Recently Samdareeya Mall has opened at Jabalpur. Its in the initial stages and only a few shops / retail chains have opened till date. One is Westside Mall (that largely caters to shopping of readymade clothes). The other is Club City Food Court that has opened at the top floor.
Westside is a premium range and primarily caters to clothing range. But we were in mood of eating out, and thought why not go to the newly opened Club City at the Mall.
It seemed to be a congeries of different food shops – Dosa Plaza (South Indian), Shganghai Post (Chinese), Masala Country, Club Parantha, Pizza & Co. & Chowpatty.
For a start we only ordered Shanghai Veggie and Kiddeez Post – these were chinese (so called chinese), and the other was a plain Dosa.
And I was horribly disappointed – these were simply tasteless. Infact, we make better and tastier noodles at home! And the same for the plain dosa – at home they are much more tastier.
It is really a shame – perhaps for the consumers – that they get driven by the advertisements. Afterall, advertisement can fetch clientele one or two times – but if the product itself is useless, then the whole experience seems a bloody waste of time.
And to add to that the queer methods of selling at the Club City.
1) I go to the order counter – they tell me to take Debit Card !
2) After some initial confusion, I figure out – that the ‘Debit Card’ is one given at a separate counter. Its a Club City Debit Card.
3) I learn that this Debit Card comes in multiples of Rs. 100. So, I take a card that is filled with Rs. 200 !
4) I go to the Chinese Food Counter – and pay Rs. 145 through the Debit Card. So I surmise that the balance is Rs. 55
5) Then I go to the Dosa Plaza to order a Plain Dosa which is Rs. 40. The counter person tells me that my card has balance of Rs. 35 ! I am told that Rs. 20 is security deposit for the card !
6) So, I again go to the Debit Card counter, and get it ‘topped up’ by another Rs. 100. Then I again go to the Dosa counter to pay for the Dosa
7) Finally after we have eaten, I again go back to the ‘Debit Card’ counter to get back the balance cash. (It has been told that the card has to be returned that very day)
So, if this is the experience, I can only say ouch! My wife had the final word for it. To her the food was fit to be sold at railway station!
Update 12 June 2010 : We again visited Club City, and this time, definitely there was marked improvement in taste of food Details here
Dear Mr. Mukherjee,
Thanks for your feedback. Firstly the two items mentioned in ur review are Chinese Combo’s and are not Dosa. We regreat that the taste of the dish didnt meet your expectation. We assure you that the food served at our outlets across India have different flavours and meet our patrons expectations. In noodles we have four different varities to choose from and u can select from any varity. I would also suggest you to try any of our fusion dosa’s — Salad Roast Dosa, American Chopsuey Dosa, Spring Roll Dosa and many more varities — which you wont get anywhere else.
Regarding debit card system, we had introduced the same there for the first time. Its user friendly and saves you from the hassele from paying at each counter and searching for change everytime you pay. As this system is new in Jabalpur, people will take time to understand the same and later on would find it as a convinent option. Most of the food courts in Delhi and mumbai are using debit card system and even Delhi Metro is promoting the system for people convinence.
Anyway we assure you that we will take every step to ensure that the next visit of urs is more convinent and you enjoy the varity of delicasy that we are offering at Jabalpur food court at Samdareeya mall.
Bon Appetite,
Team Club City
Thanks for noticing.
Apart from taste, regarding the Debit Card system, I would say – usually Debit Card (as seen in another mall at Jabalpur) – its issued till it is returned (there only Rs. 15 is kept as deposit). So, the Debit card does not ‘expire’ the very day.
It would have been preferable if the ‘Debit Card’ is issued without the need to return it the very same time. So one can keep it ‘filled up’ and go for food directly without the need everytime to get into Que – once for getting the card, and secondly for returning it.
I have been to Club City only at Jabalpur – so not sure what it tastes like at any Metro city. But even by Jabalpur standards, the taste of food is very average – I visited Club City one more time later, in addition to the one that is written in the article – and tried other dishes. But the taste was not good enough to let me think of visiting there for snacks or food again.
You may get captive consumers due to Multiplex, but thats different matter altogether.
Update 12 June 2010: We decided to give Club City another try. And this time we ordered the Spring Roll Dosa (as recommended), and apart from that – Chole Bhatura, Pav Bhaji, and Plain Idli (Chennai Idli).
And I would say, these were pretty tasty – the plain idli was soft and tasty. Spring Roll Dosa was quite a surprise, and the texture of Dosa was also very good. The Bhatura was nice and thin (unlike the thick and unchewable – that is usually found in most places) – and the pav bhaji was also quite tasty – and liked by my wife.
So, definitely, the Club City now seems to have improved its fare. Maybe the earlier issues were due to the teething troubles that often come up when an establishment is set up at a new place.
So nice Mall, I love it