The Indian Canteen Review explores the restaurants and canteens that lawyers frequent. In this column, we do a short review of the canteens of the High Court in Hyderabad..As is the case with the city of Hyderabad, where the old and the ancient jostles for space between the young and the brash, so are the food choices at the High Court in Hyderabad. Recently named the High Court of Judicature of Telagana and Andhra Pradesh, this High Court houses two canteens with the older one serving traditional fare such as set meals. The newer one, located close to the parking lot, is preferred by the younger lawyers and serves the usual smattering of Chinese food and rice-based items such as biryani and curd rice..It is in the new canteen that I found myself, surrounded by lawyers and hearing the kind of talk one can hear in any court. There is much criticism of judges who have failed to listen to a particularly brilliant set of arguments, only to be met with equal praise for a judge who gave a positive order based on no argument at all. In front of me lies a bowl of “Egg fried rice”, spicy and terribly unhealthy. Next to the rice sits a plate of “Chicken sixty-five”, equally spicy and coated with a radioactive orange. Both are absolutely delicious. Most items are priced in the 50-100 price range, with a plate of biryani cross the 100 rupee barrier..The canteen works on a self-service system – pay at the counter, collect the receipt, hand receipt at food counter, and patiently wait while the food arrives. The seating area is clean and well maintained. This makes a lot of sense, especially as the lunch crowd builds up. In terms of space to sit as well, there is an adequate number of tables and chairs; the infrastructure seems adequate for the time being..And when it comes to the food served in court canteens, the one at Hyderabad is miles ahead of most of its peers. And you can understand why. In this city, food is celebrated and loved with a sincerity that needs to be seen to be believed. It is a city of tala hua gosht and “Famous” ice cream and a double ka meetha that is so lethal, it is rumoured to cause temporary diabetes..And of course, a two-minute walk from the High Court will lead you to Shadab. The one and only, Shadab..To have the chance to run your fingers through the moist grains of basmati rice, splattered with just the right balance of masala and meat, is to see a little bit of heaven. But Shadab is an indulgence, to be savored and cherished on special occasions..I digress..On the other side of the court, lies the old canteen. This place serves a typical lunch grub, including a set meal for less than fifty rupees. The waiters, as in any court canteen, can spot a non-lawyer straight away and service can be a bit tardy during peak hours. You sit on metal chairs, before a giant slab of a table, and the tea is served in cups placed on clattering, white plates..The one item that deserves a special mention is the lemon tea or sulaimani chai that is served in the old canteen. A tiny cup of lemon dipped tea, with just enough mint leaves to cool you down. Eight bucks a try, these things can get strangely addictive..There is one more item that needs to be mentioned here, and this one too comes in liquid form -the grape badam juice sold in a counter just outside the old canteen. Twenty-five bucks will get you a plastic cup filled with grape juice covered with cut badam. It is strangely likable, a bizarre combination that somehow just tastes right..Overall, the Hyderabad High Court lawyer does not have too much to complain about. After all, on really bad days, there is always Shadab..The ICR Verdict.Food – 3.5 out of 5.Comfort – 4 out of 5 (new canteen) 3 out of 5 (old canteen).VFM – 3 out of 5 (new canteen) 4 out of 5 (old canteen).Next stop: The canteen at the Karnataka High Court
The Indian Canteen Review explores the restaurants and canteens that lawyers frequent. In this column, we do a short review of the canteens of the High Court in Hyderabad..As is the case with the city of Hyderabad, where the old and the ancient jostles for space between the young and the brash, so are the food choices at the High Court in Hyderabad. Recently named the High Court of Judicature of Telagana and Andhra Pradesh, this High Court houses two canteens with the older one serving traditional fare such as set meals. The newer one, located close to the parking lot, is preferred by the younger lawyers and serves the usual smattering of Chinese food and rice-based items such as biryani and curd rice..It is in the new canteen that I found myself, surrounded by lawyers and hearing the kind of talk one can hear in any court. There is much criticism of judges who have failed to listen to a particularly brilliant set of arguments, only to be met with equal praise for a judge who gave a positive order based on no argument at all. In front of me lies a bowl of “Egg fried rice”, spicy and terribly unhealthy. Next to the rice sits a plate of “Chicken sixty-five”, equally spicy and coated with a radioactive orange. Both are absolutely delicious. Most items are priced in the 50-100 price range, with a plate of biryani cross the 100 rupee barrier..The canteen works on a self-service system – pay at the counter, collect the receipt, hand receipt at food counter, and patiently wait while the food arrives. The seating area is clean and well maintained. This makes a lot of sense, especially as the lunch crowd builds up. In terms of space to sit as well, there is an adequate number of tables and chairs; the infrastructure seems adequate for the time being..And when it comes to the food served in court canteens, the one at Hyderabad is miles ahead of most of its peers. And you can understand why. In this city, food is celebrated and loved with a sincerity that needs to be seen to be believed. It is a city of tala hua gosht and “Famous” ice cream and a double ka meetha that is so lethal, it is rumoured to cause temporary diabetes..And of course, a two-minute walk from the High Court will lead you to Shadab. The one and only, Shadab..To have the chance to run your fingers through the moist grains of basmati rice, splattered with just the right balance of masala and meat, is to see a little bit of heaven. But Shadab is an indulgence, to be savored and cherished on special occasions..I digress..On the other side of the court, lies the old canteen. This place serves a typical lunch grub, including a set meal for less than fifty rupees. The waiters, as in any court canteen, can spot a non-lawyer straight away and service can be a bit tardy during peak hours. You sit on metal chairs, before a giant slab of a table, and the tea is served in cups placed on clattering, white plates..The one item that deserves a special mention is the lemon tea or sulaimani chai that is served in the old canteen. A tiny cup of lemon dipped tea, with just enough mint leaves to cool you down. Eight bucks a try, these things can get strangely addictive..There is one more item that needs to be mentioned here, and this one too comes in liquid form -the grape badam juice sold in a counter just outside the old canteen. Twenty-five bucks will get you a plastic cup filled with grape juice covered with cut badam. It is strangely likable, a bizarre combination that somehow just tastes right..Overall, the Hyderabad High Court lawyer does not have too much to complain about. After all, on really bad days, there is always Shadab..The ICR Verdict.Food – 3.5 out of 5.Comfort – 4 out of 5 (new canteen) 3 out of 5 (old canteen).VFM – 3 out of 5 (new canteen) 4 out of 5 (old canteen).Next stop: The canteen at the Karnataka High Court
