If I’d hear a werewolf’s bloodcurdling howl, or sense Dracula breathing down my neck, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid — at least not at The Tuscan Table! It’s part of the theme, you see! Hidden away in the shadows of a residential lane in RA Puram, Chennai, there’s no signboard making its presence felt. Rather an oddly striking Gothic home with arched windows, washed cement facade, and an eerie vibe — until you step inside. That’s when it transforms into a cosy French bakery and boulangerie with vintage aesthetics, speciality coffees and sourdoughs baked in-house.
The Tuscan Table In Chennai Has Haunted House Aesthetics
A Bengalurean (yours truly) on her annual Chennai visit, and her croissant-craving bestie, chose The Tuscan Table for their dinner date. Little did we know we were moving out of Chennai and into 1970s Tuscany for the next few hours. The two-storied cafe almost looks like an abandoned Gothic castle, where Dracula has taken a break from spooking guests and is spending his time penning his memoir on a typewriter. He’s swapped blood for a specialty brew and is sinking his fangs into a housemade focaccia.
Yes, this writer has a vivid imagination! But if you’re at The Tuscan Table and come across the vintage typewriter, chipped walls, European-style chandeliers and the heavy wooden door, you just pulled open with all your strength, you’d get my point!
A Celebrity-Approved Space Born Out Of Love
The cafe is born out of Ar Swethaa and Ar Nithesh Aravind’s endeavour to give Chennaites a slice of what cafe culture means to them— a place where food, brews and even design lingers. The couple spent two years in research and design to create a space that felt special to anyone who walked in. After all, their romance blossomed in a cafe.
Having placed our order at the billing section on the ground floor, taking in the whiff of ground coffee and the views of golden bakes on the display counter, we made our way to the second floor. That’s when the abandoned castle aesthetics fully embraced us. Seated by an open window overlooking a naked tree, we let the gentle quietude take over.
Months before we walked in, The Tuscan Table had already hosted actor-musician Shruti Haasan. Its haunted house facade made an appearance in a song starring the actress and director Lokesh Kanagaraj in the Tamil film Inimel.
While The Tuscan Table has a compact menu, it does have an interesting selection of artisanal bakes and specialty coffees for discerning diners.
What We Ordered
Food
- Mushroom Feuilletes
- Hazelnut Chocolate Croissant
- Cherry Tomato Confit on Ricotta
Drinks
- Cafe Mocha
- Blueberry Lemonade
Artisanal Brews & Bakes That Even Dracula Can’t Resist!
From the kitchen came a Mushroom Feuilletes and Cherry Tomato Confit on Ricotta. Feuilletes is a savoury puff pastry from France. The bake was flaky, rich and had a comforting, subtly spiced mushroom filling. Served on a housemade garlic sourdough, lathered with warm saffron ricotta, cherry tomatoes and fermented hot honey, the next dish was exactly what was promised. Sumptuous yet refreshing.
The Cafe Mocha was a bit of a let-down as it came warm and could do with a stronger brew and more indulgent chocolate. But the Blueberry Lemonade more than made up for it, with a punchy, perfectly balanced taste. Finally, we took the ultimate taste test for what really brought us to The Tuscan Table — the croissant.
Also Read: CT Round-Up: 8 Bengaluru Restaurants That Ruled Our Hearts & Social Media Feeds In 2024
The Hazelnut Chocolate Croissant, unlike most croissants, wasn’t chocolate-y. Rather, it had a whipped hazelnut cream filling. Golden, brown, flaky, layers intact and cradling a generous amount of hazelnut cream within, the French bake was quite delicious! This chocaholic would have preferred a more chocolate-y variant, but The Tuscan Table did bring in something new.
Also Read: CT Review: At Bengaluru’s Nenapu, I Finally Found Croissants As Good As The Ones In Paris
Having spent over three hours, immersed in deep conversations without a care in the world, my friend and I did come to the realisation that time almost stood still at this cafe. There’s a pause, musty aroma in the air, old-world aesthetics and a vibe that screams vintage. A time where people would take things slow, break bread and savour every moment, every bite. (Even Dracula, you see!)
As I tugged open the heavy wooden door to step out of 1970s Italy and back into 2025 Chennai, I couldn’t help wishing I could stay a little longer. Not for the bites or the brews, but the vibes!
Where: Old 27A, New 60, RA Puram, Govindaswamy Nagar, 4th Main Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
When: 8 am to 10 pm
Cost: ₹1,300 for two approx.