We didn’t mean to be rude when we mumbled under our breath. It’s just that we’re not used to strangers being so nice to us this early in the morning. But the next time Hardik Parekh asks us, “hey, how’s your morning going?” we’ll be better prepared. Shinier than the sun and recently returned from Australia, Hardik has just started the Melange café at Andheri where breakfast starts at 8.30 am and so does mission Morning Cheer.

Sydney Shell

After working at Starbucks, Hardik started a café called Coffee Garam in Sydney, but had to return to India to take care of family business. Determined not to let his move come in the way of coffee plans, he launched Melange, an “eggetarian café” that serves all-day breakfast, tapas and a few Australian specials including frittatas and pies.

Wooden tables, greens and an awning make up this small space that’s divided into an indoor and outdoor section. Besides Woodside – All Day Bar and Eatery, there aren’t too many places that do good breakfast in Andheri, so we decided to pay them an early visit. Our May Day morning started with a mango peach smoothie, a nice thick concoction of fruit and ice cream, and the Café au Gateaux, a cold coffee blended with chunks of chocolate and topped with cinnamon and ice cream.

The pancakes came next, ridiculously tiny but also seriously tasty – vanilla flavoured and served with grape-apple compote and maple syrup. If you like eggs, get the fluffy and non-greasy Wild Omelet stuffed with mushrooms, lemon thyme, rocket leaves and cheese. Carnivores will be disappointed to note that their no meat policy means you get no bacon with your eggs. We skipped the homemade granola with fruit and yogurt for a Bailey’s chocolate mousse (dessert can be breakfast too!), which was rich and tasty but not particularly mind blowing. Savoury muffins and French toast are also on the breakfast list.

Fine Print

Melange will soon start selling freshly baked breads as well as loose coffee beans from Bangalore that can be ground on request. They don’t serve alcohol yet, but the beer and wine license is on its way. Also spotted on the menu is a printing error that says prices are inclusive of taxes and service charges, when in reality they aren’t.

Other than that, we had a good morning, thanks for asking.

Getting there: Melange, shop no. 3, ground floor, Royal Classic Housing Society, New Link Road, near Fame Adlabs, Andheri (W), 9820061092, Rs 850 for breakfast for two, Rs 195 for pancakes, Rs 80 for a mango peach smoothie, view the Facebook page here.

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