They are the old timers, the legacy. They claim of serving
since 1956, and one of my known verifies the past 30 years of service.
When you enter the shop on your left, you will see a sweet
counter and on your right lassi, coffee and milk counter. Post that set up for
sitting, for around 20 people. After sitting, there is a counter for pakode,
samosa and chole bhature. You can see big frying pans or kadai in which the
pakodas and bhature are being fried. On one side are the washbasin and the
water cooler, tissues and all.
Very aptly priced, have a look at the prices, as I have a
pasted the snap of the menu. One thing I love about these small eateries is
that you pay for what is on the menu and not 30-40% more than the prices which
includes service and tax. The service is good and real fast, not to be compare
with any, as it is very homely.
Looking at the size of the eatery and the ambience it seemed
to me, as it is first pay and service kind. Just grab a seat and order. Food is
served quickly and you can even see it being prepared. So you can pass your
requirements directly such as “Bhaiya,
bhatura zara zyada laal kar dena” (brother, fry my bhatura to a more red in
colour than the usual) or “chatni thodi
zyada dena” (A bit of more sauce than the usual). Sometimes, I feel that this
idea of customization of food is originally by Indians and now globally
followed by food chains such as Subway, which propagate ‘make your own sandwich
culture’. Don’t you get a different feeling of taste or have ever boasted about
it to your friend, saying, “Mine is spicier
and tangy as I have asked him to add that extra lime juice and spice”? Moreover,
what a satisfaction, you will not deny that. This customization only gives the
paisa vasool or value for money feeling.
The place gives a dual feeling of sitting in your kitchen
and enjoying the delicacies as well of that of eating out in an eatery. The aroma
of other delicacies can be enjoyed along with your own food, which tempts you
to order items, which you never thought of. Like, we ordered lassi and daal ka
pakoda or laddu, just because of the aromatic punch we got on our nose from
them.
The preparation is in all desi ghee. Test many of the desi
ghee eateries fail, this place has passed. Many people do not like desi ghee
preparation as they get a distinct flavor of ghee and after eat mouth feel. This
place scores on this, no distinct ghee flavor and after taste mouth feel.
Usually such small eateries go bad at water they serve. I am
sure must have noticed oil floating in the stainless steel glasses in which you
were served at eateries and then you ask for mineral water bottle. The water
served was cool, no oil spots and scores well on hygiene. I am alive, writing
this is a proof.
We ordered Chole Bhature, Paneer pakoda, Imarati, Lassi, Dal
k laddu.
Chole bhature: Two
big bhatura, with Chole, salad and pickle were served. Bit different from
others. The bhature were quite big in size and more or less like a poori. The
bhaturas usually are more thick, small and inside have a more mesh kind of
structure. Moreover, I liked them. Chole were tasty and the colour on a lighter
tone of dark brown. The service staff keeps an eye and will fill your plate
with extra chole as soon as your finish your first serve. No extra charges for
this… J
Paneer Pakoda: Sumptuous
is the word. A very big piece of cottage cheese, mildly spiced and coated with
besan. The best of this pakoda is that the 90 - 95% of this is cottage cheese
and rest is outer coating of beasn. While some of the eateries, do very thick
outer coating and less paneer to increase the profit margins they make a
genuine one. The single paneer pakoda is very filling for a stomach but not
that much for a greed, which generates because of this tasty snack. It is
served with mint and imli chutney (sauce).
Imarati: No, it
failed. It had a kind of stale flavor. Cooked nicely, beautiful orange colour
had a balanced sweetness but a distinct stale flavor… L
Lassi: Lassi
comes with a thick layer of cream. You need to sideline it with a plastic spoon
served with it else will mark some of it on your nose while drinking it. The
temperature just perfect, not over chilled and neither warm submitting to
outside heat. Sweetness well balanced and the winning act was no added
flavours. It is like heaven when you rest yourself from the scotching heat and
get a chance to take this nectar down your throat.
Dal k Laddu: Nice
taste, but could have been better. The batter not kneaded properly. The sign of
a good laddu is that when you cut it open in half, will get to notice a good
mesh structure as in slice of bread. This was missing. Actually, this mesh
structure enhances the taste and the mouth feel. Nevertheless, yes, was well
cooked and tasted good, but could have been better.
I loved last line of their menu card, “Home delivery at your nearest metro Station”
Overall, a good place to sit and eat. Whenever, you a get a chance
to visit the overcrowded chawri bazaar, or hauz quazi or Ajmeri Gate do try it.
Explore more food nearby… happy eating… J
