Hotel Shahdab

Address :	21, High Court Road, Opposite Madina Building, Ghansi Bazaar, Hyderabad
Phone Number :	040 30512844 ext:215
Hours Open :	12 Noon to Midnight
Cuisine :	Hyderabadi, Irani, Mughalai
My Rating :	4/5
Date of Review :	17th July 2012
Review Posted At :	Zomato

Shahdab's exterior and interiors may be a tad squalid but scream of the authenticity of an Irani Cafe/ Hyderabadi eatery  

I found this place while pushing across mango sellers and hawkers of ceramics in the streets surrounding Charminar. Emerged from the masses a Iranian like dhaba. Since this was a recommendation by my Authentic Hyderabadi Rickshaw driver for Authentic Hyderabadi food, the ambiance just met my expectations. We were led up the stairs to "family" section which was indeed thoroughly Hyderabadi. With brown upholstery, red beards and black burqa's the place isn't bright but certainly isn't without color. It was 4: 30 PM , I had had no breakfast(no lunch obviously) and had to wait for a table. A ravenous me occupied a cramped table with remains of the birds consumed by the previous patron. Biryanis are the fastest items here while anything else does take time but is worth the wait. The Dum ka chicken was excellent, soft, floating in a thick gravy of cashews. The Kheema Naan was good, Rogini a little unappetizing to look at but hunger can make you blind. The Rumali roti was the thinnest and softest I have had in Hyderabad yet. The highlight of course was the Biryani which is allowed to stew for many an hour in copper bottomed vessels nearly as big as the men stirring them. Long rice steamed with aromatic spices and served with slightly but justly so, under cooked legs of chicken. A standard Biryani can suffice for two people easily but that is no excuse to miss out on the exotic gravies this place has to offer. If you live in this city or know some one who does, go yourself or urge them to go to this restaurant.

These boys spotted me snapping them as they waited for their share of Haleem during Ramadaan

During the month of Ramadaan this place becomes truly exceptional. For a truly unique Hyderabadi experience a midnight tasting of the famous Haleem  is a must. Ghansi Bazaar  is within walking distance of the Charminaar  and hence nearly at the center of the city and all its hustle and bustle. This area is generally shut down during the whole year, after Midnight but during the month of fasting there is a night long Iftaar party on the streets. With men, women young and old and children too flooding the streets the place is a festive chaos. Carpet salesmen form the middle east to Burqa hawkers from Afghanistan and Pakistan find a place in the night markets around Eid. Amid this chaos is the familiar building of Shahdaab with people pouring out of it all lining up to eat the famed dish of nearly molten meat stew, Haleem. The ambiance and the atmosphere during this time is great. Perhaps one of the city's most flavorful and strong Haleems is served here. This is not a place for the weak of the heart for its prepared, packaged and plated as you try to keep your feet on the ground with patrons, passersby and two wheeler try to move past you.

A young worker gets ready to parcel Shahdab's Haleem for the men eating here to take to their families.

As I stood with my camera and a friend's tripod in the confusion that is a night of festive season Madina, people around me started getting curious. As I clicked photos the crowds increased asking which channel or paper I was from. One waiter refused to believe that I wasn't a reporter and presented his friend . " Sir, phastest waiter in Shahdab Sir, phastest in Hyderbad, phaster than aeroplane."I obliged with a snap, after all in this digital age how much does a single shot cost?

The loyal servers of Shahdab

On a last note, Shahdab is the place to go for Biryani, Mughalai cuisine, Afghani influenced food, Irani chai and a strong, flavorful Haleem.

Wikipedia : Shahdab

Burrp : Shahdab

Google Places : Shahdab