- 30 Minutes or less even in India
Yes, I relented and tried a US pizza chain for dinner one night while traveling through Chandigarh last year. To be fair, it was the night of Diwali and nearly every restaurant in Sector 35 was closed. I spent 20 minutes walking up and down the strip malls only to be turned away as bosses were handing out Diwali bonuses or employees were already performing puja. Only two places were open, Cafe Coffee Day and Domino’s Pizza. As much as trying Indian style pizza was tempting to me on other occasions, every new location had far too many native choices to cave in to my curiosity.
Tucked into Sector 34 on the main drag, this Domino’s Pizza was little more than a take away ordering center. Inside the cramped storefront, there were 4 tables for waiting customers with signs that read “no inside eating”. Ordering the pizza is no different than in the US: pick your size, toppings or specialty, your crust and any extras. A very upbeat cashier handled my order and gave me the OK to eat my meal inside. Why not? As I turned around, every table had a customer enjoying a meal. I joined a single at his table with seating for 4 and happily waited watching the surroundings.
The wait was short for my vegetarian pizza (no meat for me in India) and Coke. Something about Coke taste really damn good there. The pizza was tasty with mild spices not that different from what you expect in the States.
Cleanliness was top priority at this location. In-between orders, the cashier wiped down empty tables picking up any garbage along the way. Through the kitchen door I could see a hand washing sink actively used. Sometimes outside corporations can have a positive effect on a cultural level. In the seating area, it was fun to see families entering to order. Children were dressed in Western clothing while mom was more traditionally dressed with most dads dressed in a mix of oxford shirts or kurtas and chinos.
My other entertainment came in the form of a young, urban Indian couple. Each layered in brand name clothing and accessories, not uncommon in Chandigarh’s new money residents, they bargained for a discount with payment via credit card. Apparently this is a trend in India I was unaware of until then. With my pizza gone and my interest in grabbing some espresso growing, I never did find out if their request was approved.
