Bangalore: Tucked away in an old building amid the burgeoning commercial complexes on Gandhi Bazaar main road, this eat out could well be termed as Bangalore city's earliest 'dosa camp'.

'Vidyarthi Bhavan' – meaning an eatery for students – even today maintains its proud tradition of making crispy, crunchy and mouth watering 'masala dosas' with the traditional coconut chutney to go with it. The server of the hotel maneouvering about 20 plates of 'dosas' at one essay is still a sight to watch.

While the silicon hub of India today boasts of many hotels and multiple cuisine eateries, 'Vidyarthi Bhavan' has retained the niche that it has carved for itself since it was founded in 1938 by Parameshwara Urala.

Name the literary glitterati of Bangalore and they have been associated with this small hotel, which can easily be lost at the first glance but for the host of two wheelers parked in front. Centurion Justice Nittoor Srinivas Rao, late Masti Venaktesha Iyengar, late D V Gundappa, late G P Rajaratnam, late Y N K, Girish Karnad, Anant Nag and late Shankar Nag have all regularly savoured the delicious 'dosas' from this hotel.

Starting from a measly 10 paise in the good old days nearly 60 decades ago, a 'dosa' today cost just Rs 12. "The quality and standard of all items has been maintained over the years. This has been a major factor in drawing crowds – the loyal faithful and new customers - from various walks of life," the present proprietor Ramakrishna Adiga, who has taken over the running of this hotel since 1970, said.

A hot pipping 'masala dosa' straight from the 'thava' (utensil used for making dosas) with melting butter on it is the specialty of the 'Vidyarthi Bhavan'. "The waiters are not trained here, but have prior experience," manager S V Murthy chipped in.

Despite the stiff competition from the various hotels in and around, 'Vidyarthi Bhavan' has sustained its customers and doesn't undertake any active advertising or campaigning. "Our popularity has spread by word of mouth and we are very happy with it," Murthy said.

With the geographical advantage of being in the midst of a locality the hotel is ever crowded with a cross-section of people from students, professionals to veterans enjoying their 'masala dosa'.

"I'm a regular here since 1969, right from my school days," one veteran said.

'Vidyarthi Bhavan' has generated so much of interest and enthusiasm that film director Mahesh Bhatt has aired a two-minute documentary about this hotel on BBC. Local Kannada channel Udaya TV too has featured 'Vidyarthi Bhavan' in its programme.

Location: Vidyarthi Bhavan, 32, Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore-560 004. Phone: 91 80 6677588.