For nearly a century, Jimmy Boy stood as a bastion of Parsi culture and cuisine in the heart of South Mumbai’s Fort area. Established in 1925, this Irani cafe wasn’t just a restaurant – it was a slice of Mumbai’s soul, a meeting point for generations of locals and tourists alike. As it prepared to celebrate its 100 year anniversary in September 2025, an unfortunate twist of fate intervened. On June 20, 2025, Jimmy Boy was forced to shut its Fort outlet after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared the heritage building it occupied unsafe. While the clatter of chai glasses and aroma of Dhansak have temporarily faded from Fort’s historic lanes, the legacy of Jimmy Boy continues to simmer in the city’s culinary memory.
The Rise of Jimmy Boy: A Legacy Carved in Caramelised Onions and Heritage
Jimmy Boy began its journey in 1925 under the stewardship of the Irani family (Jamshed and Boman Irani), becoming a mainstay in Mumbai’s Irani cafe culture. Though rebranded in 1999, it preserved its essence – serving traditional Parsi fare with heartfelt hospitality. The restaurant became famous for offering the elaborate Lagan nu Bhonu (traditional Parsi wedding feast) to daily diners, giving everyone a taste of celebratory home-style food, minus the wedding invite.
Housed in the Vikas Premises Co-operative Society near Horniman Circle, the building itself was part of the charm – its vintage aesthetics echoing an era gone by. For countless patrons, Jimmy Boy wasn’t just a place to eat; it was a sanctuary of nostalgia.
Why Jimmy Boy Was More Than Just a Cafe
Jimmy Boy had the rare ability to evoke warmth through both its food and its vibe. Here’s what made it truly special:
Lagan nu Bhonu, Every Day
The restaurant’s claim to fame was its faithful reproduction of the Parsi wedding feast – a lavish spread typically reserved for special occasions. With recipes handed down through generations, the offering included pulao, salli boti, patra ni macchi, and lagan custard, all served on banana leaves, maintaining the authenticity of a traditional Parsi celebration.
Culinary Comforts That Defined an Era
From Patra Ni Macchit – tender fish wrapped in banana leaves with herbaceous chutney – to Chicken Berry Pulao infused with fragrant spices and Iranian zereshk berries, Jimmy Boy dished out comfort with flair. Other menu highlights included Keema Pav, Mutton Dhansak, and Salli Chicken, drawing in breakfast-goers, lunch crowds, and dinner regulars alike.
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Irani Tea and Raspberry Nostalgia
No visit was complete without a bottle of Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda, the fizzy, rose-coloured drink that was part refreshment, part ritual. Served alongside Irani chai and buttery bun maska, it was the quintessential Mumbai moment on a plate.
The Sudden Closure: What Went Wrong
The closure of the Fort outlet wasn’t due to waning popularity – it came suddenly and unexpectedly. Trouble started when vertical cracks were spotted on the building’s ground floor, prompting a junior engineer from the BMC’s building and factory department to raise an alert. A formal inspection followed, revealing extensive structural damage.
By June 21, BMC officials, Mumbai Police, and fire brigade personnel cordoned off the building, issuing an evacuation notice under Section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. Structural consultants from Mahimtura Consultants Pvt. Ltd. confirmed that decades of corrosion had compromised key structural elements like walls, beams, and columns. The building was officially deemed unfit for occupation.
The Voice of the Irani Family
Speaking to The Times of India, Shehzad Irani, Director of Operations, shared the emotional weight of the closure: “In September 2025, we complete 100 years. We’ve been operating from the same premises, with the same family managing it… However, we hadn’t finalised anything yet.”
Though no concrete plans for relocation or reopening have been announced, the team remains hopeful. In the meantime, their takeaway counter and extension café – Cafe Olive Green in Mahim – continues to offer a selection of baked goods and snacks like mava cakes, chicken puffs, and kheema rolls.
What Mumbai Will Miss the Most
Here are five iconic experiences that Jimmy Boy regulars will remember fondly:
- Patra Ni Macchi – A banana-leaf-wrapped burst of tangy, spicy, fresh flavours.
- Chicken Berry Pulao – The sweet-and-sour richness of Persian berries over fragrant rice.
- Dhansak with Brown Rice – A Sunday tradition, hearty and comforting.
- Keema Pav – Breakfast soul food that never failed to hit the spot.
- Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda – That nostalgic pink fizz, irreplaceable in every sense.
A Speed Bump, Not a Full Stop
While the beloved Fort outlet has shut down for now, the spirit of Jimmy Boy lives on. The team calls this merely a “speed breaker,” and Mumbaikars hope the café will return—either in a new avatar or back at its spiritual home once they resolve the structural issues.
In a city that’s constantly evolving, Jimmy Boy stood as a comforting constant. Its closure reminds us that we must preserve heritage not just through memories, but through thoughtful urban planning as well.
Summing Up
As Mumbai bids farewell to Jimmy Boy’s Fort chapter, the emotions are bittersweet. It was more than a restaurant – it was a keeper of culture, a culinary time capsule, and a beloved member of Mumbai’s extended family. While the aroma of salli boti and caramel custard may no longer waft through the historic Fort building, the legacy of Jimmy Boy is far from over. It lives on in the Mahim takeaway counter, in fond memories, and hopefully, in a future comeback.
Because in Mumbai, legends never really disappear – they just take a short break before making a grand return.
