Mumbai Cafe

With its contemporary style and beautiful lighting, this friendly Lusaka restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere catering for all kinds of clients including businessmen. Mumbai Café is popular place to eat in Lusaka because it is conveniently located on Great East Road near the heart of the city and just a few minutes' drive from the major Shopping Malls (Manda Hill and Arcades) and the University of Zambia.

Mumbai Café offers a range of services including fresh business lunches delivered to your door (within Lusaka), a takeaway service and outside catering. Lunches, breakfast meetings and most other corporate events can be catered for. The restaurant has a seating capacity of 60 guests. An additional 8 guests can be accommodated on the outside veranda. It has a well lit bar with a comprehensive wine and beverage menu that includes both local and international drinks.

A note from Mumbai Café about Indian cuisine

Many people believe that Indian Cuisine is as old as mankind itself. It is thought that by around 7000 BC, sesame, eggplant and humped cattle had been domesticated in the Indus Valley. The Ayurvedic tradition of cooking, which is a complete holistic approach, introduces the idea that everything we eat affects both our body and mind; therefore food should be pure and balanced.

A balanced diet in the Ayurvedic tradition does not revolve around fats, carbohydrates, proteins, calories, vitamins and minerals. Instead Ayurvedic nutrition takes into account body tissues, water levels, salt levels, electrolytes in the body, gunas (properties of food), dosha (properties of individual tastes), qualities present in the food and food sadhana (assimilation by our body). The idea is to balance the six tastes – sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. By 3000 BC turmeric, cardamom, black pepper and mustard were being harvested in India to add to the range of flavours available to the Indian chef.

Influences from Central Asia, Arabia, the Mughal Empire and Persia had a deep and fundamental effect on Indian cooking. Arab and Portuguese ideas also spread and diversified sub continental taste and meals. Islamic Rule introduced rich gravies, pilaffs and non-vegetarian fare resulting in Mughal cuisine, with fruits such as apricots, melons, peaches and plums.

Mughal cuisine also includes the addition of several seasonings, like saffron, and the sealed pot method of cooking (Dum). The Nizams of Hyderabad developed and perfected their own style of cooking, the most notable dish being the Biryani – even today considered a connoisseur's delight. While British Rule in India, and the love affair of the English with Indian food, resulted in the emergence of Anglo-Indian cuisine.

And so Indian cooking has evolved significantly over time. It has lost its original identity, becoming richer with the assimilation of the myriad influences from other cultures. This is very apparent in the variety of unique regional cuisines which have inspired the Mumbai Café menu and dishes.Restaurant information

• Open every day
• 10-00 to 15-00
• 17-00 to 22-00
• Vegetarian options available
• Offering a take away service
• Outside catering available
• Delivering fresh business lunches within Lusaka