Darbar Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Kerala

A Disappointing Dining Experience at Darbar Seafood Restaurant, Nettoor...!!

Our recent visit to Darbar Seafood Restaurant on Masjid Rd, Nettoor, came with high expectations, fueled by the hype surrounding this establishment. Unfortunately, the experience fell significantly short of expectations, leaving us quite dissatisfied. We ordered the Hamour Alfaham (₹750) and the Kalanji Alfaham (₹1800), accompanied by five porottas, a plain soda, three soda limes, and five sulaimanis. The total bill came to ₹2735. Here’s a breakdown of our experience:

The Good

1. Sulaimani: The star of the evening. This traditional spiced tea was perfectly brewed, offering a comforting and aromatic finish to an otherwise lacklustre meal.

2. Hamour Alfaham: While not extraordinary, this dish managed to stand out. The fish was reasonably flavourful, with a smoky, well-spiced exterior. However, it still lacked the wow factor we were hoping for.

The Mediocre

1. Porottas: These were just passable. While they were soft enough, they lacked the flakiness and buttery richness that make Kerala porottas truly exceptional.

The Bad

1. Kalanji Alfaham: A complete disaster. The dish was poorly prepared, with uneven cooking resulting in raw patches in the meat. The raw taste was off-putting and left us questioning the kitchen’s attention to detail. For a dish priced at ₹1800, this was unacceptable.

2. Soda Lime: A significant let-down. The balance of flavours was completely off, and it tasted more like diluted syrup than a refreshing drink.

Overall Experience

The service was decent, but the food quality and preparation left much to be desired. The high price tag did not translate to a high-quality dining experience, making the evening feel like a poor value for money. The hype surrounding the restaurant painted a picture of culinary excellence, but what we encountered was far from it.

At ₹2735, we expected a memorable feast, but the only memorable aspect was the glaring shortcomings in the meal. While the sulaimani and Hamour Alfaham had redeeming qualities, the disappointing Kalanji Alfaham and subpar sides overshadowed any positives.

Verdict

Darbar Seafood Restaurant has potential, but the glaring inconsistencies and lack of quality control need to be addressed urgently. Until then, it’s hard to recommend this place, especially for those expecting a meal that lives up to the hype. Our experience was undeniably below average and not worth a...

We were two people dining and, as suggested by the restaurant staff, ordered a Chempalli Tawa Fry along with Nool Parotta and 4 Sulaimanis. The portion of the fish was a little oversized and on the expensive side, but it was very fresh and extremely tasty. We absolutely loved the flavor, though unfortunately, due to the size, we couldn’t finish it all.

The waiter/supplier was excellent – very nice, friendly, and genuinely helpful. He definitely deserves a big thumbs up for his service.

The biggest drawback was when we asked for a menu – they either didn’t have one or chose not to share it. That made it hard to know the options and prices in advance, which is not very guest-friendly. Though the fish we selected was already priced at the front entry display area, the prices felt a bit random. It would be much better if they followed a weight-based pricing system, so customers clearly know what they’re paying for.

We were seated inside the A/C room, but the air-conditioning wasn’t working and the windows were left open. As expected in a seafood restaurant, there was a noticeable fish smell, but it could be improved with better cleanliness and maintenance.

Overall, great seafood and warm service, but the lack of a menu, random pricing, ambience, and cleanliness need...

A place for authentic "homely" kerala seafood cuisine. We had meals (Rs.60/- if remember it right) which is unlimited, with fried (Chemballi) fish (Rs.500) of our choise, along with Malabar fish curry and prawn masala ordered separately as side dish. Each item, be it the veg curries given with the meal, the sambar, fish curry, Puli inji were perfect. The separately ordered fish fry, Malabar fish curry and prawn masala were also excellent. The USP of this place is the homely taste they provide at the perfectly priced rates. The kuluki sarbath need a special mention to, it was super good.

The atmosphere is of a small eatery that is simple yet clean, so no complaints there. The staff are friendly and attentive to our preferences. Hope they maintain this in the days to come.

We went there on a Sunday, expecting it to be crowded we made sure to reach early, by the time we left the crowd swell and the place we packed. So be ready to be in a bustling humid place

We were happy to have found a nadan sea food restuarant, that serves sumptuous food and satisfies our taste. Hope seafood lovers like me find this...