Restored and Revived
German Bakery is back with a makeover— a vibrant décor, a new logo, an extensive menu and an ambience that promises to put the café on the must- do- in- Pune list of the Lonely Planet guide, once again.
Three years after the bomb blasts killed 17 people and forced the café to shut down, the iconic restaurant is open in a brand new look. Unlike Mumbai’s Café Leopold, which still bears bullet holes from the 2008 terror attacks, this refurbished café has done away with all tell- tale signs of a violent past. The dull bottle green of its earlier avatar has received a coat of lively green paint and the floor, in shades of blue and pink, gives it a cheerful touch. White chairs matched with tables that have designs in blue and bright orange sun umbrellas add a dash of colour. The old font is replaced by a logo of an owl, inspired by none other than the popular Angry Birds game. “The owl looked attractive and when we dug into the deeper meaning, we found out the bird stands for resurrection, which is apt for us,” says chef Shailendra Kekade, who has worked on setting up the restaurant. The menu, as expected, has the celebrity chef’s expert touches. The largely sandwiches- coffee- burger fare has been revamped to include fish- andchips, lasagne, moussaka, chicken stroganoff, soups and salads. “I wanted an old world menu which you rarely get these days. Now, the emphasis at German Bakery is on food,” he says. It shows. The Spanish omelettes are well done and soft, the scrambled eggs are just right and there’s an extensive selection of German, Scottish and Oriental soups. The menu has around 150 items, including juices, soups, pastas, sandwiches and plated meals. Indian food is missing from the list but Kekade has added a dash of variety with his signature to- die- for kheema pav. With paintings by young city artist Purva Khatavkar hanging from the walls and a tastefully done up décor, the German Bakery is more welcoming and warm than before. Meal for two Rs 250 onwards At North Main Road, Koregaon Park