Eden - Cafe by Connoisseur — Restaurant in Uttar Pradesh

Even though I had been visiting Allahabad quite regularly prior to the onslaught of Covid and had eaten at quite a few eateries around town, I had not been to Eden earlier. My hosts in Allahabad suggested Eden, and quite frankly that was the first time I heard of it.

We reached the restaurant early, around 7:3pm for dinner. It was empty, specially so because it was a Tuesday, usually a dull day for restaurants in India. Eden is a small compact place with few tables laid out in a rectangular room, where you can see from one end to the other, past the cash counter and beyond to the kitchen door. The restaurant is clean, bright and welcoming at first sight. The owner is friendly too.

Eden is a multi cuisine restaurant serving Pan Asian, Continental and Indian food, and maybe some other as well, albeit a small but well curated menu for each cuisine.

Being vegetarian we ordered Cottage Cheese Dynamite, Tomato Three Cheese Basil Flatbread and Asian Chilly Skewers, some kind of vegetable kebabs on thin sticks in spicey brown sauce, to start with. The paneer dish consisted of tender paneer cubes in spicey-sweetish sauce of onions, tomato and peppers. The flatbread was like a thin crust rectangular pizza, with basil lending it's distinctive flavour. The tomato base was terrific too. The three starters were delicious, wanting to be devoured quickly, and a good indication of things to follow.

This was followed by Black Bean Noodle Bowl consisting of fresh vegetables in black bean sauce served on a bed of noodles, and Kung Pao Cottage Cheese with Chilly Garlic Fried Rice. Once again the two main course dishes were stomach bursting good, and went down really fast.

The meal was topped by a single Banhoffee Jar, shared by 5 of us because we all were at the very limit of our eating capacities; full to our gills and drowsy as hell. The dessert was good, but since it was actually served in a glass jar, reaching the biscuit base or the banana and toffee through the thick layer of cream, was difficult. One could not skip the cream and scoop the toffee. It could be served on a flatter and more open plate. Easier to share too, attacking from all sides!

All this high quality satisfying food put us down by around Rs.2500 including tips, or thereabouts, but we did not feel the pinch at all, because by now we had almost passed out.

The staff is polite and warm, like in most Allahabad restaurants. The service is reasonably quick which gives enough time to make good conversation, and not lightening fast which kills dinner time banter.

The overall impression one takes away is of delicious food, fresh looking, served piping hot, good sized portions and definitely value for money. Highly recommended.

PS. Eden is specially known for Dim Sums. Unfortunately we were unable to experience the famed Eden Dim Sums as this dish had been off the menu since Covid started, as the Dim Sum chef had gone AWOL. Hope we have better...

We are new to the city...and in the old town of Allahabad there are but few decent eat outs to go to. Eden Cafe was recommended to us as one of them. During our first visit we loved the decor and ambience, the food was ok, but we found the service extremely slow. Had the same experience the second time. Visited for the third time with extended family today. No one bothered to serve water, even after requesting after 10 minutes of waiting, no one turned up. Finally I had to get up myself from the chair and go to the 4 waiters/waitresses standing and ask them if they wished to serve water or not. While this happened we had already prompted them 3 times over 18 minutes to take our order. Finally a dish arrives: watermelon feta cheese salad with few tiny droplets of feta cheese (photo attached). The dish costs Rs 400/- plus and they served water melon topped with mint leaves worth Rs 20/- in all. Why do they bother to print such a menu when they can't actually make what's in it? We decided to cancel the order as we already knew about their poor/slow service and didn't wish to continue this way. Finally when asked for the bill (ourselves as nobody was keen to bring it to us on their own), a waitress comes smirking and bangs the ceramic pot containing the bill hard on our table!

Well well well! So this is the hospitality of one of the go to places of Prayagraj!

Not only this, but the table next to us was continously being looked after! The stark difference in service was so obvious!

I had no choice but to inform the waitress and the staff that each customer is paying and needs to be looked after well! Only that ensures their salaries...the hospitality industry doesn't happen to maintain itself without doing that!

The staff is totally untrained and unbothered...and it speaks volumes about the management of the restaurant...

I read many other reviews after today's experience and the poor and slow service has been mentioned by several other customers too...

Even after mentioning the experience to the so called senior in the staff there was absolutely no regret in any one of them....there was no sorry feeling in them...as if it was a routine for them...

It was an extremely disappointing experience...

We are regulars in visiting different places and good eat outs in those places...we don't mind paying extra for a good ambience, courteous staff and good food and believe in leaving a handsome tip as well each time...but lo! This was extreme! Have come across something like this for the first time in my life.... extremely saddening...

Definitely don't recommend it to people looking for a good service and good food! They are definitely lacking...

You may need to be really well known to the restaurant people i feel to get a better service...I don't understand any other reason for better service that was being provided to the table next to ours! Nevertheless the food isn't...

Revisited this gem of a restaurant last week after almost an year and was thoroughly impressed! From the attentive staff to the delectable dishes, every detail was perfect. The ambiance set the tone for a memorable evening. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience!

Classic Tomato Soup: Rich and creamy with the right blend of sweet and sour. A delightful start. Shikanji and Lemon Iced Tea: A refreshing palate cleanser. The right balance of sweet and tart. Dynamite Cottage Cheese: The paneer was soft and succulent, beautifully coated in a tangy, spicy sauce that had just the right kick. The peppers and onions added a crunchy contrast, making every bite a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Palak Patta Chaat: The crispy spinach leaves formed a perfect base, contrasting beautifully with the tangy tamarind and creamy yogurt drizzles. Tomato 3 Cheese and Basil Flat Bread: The crust was perfectly golden with a gentle crunch, giving way to a soft, airy interior. The melted cheese atop was a match made in heaven with the aromatic basil, offering a beautiful dance of savory and herbal notes. Burmese Chicken Khao Suey: The coconut milk broth was rich and velvety, with a harmonious blend of spices that hit all the right notes. Tender pieces of chicken added depth, while the accompanying garnishes of fried garlic, peanuts, and fresh coriander allowed for a customizable experience. Hoisin Lamb with Omurice: The lamb, tender and succulent, was glazed with a rich hoisin sauce paired with the Omurice, a fluffy omelette resting on a bed of savory rice, had a delightful balance of sweet and savory. Kerala Egg Roast: The curry was aromatic, with robust spices that enveloped the perfectly boiled eggs. The rich, tangy tomato base complemented the subtle heat from the curry leaves and mustard seeds, making every bite a flavor explosion. The Malabar Parotta, with its flaky layers and crispy exterior, was the ideal accompaniment, soaking up the curry's goodness.

Can't wait to return and explore more of their menu. Kudos to the chef and the...