The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on Tuesday conducted a raid at the iconic Cafe Mondegar in Colaba, south Mumbai, and suspended its operating licence citing serious safety and hygiene lapses.
The action was carried out by a multi-departmental team coordinated under the direction of Municipal Commissioner's office, with the enforcement drive spearheaded by an official commonly referred to as Mundhe. Inspectors from the civic body's health, fire, and food safety wings jointly visited the popular cafe located near the Gateway of India.
According to sources familiar with the findings, the inspection uncovered several violations, including inadequate kitchen sanitation, improper food storage practices, missing or non-functional fire safety equipment, and lapses in maintaining statutory compliance records. The cafe, known for its colonial-era ambience and decades-old menu, has been a favourite hangout among locals, tourists, and film industry celebrities.
Following the raid, the civic authority temporarily suspended the eatery's licence, directing the management to comply with all safety norms before the licence could be reinstated. A show-cause notice has reportedly been issued to the proprietors, who have been asked to submit a written explanation within a stipulated timeframe.
Cafe Mondegar, which first opened its doors in 1958, is one of Mumbai's oldest surviving cafes and a cultural landmark in the city's culinary landscape. It gained additional fame in recent years after being featured in several media pieces celebrating Mumbai's heritage food spots.
The MCGM has been conducting a city-wide sweep of food establishments since early this year as part of a broader campaign to enforce strict compliance with food safety and fire regulations. Earlier raids in other parts of the city have also resulted in similar notices and temporary closures of eateries found lacking in basic safety standards.
Residents and food enthusiasts expressed concern over the closure, with many calling on the authorities to provide a reasonable window for the cafe to rectify the issues rather than imposing an outright suspension. Civic officials, however, maintained that public health and safety cannot be compromised and that all establishments must adhere to the prescribed norms regardless of their heritage or popularity.
