Caffe Italiano Varkala — Restaurant in Kerala

Worst experience | Pathetic customer service | 0 stars but had to give 1 star as it wouldn’t let me post otherwise - I visited the so called popular Italiano cafe a week ago with my friends and I must say it was the worst decision I ever made. They had a short trip in kerala and I regret having taken them to this cafe in that short duration.

We had visited around 6 pm in the evening and were 3 in number. There was a 2 seater table available and the remaining available tables were 5 or more seater and we were told they’re reserved. (Having enough sense, we would t have occupied the 5+seater in any case). My friend wanted to have a chocolate milkshake and we ordered as soon as we entered and proceeded towards the 2 seater. We were okay to adjust (my other friend was just standing and enjoying the view while the remaining two of us were seated in a 2 seater. However, the cafe authorities seemed to have a problem with this. They kept saying you can’t occupy this table with no reasons given. We could readily see their customer service was poor from the time we entered. Chaos everywhere. No regard for ushering in the guest. Not proactive to guide us to an available table. Didn’t even show the courtesy to wait on us - we went to where they were seated (a bunch of waiters were seated together) and gave our order the first time. After they noted our order, they made us wait for a good 20 -25 minutes before one of the waiters came and told us milkshake isn’t available ( this is after multiple checkins with different waiters). Noteworthy is how all that while, this one particular head waiter sort of guy came and told us we can’t occupy the two seater. We asked why and he said manager said so. We said we’re ok to adjust but he kept saying no without a valid reason. We strongly feel it is because we ordered 1 milkshake and they anticipate guests who would order more items to occupy the place. Even if that is the case, is this the way they treat guests ?? If they didn’t want to serve us they could have told us upfront, refused to take the order citing any excuse rig get at the beginning, or told us seats aren’t available as soon as we entered. They did none of those and instead made us wait. The way they treated us is horrible and pathetic. Finally one of the waiter comes and tells us milkshake isn’t available after making us wait for forever. We walked out, not wanting to tolerate the behaviour any further.

Such a cafe has garnered all the social media attention it could get and now it seems to be on a pedestal where it doesn’t feel the urge or need to take care of its customers. It’s such a pity and I strongly recommend you think twice before going to Italiano cafe, especially with you dear ones visiting from outside of kerala. We don’t want to set a bad example now, do we? There are a handful of other cafes on the cliff with much better view and top notch customer service. Check them out and don’t waste your time being at the mercy of...

At caffe italiano varkala today .I asked the man guarding the gate if the front seat was available; he said it was not, but we have one behind the front row; we will shift you if it frees up. Up on this conversation, he guided us to go upstairs. I informed the person assigning tables about the conversation, and the behavior at which this person responded was so rude. He asked the waiters to cross-check downstairs like I was lying. I understand that's the correct way to go about it, checking downstairs. But the attitude was so horrible.I walked down because of the insult I faced in front of my friends and the remaining customers. I asked the man who let me in with whom I had the initial conversation. He told one other guy. I informed both about what happened, and to my surprise, he said, ‘THAT IS LIKE THAT. I informed him it's not my problem, and as one of my friends who came with me (who is an IHM UG and PG graduate who has experience in hospitality and customer relations and is currently working as a sales manager at a multinational 5-star hotel .). That this is not the right way to deal with customers. He answered by saying, "I'm a hotel owner, and I know. By this time my friends had ordered. While sitting back, the person who claims to be the owner of ‘A Restaurant’ came and shifted the new customers who came 15 minutes after us to the table that got free where we had asked for to be placed. And later he came and told me he wanted to sit you guys there, but it got missed. This was where I lost it. He ordered the waiter to shift these men to the table, looking at my face, and later told me it was Miss Swap. Like he was mocking me now, what can you do about it? I asked him, I saw you do this either at the promised place or we don’t want to shift. With a smile, he said, I cannot do that. It felt as if he played us and now has become the innocent guy who tried to help us this time to make a fool out of your customer and mock the system by playing under it. I asked my waiter Rajendran about their name; to my surprise, he said he does not know. He slightly hinted the blue shirt guy who played us is the manager's son, the so-called owner of the restaurant.

The person who tried to do this name is RISWAN thats at least what he told me as i headed out the door .

The written bill surprised me as u see in the photo .No gst or anything the...

Review of Café Italiano, North Cliff

I recently visited Café Italiano at North Cliff, and while the experience had some positives, there were a few areas that could use improvement.

Ambience & Location

The café enjoys a prime spot at North Cliff, with a relaxed vibe that fits well with the coastal surroundings. The open-air seating and décor add to the charm, making it a nice place to unwind. However, the lack of a lively crowd made it feel somewhat empty, which impacted the overall atmosphere.

Food Quality

I ordered a Veg Margherita pizza, which turned out to be decent. The crust was well-made, and the toppings were fresh, though nothing extraordinary. It was satisfying but not particularly memorable. If you’re a hardcore pizza lover, you might find it a bit underwhelming, but for a casual meal, it does the job.

Service

This was the biggest drawback of my visit. Since there weren’t many customers, the staff didn’t seem attentive. We had to struggle to get the waiters’ attention to place our orders, which was frustrating. It felt like they weren’t proactively checking on guests, making the dining experience less smooth.

Drinks & Water Policy

One surprising downside was that the café does not provide regular water. If you need water, you have to buy bottled water, which I found inconvenient. While this might not be a dealbreaker for some, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re expecting complimentary drinking water.

Overall Verdict

Café Italiano has the potential to be a great spot, given its location and ambience, but the slow service and water policy take away from the experience. If they can improve service efficiency and consider offering regular drinking water, it would make dining here much more enjoyable.

✅ Pros: • Good location with a nice atmosphere • Pizza was decent in taste

❌ Cons: • Service was slow and inattentive • No regular water available, only bottled water for purchase

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) – An average experience; could be much better with service...