Amrutha Mess

We’re located on the first floor in the Hyderguda-Basheer Bagh area of Hyderabad. It’s across from Apollo Hospital, which brings in a lot of people. Being on the first floor means you have to walk up the stairs, but most people don't mind once they get used to it. We call it a mess because that’s what it is—a place for simple, everyday meals. We don’t have a massive menu. We just cook what's common in our homes. The zip code is 500029. It’s a busy part of the city. We have a few regulars who have been eating with us for years. They usually have their favorite spots to sit. The kitchen is right there, and you can hear the pressure cookers going off all afternoon. It gets a bit crowded during the lunch hour, and sometimes you have to wait for a stool. We don’t have air conditioning, just some fans that we keep running. It’s a bit hot in the summer but we manage. We aren't trying to impress anyone with the decor. It’s just plain walls and sturdy tables. We focus on getting the food to the table quickly. We buy our supplies from the local wholesale market. It’s a lot of manual labor, but we’re used to it. We don't do deliveries, people just come here and eat or take it away. It's a simple life and we try to do it right.