Ask any South Indian, about the sheer joy of sipping a hot cup of filter coffee and munching on freshly prepared dosa in a hill station, and they’d say the joy is unparalleled. In Himachal Pradesh’s Bir Billing, a hilly destination that attracts tourists, particularly adventure enthusiasts, South Indian restaurant is a rarity. That was until Avva’s Café was opened by advertising professional Suraj Dikonda, his father Anil Dikonda and his mother Sunanda Dikonda.
Inspiration To Start Avva’s Cafe In Bir Billing
30-year-old Suraj Dikonda, an advertising professional from Delhi visited Bir Billing as a tourist. Little did he know his life was about to change. The snow-capped mountains, green plains and burst of adventure sports enthusiasts, left him with the idea of opening a cafe, serving South Indian food here. Suraj revealed to The Better India that his father always had a dream of starting his own business. Suraj wanted to help his parents unleash their entrepreneurial spirit, far away from home, in Bir Billing.
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Facing Challenges To Open The Cafe
The challenge to open a South Indian cafe in Bir Billing started from small- convincing his parents for the same. It took Suraj 8 long months to convince his father, Anil, to leave his semi-retired life, relocate to Bir Billing ( a place he hadn’t even heard about) and start a business. Suraj’s mother, Sunanda coaxed her husband to give it a try. That’s when the Dikonda family shifted to Bir Billing to open a South Indian cafe in the mountains. They faced their fair share of challenges like adjusting to the bitter cold, arranging local ingredients from shopkeepers, and learning cooking techniques so dosa and idli batters could ferment in the cold weather.
Avva’s Cafe: Home-Cooked South Indian Food With A View
Avva’s Cafe ( Mother’s Cafe in Telugu) opened in 2019. Promising authentic South Indian food, the cafe is helmed by Sunanda’s delicious food. Serving authentic homemade recipes, this cafe is designed to serve you the comfort and food that’s cooked with love and care. Suraj stated to The Better India that the design elements of Avva’s Cafe were inspired by his Japanese client, where minimalism is the key. Wooden tables, large windows offering unending mountain views, and steel crockery is what you must expect here. While Sunanda takes care of all the cooking, Anil handles the operations and Suraj interacts with customers and manages the cafe.
Also Read: 5 Mountain Cafes In Darjeeling That Offer Breathtaking Views
Delicious Dosas, Appams, Idlis & Filter Coffee
At Avva’s Cafe, you can enjoy delicious appams, podi idli, puliyogare (tamarind rice) and ofcourse Avva’s special dosa made with three different types of flavoursome pastes. Sip piping hot filter coffee served in a steel tumbler, while you soak in the breathtaking view of the mountains and lush greenery. An authentic Andhra meal served on a banana leaf, is a speciality you mustn’t miss out on. The Dikonda family shifted all the way from their hometown to Bir Billing, to offer tourists and locals a taste of authentic South Indian food. And that’s exactly what you will be served here. Home-cooked South Indian food with a splendid view.