Cafe Staywoke - South Point Mall, Gurgaon

I visited this newly opened cafe recently and was welcomed by a fresh change from the convention of most of Gurgaon's eateries. The music was not loud at all, and the ambiance cool and inviting for a warm conversation over great Blue Tokai Coffee. Add to that some very innovative dishes which do not vary much from the basics and yet surprise you with their flavors and taste.

Drinks

The Campa Wala Doodh invokes nostalgia and even though Campa is a dead brand, they use Coca-Cola to blend it with milk and ice for a great cooler.

I really liked Masala Imli Thumbs Up, which just bettered the regular Thumbs Up.

Food

A recommended try is their scrambled eggs. It's extremely light and creamy. I am told that they have a unique way of scrambling the eggs which ensure added creaminess. The goat cheese and the bread which accompanies this is good too.

Ragi Upma is healthy and filling and scores high on taste. For vegetarians, Mushroom Vol-au-Vent is a must try. The Sumac and Zartar Chicken is a delight to eat and even look at, with the pomegranate oil turning the grilled chicken pink. Escabeche of Prawn is a go-to dish for seafood lovers.

However, the Duck Madras Curry can be avoided as it is an Indian version of Khao Suey served with Malabar Paranthas. It's not bad, just that there are better items on the menu. Take, for example, the Seared Lamb, a house specialty which is just fab in taste.

Desserts

Chai Kulfi with Parle G is a special dish, which is served in a teacup and has a thick pudding-like consistency.

Semifredo is eggless and is a better alternative to brownie and ice cream we eat at usual cafes across town. It has dark bitter chocolate and orange just helps with the taste.

Cafe Staywoke is a comfortable place for casual conversations and catch ups over good food and drinks.

Comments

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...

Epitome of Equality

First of all This is not to demean any religion.. I am a Hindu by birth, but yes I respect all religions .I offer my daily prayers , fast on holy days , but there was something that was disturbing me . God as per me was a Friend, someone who was by my side always , someone who was a dear friend , but this is not what everyone else thought , for others he was the Judge who gives his verdict always and punishes anyone and everyone . Walk into any temple and you would see , if you have money , you will be treated in a way as if you are the ONLY disciple of the God . I have had too many experiences where I was treated as a second class citizen in the temple . Why? Well I could not afford giving thousands as donation. This is not how it should be , God looks at each one of us with the same divinity .As I mentioned God for me is a friend, so tell me, do we chose friends based on their bank balances? Do we give our verdict on them ? then how can God do it? I know many of us would ...

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...

Tushar Mangl Media

Search This Blog