Of solitude and good food...
Cafes aren’t our thing. For us, they mean noisy places with limited food choices (and staff that doesn’t bother with attending to its customers — in most places at least). But, a visit to Bombay Coffee House, tucked in a quiet corner of Ballard Estate, changed our perception about cafes. Not only does the place serve an eclectic mix of various cuisines (Parsi, Chinese, Continental, Italian, etc) but is also a perfect place to spend a few hours in solitude.
We jump right to our foodie journey with Vietnamese Iced Coffee which is served with icy black coffee and condensed milk that you can add as per your taste and Brownie Milkshake, a thick, tasty concoction with chocolate and brownie pieces in it. Continuing our exploration of their menu, we settle for BCH Special Burger, Grilled Chicken Steak (this served with creamy spinach and mushroom sauce served with either herbed rice or garlic bread — we opted for the latter), Chicken Sapo Rice, and Salli Murgh with pav from their Parsi menu. We were a little disappointed with the burger — the patty was a tad dry. Though the Salli Murg gravy was tasty, the chicken had been boiled and added in, not sauteed and cooked with the gravy, leading to a rather bland taste. Sapo Rice takes the prize for being a winner on the list — well-cooked rice, with small pieces of chicken and vegetables, not too spicy and nor too sweet or sour! Their prawns variant is also a good option.
The helpings for each dish are enough for one person, two might share if one is a light eater or not too hungry. The vintage style decor is welcoming, with small tables lined on the left and right side and a long table in the centre. We did have problem with the chairs, which aren’t too comfortable for a plus-sized person (perhaps, the cafe needs to consider this). The cafe provides a taste of Mumbai with favourites like the
Masala Chai and Sev Puri, while keeping the international appeal alive with dishes like French Croissandwiches, Penang Curry with Sticky Rice, Penne Marinara, and more. Lagan Nu Custard was a sweet end to an experience which exceeded our expectations, warranting many more visits to spend a lazy day. (Bombay Coffee House at Ballard Estate, Bandra and Kurla)