Cockroach found at JW Marriott Mumbai restaurant ruins Fortis cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth’s dinner, but he is thankful he is inside Tukaram Mundhe’s territory

A Saturday night dinner at Mumbai’s JW Marriott Sahar took an unexpected turn for Fortis cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth after a baby cockroach appeared on his table at Romano’s, the hotel’s Italian restaurant.

Seth shared a video of the insect on X and gave the unexpected dinner guest a name, “Roachie”. The cardiologist said the baby cockroach appeared to be interested in sharing the meal and did not leave despite attempts by the diners to persuade it to move.

The incident was reported at Romano’s, an Italian restaurant inside the five-star JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. Marriott describes Romano’s as an award-winning restaurant serving Italian cuisine and lists it among the hotel’s on-property dining venues. The hotel currently lists the restaurant as open daily.

Dr Ashok Seth’s dinner interrupted by ‘Roachie’

In the social media post, Seth wrote that a baby cockroach was on the table “wanting to share our dinner”. He jokingly suggested that the insect may have wanted “Piazza and not Pasta”.

The humour, however, did not last for the diners.

Seth said the cockroach “really took our appetite away” and that the group eventually left the restaurant.

The video shared with the post showed the insect moving around the table near the diners’ food. The incident subsequently drew attention online, with users discussing restaurant hygiene and pest-control measures.

Seth also tagged the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration and FSSAI in the post.

Why Tukaram Mundhe was tagged

Seth specifically tagged Tukaram Mundhe, an IAS officer who currently serves as Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration.

Maharashtra FDA’s official website lists Mundhe as the commissioner of the department. The agency describes its mission as making food and drugs safer in Maharashtra.

That explains Seth’s reference to being in “Mr Munde’s territory” in the post. The comment was a reference to the state food and drug regulator’s jurisdiction rather than a statement that the department had already taken action.

There is no confirmed regulatory finding against the restaurant in the material available so far. A reported cockroach sighting also does not, by itself, establish a violation or prove a wider pest-control problem at the restaurant.

Who is Dr Ashok Seth

Seth is a prominent interventional cardiologist and is currently listed by Fortis Healthcare as Chairman of Cardiac Sciences at Fortis Okhla.

Fortis website says Seth has around 40 years of experience and has contributed to the development of interventional cardiology, including pioneering several angioplasty techniques in India and the Asia-Pacific region. The hospital group also lists him as Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi.

Seth has also received some of India’s major civilian and medical honours. Fortis records his Padma Shri in 2003, Padma Bhushan in 2015 and B.C. Roy National Award for the Most Eminent Medical Person in 2017.

His profile gives additional context to why the restaurant complaint attracted attention online.

What is Romano’s at JW Marriott Mumbai

Romano’s is the Italian restaurant at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar in Andheri East.

According to Marriott’s official dining page, the restaurant serves Italian cuisine in an elegant setting and describes Romano’s as an award-winning restaurant. The hotel also says Romano’s received the Best Italian Premium Dining Restaurant award at the 2025 Times Food & Nightlife Awards.

The reported incident therefore occurred at a premium hotel restaurant rather than a standalone roadside eatery or smaller food outlet.

For diners, however, the setting did not change the immediate experience described by Seth. The appearance of the insect on the table was enough for the group to stop eating and leave.

Marriott responds to the complaint

The post also drew a response from Marriott Bonvoy Assist, which apologised for the incident and said the matter would be investigated.

The response does not by itself establish what caused the incident or whether the restaurant had any broader hygiene problem.

A proper assessment would depend on any inspection, investigation or other findings by the restaurant or relevant authorities.

Why cockroach sightings matter in food-service settings

Cockroaches can raise food-hygiene concerns in restaurants because pest control is an important part of maintaining hygienic food-preparation and dining environments.

India’s food-safety system is regulated through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, while state authorities such as Maharashtra’s FDA also have responsibilities within the food and drug regulatory system.

The Maharashtra FDA’s official website lists “Safe Food, Safe Drugs, Safe Maharashtra” as part of its stated mission.

In Seth’s case, the available information establishes the reported sighting and his public complaint. It does not establish whether the restaurant breached a specific food-safety requirement.

For now, the incident has turned what was supposed to be a Saturday night Italian dinner into an unexpected social media complaint, complete with a baby cockroach named “Roachie” and a tag directed at Maharashtra’s food regulator.

Inputs from TOI