21 August,2015 08:23 AM IST | | Dhara Vora
Set in a quaint cottage in Bandra, Serendipity is a cosy café that you should visit for a laid-back vibe and tasty food
Piri Piri Meatballs
Serendipity
Food: Good
Service: Tad slow
Ambiance: Cosy
After a really long time, we came across an eatery that perfectly describes what the place feels like - Serendipity. This café sits comfortably in a narrow lane near Pali Naka, with an engagingly cluttered front yard that would make you feel like you are entering an old friend's house. Once inside, you will be greeted by equally vintage-looking curios and cups and saucers, a departure from the industrial chic restaurants we are tired of seeing in the city.
Piri Piri Meatballs
Burnt Sugar Lemon Bitters
Just the right bit of sunlight enters through the glass windows. The menu offers a variety of cakes, breakfast options and a few large plates. The day we visited, most of the yummy-sounding beverages were not available. So, we picked a Burnt Caramel and Coffee shake (Rs 250, prices exclusive of taxes, they don't have a service charge) and a Forest Berries smoothie (Rs 250). The berry smoothie turned out to be a usual strawberry milkshake (the kinds you make with ready crushes).
The interiors of Serendipity are comforting
The shake on the other hand was a better option with the slightly burnt caramel offering good support to the coffee. To make up for the few dishes that weren't available, they offered us complimentary Burnt Sugar Lemon Bitters, which was extremely refreshing. The only grouse we had with all the drinks was that they were served at room temperature.
For a quick bite before the mains, we ordered a Creamed Bocadillo (Rs 370). Fresh focaccia topped with creamy vegetables, the dish was wiped off soon. For our mains, we ordered Piri Piri Meatballs (Rs 550) and Berry BBQ Schmierkase (Rs 550). Both the dishes came with a butter and cream sauce and beautiful, fresh, house-made bread. The meatballs were the highlight of the meal, both in terms of getting subtle flavours right and the quantity, The Schmierkase (cottage cheese) tasted good, but seemed expensive as we are used to eating better 'paneer' dishes.
The food at Serendipity isn't cheap. It scores well on the taste factor and the ambiance is endearing. With a few tweaks, we hope it will survive the eatery race in Bandra.
Time: 6 am to midnight
At: 76, Pali Village, Pali Naka, Bandra (W).
Call: 9833709947
Serendipity didn't know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.
