No need to pay at kindness-inspired Ahmedabad café

By Rupam Jain Nair

AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters Life!) - Relish a three-course meal at a fancy restaurant, without the bill?

Seva Cafe, a rooftop eatery in Ahmedabad, serves up vegetarian Indian and international cuisine to an appreciative clientele who are asked to leave whatever they think their meal is worth.

The restaurant is not linked to any religious or charity organisations and its founders say their decidedly uncommercial concept is intended to foster a sense of giving among city dwellers more used to taking.

"We want people to eat, enjoy, evaluate and give what we deserve. Here, prices are not dictated by us," says manager Raju Thakore, who like the rest of his staff, is a volunteer.

"Good food, clean atmosphere, positive ambience and dedicated team are present, the bill books and price lists are missing."

After serving every meal, the volunteers place mouth fresheners and an empty white envelope before the customers.

"I tell them to leave behind only what we ought to have, they always have a choice to leave it empty," says Sumitra Jain, a 27-year-old chef. "Only one expectation exists of the server and the served: that acts of kindness and love be perpetuated."

The management does not mark any envelope and opens them after the restaurant is closed, so no customer is ever questioned about payments.