Zoca Cafe Bengaluru restaurant overview

As we entered the lately opened department of Zoca Cafe in Sahakara Nagar, Bengaluru, we seen that they have been nonetheless placing the ultimate touches on the interiors. A Wednesday midday go to meant the place was quiet, with only some diners round. The peppy sounds of Punjabi music killed the silence, later transitioning to nostalgic ‘90s English pop tunes. The climate, fortuitously, was not too sizzling, permitting us to chill out comfortably within the al fresco eating space. Even when it rained, we had the safety of the rain shade. The design exuded a satisfying aura with its pastel palette, that includes teal-painted partitions and chairs outdoors, whereas inside, a genial mix of pink and cream colors awaited.

Zoca is an increasing meals model (part of Fraterniti Meals) whose imaginative and prescient is to create a fusion of flavours, tradition, and innovation. With its rising reputation, it has established a number of shops within the nation, with branches in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The model envisions a grand-scale enlargement to have 500-plus cafes pan India by the tip of 2025.

First-time foodpreneurs Tejas G and Manasa JM run the Sahakara Nagar outlet. “We needed to begin one thing small to check the waters since we’re doing it for the primary time. Once we chanced upon this chance to run a Zoca department, we have been apprehensive as a result of we weren’t certain about managing a giant restaurant. However, we took the plunge,” says Tejas.

Manasa factors out the dearth of different rooftop cafes within the neighbourhood as a purpose for establishing the area in Sahakara Nagar. “There are a couple of resto-bars round. However there isn’t a spot with an intensive meals and (non-alcoholic) drinks menu,” she provides. 

The Zoca shops share a number of widespread parts, together with a pastel color scheme, the greenery of decorative vegetation, and a collection of signature dishes and drinks. Every outlet additionally has its personal specialities. 

Our brunch started with two drinks, tamarind and mango mojitos, unique to Sahakara Nagar Zoco. The tamarind-flavoured one, with a pinch of spices, tasted like a tangy masala soda. The mango one, in the meantime, was just like a less-sugared Frooti.

Our first dish was the Zoca Fried Rooster served with Caesar Salad and an in-house sauce made from paprika powder, Tobasco, peri peri, and mayonnaise. If you’re a fan of fried rooster, this one comes with a little bit of a shock. The crispy, golden-brown crust just isn’t merely crunchy; it additionally comes with some spices, setting it aside from the standard fried rooster.

What’s the secret? 

“Often, the spices and seasoning are added after the rooster is fried. We add them within the batter, which is a mixture of bread crumbs, oregano, maida, and white pepper,” says Chef Karan Thami.

Loaded veg pizza
| Picture Credit score:
Anirudh Nair

The loaded veg pizza, which arrived subsequent, supplied a burst of flavours that excited the style buds with each chew. The mixture of contemporary mushrooms, zucchini, jalapenos, crimson and yellow bell peppers, and onions infused the pizza with a pleasant medley of savoury and barely tangy notes. The mint sauce, cleverly blended with mayonnaise, added a refreshing zing that complemented the greens. The wealthy and strong crimson pizza sauce (free from synthetic colors, in accordance with the chef) additional enhanced the pizza’s style.

After the pizza, we have been stunned and a tad confused to discover a chocolate brownie with butterscotch ice cream on the desk. There have been different delicacies together with soya chaap tikka and prawn garlic fry we have been alleged to style. There was no purpose to complain in regards to the mid-meal dessert. It was only a well-made brownie and ice cream. 

After the dessert, which left us in a sugar coma, we might solely pattern the soya chaap tikka and prawn garlic fry. The previous, in accordance with chef Navin Khawas, is a signature dish. The latter was a tad too saucy. 

Zoca Cafe is now accessible on meals supply platforms. Being their patron will profit you with extra gadgets and reductions. “Although we’re a part of a franchise, we’d like our outlet to face out. So, aside from the standard choices of Zoca, you’ll even have our unique choices,” says Tejas.