Sea breezes, thin crust pizza and a string orchestra performing a rousing rendition of Rehman's Jai Ho - our first visit to the brand new Cafe at the NCPA yesterday evening was what winter evenings in Mumbai were made for.

Also run  by Farrokh Khambatta, Cafe at the NCPA is located in the garden that used to be the de facto smoking area for Amadeus. It has been outfitted with simple, low tables, comfortable chairs, a row of tube lights that (quite literally) bend over backwards and the above-mentioned sea breezes and thin-crust pizza. Sadly, the string orchestra was a one time thing.

There's also a huge open kitchen that runs through one side of the space, sending out eclectic dishes that meld Khambatta's cuisines at Joss and Amadeus, along with exploring new territories - among circulating finger foods were grilled potatoes, paneer tikka and mutton kebabs (all passable, but nothing to write home about), as well a range of sandwiches, which make sense at an all-day cafe. Try bagels with salmon and cream cheese.

Signature pizzas from Amadeus, topped with caramalised onions and goat cheese or a pile of "magic mushrooms" made an appearance as well, as did dim sum, toothy, sticky skins filled with shredded chicken and whole prawns, spinach and bean sprouts. Hands down, our favorite dish.

To wash these down were hazelnut cold coffee or a too-sweet apple juice concoction - for now, the Cafe doesn't have a liquor license, but they're planning to get one - as well as a selection of coffees and teas. As we walked out towards the sea, we  were already planning our next trip back - so watch out for the full review!

Getting there: Café at NCPA, Nariman Point, approximately Rs 600 a head, opens on January 23, 2011.