Rainy days and cosy cafes are a match made in heaven is almost a truism. And upon my visit to Mazi, I realised why this truism persevered for so long. Mazi is the kind of place that feels familiar and comforting even if you’re visiting it for the first time. It is a quintessential cafe adorned with modern rustic interiors. The white walls, the wooden furniture, the indoor plants providing a pop of colour, and the polite servers, all create an ambience of welcoming and warmth.
Mazi: “Coming Together” In Shared Moments
In Greek, Mazi means to come together in shared moments. That is the kind of environment that the cafe aims to foster. Coming together of friends over a steaming cup of joe, coming together on a romantic date or coming together of family members, kinship is one of the core philosophical tenets of this cafe. And that’s exactly what we saw here.
I arrived at Mazi with my colleague, Nikitha Sebastian, amid pelting rains. As soon as I entered, the warmth of the cafe and the scent of coffee engulfed my senses. We were greeted by Manoj who was one of the servers and who, along with Nikhil and Vedant, tended to all our requests with tender care and attention. We took our seats and relished the cosy ambience of the cafe against the pelting rains outside.
All around, you could see the philosophy of Mazi coming to life. There was a mother whose young son arrived after an evidently long and tiring day. They shared some fries and a dessert while talking about each other’s day. There was an endless litany of friends coming and going, catching each other up on their lives, sharing laughs with the same gusto that they shared their dessert. All in all, the prospect looked promising.
The Ambience Of The Cafe
If you’re dedicated to your Insta feed, you will love this place! The aesthetic is immaculate and will surely brighten your feed. I came prepared to have my mind blown by the flavours and aesthetics of the place, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the nostalgic pop songs playing in the background. It added a fun layer to the entire experience.
The cloudy, rainy weather outside perfectly contrasted with the warm, bustling atmosphere inside, elevating the experience further. I could see myself on a similar rainy day hanging out at the cafe, reading or listening to music while sipping on a warm beverage.
What We Ordered
Beverages
Classic Cold Coffee
Blueberry Pop Boba
Orange Juice
Cardamom Tea
Food
Hot Pepper Wings
Peri Peri Chicken Burger
Katsu Wrap
Chicken Scarmoza
And Now We Feast!
For the longest time, I have held an aversion to Boba. I had only tried it once long before it became an online sensation and hated it. However, Mazi converted me. The boba pearls in the Blueberry Pop Boba were soft and I did not expect to enjoy the popping as much as I did. Let it be known that boba has been redeemed in my eyes. The beverage itself was not too sweet and made for a pleasant accompaniment to my meal.
My colleague ordered the Classic Cold Coffee and it arrived warmer than expected. As the flavour of coffee in the beverage takes a back seat, this beverage is perfect for hesitant coffee lovers or for those who love coffee-flavoured things.
We started our meal with Hot Pepper Chicken. Perfect for people who have a low spice tolerance, the chicken was well-flavoured and tender. I was looking forward to the Katsu Wrap as it was recommended by the staff. The familiarity of the flavours in the wrap was quite comforting, almost reminiscent of McChicken Burger. The wrap had fresh vegetables that added a nice crunch.
The Peri Peri Chicken Burger was well-flavoured too! The buns were soft and the onion slices with grilled tomato added an interesting texture to the burger. They arrived with a side of deliciously crispy, golden fries. In many ways, the fries were the real winner. They were thick and yet they managed to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The Chicken Scarmoza was unlike anything I had ever seen or tasted. It was a rolled chicken breast with scarmoza cheese inside. Garnished with pretty flowers, it lay on a bed of mashed potatoes and was accompanied by a house-made sauce. The sauce itself was tangy and provided much flavour to the chicken. The mashed potatoes, however, could have been better.
More Beverages!
At this point, we began to feel the soporific effects of such a hefty meal so we ordered a couple more beverages. I wanted something like Masala Chai to wake me up but since they did not have anything like that on the menu, I again turned to the staff for recommendations.
While not an official menu item, Nikhil said that they could make Cardamom chai and that is all I needed to be reinvigorated for dessert! Nikitha ordered an Orange juice which was pulpy, not too sweet, and very refreshing.
Cannot Skip Dessert!
Since we were already stuffed to the brim, we only ordered one dessert – the Espresso Martini Pull-Up Cake. Boy, are we glad we didn’t get anything else as we were scarcely able to finish it! The dessert had a flair for the dramatic. The dessert came encased in a plastic covering filled with coffee-flavoured cream. The cover was pulled up and the cream went cascading down the cake creating a feast for your eyes as well as palate.
The cake itself had many layers. The darker layers were more bitter while the lighter layers were sweeter. The coffee cream was the perfect bridge between the bitter and sweet layers making each bite perfect. It was neither too bitter, nor too sweet! If you’re someone who does not enjoy bitter chocolate or coffee, better steer clear. As for us, the aficionados of bitter desserts, it was quite simply, heaven!
Special Shoutout To The Staff Of Mazi
If one thing stood out the most at Mazi, it was the service. Nikhil, Manoj and Vedant truly made us feel welcome. They were prompt to respond and quick with our orders. They also gave us some valuable insight into the food and we enjoyed interacting with them.
About Mazi
The brainchild of Shashank Kadam and Shonali Kewalramani, the cafe is under the banner of Savoryspires Hospitality PVT. LTD. With a philosophy of togetherness at its core, it aims to be a haven for all, whether you’re an introvert with a book or an extrovert with a large group of friends.
Also Read: CT Review: I Visited Mool: Kitchen & Bar And Savoured Generational Recipes From Across India
Where: 27C, Sujata Rajpipla CHS, Juhu Tara Rd, Hasmukh Nagar, Santacruz West
When: 8 AM to 11 PM
Cost: ₹1,500 for two approx.
When are you heading to Mazi? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: Nikitha Sebastian
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