Ashok Pure Veg Restaurant

If you are driving on the Pune Banglore Highway, you will see us at Waghwadi Phata in Islampur. We call the place Ashok Pure Veg Restaurant. Being right on the highway means we get a lot of truck drivers and families going on long trips. We only serve vegetarian food here because that’s what we know how to cook best. The building is just a plain structure with a big parking space in front. It gets very dusty with all the vehicles passing by, so we are always cleaning the tables. Inside, we have simple benches and some fans to keep the heat away. My wife helps in the kitchen sometimes when it gets really busy during the lunch hour. We don't have a fancy menu with hundreds of items. We mostly do thalis, some local sabzis, and fresh rotis. The tea is always hot and we make it strong. I’ve noticed that people who stop here are usually in a hurry, so we try to get the food out fast. We don't have any air conditioning or soft music playing. It’s just a place to eat and rest your legs for a bit. The prices are kept low so that anyone can afford a meal. We use the local market in Islampur for our vegetables every morning. It’s a lot of work starting at five in the morning, but it’s our life. We’ve been here since the highway was much smaller than it is now.