Pocket-friendly thaali at DU

Sexagenarian Mahesh Chandra, Associate Professor, Hoftsra University, New York comes to Delhi University occasionally. Not for any professional reasons but to recall the memories he had of the university while he was teaching here. While moving around the Arts Faculty, he notices a new canteen in the premises – the IRCTC Canteen. 

“I don’t eat food in all canteens or restaurants because I am scared of getting an upset stomach. Somehow, I wanted to eat food in this canteen after I saw somebody eating dosa,” says Mahesh, relishing his paper dosa as he talks to Metrolife. “The food here is reasonably good. Since I ate here yesterday too and nothing happened to me, I think the canteen is serving quality food,” he says. 

But the professor, who came along with his nephew Gaurav Dhingra, was not too happy with the food. “The canteen is serving food at the cheapest price, so nothing great can be expected,” says Gaurav, who ordered a thali which comes with dal, sabzi, rice and roti.  “It’s bland, there’s hardly any taste,” he says. 

Also, having the food at the canteen for the first time Preeti, Sarah, Jyoti and Geetika, first year students of Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB) were bit disappointed. Though they ordered three different items – uttapam, noodles and chhole bhature, none was able to satisfy their palate. “Out of the three, uttapam is decent, full of vegetables,” says Jyoti.

 “Chhole is not tasty at all, pheeke hain (totally bland). Chhole is incomplete without spices and Punjabi tadka. The canteen people should have ensured that what they are serving is authentic,” says Preeti. The girls were not very happy with the noodles too. “They have served it cold. Quality is not worth the price of the plate,” says Jyoti.

Rebecca, who is doing post graduation in Philosophy, is a regular visitor to the canteen. She comes here every weekend. “Food comes within the limited budget here. Dosa and chhole-rice are my favourite,” says Rebecca, who was accompanied by her friend Mageanel. Having the food here for the first time Mageanel says she loved chhole-rice. 

Since students are the major customers, the canteen serves food at nominal rates. Like Masala and Plain Dosa is priced at Rs 30, Uttapam-Rs 30, Idli Sambar-Rs 25, Sambhar Vada-Rs 25, Noodles-Rs 40, Fried rice -Rs 35, Stuffed Paratha-Rs 30, Vegetarian Manchurian Rice-Rs 50, Rajma and Chhole Rice-Rs 35 and Paneer Rice at Rs 60 a plate. Besides, the canteen also has an option of thali with rates ranging from Rs 15 to 80.

The canteen also serves regular snacks like samosa, bread pakoda and Veg Sandwich.