Suzette in Bandra: Review
I spend a lot of time in Bombay eating, both at home and in restaurants, and so wanted to make food a more central focus to my blog by reviewing some fun eating places and sharing recipes and food experiences. Cooking and eating are so integral to people, to communities and cultures. Food in Bombay and everywhere is sensory, social, reminiscent and meaningful.
We eat to sustain ourselves, but eating is also a ruse, a set for difficult, joyful, disappointing and exciting conversations. I take a lot of pleasure from a good meal out with friends, and even more from a coffee or a glass of wine with one friend. I love cooking in a big group as much as I love cooking alone in the Pali Naka palace.
In Bombay, millions of people go out for breakfast, for brunch, for lunch, coffee, drinks, dinner and dessert every day. Some of them go to Suzette in Bandra.
Suzette opened in Bandra a month and a half ago. just a couple of months ago: they already have one Nariman point location. Sandwiched between McCraigs and a new and shiny-signed Punjabi restaurant across from Gold’s Gym in Pali Naka, Suzette is already usually busy, and with good reason.
We visited on a sunny Sunday morning at 9:30, before the rush. Iced coffee wasn’t strong enough for my taste, but the cappucino was perfect. We ordered Suzette’s signature offerings, buckwheat crepes: one savoury and one sweet.
The apple and cinnamon filling in the sweet crepe was very nice. Though I would have preferred more pieces of apple and less of a cooked applesauce, the flavour was perfect. However, I thought the robust buckwheat flour was more complimentary to our savoury crepe: the ‘’Italie’’ with arugula, tomato and mozzarella. The Italie crepe was perfect: the arugula was mild but fresh and crisp, and the cheese perfectly stringy. The crepes are a decent size but very thin: those with big appetites (like the diners next to us) may need two crepes per person.
I think Suzette has covered an interesting niche with the buckwheat crepe concept. Many people in Bombay won’t have had buckwheat crepes before and so will experience breakfast at Suzette with a fresh palate, unjaded by real French expectations. I myself am unable to comment on the authenticity of the crepes, as I only visited France once seven years ago: I know only that they’re delicious. Suzette also offers a variety of eggs, cereals and toasts. The coffee was a standout: smooth and dark. I think that the use of simple, high quality ingredients has served Suzette well. They understand the value of ‘slow food,’ dark chocolate, real coffee and fresh fruit and vegetables.
I thought the service at Suzette was very good by any standard. Some diners in Bombay get miffed at having to pour water for themselves: I’ d rather pour water myself than have to wait for service, so was happy to have a bottle on the table. The waiter and manager both came out to check on whether we were enjoying our food.
I visit a restaurant for an overall experience, not just a food experience. Suzette is a lovely place for a weekend breakfast because it’s an easy Bandra destination, has pleasant seating both inside and outside, and has a variety of high quality food offerings. I will definitely be back at Suzette.
Being French and enjoying crepes for 23 years now, I can tell you Suzette makes an excellent job to prevent me from being homesick! Their savoury crepes taste exactly like the ones you could have in Brittany and their Belgian dark chocolate sweet crepe might be even better than some I had back home!
I’m super glad to have a small yet welcoming french restaurant to go whenever I feel like having home food.
Hello Elodie!
Thank you so much for your comment: now I know that Suzette’s crepes are authentic. I haven’t tried the Beligan dark chocolate crepe yet, so will have to go back to do so. I’m so glad you’re able to enjoy home food even in Mumbai.