Pastry, Coffee n’ Conversation

- Chirag Chauhan

Articles• Article from Zomato✦ Rated 3.5 out of 5 ‘In life experiences are important. If you are from Vizag, you know having an evening snack with a friend at PCC is one of the easiest way to kill time. At a time when good pastries were a rarity in Vizag, PCC took up the challenge and has been at it ever since. Their location also makes it very accessible. The ambience makes you feel at ease even during your first visit. The food is well priced and does not pinch the pocket. When in Vizag, PCC needs to be done.’

~Roshan Gummalla

Article from ZomatoRated 4.0 out 5.0  ‘A small place away from the buzz of life in front of it, PCC is just quiet and unknown enough to be able to enjoy a coffee in the evening. The owner is there most evenings and is a great guy to talk to! I've visited this place more than once and wouldn't miss it whenever I visit Vizag.’ ~Ankit Gupta

Written on Lonely PlanetThis hangout spot for Vizag’s hip young crowd is the place for coffee, pizza and a ridiculously good 'lava cake'.

Article from www.vizag.metromela.comWhat you see – With rows and rows of chocolates and pastries placed in a way that compel even the casual passerby to stop and ogle, Pastry, Coffee ‘n’ Conversation or PCNC has undergone a revamp. Located in the heart of Vizag in Dutt Island, PCNC is the ideal and the most preferred hangout in the city.  A small place, it still retains the cozy ambience that it earlier had.

Redone in earthly shades, the interiors of the restaurant have become more formal. The couches and chairs are stark white with the rest of the décor in browns and golds. An entire wall is a riot of colours with dozens of laminated movie posters. Old classics such as ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Gone with the Wind’ adorn the walls and give the place some character. The contrast of this bright wall with the rest of the place is very fetching indeed. There are the usual benches placed outside which are always taken by the regulars where they gossip and catch up or just watch the world go by over steaming cups of coffee.

What you get – Though the old regulars crib about how the place has lost its informality, it is but obvious that the place looks stunning now. With a good and efficient team at your service, PCNC is now attracting new clientele, thanks to its makeover.

The food is always served steaming hot and with its new and improved menu the tables are always packed. The lasagna, pizza and pasta are highly recommended and the grilled club sandwich or the submarine if you are in the mood for something lighter. The garlic bread with cheese served in PCNC is a delicacy with a cult following. Though the coffee available is very good, the iced-tea and the cardamom tea are also crowd favourites. PCNC has a huge array of chocolates which can be bought per piece. Breads and other bakery items are also readily available.

Our verdict – Vizag discovered something special when Abha decided to go into business with PCNC. With her amazing recipes and ideas, PCNC has become a crowd puller. The young crowd would swear by it and with good reason. Very moderately priced it is ideal for everyone’s pocket. Parking can be done along the roadside.

A review from www.vizag.metromela.com ‘PCNC undoubtedly had a magnetic effect and one can never get enough of chocolate. However, a little more of some other flavours would do wonders. I'm a chocolate worshiper but I also seek other flavours.’

~ Sushma

Article from Times Of India Hindustan TimesCoffee culture catching up in VizagWith new coffee shops mushrooming in the city, Vizag is seeing a revolution in the way its cuppa is served

That Vizagites love their morning cuppa is not new. What's new though, is the way coffee is being enjoyed. From the days of slurping 'kaafi' at a road-side tiffin centre, to sipping on tall glasses of cold coffee in plush cafes, Vizag has seen a huge transformation in the way its cuppa is perceived over the years. The colourful commotion that surround the exercise of serving coffee at a tiffin centre, is today replaced by a lounge-like relaxed ambiance amidst which your coffee is served. It all started with Vizag's all time favourite — Pastry, Coffee 'n' conversation — which has been ruling the roost for a decade now. It was soon followed by Coffee Day at Vizag Central and Poorna market road. And now there's a coffee shop on every cool street — CCD Lounge in the Waltair Uplands, Coffee Wave, Lavazza, Yallop Gourmet and Barista, and more, at swish spots like Siripuram and Beach road.

The beginningWith big cafe chains opening shop in the city, Vizagites have much to rejoice about. Rajen Chauhan, owner of PCC, who began his stand alone coffee shop in 2002, says, "when we started this hub back in 2002, we were the only ones around. I was inspired by my wife, Abha, who I think, is the best cook ever! We've been living in Vizag for the past 30 years and with the help of a few friends, we started a small pastry outlet at the Waltair club. It became such a hit with students, that we started a bigger outlet at Dutt Island adding coffee and iced tea to the menu." With the introduction of newer brands to the coffee shop retail industry, Chauhan modified the menu to keep up with the changing demands and trends, though he maintains that the move was not prompted to counter competition.

The evolutionThe change in the coffee shop hangout scene over the years in Vizag is apparent when you speak to an old timer. The well-heeled Vizag youngster today finds it normal to go to a coffee shop to hang out with friends on a daily basis. No more is it a family affair, like it used to be years ago. Sudhir Damerla, a freelance photographer, who has been a regular at PCC, since the day it opened doors in the city, sees a vast change in the age group and demography at coffee shops today. "Back then, the crowd that came to the one-odd coffee shop, was different. They were mostly 25 years or older. You could spot a lot of families too." With changing lifestyles and exposure to bigger brands, the age group of Vizagites hanging out at coffee shops is south of 25. "With the increase in allowances and pocket money, customers are mostly very young people," explains Damerla.

Article from www.southreport.com for the 15 must try eat out places of Vizag8. Pastry, coffee and conversations ( PCC ): 

SourceSouth Report

Where?SiripuramWhat?PCC, as it is more affectionately called,is a joint frequented by the younger generation. And why not, with their retro themed restaurant with kick-ass posters and an ambiance that screams hip, this place is loved throughout the city. And not just that, they’ve got some delicious food to go along with the ambiance.How much?200 for 2 people.Southie recommendsHonestly, I just go there for the ambiance and the black coffee. But I’ve seen people order a lot of pastries, so yeah , pastries.

• Read article here: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/a-space-to-nurture-talent/article4444835.ece

References• https://www.zomato.com/visakhapatnam/pastry-coffee-n-

conversation-siripuram-vizag

• http://vizag.metromela.com/Hangout+at+Pastry,+Coffee+'n+Conversation/article/1164

• Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/andhra-pradesh/visakhapatnam/restaurants/bakeries-patisseries/pastry-coffee-n-conversation#ixzz3XepujmpY

• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food/food-reviews/Coffee-culture-catching-up-in-Vizag/articleshow/19040021.cms

• http://www.southreport.com/vizag-eatout-places/

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