Often friends meet and talk about starting something of their own. One such dream was seen by Rahul Malik, then the manager of Talk Of The Town (now Pizza By The Bay) and Jasmine Singh, a regular at the restaurant. They wanted to open a restaurant. As luck would have it, they stumbled upon an advertisement stating that the committee at Mahalaxmi Race Course is inviting bids to set up a restaurant at its premise. They went ahead and submitted their proposal.
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“But, they were nobody and they obviously didn’t get it. However, sometime later, my dad got a call from the committee asking him to demonstrate what they can offer to people visiting the Race Course. They did and soon they got the contract and that’s how Gallops was born,” tells Yajush, Malik’s son, who joined the restaurant in 2013 along with Singh’s son Mikhail.
“It was September 1, 1986 and within 10 days, we turned that leaking shack that was here into a restaurant that would offer Indian and Continental food. It was crazy but we were passionate and we worked day and night to live our dream. Rahul would take care of the floor, ensuring that everybody is taken care of, I would play the role of the cashier and my husband Ismail would come directly from his office to help us out,” recalls Singh who was then 25-year-old. “Gallops is my first baby,” she adds.
In those days, the restaurant would open in the evening hours and soon it became the place which would be visited by everybody who is anybody, thanks to its location, cuisine and the overall warmth that it offers. One of its regular was painter MF Hussain. Other patrons include Shobha Dey, Randeep Hooda, Sushmita Sen Rahul DeCunha, Lisa Gaydon, Payal Singhal among others.
“It is now that it is a matter of attention. In those days, we were never surprised by who is entering from the door. We would have Vijay Mallya and Feroz Khan occupying one table with their gang while others would continue to enjoy their meal at their respective tables,” informs Singh who takes pride in creating a space where not only is their staff working for them for decades but also a clientele that never gets tired of them.
As the restaurant completes thirty-three years, Gallops has decided to take its patrons down the memory lane by revisiting their menu from 1986. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that it will be available at the same old prices, which means Chicken Salad will be available for Rs 25, Biryani Hyderabadi for Rs 38, Tarkeywalli Harhar Ki Dal for Rs 26 and their most ordered dish Vegetable Jalfrezi for Rs 30. Their signature desserts - Caramel Custard, Fruit Jelly, and Chocolate Souffle, will be available for Rs 18.
Please note, the menu will be available for the entire day, 12 pm to 12 am, on September 16 (Monday).