Great Punjab
FOOD/CULTURE
Great Punjab - Food for the soul with the true taste of the soil
Great Punjab - Food for the soul with the true taste of the soil
As you walk in, you are greeted by the well-mannered staff or most likely, by one of the family members. Then you are overwhelmed by the subtle aromas that gently waft into the dining area, thereby stimulating a great appetite. But before you sample the ambrosial fare that awaits you, it may help to know what went into creating this legendary eatery known to have successfully catered to three generations of the Mumbaikar.
Address
186, Prakash Mansion, Dr Ambedkar Road, Dadar, Mumbai
Nearby Local
Matunga Station (2.5 km)
Home Delivery
Cuisines served in Great Punjab, Mumbai
Cuisines
Great Punjab, Dadar timings
Timings
10:30 AM to 12:30 AM
Cost and prices at Great Punjab, Mumbai
Cost
Approx Rs. 1200 for two (without alcohol), VAT extra
Are Credit Cards accepted at Great Punjab?
Payment
Cash, Credit Cards
In 1945, Trilok Singh Gandhi arrived in Mumbai from the golden fields of the Punjab - the land of plenty and a legacy that’s simply unrivalled in intensity and spirit. A truly industrious and ambitious entrepreneur, he started his career with his maternal uncles, owners of The Sher-e-Punjab chain of restaurants.
It was only until 1959, that Trilok Singh and his brothers transformed their passion for good food into business by establishing Great Punjab at Dadar, serving authentic Punjabi dishes, right in the heart of Mumbai. And what better occasion to launch their dream venture than Baisakhi —that all pervading festival symbolizing harmony and prosperity.
Great Punjab completes its 50th year in the business this Baisakhi. In retrospect, Trilok Singh, who is personally fond of cooking, ensured that he kept all the traditional secrets quality and standards intact. He even hired a chef from his home town back in Punjab. The present chef has already put in 20 years of service and is an example of a home-grown linage. Trilok Singh has made it a point not to hire any trained chef from outside. The entire kitchen staff is trained on the job and have acquired all the skills in-house. Trilok Singh takes utmost care and is extremely supportive of them. As a result the landmark eatery has consistently offered its patrons food that is rustic, wholesome and full of earthy flavours of the Punjab.
During its formative years, there were plenty of film studios in the vicinity such as city sound, Ranjeet and Roop Tara due to which artists, directors and the rest of the crew of that era often visited the restaurant which then had only 39-40 seats. Slowly GP built a name for itself as it started catering to the shooting locations of big production houses that came up then. As liquor and beer came into the market in the early 60’s and in the early 70’s, GP acquired a separate permit room and expanded from just a restaurant to restaurant and bar. Subsequently, Great Punjab grew from strength to strength and saw increasing demand for its specialist cuisine. Business boomed to such an extent, that it soon started to attract connoisseurs throughout Mumbai. The restaurant has been boasting visits from the film fraternity, political circles and the elite. No wonder, Great Punjab is still one of Mumbai’s finest and most popular restaurants.
The menu is as eclectic as it is extensive with plenty of main courses to choose from, all using traditional Punjabi recipes. A few house specialties include Chicken Peshawari, Butter Chicken, Pili Dal, Lahori Kebabs, Veg. Layallpuri and the exotic stuffed Gol Gappas. The menu caters to every palate and affords a superlative culinary experience. The ambience at Great Punjab is very welcoming and homely, while the service is simply immaculate. It uniquely Such is the quality of the food and service and the warmth of the reception, that 75-80 % of the GP clientele are regular patrons some of whom dine 3 to 4 times a week.
In order to promote fine dining and authentic flavours as well as acknowledge the variegated and loyal patronage, Great Punjab has launched a week long food festival to commemorate its 50th jubilee this Baisakhi. Patrons could get a 50% discount on their food bills on the 13th of April and 15% off up to the 20th of April.
Trilok Singh is seen by many in the Industry as one of the key pioneers in the hospitality business and in introducing the intrinsic flavours of the Punjab to Mumbai. He was on the Executive Committee of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant (FHRAI), member of National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the Founder Vice President of the Maharashtra Association of Hotels and Restaurants( AHAR) and a Committee member of the Punjab Association.
Trilok Singh Gandhi’s three sons and grandson have continued this illustrious legacy. The foremost, or shall we say, the original Great Punjab in Dadar, is managed by Maninder Singh Gandhi (the elder son) who completed his Hotel Management from the Catering Institute, Dadar. He has masterly knowledge of blending spices and condiments and therefore continues to serve some of the old delicacies many of which originated in GP’s kitchen. Keeping with the times he has added a host of dishes like pepper chicken to the already exhaustive and delectable menu. He was presented a trophy by the New India Co-op Bank Ltd. for Entrepreneurial Excellence, on 26th November, 2004.
Dhruveer, has stepped into his father Maninder Singh Gandhi’s shoes. After having successfully completed his Hospitality Management studies In Switzerland, he passed out from the acclaimed International College of Hotel Management in Australia. Carrying forward the family legacy and his grandfather’s wishes, Dhruveer is focused on opening additional outlets of this chain and satiate the evolving palates of Mumbaikars!
The younger of the brothers, Arvinder Singh Gandhi, completed his Hotel Institue Management and was a chef at the Tanjore Kitchen of the Taj. He has started another Great Punjab outlet in Hiranandani Powai targeting the younger crowd working in the city’s upcoming corporate hub.
Trilok Singh Gandhi’s third son Pavanjot Singh Gandhi, did his engineering from D.J.M.S., Mumbai. Currently, he manages the Great Punjab outlet at Dhole Patil Road in Pune.
In the past Great Punjab has been honoured with a trophy by the Regional Director of Tourism, for second position in the Boat Float Parade, in 1997-98.
To sum it up, Great Punjab is worth a visit for any one who enjoys good food in general and one who is passionate about authentic Punjabi cuisine. The experience is sublime and rest assured, there isn’t another eatery quite like it.
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