Whether it’s a snack or multiple orders from different eateries, the Isthara Food Court at the Himalaya Student’s Mess has cut down the waiting time of orders for those who are in a rush and may have skipped their meal
Hathim Syed Mohamed
As the clock strikes 6pm, signalling the end of what was a rigorous class, Kritika Nautiyal’s mind shifts from academic pursuits to her rumbling tummy. Instead of surrendering to the usual eatery on her way back to the hostel, Kritika logs onto the Isthara app. A few taps later, her order is placed. She gets a notification that the estimated time is 30 minutes, just enough for Kritika to indulge in a much-needed nap.
After a brief interval, Kritika now walks into the Isthara Food Court, a co-living brand that specialises in smart food court, at the Himalaya Student’s Mess in the hostel zone of IIT-M, to collect her piping hot chai from Chai Waale, and a plate of samosas from Chaat Corner. She takes a seat at the nearest table and, along with many others, enjoys the ICC World Cup Qualifiers’ match between Netherlands and Zimbabwe projected on the screen.
“All other places on campus get crowded a bit so I prefer coming to Isthara because it’s quiet and peaceful. Here, we can sit and not worry about anything – even about the monkeys,” says Kritika, a second year student from the Humanities and Social Sciences department.
Located on the ground floor of the Himalaya Mess, the Isthara Food Court was launched in 2021. It has a wide variety of delectable choices across the seven eateries it hosts — Chai Waale (for tea and snacks), Cool Biz (juices and milkshakes), Chaat Corner (savoury snacks), Vineyard (baked and fried snacks), Deli Pizzeria (fast food), Waah Hyderabadi (biryani, bread and gravies), and Hotel Ananda (vegetarian main course).
Ever since its launch, the food court and its app have been serving the purpose of cutting down the waiting time for those who hate standing in the queue, waiting endlessly to collect the food. Upon entering the food court, customers can conveniently place their orders at the designated payment counter, where an operative guides them through the process using the user-friendly Isthara app.
Whether it’s a single food item or multiple orders from different eateries at the food court, the customer receives a customised QR code — one for each stall in their order. This vouches for a smooth and streamlined experience, ensuring that each stall is promptly notified of the new order and can begin with the food preparation.
Once the order is placed, the delivery team springs into action. The Isthara app has the option of delivering food anywhere within the campus, be it a student waiting for the breakfast they might have missed in the morning or faculty members grabbing a quick lunch. While this seems to be the app’s intention, some students feel that ordering food in person is much easier since the app can be a pain sometimes; the payment portal can be an endless wait, say students. “I only use the food court to have tea or juice. That too when it is not rush hour. Generally, it takes me six minutes to cycle from the department to Himalaya and three more minutes to pay and collect my tea. Who wants to wait for twenty minutes for a tea?” says Sherwin Rodriguez, who is an alumnus and is currently a teaching assistant.
Although the QR method is quick and efficient, it forces you to think of everything that you want to eat before proceeding with the order. In case you crave a cold coke in the middle of the meal, you don’t have the luxury to pay ₹20 to get a bottle. Instead you have to go stand in the queue!
Apart from sales people from each shop, the food court is driven by the efforts of Isthara’s 22 employees. Right from housekeeping, payments to delivery, every member plays a key role in ensuring a seamless dining experience at the 400-seater mess. The housekeepers are prompt, and the food court is clean and hygienic.
Beware of cats and other pet animals, if you are visiting Isthara. There is a ₹1000 fine for anyone caught feeding animals inside the food court, unless a monkey snatches the food from you.
