Drop by for street-food inspired fare and moreMumbai, Dec 21(AZINS) What do you do when you have a great location that's rooted in art and history? Take the best of both worlds to create a space that's an amalgamation of two very different worlds that is hard to ignore. '145 - The All Day Cafe & Bar' is that baby born to parents with diametrically opposite tastes.

On one hand it caters to food lovers with a penchant for trying different cuisine and on the other hand it draws inspiration from time and tested street fare to create something new. It's a mash-up of two different tastes, which works in some cases and fails in others.

Ambience

Enter 145, and you can't help but notice the installations on the ceiling - which supposedly are there to reflect the different wares that are sold on this busy street. Definitely a conversation starter, these are hard to ignore. A bar bang in the middle of the space divides this area into - a high table dinning area, a bar area, a diner like space with a pool table, a seating space that overlooks the street and a causal lounge area where you can chat or catch up on your reading material.

Food

The menu is a mix of popular Indian street food with a twist and favourites from different cuisines. We started off our meal with the Raan Bao (Rs 225) slow cooked leg of lamb that was spiced and cooked well and stuffed inside a pillow soft bao. Next up was the Pav Bhaji cones (Rs 195) that nailed the presentation but failed to deliver in taste when compared to the butter-laden dish available on the street.

From the bar menu, we tried and recommend the Gola Cocktail (Rs 271) a vodka-based cocktail and Adam's Godfather (Rs 325) a whiskey-based one. The Boti Kebab Frankie (Rs 225) tasted like a replica of the Raan Bao so did not earn any brownie points from us. For the mains we tried and loved the Nasi Goreng (Rs 350) an Indonesian stir-fried rice with prawns and chicken that's topped with egg- an absolute winner. We also went with their version of the Sali Boti with Berry Pulao (Rs 375) and came away impressed.

It's a pretty good attempt to replicate this eternal favourite which has loyal fans at Britannia & Company Restaurant. The red velvet cupcake ice cream burger (Rs 195) is nothing close to its description. We are not sure why it's called a burger as it looks and tastes like a cupcake. Ignore that description and you will do fine as it does not disappoint. It hits the sweet spot, is light and creamy all at once and will have you polishing every bit off it.

The Nutella Cinnamon Roll (Rs 195) is also a great second choice for dessert. Have this one if you love Churrios it definitely reminded us of it. To finish off the meal you get a healthy dose of nostalgia with their in-house frozen slushes served in a plastic cylindrical packet that you are supposed to suck on just like when you were kids. The best part - it's free with every meal.

What's in store?

Smoking cocktails that will be served in a contraption that looks very much like a hookah and keeps changing colours. That should be available early next year.
Our verdict Looking for a place to hang out from noon to midnight? Then 145 is a good bet, with it's all-day breakfast options it transforms into a lounge and bar post sunset, and is a great place to hang out or work.

Where

145, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda