Bangalore Tiffin Room (BTR) — Restaurant in Austin

⭐ Second Visit, Same Frustration – Poor Handling of Preorders, Hygiene & Inconsistent Food

We visited this place again, hoping for a better experience — especially since we preordered our food. Unfortunately, most of the issues we faced were almost identical to our first visit.

We ordered Masala Puri (gravy-based), Idli, and Masala Dosa.

✅ The Masala Dosa was very good — and I appreciated that they willingly customized it with potato palya, green chutney, and red chutney just as I requested.

❌ However, the Idli was dry and dense, unlike our first visit where the idlis were soft and fluffy. That inconsistency was disappointing.

The bigger issue was with the Masala Puri, which came in a flat paper plate, completely unsuitable for a gravy-based dish. While we were still looking for a table (since they don’t hold seating for preorder customers), the server holding our food asked me, “Where should I keep the plates?” — clearly confused and rushed.

I raised the issue at the register. A staff member did help us get an empty table and requested cleaning help, but also reminded us that they don’t hold tables. The table was still dirty, and before it could be cleaned, the server placed the food directly on it and walked away.

To make things worse, the cleaning staff arrived and sprayed cleaning solution right next to the food before we could even sit. That was not only careless, but a serious hygiene concern.

At the end of it all, we were left asking: was this really worth nearly $60? For that price, we expected better food consistency, basic hygiene, and a smoother experience — especially when we preordered in good faith.

🚫 Needs serious improvement in: Serving methods for messy/gravy dishes

Server and cleaning staff coordination

Consistency in food quality (especially Idli)

Basic hygiene and table readiness

Value for cost — customers deserve better

✅ We’re happy the dosa was good, but unfortunately that one positive doesn’t make up for the...

Reality Check for Those Visiting BTR Influenced by Social Media

I usually don’t write negative reviews—if I like a place, I’ll write something nice, and if not, I just move on. But I felt compelled to share this because I, like many others, got influenced by social media hype to visit BTR and I want to give a reality check to anyone planning a visit.

Parking: There’s practically no parking. It’s packed, and you’ll likely have to park far away and walk to the restaurant.

Ordering & Wait Time: There was a long line just to place an order. I was told my Benne dosa would be ready in 15–20 minutes, but I waited over 30 minutes. I had to ask twice before they even started making it. Meanwhile, others who ordered after me (and ordered more) got their food before I did.

Pricing: I paid $22 for a small dosa and a coffee. I understand the BLR-style dosa is meant to be small, but the pricing is just not justified. It felt overpriced for what was served.

Taste: The dosa itself was mediocre at best. The chutney didn’t taste authentic, and the sambar was watery and lacked depth. For the price and the hype, I expected much better.

Service & Seating: The staff seemed overwhelmed, and many people around me were visibly frustrated with the wait times. There’s limited seating inside, and calling ahead to place an order didn’t work—they don’t pick up the phone.

Overall: Honestly, the wait time was baffling. It took more than 30 minutes for a single dosa—at that point, I started wondering if they were grinding the batter fresh after each order! The whole experience felt chaotic and unorganized, and while I understand that hype can lead to high demand, the service and setup just don’t justify the price or the wait. I’m not planning to go back, and I hope this gives others a more realistic picture before they get swept up by the...

Kannada actor Ramesh sir had recently visited this place and gave a very good review about BTR, but honestly our experience was quite different. This review is more of feedback rather than criticism.

I moved from Miami to Austin and got to know about BTR from a WhatsApp group. The menu looked great and the reviews had raised our expectations. My wife is pregnant and she loves Maddur Vade and Masala Puri, so we were very excited to try them.

Masala Puri did not taste anything like what we get in Bangalore. It felt more like a sambar with garlic flavor. There was no cilantro flavor or greenish texture. After two bites we skipped eating it.

Maddur Vade was also disappointing. It was missing spice and curry leaves, which are the soul of the dish.

We ordered the OG Masala Dose and it was good. The dosa was crisp and fluffy inside. However, the chutney was too thick and lacked the authentic flavor and taste.

On pricing, it felt overpriced compared to the experience. For the same price, Sangam serves better versions of the same items.

Atmosphere wise, it is a shared space with different concepts. I liked this idea since it helps businesses reach more customers without the burden of renting a large space.

My feedback to the owners: The name BTR carries a lot of weight and potential, but the taste and service are not meeting the expectations. If you can get these two aspects right, then pricing will not be a concern. People will happily travel miles just for the authentic taste and vibe, which is currently missing. Please focus on these and you can definitely expand your business across Texas and one day all over the USA. I wish you...