We had a great experience at California Boulevard in Gurgaon. AMPM Cafe is by the same hospitality chain. Hence when we got an invite, we were happy to review this place.

Galleria is a cool hangout joint that fuses some shopping, some food and a whole lotto chilling space. AMPM is very much in sync with the general ambiance of Galleria. The cafe is tastefully done up in muted colours – wood furniture and black and white pictures framed on the walls. One of the walls is covered with planters with potted plants that soothes the eyes on a hot summer day. They have an open terrace with sprinklers. This area is more peaceful and photogenic than the indoor seating.

We visited the cafe on a Sunday afternoon and the place was buzzing with people who seemed to be out on a date or catching up with friends. The spaced has a very relaxed atmosphere. They serve continental and American food along with shakes and lickables, tea/coffee, cocktails, and alcohol. We tried the lickable Belgian Affair, Smoked Salmon / Mexican Chicken Pizza, and Black Coffee. All these items were yum. Particularly coffee, that often disappoints, was spot on here.

Also do try their Dal Makhni Shots with parathas. Smooth but very Indian – this dish was just awesome. We also ordered the Red Snapper. The gravy was ok, but fish was over-grilled. They were having salsa sessions that afternoon. This was an unusual twist that was fun to watch.

For Desserts, we tried their caramel pudding and on the chef’s recommendation, chocolate bomb. Both the dishes are made for Instagram and looked smashing. Chocolate Bomb was diffused with hot caramel sauce right on our table. Though quite cliched, it’s always fun to see these theatrics in food. We would recommend this dish only to diners who are not calorie-conscious and won’t mind a sugar overdose. A smaller size of chocolate bomb dessert would have worked better for us.

All in all, this is a regular grounded place. Not fantastical, not offbeat – just what one wants during a fuss-free hangout time, as the name AMPM Cafe & Bar suggests, any time of the day.

AMPM Cafe & Bar gets a thumbs up from us.