Cafe Veloute -Bar/ French Cuisine/Multi/Thai/Japanese/Best Cafe in Pondicherry — Restaurant in Puducherry

We drove all the way from Chennai to Pondicherry to celebrate a special occasion. So we thought, what better way than to enjoy a relaxed and leisurely family meal at Café Velouté. And, we thought wrong !

As we stepped in, the restaurant looked and felt exactly like how we had expected and anticipated it would be. After all, we are no strangers to Pondicherry, for we are former residents and current frequent visitors, well acquainted with its many famed eateries – Cafés, Bistros and Brasseries.

Café Velouté, which was on our ‘to-do list’ for a while, seemed like a perfect place to celebrate. Boy, were we wrong ! The attitude and the service of the staff at Café Velouté sucked. Did we go too close to their afternoon closing time ? Maybe. But that does not condone serving us poor food or treating us like unwelcome guests.

Even as we were exploring and soaking in the eclectic interiors, we were hurriedly ushered into a narrow annexe-like room and asked to occupy a tiny table that could not fit us all comfortably. The adjoining hall was spacious and empty. So I asked for us to be shifted there. But the staff were disinclined to accede to our request. They reeled off a series of excuses to stop us from asking to be shifted – the air-conditioner was off, it would take a long time to cool that room, service is closed there, etc.

Irrespective, I insisted on being shifted simply because the table we were told to occupy was way too small for four adults – even without any crockery or cutlery placed. The staff seemed none too pleased with my resolve. For want of an option, they went about setting the much larger table grudgingly, much to their chagrin. Their reluctance and obvious reticence set the tone for what we were to expect coming from the boorish staff who attended on us.

Café Velouté does full justice to its precincts and carries with it the much-famed, quaint, laidback Pondicherry's ‘White Town’ vibes, in abundance.

From the moment we settled down, the serving staff seemed cold and standoffish, instead of being accommodating and attentive. None were welcoming, and none smiled. Ever. They all seemed to be equally in a frenzy to take our order, serve our dishes and clear the table ASAP.

We were made to feel uninvited and unwelcome !! We went there for a leisurely family meal, and the staff ruined it with their haste and rush – communicating nonverbally in no uncertain terms that they want us out of their doors, pronto !!

Leaving the underwhelming service part aside for the moment, let me share my comments about the food. For any eatery to get recognised, be accepted and widely acknowledged as a ‘go-to’ place of choice, the quality of the food they serve must be unquestionably a cut above the rest. Following closely to serving memorable food would be their irreproachable and impeccable service. If any eatery were to get these two imperative and essential customer-centric ingredients right in their mix, then, guaranteed, they would have a place that would be alive and buzzing. Café Velouté obviously got both of these wrong. So wrong.

Intrigued by their international offerings, we opted for a dish each from France, Italy, Japan and Thailand. We saved the Indian for desserts.

The cuisines were, by and large, of only basic and passable quality. Definitely none of the dishes were memorable, or stood out for their presentation, flavour, aroma or taste. While their pricing led us to believe that the offerings would be in a superior league, they only flattered to deceive.

Like I mentioned earlier, none of these dishes made a mark. At best, they could be described as mundane and nondescript. The saving grace was both the desserts that we ordered, the ‘Fondant Chocolate’ and the warm ‘Gulab Jamun’, served with scoops of cold Vanilla Ice-cream. Both hit...

*Ambience: awessomeeeeeee *Service: great *Cuisine: multicuisine (international+ Indian) More non veg varieties Beef and lamb also available along with chicken and seafood Japanese thai Indian Italian French .... Everything is available here .... The taste of food remains authentic despite handling soo many cuisines.... I was impressed by the authenticity of food.... *Rush hours: usually vacant.... The rooftop one gets filled first during rush hours at around 8 and food takes some time to get cooked, being delicacies so I would say that go at 7.30 or something and choose table as per your leisure rather than having to sit on the first floor or something.... (The first floor's vibe is completely different than the rooftop floor.... Someone visiting a happening place like pondicherry would generally not prefer the first floor....it's very much of a fine dine with weird seating theme so rather prefer the rooftop one for a gala time *Price: drinks like mocktail price ranges from 150 something....in food price ranges from 250-475 *Individual dishes: --fried fish- finger licking good and the tartar sauce was a game changer -- seafood risotto flooded with fishes and seafood basically with a cheesy base in rice --teriyaki chicken had authentic taste and again the extra teriyaki sauce with cherry on the cake --ahh cake reminds me of our desert...the classic warm brownie with vanilla.... brownie Wass veryyy freshhh and soft and scrumptious *Overall: definitely recommend this place if you're reading this cause man I get what you might be feeling with so many cafes to choose from and pretty less...

Cafe Veloute offers a delightful dining experience on several fronts.

Nice Cosy Ambience: The cafe exudes a warm and cosy ambience, making it the perfect place for a relaxing meal or a cup of coffee. The soft lighting and comfortable seating create a welcoming atmosphere that's perfect for both solo visits and gatherings with friends or family.

Excellent Food: The highlight of Cafe Veloute has to be its exceptional food. The menu boasts a variety of delectable dishes that cater to diverse tastes. The flavors are simply outstanding, and each dish is a culinary delight. From appetizers to desserts, the quality and taste of the food are consistently impressive.

Menu Availability: While Cafe Veloute's menu is enticing, there was a minor drawback during my visit. Some dishes on the menu were not available, which was a bit disappointing. However, this is a minor hiccup in an otherwise fantastic dining experience.

Friendly and Polite Staff: The staff at Cafe Veloute deserve special mention for their friendly and polite demeanor. They are attentive to your needs and are always ready to provide recommendations or assist with any requests. Their service adds to the overall pleasant experience at the cafe.

In conclusion, Cafe Veloute offers a wonderful dining experience with a lovely ambience, outstanding food, and a staff that goes the extra mile to make you feel welcome. While the limited availability of certain dishes is a minor setback, the overall experience makes this cafe a great choice for a...