Gurgaon galleria market is fast becoming the hub for themed eateries, with interesting and refreshing themes. Nestling amongst them is café wanderlust, a vegetarian traveller’s café with an informal, low seating, bean bags, rocking chairs, and travel books, and posters.
This café is a dream child of Disha Saxena, a management graduate who was earlier managing Costa coffee and Birdie’s chain of bakeries in Mumbai. With her mother being the chef of the enterprise and husband chipping in over the weekends makes this a truly home run enterprise, adding to its charm.
Over a cup of adrak chai with chakhna (knick knacks) to go with chai (Rs55), I ask Disha about her plans with Wanderlust. She plans to open more travel stores, especially in areas where like minded travel enthusiasts can meet, with interesting vegetarian food from all over the world.
And there is a lot of interesting dishes to taste here. The hot Banarasi kachoris filled with spicy daal masala and served with aloo sabzi and petha sabzi, apple cardamom dip, coriander green chilly chutney, tamarind chutney, groundnut chutney (Rs.125) is one such delicious dish which is a meal by itself. Kashmiri spicy lotus root mixed with boiled and mashed potatoes, lightly fried and served with lotus stem chips, moojh (radish and yogurt dip), coriander chilly chutney and tamarind chutney (Rs125) has many textures combining to make a perfect bite. Mushroom Tapas with sautéed mushroom Spanish style and served with a chunky tomato and oregano sauce (Rs 165) is a simple yet addictive dish. The onion tomato chillies crepes served with mushroom cheese dip (Rs195) are saucy and exciting in character, but can do with a softer crepe. Hot off the oven calzone filled with veggies (Rs.195) is filling.
Some work is needed to perfect the Mumbaiya vada pao which is served with garlic and red chilly powder in a soft baked bun (Rs.95) has me missing the authentic pao. Also the chunky potatoes need to be mashed. Bombay Sandwich with layers of onion, tomatoes and potatoes (Rs165) is missing beetroot, a crucial ingredient. Also grilling it makes it lose its distinct layers.
Desserts are what this café takes rather seriously. The dessert tasting platter that is served to me is full of goodies like apple bread, casatta siciliana, (a soft sponge cake layered with ricotta cheese and marzipan), tiramisu cake, carrot cake, christmas special sponge cake, rabri (all at Rs.145 per portion) to red velvet cupcake (Rs.65), Kashmiri phirni (Rs.95) and gajar halwa (Rs 95) there is something for every sweet lover. In this weather it is the piping hot gajar halwa that I indulge most in.
Despite being a confirmed carnivore, I enjoy the food here. Food is homely, tasty and exciting. For vegetarians this café offers a variety not available as yet in Gurgaon.
Ratings out of 5
Food: 3.5 | Ambiance: 3.5 | Service: 4.0 |Overall: 3.5
Meal for Two: Rs 700 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes| Timing: 12 Noon to 12 Midnight
Address: Cafe Wanderlust, SF 53-54, First Floor, DLF Galleria, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon | Phone: +91 8447944345
