Photo Credit: Echoes - the restaurantAmong the dotted cafes in the bustling Satya Niketan market, opposite the Delhi University South campus, you will find a café called Echoes with a remarkable and heart-warming concept. You normally go to a restaurant to chit-chat and enjoy some coffee but here you suspend the world of incessant chatter and enter an atmosphere which echoes with the sound of silence.The unique thing about this restaurant is that the servers who serve you cannot hear or speak to you and you have to do away with the verbal mode of communication. Taking the very quality of sound it derives its name from and spinning it around beautifully, Echoes creates an environment of equality. “Listen with your eyes and talk with your hands,” is the mantra for everyone in the café which is designed around the theme of “motivation”.
How is the communication gap bridged?
When you enter Echoes, a smiling waiter hands you a card that reads: “Eat, engage and energize at our café managed by differently-abled staff. Let’s lead by actions together”. They have a bulb buzzer at every table. One just needs to press the button and a server will immediately be there to assist you. To place your order, you need to write the dish code on a notepad from the food menu along with any personal customization. To ease the ordering process, the food menu is divided into various segments. Along with this, Echoes has specially designed placards like “water please”, “spoons and forks”, “call the manager” and “bill please”, making it a fun and interesting way to interact with the servers.
Photo Credit: Echoes - the restaurantA brainchild of six friends, Echoes is managed by these young people, all in their early twenties, who aspired to work in the food sector. The café menu is quite elaborate offering Continental, American, Italian, Chinese and Mexican cuisines. The food is filling, delicious and considerably affordable.“Being from the hospitality industry, we have witnessed differently-abled staff mostly doing the backend monotonous jobs that do not require any customer interaction .We wanted to bring them to the forefront and give them a chance to interact with the customers. This gives them a lot of confidence to lead their lives as any other person would and also improves their employability,” shares Co-Owner Kshitij Behl.(Also read: 7 Restaurants That Offer So Much More Than Just Good Food)
Photo Credit: Echoes- The RestaurantThe owners approach potential candidates through internal sourcing and the whole system is designed in such a way that there are no hassles or confusion. The staff is also very focused on what they are doing and are smart enough to understand the situation and act accordingly.To make it more interactive, they have sign language on the menu and have also dedicated an entire wall where they've displayed signs for all 26 alphabets so that if any customer wants to have a conversation with the server they can. “I visit this place quite often and absolutely love the warmth with which the staff serves you. I have even started learning the sign language to interact with them,” shared Shivani Sharma, one of the regular visitors.Doing what most of us just talk about, Echoes has definitely made this world a more “sound” place in its own small way with its attempt to create a society that includes all and with no biases. You will leave not only with a full belly but also with a heart full of love and appreciation.Cost: INR 800 for two people (approx.)
Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 11 PM
Address: 17, 1st Floor, Opposite Sri Venkateshwara College, Satyaniketan, New Delhi
Phone number: 011 30806577Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
How is the communication gap bridged?
When you enter Echoes, a smiling waiter hands you a card that reads: “Eat, engage and energize at our café managed by differently-abled staff. Let’s lead by actions together”. They have a bulb buzzer at every table. One just needs to press the button and a server will immediately be there to assist you. To place your order, you need to write the dish code on a notepad from the food menu along with any personal customization. To ease the ordering process, the food menu is divided into various segments. Along with this, Echoes has specially designed placards like “water please”, “spoons and forks”, “call the manager” and “bill please”, making it a fun and interesting way to interact with the servers.
Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 11 PM
Address: 17, 1st Floor, Opposite Sri Venkateshwara College, Satyaniketan, New Delhi
Phone number: 011 30806577Disclaimer:The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
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