Karim's - Original From Jama Masjid Delhi 6 — Restaurant in Kolkata

Visit Details:

Date and Time: We visited the Sovabazar branch of Karim’s on September 10th, during Durga Saptami, around 7 pm.

Overall Experience: It was a very disappointing experience for both of us.

Waiting Time & Seating Arrangement:

We had to wait for about 45 minutes in a long queue before we were allowed to enter.

Once inside, we were asked to share a table with another family, though we were a party of two. Due to the Puja season and the long wait, we agreed to the shared seating arrangement.

Order Details:

We ordered a half portion of Tandoori (costing Rs 390), Mutton Biryani (costing Rs 360), and Extra Mutton (costing Rs 195).

Usually, in other restaurants, we order a special plate of biryani that is sufficient for two people, so we asked the waiter if there was a larger portion available. He informed us there was only a "normal" plate.

We assumed the quantity of the regular biryani would be adequate for both of us and, to be sure, also ordered Extra Mutton.

Food Quality & Quantity:

When our starter (the Tandoori) arrived, we found it to be average in both taste and portion size.

The biryani was then served, but to our surprise, the portion was very small—around 300ml—which is not even enough for one person, let alone two.

Seeing this, we politely asked the waiter if we could return the Extra Mutton and instead order another plate of biryani, thinking it would better suit our needs.

Unprofessional Behavior from Staff:

In response, the floor Captain came over and, very rudely, informed us that no order could be returned due to restaurant policy.

He claimed he had mentioned it was for one person, which he hadn’t. His tone and attitude were unprofessional and quite unexpected.

We understand such policies for prepared dishes or gravies, but this was just mutton pieces, which could have easily been replaced with another biryani.

Pricing & Value Comparison:

Karim’s charges significantly higher prices than comparable, well-established brands like Dada Boudi, Arsalan, and Aminia.

Despite it being Puja time, there were no concessions on price to account for the reduced quality of food and service.

It felt unfair that the restaurant expected customers to compromise on quality but did not offer any discounts to match the subpar experience.

Facility Issues:

The restaurant has only one toilet and one handwashing basin per floor.

This led to long queues even for handwashing, which was especially inconvenient given the crowd during the festive season.

Experience at Other Branches:

We had previously visited the Karim’s branch at Axis Mall and found the staff there to be much more courteous and accommodating. This difference in staff behavior was unexpected and disappointing.

In summary, the overall experience felt overpriced, with poor service, small portions, and inadequate facilities. Restaurants like Dada Boudi and D Bapi offer a better value for money without capitalizing on their brand name, and their staff treats customers with respect regardless of the season or...

We had gone to Karim's Hatibagan for their birthday buffet yesterday night after hearing about the ₹ 499 per person offer through Instagram. Our experience was horrible, to say the least. We had to wait for around 30 minutes even though we reached at 8 pm. We were asked to share the table with 3 other guests and we agreed hesitantly since we were with our 2 year old son who was becoming restless standing outside on the road. 6 of us were made to sit at a table of 4 by adding a chair. When I informed the manager that there would hardly be space to keep the dishes, he said that since we agreed at the gate we would have to share like this only. It was as if he was doing us a favour by allowing us to eat here. After a lot of arguments, the other family who was also with a child forcibly shifted to another table. Even after that our struggles didn't end. We waited 20 minutes to be served starters, which were so dry that it wasn't edible. Murg tikka and murg malai kebab were nothing like they were meant to be. We asked for onions and had to wait for 15 minutes to be served the same. After starters, we asked for the main course and had to remind them 3 more times before we were served the same after 20 more minutes. They served me biriyani with a nice long strand of hair which I did not return because I thought that it would take 20 more minutes to serve it again. The side dish, Murg Lazeez Handi was served in a bowl but the amount was just 2 spoonfuls for 2 people. When I told them that we weren't beggars and were paying for it, they served another 2 spoonfuls of it. The chicken biriyani was bland and the murg lazeez handi was just plain ordinary. We weren't served the welcome drinks and only after I pointed out after looking at the buffet menu, they reluctantly served the same. Also, they didn't allow us to pay through Zomato although it was listed for the same on Zomato Dining. This experience was the worst experience that I have ever had at any restaurant I have eaten anywhere in the world. The managers were rude, the staff were untrained, confused and all over the place; and the food was forgettable. Everyone had to argue and fight to get the food that was promised as part of the buffet. Karim's Hatibagan is not a place worth visiting. You would be better off going to Arsalan or Shiraz. I would also like to caution the owners of Karim's Delhi to be careful before deciding to throw away their franchise licenses to anyone without proper verification. It is spoiling the reputation that they have created about the brand after years of toil and good service. P.S: Don't go by the good reviews. Most of the reviews are paid and written by food bloggers. You can easily make out by the pictures and the number of followers of...

We must confess we've become biryani-lovers ever since we tasted this wonderful item at Aminia (Hatibagan outlet). And it's true, what you like, you attract. We have visited a score of restaurants across the town and suburbs. Some of them were unique for their recipes. Like the one we snarfed up at Care of Bangali (called Samudra Biryani), which was a delicious melange of seafood and long grain basmati rice. And then we relished full-flavoured Biryani at Hatari (the flavour still stays with us). And there was a tad of disappointment also (remember Dada Boudi Restaurant at Barrackpore?). Kolkata has its way of biryani preparation. But what if we can explore the authentic biryani of Delhi, sitting in our neighbourhood. Karim's has recently launched an outlet at Hatibagan, a stone throw distance from our place. Without any further ado, let's dive into its review.

It was the weekend and we were in an upbeat mood. The ambience was in perfect harmony with the mouthwatering dishes. You can get the aroma 50 meters away from the eatery! The names are exotic. We had to ask the steward repeatedly about the preparations before placing the order. Here's the rundown of the platters we ordered from head to toe.

Tandoori Murgh Burra (₹495) Gosht Biryani Bahishti (₹480) Qeema Naan (₹200) Khamiri Roti (₹30) Dil Bahar Dopyaza (₹470) Chicken Korma (₹450) Paan mojito (₹150) Shahi Firni (₹90) All the prices are exclusive of taxes

Tandoori Murgh Burra was a little chewy. But it tasted super. We devoured it with Paan Mojito. The latter was having a unique flavour and was refreshing. Biryani was cooked to perfection. It was devoid of eggs. Qeema Naan was another surprise! It had minced meat stuffed within. As we chewed it, flavours of exotic condiments burst into our mouths. It went very well with Dil Bahar Dopyaza (mostly a chicken stew) and Chicken Korma (the gravy was thick and tasty). We relished Firni big time.

Recommendations: The quantity of food was appreciable. We had to pack a lion's share of them as take-out. Tandoori could have been a little soft and juicer. But overall it was an excellent gastronomic experience. Highly recommended. Bon Appetit.

Pocket Pinch: ₹2500 (for...