<p>The reputation of Keventer’s aka Shake Square in Connaught Place visibly precedes the eatery itself. </p>.<p>Long before you have reached the joint, you see long queues of thirsty visitors waiting to grab their bottles of milkshake; and of course, there are those who have already managed their colourful flavoured milk bottles and are walking around the place with friends. This despite the fact that this hole-in-the-wall joint has no signboard, no seating arrangement and no fancy food items other than the milkshakes and a few quick bites. So, Metrolife set out to understand what makes Shake Square so popular even though newer eateries are coming up by the day.<br /><br />First things first, the third generation member of the family running this place since 1971, Sagar Pahuja tells us that Delhi is not new to Keventer’s. This eatery was established by a Britisher Edward Keventer much before Indian independence. Sagar is not sure of the year. After Partition, when Edward had to leave India, he sold it to the famous Dalmia group of industries which later handed it over to the Pahuja family. <br /><br />Two years back, Sagar informs us, Dalmias filed a legal suit against the Pahuja family over the title ‘Keventer’s,’ since the the former also run a Keventer’s in Kolkata. However, an amicable solution was found by rechristening the CP Keventer’s as ‘Shake Square’ in 2011.<br /><br />There have been other changes here as well. Sagar tells us, “During Edward’s time, Keventer’s wasn’t anything more than a dairy shop selling dairy products like milk, ghee, butter etc. There were three flavours available in the milk - strawberry, pineapple and vanilla. After we took over, we introduced four more flavours - chocolate, coffee, mango and butterscotch. Then we brought in ice creams and ice cream shakes, and in the 1990s we added quick bites like the vegetable sandwich, patty, burger, spring roll, cheese bread pakora, paneer kulcha and vegetable seekh kebab with rumali roti.” While the milkshakes and ice creams are priced at a reasonable Rs 40, the ice cream shakes are available for Rs 70, and quick bites range from Rs 20-35. <br /><br />One can see eager crowds around Shake Square right from early morning to late night as this place is open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, an advantage it has over its popular next door neighbour ‘Wenger’s’ which closes by 8. <br /><br />Sagar further informs us, “Now we also have two more branches in Kamla Nagar and Pitampura which have more flavours in milkshakes like black currant, kiwi, mocha, kesar pista, elaichi, ice cream sodas, sundaes etc. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to introduce all these flavours in CP because the rush is so much, we know we won’t be able to deliver.” An interesting sight at Shake Square are the canisters of fresh milk <br />being tossed in and out constantly, an easy explanation to the quality of their products and therefore their popularity. <br /><br />Avinash Dubey, who works at ICICI bank nearby, and is a regular customer here says, “It is such a relief to just walk into the neighbouring Keventer’s for a cool milkshake in these summers, I just keep coming back here.” Tell him it’s not Keventer’s anymore, but ‘Shake Square,’ and he quips, “Really? How does it matter? To me, it will be Keventer’s always.”</p>
<p>The reputation of Keventer’s aka Shake Square in Connaught Place visibly precedes the eatery itself. </p>.<p>Long before you have reached the joint, you see long queues of thirsty visitors waiting to grab their bottles of milkshake; and of course, there are those who have already managed their colourful flavoured milk bottles and are walking around the place with friends. This despite the fact that this hole-in-the-wall joint has no signboard, no seating arrangement and no fancy food items other than the milkshakes and a few quick bites. So, Metrolife set out to understand what makes Shake Square so popular even though newer eateries are coming up by the day.<br /><br />First things first, the third generation member of the family running this place since 1971, Sagar Pahuja tells us that Delhi is not new to Keventer’s. This eatery was established by a Britisher Edward Keventer much before Indian independence. Sagar is not sure of the year. After Partition, when Edward had to leave India, he sold it to the famous Dalmia group of industries which later handed it over to the Pahuja family. <br /><br />Two years back, Sagar informs us, Dalmias filed a legal suit against the Pahuja family over the title ‘Keventer’s,’ since the the former also run a Keventer’s in Kolkata. However, an amicable solution was found by rechristening the CP Keventer’s as ‘Shake Square’ in 2011.<br /><br />There have been other changes here as well. Sagar tells us, “During Edward’s time, Keventer’s wasn’t anything more than a dairy shop selling dairy products like milk, ghee, butter etc. There were three flavours available in the milk - strawberry, pineapple and vanilla. After we took over, we introduced four more flavours - chocolate, coffee, mango and butterscotch. Then we brought in ice creams and ice cream shakes, and in the 1990s we added quick bites like the vegetable sandwich, patty, burger, spring roll, cheese bread pakora, paneer kulcha and vegetable seekh kebab with rumali roti.” While the milkshakes and ice creams are priced at a reasonable Rs 40, the ice cream shakes are available for Rs 70, and quick bites range from Rs 20-35. <br /><br />One can see eager crowds around Shake Square right from early morning to late night as this place is open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, an advantage it has over its popular next door neighbour ‘Wenger’s’ which closes by 8. <br /><br />Sagar further informs us, “Now we also have two more branches in Kamla Nagar and Pitampura which have more flavours in milkshakes like black currant, kiwi, mocha, kesar pista, elaichi, ice cream sodas, sundaes etc. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to introduce all these flavours in CP because the rush is so much, we know we won’t be able to deliver.” An interesting sight at Shake Square are the canisters of fresh milk <br />being tossed in and out constantly, an easy explanation to the quality of their products and therefore their popularity. <br /><br />Avinash Dubey, who works at ICICI bank nearby, and is a regular customer here says, “It is such a relief to just walk into the neighbouring Keventer’s for a cool milkshake in these summers, I just keep coming back here.” Tell him it’s not Keventer’s anymore, but ‘Shake Square,’ and he quips, “Really? How does it matter? To me, it will be Keventer’s always.”</p>
