Ramesh ji's dal-baati: from a back-lane dhaba to queues from across the city

A narrow lane in old Indore. At half past ten Ramesh ji's baatis are roasting over cow-dung cakes and the panchmel dal is simmering next to them. The dhaba is twenty-five years old and seats twelve. Most customers work in the shops nearby — anyone who came once came back. But anyone who never walked down this lane had no idea the dal-baati existed.

His son Ankit, at college, said: “Papa, let's post the day's thali as a reel.” Ramesh ji laughed. “If I sit making videos, who roasts the baatis?”

The first morning: three photos, two lines, one price

Ankit installed AdFlow and signed in with Google. Then he took three photos:

1. The whole thali from above — two baatis, a bowl of dal, churma, green chutney and onion.
2. A close-up of a baati soaking in ghee.
3. Ramesh ji by the fire with a basket of baatis.

He wrote: “Ramesh ji's dal-baati — baati roasted on the fire, panchmel dal, home-made churma.” Price ₹149, label “Today's thali”, voiceover in Hindi, length 10 seconds.

The reel was ready before the chai was finished: a white cloud in the corner with ₹149 in big letters, light music and a voice saying “Today's thali, just one hundred and forty-nine rupees.” One tap sent it to Instagram and the dhaba's Facebook Page; from the gallery it went to WhatsApp Status and the market traders' group.

Then it became a habit

From the next week it was routine: thali plated, three photos, reel before eleven. Kadhi-chawal on Monday, gatte ki sabzi on Wednesday, a special thali for ₹199 on Sunday. People started replying to the Status: “What's on today?”

Within a few weeks there was a difference. One Saturday a family came from Vijay Nagar — the other side of the city, twenty-odd minutes by scooter. “We saw the ghee dripping on the baati in the reel and couldn't resist.” On Sunday afternoons a small queue formed by the bench. Ramesh ji started making a few more baatis.

No magic. The food was always this good — now more people knew about it.

Ramesh ji's three lessons for your first reel

• Same time every day — customers learn that the menu arrives at eleven.
• Don't hide the price — seeing “₹149” lets people decide before they come.
• Show your face — when you are in the third photo, people start to recognise you, not just the dhaba.

Photo tips: 3 photos that sell. More ideas for food businesses: for restaurants and dhabas.