Neelam E Punjab

Over on Borivali East Main Road, we’re right in the thick of things. Neelam E Punjab is a busy spot, especially in the evenings when everyone is heading home from work. The kitchen is always loud with the sound of knives hitting chopping boards and the tandoor roaring. It gets really smoky in there. We don't have a big menu. We just do what we know. The chairs are plastic and the tables are covered with those cheap plastic cloths that are easy to wipe down. We get a lot of families coming in. The kids run around while the parents are trying to eat their dal. It’s a bit chaotic, but we like it that way. We don’t use any of those pre-made pastes or frozen stuff. I peel the garlic myself every morning while I listen to the radio. The traffic outside is constant, and you can always hear the horns honking. We’ve thought about moving to a quieter spot, but then we wouldn’t be where the people are. Sometimes the curry is a bit spicier than usual because the chilies we got were particularly strong that day. We just warn people before they take a bite. It’s real food for real people. No frills, just a lot of steam and good smells coming from the kitchen. We stay open until the last customer leaves, which is usually quite late.