Hi ! Avina,
Just read your review on Barista Coffee Bar.
I been to Barista in a few cities.
Barista,has just opened up in Calcutta, about three months back.
So,naturally I was quite keen on visiting this hip & happening place which ever city I used to be in.
One of the Baristas I loved was the one at SV Road in Santacruz (West), near restaurant Yoko.
The first time I went there was in July last year.
Wow !!!! I loved the ambience.
This Barista is like ''L'' shaped, and they also have a comfortable sofa to sit.
Coming to coffees, yes, I am also a
black coffee drinker like you !!!!!
No sugar, no milk,
a good & strong black coffee !!!!
Well,the coffees at Barista are okie, but not the black coffee.
Yes,their black coffee is pretty ordinary.
And yes,you have to pay extra for all those flavours you may ask for !!!!
I believe some flavours are okie, and goes well with
Latte or Mocca.
How about Latte with Guava syrup !!!
But not the Watermelon
syrups with any coffee or soda !!!!!
The Barista can do with a lot more flavours,they have very very limited ones.
Okie, now coming to this Santacruz Barista.
After coming back from Bombay, I always longed to goto this one again !
So,when I was in Bombay again, in July this year, I made it a point to go there again.
Well, after a couple of days I got my time, and I rushed off !!!!!!
The same place !!!!! so exciting !!!
As usual I ordered for my favourite,black coffee,I think they call it coffee Americano, and being a veggie,Panner ( cottage cheese) tikka Sandwich.
Most of the tables were occupied, some four seaters, were just half occupied.
I was looking around, expecting some help from the staff.
They might have helped me to get a seat at any one of those half empty tables.
But, Ho !!! no help !!!
What the hell is this??
Hold on,they had also taken my orders and money too !!!
There was no way I could leave !!!!
Offcourse yes,if I wanted to give away the money, and forget my dinner.
No way.
I then went up to a table,requested, and that young couple didn't mind me joining them !!!!
Well well, don't worry I am not handsome !!
Okie,I was waiting from my orders, but my earlier excitement was reduced.
Anyway,I took out my papers, started flipping through them.
After a while they called in my order.
Okie,I went up,the coffee hot & piping,
and my sandwiches !! well,
they seemed to be the same as they had been taken out from the shelves.
Didn't they heat it up ??
I touched it.
Well,it wasn't cold ,as they are from the shelves.
But it wasn't hot either.
I asked the counter guys, and the one who had taken my order, said that though he had put it in the microwave,but if I wanted, he would heat it up again.
I asked the guy,wont the sandwich become soggy, if it was put in the microwave again????
Well, I no microwave expert nor a foodie, but I think I know something very basic.
And I was wondering why is this professional guy not aware of it?????
Anyway,that guy, smiled, obviously not to my liking,
and said no it wont, and when I asked him again, was he sure???? he said, well sir, it wont be very soggy.
Which meant,it would be !!
Well,I said go ahead,I also wanted to see, may be I was wrong, or I wanted to show this guy the results of his deed.
So,my sandwich was put in the micro again,and it came out in a few minutes.
Now,my sandwich, was more flatters,AND, the panners were, squeezing out !!!!!
And, offcourse, the bread was soggy too.
When I pointed it out to the guy,he gave an expression like a fool !!
Anyway,my coffee was getting cold. and I was hungry too.
So,I took whatever it was, and somehow had it along with the coffee.
Well, the coffee was as usual,nothing great, and I don't think I need to say anything more about the sandwiches.
Barista, anyway has very limited menu to offer in the foods.
Moreover,with the recent increase in prices, I don't see anything particularly fancy about Barista, other than its ambience.
Their coffees, were exciting,when no other coffee shops were around, other than the ones at five stars.
Now,I don't really find Barista exciting.
Hey, Avina, if you are ever in Calcutta, check out the Coffee Pai Cafe.
Okie Avina,keep writing such good reviews.
Thanks
A.B
