Veg thali provides convenience

Food is always top priority on an Indian’s mind. Not just an Indian but several tourists visiting India come pre-planned to indulge in the country’s culinary delights. If you are on a vegetarian food tasting spree, the city of Mumbai offers as much variety as a non-vegetarian fare. And one way to indulge in a little bit of everything is to eat the veg thali.

A thali is essentially a set menu that the restaurant owner offers. In a basic vegetarian restaurant the set menu is not very elaborate and can have just your basic vegetables and daal with rice and chapattis. In some other high end vegetarian restaurants there are two or three options for a set menu and they are usually pertaining to a particular region in India – like a Gujarati thali or a Rajasthani thali. Some like the Maharaja Bhog which is a premium vegetarian option where you can eat a different kind of meal every day!

Bite sized food that this palate offers is very convenient to the Indian consumer. It is easy on the pocket and there is very little he has to do in terms of selecting the meal from a menu card. The set menu pattern is also beneficial to the restaurant owner. He just has to prepare a set menu for the day and serve it without too many permutations and combinations. Also clearing the tables is easier and serving time is comparatively less – thereby reducing the wait time of the consumer.

There are a number of options for a foodie to choose from among thalis. There is Rajasthani, Gujarati, Punjabi, South Indian options – however sometimes and probably only in Mumbai – you can have a combination of regional delicacies on a one single plate! Some of the thalis offered are unlimited and elaborate – especially the Rajasthani and Gujarati thalis. The food is light and easy to digest and you can eat as much as you want for a fixed price. However some of these restaurants also advise you not to waste food.

Restaurants serving thalis claim to serve as long as you can eat! This set menu and palate is majestic and heavenly not only in taste but also appearance. While the food is delicious and is gives you a flavour of the regions the restaurant specialises in, there is an elaborate service as well. Such restaurants are swamped day and night, because they value their customers by serving them scrumptious and lip-smacking delicacies. Many have started experimenting and whipping their own delicacies to appease their customer base. These experiments are welcomed with open arms, as newness and distinct delicacies always break the monotony of flavours.

There are some restaurants that also serve both non veg and veg thali – however not necessarily in the traditional platter format; the manner of serving food may differ in such restaurants. So when you are in the city of Mumbai next, make eating a thali part of your agenda and I guarantee you will definitely not be disappointed!