Oldie But Goodie: Vig Refreshment

C. G. Road in Chembur East is not particularly conducive to restaurant dining. The arterial road that runs through the Sindhi camp area is perpetually veiled in exhaust smoke and soundtracked by the blaring of horns. Yet either side of this chaotic road is crammed with bustling sweet marts and other Sindhi eateries. The star among them is Vig Refreshment. For over six decades, Vig has been a favourite breakfast spot of the suburb’s residents, who gather here at the crack of dawn for a typical Sindhi breakfast of steaming dal with fresh pakwans (Rs30), and raisin-studded sheera (Rs20) cooked in ghee. The lunch crowd, on the other hand, feasts on ragda pattice (Rs40), the shallow-fried, heart-shaped chana dal-stuffed potato tikkis served with pav, sliced onions, and spicy chhole. Vig’s regulars also come for the fluffy, bhatti-cooked kulchas with such stuffing as paneer (Rs45); aloo gobi (Rs40); and spiced onion (Rs40). Equally popular are the piping hot samosa chhole (Rs25); the fragrant chhole pulao (Rs45); and thick and creamy lassi (Rs28) to which they add a spoonful of malai.

The kitchen at the back of the modest restaurant is primarily used as a washing area. Most of the cooking takes place in front of the customers. As you enter Vig, you see counters equipped with cooking apparatus such as kadhais for frying puris and pakwans; wide steel pots bubbling with dal and chhole; and steel matkas for churning lassi. The kurta-clad proprietor Arjun Dev sits surrounded by this spread, reading the day’s papers, handling the cash and conversing with customers in brisk Sindhi. He sits with his back to the counters and seldom turns to observe the goings-on behind him. He doesn’t need to—after 62 years, the service runs swiftly and smoothly without his supervision.

Vig Refreshment

LocationShop No.17
C. G. Road
Chembur Camp
Chembur (East)

Phone022 2553 1032

HoursDaily, 6am to 10pm