Café Bandra – An Ode To Mumbai’s Heart ‘Vandre’

Bandra is the ultimate, uber-cool place to hangout for youngsters and grown-ups alike. The food options are aplenty and there’s a new quirky addition in the form of Café Bandra at Pali Hill. It is the brainchild of a group of friends who hail from different professional backgrounds and have come together for the common love for food and of course, Bandra.

The Ambience

Café Bandra is divided into three sections – Dining, Smoking and VIP. As you enter, you’ll first step into the dining room where you can see amazing and creative nail-art on the walls replicating all that Bandra is known for. Be it the Sea Link, the Bandra Station signboard, Mount Mary Church or even the iconic buildings like Galaxy Apartments. The feel of the café is that of a brightly lit, cosy ambience that you’d love to share with friends whether it’s over a variety of flavoured sheesha or their sumptuous food or both!

The Food

Being monsoon we delved into the starters which were given to us in platters so that we can have a bite of each. And believe it or not, each of them was unique as a dish and full or aroma and flavours.

Let’s get onto the vegetarian platter first because not all places serving both meat and veggies can do complete justice to both but Café Bandra is truly is an exception. We first tried their stuffed mushroom and it was delicious! The kick from the jalapenos, the creamy cheddar and sweet caramelisation on the onions came together in harmony to celebrate the tender mushrooms. Next were the peppy Coriander Relish Sweet Potatoes which were crunchy and delightful with a dollop of sour cream that made the dish sing on the taste buds.

The smoked flavour of the charcoal in the Tabasco Mushroom enhances the vibrancy of the fungus and the spicy kick of the tabasco makes it a sizzling treat. Delightful Turkish Mint Falafel was a refreshing dish. Soft, delicious falafel when dipped in the zingy garlic yoghurt and creamy hummus makes the perfect pair! Next we popped Tandoori Baby Potatoes in our mouth. After all, who says no to potatoes? Especially when they are fresh and piping hot from the tandoor? Have one and you’ll forget all about the existence of French fries.

Coming to the meaty delights, we tried their chicken platter and began with Chicken Harissa Skewer which absolutely delights with its spicy, smoky flavours. Next we tried the Sriracha Prawns which were packed with flavour, moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside giving the subtle hint of sriracha that made it delectable to eat.

Next we relished a classic – Chicken Seekh Kabab. These were tender, soft kababs that should be eaten piping hot in the monsoons and they’ll give you the hearty flavour of the meat and the unique taste that comes from being skewered over charcoal. We loved their Irani Chicken Kabab as well as the dish was a knock out with the succulent chicken, delicious green sauce along with earthy, smoky flavours of the tandoor.

The Drinks

A cafe is incomplete without some peppy and amazing drinks and we promise you, they have some amazing mocktails on the menu. We tried their Hawaiian Delight and were thoroughly impressed with the tropical drink that complimented the food and cleansed the palette at the same time. At the end of our meal we decided to have a hot cup of Rooibus Tea which is a red tea served with a sweet biscuit. It was absolutely perfect, light brew much needed refreshment after a tasting a medley of flavours put up by Cafe Bandra.