Seesawing through the highs and lows of BKC's brand new all-day cafe menu

These days, the only thing other than the falling rate of cryptocurrency that Mumbai seems to be discussing is the newly opened Jio World Drive. A luxury mall with curated experiences that range from flagship stores and art installations to a drive-in theatre, this new BKC hotspot remained on my feed pretty resiliently, thanks to the motley crew of influencers hoppin there in their Jimmy Choo kitten heels. For me though, more than the West Elm (a modern home and furnishings' brand, if you don't know already) outlet inside the swanky shopping centre, it is the crop of culinary offerings that caught my fancy. Of course, there are known names that have found a home inside Jio World Drive (JWD), like Foo, Yeti, Indigo Delicatessen and Hurrems. But the moment I found a window—and my double vaccination certificate, which you absolutely need to enter the mall—I found myself reeling towards SeeSaw Cafe, an all-day, alfresco dining space that doubles up as a pet-friendly bistro.

Managed by restaurateur Aditi Dugar, the name behind Mumbai's Sage and Saffron and Masque and Bengaluru's Araku Cafe, SeeSaw is an inviting, roomy diner smack in the middle of JWD's courtyard. Earthy tones, a polychromatic mosaic floor, olive green walls and teak round-back chairs come together to give the space a relaxing character, making it pretty viable for a post-shopping resting spot. The menu is a mix of global dishes, reinterpreted with the help of techniques and unique produce, like a salad that champions fried plantains or the ramen, which relies on ragi noodles to elevate the otherwise common dish to something 'extra.' My inference is that the offerings have been curated to provide diners with food that's as good for the health as it is for the heart.

Be that as it may, there are some hits and misses, as is with everything we do, really. I know I will go back for the crispy plantain salad, which truth be told, I wasn't even considering till my colleague suggested it. Resting on a bed of luscious corn mousse, these crunchy bits of the fruit liaison with smoked onions and juicy avos, to give you a bowl of food that is truly enjoyable. The tempura prawn tacos too are fun, sans the sweetness from the hot sauce, which I personally think could be a little hotter. The yakitori ramen comes with the added bonus of snow peas and ragi noodles so good, you barely miss the udon. The bone broth, though, could be more unctuous, which I know in my heart isn't possible to achieve without pork. I liked the mushroom taco, but that's the long and short of it, and it didn't quite blow my mind away. Which the pumpkin ravioli did, by the way, as it comes with a gorgeous beurre blanc, which is creamy but also balanced, thanks to the punchier flavours from the miso-mustard. Then, there was a shrimp on sourdough toast, with big, juicy prawns that works overall, but would have fared better without the candied lemon; or maybe it's just me and my unfeelingness towards anything too sweet on something that's supposed to be savoury.

Even as I made my way through the table, I knew I had my eye on the flatbreads, the Monte Cristo sandwich—which has black forest ham, a dry-cured and smoked cold cut—and the lemon meringue pie. For all that, and their gourmet pet menu, there will have to be a next time. You know there always is!

Where: Seesaw, Courtyard, Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex.

For more details, check them out at: @seesawcafe_in

Images: Seesaw Cafe