Restaurant Spotlight: Kitchen Garden By Suzette, A haven for the diet-conscious, and those who crave fresh, wholesome foods In Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai

From the same French trio that brought us Suzette, comes this organic cafe, a haven of health and homesick-remedying salads, sandwiches, cold-press juices and coffee sourced from local cooperatives and organic farms around Maharashtra and worldwide. With its first outlet opened in Pali Hills, Bandra West in 2016, Kitchen Garden By Suzette has launched at 6 more locations across Mumbai since then. In 2018, they launched their second hip organic café at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

Nestled away in the back of a building within one of the city’s busiest localities, the widespread 1600 square feet outlet – with indoor and outdoor seating – is enveloped by lush greenery. During the day the room is filled with sunlight as the floor-to-ceiling glass exteriors of this outlet filter out no part of the natural light. Adorning the walls are black and white photos of their organic farm by Shahid Datawala, while the light fittings have been hand-picked from Mumbai’s chor bazaar. A cozy spot with potted plants all around, it makes a great pit-stop for breakfasts, quick bites or a light meal. Since the restaurant is in the same vicinity as most celebrity-approved, it is really popular among Bollywood celebrities. Another reason for Kitchen Garden being so popular among celebrities is its gluten-free vegan and organic menu.

The three French-born Soho House Mumbai members, Jeremie Sabbagh (head chef and baker), his wife Antonia Achache (head chef) and Pierre Labail, the manager-administrator-Man Friday decided to bring the all-day café culture like the one they grew up in France to India. At its core, Kitchen Garden is about home-style healthy meals made from scratch using locally-sourced organic ingredients. Their menu is up-to-date and flashes all the health trends one sees international fitness Instagrammers talk about. Most of the space at Kitchen Garden is occupied by an open salad bar where sandwiches and salads are made live. And while a large refrigerator at the entrance will allow diners to do takeaway orders, one will also be able to buy off small portions of fresh prawns, bread, burrata, cold-pressed juices, granola, greens and everything they use to cook—deli-style.

The place opens for breakfast at 8.30 am and serves some of the best eggs. All eggs are served with homemade sourdough or gluten-free buckwheat bread. Their Baked Eggs (L) are on point. If you want to take it up a notch, do try out their Avocado Baked Eggs (C) loaded with mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, baby spinach and parmesan cheese or Shakshuka Baked Eggs (R) where the eggs are cooked in slow-roasted spicy red pepper and tomato sauce served with olive oil & zaatar on sourdough or gluten-free bread.

The Pink/Green Smoothie Bowls (Gluten-free/Vegan) are to die for. Filled with Raspberry, Banana & Pineapple smoothie or Kale, Avocado, Mango & Lime smoothie and topped with Pumpkin & Chia seeds, Coconut flakes, Cocoa nibs, Almonds & Pomegranate are a wholesome meal in itself.

Breakfast is incomplete without any beverage. If you are a coffee lover, try the Macchiato (L) which is a single shot espresso with a dash of milk foam. While a smoothie, some tea or coffee are the perfect accompaniment to every meal, the cold-pressed juices especially the Purple Booster (R) and Green Detox are something we promise you won’t be able to have enough of!

With an elaborate menu to choose from, their signature salad bowls are worth a shot! Offering Bowl (L) (Vegan) is named after the Pune farm that Kitchen Garden imports its farm-fresh ingredients from. The wholesome dish is loaded with fresh veggies (baby lettuce, crisp kale, french beans, cherry tomatoes, roasted eggplants, butternut squash, sweet potatoes), organic quinoa, edamame, a sprinkle of basil and some extra virgin olive oil and balsamic dressing, to top it off. The Falafel Bowl(Veg/Non-Veg) (C) is a combination of lettuce, barley, falafels, roasted pepper & tomato hummus, chickpeas, fresh tomatoes, tzatziki, mint, parsley and drizzled with tahini dressing. Warm Grain Bowl (R) (Veg/Non-Veg) is a perfect mix of Quinoa, black rice, roasted cottage cheese/chicken, seasonal veggies, and shakshuka accompanied by the dressing of your choice.

When you harbor a rather large sweet tooth, it’s almost offensive to end any great meal without dessert, and Kitchen Garden does not disappoint. The Chia Seed Pudding (vegan) and Berry and Vanilla Panna Cotta (gluten-free) will make you go weak in the knees!

This place has the perfect fix for every kind of craving (with an extra shot of 'healthy' imbued in). The co-owners of this organic café are not only the most hospitable people but are also very generous souls.

Other recommendations: Shakshuka With Chicken Balls, Apple Raspberry Crumble, Dark Chocolate & Walnut Cookie, Tisane (Theine Free), Powerhouse, Keto Nuts & Seeds Bread and Classic Sandwich