Chef isn’t perfect; it lags in places, offers quick-fix solutions to characters’ problems, and feels wholly familiar. But at a little over two hours, it doesn’t ask much of you, and offers some pleasure in Saif Ali Khan’s return to form as an actor hard to look away from.

There are some interesting flavours here, but Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Chef’ feels derivative, and doesn’t come together as a fully satisfactory dish. And that’s got to do with the uneven writing.

Chef holds no secret sauce of its own, but perhaps we shouldn’t be that surprised. There is only that much you can do with a reheated film.

Chef offers moments of brilliance which, if weaved in a more organised manner, may have given us a light, affable film. But a lazy and rather uninterested narrative takes away the pleasure.

With a predictable ending, the Saif Ali Khan starrer is certainly an interesting watch with a fashioned feel to it.

Grown up angst is a valid and neglected aspect of our storytelling. Except Menon’s digressing exploration of it feels more dull than delicious.

Chef serves up a feast garnished with subtle spices. Its aroma is mild and delicate, but the after-taste lingers on for long. Watch it: Chef is a film that is easy to fall in love with.

Chef is predictable in parts, the journey is an enjoyable one. Choose what you wish to eat while watching it. Popcorn or some of that delicious pasta which Roshan K whips up in a jiffy.

The end plays out as you thought it would. The original “Chef” at least made a comment on the food cart phenomenon in the United States, but there is no such phenomenon in India. Neither the food nor the emotions in this remake satisfy.

Just don’t compare it with the original Hollywood film and once again Chef will leave you with a smile.

Menon throws in a decent mix of father-son friendship and footage of food to keep Chef from falling flat. Some delightful moments emerge courtesy the generation gap between Roshan and Armaan. Credit goes to chef Sandhya C Kumar for picking out an array of dishes that will either make you step out for a meal or put on the apron on to attempt making the rotza. Ultimately  Chef is that rare Hindi film that celebrates India’s diversity of cuisine and its unfailing ability to whet our appetite and for that alone it’s worth a watch.

Food being the backdrop, Chef is majorly a story of values, family and love. If you’re watching this film,‌ a friendly advice, watch it with your stomach full – as it will make you hungry.

Despite these flaws, there’s much to like in this story. ‘Chef’ is a little over indulgent but makes the ride worthwhile.

For most part, the film will put a smile on your faces. Something about it makes you forget that there’s a sum total of two dishes, which feature in a loop here. Thankfully, Chef is pleasant while it lasts. And for everything else, there’s Masterchef.

Menon is not impatient to tell Roshan Kalra’s story. The narrative’s pace in unhurried  but never dull.

It is pleasant in parts, pretty almost throughout, and the cast is charming. In the absence of heft and a commitment to its genre though, it remains an ineffectual film. Saif  Ali Khan, who I believe is one of Hindi cinema’s most underrated actors, needs to choose better.

Chef is a poor fare which simply fails to touch the heart. It would appeal to a very thin section of the elite audience, but for the majority, it would be only as exciting as the prospect of feasting on stale food. At the box-office, it will prove to be a debacle.

A remake of Jon Favreau’s film by the same name, this film is more of a kitchen disaster than a chef’s signature dish. Unappetising!

Chef is a really good adaptation of the Hollywood movie that does justice to its theme while adding its own flavours. Aided by Saif, Padmapriya and Svar’s performances and Menon’s confident direction, Chef merges family drama with food appreciation in a nearly seamless manner. Despite its hiccups, Chef is a breezy watch that will leave you with a desperate craving for food.

Chef is a feel-good film about the importance of relationships and the message comes across smoothly albeit garbed in a long-drawn plot.

After watching the original Chef, I made it a point to learn the name of the man who was responsible for those stunning dishes. Tasting chef Roy Choi’s food has been a specific goal on my bucket list ever since. Even though this film dropped the names of the chefs who masterminded the dishes in it, I couldn’t care less about remembering their names as I walked out of the cinema.

Bollywood version of Jon Favreau’s sleeper hit makes for a heart-warming drama that’s worth a watch

Chef is a cute little film about life and what it takes to follow one’s dreams. Saif Ali Khan shines in this flawed film marred by occasional pacing issues.

Saif Ali Khan’s film struggles to impress with the starters (the beginning), saves the day with the variety in mains (bittersweet emotional journey of food and finding true happiness, spiced up with some fun moments) and steals the show with dessert (ending). This experience of food and life’s varied flavours deserves a try.

Watch Chef for its simple yet beautiful take on modern relationships. Watch it for good, clean fun on a weekend. Watch it for Saif. And yes, ladies, also watch it for Milind Soman in a mundu.

The film is a true treat for travel and food lovers so don’t you dare miss this delicious beauty.

This is one film that should appeal across the country, and well, it’s still not too late to put in the subtitles for the English dialogues!

Don’t give a miss to this Indian ‘Chef’ if you want delectable fare.