Kerala House Restaurant

You will find us down in the basement on Karimpal Avenue. Being so close to the Secretariat on GH ROAD means we get a lot of people coming in for a quick meal during their lunch break. It’s usually a bit of a rush between twelve and two in the afternoon. The kitchen gets hot, and the sound of plates clanking is pretty much the background music of our day. We don't have a big fancy sign or a lot of space, but we have enough tables to fit the regulars who come by every day for their food. Thiruvananthapuram is a busy city, and the street outside is always full of motorcycles and buses. Down here in the basement, it stays a little cooler, which is a relief when the sun is beating down on the pavement outside. We focus on getting the food out on time because people have to get back to their offices. Our staff doesn't wear fancy uniforms; we just wear what’s practical for moving around a cramped kitchen. We wash the floors every evening once the last person has left and the shutters are down. It’s a lot of cleaning and a lot of cooking. We’ve been at this address for a while now, and most people in the neighborhood know where the stairs lead. We just keep the pots boiling and the rice ready for whoever walks in through the door. It is a humble life, but it keeps us busy.