Long before South Indian cafés became destinations, they were rituals. With shared tables, frothy filter coffee being passed around, aroma of freshly served idlis and dosas, the Rameshwaram Cafe captures the very essence of South Indian cuisine. Founded by Raghavendra Rao and CA Divya Raghavendra Rao in 2021, the eatery was envisioned to scale without losing the soul and quality of the dishes served.
After five successful years of expansion in Bengaluru, the Rameshwaram Cafe has now opened its doors in Mumbai. Bringing traditional recipes from regions like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, the cafe is all set to bring its temple-style flavours to Mumbaikars. If you want to know the reason behind all the hype around Bangalore’s favourite South Indian spot, here’s a Slurrp exclusive interview with the founders.
The Rameshwaram Cafe has built a strong identity around traditional South Indian food. How would you define your food philosophy in one sentence?
Our food philosophy is simple: temple food, temple prasadam. That purity and simplicity are what define the food we serve.
The Rameshwaram Cafe is famous for its generous use of ghee. In a city like Mumbai, which is increasingly health-conscious but also loves indulgence, how do you strike the balance?
Ghee is one of the healthiest fats. Traditionally, our ancestors cooked with ghee and coconut oil, which are both considered very pure and natural. Unlike many modern oils that are chemically processed, ghee comes directly from milk and is a natural product. Across cultures in India, whether in Gujarati or Punjabi homes, ghee has always been associated with nourishment and love. Even temple prasadam and many traditional desserts are made with ghee, so for us, it remains an important and healthy part of our cooking.
Did Mumbai’s climate and supply chain affect how you approach sourcing here?
We believe in bringing the culture along with the food. Most of our ingredients are sourced from Karnataka. We have a centralised warehouse in Bangalore where we prepare our own spice powders and ingredients, and from there we supply them to all our outlets across India.
What makes your dosa different from the many others available across India?
For us, everything begins with the batter. Batter matters, and the love that goes into it matters. That consistency and care are what define our dosa. The batter recipe remains the same across all our outlets globally. Since we operate with a centralised system, the recipes are standardised and supplied from Bangalore. At the same time, we carefully maintain the pH and TDS levels of water, because nearly 70-80% of food is water, and it plays a major role in the final result. Before launching in Mumbai, we conducted almost a year of R&D to ensure we could deliver nearly the same taste and quality that we serve in Bangalore.
What are the three must-try dishes on your menu for first-time visitors?
They should try our Podi Idli, Podi Masala Dosa and our filter coffee. Beyond idlis and dosas, South Indian cuisine has many wonderful dishes like Bisi Bele Bath, Puliyogare, Venn Pongal, and Sweet Pongal, which together represent the true depth of the cuisine.
What is the most surprising feedback you’ve received about your food?
One surprising moment was when people assumed we were using a broom for the tawa; we use a special broom made from coconut leaves for this process. It’s a natural tool used only for seasoning the tawa.
Have you noticed regional differences in how people eat or pair dishes?
In terms of regional differences, I haven’t noticed much variation. Cities like Bangalore and Mumbai are very diverse, with people from many regions dining with us. The only difference sometimes is spice preference, where some guests may ask for slightly milder spice levels.
Five years from now, what do you hope people in Mumbai will say about your food?
Rameshwaram Cafe is a sentiment for many people. Just like vada pav is a sentiment for Mumbai, we hope that Rameshwaram Cafe will also become a sentiment here, something people feel their day is incomplete without.
The Rameshwaram Cafe, Mumbai
Address: Church Gate, Gnosis Food Ventures LLP Unit No 4-A Cambata Building, Maharshi Karve Rd, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020
Timings: 5 AM to 1 AM
Price For Two: ₹200-400