If you are an Indian, reading this blog would be a moving experience; we recommend you read it with a glass of water by your side. India is a country known for its hospitality and, of course, economy, population, and food. But, all Indian, in their heart, know what it means by 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God). It is our primary culture. All Indian, irrespective of their religion and caste, have a common upbringing that guests should be treated as gods.
We welcome our guests with delicious food and provide them adequate sitting environment. We ensure our guests are happy and comfortable throughout their stay. But, one restaurant, 'Taste of India', in the Belgium city of Hasselt, has shocked its customers.
Taste of India: Missing Its Roots
Taste of India is an Indian restaurant run by Indians. The restaurant is quite popular among Europeans for its food and among India for its hostility. The owners of the restaurant - Rohit Singh Biets and Jawahar Singh Biets – are of Indian origin. They have been running this restaurant for more than 30 years with a long list of experience of harassing Indians.
The owner and the workers of the restaurant don't leave a single opportunity to tease, harass, and mentally frustrate any customer from India. The restaurant, without caring about its repercussions, openly humiliates its Indian customers for their ethnicity.
A Mother and Son Shunned For Being Indians
The tale of Indians harassing Indians is not new, but we don't know how and why the restaurant 'Taste of India' got into harassing people of its ethnicity. Other restaurant customers have witnessed incidents of cold behaviour towards Indians, but it seems like 'Taste of India' is least bothered about it.
In one heart-moving incident, the restaurant thwarted an Indian mother and her son who came there to have some food. The mother, with her young son, came to the restaurant and placed an order. They had to wait 30 minutes before their food arrived, even when the restaurant was not busy. Her son had to use the restroom, for which her mother assisted him, and when they returned from the restroom, they saw a waiter standing near their table with their food packed. On asked, the waiter said, 'You can also have your food like this,' and asked them to leave as European customers were about to come.
A journalist reported this incident on Google Review. Surprisingly, many other reviews on 'Taste of India' claim the restaurant to be disrespectful towards Indians, calling them names and not allowing them to sit inside the restaurant. These reviews are seen and acknowledged by the restaurant but with zero regret.
'Taste of India' Denying food to Indians
The tale of the restaurant disrespecting and humiliating its fellow countrymen is very long. A family shared that they were not allowed to place orders for dinner because they hadn't ordered anything for starters. The family had a small child who was very hungry, and when they requested the restaurant to place an order at least for the child, they plainly denied it.
'We Will Lose European Customers If You People Keep Coming Here'
The restaurant is quite popular in Belgium for its food. The restaurant prioritizes Europeans who are friendly and respectful to Indians. They are greeted with smiles and served with love. But Indians have to hear themselves being called 'bloody Indians' and are made to sit on the corners, outside, or near the toilets so no one can see them. On being asked the restaurant why they behaved in such an unacceptable way with Indians, the restaurant bluntly said that if Indians kept coming, we would lose our business.
A very small percentage of Indians live in Belgium. The country has a total population of about 1.20 crore and has an Indian population of around 24,600. Now, In a country where there are only a few Indians, would they welcome each other or thwart them for their ethnicity? 'Taste of India' uses India's name but is far from its culture and sophistication. A restaurant that has no respect for Indians has no right to use an Indian name. It can rename itself to anything like 'Taste of Asia', 'Taste of Spices' or anything else.
India- A Country of Intellectual and Humble People
India is a country we know for its cultural diversity. But there is more to just culture diversity. India is a powerful country supported by intellectual men and women who have made amazing contributions to the world's development. Whether it is NASA, the Beverage Industry, the Healthcare sector, the technology sector, or tourism, India has left its marks on every sphere of the world.
As India has marked its presence worldwide with its people working in MNCs, industries, and running businesses, it is not difficult to find Indian restaurants. But, if you happen to be in Belgium and find the 'Taste of India' restaurant in Hasselt City, we highly recommend this place and have a feel of what India is not about.
The Food of India
All of us, once in our lifetime, might have tasted the lip-smacking spices that leave us gasping for more. Its mouth-watering dishes like kadhai paneer and butter chicken with naan can leave you craving more and more. If you are in Belgium and want to try Indian food, you should Google how to prepare Indian food and have it how you want. Why go to some restaurant that doesn't welcome Indians? If you want to enjoy Indian food, prepare it at home and eat with your family with all love.
Hasselt's Taste of India – A Big Thumb Down
The restaurant 'Taste of India' has broken our hearts with its cold response to Indian customers. It hurts us to see how a business using its country name disrespects and denies its countrymen. The 'Taste of India' is the last thing we might expect from any Indian. If you still wish to try this restaurant, go through some reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, and other review sites for a safe and respectful dining experience.
