Between us, my baker friend and I practically ransack the place. The only thing that leaves us unsatisfied is the New York Baked Cheesecake (Rs 120), which has its lacklustre flavour and coconutty base to blame. The Walnut Brownie (Rs 100 for a square), nice and crusty on the outside and gooey on the inside, has a generous dose of nuts — but we find more almonds than walnuts. Topped with a layer of frosting, the brownie also has a light sprinkling of pista.

The Mini Garlic Buns (Rs 20 for three), tiny rolls of super soft, mouthwatering goodness, were dotted with pieces of roasted garlic and didn’t need any accompaniments. We also take home a loaf of piping hot five-seed Multigrain Bread (Rs 70). We’ve been told to let the loaf rest a bit before we break bread. Topped with nothing but cracked wheat (where are the other seeds?), the loaf is soft and light brown on the inside. Multigrain it might be, but we suspect it isn’t particularly healthy. The oil stains on the brown paper bag that carried the bread are tell-tale signs that its delicious softness comes from a high fat content.

Service: Extremely polite, outgoing
Ambience: Small but friendly
Food: Worthy of repeats
At: Parkbench, Gangangiri, Off Carter Road, Bandra West
Call: 022-26042125
Star: '''1/2