Chowrastha - Indian Eatery — Restaurant in Suwanee

UPDATE on 02/29/24: Unpleasant Dining Experience - Found Foreign Object (Metal Screw) in Gutthi Vankaaya (Egg Plant) Biryani

I gave a 5 star review on Feb 24, 2024 but now, I am updating my rating for this restaurant to 1 star and I wish I could give 0 star rating but Google does not have the option.

We visited the restaurant today on Feb 29, 2024 around 11:00 PM EST to pick up the order. Also, we ordered for Irani Chai, Onion Samosa and Mirchi Bhajji after picking up the order and sat for a while to enjoy the Chai. Meanwhile a couple came for dine-in around 11:30 PM EST and ordered for Gutthi Vankaaya Biryani (Eggplant Biryani). Unfortunately, their experience was disappointing. We saw the guy took his plate and walked towards the counter however we did not pay much attention. Later, the staff came to the table and were apologizing the couple. The couple were sitting behind us, so we asked for the reason what has happened. The couple mentioned that they discovered a screw in the biryani. We were appalled and awestruck!

While we understand that mistakes can happen in any kitchen, however finding a foreign object in the food was highly unsettling and disappointing. On top of it, when the couple reported the staff about this incident, the staff apologized and gave a pastry as complimentary. The staff quickly acted on this incident and took the screw and disposed to hide the evidence before the couple could take a picture of the screw that was found in the biryani.

When we asked why they didn't take the picture, the couple said that they did not get chance to take the picture of the screw which was identified in the Biryani before they could act upon.

Seriously? What if the guy from the couple who was eating biryani had swallowed the screw? What could have been the situation if the screw had struck in his throat and choked him to death?

We visited the restaurant many times in last 1 month and have seen lot of families with kids who are consuming biryani. What if this situation happens to a kid? The kids throat / wind pipe is not as wide as compared to an adult.

This is a serious incident and my expectations were shattered due to the sheer irresponsibility and lack of professionalism displayed by the staff.

Instead of addressing the issue transparently and with sincerity, the staff chose to act deceptively by swiftly removing the screw from the couple's sight, evidently attempting to hide the evidence of their negligence. This blatant disregard for customer safety and satisfaction is utterly unacceptable about the restaurant's disregard for basic food safety protocols.

I cannot emphasize enough how deeply disappointed and appalled by this experience. I strongly advise potential diners to exercise caution when considering dining at this restaurant, as their lack of accountability and commitment to customer welfare leaves much to be desired. It is my sincere hope that this review serves as a wake-up call for the management to prioritize food safety and customer satisfaction above everything.

Our visit to this restaurant today was marred by an appalling display of staff irresponsibility and disregard for customer well-being. Please proceed with caution while dining at this restaurant.

02/24: This restaurant is a competitor to all other Indian restaurants in Atlanta. The food is awesome. Can’t complain. We visited three consecutive weekends and have tried Chef Special Veg Biryani, poori chicken curry, Ghee roasted Goat Pulav. Irani Chai is extremely popular. All items we tried are delicious. I wish they could have cooked the Chicken little bit more.

It’s over crowded during the evenings and weekends which is anticipated. Recommend this...

If you are in search of a Spice godown then this is that place. Yet another typical Andhra based restaurant that runs solely on spice and nothing else. No taste or flavor whatsoever but such a huge selection of food and variety. The second highlight of this restaurant is that they serve your hot food in PLASTIC meal prep boxes / to go boxes for such price value. Totally not worth for a dine in experience at all. No one cares either be it the customers or the owner!

Food: We went in for dine for the very first time on a Friday night and it’s crowded around 7PM. We have had decent to go experiences in the past. So this time we got Chilli Baby corn, Kaju Paneer Pulao, Pav Bhaji and Chikoo shake. Chilli baby corn is such a let down, it was the only thing that wasn’t spicy but the oil or batter it was cooked smelt so old and tasted so bad. A big no no! Pav Bhaji was the most pathetic one especially with so much chilli powder spice and nothing else. Just boil a bunch of vegetables, add chilli powder and salt and serve. More like a Bachelor’s cooking during initial stages. Kaju Paneer pulao was decent. The paneer was cooked well and the kaju was excellent. I had got this one before so wanted to try this again and it was the better of the lot. This dish is basically like they make the kaju paneer gravy and boil some rice and pour over it. During previous to go experiences I have had Paneer Dosa and it tasted good. The Gobi biryani was spicy again! Someone needs to make them understand that Chili powder is not the only spice we get in the world and that’s consumable. Above all they serve these hot food or stale food in PLASTIC to go boxes despite sitting for dine in. Not sure what’s the logic behind here. Are they aware of what they’re doing, certainly not sure. Chikoo shake & Fruit custard are just amazing.

Service & Ambience: The service is very good and the people at the counters are very courteous, knowledgeable on what customers need and respond without hurrying in spite of having a huge line to attend. Great service. The ambience is not so great, it’s almost like a normal hotel back in India. And one more thing is that everyone assumes the other person is Telugu and starts talking instantly in Telugu (especially the people at counter and serving). That’s there everywhere but this place is too much.

BOTTOMLINE: A very average restaurant that serves hot and ONLY spicy and tasteless food in plastic containers. The taste is never there because of overpowering spice which they are not ready to tone down at all. Precooked food mostly. Wouldn’t visit this place or recommend.

MY PICKS FOR YOU: Paneer Dosa, KajuPaneer Pulao, Fruit custard,...

Edit 2: Learn how to make proper Karnataka Benne Masala Dosa.

The dosa has no butter. Dose was extremely sour and they give peanut chutney, Allam Bellam Chutney and Tomato chutney. They are supposed to serve it with coconut chutney.

Benne Masala Dosa is smeared with red spicy masala chutney on the inside, cooked with butter(Benne) and served with coconut chutney.

Benne Masale Dose is not served with Allam bellam chutney or peanut chutney. Atleast learn about how the dish is supposed to be cooked and served before putting it on the menu for fancy money making tactics.

Don’t change dishes from other regions for your convenience.

It’s not Mysore bonda, it is Mangalore bonda or Goli Bajji.

PS: It is called Benne Masale Dose Not Benne Masala Dosa. Dosa is Tamil/Telugu, Benne is Kannada.

You made a Kichidi out of the name with two different languages and the dish is also kichidi with no butter and Andhra Condiments for Karnataka dish 👎🏼

Edit 1: Avoid this place. Stale and spoilt food everytime. Literally the worst place to eat food. Vada pav was spoilt and slimy. Mushroom was spoilt in Mushroom Masala. Jalapeño Paneer was sweet! Paneer tikka Masala was so sweet it could be served for dessert. Why are your cooks adding so much sugar to Indian curries ?? What is wrong with your chefs ? Explicitly ordered all dishes spicy. The chef needs to be fired. Everything smells so strongly of Elaichi/Kewda including the Pulav rice.

I was told both the curries will be cashew based. Mushroom Masala had no gravy and both curries were swimming in oil. Both were onion/onion tomato based gravy.

It says Chowrastha but they force Andhra Peanut chutney and Allam Bellam for Karnataka Mysore Masala Dosa. Why bother to call it Mysore Masala Dosa if you serve it the way it is served in Hyderabad. These idiots don’t even know that coconut chutney is served with Mysore Masala Dosa.

Their peanut chutney has no flavour, no salt or chillies. Its disgusting feels like eating some weird puree.

The Mirchi Salan was spoilt- just some water with peanut grits and was stinking.

Our whole family got diarrhea every time after eating here.

People are always loud in here. You will have to scream on top of your voice to place order or talk. Never seen any other Indian restaurant that is so loud. The vibes are absolutely 3rd class.

Avoid this place. Waste of money. Health hazard. Health inspectors should pay a visit and shut it down.

I feel bad for the staff cos they are nice people.

Saw many reviews where people were served with stale and spoilt food.

The ratings are for when it opened. Its no...