Manjal — Restaurant in Zone 9 Teynampet

Eggetarians and Vegetarians - If you really want good service go to Manjal @ Yercaud near the lake. Dont go to Chennai poes garden one. Date of Visit : 17th March 2024, Sunday.

I called the restaurant the previous day to check - veg thali options, timings, parking facility and route. There is some construction going on nearby and I dint want keep circling around. On Sunday I suggested my family that we should reach restaurant early as it’s a non veg restaurant and veg food is prepared in minimum quantity and might get over quickly. We reached the restaurant by 1pm. We sat down and one staff came to our table and I started giving my food order - 3 veg thali + 1 omelette. He stopped me and said, ‘ another staff will come and take order. I will just serve soup till then’. I asked him if the soup was part of the vegetarian thali. He said yes. So I requested him to bring just two as I was hungry and wanted to dive into the meals. And I also told him, please bring the veg meals. He said ok and went off. After few minutes I called another staff (who seemed like the one who will take orders) and reminded them to take the order and started telling I wanted -3 veg thali. He also told me to wait. After 5 minimum the first guy came with soup and served my adjacent table and mine. We asked him what soup it was and he fumbled. Another few minutes passed and suddenly an array of plates with non veg food came to our table. This time it was the other staff. I was surprised why non veg food was being served to us. Then the second guy clarified that they usually display dishes and take order. The hotel staff took my order - 3 veg thali + 1 omelette. They shifted all the non veg plates to the adjacent table. 3 empty plates were placed on our table. And the people on the adjacent table started asking questions on each food displayed and finally after some 15mins they made up their mind on what all they wanted to order. I wish the hotel staff had used his presence of mind to have passed on the information to his kitchen staff to start serving us veg thali. But no, he sat and waited till the adjacent table folks went back and forth on the dishes and gave their order. Then suddenly I remembered the guy who brought soup to both tables brought it together. We checked as to which soup was being served for veg and non veg folks - dint get a clear answer. So i immediately told them , ‘ fine take away the soup. Just get us the veg thali food’

All this while the hungry me sat in front of empty plate waiting for a veg thali to be served. I kept looking around wondering whats taking them so much time. I am 200 percent sure the food was already cooked. All they had to do was to serve and what on earth was taking them 20mins for it. After 25 mins omelette came and my veg thali was still no where to be found. Then I called the hotel staff who took my order and asked , “ what’s the whole point of bringing the omelette without bringing the lunch ? Won’t the omelette become cold by the time the food arrives. And why are you taking so much time to serve a veg thali food?” He said, ‘ they are preparing the starters and it will get ready in few minutes”. I guess I lost my patience by that time. There has not been a single restaurant which has taken 25 + minutes to serve a veg thali. We go for thali because it’s already prepared food and wait time is less. I got up and left the restaurant. I paid for omelette because I felt it came till my table even though I dint touch it I owed them money for it. They dint want to take it, but still I paid. I don’t want debts from a restaurant who served me empty plates.

Dear Manjal owners/staff,

1. learn service from your own Manjal Yercaud staff
2. if you are willing give important only to non veg orders over veg orders - remove your veg meals.
3. never serve an empty plate with illai and make a person starve for 20mins longing for food. Bring the plate only when you...

Note: the service and atmosphere don’t even deserve one star.

I had an extremely disappointing experience at Manjal in Chennai. The staff's attitude was unbelievably money-minded, and their service was horrible.

They were all smiles and greetings, acting overly friendly with customers, even more to celebs and big shots but when it came to actually providing service, they were uncooperative and rude.

We asked for extra white rice, offering to pay for it, but the owner itself flatly refused saying “no chance sir” and made us to buy an entire non-veg meal, which costs ₹525, just to get a simple bowl of rice. Other non-veg hotels have always provided rice and also add them in the bill. So, this kind of mentality is unacceptable and speaks volumes about how little they care about customer satisfaction.

What’s worse is the wait time to even place the order. There was only one person taking orders, and when we questioned the long delay, we were told that this was the way things worked at the restaurant. Even more frustrating, during peak lunchtime at 2 PM, we were told that the mutton biryani was "over," despite it was available. We were misinformed that everything was available. After persistently questioning the staff and speaking to the owner, we were finally given the mutton biryani. But it makes no sense—if the dish was available, why was it being withheld from customers?

It’s clear that they reserve the best items for celebrities and other people while the regular customers are left with limited choices. I would expect a flex banner stating that this restaurant is only for celebrities and big shots, if it is.

There were more than 50 items listed in the menu, yet only 10-12 were actually available. So why even have a menu if they can’t serve most of what’s listed? Overall, the entire experience was worst, and I can’t believe this is how they run their business.

The person who was cleaning the tables was also the one serving the food. This kind of horrible service is not acceptable in a professional restaurant. It was clear that the restaurant wasn’t prioritizing proper service or hygiene.

The owner clearly has no interest in serving customers properly, since all these were happening in front of him. This is not the kind of place that deserves to operate in the food industry.

I have to say their food was nothing different, than a normal one, this infant restaurant is run with the help of the hype. But I haven’t mentioned much about it because their customer service is the worst in Chennai. I wouldn’t have given this review if the business was in any other industry, but when it comes to food industry, it is more than just a business. The owner...

Manjal Restaurant, Poes Garden – Rushed, Rough, and Regrettable

I ate at Manjal Restaurant in Poes Garden on 19th April, tempted by all the buzz about their unlimited South Indian non-veg meals. Social media’s flooded with glowing reviews, celebrity visits, and flashy food reels. But honestly? It’s all hype. The experience left me uncomfortable, rushed, and by the next day — with food poisoning.

Sure, a few dishes stood out. The Mutton Kola Urundai, Mutton Kidney, Mutton Liver, Crab Puttu, and Prawn 64 were bold and flavourful. The banana leaf setup gives a traditional vibe, and the interiors try to match it. But the food is only part of the experience — and the rest completely let it down.

The moment you arrive, it’s clear: this place runs on speed, not service.

There is an outside waiting area — just a few plastic chairs under some shade. Basic, and not great if you’re there during peak hours. Once your turn is up, it’s a full-blown relay: • Rushed to enter • Rushed to sit • Rushed to eat • Rushed to leave

You’re barely seated before food starts flying onto your leaf in rapid-fire bursts. There’s no pacing, no time to enjoy, and no breathing room. It felt like a dining assembly line.

The staff? They’re all smiles — no complaints there. But behind the smiles, it’s clear their mission is to keep people moving. The entire setup is built around high-speed turnover, not hospitality. You can’t enjoy the food or even process what’s being served. It’s high-pressure, high-noise, and honestly, not a pleasant way to eat.

And then came the worst part — I ended up with food poisoning the next day (20th April). This wasn’t just the usual post-heavy-meal discomfort. I’ve got a strong stomach and can handle rich, spicy meals any day. But this hit hard. Whether it was something off in the prep, the oil, or hygiene — it wrecked my system.

And let’s be real — celebrity endorsements mean nothing. A few actors might’ve eaten there once, but that doesn’t make this a quality or safe dining experience. It’s marketing — and honestly, a distraction from the real issues.

Verdict? I’m not going back. Next time, I’ll head to Sri Kamatchi or anywhere that respects food, service, and the customer’s time — without making it feel like you’re in a race. Tamil Nadu is known for its rich food culture and hospitality. Manjal is the opposite — rushed, uncomfortable, and in my case, unsafe.

Final thought: Waiting area? There, but meh. Food? Some good items, but not worth the aftermath. Experience? Rushed, soulless — and topped off with food poisoning. Spare yourself. This one’s all noise, no...