A cockroach crawling on the dinner table was enough for a prominent Delhi cardiologist to take a sarcastic dig at the hygiene standards of a luxury hotel in Mumbai. Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, shared a video of the insect at Romano’s restaurant inside JW Marriott Mumbai, and the clip has gone viral.
The incident took place on Saturday night at the high-end restaurant located in the JW Marriott in Sahar, Mumbai.
What the Video Shows
In the video posted on X, a small cockroach can be seen scurrying around the table near Dr Seth’s plate. He captioned the post with a light but pointed remark, calling the unexpected visitor “Roachie.”
“Look who came for dinner unexpectedly. ‘Roachie’– a baby cockroach was on our table wanting to share our dinner at the Romano restaurant at JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai, Saturday night,” he wrote.
Dr Seth added that the group tried to persuade the cockroach to leave, but it refused to move. Taking a further dig, he joked that the insect perhaps wanted “Pizza and not Pasta.” He said the encounter ruined their appetite and prompted them to leave the restaurant.
He also tagged Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Tukaram Mundhe, noting that they were “in Mr Mundhe’s territory” and suggesting that the official would look into the matter.
Hotel’s Response
Marriott Bonvoy Assist responded to Dr Seth’s post, apologising for the incident and stating that the matter would be looked into.
“Hello Dr Ashok, thank you for letting us know. We take this matter seriously. We would like to look into it for you,” the hotel’s customer support account replied.
Public Reaction
The video triggered reactions from users who expressed shock at seeing a cockroach on the table of such a high-end restaurant. Several people called for a proper hygiene inspection of the outlet.
The incident comes amid growing public scrutiny of food hygiene at restaurants, especially when customers share videos of insects or contamination concerns online. In August, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued notices to two five-star hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity (including a JW Marriott) after inspections uncovered food safety, hygiene, storage and licensing violations.
Quick Facts: JW Marriott Mumbai Cockroach Incident 2026
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Who Shared | Dr Ashok Seth (Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute) |
| Location | Romano’s restaurant, JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai |
| What Was Found | Baby cockroach crawling on the dinner table |
| Date of Incident | Saturday night (September 2026) |
| Key Caption | Called the insect “Roachie” and made a sarcastic remark |
| Hotel Response | Marriott Bonvoy Assist apologised and said the matter would be looked into |
| Public Reaction | Shock and calls for hygiene inspection |
Finding an insect on the table of a premium restaurant is always unsettling for diners. Dr Seth’s sarcastic yet pointed post has once again put the spotlight on the gap that sometimes exists between the image of luxury dining and actual hygiene standards.
Have you ever faced a similar hygiene issue at a high-end restaurant? How did the management respond? Share your experience in the comments below! 🪳🍽️
