This Dhaba Is Running Houseful!

 

In these of multiple restaurants and mushrooming eateries, the customer is certainly spoilt for choice. Most restaurants miss the bus with respect to reaching out to the vast majority of eat-outers. But on the other side of the line are another set of unique restaurants where not only people are willing to go more than once, they are willing to wait almost an hour before they can step in.

 

One such restaurant is Dhaba by Claridges, located in DLF Cyber Hub. It has the unique capability of drawing huge crowds not only during the weekdays at lunchtime, but also for dinner on weekends. I got a taste of its popularity on a late September Sunday evening. On emerging from the parking, Cyber Hub looked like a carnival of sorts. The first sight was a huge bike, called the Freedom Bike, constructed with a variety of items bought on OLX (a popular website for selling and buying all kinds of stuff). Next to it at the centre, Emirates was hosting a quiz show for children between 7-12 years. We skirted our way through the human traffic and took a walk around the place. There was not much crowd inside the restaurants on the ground floor. The first floor looked a tad better with the eateries a little more occupied.

 

The trend seemed to be arrested once we reached Dhaba. The restaurant was packed and the crowd just outside suggested it was waiting time here. The escort outside confirmed it…45 minutes at least! Since this was my second visit, I knew that the wait would be worth it. We took a stroll through the rest of the first floor and settled down in the picturesque second floor. Most restaurants here had arrangements in the open and the music flowing on to the walkway kept us entertained.

 

 

Around half an hour later we were able to secure a table and gladly occupied it. It was a comfortable seating arrangement. Loud music was also drowned by the incessant chatter of the houseful restaurant. The steward, Karan came to our table shortly with the menu. Inspite of the comfortable air-conditioning, he was profusely sweating – I guess it was hard work being on your toes non-stop. We chose butter chicken and rara gosht (mutton dish) along with tawa rotis and butter naan (Indian breads).

 

The décor inside was reflective of a dhaba, a roadside eatery on Indian highways frequented by truck drivers who break from long and arduous journeys for some rest and of course to have a meal. From the design on the table to the graffiti on the wall, the theme of a typical roadside experience is displayed here. The choicest of quotes from Indian roads in captured on the walls. Those funny quips which can be spotted behind trucks and commercial vehicles are displayed unabashedly here. Some of my childhood memories of sitting between the driver and an elder person, with only the front view focused on the rear side of trucks and reading the funny lines, came alive the first time I had visited here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time you take a look around all the walls and finish reading all of it, your food most likely would have arrived. The service is real quick – now I know why Karan was dripping. The food looked as well as smelled yummy! And we got cracking immediately! It tasted even better! We happy gorged on the delights. Our request for some more rotis was met almost instantly. Really appreciate the promptness inspite of brimming over with endless customers. Karan did a fabulous job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My suggestion would be that whenever you decide to come, whether for lunch or dinner, book your table in advance. But there is no dearth of entertainment otherwise in Cyber Hub if you miss or simply choose to take your chance.