IIT BHU has several hostels, and each one of them has 2-3 messes. Different people are given contracts for each mess, on an annual basis. Around 150-200 students eat everyday in each mess. This entire system ensures that quality food is served in the messes. This many messes can’t have a single menu.
There is no fixed menu as such even if we consider a single mess. The ‘Maharaj’ i.e. the person in charge, keeps on including/removing dishes, based on the prices of raw ingredients. For lunch and dinner, there is roti, two-three kinds of rice, 2-3 kinds of vegetable curries, and 1-2 kinds of dals. Salad forms a part of these meals.
Fruit salads, sweets and cakes are given at least once a week. On Saturdays, poori-chhole and a few snacks are served alongside other regular items. Special food items like 2-3 types of parathas, noodles, dosa, idli, etc. are added to the menu at least once every 2 weeks. Eggs are served twice a week, and paneer items are served to vegetarians. Chicken, fish and mutton are served twice a week. You can pay separately and order egg bhurji, omelet and egg rice anytime from the mess. The mess charge is around Rs. 12,000 per semester.
Overall, the mess menu is quite decent at IIT BHU.
There is no fixed mess menu in IIT BHU. At present, the institute has a total of 19 hostels. Each hostel has 2-3 messes and different people are given contracts for a whole year. Average number of students eating at a particular hostel will be around 150-200. This system is put in place to ensure the quality of food.
Even if we talk about a particular mess, there is no fixed menu as such. The person in charge, as known as the ‘Maharaj’ keeps different preparations depending on the price of goods and commodities.
The mess charge is around INR 12,000 for each semester. Sometimes, a few bucks are refunded after a semester.
IIT(BHU) has as many mess menu as the number of hostels. Having said that each hostel mess is divided into two sections, with each having a different menu for the week. So it is a bit difficult to present what the mess menu is. However, the food quality of IIT(BHU) is quite good compared to what is heard of other counterparts. You get the food three times a day barring for Saturday’s dinner, which remains off because of two reasons - One, giving students the opportunity to go out and explore outside and two, giving rest to mess workers who work till late night every day. For this arrangement, Saturday’s dinner is merged with that day lunch and you get special food for lunch.
The IIT(BHU)’s thaali comprises diverse types of food mostly North Indian food. You can also get Chinese, South Indian on some days. In breakfast generally, you would be offered Pooris, Poha, Samosas, Egg roll, etc with a cup of tea/milk. If you don’t want to have the food on the menu, you will always have an option to take bread and milk.
At lunch, both rice and roti are served with different varieties of vegetables, bhujiyas, and salads. The dinner will always have a dessert or kheer/sevai together. You can always order things like eggs or omelette (additional charges would be included). You can customize it according to your taste.
You have always an option to off your food with prior notice. The mess advance charge is INR 12,000 INR per semester and if you eat less, money would be refunded to your account. Generally, breakfast is of 20 Rs and lunch/dinner 40 Rs. If you are a people’s person and made a sound relation with Mess-Maharaj (the head of a particular mess), your tastes may be taken care of a little.
In IITs, like any other college, the mess is the place of lively and vibrant scenery. Some rushing for classes while some reaching their early makes a part and parcel of college life. With online food delivering companies coming into picture food habits of students are changing but IIT(BHU) messes are still making a larger part of life over there.