Cafe review: What you should expect at these hottest new cafes in Bandra

SUnder a tamarind tree by the stepsIn times when cafes are more about Instagrammable corners and less about foodmdashBandra stands out Thatrsquos what we adore about this lsquohoodmdashyoursquoll always find something new and with a character of its own We decided to review three newly opened eateriesmdashbut one shut down a week ago Hey itrsquos a tough crowdIced latte and carrot cake PicAnurag AhireFirst we ambled on by to the Steps Cafe near no prize for guessing Mount Mary steps At this threelevel eatery you have to first place your order at the front counter After this you head to the table upstairs through a narrow stairway flanked by black and white striped walls that feel like they are closing into you The first floor has artwork and tiny nooks where you can grab a bite and have your coffee the top floor is more tranquil where you are surrounded by plants Whatrsquos interesting is that the trunk of a livein tamarind tree runs through the centre of the cafe with the foliage spread above the top floor giving the space a warm quaint feel thatrsquos much like sitting under a treeThe food menu changes every day and the glass counters showcase the bakery items We started with eggs with greens and beans Rs 345 a chicken cheese sandwich Rs 375 and a mixed veg sweet potato salad Rs 375 The food was very average and pricing was steep The almond croissant Rs 249 was buttery and flaky which everyone on the table loved the carrot cake Rs 225 too was moist and well mademdashand both went perfectly with americano Rs 190 and iced coffee Rs 250 alike but still overpriced The service was average and we were particularly disappointed with the unclean steel straw that came with the cold coffee This is not a place to eat but for coffee lovers who want to read meet a friend or work out ofSee you by the seaA few days later we headed to Grounded Cafe off Bandstand This openair cafeacute near the sea has a very mild Mykonos vibe Therersquos indoor seating too with large open windows and air curtains We preferred a spot in the shade under a frangipani tree and were blessed with the occasional shower and whiff of the fragrant flowersCalifornia BenedictWe started with BBQ chicken sliders Rs 300 and spinach corn mushroom and cheddar sandwich Rs 425 which we thought were priced on the higher side but both were packed with flavours The California Benedict Rs 575 was going to be our deciding factor for the cafe food ratingsmdashnot everyone can make a good poached egg and Hollandaise sauce and this one was layered on a halfcroissantChicken slidersWhile the eggs were poached right the sauce lacked a punch and the croissant was perhaps reheated and so very chewy Maybe sticking to muffins would be a good idea The cold brew latte Rs 190 was well made and the salted caramel affogato Rs 250 was the best wersquove had in a long time In the mixed berry compote Rs 275 we thought the aroma of eggs was too strong and the layers were overfilled making it a messy mealOne can easily imagine spending long afternoons reading a book or meeting friends for long pending conversations For those sitting outside it may be warm right now but the flower shower comes freeWhat Steps CafeAt Tertulian Rd off Doctor Peter Dias Road Mount Mary Bandra WestWhen 9 AM to 10 PMCall 8082665284Rating OKAY