A simple eatery that started selling pani puri, ragda pattice, bhel puri and sev puri at four aanas in the 1960s now earns a monthly turnover of nearly ₹4 crores, as calculated before the pandemic. A single mother, Minakshi Jhaveri started Swati Snacks in Mumbai in 1963 to earn for her two children, Asha and Anand. The Maharaja of the family used to cook the humble dishes of the eatery. Back then, the eatery had a speciality, the handmade sitaphal ice cream, which used to differentiate it from other eateries.
After Minakshi passed away in 1979, Asha took over the responsibility of the brand, and eventually, Anand also followed. Now, Swati Snacks has a total of four outlets and Anand’s son, Shaan, and Asha’s nephew Karan are carrying the legacy forward.
Consistency In Taste And Quality Retained Over Decades
The original outlet at Mumbai’s Tardeo has evolved over time, with modernised sitting arrangements and decked up interiors. New dishes have been included in the menu. However, the home-style taste and quality of the dishes have remained consistent throughout nearly six decades.
The other outlets of the eatery are at Nariman Point, Mumbai and in Ahmedabad, at Law Garden and Ambli road. Some of the most loved dishes at Swati Snacks now are chaat, panki chutney, fada ni khichdi, bajra paneer pizza, paneer lifafa, sev puri and more. The prices of the dishes vary between ₹100 and around ₹300.
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Legendary Painter M.F. Hussain Had Sev Puris In The Eatery Every Sunday; Mukesh Ambani Loves The Eatery Too
The taste of the specialities at Swati Snacks is etched in the hearts of many Mumbaikars. The restaurant has been loved by renowned personalities from different spheres like movies, cricket, music and painting. Speaking to The Better India, Asha said, “Known for his modest lifestyle and coloured kurtas, and the look replete with a smile, M.F. Hussain would come every Sunday evening to have sev puris. Meanwhile, Zakir Ji ( tabla maestro) devoured our dahi batata puris.” India’s billionaire Mukesh Ambani has also stated that he too loves the iconic Mumbai eatery.
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Today, the brand has its own website and social media pages. But much of its popularity spread through the word of mouth over around 58 years.