Coastal Kitchen Restaurant - Gateway Varkala

Yesterday we have been to Taj with family 3adults n 3children. The ambience was gud no doubt on that. But never had such a pathetic food in my life. Even the street vendors serve better than this. We initially order 1by 2 soup. A fish finger and chicken lollypop. Soup was just average. Fish tasted very old and same with lollypop. Even dry fish would have tasted better. The menu even had any options other than few common dishes. Hence we ordered the basic fried rice, chilly chicken and a noodle. Rice and noodles was above average but not great. But was surprised to see the chilly chicken. It just had the steam chicken( maybe fried and kept in fridge ) and some gravy. Forget about the Blunt taste I never saw a piece of onion or a capsicum or a chilly. Felt it was just cooked in dough to make that gravy. Such a tasteless pathetic chilly chicken. Even the small tattukada give better tasted food. Then they told the fresh catch of the day. Red sniper. Told to give with some masala n make it spicy. After waiting for 30min bought just two pieces of fish and when asked told mahimahi. When we asked about the sniper they said it's not a fresh catch. They heard it wrong. And told will not be billed. We order ice cream and fruit salads. And last we got a bill which made our stomach filled. 10000 ;-) Being a varkalite, feel really sorry for the quality of food served. There was hardly any crowd. Will never recommend anyone here.

The restaurant comes as welcome respite near varkala, if you have come with family and would like to enjoy a peaceful meal do go to this place. The other restaurants in varkala near the cliff are crowded and very difficult to get a table with nice view of the sea. I found all restaurants too crowded for my comfort, may be avoid going on a weekend. The taste at costal kitchen was understandably pleasing given th Taj standards. They also serve alcoholic beverages.

Chef Ratheesh and his team provide exceptional fine dining experience. The view of the Arabian Sea is breathtaking. The waiting staff are friendly and courteous. I have tried the breakfast at many hotels in India and this place serves the best idilis with sambar. I have also tried their signature biriyani which was absolutely amazing. The ambience is great, a very relaxing place.

We are basically Keralite. Visited with family for dinner this evening at their Coastal Kitchen with great expectation. Ambience is good and you will enjoy the privacy and not crowded at all. Unfortunately, I had a pathetic dinner that I ever had in my lifetime. We have ordered Aappam and it is equivalent to a rubber band. Also explored Pomfret fry which you will find under the category " Catch of the Day", no salt, no masala and not cooked properly. Phulka served, perhaps it was not Phulkas instead served ready to eat packet chapathi. Last but not least, we ended up paying 5,800 including GST for the dinner. I don't recommend dine in at Taj Varkala if you wish to have fresh food.

Pesticide smell inside the restaurant and I felt headache after sitting there for some time