A typical Saturday would usually find P and me curled up on the couch, Netflixing and chilling. But 24th May wasn’t just another Saturday—it was the grand opening of Colaba Canteen Chandigarh, and our excitement was off the charts.
If you know us, you know we’ve long been obsessed with Bombay’s old-world Irani-Parsi cafés—even though we’ve never actually been to one. These iconic haunts brought together people from all walks of life to share simple yet flavourful meals. The charm wasn’t just in the food but in the beautifully chaotic blend of cultures, stories, and that laid-back, no-frills energy that was so uniquely “Bombay.”
So when we heard that Colaba Canteen was recreating this experience right here in Chandigarh, we just had to go. So, come Saturday lunch, we headed to Colaba Canteen with a friend—and here’s everything you need to know!
Colaba Canteen Chandigarh: A Restaurant That Feels Like a Time Machine
Source: PrinkledParsi-Irani Cafes of South Bombay hold a special place in everyone’s hearts—all thanks to the OG flavours, simplicity and an unmatched nonchalant vibe. Having heard about them from my friends in Mumbai, I always wanted to try one. At Colaba Canteen Chandigarh, we finally got to experience it.
Also Read: Malleshwaram Chandigarh: An Authentic South-Indian Restaurant You’ll Love For The Flavours & Vibes
Source: Prinkled
Source: PrinkledAs we walked in the doors, earth-toned wall colours interspersed with dark brown wooden furnishings, small wooden tables with bentwood chairs, walls with Sepia-toned portraits of Parsi babas and an air of old Bollywood vibe greeted us. From the gramophone piece as the reception desk to the vintage wooden clock with pendulum, everything at Colaba Canteen Chandigarh passed the Parsi cafe vibe check.
Source: PrinkledP, I and our friend nestled ourselves in one of the corner seating spaces and began to admire the beautiful vintage chandeliers. And while we were admiring the whole OG cafe vibe, the old Bollywood songs like Aap Jaisa Koi, Yeh Mera Dil and many such filmy numbers got us in the mood to make it a chill Saturday.
The Menu: Where Bombay Meets Chandigarh
The staff at Colaba Canteen Chandigarh quickly brought us some water for respite from the heat outside along with the menu. The three of us decided to try everything—be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. As we flipped through the pages of the menu, we understood why the owner of Colaba Canteen Chandigarh, Ankush Arora, was so smitten with the idea of bringing the fun and vintage vibe of Parsi Cafe to the city beautiful.
Source: PrinkledWe quickly skimmed through the menu which was all about food. While the famous Bombay-Parsi-Irani treats like Vada Pav, Bun Muska, Irani Chai, Berry Pulao, Parsi Sodas and more find their mention, there were some comfort food options too like Dilruba, Chicken Charsi, Butter Chicken, Dal Makhni to make everyone feel included—much like the legendary cafes of SoBo (South Bombay).
Anyway, what we ordered is coming right up. Go on!
Colaba Canteen Chandigarh: Soulful Food, Zesty Drinks and A Meal To Remember
P, I and our friend quickly placed our order as we couldn’t wait any longer. We ordered Chicken Charsi, Mutton Galouti, Beetroot Kebabs, Thecha Kulcha and Oh So Boojee Bhel (Shilpa Shetty-approved). And in drinks, how could we skip Parsi Sodas. We ordered a Raspberry, Honey-Ginger and Lime-Ginger Sofa—one for each of us.
Source: PrinkledThe sodas were the first to arrive and well, the bottles in which they came took us straight back to our childhood—-when we used to get drinks in glass bottles. Oh, the nostalgia! One sip of each of our drinks and we were sold right there and then. We loved the refreshing flavours. They were such a respite from the scorching summer heat. A must-try for all.
Source: Prinkled
Source: PrinkledNext came Chicken Charsi and Mutton Galouti. The aroma alone of the spices of Chicken Charsi left P & I salivating. It was served with a baby portion of naan and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The flavours were bang on and the Chicken was tender enough to melt in mouth. Mutton Galouti, served with a portion of Rumali roti, was soft, juicy and packed with a punch of spices that made it taste delicious.
Source: PrinkledBeetroot Kebabs were crunchy, punchy and a surprisingly delicious snack. Surprisingly because usually they are sweet due to Beetroot; but at Colaba Canteen, the flavours were well-balanced.
Source: PrinkledThe Oh So Boojee Bhel was different from the usual bhels we’re used to having but in an extremely flavourful way. It was also healthy as it was made with millets that were actually tasty. The only thing we felt was a bit underwhelming in flavour was the Thecha Kulcha, which compared to other dishes, was mild in flavour. When we informed the team about it, they took the feedback very constructively and with a smile—a rare sight and that surely won our hearts.
Also Read: Laska Countryside Kitchen & Bar Chandigarh: 5 Reasons You Must NEVER Visit This Restaurant
Anyway, by this time, after devouring each and every flavourful dish at Colaba Canteen, all three of us were satiated to the core and somewhat happy to take this quick trip to SoBo in Chandigarh. Honestly, we deduced that Colaba Canteen might just turn out to be our favourite haunt in the coming months—all thanks to delicious flavours, great service and an amazing vibe.
Prinkled’s Final Thoughts:
Colaba Canteen Chandigarh in Sector 9C takes you on a flavourful trip to South Bombay at just 5% of the cost, considering it is also easy on the pocket. It should definitely be on everyone’s list who wants to relive the magic of the old Bombay in the 1900s!
Seems to be nice place with good wibes