Café Madras Mumbai Matunga’s Iconic Restaurant
Café Madras Mumbai Matunga’s Iconic Restaurant
Matunga a western suburb of Mumbai was once designated as the ‘Mini Chennai’ since the western suburb was inhabited by South Indians.
The temples gives one a feeling of the popular temples of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. There are South Indian – Udipi restaurants that serve pure South Indian Snacks and Meals like Mani’s Lunch Home, Anand Bhawan, Amba Bhawan, Sharada Bhawan gets you to feel the taste similar to those in Chennai and other restaurants in South.
To top it all, there is one iconic South Indian restaurant in Matunga East that is Cafe Madras. The snacks here are indeed very relishing with the taste of South India – particularly their Idli Medu Vada
Rasam Vada and Bisi Beli Bath.
Their Filter Coffee is very much popular. And this restaurant is mostly patronized by Gujaratis and Marwadis. People wait for long to get an entry. There is also a popular Udipi Restaurant like Cafe Mysore and Udipi Shree Krishna besides Ram Ashray which also sell savouries – wafers and sweet meats.
The Cafe Madras Udupi restaurant is in existence since 83 years and three generations later, it still serves some of the best idlis and dosas in town. Just like its delicious food, the history of Cafe Madras in Matunga piques everyone’s interest. From lawsuits to adapting to the changing crowd of Mumbai, the cafe has seen it all.
Without mincing words Cafe Madras is Mumbaikar’s go-to spot for South Indian breakfast in Matunga East
Cafe Madras was established by Gopal Purshottam Kamath in 1940 and his sons Jagdish Kamath and Suresh Kamath with their sons, Devavrat Kamath and Jaiprakash Kamath now run the iconic restaurant in the bylane of Bhaudaji road.
Gopal and his elder son, Jagdish, entered a partnership called Cafe Madras in 1968. Ten years later they formed a partnership firm called GP Kamath & Co. This firm took over the businesses of the café and Gopalkrishna Hindu Hotel which has an outlet in Malad West near the railway station. Since then, the ownership has periodically reconstituted with the last change taking place in 2011. In 2012, the restaurant had an annual turnover of nearly INR 1 crore.
The shop at Cafe Madras was their first retail store that opened in 2016. The store offers sixty different kinds of snacks including pickles, banana chips, and chakkali to name a few. You can also find coffee powder and masalas that are quite a popular buy at Cafe Madras Matunga.
Another retail store started by the owners that you should check out is Cornucopia. This retail store offers high-quality food and grocery items. The store aims to promote and help local and sustainable food businesses.
The cafe’s USP is its tasty and filling Udupi meals with fast service and inexpensive prices. This small two-storied eatery is best known for its soft idlis, dosas and filter coffee.
Must try in-house specialities are Neer Masala with Stew, Idli Butter Podi, Ragi Masala Dosa, Pessarattu Dosa, Bisibile Bhaat, Raagi Masala Dosa, Malgapudi, Idli Podi, Rasam Idli, and Madras Dahi Misal.
News input KV Raman
