the Cafe@JW — Restaurant in Chandigarh

Deeply Disappointed – Vegetarian Guests Deserve Better at JW Marriott Chandigarh

We visited the dinner buffet at JW Marriott Chandigarh after a long gap, hoping the menu and taste would have improved over time. Unfortunately, we were proven wrong. Not only has the food quality remained subpar, but the overall experience—especially for vegetarians—was downright disappointing.

Starters: While the selection was limited, some starters tasted decent. However, the crispy fried vegetables were soaked in oil, which made them almost inedible. Presentation and execution lacked finesse.

Live Stations & Chinese Counter: The live stations were mediocre at best. The Chinese section was particularly underwhelming—noodles were half-cooked and lacked seasoning or structure.

Salad Section – A Total Letdown: This was by far the worst part of the buffet. There were flies hovering over the salad counter, and the vegetables appeared dehydrated, almost like leftovers. Basic salad options like cucumbers, tomatoes, and fresh greens were shockingly missing. This is unacceptable at any restaurant, let alone at a five-star property.

Main Course – A Vegetarian’s Nightmare: The biggest letdown remains the completely ill-conceived vegetarian main course. It felt like there was no thought or effort put into curating balanced or seasonal options. While the non-veg section offered biryani and better variety, the vegetarian section featured palak paneer (in peak summer)*, baingan sabzi, yellow dal, and steamed rice. Not a single regular or crowd-pleasing vegetarian dish was present—no vegetable pulao, no rich paneer dish, no north Indian classic that diners generally expect. It seemed as though vegetarians were deliberately ignored while planning the menu.

Dessert Section: Thankfully, the dessert counter was the saving grace of the evening. A decent selection and taste that lived up to expectations.

Service: Full credit to the courteous and ever-smiling service staff. They were attentive, warm, and ensured live station items were brought to the table promptly.

Final Verdict: When you pay a premium price for a buffet at a reputed luxury hotel, the least you expect is balanced choices, hygiene, and quality. Sadly, JW Marriott Chandigarh has fallen short on almost every front—especially for vegetarian diners. This experience was not worth the cost, and we’re unlikely to return unless there is a serious overhaul in menu planning and...

Went for a dinner after seeing amazing pictures of mughal era dawat on Instagram.Vegetarian starters were only paneer,potato ball(not mughlai) & mushroom(not mughlai).Below average starters.In non veg starters were better but not authentic mughlai. Vegetarian main course was pathetic and non veg was very disappointing.Even the basic Nalli Nihari was tasteless.I visited similar food gest at Hyatt and their not only non veg but veg was also amazing.They didn’t even serve the very basic Khamiri roti. Even the street style gol gappa and chaat was very average. In the end the dessert..any local bakery can make better cakes.The cream and sponge was so distasteful.Only rose kheer was good. Don’t waste ur money here.I have always been a fan of marriot buffet but this was my last visit.I never like BBQ nation or pirates of grill much but after having such dinner I would rate those buffet...

Exceptional Experience at The Cafe – JW Marriott From the moment we walked into The Cafe at JW Marriott, we were welcomed with warm smiles and outstanding service. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and well taken care of throughout our visit. A special thank you to the manager, whose presence was both professional and personable. It’s clear that the team is well-led, and it truly shows in every detail—from the attentiveness of the staff to the seamless service. As for the food—absolutely phenomenal. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. The variety and quality of the menu exceeded all expectations, whether you're there for a light bite or a full meal. Overall, The Cafe offers not just a meal, but an experience. The combination of exceptional hospitality and exquisite food makes it a must-visit. Highly...