Winter Is Coming And Olly Is All Up For It!

Come winter and it is the time for indulgence. But well to be honest, beating the cold weather blues sometimes does seem like a herculean task. The crispness in the air sure does bring out the nestler in all of us. Warm cushy pillows, fluffed up blankets, cosy rugs and a mug of hot cocoa, winter is all about these comforting treats. As you await the warm cuddle to get you through the biting Delhi chillness, we ended up taking things in our own hands.

On a biting winter night, we set out on a quest for wholesome indulgent fare and ended up in Cyber Hub to find ourselves awaiting to be escorted inside Olly, Olive’s All day Café & Bar. Though, it’s easy to get distracted by the American pancake house, IHop on one end and the retail giant Uniqlo on the other, we were quite focused. More so because the hunger pangs had already kicked in. Set in the midst of a plethora of other eateries, what sets Olly apart is the well-curated palatable winter menu that is ideal whether you’re planning a warm friendly meal or a mingle friendly get-together.

Inspired by the Australian cafes of Melbourne, Olly boasts of an international café culture with its food, craft coffee and artisanal drinks. While the décor and ambience isn’t something extraordinary, it probably works for the corporate junkies, looking to unwind after a long tiresome day. But more than the ambience what had gotten us excited were the hearty bowls, fuzzy drinks and the perfect portion sizes. Since my partner-in crime and I were both vegetarians, the new winter menu which is expected to last till March, had some limited options, but we made the most it.

Starting out with the assorted bruschetta (betroot, mushrooms, avocado, tomatoes) we were quite taken aback at how different each variation was. The mild and creamy mushroom bruschetta was hands down the winner for me but the freshness of tomatoes in the other one was a close second.  Being hardcore dumpling fans we were eagerly looking forward to the gyozas and the patience thankfully paid off. The pan fried Asian dumplings stuffed with water chestnuts, carrot, spring onion, cabbage, sesame seeds and ginger proved to be a brilliant way for warding off the winter chills. While mezze platter may seem a little overwhelming to a first-timer, we thought it was a bit dry for our liking. Consisting of muhammara, hummus, beetroot hummus, falafel, olives, feta, pickles, lavaash and pita, the crimson red and purple tinge of the beetroot adds a nice colour to the plate. Their hearty bowls include the burrito bowl made of coriander lime rice, black beans, con, pico de galo, icebeg, roasted peppers, nachos, sour cream, avocado and jalapenos. Light, fresh and full of flavours, it just tastes as good as it looks.

Though the wild mushroom risotto didn’t hold up to our expectations, the french toast more than made up for its let-down. The perfect ending to a hearty meal, our dessert was a great way to celebrate the winter. Fluffy on the inside and golden on the outside, accompanied with chocolate drizzle, maple syrup and generous amount of berries, the richness of it is hard to forget. Though it took a while to arrive at the table, it was worth the wait.

What is at Olly’s heart is its artisanal drinks which feature in the beverage menu. From superfood lattes to unusual cocktails and signature drinks, Olly’s got it all! Our favourite — hot toddy with dark rum and mulled wine. A new winter menu, a new audience and new memories. We are all set to ring in the New Year. What about you?

Where: Olly - Olive’s all day Café & Bar, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon

Pocket Pinch: ₹1800 for two; exclusive of taxes

Contact: +91-8130838811

Timings: 11:30am – 12 midnight