Combating Homesickness in Delhis All American Diner

Inside a café in Delhi. Photo as well as feature by a author.

Can eating during an American-style café in Delhi unequivocally have you feel during home?

Living in Denmark for some-more than two years as well as usually upon vacation a U.S. once given you left, has made homesickness a extreme opponent. Its caused me to gently sob when you listen to Springsteen as well as buy alien Betty Crocker brownie mixes for $8, usually to feel a small closer to home.

Touring New Delhi last month, a least accurate Indian dining options showed up upon my homesick traveller radar. Several restaurants in Delhi, perhaps specifically catering to transients similar to me who end up upon a complete opposite side of a universe from where you once began, suggest not usually American burgers as well as fries though an altogether classical American café experience.

While a Big Chill restaurant in Delhis Khan Market does suggest a sold aesthetic, embellished out with Hitchcock posters as well as a menu filled with American-style pizzas as well as pastas, grainy chocolate malts, as well as blueberry cheesecake, you opted to eat during a All American Diner twice.

Whats some-more American than a prohibited dog cart?
Photo by chopr.

Tucked in between looming buildings in a India Habitat Center, this small, artless Steak n Shake-esque café has a Wurlitzer jukebox packed with Elvis as well as a Big Bopper as well as breakfast menu full of pancakes as well as omelets during India prices to sate any out of place Dennys lovers cravings.

Red vinyl booths line a walls, as well as a usually telltale signs which you wasnt home were a Indian customers as well as a white small lady wearing a bindi, hand-sewn Indian-style shoes, as well as an Western-style pinkish frilly dress, spinnin! g furiou sly upon a stool during a opposite subsequent to her traveller mother. Never saying an additional Westerner, you wondered if my fellow Indian diners were wistful businessmen or locals who occur to similar to kitsch.

Sliding in to a single of a booths, my potion of filtered water in Delhi, never daub was placed upon a type of sturdy cardboard coasters Id once schooled to flip from a corner of a bar, a way to pass a time while stranded in an uneventful pub. Little accurate touches were everywhere, similar to a Frenchs grained mustard as well as Heinz ketchup subsequent to a steel, honest napkin dispenser upon each table. The white walls, ornate with aged soda advertisements as well as Marilyn Monroe clocks, met a black-and-white checkered building which was usually slick enough to shine. Even a revolting fluorescent lights which lit a L-shaped room seemed similar to an conscious try during authenticity.

Classic Heinz. Photo by a author.

With an Aussie companion upon a initial visit, you systematic what you both deliberate classics, a Coke float as well as a Belgian waffle sundae with strawberry as well as vanilla ice cream respectively. you poured strawberry syrup over my crispy waffle quadrants, fighting a informed stickiness of a metal as well as potion syrup dispenser slowed by years of exposure to corn syrup as well as artificial dyes.

As a delivery of Afternoon Delight played softly, you engaged in a lengthy contention about a parents 8-track collections as well as a love of Billy Joels mushy working-class music. Bonding has never been so gooey as well as sweet.

Heading behind with an American companion days later, you marveled during a selection of appetizers as well as desserts onion rings as well as boiled mozzarella sticks; chocolate silk pie as well as pink cobbler with ice cream prior to grouping dinner. My vanilla milkshake was left prior to my food a! rrived, icy goodness cold to perfection, as well as my chili bean burger with a side of flaky golden brown potato wedges brought behind memories of comfortable Sloppy Joes from a state fair.

American signage. Photo by a author.

My companions unfeeling omelet came out baked to soundness with a side of buttered toast as well as Welchs grape preserve in those small plastic as well as foil packets. All told, tip included, you outlayed a few some-more than 400 rupees, not even $10.

While a little of a specialties similar to mushrooms upon toast appear a bit beyond a customary American café fare, they are well worth sampling. Best of all was a Key Lime Pie, simply advertised as lime though reminiscent of a best southern Florida has to offer. And a mango, honey, as well as chai milkshake is additionally a befitting concede if youve somehow stumbled in to a 50s-style café anticipating to find Indian joy food.

Getting up to waddle out, food deep sleep setting in, you announced to a waiter, Just similar to home! He gave me a blank glance as well as muttered Yes maam, unconditionally unimpressed. Some things usually dont translate.

All American Diner
Lodi Road in Lodi Colony
India Habitat Centre, Delhi
+91 011 43663333, Ext. 3162
Open 07:00 24:00 each day

Community Connection

While youre in town, you can regularly try your palm during a little Urban Volunteering: Delhi. If youre still hungry, theres regularly International Cow: 50 of a Most Amazing Burger Joints in a World.