Food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy have changed the way people eat in India. With quick delivery, easy ordering, and endless food choices, these platforms have become a daily part of life. But with this huge growth, mistakes and delivery mix-ups have also increased. One such incident recently went viral when a customer received a Children’s Day cake instead of a birthday cake, even after confirming a special message request.
The incident created buzz on social media, and Zomato has now issued a response.
Customer Claims He Got a Children’s Day Cake Instead of a Birthday Cake
A user named Anoop Tiwari shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter). He ordered a chocolate cake to celebrate his brother’s birthday. To avoid any mistake, he even called the restaurant personally and asked them to write his brother’s name on the cake.
The restaurant owner reportedly assured him that the message would be added correctly. But when the order arrived, the family was shocked — the cake had “Happy Children’s Day” written on it.
Anoop also said the cake looked three days old, which made the situation worse. The wrong cake, combined with poor quality, completely spoiled the birthday mood.
Why Such Delivery Mistakes Happen
This incident highlights a common issue in the food delivery ecosystem. While apps like Zomato handle ordering, delivery, and customer support, restaurants are responsible for preparing and customizing food.
If the restaurant makes a mistake, it still affects the image of the delivery platform. With hundreds of orders every day, such errors happen — incorrect items, stale food, poor packaging, or wrong custom messages.
These situations often go viral online because customers share their frustration publicly.
Zomato Issues a Response to the Complaint
Zomato quickly noticed Anoop’s post and replied. The company apologised and asked him to share the order ID via private message so they could investigate.
Their response was short but professional, following the usual corporate policy of handling individual grievances privately.
Zomato wrote:
“Hi Anoop, that’s not how we wanted your celebration to go. Please DM us your order ID so we can look into this.”
The reply shows that while Zomato manages support, the actual mistake likely occurred at the restaurant level.
Delivery Apps Are Convenient but Not Perfect
Over the years, food delivery apps have transformed urban lifestyles. Students, office workers, and families rely heavily on these services. But the high volume of daily orders also increases the chances of mistakes.
Experts say that platforms need to improve restaurant monitoring, quality checks, and customer feedback systems to reduce such incidents. At the same time, users must also understand that delivery apps act as a bridge between customers and restaurants — not the food makers themselves.
Conclusion
This incident once again brings attention to the challenges in India’s fast-growing food delivery market. While apps offer convenience and speed, they also depend heavily on partner restaurants. A small mistake at the preparation stage can ruin a customer’s special moment, like in Anoop’s case.
Zomato’s quick response is a positive sign, but incidents like this show that better coordination between delivery platforms and restaurants is needed. As online food culture continues to expand, improving quality control should remain a top priority to protect customer trust.
FAQs
What was the issue with the cake delivered by Zomato?
A customer received a Children’s Day cake instead of a birthday cake, even after requesting a custom name message.
Did Zomato respond to the complaint?
Yes, Zomato replied publicly on X and asked the customer to share the order ID for further assistance.
Who made the mistake — Zomato or the restaurant?
The problem likely occurred at the restaurant during preparation, but delivery apps often get blamed because they are the face of the transaction.
Do such food delivery mistakes happen often?
Yes, social media is full of such incidents, especially wrong items, stale food, or incorrect custom messages.
How can these issues be reduced?
Better restaurant quality checks, stronger communication, and prompt customer support can help prevent mistakes in the future.