Indian Coffee House — Restaurant in Himachal Pradesh

I am writing this review to express my utter disappointment with Indian Coffee House in Shimla. My experience at this establishment was nothing short of abysmal, deserving of zero stars. Here’s a detailed account of why you should avoid this place:

Inedible Masala Dosa: We ordered a masala dosa, and the sambhar served with it was the worst I have ever tasted. It was bland, watery, and lacked any semblance of the rich, flavorful sambhar one expects. The dosa itself was equally underwhelming, making the entire dish a culinary disaster.

Coffee Scam: We specifically ordered coffee with cream and paid a premium price for it, only to receive a regular coffee that was indistinguishable from the standard version. It felt like a complete scam, as we were charged extra for something we never received.

Terrible Mutton Burger: The mutton burger was an absolute joke—an oily, fried bread with almost no mutton patty inside. The burger was inedible, with no discernible taste or quality. It was a pathetic excuse for a burger and a waste of money. Overpriced Menu: The menu prices are exorbitant considering the poor quality of food and service. The offerings are not worth the money, making it clear that this place is heavily overcharging its customers.

Dishonest Billing: To top it off, the waiter attempted to cheat us by charging an extra ₹50. When we reviewed the bill and confronted them, they begrudgingly returned the money. This kind of dishonesty is unacceptable and further adds to the overall negative experience.

Unhygienic Environment: The seating and interiors of the restaurant are old, worn-out, and unhygienic. The lack of cleanliness and maintenance is evident, which detracts significantly from the dining experience.

Worst Indian Coffee House Experience: Having visited numerous Indian Coffee House outlets across the country, I can confidently say that this was the worst one by far. The staff were rude and deceitful, the food was inedible and unhygienic, and the overall experience was distressing.

In summary, Indian Coffee House in Shimla was a complete letdown. From the inedible food to the dishonest billing and unclean environment, it’s clear that this place falls far short of any acceptable standard. I strongly advise avoiding this restaurant and choosing somewhere else for a far more enjoyable...

The Indian Coffee House is a century old chain of restaurants run by The Coffee Board. It attracts a loyal clientele for its good-value coffees and South Indian snacks. Their outlet in Shimla is in a prime location, just below the Ridge, Shimla's prime tourist drag. That's the best thing about it. The old world ambience has long faded. The service is brisk and doesn't encourage you to linger. Customer turnover must be a key matrix. I like cafés with a view, so I chose a small sitout, with natural light and away from the din. It's a sitout with tremendous potential to create a dining space with a view. But customer delight is something the food-focussed gerontocrats at The Coffee Board haven't thought for a long time. The vada-idli sambhar chutney I ordered was a mess when it arrived. The sambhar was splattered all over the bowl and the idli-vada was cold and hard (this in late winter!), the sambhar likewise was cold and while spicy, the ingredients were difficult to guess. The good-value dosa was luckily warm, if not sizzling hot, and authentically South Indian. The filter coffee was a total disaster, just a thin milky concoction. The coffee taste was entirely absent, just the ghost of it lingered. For this disappointing breakfast the bill was a bit excessive. I expressed my disappointment at the billing counter, and you can be sure I wouldn't return, even with a gun...

Quality of food is third rate. Congested seating & atmosphere. Unhygienic service & tables. I'd ordered plain Dosa & cold coffee. The dosa was improperly cooked - one could see the uncooked white batter on the inside. The sambhar was watery, without vegetables & overly salty. Paltry quantity was served. There was only one white chutney - can't call it coconut chutney because there wasn't any taste of coconut, only tasted of urad dal. It didn't even have the tempering/tadka of mustard seeds, curry leaves, etc. I wish I could rate it minus 5 stars. Definitely a waste of Rs 115/-. The cold coffee was listed as cold "cream" coffee & priced at Rs 96/-. It was just 200 ml of watery milk at room temperature with a hint of coffee's taste. An absolute waste of one's expectations & money. As I was leaving, I saw a few customers complaining against the quality of filter coffee too. However, the counter employee & a waiter were defending the preparation by saying that it was the standard taste/prep & they weren't going to change it. I guess the restaurant is not competing to draw customers, nor does it care if it loses business! I will never ever go again & recommend no one to visit Indian coffee house in Shimla. Would rate it negative,...