Mumbai: Ruckus At Cafe Mondegar After 'Drunk' Customers Denied Entry Over Holi Attire; Watch Video

Mumbai: A ruckus broke out in South Mumbai's Cafe Mondegar on March 25, Monday after some people were denied entry into its premises by its staff. The group of people after playing Holi, wished to have food in Cafe Mondegar but were prevented from entering the restaurant allegedly because they were wearing wet clothes stained with Holi colours, a charge partly dismissed by the cafe management.

One of the guests who was denied entry took to X and posted a video which shows how the group did not take the restaurant's behaviour lying down. Heated verbal exchange followed and the group was seen using strong and abusive language in the video, while the restaurant staff tried to give explanation. All this happened while the other patrons were enjoying their meals.

The user named Sagar (@Wildontheright), photographer by profession, who had originally posted the video sharing his experience at the restaurant, deleted the visuals shortly after he posted it. Free Press Journal tried to seek his reaction and clarification on whether there was a bias in the approach of the restaurant in favour of their international customers. However, the user refused to respond.

Exclusive: Cafe Mondegar clarifies

Free Press Journal spoke to Huxley Pimenta, General Manager of Cafe Mondegar who refused all claims made by Sagar and shared the CCTV footage with us that captured the entire incident.

Watch here cctv video shared by Cafe Mondegar capturing the incident

(Warning: Strong and abusive language used)

Speaking exclusively to Free Press Journal, Huxley Pimenta said, "The group entered the restaurant in a condition in which they were fully drunk and drenched in water. The clothes were completely stained with Holi colours. We requested them to come other time as the other customers were getting affected due to them. The colours could enter the food being served. As a policy we do not allow this in the restaurant. When we refused to let them in, those people especially the lady started screaming and hurling abusive language in the middle of the restaurant. A child got scared looking at what they were doing. The parents of that child paid the bill and left saying they don't want their child to witness all this."

An X user posted claiming that only a Hindu family was stopped from entering the restaurant while international customers were sitting with similar clothes having holi colour stains on their clothes.

Exclusive: Cafe Mondegar on allegation of bias in favour of foreigners

On claims of a possible bias in favour of international customers, Huxley Pimenta said, "There's no question of any possible bias as you can scan the cctv footage to find out that even international customers in similar conditions were not permitted entry and they left politely. The group went to Leopold cafe (restaurant in adjoining lane) later and created a similar scene".

Watch here the video shared by Huxley Pimenta where foreigner is being denied entry

Here's a picture of the post that was originally put on X by @Wildontheright.

Huxley Pimenta said, "This is an iconic and a very old and reputed restaurant. We cannot afford to be rude to our customers. The group was drunk and what they did was totally unacceptable."

Meanwhile, several netizens also reacted siding the hotel staff denying any wrong doing on the restaurant manager's part. Several netizens said that the restaurant owner had all the right to refuse entry to anyone if the rules were clearly mentioned outside and also some netizens believe that its quite normal to stop people to enter with clothes stained with Holi colours to protect the furniture and floor from being soiled especially when food is being served.

History of Cafe Mondegar

South Bombay area hosts a variety of restaurants that give a sense of what Mumbai used to look like years and years ago. People visit these restaurants for varied reasons from enjoying the food, for celebrations some just visit these artistic restaurants to just enjoy the ambience. March 25th being Holi, one of the biggest festivals in India, restaurants were extremely busy across the city. Needless to say, Holi often brings in happiness along with some controversies.

Cafe Mondegar is situated in the Metro House in Colaba Causeway, 450 meters North-West of Gateway of India, 200 meters North-East of Leopold Cafe and 400 meters South of Elphinstone College in Mumbai.

Cafe Mondegar is a popular landmark and touristic attraction of Mumbai. Famous Indian cartoonist and painter Mario Miranda painted murals or his cartoons on all inner walls and entrance ceiling of the restaurant. Cafe Mondegar was started in 1932 by Iranian Zoroastrians or also known as Parsis as an Irani cafe. The current building (Metro House), then housed a hotel called Apollo Hotel and the café was started in the reception area of the hotel. By the mid 20th century, the cafe introduced a jukebox which was the first in Mumbai and was simultaneously converted into a restaurant. By the 1990s, Cafe Mondegar was refurbished, Mario Miranda's murals were painted on the walls & ceiling, and the restaurant was converted into a bar. The Cafe is owned by Yazdegardi family.

Published on: Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 06:05 PM IST