Food review: Bombay Baking Company

Bombay Baking Company
JW Marriot
Juhu Tara Road
Mumbai 400049
Tel: 66933000
Rating: **
Meal for two (no alcohol) : Rs1,700

There was a time when this was one of those “happening” places which everyone talked about. It was after all just the bakery section or pastry shop of the Marriot but it also turned into a hangout place: More informal than a coffee shop but with some of the accoutrements nonetheless. And of course in keeping with the frugality which we Indians are famous for, the fact that everything became half-price sometime in the evening was a major turn-on. You can imagine the state of the nation when people who frequent five star hotels are shopping for cut-rate bread.

Some years on, people may not talk as much about the BBC any more but clearly, they still go there. It is fairly buzzing on a weekday afternoon. It might make better sense to sit inside the BBC
itself rather than at the tables placed just outside because a corridor does not make for a warm, comfortable eating experience.

Like us, there are many who apparently like the idea of a teatime snack. Unfortunately, the prawn club sandwich which sounded interesting and the non-vegetarian quiche of the day are not available at 4.30pm. So we decide to make a sandwich of our own — ham, smoked cheese and black olives in a sourdough bun. We also order a goat cheese salad. Rock chick decides to try a special juice — a ‘waterapple’ which combines apples, watermelon and lime. The juice could have been colder as the summer heat approaches — warm juice is a bit of an oddity. I play it safe with a coffee. Also, frankly, Rs350 for a cup of tea seemed a little steep. And I like my tea distinctly un-steeped.

The sandwich is good — the bread is excellent as are most of the ingredients. The salad also does well for itself — rocket leaves, pears, goat cheese and hazelnuts with a light drizzle of olive oil.
After such healthy fare, a little indulgence is called for so we try a chocolate mocha tart with hazelnuts. The chocolate filling is dark and rich but not sumptuous and the pastry is a little too hard for my taste. It is satisfactory but not to die for.

All in all, the BBC is pleasant enough but perhaps it needs to up the atmosphere and speed of the service if it wants to get back some of its earlier panache.