MUMBAI: K Narayanaswami alias Chandran, the owner of the iconic South Indian restaurant Mani's Lunch Home, passed away late Tuesday. He was 67.
Swami was admitted to Somaiya Hospital a week ago and died after suffering a heart attack. He had tested negative for Covid-19. His funeral will takes place Wednesday morning at Sion cemetery.
Named after Narayanaswami's father, Mani's Lunch Home was originally located in Matunga for 14 years before relocating to Chembur in 2016 after that building went in for redevelopment. His friend of 30 years KA Viswanathan said, "Narayanaswami was a very softspoken and lovable person. He made Mani's a name to reckon with in South Indian cuisine in a short span of time. It was perhaps the only restaurant in Matunga and then Chembur serving Pallakad-style homely vegetarian fare -- and in plantain leaves."
"Swami was also responsible for continuing the tradition of Onam Sadhya and the distribution of Diwali sweets for which he used to get pure ghee from Coimbatore. The beauty of his hotel is that it serves unlimited sambar and chutney at no extra cost. Narayanaswami did not increase the price of the items even though he had to pay a heavy sum as rent at Chembur."
Old patrons did trek to Chembur, although it was out of the way, for the "good old thali and sheera", with a side of their ever-so-famous filter coffee. Many film personalities used to visit Chembur.
The hotelier is survived by his wife, son and married daughter. His brothers including Rajamani will continue to operate Mani's Lunch Home.