Zorba CafeSpeak Hotels - Dinning at the Taj as a Single Woman

Zorba CafeSpeak Hotels - Dinning at the Taj as a Single Woman

Judging by my recent experience, I would say that it is taboo… a complete no no. Oh the starting was fine. I was welcomed into the five star hotel , invited to be seated in a beautiful restaurant and a menu proffered. And that’s when the problem started. The steward captain decided that a) I did not understand the menu and b) he knew better than me what would be palatable to my stomach. Under much duress I ordered , luckily something that I wanted to eat and not what the captain wanted the chef to cook. Why have a menu, if half the items are not available or not recommended. After the long winded ordering process, I settled down to listen to a half not bad band that was performing live in the backdrop.

Now when I normally go out, I like to enjoy a quite peaceful meal in leisure which is why I purposely choose times when an educated guess says that the restaurant will be nearly empty as was the case tonight also. In a restaurant of over 50 covers, there were only 5 occupied including myself. Just the way I like it, I thought to myself, as I slowly tapped my feet to the music. The meal was served within typical five star time frames and palatable enough as I took a tentative bite. I was asked if anything else was required to which I replied not at the moment and studiously went on to ignore the captain and steward watching me very very closely. The meal proceeded under constant surveillance with one visit from the steward followed by a second one from the captain. By the 5th visit, I was insistent that I would call them if anything was required and it would be kind if they left me to enjoy my meal in peace. I also stressed that I am sure there were other guests who needed their good service. The peace I managed to get for 15 minutes, till the duo returned to ask me if the meal was over and they might clear the plates. Now I do know that a closed plate with cutlery in position warrants for such service, but my plate was very open and my dinner only half eaten. By now I was starting to feel like a prisoner in jail what with all the un-asked for scrutiny and I am not even pretty or anything like that. I once again asked for permission to perhaps be allowed to finish my meal in quiet without interruption, stressing on the word Peace.

Good training shows and five minutes later a new gentleman, this time the restaurant manager himself was back at my table asking if I had finished my meal. I closed my plate with a clatter in front of him and said Yes unfortunately I had and if I could have my bill in lobby, I would be happy to settle the same. I then proceeded to the lobby to pay the bill. I had this insistent urge to get out of here without any further delay. The manager followed me to the lobby to ensure that I did not have a quick getaway in mind and I paid my bill. Not surprisingly since they are so full of self-congratulations at their own expertise, at no point of time did any of the management and at that time there were approximately four senior managers in the lobby think that there was something wrong in a woman insisting on paying her dinner bills in the reception rather than in the restaurant as most normal folks do. Any reasons for apologies from their side – of course not, I mean who are we kidding here. On the contrary, I wanted to apologise for making the mistake of choosing to dine in their restaurant. Was this a one time happening at a particularly badly managed hotel, judging buy a few other incidents I have witnessed over the years, I somehow don’t think so.

 As I read all that hotels are supposedly doing for single women what with single woman floors, beauty treatments etc, I look back at this not so long ago incident and wonder if we really need all this paraphernalia. Honestly speaking, No special service is required. We are also human beings and at the end of the day, just need the service and respect any guest should be expecting and deserving. All these frills and fancies seem like pulling cloth over the eyes, when the basic fact is that in an Indian mindset, a single woman should not be dinning on her own in a restaurant, even if it is a five star restaurant. The only woman who do so, do not come from “respectable backgrounds” and hence should not be treated with any dignified behaviour. This is an centuries engrained mindset and I would like to ask hotels what they are doing to remove traditional biases before they start bringing on the frills to woo woman travelers into their hotels….

Zorba CafeSpeak Hotels www.cafe-speak.blogspot .com