From Our Customers

As a Landour resident and former student of Woodstock School, visits to Kulri Bazaar on the weekends and during the summer vacations were customary. And no visit to 'The Buzz', as we Woodstock students referred to Landour and Kulri Bazaar, was incomplete without a meal at Madras Cafe. 

 

The establishment, as far as my memory serves me, is the earliest recollection of south Indian food I have. Along with the aroma of dosas and idlis, the sight of the smiling Sardarji owner seated behind the counter in the far left corner of the restaurant, under the little television set always playing a Hindi film, are an indelible part of the Madras Cafe experience. I was first taken there by my mother, who absolutely enjoyed the dosas there (masala and plain) and who always made a point to take my sister and I to Madras Cafe when we were growing up in Mussoorie. In later years, and as recently as a couple of years ago, my mother would still do her best to visit Madras Cafe for lunch on her annual visit from Mumbai, even if we were not around. 

 

I was saddened to hear, some months ago, of the shutting of my favourite south Indian eatery in Mussoorie. However, a chance meeting with Harkirat Kalra, the son of the Madraf Cafe owner, on a walk around the Chakkar in Landour, brought some good news. Harkirat informed me that a new outlet of Madras Cafe has been opened in Rajpur, Dehradun on the Old Mussoorie Road. I encourage anyone who enjoys south Indian food and who has ever eaten a dosa, idli, uttapam or vada at the original Madras Cafe, or had a cold drink or cup of sugary coffee there, to visit the new Rajpur branch. I can assure you, you won't leave disappointed.