Gole Market - a paradise for food lovers

For food lovers, there is no place like Gole Market.

What was once Delhi's meat market has now evolved into a centre for the best in Chinese, Mughlai, Avadhi, Continental, Mexican and oriental styles of food.

But on December 1, the Gole Market constituency, represented by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the Delhi state assembly, will be in focus for another reason – elections. But there's still time for that.

The city's first meat market, popularly known as Gole Market, a circular two-storeyed building nestling in a traffic island of central Delhi, has now evolved into a barbecue cluster. The more than 60-year-old market that was known for its raw meat serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The market, built during British times, has come up with a large number of restaurants and meat shops that are highly popular among office-goers. Sagar, Galina and Tandoori Nights are just a few of them. There is a lot to choose from and at reasonable prices. From chicken, mutton and fish, the market also offers duck, turkey and exotic seafood.

"Business is brisk here," say Pervez and Faiz, brothers and owners of Sagar restaurant. "Earlier we had Shahi Durbar, but since it was a closed restaurant, we did not have many regulars. People these days prefer fast-food kind of outlets. And we converted the place according to the taste of the people," informs Pervez.

Family friendly

The family earlier also had a transport business but converted the space into a barbecue restaurant. Says Faiz, "Food is any day good business. And we do not look for margins. One can gauge the results by the fact that raw meat is sold in the market for Rs70 per kilogram, whereas our prepared items are priced at that amount." He attributes it to bulk buying and not looking for huge profits. Faiz puts their food popularity down to good food and a family-friendly environment. "During the day time it is people working in offices nearby, including New Delhi Municipal Council, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, Lady Hardinge Hostel, and also a number of doctors practicing at Doctor's Lane who are our regular visitors. And at night it is the middle-class families who find it convenient to have cheap and good food here.

"You can find Chinese, Mughlai, Avadhi, Continental, Mexican and oriental styles – all in one restaurant," says Anupam Dhir of Galina. "Our restaurant is very popular with the Mandi House crowd. In fact, many of them even get food packed for their homes," he says.

A full Tandoori chicken anywhere in the city could cost anything above Rs110 whereas in Gole Market one can get it for Rs80.

Variety

The Gole Market roundabout has shops of all varieties. From Nirula's outlet to travel agencies, barbershop, chemist, stationary, everything comes handy. Interestingly, meat shop owners who have diversified their business have restricted themselves to food outlets. "We have regulars coming to us for the last 20 years," informs Mohammad Mateen, who claims to sell more than 100 kg of raw meat daily.

While malia tikka, chicken tandoori, seekh kebabs and grilled chicken are all on the popularity list, the unanimous favourite is mutton curry. From sit-in restaurants to roadside shops selling kebabs and roomali rotis, for food-lovers Gole Market is a circle where they do not have to go in rounds to have their favourite dishes.

GOURMET FARE

Connoisseur's delight
A full Tandoori chicken anywhere in the city could cost anything above Rs110 whereas in Gole Market one can get it for Rs80.

"We do not look for margins. Raw meat is sold in the market for Rs70 per kilogram, whereas our prepared items are priced for that amount."

"We have regulars coming to us for the last 20 years... we sell more than 100 kg of raw meat daily."