Well if you are in Bangalore, then I‘ve got news for you – It’s not any of the above (well except the food part).:)
This is one quaint little café situated in the heart of Koramangala , so nondescript that its not a surprise that having lived in that area for about 5 months now, I myself had not noticed it all this while. It was only because of a Crazy+Unique+Different+Whimsical and Dear friend of mine that I chanced upon its premises.
This friend of mine is the cutest… she’s not afraid of doing different things that are not commonplace. She went ahead and joined a Child Help organization ‘Asha’, and then took the responsibility of organizing a painting competition for the kids…she had no qualms. However, by the time she was done with all the organizing, she had gone half crazy, talking to the ‘n’ people, sponsors, asking people to help, finding judges, etc etc etc. She never complained. And the most ironic thing was that at that very competition, she lost her wallet complete with cash and credit cards. She is the one person who pulls us all to the weirdest of places….A flower show in a far away Park, a play in a far away Theatre, a weird movie in a nearby (Thank God for that!) theatre, are a few. I was lucky enough to escape some of her whacky ideas. (If you’re reading this…R…I mean ALL of this in a GOOD way..:))As usual I’m wavering from the point. What I’m trying to say is that maybe the one place she recommended and I really, really, really liked is this quaint little café set on the 1st floor of a 3-storeyed building , which I have been seeing almost everyday these last few months , but never noticed.
Last Friday, my room-mate and I were at home, trying to pass our time looking at wax melting in the candles, during one of the sudden power cuts that have started to plague our locality off late. We decide to go out and then as usual started wandering as to where we could while away the Friday evening. I remembered what my friend had recommended and the fact that the place is situated just 5 minutes from our place. So, we decided, why not give it a try? We got nothing to lose except our time ..:) and we didn’t mind that in the least.
As we entered the place, we were pretty sure that the place was closed (at least for that evening) - the place was that empty. A forlorn looking guy looked at us from the counter and we asked, very hesitantly, if it was open. Luckily for us, he said Yes.The place is actually very, very small for a restaurant. About 6 tables were set, 2 counters at 2 sides, one whose shelves had absolutely nothing, the other had some stuff I guess. Another smaller guy was sitting behind the counter, doing nothing.
We sat at a table near to the wall. It was really nice - the way the wall was decorated; Tasteful posters of Belgium (the one name i remember is Gent) and some ads of Belgian chocolates gave colour to the off-white wall. Overlooking the street via which we had come, was a glass screen. So, we could see outside, and hanging on the wall were colourful lights which lit up in some rhythmic pattern. On each table was a vase with pink flowers. The forlorn waiter/manager/cook came up to us with menus which were actually Xerox copies of a printout I guess. Along with the usual stuff that cafes have, (all those varieties of
coffees and juices) the menu included Belgian Waffles, Pancakes and some Belgian specialties whose names I can’t remember. Thankfully these food items had descriptions at the side, so we selected a name which was described something like, ‘Buttered toast with Chicken salad…..’ the rest is kind of foggy in my mind. While we were waiting there, they played some English music…light and lively tunes. One song went on and on….’ I’m not English; I’m not French……. I’m Belgian….’. That was like the final touch to the ambience of a very English (Belgian actually) restaurant.
All the time we were discussing as to whether this place even did enough business to stay afloat. Considering the fact that the 45 minutes to 1 hour we were there, not a single soul entered its portals, we were pretty sure, it didn’t (and still doesn’t) .
Then we felt a little low that such a cozy and nice café was going unnoticed and might just close down.
Then we felt sorry for the two people who were working there.
Then we cheered ourselves up that at least they would be getting their salaries, even though the place didn’t run.
Then we felt sorry for the owner of the place who had had such a hare brained idea to open such a place in such locality, thus ensuring that it would not run.
Then we again cheered ourselves up that there was no other explanation for the café to be still running , except that the owner must be an eccentric who had loads of wealth to squander , and who had some beautiful memories of Belgium which s/he wanted to keep alive in this small corner of Bangalore.
By the time we had come to the end of all these meandering musings, our food was served. We’d also ordered Cold Coffee and some Mint Lemon drink (my room-mate isn’t all that non-crazy either). The food was actually good - toast with butter dripping from all over, filled with chicken and cheese ,and crisp salted potato wafers, served with slices of tomato , cucumber and a fruit (which I think was FIG.. not sure though). We were still struggling with our tall glasses of drinks by the time we were done with the sandwich/whatever it was actually called.
When were finally done (i.e. after my friend was done sipping on the never-ending melting ice in her Lemon drink), we paid up and left…hoping that the forlorn waiter would be a little happier having (what could have been) his very first (and probably last) customers of the day.
As, we walked back, all I said was, ‘An agreeable nice experience’. She totally agreed.
