Exotica is a Fusion Kitchen and Cafe serving Gourmet Sandwiches, Bombay Frankie Pockets, Hearty Salad Bowls and Butter Chicken. We also serve Espressos, Lassi (YO-Shakes),
Kashmiri Chai & Virgin Mojitos. Don't forget to finish your meal with our
Avalanche desserts (Chocolate Cheese Cake Mousse).
We are a small local business that partners with other local businesses to give you quality, delicious comfort food.
Swing by and enjoy the ambience as you wait in anticipation for a deliciously hand-made gourmet fusion sandwich that you savour as you eat and feel good after.
JOURNEY TO EXOTICA
Nikhil and I were colleagues at an American company based in Waterloo. 8 months into our jobs, the company closed operations in Canada; our departments were the first to be hit and we were let go. A few days after the dust settled, we thought…
Why not do something on our own, bring a taste of food that Waterloo hasn’t had yet.
The dream was always there, the moment had arrived and it all came to the forefront.
Nikhil, a trained Chef, with an MBA in Banking & Finance, a passion for everything food from tasting, tweeking around and creating his own unique tasty versions of recipes, took the first leap into the dream. Me, on the other hand with a Master’s Degree in Psychology, no formal culinary background, a passion for eating natural, tweeking around recipes to healthier versions, a love for stirring up something exciting in my home kitchen since I was a teen, this seemed like embracing a new and familiar beginning. Close to our Indian roots with our style of cooking; putting time, attention and care from scratch to finish; and with our love for flavours, aromas, spices and teas (….. try our Kashmiri Chai, it’s steeped in-house for 4 hours!), we started on our adventure of kitchen experiments. After trials, tests and kitchen disasters we came up with a menu. Our learning curve was steep, making it through survival jobs to pay the bills while building Exotica, making a tonne of mistakes and ‘after thought eye-openers’, our journey was about getting past the next big step and the drive to ‘Make It Happen’. We ‘Opened’ in October 2018 with a lean chalk board menu of 2 pockets, a salad and a handful of drinks.
From a Café to a Fusion Kitchen and Café, we have something for everyone.
Enjoy the vibe – Soul Soothing Classics, Romantic Spanish Guitars, Easy Regae, Smooth Rythmn & Blues, Latino Beats or the latest in music, all within a cosy, warm ambience; and fusion tastes that feel familiar. We’re a little tucked in to THE HUB, come find us…..
... Fleurette
What's Exciting!
Indian Street food Inspired!
Bombay Frankie pockets
Our YO-Shakes (Lassi) are made with creamy Vanilla yogurt. They are freshly spun to order with flavours of your choice.
Gourmet Fried Chicken Sandwiches
Where to find us
EMAIL:
TEL: 226-476-1779