Ala Dakshinapuramlo - Hitech City — Restaurant in Hyderabad

In the above review I didn’t rate the food as there was no food. Oh, behold the culinary calamity that dares to call itself a restaurant! If there were a zero-star rating—or better yet, a glorious -5—I’d plaster it on this place so fast it’d make your head spin. My recent ordeal with this establishment wasn’t a meal; it was a sarcastic slapstick comedy starring the woefully inept Manager Mr. Harish, a man who elevates incompetence to dazzling new heights. Buckle up, folks—this is a detailed descent into the abyss of my order, dripping with the kind of biting wit this fiasco deserves. Let’s start with the Thali, shall we? I ordered it expecting a hearty plate of goodness, but what arrived was a tragic parody of a meal. The rice portion was so laughably tiny it could’ve been a garnish for a dollhouse dinner party. Were they rationing grains for some secret doomsday stash? I half-expected Mr. Harish to pop out and say, “Congratulations, you’ve won our Hunger Games special!” Hungry and baffled, I called the restaurant to demand an explanation for this stingy travesty. Enter Mr. Harish, the manager with the charm of a wet sock and the problem-solving prowess of a malfunctioning Roomba. His grand plan? “I’ll complain to the MD and enquire with the kitchen.” Oh, Harish, you absolute titan of initiative! I’m sure the MD is trembling at the thought of your strongly worded Post-it note, and the kitchen staff must’ve been quaking during your “enquiry.” He saunters back with the smug declaration that everything was “as per standard packing.” Standard packing? If that’s the standard, then I’m Marie Antoinette, and this is my “let them eat crumbs” moment. Clearly, their standard is calibrated for sparrows, not humans. Then I mention the missing flavored rice—the one thing that might’ve redeemed this disaster. Harish’s response? A magnanimous, “We’ll take care of it next time.” NEXT TIME? Excuse me, Sir Harish of the Empty Promises, but I’m starving NOW, not scheduling a rain check for your redemption arc. What am I supposed to do with “next time”—scribble it on a napkin and nibble it for sustenance? I wanted food, not a vague IOU from the Rice Whisperer. Desperate for accountability, I ask about this elusive MD he keeps dangling like a corporate carrot. His reply? “The name and number are available online.” Oh, brilliant! Because when I’m famished and furious, my top priority is playing Sherlock Holmes on your poorly designed website. I point out that, shockingly, this info isn’t there. His retort? “You ordered online, so complain online, and you’ll get a refund.” Listen, Harish, you patronizing prince of platitudes—I didn’t order a Thali to embark on a digital odyssey for justice. I wanted FOOD, not a refund coupon to soothe my rumbling stomach. What’s next—telling me to “visualize the rice” while I waste away? This, dear readers, is how this restaurant treats a hungry customer: with the warmth of a freezer burn and the efficiency of a sloth on a treadmill. Deficiency of service? No, this was a deficiency of decency, dignity, and basic human empathy. Mr. Harish and his merry band of misfits have turned apathy into an Olympic sport, and I’m the unwilling spectator. If I could give this place a -5, I’d do it with a smirk and a flourish, because they’ve earned every nonexistent star. Avoid this dumpster fire unless you enjoy disappointment served with a smug side of “deal with it.” Pathetic? That’s too kind—this was a five-star flop in the theater...

Service:- Inattentive staff. There are way too many staff just standing and gossiping around; can’t take the order nor attend when having Thali. I have to keep raising my hand and call for attention only to be successful twice out of 6times having to wave for lunch on a Saturday 12pm. And most of the ppl I interacted only speak Hindi and staring at me when I asked what the dishes they were serving in Telugu . The lady supervisor has to come over to answer! Check the pictures of how many workers are simply standing and talking very seriously.

Food:- 3 of us got banna leaf thali and I can’t comprehend cold food for such early lunch. I have to send back my chapati for a warm one. Kesari and poornalu tasted good. Pulihora has no tamarind/kutta and bland. Muddha Pappu and gongura chutney was ok. cauliflower fry is decent. Wish gongura is bit savory and not bland. Vankaya gravy is as bland and tasteless. Sambar and Rasam is no different. The guys in white shirts gave me a stare when I ask for refills of curries. Not sure why. But the ones in yellow shirts got me a cup of fry curry. Not sure what the red shirt guys do but they simply staring at each other, instead of asking or helping the customers finish their meal. But one lady promptly got a finger bowl!

It’s expensive and the ambiance is great, except the single lift/elevator that can only take 5/6ppl at a time and it’s crazy crowded. Waited for 15min and took stairs. Stairs are so yekky smelling going down to basement for car parking, the same smell you get when you go past the garbe bins.

If you are from south you will be disappointed expecting a decent South Indian Thali. If ur from other places , you might like the bland food & service. Not worth 1700 rupees for 3ppl for such a lousy food and service....

I had gone for buffet during dinner.

Staff, service, Ambience Not interested on who comes who goes No guidance on what items are available It was really bad. Had to ask for items multiple times. The buffet ambience (4th floor) is really depressing with low lightning.

Plates and bowls: I had taken a quarter plate and it was really dirty. I informed this to the helper there who mentioned this is not dirty. I ignored him and had to take a new plate. But now I was not sure if rest of the plates are even washed. No curry bowls present. Very very surprising. How does anyone take curries or raita?

Food: All items were too salty. (Welcome soup, chicken curry, raita, sambhar) Starters were deep fried (veg and non-veg). It had corn coating on most starters which added to the frustration. I believe they also added baking soda which cooking the starters. Had requested for wheat Roti and Phulka but it was made of maida. I mentioned this to the helper and he said that this is wheat roti. I challenged him to check with the chef but by this time I had just given up on the food. The mutton curry was mostly made of fat and had very little mutton (People who eat mutton can relate) My wife tried one of the desserts and it was not even upto the mark.

Overall: Really disappointed with the service but was frustrated with the food and its quality. The quality of food even after paying Rs 1500 per person was terrible.

Would never visit any of their...