The essence of scrumptious food, is something felt by Lucknowites the most, since it’s famously known as ‘Nawabon Ka Sheher’. From the stalls across the roads, to the luxurious cafes, one wouldn’t find them unoccupied, since they are the best-loved spots to hang out with friends and family. While, a few years ago, the café culture hadn’t bloomed in Lucknow, nowadays opulent and extravagant café spots have come into notice. But what has stayed static up till now, are the tea and food stalls established over on to the verge of the road.
Unfolding and expanding new customer experience, cafes and roof-top restaurants have created a social buzz. People like to visit such places because of the gorgeous ambience they offer, along with delectable food dishes. To spend some time with friends and get Instagram worthy photos clicked, is what the common notion around the increasing café culture is. The Summit building is Lucknow is one such place, known for a bunch of restaurants it holds within it. “Summit is not only beautiful, but it just has a different vibe. A place though expensive but worth the visit”, is to what 21-year-old Riya refers to. With a cluster of admirers for the building, there are numerous different places in it. Ms. Priyanka Jaiswal, owner, Lord of the Drinks, mentioned, “We receive good amount of crowd. And people usually seem happy when they are here”. Well, if you are willing to spend less, you would also find cafes with decent and reasonable rates. “I recently visited Home Sweet Home in Hazratganj. The place has a cosy and a cute vibe, and it is one of the best places if you want to hang out in a small group and pay less”, mentioned, Sarthak, a college-goer. Whereas, at one hand the Gen-Zs are the usual visitants, Millennials are also a step ahead in the race. Mihika, a teacher, added, “I usually go out with my friends to cafés for the purpose of kitty or to just chill out”.
Though the café culture is escalating in Lucknow, the old street stalls are still loved and given importance. Be it the, ‘Sharma Tea Stall’, ‘Shukla Chaat’, ‘Chanakya Kulfi’, ‘Bajpai ki Kachaudi’ or the heavenly, ‘Chowk ki Makkhan malai’, people from all over the country visit Lucknow, to savour and relish the food at these eateries. Not to mention, some simultaneously along with their take-away policies, are also operating huge restaurants, like, Lucknow’s exquisite, ‘Tunday Kababi”, or ‘Dastarkhwan’. Roma Malik, a Mumbaikar, when visited Lucknow, added, “I was extremely delighted and pleased, when I had just taken a bite of Chanakya ki Kulfi in Hazratganj. Now I know, why Lucknow is famous for its food, because it’s rich in taste and goodness”. These stalls have been operating since a long time now, and still, you wouldn’t find them vacant. You might have to stand in lines, for your turn to come.
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Lucknow serves food, not only with mouth-watering taste, but with love and affection. Be it the cafés or the roadside stalls like the popular, ‘Chatori Gali’, one would always be served food, piquant for the mouth and gratifying for the heart. The bottom line stays that a choice between the two is difficult to be made, but comparison between the two is insignificant, because both carry their own aura and quintessence.
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