Cafe Goodluck — Restaurant in Pune

With a proud "Since 1935" label adorning their entry doorway, Cafe Goodluck is one of the most adored quick bite spots in Pune city. The taste in their food is absolutely unparalleled, and the prices are all super easy on the pocket. Perfect place for your post-lockdown cup of chai, and bun maska. Cafe Goodluck is a charming cafe located in Deccan Gymkhana, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu features an array of delicious dishes, including both traditional and contemporary options. From artisanal coffee to fresh-baked pastries and hearty breakfasts, there's something to suit every taste. The cafe is decorated with a modern and chic design, making it the perfect spot for a relaxed brunch, business meeting, or catch-up with friends. With its friendly staff, laid-back vibe, and comfortable seating, Cafe Goodluck is a great place to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal. In 1932, Narayan Seth bought a small place in the Deccan Gymkhana area that was taken over by Hussain Ali Yakshi, who set up a food joint here in 1935. One of the most popular Irani joints in Pune today, Cafe Goodluck is a culinary gem.

Although Cafe Goodluck started in 1935, documents found by the current owner, Kaseem Yakshi, suggest that it may date back to 1924. The owner’s family moved here due to a famine in Iran. Hussain Ali, the founder, travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan, got trained, and even worked in Delhi for a while. When he found out that Mumbai was a hub for Iranians, he moved to the city and worked there for five months. However, due to breathing problems, he was advised to move to a drier place. That’s how he reached Pune. After coming to Pune, he married an Iranian and soon after began Cafe Goodluck.

Cafe Goodluck is intergenerational. It passed from Hussain Ali to his son and then to Kaseem Yakshi, who still recounts memories of his childhood and how the cafe became an integral part of his life. He started working at the cafe at the age of 14, cleaning the toilets during his summer vacations. By the time he lost his father when he was in the 10th grade, he was well-versed with the fundamentals of the kitchen and the business. Now 47 years old, he has worked at the cafe for 33 years of his life. His suppliers have been with him for 25 years. However, to date, Yakshi ensures that he purchases all the spices on his own.

When it first began, Cafe Goodluck served only tea, bun maska (buttered bun), and some snacks. Later, eggs, chicken, and mutton were introduced to the menu. In a locality dominated by vegetarians, Cafe Goodluck established a platform for non-vegetarian dishes. In fact, many old visitors still tell the owner that they started eating non-vegetarian food here. In his time, Yakshi also introduced South Indian dishes to cater to a larger crowd and please a variety of taste buds. He also introduced many snacks and expanded the range of vegetarian food. The bun maska and chai are a favourite combination among regulars. Dunking the spongy, buttery bun into the kadak Irani chai is a familiar pleasure for the patrons of Cafe Goodluck. The bun, even though super soft, becomes dry after some time, and the milky chai helps wash it down. The bun-omelette is also quite popular. Masala (with vegetables and spices), cheese, or plain omelettes with a soft bun make for a filling breakfast. Their biryani, with fragrant rice and succulent meat, is another favourite, along with their preparation of mutton kheema.

Goodluck also has a dish called chicken chilli, a spicy curry, which Yakshi says is different from the Indo-Chinese version. He adds that the dish is available only at two places in the city—Blue Nile and Cafe Goodluck, both Iranian restaurants. He often has to explain the dish to his customers, since they do not serve any Chinese items at the cafe. Earlier, Goodluck was mainly a breakfast joint, but now with the expansion of its menu, it has become a favourite for lunch and dinner too. It is open from 7 am to 11:30 pm, and the average cost for two people comes to...

Cafe Goodluck at Deccan, Pune is one of the oldest restaurants offering a great range of popular Irani dishes. Ideally located in one of the busiest commercial areas, Cafe Goodluck attracts shoppers, office goers, students and regulars every day of the year. Even though the vibe is simple, utlilatarian and offers no- frills, diners still love eating in the busy dining hall, not minding the absence of an air conditioned environment.

The place is always busy with avid food lovers frequenting the Cafe for a quick bite of their favourite bun-maska dunked in sweet Irani Chai. The serving staff are quite senior and know the menu like the back of their hand. They serve swiftly and efficiently. Our server recommended we try the Tangdi Kabab, Chicken Bhuna, Tandoori Chicken and the Tawa Mutton. However we were there specifically for our all-time favourites and we promptly ordered Mutton Kheema with Chappatis, Chicken Kheema and the Mutton Biryani. Each dish was made to perfection. Both Kheema dishes were cooked to perfection and the flavours hit their mark beautifully. The wheat chappatis were soft yet crisp and enhanced the taste of the Kheemas, giving it the right carb combination. We ordered some fresh curds on the side to balance the meat. The Mutton Biryani was lovely and came with a bowl of spicy gravy on the side. The special basmati rice used was the long grain variety which was delicious. A sumptuous, leisurely lunch which didn't offer any scope to dig into a dessert as our senses were completely satiated with the rich food. We made a mental note to swing by for high tea next time and try the bun-maska. Cafe Goodluck will certainly not disappoint a traditional meat lover. The vegetarian fare on the neighbouring tables looked appealing but won't bother to check it out here as this is our go-to restaurant for non...

One Liner : Over hype, over priced, avg food cafe.

People go here with lot of expectations, and I went too as its one of the oldest cafe in Pune. But to my surprise, I found it just average cafe with normal food which you can get better at roadside eateries.

I had Tea, Bun maska, Mutton Kheema and Panneer Pasanda with rumali and tandoori roti. But not a single dish including their Bun maska which is most hyped here could satisfy my taste buds.

The mutton kheema was bit stale in taste and Paneer tasted average. I have been many restaurants in Pune as well but they are even not hyped but still have good food quality than this cafe.

The cashier was bit arrogant. When I was having tea with bun maska after my dinner, he was shouting at our table attendant that what exactly is going at our table. He was like, we are done with food and we should we standing outside if we want to have tea. That too when there was no waiting and few tables were empty. Later when I tried to pay with card, he simply refused to accept card and even Gpay/PhonePe. His excuse was that he don't have Gpay/PhonePe and card machine isn't working. When I confronted and asked me to show machine using my card, which was all working fine. Huge disappointment to him as his lie was caught and started shouting on other attendants.

The most of the reviews here are either in flow of motion to be at this cafe or they liked the way it is. But for me, after have been to many historical cafes I found it the most hyped with not worth food.

My review here is personal and as per my experience. I am not writing to please anyone and my views may contradict with many. So please take it only if you...