The OG Boojee crew staying on top of things in the new outlet at Bandra’s 16 th Road
I went on two dates today. With the same person! This is their story.
‘Let’s go to the new Boojee,’ said K this afternoon on our way back from town where we had gone on work. She was referring to the new Boojee outlet which has opened in Bandra’s 16th Road.
‘I believe it’s too crowded. Let’s go later,’ I replied.
’How can we not go there?!’ Said K.
A team that eats together, stays together. Rajdeep makes sure that the staff lunch is not sacrificed despite the rush
I couldn’t argue with this. We both love Boojee Cafe and are regulars. I remember its passionate young owner, Rajdeep, telling me that they will be opening a much larger outlet at Bandra 16th Road. ‘I hate to see people wait to get a seat here,’ he said about the 3 existing adjacent outlets which run full.
Dev. Rajdeep’s uncle. I love it when good things happen to good people.
He was proved wrong. The new Boojee outlet is indeed mammoth compared to the earlier ones. Yet there was a queue to get in. I love it when good things happen to good people, I was happy for Rajdeep and his uncle, Dev, who have worked so hard on their cafe, and all the staff too. I felt proud in a strange way.
We got a table. Kainaz went for fried eggs which she loved. I went for the tenderloin smash burger which is new on the menu. It is one of the best burgers that I have had. The patty was juicy. The brioche buns were soft and cuddly. The balance of sauces was perfect. The size, very manageable.
From what I gathered, Rajdeep sources his buff from a local Bandra butcher, and that is hand ground in their kitchen. They make their own breads. We usually buy their breads for home.
The buff smash burger. One of the best burgers I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few in my times
While we waited for our coffees, Rajdeep showed me the recipe of the burger that he had shared with his team. It was meticulous to the T. People wonder about the success of Boojee. It’s Rajdeep’s passion and involvement which is infectious and is reflected by his time. I noted how he made sure that the team managed to have a sumptuous staff meal despite the chaos.
K and I had a truly lovely time.
Date no 1. Boojee 16.
As did we later in the evening when we to Noa Deli by The Nutcracker. We’d gone to consult our vet about our cats in the evening. I was peckish on the way back and suggested that we stop at Noa for a bite.
Noa is a deli from Nutracker. You get condiments there, breads, dessert, coffee and a few small bites. It’s a veg and egg place. Its owner, Annie Bafna, does not have the hyperactive energy of Rajdeep but is equally meticulous about everything to do with her business. Be it her Nutcracker Cafe chain, or Noa Deli, you can be assured of a good experience.
Noa can’t be compared to Boojee. They are like apples and oranges. Noa is deli with 4 or 5 tables. It is far more serene. The food is great. We buy their pesto and zatar and use them liberally at home. We love their coffees, cookies, cream cheeses and chocolate bars.
K had a customised sourdough sandwich, green (parsley) hummus in sourdough toast this evening and loved it. I must confess that I am not fond of their green hummus. Their regular hummus is a classic though.
Smokey Bagel at Noa Deli
I had the ‘smokey bagel.’ It had a jalapeño cream cheese filling which was so tantalising. I requested them to slice the avo that came in it instead of giving me the standard guac. The contrasting taste and texture profiles of the spicy and creamy jalapeño cream cheese and the fatty avocado slices made for a deliciously messy combination, packed in a fresh, toasted bagel. It’s not the chewy NY bagel. Just nice and crisp when toasted. What more could a boy ask for?
The result was mind blowing and out of nowhere, K and I had two dates today in the hood, with some great food to boot.
My second date of the day. With the same person! Noa, Bandra.
