1 /5 Sunita Kumar: We had planned to celebrate our anniversary with a special dinner and decided to book a table at the hotel’s 1705 restaurant.
Unfortunately, the experience was far from what we had hoped for. The restaurant lighting was so dim that it was difficult to even read the menu. While I appreciate the importance of ambience, this felt uncomfortable rather than atmospheric. When I politely asked if we could be seated at a table with better lighting, I was abruptly told “no” because those tables were supposedly reserved—despite the fact that they remained empty throughout the evening.
After ordering mocktails, we were left waiting for 30 minutes before being told that the staff were still “looking for the ingredients.” Feeling parched, I requested some still water, but even that took time to arrive. The lack of attention and basic hospitality was unacceptable for a hotel of this standard. At one point, I couldn’t help but feel as though we had stepped into a scene from Fawlty Towers. Nearby tables sat uncleared for over an hour, leaving the entire area looking neglected and uninviting—completely contrary to the polished impression given on the hotel’s website.
The situation worsened when a family arrived with a dog that barked continuously, adding to the disruption. By this stage, we were already feeling upset and uncomfortable. When our food finally arrived—after another 25-minute wait—it proved another disappointment. The chicken was overcooked, tough, and unpleasant to eat. As someone who has always supported the hospitality industry and understands the challenges it faces, I was dismayed at the lack of even the most basic standards.
