Started in 1945, Janseva Bhojanalaya is one of Pune’s oldest surviving lunch homes, quietly serving homely Maharashtrian vegetarian meals to generations of students, families and office-goers. Somanaraja Nemane, 63, has been working as a server at Janseva Bhojanalaya for over 40 years. “I eat my meals here and have good relations with other workers.”Recalling the earlier days, Nemane says, “When I started working here, this was a student-centric mess. “Janseva Bhojanalaya has been functioning for the past 80 years. My favourite dish is simple varan-bhat.”In a city where food trends change rapidly, Janseva Bhojanalaya continues to serve something increasingly rare — continuity, memory and comfort, one thali at a time.

Source: Indian Express January 11, 2026 06:41 UTC