Paakashala @ Channapatna — Restaurant in Karnataka

A Bitter Taste of Discrimination at Paakashala, Channapatna

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) My family and I visited the Channapatna branch of Paakashala yesterday evening (August 16th, 2025) around 8:30 PM, hoping to enjoy an authentic South Indian dinner. Being from North India, we were excited to try dishes like Bisi Bele Bath, Khara Baath, and more. What we received instead was a deeply humiliating experience that had nothing to do with food and everything to do with prejudice. Our ordeal began the moment we tried to order. The staff curtly informed us that "only dosa is available." Disappointed but hungry, we agreed. Our disappointment, however, turned to shock as we watched the very same staff serve a full variety of dishes—including the ones we were just denied—to tables of local patrons around us. It was clear the menu was only "limited" for us. This wasn't a case of items running out; this was a blatant and deliberate act of discrimination. Hoping to move past it, we finished our dosas and ordered a simple lime soda. What arrived was a glass of sickeningly sweet syrup, seemingly mixed with so much sugar just to trouble us. When we complained, the waiter snatched the glass away and returned only to slam the replacement on our table with utter contempt, as if we were beggars receiving free food in a jail. The disrespect was palpable. The final, and most shocking, confirmation of their prejudice came at the cash counter. I calmly explained to the cashier that his staff's behaviour was unacceptable and asked if this was how they treated all customers. He was silent at first, then looked me in the eye and said, "You North Indian." That single phrase confirmed everything. The lies about the menu, the sabotaged drink, the aggressive service—it was all because of where we came from. I have always believed Bangalore to be a wonderfully inclusive city, where language and origin don't matter. But our experience at Paakashala, Channapatna, was a jarring reminder that such prejudice still exists. They don't just serve food; they serve disrespect and bigotry. My family left feeling humiliated and unwelcome. Do not visit this restaurant. They will not treat you like a customer; they will treat you like an outsider they are forced to serve. Your money is better spent at an establishment that values basic human decency. This branch is a disgrace to the Paakashala name and to the welcoming spirit...

Edited my review after 3 months. And reduced from 2* to 1*

A Disappointing Experience at Mr. Vasudeva Adiga's paakashala Channapatna Highway Branch I've always admired Mr. Adiga's initiative in building a chain of restaurants, but my recent visit to this particular highway branch has left me utterly disillusioned. It seems I now understand where some of that "extra money" comes from.

Firstly, the staff here is consistently rude. There's a distinct lack of basic courtesy, making every interaction feel like an imposition rather than a service. It's truly off-putting and sets a negative tone for the entire meal.

My biggest gripe, however, is the baffling policy regarding "by two" options. In other branches of Mr. Adiga's, I've happily enjoyed "by two" bhelpuri and coffee – a perfect option for those who want a smaller portion or just a few sips. But here? We were forcefully made to buy two full cups of coffee. In this day and age, when many prefer smaller servings, this rigid policy is incredibly frustrating and feels designed purely to inflate bills.

And speaking of coffee, it's perpetually just warm, never hot. It's incredibly disappointing to be served lukewarm coffee, especially after being compelled to buy a full cup you didn't even want.

To top it all off, the water bottles are significantly overpriced. While they might technically adhere to MRP, it's clear they've been priced at the absolute maximum, seemingly just because it's a highway hotel and they can get away with it.

Overall, this branch of Mr. Adiga's is a prime example of a place resting on its laurels due to its highway location, neglecting basic customer service and reasonable pricing practices. I used to appreciate the brand, but this experience has severely tarnished its...

Pakashale on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway is hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. This place charges nearly ten times the price of an ordinary Darshani, yet the food is so pathetic that it’s an insult to even compare the two.

The roti was rubbery and almost inedible. The cashew masala came drenched in grease, bland to the core, and with nothing but unnecessary spice – absolutely no flavor or richness you’d expect from such a dish. The soup was beyond horrible, with burnt breadcrumbs floating in it, leaving a bitter aftertaste that ruined the appetite altogether.

To make matters worse, their sweets are outsourced from India Sweet House – which were equally disappointing. The Mysore Pak was just about okay, but everything else was substandard and tasteless. For a place that boasts about quality, this is outright cheating.

And the biggest scam of all – the pricing. They charge you exorbitantly for every item on the menu, but what you get in return is nothing but disappointment. Even the veg fried rice, something so basic, was a disaster – tasteless, oily, and a complete waste of money.

The service was equally poor. The staff hardly care about customers, and the overall attitude is dismissive at best. For the amount they charge, you would at least expect some level of courtesy or professionalism, but that too is missing.

If it were possible to complain to FSSAI about taste, I would have done it already. This place is a disgrace to the highway food culture that Karnataka is otherwise famous for.

I highly recommend travelers to avoid Pakashale at all costs. Don’t waste your time, money, or stomach space here. The food here quite literally sucks, and it’s easily one of the worst highway stops...