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!