The NMACC Theatre Cafe In Churchgate Is A Trip Down Memory Lane
The city has seen many nostalgia menus — this is one we actually want to go back to
You may often find yourself on weekend afternoons wandering through Kala Ghoda, the Colaba bylanes, or simply soaking in the familiar rhythm of Churchgate. Or perhaps, you’re there to visit the newly opened NMACC Theatre Cafe inside the Swadesh store at Eros, Churchgate.
The cafe, tucked inside the restored infamous Eros Cinema building (a structure Mumbai has known for generations), opens up quietly – a small 23-seater that feels like a beautifully arranged salon. Designed by Ashiesh Shah, the space leans into warmth: the walls are wrapped in soft fabric panels, each embroidered with foliage, birds, and tiny narrative leaves that ask for a closer look. Sculptural lighting in pale wood arcs overhead. Brass accents punctuate corners. A few carefully chosen craft installations sit almost casually on the walls.
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As for the menu, the NMACC Theatre Cafe at Eros approaches nostalgia with restraint. Imagine you walk in craving your comfort food, and if I’m correct, your comfort food will be shaped by where you grew up. Maybe it’s the Maggi you often ate on foggy-hill stations, maybe it’s a paratha rolled straight off a tawa, or maybe it’s just your good-old chaat. The Eros outpost has it all. Here, you’ll find bun maska paired with a fluffy omelette, pav bhaji finished with a thin, almost shy layer of cheese, Maggi dressed up with eggs. It’s food that feels rooted but not overly reverent, and it’s evocative without being indulgent.
It’s important to note that the two outlets — NMACC Theatre Cafe in BKC and NMACC Theatre Cafe at Eros, Churchgate — although from the same family, aren’t entirely identical. Their concepts diverge by design, shaped as much by their neighbourhoods as by their intent.
The BKC outpost, housed within the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, leans into Mumbai’s street-food DNA, offering contemporary riffs on street food classics. The Eros, Churchgate outpost, meanwhile, feels like a completely different chapter. Tucked inside the one of the cities most famous Art Deco buildings, it embraces nostalgia full-swing — a culinary memory lane that sits comfortably amid handcrafted textiles and artisanal décor. Only a select few signature dishes appear in both places; everything else reflects two distinct moods, two different rhythms of the city.
We tasted our way through the NMACC Theatre Cafe (Eros) menu, and here are five dishes that stood out.
Moringa Shorba
This is light, almost broth-like, brightened by young drumstick pulp. It’s served with a crisp, flaky nimki that adds the satisfying touch.
Dahi Batata Puri
This one stays honest to its roote—cool yoghurt, clean spice, and the unmistakable fresh crunch. This is the kind of chaat that reminds you why you loved chaat in the first place.
Avocado Sev Puri
This was unexpected, but not forced. The avocado brings creaminess, the balsamic pearls add brightness, and the sev keeps it honest.
Raan Khurchan & Egg Kosha Roll
Rich shredded raan folded into egg kosha and wrapped in a warm roll. Messy in the right way, indulgent in the necessary way.
Madras Curried Mac & Cheese
A cross-cultural comfort hug. Curry leaves, mozzarella gratin, and just enough heat to make it interesting.