Mumbaikars call Bandra the ‘Queen of Suburbs’. It offers to you all the facets of Mumbai to which one simply gets addicted to and one of them is a myriad of cafes and eateries to soothe your discerning taste buds and swinging moods.
Today I along with my wife happened to be at one such place called The Bagel Shop which by its name promises a quintessential American breakfast. Like any other café in Bandra the entrance is humble as is the case very often in this up-market suburb where space comes at a premium. The routine is usual. You stand at the counter browsing the menu and decide on what you want to order. If you are one of those who are scrupulous of the amount of the calories you intake then your resolve will be immediately tested with a mouth-watering mélange of pies and pastries right in front of you. Right behind the counter a wall size black board listed what I think must have been the highlights of the menu. A cynical marketer would point out that these were the delicacies which they wanted to push as they were not getting sold. My wandering eyes stopped at Whey Protein Shake. A workout drink in a café, this was a first for me in any menu I had come across till date. Point to be noted for all gym junta in the neighboring Pali Hill. My wife asked for a Bagel Sandwich with grilled vegetables and goat cheese for us which was complemented with an early morning dose of Whey Protein. Now we needed to make ourselves comfortable and savor the breakfast we had just ordered
You enter the small room next door and that is when you really start to appreciate this little café. It was not your conventional set up. Instead it felt like someone’s living room. A smooth and homey décor just makes you forget that you are waiting for an order you just placed. A medieval looking fan stood in one of the corners. I was not sure if it was for its ornamental look or the gush of air it would provide during one of those hot and humid afternoons of Mumbai. Next to this ornate piece from the past there was a simple wooden rack with some books, magazines, coffee mugs kept just the way you would at your own place. Cushioned benches on the perimeter of the room instead of the archetypal layout of small tables and wooden chairs tend to loosen you up. It was just the kind of place you would go to if you wanted to indulge in long lazy conversations with your friends or just work in a quiet corner by yourself. A place where looking at the watch becomes a secondary notion inevitably. As we admired the beauty which was in the simplicity of this small room, our breakfast was served. The exquisiteness of the preparation made it for a perfect breakfast and augmented the impression which had already been created.
For those who like the fresh air and bustles of the road this café also has a nice outdoor seating area with unpretentious and cozy cane furniture which I am sure would have the same essence of enjoying the time with the watch in the back-pocket