In the bustling city of Guwahati, Assam, a groundbreaking restaurant has completely revolutionised the traditional dining experience with an absolutely unique pay-per-minute concept. This innovative establishment, aptly named “PPM” (Pay Per Minute), has turned the conventional restaurant model completely upside down. This unique restaurant does not ask its customers to pay the price of the food as listed on a menu card, but they charge the visitors depending on the time they spend in the restaurant.
The concept is beautifully simple yet remarkably revolutionary – once you enter the restaurant and collect your entry coupon, your “meter” starts running immediately. Whether you eat heartily or sit without touching any food, you’ll be charged strictly according to the minutes you spend inside. This is a unique style that has stirred quite a buzz amongst food enthusiasts and interested visitors alike, and thus it may be the first restaurant of its kind in the whole country.
The restaurant has a buffet concept where all the food is already cooked and placed in front of the customer, who is free to serve himself once he enters the restaurant. One can find everything, such as tasty vegetarian appetisers like pakodas and dry Manchurian, main dishes of paneer masala, mixed vegetables, dal fry and fragrant pulavs. The time-based charging model is practically viable because the system will allow customers to begin eating immediately without waiting to prepare their orders.
How the Unique Time-Based System Actually Works
The working system of this exceptional restaurant is amazing in its simplicity and highly effective. Upon their arrival, customers register at the counter by giving their names and mobile numbers. The POS system instantly prints a time-stamped receipt that indicates their specific time of entry within a second. This is the pass they are to use as an official entry ticket and timing guide.
Upon entry, customers are allowed to use the large buffet spread at will without limitations to quantity or variety. The restaurant also charges 15 rupees per minute regardless of the amount of food consumed. A customer may consume food worth 400-500 rupees or may not even touch it, but the bill is still charged on the basis of time spent within the premises. For instance, if someone spends exactly 10 minutes inside, they’ll pay ₹150, regardless of their consumption level.
Customers are required to give out their entry receipt at the exit counter after deciding to leave. The system calculates automatically all the time and produces a final bill according to the rate per minute. This new system removes the conventional idea of placing orders for items separately and waiting for them to be prepared. Rather, it promotes fast, effective eating and provides endless choices in what food is available.
The system is especially attractive to office workers, students, and busy professionals who want to have quick meals on predictable budgets. A significant number of customers have indicated that they spend approximately 15-20 minutes and pay 225-300, and they enjoy full meals that would otherwise cost a lot at normal restaurants.
The Genius Behind This Revolutionary Concept
The interesting history of this novel idea started with a mere observation in an airport parking lot. Sanjay Agarwala, the entrepreneurial restaurant owner, frequently brought his two daughters to the airport to take a flight to Jaipur, Rajasthan. During such airport visits, he would spend 2-3 hours waiting until their flights took off and incur a lot of parking fees, depending on the time spent.
On one such day, Agarwala spent 240 rupees parking his vehicle. Three hours later, sitting in a nearby tea stall, he started going through his parking ticket. The realisation struck him powerfully—if parking could be charged per minute with such precision, why couldn’t restaurant dining follow the same model? This “eureka moment” sparked extensive brainstorming sessions with friends and business associates about the feasibility of time-based restaurant charging.
Agarwala conducted extensive planning and market research before concluding that a buffet-style arrangement would be crucial to executing this idea. Pre-prepared food also does not delay cooking time, which means that customers can start eating the moment they enter the place. The restaurant was officially opened on October 16, 2023, one year after the planning and development of the system.
The idea has been very successful, as it has attracted a variety of customers who find time-based pricing transparent and predictable. The invention marks a paradigm change in the manner in which restaurants can be run, and it is more efficient and customer-friendly than conventional menu-driven ordering modes.
Customer Experience and Future Expansion Plans
The restaurant has managed to capture a wide range of customers; however, it is more popular among students, office employees and busy people who value fast and efficient service. The level of satisfaction is high among many customers who give credit to the quality of food and the groundbreaking idea. The all-you-can-eat buffet with fixed prices has formed loyal customers.
The restaurant is already functioning as a pure vegetarian restaurant with plans of expanding it substantially in the next few months. The management has also said that it will soon launch non-vegetarian food to attract more customers who consume meat. Also, it has been identified that there are customers who like traditional, relaxed dining experiences, so the restaurant has implemented the use of a conventional menu-based system in addition to the time-based system.
This dual approach offers customers complete flexibility. They can choose between the innovative pay-per-minute system for quick meals or traditional menu ordering for leisurely dining experiences. The restaurant offers the two options at the same time so that no customer preferences are left unattended.
The restaurant is strategically placed opposite the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati, and now it is a favourite place among locals and tourists. The management expresses strong confidence in the concept’s future potential, believing that time-conscious modern consumers will increasingly appreciate such efficient dining solutions. Having possible franchise development and diversification of the menu, this innovative restaurant concept can change the face of dining in India, establishing new benchmarks of efficiency and customer service in hospitality in the near future.
Also Read: Kashmiri Families Are Keeping the 300-Year Tradition of Waguv Alive
You can connect with DNN24 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
