Saayba Hotel revisited. Talk about a price increase!

In March of 2012 I had posted a rather effusive piece on Saayba Hotel. I started the piece with the words “Saayba Hotel at Bandra is a little delight”. I also sounded a note of caution. “Saayba is in a state of change. Earlier you had stainless steel Thaalis or `Taats’ [pronounced like `Tarts’ with a silent `R’] in which you ate and the food was served in stainless steel bowls. Reminded me of eating at my maternal grandmother’s house as a child. But alas, all that has gone. It’s now white Melamine plates and bowls and the `Indian breads’ are served in a stainless steel serving bowl. Prices have increased and quantities have, I believe, reduced, but I may be wrong on the portions. Oh yes, they now have a dedicated order taker who is dressed in a white shirt and apron.”

Well, we had a meal at Saayba Hotel a couple of days ago, some 3 ½ months after the last meal. Unfortunately, it looks like things have gone a little pear shaped for Saayba Hotel. It was a Friday night, a good time – 9 pm – and I presume a day with no religious complications to prevent the consumption of meat or fish. To my shock there were just two persons in the restaurant. I was 3 and my nephew who I was dining with was 4. I have never seen this state of affairs at Saayba Hotel. Disturbing. Anyway, the menu was presented and I nearly fell of my chair. Prices had increased, dramatically, very dramatically. Was this why there were no punters in the restaurant?

Gritting my teeth, I ordered the usual things. Mutton Sagoti Fry, Teesrya Masala, an Usal, a plate of Vade, a plate of Rice Bhakri and a Chicken Pulao to round of the meal. I am happy to report that the food was completely up to scratch, it was delicious, and it had not changed in quality. However, quantities have most certainly diminished.  Eating from a Melamine plate, which has warped, is not the easiest thing to do. The damn plate kept rotating as I tried to chase the Mutton Sagoti with my Bhakri! To my mind, the decision to go `upscale’ by changing, among other things, from steel thaalis to God-awful melamine plates is not working. The tweaking of the prices and quantities seems to have had a similarly negative effect. 

OK, OK, let’s get to the business end. How much have prices increased? I had with me the take away menu from March 2012 and July 2012. I have tabulated but a few of the changes for you:

Dish	March 2012 price	July 2012 price	Increase
Whole stuffed promfret	309	399	90
Mutton Sukha Sagoti	179	219	40
Prawns with Balchaw Dip	209	269	60
Prawns Masala	169	229	60

Despite what I have written, a single dish is still not that expensive by Mumbai standards. The food was still very good. I do however question the logic. I can absolutely guarantee that the price of meat and fish has not risen so dramatically as to warrant this increase. But, I am just an eater; the owners have decided what obviously works for them. I have a choice, pay the price or find somewhere else to eat. I may just do the latter. To put it differently, should I pay the same amount for a dish at Saayba Hotel as I pay for at Lings Pavillion?

Is this still a little gem despite the price increase? Probably yes so long as the quality of the food is not compromised.