Shoddy service, bitter coffee

MYSTERY GUEST

Haldiram's on National Highway 8, just beyond Gurgaon en route to Jaipur, is such a popular feeding trough among highway travellers that its neighbour, McDonald's, gets second-grade treatment. Still, some of us who prefer no-fuss food-on-the-move opt for the drive-thru at the Big M, even though the service, in all the years we have stopped here, has been tardy.

Just a few days ago, on September 15, the attendant at the drive-thru window had got our order wrong, another carload of ladies in front was griping about its mixed-up order, and the security guard, unheeding of our complaints, had told us to get a move on because we were holding up others behind us.

Nevertheless, having learnt that McDonald's drive-thru is now open from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, and once again on NH 8 on the morning of September 21, two minutes short of 6:00 am, we drive up "" to find the drive-thru window closed. The lights inside are on. So we drive up to the main entrance, but that too is locked, even though it's now opening time. We thump on the glass, but the cleaner inside mopping the floor doesn't even bother to look up.

Some moments later a security guard ambles up to say, "Come back 15 minutes later." We point out that it's now past 6:00, so he mutters under his breath, tells us to park, and says he'll get the keys. More time passes, he goes into a huddle with another security guard, and 10 minutes later, they open the front entrance 15 minutes after opening time.

As we enter, the kitchen and counter are suddenly alive with attendants. Our order is fairly simple "" I want a cold coffee, my co-passengers want a Coke and an (ugh!) veg tikki burger. Outside, the drive-thru window attendant throws open the window, and a car drives up and places its order.

Unfairly, their order is processed first, and we, now having wasted a half-hour off the highway, walk back to the car with our Rs 75 takeaway. Maybe it's the service that makes my coffee taste bitter!

Score: 2/10. You're in a hurry on the highway, and service delays are intolerable.