In one of the lanes opposite Lilavati Hospital, at the dead end of the road, is a small café that boasts of serving one of the best Masala Chais in the area. However, the USP of Love In Langos is Hungarian food – a cuisine that hardly anyone serves.
Yash Dutta, a pastry chef by training, is an enterprising young man who works hard to make his idea of an only-veg restaurant that serves Hungarian food and a few other dishes a success.
I start with something that catches my eye as soon as I browse through the menu – Olive Oil Cappuccino, with almond milk. It’s a normal hot cappuccino that’s infused with olive oil during preparation. And Yash refuses to share the secret recipe! Whatever the process, the subtle flavour of olive oil that comes and goes is the USP of this coffee. It will win over anyone who likes to experiment and loves coffee with subtle flavours.
Yash admits that his café is a technique-driven place and therefore he prefers not sharing his secrets.
Being primarily a Hungarian restaurant, Kürtöskalács, or kurtos (as they are popularly known and called in this café’s menu), is a must-try. A street food in Hungary, this cone (chimney cake for the Hungarians) comes with delightful savoury and sweet fillings. You have a choice of multi-purpose flour and whole-wheat flour at this place. I choose whole-wheat as the base flour.
Yash suggests I try two types and happily offers to make smaller sizes so that I am left with an appetite to try more dishes.
The flour, seasoned with salt and herbs, is generously mixed with cheese before baking the cone. The result is a delicious, crisp outer cover for varied fillings.
**Roasted Tomato Basil with Veggies Kurtos** is my first. Roasted veggies are tossed with roasted tomatoes and basil sauce, finished with some spices before stuffing into the cone. The bite of veggies and the baked cone together is tasty. I preferred the Gochujang sauce tossed veggies as they had a certain spicy smokiness that delighted my palate.
Next in line was langos. You can’t come to a place called Love in Langos and not try langos. Langos is a pizza where the base is fried before putting the toppings and baking. We decide on half-and-half – half Jamaican Jerk Potatoes and half Cranberry.
They use homemade sour cheese as the base for toppings on their langos. It is just the right balance of sour, salty, and creamy without being overpowering. The cranberry langos has homemade cranberry sauce – sweet and spicy.
“Everything here is made in-house – breads, sauces, even the thousand island!” informs Yash.
They also have a Chocolate Langos loaded with chocolate – perfect for children or adults with child-like tastes.
While they make the Nokedli (Hungarian version of pasta that’s made with and boiled in milk instead of water), I taste the Loaded Nachos. They are different. Baked and topped with queso sauce and fermented salsa that has a jam-like stickiness. The homemade masala in queso is the USP. Again, Yash keeps the details close.
These nachos are a fusion of flavours and textures.
**Paprikash Nokedli with Mushrooms** have a smoky umami thanks to burnt paprika and black pepper. Tiny bits of pasta are well cooked in the creamy sauce, making it a hearty meal for one.
Though this is a Hungarian place, they do have some rice bowls to ensure the comfort of all patrons. If you like spicy food, go for the Chettinad Rice Bowl – the masalas will totally entice you.
They also have a choice of salads, soups, and sandwiches. Mac ‘n’ Cheese fans are in for a treat with their myriad options.
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**Love In Langos, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai**
It’s dessert time. Trdelnk, a sweet treat, is up next. I try all flavours – Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate, Coconut. It’s difficult to decide which is better. However, I would choose the Red Chilli Cake over them all.
The cake is made with fat-washed chilli jelly, so soft that it nearly melts in the mouth. White chocolate shavings on top add to its appearance. The chilli heat comes last, nearly at the throat – a delightful surprise.
I round off the meal with Ginger Lemon Honey Tea – a satiating way to end it.
**Where:** Love In Langos, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai
https://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/food-review-love-in-langosmumbais-secret-caf-that-will-change-how-you-think-about-hungarian-food
