Every Sip You Take

Coffee Break, a new street side cafe at Warden Road, doesn’t start out by impressing. First, eyes will be rolled at its generic coffee shop interiors, and equally blah menu. Then, you’ll order, get a table in the small al fresco area, marvel at the amount of foliage, but grumble about the din of traffic and kids creating a racket at the park next door. But five minutes later, a yum paprika chicken quiche will be devoured, and you’ll pay all but Rs 45 for it. Latté bloomer? Appears so.

Sandwich Hunt

While a majority of the snacks at Coffee Break are fresher and more appealing than other coffee house grub in the city, they are after all off the shelf, so don’t harbour great expectations. We tried and liked the spinach-corn (Rs 65) and Caesar smoked chicken sandwich (Rs 75) and abovementioned quiche, but couldn’t get ourselves to taste the dry-looking croissants. The pre-packed Arrabiata pasta looked adventurous enough to try the next time around.

The beverage selection here ranges from tea and coffee to shakes and rainbow-hued sodas clubbed under the unfortunate “chillaxsoda” moniker. We got a chocolate shake (Rs 100), frappe caramel (Rs 120) and Americano (Rs 45). All three fared well - the first, blended with ice cream was just the right amount of thick and surprisingly delish; the second, a rich cold coffee with caramel flavouring and loads of whipped cream is not for the sweet-averse; and the third, managed to jolt us right out of our caramel-induced coma. Most drinks have a ‘regular’ and ‘large’ option.

Since they were all out of the Blueberry Cheesecake, we took home a Chocolate Xcess (Rs 65), which was as we feared, strictly okay. Other cake options - Black Forest, Oreo Cookie - don't look very promising either.

Winsome, Lose Some

So there’s sound and fury at this main road cafe, but there’s also a few good snacks. And delicious chocolate smoothie. Will the milkshake be enough to bring all the boys to the yard? We’ll have to wait and watch.

Getting there: Coffee Break, next to TATA Gardens, Warden Road, call 9323586667, home delivery within 1.5 km radius, Rs 400 for a meal for two.