The Grand Thakar

The Grand Thakar is a Kathiyawadi thali restaurant in Rajkot, in the Kalawad Road area near Sardar Patel Stadium, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. It serves the rustic, robust cooking of the Kathiawar peninsula, which differs from the sweeter style of mainland Gujarat: heavier use of garlic, red chilli, ghee and millet breads, and a strong tradition of vegetarian dishes built around seasonal vegetables, pulses and buttermilk. The restaurant is a casual family and group venue rather than a chef-driven fine dining room, and its appeal rests on the completeness of the thali and its value for money.

The signature order is the Kathiyawadi thali, a set meal brought to the table as a series of small bowls and refilled on request. Typical components include sev tameta, a tangy tomato curry topped with crisp gram-flour sev; seasonal vegetable preparations; dal or kadhi; and farsan. Bajra rotla, a thick millet flatbread, is served with ghee and jaggery, a pairing that is emblematic of Saurashtra home cooking, especially in cooler months. Rice, papad, pickles and salad round out the plate, and a sweet usually closes the meal.

The dining room is informal and busy, with the noise level typical of a popular thali house: families, office groups and visitors sharing long tables, with staff moving quickly between tables. There is no dress code. The restaurant does not focus on a wine programme, in keeping with Gujarat, where alcohol sales are tightly restricted; beverages are limited to buttermilk, lassi, soft drinks, and tea.

Prices are moderate, roughly INR 500-800 for two (USD 5-8). The restaurant takes walk-ins and does not rely on advance booking, but queues form at weekends and on holiday evenings, so visitors often arrive early or accept a short wait. Lunch is generally the more relaxed service, while dinner draws larger family crowds. Its Kalawad Road location makes it practical to reach by auto-rickshaw or taxi from central Rajkot.