We continue with our reader-driven series on must-sample restaurants and eating places across the country. Richa Shailendra, a student from Mumbai, tells us about her culinary favourite in Aurangabad.
Aurangabad is a must-see for any travel enthusiast. You have the marvellous Ajanta and Ellora Caves, the Daulatabad Fort, Shirdi (approximately 130 km from Aurangabad), etc.
But my favourite reason for frequenting Aurangabad is to visit Thaat Baat, a restaurant that specialises in Rajasthani thalis.
Words would fail any foodie when it comes to describing this place. The food is unlimited (including the sweet dish).
There is only one item on the menu, the Rajasthani thali, which is served in pure silverware. The cutlery itself makes one so happy that the food itself seems like a bonus.
The gap between the time a person enters the restaurant and is served food is never more than three minutes! The service is excellent.
~ The culinary journey starts with a variety of chutneys and salads.
~ Then comes the kachori, which fills up half the stomach before the main course has even started.
~ The next round includes chapattis, phulkas and baajre ki roti, as well as malpuas and jalebis.
~ A variety of curries and vegetables appear, followed by delicious khichdi and pulao.
~ The omnipresent chaas is there too, ready to be savoured.
~ All this is accompanied by unlimited sweets (usually fruit salad).
In case you are wondering if this unbelievably heavy but superb meal is equally heavy on your wallet, it costs just Rs 85 a plate.
There is always an air of festivity surrounding Thaat Baat. With the fantastic food, exemplary service, cosy ambience, an entertaining puppetry show and free mehendi, it is no wonder that this place is jam-packed every day, especially between 12 noon and 3 pm, and 8 pm to 11 pm.
On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it as:
Service: 9.5
Taste of food: 9
Cleanliness: 9
Variety: 8.5
Ambience: 9
Accessibility: 8
Whether I plan to head back: Without a doubt, YES! If there is one place on this earth where I would love to go to again and again, it is Thaat Baat.
The landmark is Aurangabad Station, near Ambedkar College, on Swami Samarth Road.
Every rickshaw driver in the city is familiar with it, because the restaurant is unique and a landmark in itself.
Richa Shailendra, 20, is doing her Bachelor of Management Studies at Jaihind College, Mumbai.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or cuisine? Or have you sampled the latest haunt on the block? Be it Nainital or Kanyakumari, Uttaranchal or Goa -- we would love to know more about the eating out options your city, town or village has to offer.
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