T Nagar welcomes The Perch cafe, a place to savor coffee and connection

Before they hung the new board of Perch, a cafe nestled between the chaos of Vidyodaya school’s classroom and the cacophony of Nungambakkam traffic, they was Egco. This cafe that served coffee and eggs opened in January 2024 and quietly won the hearts of people, young and old, who wanted to come for their morning cuppa and a solid bite of protein. Not to forget their delicious truffle hashbrowns, bacon, and cold chocolate. When they decided to move to ECR, regulars crowded the cafe, swiping off every last piece of bread, cheese, and coffee grind, bidding farewell to a beloved neighbourhood ‘spot’. Mojiz Khan was among them too.

“I used to frequent Egco all the time because it was quiet and had a decent cup of coffee. At the time it was shutting down, I was keen about starting a venture of my own. I had handled the operations of Radio Room, Bay 6, and Bask so I had accumulated enough knowledge in the food and beverage space. But the idea of taking over this space was entirely based on chance,” says Mojiz Khan, the owner of this new establishment which has retained Egco’s resplendent trees but has made the cafe more roomy, perhaps even prettier. But does pretty alone cut it?

A dish at Perch
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Perch’s menu, full of cafe truisms like cold brews, matcha, finger food, and breakfast platters, is small but sufficient. “We wanted to add more things but the kitchen is small and we’re making do with one oven,” he says.

To experiment with the coffee (it’s brunch, don’t judge), we try the coconut caramel latte, a perfectly cold coffee to have on a day when sunlight chooses to stream in slits. This is a great coffee if you like to try new things, especially since the coconut milk and caramel swirl perfectly in a cup. The coffee has been curated by Aasma Khan of Brew Basics Academy. The banana pudding matcha that follows in tow, however, needs a banana punch. The matcha (though, ceremonial grade), takes over the drink, leaving little room for the playful taste of banana pudding. The table next to us raves about the aesthetic looking mango matcha though. “We custom made these cups and are hoping it continues to fit the grab and go culture,” says Mojiz.

What stands out at Perch is their meatballs in a tomato and tahini yogurt base. The tahini’s stoicism in the yogurt perfectly compliments the tang from the tomato and the heartiness of the meat. Their pesto, both in the form of a chicken crostini and their pasta, is delicious too. It is evident that the sauce is loaded with parmesan and garlic (match made in heaven).

Their breakfast plate, complete with hashbrowns, sausages, eggs to order, and baked beans, isn’t rave worthy. This plate would benefit from some butter and marmalade as the toast is wonderful and thick. The omelette, though, requires more seasoning. The chef is perhaps a little heavy handed with the mayonnaise in the chicken sandwich but it makes for a decent bite. The chilli cheese toast however, desperately needs real Indian chillies instead of the tame jalapenos. The meal is on the pricier side overall so one becomes cautious while ordering.

Coffee being prepared at Perch
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Quickly though, the pace again changes. If you like butter, order the feta and caramelised onion spanakopita. The triangular bits of foreign samosas glisten in the light. It’s a solid appetiser that leaves you licking your fingers. A good sign.

The banana bread with fig compote, off their breakfast menu, is an excellent way to end the meal. The toasted slice of banana bread is slathered with a thick dollop of butter cream. The compote cuts through the sweet and fat, making way for a great last bite.

Outside of the meal though, Perch is a great place to work. It’s usually quiet, isn’t too crowded, and the music doesn’t blare in your ears. The trees make for a fantastic canopy, making it a great place to be lost in your thoughts.

The Perch is at 8/19, 1st Cross Street, T. Nagar, Near Vidyodaya. A meal for two costs ₹1,200.