INDIAN COFFEE HOUSE & RESTAURANT - GWALIOR — Restaurant in Gwalior

Review: Indian Coffee House, Gwalior – A Slice of South India in the Heart of Madhya Pradesh

If you are in Gwalior and craving authentic South Indian cuisine, Indian Coffee House is an unmissable gem. Tucked away with an old-world charm, this iconic eatery offers a nostalgic journey through traditional flavors and timeless hospitality.

From the moment you step inside, the simple yet inviting ambience transports you to a bygone era. The uniformed waiters, wooden furniture, and retro vibe add a certain warmth and authenticity that is hard to replicate. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be—its reputation is built on consistently great food and heartfelt service.

Now, let’s talk about the real star: the food. Indian Coffee House serves some of the best South Indian dishes you’ll find in central India. The masala dosa is crisp on the outside, generously filled with perfectly spiced potato masala, and served with piping hot sambar and an addictive coconut chutney. The idli is soft and fluffy, ideal for breakfast or a light lunch. If you’re lucky enough to visit during lunch hours, don’t miss the South Indian thali—a wholesome platter that’s a delightful medley of flavors, from tangy rasam to rich, comforting curd rice.

Dinner is just as satisfying, with dosas, uttapams, and filter coffee making for a soulful end to the day. And yes, the filter coffee—strong, aromatic, and served in a steel tumbler—is nothing short of legendary. It’s the perfect finish to a hearty meal.

Despite being modestly priced, the quality and portion sizes are commendable. Whether you’re a student, traveler, or a family out for a casual meal, Indian Coffee House offers excellent value for money.

Final Verdict: A must-visit for lovers of South Indian cuisine. Indian Coffee House, Gwalior doesn’t just serve food—it serves tradition, memories, and the comforting taste of home. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this place will leave you satisfied...

With 3 (or more) outlets in Gwalior, Indian Coffee House aka ICH is certainly one of the most popular destinations for casual dining in the city. Affordable menu, decent ambience, quick service, and other aspects add to the fact that people love dining at this place frequently or occasionally from places far and wide.

ICH is usually considered ideal for South Indian cuisine and delicacies such as Masala Dosa, Idli Sambar, Uttapam and more.. but if we were to consider why exactly is ICH so popular and heavily crowded on the weekends, then it has so much more to offer than merely their speciality dishes (since it is the venture by a South Indian Cooperative Society) A lot of people love to savour other delicacies too apart from their South Indian cuisine at their outlets. Talk about their maincourse options such as Biryani, Parathas, North Indian Gravies, and nonetheless, their unique Tutti Fruti icecream. Also the non-veg delicacies are quite frequently ordered. However, food is not the only attraction of this particular ICH outlet.

Being located at a pristine location near Moti Mahal & Baijataal (which is a heritage destination but also houses various govt offices and depts. within its vicinity) it naturally has become an ideal spot for adults, students, visitors, and almost everyone to peacefully dine and have good food in their indoor ( & outdoor) seating. Although the restaurant remains occupied almost all the time, it is heavily crowded during weekends and holidays, especially in the evenings. I personally love having Mysore Dosa, Idli and Coffee whenever I visit here. The best part is I get to dine alone here without the anxiety and embarrassment of being watched over by staff and fellow guests in the restaurant, since a lot of people have their lunch and meals during their office hours.

Such places are pure bliss which are impressive with not just their menu, prices, and services, but in various aspects that one can...

I had the worst experience ever at ICH Gwalior. I had reserved a table for my family and was waiting for them as they were stuck in traffic. During this time, some random people came and sat at my table without my permission. When I told them it was reserved, they started arguing with me and even threatened me, saying things like “I’ll beat you right here, nobody can do anything to me.” Shockingly, all of this happened in front of the manager.

Instead of taking any action against those people or supporting me, the manager started arguing with me in a very rude and arrogant manner. He raised his voice at me, gave me angry looks, and supported the wrong people. When I complained, he didn’t even apologize. Instead, he ignored my situation completely.

To make things worse, those people even threatened me in front of the manager saying “Should I call the SP or Collector and get this table cleared in 30 minutes?” Still, the manager said nothing and kept behaving rudely with me.

From the very beginning itself, the manager’s attitude was unprofessional. When I first asked for a table for my family, he arrogantly pointed to a dirty table and said “Sit there.” When I requested him to at least clean it, his response was “Sit, it will be cleaned later.” I had no option but to adjust, but what followed was completely unacceptable.

This was the most humiliating and unsafe experience I’ve ever had in a restaurant. If customers can be threatened in front of the manager and still receive no support, it clearly shows how careless and arrogant the staff is. I would never visit ICH Gwalior again, and I strongly advise others to think twice before...