CHENNAI: The minute you step into this tiny eatery, the aroma of freshly-baked waffles will bring a smile on your face. With a multitude of dessert options, especially in waffles, London Bubble Co recently opened its doors in the city at Barnaby Road, Kilpauk. The waffles are already a hit on social media.
The shop is spread over 750 sq ft with 35 seats. Additionally, there is a 600 sq ft party hall. You can find a slice of London on the walls here. With checked flooring pattern, fancy chairs, London flag on the back walls of the kitchen and painted illustrations, there is also a hint of the Victorian touch to keep it old school.
It’s easy to spot the place with its candy-like appeal on the building’s facade with alternating white and pink stripes. “Chennai’s food scene is vibrant. Finding an appropriate location seems to be the most challenging part. I feel that Kilpauk is going to be the next food hub with a number of new places launching every week. Our current location is a residential spot and has many schools in the vicinity. Hope it works in our favour,” says Veeral Bafna, owner.
We learn that the brand was founded and conceptualised by Saurabh Rathore. During his stay in London, he realised the phenomenon called bubble waffles and decided to bring it to India. The first outlet was set up at Juhu, Mumbai in 2017.
It’s quite natural to picture a grid when you think of waffles. However, this place specialises in bubble waffles, one of its exclusive items. What makes it different, both in terms of taste and appearance, is the crunchy outer layer in the form of a bubble and inner portion beneath it, which is fluffy. They have experimented with flavours. There is Berry Bae and Blueberry Cream Cheese for berry lovers.
For those who are fond of chocolate there is Roche Rust, Death by Chocolate and Magic Waffle. Apart from this, some of their out-of-the-box choices are Blackjack, London Bubblegum and Gimme Nutella. We’re told that the waffles made here are vegetarian to match the Indian palate. Despite the absence of eggs, the waffles continue to remain soft and delectable. Alongside waffles, a few milkshake variations are also served.
The waffles are served in decent portions with scoops of flavoursome gelato. The texture is smooth and silky. “In Mumbai, we have a smaller kiosk. People do not have the time to sit and eat at leisure. But Chennai customers seem to be specific about their comfort zone. So we don’t want to give them the same menu. Expect funnel cakes, churros and tacos soon,” says Veeral.
Catering to all sections of the society, there are limited items which priced reasonably. The company has an international outlet in Canada and multiple national outlets across Mumbai, Hyderbad and Kolkata. They are already on an expansion spree with outlets coming up in Anna Nagar and Besant Nagar.