Say waah waah at Wazir's

Say waah waah at Wazir's

If Mughlai food's on your mind and you're in the mood for clean, no-fuss and quick service, head to Wazir's, says Sindhu Murthy

Sindhu Murthy



Crave for some meaty Mughlai cuisine and the creamiest curd rice in town? Get set to wind your way through a congested cranny off Richmond Road and reward yourself with aromatic dum biryani that'll leave you licking your fingers.
Step into this tiny matchbox-ish joint and any initial apprehensions about its smallness would soon be done away with when you sample the first dish that arrives. What's more, the place is squeaky clean and the neatly-attired waiters serve with a delightful smile. The one thing that might be a bother, especially if you're tall, could be the rather low ceiling - it was even for a five-footer like me. There are boards everywhere that remind you to mind your head — it's understandable, what after that eat-till-you-burst vow you fulfil at Wazir's, you are likely to get a little woozy.
Opened on January 26, 1999, by the sibling duo Safir and Tanvir, Wazir's (named after their grandfather) was initially meant to be a food-caterer and a takeaway joint. But as the aromas from their kitchen wafted through Shanthinagar, serving customers on the premises became inevitable. "My brother and I initiated this since we have always been interested in food. I love to cook and he loves to eat," laughs Safir, the co-founder of Wazir's. Hailing from a Gujarati family of food lovers, their genetic culinary flair sure has a hand in lending that Midas touch to each item they dish out.
Putting passion to work — establishing a cordial, long-lasting relationship with customers by catering to their health and gastronomic needs — is the primary goal of the duo. To ensure that the calorie-conscious too can gorge on their delicacies, the food is cooked sans coconut and is also customised on request. The meat is not roasted or hung. Even the prices of these dishes have your jaws dropping; basmati rice is served at almost half the actual price. Mostly software engineers, bachelors in the locality and journalists frequent the place; they order rolls, Mughlai biryani and chakundari kebab. What about Wazir's makes loyal customers out of usually fickle people who are spoilt for choice? "We make our food less spicy and use fluffy rice. We don't use artificial flavours or colours," Safir confirms. We can vouch for that, considering you are never caught with blood-red stains on your palms and lips after a meal here.
On a regular afternoon, the tables are occupied; people spilling outside the restaurant are seen munching on a roll while waiting to be seated inside. The two brothers take turns to manage this crowd, and attend to at least 160 orders everyday. "It's a lot of hard work. Wazir's is our baby. We sacrifice social life, all for the love of food," says Tanvir, Safir's older brother. We say, hard work has surely paid off.
Address: 14/1, Richmond Crest, Rhenius Street (opposite the hockey stadium), Richmond Town - 560025. Ph: 080-41145555 or 22292668
Orders: 11 am to 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm