Oh Yes! The actual name is Olive Bar & Kitchen, one of those seemingly good restaurants run by someone who does not understand the basics of services business.

I was repeatedly told by my friends not to step into this Restaurant due to the quality of service they received in the past. But, after four years of living close to Olive – Bar and Kitchen, this evening I decided to give it a shot and check things on my own. Result, regretted every minute of my stay there as I was served by one of those that can’t wear a service apron. And, feel awfully guilty as the recommendation to go this eatery was mine.

Note: I do not want this communication to be misunderstood. Its unfair on my part to blame the restaurant basis an experience I received from one of their watiers. It is ironic that I do not know his name and hence refering him under the shades of of Olive – Bar & Kitchen umbrella.

A couple of keys issues to mention

A) I suppose this restaurant receives undue attention from international audience, which to a few Olive’s Kitchen & Bar waiters means, loads of money in tips. No offense meant to the visitors or all the waiters in general. We usually tend to tip the international tipping % when are not sure about the local rates/style, I would assume foreigners visiting India doing the same. So, how does it pan out from the hands of a waiter like the one served me? We “so called” fellow-brown-skins do not the service we deserve.

Note: I do not have anything against foreigners visiting India, in fact I welcome them to this country with so much of cultural diversity, heritage and value with my whole heart and wish them a pleasant stay). But hope they would refrain from going to places where creed-and-color matters and would not recommend such places to their friends and dear ones.

Let me get back to the point. My whole contention to this argument is, a few waiters who are just not fit to wear a service apron making use of foreign visitors’ wallet, and there surely are a few of them in Olive Bandra. Needless to mention, Leopold in Colaba has a host of such waiters for years now (Thanks to Lonely Planet and a few other travel guides reference to this pub)

B) Mission critical systems are not in Order, I hope there is enough of salt in their inventory.

My credit card transaction did not go through, I was told about the ATM/POS network. I have been associated with the Indian Banking industry for at least half-a-decade now, and I damn well know its POS network conditions and alternative mechanisms on card transactions.

Despite of my little awarness on this subject, I had agreed to his claim and requested him to use a manual machine to swipe my card. His response to my recommendation irritated the wits out of me, Olive did not have a manual machine and I was given direction by my waiter to the next ATM counter along with a twelve old to collect the money from me – This is freaking outrageous!

Decided not to engage in a brawl, paid the cash and headed home. To my surprise, once I reached home got an SMS message from my Bank stating the Bill Amount from Olive Bar & Kitchen has been debited from my account..

C) The waiter was acting like a Man-Suffering-From-Pre-Menstrual Stress! No exaggeration, his sense of restlessness and an ‘unsmiling-statue-like-face-without-a-pigeon-on-head’ could not aid me think of any better syndromes.

Suggestion – If you are at Olive, place your first order and feel the pulse. If not good, head to the door straight (please do carry cash NOT card alone to settle the bill), there are least 10 different good restaurants nearby with or without liquor in their menu and working POS terminals.