I was floored when I was told that a coffee shop by the name Cafe Terrace at Night was to replace the card-room on the first floor. I started dreaming of a 24/7 eatery, but my excitement mellowed a little, though not entirely, on learning that it was essentially a day joint but would stay open for sometime past midnight.

If I remember right, the café was inaugurated in 2002. During the last ten years it has not changed its looks. It is a very casual place and one can enter with gymnasium, badminton or cricket clothes, which is not the case in our bar or restaurant. Hence, it is very popular among all the members.

Dwelling over the breakfast menu, I relish Spanish omelet with toast butter. Seldom I do I have an Indian breakfast, which is very sumptuous.

Being an all-day eating place, one can get a full meal even during odd hours, though the menu is limited during at such times. Your get an array of delicious cuisine from all corners of the world ranging from the Middle East to Mexico and Italy. Continental cuisine is served with authentic sauces. I love lamb sizzlers very much. The hissing sound of the sizzler tickles one's taste buds. The Italian menu is also much sought after by our members. From of the South-Indian menu I have a penchant for rava masala dosa with coconut chutney and sour sambhar. Out of the sandwich block menu, I love roast lamb sandwich filled with tiny pieces of lamb and mayonnaise. Though this item is not listed on the menu, it is favourite amongst members.

Coming to the Maharashtrian menu, one can have a wide choice for quick bites. You can have batata vada, kothimbir vadi, sabudana vada, misal and thalipeeth. Those who are hungrier can have vangyache bharit and bhakari. The extended hours up to midnight give you ample time to watch a movie and come to the café and have dinner.

The service is very courteous and unobtrusive. My favourite sitting place is from where you get a glimpse of the swimming pool. During the course of the day I visit the coffee shop at least three times. The staff is very humble and greets one with a big smile. The restaurant menu is also served here, and so it is very crowded on Sundays when members come with their families.

It serves only mild liquor; hence, it is not popular with tipplers. About desserts we can splurge on a wide choice of hot and cold desserts. My favourite is rose petal ice cream.

During the gatari festival, I skip both my meals at home and feast on non-vegetarian delicacies for the whole week. You can have a wide variety of Maharashtrian style non-vegetarian food during the week before Shravan begins. My favourite dishes are tandoor khekda, fried bombil and solkadhi. After gatari amavasya is over, the next month of Shravan brings a score of vegetarian delicacies. During Shravan also I skip my dinner at home and feast on various items such as patoli, masale bhat, dalimbi usal, ukdiche modak with sajuk tup, ambadichi patal bhaaji and so on. My friends crave to dine at our coffee shop during Shravan to feast on the offered in this pavitra month.

The coffee shop has a TV set and this helps us to keep abreast with the latest news. That is a plus point. Relaxed ambience, exquisite food, tasteful decor, lovely view, a television set keeping the environment lively - all at your service for 17 hours every day. I can't see myself asking for more! (Contributed by Ulhas Dhargalkar)