Where do the millennials and GenZ converge? It has always been the Khar back lane that houses Raasta, Khar Social and Sweeney. Around that corner, now, Rost, a French Toast and coffee bar cropped this week. Designed to converge the two generations, with its gradient of orange-pink vibe, and textured walls, it’s an old school ’90s café-meets-GenZ indulgent 30-seater spot. Pre and post-game plan, and a brunch tucked in, it’s an easy pit stop for carbs. That it has good coffee, is our first green flag, alongside the Matcha served with a Pistachio Paste (R445) that makes the the vegetal matcha sessionable.
Dished out by first-time hospitality boys Param Arora and Abhishek Chaurasia, the name is inspired by the golden roast of the brioche. Chef Karishma Sakhrani, now Dubai-based with restaurateur husband Sameer Uttamchandani, has managed to create an entire menu around the French toast brioche bread as a sweet and savoury canvas.
“A typical French Toast is maple syrup, cream and pecan nuts, but I think it is a nice base for more options. You will not believe me if I tell you the batter is eggless and made with tofu,” says Sakhrani.
AT ROST, Mahesh Building, Corner of 3rd and, 5th Road, Khar, Ram Krishna Nagar, Khar West.
TIME 11 am to 11 pm
CALL 9867967776
The Guide’s picks
Green Goddess (Rs 525)
This one has Sakhrani’s stamp all over it. The toasted brioche has a layer of avo smash and spread of mint labneh. Curly cucumber ribbons with a hazelnut dukkah with coriander and cumin seeds finished with a whole lot of greens.
Prawn Star (Rs 635)
Our favourite, it has the tartness of yuzu aioli and punch of confit garlic. The butter poached prawns are well cooked and juicy.
Next Gen Vada Pav (Rs 325)
The menu also has brioche sandos. And, yes, there is a vada pav inspiration too. Don’t be a prude, and try it. A desi masala filling, with ghati masala, a twist of garlic toum lettuce and crunchy potato salli; who knew vada pav in a brioche would get a nod.
Ube Coconut (Rs 575)
Ube, the matcha successor, made from taro or often purple yam locally, has a sweet starchy taste. On the brioche, it comes in a cream, mingling with coconut ice cream and white chocolate and toasted coconut shavings.
Brown butter flat white (Rs 345)
The millennial enjoys the double espresso, with a spoonful of maple syrup, cinnamon dust, butter in steam milk. The garnish of pillowy French toast tells us we live in a GenZ world.
