Archive · 8 Nov 2025
From Canteen to Churchgate: How Samrat Became a Mumbai Thali Staple
A man named Gopichand Gupta came to Mumbai a long time ago and started a small canteen.
Later, he met another businessman named Kamat, and they decided to open a restaurant together called Samrat.
This happened in 1972 in a busy area called Churchgate.
They decided to serve special lunch plates called thalis, along with other Indian foods.
Many people who worked in offices nearby and families loved eating there because the food was delicious and the restaurant was comfortable.
Samrat became so popular that it's still a favorite spot for many people in Mumbai today.
Over the years, their children and grandchildren have also joined the business, opening new restaurants with different kinds of food, but Samrat remains a classic.
Gopichand Gupta started a canteen at Grand Central Station in Mumbai in the 1940s.
In 1972, Gopichand Gupta and Venkatesh Krishna Kamat, along with their families, opened the restaurant Samrat in Churchgate.
Samrat was established to cater to the office crowd and local residents, focusing on thalis alongside Punjabi and South Indian dishes.
The restaurant became an instant success and has maintained a strong customer base, selling 300-700 thalis daily.
The founding families have expanded their ventures over the decades, with the next generation launching new restaurants in 2001 and beyond.
- Who
- Gopichand Gupta, Venkatesh Krishna Kamat, and their families
- What
- Founded Samrat restaurant, which became a popular thali spot
- When
- Established in 1972, with the current generation joining in 2001
- Where
- Churchgate, Mumbai
- Why
- To cater to the office crowd and local residents with vegetarian thalis and other Indian cuisine.
- Founding Year
- 1972
- Founding Location
- Churchgate, Mumbai
- Initial Concept
- Thali restaurant catering to office crowd and local residents
- Founding Families
- Kamats, Shahs, Pais, and Guptas
- Current Offerings
- Vegetarian thalis, Punjabi, and South Indian fare
- Daily Thali Sales
- 300-700