The Grand Bhagwati Palace: Diwali Lunch Gone Wrong
Diwali is one of India’s most popular celebrations, and it inspires everyone to plan something special. As a result, this year, my family and I decided to host this grand event at the Grand Bhagwati Palace in Indore. After reading all of the positive reviews online, I was ecstatic at the prospect of devouring a delicious Indian lunch at TGB’s in-house restaurant, Cafe Piano. The palatial complex of TGB welcomed us to a spectacular setting put out with several pavilions and banquets, which was a terrific start. With its grandiose Indo-European patterns, TGB’s architecture is sure to take your breath away.
As you drive through the bypass, TGB is apparent from afar, and its affluent sequence of domed ceilings and statuettes riding horses is difficult to miss. As you move closer to the entryway, which provides a sharp wide-angle perspective of the property, the gleam intensifies. A magnificent fountain welcomed us as we entered the foyer, with greetings stretching to sleek columns looking down on bronze statues of Greek troops. This backdrop would be ideal for wedding photography. On the inside, a cosy lobby welcomes you to a row of high-back sofa chairs and a lovely chandelier.
However, there wasn’t much in the way of light for Diwali! The atmosphere was sparse, the menu was mediocre, and the service was poor. When we made a reservation at Cafe Piano, we had great expectations for the food. The subpar cuisine, on the other hand, ruined our day, and by the conclusion of our lunch, we wished we had eaten at home rather than come here.
We were offered two appetizers on the table, and crispy potato fry, and a boring Paneer Tikka, from the limited menu. There were no standouts among the sides and main course, which had Indian and continental versions. The fact that half of the items were either excessively salty or too bland was what disappointed us the most. Not the kind of Diwali fare we had hoped for! The only thing I liked was the mint mocktail.
Desserts were, once again, a letdown! None of the Malpua, ice cream, cheesecake, or chocolate tarts on display merited another bite. As we were leaving, TGB offered us a complimentary mango cake to make up for its numerous faults.
The cake was nice, but it couldn’t make up for a mediocre Diwali meal. Another thing to keep in mind about this property is that “The Grand Bhagwati Palace” does not allow DSLR photography but does allow phone photography. The hotel exclusively serves vegetarian food, but the buffet is lacking in diversity and does not represent good value for money. TGB is located 15 kilometres from the city centre.
