The origins of Cafe Mysore trace back to 1936 when Rama Nayak, originally from a village near Mangalore, founded the restaurant.
Cafe Mysore, a renowned South Indian eatery in Mumbai’s Matunga, has been delighting people with its authentic flavours since 1936. This local favourite recently caught widespread attention when the newly married Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant publicly expressed their admiration for the restaurant. The couple’s visit to the cafe and their warm gesture towards the Nayak family have made Cafe Mysore the talk of the town.
The origins of Cafe Mysore trace back to 1936 when Rama Nayak, originally from a village near Mangalore, founded the restaurant. After moving to Mumbai in 1910, Rama Nayak initially worked at the Ramakrishna Math in Khar, where he honed his culinary skills. Over time, he established several South Indian eateries, including Cafe Mysore, which was managed by his son Nagesh. Nagesh, known for his innovative approaches, introduced several technological advancements in the restaurant, ensuring its enduring success.
The connection between the Ambanis and Cafe Mysore spans over 50 years. Mukesh Ambani, the head of the family, used to frequently visit the restaurant during his college days. A cherished photo on the restaurant’s wall captures a young Mukesh dining with his son, Anant. During the recent wedding reception, Anant humorously suggested updating the photo, which Naresh Nayak, now managing the restaurant, promised to do.
On July 15, Naresh and his mother, Shanteri, attended the reception of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani. Although Shanteri was hesitant due to the event's scale, Naresh convinced her by noting it was the Ambani family's last wedding. The reception was praised for its impeccable decor, security, and, notably, its food. Naresh, a restaurateur himself, was particularly impressed with the Gujarati cuisine at the event.
Cafe Mysore's Popularity
One particularly noteworthy story shows Mukesh Ambani's commitment: he once sent a charter flight to Mumbai from Paris to collect an order from the restaurant.
Veteran actor Raj Kapoor was also a regular, enjoying his Rasam in a quiet corner of the restaurant. Because of its continuing quality and reputation, Cafe Mysore manages to retain loyal clients and remains a popular dining place despite the intense competition in Matunga.
While the core menu of Cafe Mysore has remained unchanged since 1958, recent additions like the peri-peri idli fry and dosa have become extremely popular. Naresh Nayak acknowledges the restaurant’s consistent quality and the gradual evolution in response to customer preferences.
The restaurant, with its 100-seat capacity and a mix of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned sections, operates six days a week. Naresh noted that the Ambani couple’s recent visit and the ensuing media attention have significantly boosted the restaurant’s profile, which is expected to lead to increased foot traffic in the coming weeks.
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 "Cafe Mysore’s 50-year connection with the Ambanis revealed")
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