Edison Indian Restaurants | Iselin Indian Restaurants |
Shree Jalaram Sweets Review
Reviewer's Summary: Good Gujarati Thali, Disappointing Chole Puri, Unhygienic Practices
I am no stranger to Jalaram Sweets and Snacks on Lincoln Hwy in Iselin New Jersey.
I have been there on a couple of occasions to pick up some Banana chips as a side for my evening cocktail.
The other day as I was parking my car in the free public parking on Oak Tree Road church compound, I noticed the board about availability of Sugar Cane juice at Jalaram Sweets and Snacks.
The board reminded me of how I used to enjoy Sugar Cane juice back home in India during summer.
I decided to have some Sugar Cane juice to beat the heat and went over to Jalaram Sweets.
Ambience
Jalaram Sweets and Snacks is a small self-service styled restaurant with cash counter and kitchen at the far end and tables upfront.The restaurant was empty when I walked in around 1PM. One diner came as I was leaving the place.
The menu is pasted on the wall above the sweets/snacks/cash counter.
The dumpster is right near the main door and dining room floor was just ok.
The dining hall was unbearably hot and seemed as if the air conditioning was not working.
I quickly checked the menu on the wall and placed my order of Pure Gujarati Thali ($6.99) and Chole Puri ($3.99).
After placing my food order, I moved toward the Sugar Cane juicer counter to order a glass of juice.
I retreated in horror with just one look at the Sugar Cane juice maker and the surrounding area.
The whole area was messy and dirty with a pile of juice extracted sugar cane.
No, I did not order Sugar Cane juice and instead decided to pick up some sweets - Jangiri and Son Papdi and some snacks after my food.
After about 20 minutes, my food was ready and the medium height, spectacles wearing Gujarati waiter handed me my Pure Gujarati Thali first followed by Chole Puri.
Decent Gujarati Thali
Jalaram's Gujarati Thali included Tindora Potato Curry, Alu Gobi Curry, Dal, Pappad, Plain Rice, Cucumber Raita and Puri instead of Roti. (more about this later)Here is my take on the Gujarati Thali:
Pure Gujarati Thali |
Disappointing Chole Puri |
- The serving size of curries, rice and dal for $6.99 was small. For the same price, I got much larger quantity at Khusboo in Sugar Tree Plaza on Oak Tree Road.
- Tindora Potato Curry was tasty though I like it to be less oily.
- Ditto with Alu Gobi curry. Alu Gobi was tasty but oily.
- Dal was medium thick, slightly sweetish and very flavorful.
- The thick Cucumber Raita was delicious and soothing.
- Pappad was crisp.
- According to the menu posted on the wall, Gujarati Thali is usually served with Roti. But the Jalaram Sweets kitchen substituted Puri as Roti was not available. The Thali came with six tiny, piping hot puris bearing an emaciated look.
Puri usually is a golden yellow color round puffed up bread. But not at Jalaram Sweets and Snacks. Puri at Jalaram Sweets was dark Brown in color, very oily and had a emaciated look. No, I did not like it one bit. - Plain rice was fine with right texture.
Disappointing Chole Puri
Chole Puri came with a small serving of Channa Masala curry and four dark brown color, oil dripping, emaciated looking Puris.Chenna Masala was medium thick and just OK in taste.
Overall, I did not enjoy the Chole Puri much.
Poor Hygiene Practices
While I was disappointed with my Chole Puri order, what infuriated me most at Jalaram Sweets and Snacks was the poor hygiene practices and callous attitude to paying customers.- Firtst, the lady cook in the kitchen who was preparing my order was constantly wiping her nose against her shoulder and upper arm.
- Second, the Gujarati waiter at the counter was touching the snacks on the counter with bare hands.
No, the Jalaram Sweets wait staff have not heard of gloves or laddle. The moment I saw the Gujarai waiter touching Kitchu (a rice dish) with his bare hands, I abandoned my plans of purchasing sweets and snacks. - Third, when the lady cook requested the counter waiter in Gujarati to check whether Puri can be substitued for Roti, the fella just did not bother to inform us. It was only after the lady in the kitchen insisted that he cared to translate it in English and enquired about the substitution.
- The Sugar Cane juice area was dirty with a pile of juice extracted sugar cane lying unattended.
- Yet another thing is Jalaram Sweets accepts only Cash or Check payments. Check payments have to be accompanied by two photo IDs. No receipt is provided for your payment.
Jalaram Sweets Rating
All in all, I am not likely to return to Jalaram Sweets and Snacks due to the unhygienic dining room practices.Sure the Gujarati Thali was good except for the emaciated puri. But the disgusting unhgienic practices put me off. - © OakTreeRoad.us