Tucked away within the busy commercial precinct of South Bombay are concealed chapters of history. Preserving one such lesson from the past is Fort’s Zoroastrian Irani eatery – Café Excelsior. One of the last few places of its kind, Excelsior stands as a testament to Parsi culinary heritage

Upon entering, your eyes will inevitably be drawn to vintage wooden clocks ticking on the walls. On the way to the mezzanine floor, hand-painted signs reflect the star delicacies from the menu. “Salli Boti”, “Bheja Fry”, “Mutton Dhansak”, “Chicken Cutlet” and the likes are up for grabs

Ardeshir Mazkoori – the third-generation owner christened after his grandfather (the café's founder) personally painted these frames. "My grandfather passed away when I was born, so I was named after him. He was a very hard-working man. When he moved to India from Iran, he initially worked at another Irani restaurant in the area"

Listing down more prominent names, he indulges us with A-listers who have dined at the café. “Bollywood’s revered King – Shah Rukh Khan came over for a chicken roll during the release of Chennai Express. Also, Sanjay Dutt frequented the café when he visited the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office. Comedian Mehmood and his brother were regular customers"

Perhaps, being next to one of the most magnificent cinema halls in Asia is a stroke of luck. The latest film shot here was A Gentleman, featuring Sidharth Malhotra. Singer Himesh Reshammiya also spent an entire day at the café, he informs.