<p>Shopping at Nehru Place market and struck with hunger pangs? Fear not. An extensive range of snacks, seasonal drinks, sweets and wholesome vegetarian thalis await you in the market itself. </p>.<p>Come to Sona Sweets at Sona Chowk -- named after the restaurant -- and the owners guarantee that no vegan will go unsatisfied.<br /><br />Sona Sweets is a landmark here. Once you reach the Nehru Place market complex, finding the way here is easy. And then, the crowd outside Sona is a sure shot sign of its popularity too. <br /><br />Originally called Sona Sweets Sri Udipi Restaurant, it is owned and managed by the third generation of a family which has been running it since 1984. Vinod Gupta, who’s now carrying on with the family business says, “The word udupi in Kannada means temple. My grandfather suffixed this name as he wished to make this place purely vegetarian and literally worship it like a temple.”<br /><br />Vinod further informs that when the eatery was just started, the market wasn’t as popular as it is now. Over the years, however, Nehru Place started becoming known for its IT-related goods, and alongside the good name of Sona Sweets also spread. The Nehru Place market today houses about 8,000 offices and 2,600 shops, and Sona Sweets caters to the gastronomy needs of all these office goers, shopkeepers and their customers. Vinod further reveals that his restaurant feeds up to 1,500 people every day. </p>.<p>It helps that they have a large menu which can easily cater to those looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just evening snacks. Vinod explains, “Our snacks are very popular. Besides the good quality, reasonable pricing has also helped us make this place popular. </p>.<p>In summers, our gokul ki lassi and rabri faluda sell big time. In winters, on the other hand, our halwas and gulab jamuns fly off the shelf.” Surprisingly, Sona Sweets has a huge variety of South Indian food. Besides the regular upma, idli, vada and various South Indian rice preparations, there are 13 types of dosas alone. Vinod dismisses the alleged bias saying that there are enough North Indian dishes too. “We have varieties in paranthas too. Aloo, gobi, paneer–you just name it. Other than that, we have many types of dhoklas like idli dhokla, sandwich dhokla and paneer dhokla. People like the homely touch in our food.”<br /><br />Their customers agree on that. Sandeep Parmar, who works in a computer showroom in the market says, “I come here almost daily, mostly for snacks after office and sometimes for lunch, when my wife forgets to give me tiffin. Sona’s rajma rice, chana rice and kadhi rice make for a wholesome and tasty lunch.”<br /><br />Vinod sums up, “We believe in good quality, taste and generous portions, so nobody goes back hungry. We do not need any advertisements, our customers speak for us.”</p>
<p>Shopping at Nehru Place market and struck with hunger pangs? Fear not. An extensive range of snacks, seasonal drinks, sweets and wholesome vegetarian thalis await you in the market itself. </p>.<p>Come to Sona Sweets at Sona Chowk -- named after the restaurant -- and the owners guarantee that no vegan will go unsatisfied.<br /><br />Sona Sweets is a landmark here. Once you reach the Nehru Place market complex, finding the way here is easy. And then, the crowd outside Sona is a sure shot sign of its popularity too. <br /><br />Originally called Sona Sweets Sri Udipi Restaurant, it is owned and managed by the third generation of a family which has been running it since 1984. Vinod Gupta, who’s now carrying on with the family business says, “The word udupi in Kannada means temple. My grandfather suffixed this name as he wished to make this place purely vegetarian and literally worship it like a temple.”<br /><br />Vinod further informs that when the eatery was just started, the market wasn’t as popular as it is now. Over the years, however, Nehru Place started becoming known for its IT-related goods, and alongside the good name of Sona Sweets also spread. The Nehru Place market today houses about 8,000 offices and 2,600 shops, and Sona Sweets caters to the gastronomy needs of all these office goers, shopkeepers and their customers. Vinod further reveals that his restaurant feeds up to 1,500 people every day. </p>.<p>It helps that they have a large menu which can easily cater to those looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just evening snacks. Vinod explains, “Our snacks are very popular. Besides the good quality, reasonable pricing has also helped us make this place popular. </p>.<p>In summers, our gokul ki lassi and rabri faluda sell big time. In winters, on the other hand, our halwas and gulab jamuns fly off the shelf.” Surprisingly, Sona Sweets has a huge variety of South Indian food. Besides the regular upma, idli, vada and various South Indian rice preparations, there are 13 types of dosas alone. Vinod dismisses the alleged bias saying that there are enough North Indian dishes too. “We have varieties in paranthas too. Aloo, gobi, paneer–you just name it. Other than that, we have many types of dhoklas like idli dhokla, sandwich dhokla and paneer dhokla. People like the homely touch in our food.”<br /><br />Their customers agree on that. Sandeep Parmar, who works in a computer showroom in the market says, “I come here almost daily, mostly for snacks after office and sometimes for lunch, when my wife forgets to give me tiffin. Sona’s rajma rice, chana rice and kadhi rice make for a wholesome and tasty lunch.”<br /><br />Vinod sums up, “We believe in good quality, taste and generous portions, so nobody goes back hungry. We do not need any advertisements, our customers speak for us.”</p>
