The Pantry Cafe, Kala Ghoda; Surprisingly good!

Yearning for a fresh, good cup of Americano and a hearty breakfast on a beautiful overcast Saturday morning, my wife and I drove around Fort/Kala Ghoda, Mumbai looking for a place we haven’t visited before. We stumbled upon The Pastry Café,a charming café located in a narrow by lane near Mamagoto (behind The Irish House, Kala Ghoda).

The interiors and exteriors are designed with European feel, colors and themes, with an open kitchen and bakery, allowing one to feel the café through audio, visual and olfatory senses. The colorful, tiled walls, the spot lighting, the pots and pans hanging over the kitchen, the drapes and colors all add to the feel of the place. The café was 80% occupied at 9:30 am, which created a good first impression on us. Selecting a cozy corner, we found the fare to be quite unique with many dishes carrying a multi-national twist on Indian dishes. We selected the Lamb Mince with Pita and the Masala Upma along with fresh fruit juices and coffee.

The fruit juices were freshly squeezed with no added sugar, which was a good way to start. When the lamb arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail. The plate was carefully set with slices of onion, a slice of lime, one green chili, pita, mashed potato (with mustard) and a bowl full of Lamb Kheema. The fragrance was classic with a hint of cloves, cardamom and cinnamon. Upon tasting, my taste buds were blown away at the flavours. I regretted not having found this place before.

The masala upma was a great mix of colors and textures. Nothing like the upma found at south Indian restaurants, the grains were independent and free flowing yet not dry in texture. The dish has fresh vegetables that you could pick easily, along with crunchy baked Almonds that added a zing to the dish. The flavours stayed true through the end and we never got bored of the dish.

There is a lot on the menu left to try, but I highly recommend both the dishes mentioned above. Service is a bit slow so I recommend patience and pace during your visit. Do visit and share your feedback on the FB Page or as comments on the site.

This post is an independent visit and hence the dishes are less than a regular invited review.

Ratings out of 5

Food: 4.5 | Ambiance: 4 | Service: 3.5 |Overall: 4

Meal for Two without Alcohol: Rs. 1500 Approximately plus taxes| Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Timing: 08:00 to 23:00

Address: B Bharucha Rd, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

Telephone : 022 30151349

(Disclosure: This review was done after anonymous visits to the outlet, with the reviewer having paid for the food in full)