KANIKA — Restaurant in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

Disappointing Dining Experience at Mayfair Kanika on May 9

Dear Mayfair Kanika Management,

I am writing to share a deeply disappointing experience my family and I had at your restaurant on May 9, which has left us feeling disillusioned and upset.

On our recent visit, I was accompanied by my in-laws—a group of 07 people comprising 04 males and 03 females, including one in kitto diet. My in-laws are foreigners, and we were excited to introduce them to authentic Odia cuisine, expecting a delightful experience given the reputation of Mayfair Kanika. We specifically sought the manager's recommendations to ensure we got the best dishes possible.However, the reality was far from our expectations. The food, to put it mildly, was average. As an Odia myself, I can confidently say that the dishes lacked the authenticity and flavor that Odia cuisine is known for. This was our first disappointment, but unfortunately, it was not the last.When the bill arrived, we were absolutely shocked. We were charged nearly twenty thousand rupees for what was essentially a basic meal.

Here are the details that left us bewildered: Total Bill: ₹20,000 Cost for Mutton Kassa: ₹5,000 (for a 05 small bowl) Number of Vegetarians in the Group: 2 (out of 7)

To charge five thousand rupees for a small portion of mutton kassa is outrageous. We expected premium pricing given the restaurant’s reputation, but this felt like a blatant overcharge. Even more distressing was the fact that two of our group were vegetarians, meaning only four of us actually consumed the mutton dish.Given the quality and quantity of food we received, the total cost should not have exceeded a few thousand rupees at best. Charging such an exorbitant amount felt like an attempt to exploit us. This was particularly upsetting as I was with my in-laws, who were equally shocked by the bill.

What added to our frustration was the absence of the manager during billing. We wanted to discuss the charges and understand the rationale behind such a steep bill, but the manager was nowhere to be found. This lack of accountability and transparency was the final straw.

This experience has left a bitter taste in our mouths, both literally and figuratively. As loyal patrons who had high expectations from Mayfair Kanika, this incident has severely tarnished our perception of your establishment. We felt cheated and disrespected, which is not how any customer should feel, especially when dining at a reputed place.

I strongly urge the higher management to look into this matter. It’s crucial to ensure that such practices do not continue, as they can severely damage your reputation and...

Discovered Kanika while hunting for places serving Odia food. So one fine afternoon, decided to give it a try.

As soon as you enter the Mayfair Lagoon hotel, you get captivated by its environment. The whole place has a magical charm to it by courtesy of the greenery, details of the decor and everything. Now, talking about the restaurant, it took quite a while to get to the restaurant while walking through the passages as it's located in the innermost part of the hotel. The path is a little confusing and may become quite tiring for some. Anyway, after locating it, we entered to a nice quaint little space, with the ambience depicting different things from the culture of Odisha. We were served buttermilk as a welcome drink and roasted papad.

Ordered a drink called Dahi Pana as its description was tempting. There menu was varied but we ordered Thaalis both non-veg and veg. Both the Thaalis had the same food items except for the non-veg items, of course. It's a good thing for a foodie as you don't miss out on anything.

The niramish thaali, i.e., veg thaali consisted of mushroom potato sabzi, the quintessential dalma, badi chura, karela aalu fry, kheeri, saag with bits of badi in it, tomato chutney, with roti and plain rice and sweet rice also known as kanika, the dish after which the restaurant has been named. The amish thaali, i.e., the non veg thaali included all of the above with mustard marinated fish fry and chicken gravy. At the end of the meal, we were served paan. Perfect ending to a meal. I loved the meal. The quantity was fulfilling. If you're starving hungry then surely you will be able to...

Food Review: Kanika Restaurant in Mayfair, Bhubaneswar

I recently visited Kanika Restaurant in Mayfair, Bhubaneswar, expecting a delightful experience with authentic Odia cuisine. Unfortunately, the food quality was extremely disappointing and requires immediate attention.

Firstly, the Chicken Bhaja was a letdown. The dish was overpowered with cinnamon powder, giving it an overly sweet taste that overshadowed the traditional flavors.

The Prawn Fry was even more problematic. It had a strong, unpleasant odor, clearly indicating that the prawns were not fresh. This compromised the entire dish and made it quite unappetizing.

The Mourala Batter Fry was similarly disappointing. The fish didn't seem fresh and had an off-putting smell, making the dish far from enjoyable.

The Mutton Kosa was another major disappointment. The excessive use of garam masala was overwhelming, masking the flavors of both the mutton and the gravy. It was impossible to appreciate the dish as the spices dominated everything else.

Overall, my experience at Kanika Restaurant was a complete disappointment. These issues with taste and quality must be corrected immediately to do justice to the rich and flavorful tradition of Odia cuisine.

Anyone trying these dishes for the first time might be completely turned off from Odia food. While it may attract one-time visitors unfamiliar with the cuisine, it certainly does not represent the true essence of Odia...