Al Bek

If you find yourself on Ashram Road 527 in Malleshwaram, you’ll see Al Bek. It’s a place that’s always got something cooking, usually something meat-heavy that brings people in. Malleshwaram is a classic part of town, and being on Ashram Road means there’s always a mix of people walking by. We’ve got a fairly simple setup inside. The tables are usually full around lunch and dinner time, and it can get a bit noisy with everyone talking over their plates. We don’t really do the whole corporate dining thing. It’s more about sitting down, getting your meal, and enjoying it with whoever you’re with. I’m usually around the front, making sure things are moving along and that people find a place to sit. The kitchen stays pretty busy, and the cooks have their own way of doing things that they’ve perfected over time. We get a lot of regulars who don’t even look at the menu anymore; they just tell us what they want as they walk in. The building itself is an older one, which gives it a bit of character, I think. We keep the floors swept and the water jugs filled. It’s a basic, honest place to get some food without any extra drama. We’ve been part of this street for a good stretch now and we just keep at it to make sure folks leave with their stomachs full.