Sagar Ratan — Restaurant in Halifax

Sagar Ratan is conveniently located on Bedford Highway, and we recently visited to check out the place for its soft launch . Since then, until today, the review has certainly changed for the better.. The space is quite spacious, with ample distance between tables, which is great for privacy. However, the ambience felt more like a lounge than a traditional restaurant, partly due to slow service and tables that were not cleaned promptly. Some diners, including very noisy groups, lingered long after finishing their meals, detracting from the overall dining experience.

We tried the masala dosa, uttapam, and tandoori chicken. The dosa was crunchy, but the potato filling wasn’t warm, which impacted the authenticity of this iconic South Indian dish. At $13.99, it felt overpriced for the quality. The uttapam, however, was well-prepared and enjoyable. The tandoori chicken, served with tandoori roti, was overly salty, and the tandoori masala wasn’t soaked in properly, affecting the flavour. The onion pickle was also too salty and left a red stain on our tongues. Additionally, the green chutney, which is traditionally served with such dishes, was missing, and we had to request it separately. These issues highlight the importance of chefs tasting dishes before serving, as such mistakes can significantly affect the dining experience.

The restaurant could improve its service by ensuring proper table presentation, including clean and appropriate cutlery, and by maintaining prompt table cleaning.( I am glad to review this part as they have excellently worked on this and now it provides a great dinbg experience. While being understaffed during a soft launch is understandable, it should not compromise the overall quality of service. Proper training for staff can help resolve these issues. Additionally, extra servings of sambar or chutney for dosa meals should not be charged, as offering at least one refill is standard practice at most Indian establishments.

On a positive note, the location and spaciousness are excellent, and the owner is very amicable.It was our first visit, and this review is based on that a.d ma y good things happened after that. The restaurant also offers party and buffet services for up to 25 people, which is a great feature. However, ensuring consistency in food quality and service is essential to attract a diverse clientele in Halifax, not just Indian customers. The Romeo and Juliet Lane is just a wow place for nature diners.

As this was their soft launch, we hope the feedback provides constructive insight for improvement. With some refinements to food preparation, service, and ambience, Sagar Ratan has the potential to offer a more polished and enjoyable dining experience. We look forward to revisiting...

Ambiance The entrance was relatively compact, but the spacious restaurant and ample parking gave off a welcoming vibe reminiscent of traditional Indian dhabas.For summers, they have a huge patio space. Service
Our waitress, Chandan, though newly hired, went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant dining experience. She was polite, attentive, and carried a charming demeanour. Additionally, the restaurant had two robots serving food to tables, which added a fun, modern touch to the experience. Food Starters: We began with the Malai Soya Chaap, which was beautifully grilled and nicely presented. The accompanying sauce on the side plates was absolutely delicious. However, I would have preferred a touch of butter gravy, green chutney, and mayo to elevate the flavour further. Main Course: Kadai Paneer: It was well-prepared with less spice levels and less salt. I recommend specifying your preferred spice level when ordering.We missed to mention it for the first time. Palkatti Pattani Masala: This was our first time trying this dish, and it had a delightful combination of peas and coconut flavours. Slightly sweet, it tasted like a classic Indian curry and was enjoyable. Paneer Tikka Masala: Unfortunately, this dish was disappointing. It tasted too similar to the Kadai Paneer, and the paneer wasn't roasted. The gravy lacked the vibrant yellow color and distinct grilled, smoky flavour that I associate with this dish from North India, where grilled paneer cubes are combined with capsicum, tomatoes, and onions in a spicy yogurt marinade for a rich, earthy flavour. Breads: Garlic Naan: The garlic naan was soft, flavourful, and easily the best I’ve had in Halifax. Laccha Paratha: I wasn’t impressed, as it became hard while eating and lacked the softness I expected. Other Items: Masala Dosa: The dosa was outstanding, with a generous size and served with three different chutneys – coconut, tomato, and peanut. The sambar was equally delicious and complemented the dosa perfectly. Dessert
We ended the meal with Gajar ka Halwa. The presentation was exceptional, and the taste lived up to the expectations, making it a delightful conclusion...

I was served the starters with no silverware , no glass, no napkins to begin with. After that when we got the main course served on our table, only a few items were served and other people on our table had to wait for 25 mins for the rest of the food. This is basic hospitality standards and manners, if a table places an order, all the food should be served at the same time and not in batches, other people should not have to wait and look at other people’s faces while they eat food while you are waiting for your food to be served for 25 mins after everyone else has almost finished eating. The manager came to talk to me after I asked that I want to speak to her, her arrogance and fake english accent while she spoke made me feel that she does not care about the customers and just had to talk to us because she owns the place. The server who served us was very nice and polite, and this owner lady tried to put everything on the server to make it her fault, while it was her responsibility as well to walk around and have a look and keep a check on the restaurant and tables and see how is everything going and how is everybody doing, instead she just kept taking pictures of the restaurant doing useless things, while she also acknowledged that I was looking at her and wanted to talk about the service, she never came to ask us how is everything until I asked to speak to her myself. The starters did not taste good, and the quantity was very less as compared to the price. It is important to keep a check on the taste , quantity of food and quality of service if you are trying to mint money from your customers with such arrogant attitude like the manager of...