Business over lunch

A post-it at the entrance by a patron says,“Always wanted to eat in a place like Central Perk,finally found it.”

A smiling 27-year-old Delna Palia runs it and makes sure customers feel at home. The décor gives a feeling you’ve entered a living room.

It attracts a bunch of lawyers and office-goers. They can be seen sampling dhansak,salads and red curry with rice during lunch,while a handful of teenagers savour hotdogs,waffles and pastries.

Palia’s eatery at Homi Modi Street,off Fountain,also doubles as an arbitration room where lawyers work out amicable solutions before demolishing Palia’s signature dish,khari par edu. The room’s inception almost a month back spread by word of mouth and lawyers have been using it since.

Says Delna: “Once they book the room,proceedings continue for around three days by which it either concludes or is adjourned.”

The room can be booked for Rs 3,000 for a day and Rs 2,000 for half-a-day and can seat 12 on either side of the table while the arbitrator can park himself at the centre.

According to Delna,proceedings start at 11 am after lawyers and clients arrive,while the arbitrator,usually a retired judge,comes with his stenographer and assistant.

A light snack fires up discussion till lunchtime,after which talks continue till they are adjourned over tea. The place has a printer,fax,scanner,internet and Wi-Fi.

Advocate Rumi Mirza who used it to arbitrate in a contract dispute says,“We normally book it for a full day and the same continues for a couple of days more.”

“The arbitrators are also busy so discussion can happen only when everybody has a date to spare,” added Mirza.

Mirza has known The Tea Pot from the day it opened and was one of the lawyers to suggest that a room be opened for settling disputes. “The facility is very good and the manner in which it has been done up is also nice and we used it for our matter for three full days,” said Mirza’s client Gautam Shah.

A retired judge,who recently arbitrated in a few civil disputes here,and who did not wish to be named said it is a nice place for conducting minor arbitrations.

The place is a hit with anniversary couples.

It’s Palia’s undivided attention to her diners that makes the place so inviting.

“I’m very fond of cooking,” says Palia,who has done cooking courses and specialises in bakery and confectionery after which her mother,Zeubin,coaxed her into opening this place.

“It has a good atmosphere and good food,” says J Jehangir,trustee,Jehangir Art Gallery,adding,“It’s very nice for a quick lunch for the working part of town.”

It also runs lunch service for lawyers and judges,rustling up an array of options. “I quite like the personal touch and care the place offers and the quiet ambience. She (Delna) sends my lunch and I generally look forward to what she sends everyday,” says advocate Birendra Saraf.