If you haven’t tasted Parsi Cuisine in an authentic Parsi café in Mumbai, then you cannot claim to have experienced this city entirely. For a Non-Mumbaikar like me, a taste of this culture and the cuisine was on the top of my bucket list. Gladly, two weeks back, I rewarded my long overdue wish with a sumptuous lunch at the Britannia & Co. Café.
Britannia is one of the oldest Parsi restaurants in Mumbai dating back to 1923. The walls of the café, adorned with priceless pictures and souvenirs speak about the rich history of this institution. Inside the café one can also spot a cut out of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, commemorating the late owner Mr. Kohinoor’s meet with the royals. On the adjacent wall, pictures of olden days, an archaic pendulum clock and the restaurant’s mascot, a black cock rest on a tabletop. The place is jampacked throughout the 4 hours that the eatery is open. People come from distant parts of the city and patiently add their name to the waitlist just to get a taste of some good Iranian and Parsi food.
Ordered a Kheema Berry Pulao, which is one of the signature dishes of this place. And it truly lives up to its fame. The course is said to have originated from Britannia itself and is late Mrs. Kohinoor’s secret recipe. The Pulao is garnished with unique berries giving it a sweet taste but also being complemented by the spicy keema curry and kebab mixed in it. The taste is also enhanced by the fusion of fried onions and the potato served with it. The Berry Pulao in itself is self-sufficient and is a must-try Parsi food. Also ordered chicken cutlet which was served with a red tangy gravy on the side and julienne potato fries (Similar to Jhuri Aloo Bhaja-Bengali Cuisine). The chicken is mashed with potato and deep-fried which makes it crispy from the outside but melts in the mouth with each bite.The two meals were more than enough to satisfy my appetite but the restaurant is famed for more.
When you are dining within those closed walls, you are transported to another era altogether. It is a haven for all the foodies out there and all the history buffs too! It is an experience in itself, worthy enough to be on everyone’s bucket lists. And as and when you decide to visit this place, make sure you go with an empty stomach and Britannia’s motto in your head
‘There is no love greater than the love of eating’