In September 2012, Supreeth Hegde decided to quit his 17-year-old corporate job and pursue his dream of being a restaurateur by opening ‘Friends Point’. A small chaat and snack shop, it offers delicious food at affordable rates.
“Our most popular items are burgers, vada pav, bun aloo tikki, samosa and kachori. Another speciality we have is masala drinks made out of Coke, Sprite and soda,” informs Supreeth.
At the chaat counter, one can enjoy other items like pani puri, jhaal muri and bhel while hot snacks include paneer rolls, potato wedges, tandoori veg nuggets, veg pasta and French fries among other things.
There are also several bun items like bun samosa, bun nippat masala with cheese, bun paneer tikka and bun butter.
Located near Mount Carmel College has its advantages, for it ensures consistent sales through the week. But on weekends and during holidays, it is the corporate crowd and families that throng the place.
“We have regulars as well as new customers coming in every day. No snack on the menu costs more than Rs 40 because we knew the kind of crowd we wanted. We’re also planning on expanding and starting outlets in areas that aren’t close to colleges,” says Supreeth, who is content with the response he has got so far.
A four-member team runs the entire place, switching between being chef and cashier with ease. What makes it appealing is the personal touch when it comes to customisation and recommendations.
The owner feels that the USP of the eatery is ‘affordable, freshly prepared tasty food’.
“We keep trying new things with our food and that’s why we serve vada pav with peanut powder instead of the usual garlic one. On popular demand, we will start serving a few Chinese items like rice and noodles soon. We also intend to introduce jalebi,” shares Supreeth.
Depending on what time of the day one goes, one might or might not find a place to sit. But that isn’t a problem as it’s not more than a ten-minute stop for most customers.
‘Friends Point’ is located at 25, 8th Main, Vasanthnagar and is open from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm on weekdays and from 4 pm to 9.30 pm on Sunday. For details, call 9008501421.
