Founders and history

Our Founder & Pioneer of Udupi Eateris/Restaurants in India
Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat, born on 21st May, 1919 in Bengre village near Murudeshwar, Karnataka; was the son of an agriculturist.
He moved to Hubli at a tender age of Six and studied up to 3rd standard in Kannada medium school with the support of his elder brother Sri Subbrai Kamat. To support his large family in dire financial condition, he joined his elder brother for work at a small eatery called as Brahman Coffee Club in Hubli Town. This was his first Foray into Food/Restaurant Industry, he learnt the nitty gritty of the trade by working in all departments like F&B production, F & B service, Purchasing, Accounting, Customer Relation Management and other practical aspects of this industry.
With his astute sense, courage and intelligence at a very tender age of 19, he established his first Restaurant called as ‘Vasant Bhavan’ in the year 1938. A decade of learning in managing his own Restaurant and his exposure of travel to cities like Mumbai and Bangalore, he developed a vision to establish his first branded Restaurant – Kamat Restaurant at Broadway , Hubli in the year 1948 with an investment of Rs.8,000/- , to differentiate from competition, his USP was to offer high quality and variety food items in trendy and comfortable furniture, stainless steel and bone china crockery, stainless steel kitchen equipments, staff in clean uniforms and warm service to the customers thus an Empire of a popular Restaurant chain ‘KAMAT’ was born.
Over the years he added variety of foods from different parts of India and was also the first to introduce Ice-creams to common man in Hubli in 1956.
Knowing the pain of poverty and unemployment, he set on a mission to expand his chain of Restaurants which is a Labour Intensive Industry, to create employment for the poor and uneducated in the society, he faced many challenges in his endeavours, since financial assistance from Banks and other institutions were not available to this industry, he developed an asset light model for his expansions by opening branches on leased properties which continues till date.
He understood the importance of branding and uniformity in standards, hence he expanded his chain of Restaurants with uniformity in ambience, efficient service, hygienically prepared quality and variety food at value for money pricing.
His organisation followed efficient Labour Welfare Measures and Policies which was instrumental in developing and successfully establishing the largest chain of Restaurant across 4 states in South India namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa.
Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat emerged as a legend in the Restaurant industry in India. He was a man with strong instincts, indomitable will, futuristic vision, shrewd business acumen and a burning passion for Restaurant industry.
He was best known among his peers for his kindness, compassion and generosity with unassuming nature and simplicity in living. He guided his juniors and the next generation in the industry to think big, think differently, think fast and think ahead, He often quoted that “hygiene was aim, guest satisfaction was fame, discipline was game”.

 

he lead a fulfilling life and was able to give a lot more to society than what he got from it through his services. He left for heavenly abode on 11.07.1993 leaving behind a lasting legacy.
Under the leadership of Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat the following branches were set up.
In Karnataka State:-
Sl No. Year Name & Place
01. 1957 Bombay Restaurant, Station Road Hubli
02. 1958 Kamat Restaurant, Gadag
03. 1960 Kamat Hotel, Broadway Hubli
04. 1963 Kamat Hotel Davanagere
05. 1963 Kamat Canteen, R M C Market Tiptur
06. 1963 K S R T C Canteen Hubli
07. 1964 Kamat Restaurant Davanagere
08. 1964 K S R T C Canteen Haveri
09. 1964 K S R T C Canteen Gadag
10. 1965 Kamat Hotel, S C Road, Shshadripuram Bangalore
11. 1965 Kamat Hotel, P B Road Haveri
12. 1966 Kamat Cafe, Chickpet Bangalore
13. 1966 Kamat Canteen, West Coast Paper Mill Dhandeli
14. 1967 Kamat Lunch and Lodge, Lalbagh West Gate Bangalore
15. 1968 Kamat Hotel, Bunder Road,Honnavar Honnavara
16. 1968 Kamat Canteen, Nataraj Theater Complex. Bellary
17. 1969 Kamat Hotel, Tank Bund Road Bangalore
18. 1970 Kamat Café, Sangam Theater Building Bangalore
19. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Near D C Office Bellary
20. 1971 Kamat Hotel, City Market Bangalore
21. 1971 Kamat Canteen,Birla Poly Fiber Harihara
22. 1973 Kamat Canteen, KSRTC Bus Stand Dharwad
23. 1974 Kamat Hotel, Gupta Market, KG Road Bangalore
24. 1974 Kamat Hotel, Traffic Island. Hubli
25. 1974 Kamat Hotel, B H Road Tiptur
26. 1974 Kamat Canteen, Ambika Nagar Dhandeli
27. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Near Annamma Temple Bangalore
28. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Opp Kapali Theater, S C Road Bangalore
29. 1975 Kamat L H Canteen, Vidhana Soudha Bangalore
30. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Supermarket Gulbarga
31. 1976 Kamat Hotel, Gandhinagar Bangalore
32 1976 Kamat Hotel, O P H Road, Shivajinagar Bangalore
33. 1979 Kamat Cafee, Timmapuri Circle Gulbarga
34. 1979 Kamat Hotel, N C M Hubli
35. 1979 Kamat Hotel Subash Road Dharwad
36. 1986 Kamat Restaurant, Station Road, Gulbarga
37. 1986 Kamat Hotel, N H 17, Kumta

In Andhra Pradesh :-

01 1969 Kamat Hotel, Koti Sultan Bazar Hyderabad
02. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Saifabad Hyderabad
03. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Sarojani Devi Road Secunderabad
04. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Abids, Hyderabad
05. 1973 Kamat Hotel, Station Road, Namapally Hyderabad
06. 1983 Kamat Hotel, Ramalaya Complex, S D Road Secunderabad
07. 1987 Kamat Hotel, Alladdin Complex, S D Road Secunderabad
08. 1993 Kamat Lingapur Hotel, – 3 Star Hotel Secunderabad
In Goa :-

01. 1967 Kamat Millan Hotel, Margao
02. 1979 Kamat Hotel, Church Squre Panaji
03. 1982 Kamat Canteen, Kadambha Bus Terminal Panaji
04. 1983 Kamat Café, Karphe Building Margao

In Maharashtra :-
01 1972 Kamat’s Liberty Restaurant Bombay
02. 1975 Kamat’s Indra Bhavan, Princes Street Bombay
03. 1983 Kamat Hotel, Employement Chowk Sholapur
04. 1984 Kamat Café, H S M Chowk Sholapur
05. 1985 Kamat’s Hotel, Vasanth Bhavan, Lamington Road Bombay
06. 1992 Kamat Hotel, Opp G T Hospital, Bombay
In Tamilnadu :-
01. 1969 Kamat Restaurant Car Street, Selam

Sri Sheshagiri Pandurang Kamat, born on 21st November, 1926 in Bengre village near Murudeshwar, Karnataka; was the son of an agriculturist.

He came to Hubli on 21st September, 1944 and started trading in firewood to support himself. In the year 1947, he followed the footsteps of his elder brother and Restaurant Entrepreneur Sri R.P.Kamat and joined him in business, he took over the management of Indian Railway Institute Canteen at Goodshed area in Hubli. Under the tutelage and guidance of his elder brother he learned the tricks of trade of Hotel Industry.

In the year 1956 he started his 2nd Eatery in a Scrap Railway Bogie in Gadag Road, Hubli. His patrons fondly called it ‘Dabba Canteen’ due to its unique set up and shape. At a later stage modern building was set up in the existing space and the canteen was renamed as ‘Kamat Cafe’ but still it continued to be called as ‘Dabba Canteen’ by the regular customers.

Sri Sheshagiri Pandurang Kamat was mentored and guided by his elder brother Sri R.P.Kamat to expand his Restaurant business and practice high principles and policies beneficial to every one connected to it thus he established a chain of Restaurants and Hotels across Karnataka and Maharastra. He was best known for his time management, discipline and workaholic nature, he lead a simple and principled life reflective in his business and was well respected among his peers in the industry. He expired on 9th April, 2002.

Under the leadership of Sri Sheshagiri Pandurang Kamat the following branches were set up.

♦ 1962 : Alankar Hotel, Dajibanapet, Hubli

♦ 1963: K.S.R.T.C Canteen, Nippani

♦ 1967: Kamat Restaurant, Bangalore

♦ 1970: (10.10.1970) Kamat Restaurant, J C Road, Bangalore

♦ 1971 : Kamat Lodge & Restaurant, Minerva Circle, Bangalore

♦ 1972 March 23rd : Kamat Restaurant, Unity Building, Bangalore

♦ 1975 May : Kamat Refreshments, N.T.Road, Opp. Reserve Bank, Bangalore

♦ 1975 December : Kamat Restaurant, N.R.Road, Near Town Hall, Bangalore

Our Founder & Pioneer of Udupi Eateris/Restaurants in India
Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat, born on 21st May, 1919 in Bengre village near Murudeshwar, Karnataka; was the son of an agriculturist.
He moved to Hubli at a tender age of Six and studied up to 3rd standard in Kannada medium school with the support of his elder brother Sri Subbrai Kamat. To support his large family in dire financial condition, he joined his elder brother for work at a small eatery called as Brahman Coffee Club in Hubli Town. This was his first Foray into Food/Restaurant Industry, he learnt the nitty gritty of the trade by working in all departments like F&B production, F & B service, Purchasing, Accounting, Customer Relation Management and other practical aspects of this industry.
With his astute sense, courage and intelligence at a very tender age of 19, he established his first Restaurant called as ‘Vasant Bhavan’ in the year 1938. A decade of learning in managing his own Restaurant and his exposure of travel to cities like Mumbai and Bangalore, he developed a vision to establish his first branded Restaurant – Kamat Restaurant at Broadway , Hubli in the year 1948 with an investment of Rs.8,000/- , to differentiate from competition, his USP was to offer high quality and variety food items in trendy and comfortable furniture, stainless steel and bone china crockery, stainless steel kitchen equipments, staff in clean uniforms and warm service to the customers thus an Empire of a popular Restaurant chain ‘KAMAT’ was born.
Over the years he added variety of foods from different parts of India and was also the first to introduce Ice-creams to common man in Hubli in 1956.
Knowing the pain of poverty and unemployment, he set on a mission to expand his chain of Restaurants which is a Labour Intensive Industry, to create employment for the poor and uneducated in the society, he faced many challenges in his endeavours, since financial assistance from Banks and other institutions were not available to this industry, he developed an asset light model for his expansions by opening branches on leased properties which continues till date.
He understood the importance of branding and uniformity in standards, hence he expanded his chain of Restaurants with uniformity in ambience, efficient service, hygienically prepared quality and variety food at value for money pricing.
His organisation followed efficient Labour Welfare Measures and Policies which was instrumental in developing and successfully establishing the largest chain of Restaurant across 4 states in South India namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa.
Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat emerged as a legend in the Restaurant industry in India. He was a man with strong instincts, indomitable will, futuristic vision, shrewd business acumen and a burning passion for Restaurant industry.
He was best known among his peers for his kindness, compassion and generosity with unassuming nature and simplicity in living. He guided his juniors and the next generation in the industry to think big, think differently, think fast and think ahead, He often quoted that “hygiene was aim, guest satisfaction was fame, discipline was game”.

 

he lead a fulfilling life and was able to give a lot more to society than what he got from it through his services. He left for heavenly abode on 11.07.1993 leaving behind a lasting legacy.
Under the leadership of Sri Rangappa Pandurang Kamat the following branches were set up.
In Karnataka State:-
Sl No. Year Name & Place
01. 1957 Bombay Restaurant, Station Road Hubli
02. 1958 Kamat Restaurant, Gadag
03. 1960 Kamat Hotel, Broadway Hubli
04. 1963 Kamat Hotel Davanagere
05. 1963 Kamat Canteen, R M C Market Tiptur
06. 1963 K S R T C Canteen Hubli
07. 1964 Kamat Restaurant Davanagere
08. 1964 K S R T C Canteen Haveri
09. 1964 K S R T C Canteen Gadag
10. 1965 Kamat Hotel, S C Road, Shshadripuram Bangalore
11. 1965 Kamat Hotel, P B Road Haveri
12. 1966 Kamat Cafe, Chickpet Bangalore
13. 1966 Kamat Canteen, West Coast Paper Mill Dhandeli
14. 1967 Kamat Lunch and Lodge, Lalbagh West Gate Bangalore
15. 1968 Kamat Hotel, Bunder Road,Honnavar Honnavara
16. 1968 Kamat Canteen, Nataraj Theater Complex. Bellary
17. 1969 Kamat Hotel, Tank Bund Road Bangalore
18. 1970 Kamat Café, Sangam Theater Building Bangalore
19. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Near D C Office Bellary
20. 1971 Kamat Hotel, City Market Bangalore
21. 1971 Kamat Canteen,Birla Poly Fiber Harihara
22. 1973 Kamat Canteen, KSRTC Bus Stand Dharwad
23. 1974 Kamat Hotel, Gupta Market, KG Road Bangalore
24. 1974 Kamat Hotel, Traffic Island. Hubli
25. 1974 Kamat Hotel, B H Road Tiptur
26. 1974 Kamat Canteen, Ambika Nagar Dhandeli
27. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Near Annamma Temple Bangalore
28. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Opp Kapali Theater, S C Road Bangalore
29. 1975 Kamat L H Canteen, Vidhana Soudha Bangalore
30. 1975 Kamat Hotel, Supermarket Gulbarga
31. 1976 Kamat Hotel, Gandhinagar Bangalore
32 1976 Kamat Hotel, O P H Road, Shivajinagar Bangalore
33. 1979 Kamat Cafee, Timmapuri Circle Gulbarga
34. 1979 Kamat Hotel, N C M Hubli
35. 1979 Kamat Hotel Subash Road Dharwad
36. 1986 Kamat Restaurant, Station Road, Gulbarga
37. 1986 Kamat Hotel, N H 17, Kumta

In Andhra Pradesh :-

01 1969 Kamat Hotel, Koti Sultan Bazar Hyderabad
02. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Saifabad Hyderabad
03. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Sarojani Devi Road Secunderabad
04. 1970 Kamat Hotel, Abids, Hyderabad
05. 1973 Kamat Hotel, Station Road, Namapally Hyderabad
06. 1983 Kamat Hotel, Ramalaya Complex, S D Road Secunderabad
07. 1987 Kamat Hotel, Alladdin Complex, S D Road Secunderabad
08. 1993 Kamat Lingapur Hotel, – 3 Star Hotel Secunderabad
In Goa :-

01. 1967 Kamat Millan Hotel, Margao
02. 1979 Kamat Hotel, Church Squre Panaji
03. 1982 Kamat Canteen, Kadambha Bus Terminal Panaji
04. 1983 Kamat Café, Karphe Building Margao

In Maharashtra :-
01 1972 Kamat’s Liberty Restaurant Bombay
02. 1975 Kamat’s Indra Bhavan, Princes Street Bombay
03. 1983 Kamat Hotel, Employement Chowk Sholapur
04. 1984 Kamat Café, H S M Chowk Sholapur
05. 1985 Kamat’s Hotel, Vasanth Bhavan, Lamington Road Bombay
06. 1992 Kamat Hotel, Opp G T Hospital, Bombay
In Tamilnadu :-
01. 1969 Kamat Restaurant Car Street, Selam