Bring your own breakfast, please

Instagram is the window to deceptive realities I have always believed so but havenrsquot had enough material to back this gem of wisdom Usually itrsquos the virtual lsquofiltershoppedrsquo lives of people that would give enough fodder for such thought but imagine a restaurantA few months ago this writer chanced upon a recommendation on her Insta timeline A new restaurant Build Your Own Breakfast BYOB Cafe in the heart of Pali Hill just a few hundred metres away from the chic comfort food eatery Smoke House Deli and hit bakery Suzettersquos Our first thoughts were that this had to be good if it had chosen to arrive in an already competitive market With a neon signboard lifting the dull interiors fancy artwork and artificial leaf panels adorning the white walls and post upon post showing off its delicious breakfast menu it looked like a place worth a visitPizza omeletteThe first time we visited BYOB was in the month of Ramzan at 10 ammdashbecause of course we wanted to enjoy a hearty breakfastmdashonly to be told that they open at 4 pm A DM enquiry later we learnt that theyrsquod go back to their regular hoursmdashGoogle says 7 am to midnightmdashonce Ramzan ended So we came back as promised a month later this time at half past 10 Guess what no forget it It was shut againTo be honest itrsquos a cutesy place from the outsidemdashberry blue walls with red plastic flowers hanging from above We knocked on the glass door and a lady staffer asked this writer to return at noon Determined to eat here anyway we returned after sipping watermdashlots of itmdashat a nearby eatery The chef and waiting staff allowed us in by half past noon Right here we knew that this was going to be a bad marriageBrun muskaItrsquos a tiny eatery tinier than it looks in the pictures Four tables not more Since this writer and her friend were the only visitors theyrsquod perhaps decided against lighting up the space for us Not even the BYOB signboard which in hindsight was the saving grace Not to complain but the loo which was just a few metres away was an absolute stink We got a whiff of it now and then enough to remind us that we shouldnrsquot be sitting here too longThis experience was enough for us to show restraint when choosing what to eat We played safe with a mushroom spinach omelette Rs 179 an Oreo cereal bowl Rs 169mdashthey offer premium cereal brands like Frosties Cheerios Froot Loops Reesersquos Puffsmdashand brun muska Rs 39 to start with Pity we were eating breakfast for lunchThe cereal and cold milk came separately with honey as an addon this canrsquot be reviewed because itrsquos readytoeat stuff The omelette much to our surprise was a highlight It felt homemade But the brown bread that came with it was stale We had to eat our eggs plain The brun maska well the bread was hard to chew on and possibly a day old We returned it after one bite When the next one came we were forced to eat it just so we didnrsquot disappoint the waiting staffBYOB is a cutesy place from the outside with berry blue walls and red plastic flowers hanging from aboveWe had to be back at work so we ordered a takeaway from their specialsmdasha pizza omelette Rs 149 made with onions bell peppers and olives topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella and their Lotus Biscoff shake Rs 179 The baked beans Rs 149 we asked for wasnrsquot on their menu that day They do offer breakfast platters with kheema eggs bread and beverage along with a continental selection fruit bowl oats porridge French toast and pancakes But we werenrsquot in the mood to push our luckThe takeaway was decent The shake was perfect for a hot summer afternoonmdasha tad sweet but not something that you wonrsquot enjoy We shared the slices of our pizza omelette with colleagues at work We did find it difficult to decide if this was a pizza or an omelette just like we are yet to wrap around our heads about why a breakfast place opens after noon This is a place that could afford to be good But itrsquos not even trying except on InstagramWhat BYOBAt Shop 107A Old 25 F Dr Ambedkar Road Opposite Zig Zag Road Pali Hill Bandra WestWhen 12 noon to midnightCall 98330 61935Rating PoorBYOB didnrsquot know we were there Sunday Midday reviews anonymously and pays for meals and drinks