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Where taste overtakes ambience

Photo: S. James

Good response Doing brisk business

If you are the type who forgets the world around while digging into plateful of paneer or rajma, then “Punjab-Da-Dhaba” restaurant is by far the best choice as far as tasty North Indian food goes.

They have two outlets right in the heart of the city and have successfully carved a niche for themselves. One of the eat-outs is on the Town Hall Road and the other near the West Masi Street-Town Hall Road interjection. A significant number of North Indians keep trooping in as the dhaba’s cash registers ring jolly.

Interestingly, none of those running the venture knows either the local language Tamil or English. They speak only Hindi and handle all their customers with flair.

“A decade ago, I came to this city as a pilgrim. But never had an inkling that I will start a business here one day,” says Deepak Sharma, who runs these restaurants.

“Our embroidery business was running well in Delhi. But destiny had planned it otherwise. When we suddenly faced huge loss, my paternal uncle introduced me to a friend of his, who was a manufacturer and supplier of bathroom fittings. In turn, he told me about the dearth of quality restaurants serving North Indian food in Madurai. This propelled me into action and today I am happy for taking the decision,” he recounts.

Most of the workers in the dhaba are Nepalis. “They are committed and are good workers. Most of them are well versed in the North Indian food varieties. Of course communication is a bit of a problem. But they do manage things splendidly with their working knowledge of Tamil,” avers Mr.Deepak’s business partner, S Premji from Nepal.

Think of Punjabi food and you can not leave out paneer and its different preparations. The dhaba has employed two cooks.

One of them is a “paneer specialist” while the other is an expert in making different rotis.

Their top of the menu paneer varieties include “shahi paneer”, “palak paneer”, “methi paneer”, “paneer kebab”, “paneer pasanda”, “paneer tiranga”, “paneer bhurji” and “paneer makhanwala”.

Heeding to requests from customers to have an airconditioned facility to usher in sophistication, the owners established an exclusive airconditioned restaurant on the Town Hall Road.

Though there is not much difference between these two places, the branch has more varieties from providing continental breakfast to starters and whole list of different gravy items and rotis. Koftas are an added attraction here. The Thaali meals is available only at the main restaurant on the West Masi Street.

There are two different Thaalis one with two rotis, rice, dhal fry, aloo jeera and curd while the second platter includes dhal makhani and shahi paneer in addition.

When the Dhaba is typically Punjabi Dhaba, can lassi be given a miss? Never, for it’s a part and parcel of Punjabi meals. Both salt and sweet lassi is available here which leaves a tingling taste when sipped chilled especially during these summer months.

The restaurant opens for breakfast at 9 a.m. and goes on till 11.30 a.m. offering all parantha varieties. From 11.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Thaali meals is available and both these joints brace up for dinner at 7 p.m. that stretches past 11 p.m.

The owners are looking out for an exclusive place to provide parking space for their customers given the traffic problem in their present location.

Food items are also packed and delivered free of cost if it is within one km range from the dhaba.

Beyond that, transportation cost is charged.

For orders and enquiries dial 9345103385 for non A/C restaurant and 9344131336 for A/C restaurant.

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