Chinese Room | Estd. 1976 — Restaurant in Pune

Me Going Again???? Never-Never again here! Especially with the following sour taste of the episode, NO WAY. Bakwas (means rip-off) pricing...and BAKWAS management. This used to be a good place earlier. Went there 3 days ago. #1- Order taken and in 2 minutes soups were served, without being bothered even settle for the ordered drinks. Seems they were in hurry to get the customers out to get the new ones in. #2- Ordered Sizzlers, came after 20 mins, no sizzle, and when asked, there comes a lecture form the uncle..how come Sizzlers does not have the fizzy sound of sizzle and its all cooked mushy like a curry on a plate. It took a long argument to re-order another sizzle and there comes the sizzler with a sizzling sound..In the end when the bill was given, surprised to see the RIP-OFF Prices on an average quality food !!!!. #3- Then comes the BIGGEST SHOCK. RIP-OFF Prices on drinks. Time comes for the payment...shocked to see that the price of alcoholic beverages are more than 2 times, than anywhere in Pune. WHAAAAT !!! Sought explanation from Management? When whole of Pune's food places is sticking to a sort of a fair price of 180/-per 60ml drink, what makes you 400/-on the same for the Antiquity 60ml, that too without value addition, WHAAAAT !!! After demanding to know what makes this such a HIGH COST stuff, the only explanation that was given is this place gives 5 lakhs to someone each month (perhaps a hafta), and it has to be adjusted in the Alcoholic beverages. Speechless with this reasoning. Aren't there hundreds of other restaurants in Pune, WHAAAT? How come you are the only one? I felt that this is a sheer RIP-OFF place and YOU ARE CHEATING THE UNAWARE PUBLIC. You are not even a rated restaurant, leave aside your unjustifiable absolutely ridiculous prices on your stuff with a production factory like attitude to get the patrons out in 30 minutes.....Come on Management of Chinese room, GET REAL AND WAKE UP. You cant fool all people all the time. Someone will dare to write a review that's visible to everyone. By the way, this used to be a good place, I've been visiting since 1999 till last week. (If you do visit, Beware check the finer prints. I'm sure you would not read the hand-scratched pricing that you barely notice it on the...

Chinese room This is one of the oldest and unique restaurant in pune, opened up at camp. It servers a wide variety of Asian cuisines Indian, Chinese, Thai, etc. On recommendations of one of my clients I visited this place. I think it's an over hyped place but has good quality food.

Went with: Family Food: dishes we ordered 1)spicy Thai basil soup- A very light broth mixed with lots of basil and veggies, it wasn't spicy at all. Tasted very good and unique. Everyone in the family kinda liked it 2) chicken satay- it's a Small I mean really small little finger sized chicken pieces fried in I guess sweet chili oil. The quality of chicken was very good. Overall it was good but not great. 3) young chow fried rice- A kinda bland rice mixed with again really small sized pork and chicken pieces. It was a very bland dry and non tasty dish 4)sezwhan fried rice- It was a mix of rice, fried noodles, bits of chicken. This dish was to our liking kinda spicy with really good quality rice and chicken. But still not great.

Quality and quantity: Overall I would say the quality of ingredients, oil used is high quality but still somehow lacks somewhere. The quantity is not worth the price. I am assuming they are trying to make it look like a luxury dinner however the quantity is too low. The size of the meat pieces is almost like peanuts.

Alcohol and other drinks: they serve all types of alcohol and non alcoholic drinks.

Ambience: The Ambience is really good however I felt too congested. The tables are too close and no privacy.

Staff: They are kinda lazy or maybe we got one that was lazy😂. But the service is pretty good. The staff are knowledgeable on the dishes

Pricing: I feel the price is reasonable for the quality of ingredients used. However I wish the quantity of food was more.

Notes: 1) The restaurant has valet parking however you have to park it on the jam packed streets. 2) the wait time can be long 3) try the...

Fading Flavors and Nostalgic Vibes

Once a culinary gem, the Chinese restaurant that opened its doors in 1980 has, over the years, lost much of its original charm. Renowned for its authentic dishes and warm hospitality, the establishment was a beloved spot for both locals and visitors alike. However, as time has passed, so too has the quality of the food and service.

The flavors that once defined the restaurant’s reputation seem to have dulled. What used to be vibrant and meticulously prepared dishes now feel uninspired and lack the distinctive taste that made them special. Regular patrons will notice that their favorite dishes no longer carry the same appeal, leaving a sense of disappointment.

The decline in the food is matched, if not exceeded, by a noticeable shift in the attitude of the staff. The once welcoming and attentive service has given way to a sense of arrogance, with staff members displaying a palpable lack of enthusiasm. This attitude is not limited to the waitstaff; even the valet service, which was once efficient and courteous, now comes with an unwelcome dose of haughtiness.

Despite these issues, the restaurant continues to draw a loyal crowd, largely due to the powerful pull of nostalgia. For many, the restaurant is not just a place to eat but a vessel of cherished memories. The decor, unchanged over the decades, transports diners back to an earlier era, evoking a sense of familiarity and comfort. This nostalgia seems to be the only remaining value, as the tangible aspects of the experience—food and service—have diminished.

In summary, this once-proud establishment has seen better days. While it still holds sentimental value for longtime patrons, the overall experience has deteriorated significantly. The restaurant’s enduring nostalgia may keep it afloat for now, but without a return to its former standards, it risks losing its place in the...