OUR STORY

A fondness for South Indian cuisine and a healthy & sustainable lifestyle gave birth to the 'Podi Cafe'. Chirag & Lipy Bafna brought their long-awaited vision to life in 2023 with their first outlet. Named 'Podi' to symbolise the blend of South Indian spices, we offer a warm and inviting space with a touch of classic home-style food. To ensure a consistently nourishing and delightful experience!

MISSION

To create an experience where our food transports you to the vibrant streets of Kerala or the bustling markets of Chennai.

VISION

To provide a clean, authentic and healthy culinary experience that people cherish.

AMMA’S STORY

As a kid, Nila Amma often watched her mother prepare delicious meals with love & warmth. This led her to realise her true passion of opening her catering business. Started with catering to small groups of 25-30 people, it soon grew to colleges and hospitals, thanks to the positive feedback she received.

Over 25 years, her business grew to cater to events with up to 5000 guests. But in 2017, Amma decided to transition to consulting, specialising in South Indian cuisine. With her years of experience and knowledge, she aided Chirag and Lipy in opening a South Indian restaurant in Surat. This collaboration led to the launch of our very own Podi Cafe.

FOUNDER’S MESSAGE

Lipy founded Falafel Lovers, a Mediterranean café in Surat, in 2012, and Raw Earth, a sustainable, plastic-free e-commerce brand in 2020. She avoids single-use plastics and focuses on providing healthy food using only groundnut, sesame, and olive oils, with no refined oils or artificial additives. Chirag, a Marwadi born in South India, loves their cuisine and always dreamed of opening a restaurant. After leaving the family business, he co-founded Falafel Lovers in 2012 and a South Indian venture in 2017 followed by opening Podi Cafe in 2023, with the support of Nila Amma. Since then, we've gained expertise in the food and beverage industry, significantly contributing to our ventures' success. We strive to offer the best dining experience with a focus on health, sustainability, and authenticity.
Chirag Bafna & Lipy Bafna, Co-founders, Podi Cafe