Stuffed parathas (Indian bread) are the most favorite breakfast item in India, especially in north India. Parathas are served with curds, butter, rajma or channa and pickle- a standard complimentary accompaniment. So far, I have never paid for pickle except at Gopal Restaurant on Asvem Beach (Goa, India) in April 2007. It charged INR 10.00 for 3-4 small pieces of mixed pickle, a complete rip-off. I flipped when I saw pickle in the bill, restaurant owner who presented bill snapped, “We charge for it as it is expensive”.
Even high-end hotels do not charge for it. Gopal, covered with a thatched roof, is a functional eatery, serving average food on worn-out plastic tables arranged on loose sand. Service is extremely slow. The most disappointing part of it was we were not informed at the time of placing the order.
