A colleague of mine had recommended Café Churchill, but truth to tell, I’d forgotten where she’d said it was. It’s therefore a stroke of sheer good luck that, wandering around Colaba looking for a place for lunch, I glance left – and look straight at a striking black and white portrait of Winston Churchill. Even though I end up waiting half an hour for a table (Café Churchill seats only about 35 – a tight squeeze!), I am finally forced to share a table with two young men who look vaguely leery. We studiously ignore each other, and I get down to ordering my meal.
The fare at Churchill is meat-heavy. Lots of lamb, chicken, seafood – even beef. The menu (which forms a major part of the nondescript decor) covers much of the wall opposite me. The rest of the interior is covered with a picture of London’s Tower Bridge; promotions of Georgia Coffee; and more menus, including house specials spelled out in large, bold computer printouts. Not pretty.
But the food, thankfully, is pretty good. The pound steak I’ve ordered comes well done (the way I like it, though they never asked me). It’s smothered with a delicious brown sauce with crushed peppercorns and loads of sautéed mushrooms. The mashed potatoes on the side are good, though the vegetables – carrots and green beans – are average. The iced tea I order is okay, perhaps a tad too sweet and with not a hint of lemon, despite the fact that it’s supposed to be lemon tea.
By the time I finish, I’m close to full, but the desserts on display – cheesecakes, mousses, tiramisu, and apple pie included – look too tempting to pass up. The Irish coffee cheesecake I finally end up ordering is a smallish portion, but the filling, creamy and with a heavenly coffee-and-whiskey flavour, is delicious. And for the Rs 390 (gratuity included) that I shell out, I think I’ve got fairly good value for money.
True, the staff could’ve been more attentive (I spent a lot of time trying to catch the waiter’s eye, and the cashier disappearing just as three tables asked for their bills meant all of us waiting until he returned from wherever he’d gone). The decor could’ve been nicer, and there could have been a lot more space. But with the wide selection of sandwiches, melts, pastas, starters, main courses (stews and steaks included) and desserts they offer, Café Churchill seems to be doing brisk business despite all the drawbacks.