In The Comfort Zone

Arriving for an early lunch,we were pleased to see we weren’t the only ones dining in. There were a group of youngsters clearly celebrating something over beer and starters. The music has always been a highlight here,with its pop/rock playlist. Thankfully,that has not changed. The cafe is casual with its seating as before,but as one reads through the new menu one realises that Cafe Amor has turned it around completely. In fact,it seems to have kept in mind customer demand,as little else would explain why ‘Desi Breakfast’,complete with options of parantha and dahi,finds its way in.

It seems that looking to break away from an European style cafe,the menu has been plumped up with Punjabi palate pleasers and reduced prices. Encouraging all-in-one ‘sharing’ platters,there are some combos to choose from. The vegetarian 4Play (Rs 250) that we tried had spring rolls,paneer shaslik,potato shells stuffed with cheese and bite-size portions of bruschetta. The portions were good for two and the spring rolls were the winners. The potatoes were loaded with cheese as mentioned in the menu,but seemed to have been pulled out of the oven tad too early. For mains,it was hard to resist ordering Maggi that’s a part of the menu under the ‘Nostalgia’ section. With the rain creating puddles outside,we opted for Maggi Cheese Garlic (Rs 110). It also comes in ‘Chinese tadka’ and ‘Sweet and Spicy’ versions. A bit gimmicky,maybe. Served with garlic bread,the Maggi tasted different enough (not overly cheesy) to be a meal in a restaurant,yet it was reminiscent of the original. The theme here seems to be comfort food and the inclusion of Amritsari Karari Macchli and Bun Kebab just seals it. We also tried the Peri-Peri chicken (Rs 325) that wasn’t very fiery and was served with garlic bread,grilled vegetables,a meal in itself.

The menu overhaul goes down to the desserts that brings in new arrivals like Tiramisu,Bailey’s flavoured chocolate mousse and homemade ice cream. We opted for Tiramisu (Rs 220) that’s served in a large coffee cup. Even though the layers of cake soaked in coffee was set deep inside and the cream was loaded,it was comforting and generous for two. Perhaps,that is the point. Meal for Two: Rs 600

Location: Huda Restaurant

Complex,Sector 5,Panchkula

Contact: 4266666