There is no dearth of cafés in Vadodara, from the pricey, fancy places to the simple, minimalist, no frills cafés, the city has everything. The Friends Cafeteria is a new café that has opened up in Shipra Complex at the Manisha Chowkdi on O.P. Road. This location earlier used to house the very famous Baking Company, known for its delectable desserts and baked stuff.

The Friends Cafeteria is a simple, no-nonsense café. It has a minimalistic menu with a range of hot coffees and cold frappes, hot teas and ice teas, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, burgers and maggi; stuff that most cafés house these days. There is nothing innovative or path breaking in the menu, honestly. But, the food tastes good, and that is important. It is not too pricey either. Good food, at a pocket-friendly price is what makes The Friends Cafeteria worth visiting. Also, they are open to customization as per your preferences, replacing some ingredients or omitting something, as and what you may need.

I ordered a Barbeque Paneer Pizza, asking for replacing the black olives with mushrooms; and a caramel café latte. The waiting time for my order to arrive wasn’t much, and it was simply but nicely presented. The pizza was good. The base was well cooked, the toppings and cheese were generously loaded, and the mozzarella melted out really well giving great flavours in each bite of the pizza. As for the coffee, it was also really good, the caramel sauce and the milky latte came together to form a good blend to rewind after a long day at work for me.

The staff is very friendly and warm. The service is a combination of self-service and being attended to. So, you place your order and pay at the counter, while the food and beverages get served to you on your table. The staff is helpful with whatever you need, and there is good service with a smile.

The highlight of the café is its ambience. They have these lovely rib cage lamps that light up the place, making it feel happy and warm. The interiors are nicely done and make you feel welcome. For a group of friends, who want to hang out after tuitions or college, or for a couple, who just wants to spend some time together sipping some good coffee, this is the place you should be coming to. There is an elegance to the place that makes it inviting and cool. For those who prefer their own company or that of a book, grab a table by the corner, and get going, you still won’t be disappointed.

Overall, though this place may not be path breaker or the outstanding new addition to the buzzing café culture of Vadodara, it is still a great place to stretch your legs and chill at.

Address: 6/7, Shipra complex, Near Manisha crossing, O.P.Road, Vadodara, Gujarat 390020

Contact: 91735 88766