Drop In At 'The Drop' And Find Your Jaws Dropped

Delhi has coffee shops opening and shutting at lightning speed. These days, news of new openings doesn't really excite me. I was discussing this with a fellow writer when she mentioned The Drop. “It’s in the popular Hauz Khas lane everyone’s talking about and they are doing serious sh*t,” she said. A place that takes things seriously in Delhi. Well, now that was exciting news.

My visit to the coffe-cum-cocktail bar was scheduled and rescheduled multiple times. But finally, on a rainy Tuesday evening, I landed at The Drop. I was sent a rather exhaustive list of everything that I must try. From sandwiches and pizza to cocktails, coffee, and desserts, I felt full just looking at everything I was asked to order.

But the biggest sign of being a foodie is revelling in eating despite the appetite. And I certainly passed that ​mark.

I ordered it all. Of course, because I was tempted, but more because I wanted to tell you all if you should. Public good was the larger aim, you see.

Coffee To Start With 

If you are making a list of places revolutionising coffee in Delhi, add The Drop to that list. Every month the baristas drop a new coffee menu (thus the name) and I picked two of the most inventive sips from the current craft coffee menu. 

Mont Blanc came in first. It featured an ice lungo shot, orange marmalade and was topped with vanilla cold foam. A refreshing sip with the right balance of orange and espresso. The bits of orange pulp that added more texture and flavour to the brew. The idea of topping it with vanilla foam was a genius idea. 

When I told Iggy, the barista at the counter about how much I enjoyed Mont Blanc, he said, “most people this month crowned it as the best brew on the menu until they tried the mango sticky rice matcha.” 

So the mango sticky rice matcha arrived next. Sticky rice syrup and mango purée at the bottom and a strong shot of matcha on top. I am by no means a matcha fan but this one was surprisingly worth a second order. The grassiness and herbaceousness of matcha goes nowhere but it is complemented by the mango and the sticky rice syrup which not just adds sweetness (which I like in my matcha) but also notes of mango that truly make every sip worth a second. 

Sandwiches And Pizzas For The Mains

On the food front, I opted for their focaccia sandwiches which proved to be one of my favourite things on the menu. They are a must-try. I picked the one that packed roasted bellpeppers, zucchini, basil pesto, and arugula. The focaccia was soft and freshly-prepared in-house. While it's the season of delis in Delhi, this was one of the best I had had in the city. 

From their all-day brunch menu, I also picked their avocado burrata toast, which for starters was priced disproportionately high. It was doing nothing extraordinary and I would recommend a pass. 

I requested Julia, the server for the evening, for a half-and-half pizza. The wild mushroom cream & truffle paired with the five cheese and chilli pizza were my picks. If you have low spice tolerance, don’t pick the five cheese and chilli pizza. It is exceptionally spicy and the fully-loaded cheese on the slice does not help. The mushroom and truffle slices were done well and could be one of your picks from the menu. 

Spruce It Up With The Drop's Cocktails

As for the cocktails, you would easily pick one of their martinis and margaritas but my recommendation would be one of their craft cocktails. My favourite sip from the evening after the orange marmalade iced coffee was the Dropped Call. The drink featured scotch, a house-made special cordial, and vanilla soda. Nothing about the drink was overwhelming (despite the whisky). I enjoyed the vanilla notes that the soda rendered to every sip. It was just the whisky cocktail I enjoy (and can handle) 

From the craft cocktails, I went in with a more nuanced drink— Tommy Told Us. Must mention that I was quite impressed with the names of every drink. This one was prepared using pistola reposado, agave, lime, and sea salt. Simple ingredients, yet I felt as if I was discovering different notes with every sip. 

I took a few sips of Drop a hint that was Iggy’s favourite drink on the roster and he insisted I try without fail. It was a lot of notes for a rum-based cocktail, but surprisingly they did come out well together. Saffron paired with elderflower and apple. But would I reorder on my visit? Maybe I would replace it with Dropped Call. 

The Best Part Of The Menu Arrives Last 

Now to the best part of the evening and the menu. The Desserts at Drop. If not for the coffee or the focaccia sandwiches, go for the desserts. The tiramisu came in a tin case. While I felt the ladyfingers were a little too moist, it is great for someone who likes their tiramisu more sweet.  

What won the dinner for me was the marble brookie. Someone said that it sits between a fudgy brownie and a cookie, I second it. If you have been following the tin cookie trend and are a chocolate lover, the one at Drop is the best version of the viral dessert. The only change I would recommend would be to get rid of the caramelised popcorns on top. They should either be sweetened as much as the chocolate-loaded, gooey brookie is. And while I understand that the aim is to add texture, it did not work for me. Minus the popcorn, it is a ten on ten and a must try if you end up at The Drop. 

The Information:

Address: Ground Floor, G-8, Hauz Khas Market, Block G, Kharera, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016 

Price for two: INR 1,800 

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