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Timeless appeal

Guruprasad Udupi, an old restaurant in South Delhi, still manages to draw patrons with its authentic taste.

Timeless appeal

Food South Indian meals

Just a few minutes’ walk from Munirka bus stand towards the market complex, one will come across a small billboard reading — Guruprasad Udupi. Then after taking the well-decorated stairs, with plants and saplings lining them, one will end up in a vast restaurant. Unlike any modern and flashy eatery, the interiors of Udupi are quite simple. Once inside, one will be transported to the 1990s, with simple seating arrangements, tables, well-dressed and attentive waiters.

The restaurant doesn’t have attractive décor, high-end bars, unusual interiors and loud music — the only thing in the name of décor is the Thanjavur paintings, which adorn its walls. All in all, there is a vintage feeling inside the restaurant. But what is more attractive is that it is always teeming with people of different age groups. “Of course, I can make it as modern as other fine-dining restaurants in Delhi. But if I do it, it will lose its charm,” said Akash Rao, the present owner, “Udupi is a well-known restaurant. People come here because of its quality, quantity and hygiene, not just for the décor.”

The restaurant was started by his father, V Ramachandra Rao in 1985, at a very small and rented place. The primary purpose was to give Delhi’ites an authentic South Indian taste because, at that time, the city had very few South Indian restaurants — Madras Hotel being one of them. But little did V Ramachandra Rao know that one day his restaurant would be loved by not only South Indians but all Delhi’ites. That led him to expand the place and menu. “When my father started it, it was serving only South Indian and to provide authentic taste he brought over some cooks from our native place in Udupi. It was the taste, which fetched customers every time,” said Aakash Rao.

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Now the restaurant is divided into three parts — one is wholly dedicated to South Indian cuisine, another offers just North Indian food and one part serves Chinese. All the three kitchens are open. It also has a play area for kids.

In terms of food, the all-vegetarian restaurant serves some toothsome South Indian delicacies, including as many as 50 different types of dosas. In the North Indian section, it serves Thali, Dal Makhni, Shahi Paneer and Cholla Bhatura. And in Chinese, the spring roll and Chowmein are the best.

Among the South Indian food one could try the Onion Paneer Rava Uttapam, which is served with sambar and red chutney. Another choice could be its South Indian Thali. Don’t miss its crispy papad and a filter coffee after meal.

Usually people from DDA colony, Munirka, Vasant Kunj, R K Puram and students of JNU, IIT, and campuses nearby, and offices frequently visit the place. Interestingly, they have some loyal customers. Even if they have migrated to other places, they don’t forget to come down here. “There were many couples, who came to the restaurants in their bachelor days, now they come to the restaurant with their grown up kids,” informed Rajendra Thapa, an employee of the restaurant since 1989.

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