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With a wide choice of low-calorie items, the Cook's Cafe is the starting point of niche dining in Greater Noida. However, it fumbles on several counts

Like every other wife, mine too loves going on long drives. Especially on the expressway that connects Noida to Greater Noida. Even for me, to drive on this 25-30 kilometer stretch is fun. Ekdum makkhan. But then, once I reach Pari Chowk in Greater Noida, I don't have an option to sit for a proper meal or even a cup of coffee.


The ambience needs improvement. The place looks tacky

Though there's a mall right there but the food outlets in it are annoyingly disappointing. Recently, I found a reason to replace annoyance with delight -- The Cook's Caf ufffd, a multi-cuisine eatery. The recap follows.

A grand entry
Very frankly, I'm not a low-cal fanatic; my looks prove it. When you can have cheese, why would you pick chalk? But yes, I love acting like one. On my way to this dining space in Atlantis-The Club at Jaypee Integrated Sports Complex, I was doubtful if I'll even glance through their healthy menu.

I even told my wife: "Agar khana achcha nahi hua to Pizza Hut chalenge." But fortunately I didn't go by my apprehensions, and picked the menu to spot the most oily, cheesy (as in cheese) and high-on-cal dishes. And I found them too. Yippee! Cajun spiced chicken burger, Triple decker vegetarian and cheese sandwich, Ragda patties, Punjabi samosa (reads weird but tasted just the way it should), Vegetable tahiri (I felt like hugging the chef. Cent-per-cent authentic), Shadras subzian, Gulab jamun and Gajar ka halwa -- I couldn't have asked for more. Burrp!

Serve what you promote
The most healthy part of my dinner was the Greek salad and fruit punch (I believe it's healthy). But hold on. If I heard it correctly, I was told that since it's located within the premises of a sports complex, they serve healthy food options. I would like to believe them but only if they tell me what are Ragda patties, Samosa and Choley bhaturey doing in a 'low-cal, healthy menu'? Personally I loved eating there but that doesn't make it eligible to flaunt 'a haven for weight watchers' tag. When I put this question to the manager, he replied, "Apart from the regular dining options, we 'also' serve healthy options. Plus, we prepare the 'otherwise' high-calorie dishes in a healthy manner."

I nodded in consensus but deep down I didn't agree. Even a chef with a magic wand can't prepare a plate of Ragda patties that has less than 450 calories, the count almost close to that of a vegetarian cheese burger. If I really want to have Punjabi samosa, I'll go to Haldiram's, Bikanerwala, Aggarwal or any other sweetmeat shop. Why should I first spend money on the fuel, drive all the way to Greater Noida and then waste Rs 110 on one plate of Samosa when I can get better taste for Rs 5? Not done. Another area of improvement is the ambience. Looks too tacky and lacks imagination. But all said and done, the eatery still qualifies as the best dining joint for people who live or work in Greater Noida. Else, everything is obvious.

At: Jaypee Integrated Sports Complex, G Block, Surajpur kasna Road, Greater Noida
Timings: 6 am to 10.30 pm
Ring: 0120-2326533
Meal for two: Rs 1,400