Mumbai's Cafe Mondegar licence suspended: Improper food thawing, cooling lapses — what else did Maharashtra FDA flag?

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of Mumbai's historic restaurant, Cafe Mondegar, due to food safety and hygiene violations. During an inspection on September 12, the FDA discovered inadequate drainage near the food preparation area, posing a risk of cross-contamination. Equipment was not properly cleaned and sanitized, and floors were damaged by dampness.

Additionally, the restaurant failed to maintain required temperatures for food items; hot foods were below 60°C, while cold storage was not kept below 5°C. Improper thawing and insufficient rapid cooling of cooked food were also noted.

Founded in 1932 as an Irani Cafe and converted to a restaurant in the 1990s, Cafe Mondegar was the first in the city to introduce a jukebox in the mid-1990s, famous for its murals by cartoonist Mario Miranda. Attempts to contact managing partner Hoshang Yazdegardi were unsuccessful. The FDA also suspended the licence of the Maharashtra Biryani Center in Hanuman Nagar, Kandivli (E), and three other Mumbai food outlets, along with two others in Pune.

Furthermore, FDA teams seized 30 litres of milk and 4,139 kg of dairy and sweets stock, valued over ₹15.5 lakh. Between September 11 and 14, FDA inspected 38 food establishments, collecting 47 food samples for testing. Licences of nine other establishments were also suspended.