Phone orders, Uber Eats commence; website bookings coming
Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 2, 2020
To thousands of customers, the ‘partial opening’ of their favourite Saravanaa Bhavan South Indian Restaurant in Auckland’s Central Business District has come delicious news.
Conforming to the Alert 3 rules of Covid-19 lockdown, the Restaurant, located at 51E Hobson Street, commenced its takeaway, contactless service on Tuesday, March 28, 2020.
The Restaurant has been busy with takeaway and delivery services provided from 12 pm to 830 pm throughout the week.
Enhanced Safety
Sydney based Shekar Mani, a Director of Hotel Saravanaa Bhavan (HSB) of the world-renowned brand said that the Auckland Restaurant has enhanced its safety and security systems and procedures to offer customers hygienic, zero-contact and efficient takeout and delivery service.
“Even in normal times, Saravanaa Bhavan follows rigid, high standards of hygiene in cooking and serving dishes. We are now taking extra precautions to comply with the Covid-19 lockdown rules of the New Zealand government as we follow in other countries where we have a growing presence. Our staff regularly conduct safety drills,” he said.
The Order process
Restaurant Director and Manager Sree Hari Shete said that customer response has been encouraging.
“We are currently accepting telephone order and order through Uber Eats, with card payments. Our website (www.saravanaabhavan.co.nz) is currently under maintenance and we are preparing to provide online ordering service through this website in a couple of days,” he said.
The takeaway service currently provides almost all snacks (subject to supply of the requisite vegetables and other ingredients). These include Rice Idly, Vada, Mini (14 Pcs) Ghee Sambar Idly, Rava Kichadi, Medhu Vada, Sambar Vada, Rasa Vada, Curd Vada, Masala Vada, Banana Bajji, Onion Bajji, Chilli Bajji, Chilli Bajji, Mysore Bonda, Poori, Uthappam, Dosa, Parotta, Rasam, Basmati Ka Bandhar and more.
About Saravanaa Bhavan
The Auckland branch of Saravanaa Bhavan opened on April 2, 2019, inaugurating a new chapter in the culinary art of South India in general and Tamil Nadu in particular, and marked a distinction in the restaurants sector of the country.
Mr Mani and his fellow-directors had planned to celebrate the first anniversary with a special event, which was cancelled since New Zealand declared a State of National Emergency, issued Epidemics Notice, promulgated the Health Act, closed its borders and went into a strict Alert 4 lockdown effective March 25, 2020.
The presence of the brand in 21 countries (including India, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, USA and Canada) has created a galaxy of customers who have proved their loyalty time and again, relishing a range of cuisine that have stood the test of time, in quality, taste, presentation and equally important, standard of service.
Unique Formula
Its unique formula of preparations with a unique blend of spices and other ingredients have won the admiration of millions of diners across the Continents, earning for itself a place of eminence and importance among the best purveyors culinary delights.
Mr Mani said that the Saravanaa Bhavan brand follows strict codes of practice, presence and presentation, with a no-compromise approach to quality of products and standards of service.
“Every Restaurant of the chain conforms to strict regulations of hygiene, health and safety and other matters, which is why substantial time, money and efforts are invested in the initial preparations,” he said.
Paradigm shift
Mr Mani said that Saravanaa Bhavan Restaurants are in the process of making a paradigm shift in the way its business.
“The focus will be to offer a satisfying and safe in-house dining experience to all our patrons. We will use modern technology like QR codes and implement new systems to minimise staff contact to keep ahead of the changing behavioural landscape. Covid-19 has taught all of us several lessons. We have been working on new, smart and more efficient methods of providing service,” he said.
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