Mumbai: A dinner at the JW Marriott Mumbai became unpleasant for Delhi-based cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth after a cockroach was spotted crawling near his plate at the hotel’s Romano’s restaurant.
Seth, chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, was dining at the restaurant in Sahar on Saturday night when he noticed the insect moving around his table. He recorded a video and later shared it on X. The post soon attracted widespread attention online.
In his post, Seth sarcastically named the cockroach “Roachie” and questioned the restaurant’s hygiene standards. He also tagged Tukaram Mundhe, chief of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and asked him to look into the matter.
“Look who came for dinner unexpectedly. ‘Roachie’– a baby cockroach was on our table wanting to share our dinner at the Romano restaurant at JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai, Saturday night,” Dr Seth wrote.
Seth said the people at his table tried to make the cockroach leave, but it did not move. Continuing his sarcastic remarks, he joked that the insect may have come looking for “Pizza and not Pasta”.
He said the incident ruined their appetite and forced them to leave the restaurant.
Referring to Mundhe, Seth added that they were “in Mr Mundhe’s territory”, suggesting that the FDA chief could examine the complaint.
Video Draws Online Reactions
The video led to several reactions on social media. Many users expressed surprise that a cockroach was seen on a dining table at a luxury hotel. Some users also urged the food safety authorities to inspect the restaurant and check its hygiene practices, as reported by India Today.
Marriott Bonvoy Assist responded to Seth’s post and apologised for the incident. The hotel’s customer support account said it would look into the matter.
“Hello Dr Ashok, thank you for letting us know. We take this matter seriously. We would like to look into it for you,” the account replied.
The incident comes amid growing concern over hygiene at restaurants and food outlets.
Notices Issued To Hotels In August
In August, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued notices to two five-star hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity, including JW Marriott. The notices followed inspections that reportedly found violations linked to food safety, hygiene, storage and licensing.
Seth’s video continued to circulate on X, with users calling for an inspection of Romano’s restaurant. There was no immediate public statement from the restaurant regarding the incident.