Chandigarh
9 February 2020
DIVYA AZAD
The iconic Dhaba, (Dhaba Estd. 1986 Delhi which grew out of The Claridges hotel on Delhi’s famed Aurangzeb Road), known as the King of Highway Cuisine now gets a whole new avatar as it recreates the same magic again opening the doors of its legendary lounge & bar.
Dhaba’s bar ‘Theka’ is not just a bar – it is a complete Theka! Well-stocked with IMFL and imported liquor, it also boasts of signature cocktails – speciality tharras which come in actual Pauva bottles. (Yes, we don’t hold back on anything!)
Nestled in Sector 7, DHABA Chandigarh is adorned with new-age fun and kitschy interiors, with the legendary classics on the menu, along with some nouveau beauties – Louder/brasher… you get the drill! The award-winning deliciousness carries forward its thirty-year legacy.
Puneet Gupta, Managing Director, DHABA Chandigarh says, “We are excited to unveil Theka, Dhaba’s premium lounge & bar. The people of Chandigarh are often looking for somewhere to unwind after work. We look forward to indulging our guests with a new dining experience.”
Now managed by Azure Hospitality, the same folks that created Mamagoto, Dhaba is India’s preferred Punjabi Diner. With outlets across the country – walk into any of our signature “colour bomb” spaces and get your dose of the PIND!
Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri, Directors at Azure Hospitality, have played an intrinsic part in developing and managing the company brands, Mamagoto, Dhaba Estd. 1986, Speedy Chow, Rollmaal and recently added brands Sly Granny, Hotel Delmaar and Foxtrot.
With vintage collages and posters, the décor is a nod to the retro India of the 80s and 90s. Striking folksy artwork is displayed on the walls along with signature Dhaba posters completing the eclectic aesthetics. The ambience effortlessly infuses the excitement of a highway meal; and in fact, takes it up a fair few notches! The creative chaos of colours, quirky desi quotes, revival of vintage black and white Bollywood posters and the signature truck art adds to the overall dining experience. The outdoor area is the highlight of the restaurant which is designed like an Akhaada for Pehelwans or a wrestler’s den as seen in the villages in North India. The mood of the restaurant is further enhanced by the mock façade of a building, which is designed like a small town.
But the real highway magic takes place in the kitchen which carries the legacy of over 30 years. Chef Shamshool expertly helms the Dhaba kitchen narrative, recreating its legendary signature recipes bringing forth the best of highway cuisine and North Indian cuisine concepts. With signature Recipes Since 1986 and the new experimental Highway Specials, there are a whole lot of new and signature dishes for everyone to try.
The food menu is inspired by travels down the highways of India and the eccentric by-lanes of old towns famous for unique age-old recipes. In addition to the classics, the menu experiments with newer flavours showcasing Highway specials, not only from Punjab but from all over the country. The essence and soul of Dhaba is Punjabi, however a whole range of regional dishes are now available for indulgence.
A meal here is rounded off with Desi Paan available in all sorts of flavours – Nutella, Thanda Thanda; go crazy!
We’ve also given our interior designers a license to go nuts – vintage Bollywood posters, rustic interiors, truck art elements and an actual truck that you can enjoy your meal on – all enhanced with the masala of Bollywood music – LOUD Bollywood music. And if you stick around long enough, you may also witness the staff breaking into a dance when the song of the month comes on! If you’re on a diet – leave this site now 😉
