When people talk about biryani in Pune, likes of Hyderabadi or Lucknowi usually dominate. But hidden inside Camp is a biryani that’s unlike anything else we’ve tasted in this series.
Welcome to Dorabjee & Sons, one of India’s oldest restaurants and a true icon of Parsi cuisine. Established in 1878, this legendary eatery has witnessed generations of Punekars. Remarkably, many of its traditional recipes remain unchanged even today.
Their Parsi Style Mutton Biryani isn’t inspired by restaurant trends. It’s the very same style of biryani served at traditional Parsi weddings, where biryani holds a place of honour.
The cooking itself is refreshingly old-school. Just like many decades ago, the food here is prepared in large batches over coal fire and cooked slowly. That gentle, slow cooking gives the biryani a depth of flavour that simply can’t be rushed.
Unlike most biryanis, this one is a Kachhe Gosht Ki Dum Biryani, where the raw marinated mutton and rice cook together. And because no Parsi meal feels complete without potatoes, you’ll also find a beautifully cooked potato tucked into every serving. It soaks up all the juices from the meat and is every bit as tasty as the mutton itself.
The rice is fragrant, fluffy and beautifully cooked with excellent grain separation. Every morsel has that aroma of whole spices without feeling overpowered. Our only complaint? It’s a little oilier than we’d have liked.
Rice Verdict: 9/10
Where this biryani truly steals the show is the mutton. The masala is incredibly restrained, allowing the quality of the meat to shine through. Every piece is unbelievably tender, and you can immediately tell that premium cuts have been used. Instead of hiding the meat behind heavy spices, the biryani celebrates it.
Meat & Masala Verdict: 10/10
And then comes the biggest surprise of all.
For the first time in our Ek Plate Biryani journey, we actually had the opposite problem. Usually, the rice outlasts the meat. Here, the rice finished first while several juicy pieces of mutton were still left on the plate.
That’s almost unheard of.
Meat to Rice Ratio: 11/10
If you’re expecting a spicy, masala-loaded biryani, this isn’t it. But if you want to experience how a traditional Parsi wedding biryani is meant to taste—slow-cooked, elegant and focused on the quality of the meat—Dorabjee & Sons offers an experience that’s as much about history as it is about flavour. Sometimes, the oldest recipes really do stand the test of time.
Contact: 02026145955
