Cafe Goodluck was established in 1935, but documents found by the current owner, Kasim Yakshi, suggest that the place may date back to 1924. Located on Fergusson College Road in the Deccan Gymkhana area, it was started by Haji Hussain Ali Yakshi, and is deemed to have been Pune’s first garden restaurant and oldest Irani cafe. Haji Hussain Ali Yakshi passed away in 1989, after which his brother Kasim started handling operations.
Kasim’s family moved to India after a famine hit Iran. Haji Hussain Ali trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and also worked in Delhi for a bit. He discovered that Mumbai was welcoming Iranians, and so he moved to the city and worked there for a few months. However, Mumbai’s weather was humid and he was advised to move to a drier place since he had breathing problems. And so, Pune became his next home. After moving to the city, he married an Iranian and then established Cafe Goodluck.
When Cafe Goodluck was started, the place served only tea, bun maska, and a few other snacks. As time went by, eggs, chicken, and mutton were added to the menu. The cafe became known for serving meat dishes in an area dominated by vegetarians. During his time, Yakshi also introduced South Indian dishes to be able to meet the expectations of a wider variety of people. However, steaming cups of chai and bun maska seems to be the standard order of all the regulars that visit. Patrons can be seen dipping the soft buns into their milky chai. Plates of bun omelette and egg bhurji make their way to other tables. Bheja masala is also on the menu for those who are more adventurous. Popular desserts include caramel pudding and kulfi. Cafe Goodluck also serves a dish named chicken chilli, which is a spicy curry and is different from the Indian-Chinese version that most people are used to. While people visit at all times of the day, the place has gone on to become an iconic breakfast spot over the years.
The cafe opens from 8am to 11pm, and the average cost for a meal for two people comes to Rs ₹400. It has a staff of around 50–70, most of whom don’t belong to a restaurant service background. And so, Yakshi personally trained all of them. He takes on the roles of his staff members if any of them are absent. Earlier, the cafe was actually a shop that repaired cycles. It slowly evolved into a cafe over the years, and its wooden chairs began to be replaced by plastic ones.
Cafe Goodluck is seen as a symbol of Pune’s lifestyle even today. It is an important landmark that has stood the test of time. According to Sahapedia, it has been estimated that the cafe might close in the coming years as the owner feels it doesn’t guarantee financial stability. Even if that were to be the case, the place will live on in the memory of the patrons who frequented it.
