Sardar Pav Bhaji – 54 Years and Counting…
- Gagan Patil
- Jul 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Sardar Pav Bhaji is a limited menu eatery. It is located in the former mill hub of South Mumbai – Tardeo.
Location - 166-A, Tardeo Road, Junction, Janata Nagar, Tardeo, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400034.
Origin of Pav Bhaji -
During the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), global demand for cotton had increased. To meet increased demand, cotton mills situated in Mumbai had to work around a clock. Workers hardly had time to feed themselves. In this scenario, there was a need for a snack that was quick to prepare, eat, and affordable as well as the one which can suffice the hunger of such hard-working mill workers. The solution came in the form of Pav Bhaji. The local vendors started selling Pav Bhaji outside the Mill compound at the cost of some paise.
Thick curry made by mashing vegetables which were easily available such as Potato, Peas, Capsicum, Tomato, etc. were prepared as Bhaji and served along with Pav. Later, Pav Bhaji became the favorite dish of Mumbai. The dish which was founded in the era of Mills has taken a rightful place in most of the restaurant’s Menu & in the Mumbaikar’s heart. Pav Bhaji is one of the common dishes from Streets of Mumbai to Five start hotels.
About Sardar Pav Bhaji –
During 1960, there was a young man called Sardar Ahmed who stood outside the Mills’ gate selling fruits and later fruit juice. He knew that those mill workers survived by eating Wada Pav, Anda Pav.
He always thought “How can I give these hard-working people healthier, fresh, and yet affordable food?”
His thinking leads him to experiment with a dish that consisted of Potato, Onion, Tomato and other seasonal vegetables, cooked together, mashed and served with butter. He was selling a plate of Pav Bhaji mill workers at 60 paise each. Sardar Ahmed formally started this eatery around 1966 and today, his successors continue to run it.
Visit and Experience –
As you approach the Restaurant, you will hear the sound of stainless steel masher hitting the iron Tawa. One more thing which you see is a long queue in front of the restaurant, no matter what day or what time! Sardar Pav Bhaji is not just a restaurant, but it’s a history that makes this place iconic.
Photo Credit: Instagram/@scout.ninja
Photo Credit: Facebook/ Food Maniac India
I visited the restaurant on a busy Sunday evening. Usually, If you go to a group, you will get a separate table. If you are alone or with one friend, you will have to share a table with others. We were two, so we had to share a table with the other two people. This restaurant does not have a lot of items on its menu like any other restaurant. They have 5 varieties of Pav Bhaji, a few side dishes, 11 different juices, 5 varieties of milkshakes, cold drinks, and some desserts.
Once you place your order after some time waiter will serve a small plate of onion with some sprinkled spices and lemon. Few minutes after you will see the waiter is coming with a tray full of Pav Bhaji Plates. The tray contains around 10-15 plates of Pav Bhaji but none of them touch each other. Surprising!!! Coz I cannot even handle more than 2 plates at a time: p
Sardar Pav Bhaji uses only one Butter brand - Amul butter to make or serve the dish. They serve a plate of Bhaji with one large piece of butter on it and some coriander sprinkled on it. The plate itself looks too tempting to be shared. Now, the sight of this Bhaji is so yummylicious, that I did not really wait for the waiter to bring Pav. So I started eating Bhaji with a spoon And, then arrived a plate of Pav, or as I would say – Butter-bathed Pav.
My Review:
The plate of Pav Bhaji costs around Rs. 150. Don’t go on the numerical, see the worth. It’s said that the quality & taste of Bhaji not has changed over these 54 years.
If you living in Mumbai or you are visiting Mumbai, you must visit Sardar Pav Bhaji.
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