Cafe Sarwaa — Restaurant in Kerala

The views at this place are amazing but the service from the manager was horrible. He completely ruined an ok experience, making it leave a bitter taste in our mouths. After spending 3 hrs here working, spending money (several dishes), no one told us that we couldn’t work on our computers on the weekends. As a black couple we felt extremely discriminated against when the manager came by and asked us to leave because of their “policy”, while leaving a couple right next to us on their computers.

We responded by saying no problem, we put the computers away and asked if we could order one last meal, which his response ended up being him snapping his fingers at a waitress to bring the bill and telling us no. After pleading that it feels unfair, he then told us that we could sit in the sun because he has customers that come from Bangalore for a day and need seating. As if we didn’t travel from a further distance. So our money is no longer good because we were on our computers and weren’t told it’s a rule on weekends not to be? what about the couple next to us?

His energy was very hostile and we were extremely disappointed to have ended such a sweet time there with him kicking us out.

See photo of couple and ppl next to us still on computers!!!

He will most likely respond to this review with sweetness and politeness like does to the other poor reviews but it was so bad that people came to check on us afterwards. Sorry but none of your words on this review will fix this situation because you had too big of an ego to apologize or resolve this situation in person.

to top it off, you left your employees to deal with disgruntled customers, both the customers waiting for seating and the ones that spent lots of money at your establishment. there were four other open tables but because they were in the sun, you chose to kick us out.

I wish you and this business you manage the karma you put out into the world with this scenario. whatever that may be 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 (we did not deserve that sort of treatment).

upon departure there were four tables with computers out!!!

Update: I'm following up to your response to name that the man you see in the photo and the woman are the people that came to check in on us. They both thought it was our treatment was unfair because their computers were out also. So was it time or computers? You addressed us and asked us to leave because of our computers and cafe policy (which wasnt backed by others being on their computer) and brought up time after we asked to order food. now you're telling me that my black partner is European, she is a light skinned black woman. I am also black and you definitely discriminated and continue to be hostile. I never got hostile with you (you are lying about this and the time). Customers wouldnt have checked in on us if we were in the wrong. You showed up, kicked us out and left. If you are reading this and are on the fence about coming here, read how this manager responds to people on the low reviews, extremely unprofessional. You will see that many people have complained about him.

This owner/manager’s life must be unhappy because you are choosing to tell boldface lies. I never gave anyone a middle finger. you left after the nonsense and your sweet staff and us talked for almost 30mins. What business does a middle finger have. Like i said, check the bad reviews and you will see that this man is hostile.

DONT GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR BUSINESS! There are more kind businesses with amazing views and...

I was disappointed by this cafe. The location is very picturesque. The menu is varied. The menu is also expensive relative to similar cafes in Varkala. Over 100INR for a tea and we also could not pay by card, as advertised in the menu.

The staff gave a soft welcoming initially. The restaurant was busy so many people started in tables outside, in the sun, and moved inside when a table in the shade became free. Because it's really hot right now.

We did the the same and moved to a new table in the shade, and then when I asked to order something else, the server complained to us about moving table. Which I had seen happen with at least 3 other tables. "You know, it's really hard for us when you move table, it complicates it."

No, I don't know, and honestly, I'm not sure why this is so difficult (or why customers are being made to feel bad about it, see the cafe's reply) when everyone else is doing it, for the very valid reason of not being baked alive in the sun. The server who moved us didn't seem to have a problem.

I try to order a smoothie bowl from the new table and the guy goes "I will have to go find your order" after me telling him that I'd had an iced coffee. He could see this coffee on his device, on the table I was sat on previously. He showed it to me, and I could see it there with 2 new items from the people now sitting at that table.

5 minutes later I see him serving food and ask if my bowl had been ordered. Same answer, walks off. Comes back to take the order again.

This is a detailed way of explaining that the service was poor. So much huffing and puffing from this guy. This is an expensive cafe and the standard of service didn't align with the prices. This really seemed to stem from the idea that people wouldn't pay for their order if moving tables. If you can't keep track or trust guests to tell you what they had, ask people to pay upfront.

The smoothie bowl took 25 minutes and it turned out they had taken it to the previous table, and no one had bothered to check, and it was left standing. By the way, this is not a big cafe. Maybe 10 or 12 tables - very easy to check who the order belonged to. The bowl was tasty, but it was warm by the time it reached me. Ideal in this weather.

In their reply to my review the cafe says they do not encourage customers to move tables after having ordered. And this is the point about the customer service vs the price point. The reality is that the tables in the sun are highly uncomfortable and everyone moves into the shade when possible. Rather than justifying the poor service, perhaps consider how you might adapt to what is obviously a customer need.

In short, this cafe is a novelty for the view but I won't return based on...

Over-rated, over-priced and shamelessly hyped just for the view which by the way is the same in all the other cafes in the same stretch. Just basic food which is outrageously over priced.

Calling the service pathetic here would be an insult to the word 'Pathetic' as it's much worse. They don't care how long have you been waiting to get your food or how long were you waiting to get a table.

No set process of booking a table or no set process for waiting if you are at the location.

The ambiance is good but they are forgetting that they are in Kerala and it gets hotter in the noon. Most of their Fans don't even work. If you are there in the summer at noon time... Get ready to be burnt or get a heat stroke as they don't even have an umbrella to protect you if you decide to sit outside.. I mean they lack basics and as I said earlier, just trying to sell because of the view.

Staff is useless, they have mastered the craft of 'Ignorance'. If you complain about something, they'll nod, they'll look inside the kitchen and then they'll ignore you as if you don't even exist.

The food here is good but nothing like 'Mind blowing' or 'Life-altering' as some of the other folks have said in the reviews. Its just like any other average Café food. P.S. Avoid food in the menu which says 'Kerala Style' as it's nowhere near Kerala style. It's just basic not-so-great café food.

The place is getting hyped just because of the view and these good for nothing influencers who get paid for talking any crap. there are much better places to enjoy in Varkala. But if you really wanna go visit for the view.. go for it. Otherwise, you can definitely skip this one.

Update: Just found out that the café owners/Managers would only respond to your post if it's a 5 Star review. They don't care for the concerns that people are raising.

True...