Basanti Restaurants

Running the restaurant at Basanti Hotel here in Puri keeps me pretty busy. We are right in the middle of town, so we get a lot of people coming in for the beach or the big temple. The air here always smells a bit like salt and incense, which is just how Puri is. Our dining room isn't huge, but we have enough tables to fit a good number of people. I usually spend my morning making sure the kitchen staff has everything they need for the day. We serve basic meals that travelers expect when they stay at a hotel like this. It’s mostly families who come through our doors. The floor is made of tile because people often bring in sand from their walks outside, and tile is easier to clean. We don't have any flashy decorations on the walls, just a few simple lights and some fans. It gets really warm in the afternoon, so we try to keep the place as cool as possible for the guests. My staff has been around for a while, and they know the routine well. We cook what we know people like, mostly local rice dishes and vegetables. It's a straightforward business without any complications. We open up for breakfast early because the pilgrims like to be out before it gets too hot. It's just a regular spot for a meal in a busy coastal town that never seems to stop moving.