A story that started from a humble food cart in Bengaluru has now made its way to a grand, 2-storeyed restaurant space in the iconic Eros Building in Churchgate! Yes, we’re talking about The Rameshwaram Cafe, the brainchild of Raghavendra Rao and Divya Rao!
The cafe, rooted in South Indian culinary traditions and dedicated to the great Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s legacy has finally opened its doors in Mumbai after becoming a successful phenomenon across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.
On the occasion of the grand opening of their first-ever Mumbai outlet, we had the privilege of having a conversation with Raghavendra Rao understanding how the decision to enter Mumbai took shape. Here is our unfiltered conversation, along with a food review of The Rameshwaram Cafe!
In Conversation With Raghavendra Rao, Founder Of The Rameshwaram Cafe
unstumbled: How Has The Journey Of The Rameshwaram Cafe Been So Far? What Remains A Constant Mantra After Such A Momentous Success?
Raghavendra Rao: The journey of our cafe has been a fruitful one, similar to how you shape and carve the beauty out of a sculpture or “shilp”. We started our journey with a mere 800 square feet of space, and today we have expanded into four cities across India.
Carving a sculpture takes immense effort, sometimes pain, and similarly, we’ve taken quite a lot of effort and endured hardships to take The Rameshwaram Cafe where it is today. However, the love and support we’ve received along the way has only mellowed down the challenges we’ve faced and motivated us to keep going. Like they say, “hum humesha unke aabhari rahenge” (translation: We’ll forever be grateful for them).
Our only mantra is to keep our guests well-fed and happy!
unstumbled: Most Brands Turn To Mumbai After Their Initial Moment Of Success. However, You Successfully Expanded In Bengaluru, Hyderabad, And Pune Before Mumbai. What Was The Reason Behind Making Mumbaikars Wait For So Long?
Raghavendra Rao: The fruit of patience is always sweet, they say, so even though we made you Mumbaikars wait, the wait is about to be worth it. We’ve been working on this outlet for over a year and have brought South Indian culture – along with the food – into our Mumbai outlet. It has been my dream for the last 20 years to be in Mumbai, and it’s great to finally be here!
unstumbled: What Was The Reason Behind Choosing The Iconic Eros Building As Your First-Ever Mumbai Outlet?
Raghavendra Rao: 20 years ago, I vividly remember walking through this very area to find a small space to start my business. And cut to 20 years later, we’re sitting here inside the iconic Eros Building, ready to launch our first-ever outlet in Mumbai. The main reason why we chose this place was its rich heritage and history. The Eros Building has been one of the most iconic heritage buildings in Mumbai, so it only made sense why we decided to land here.
unstumbled: Mumbai Is Home To A Number Of Established South Indian Eateries And Restaurants. Do You Think You’re In For A Tough Competition, And How Do You Plan To Stay Relevant?
Raghavendra Rao: I would like to believe that we’re not really in for a competition – I believe in growing together instead. Each one of us has a unique story to tell, and we’re proud to bring our story to Mumbai. In fact, we believe that we’re our only competition and we’d love to keep it that way!
unstumbled: How Would You Describe Mumbai’s Foodies? Are They Experimental Or Conservative With Their Choices?
Raghavendra Rao: I’d say Mumbai’s foodies respect food and can go to any lengths for good food! That is the beauty of Mumbaikars – they’ll travel from all corners of the city to have great food. They are not hesitant to experiment with their food and embrace new culinary traditions with ease.
unstumbled: Have You Observed A Difference In The South Indian Food Served In Mumbai Compared To Other Cities?
Raghavendra Rao: Mumbai, though experimental and more open to diverse cuisines, has maintained a legacy of traditional South Indian eateries serving authentic food. The people here have continued to shower love upon the city’s legacy South Indian eateries because of their authenticity. I appreciate the South Indian food in Mumbai, and the legacy of these traditional eateries is a great source of inspiration for us.
unstumbled: A Menu Item That You Love Deeply?
Raghavendra Rao: While I personally love the Bangalore Idli with Neer Chutney, there are several dishes on the menu that you will definitely enjoy! Be it the Podi Idli or the Podi Masala Dosa, many of you might have a tough time choosing just one favorite from the menu!
unstumbled: A Dish You’d Recommend To Someone Trying South Indian Food For The First Time?
Raghavendra Rao: South Indian food is beyond just Idli and Dosa – it is a broad canvas of dishes full of flavor and heritage. We’d recommend trying dishes like the Bisi Bele Bath, Rasam Rice, and Venn Pongal – in fact, many of these dishes have been traditionally served in temples for centuries. We’re trying to bring the collective food culture of all five South Indian states – Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
unstumbled: Mumbai’s Breakfast Culture Hovers Around More Maharashtrian Dishes Like A Vada Pav Or Misal Pav. So, How Do You Plan To Position Yourself As The Ultimate Breakfast Spot In The City?
Raghavendra Rao: I appreciate the fact that Vada Pav holds deep sentimental value for Mumbaikars. Having said that, even South Indian food is no longer restricted to the South; it is enjoyed across the country. South Indian food, even in Mumbai, is made in almost every household. So with all due respect, we’d love to have a healthy and wholesome competition with the beloved Vada Pav!
unstumbled: Mumbai’s Food Culture Often Sees Experimentation – Take Fusion Dosa Flavors For Example. What Are Your Thoughts On The ‘Fusion-ification’ Of Authentic, Traditional Foods?
Raghavendra Rao: Personally, I believe in authenticity. I believe in connecting with our roots and maintaining an authentic story. We at The Rameshwaram Cafe are representing our culture, and we’d never mess with our rooted storytelling. After all, we’re not just offering food, we’re offering a piece of our culture through food. When we experiment, we start losing authenticity – and that is something our patrons and we would not be happy with.
unstumbled: An Underrated Dish On The Menu More People Should Try?
Raghavendra Rao: I would recommend that more people try the Bisi Bele Bath, the Mango Rice, the Lemon Rice, as well as the Pongal.
unstumbled: Will The Cafe Stick To A Set Menu Or Roll Out Festive And Seasonal Specials?
Raghavendra Rao: We’re very much rooted in our culture, so it only makes sense for us to roll out festive and seasonal specials on the menu. Whether it is Pongal, Ugadi, Sankranthi, or Deepavali, every festival has its own story and its own signature food. We cannot wait for Mumbaikars to try these different festive specials that are rooted in authenticity!
unstumbled: Now That You’ve Made Your Way To Mumbai, Are There Any More Expansion Plans In The City?
Raghavendra Rao: Yes, definitely. We always believe in the power of taking it one step at a time. We’ll definitely expand and are eager to grow in Mumbai!
unstumbled: If You Were To Invite A Famous Personality To Have A Meal With You At The Rameshwaram Cafe, From Any Timeline In History, Who Would It Be?
Raghavendra Rao: The late Mr. Ratan Tata was one of my most respected role models, and I would’ve loved to invite him for a meal. Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us. However, in Mumbai, I would definitely love to invite Bollywood’s Badshah Shah Rukh Khan! I admire him; the entire world does! So, sooner or later, I would love to have him enjoy our meal at our Mumbai outlet!
unstumbled: If You Were To Open A Restaurant Featuring Another Cuisine, What Cuisine Would You Choose?
Raghavendra Rao: To answer your question, Thirtha by our team is a cafe in Bengaluru that already does that! At Thirtha, we serve Hindustani food – not just restricted to South Indian food, along with comforting classics. We serve a variety of cuisines, including Maharashtrian, North Indian, and other cuisines, including comfort food like vada pav, rice bowls, tarri poha, berliners, and more!
unstumbled: Where Do You See The Rameshwuram Cafe In The Next Few Years?
Raghavendra Rao: We aim to expand our footprint in the temple cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Shirdi, Tirupati, and more. We’re trying to expand in places with rich heritage and are eager to introduce our food culture across India.
Our Food Review Of The Rameshwaram Cafe
Apart from an engaging conversation with Mr. Raghavendra Rao, we also had the pleasure of enjoying some of the delicacies offered at The Rameshwaram Cafe. Here’s all that we tried:
Ghee Pudi Masala Dosa
Crispy dosa slathered with a generous amount of ghee, with the perfect amount of potato filling in the middle! The sprinkle of pudi or podi on the inside of the dosa makes it perfectly flavorful with a gentle kick of spice. The filling is equally soft, flavorful, and comforting, and complements the crispness of the dosa.
Ghee Pudi Idli
Pillowy-soft idlis covered with a generous sprinkle of pudi or podi, along with copious amounts of rich ghee. This is definitely going to be your comfort dish if you love soft idlis – perfect for any time of the day!
Pineapple Sheera
The Pineapple Sheera was soft, rich, and indulgent in every bite. The sheera wasn’t overly sweet or bland – just perfectly sweet! It is a reminder that not all desserts have to be cloyingly sweet or bold in their flavor; sometimes, they can be mellow yet equally indulgent.
Filter Coffee
The Rameshwaram Cafe can never go wrong with Filter Coffee! As one of the most popular beverages across India and having its roots in South India, the filter coffee is now a global icon. The Filter Coffee at The Rameshwaram Cafe was just perfect – the smoothest milk balanced with a robust taste of coffee, resulting in an indulgent, frothy, and warm cup of coffee. Have it traditionally by pouring it from the glass into the tumbler for an added touch of authenticity!
Filter Coffee Soft Serve
This item on the menu definitely caught us off guard, and we cannot recommend it enough! After all, who would think of filter coffee reimagined as a soft serve? The Rameshwaram Cafe’s Filter Coffee Soft Serve combines the rich taste of traditional Filter Coffee with the silky-smooth creaminess of a soft serve. Served in the same traditional cup and tumbler as filter coffee, this is a great dessert option if you enjoy filter coffee!
Details Of The Rameshwaram Cafe, Mumbai
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Address: Cambata Building, 42, Maharshi Karve Road, Churchgate
Timings: 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Cost for two: INR 300 approximately
