05 August,2011 07:24 AM IST | | Sharin Bhatti
Juhu's new beachside upmarket deli, Silver Beach Cafe, attempts to serve the posh coffee-shop diner. alas, it fails miserably on the taste-meter
It's just what Juhu needed. A quaint European-style joint called Silver Beach Cafe, with mahogany wooden interiors, a raw wooden hut-shaped ceiling, a lamppost with a hanging wrought-iron sign, a long-wooden bench, a neat live cooking counter, a wood-fired pizza oven and a high glass shelf stocked with international wines.
The suburb has enough yuppie-hosting cafes, fine-dining restaurants and the occasional Barista. All it needed was a deli and Silver Beach Caf ufffd attempts to fill that space.
Cilantro, Jalapeno, Onion, Tomato and Chicken Thin-Crust Pizza
The moment we stepped in, the warm interiors took us in. There can never be enough delis in the city, which instantly got our spirits and expectations soaring sky-high. The two-level eatery has a regular diner area on the ground level and an attic-like more intimate eating area on the first level. The staff is pleasing, polite and eager to make an impression. This, considering the fact that the restaurant is still not officially open and has only done a soft launch to weed out teething trouble, we are informed. As if taking it as a disclaimer, we decide to play safe with the menu.
Our first order was Tangy Chicken Curls (Rs 255) for starters. Hollow minced chicken rolls, stuffed with spinach, parmesan cheese and mushroom, laced with balsamic vinegar. Although the plate arrived a little colder than we expected, the warm rolls left a wonderful aftertaste in the mouth. The flavours, aroma and the meat ufffd were perfect. Whetting our appetite for the main-course, we had already given Silver Beach Caf ufffd a hands-down win.
As if on cue to the thought that we might have spoken too soon, the chef recommended Thin Crust Pizza, which the restaurant claimed is their specialty. It was a complete disaster. Fresh pizza bread is the only point they get for their limpy, cheesy, tasteless pizza.
We ordered a Chicken Pizza with cilantro, jalapeno, onion, peppers and roast chicken topping. While we were expecting the gluttony that pizza is supposed to invoke, we couldn't even get through half of it. This, keeping in mind that our Red Wine Sangria (Rs 400), just about appealed to our taste buds. The sour, dry house red wine was sprinkled scantily with finely-chopped pieces of apple. We would have enjoyed it more, had they let it stay for a while, but it passed our time.
Dessert was our last effort to let Silver Beach Caf ufffd rescue itself. We called for a Tiramisu (Rs 125). Interesting, nostalgic, creamy taste, which reminded us of a Blackforest Pastry we had as kids at a local bakery. Alas! No rescue.
At Silver Beach Caf ufffd, Jaldarshan Building, near Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple, Gandhigram Road, Juhu.
Call 9820417128 / 26208930
Timings 7 pm to 1 am. They will stay open from 7.30 am to 1 am from August 15
Silver Beach Caf ufffd didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals.
