The topping on your fast food hangout list in Pune

Can you imagine how a place, which originally housed a British-run English dairy farm with cattle around can turn into a most-preferred quick-bite destination among Puneites?

Housed in a 125-year-old heritage building at a prime location on MG Road, Marz-O-Rin continues to serve good food with fast service at the most affordable prices for the past 46 years.

It was in 1965, when Sheriar J Sheriyarji started with eight tables and four items on the menu. “We started with cold coffee, mango juice and chutney and chicken sandwiches. In those days, people would hardly eat out but they always came for quick takeaways. Our motto was to serve healthy fat-free food,” says Vijay, who got married to Sheriar in 1971 and joined the family business.  

In 1982, they started their own in-house bakery, which made it convenient for the family to serve freshly baked bread everyday. Fortified with soya flour, non-fat milk solids and multi-fibre blends that include nutritious soluble and insoluble fibre adorned the shelves of the food joint.

With the addition of the new bakery, came in the wide range of cakes and pastries that are quite popular among the youngsters even today.   

The USP of this place has been to serve food at reasonable price in spite of the rising inflation. “In 1965, one chutney sandwich would cost you 80 paise, which today has gone up to Rs25 only. Our margins are small as my husband always willingly took the loss. He believed in maintaining a certain degree of profitability,” adds Vijay.  

In 1991, came a major setback when the joint caught fire due to a short circuit but it didn’t affect its popularity as the place was reopened within two days. “I remember we kept scrubbing the floor for 24 hours and reopened the seating area on the second day itself. My mother literally brought this place from the ashes,” says Jamshed, her younger son, who is actively involved in the business.

Vijay’s elder son Noshirwan, shifted to the US in 2000, while her daughter Delbar got married and is now settled in the city. In 2002, they took the full possession of the place and extended their seating area. When asked if the fancy fast food joints, which have come up in the city affect their profits, Vijay says,  “We do feel a bit anxious at times but frankly speaking we have seen many businesses come and go. Today, people don’t read the market well. They want to invest heavily and believe in expanding their business within a couple of days. We always believed in expanding our business gradually. Our policy has been slow and steady wins the race.”

Recently, the joint has added cheese cakes and puffs to their menu. “Our old customers come with their grandchildren, but the significant part is we have been able to retain the taste of our
products over these years,” affirms Vijay.