Food Review: Temperance Deli

At 8.30pm on a weekday, we were the only customers at the two-week old Temperance Deli in Bandra. The 4,000 square feet cafe is spread across two floors of the Tudor-style bungalow that houses Temperance, and we optimistically attributed the lack of patrons to the fact that the last set of dance and mixed martial arts classes held at the four-storeyed activity centre ends at 9.30pm.

Even though it possesses the easy, stay-as-long-as-you-like vibe that made Just Around The Corner such a hit with Bandra’s idlers, the deli remained dismally empty throughout our visit. This was perhaps because for an establishment so dedicated to promoting health and fitness via hourly Pilates, yoga, dance, and martial arts sessions, the deli at Temperance offers a menu that is not particularly calorie-friendly (think creamy soups, white bread sandwiches, pastas and mains served with cream-based sauces). Their cream of broccoli soup served in a bread bowl was of just the right consistency (neither too thin nor too thick) but a tad salty. The Caesar salad, though made with diced boiled chicken, was pleasant enough, its serving of crunchy iceburg, croutons and shaved parmesan, dressed in a sweet and creamy emulsion. Our vegetarian and non-vegetarian paninis came with a side of golden-brown, crisped-to-perfection fries. The flavours of the pesto and sundried tomatoes stood out in the grilled chicken pesto panini, which was as filling as the veggie panini smeared with mayonnaise and stuffed with olives, onions, sautéed mushrooms, and cheese. The paninis were satisfying but not particularly inventive, and both left us with the heavy feeling one generally experiences after a multi-course meal.

If you desire a lighter, post-workout dinner, get the Cajun chicken, a tender chicken breast accompanied by a peppery russet-coloured gravy. However, the desserts here are a sure way to undo the slimming effects of a workout. The tres leches, drizzled with chocolate sauce and garnished with nougat, was not so much the sweet, milky sponge cake that it is meant to be, but a combination of whipped cream and a sweet milk fudge, with the consistency of milk barfi. Their banana-flavoured oats brownie had the sticky appeal of a cereal bar, but it was more soggy than crunchy. There’s no dearth of people signing up for classes at Temperance, but in order to turn them into regulars at the deli, the management should consider going The Yoga House way and serving food that compliments their fitness-first philosophy.

A meal for two costs approximately Rs1,100. This review was conducted anonymously.

Temperance Deli

LocationSt. Xaverian Court
Sherly Rajan Road
Near Rizvi College of Hotel Management
Bandra (West)

Phone98203 87694 and 98338 33270

HoursDaily, 11am to 11pm

Websitewww.temperance.co.in