This restaurant has always been a favourite of the Khan Market ‘gang’ but now it has become even more colourful with a new chef’s innovative additions to the menu

“The menu reflects the quintessential spirit of Mumbai and Parsi food culture,” chuckles Chef Irfan Pabaney. In his classic knee- length shorts and colourful bandana, the chef takes the head seat at the table and keeps us happily engrossed in his stories while we are digging delightfully in his delicious preparations. We are at the Khan Market outlet of SodaBottleOpenerWala, the much-loved Bombay Irani Café and Bar chain where Chef Irfan Pabaney has recently joined as the brand’s Country Head Chef.

SodaBottleOpenerWala today is one of the largest brands of the Olive Bar and Kitchen Group, in terms of its presence in the country, with a total of eight outlets across four cities.

Showcasing his new menu, Chef Pabaney says, “With the new menu, we are all set to take the culinary experience a notch higher in terms of variety and taste. This menu goes beyond the classic Bombay and Parsi flavours, encompassing dishes from other parts of the country, which have been inspired by those communities living in Bombay. For instance, the Mutton Pepper Fry and the Egg Wrapped Kheema Pulao are inspired from the local bars of Bombay.”

While the most loved and popular signatures such as Berry Pulao, Dhansak, Salli Chicken, Chicken Farcha and the Bhendi Bazaar Sheekh Parathawill continue to be a part of the menu, the new additions are set to tickle discerning diners’ taste buds.

From the bar snacks menu, we love the new additions such as Kundapuri Prawn, Staff Pickle Achari Murg, Methi Fish Tikki, Meatless Baida Roti and The Green Peas Tikki. Soup, salad and egg lovers have a reason to feast on the Shirazi Salad, Roasted Chicken and Coconut Salad, and Green Bean Salad. In the Sandwiches and Pav section, there is the Bombay Raasta Sandwich. What steals the show is the Classic Egg Sandwich being bought back into the menu due to popular demand from guests.

The mains will have Egg Wrapped Kheema Pulao, Papeta and Gobi Nu Bhaji, Coconutwala Daal, Dhai Ma Bheeda, Chicken Ghee Roast, Dahi Ma Gosht and many more. A few more exciting ones are the Khari Pizzas and SBOW’s all-new take on the Patra Ni Macchi with River Sol fish, served with lemon rice. For those in a hurry, combos work the best. Try from some exciting combos lined up like Tawa Paneer Masala Combo, Paris Vegetable Combo, Coconutwala Daal Combo.

The design of SodaBottle
OpenerWala is old world, colonial and humorous. You cannot miss ubiquitous Bawa mascot seen on tent cards at every table who is now with his new pal donning a purple bandana, the chef himself.  The ambience is unique, it is the brand’s take on the Parsi-style Freddie Mercury meets Monty Python. You cannot help laughing at the eccentricity and mirth that the props generate. Sample this. The signature large blackboard touting the ‘Rules of the establishment’ like ‘No laughing loudly. No talking to cashier. No feet on chair. No flirting. No Pata hai main kaun hoon’ – signature style in all the SodaBottleOpenerWala outlets.

We are at the last course of our memorable meal, savouring Parsi perennials Mawa Cake and Malai Kulfi  when chef Irfan makes his concluding remark and promises it is the last time he will speak before he rushes back to the kitchen, “While retaining the brand’s quintessential spirit of a Bombay Irani Café,  I am excited about my new engagement and our focus will be to make the Parsi Irani and Bombay street food spread even more exciting. So you will be amazed to find a Khari Pizza on the menu and plenty of vegetarian food options.”