Arya Bhavan Inc

Doesn't Recommend

SN S.

Joined 11 months ago

So - let us assume that you're in the mood for an experiential history lesson - you'd like a taste of life back in the days when how a business treated you depended upon how much melatonin was in your skin. Humor me some more and lets say you'd also like to experience stale food, assorted floaties in your water, dried food from previous meals on "fresh" plates. Yes? Well then Arya Bhavan is your place.

Still with me? Then here is my experience:

We walked in here on a Saturday evening. There were 2 tables occupied - we were the third party. While being ignored by Kirti (who really has no business being in the hospitality business), we found the old busboy (whose service was quite good by the way) and found ourselves a table.

The dinner buffet was cold to luke-warm. The avacado had gone black along carrots and turmeric. Actually the carrots were shriveled as well.

The first couple of dinner plates where damn and smudgy - one even had some food leftover from previous meals. The small steel bowls were quite dirty - wet and with some dried food sticking to a few of them.

We really should have walked out then but then everybody makes mistakes - so after wiping these we collected our food and waited at the table.... for the next 10 minutes watching Kirti joked around with some visitors. Finally we waved to her only to hear her shout from across the hall that the naan was coming. Apparently after another 5 minutes we asked the busboy who went and got the naan.

Now I can understand something like this happening in a place bustling with customers - not in a place where just 2 tables were occupied (1 party had left by now)

As the evening progressed Kirti made it abundantly clear by her behavior that she wasn't interested in our business at all. Only the busboy (and at one point in time even the cook in the hairnet came over to service us) - but Kirti was too busy only to serve the other table - chatting them up, asking about the food, and the usual service you'd expect in any restaurant worth its salt. When we called her, she brusquely said, be back in a minute and then about 5 minutes later she sent out the cook to find out what we wanted.

The last straw came when we asked for water and the jar came with unknown stuff floating around. That is when we got up, paid the bill. That was the only time Kirti bothered to treat us as paying customers and said Thanks. To which I replied - "No thanks needed, we aren't coming back again"

Now a business owner who truly cares about customers would have bothered to find out why? Oh not Ms Kirti. She likes to service only a certain category of people. Her reply - "that's your choice".

Very true - and I've made the choice to publish my experience wherever this business is mentioned - so that others can make an informed decision. I've also made the choice to file a complaint about this business with the Chicago Health department.

Well Kirti, if you're reading this, you know exactly what I mean and I hope that you get treated better in a restaurant than the way you treated us.

Doesn't Recommend

SHALINI725

Joined 5 years ago

DON'T EAT HERE!. The food served in the buffet is days old as was obvious from the old corn that was served to my daughter. It had a brown center and tasted spoiled! After we reported the problem, they covered it up with a towel. Service is horrible. They are cheap with the naan. They give you 1-2 pieces at a time and charge $10.99 for a vegetarian buffet. Too expensive for such food. All the food lacks salt and spices. The manager named Kathy who I tried to resolve the issue with was rude and has no ettiquette in talking to her customers. Save your money.

Doesn't Recommend

swaps

Joined 6 years ago

Buffet isn't stocked, terrible customer service. We went for a buffet and overall had a terrible experience. The restaurant wouldn't refill empty items in a timely manner. When asked for refill of buffet, the lady curtly mentioned that I should have patience (can you believe that)!! The gravy all tasted similar and hence probably nobody was touching it. The few patrons who were in the restaurant were all awaiting the two or three items which tasted alright.

They charge about $11 per person - just not worth it. Especially when Devon has so many other options. Save yourself some frustration and money!

Recommends

manchery

Joined 10 years ago

Great vegetarian cooking. This is an ideal place to try out great Western and Southern Indian vegetarian cooking. Their buffet is very good (only on Sat and Sun) and their vegetarian thalis offer the best value. Everything is freshly made and the owner is present all the time to ensure that things go smoothly. This might be the only place on Devon to try Gujarathi food (Western India). The South Indian dishes like dosais are good, although the chutneys and sambhars can be improved. They offer items that are different from the standard fare (make that Punjabi) that passes off as Indian food!! Try their pakoras, cabbage and mini uttapams and of course their thalis!

Recommends

boris_blak

Joined 11 years ago

Purple walls, great food. Great Indian food buffet at a good price. Although if you have a couple of mango lassies to deal with all the curry, the price goes up pretty quickly. Still less than $15 for a great Indian feast is still a deal. They will bring you piping hot sizzling Tandori chicken right to your table if you so desire. Also a great selection of vegetarian dishes and many desserts, if you can stand this very sweet faire.

Inside the walls are a garish purple. Not very appetizing, but certainly amusing. Parking might be tough in this crowded neighborhood.