Pune’s most iconic building, Mahatma Phule Mandai, was completed in 1882. The same year the vegetable market started from this building and so started an eatery named Baldev Prasad Gupta! That same eatery is still in operation and hundreds of foodies visit here daily to gorge on their famous dishes.
It has been 142 years of operations, but their unique menu still continues to wow their daily customers. These include vegetable and fruit traders, transporters, labourers, people working at nearby shops and even retired folks. The whole vibe at Baldev Prasad Gupta’s eatery is genuine nostalgia. Simple food, simple people and a no frills establishment. Fresh batches of Batata Wadas, Pohe, Upama, Bread Pattice, Samosas and their signature Jalebis, etc keep refilling as hungry souls keep emptying them!
Read more such amazing street food stories here
Such a small establishment that is old enough to be your great grandfather, but the hygiene and cleanliness is noteworthy. After Dorabjee’s Restaurant that established in 1875, this must be the oldest food joint of Pune city. The black stone structure that is iconic, photos of the founders Baldev Gupta ji, hand painted name board and the traditional folks around take you back to the 19th century or even 18th century!
We visited Baldev Prasad Gupta in the morning and the place was already crowded. Everyone was busy munching on their favorite foods there. The dabbas filled with various hot food items kept coming from their nearby kitchen. The hustle-bustle of the eatery reminded us of the market places in Amitab Bachchan’s 70’s films. Those with a small appetite were having a batata wada or samosa and the ones with proper appetite straight went for Poori Bhaji humbly served on a clean paper.
We went for their best selling Bread Pattice which was crunchy and came topped with tangy chutney. Then a mixed plate of Dhokla and Alu Wadi or Patra topped with the same chutney. It is not common in Pune to get Alu Wadi at a snacking joint, but here they make it fresh everyday and patrons finish the whole tray. Dhokla was not extra airy but quite dense and moist at the same time. There was no bloating even after finishing the whole plate of Dhoklas! That says a lot about their genuine recipes.
After a short stroll around the market, we came back for round two, Poori Bhaji accompanied with their signature Jalebi! Crispy but non-oily five pooris were laid down on the paper along with the non-pretentious Batata Bhaji. Such a basic simple meal it is that fills you up. The star dish according to us is their Jalebis. Not the crunchy ones that you get normally nor the ones loaded with artificial food color. The Jalebis here are crisp but soft inside. They are warm and quite bigger than the ones you normally get. The sugar syrup is just enough to sweeten the whole jalebi and not dripping at all. The flavour is not just sweet but there is a nice welcoming sour taste that comes from natural fermentation. This combination is out of this world. This traditional style Jalebis you will not find anywhere else but here only!
This traditional approach of cooking and selling the food for over 140 years is what makes Baldev Prasad Gupta a legend of Pune. But unfortunately, many Punekars are still not aware of this true ‘hidden gem’. If you are a true foodie, then visiting this eatery must be on your list and you must try all the dishes. Because you don’t find such genuine flavours these days!
Address: Baldev Prasad Gupta Sweet Home, Mahatma Phule Market, Mandai, Shukrawar Peth, Pune.
Contact: 8840977291
