Eating out in Pune - Vishnu Mess

Pune is famous for the best-est eating joints, more famous than any of the eating places in Bombay. You can sample a variety of cuisine in all ranges – from the cheapest to the most dearest of menus. Sadly for me, there were fewer instances where I could go out and sample and savour the delicacies of this tasty place. But then whatever places I ate, I shall be talking about them – most of them would be unattractive mess places , but still most of them had a character to themselves.

Lunch on weekdays (as well over weekends) would always be with the Three Musketeers – Srinivas, Gopal and Kumar. No no no... these are not my office colleagues or lunch mates – these are there iconic figures who run the Vishnu mess in Bavdhan area of Pune. One cook, and three polymorphic guys who’d double up as the cleaner, the waiter as well as the manager. A wide variety on their menu, but a safe bet was to eat whatever they suggest and thought you could eat. A thali with dahi at 30Rs per plate was a whole wholesome meal and it was one which would only aid Post Prandial Lethargy.

There were days when we used to work hard, and be late for lunch .. and be disappointed with no curd as a part of the thali. One complaint, and then two watis of dahis were always preserved for us. Just in case we were to be late for lunch.

Food always used to fresh and great. There was this lesson I learnt from these guys out there – “Never say No to a customer” .. being the moody person I am, used to order for any weird dish from their menu. This would lead to a small hushed discussion between the cook and Gopal or Kumar, and in sometime I’d get an affirmative response for my request – then be it Hara Bhara Kebab Masala, Veg Bhuna ??? or Mushroom and Onion Soup , lol. And mind you, all these dishes were good enough. No complaints.

Sometime later, these guys got a full time manager cum cashier for themselves. Sadly, the manager spoke an unpuneish language called as Telegu and was slower than 8086 microprocessor (in this PIV ka zamana) when it came to preparing the bill and calculating the change for your bill. Sadly, Gopal or Kumar had to assist him in the task and they soon donned the hat of a translator, decoding our language to the ‘manager’ along with serving the thalis with as much gusto.

*To be updated