The Great Indian Canteen (GIC)

I had heard about The Great Indian Canteen from a couple of my friends. I had made a mental note to visit the restaurant at a later date. Months passed by and the monsoons arrived.

With the rains slashing the city, I could not run errands until much later in the evening. I parked my car and decided to walk it to a couple of nearby shops where I had to complete a few purchases, and I passed by the Great Indian Canteen. The time had come. I had to eat there. So we hopped in with bags and an umbrella, ready to taste their cuisine on that eventful evening.

The ambiance was inviting and the staff, very attentive. I ordered the Manchow soup, which is a thick soup with a garlic base, and masala pappad, which I thought is a refreshing start for the cold evening. 

The soup tasted delicious topped with crisp fried noodles and the distinct aroma of garlic wafting through my nostrils. Much to my disappointment, the masala pappad was deep fried and oily. The accompanying salsa was missing the crushed peanuts and lime, which elevates the humble masala pappad to great heights. When I asked the staff to remove the oil drenched pappad, they immediately replaced it with roasted pappad. I was really pleased, especially when I was not expecting the staff to do anything about it, except apologize. 


For the mains, I had Phulkas with mixed vegetables and paneer, served dry. It was a little oily for me, but it rated high on the taste factor. Finally, it was time to bring dinner to a close. I was struggling with the decision of whether to give the dessert a miss. In the end, the Rasmalai just won me over. 

I am glad I ordered it. The juicy paneer with the right amount of sweetness, served chilled, was exactly what I needed to close the evening on the perfect note.

The food servings were generous and the pricing was absolutely reasonable. The ambiance and a well trained staff make it a worthwhile experience. 

Will I recommend this restuarant to a friend? Absolutely!







Note: All photographs are originals taken by me and are copyrighted.