Goli Vada Pav No 1, which has set up shop on Sarjapur Road, has already become a favourite with the residents of the area. As the name suggests, the stall offers different varieties of vada pav, as well as a few quick bites and sweet drinks.
Its popularity is quite understandable — the food is fresh, prepared quickly and served with spicy accompaniments, which makes it the perfect place for an evening snack or quick bite between office hours.
Ranjit Kumar and Rajesh, who run the eatery together, explain that they decided to set up the business since there aren't any other restaurants in the area which serve authentic vada pav. "There are other eateries here, but none offer vada pav. Besides, there are plenty of residential blocks in the vicinity — so business picked up pretty fast," says Ranjit.
Sticklers for tradition generally opt for the classic vada pav, which is reminiscent of what is sold off street-carts in Mumbai. The vada is made with a blend of mashed potatoes and spice, which is then coated with besan. The pav, for its part, is fresh and delightful — Ranjit explains that they source their pav from a special bakery and it's slightly flavoured with masala. "We get a fresh stock of the bread everyday. It tastes slightly different from normal bread — we ensure it doesn't have the slightest trace of sweetness," he states.
Those who want to try something with a little twist are spoilt for choice. The eatery also served Schezwan vada pav, which is doused with a spicy Chinese sauce. Another variation, called 'mixed veg', is stuffed with green peas, carrots, beans, mashed potatoes and rice, which is then coated with besan — making it a nutritious and tasty snack.
One of the most popular item, explains Ranjit, is the palak makkai, which is a vada made of potatoes mashed with sweet corn and spinach. Customers can also order a slice of cheese with any of the dishes — the combination of the crisp vada, delicately-flavoured pav and creamy cheese is delicious. "We also serve 'cheese fingers', which are especially popular with children," adds Ranjit.
The masala vada pav and aloo tikki also sell quite fast — while the former is heavily-spiced, the latter is infused with a tomato flavour. What really adds to the meals here are the accompaniments. Each dish is served with a few green chillies, which have been fried in salt until crisp. In addition to this, customers can indulge in a special garlic powder which elevates the entire experience.
Ranjit feels that other than its proximity to residential complexes, the eatery's success can be attributed to the universality of the flavours offered. "It's like eating a classic burger with an Indian twist — people love that," he sums up. For further information, call 42227829.