A BUSY hot summer day made way for a relaxed evening, when we stepped into What’s Up! Café, and settled ourselves in the rooftop area. The buzzing café at Southern Avenue soothed our senses with a cool breeze, and their refreshing Summer Menu.
Their topical menu, we were informed, is all about small bites that are healthy and most importantly, fruity. “Every summer, we have something new and soothing to offer, and this year’s menu has new additions that include special mojitos and mocktails along with desserts and salads that are refreshing,” says Anirban Sengupta, partner, What’s Up! Café.
While the fresh watermelon whirled in the blender, we continued with our conversation at the candlelit table, enjoying the wind in our hair. The Watermelon Mojito was the first to arrive at our table — the refreshing drink was served in a big bowl made out of the outer skin of the fruit, and topped with ice cubes. Their other cocktails include the Promojito, which is a mix of Bacardi White, fresh water- melon, fresh basil and Himojito, another mix of fresh Himsagar mango, Bacardi White and fresh mint. We also relished their Spicy Alphonso that infused the sweetness of the golden fruit and chilli heat beautifully. Another fruit-based drink worth trying is the Guava Hari Mirch.
Salads form a major part of the menu, and we decided to ditch the green and leafy coleslaw salad, and opted for a fruitier one. The generously portioned Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad arrived in a basket-shaped dish — again made from the scooped out shell of the fruit. It was worth our Instagram photo of the day. Watermelon cubes with slivers of tangy orange and mint leaves mixed in a honey- based sauce, and topped with feta cheese, made sure our system remained hydrated.
From the main course, we opted for Chicken Steamed Balls, which is a delectable option over the regular kebabs. Served with sweet and tangy mustard and tomato sauce, the flavourful chicken preparation is accompanied with a pickled onion salad. While we enjoyed the local band playing popular numbers, the summer meal concluded on a sweet note, with the creamy Mango Panna Cotta served with a dash of chocolate sauce.
Price for two: `1,000++