Brew and Bites Cafe opened its doors in Lautoka’s Botanical Garden on April 2, marking the latest small-business addition to the city’s riverside precinct. The venture is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Krishan Mudaliar and Komal Karishma Prasad, who say the project grew out of a holiday conversation and a desire to create a quiet, green space for coffee and light meals.
Mudaliar, a chef by trade, and Prasad invested about $30,000 to fit out the café, with plans for further investment as the business grows. The couple have employed three staff members to date and say one of their primary goals is to create local employment opportunities. Prasad thanked the Lautoka City Council for the chance to operate within the historic gardens, saying the pair had worked hard to secure the location.
The menu at Brew and Bites deliberately moves away from traditional Indian meals to focus on fast bites and signature chef creations. Offerings include chips, bagels and pizzas, breakfast omelettes, fish and chips, satay-style chicken, and kids’ combo meals that pair a dessert and drink. For more distinctive options, the café is serving coconut crumb prawns with chili mayo, a combined fish-and-prawn dish, and weekend specials such as fresh lamb shanks. Mudaliar says dishes will be presented with a fine-dining aesthetic while remaining affordably priced for the public.
Currently operating within regular garden hours, the owners are negotiating with the Lautoka City Council to extend opening times to 7:30pm. Mudaliar and Prasad argue the later hours would benefit visitors to nearby Lautoka Hospital and allow evening access to meals, fresh fruit and salads. The couple also plan to offer catering for private events and birthday parties by booking, and they are preparing a separate festive menu for the upcoming Easter season.
To gauge customer preferences, Brew and Bites will run its menu on a three-month trial. Mudaliar said the trial will allow adjustments to reflect demand, with the possible addition of Italian dishes such as pastas and expanded pizza options if patrons respond positively. For now, the owners say they are focusing on making the Lautoka Botanical Garden site successful before considering broader expansion.
The new café aims to capitalise on the garden’s greenery and quiet atmosphere, a concept the couple first imagined on a road trip back from Savusavu. With the official opening and an initial investment committed, Brew and Bites joins a growing roster of small hospitality enterprises seeking to reinvigorate Lautoka’s city centre while catering to both local residents and visitors.
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