This charming café close to Pali Naka is probably one of my favourite restaurants in Mumbai. It’s great to go out there and hang out with friends. What keeps dragging me every time to this joint is its ambience. The whole rustic feeling simply makes you feel good and that warrants Pali Village Café as a pretty cool café!
The moment you enter the place it gives you a feeling of being in a time machine and entering into a different world, a contrast from the regular hustle bustle of the city. The decor is simply captivating — the cafe has a wrought-iron stair railing, a balcony seating overlooking the seating below, a cosy dining room with wooden chairs and quirky old photographs adorning its walls. It’s simply classy yet not too formal. The element that interests me the most is the big screen that always has some interesting old movie playing on it.
The menu which mainly boasts of Mediterranean flavours, is thoughtfully put up. Their dishes have a lot of interesting combinations and experiments, that mostly work. I managed to try out a couple of delicious dishes. Each of the components in the dish was fresh, flavourful and offered a whole array of texture, taste and visual appeal. From the grilled chicken to the salads — they use organic, fresh and tasty produce. My favourite dish would have to be the garlic prawns in coriander broth. It’s simply yummy — you cannot miss this dish. The broth is light and it enhances the flavours of the garlic prawns. The combination is impressive and I recommend this dish to everyone. It’s definitely a must try.
Other than that, I also liked the chorizo and the phyllo pastry pouches.
Apart from the food and the ambience, the staff makes this place to stand out. They are completely efficient and do a great job. Plus it’s close to home, so that saves me a lot of travelling. The whole aura surrounding Pali Village café — quirky furniture, dim lights, dark colours, ancient walls and the subtle flavoured food — manages to bring a warm smile on your face, as you listen to the Mediterranean music.
Name: Pali Village Cafe
Meal for two: Rs 2,500
Address: Plot No. 602, Ambedkar Road, Pali Naka, Bandra West, Call: 022 26050401
Rating: ***1/2
