Meal happy Babai Bhojanam at Panjaguta is a place to indulge in a Telugu traditional meal Nagara Gopal
It is noisy and busy inside Babai Bhojanam. Within minutes of me being seated, a fresh banana leaf with no tear was placed on my table. This was followed by a basket of traditional vadiyalu . Spotting the pumpkin vadiyalu , I looked at the mini jars on the table expecting to see mango pickle (avakaya). Unfortunately it was gongura pickle day. I requested for avakaya and the servers obliged. Pleased with myself, I made a note of how much rice I would eat with what. I told myself: ‘pour ghee over hot rice, add the podi , add some pickle to the mix, crush the pumpkin vadiyalu.’
I got down to action as instantly as my mind had planned.
Ah! That was indeed a heavenly morsel I have had in a while. By this time, the much recommended chicken fry, fish fry, avakaya mutton fry and prawns fry reached my table. I knew I over ordered, but how can I order less. To my heavenly mix of the first few morsels, I added a few chicken pieces. I felt like a genius for going right with my combinations.
Meal happy Babai Bhojanam at Panjaguta is a place to indulge in a Telugu traditional meal Nagara Gopal
The avakaya mutton fry looked tempting, so to another serving of rice, I mixed the pappu this time and mixed the amazing potato fry, followed by avakaya mutton fry — another winner on the taste bud. Since I am not a big fan of other regular curries, I dipped my finger in each to see the taste. To my surprise, I even thought the dondakai curry should also be given a chance. I didn't bother to spend much time with it though. Instead I got busy with the shrimp fry. Food here is not bland nor is it fire-spittingly spicy and with the quick service policy, a meal here can be finished in not more than 40 minutes.
Meal happy Babai Bhojanam at Panjaguta is a place to indulge in a Telugu traditional meal Nagara Gopal
There is a thing about relishing a meal on a banana leaf. I feel special. At Babai Bhojanam, lunch times are an occasion when diners from offices and households in and around Punjagutta, make it a favourite place to dine on banana leaf.
The USP of this eatery is the veg meal, a modest spread. It can be made into a combo by ordering non veg sides. Those who don’t want to have the meal, can try their speciality podi annams and pulaos. They are also very proud of the fried sides and daddojanam . On another day in the same week, I tried the fish pulusu and it sure must be given a try.
