There's more to Not Just Paranthas! |
Author : Avni Jain | on 30th Aug 2009
I'm talking about the legendary 'dhaba-styled' restaurant of Saddi Dilli, Not Just Paranthas. They happen to claim that Shah Jahan would have been a regular customer if he were alive. And I totally second that! Because, there's more to the paranthas served there. If there's any place to savor the flavors of Purani Dilli in Nai Dilli, then it's undoubtedly got to be NJP! The ambience is totally mesmerizing; the wallpaper sketches of Old Delhi, the tiny lamp posts with Mughal-E-Azam posters, the seats made of jute rope, the newspaper styled menu, the knick-knack model of cycle-rickshaw, the lanterns hung everywhere and the viewable kitchen which is a real imitation of a dhaba with old aluminium containers, frying pans hanging on the wall, 'Ramu kaka-styled' chefs applying tadka and so much more! I can just go on and on!Talking about the food, The NJP Times (their menu) lists all kinds of paranthas in the world; from the most common aloo ka parantha to the bizarrely rare besan missi parantha! They apparently serve more than 100 varieties of paranthas with an extensive range of Indian, Pakistani and Mughlai cuisine. And as the name suggests, they don't want you to eat paranthas alone. So, they serve various kinds of pulses, pickles, raitas, gravies and chutneys to go with them! Majority of the people do like the stuff served at Not Just Paranthas but my food taste is a bit eerie! I found the food something between okay and good. It's the aura that makes the food yummier. The dining experience is Old Delhi-ish yet world class! About the pricing, I'd say it's easily affordable. Neither too cheap, nor too expensive. Oh, I particularly liked their washrooms which have "Shreeman" and "Shreemati" titles at the entrance door. And not to miss out, their wacky sign posts are ultimate! There was one which said, "Bhojan ke liye kripya haathon ka prayog karein". Madness plus awesomeness.
They've got three outlets to date; in Rajouri Garden, Laxmi Nagar and G.K. II, all of which evoke a nostalgic feeling with the many historic artifacts that have been woven into the restaurant. The best part is that all these historic relics which include 100 years old doors and windows have been procured from sumptuous Kothis and Katras of Purani Dilli.
Obviously, nothing can replace the Paranthe Walli Gali of Chandni Chowk. But still, NJP is a close substitute if you're not willing to travel all the way to Chandni Chowk and don't mind spending a little extra on paranthas! NJP has truly succeeded in reviving the bygone era and it's a great tribute to our old-age culture. Infact, NJP's MD has recently won the Young Restaurant Entrepreneur Award of the Year or something! Anyway, whether you're a foodie or not, obtaining a dining experience at NJP is highly recommended!
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