A British Restaurant In Poona, 1900 Postcard
A 1900 photo postcard of a British Restaurant in Poona (now Pune). A rare glimpse of a European family-run restaurant during the colonial era in Poona. The people looking on, seem to be the owner, staff, and probably curious patrons. However, there is not much information on this particular restaurant.
Other than what is mentioned at the bottom “The British Restaurant Poona.” By the end of the 19th century, the influence of colonial rule spread out greatly in the vast Indian sub-continent. Travelling across the land became imperative for the Europeans. Who primarily served in the military, civil services, education, or business.
Thus the opening of restaurant establishments to cater to the European palate was inevitable. Because of their craving for English meals over spicy Indian food, this was fairly understandable. Although there were exceptions to adventuress Europeans not shying away from spicy food.
As a matter of fact, there were many European-run restaurants during the British era. Some of them were the Watson’s Hotel in Bombay, Grand and Great Eastern Hotels in Calcutta, Hotel D’Angelis in Madras, and so on. This beautiful quaint-looking restaurant building may have given way to a cold concrete structure in its place today.
Did you know- the British popularized the potato, carrot, and cauliflower in India.
From the collection- 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#10)., Domestic Life In British India, Photo 1890., Elephants Of The Rajah Of Travancore – Old Print 1858., Vintage Book 1939 – The Handbook of India.
