As you enter The Nerdy Indian Cafe in Saket, you’ll notice wooden tables with comics under their glass tops. Embedded into the predominantly wooden interiors is a book shelf on the wall, with a few hundred books.
When 31-year-old friends Ayush Chaudhary and Vishal Kochar thought of opening a cafe, they figured it might as well be one that gives away books for free with every order. It was after attending a series of book readings together that inspired the concept behind The Nerdy Indian Cafe. Chaudhary focused on the cafe’s design, while Vishal concentrated on the menu.
The dishes range from Crumbly Palak Patta Chaat (crispy spinach leaves, topped with aloo bhujiya , pomegranates, served with sweet curd, coriander and tamarind chutney) to Tandoori Chicken Popcorn (morsels of tandoori chicken double coated with seasoned flour, deep fried, served with mayo and Schezwan dip).
With a minimum food order of ₹500, the cafe gives away a free book. In just under a month, the duo claims to have given away close to over 650 books. Depending on whether you love fiction or non-fiction, you can choose a book from their tall wall-shelf. There is no return policy.
634, Lane no.3, Saiyad ul Ajaib, Saket; ₹900 for two
