At the railway station in Agra we ate at Comesum, which is a restaurant chain at railway stations. They offer Western-style fast-food service with both Indian and Western food. Also they advertise that anyone on a long train journey can call their central phone line and order food delivered to them on the train when they arrive at the next station with a restaurant.
The restaurants look a lot like a Western-style fast food restaurant, which a visible service counter with a kitchen area behind that. There is seating and the advertising and decor match what it is common for junk food places in America, but this is uncommon in India. The food here is well-presented and their meals are traditional and there are the same healthy dining options here as at many Indian restaurants, but this place is organized more like a chain dining experience ought to be.
I ordered an espresso and the guy at the counter told me that the machine was being cleaned but that I should return in 30 minutes. Nandan ordered a dosa and the guy said that dosa is not served for lunch and that he should return after 4 o’clock. This is secret Indian code for “These things are never available,” and I can understand why so many Western people get frustrated when someone tells them in English to return at a later time when what they honestly are saying in a way that is forthright to them that the product or service is undeliverable, perpetually.
While we were here I wanted to visit the restaurant’s restroom, as I expected it to be less busy than the railway restroom. There was an unoccupied women’s restroom which from my doorway view seemed to be tidy and in order. In the male restroom there was a mother with two shirt-wearing toddlers who were bathing in the fountain of the bidet within the toilet. Typically Indian toilets are squat style with a tap nearby which can fill a cup to be used for cleaning. This much fancier Western style toilet had a continuously running fountain which aimed to clean anyone seated.
I waited for them to finish and then the mother left with the children behind her. The kids were giggling with play and covering themselves in shyness about their lack of pants.