Mysore dosa

The new branch offers a compact spread with hits from their original menu including dosa, sheera, idli (Rs 60), wada, pudina batata vada (Rs 55) and bisi bele bhath (Rs 73), in addition to pav bhaji (Rs 147), tawa pulao and juices. We ask Krishna about settling for a small menu in a neighbourhood with high footfalls due to its proximity to Currey Road railway station. He explains, “Our kitchen is on the lower level; customers have complained that the food gets cold in the AC restaurant by the time it reaches their table. Also, there have been hour-long queues for a table, and we want to bring that down to half an hour. 

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So we are going slow, serving what we know best first. It’s only when we iron out all the creases is when we will add more dishes to the menu.” He admitted that comparisons to the quick five-minute service at the original outlet are bound to happen so they first want to improve the quality of service before expanding the menu. This is also why they haven’t started deliveries yet.

Idli. Pics/Shadab Khan

Fortunately for this reviewer, the Mysore dosa (Rs 91) was crisp when we visited the restaurant on a different date during non-peak hours while the Mumbai-style pav bhaji was perfect. Regular customers who have been visiting Ramashraya for nearly 40 years now have been giving positive feedback instead of complaining, he adds, and this connection has pushed them to sort out their teething issues as soon as possible. A few of the senior members among the hotel staff, who have been working for the restaurant for more than a decade, are there to train and keep new hires on their toes.

Like most of the hospitality industry, the pandemic was tough for Ramashraya too. Many of their staff returned to their native places. But it was the lockdown that gave Akshay the time to think about Ramashraya’s future. “After my father passed away, my brother had to look after operations quickly. The pandemic gave him some time to plan and execute a new idea. There was always the fear of the fourth wave, but he felt it was high time that we took our chances. Initially, we were looking for locations in SoBo, and after searching for six to seven months, we zeroed in on this spot as we clicked with the owners who were supportive,” recalls Krishna. The brothers have plans to open another outlet in two months’ time in Matunga. We can’t wait.

Ramashraya
At: Next to One Avighna Park, near Currey Road railway station
Time: 7 am to 10 pm 
Call: 9819060144