Premium Seafood Dining hotspot ‘Ministry of Crab’ Marks 3 Years in Mumbai!

Mumbai, 16th May 2022: Premium seafood fine dining restaurant Ministry of Crab, opened its doors to seafood lovers in Mumbai three years ago. Ministry of Crab is the brainchild of Sri Lankan celebrity chef Dharshan Munidasa along with cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. It is the culinary homecoming of Sri Lanka’s iconic Mud Crab, and it celebrates its third anniversary in Mumbai this year. Ministry of Crab was launched in India by Gourmet Investments Pvt. Ltd. (GIPL) in 2019. Ministry of Crab sources crabs in India from Chennai. Gourmet investments Pvt. ltd have ensures that they get the best quality crabs for the dishes.

The unique Ministry of Crab experience includes dining at one of Mumbai’s iconic heritage properties, Zaveri House in Khar, serving the freshest and most delectable seafood curated by Chef Dharshan Munidasa. The culture of his dual Japanese and Sri Lankan lineage reflects in the dishes he has curated. He is known for his innovative and original signature dishes made with freshly sourced high-quality ingredients. The alcohol and beverage menu at Ministry of Crab perfectly complements the food menu.

“The last two years have been extremely challenging for the whole world, especially the hospitality industry and I am super excited to be back in bustling Mumbai to celebrate three-years of Ministry of Crab, Mumbai! The integrity and provenance of ingredients are vital to my food philosophy, and it is sometimes extremely challenging when dealing with live produce. I can’t be prouder of the team at Ministry of Crab, Mumbai for sourcing the highest quality ingredients for my dishes, to plate the best crab of India!”

Chef Dharshan Munidasa

The restaurant serves only wild caught crabs and has a no-freezer policy. The Ministry of Crab was ranked among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for the 8^th consecutive year and is considered among Mumbai’s topmost premium restaurants, often frequented by celebrities and the city’s top shots.

The restaurant is split across three levels, exudes a classic, sophisticated Sri Lankan charm, and offers an elaborate food and bar menu that perfectly blends local ingredients with exceptional culinary art. Crab is the ‘star of the show’ at Ministry of Crab. Sitting alongside is the signature Chilli Crab, Pepper Crab and Baked Crab. You will also find King Prawns from the coastal areas of India, fresh Clams and Oysters from the lagoons, and a curated range of delectable rice and a vegetarian menu which will delight our vegetarian patrons.

“As Ministry of Crab completes its third year in Mumbai, we continue to delight our patrons by providing the best experience of high-quality crustaceans in our country. At Ministry of Crab, we use the freshest local ingredients and adhere to a no-freezer policy. An ingredient focused restaurant that pays homage to local produce and celebrates the iconic Mud Crabs, and the majestic Freshwater Prawns. We invite all Mumbaikars to experience this gastronomic seafood affair. We would also like to encourage early starters to widen their culinary experience with the variety of flavours we offer and tantalise their palate with new flavours. The authenticity of the food, the vintage charm of the heritage property and the warm hospitality at Ministry of Crab will leave you coming back for more.”

Ajay Singhal, COO & Director, Gourmet Investments Pvt. Ltd.

Apart from Mumbai, Ministry of Crab that was first launched in Colombo in December 2011, has also established its presence internationally in Shanghai, Chengdu, Manila, Maldives and Bangkok.

About Ministry of Crab

The inception of Ministry of Crab was attributed to an episode of Chef Dharshan Munidasa’s TV show “Culinary Journeys with Dharshan”, featuring the Sri Lankan Mud Crab in one episode, which was filmed in Singapore. That’s from where the initial idea of creating a crab restaurant was born, as Dharshan wanted to celebrate the iconic Mud Crab in their home country. Feeling that a restaurant dedicated to this purpose, deserved a powerful, institution-like name, it was named “Ministry of Crab”. The next step was finding a “ministerial” space fit to house the restaurant. It was the historic Dutch Hospital built over 400 years ago, that became available as a result of a new refurbishment project of colonial buildings by the Urban Development Authority, after having been neglected for years due to the civil war. Following its transformation to a famed shopping precinct, The Dutch Hospital is now renowned as an iconic tourist attraction and is recognized as a heritage site. Everything came together in December 2011 as Ministry of Crab opened its doors for the first time.

Ministry of Crab found its home in India, in an iconic property at Zaveri House Khar with a magnificent triple ceiling height. Many Indians have loved the brand world over and were elated with its opening at the beautiful Zaveri House, Mumbai in 2019. Gourmet Investments India Private Limited, owns the master franchise rights for Ministry of Crab in India including master franchise rights for PizzaExpress for India, and Chili’s Grill & Bar in South & West India.

Ministry of Crab is honoured to be placed on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2015, ranking at 35, as of 2022.

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