Whoever said that ‘a canteen is where a college student truly belongs’ was right! Right from budding love-stories to completing assignments & crying woes about lecturers – the canteen walls have heard it all.
A student or an alumni – a college canteen will always welcome you with open arms. And if a teacher, well, now you know where to take rounds at.
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics
More than a college canteen, this one has evolved into a landmark of sorts over decades of its existence. From first occupying space between NM and Mithibai College, to living under the cover of NM College, to now sprawling itself across a large area on the ground floor of Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Management building, the canteen has shifted a couple of grounds. The fact that Amar Juice Centre’s sister concern, Aditi Fast Foods holds a monopoly in it, further adds to the glory. While the menu has had a facelift, the constant favourites remain (read: idli, masala pav, and grilled sandwiches).
Jai Hind College
Befriend the canteen waiter Madan here, and we guarantee you a table within 5 minutes of you dropping in here. Revolving stools, gleaming Formica tables and colourful walls define the place. Dosas, Sev Puris, Sandwiches – ask for it and you shall have it.
While the variety is conspicuous, the South Indian fare here stands out.
Sophia College
The largest college canteen in the city, this one is as old as time. Rickety tables, familiar whiffs – the place is inviting as ever. Snack on the vada pav or dig into the chicken fried rice – every fare on the menu is just so tempting. The only grievance – non-student are prohibited from trespassing. .
St. Xavier’s College
Chai and vada pav, eating from a plate that is in close proximity to cats, juggling 10 cups of tomato soup with 10 sandwiches on a tray, and chocolate truffle pastry that is more often than not out of stock – sums up an average day at the St. Xavier’s college canteen. From Malhar to Janfest, tiresome days will always become better with the Manchow soup followed by an omlette pav or maggi with cheese. If an idli sambhar or a dosa doesn’t do you good, there’s the very famous Umesh bhai’s bhel to the rescue. There’s also the frankie, biryani and the cheese palak dosa for those days when you have barely managed to escape the black list. Every time a glass bottle breaks it is acknowledged by an embarrassing round of applause, and birthdays invariably involve the awkward situation of the whole canteen singing for you and trying to steal some cake. Guitars being strummed in the canteen is commonplace here.
Mithibai College of Science and Arts
Well, even if Mithibai college does not really house a canteen, it definitely needs to be added to the list. Because we never mentioned that these canteens need to be licensed by the college themselves. Take for instance the vada pavs stalls, the sandwiches centres, the soda pubs and the dosa corners – trust this ‘khau galli’ to put a buffet restaurant to shame.
MMK College of Commerce and Economics
Now how unfair would it be if the list was exclusive of MMK college. If this name in the list has you wondering as to what could ever be served in the premises of the college or even in the vicinity, ask an MMKite. Right from ‘Jay Sandwich’ and Loved One’s (more fondly called LO’s) to Ravi Chinese and Jai Jawan – there’s no dearth of ‘collegian-food’ if we may call it that. Try the egg fried rice with egg on top at Ravi’s or Prawns Rava Fry at Jai Jawan, we bet you would rather stay a collegian at MMK all your life. Gatherings, high-fives are a common sight here. There’s never a discrimination. If you belong to Thadomal, Nationals, or MMK, you belong ‘here’.
Believe your college should stand on our list? Write to us in the comments section below and gloat in your moment of pride.
