Of late, there has been a surge in the number of coffee shops coming up with dedicated food menus and the newest branch of international chain Gloria Jean’s at Hali Road, recently followed suit. Of the most I have visited in the past couple of months, most have disappointed. If coffee is what you specialise in, the wise thing to do is to stick to that and not waste the customer’s money. However, there have also been some that have deeply impressed the clients and have kept them coming. This coffee shop turned restaurant in particular comes with its share of strengths and weaknesses and here is our roundup of the entire place. STRENGTHS – what strikes one the most on just entering the premises is the interior. It’s sophisticated, subtle and has a calming effect. It’s a very unlike coffee shop ambience which was justified when the owner told me about her expertise in doing interiors. The lighting, furniture, décor and other decoratives speak volumes about the creative brains behind the interior of the place. There is a dedicated room for people who want to play cards, board games or simply eat in privacy. The glass doors are a plus one! For someone who jumped right to the main course, I liked how there was so much variety in kind of cuisine I could order. I tried out their chicken cashew nuts, beef burger, thin crust pizza and stuffed chicken. Now it has been a week or so since I tried out this place, but I would still want to go back again for their chicken cashew nuts and beef burger. The taste, freshness and presentation is what really got me. I would also want to go back and try out their cheese cake and other chilled beverages which have been made to perfection. The cheese cake was wobbly and moist with a biscuit crust that one can’t get enough of. WEAKNESSES – perhaps the service could be a bit more swift, so one doesn’t have to search for the attendant to take order. Gloria Jean’s Hali Road need to work on their pizzas more. They tasted bland and the toppings did not come across as fresh. The stuffed chicken can also use some more parmesan or mozzarella cheese and less sauce. Published in Daily Times, September 13th 2018.