Café StayWoke in Gurugram's Worldmark makes its patrons experience true luxury and sophistication, says Shambhavi Suri
As the fall season is upon us, we crave to soak up the romanticised golden fall sunshine. Café StayWoke, located in the heart of Gurugram's Worldmark, is just the place to do so. Walking into the café, a strong yet pleasing whiff of freshly brewed coffee took over my senses. The café, resembling a beautiful glass cube, had the golden-hour sun brimming through the glass walls adding to the aesthetic. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating options. The black and golden décor adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the café. The elegant, full-sized coffee bar at the centre, is truly the heart and soul of this café.
Once I was shown to my table, I noticed the raw yet matte-finished tables with a pot of pink-brocade plant acting as the centrepiece. Shortly after, two refreshing drinks were brought to the table. The first one was the StayWoke lemonade, which resembled the taste of a virgin mojito — minty lemony goodness — minus the calories! The other drink was a Kaffir lime kombucha served in an elegant flute glass. This was extremely refreshing with a strong punch from the kaffir lime leaves, leaving a sweet and fragrant after taste.
This refreshing drink was paired with a slightly spicy and tangy Chicken ghee roast. Served in a beautiful black ceramic plate, the colours of the bright red chicken popped on the plate. The chicken was paired with fried South Indian papadam, garnished with coconut shavings. This South Indian signature dish had just the right amount of heat, tingling my taste buds gently. The tanginess from the tomatoes and strong flavour from the curry leaves and the mustard seeds defined the dish. These bold flavours of the south made the dish near-perfect.
The next dish was the Avocado toast. This superfood has garnered a lot of attention in recent years but no restaurant makes their avocado toast the way Café StayWoke did. Served over either a sourdough or focaccia bread slice, the avocados were mashed combined with some cream cheese, finely chopped onions, coriander, topped with hemp oil and pomegranate seeds. This version of the classic avocado toast caters to the Indian palate and showcases the versatility of an avocado. The sweetness from the pomegranate and crunchiness from the onions with a hint of garlic worked well together.
On the table next was the Keema appam which took me on yet another trip to South India. The chicken keema rested on a bed of appam, topped with a beautifully poached egg. As I ran my spoon over the egg, the delicate white covering tore, giving way to the runny yolk that perfectly covered the keema. The appam was crispy on the outside yet light and fluffy on the inside. The keema, tossed in a variety of spices, had a strong flavour of the comforting curry leaves. The best part about this entire dish was the lightness of the meal. One can comfortably eat an entire plate and not be over-stuffed!
For the mains, I had the Vegetarian green Thai curry and the Orange chilli chicken. As for the Thai curry, the veggies are served separately for those who don't prefer a lot of veggies in their curry. The curry is served with kaffir lime rice, which adds a touch of freshness to the heavy and thick curry. The flavours of the Thai curry and rice is as authentic as it can get and is a must-try! On the other hand, the fragrant chilli chicken is more on the sweeter side with just a dash of heat. The chicken so soft and tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside, wrapped in the thick, shining orange glaze will have you craving more.
Finally, it was time to end my day with some dessert. I was served the signature Cloud pudding. Made with tender coconut, this dessert was a set and had the consistency resembling that of a panna cotta. Served on a banana leaf, this soft, gooey coconut deliciousness was the perfect way to end a satisfying meal.
At Café StayWoke, the vibe is relaxed, the food is delicious and the staff is courteous. If you're looking to have a good time with some delicious plates of food from around the world while soaking the sun and connecting with nature, this may just be the place for you.