CT Exclusive: In Bustling Dug-Up Bandra, Take A Pause At This Newest Plant-Forward Cafe| Preview

Bandra-walo, there is a new cafe in your ‘burb! Before you go, “Another cafe?” I have to say, this one’s different. You ask, “Different how?” I’ll say, it is honest, unpretentious, chill and you can spend hours here without realising. On a humid Tuesday afternoon last week, I made my way to Bandra’s newest plant-forward cafe, Pause…(Your Everyday Cafe) to preview its menu and space before it opens its doors to the public. And, I immediately realised that I would come here again for a pause and an afternoon of working-out-of-a-cute-cafe experience. 

The brainchild of an ex-investment banker (of 25 years) Rohit Dadlani in collaboration with Mohit Menghrajani, lies Pause Cafe, right next to The Bagel Shop, where Seeds of Life used to be. With an eye-catching signboard (that reads in English and Devanagari), big glass windows, and a resident kitto sunbathing on the built-in bench (part of the blue-bracket exterior) at the cafe’s entrance, this cafe is attractive, cosy and will leave you impressed. 

Pause Cafe: Minimalist, Cosy And Artsy

 

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With inviting minimalistic interiors and cosy vibes, this small cafe — which only seats 32 patrons in one go — is keeping things light and breezy with some great music lilting in the background. That afternoon it was the 2000s era and I was internalising my hums and sing-alongs. On the daily, you will have to find out what their jam is.  

The space is designed by Parzan Daruwalla and Natasha Chawla of Studio Sixty One Fifty Eight, who have also done up MOKAI Bandra, Boojee Cafe, The Gulmohar (Pune), and more. The walls are adorned with curated artworks by Richa Kalshekar and The Plated Project. On one wall you will find some live green plants, while others are left blank intentionally. They are for the community to showcase their artistic creations. I am a believer that lighting impacts mood immediately and here Harshita Jhamtani Designs’s cute mushroom and flower lamps complete the moods. Aesthetes will really dig this place!

In terms of seating, you will find a mix of options. Not only depending on your back issues (adulting challenges) but also on your mood. You wanna catch up on some reading? Tuck yourself into Japanese-style seating by the window. Want to work out of the cafe? Perch yourself and your work-station upon the high table. Want to gossip with the gang for long hours? Take the couch. 

The warm tones meticulously crafted immediately calm the senses the minute you walk in and the careful selection of colours lend a laidback vibe. The philosophy here is not to stop, but to take a pause from the busyness or simply catch your own pace in a soothing setting or simply enjoy a slow afternoon with good food and a cup of brew of Nandan coffee.

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Comfort, Clean And Vegan Food With Jain-Friendly Options

All-vegan, the menu is curated by Goa-based Pooja Masurkar, who is collaborating externally for the first time. The menu details precisely what goes into a given dish so there are no surprises there for noshers. Additionally, you can place your requests and the super-sweet wait staff will take down your requests happily. They even have a separate Jain-friendly menu that has the usuals made Jain-friendly or providing alternatives or listings simpler options.

I lunched basis the suggestions of the owners. I started with a Korean Cheese Bun, which was stuffed with herbed cream. I love the texture, the softness, and the garlicky flavour. Next up was Kale Kala Chana Chaat which was nice. The portion size is good and the beetroot borani was quite smooth. The freshness of kale on crisp sourdough toast with beetroot borani spread over it made a nice combination. I just wish the tahini flavours were more pronounced.

Then, I noshed on Beetroot Carpaccio and it was fresh, zesty and nutty. The flavours were well balanced and it looked very pretty. I have been trying out carpaccios (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) over the years, and each time I am amazed by the many ingredients it can be made with. Also, instead of having feta along with the beet and pomelo, I had it as is and loved how the creaminess lined my palate. 

Then came the Mushroom Sliders that really mimicked a chicken burger for me. The sauces were balanced, the purple cabbage slaw was nice and the mushroom patty, which is shiitake mushroom, had a really good crunch. Instead of regular potato wedges, you get sweet potato wedges which are honestly way better in my opinion. I am loving how sweet potatoes are surreptitiously taking over the menus across the city and people love this honest ingredient on their plates. 

I was almost ready to leave when I was told I could not without trying out their desserts. I am in that phase of life where I am limiting my cravings and keeping desserts at bay. But when you come to a place that has a separate menu for one sect of the community that doesn’t eat anything grown below ground, it was foolish of me to think they didn’t include a larger sect (diabetics) into their customer personas. There is a diabetes-friendly dessert that adorns the menu and I indulged in Chocolate Orange Mousse. Yum. Yum. & Yum.  It looked extremely pretty. The orange flavour shone through and the chocolate shards were melting upon touch. The mousse is sweetened with dates and I think this is truly a great dessert that curbs cravings diabetics may have. 

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Thoughtful, Sustainable Mindset That Truly Allows You To Hit Pause

If you are at Pause, chances are you will run into Rohit who will make you feel at ease immediately. The cafe has been his dream that he has shared with his wife. After the pandemic, the dream started taking form. The couple’s friendships with a bunch of restaurateurs painted a clearer picture for them as to what it was that they were getting into. Many downright discouraged them. But undeterred, they are taking this calculated risk and presenting patrons with a place that is not run-of-the-mill. Instead, they are looking to build their community with their philosophy, plant-forward approach, and high-quality ingredients.

Their rice comes from the Konkan region, their sourdough bread from Baked in Bombay, their cheese from artisanal brands, their serveware is from Yellow Marigold (Dehradun), their hemp napkins are from Weaving Vibes, and their mindset comes from a place rooted in sustainability. 

Yes, it is an all-vegan cafe. Yes, you have many choices. Yes, it is aesthetically pleasing and healthy. Bandruh cafe mushrooming phenomenon continues to rise despite the dug-up roads, construction work, and usual humdrum of life. And in the middle of that chaos lies this comforting haven that will give you the much-needed pause…!

Where: Shop No. 27, Vora House, A/B, Pali Mala Rd, Bandra West, Mumbai
When: 8:30am – 11:00pm
Cost: ₹2,000 for two

Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied

The editor was invited for an experience by Team Pause Cafe