Feel Good Factor

In a city that is fast leaving behind its heritage as old mills convert into swanky skyscrapers,a few establishments in the Lower Parel area have retained the essence of the original space. Cafe Zoe Cafe,Brasserie and Bar at Mathuradas Mill Compound with high ceilings and bare brick walls is the latest entrant to this category.

In a city that is fast leaving behind its heritage as old mills convert into swanky skyscrapers,a few establishments in the Lower Parel area have retained the essence of the original space. Cafe Zoe Cafe,Brasserie and Bar at Mathuradas Mill Compound with high ceilings and bare brick walls is the latest entrant to this category. Cafe Zoe uses this to its advantage by underplaying the decor.

Spacious interiors,minimalistic furniture and ceiling lamps and fans hung low lend a European air to the space. The typed-out food menu,with illustrations of the items,adds to the quaintness. To complement this old-world charm,however,is a raised ramp with couches that can make way for a stage,book and retail shelves with quirky items,an open kitchen and a bar at night time that is a spectacle of lights and bottles.

With 3,800 sq ft on the ground floor,and another 300 sq ft on the mezzanine,Cafe Zoe is a comfortable place to hide away with a book or a laptop or eat and drink until the 1.30 am deadline.

One can start with a pumpkin soup or a salad of arugula with olive and balsamic. Those visiting for drinks might prefer to choose from the bar food section. There are innovative nibbles,like mini lamb burgers,and the tried-and-tested fried chicken wings in hot sauce. The cherry tomatoes and goat cheese crostinis are definitely worth a try as the crisp toast perfectly balances the dollop of olive oil on the juicy tomatoes.

The prawn and calamari ajillo comes with a broth that isnt quite convenient as a bar food but is impossible to waste even when the lemon and paprika-doused seafood has been polished off.

The sandwiches are served with a variety of meats to choose from ham,turkey pastrami,tuna and salmon in addition to vegetarian options. But the vegetarian burger is avoidable as the under-spiced patty in between crisp burger buns feels monotonous.

The mains are categorised under Legumes (vegetables),Volailes (poultry),Carne (red meats) and Seafood. The portions are generous,especially with a choice of sides thrown in. For hearty eaters,theres half a roast chicken on offer. Those who like to experiment will find the roast pork belly with carbonara a tempting choice. The flavourful grilled tenderloin steak with a serving of thick tamarind-flavoured sauce will find favour with meat lovers.

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A cup of coffee might be ideal to conclude a long night of wine,food and conversation,but dessert enthusiasts might want to try the melt-in-the-mouth baked cheesecake with a crumbly crust and a topping of chunky raspberry sauce.

Cafe Zoe exudes the passion that the owners Tarini Mohan,Jeremie Horowitz and Chef Viraf Patel have put into it. Reasonably priced for what it offers,the cafe,brasserie and bar is a good option for those looking to spend time away from the city without leaving it.

This review was conducted anonymously. Meal for two without alcohol costs approx Rs 2,000

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