Dakshina Mandapa

Critic´s Review

• Food: 2 / 5
• Service: 2.5 / 5
• Decor: 2.5 / 5

-By Swati Sucharita

Dakshina Mandapa at Taj Tristar is steeped in an ambience, service and food warp, which made sense a few decades ago, when there wasn't much competition in the food sector. Read indifferent food, service and decor . Firstly, the name is a misnomer. Apart from a random Mooli Sambhar, Rasam Pudina Rice, Raw Banana Fry and Cabbage Kootu, there is nothing representative of the south in the lunch buffet, apart from the Udupi-styled wood carving on the ceiling over the buffet table! The ubiquitous Spicy Noodles, Vegetable Manchurian, Green Peas Fried Rice are there, and so are Paneer Kolhapuri, Vegetable Dhaniya Mirchi and Tawa Masala Pulao. For desserts, it's the usual Gulab Jamun, Gajar ka Halwa, fruit compote with ice cream drill, although we have to admit that they do a better job in the sweet endings. If you are in that congested area of Secunderabad, and have to meet someone for lunch, its not that bad an option, as at least, the hygiene levels are pretty okay. By the way, there are only buffet options available at the restaurant, so there is no a la carte menu!