May 13, 2012
The famed KARIMâs restaurant of Delhi has fallen in bad days, it seems. Karimâs Nizamuddin, the more dignified of its outlets, has downed its shutters temporarily due to labour problems about which its management has been quite evasive in the media. I had a very unpleasant personal experience with its flagship outlet in Matiya Mahal, Gali Kababian, Jama Masjid in Old Delhi recently which shows how this once heritage eatery is going to disrepute with its management least bothered or even aware.
On the night of 09 May 2012, I packed some food from the outlet for home, sparing my family members from the squalid âheritageâ environs of the Urdu Bazaar. The amount was just over Rs. 1100.00 in two separate bills. I was told to wait for 25 minutes which I tried to utilize by hanging out and buying minor provisions from neighbouring shops. Half an hour later I collected my stuff in two packets and left hurriedly to make the most of the virgin heat of Mughlai food.
After unpacking the stuff at home, I found two meat dishes missing along with its bill. After cremating the remains I figured that the food was much greasier than before. The aromatic flavour too was markedly amiss.
Thereafter, I started working the phone no. given on the surviving bill. âCall back after half an hour, weâre busy right nowâ, came the reply. Next time the guy just hung up. The same followed the next two days. Once, one of the guys was magnanimous enough to ask me to go over once again with the bill to settle the matter.
So I did. I had saved not just the bill, but had jotted the items Iâd ordered in the other bill with the missing dishes. I had also saved the stale food packets which were stinking by now!
At the restaurant when I explained the matter to the staff there, all of them started to treat me with disbelief. When I wanted to see the manager, âHeâs not inâ, I was told. Only one young man wanted to help me and Karimâs prestige. But ultimately he was not allowed to by a middle aged âbossâ who measures the helpings. Both the âbossâ and the serving waiter denied of any such possibility or reconciliation.
It figured to me that the manner in which the items were missing along with the bill might be a handiwork of such lower level staff of Karimâs. Customers taking delivery of packed food would hardly check for each item packed or the bill. Once heâs left, these staff can easily shrug off the onus on the customer. And itâs quite possible that Iâm not the exception but a regular opportunity for some of these rogue staff.
So I guess, next time any of you guys get your greasy grub packed from Old Delhi Karimâs, make sure you GET the stuff you paid for. As for me, for this fraud, quality of food and of service, thereâll be no next time.
Bijoy Das (bijoy1383@yahoo.co.uk)