COLABA’S 134 YEARS OLD BAGDADI RESTAURANT DROOLS PATRONS WITH THEIR AROMATIC FOODS: A REPORT BY KHATIBAH REHMAT.

Bagdadi Chicken Fry (Left) and Chicken Shaami Kababs (Right).

For a few days we went to Mumbai to judge an event at IIT-Bombay but the last day of the event was cancelled due to the demise of our late Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji. So, we had the entire day to visit a few major tourist attractions of Bombay (now Mumbai). When we were coming back from the most liked Marine drive towards the famous Hotel Taj Mahal in Colaba, my husband and I sniffed some aroma all around the hotel’s back lane. My husband asked the yellow and black taxi’s driver, where this tantalising smell is coming from? He told us that the Taj hotel has their kitchen at the back so, that smell is coming from there only. But I, being a food journalist, know that a five star hotel property designs their kitchen in a way that nothing comes out, rather it goes up through their chimneys. After clicking our mandatory sea-view pictures, we decided to follow the aroma and reach our aromatic destination. There we landed in Colaba’s most famous 134 years old Bagdadi restaurant and saw that all the tables were full and several chairs were kept outside for those who had to wait in the queue. Though we are early dinners and eat the dinner just after Namaz-e-Maghrib (immediately after sunset), so we were the only one to wait and that too not for so long.

Mutton Nali Nahari (Left) and Bombay style Chicken Biryani (Right).

After 10 minutes of waiting we got a seat to sit and we ordered Bhuna gosht, Bagdadi naan and Bagdadi chicken biryani which took 10 minutes to reach our table. As soon as I took one bite of the bhuna gosht with naan, it took me back to my Ammi’s (mother) kitchen long back when she was with us in this world. While eating I saw some one ordered a chicken gravy dish which also drooled me and my husband to another world. I called a serving staff member and secretly asked him what they were serving on that table? He loudly answered Chicken Do Pyaaza (I laughed within) and asked him to bring one to our table as well with one more Bagdadi naan (as it was too big) and sufficient for the two of us. In another 10 minutes that was also on our table and believe me I’ve never eaten such a tasteful Chicken Do Pyaaza before. Then they served us their Bombay style Bagdadi chicken biryani, which was cooked with a different process as we used to eat in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. We keep the biryani on dum whereas, they serve the salan (gravy) with rice and toss the chicken pieces into the gravy. Though we are not used to eating that kind of biryani but it also tasted good.

After finishing up our delicious food, I requested one of the serving staffs to introduce myself with the owner of this place. He pointed out towards a gentleman, who was managing the entire place like a team himself. I was shocked with his kind gesture! I went towards him and asked if he was the owner of this Bagdadi restaurant? Very confidently and with due respect he replied to me that no, he is the son of the owner Mr. Atique Ahmad who is sitting at the cash counter. I said okay that means the same, technically! We both smiled and then I asked his name as well, he was Mr. Saud Ahmad. He gifted me an Urdu calendar, which was very kind of him and I felt nostalgic. Last but not the least, I would like to say about the costing of the food, that was nominal and budget friendly. Anyone can go and afford it at such a prime location of South Bombay (Mumbai). So what are you waiting for? If you are in Mumbai then go now and if planning to visit there then keep Bagdadi Restaurant in your check list to experience the best dining.

The crazy craze of the people waiting for their turn to dine in outside the Bagdadi Restaurant in Colaba, Mumbai.

PICTURES COURTESY: Mr. Saud Ahmad (Co-owner, Bagdadi Restaurant-Colaba, Mumbai).

A report by: Khatibah Rehmat-Senior Journalist, REFT Today.

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