I’m not a dessert person per se, and my savoury n’ spicy taste buds rarely drools over meetha like a maniac. But at Cafe Āve, a cute spot in Chennai’s Besant Nagar, I found myself gorging on their three-layer ‘Malted Chocolate Cake’ like a five-year-old with an aching sweet tooth. Surprised to find myself digging into the cake beyond my normal quota, as though my hand had got a mind of its own, I had to pause, and reflect on this space that has got cakes (and other things) right.

A minimally done space, the bare white walls are inviting, without feeling clinical. Barring a few framed pictures of the sea and fish market, the 29-seater cafe is bereft of any drama or overtly done decor that could distract one from their purpose—to enjoy and relax. Each table has a standard cream coloured cutlery stand that says what it does—cutlery. The Treo glass bottles are filled with drinking water, and are brimming with a quiet pride in being nothing but themselves. This unpretentiousness is seeped into every crevice of the space, imparting it its solid footing of self-assuredness. There’s nothing that doesn’t need to be there, but everything one may need. The place, simply put, is ‘just enough.‘ Or as Oswald the octopus, from the cartoon Oswald would put—Na kam, na zyada.

The owner and Head Chef Nayantara treads this delicate rope with finesse as she glides in and out of the kitchen, wearing a teeth-baring smile that comes from knowing that one has built something valuable. Her father Venkatesh, the owner of the famed Cafe Eden, is often seen smiling at every customer from behind the counter, his affable countenance making each one feel at home instantly. The small crew of servers are an extension of this attitude, as they serve guests with a genial smile and attention. Their uniforms don’t have their names stitched on, as has become the norm these days, but that’s the point. There’s nothing extra here. Especially when it comes to the food.

A casually hot day like most days in Chennai, I order an Iced Brown Sugar Latte with less sugar (it’s another story that I destroy an entire slice of chocolate cake just a few moments later) at the counter, where the enchanting dessert display catches my attention. It’s a limited assortment to choose from; brownies, cookies, puddings, cakes, pies and cookies, making you feel that each item might be worth a try. I go back to the table with a nagging feeling that leaving this place without trying at least one dessert might not be a prudent choice. The table next to me is raving about the Matcha, while another one is busy clicking their slice of chocolate cake. The place is buzzing with the right energy, enough for me to be with my thoughts without feeling detached from the action. A sweet sight unfolds in front of me, where a grandmother and grand-daughter duo are seen enjoying their individual chocolate cakes. “There must be something about the dessert here,” another nagging voice tugs at me as I’m still deciding my food. My perfectly sweetened Latte brings a smile to my face, and I feel comforted in ways that only a great cup of coffee can.

“Okay, I’ll have the Malted Chocolate Cake,” I tell the curly-haired girl behind the counter. Her smile is infectious and I prance towards my table like I’ve just won the lottery. What’s this place running on? Smiling people? It’s an intangible but essential piece of decor that truly uplifts the space several notches higher. Everyone seems to be walking on fluffy clouds here—the servers, the customer, the owners, making this space truly a vibe check place for anyone who loves a good crowd. The cafe pulls in all kinds of folk; working people, GEN Z kids dressed in thick platform heels and Korean uniforms, well-dressed LV carrying women, couples dressed casually, families with kids, and even grandmoms! It’s THE place to be when in Chennai, given its wide-angled approach to food and fun.

My Malted Chocolate Cake arrives like a prized trophy, and the first bite is immediately followed by two more bites of this insanely good cake. I feel as though my brain’s neurons just exploded with joy and I find myself digging into the layers with a child’s glee. The first layer of this naked cake is a thin chocolate cream topped with milk crumbs that add a fantastic crunch to every bite. The saltiness from the crumbs cuts through the sweetness of the moist chocolate cake layer that comes next, followed by the creamy crunch, making this epic cake just enough sweet to keep on eating. At one point, I almost forget I’m eating cake, feeling as though I’m eating a comforting plate of homecooked dal chawal.

It sounds contrary on so many levels, but as I’m paying my bill, a small kid concurs my thoughts on the cake by telling his mom while tugging at her shirt, “I want the Raspberry Chocolate Trifle AND the Malted Chocolate Cake.” His mom, miffed at this strange request of two desserts is convinced when he says, “What if I don’t like the Trifle?” I smile at him and say, “You’re making a prudent choice. GET THE CHOCOLATE CAKE!”