The food served on Indian trains can at times be a dampener for many travellers. It is a known fact that the quality, taste and hygiene factors of food items plated up on the trains are far from topnotch. But gourmets and train lovers can try an alternative - there are many train-themed restaurants with rail-like décor in India that provide the best dining experience. You may miss the rumbling sound of a train but these eateries serve a myriad of food items that are delectable and scrummy. It is great fun to sit inside these cosy ‘trains’ and embark on an incredible culinary journey. Here’s a whirlwind tour of train-themed restaurants in India.
Platform 65, Bengaluru
The Platform 65 restaurant on the Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru is one that reflects the vibrant culture of the Indian Railways. If you want to dine out with your family, then arrive at Platform 65 without any delay. The restaurant is open from 12 noon to 11 pm and two persons can have some lip-smacking dishes for Rs 1,300.
Railicious Café, Delhi
The walls of Railicious Café in south Delhi’s Kailash Colony are splashed with pictorial representations of iconic scenes from Bollywood movies that were canned in railway stations. The outlet is open from 11 am to 11 pm and the average rate is Rs 1,400 for two.
Haldiram’s, Vijayawada and Nagpur
The Haldiram’s restaurant is a step ahead in train-themed eating houses as one gets the unique experience of dining in a fully functional railway bogie. You can’t ask for more as you can literally get your teeth into some yummy food served on a train that is each inch real. Moreover, you can also order food online through platforms such as IRCTC from Haldiram’s.
The Haldiram’s outlets are situated at the railway station main parking in Nagpur’s Sitabuldi in Maharashtra and on the Railway Station Road at Vinchipeta in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Both restaurants are open 24x7 and the cost is Rs 300 to 350 for two.
Bogie Wogie, Mumbai
While stepping into the Bogie Wogie restaurant, you would get a feeling that you are entering a busy railway station with the usual hustle and bustle. The eatery, which is in the Mumbai CST Area, boasts of train motifs such as train compartments, railway tracks and station signs. The restaurant receives diners from 12 noon to 4 pm and the cost is Rs 500 for two.
Steam, Jaipur
The Steam restaurant in Jaipur’s Rambagh Palace takes diners on an eventful ride to the erstwhile British era. The main theme of the eating place is the vintage train carriages that were inspired by the luxury trains of the British period. The diners can get a glimpse of the golden times of the Indian Railways and satisfy their palates with mouth-watering dishes. People can have food from Steam anytime between 6 am and 9.30 pm. The cost for two is Rs 5,500.