The outside walls, a gorgeous shade of blue, immediately lifted my mood as I was walking into Café Tesu.  Recently opened in Essex Farms (Aurobindo Marg),  this café has got its colours spot on. The ample lighting on the pristine white walls, and huge windows offers a sense of spaciousness. Add to that the wooden seating arrangements, the bright flamingo on the wall, and you have a funky yet soothing place to chill.

The quirky interiors of the cafe
The quirky interiors of the cafe

I love my coffee in the mornings and tea in the evenings. As I was handed the menu, the glee on my face could barely be concealed. Cafe Tesu’s four-page menu offered umpteen delicious coffees and teas, sourced from the very best (Devi and Anandini Himalayan Tea, respectively). For coffee aficionados, there’s an option of pour over or fresh press. I chose the former and indulged in the Whiskey Barrel coffee and Ivory Coast Mocha coffee. Definitely full marks to both. The whiskey flavour was strong but not overpowering, while the mocha paired beautifully with the coffee in the other.

A hot cuppa at the cafe
A hot cuppa at the cafe

The food menu is eclectic, to say the least. Cafe Tesu offers a mix of regular staples along with dimsums and sushi. First up, among the small plates, came the Miso salad. Fresh and delightful, crunchy and tangy; the salad was perfectly balanced and a must-order when you visit the cafe.  

The Smokey Borya Chicken, wok-tossed with bullet chillies, is a winner. The smoky aftertaste with every crunchy bite makes this item hard to share, even though the portions are enough for two.

The Double-cooked al fungi was scrumptious, giving the vegetarians an option to choose their starter. The balls made from different mushrooms and cheese, seasoned and deep fried can be eaten as is; the chipotle mayo is not required, unless you really need that extra flavour.

Sushi with a twist at Cafe Tesu
Sushi with a twist at Cafe Tesu

Personally, I can live on sushi. Cafe Tesu serves them in pieces of four, eight or twelve. To taste both options, I ordered the asparagus tempura and spicy salmon. Though the plating was impressive, on a personal front, I’m not a fan of mayo with sushi. But scrape it off and the sushi is good to go. For first-time visitors, they serve four kinds of sushi in vegetarian and non vegetarian options, so if you can’t decide, I suggest you devour them all.

Steaming hot dimsums
Steaming hot dimsums

Dimsums are high-up on my Chinese cuisine list. Cafe Tesu serves six kinds (three of each) and I chose the chicken and chives, and chilly garlic vegetables dumplings. As the bamboo basket cover was lifted, hot steam escaped, signalling my taste buds to get ready for a subtle explosion of flavours. While I enjoyed the chicken and chives dimsums as the filling was perfectly steamed and well-seasoned; the vegetarian option fell short of my expectations.

Italian food is a dinner staple and there’s nothing better than to eat fresh pasta with wine after a hard day’s work. While the alcohol license for Cafe Tesu still hasn’t arrived, the penne primavera will make you forget the lack of wine. The taste of fresh vegetables, olive oil, penne and parmesan, served in a big black bowl, made for good pictures, and more importantly, a satisfied belly. Bold flavours are carefully balanced out giving diners a meal that hits all the right spots. I will, at some point, go back and have another crack at this wide-ranging menu.