All you can eat for RS80 - Walking from the center of the city southwards to India Gate at the weekend, Bert and I found a monument of a pleasant looking man at a our side and idly decided to find out who he was.  In the excitement of what followed I have completely forgotten exactly who he was, but certainly an important man for Andhra Pradesh (4th largest state of India in the south).  Behind the statue was a well weathered sign 'Canteen' and a steady stream of people was using the turnstile into the alley promising food.  We had had a good walk and a grueling morning haggling and bargaining and decided to try our luck.  Did one have to be from Andhra Pradesh to eat at this canteen (located in Andhra Pradesh House)?  Would the place be clean?  Would our (actually this was only my private concern) stomachs cope with the spices?  We followed the crowd in. About forty or fifty people were crushed into the entrance waiting.  In fairly close quarters about  16 tables seating four or two  people were full of customers enjoying the southern food.  I crept closer to the cash register and asked for two 'veg' (as opposed to non-veg) meals.  RS160.  We crowded in with the other hungry clients while a rather healthy, and very loud doorman called out repeatedly 'Just five minutes madam, please wait sir.  Number 32, 32, How man in the party, come now 33.  Please move back.'   I don't know what we did to deserve the preferential treatment, but he pulled us in before we reached our numbers.  We were pointed to a small table for two and immediately two steel cups of water arrived followed swiftly by two thali plates.  (Thali plates are steel trays with multiple small compartments and many restaurants serve meals this way so that customers enjoy small portions of multiple dishes.)  Servers came by at stunning speed and relentless repetition (they almost seemed disappointed that we didn't take more).  It was delicious, a fabulous variety and opportunity to take second, thirds or even fourth portions of favourite dishes.  What heaven for students if they ever get to this area.  Now I have to find out if they are open every day, and at what hours.    We left at about 3:15 and although the queue for meals had dwindled, the supply of food was still strong.


Further inquiry indicates that many, if not all, the states have their own 'houses' and some of them have restaurants, but not all are such good value.  Rather sad that our time isn't sufficient to scout out all of them.:)