When comfort food has an address for you to visit at @ Garden Café.!
Besides the usual fare of Luchi-Cholar Dol or even perhaps the Muri-Singhara-Alur Chop combos and the countless other on the similar likes of what we call as comfort food, the very idea of munching on a crisp Dosa or perhaps on the steaming hot Idlis and the fried vadas aren’t uncommon. Talk about our usual fare or meals, and all these delicacies would be happily accepted and relished by most of us on any given date. Truth be told, there are very few regional cuisines in India which finds this level of acceptance amongst us, and the vegetarian dishes with its South Indian background has to be one of those so close to our heart.
While the competition these days is fierce, and we even try poking a bite from the neighbourhood Dosa wala standing next to our office or home for a quick lunch, the question of authenticity and the taste factor do create a challenge for many. If there is one name, which has been synonymous to feeding our appetite with some of the tastiest Dosas and flavourful Idlis since the last few years, Garde Café will have to be on the topmost portion of the list. The sheer consistency of their food, the unmatched flavours, the impeccable taste, is something they excel at, and they have been doing this for many years now, successfully feeding the hungry stomachs of many and thereby creating a loyal fan base of its own.
The times are tough, post the initial scare of the COVID pandemic, and it’s been quite tough handling the scares and panic grasping all our mind and senses with the fear of taking the utmost precautions. The very sight of the consistent temperature checks and the sanitizer bottles being in place was a big assurance for us, giving us the belief that no matter the fan base, the health aspects and safety precautions always holds of paramount importance. As we enjoyed the beauty of the nature, while making ourselves comfortable in the Alipore outlet of Garden Café, the food started arriving, and we had no troubles indulging ourselves onto all the goodness coming infront of us.
The Masala Vadas were the first to arrive. Crunchy and crispy vadas, coated generously in a spice mix fried to perfection. Pair these fritters with their spicy tomato garlic chutney if you prefer a kick, or their pleasant coconut chutney if you prefer a mellow flavour. No matter your choice, the quintessential Sambhar will always by your side, for a sip of one or two spoon on occasional basis. The Finger Fried Idlis which came next, were equally good in terms of flavour. Boiled Idlis, wrapped up in a batter and then fried until light brown. More like a finger snack in closeness to the beloved friench fries, this was quite a surprising revelation to our palette.
One of my favorites in this place has always been their Dosas. Shaped in the form of a cone, the Topy Dosas creates wonder everytime I dig into those. The potato mixture is kept on the side, along with a serving of the coconut chutney and sambhar to go along with the Dosa. You can also choose some of their Pizzas, in case you were feeling extra hungry. The Cheese Capsicum Pizza served to us, had a crisp and thin base, with a generous topping of cheese, tomatoes, bell peppers and herbs on the top. We decided to end our meal with their lovely refreshing Dahi Vada, which comprised of a crispy vadas tossed in curd and selective spices.
Speak about the sensation of hot and crunchy vadas having a swim in the cold and refreshing curd, with just the right amount of spice hit at the back of our mouth. All this goodness, and it would have been a sin not to sip on their legendary American Ice Cream Soda to gulp the food down. Vanilla ice cream scoop, immersed in a strawberry syrup, with a generous pour of the ice cream soda from Cottons. Indeed, a sight to behold to see the foam rise as you pour the soda inside the glass! As an addendum, we also had the opportunity to try tea prepared from Madhukari Herbal Tea – an inhouse brand which aims to go natural and keeps their product caffeine free.
Last, but not the least, came a packet of chips, named as Jiggis. A crunchy potato chip, with a subtle kick from gunpowder as you indulge into these wonder delights. It was a delight to hear that all the revenue earned from the sales of this chips packet, goes directly into the upbringing and maintenance of a school, which is handled directly by the generous owner of Garden Café. Talk about business and social responsibility earning equal preference at the very same time! A much-warranted place to visit, do try these products on the side, other than a Dosa or two! :-)
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