When planning a trip, such as the scenic drive from Delhi to Dehradun, food is more than just a stopover; it is an integral element of the experience. When you're travelling with family or friends, those shared meals become some of the most memorable parts of the trip. Good food enriches relationships. Having a plan for where to eat is almost as vital as packing your bags because hunger doesn't follow a schedule and can strike at any time.
The 52-year-old Cheetal Grand is one location that needs to be on your list. Serving both tourists and locals for many years, this famous location has gained a reputation for its continental cuisine, which manages to feel both classic and cosy. Every item, from exquisitely cooked soups to the fluffiest omelettes and sandwiches, has a history; it's the kind of place where you can taste the past as well as the flavours. Cheetal is great for filling snacks rather than full meals. Their mixed vegetarian pakora platter is one of their best sellers. The chicken cutlet is another favourite amongst regulars. If you’re feeling thirsty, go for their strawberry shake. The first thing that brings many to Cheetal is the immaculately clean facilities. The other key characteristics that have always made Cheetal unique are bound to draw you in, both immediately and over time! As always, every iconic restaurant started somewhere, and the same is the case for Cheetal Grand on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
A Grand Discovery
The route to the Khatauli Bypass has been more than just a highway for generations of tourists travelling to the Uttarakhand mountains; it has been a ritual. Cheetal Grand promises fluffy cheese omelettes, dishes of chicken ring rice, and fist-sized samosas. Shariq Rana built this restaurant, which is situated on the banks of the Ganges Canal. Due to a protracted illness, Shariq Rana recently passed away at the age of 71. N.M. Khan, Shariq's father, established this hotel. Although he was born in Bareilly, he travelled to Khatauli in an attempt to flee a deadly epidemic. He intended to start a motel with a natural motif because he loved the outdoors. He opened a restaurant in the Chital Forest, fulfilling his goal.
But today's Cheetal is entirely different from the previous eatery. Shariq Rana dreamed of the Cheetal Grand of today. At the age of 34, Shariq Rana lost his father. Even so, he continued his father's dream and assumed responsibility for continuing what he had inherited. Cheetal Grand has survived under his leadership. The café, named Cheetal after the spotted deer that roamed around, was tucked in lush green environs next to a wildlife park and dense woodlands. During lengthy trips on what was then a much quieter route, this location offered travellers a revitalising forest-like refuge.
Image Credit: Rajlakshmi Dastidar
Shariq Rana is well-known to many patrons of this eatery. At his restaurant, Shariq Rana was practically a superstar. He was constantly occupied with his work and monitored orders, giving the workers instructions on what to prepare. Occasionally, he would personally retrieve food from the kitchen and present it to the visitors.
The early Cheetal gained popularity for its warm service and delicious appetisers, particularly the heart-shaped cutlets, crispy samosas, fluffiest cheese omelettes, and tea, all of which were personally prepared by the family and their small staff. The business relocated a short distance away after the lease on the canal-side land expired, approximately 18 years later. Under Shariq Rana's direction, it flourished further, growing and becoming Cheetal Grand on the newly constructed National Highway 58 (now NH 334). Regular visitors grew accustomed to seeing the distinctive red and yellow signage, triangular roof, beautifully maintained gardens, and roomy dining rooms.
What To Eat At Cheetal
Travellers have come to love Cheetal Grand's traditional North Indian roadside food and the Continental menu they have. Freshly prepared bread sandwiches, crunchy parathas, and cheese omelettes are popular breakfast options that are frequently served with warm cups of tea or coffee. The snack menu, which includes samosas, cutlets, and pakoras, is ideal for a fast snack while travelling the lengthy Delhi–Dehradun highway. Their famous masala chai, which goes well with the munchies and has become a sentimental aspect of the visit, is highly praised by tourists.
Image Credit: Rajlakshmi Dastidar
For highway travellers, Cheetal Grand's cheese omelette is nothing short of legendary. Made fresh to order, it has a big filling of melted cheese with fluffy, freshly cooked eggs folded over it. The flavour is enhanced but not overpowered by the appropriate amounts of salt, pepper, and mild spices. It's carefully balanced texture and flavour with a light golden crust on the exterior and a soft, slightly creamy interior. This is what makes it unique. It has become a breakfast ritual for both long-distance drivers and families, frequently served with buttered toast or a hot cup of chai.
Cheetal Grand's sandwiches are a taste of highway memories more than merely a nibble. While the world races by outside, generations of tourists recall biting into warm, soft bread loaded with melted cheese, fresh veggies, and the perfect amount of spices. The aroma of toasted bread blending with chutney and fresh fillings has a reassuring quality that brings back memories of long journeys, automatic laughter, and breaks that became small rituals on family vacations. Many people find that simply enjoying a Cheetal Grand sandwich and a steaming cup of chai is like travelling home.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Served With Love, Cheetal Feels Homely
The menu grows to encompass whole meals for lunch and dinner, with items like chicken curry, dal tadka, vegetable pulao, and paneer butter masala served with steaming rice or soft, fresh roti. It's a great place to eat and unwind because of its huge portions, which can accommodate families and groups. Even in the busy roadside setting, the cuisine tastes home-cooked due to the use of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
Travellers seeking quicker or lighter choices, like sandwiches, wraps, biryani, and Maggi, are also catered to by Cheetal Grand. The restaurant has consistently maintained its quality over the years, making it more than just a place to stop for food—it's a remarkable culinary experience. Many customers consider a stop at Cheetal Grand to be a necessary part of their highway drive because of the combination of tastes, cleanliness, and the kind hospitality of the staff.
Address: Khatauli Bypass, 334, National Highway, Khatauli, Uttar Pradesh 251201
Timing: 6 AM - 8 PM
Price: INR 200 - INR 400