INDIAN RESTAURANTS ABROAD

             Indian cuisine is liked the world over and to cater to the hungry people,  restaurants with Indian sounding names have sprung up all over, even in remote corners where you least expect them.

Foreign nationals unless they have been to India or dined at an Indian’s home, hardly know the correct taste of Indian dishes. They do not know any better.

This is where the con takes place, with various non-Indians taking  advantage and dishing  out rubbish to unsuspecting foreigners; giving a bad name to Indian food in the bargain.

The scam comes to light when  Indians travelling abroad or newly gone to reside there  become homesick for Indian food see a restaurant proclaiming itself as serving ‘Indian food’, visit these ‘Indian’ restaurants  in their outings,  to enjoy the dishes offered.

In nearly every case, the food served there does not meet their expectations, and later on they find out that the owners are either Bangladeshi or Pakistani masquerading as ‘Indian’ cooks, offering ‘Indian food’. The food would be too oily, watery or even a tasteless concoction.

Social Media being a great informer, here are some of the brighter comments on this topic. I have left out the names of the commentator to ensure privacy, but all of them are factual and un-edited.

 

** Many of Indian restaurants in UK & Europe are run by Pakistanis & Bangladeshis.

 

** 100% of Pakistani restaurants in UK have an Indian name and play bollywood music.

 

** If they started playing Urdu songs, diners would dive under tables and call the police.

 

** So true. Not just in UK. Everywhere in EU too. Especially worse in Paris & Brussels, wherein even a name like ‘Annapurna restaurant’ doesn’t guarantee that it is Indian-owned. It is so hard to find a genuine Indian restaurant that I used to choose only Saravanaa (Bhavan) in Paris.

 

** Found ‘Mahatma Gandhi Restaurant’ in Turin Italy run by a Bangladeshi.

 

** True because nobody recognises paki cuisine. Also Indian food is synonymous in UK to chicken tikka masala.

 

** Paki cuisine? Is there such a thing?

 

** I said run by Pakistanis and Bangladeshi, cuisine is always Indian. It is because Pakistanis and Bangladeshi labour is cheap. They put Indian names to lure people, otherwise no one will venture in those premises..

 

** Not just that, lots of Pakistani restaurants brag of serving Indian food.

 

** Absolutely true! Same in US too. Not just Pakistan. Nepalese, Srilankan too. If you see a restaurant that says Indo Pak or Indo Nepalese or Indo Srilankan, then it’s not Indian!

 

** They do this so that if they are caught doing wrong acts then blame is on India and not Pakistan. This way India's reputation gets a beating abroad!

 

** Bhai India ke naam pe hi customers ayenge , tabhi ye pakis kama payenge.

 

** True, any Pakistani running a restaurant anywhere in the world, names it an Indian Restaurant. (Expect for few Pak enclaves)

 

** I have seen that in South East Asia, East Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

 

** इसमें बुराई क्या है, पापा का नाम ही तो यूज़ कर रहे हैं ?

 

** Spot on. Bangladeshi's are ahead in this game.

 

** Every restaurants they run abroad is "Authentic Indian" & their favourite dish "Motor Ponir"

 

** I had noticed this in many towns of China and Taiwan as well as Hong Kong, Pakistani restaurants while I was living there.

 

** I had regular authentic Indian food from a restaurant in Dusseldorf and later on only realised it was run by Bangladeshis. Even many Indian supermarkets in the US are run by Pakistanis. I have seen it in Houston, Jacksonville & Boston.

 

** Lokhowni biriyani, never karachi food, name is slways Tajmahal !!!

 

** That's the biggest misfortune of India & Indian's.

 

** I am usually able to differentiate - but made a mistake once in Switzerland & ended up in an 'Indian' restaurant.

 

** True, they call their stores ‘Desi’

 

** A lot many Nepalese and Bangladeshi restaurants also do the same here. Survival tactics, I guess.

 

** Saw one Bangladeshi restaurant hanging tricolor and some hinglish name to come off as real Indian restaurant.

 

** Yes, have been to few such restaurants in impression that they are Indian.

 

** You can include Bangladeshi restaurants too. Experienced that in Spain.

 

** Totally! Using Indian names to attract customers

 

** At Indian highways too.  Ha ha.

 

** There's a particular nasty couple that run one in Manchester, masquerading themselves and the food as Indian, but will turn their noses up at the Indian tourists who turn up there.

 

** It is quite common in the UK, Next to my house there is a curry takeaway called ‘Bombay Spice’ owned and operated by Bangladeshis. They are literally destroying India's reputation with their disgusting cuisines. Especially the Biryani, they make it sweet.  Aarrgg

 

** I even experienced that Bangladeshis too pretend to be Indians.

 

** There is one of many such restaurants in Barcelona and even near Lord’s cricket stadium London.

 

** In Bedford, Britain, ordered Palak Paneer at such a retaurant, got some yellowing paneer pieces and few palak leaves floating on the watery gravy. On questioning the owner, he said he doesn’t know any other method of making it.

 

** You forgot the taxi drivers. 'Endian'

 

** But still peoples are not finding it out !!! not even protesting...scary  though.

 

** In New York City, there are lots of Indian restaurants in Lexington Avenue. I have eaten for years in restaurants there. Almost half were being run by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis when I used to visit.

 

And the latest, after the Ukraine-Russia crisis …

    

** Q: What's common between Pakistani restaurants and Pakistani students?

A: Both becomes Indian in foreign nations !

 

** I am not surprised to hear that Pakistani students used Indian flags for safety in Ukraine. They are street smart people. They know when to use Indian identity !