NeedGrub.com Blog

Smoking is prohibited in public places, primarily so because in addition to the one who is actually smoking, there are many others being adversely affected by it. Sensible law, after all why should you suffer the smoke generated by a puff, you are not responsible for? And anyways, there already are too many harmful pollutants to deal with. But while we mutually agree that smoking must be abstained from, especially the passive smoking part, there is less that we actually do to ensure the stated.  

For instance, have you ever complained or even noticed smoking issues while enjoying a meal in any of the restaurants? Or rather, are you aware of your rights in this context? As per the smoking laws, applicable since October 2, 2008, an eatery with less than or equal to seating capacity of 30 is a completely non smoking zone. For more than 30, there has to be a clearly differentiated, reserved smoking zone. However, there are many eateries which fail to comply with legal norms. 

But isn’t it the government’s job to ensure that laws are adequately complied with? Yes it is, however little extra awareness would not really be much of work, especially if that could bestow you few extra minutes of your life. All that you have to do is, bring such restaurants into notice and thereby control the menace. If you notice anybody smoking in a restaurant and thus not abiding by the stated anti smoking laws, immediately contact management and ensure that they control the offence. Additionally you can also write about such incidences on various on NeedGrub to keep our users safe and spread the word about smoking issues in restaurants. A few minutes of effort and the change is underway.

Useful Links
Non-Smoking Restaurants in Chennai
Non-Smoking Restaurants in Bangalore
Non-Smoking Restaurants in Hyderabad

Food courts are definitely a revolutionary idea, after all a few years back, who thought that it would be possible to order a pizza, a bowl of dal makhani, Singapore noodles, cheese sandwich, masala dosa and the favourite cup of coffee, all in one go. You can sit anywhere you please to in a spacious boundary, gaze at the various popular and new food stalls, decide to order an assortment of dishes and serve all present at the table. There is no need to digest Mexican, only because your sister is adamant and neither is it required to order a whole dish of rice and curry separately. The more economical food meals can now be opted for.

In the most simplest terms, food courts are a blessing for average earning Indian families and social groups. They do not attack the wallet and neither do they tamper with the taste buds. Flexible group eating cannot perhaps mature more than this.

While the picture is all rosy and pink, there are few things food courts have killed; the fun of debating over ordering Chinese or Continental or Italian, for instance can no longer be enjoyed. Likewise, the trend of fine dining is fading away under the shadow of food court culture. No napkins or cutlery presentations to great you. Neither is there an army of waiters rushing to serve you. ‘Self service’ is the slogan. There was a time when customers’ maintained safe distance from Nirula’s, because the outlet wouldn’t offer fine dining facilities and today the trend is no longer alien. But guess with the positives in limelight, the sacrifice isn’t really too harsh. After all, the idea is to eat delicious … isn’t it??

With kids in life, life changes. Most often for the better, but on few occasions, dramatic experiences irritate. While not all can be avoided, but few important tips and at least the eating out with kids event, can certainly be turned into a pleasant one.  

As a parent I am sure there must have been outdoor meals, which you would like to skip, simply because the child was not in the mood. Especially while on a vacation, it becomes even more important to have an access to something handy, which would help deal with the child, while you enjoyed your meal. While there is no magic wand that can help, there certainly are few suggestions. 

#1 Pick the eatery carefully 

Picking a suitable eatery is always important, the relevance further augments when kids are supposed to accompany. Very formal eating joints could be a pain and the worst is that few could even restrain entry, because you have kids along. If you are thinking that this is not very accurate in the Indian scenario, checkout the Veda Restaurant in Delhi. They will not be very interested in letting you in, with kids younger than five years of age. Not very enchanting is it … so be more careful with the venue when it is a family outing. 

#2 Taste what you’ve ordered for children 

Just because there were special kid’s meals on the menu and you’ve asked for all of it, do not pressurize the young lads to consume it. The same could taste utterly awful and thus while persuading them to chew yet another bite, do taste the meal first. 

#3 Ensure that the order is served in a pattern 

By pattern, the idea is to suggest that do not accept kid’s meal before yours. If this happens, most likely, the child will eat before your food is served, will be bored when you eat and thus will ensure that you are kept away from the sumptuous meal.

Food preferences are believed to communicate much about the consumer’s preferences and characteristic ideologies. Not very sure about the credibility of the stated, but if there is any consistency in this argument, we Indians are certainly undergoing a massive transition. From coconut chutney to salsa sauce, the roadmap has been pretty swift. Don’t agree with me, check out the news excerpts of two key food related newspaper clippings for last 15 days and you’ll definitely agree.

1. Udupi hotels would soon disappear. The food society has decided to declare once famous Udupi restaurants as an extinct entity. The figures are eloquent. Whatever be the reason, it is quite established that Indians are no longer enchanted by the food variety offered by these speciality restaurants. They are no longer reporting profits, neither pulling mass customers. The food presentation of course is same and there are no inconsistency issues reported.

2. TGI Friday’s is on an expansion drive. The American outlet is popular and getting overwhelming response from the Indian food lovers, which for sure has prompted the expansion drive. Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc., are all about to witness opening up of new TGI Friday’s outlets, very soon.

… so, the idli samber is being replaced by pastas and pizzas. And this is all part of well planned strategy. There is no confusion or national outburst; we deliberately prefer the latter over former. But then, how does it makes a difference?? It is about eating deliciously and if pastas lure more, why not pay for them. Whatttsayyy???

Time to celebrate … how about a movie followed by dinner or alternatively let’s hit the disc. Well, disc – maybe, but then what about the food? Been a long time haven’t had some quality time together. Why don’t we just skip the movie and the disc part? Then?? We can check out a nice restaurant and talk endlessly, like those old days. Hmmm, sounds good, but where??

Assuming you are a part of this conversation, what would be your choices? If you have to decide upon a suitable eatery for the perfect dinner with friends or family, what would be the selection criterion and decided result? A five star hotel with quality food, the classy ambience, stylish décor and skilled serving etiquettes or specialty standalone restaurant serving excellence cuisine with amicable interiors and pleasing staff manners, minus the expensive five star bills. Let me guess, the choice would most probably be the latter; and that it is.

The statement is not baseless, there are proofs to validate. Statistics suggest that foodies have shifted their eating preferences in favour of standalone restaurants, as against the five star hotels, which has seriously disturbed the profit margins of the latter. Names like South Indies are increasingly becoming popular.

And if you would not like to believe any third source, a self managed search is easy. Simply check the Needgrub restaurant review section and it would inform about the very many who have tested and rated the various stand alone food joints, as against the few who’ve posted their comments upon the culinary presentation of a five star hotel eatery.

The explanation part is quite straight. Standalone restaurants serve specific cuisines, have renowned chefs managing them, who in turn are making every possible effort to make a mark, complacency is yet to make way and thus superior culinary experience is assured. No room for further doubts is it; we obviously celebrate at Kobe Sizzlers, or maybe Mainland China.

Bangalore, in addition to being a metro city, has another qualification to ensure a definite slot in the list of those regions, most capable of spoiling eating habits. It is the city’s work culture. The call centric civilization here ensures inflow of young talent from all across India. While these bright professionals are striving to make a mark professionally, they are also struggling to cope up with the ‘away from home’ life pattern.  

Among the various issues, which then bother, the foremost is dependence upon an unknown, external kitchen for every day food. And in such circumstances, it is not a surprise to read news excerpts, like Bangalore is the destination for junk food or maybe Bangalore steps up yet another stair in the ladder to almost make it to the top in the list of regions serving unhealthy food.  

Anyways, this is not an attempt to join the troupe of those further annoying, the already uptight work machines, with their writings, but the idea is to help. How…? By offering some suggestions and thus enlightening with healthy food choices in Bangalore. 

Eating out: Pizzas and burgers desperately need a break. While the popular food chains like Barista & Mc Donalds could hop in with their whole bread sandwiches and wraps respectively, the more native options like Pure n Natural could be considered as viable substitutes with their salad platters and juice options. Remarks Taika too is a choice for those looking forward to an exquisite spa cuisine, while relaxing over the weekends. The choices are further enhanced by the Mast Kalandar’s healthy and yummy food.  

Cooking in: If you love too cook for yourself, but fail to locate the right source for ‘that’ healthy ingredient, here is a list to refer.  Natural food products can come only from the rightly equipped kitchen. For Bangalore foodies this kitchen happens to be that of a private limited company, incorporated by the name Fit Forever Foods Pvt Ltd. Fit Forever specializes in three key products, which they claim, can help stay healthy and even support as a pertinent healer for specific ailments. These are Wheatgrass, Pomegranate & Water Melon Juice. The same & various other organic food items can be purchased from All Saints Departmental Store Ashok Nagar, Namdhari's, Nilgiris, Thom's Cafe Wheelers Road & Vinayaka Medicals New Thippasandra. 

Packed health: If neither cooking, nor eating out tempts enough, check the Chulah flavour. Chulah is a professional tiffin service, delivering North Indian vegetarian & non vegetarian delicacies at your door step.

For a restaurant, the prominence of online presence further augments with the increasing popularity of online food reviews. Food patrons confer due attention to eating quality food, in a manner, which they would like to be served. And to this end, they do not really mind reading through the comments of others who have tried a restaurant before. Chances are that a restaurant with relevant online presence would earn readability, followed by footfalls, succeeded by reviews & ratings and thus the desired popularity. Moreover, when compared with other advertising components, online presence certainly scores the highest. With the stated logical arguments in background, why wait? Just add your restaurant to the list of those enjoying internet popularity and relish the taste of online spices.