This Restaurant in Amritsar is an Ode to 'Punjab'

When one thinks of Punjab, the mind immediately conjures up visions of the Golden Temple, lush fields with farmers taking pride in their hard work, appetizing, wholesome food and of course the benevolent hospitality of the Punjabi folk. No trip to Punjab is ever complete without feeling that warmth, love and generosity that is very often expressed through the medium of lip-smacking, honest food. Exactly this spirit of Punjab has been recaptured by Kiran Dhillon and Gurpreet Gehdu in their brainchild and labour of love- Rang Punjab, a Farmers’ Restaurant And Sweet Shop.

Located in a beautiful heritage building in the heart of Amritsar, only a few minutes away from the Golden Temple, Rang Punjab offers visitors a slice of Punjab, showcasing the very best of it, from traditional Punjabi recipes to the most authentic papad, wadi and aam papad as well as homemade sweets, street food and desserts served in an ambience redolent with old-world charm and nostalgia.

All ingredients are sustainably sourced from their farm-to-table restaurant projects, “Friends of Farmers,” and “Daughters of Farmers.” Through these initiatives, they hope to bring fair trade, women empowerment and sustainability to local farmers.

Located in a restored administrative building of British Raj from 1866, the 350 covers restaurant consists of three parts, the main restaurant floor, a food souk and a party hall including a capacity of 100. This is surrounded by a veranda with outdoor seating and access to their Grill Bike and Kulfi Bike.

While designing the interiors, Dhillon wanted to revive features of Punjabi architecture and aesthetics not seen anymore.

The inspiration is drawn from old world charm. The Town Hall being a British era structure, elements of both the colonial era and Punjabi culture of the previous century, have been used. These were things which were commonly used in Punjabi architecture but are disappearing now. Something that has left a long lasting impression and will always bring the nostalgia back.

“The idea was to keep the place rustic, true to the roots and yet upmarket and stylish,” said Dhillon. “My roots in rural Punjab and our international exposure helped us create the balance between old-world charm and modern comfort. We didn’t want anything to overpower, instead it had to be in sync with the name, British architecture of the building as well as Punjabi elements of that era.” 

Rang Punjab hopes to show visitors to the city a detailed cross section of Punjabi food and culture, a one-stop-shop for all things Punjab.