Continental food in R.T. Nagar was almost unheard of until Cafe O opened a few years ago. The locality is better known for the many pizza outlets and Chinese restaurant chains.
Cafe O has an eclectic menu serving Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines. The interiors of the place are distinctly white and minimalistic.
The sweetness of the syrupy Shirley Temple mocktail was balanced by the appetising starters. We tried out the golden fried baby corn, which was quite like our very own bajjis.
The basil and cashew sauce pasta was a colourful dish. A pleasant break from the usual white and red sauces, the thick basil and cashew sauce gave the penne a lush green colour. The yellow and red capsicum garnish complemented the green of the pasta. The roasted cashews added some crunch.
The Indian fare was a pleasant surprise. Interestingly, it is a popular choice at the café. Since the pasta filled us up, we ordered a small portion of vegetable makhni. The piping hot curry was thankfully not smothered with butter, and had a homemade flavour to it. The crisp golden brown tandoori roti was the perfect accompaniment.
Among the desserts, the apple pie was delectable and not too sweet.
A sister restaurant of the popular karaoke joint Opus, Cafe O is a coffee shop at O.tel in R.T. Nagar. The rooms at O.tel are warm and compact, with the door of every room designed based on a musical genre. Inspired by the Eagles song ‘Hotel California', O.tel calls itself a place you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
The ambience was oozing old-world charm with Mario Miranda-esque cartoons on the walls, candles placed in a glass filled with sand and water being served with crystal bottles adorned with arabesque patterns. After all, it is these little things that matter.
The unhurried pace and the warm service make it an ideal place to unwind.
