[Rated: 3.5/5]
Right next to Mount Carmel church in Bandra, Salt Water Café has become a favourite meeting and hangout place for Mumbaikars. The décor is minimalist and the seating a trifle uncomfortable with chairs resembling wooden benches. This cafe is nevertheless proving a hit with all walks of diner, from first daters to ladies who lunch to buddies who want to chat away.
I am here with friends for lunch, all set to enjoy their bottomless sangria glass and of course the food. We are seated next to the window, which is definitely not a good idea at lunch time; with the mid day sun’s blazing heat. Some adjustment in the seats and air conditioning vent later, things get better.
We are greeted by a good bread basket and some butter. Once our system is well lubricated with sangria, we set to order the lunch. The service is pleasant yet a bit too laid back and it takes some time to get our lunch orders. The unlimited sangria proves to be a good companion as we wait.
The first dish to arrive is grilled pork chop with caramelised onions, cumin jam and jus (Rs 690) which is competent though I am not too fond of the toppings which make the dish too sweet for my taste. Once I remove them, it tastes just fine. The pan seared John Dory with sundried tomatoes and sunflower seed risotto (Rs 700) is a great dish. The fish is cooked just right, and the pesto which it is served on complements the fish well. The open grilled vegetable and pesto sandwich (Rs 320) is boring and lacks character. The Spanish chorizo stew with potatoes and spring onions (Rs 720) is so over salted that it has to be sent back.
At this stage we are still not satisfied with the lunch had so far. Thankfully we see the day’s specials on a blackboard discreetly tucked away, with some rather interesting dishes. Wish the serving staff had told us about it earlier. Undaunted, we decide to order more. And thank god we do, because their best starts appearing now. The pulled pork burger (Rs 720) is simply awesome, taking me back to the streets of New Orleans. The pork is soft, in fact so soft that it melts in the mouth. This will rate among the best burgers I have ever tasted. Another NOLA classic, shrimp poboy (Rs 720) is authentic and quite good. A poboy is like a subway sandwich, with a character of its own. Here the shrimp is fried crisp and this makes every bite a delight.
We are too full so we decide to share one dessert, tiramisu and porcini ice cream (Rs 280). The tiramisu is very good though the ice cream does not add anything to the experience.
Saltwater café is a good place to go for lunch. You will need to be a bit patient with the service, and make it a point to search for hidden gems in the day specials.
Ratings out of 5
Food: 4.0 | Ambiance: 3.5 | Service: 3.5 | Overall: 3.5
Meal for Two: Rs 5000 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes| Timing: 9 AM to 11:30 PM
Address: 87 Chapel Road, Rose Minar Annexe, Next to Mount Carmel Church, Bandra West, Mumbai| Phone: 022 26434441, 022 32710520
