When a dilapidated building in the heart of the city is replaced by an aesthetically attractive structure,it is indeed cause for cheer! The new Fab café is only a couple of weeks old and already it has been patronised by people, several times .
When a dilapidated building in the heart of the city is replaced by an aesthetically attractive structure,it is indeed cause for cheer! The new Fab café is only a couple of weeks old and already it has been patronised by people, several times .
Usually we usually give any new eatery a few months to settle in before doing a review of the food but in this case going by the reaction of people who had eaten there,it felt like we had wasted enough time waiting !
The low fence,manicured lawns,the old tree in the parking lot and the tiled roof do entice the ‘Race Course’ visitor to drop in for a peek.With the high rise structures becoming an architectural eye sore these days, a restored building like this is a breath of fresh air and is totally in sync with the residential neighbourhood behind. This is something not many builders take into consideration here.
The Fab café celebrates not just organically grown produce and whole grains but also showcases Indian textiles and crafts.The wooden furniture fits in beautifully with the patterned floor tiles and the beautiful botanical prints framed on the wall. Weaves,block prints and pottery all come together seamlessly be it in the manner of crockery used, the cushions plumped up against the wall,the paper napkins or the specially curated menu card.On entering the rest room,the tropical feel almost had me envisioning a parakeet flying out of the vegetation.A cheerful ,sparklingly clean toilet is another feature which must be applauded and encouraged.
A chat with the manager Harish revealed that the menu is common for all Fab cafés across India and comes from the headquarters in Delhi.Their hashtag ‘eat well feel good’ aims at educating their diners about their food philosophy.At Fab café emphasis is laid on cooking with ancient grains,sourced organically (grown without chemicals and pesticides) and made into an array of dishes using Indian recipes as well as recipes from other cuisines.
The choices are substantial.There is a section called All day breakfast which has choices ranging from idli/sambhar and parathas to buttermilk pancakes and akuri. The appetisers and mains have also an equally diverse selections like momos,galouti kebab,chaat ,pasta and biriyani.There is also a kids section and one for desserts. The response from friends and family on texts and social media has been mostly positive.The chaat with the whole grain papdi has held a lot of appeal. The base will certainly not be as crumbly as that of a refined flour one but for those who enjoy the taste of cholam,ragi and buckwheat will understand the texture better.The low calorie uppma for example is made with corn meal and not white rava.One of my children’s friends apparently termed the food as “tasty but too healthy”…for which the fab café has yet another slogan that food can be delicious even when healthy !
One evening we walked in and found ourselves a table at a cosy nook where it offered a view of the entire restaurant without being in anyone’s way. The cane lights hanging from the ceiling and the flashes of the green from the greenery in planters adds to the wonderful vibe of the place.We folks in Coimbatore sure do deserve to relax in an eatery like this where whimsical and earthy collaborate to create a welcoming space.
After scanning the menu,we placed our order. The Galouti kebab being a family favourite,was a must try. They were served piping hot in about 10 minutes.The kebabs were perfectly balanced in terms of spice and seasoning,crusty yet tender,just as it should be.The kuttu flour discs did look a bit thick but were quite light on the palate,not at all hard or doughy.
Next came the quinoa roti, multi grain paratha and dhal makhni. We were initially skeptical as the black dhal wasn’t as thick in consistency as what we are generally used to. Our apprehensions were cast aside on tasting the first spoonful.The dhal was light, flavoursome and delicious.The bits of raw julienned ginger added a spicy crunch.The quinoa roti was a bit of let down in terms of texture and taste.The multi grain paratha on the other hand was flaky and delicious and went very well with the dhal.
Since the desserts came highly recommended ,we tasted the fab café chocolate cake with the berry ice cream and the honey walnut tart.There was a hint of dryness in the chocolate cake (my dining companion loved it) ,the berry ice-cream complemented it beautifully. It wasn’t too sweet so the tartness of the berries was easily discernible. Coconut blossom sugar was used as a natural sweetening agent in the icecream and it is what we like to use in desserts too. Those who enjoy nuts in their dessert must try the honey walnut tart .The crumbly almond base adds to the texture of the sticky nut and honey combination and makes each spoonful worth waiting for. Here again the balance of sweetness is maintained so that it doesn’t leave a heightened sickly taste in the mouth.
While a lot of my friends and family have been appreciative of the food,there have been instances where the pasta has not been up to the standard that was expected.
The staff are from Coimbatore and have a good knowledge of the items on the menu.There are choices for vegan, gluten free, lactose intolerant and even keto diet specifications.
With nut and whole grain biscotti, organic coffee and seasonal foods on their menu,It is totally in agreement with the way I connect the food on our table to the farm and all it’s glorious produce. Along with the jackfruit biriyani which I’m waiting to try,I am also looking forward to many more visits to the Fab café with like minded folk who are just as eager for such ventures to succeed. So this review is to be continued....
Fab Cafe
ATD Street,
Race Course
Coimbatore