Restaurant Watch: Don’t Miss The Culinary Magic Of 'My Tea Chapel' In 2021

It may look like your average fast food joint at first glance, but My Tea Chapel (located on the ground floor of South Point Mall, Gurgaon) is anything but!

A couple of us wandered in on a Friday night and were immediately greeted by an incredible aroma and Vinay Gupta, one of the two men behind this understated self-service café. Behind the counter, chef extraordinaire Mahesh Padala walked us through the range of firsts his team is looking to popularize through this venture.

In his words, My Tea Chapel is an attempt to revolutionize pizza by reinterpreting a 2000-year-old Roman recipe, served alongside unique waffles from Liege, and rounded off with an eclectic tea collection from around the world and the most sought-after Indian estates.

We ordered the 1837 Classic Black Tea, which had refreshingly fruity notes, and the Crème Caramel, a caffeine-free South African Red Bush Tea, both perfect for these foggy winter days. With about a dozen tea options on the menu, My Tea Chapel firmly establishes itself as a true blue tea café. But we couldn’t wait to taste their pinsa pizzas.

Pinsa pizza, we were informed, is a healthier version of its more popular cousin—made with rice and wheat flour, soya, and is prepared at 80% hydration, significantly higher than in regular pizza.

We were recommended the Fresca Pinsa Pizza (mozzarella, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, rucola, parmesan, and sauce Vierge) and the Carbonara (bacon, egg, parmesan, cream, and pepper). The Fresca Pinsa Pizza, we were told, has been flying off the shelves. And we believe them! The crust was crisp, flavorful, and chewy. The toppings worked together beautifully. The sauce Vierge was packed with flavor and the mozzarella had the perfect consistency. But you’ll have to visit the café to enjoy this delightful dish as it’s not available on their home delivery menu. For all-day-breakfast lovers, the Carbonara will definitely hit the spot with its gooey egg and crispy bacon bits!

Next on our menu was their signature Liege Waffles—we went for the Cranberry and White Chocolate and Orange Honey and Ginger. The waffles, made with a yeast dough rather than a batter-like standard American ones, were indulgent—with the richness of butter and milk. The texture was soft and chewy with a burst of flavors coming from the real fruits integrated into the dough.

We wrapped up our evening with the sinfully delicious MTC Caramel Cheese Tea. This cold beverage is just as much an experience as it is a gastronomic delight. You’re first struck by the sweetness of the foamy, creamy cheese floating on top and, as you tilt the glass further, the tea underneath cleanses your palate, making it one of the most perfectly balanced sweet-dishes(?) we’ve come across recently.

The decor was cozy and the food fantastic. My Tea Chapel is perfect for groups or a casual date night, and should definitely feature on your list of restaurants-to-try in the new year!