Ponjikkara Cozinha — Restaurant in Kerala

I had my extended family visiting me in Kochi and I decided to take time to this restaurant as my friends would often tell me about their sea food experience in this place.

My visit on Sunday evening was very embarrassing as the service captain failed to get our simple order delivered to us timely.

I gave the order which the Captain took on his tablet and he reconfirmed the whole order with me. The food was a simple Prawn Curry with 2 Nool Parota and 2 Appams and a side of Pal Kappa. This order was placed around 8:15 PM and at that time the restaurant was practically empty. In matter of minutes the restaurant got filled up and that is where the Captain lost track of our table.

The food got served with only the Nool Parota for my guests and they might have taken about 5-8 odd minutes to finish the Parota. After that it was a wait to get the Appams. I asked the Captain twice for the Appams and I could see that he first tried to ask his junior to sort it with the kitchen and then I also saw he himself going to kitchen to place the order. In the meanwhile I am seeing every other table getting Appams with their orders and somehow only we didn’t get our Appams.

My guests had finished the first Parota and were waiting patiently for the Appams with their soggy fingers. After waiting for almost 20 minutes I was very very embarrassed to bring my family to this place. I had to get off the table and asked the Captain to cancel the order and it was then that he paid proper attention. Finally after some more confusion the Captain decided to come and apologise citing some technical problems with the Code due to which the kitchen never got the KOT. To this lame excuse I reminded him that I had reminded him 2 times myself and that I can see Appams being served to all other tables.

The family left the place hungry and disappointed and I took them to another place for some nick knacks since the whole mindset of having dinner was long lost.

How can a restaurant not serve breads to its customer after the initial confirmation and additional 2 reminders is beyond me… customers going back hungry due to poor service is most certainly not appreciated.

Ratings:

So it’s 2 stars for the food since the guest couldn’t even finish their meal.

A single star for Service since it’s the basic responsibility of the Captain to ensure that running table orders are prioritized and that people waiting for their breads should get their food ahead of tables who have not even started.

And 2 stars for the Ambience. Their “AC” service hall was operating on 2 Units and even after the whole restaurant got filled with people. Again this point to lack of attention on the part...

Restaurant Review: Ponjikara Cozhina, Kochi

I am writing this review after visiting Ponjikara Cozhina twice, each visit offering a markedly different experience. Located in the heart of Kochi, this restaurant promises a culinary journey rooted in traditional Kerala flavors, and for the most part, it delivers.

First Visit: Outdoor Dining Delight

On our initial visit, we chose the outdoor seating area, an ambiance that perfectly complemented the coastal charm of Kochi. We opted for the classic Kerala Meals accompanied by Chemeen Peera and Neymeen Fry, and the experience was nothing short of delightful.

The flavors of the meals were authentic and impeccably balanced, showcasing the richness of Kerala cuisine. The Kappa with Chamandi paired with the perfectly cooked Neymeen Fry was a highlight, leaving us thoroughly impressed. To conclude our meal, we tried the Ada Pradhaman Payasam, a dessert that was heavenly with its rich, nuanced sweetness. It was a meal that set high expectations for the restaurant.

Second Visit: A Mixed Experience in the AC Dining Room

Encouraged by our previous visit, we returned with more family members, this time opting for the AC dining area. While the ambiance was comfortable, our experience was marred by an unfortunate incident with the service.

The server recommended the Kalanji Tawa Fry, and we discussed whether it would suffice for three people. The menu offered 700 gm and 1 kg portions, but the server did not clarify which size he planned to serve. When the order was placed, we discovered he had chosen the 1 kg portion without our explicit consent. Upon raising concerns and requesting a change to 700 gm, the server attempted to gaslight us by insisting we had agreed to 1 kg, which was untrue. This felt like a deliberate and deceptive approach, leaving a sour impression despite the eventual resolution of the issue.

The food, while still good, did not quite match the magic of our first visit. The Payasam, a dish we had thoroughly enjoyed previously, was milder and lacked the same depth of flavor.

Final Thoughts

Ponjikara Cozhina excels in its traditional Kerala dishes, particularly the Meals, Neymeen Fry, Prawns Fry, and Avoli Fry, all of which I would highly recommend. However, the service during our second visit detracted from the overall experience, and some inconsistencies in flavor raise questions about consistency in quality.

Stick with familiar dishes and clarify any ambiguities with the staff when ordering. While the food can be exceptional, the service experience may require improvement for a more seamless...

We reached the place for lunch. Due to the crowd there was no parking space in the restaurant compound, but they have an arrangement with a Pay and Park facility, very nearby where you can park free of cost. The entry was choking with people and entry was difficult. There is no ticket/token system and might is right. People were seen roaming around and standing close to tables where diners were still having their food, so as to grab the seats as soon as the diner gets up. This also leads to overcrowding in the aisle and making it difficult for the wait staff to service seated diners. It was total chaos and the management needs to address the situation immediately. The best would be token system. They have an extensive compound and an outdoor unit where it is self service, basically tea/snacks/juice/small eats. The management could issue tokens and make the waiting diners sit at this location where they could buy juice or mocktails while they await their turn to be seated. It will be a win win situation for the diners and the management. Finally we also pushed through and got a table. It was a long wait before we were attended to and we ordered for meals and five other special fish dishes. The quality and quantity is okay and I would say it justified for the hype. The taste was also homely and enjoyable. The service needs to be improved. I had visited the place after seeing a Youtube shorts where the vlogger described that tapioca and chutneys were unlimited like the rice and accompaniments of the meals. But the server said that it is not so. We would have really liked to sample some more of the tapioca on offer but could not. We had fresh lime after the meals but it was not worth it. The food is definitely good but overall the experience is not worth it due to mismanagement of the crowd. The waiters and servers are stretched due to the crowd and therefore the service suffers. The management can actually build up quite an impressive reputation if they can handle the crowd effectively which is sorely lacking. It feels like going to small crowded place and haggling for seats and service. Not an ideal dining experience with family. I personally feel the restaurant has potential which can be unlocked by...