Grandmama's Cafe, Dadar East — Restaurant in Mumbai

The place is just like its name, and I will say it at the risk of sounding girly- SUPER CUTE. They have this vintage air about them. We knew it was a good decision when we spotted the sign. It had a bicycle on it with a vine growing over it. Even the food came in tiny cycle-carts. This place will make sure ki Nani ki yaad aa jate with its cute lace frames, teeny-tiny woven sweaters, treasurechests and tiled tables. Their food has a cross-country grandmom theme. We had everything right from Rajma Chawal to Mac and cheese. Everything was nothing but perfect, and yes, we are just talking about the veg food. Arancini balls- These were amazingly soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They came with a salad base with these golden brown balls in it. The balls had cheese woven in them. We say woven because it refused to leave the ball, it was so beautifully stringy and never-ending. Cheesy risotto filled within the balls fried until a golden brown crust, It just kept pulling and stretching out. The salad base was gracefully seasoned with mango mayonnaise with an extremely tangy taste. Only after tasting this did we realize that even the humble lettuce can be made tastefully. Barbecue paneer pizza- The pizza was thin crusted and also one of the best items we ordered. I remember eating an authentic pizza from an Italian restaurant. This was that level. Soft panner interlaced within the thin crust and baked upon a sweet spicy sauce, it had an aura of classy mildness yet a subtle taste of panner and bell peppers.It got over before we knew how. Bibiji ki achari khichdi- The humble khichdi served at its best, this made for an extremely “nani ke ghar ka khaana” type of dish. Dal cooked along with rice with a spicy tadka of cumin and mustard seeds along with the goodness of sour and spicy achar. It made up the homeliest, tastiest and most warm dishes. Garlic Bread- This was the softest garlic bread we've ever had. The cheese along with garlic made an amazing balance, making it a very good one. Although, it had chunks of finely chopped garlic, it did not deter the taste at all. Falafel- Of all the things we had there, I found this one to be the most filling. Topped with mayo, this had a huge patty along with potato wedges and had a bit of beetroot as well. It was extremely tasteful and the mayonnaise was a cherry to the cake. The presentation was one more lovely aspect. It came on a small cutesy bicycle wrapped up as a frankie making us all go woww over it. Bruschetta- It was bruschetta in its most classic form. An overpowering taste of basil along with minutely chopped tomatoes made for just the perfect one! Mac and cheese- Heavenliest, cheesiest, and even healthy to an extent, this dish made us fight over it. Chunks of melted cheese alongside the boiled mac topped with parsley and an orangish gooey liquid made quite ascene. Thumbs up to this one! Rajma Chawal- This doesn't sound fancy however; it was spot on again. It was by far the tastiest rajma we have ever had. Even simple steaming rice was made fancier by it. It was filling and I would recommend it highly. Lasagna- This brown, layered beauty was simply mouthwatering. It tasted much better than the pasta and Mac and cheese, a lot more authentic. Vegetable Burger- This was to die for. You could taste all the vegetables cooked crisply and quite in a filling wayin the burger and it comes with the side of finger chips too which were equally amazing! All in all I would say that this place is amazing. It has a good ambience, a menu full of perfections and the cycle carts.

Ambience: 4.5/5 Taste Quotient:...

Visited here with my family for a Sunday lunch and to our surprise we got a table within 5 minutes during busy hours. It has 3 types of seating arrangements, 1 - Proper AC which is inside the cafe, ample seats available, 2- the seating outside is divided into 2 parts with one just outside the cafe but almost as comfortable and cool as the AC seating. The third seating area is a bit outside and is prone to dust and noise from the main road so it's the least preferred but that is maintained well too. The manager, Divesh, quickly accommodated us inside, ambience was good, seating was comfortable.

We ordered Veggie Delight Pizza. Taste was 4/5, base was really good and lean crust as promised and toppings were also adequate. Even though they advertise it as an 11 inch, it seemed to be 10 or 9 (lol), but it was really good.

Also tried Butter Garlic Prawns with Indian bread which was totally worth it. The gravy was creamy and not too sweet or bland and prawns were well cleaned and cooked. 5/5

Upon the suggestion of the waitress Rashmita, we ordered Burrata Alla Rosatella which was a risky bet but it paid off very well. Would definitely recommend it. 6/5.

Finished off with a Volcano Sizzling Brownie. Everyone here asks to try the trashcan nachos but I would recommend asking the waiters/managers for their recommendations, the staff is really very helpful and they answer all your queries, even the simplest ones.

Also it's a kid friendly cafe, they provided crayons and color pens to almost every kid who entered, which was very thoughtful.

If you're looking for a place for a date, or just an outing or proper Italian cuisine, this is the go to place.

The pricing was a bit on the expensive side but definitely not overpriced. Tip - Swiggy Dineout usually has 25% or 15% discount slots available which are available for 75 rs only so definitely use it if you can. Average cost for 2 people should be around 1500, lesser if you include beverages as they are relatively cheaper.

Veg options are limited but are as tasty as the non veg ones. Would recommend the management to label it clearly on the menu card if possible, otherwise you can enquire about it any time.

Thank you Divesh and Rashmita for the wonderful experience. We would definitely...

Grandmama's Cafe Dadar East: A Decent But Flawed Experience

Grandmama's Cafe in Dadar East had a charming atmosphere and some tasty bites, but a few shortcomings kept it from being a truly outstanding experience. Here's a breakdown of my visit:

Ambiance and Service (3.5 stars)

The cafe's decor is undeniably cute. Lush greenery and pops of color create a warm and inviting space. However, service was a bit inconsistent. While some staff members were friendly, others seemed a tad inattentive. It took a while to flag someone down for refills or additional orders.

Food and Drinks (2.5 stars)

The menu offers a variety of cafe classics - pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and beverages. I tried the Pasta, which was flavorful, but the portion size left me wanting more. This seemed to be a theme for some dishes, where the price didn't quite match the quantity offered. On the other hand, the [Drink Name] was a delightful surprise, perfectly refreshing and well-balanced.

Value for Money (2 stars)

Considering the portion sizes and slightly inattentive service, Grandmama's Cafe falls a bit short in terms of value for money. You might leave feeling a little hungry after a meal, especially considering the price point.

Overall (3 stars)

Grandmama's Cafe has the potential to be a charming neighborhood hangout. However, the small portions and inconsistent service drag down the experience. If they addressed these issues, it could be a more compelling option. Here's what would improve my rating:

Larger portion sizes to justify the price. More attentive service to ensure a smooth dining experience.

Recommendation:

If you're looking for a cute cafe with a decent ambiance, Grandmama's Cafe might be worth a try, especially for their drinks. However, be mindful of the portion sizes and manage your expectations...