TEA TRAILS, Fort
This was a matter of luck, chance and availability of a place. At the recent Kala Ghoda Art Fest, the entire area is more or less crowded at all hours, even at 2 pm in the afternoon, as every one is looking for a place nearby to grab lunch or a quick bite or just to hang out especially if you pay visit in the scorching heat. This was our case, we went in the early afternoon and even though initially we had decided on checking out another place, everything in the area had a waiting list and we were super hungry and tired to be on our feet. After facing this at 3-4 places, we finally found luck at Tea Trails but were highly doubtful since this would be one of those places which I hadn't looked up (I do a lot of restaurant search in my free time). But the warmth displayed by the owner was a positive reinforcement and we were after all tired.
The place is done in turquoise and white and it is absolutely soothing to the eyes and when you are as tired as we were on the day with the sun giving you a slight head ache, this is welcoming and refreshing. I might be exaggerating but it is like stepping foot in a beach with clear blue waters. Step in here after having walked for a minimum of one hour with the sun shining above you and you will realize what I am talking about. Also, the decor is inspired from Santorini, Greece. Why? One look at the walls and you wouldn't have to ask why.
Service? Good. But not the best. There was an up side and there is a down side as well to the service. The person taking our order had sort of messed it up and forgot what we had ordered for, and the particular item was unavailable at the time as well, so we were waiting for nothing in a way. Also, the drinks we ordered were, not exactly what we had ordered. I think it would have helped if he had a note pad to just note what we had ordered. No chance of a mishap happening then. However, the day was saved by the Manager/Owner who stepped in and took over and informed us kindly that the particular item is not available and recommended dishes otherwise. Also, our drinks were exchanged and were not billed for it. He had gone to the extent of saying we could enjoy the extra drink served as well while our original concoction was being brewed. But, one sip of it and we realized we didn't even want to have it. I love cranberry and i love iced teas, so I don't know if it was this place, but the cranberry iced tea just seemed like Cough Syrup. Well, you now know what you definitely should not be ordering - the cranberry iced tea. Who would have thought there would come a day that I would reject an iced tea! Brownie points to he manager/owner for stepping in the way he did and took over service almost completely.
On any other day, if i paid visit to a place that specializes in the different types of tea they offer, I would have tried and tested their chai, being a huge tea-addict myself. However, we were hammered and wanted something cold and refreshing on the day. So in drinks we had the lemon and mint iced tea and the recently made popular "Bubble Tea" in lychee/lichi and mango flavor. I would have difficult choosing the best of the three as all of them were equally good. But as the bubble tea was something I had tried for the first time, I would say I was a little fascinated with the jelly balls at at the bottom. Every time you take a sip, it slides into your mouth and goes pop! Yeah, we felt like kids, trying to make them pop. Highly recommended. In the food, we had the tea pancakes, smoked cottage cheese sandwich and the grilled cottage cheese platter. The pancakes were something was a result of my cravings but I have to say that it wasn't all that I expected it to be. They were pretty ordinary and we make better at home, none of us like the fruit compote served along with it, I am guessing it was pineapple, as I couldn't really make out. In short, I would not really order it again. The smoked cottage cheese sandwich was the star of the meal. I am very particular about the sandwiches I have and I get tired after a point of having them if they are loaded with too much sauce or lack of it even. The balance has to be there between the ingredients, which is why many a times I do not prefer ordering cheese loaded sandwiches, even though I am cheese addict. I would put it this way - I would prefer this over a chicken based sandwich as well any day of the week. Finally the Cottage Cheese Platter or lets just say Paneer. :D Paneer smeared with peri peri sauce and grilled, two huge pieces of it (Thank you for not down-sizing the portion) leaves you satisfied over any Paneer craving you might have had. Served with a side of butter herb rice (I need to learn how to make butter herb rice, i love it everywhere I go), wok tossed veggies like broccoli, carrots and some garlic sauce to enjoy the over all experience. Good. Real Good. I am guessing that people of Portugal (Wiki tells me peri peri originated in Portugal) had small portions of rice or for that matter people in the west as such. Why? I always find that the serving of the chicken/cottage cheese/tofu or the protein is always higher than the serving of the bread/rice which would be your carbohydrates. I guess this might be because of the concept of balanced meal where you need more of protein that carbohydrates. My point? I am an Indian, and I want the rice portion to be a little more. like just a little. At the end of the meal, we were left wanting for a little more of the rice. :P I think all three of my girls would echo the same thought.
This place is an ideal location to just let out the lazy person in you, sit back, enjoy your cuppa of chai with something on the side or maybe even a lot on the side as is generally the case with mua! :D
WHAT WE HAD - Mango Bubble Tea (Obsessed)
Lychee Bubble Tea (Obsessed)
Lemon & Mint Iced Tea (Refreshing)
Tea Pancakes (Okay!)
Smoked Cottage Cheese Sandwich (Might just make me a vegetarian)
Grilled Cottage Cheese Platter (Yummy in my Tummy)
DAMAGES - Rs 1400/- (Approx)
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