A foodie anecdote from Delhi’s iconic Bukhara restaurant has sparked a debate on social media about eating habits, cultural pride and personal choice. The discussion began after the startup’s founder shared how a simple request for cutlery led to an unexpected — and now viral — response from restaurant staff.
Jasveer Singh, founder of Knot Dating, took to X to describe his experience at a popular North Indian restaurant known for its rustic style of serving food meant to be eaten by hand. Singh wrote that when he asked for cutlery, the restaurant manager politely informed him that only spoons were allowed. But what followed caught his attention.
According to Singh, the manager then added that several high-profile guests – including former US presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump – all ate with their hands in Bukhara. Singh jokingly suggested that the underlying message acts more like a gentle “reverse push” than a strict rule.
“I asked for cutlery in Bukhara. Manager said men’s spoon allowed – then casually added Clinton, Obama, Trump ate by hand here. The rest is up to you,” Singh wrote, adding a snarky note that at the time read: “Tum kya America se aaye ho?”
The post quickly gained attention, with users weighing whether the restaurant’s stance was a celebration of tradition or an unnecessary imposition.
User wrote: “Hahaha reverse psychology definitely works.”
Another user wrote: “You can’t eat naan with a spoon. Just like you can’t eat a hamburger with a spoon, it’s just common sense.”
“Bukharan waiters have – for decades – had a much better attitude than most of their famous, truly excellent guests! It’s the only restaurant I’ve had the pleasure of showing some of them more than once,” said a third user.
However, others felt that diners should not be directly or indirectly pressured to eat in a certain way.
“That’s fine. I think restaurants don’t have to be so Nazi to dictate how guests eat. Imagine going to China, Korea or Japan and restaurants denying Indians spoons and forks and imposing chopsticks,” the user wrote.
This episode struck a chord because it touches on a familiar urban dilemma: where does cultural authenticity end and individual choice begin? For many Indians, eating with your hands is second nature and deeply rooted in tradition. At the same time, modern dining spaces cater to a wide range of preferences, especially in cosmopolitan cities like Delhi.
Having hosted several world leaders over the decades, Bukhara is known for proudly maintaining its style of service, often hailed as a hallmark of India’s culinary heritage.
(This report is based on user-generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)