Bosom friends' food fantasy journey

Catering to the taste of all guests, Cafe Biriyani Paradise has been the first choice of people from surrounding areas. Most of its customers are regulars, finds out T R Sathish Kumar.

O vercoming all odds, the trio — Srinivasan, Dinesh and Sandeep — have been running three restaurants Kafe Biriyani Corner, Kafe Biriyani Paradise and Elements successfully in Mysore and have big plans for the future.

Among them, only Srinivasan has a hospitality background. His father N C Devendran started MNC night canteen in 1971, which still runs under a different management at Makkaji Chowk. All the three are friends since their college days at St Philomena’s College, where they studied B Com. After doing different things they came together again in 1998 to found the ‘Mallige Idly’ counter at the Dasara Exhibition at the Exhibitions grounds.

Following the success of Mallige Idly, which was like a complete restaurant on the Exhibition Grounds for the first time, they started Cafe Mallige at Saraswathipuram in 2000. In 2005 they ventured into non-vegetarian food by starting Cafe Biriyani Corner at Kuvempunagar. In 2007 Cafe Mallige had to be closed down. So the trio launched Kafe Biriyani Paradise in 2009 on Temple road, Jayalakshmipuram, near St Joseph’s School.

Even Srinivasan had little experience in hospitality. He would frequent MNC Night Canteen when his father was managing it. He would sit on the cash counter and observe the goings on in the kitchen. After college, till he left for the US in 1990 for work, he took over the canteen and managed it for just one year. But, the trio was determined to achieve success in their chosen field.

Kafe Biriyani Paradise is a general restaurant intended to cater to the needs of the general public — particularly, students, office-goers and families. The restaurant is open from 11.45 am to 4.30 pm and 7 to 10.30 pm. Vehicle owners need not worry as it is situated on a parking zone.

The dishes are reasonably priced and a family of five can have their lunch or dinner within a budget of Rs 400. Even vegetarians get a variety of dishes. A limited vegetarian meal cost Rs 40, which is very popular among the employees of the universities in Manasagangothri. There is also door delivery service.

Biriyani is the most sought after dish in the restaurant, even tandoor and Chinese food is popular among the food connoisseurs. David Mziray, a student of final MBA at BIMS, and Joyce Magoba, a final MBA student of St Philomena’s College, both from Tanzania said they visited the restaurant regularly. Asked about their favourite food there, their unanimous choice was Biriyani.

The trio already has Elements, which has a coffee shop and serves Italian and continental cuisine, attracting Gen-Y. But their dream is to build a resort.