CT Review: I Visited The Barn Cafe In Mumbai And Savoured Innovative Dishes Like Avocado Sev Puri, Wasabi Pani Puri And Avo Halloumi Fries

“When the ingredients are good, you don’t have to do much. All you need to do is assemble them on the plate and you’re good to go,” says Chef Sushil Multani at The Barn Cafe. It perfectly encapsulates the philosophy that Lalit Jhawar and Mayank Gupta, the farmer-entrepreneurs and co-founders of The Food Square, are working tirelessly to execute. With The Barn, their philosophy has finally reached its penultimate manifestation.

Freshness Of The World On Your Plate At The Barn Cafe

The space is sprawling, has a minimalistic design and is walled with a gift shop, a premium sweet shop, a fromagerie section and a frozen seafood section. Fostering a deep sense of connection to your plate is at the centre of The Barn as well as the Food Square.

To that end, the cafe features a spectacular live kitchen where patrons can see how the sausage gets made, literally. Witnessing the kitchen wiz put together your order will certainly bring about a deeper sense of appreciation when you take that first bite.

And we took several. The Barn is a place that has something for everyone, from your health-conscious calorie-counting gym-freak friend to your junk-gorging glutton friend. The two things it doesn’t compromise on are the quality of ingredients and the flavour of the food.

Also Read: CT Review: I Visited Mirai In Mumbai, A New Korean-Japanese Haven Serving Korean BBQ, Hot Pot, Sashimi And More!

From Avocado Sev Puri To Wasabi Pani Puri

The menu features a wide array of dishes from multiple cuisines. There is also a Ghar Ka Khana section to the menu for those who know what they like and like to stick to the familiar. And then there are mindblowing innovations like Avocado Sev Puri and Wasabi Pani Puri for the adventurous eater.

We started our meal with the creamy Avocado and Halloumi Fries. You’d that we would miss potatoes but no. Avocado singlehandedly did the job of the potato as well as cheese. The flavour of the avocado was the perfect replacement for a potato’s and the creamy texture eliminated any need for a cheesy dip. The golden fried Halloumi paled a bit in front of the avo fried but it was also soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Would I Order It Again? Yes

Then, Chef Sushil brought out the Fork Salad. The star of the salad was the tomatoes. It is easily one of the freshest things I’ve had. I’m not a huge salad-eater and even I appreciated how each vegetable stood out. If you’re a fan of salads, it is definitely worth a try.

Would I Order It Again? No

We then tried the Sev Puri With Avocado. If, like me, you were sceptical of it at first, then like me, you’ll be surprised at how absolutely delicious this turned out to be. The avocado in this dish is like that perfect friend in the group that makes its presence known without overpowering the conversation. The best part about it is that it still tasted like the Sev Puri I know and love with just a touch of poshness to it.

Would I Order It Again? Yes, Absolutely

The next thing we tried was Wasabi Pani Puri. Another bold move that demonstrates how The Barn is not afraid to push boundaries even while keeping simplicity as its central focus. I was sceptical yet again but was pleasantly surprised with how delicious the pani was. I feared that the wasabi would either overpower the pani or be barely detectable and I’m happy to report that neither of my fears came true. The flavour cannot be described; it is simply something you must try yourself.

Would I Order It Again? Yes

Then we tried the Avo Toast. Sourdough, vegetable chips, and Buddha’s Hand lemon zest. A pleasant snack but compared to the innovative chaats we just had, it paled slightly. Special shoutout to the vegetable chips on top. The crunch of the chips and the creaminess of the avo combined were appreciable.

Would I Order It Again? Maybe

Let me tell you something, the trademark of good food is that it makes a mess. This was the Fillet O Fish burger. It’s a delicious messy affair that you must enjoy without heeding to table manners. The fish is fresh, the bun is soft; it’s juicy, it’s drippy, all the things a good burger should be.

Would I Order It Again? Maybe

Keeping the theme of seafood going, we got the Seafood Marina Pizza. If you love seafood and you love pizza, it combines your two favourite things. With toppings like shrimp, calamari, and more, the pizza was a surprise. The sourdough crust, too, was light and the freshness elevated the flavours.

Would I Order It Again? No

Finally, we tried the Curry Laksa. With a rich, coconutty curry and well-cooked soba noodles, it became one of the best things on the table, if not the best. To all the Koreaboos and ramen lovers, this dish is a must-try. 

Would I Order It Again? Yes

We finally tried the freshly churned strawberry ice cream for dessert. Its sweet, almost tangy flavour proved that with great simplicity, comes great flavour.

Would I Order It Again? Yes

Final Thoughts

 

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The word ‘meticulous’ comes to mind when you learn about the hard work and diligence of Team Food Square. It is obvious that the farmer-entrepreneur co-founders are passionate about bringing only the best of what the world has to offer to your plate. The menu of The Barn is a labour of love and you can taste it in their food.

Also Read: CT Review: I Visited HyLo In Mumbai And Experienced Local Flavours From The Length And Breadth Of Our Country

Where: Lower Ground Floor Plot, Food Square, 106, Linking Rd, Santacruz (West)

When: 7 AM to 10 PM

Cost: ₹1,600 for two approx.

Will you be heading to The Barn Cafe soon? Let us know in the comments section below!

Cover Image Credits: @thebarn.cafe/Instagram

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