In Mumbai’s thriving supper club scene, Chef Rajshri Gupta curates intimate dining experiences where coastal spices, heirloom recipes, and modern finesse converge — creating evenings of conversation, memory, and flavour.
In an era where our days blur into endless swipes, taps, and scrolls, something quietly magical is taking shape in Mumbai’s dining culture: the rise of supper clubs. These intimate, invitation-only gatherings are not just another food trend — they’re a soulful rebellion against transactional urban living. In place of noise, they offer quiet connection; instead of hurried dining, they serve up conversations that stretch late into the evening, layered over a meal curated with care.
One such evening unfolded at Chef Raji Gupta’s Supper Club (@the_supper_club_mumbai) in Lokhandwala, Andheri West — where the table became a stage for a rare duet between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The experience revealed itself like a perfectly tuned raga — opening softly, building with depth and complexity, and lingering with resonance long after the final course.
The Menu: Two States, One Table
The meal itself was composed like a multi-act performance, each course deepening the conversation between Karnataka and Maharashtra. We began with sharing plates that set the tone for the evening: Husulu Hummus, not the Mediterranean staple we all know, but a green moong rendition from Karnataka, brightened with a fiery Maharashtrian thecha; alongside it, a Bharleli Wangi Dip — a contemporary, deconstructed take on the rustic brinjal classic, where smoky aubergine and spiced masalas were artfully separated instead of stuffed, allowing each flavour to shine.
A nostalgic salad followed, inspired by the chef’s childhood memories: a playful Karnataka-style chaat of fresh vegetables tossed with farsan, masalas, and sev. For appetizers, Akki Roti, the beloved rice flatbread, appeared with a surprising partner — Mangalorean Jackfruit Sukka, a plant-based interpretation of the region’s famed chicken dish, textured and spiced to perfection.
The mains carried the comfort of the land: Patwadi Rassa, diamond-cut chickpea flour cakes simmered in a fiery Maharashtrian curry, once a celebratory staple of farming communities. And to close, a silken coconut milk dessert draped over seasonal fruits — light, smooth, and quietly indulgent, a sweet epilogue to an evening steeped in memory and craft.
The Storyteller Behind the Table
At the center of it all was Chef Rajshri Gupta herself — equal parts chef and raconteur. Chef Raji didn’t just send plates out from the kitchen — she introduced each course herself, weaving in stories of ingredients, origins, and personal memories that gave the evening a rare intimacy. Her journey — from training in Ireland, Thailand, and Mumbai, to shaping India’s food landscape as a consultant, editor, and now founder of Beyond Dining Co. — was present in every detail. What could have been a roomful of strangers quickly transformed into a convivial table of friends, bound together by flavour and story.
More Than a Meal
There was something liberating, too, about an evening where phones stayed tucked away, where conversation flowed as easily as the curries, and where food was savoured without hurry. In a city that often rushes you forward, this supper club asked you to pause. To listen. To taste. To connect.
And perhaps that is its true charm: a reminder that the most memorable meals are never just about what’s on the plate, but about the people and moments they create. One evening at the Mumbai Supper Club, and you leave not just well-fed, but changed — carrying with you new friends, lingering flavours, and the quiet joy of slowing down.
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A New Yorker at heart, an unapologetic anglophile, national parks explorer and former head of National Geographic publishing in India, Ritika is the Global Editor for Travel and Food Network and leads all journalism across platforms, including news, digital, videos, and social media. She writes features focused on narrative storytelling, industry trends, destinations, culinary travel, and how-to advice and is an advocate for sustainable travel. You can follow her on Instagram @newyorkeratheart
