Where can a Hindi movie buff in Mumbai drop by for some yummy Persian food and also savour a bit of film history? At Cafe Mommyjoon, in Bandra.
Co-owned by Priya Dutt and chef Seema Sadequian, the cafe stands as a tribute to Priya’s parents, the legendary couple Nargis and Sunil Dutt, featuring a collection of books that once graced their personal library.
‘Mommyjoon’, which means mother’s love in Persian, offers the warmth and heritage of traditional Iranian fare. The menu is a treasure trove of lesser-known dishes, passed down through generations in chef Seema’s family, with a focus on ingredients like olive oil, yogurt and dried fruits.
Inside the cafe — designed with Persian ceramics, turquoise blue table tops and a large samovar at the tea bar — is a curated library where patrons can browse through books that belonged to Nargis and Sunil Dutt. This personal collection features titles such as Sam Shaw’s The Joy of Marilyn: In the Camera Eye and Yousuf Karsh’s Portraits of Greatness. Each book bears a distinct oval-shaped stamp that says, ‘Dutts, Nargis-Sunil Library, Bombay’.
Priya Dutt shared how both her parents were deeply passionate about books. “Some of the books in this collection are now out of print. If you want to enjoy a cup of tea while reading a book, come to Cafe Mommyjoon,” Priya said in a video posted on the cafe’s Instagram handle.
The collection on display reveals the Dutts’ wide-ranging interests, from art and photography to biographies and coffee-table editions. You’ll find books on Hindi cinema as well as titles on Edvard Munch and Muhammad Ali.
Nestled on the ground floor of Sunrise Building on Street no. 24 in Bandra, Cafe Mommyjoon is a portal to Nargis and Sunil Dutt’s shared lives over a plate of kabob koobideh and zereshk polow.
