Britannia and Co. is not just an iconic Parsi restaurant in Mumbai, but a definite must-do on every tourist’s bucket list. If you’re planning on stopping by, find our guide to eating your heart out here with love and more.
Housed inside a colonial bungalow in Ballard Estate, Fort, Britannia & Company was run by late Mr Boman Kohinoor, a third-generation Kohinoor since it opened its doors in 1923. When there, Mr Kohinoor always interacted personally with the guests. His age-old wit, charm and laughter definitely brightened up the eatery. And since then, hardly anything’s changed here- neither the ambience nor the decor (you will still spot the same bentwood furniture imported from Poland during the eatery’s early years). While the decor still attracts people from all over the country, let's not forget their main attraction: the food of course! So here's what you can feast on:
Very Berry Good: Take a seat and begin your meal with their very special berry pulao, a recipe that was brought to life by the late Mrs Bachan Kohinoor. Inspired from her days in Iran, she decided to introduce the special Iranian pulao to the restaurant, and it has been a hit ever since. Here, they serve seven kinds of berry pulao, with barberries still being imported from Iran to retain its authenticity. For non-vegetarians, try mutton berry pulao, chicken berry pualo. For the vegetarians, we suggest veg berry pulao.
Of Botis and Dhansaks: Since Britannia takes pride in its Parsi authenticity, order in sali boti mutton, which you can have with a side of their paper thin chapatis. For the vegetarians, the veg dhansak is equally delicious. Since dhansak usually comes with a serving of rice, you could also go ahead and order the basmati rice on the menu. Other things to order, if you still have some appetite left, try their delicious deep-fried mutton, and chicken cutlets as accompaniments. Two pieces each, the cutlets are soft and juicy.
What's More: To drown these light spices, sip on the raspberry soda, special to Parsi cafes in Mumbai. The caramel custard that stands shy and firm. It isn’t egg-y or too sweet, and has just enough flavours for us to taste the caramel bit of it, and fall in love with this special dessert that is being served here for decades.
Fun fact: They have a cut out of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate at the restaurant, as we all know Kohinoors love the Royals.