Nirula's goes partly Malaysian

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Suhasini Haidar

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New Delhi: It isn't Delhi's oldest monument, but it's definitely one of its most loved.

Before Pizza Hut, KFC, Mc Donald's, Subway and Baskin Robbins, Delhi had Nirula's.

“I've been coming here for 30 years," says a Nirula’s enthusiast.

"I've grown up with this place," says another Nirula’s fan.

Nirula's Connaught Place outlet is the Capital's oldest fast-food restaurant.

Set up in 1934, it's also home to the city's Chinese restaurant, and its most famous ice-cream parlour.

"The ice cream is the best in Delhi," says another Nirula's fan.

But Nirula's is now headed for a new course. The restaurant has been bought by a Malaysian-based company called Navis Capital and nephew of former owner Lalit Narula, Samir Kukreja.

The deal is said to be around Rs 100 crore.

"The brand is what got us interested. It's very well-known, therefore instantly recognizable,” says Director, Navis Capital Partners, Bruno Seghin.

But what nostalgic Delhiites will wonder is whether they'll still be able to get their vegetarian meal, big boy burger, and hot chocolate fudge.

"The prices will stay. It's a family restaurant," says Managing Director, Nirula's, Samir Kuckreja.

But the customers are hungry for more. "Bombay, Guwahati, it should go to other cities as well,” says a regular customer of Nirula’s.