A tribute to the dying legacy of the Bombay Irani Cafes
"With SodaBottleOpenerWala, we give you a concept that is unique to India; the dying legacy of the wonderful chaotic, crowded, bustling, colorful, quirky, cluttered, eccentric and so real world of an Irani café. Our way of reviving the love for the edu and the disappearing race behind the cafes". - AD and Sabina Singh
Hyderabad May 2015: SodaBottleOpenerWala is your quintessential Bombay Irani Café with all its idiosyncrasies in place. After Bengaluru, SodaBottleOpenerWala opens its doors at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, to pay tribute to the dying legacy of a Bombay Irani cafe bringing with it typical Parsi cuisine, some Irani specialties and Bombay street food, a well-stocked bar - in a fun, quirky and contemporary avatar.
The Irani’s have had such a tremendous influence on the Bombay seascape and among their many contributions, the most resilient has been the Irani café. The Irani Café culture has been an important and integral part of Bombay history. These cafés are pretty much an India specific phenomenon which acquired cult status in the city of Bombay. They've been instrumental in the evolution of our chai drinking culture and have changed our lives in more ways than one. The Irani Café culture came to India with the Persians back in the early 1900s and today Bombay boasts of the largest number of Irani cafes serving traditional Irani Chai along with a slew of other specialties. Gradually, due to the foray of fast food concepts that flooded the country, the tradition of such cafes died down. Only 25 such cafes are now still in existence.
Irani Cafes were famous for their inexpensive food, eccentric owners and distinctive menus incorporating dishes like thestick chai (extremely sweet), bun maska (crusty bread with butter), kheema pao (mince curry with bread) and typical Parsi cutlets, patties, rolls, fruitcakes, and confectionery. Today, however, Irani Cafes serve a wide range of cuisine.
Says AD Singh from The Olive Group, “SodaBottleOpenerWala is a concept restaurant with a bar. For my wife Sabina and me, Mumbai is an integral part of the journey of our lives. The Bombay Irani cafe is a rich part of the Mumbai tapestry and, sadly, a dying legacy. We delved deep within its unique world to bring alive the nuances - both for cuisine and its atmosphere. The familiarity of an Irani café is key to the experience. Architect Clement and Sabina brought that canvass to life.”
He further adds, ‘I am delighted to announce that the fourth
Says Shaaz Mehmood, "It is exciting to bring to Hyderabad an experience I fondly remember growing up with during the course of my travels to Bombay. That and the vibrant, eccentric and chaotic world of an Irani cafe is a much needed affordable casual dine-out and bar experience in Hyderabad.’
Adds Shiraz Mirza, "I am delighted that the fourth SodaBottleOpenerWala finds a home in Hyderabad in the vibrant neighbourhood of Jubilee Hills which is the beating heart of this city. As such it is a perfect spot for this concept. We hope Hyderabad will grow to love it as much as we do.”
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