Home sweet home for lunch

The sign that now says 'No smoking and no meetings' hasn't always been there at the Triveni Tea Terrace.

When the cafe came into being at the cultural centre, it was the theatre-goers' paradise with its steel chairs, chai, parathas; smoking and meetings no bar. Artists would lounge around for hours on end while adjacent to the cafe, the garden auditorium would play well to everyday theatrics, music and dance.

With time though, things changed and in place of the rusty steel chairs came the stools, and more recently, plastic chairs.

Some more homely food and desserts made their way on to the menu even as theatre at this cultural centre breathed its last. Not just a haven for artists; even corporates, students and lawyers are now regulars at the refreshingly green indoor-outdoor cafe.

Managed by Mina Singh, the cafe, she says, still rides high on the quality of its simple, hygenic food at a modest Rs 50-80 per person. Favourites on the menu are parathas, palak paneer, mutton curry and keema.

Desserts were introduced at the cafe just a few years ago when Singh took over and now the carrot cake, gajar halwa and brownie are equally popular.

And in case you don't find place to sit at lunchtime, you can always come back later for a cup of steaming masala chai and a delicious plate of pakoras.