ARAKU Coffee — Restaurant in Mumbai

The cafe is tucked off the main road but right behind the Taj. You’re likely to walk past it and very unlikely to simply spot it and walk it. This is sad because the place is quite bright, aesthetically pleasing and tasteful in an understated way. Sadly, the atmosphere is the best thing about the cafe. It’s basically a coffee shop but our servers knew very little about the coffee being served. I ordered a light roast French press of their in-house coffee. I was asked if I wanted it hot or cold. This should’ve been a red flag. Anyway… It’s a pet peeve but when I order a French press coffee I want the press and I want to choose how long to let the coffee sit. I wasn’t given this choice and my coffee came in a cup in less than 5 mins, so clearly it wasn’t in press long enough. The coffee was meh. I ordered a lamb Reuben for lunch. It’s a small sandwich made heavy and messy with excessive condiments. The lamb itself was bad at all but it struggled to make its presence felt while drowning in the condiments. Post tax it’s nearly ₹850-900. This is flat out absurd for the size and quality on offer. I had an Americano post lunch. This somewhat redeemed the absolutely unacceptable experience to that point. The service is totally tone deaf. They rush you into placing an order and despite clear instructions to bring the food after we finish our beverages it was out almost immediately. This on a day when the place was almost empty. The service is terrible, the pricing borderline absurd and the food and some of the coffee mediocre. I must also point out the washrooms needed attention. This in a place that more staff than customers. It’s a nice spot, the Araku brand coffee (retail) is good, but this outlet needs serious attention and...

Went there with my friend for coffee and snacks. The place isn't as clean or shiny as it was when it first opened. The bespectacled server gave us the menus and after my friend ordered he departed without taking my order. He then strangely returned. I asked him if the Japanese mayo egg sandwich had any raw ingredients and he said just boiled egg and mayo. When it arrived, apart from looking like a street vendor prepared it, the sandwich had lettuce, which is definitely raw (uncooked). I told him and he took it back and then returned with it and gave me tongs to remove the lettuce myself! I then said I didn't want it and he offered to prepare another without lettuce but then came back as he was told there are raw onions in the mayo! So he didn't know any of this before? He then said, "I'll choose something else for you that's cooked," almost giving me no option to choose! I told him I didn't want anything and I'd just have my coffee.

My friend's cake was dry. The coffees are decent but certainly overpriced. My friend wanted almond milk instead of regular in his cold coffee and he realised when the bill came they charged him Rs. 80/- for the almond milk above the Rs. 310! And they had never mentioned it would be extra when he ordered it. On the topic of the bill, when it came, we were charged for the Japanese May Egg sandwich which we sent back. In fact they charged us for two sandwiches! So we sent the bill back and they took 10 minutes to rectify the bill. My friend said he'd never go back to Araku and he'd tell all his clients about the horrendous experience. I thought I'd write...

This recently opened Cafe just behind Taj was buzzing in Social Media so wanted to try it. Further, having visited Araku it made me eager to explore their culinary journey. They have only 3 such Cafes, Bangalore, Paris and Mumbai. Araku coffee is the world's first terrior mapped coffee which is generally done for growing wines. The ambience is appealing and with a coffee bar upstairs. We went for dinner without reservations ( 2 slots 7 and 9pm) so were settled at the bar which was also comfortable. We tried a variety of dishes. The shrimp toast was delicious and recommended. The aioli, avocado with Chana was fresh and went well with foccasia we ordered. The dips chillie and peanut and thepcha were very good. Focassia was not the usual but closer to sardough. We ordered the purple corn grits. It was flavourful but like soup. Would have been much better if it texture like actual grits. The corn crisps were tasty. Not recommended. Ordered the hemp seeds, Green pepper biscuit and raspberry chocolate mousse. The dessert was decadent but the hemp seeds were a little out of place. They also risk getting stuck in your throat and a little too rough in an otherwise excellent dessert. Ended with an Araku Signature coffee brewed with a French Press( I recommend this method). Coffee is best served at 78 degrees so those who want piping hot coffee may loose out on flavours.The coffee was delectable. The service was excellent. Arjun was well informed and thank him for his indulgence. All in all a very...