Having captured the imagination of foodies in Delhi , Boombox Café has now opened in its new eatery at Gurgaon’s Sector 29. Offering Lebanese, Chinese, American and desi Indian food, this outlet at the corporate hub of Haryana, offers an array of dishesfrom around the world under one roof.
As I enter the café, I notice the lively ambience and the music of this place. Wooden chairs, neon bulbs hanging down in yellow and orange colour make this an aesthetically pleasing place, ideal for those wanting to spend leisure time with friends. The menu which has a quirky appeal with pictures of transistors and cassettes on it grabs my attention. Sameer Saroha, the proprietor of the café explains how fusion of different cuisines led to giving the shape to the menu with the help of head chef Deepak and his team.
Kiss of Love, my welcome drink instantly takes me on a tour of the beaches of Miami. Pineapple juice gently soothes the citrus flavours of kiwi and orange juice with its mild sweet taste. The drink totally invigorates me and I move ahead to try the spicy chicken crispers placed in a bowl on the miniature of a tricycle. The crispy chicken fritters go well with the drink. I am served another drink that justifies its name, Blushing Beauty. The muddled lime and mint with cranberry juice refreshes me with its minty flavour.
This is followed by a desi platter of chilli paneer and tandoori chicken tikka which amusingly reminds me of our big fat Indian weddings. The good old chilli paneer (marinated in chilli and honey of course) doesn’t surprise me with its usual taste but the juicy tandoori chicken with green chutney gets a thumbs up!
It is time for some Lebanese delicacies to create magic so I am served the traditional West Asian falafel (deep fried balls of chickpeas) served in pita bread. The falafel balls are topped with picked vegetables, fattoush salad accompanied with three different dips (eggplant, hummus and baba ganoush). The fattoush salad has a slight tinge of cumin and samak powder topped onto it. The dish is outstanding and generates a burst of different flavours in the mouth.
Done with my starters, I move to my main course. Kadhai paneer pizza, the name excites the taste buds when I read it on the menu. The thin crust pizza (too thin to my surprise) topped with kadhai paneer chunks and tomatoes leave a strong after taste of garam masala which is a bit annoying. The drink Smashing Senorita served in a martini glass goes well with the pizza. It has an amalgamating tangy flavour of tomato juice, orange juice, lemon juice, honey, black pepper, tabasco sauce and jalapeño.
The sumptuous main course ends with the authentic Indian butter naan served with paneer dal makhani. The uniqueness of the dal is that it blends two Indian delicacies –– dal makhani and shahi paneer. The dal again has a strong hint of garam masala and is average.
Having had a wholesome meal I eagerly await the dessert. Chef Deepak brings me a glass of chocolate money bag (as they’ve named it). These chocolate syrup drizzled moneybag-shaped cookies are definitely heavenly and bring a bagful of joy to me. Served with strawberry ice cream and some sesame seeds sprinkled on top, the sweet dish brings a happy ending to my food voyage.
Address: 53, First Floor, Sector 29 Gurgaon
Meal for two: Rs.1600
