College life was amazing for him. Not the time spent inside the premises of Khalsa college in Delhi University, but that exhausted in the vicinity where Kanishk Tuteja, the owner of the recently launched Nukkad Café and Bar, spent all his days discussing everything, from the mundane to the relevant, with his friends.
This was his favourite adda in the city as it sheltered him from the prying eyes of his parents who reprimanded him everytime he was caught smoking. It’s memories have filled his life with happy reminiscence and that’s why the concept of a street-themed restaurant appealed so much to him.
Located at the nukkad of SDA Market, it could take you a while to locate. Once there, you warm up to the place quickly. A fairly large alfresco space with brightly coloured chairs, tables and sofas greets the guests. The wooden decor is impeccable and the many lanterns hung from the parapets fill the space with a warm glow.
To our disappointment, the night we visit, no musical performance is slated but Tuteja tells us one is usually scheduled every night. “We have acoustic nights every Sunday and a music performance everyday. This Sunday we have Manya Narang performing sufi and Bollywood tracks,” he says.
Of the many things Tuteja is passionate about, the restaurant business is naturally one. But the part that appeals most about it is the food. Other smaller joys of life like putting his favourite songs on the pen drive, getting his favourite merchandise on discounts and seeing old photographs take a back seat when he sees a good serving of food. Nowdays, he’s gorging on Railway Cutlets, Mushroom Galouti, Kali Mirchi Chicken Wings, Nukkad ke Chicken Paranthe at his restaurant. “My favourite thing here are the Chilli Chicken Momos. Try the tandoori ones too,” he says, adding, “The best you’ll get are only at this nukkad.”