Shaka — Restaurant in Gujarat

Shakaharis has been quite the talk for their unique concept of growing maximum farm products themselves, not using any preservated items and making every dish from a scratch. Apart from Ala Carte, they have started serving Sunday Brunch. The cost of the brunch is ₹699 +taxes. You can avail great discounts through walk in and also other eating out apps. The ambience is par with the food items. It has that indian touch to it with a hint of western side. The brunch consists of a lot of dishes, a few of them being customisable as per your wish. There are also live counters for you to go and get made your food as you like. The brunch consists of maximum Indian dishes including Gujarati food and also a few dishes from other cuisines. The dishes are uniquely named into a category which sounds completely filmy and appetizing. The things I had from their brunch are - 1.DEDH FUTIYA KA MOCKTAIL STATION - There are two options available; Orange Delight and Kala Khatta Kapioska. If you aren't a mocktail person you can ask for a mojito as per your liking. Personally I loved Kala Khatta 2.SOUP - They have Thukpa and Manchow variants. Chinese sauces, fried noodles and boiled noodles are kept on the side. Thukpa wasn't upto the mark but Manchow was quite good. 3.STARTERS - There were Mini Dabelis, Khakhra Pizzas, 3 types of Thepla Rolls, Sholay Lollipops, Indian Tapas and Veg manchurian. The best were Khakhra Pizzas and Thepla Rolls. 4.TIFFIN BOX - Was typically a counter for gujarati snack items. It had sev mamra, fafda, chakri, khaman, sandwich dhokla, farali chevda, soya sticks, mirchi vada, fryums and khakhra. There was nothing new about it, but Gujarati food is always amazing, so go and have whatever your favourite item is! 5.FRIES COUNTER - A kid friendly counter where you find french fries, smileys, bullets and potato wedges. 6.SALAD & RAITA - Had Russian Salad, Green Salad, Yum Woon Sen Salad, Bhurani raita and Pineapple raita. I personally lived the Yum Woon Sen Salad and Pineapple Raita 7.THAPA'S SUSHI ADDA - Had 3 varieties of sushi : Paneer & Mushroom, Vegetable and Avocado. All of them were moderately nice when had with soy sauce. 8.MAJNU'S PASTA STATION - A live station to get your pasta made as you would like to. The pasta types are penne, spaghetti, ravioli and tortellini. The sauces are Arrabiata, Alfredo and pink. I got mine made with Ravioli in Alfredo sauce with my choice of veggies and got extra cheese added. Get it customised as per your taste and you will surely love it. 9.CHOOZE KA MEXICAN BAR - A live counter which had nachos, tacos and quesedillas with baked beans, veggies,grated cheese, yogurt, hummus, olives and jalapenos on the sides. You can make it the way you like it! 10.MIRCHI KA CHAAT WALA - You can get bhel puri, sev puri, samosa chat or delhi chat made as to whatever you want to try. My personal recommendation is samosa chaat. It was too good. 11.SHERE DA LASSI GHAR - Available items are chaash and masala chaash in lakhoti bottles, sweet Lassi, banarasi lassi, dry fruit lassi and kesar pista lassi. I loved the banarasi lassi and masala chaash! 12.BHARAT KA KHAANA - The items were Afghani kofta, Tandoori paneer tikka, Dum aloo, Chhole, Tadka daal, steam rice and assorted roti basket. My most favourite one was Afghani kofta! 13.VIDESH KA KHAANA - Pad thai noodles, red Thai curry and baked macaroni with pineapple. I loved the pad thai noodles in this section. Peanut tidbits were kept on the side and you can add it as per your liking! 14.DESSERTS AND MEETHA - Assorted mousse of different variants, Brownies, chocolate lollipops, ice-creams, Awadhi kheer, Angoori gulab jamun and Moti ki rabdi were presented. The best were chocolate truffle balls and the most unique and loved. By me was moti ki rabdi. Motichur was kept on the side which you can add as per your liking to the lachhedar rabdi. It was too good to be true! 15.CHURAN KI REKDI - A variety of mouth freshners and digestives kept such as meetha pan, banarasi pan masala, mint sauf, mango candies, jellies, churan and amchur. Go grab...

For starters, Awadhpuri MUST clearly mention where patrons must head to taste their delicacies. Let me explain what I mean -- when you go via the stairs you are met with two doors. None of the doors mention their names. You might just land up up a place right next to Awadhpuri. It's not fun to start your meal with a bit of awkwardness, no?

Upon entering Awadhpuri, you are greeted with a beautiful lighted hall with ancient lamps, portraits of people who like they must have been rich in their era, the golden curtains, and the works. Excellent first impressions. The ambience of Awadhpuri is clearly one of the best in town. I especially liked the way they played Ghazals -- soothing n calm on any given day.

Awadhpuri is a set menu style restaurant. A la Barbeque Nation style. On this particular Sunday, I was in for a super treat. First came the soup Gosht Yahkni Shorba a bit on the spicer side. Very much home-like but a tad too diluted for my liking. I like my soups creamy. They serve you a spoon of minced mutton in the soup before you start. Up next, the starters: the Funkari Jhinga was really awesome. Although, my guess is it tasted as if it were boiled then barbequed later. Tilnaaz Machii was crisper and tastier. Heavenly stuff. The rest of the kebabs were more of the 'run on the mill' starters in chicken and mutton. Mind you they were very good but kind of 'been there, done that stuff'.

The Mains were equally good. I especially liked the choice I had in Indian breads although they were served luke warm. I started with good ol' roti as the rest were so hard to break with hands that I had no intentions of testing my stomach with these cardboards. The Taar Gosht was a welcome break and the Lagan Ka Murgh which had a yellow gravy came with the same chicken from the starters aptly named Murgh Sarson Peelimirch Tikka. The Biryani was surprisingly good. Juicy and lots of meat too. Truly authentic Awadhi style.

Time to wash all this heavenly food with some Meetha: they serve you small portions of everything and a kulfi too. Yes, you get to repeat what you like so don't worry. The Kulfi should have been Malai-like, and not the watery malai that they served. Not as good as the food.

Comparisons are inevitable of course. I'll compare the food experience with BBQ Nation.

To put it lightly, Awadhpuri came across as stingy with their servings. Whereas, at BBQ you get a free hand at least with the Mains if not the Starters. This is the main differentiator and the game changer for BBQ. I'll blame this on the waiters there who refused to go full throttle on the serving part during any part of the meal.

When i started off, the restaurant was not even half full. Still the service was slow. Waiters were more interested to gather up and chat near a see-through kitchen than serve customers. It gets on your nerves as you wait for your food with hand on hand, especially the starters, to arrive. I had to wait for an eternity for the Prawns. And when they finally arrived, they gave me two pieces ! Duh ;(

Mind you, I'll again stress this, that the quality of the food is excellent. But Awadhpuri place is NOT VALUE FOR MONEY simply because what you eat and how much you eat is entirely decided by the waiter who serves you. In other words, you are at the mercy of whims and fancies of a waiter. He holds the reins of your great meal, which is not a great...

I recently discovered The Shaka Cafe, and I must say it has quickly become one of my favorite spots in town. This cozy and welcoming cafe offers an exceptional dining experience that combines delicious food, top-notch coffee, and a laid-back atmosphere.

First and foremost, the food at The Shaka Cafe is simply outstanding. Their menu features a fantastic range of options, from hearty breakfast dishes to mouthwatering sandwiches and salads. Whether you're in the mood for a classic avocado toast or a flavorful acai bowl, their dishes are always prepared with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor. The attention to detail in each dish is truly remarkable, and it's evident that the chefs take pride in delivering a memorable culinary experience.

Now, let's talk about their coffee. The Shaka Cafe takes their coffee seriously, and it shows. Their baristas are skilled and passionate, brewing up some of the best coffee I've had in a while. From rich and velvety lattes to robust pour-over brews, they have something for every coffee aficionado. They source their beans from local roasters, ensuring a high-quality and ethically sourced cup of joe. I couldn't resist trying their signature Shaka Cold Brew, and it instantly became my go-to choice whenever I visit.

The atmosphere at The Shaka Cafe is warm, inviting, and perfect for spending time with friends, getting some work done, or simply enjoying a moment of relaxation. The rustic decor, comfortable seating, and soothing background music create a pleasant ambiance that makes you want to stay a little longer. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, always ready to offer recommendations or strike up a conversation.

Another notable aspect of The Shaka Cafe is their commitment to sustainability. They use eco-friendly packaging and strive to minimize their environmental footprint, which is a huge plus in my book. It's great to see a business that not only focuses on delivering exceptional food and coffee but also cares about the planet.

In conclusion, The Shaka Cafe is a hidden gem that deserves all the praise it can get. The combination of exceptional food, superb coffee, welcoming atmosphere, and eco-consciousness sets it apart from other cafes in the area. If you're a foodie or a coffee lover looking for a memorable experience, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to The Shaka Cafe. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Note: This review is based on my personal experience and reflects my...