Rajdhani ki thali

Sat, Aug 16 01:10 AM

For someone who practically survives on non-vegetarian fare, getting an invite from a 'pure vegetarian' eatery doesn't seem excitement at the outset, especially if the restaurant is famous as a 'thali place', with a pre-set menu for every day. But I was in for a pleasant surprise when I went to Rajdhani, Mumbai's famous restaurant, which opened shop in Delhi sometime ago.

For one, the place doesn't have the ambience one associates with thali restaurants in general; that is, it isn't a noisy fish market. A traditional tilak welcome and Indian music in the background also serves their cause well.

Rajdhani boasts of a mix of Gujarati and Rajasthani cuisine, with a whopping 80 different rotating menus. A typical thali (Rs 215) with unlimited helpings comprises two starters or farsans, followed by two vegetables, a potato preparation and a combination of pulses.

In my case, the farsaan turned out to be khasta paapri and lipsmacking tirangi dhokla. The main course had gatte ka saag and a capsicum-corn vegetable in thick gravy, which turned out quite well.

The piping hot, sweet Gujarati kadhi was a welcome contrast to the North Indian khatti yellow kadhi. The pi and #232;ce de resistance is a live counter of barbequed chhaas or buttermilk, which goes from table to table serving buttermilk drink garnished with hand ground spices.

Prakash Barot, a cook-cum-waiter at the restaurant, explained the concept behind the cuisine while serving khasta rotis and steamed rice. "Waiters serving the guests ensure that they have their fill.

We want to serve them in the traditional loving way, without appearing to force feed," he said in a typical Gujarati dialect. The dessert was delicious kesari suji halwa, which didn't seem at all like a forced eat even after having stuffed ourselves with the main course.

Best of all, if your schedule doesn't permit you to eat out, the restaurant delivers home, too!.

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