Mehta Bhel & Restaurant

Our little shop is right across from V S Hospital in Ellisbridge, so we are always surrounded by the hum of the city. Being in this part of Ahmedabad, there is never really a quiet moment. People are constantly walking back and forth from the hospital, and a lot of them end up coming in here when they get hungry. We mostly do bhel and other quick bites that people can eat without waiting too long. It’s a small space, and during the lunch rush, it can get pretty cramped with everyone trying to find a seat or waiting for their parcel. We’ve been at this for years, and the routine is the same every day. We start prep early, chopping vegetables and mixing the chutneys so everything is ready for the afternoon crowd. My hands are usually stained from the spices, and the floor needs sweeping every hour because of the foot traffic. It’s a lot of standing on your feet, but that’s just the nature of the business. We know many of the regulars who work nearby, and we see families coming in during difficult times at the hospital. We just try to provide a decent meal in the middle of all that stress. The traffic on the road outside is always heavy, but once you’re inside, it’s just about the food and the work. We keep things simple because that is what works for us.