Skip to main content

Panditji ka Dhaba - Sadar Bazar Gurgaon

"You can ask anyone in Gurgaon. Everyone knows about me," informs Panditji, the owner and Chef at Pandjitji ka Dhaba.  It is just a small one room eatery divided into two halves, one where food is cooked, other to sit and eat. But it has that old world charm to it that makes it stand out to millions of other small time eateries.

Founded more than 50 years ago, Pandjit ka Dhaba is situated at a corner of the Sadar Bazar in Gurgaon, one of the oldest markets in the city. There is no special hoarding, no headboards to point it out.Till date the food is cooked on fire lit by wood. Cooking food over wood is a gone trend now. No one does that in cities especially. But that is still alive and well at this place. It is one of the things that set them apart. Other than the special flavour it brings on to the food.

I went there on a very hot and humid afternoon for lunch, all alone knowing well, the heat won't be tolerated by my friends. My generation has been air conditioned now. We drive AC cars, work in AC offices come home to AC bedrooms. To sit and eat in small room, where kilos of wood is burning hardly 10 feet from you, they would have killed me. But I like good food. I find it all charming. I feel one should step out of their comfort zone now and then and experience things extraordinary.

I was fortunate enough to get a table all by myself. A boy came up and offered me a glass of water. As my instincts are, every time I go out to eat, I look for source of water. In this case it came from large earthen pots. So old school I liked it. The service is excellent, I finished half glass of water and the guy came back to refill as if he is just fresh from a hotel management institute.

Time to eat. Since I am a snob, I made a show of staring at the menu on the wall. To be honest, it had just 5-6 items, lemon - 5 bucks, dal vegetable - 50 rupees, roti - 5 or 7 bucks. It was not lost on Panditji who informed, "food here is same for anyone and everyone". Simple. So I was spared of choice to choose, as on menu that day was kadi and dal. Did I tell you they use only Desi Ghee at Panditji ka Dhaba? yeah. So it had a tadka like mom does in her kitchen and at first you are not able to see the dal for the layer of ghee over it. Add to it, I had already asked for roti with ghee on it. I haven't eaten so much ghee in a lot of time.

But it was nice. This is one place I would say everyone should try. This is how our ancestors cooked and ate. For all the fancy foods we love eating day in and out, their is something special in simple basic food. Especially with a passionate man like Panditji at helm supervising each and every plate going out of kitchen and aware of every customer at his place.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Also read

Prosperity blueprint: How one investor turned real estate into a living energy field for wealth

Wealth vastu case study: How an investor turned real estate into wealth In this wealth vastu case study, we explore how Choden, a seasoned investor, transformed underperforming rental properties into a thriving energy field of wealth using ancient Vastu principles, energetic space alignment, and simple rituals. The outcome—lower vacancies, higher ROI, and a profound sense of financial ease and energetic harmony. Why do some properties multiply wealth and others drain it? Have you ever walked into a home that immediately made you feel calm, confident, and somehow richer inside, even if nothing in your bank account changed? And then, there are those other places, beautiful on paper, perfectly located. Yet every time you enter, something feels off. Money slips away faster. Tenants leave. Repairs pile up. You can’t quite explain it, but you feel it. That’s where our wealth vastu case study begins — not with numbers, but with energy. This story isn’t about buying more land or...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...
1 comment
Read more

Epitome of equality

First of all This is not to demean any religion.. I am a Hindu by birth, but yes I respect all religions .I offer my daily prayers , fast on holy days , but there was something that was disturbing me . God as per me was a Friend, someone who was by my side always , someone who was a dear friend , but this is not what everyone else thought , for others he was the Judge who gives his verdict always and punishes anyone and everyone . Walk into any temple and you would see , if you have money , you will be treated in a way as if you are the ONLY disciple of the God . I have had too many experiences where I was treated as a second class citizen in the temple . Why? Well I could not afford giving thousands as donation. This is not how it should be , God looks at each one of us with the same divinity .As I mentioned God for me is a friend, so tell me, do we chose friends based on their bank balances? Do we give our verdict on them ? then how can God do it? I know many of us would ...
32 comments
Read more