‘BRITANNIA AND KOHINOOR’S DEMEANOUR NEVER CHANGED’
We pay tribute to the culinary legend Boman Rashid Kohinoor, who was almost as old as his iconic restaurant
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Ballard Estate is a restaurant quite popular with Mumbaikars. Restoring a part of vintage ‘Bombay’, Britannia and Co is a family-run Irani café and one of the ci few standing that foodies still flocks to. With their decadent Chicken Lace Cutlets served with a side of Salli or the soursweet, flavourful, Berry Pulav with “berries imported from Iran”, this restaurant has enamoured everyone. time with its lip-smacking dishes and decades-old architecture. But apart from the ramshackled walls and the wires jutting out of the ceiling, the restaurant holds a fixture who is even more memorable than their famous Salli Boti, which is served by their sharply dressed waiters in bow ties and neatly tucked white shirts.
If you’re lucky, when you walked in, you’d inevitably be greeted by a charming old man, who wouldn’t quit until he brought a smile to your face. Be it to explain the history of the Iranian flags on their walls or to engage in a little guessing game about his age, or even talk to you about the photograph of their pet rooster on the wall and throw in a bit about his letters from the Queen — Boman Rashid Kohinoor, who was as old as the restaurant itself, was always an informative run-in.
On September 25, Mumbai lost another legend when Boman breathed his last. While the family was unreachable for comments, two prominent voices from the Parsi and film communities reminisce their tales of the restaurant and their encounters with this kind restaurateur.