Restaurant review: Cafe Ludus in MGF Mall

Concept cafes might soon outnumber traffic signals in the capital but only a handful will make you stop and think; one needs to pull an ingenious one to stick on in public memory. That's how one would place Cafe Ludus in the larger scheme of things. Tucked away on the top floor in one of Saket's noisy mall complexes, the space is modelled on high-school aesthetics. There's a library corner strewn with board games, dictionaries and a globe, unmistakably wooden classroom chairs and an outdoor amphitheatre. Couldn't guess the theme? The scrabble alphabets on the cushions and the menu doodled on exam boards are also vital clues.

At Ludus, the learning mostly takes place at the bar. Raise your hand for a smoked whisky sour which is nutty and creamy and the honeycomb margarita which, owing to a spray of Californian orange over honeyed water, surprises your taste buds with a striking sweet and sour alternation. If you're looking to simply hydrate the palate before the meal, try the toasted marshmallow martini shaken with cranberry or a deconstructed pina colada that infuses Cuban rum into a pineapple sorbet. Nothing here hits you too hard but the buzz sets in. The barmen have done their homework.

Begin the meal with the zuppa verde, a creamy broccoli soup that's dressed up in garlic and garnished with mint sprigs and fresh pepper. Vegetarians can try the Four Seasons platter that's deep fried but doesn't grease out the palate. In this, hummus and beetroot dip is paired with crunchy sambuseks and falafel balls. The carnivores must give serious thought to the lengthy burger menu. Bursting with melted cheese, grilled meat and roasted buns, the burgers are served with fries and a peppered tartar sauce.

The high point of the meal though is the pizza. Choose the half-an-half option and pair a Marcos Polo made of barbecue chicken chunks with the primavera dressed with asparagus and artichokes.

Drizzled with olive oil and basil, these are fresh and come with a tangy red chilly chutney. For dessert, the staff will prompt, almost force, you to order the bipolar cheesecake. A piece of advice: avoid. It's too thick to chew beyond the first bite. Instead, the hazelnut flan is nutty, and sweet and leaves you with a refreshing caffeine high. If nothing sent you back to school at Ludus, the playful art in the washrooms certainly will. Swing by sophomores.

MORE RECOMMENDS
Marcos Polo and Primavera Pizza
Hazelnut Flan
Meal for two (without alcohol) Rs  1,800 plus taxes
Reservations +91 9999570434