A day at Todi Mill's newly opened Social

The interiors
Joining its Colaba counterpart, Todi Mill Social has been conceived of as a space for a new generation of workers for whom 'work' doesn't mean being button-holed into a cubicle. And so it is that the double-height, 7,000 sq ft exposed bricks and space frame structure in Mathuradas Mill Compound offers options for all kinds of worker ants — from the lonesome freelancer to groups of bootstrapping entrepreneurs. A monthly membership of Rs.5,000 will ensure you have hi-speed wi-fi (more on that later), that the worker in you will be well-fed at all times of the day, can drink (beer) at work (more on this too, in a bit), host meetings in a 'conference' area and not only print paper but even 3D print tchotchkes.

"The new work culture is all about cross-pollination of ideas, of people meeting other people and starting conversations about what and how things can be done," says restaurateur and owner Riyaz Amlani.
"What start-ups get from incubators is really office space. Getting it furbished with electricity, furniture, internet, peons etc, involves investing money. And this place provides all that for Rs 20,000 a month for a group of four."
While that may make business sense, it may not always mean that one can get work done. The seating ergonomics have obviously been designed for eating at a restaurant. For instance, we thought the chairs were comfortable but far from ideal for browsing or typing for an extended period.

The lack of quiet is the second factor that eats into productivity. But this is something that regulars will perhaps overcome, as is usually the case at most co-working spaces. And finally, perhaps there is merit in having a work place as a work place — however boring that may be. Because productivity is about remaining focussed and not being distracted by being in two places at one time.

— Marisha Karwa

The food
If you have been to the Social's Colaba-based outlet, consider having tried this menu. Both are identical. The menu has a casual vibe like its interior and is pretty exhaustive. We first bit into the pita bao, Social's Middle Eastern spin on the steamed bun of Chinese origin. We opted for the falafel stuffing because it organically matched with pita. There is an introduction of corn nibs to the patty which creates a jagged texture that chickpeas alone cannot bring about. The potato skins have less skin and more potato and come stuffed with two kinds of cheese, drizzled with a spicy sauce. It's comforting if you like cheese and potato (who doesn't?) but its epicurean quotient is dwindling. The mains are filling and sufficiently paired with a side -- like The Thai Thali which comes with fryums, aachar and a bowl of salad to substantiate the curry and rice.

We strongly recommend this place for their drinks. Be it the cold coffee that comes with a cutesy parchment-wrapped wafer biscuit or the heat-beating nimbu pani.

— Sonal Ved

The infrastructure
Todi Mill Social is a late entrant in Mumbai's co-working space 'sector', which means amenities like high-speed wi-fi aren't a USP as much as a given.

How, then, does Social seek to stand out from the crowd? For one, it's tied up with community space Maker's Asylum to offer 3D printing facilities. The monthly membership of Rs.5,000 includes access to a 10-seater conference/boardroom space with an LED TV for presentations, a printer-scanner (access to the 3D printer at an additional cost), office supplies, and a soon-to-be introduced locker facility for up to 50 members. Also on the anvil is an in-house app to facilitate collaborations between content writers, designers, artists and other Social members.
Workspace timings are from 9am- 6pm, and the membership is fully redeemable on food and beverages, a USP, considering F&B for members in most co-working spaces is limited to tea, coffee and water.

It's all promising but there are some hitches. Frequent outages impeded our work and that's a no-no in a co-working space. The second (and bigger) bone of contention is the absence of power banks or sockets at/near each table. Having adequate charging points is the first unwritten rule in any co-working space, so the management's oversight in this regard is baffling.

If these issues are sorted, Social will be a serious contender as a collaborative workspace with amenities few competitors offer.

— Roshni Nair