Essex Village Garden Restaurant

Our restaurant is at 4 Aurobindo Marg. It’s a pretty famous road in Delhi, and we’ve been here for quite some time. The main thing about our place is the garden. It’s not common to have that much green space in the middle of the city, so we spend a lot of time taking care of the plants and the grass. It’s a lot of work, especially with the Delhi weather being so extreme. When it’s too hot, we’re out there with the hoses, and when it’s monsoon, we’re trying to keep the puddles away. The building itself has an older feel to it, which we like. It’s not one of those modern, sleek places. We have regular tables and chairs, and the kitchen is tucked away in the back. The staff here is like a small family. Many of us have been working at this address for years. We don't have a big corporate structure or a mission statement. We just cook food and serve it to the people who walk in. Some days are very busy with large groups, and other days it’s just a few locals having a quiet meal. We handle everything from the cleaning to the cooking ourselves. It’s a grounded way to run a business. We just stay focused on the daily tasks and keeping the garden looking decent for whoever comes by.