Mumbai is a melting pot of a variety of cultures, and that is veritably reflected in the diversity of food available here. However, there are still certain cuisines that are hard to find in this metropolis. While cuisines like Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Mediterranean remain well-represented in the city, Persian cuisine is hard to come by. It is precisely this lacuna that Chef Seema Sadequian and Priya Dutt, daughter of Bollywood legends Sunil and Nargis Dutt, wanted to fill. So, armed with their passion for food, culinary skills, and hard work, they unveiled Cafe Mommyjoon, one of Mumbai’s first rendezvous with authentic Persian cuisine.
Cafe Mommyjoon In Bandra
Tucked in one of Bandra’s many cozy lanes is Cafe Mommyjoon. Though unassuming from the outside, its interiors are an entirely different story. The restaurant is replete with Persian rugs along with a lingering scent of rose water, and the pièce de résistance of its decor – the sizable personal library of Nargis and Sunil Dutt!
unstumbled was lucky enough to get a chance to experience the restaurant. We also got in touch with the head chef, Seema Sadequian, and learned what the restaurant means to her and her longtime family friend, Priya Dutt.
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In Conversation With Chef Seema Sadequian Of Cafe Mommyjoon
unstumbled: Talk to us about your connection to Persian cuisine. When did your love for this cuisine begin?
Chef Seema Sadequian: My love for Persian cuisine started at a very young age at home. My mother used to cook the same food you see on our menu today. I would watch her cook all the time in our kitchen, and our grandmother was the one who encouraged us to actually try cooking.
unstumbled: ‘Mommy joon’ is a term of endearment for mothers. What dish on the menu do you most closely associate with yours?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Our mother, the Late Bibi Fatemeh (Mommyjoon), would prepare addas polow, which we siblings really looked forward to. We would all sit together and eat every Sunday like a ritual.
unstumbled: Persian cuisine is still relatively niche in Mumbai. What motivated you to bring it to Mumbaikars?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Priya Dutt and my brother, Ali Asgar, used to work together. My mom was very fond of Priya and would often cook Iranian food for her, which she really enjoyed. That’s when they realised that people in Mumbai didn’t really have access to authentic Persian food. So the idea of Café Mommyjoon started there. All four of us — Ali, Priya, Mohammed Hussain, and I — wanted to carry forward our family’s legacy. We wanted to break the misconception of what people thought was Iranian food, which is kheema pav and bun masks
unstumbled: Since most Mumbaikars are unfamiliar with Persian cuisine, how do you stay faithful to the cuisine while ensuring first-timers don’t feel alienated?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Yes, many are unfamiliar with our cuisine, but they’re happy to try it. We tell guests to try dishes like tahcheen e morgh, kebabs, and stews, which they end up relishing. Once they try the food, they realise how flavorful it is. Most of the dishes are slow-cooked (dum pukht) and are infused with saffron, dried mint, pomegranate molasses, dried lemons and many more herbs that are mild on the palate. We don’t believe in modifying flavors and try to keep it as authentic as possible.
unstumbled: What do you think is the one dish here that truly encapsulates the identity of Cafe Mommyjoon?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Kebab Koobideh with saffron rice, also popularly known as Chelo kebab, truly encapsulates the identity of Cafe Mommyjoon. It’s the national dish of Iran. We freshly grill the kebab and dip it in saffron butter. It’s best paired with grilled tomato, chillies, onion and butter. We’re also known for our Chai E Sadeh (Persian black tea), which is not technically a dish but a big part of the meal. We brew our tea in an electric samovar (traditional Iranian kettle), which gives it a mild flavor and works as a digestive after the meal. It completes the entire experience and is done just as it would be in Iran.
unstumbled: What has been the biggest challenge for you on your journey of Cafe Mommyjoon?
Chef Seema Sadequian: The biggest challenge was training the team. They were all new to the cuisine and were not aware of the ingredients and cooking methods. There were completely new flavor profiles, and they had to learn as they weren’t used to them.
unstumbled: How has the journey of the menu been for you? Were there any dishes that you were excited about but did not get enough love from the guests? Or were there any dishes that you weren’t expecting to become a crowd favorite but did?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Our intention was to create an authentic Persian menu and give Mumbaikars the same experience. A dish that didn’t get as much love as I had hoped is Akbar Joojeh. Akbar joojeh is a small chicken slow-cooked in butter, which makes the chicken very tender. It’s served with saffron rice and pomegranate molasses. It’s one of my favorite dishes. A dish that surprisingly picked on was Ash E Rishteh. It’s a traditional Iranian soup made with Kashk, which is whey protein, noodles, herbs, greens and kidney beans.
unstumbled: The cafe houses the impressive personal library of the late Sunil and Nargis Dutt. Does the bibliophile inside you ever worry about the books being ruined, given their proximity to food and beverages?
Chef Seema Sadequian: Yes, indeed, it is an invaluable collection, and we feel proud showcasing it. Maintaining its condition and ensuring that it is not mishandled is not easy. We are very particular as to how we allow our guests to enjoy it.
unstumbled: What would you want your guests’ biggest takeaway to be after dining at Cafe Mommyjoon?
Chef Seema Sadequian: I hope that all my guests may feel like they’ve gotten value for their money, that they get to experience how traditional Persian hospitality (Taarof) is done, and taste the true flavors of Iran that make them want to come back for more.
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What We Tried At Cafe Mommyjoon
‘Mommy joon’ in Persian is a term of endearment for mothers, akin to Ammijaan in Urdu. So, it was only appropriate that my mother tagged along for the experience. She was immediately drawn to the library, especially a book on Nargis’s life that she immersed herself in for the duration of our visit. The only thing powerful enough to get her attention after this was the food. Here’s everything we enjoyed:
Persian Lemonade
Khake Shir
Mommyjoon’s Veg Salad
Chicken Stuffed Barbari
Persian Platter
Addas Polow
Chai E Sadeh
Persian Lemonade And Khake Shir
In the sweltering heat of Mumbai, the Persian Lemonade was the perfect beverage to rejuvenate our spirits. Cool, refreshing, and with just the right amount of zestiness, this drink was delicious!
Would We Order It Again? Yes, absolutely!
The Khake Shir was unlike any beverage we had ever tasted. It was mildly flavored and had flixweed seeds that gave it an interesting texture. For those who love saffron, this is the perfect beverage!
Would We Order It Again? Maybe
Mommyjoon’s Veg Salad
Light, refreshing, delicious. It had walnuts, lettuce, olives, feta cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and was drizzled with a delicious dressing. Perfect for kicking off your meal or for someone looking for a light snack rather than an indulgent meal.
Would We Order It Again? Yes
Chicken Stuffed Barbari
A delicious naan stuffed with perfectly spiced chicken and cheese. Let’s just say that if this were widely available, it could single-handedly end the careers of all kinds of stuffed garlic bread.
Would We Order It Again? Yes, absolutely!
Persian Platter
This is the perfect thing to order if you’re curious and want to try all of the kebabs. It comes with a row each of Kabab Koobideh, Chicken Koobideh, Joojeh Kabab, and Chenjeh. The Chicken Koobideh was our favourite, followed by the Joojeh Kabab. They are rich, juicy, and succulent.
Would We Order It Again? Yes, absolutely!
Addas Polow
This is a lightly spiced rice dish and was very reminiscent of a dish called Masoori Pulao that we make at home. It comes with deliciously tender chicken drumsticks and lamb meatballs (kofte, as they’re called in our home), and the fragrant rice is mixed with spiced lentil, creating a dish that lingers on your tongue.
Would We Order It Again? Yes
Chai E Sadeh
A perfect conclusion to the meal, the tea was light and calming. We felt like British royalty while sipping on the tea, surrounded by books!
Would We Order It Again? Yes
Overall experience: 8/10
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More Details About This Authentic Persian Restaurant
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Address: Street no 24, Sunrise building. Ground floor
Timings: 12 PM to 12:30 AM
Cost For Two: INR 1,500
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Summing Up
The thought, effort, and passion that have gone into creating Cafe Mommyjoon are amply evident to those who have visited. The restaurant stands as an ode to Chef Seema’s heritage and her drive to bring authentic Persian fare to the folks of Mumbai. It is a must-visit for anyone who seeks to experience something new with a touch of familiar elements. For my mother, who has tagged along on many such experiences, this was her best ever (her words exactly).
