ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Phone: 022 33951522
Address: 2nd Floor, Le Plazzo Tower, August Kranti Marg, Papanas Wadi, Off Kemps Corner Bridge, Tardeo, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 pm
Meals for two: Rs. 600
Cuisines: Cafe, Indian, Healthy Food, Desserts
Facilities: No Alcohol Available, Table booking recommended, Gluten Free Options, All Day Breakfast, Vegan Options, Desserts and Bakes
What! Ek aur naya health cafe? Last Friday, I’d reviewed Bandra’s Farmer’s Cafe, this week its South Mumbai’s Fabcafé. However, this one is different: A part of the “Experience Centre” of Fab India is known for its ethnic Indian clothes, et al. Fabcafé balances healthy, gluten-free, sugar-free et al with many a traditional regional Indian dish and desserts. To find out just how different it is, I invited two lovely ladies, both at the top of their fields, both vivacious, both single and each symbolizes opposite ends of the spectrum. ‘Patisserie Queen’, serial entrepreneur, author Pooja Dhingra is unstoppable, has recently launched her super hit podcast series and is working on her third cookbook.
MasterChef India finalist, the slender and hugely talented Karishma Sakhrani has forged a reputation and is making waves as the go-to chef for championing healthy eating, quality ingredients and great sourcing. Our lunch bubbles over with fun as we systematically eat our way through the menu. I go back a few days later and try the allday breakfast and more main dishes, too. Does Fabcafé live upto its name?
Fabcafe, Tardeo, Mumbai Restaurant: Decor
Zoom up to the third floor and be pleasantly surprised by the plant-filled cheerful cafe. It’s this day-lit, cheerful vibe that has us delighted.
Fabcafe, Tardeo, Mumbai Restaurant: Food
It sounds weird but it somersaults across our palate with deliciously robust and authentic biryani flavours. The Jackfruit Biryani is made with (hold your breath) quinoa. Aah! Those unique parathas… Jackfruit atta kneaded into tasty rotis, quinoa, too. You guessed it! Great alternatives for those who are gluten-free. Tasty, anyhow. Begin with freshly pressed sugarcane juice (they have plenty of smoothies, juices, Kashmiri kahwa). There’s vegan chai and cold coffee, too. Ask for Banana Nut Bread infusion for a snug warm cuppa.
Dal Makhani with white butter (no cream) and Chicken Momos made of jackfruit flour skin are worth trying. All-day breakfast menu (from Akuri to croissants, oat idlis to omelettes) is recommended. Crunchy Almond Flour Tart sweetened to perfection with Himalayan Organic Honey and gur meets with Pooja and Karishma’s approval. As does the grain-free, moist Chocolate Cake.
Fabcafe, Tardeo, Mumbai Restaurant: Minus Points
Too ambitious a menu. Zigzags all over India and stumbles when it comes to Kerala Fish Curry, Coorgi Pork Pandi Curry and Amritsari Bhatti Chicken. Confused, uninformed and slow service was a dampener. As also the fact that many items were unavailable… Cashew Cheese, Strawberry Puree, Mango Panna. Predictable, unimaginative salads, soggy Shakarkandi Chaat, Orange Saffron Pound Cake, which is too sweet and soggy (that word again) is avoidable. No alcohol.
Fabcafe, Tardeo, Mumbai Restaurant: My Point
Soak in the vibrant yet relaxed vibe at Fab Cafe. Go for the innovative and tasty wheat-free, dairy-free, low carb, paleo, vegan interpretations of regional Indian dishes. It aces these but fumbles on the traditional mains and service. We’d still go back for Jackfruit Quinoa Biryani, organic Himalayan Honey Tart, moderate pricing and the cheery ambiance. Let’s raise a toast… with ganney ka juice, naturally!
