P and I are kind of old souls and at times, the hep and happening spots of the city don’t appeal to us. In times like that, we scout for places to eat in Chandigarh that give us an old-school vibe and delicious food. And, this time, in our hunt for a cafe like that, we stumbled upon a place in the heart of Chandigarh, Sector 17. We’re talking about Chhota Banaras Chandigarh.
Located near TDI Mall in Sector 17, this cafe in Chandigarh was an experience like no other. And, today, we’re here to tell you all about Chhota Banaras Chandigarh and it’s old school charm! Read on!
Chhota Banaras Chandigarh: Guilt-Free Street Food Meets Nostalgia!
Source: PrinkledPicture this: You walk into a cafe in Chandigarh in 2023, and as you enter the place, you’re transported to the early ’90s. The minimalistic Le Corbusier style architecture warmly embraces you, and as you settle, the old-world charm of a canteen makes you smile. The aroma of desi ghee and the familiar sounds of kitchen utensils fill the ambiance, leaving you feeling nostalgic. This is exactly the vibe of Chhota Banaras Chandigarh.
As we entered this simplistic cafe on Sunday evening, we couldn’t help but think of it as a trip down memory lane. While waiting, P and I got lost in admiring the simplicity of Chhota Banaras Chandigarh. It reminded us of our college canteen where delicious food was available at affordable prices without too much drama attached to it.
Source: PrinkledWith contemporary wooden architecture, the seating in this cafe is comfortable and encourages the spirit of community. Wondering why I am saying that? Well, they have sharing tables, aside from the individual seating portions and that somehow celebrates the spirit of community.
Also Read: Delhi Chutney & Co Chandigarh: Say Hello To A New Place With A Fresh Take On Indian Street Food!
To be honest, we loved the minimalist vibe of this cafe in Chandigarh as it embraced the old world charm in the fast-changing times. Now, if you’re wondering about food, continue reading on. There’s a lot that Chhota Banaras Chandigarh offers in that department too!
Delicious Food Served At Lightening Fast Speed!
As we settled in, we began exploring Chhota Banaras’s menu. Barring just 2-3 beverages, everything on their menu was below INR 200. Yes, You heard it right!. And, that being said, the quality of food is top notch!
Their menu clearly highlights that they use Desi Ghee, Desi Khand and Cold Pressed Oils for cooking, which is a reassurance that the food will be healthy. After scanning the menu, we decided to order a bunch of different things. To order at Chhota Banaras, you need to go straight to the billing counter. You place the order and they give you a token number which will flash on a screen when your order is ready and you have to collect it yourself. A thing we’d love to share here is that it’s a self-service cafe. While there are helpers to clean up and collect the plates, you will have to take your orders directly from the counter outside their very busy kitchen.
Coming to our Sunday dinner, we ordered Dahi Vada, Pav Bhaji, Tawa Channa Bhatura, Channa Kulcha and Mysore Masala Dosa. To wash it down, we ordered Dilli Wali Cold Coffee and Filter Coffee. Our order was placed immediately and in another 10 minutes, the number 275 flashed on the screen and we knew our food was ready. We got it to our table ourselves and began to dig in.
Source: PrinkledWe started off with the Pav Bhaji, which was absolutely delicious and packed with a whole lot of flavour. Pavs were freshly baked and smelled divine. Next, we relished the cool and mouth-watering dahi vada. Topped up with Boondi and peanuts, it was refreshing and a great switch for our palette after the spicy yet delicious pav bhaji.
Source: PrinkledThe Mysore Masala Dosa had a unique flavour and was generously filled with a mixture of potatoes, onion, tomatoes and curry leaves. It was served with a zingy sambhar, refreshing tomato-peanut chutney and coconut chutney. We thoroughly enjoyed the unique blend of flavours. And, along with it, I sipped on an aromatic filter coffee and loved every bit of it. On the other hand, P savoured his cold coffee, which was delightful.
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Source: PrinkledWe then finally attacked the Tawa Channa Bhatura and Channa Kulcha. Boy, oh boy! What a flavourful treat they were. The freshly baked fluffy kulchas with those aromatic and well-balanced chole were a wholesome treat. And, the Tawa Bhatura with Channe was equally delicious. Both were served with a spicy green chutney and onions, which added another flavour to our meal.
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Source: PrinkledAnd, after that wholesome and delicious dinner, we collected our sweet treat, Jaleb. The sweet Street food treat which is usually available in fairs and during festivals, was a perfect end to our Sunday dinner. Crispy, sugary and satisfying, the Jaleb is a must try dessert when you visit Chhota Banaras. Apart from it, there are other desserts like Desi Laddoo, Balushai, Cupcakes and more which you can enjoy!
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Source: PrinkledPrinkled’s Parting Thoughts:
To put it simply, Chhota Banaras Chandigarh is that taste of nostalgia which we crave many times amid the dramatic and pacy world. It’s surely a place you shouldn’t miss if you’re an old soul and for the Gen-Z, it’ll be a memorable experience too!
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