Review: Coffee & Chai Co.

Coffee & Chai co. is a cafe and bistro in South Point Mall, Gurgaon, launched in 2012 by the husband wife duo Anjali & Vishesh Manaktala. The café has a variety of specialty teas and coffees and they source their tea leaves and coffee beans from their origin and brew them to perfection. They have a diverse food menu ranging from pizzas, pastas, salads, soups to continental dishes. The decor of the place is nice and simple- the lighting is bright, the white walls make the spots of wood and color pop, and the book shelf is a nice touch as well.

We started with a Red Currant Shake and a Lavender Tea. The shake was smooth and creamy and had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness. The lavender tea was infused with a lovely delicate flavor and aromatic fragrance.The Beet, Feta and Orange Salad had crispy lettuce leaves tossed with thin slices of fresh beets, fresh orange slices and Greek feta cheese, topped with walnuts for crunch and some halved cherry tomatoes. The balance of the earthiness from the beetroot, the sharp citrus hit of oranges and the creamy feta cheese worked really well together.

The Baked Broccoli and Roasted Almond Soup was one of the best soups we’ve tasted recently. The texture was smooth and creamy, but the soup was light on the palate. The baked broccoli flavor was really tasty and the added nuttiness of almonds added a nice depth of flavor. The soup was topped with a light shaving of parmesan as well, and was served with a lovely crisp slice of garlic bread.The Basil Pesto Pasta had penne tossed in a rich, creamy pesto sauce, garnished with basil and pine nuts, and topped with cheese. The pesto sauce was really zingy and flavorsome, but the penne was a tad overcooked.

The Vegetable Au Gratin was a delight- it had perfectly cooked al dente vegetables in a creamy, rich white sauce enriched with herbs and seasonings which provided a lovely flavor to the sauce. The dish was topped with a thick layer of melted, string, gooey mozzarella cheese. This dish is a must-have here!The Herbed Chicken Breast dish consisted of two hearty slices of grilled chicken breast in a creamy mushroom sauce served with fluffy mashed potatoes and a medley of grilled vegetables.Overall, our entire meal was wonderful, and all dishes impressed with their flavors and the quantity. The service was really courteous and swift, and this is a place we would love to go back to!