How often can you say 'quiet' and 'good food' in one sentence while referring to a joint in bustling Bandra? WHAT's ON dropped in at The Cafe, a terrace hangout atop hotel Executive Enclave that few know about. Until now
How often can you say 'quiet' and 'good food' in one sentence while referring to a joint in bustling Bandra? WHAT's ON dropped in at The Cafe, a terrace hangout atop hotel Executive Enclave that few know about. Until now
When only a handful of tables remain occupied on a supposed busy weekend, all sorts of vinegary thoughts run through the head does the food su**, are they over-priced, are their rats in their kitchen? But, to our jaded, self-assured selves' surprise, and a big blow to our cynical worldview, all of the above turned out to be false (about the rats, we will never know). With The Cafe, it's just a case of low or zero public relations, and what's funnier is that the joint possibly cropped up at a time when PR was not even the "it" way.
This modest eatery rests on the rooftop of the infamous Executive Enclave hotel at Pali Naka, and only an experimental few know and frequent this joint during after-work hours, besides the hotel guests.
Ambience: Wrought-iron armchairs, broad enough to be comfortable for two 26-inch waisters, glass tables with standard white umbrellas, and a few bean bags lay strewn around. There are enough old school fans to keep you from realising you are going al fresco tonight, and mosquitoes are nowhere in sight. With only a little greenery lining the contours, you can look over at terraces and water tanks atop neighbouring buildings. If you are lucky, you could spot someone playing the guitar in their balcony, or a maid chit-chatting with her counterpart across a window. Strangely, none of this disrupts your experience. A good selection of chill house, and psytrance is what the waiter-cum-DJ dishes out. The life seven floors down fades as chilled beer gurgles down your gut.
The food: Keeping in mind the multi-cultural guest list the hotel sees, The Cafe whips up a good Continental spread with fancy dishes like French Ratatouille thrown in like it's staple. You will be dished out a room-service menu too, that is dominated by Mughlai cuisine. The Potato Orange (Rs 120) baby potatoes tossed in paprika sauce was exciting for the palate, while the chicken pieces in the Pan Fried Chicken Schitznel (Rs 220) coated with a cheese and black pepper sauce were so tender, they made the knife redundant. For main course, the Bacardi Chicken (Rs 250) and the Veg Stroganoff (Rs 180) was our final call. The staff was kind enough to bring us an extra helping of the sumptuous Bacardi and garlic sauce, just like that.
We also recommend the pastas. The portions are generous, so make sure you are starved if you head here. For drinkers, The Cafe offers all popular spirits and beer varieties, but no cocktails. The place gets our thumbs up for being the perfect place (that most suburbanites are always looking out for) to unwind over beers and starters, after a long day.u00a0 Meal for two costs Rs 500 (with a drink each) approximately.
At: Executive Enclave, 331 Dr Ambedkar Road, Pali Hill, Bandra (W).
Call: 66969000
The Cafe didn't know we were there. WHAT's ON reviews anonymously and pays for meals
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