finally after keeping this place on hold for the last couple of years, i made it to this absolutely cute cafe situated close to picture palace. as a tourist in mussorie, i'd generally look it up in the main mall road, not find it and keep it for the next trip. however, i think i went with the the right person who helped me locate it! now, first talking of the facade and ambience.
from outside the place seemed not so promising to me, you know how some places just don't give you the vibe? but as soon as i entered that wooden door, in came by liking of the vibe, soaking me in the amazing aroma of chocolate cookies mixed in the crisp fresh air of the mountains. it took me 2 seconds to like this place is what i want to say.
talking of the menu, i think i'm yet to come across a versatile menu for a cafe across mussorie. so, here's what all i ordered!
1. lil l'ama breakfast which included 2 eggs of choice, grilled tomato, a hashbrown, a fat sausage, some garlic breads, baked beans and individual dollops of butter, jam, mustard and ketchup each. lastly, the choice of drink i made was of a cup of assam milk tea.
to rate it, i'd say a 4/5 for me because the baked beans were a little too sweet which i was over-whelmed with. secondly, i think the breakfast would have been a wholesome treat has there been an addition of something sweet. maybe a cookie, a muffin or even a small pancake!
2. a veg burrito bowl, which according to me is the best burrito bowl in the entire dehradun-mussorie region. not only was the quantity justified for the price, but the quality as well. you name a thing about burrito bowl and it's in their bowl! from nachos to kidney bean-corn salad to mexican fried rice topped with fresh cut onions, bell peppers,lettuce and a wedge of lemon! surprisingly, they even have fresh cut avacado slices which for me really stood out and if this wasn't enough they served some cream of tartar and a big bowl of salsa with it! some of you might find the rice dry so make sure you add in that salsa and creme!
in all honestly i'd give it a 4.5 of 5.
3. korean brown rice tea 🍵
to be very honest, i don't know what else was i expecting the taste to be if not like boiled rice water? yes, that is exactly how it tastes. infact if you notice, the tea bag is filled with small granules of brown rice and very obviously if i steep it in hot water for a few minutes you can well imagine the taste. i won't say it was bad or awful because honestly i enjoyed sipping on it! blame it on my newly developed (renewed) taste buds or just the cold weather but i'd rate it a good 3.5/5
4. devil's cake 🍰🥄
you know how people say looks can be deceptive? yes, they're not wrong! during my entire good food experience at the cafe i was constantly eyeing this slice of devil's cake which (as you can see in the picture) seemed totally sinful until i took a bite of it. to be very particular about what went wrong with the cake i'd say it was the cake! not the icing (ganache) but the very cake at the core. it was dry! now imagine, ain't that a bummer? :(
5. banoffee jar, this too was something that stooped below my expectations. now imagine eating a banoffee at ama cafe, dehradun and then ordering a decontsructed banoffee jar in mussorie expecting it to be good quality only for you to be dissapointed. all i can say is (as it is evident in the picture as well) that it was not really a banoffee pie rather some sliced bananas served with some powdered biscuit, some over beaten cream and 2 pumps of caramel sauce. tbh, it was a no for me after 2 bites!
lastly, if i talk of the ambience, it is perfect for anyone who wants to take their date or even family. a feel good place with decently priced menu, a very generous staff with great sense of hospitality!
easily one of the top 5 places in mussorie for a pocket-friendly treat!