Sampoorna - Not so poorna!

I seem to be in luck. Two restaurants opened up quite close to the office! Which means that on the days I don’t carry my lunch box, I can still walk down and grab a quick bite. Global Sampoorna - Yes, that’s the restaurant’s name…opened last week…and they’re still probably recovering from the losses incurred on feeding so many friends and relatives!!! Well, it certainly was not a very bright idea, because it almost turned away potential regulars like me…who had to pay for the food and yet wait endlessly while the guests feasted on gulab jamun and samosa!

What’s good:

• The food is quite nice; I tried out some phulkas with aloo subji and paneer masala. Looks like it might turn out to be my favourite lunch if they can keep up the quality.


• The owners seem to be making a real effort at providing good food, and a pleasant experience.

What’s not so good: that is a long list

• The fact that it is self-service. I don’t much fancy having to decide upfront what I’ll be eating or having to wait at the counter to pick up my food.


• They’ve got just two tables which can seat four each, quite uncomfortably. The rest will have to sit on bar stools along the walls.


• Self-Service taken a bit too far. They’ve got a water dispenser at the other end, and so please remember to pick up your glass of water after you’ve gone and picked up your food!


• One’s company…two’s a crowd! Order your food…and it’s likely that the second person will get his order ready when the first one has finished his…and then some! A single-burner gas stove…I presume!

What will keep me coming back!

• Well, the proximity to my office, for sure!


• I haven’t gone through a whole lot to pass judgment, but the phulkas were certainly nice.


• I think they may be better off without the self-service! For one, they’ve got someone who’s not comfortable handling the cash register manning it…which means even ordering the food takes time, while he searches out the keys to press.


• If they knock off the huge barricade (the counter), they may have space to add a couple of more tables…will probably justify hiring one person to serve! (may be just the water, even)!!!


• And remember, when you open the next branch…don’t mix your invitees with your customers!!! sure shot recipe for disaster!

Good luck sampoorna…may you go global.

Flamingo, is the other restaurant that’s opened up on the same road…not very far from this one..but I guess a review will have to wait for my next post.

Incidentally, Global Sampoorna is on the Velachery Bye-pass road (the Guru Nanak college end) just after the TVS Torana motors workshop (Before State Bank of India, branch)

And you’re welcome to drop in at my office!!!