Venkat Raman –
Diners in and around Auckland have been experiencing exquisite Indian cuisine with the opening of Gokul Restaurant within the premises of well-established Sangeet Restaurant at 736 Great South Road, Manukau City.
Surprising Prices
With a ‘Mini Meal’ comprising rice and curry costing $3.90, a ‘Handy Meal’ comprising at least five items priced at $5.90 and a ‘Super Meal,’ sumptuous even to a person burning all calories costing $7.90, Gokul must be the least expensive restaurant in the high quality range in the country.
In fact, the Restaurant’s Menu Card is a dream machine and within affordable limits of most residents in and around Auckland region. Visitors and tourists would certainly find it attractive, returning more value for money. The most expensive item – Cheese Chilli (Paneer Chilli), priced at $12.90 – can be found in the Indo-Chinese segment.
Best of All
“It makes simple business sense to cut expenses without compromising service and offer the best possible price without forfeiting quality,” say Davinder Rahal and his wife Jyoti, who manages Gokul Restaurant.
“Nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing people leave with a sense of satisfaction, having eaten quality food and paid far less than any other restaurant. We have kept our margin of income (he does not use the word ‘profit’) at the minimum but the hope is to make up on volume,” Mr Rahal said.
The couple knows what they were talking about, for Sangeet Restaurant, which has a fully licensed bar and a wide variety of non-vegetarian dishes, has been a trendsetter in the Indian restaurant business for more than two decades, while Mr Rahal has seen the best and worst of times in the industry, getting wiser with experience.
Limitless Food
As well as dine-in, this Self-Service Restaurant has takeaway facility, also in the least expensive listing.
Mr and Mrs Rahal are justifiably proud of the fact that Gokul is the only restaurant to offer high quality, high safety, high ambience environment with a large variety of delicacies and desserts for in-house dining and takeaway.
“Every item is prepared to the highest standard of health and hygiene to ensure quality and presentation. Our food items are prepared in the restaurant every day to ensure that customers can relish their freshness and taste,” they said.
Queen honours
Mr Rahal is a philanthropist and Chairperson of the New Zealand Helping Hand Society Inc, a not-for-profit organisation.
The New Zealand government honoured him with a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2012, the Diamond Jubilee of her reign.
Recognised leader
As we had reported in our June 15, 2012 issue, Mr Rahal is an acknowledged leader of the Sikh community and a successful businessman in the hospitality industry. Migrating to New Zealand in 1988, he was involved in the construction of Gurdwaras in Bombay Hills and Papatoetoe in South Auckland. He was President of the Auckland South Chapter of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He is the Founder Member of the Auckland Sikh Society, New Zealand Guru Ravidas Sabha Inc and the Supreme Sikh Council New Zealand Inc.
“Gokul is about quality and taste rather than money; in fact, we have maintained our prices low to enable diners and takeaway customers to indulge themselves in a tradition that is timeless,” Mr and Mrs Rahal said.
