Ovense Cafe: This co-working space for bakers serves up ’90s nostalgia and TikTok butter spread

Grilled Watermelon Poke Bowl | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Owens is a go-to place for foodies, home cooks and cooking enthusiasts alike. The owner, Abhav Malhotra, a chef and food scientist who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, has created a co-working space where home chefs can rent kitchens and work for those Offering masterclasses where you can showcase your baked goods. who want to hone their cooking skills. This is possibly the only co-working space for bakers in the city.

The café offers a variety of options, from dine-in to co-working space and even retail space for baked goods made by Owens and partner home bakers. and the menu? Well, it’s all in the SpongeBob SquarePants font and includes food from the popular ’90s show like Friend And pokemon, You can try Joey’s famous meatball sub or cheesecake, which led to Rachel and Chandler’s showdown in the episode The One with the Cheesecake. And of course, don’t miss the PokéBowl inspired by the beloved Pokémon franchise. Weird? Yes. monotonous? no way!

Abhav knows that the game has changed and customers are no longer attracted by fancy French presses and garlic bread. To stay relevant, he taps into the sweet spot of ’90s memories while keeping up with the latest Tik Tok food trends. Scanning the menu as you walk into the cafe, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been transported back in time to the Scratchy and Friend Re-runs, but with a modern twist.

I went on a Friday evening and the place had a quaint cafe like atmosphere. They had the TikTok Viral Whipped Butter Platter, which I’ve been seeing on Instagram Reels, along with Korean Cream Cheese Cross Buns and Ramen Bowls. My eyes fell on board games made by Indian companies. It was a refreshing change from the usual restaurant chatter and phone-checking while waiting for food to arrive.

Pizza in Owensse | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Speaking of food, the Grilled Watermelon Pokebowl stands out as a delightful mix of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors. The butter spread options were simply incredible, with pesto, caramel, coffee, garlic, and cream cheese all in one place – a true indulgence.

While the concept of the cafe is undoubtedly innovative, the layout of the small spaces across three floors, which include a co-working space, retail space, training center and cafe, left me feeling somewhat disoriented. Nonetheless, the rooftop area was a definite highlight, adorned with lush indoor greenery and twinkling fairy lights – a spectacular setting for Abhav’s envisioned events such as match screenings and movie nights.

After all, what’s a good cafe without a bake? Home baker Alifia Kothari’s unique spin on the classic affogato, served as a coffee and chocolate tart, and Italian tiramisu with ladyfingers were both decadent and delicious. The ladyfingers themselves were spongy fingers with a light, airy interior that soaked up the cream and espresso perfectly. Notably, the cafe makes 90% of its basic ingredients in-house, including butter and buns, to ensure that guests are not served processed food.

Overall, the restaurant had a lighthearted and whimsical tone that set it apart from other worldly cafes. It was a breath of fresh air, and I was delighted to stumble upon it on a quiet Friday night on Richmond Road.

Owens is located at Castle Street, Richmond Town, Bangalore. Open from 12 noon to 10 pm. For details, call +919384614999.