Chennai Dosa Croydon — Restaurant in London

We had the worst experience with this restaurant and its overall event organization. If you're thinking of booking their hall for a party, save your money and look elsewhere. It was a complete disaster from start to finish. We‘d asked the owner if we could come a day before the party to decorate the hall. When we arrived, we were shocked. The hall was dirty and sticky, with rubbish scattered across the floor. The chair covers and buffet tablecloths were in an unhygienic condition. Unfortunately, I regret not taking photos to document the mess. We informed a staff member, who said someone would come clean. However, only one staff member was sent, someone who clearly didn’t understand us and struggled to manage everything alone. My people had to step in and help change the chair covers and move heavy tables, which should not have been our responsibility. Why the owner expects one staff member to handle such tasks is beyond me. This is not the staff’s fault, he was doing his best, but the owner clearly needs to hire more people. After three hours of minimal progress (just changing chair covers), we were told the place would be properly cleaned the next day before the party. Trusting them, we left and reminded the owner to change the buffet tablecloths, which he agreed to do. On the day of the event, the floor was still dirty and sticky, and the buffet tablecloths were exactly the same. With no time to argue, we cleaned up the place ourselves. Throughout the party, the staff did not refill the plastic cups or drinks on the guest tables, even though we had paid for this service. One of the tables kept collapsing, causing drinks and food to spill multiple times. Despite repeated requests, dessert was served almost at the very end of the event. When leaving, we asked whether we could collect our decorations the next day. The staff assured us they would put everything aside for us. However, the next day we got a call from the decorator saying another party was happening in the same hall, and our decorations were being used by the new guests. Some of the decorator’s own items were missing. Shockingly, while she tried to speak to the staff, guests from the new party started filming her and her child. We rushed to the venue and saw that even our welcome gifts were being used by the other party. When we demanded our belongings, the staff finally returned the remaining decorations, but clearly only after seeing us in person. Had they not, we would have had to pay for the missing items. When I complained to the owner, all he said was, “What do you expect me to do now?” Perhaps hire more staff and manage your venue properly? The entire experience was messy, stressful, and completely unprofessional. This event was supposed to be a joyful celebration. Instead, it turned into a nightmare. I strongly advise against booking...

Chennai Dosa offers a menu of traditional South Indian cuisine along with a number of North Indian dishes but unfortunately, the overall dining experience leaves much to be desired.

The service is extremely disappointing. Upon entering the restaurant, the staff merely stand behind the drinks counter and point out where to sit. This lack of hospitality creates a poor first impression, setting the tone for the remainder of the visit.

The cleanliness of the restaurant is another major concern. The floors are sticky, and the provided cutlery is not properly cleaned. On multiple occasions, I have observed a dirty mop and bucket left in the middle of the dining area—an unpleasant sight for any diner. Even more concerning, I have witnessed staff standing by the drinks counter, tossing utensils into a tub of boiling water without soap, once again in full view of the diners. This cleaning method raises serious doubts about hygiene standards.

The food, while passable in taste, does not compensate for these shortcomings. On a recent occasion, some members of our group fell ill which led me to question their freshness and preparation. Such incidents further highlight a disregard for basic food safety protocols.

Having experienced far better service and cleanliness in restaurants across India, it is disheartening to find these standards lacking here. Chennai Dosa needs to make significant improvements in customer service, hygiene, and food quality to meet even a basic level of satisfaction.

I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone expecting a pleasant dining experience or reliable...

I am extremely disappointed with the service I received for my son's 1st birthday party. I booked the full package and paid for everything, including food and drinks, but it was a total disaster.

No drinks served: They promised Coke but gave us Pepsi instead. They also told me they'd have cartons of orange juice, but there was none. My guests had nothing to drink until I had to go out and buy drinks myself! No dessert: The dessert was way late. When I went downstairs to ask where it was, I was told it had been served—but that wasn’t true. After some arguing, they apologized and promised to bring it, but by the time they did, half of my guests had already left. Dirty venue: The floor was filthy and sticky. I told them several times to mop it, and each time they promised they would, but it never happened. The toilets were also completely unhygienic—dirty, smelly, and clearly not cleaned before or during the event. Multiple guests complained to me about the conditions. Lack of communication: There was zero communication throughout the entire event. I was given false information and had to keep chasing them for answers. Unprofessional staff: After being told I could pick up decorations the next day, we arrived only to find that another party was using our decorations and items! Completely unacceptable. Overall, this experience was a nightmare, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone—especially for something as important as your child’s birthday. Very unprofessional and...