tables is
her
problem .(We also told her if she needs to serve more customer she need
to
have more tables and cannot request people to share tables like this ).
Then she gave us another shocking answer that "This is the way it works
here .SO
..... and gave a pause ..." . Then she says " U have to share a table
if u
have to eat here ". At this point we got up and came out of the
restaurant . I have heard with my other acquaintance who have been to
Komal Vilas the
same kind of arrogance and attitude displayed by Komala Villas.
dke...@best.com
>Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
>to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
>ways as well.
Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
--
Dave Eisen Sequoia Peripherals: (408) 752-1400
dke...@netcom.com FAX: (408) 752-2707
In our society, you can state your views, but they have to be correct.
--- Ernie Hai, coordinator Singapore Gov't Internet Project.
Podibanda Kuruppu
wrote:
[Long post on shocking behaviour of owners snipped.]
Now you know where not to go for a meal!
s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu
> As we were talking about the shocking behavior one lady
> (owner ) came to our table and asked us if we can share the
> table we were seated on with another couple . I was shocked with
> that question as lot of other tables were still vacant . I
> refused to share the table , then she said that she has many
> customers who will be coming and they have less tables . We then
> told her we are not willing to share the table [..] At this point
> we got up and came out of the restaurant.
You did the right thing.
Years ago, in the '80's, I encountered this forced-table-sharing
request from the Taiwan Restaurant on University Ave. in
Berkeley. We walked out, and never came back. Except about a
month ago, desparate for some late night food in Berkeley, I
foolishly ordered takeout from them. It was a mistake.
Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
ways as well.
Steve
s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu
> <s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>>Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
>>to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
>>ways as well.
>Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
>forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
>it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
Well, I said "usually". :)
Personally, other than some very nice Nans, I haven't found
Breads of India to be very inspired. Middle-of-the-road
curries etc.
Too bad too, as I live 3 blocks from them.
Steve
Me Again
>
> In article <7dch3f$jhg$1...@samba.rahul.net>, <s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
> >Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
> >to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
> >ways as well.
>
> Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
> forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
> it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
There is a significant difference between asking customers to share a
table when the restaurant is completely full and "demanding" that
customers share a table when the restaurant isn't full.
The difference is caused by having concern for your customer's needs.
It appears that Komala Vilas doesn't think they have to be concerned
about their customer's needs, so time will tell if they can get away
with this or not.
A few months ago I had dinner at the Thai restaurant at the south end of
the Asian marketplace in Milpitas (McCarthy Marketplace? Where the
Ranch 99 store is, off Mccarthy and 237/880.) They have a large round
table that seats 6-8 people and they were completely full. They asked
(didn't "tell") us if we minded sharing a table and then again asked the
couple already seated at the round table if they minded. Neither of us
minded so we shared the table. Since the table was so big it wasn't as
pushed together as it would have been if we had had to share a table for
4. It was a nice meal, but mostly because the staff *made* it nice by
being considerate instead of pushy.
jc
jc
Pete Fraser
><dke...@best.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
>>forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
>>it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
>
>Well, I said "usually". :)
>
>Personally, other than some very nice Nans, I haven't found
>Breads of India to be very inspired. Middle-of-the-road
>curries etc.
>
>Too bad too, as I live 3 blocks from them.
>
I would have thought that the wait to get in would have been
prohibitive anyway. I've driven past a couple of times with the
intention of giving it a try, but there always seemed to be a
large crowd waiting.
--
Pete Fraser
nam...@digital-x.com
Me Again <mag...@rahul.net> wrote:
> dke...@best.com wrote:
> >
> > In article <7dch3f$jhg$1...@samba.rahul.net>, <s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu>
wrote:
> >
> > >Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
> > >to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
> > >ways as well.
> >
> > forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
> > it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
>
definitely not worth it. It was bland and the rasam and the veges were luke
warm. They give you a teaspoon of dessert and implicitly make you feel guilty
when you ask for more. Unless they change their attitude and the prices, that
place ain't going to be there for too long.
Namita
>
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http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Karen O'Mara
a forward of your usenet article and a few of the followups would be
enlightening for this place?
Karen
--
"Time's fun when you're having flies."
-Kermit
Jon Green
>You mentioned their url, so perhaps they're able to receive email? Maybe
>a forward of your usenet article and a few of the followups would be
>enlightening for this place?
-Jon
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* Jon Green * "Life's a dance *
* jcg...@netINS.net * you learn as you go" *
* Finger for Geek Code/PGP * *
* #include "std_disclaimer.h" * http://users.quadrunner.com/jon *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard Siegel
>
> In article <7dch3f$jhg$1...@samba.rahul.net>, <s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
> >Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
> >to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
> >ways as well.
>
> Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
> forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
> it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
>
> Dave Eisen Sequoia Peripherals: (408) 752-1400
> dke...@netcom.com FAX: (408) 752-2707
> In our society, you can state your views, but they have to be correct.
> --- Ernie Hai, coordinator Singapore Gov't Internet Project.
for smaller parties. If the wait for the smaller tables is long, they
will politely ask if you don't mind sharing. I enjoy the food each time
I go there. However, they recently remodeled a bit, and now the place is
a bit more crowded, noisy and too brightly lit. The food is still
wonderful and very reasonably priced.
Howard
John Eisenman
I visited this restaurant with two friends on Friday. It's true. At this
establishment, various parties are required to share tables. As space at a
table opens up, new folks are directed to the table.
We were there for lunch ($8.00 a person, served as much as you want). Very
informal atmosphere.
The tree of us enjoyed our meal, and will return.
It's not the norm in the US, but there are a variety of restaurants in the
area that expect table sharing. Another example is Suppenkuche in SF.
KV seemed to be busy enough so that the more people they serve with shared
tables offsets the business they loose by those who don't want to share.
-john
In article <36F9A0BC...@usa.net>, "Nilesh P. Junnarkar"
|> As we were talking about the shocking behavior one lady (owner )
|> came
|> to
|> our table and asked us if we can share the table we were seated
|> on
|> with
|> another couple . I was shocked with that question as lot of
|> other
|> tables were
|> still vacant . I refused to share the table , then she said that
|> she
|> has many
|> customers who will be coming and they have less tables . We then
|> told
|> her
|> we are not willing to share the table and moreover having less
|> tables is
|> her
|> problem .(We also told her if she needs to serve more customer she
|> need
|> to
|> have more tables and cannot request people to share tables like
|> this ).
|>
|> Then she gave us another shocking answer that "This is the way it
|> works
|> here .SO
|> ..... and gave a pause ..." . Then she says " U have to share a
|> table
|> if u
|> have to eat here ". At this point we got up and came out of the
|> restaurant . I have heard with my other acquaintance who have been
|> to
|> Komal Vilas the
|> same kind of arrogance and attitude displayed by Komala Villas.
|>
|>
--
John Eisenman (ji...@sgi.com)
Silicon Graphics Computer Systems
MS 40U-553
2011 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mt. View, CA 94043-1389
Stacy Kowalski
important as food is to have their shortcomings publicized by someone
who is looked upon as an "expert". Rather than waste time sending
e-mails to an establishment that doesn't care and won't read them anyway
(who has time, they are busy running off customers) why don't you ask
your local Food Critics to REVIEW the place. E-mail them!!! Let them
know your experience and see for themselves what is going on with the
service (and the food).
I expect that if they start receiving bad reviews, things will either
change or they will go the way of most poorly run
establishments.....here today and a for lease sign tomorrow!!!!
Meg Worley
>Rather than waste time sending
>e-mails to an establishment that doesn't care and won't read them anyway
>(who has time, they are busy running off customers) why don't you ask
>your local Food Critics to REVIEW the place.
>I expect that if they start receiving bad reviews, things will either
What's wrong with this picture?
Rage away,
meg
--
m...@steam.stanford.edu Comparatively Literate
Valerie
>In article <7dch3f$jhg$1...@samba.rahul.net>, <s...@bob.eecs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
>>Restaurants that can't figure out that diners do not want
>>to be forced to share tables, usually are deficient in other
>>ways as well.
>
>
>Breads of India in Berkeley is tiny and pretty much
>forces you to share a table. From what I can tell,
>it is not deficient in any other way. Not even close.
Erm... well... BoI got such great reviews here that I mentioned it to a
friend who lives a few blocks from it. The first experience there was
ok, not great. The next, when they took out of town guests there, was
horrendous. These are a fairly easy-going couple, and he still gets
furious at the mention of the place. She described the best dish of that
meal as chicken knuckles in canned gravy...
You pays your money, you takes your chances, I guess.
Val
Dennis Suchta
behave in the manner described in hese posts.
Dennis
Karen O'Mara
>
> There is a difference between expected and required. Suppenkuche does not
> behave in the manner described in hese posts.
What happens if you say you don't want to share a table with strangers?
What's to be expected?
Karen
Rajen Narurkar
wrote:
>I visited this restaurant with two friends on Friday. It's true. At this
>establishment, various parties are required to share tables. As space at a
>table opens up, new folks are directed to the table.
>
>We were there for lunch ($8.00 a person, served as much as you want). Very
>informal atmosphere.
>
>The tree of us enjoyed our meal, and will return.
>
>It's not the norm in the US, but there are a variety of restaurants in the
>area that expect table sharing. Another example is Suppenkuche in SF.
>
>KV seemed to be busy enough so that the more people they serve with shared
>tables offsets the business they loose by those who don't want to share.
I think that the point being missed here is that one should not be
forced to share tables when a restaurant is not full and multiple non
reserved tables are available. I have shared tables many times and
always the waiter has asked us and the party already at the table
whether we would mind sharing....we never have.
The variety of Indian restaurant in the bay area means I personally do
not have to put up with this kind of crap from a restaurant even if
serves good food.....seinfeld soup nazi episodes nothwithstanding.
LTsering
>prohibitive anyway. I've driven past a couple of times with the
>intention of giving it a try, but there always seemed to be a
>large crowd waiting.
Avoid Breads of India!!!
Check out my review:
http://members.tripod.com/~LisaTsering/breads.html
Lisa
____________________________________
Lisa Tsering
Arts reporter, India-West
933 MacArthur Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94577 USA
ltse...@aol.com
(510) 383-1146 Tel
http://members.tripod.com/~LisaTsering
http://www.indiawest.com
Dennis Suchta
Suppekuchen and this restaurant is that if there is a vacant table at
Suppekuchen you take it - they do not come around and consolidate their tables
to make room.
Dennis