WHEN Prince Charles and Camilla visited Jew Town four years-ago they walked by this decrepit warehouse, without a second glance. But now, anyone wandering on Jew Street will pause and look up at the 152-year-old heritage building, once owned by Rabbis. Such is the old-town charm of Mocha Art Café. This month-old space is snugly located amongst a plethora of fabric and antique shops helmed by Kashmiri entrepreneurs. Upon receiving an invite from the owner, Junaid Sulaiman, a third-generation spice trader from within the export industry, I make my way to the eatery which stands diagonally opposite the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.
Upcycled ambitions
I trudge up its creaking stairs, expecting a hole-in-the-wall ambience but to my immense surprise, it leads to a capacious 4,000 sq ft eatery with two different art display areas. Handing me a chilled cup of cold coffee made with freshly-ground Ethiopian Arabica, Junaid takes me on a mini-tour of his café. It’s apparent that there’s more to Mocha than just a gallery which highlights lively paintings by Alappuzha-based Sarah Hussain. “My grandfather, Abdul Karim, used to own this godown in the 1900’s. Until March of this year, it was truly a dilapidated domain. But I wanted to create something that would attract the art-loving tourists who frequent this region and decided to start this café,” shares the lawyer-turned businessman. Yet, if you’re looking for ‘Cochini-Jewish’ delicacies like pastels and hubba, you won’t find them here, as the fare is primarily mildly-spiced continental cuisine. But, don’t miss out on their excellent assortment of beverages from Kashmiri saffron tea to Persian kahwah.
Made to order
With a tall ceiling that enables natural light to flood in, the walls of this 50-cover bistro are lined with
lush green vertical gardens. For a change, instead of pouring over the menu, I choose to pay closer attention to the ambience of the spot while consuming their deliciously creamy chicken stroganoff and gooey beef-cheese omelette alongside bread (baked in-house). It’s apparent that the 48-year-old has gone to great lengths to maintain the architectural integrity and rustic vibe of the structure, but has the same attention been given to the food? Despite obvious parallels being drawn to the spread at other popular art cafés in the area, Laila Mani, a cook who has close to 18-years of experience, promises a unique culinary experience.
Meal for two `500 onwards
Details: 2224357
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