Kochi: Walk down to the beach-front, you will spot many stalls selling the days catch and on the opposite side you will find a bunch of chairs, few tables and a tiny shack painted vibrantly with a Bob Marley-esque theme with an adjoining kitchen. The first time visitors to Bob Marley Cafe often come away with many stories about how they were overwhelmed by the sublime variety of seafood and the chill-out music of Bob Marley played at the cafe.
A black board flanks the the entry gate of the cafe. On it is listed all the popular food items. Fish is the speciality here. The best part? You get to choose the fish you want to eat, tell them how you want it to be cooked and go for a walk, by the time you are back, it will be ready for you. It is not mandatory for you to walk away. You can place your order, sit down, talk to your buddies and by then Mr Ashraf, would have dished it up for you.
You can dig into the crisply fried sardines, grilled King prawns or rich fish molly made with pomfret. 'Nice food, mate', said Nick Malcom to Ashraf grooving uninhibitedly to the reggae music before picking up his books and heading out to the beach. The spectacle of foreigners expressing satisfaction over their visit to Bob Marley Cafe in Fort Kochi, must have become a common place by now. The food cooked by excellent cooks is guaranteed to leave you craving for more of the same.
The fish dishes ranging from tiger prawn grill, Calamari grill, Crab Roast to Pineapple Fish Curry are moderately priced between 250 and 650 rupees. The one aspect of the Cafe which you cannot underestimate is the positive environment created by the combination of remarkably obliging staff members and a serene atmosphere. Bob Marley Cafe, located adjacent to Fort Kochi Beach, has surprisingly remained an obscure phenomenon for those who have never been to the beach. But for those who swear by it, it is the taste that brings them back. And yet again.
