By Uditi Gupta
Ahmedabad is cram-full of heritage, but it’s not just the culture that is preserved as a heritage by the Gujaratis, the cheery Gujjus also hold their foodstuff with high spirits. With no end to options, there are many eateries you can visit in Ahmedabad to satiate your food desires. Separated by the old and new city, there are plenty of heritage restaurants that will not fail to woo the connoisseur in you. Here, is a list of heritage eateries that serve the most delicious platter.
Agashiye
A roof top restaurant set on an admirably restored Indo-Baroque heritage manor from the 1920’s. Popularly known as the House of M.G, this heritage restaurant caters more to quality than the quantity. Placed right in the middle of the old town of Ahmedabad, it offers the best dining in the city with a touch of Gujarati legacy. The restaurant delights its guests by a Gujarati set of course meal in a thali with no limitations on the quantity – now who wouldn’t love that!
Address: The House of MG, Opp. Sidi Saiyad Jali, Lal Darwaja
Vishalla
It is a traditionally fashioned restaurant from 1978. This heritage eatery gets its name from a small district, Badri Vishalla, in the Himalayas mentioned in the books of Guru Swaminarayan. Vishalla’s attempt to portray a typical Indian village has been acclaimed by many foodies of the town. The restaurant simulates an aura of relaxation and peace together with a wholesome Gujarati thali in an open air seating. A peculiar thing about this heritage eatery is that the guests are made to sit on mud floors, much like the way in any village. The restaurant claims the food to be much less oily than other eateries owing to the baked and roasted food, sprouted salads, and greens made with healthy ingredients in its kitchen.
Address: Vasna Rd, Opp. Vasna Tol Naka
New Lucky Restaurant
Many of you might not have know that Ahmedabad is full of bizarre things, one that tops the list is the Graveyard Restaurant. Yes, you read that right! The New Lucky restaurant has taken the phrase “Dine with the Dead” much too seriously. Resting at peace at Lal Darwaja, this little heritage eatery used to be a graveyard many years ago. The owner of this eatery chose to make sitting and eating arrangements amidst the graves rather than digging them out. The waiters and the guests have learned their way to negotiate the graves, which are painted in green.
Address: Opposite City College, Lal Darwaza
Bhatiyar Gali
True that Gujjus put their heart and soul in food but most of them are vegetarians. Bhatiyar Gali is where this belief is shattered and people from every nook and corner of the city run to this amazing place to satisfy their non-vegetarian taste buds. Bhatiyar Gali is known as a paradise for meat lovers, and that isn’t a surprise if you try the biryani and a few kebabs from the tandoor here. The entices its visitors with the lip smacking fried fish along with Keema Samosas – do try out their rogan josh too!
Address: Bhatiyar Galli, Patvasehri, Bhadra
Khao Gali
We’ve kept the best for the last. Khao Gali at Manek Chowk deserves an honorary mention when we speak of heritage eateries in Ahmedabad. A vegetable market in the morning, jewellery market at afternoon, and a food market by the night – a food feature about Ahmedabad is incomplete without a mention of Manek Chowk. Khao Gali which is set up around 8:30 in the evening and runs till 2:00 AM. Chocolate sandwich and Asharfi Kulfi are to die for. You can try your hand at other snacks as well; trust us you will not be disappointed. Built in the old city, Manek Chowk is surrounded by a few heritage structures: Baba Maneknath Temple, Badshah no Hajiro, Ahmedabad Stock Exchange Building, and a few others.
You can see why Ahmedavadis are always drooling over their food. They are not to blame if their heritage comes with a myriad list of delicious snacks and food items.
