For the last two weeks EVERYBODY has been talking about the Pali Village Cafe. A charming new two-level restaurant that’s opened up at one end of Pali Market in Pali Naka, Bandra (the best way to find it however is to jump in a rickshaw and say “take me to Janata restaurant!” its the nondescript green iron door next to it. Apart from the fact that it looks like an old Spanish house with perfectly piped-music and lots of cozy corners the food is pretty kick-ass too. I had a Greek salad, pasta, pizza by the slice and several pitchers of their Zinfandel Sangria (yummy!) which were all to-die-for. The cafe is the brainchild of Suren Joshi and his fiancée Mishali Sanghani – the talented but hopelessly shy duo who I tried desperately to get more footage of. That’s sweet and all but I’m just saying a little PR 101 may be in order once the novelty wears off hmm?
Anyway, chances are on any given day you’ll run into several members of the Mumbai glitterati here, on Sunday when I went I spotted Rajeev Samant, Rohan Sippy, Juhi Pande and Salim Merchant (who makes the cutest judge on Indian Idol dontcha think?)
Reservations: (022) 26050401
Pricing: Meal for two expected to cost Rs 1,500 (with two glasses of wine) Psst! They’re also starting brunch soon! #WIN
Gotta love how Lokesh Jain, owner of Janata restaurant remains unfazed by his new neighbors, “I concentrate mostly on middle and lower-class people. They must be aiming at richer people. I am planning on visiting it with my family.”