Delhi “Bytes” – The Mallu Restaurant!!!

Delhi Bytes - a small 20 seater restaurant near Infy Gate which used to serve North Indian and Chinese dishes for lunch and dinner. Initially I thought “Bytes” is a spelling mistake, but later some one told that it may be some one’s creativity to spell “Bites” as “Bytes” as it is situated in the IT capital. Recently they sold the restaurant and a young Mallu Business Magnet from Thalassery bought that restaurant including the ‘Brand name’, cooking utensils, furniture and even the Menu Card!!

He started operation last week and not surprisingly the news is spread among Infy mallus, that a Kerala Restaurant is opened near by and they are serving Fish Curry rice, that too Boiled Rice in Plantain leaf!! Red Boiled rice is inevitable in Kerala Restaurants outside Kerala. Even I will be disappointed if red boiled rice is not available in any of the Kerala restaurants here in Bangalore; but in my home I don’t mind having any rice. Along with Jess, I also went to this restaurant for a good Kerala Lunch. As the name was still Delhi Bytes, before entering we reconfirmed to make sure that we will be served with Boiled Rice and Fish Curry; and this became our topic of discussion – Why they are not changing the Restaurant name from Delhi Bytes to at least Kerala Bytes? It was just a discussion, not a debate as both of us felt that the name should be changed. While waiting for the food to be served, we noticed that 14 out of 20 seats were already occupied by mallus and all were having Fish Curry Rice with “Aiyla/ Kilimeen” Fry. Only one table was free and waiting for another 4 mallus. But to our surprise, 2 good looking northie kudiyas (Yes, IT girls will be good looking on FridaysJ) entered “Delhi Bytes”. Our young Mallu Business Magnet (MBM) jumped in front and welcomed them by pointing the empty chairs.

MBM: Welcome Madams. Please seat (Both of them occupied the seats and started giggling for madams and seat). In the mean time MBM went inside to search for the Menu Card which he ‘bought’ from the old owner and gave it to both the girls and waited eagerly for taking the order.

Girl1: Do you have Tandoori Chicken?

MBM: (Confused) Tandoori…..No.

Girl2: Ok. Chicken Hariyali?

MBM: (Again confused) Hmmmmm…..That chicken…Yes. And? (From his face it was clear that he is hearing Hariyali Chicken for first time in his life, but has confidence that his cook can convert normal chicken masala to anything, may be by adding some sauce)

Girl1: And two Butter Kulcha

MBM: No kulcha…But Butter Chapathi.....Give you Butter Chapathi (He should have at least told Butter Roti, I felt)

Girl2: Butter Chapathi??

MBM: Butter Chapathi..good...like kulcha…same...How many?

Girl2: Is it big? What is the size of Butter Chapathi?

MBM: (After thinking for about 30 seconds) Medium....Medium Size…Not small....Take 4.

Girl1: Ok take (From her face it was clear that she had lost all the hope in having a good northie lunch)

In the mean time we finished our Fish Curry Rice and came out to pay the bill. We noticed that the cook was preparing the famous Butter Chapathi by applying some butter/ oil in the already prepared Chapathi and heating it!! God only knows how he will make the Chicken Hariyali from Chicken Masala!!!

Why are they not changing the Restaurant name from Delhi Bytes? We got the answer by that time. Immaterial of whether the name is Delhi Byes or Punjabi Dhaba or anything, if they serve Fish Curry Rice, mallus will come to know some how and will definitely go there; call it Word of Mouth publicity or any jargon. But if the restaurant name is Kerala Bytes, he can expect only mallus, not any northies. If he is keeping the same name then he will get some northies along with guaranteed mallu crowd; provided he will appoint a multi lingual server and a multi talented cook.

While walking back we noticed all the tables were again occupied by mallus and two poor northies were waiting to be seated in the hope of having some North Indian Dish…

PS: The Fish Curry meals with Fish Fry was amazing and was reasonably priced. All Infy mallus should try it. (Word of mouth publicity :P)

Disclaimer: Not 100% true incident; but inspired by a true incident.