Remember queuing up at the tiny Softy Corner (since 1980) in Chandigarh’s city centre Sector 17 Plaza to be served your favourite softies by a genial bespectacled man – Mr Sanjay Abbott. With passing years, the menu at the
go-to joint has been getting bigger and the queues longer. It is one of the most Instagram savvy place in the City Beautiful.
With a young man deciding to extend a helping hand to his father, the overall experience of customers and patrons is only getting better.
It is natural for younger generation to bring new flavour and energy to the offerings, and so the younger Abbott, Chirag, on his initiation into the business, has ensured that the menu expands to include not just more varieties of softies, pure ice creams, sundaes, popcorns, etc, but also a wide range of coffees, thick shakes, appetizers, wraps, burgers and more.
Softy Corner has also expanded its reach with the opening of another takeaway outlet in Sector 9 inner market (in 2014).
Casual dining in Sec 22-D, ideal for small parties
Recently with the launch of a much bigger outlet, boasting casual dining facility in Sector 22-D inner market, birthday, kitty and other small parties (up to 30-35 persons) have just found new taste, zing and fun.
With the restaurant up and running, and becoming popular by the day, your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com decided to check out what’s so special about it on an invitation extended by our old friend Sanjay Abbott.
So, the coolest part of the restaurant (located next to the iconic Kiran Cinema traffic light point in one of the busiest markets in the city), apart from its invitingly pleasing décor, is that the rates of the entire menu in the fully airconditioned environment, with adequate seating on two floors of a SCO, have been kept untouched from both takeaway outlets.
The Abbotts are also quite liberal regarding the minimum number of guests for party bookings. While the first-floor birthday party space has seating for up to 30-35 guests, parties with lesser guests are also accommodated. There are no booking charges.
The restaurant offers a standard Rs 500 per head birthday party menu option, which includes a shake or cold coffee for starters, followed by a burger or wrap with a compliment of fries and topping the fun with a delicious ice cream. However, clients can also order a la carte.
Wide-ranging menu
The wide-ranging menu at the restaurant is split into sections, which includes a wide variety of cold beverages and coffees (Chocolaty and Caramelly Frappes stand out), ‘slush’ – the juicy and icy fruit drinks and American thick shakes (Ferrero Blast and Brownie Blast are among the favourites).
The count of mouth-watering ice cream sundaes and sundae cones is so varied and long that you just can’t have only one. The Fruit Cocktail Sundae, a cocktail of soft mango ‘n’ vanilla ice cream mixed with fruits and topped with cherries and strawberry fruit crush, satiates your spirit.
Serving the best softies in town, Softy Corner has a surprise addition waiting each time you visit any of their three outlets. Apart from the regular single flavour cup/cone in King Alphonso (30-35% fruit content), Chocolate Delight, Crunchy Butter Scotch and the Creamy Vanilla flavours, Italian twin flavour softies are a rage.
Choc-o-Blast!
In ‘Choc-o-Blast’ section, the restaurant serves a premium range of chocolate soft ice creams in cups and in natural waffle cones. The Double Choco Chip, with Dutch processed chocolate. is famous. You get a super chocolate ice cream covered with double choco chips and double gems served in a chocolate dipped cone.
In French Fries, it serves masala fries, cheesy fries, and newly added Twister Fries and Cheesy Twister Fries, which are just awesome.
Don’t forget to try out their Cheese Popcorns which come in popcorn zip packs and Caramel Corn in plastic buckets.
The appetisers section also runs long, with a wide variety of potato appetizers and others like Seekh Kebabs, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Pizza Squares and Macroni ‘n’ Cheese/Chicken ‘n’ Cheese Bullets.
A range of wraps and burgers round of their menu.
Candid conversation with Abbotts
In a candid conversation, Sanjay Abbott and young Chirag (he is in his early 30s) poured out their genuine feelings towards their business and their lasting relationships with their customers and patrons.
“In its fifth decade in service, Softy Corner is thriving because of the immense love showered on us by our customers and patrons. It is our passion to serve the customers and patrons the best quality products at the best price. For us the satisfaction of seeing happy and smiling faces of people, enjoying the wide variety of our offerings is the biggest reward and we will cherish it for life,” shared Sanjay Abbott.
Chirag added: “We keep adding to our menus keeping not just the modern young crowd in mind, but to cater to people of all age groups and tastes. There is genuineness and honesty about all the ingredients we use, which are always of the best quality.”
Stressing the honest intent further, he maintained: “Making compromises for increasing margins is never an option. So, our ice creams are pure dairy based and we use only fresh fruit pulp or juice, and not fruit flavours. The chocolates we use are also international standard and the cheeses of the best quality available.”
Would you like to check out the place too!
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In bringing this immersive experience to a smaller town like Chandigarh, after sellout shows in Chennai and Hyderabad, Nikhil has collaborated with The Silly Fellows. “This isn’t just about art; it’s a bold move to redefine cultural experiences in our own backyard, giving every doorstep a front-row seat to the avant-garde of today’s creative narrative,” shares The Silly Fellow’s co-founder Sharan John.
Considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art, Dutch Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh is also a popular choice for modern, immersive exhibitions.
According to the organisers, the content for this captivating showcase was meticulously crafted over a span of nine months, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for visitors. The 60-minute journey through the exhibition unfolds across four carefully curated spaces, each designed to offer a distinct facet of the artist’s work.
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On the remaining two days, among other activities, there will be speaking skill opportunities for students with English debate, Persuasive Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation competitions, along with the heated display of wits at the proceedings of a MOOT Court competition.
Principal Ms. Renu Puri says, “The event will be an extraordinary display of creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm, including various competitions designed to engage and inspire students.”
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