Annalakshmi Hamilton - South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant — Restaurant in Hamilton

A Disappointing Experience at Annalakshmi: Serious Concerns About Customer Service

I have heard a lot about Annalakshmi since it opened a few months ago, so when my friend recently visited, she was eager to experience the highly praised South Indian cuisine. However, her experience was far from what we had anticipated, highlighting some serious concerns about the standards of customer service at this restaurant.

During her visit, my friend encountered a serious issue—a large piece of glass in her dosa. This could have led to significant health complications, and yet, the response from the staff was shockingly unprofessional. When she brought this to the attention of the waiter and manager, the response was dismissive, stating, "We don't have anything in place for such issues, so we can't do anything." It was incredibly disheartening to see a restaurant of this stature respond in such a manner, as if brushing off two young women raising a legitimate concern.

We’re not in India; such incidents require a structured approach to customer care, especially in a country where standards for food safety and service are paramount. The chef, who seemed like a good person, appeared to be at a loss when it came to handling the situation appropriately. This points to a need for better training and a proper system to address serious issues like this.

For a restaurant like Annalakshmi, which has the potential to be a beloved spot for South Indian cuisine in Canada, it’s essential to prioritize customer safety and satisfaction. It’s unfortunate that this experience has left us questioning whether the management truly values its patrons. I sincerely hope that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) takes note of this incident and ensures that proper safety measures are in place to prevent such situations in the future.

A restaurant with great food should also have great service, and I hope to see Annalakshmi rise to...

I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant. Where do I begin. The decor of three 3D elephants as you first walk through the doors is so beautiful and it gives you an immediate vibe that you are in a luxurious restaurant in India. They also display other pieces of decor that depict the neighbouring streets of that area of Hamilton, where the restaurant is located, which is a nice touch for them to have included. The restaurant is very clean and well maintained and organized. The restaurant staff are friendly and polite, and very accommodating. Now let’s move on to the most important part of this restaurant, and that’s the food! This restaurant is only vegetarian, so not a good choice if you are a carnivore. However, I cannot express enough, just how generous the servings are, and how delicious and extremely tasty and fresh the food is. I went with my husband. We both ordered this restaurant’s specialty, which is “Dosa”. The best way I can describe what a Dosa is, is it resembles a huge very light, thin, and crispy pancake, which is usually filled with different kinds of vegetables (you can order just a Dosa on its own too, if you wish to). When I say huge, I mean this Dosa was the size of a large round serving tray. It could easily be shared with another person and you would both still feel satisfied. They offer a large variety of vegetables that go in the centre of the Dosa as the filling, and a large selection of fillings to choose from. The Dosa is usually served with three types of different sauces, to which you use to dip your Dosa pieces in. The mango lassi (puréed fresh mango and yogurt) drink, which we ordered was also very tasty! The cost of the meal was quite reasonable, and really worth it for the amount of food, and not to mention the freshness of the food. Annalakshmi is a place worth exploring, if you want delicious, authentic Indian cuisine. Plenty of...

⭐ Honest Review – Needs Serious Improvement in Service & Hygiene ⭐

I visited this South Indian restaurant after reading many positive reviews and had high expectations. The location and ambience are great — clean, comfortable, and welcoming (5/5).

However, the service experience was disappointing from the start. The server didn’t greet or engage in any basic courtesy. When I mentioned that I’m celiac and cannot consume gluten or dairy, he assured me that “all dosas are gluten free.” I politely asked what ingredients are used in the batter, and his response was, “I don’t know, sir. Order rice if you like.” When I requested he confirm with the chef, he acted confused instead of clarifying a simple dietary question.

I still ordered Rasam and Mysore Masala Dosa, hoping for the best. • Service time: Excellent (5/5) — Rasam arrived within 4 minutes. • Presentation & Hygiene: Extremely poor. The server’s thumb was dipped in the bowl while serving — no gloves, no tray. The same happened again when he brought the masala later, with food literally spilling out of the bowl. • Food quality: Rasam was flavorful (4/5), but the dosa was initially served without masala — something that shouldn’t happen for a Mysore Dosa. When corrected, the hygiene issue repeated. • Cleanliness: The worst part — I found a large hair in the coconut chutney. Completely unacceptable.

I rarely post negative reviews, but this experience deserves attention. For anyone with allergies, I would strongly advise caution — staff seemed untrained about gluten and cross-contamination, which is concerning for anyone with medical dietary restrictions.

The restaurant has potential — good menu, great seating, and fair prices for food (though drinks are slightly overpriced). But unless the owners train their staff in hygiene and food safety, these issues could seriously affect the restaurant’s...